&& falling stars that last forever

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>&& The only words this town ever reflects
Are the ones with thorns.
The people who come across each other run by.
If I believe, it will probably break
The days when I just held on to uneasiness.
If you were here,
I wouldn't let you go...

It was rather pointless looking for a possibly-dead cat in the dark so she had abandoned her search a bit, taking a relaxed walk along the lake. The half-moon was out, she noticed, and it shimmered brillantly along the surface of the breaking waves along the shore and the ripples of frogs leaping into the water in her wake. Her footfalls were inaudible as she padded past large reeds, moonlight catching on her silvery gray and white pelt and throwing it back.

She paused and nosed her muzzle past the reeds, seeing the lotuses riding the cold waves that bucked and reared like wild horses. Astralhaze ejected her head and flicked her black-banded tail, turning her silvery body towards the BrightClan territory. A pungent, tangy scent caught her curiosity and she padded closer. She turned her head, moonlight throwing itself upon her enigmatic eyes before dying once her paw was caught in the muck.

Her eyes widened and she tried to yank her paw out, only to presently get her other paws caught in the sticky algae and goo-clogged mess. Her body promptly called for a halt and she fell over, splashing around in the freezing water with a loud meow that sounded heavenly even in her terror. Half-frozen, she managed to pull herself onto a goop-free part of the lake. Astralhaze's thin body shook and then fell onto the soft grass, cradling its nonexistent warmth.

&& Chased around by the sound of the clock,
I live today
By forgetting...</sub>

[kee :]]

<sub>xx As if to pile up our loneliness,
We kiss.
The scars that we damaged
Will tell of a beautiful parting...

With the sun almost finished setting in the west, only a few red rays of sunlight could be seen over the horizon and dusk had fallen over the windy plains. The wind had picked up since Cinnarbarcloud had died peacefully and it was cold and brisk outside. The nip in the air froze the tip of nose and the fur on his cheeks because of the tears Lastfalling had cried while running. His mouth had enclosed a small red crumpled leaf that had fallen at Grainpelt's paws after the death of the old warrior, Cinnabarcloud, and Lastfalling had gained the little courage he had to take the leaf and run it out to where he could mourn in peace. The Shrine of the Everglades.

This was where Lastfalling had brought all of his little memories of the past when his mother brought him to BrightClan so many moons ago. When out on when of his explorations of the territory, he discovered the small clearing with a little stream running through. It was big and open in the center but the enclosing bracken made it seem small and cozy. He could easily have three of four cats in it without seeming cramped by Lastfalling like the peace and serenity it brought to him. The sounds, smells, and sights made him remember his past, good and bad, and think of the future. So coming out to it on a night like this was something he really needed. Just a safe haven to escape to.

The black and white tom stopped dead in his tracks when he heard the sound of a loud meow and splashing coming from the lake, near his shrine and the border with CloudClan. Could it have been a CloudClanner? He hoped not but feeling the need to investigate, he picked up speed and sprinted down to the lake. The glistening body of water was so pretty and it took you breath away at night when the moon was high. But Lastfalling didn't look at it for long. The sight of a wet she-cat and the tangy scent of CloudClan filled the air and fear racked his body. He laid his leaf under a rock so it wouldn't blow away and trotted down to meet the silver she-cat.

"Um, hello? Are you alright, dear?" he asked coming up beside her, and looking her over for any wounds. But her body just shook with cold and the more he wanted to help her, the more he felt that if he did, she would push him away. And Lastfalling didn't want to be pushed away from a pretty she-cat like her.

xx Surely only the seductive nights
Know love's shadow.
I wander the flying moon.
When forever ends,
I'll gently be wrapped up in emptiness
If I had the wings of the swallow
That disappears into the sky...</sub>

[(aurora) of the problematique]

_{&& Gently moistened by the quiet rain,
Looking for something, and in exchange for that,
I lose my love...}

Astralhaze's eyes suddenly blared open, their mottled orbs viewing a blurry sight whose black and white frame blended in with the darkness of the forest and the light of the moon. A faint whimper escaped her throat and she winced, cold wrapping its deathly tendrils around her limbs. "Help, please...," she whispered. "Whoever you are..." The silver tabby's eyes fluttered and then closed, shuttering them like an eclipse of the sun. The wind howled overhead, bringing with it clouds that bore storms of cold sleet and snow. Her silky pelt was matted to her body and sticking up in some places from frost that was already settling across her body. The storm was picking up speed. There would be no doubt that the land would be covered in snow and freezing rain by moonhigh. "My name...is Astral--," she whispered, her voice then lost as she fell unconsciousness.

