An enlightened heart

[Darke]

The skies were filled with puffy, gray clouds. Below stood a world of war and hatred, a place that few stood peaceful and kind. They lived where the harshest conditions roamed and the mountains reached the everlasting sky. They may not experience the best, but their intentions were greater than most. The leader of these great cat, was Ripstar. He had been the deputy to Ceruleanstar who led before, the son of the leader Lightstar, and the great-great-grandson of the great, and powerful Skystar, who had created the clan after the destruction of his home and family. He stood above most and rose above many before him. He cowered at the sight of nothing and lived a grateful life among his fellow peace-makers.

Ripstar stood alone at the beginning of the SkyClan borders, in which he sat often looking down at a battlefield almost always draped in warm, red blood. He prayed for those who fought and blessed those that didn't, he was a leader who would risk anything for everything and everything for his clan.

[●●●Elli!]

Crystalshadow approached her leader. He stood at the border of SkyClan's territory, gazing across the snowy landscape. A cold breeze ruffled her pelt as she sat down next to him. She'd always viewed him with a mixture of fear, awe, and respect. He was a brilliant leader; calm and wise. SkyClan was lucky to have someone like him--not the bloodthirsty Breezestar of VortexClan, or the reckless Flarestar of VoidClan. But she knew that the stress of trying to bring peace to the mountain was probably taking its toll on him. Sadness swept through her. For one cat to bear the pain, all on his own, must have been terrible. She closed her eyes, desperately wondering what she could do to change that. Though she was as clumsy as a kit and as weak as an apprentice, she was strong mentally. Perhaps she could share her leader's pain. If he would let her.

"R-ripstar? I don't think you should have to carry all this stress by yourself. You can talk to me, you know. And Nightblaze, and the other SkyClan cats. You're not alone."

[Darke]

A warm breeze blew over the calm leader as Crystalshadow sat next to him. He knew he could count on her, she was so loyal to SkyClan, that he even questioned his own loyalty.

Ripstar chuckled, "My dear, I'm very aware of that, but I am under stress no matter what happens. Thank you for your concern, but I can take care of myself, no matter what you think.",He said calmly and kindly. "The stress is harsh, but the outcome is beautiful and powerful. Life is a long, disheartening road, but what awaits us at the end is better than what happens during our time here. I believe that StarClan will be with us forever, and that nothing will happen unless it was meant to be.", continued Ripstar

[●●●Elli!]

Crystalshadow cocked her head, letting his words crash over her like a tidal wave. "The outcome is beautiful and powerful." "What awaits us at the end is better than what happens during our time here." "StarClan will be with us forever." His words filled her heart with awe, but the awe was crushed by a fist of guilt that clenched its fingers around her heart. She was lying to all of them--to her leader, to her Clanmates. Tears swam in her eyes, blurring her vision. Trees, rocks, and snow blended together in a colorless mass that seemed the exact mirror of her own confusion.

If she told him, she would no longer feel guilty. If she told him about her secret love, she would no longer feel so ashamed of the secrets within her. But she could never face him or any other SkyClan cats again. She could never face anyone again. She would flee the mountain, without saying a word of goodbye to Willownight. She knew that if she ever broke the unspoken promise between her and her mate, she would suffer. They would both suffer. He trusted her never to tell anyone. And she never would. She couldn't betray him like that. She just couldn't bring herself to do it.

Crystalshadow turned her head away from Ripstar, blinking until the wetness faded from her eyes. "You're right," she mewed softly. "StarClan guides us, guides our every pawstep."

[Darke]

Ripstar sensed that Crystalshadow was in pain. Her eyes looked glassy, as if tears fell just a moment ago, and her chest movements were small and shallow. He felt for her, becoming a warrior after being a medicine cat changes more than one would expect. "What troubles you my dear?", asked the leader lightly."You're right StarClan guides our paws steps, but pain seems to fill almost every single one of those steps." said Ripstar as he listened to the wind flow all around Crystalshadow and himself."We should head back to camp, I feel a storm approaching and a snow storm at that." Ripstar turned and faced the troubled she-cat. He dipped his head and made signs that he was heading back to camp and that she might want to come along.

[Nighteh]

Nightblaze had seen her leader leave the camp, looking troubled. She hoped he was ok. Full of consern, she followed his trail to the borders and saw him speeking with Crystalshadow. Before Nightblaze walked in on them, she took a moment to