&& As if to take care of our sadness,
We hold it close.
The memories that we built
Will describe our beautiful loneliness...[/sub][/i]

[kee :]]

<sub>xx As if to pile up our loneliness,
We kiss...
The scars that we damaged
Will tell of a beautiful parting...

Her whimper, her plead, where all taken away by the howling wind but he heard enough. She needed help. Her fur was wet and matted, already sticking up in some places due to frost. Snow and sleet began to rapidly fall and left a coating of snow across her shiny silver pelt. Frozen with fear, he tried to think of how he could help. Lastfalling couldn't make it to camp and neither could this she-cat. He would have to take her to the forest. He took a few steps closer to her and as the black and white tom moved, she whispered again, this time he heard her perfectly and was taken by shock at her beautiful voice. Astral... And then she fell unconscious. Partly happy, because there would be now struggle, and worried that he would hurt her, he swiftly took her by the scruff and threw her, as gently as possible, on to his sturdy back before walking as fast as he could into the forest. And on his way, he picked up "Cinnarbarcloud" from under the rock, praying that it wasn't damaged and that Astral wouldn't be either.

When he entered the trees, the wind began to die down and there was less sleet. He franticly tried to remember where his Shrine was but the feeling of the freezing cold she-cat and darkness of night made him feel blinded. So he followed the scent of the pine and before he could realize it, he ducked through a bracken tunnel and had entered. The clearing was small but could easily fit three or four cats with out getting cramped. There was a little stream trickling through from the lake and at one corner, there was a pile of rocks which was wear he kept his belongings. Throughout the clearing, there were scattered herbs that brought a wonderful tangy smell to his nose and he felt like he was home in the mountains. Peace entered through him and he was able to set Astral down with no problem. After making sure she was still alive, he began to lick her cold frail body, hoping to get her warmed up and melt the frost away from her fur.</sub>

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>She felt as if she was swimming, and she groaned, squeezing her eyes together. Hours must have passed, but where was she? She purred at the warm enclosing her and opened her mysterious eyes, surveying the area. Is this a dream? she asked herself, lifting up her silver black-spotted head. She turned around and winced, feeling her muscles cramp up from lack of use. Astralhaze stretched and blinked, glancing around. She came to her feet and shook herself out, looking for her savior.

Astralhaze's ear bent back and she turned gracefully, silent as usual. "Where am I?" she wondered aloud, wincing when the cave echoed it back at her. The pretty femme stepped forward warily, but paused to look around at the artifacts stored in this fantastic cave. She tilted her head. A tassal? Branch of rowan? What are these things doing here? she wondered.</sub>

[kee :]]

<sub>Lastfalling had sat by her and made sure she was warm and her breath was back to normal before he began to make sure each item from his travels was still in the rocks. He put the new leaf next to the Rowan bark or 'his father' and made sure that 'his mother' the opal was safely in between the collar and the tassel from the monk robe so it would be safe from dirt. Once everything was in order and organized the way he pleased he decided to hunt.

It had to be at least an hour until he came back but he stayed close to the shrine and made sure that she didn't escape or call for him. He managed to catch a rabbit but lost most of the prey he tried to catch. Sighing, he returned to the shrine, rabbit in mouth and tail dragging behind him. Oh well, he wasn't that hungry anyway. As he crawled through the tunnel and into the clearing, he realized that she was awake staring at his artifacts.

"Oh good, you're awake," he meowed quietly as he placed the rabbit near her and moved toward the other side of the den and sat down in a pile of pine needles. The smell surrounded him and filled him with a homey feeling. "How are you, Astral?" he asked, tilted his head to one side, wondering if she was feeling alright.</sub>

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>She turned suddenly, hearing his voice. Her ears and tail rose in greeting and she waved them side to side. When she heard him address her as Astral, she tilted her head in confusion. Oh! It dawned on her that she had fallen unconscious in the middle of telling her name. The pretty femme smiled kindly. "Astralhaze," she finished for him. "I am a CloudClanner. Are you a loner? You are most kind to have helped me."

She dipped her head in gratitude and respect. She could not smell what he was. It was as if this place did away with those factors. The pine and other scents washed over her, making her light-headed for a moment before she could respond to his next question. Astralhaze's eyes echoed her respect for the strong, gallant tom who had rescued her, shimmering like stars in the night sky. "And I am well, thanks to you."

She glanced up at the cave, tilting her head curiously. "Do you live here, in this beautiful place?"</sub>

[kee :]]

<sub>Astralhaze... He felt warm under his fur as she corrected him gently. Yes, she was a CloudClanner that was for sure. He was used to being able to smell scents against the harsh breathtaking pine scent. And that scent was CloudClan. When she asked if he was a loner, he realized that she probably couldn't smell him due to the heavy scent of pine. He had never been announced at a Gathering and it was only his first or second day as Deputy. He smiled gently and shook his head but he didn't speak. Astralhaze, the pretty CloudClanner, looked as though she was getting used to the smell. She looked a bit rocky for a second but then Lastfalling smiled as he answered his question. He was quite pleased that she was doing well. Maybe his mother's training did help him a bit.

The curious look on her face made him chuckle slightly and her words made him chuckle more. He would have lived here in a heartbeat if he wasn't a BrightClanner, but this was only a hideout. Sighing, he shook his head. "Actually, I am a BrightClanner. This is my... Ah, how do you say it, my secret little cove in which I keep my... personal belongings... It reminds me of home..." he mewed quietly, his voice dying down to a whisper and he stared at Astralhaze for a long second before shaking his head lightly, like he had just returned to reality before nodding to the fresh-kill.

"Hungry, m'dear?" Lastfalling asked, his yellow eyes twinkling.</sub>

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>"A BrightClanner...," Astralhaze repeated, testing the word on her mouth. The tom was so nice to her, even though she wasn't of the same Clan as he. She loved his chivalry and was grateful for his honor. Her mysterious eyes closed for a moment as she contemplated him and her situation. She could probably find her way home, but in this weather, there was a possibility that she would crash again but this time with no one to save her. And if someone did save her, what would be the guarantee that it would be this handsome knight again. "Home? You are not from BrightClan originally? No wonder you are so generous."

So he was not a Clanner by birth. Who was he? She felt as if she had seen him before. She did remember a black and white she-cat--their resemblance, now that she thought on it, was rather uncanny--asking about an apprentice-aged tabby tom named Sage and if CloudClan had lost him. Astralhaze, as usual, had been late to the scene and thus had only heard part of the conversation. Not that it mattered, the talking. She was now concerned about the female. She was certainly of an age to be a mother, and she had the look of "I have seen many troubles in my time" in her freshly-scarred eyes. She was wounded, having come from SerenityClan Territory. Blood had coated her paws, not hers though, and claw marks made their toll down her ochre frames. But Astralhaze was contemplating too much, yet again.

Hearing the male's voice, she smiled and lifted her gentle head to him. "Yes, actually," Astralhaze said, padding towards the black and white male. She smelled food and her stomach growled faintly. She paused before her meal and glanced back. "Where did you come from then, to have all these artifacts?"</sub>

[kee :]]

<sub>Lastfalling wasn't quite sure if he should tell this pretty she-cat where his homeland was. He didn't trust her fully but he knew that she could have no connection with anything back home. She looked as though she could have been from the mountains, for she had the body of a climber. Thin and lithe, yet strong. She had the pelt to blend in with the rocks on the hill side. But he didn't recognize her scent, only the smell of CloudClan hung in the air. The smell that made his nose scrunch up. It was impossible for her to be from his homelands and she seemed to sweet and kind to him. He knew that he had to trust her, even with something he had never told anyone.

As he was looking to see if he recognized her from his village to from a gathering before or something like that, he realized how beautiful she was. Her silver pelt was shining in the moonlight that came in thought the gaps in between branches. Her eyes glittered and glowed like golden stars. Or were they hazel? Green? No blue. Wait, they were all those colors mixed to create a wonderful hue that made his own yellow eyes glow. Then realizing he had been staring at her, he looked away. He felt embarrassed that he hadn't answered her question so he cleared his throat and willed the awkwardness away.

"Home? My home is a place far away from here. The village was up in the mountains, in a small valley, filled with pine trees. The temple was my home, which was placed on a hillside, looking over a lake, sort of like the one you fell into," Lastfalling paused to chuckle a little before continuing. "My mother's master was a Monk and whatever he taught my mother, she taught me. So if you know what a Monk is, then you probably understand what this place really is. It's my Shrine." This time, Lastfalling paused to crawl back behind the rock that protected his artifacts from wind or rain. He pulled a bunch out to show Astralhaze. "This is a piece of Rowan bark, which stands for my father, Rowan. This is an opal which shines like the light of Aurora. That stands for my mother, Aurora. A fish scale, because its shiny. I like shiny things that catch attention and fish tastes delicious. This one is a tassel from a Monk's robe. It stands for Jonathan, my master. This is my collar that I wore when I lived in the temple. BrightClan stripped be of it when I arrived. But I managed to keep it. And these are a few strands of hay from the barn I lived in for a good portion of my life after Jonathan was killed..." His voice trailed off and he sighed softly, looking down at the last artifact. "And this one is Cinnabarcloud. He died today," he murmured, staring at Astralhaze and then the leaf.</sub>

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>Astralhaze's gentle expression softened when she realized that he was gaping at her. She listened to every word he uttered, seemingly in a trance with every breath he took, every murmur he made. At each thing he mentioned, her heart lifted and grasped the object, melding it and its significance into her mind and soul. At the mention of the word monk, she shook her head. "I'm afraid I am rather close-minded, to have been raised all my life in CloudClan," she said softly. "I do not know what monks or shrines are, but if your home here is a mere fragment of what you remembered in your past, there can be no doubt that its memory is honored by the beauty possessed here." She was curious and wanted him to continue.

By the tom's bearings, he was most certainly a deputy, but she could hold no prejudice against him for him being a kittypet. However, it was an odd sort of kittypet and Twoleg relationship. It was like a Clan, but the Twoleg was a mentor and the kittypet was the apprentice. Whatever it was, this shrine was certainly different than the kittypet established past the Clans borders and had made this tom more successful than any kittypet-turned-warrior she had ever seen in her life. Plus, he would be a leader whenever his leader lost their last life. She realized that she had not asked him his name, but that would have to wait.

"Cinnabarcloud? He...sounds familiar. He used to be of CloudClan, when I was a mere kit. I saw him leave from my place in the nursery, never knowing his name until later because he had been a friend of my father's. He was strong and powerful, but he was crying. I had never seen a warrior cry before him," Astralhaze said and then she turned her queenly head to the BrightClanner. "He has...died as a BrightClanner?" Pain suddenly struck her heart and she didn't know why. Perhaps it was the fact that Cinnabarcloud was born of her Clan. CloudClan and BrightClan had been linked by the fiery tomcat that had been her father's best friend.

"BrightClanner, what is your name?"</sub>

[kee :]]

<sub>Lastfalling totally understood that Astralhaze had no clue about monks or shrines. Most Clanners didn't. He didn't know one BrightClanner who knew what he was talking about when he discussed that he was not a kittypet. Actually, he didn't really know what he was. A loner, a rogue, something but not a kittypet. Lastfalling hated some kittypets for their prissy, "I'm way better than you because I don't have to catch my own food" attitudes. If he was a kittypet by birth, he wasn't a normal one since he grew up in a temple with monks, twolegs but not the ones that lived near the Clans, and usually hunted mice that lived around the temple. Most of the cats from the temple wandered through the streets of the village but loved their master and his teachings. So really, Lastfalling was a kittypet-loner by birth and a loner for the middle part of his life. Now a Clan cat, he still doesn't get what he is.

Lastfalling just smiled at her words and gazed at her, even though he was deep in thought but realizing that it was a stupid thought to contemplate, his attention turned back to the artifacts, open and ready to be taken by wind, though Lastfalling was not ready. So deciding that it would be safe to take the artifacts back behind the rock for safety, he did so and quickly until the only one left was the leaf. He had yet to speak with the leaf or 'Cinnabar' and put it in a special place so that he would be reminded later and then turned to Astralhaze as she spoke again. She spoke of Cinnabarcloud and his life in CloudClan. He was a friend and a powerful cat, yet he cried when he left. Sighing, Lastfalling looked away. "Yes. He died as BrightClanner, a good mentor and friend," he murmured, thinking of when he arrived in BrightClan and how hard of an assessment he was given, yet it worked and look where it brought him.

Lastfalling wanted to push the thought of his departed friend away but it was hard and as he tried to push more memories entered his mind. Painful ones. Sighing, Lastfalling closed his eyes and shook his head. "BrightClan will miss him dearly..." His voice trailed off and in a moment Astralhaze was speaking again, her voice filled him with slight comfort and he looked back at her, his face growing warm that he had forgotten to speak his name. His mother would scold and his father would laugh. Smiling, he answered. "Oh, dear me. I did forget to mention my own name! Well in these parts, they call me Lastfalling. Back home, I was Jet," he mewed, almost forgetting his old name. He hadn't used that name is so long that it felt weird on his tongue. But thats who he truly was, the name Lastfalling just covered it up.</sub>

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>Astralhaze smiled enigmatically and finished her meal, gently stretching to get the prickly feeling out of her paws. The valkyrie turned to Lastfalling and bowed. "Well, Lastfalling, thank you for your hospitality. I am sure my fellow Clanmates will honor BrightClan for their honor and courtesy towards one of their injured," the femme said softly, coming to the exit of the shrine. She shook her silvery pelt, making it shimmering like flecks of glass when the light hit it. Her mysterious eyes turned their gaze to the tom once more and she smiled, waving her tail at the black and white tom.

"I'm returning home so they don't worry majorly about me. I was searching for our missing deputy, but I suppose they have named a new one by this point," she said, sighing rather noncommittally at returning to her home. She wanted to return to this place someday. She suddenly felt lonely at the prospect of leaving his side. She wondered if she would ever see him again. She decided to voice this concern.

"I know we are not from the same Clan but...can we still be friends?" Astralhaze inquired, tilting her head towards him.</sub>

[kee :]]

<sub>Astralhaze thanked Lastfalling and he nodded his head to her. He did not want her to leave, for he had never felt this way about any cat before. He didn't have many cats he could call friends at home. They thought he was odd and mysterious but Astralhaze was interested by his Shrine and his background it seemed. She seemed to like his company, and he enjoyed hers very much. Though she said that CloudClan would honor him, he wasn't sure if they should know, for Lastfalling had planned not to tell Ghostlystar about him helping a CloudClanner. He wasn't sure if the tom would be mad or happy for the kindness he put toward CloudClan. But he had a long journey home, and plenty of time to decide.

Lastfalling just smiled and gazed at Astralhaze as she moved toward the small bracken entrance of the den. She announced she was returning home, and a small frown appeared on Lastfalling's face, even though he knew it was coming. Sighing he nodded. "Yes. We wouldn't want your Clan to worry about you," he mewed softly, smiling. He was trying to hide the glint of sadness in his yellow eyes and he hoped she didn't notice. He thought she would leave then and he began to turn around but then he heard her sweet voice again, and his heard turned toward her direction, ears pricked at her words. They made him smile gently and the sadness was gone.

"Of course we can still be friends. The border may be separate us, but it is not a wall," he murmured, surprised by his own words, yet they made so much sense.</sub>

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sup>She had caught the sadness flecking across his gaze and her heart sank a bit, only to be lifted at his next words. Astralhaze's eyes twinkled happily and she nodded. "Do not worry, Lastfalling. I will not put BrightClan in jeopardy," she said softly. The wind carried her voice away as she leapt across the rocks of the stream. The flicker of silver vanished among the leaves and ferns, melting away as if she had been a mere spirit of winter, an omen of some sort.

Astralhaze was careful to avoid the lake's edges, which were easier to see in the daylight. The tabby femme crossed the border, remembering Lastfalling's words. The border separated them but it was no wall. She sighed heavily and padded faster to CloudClan camp.

She paused to look back but tears didn't fall. However, her sinuses seemed to ache and her chest tightened up. She felt unnatural walking away from him, her savior. Pain criss-crossed her thoughts and she blocked them out until she could think on them later.</sup>

[kee :]]

<sub>She spoke and then she was gone. Just like that. Lastfalling wasn't even able to say anything before she disappeared out of the small enclosed clearing. He found it hard to think straight for the next few moments. He kept thinking that she was still near him, with him. But she was probably on her side of the border now... But Lastfalling had one more task to complete before he headed back to camp. The black and white tom swiftly made his way over to the back of the den, grabbed the leaf and padded to the small stream that passed through the den. He set the leaf down and crouched by the water. With his eyes closed, he breathed in the smell of his den but Astralhaze's scent was still lingering so every time he tried to concentrate, an image of her silvery body came into his mind. Even when he specifically thought of Cinnarbarcloud, it was always Astralhaze.

After several tries, he gave up and decided to speak with Cinnarbarcloud later. Maybe a run through BrightClan territory at dawn would clear his mind. Maybe training with Hollowpaw and Jasperpaw would too. So he left the clearing and ran toward home again. He made sure he didn't smell like CloudClan, so that they wouldn't get suspicious, caught a mouse and a bird, so if anyone caught him returning, he could say that he was up early to hunt. Lastfalling was tired though, his muscles ached from carrying Astralhaze but it didn't matter. He had met a pretty she-cat, and his first real friend.</sub>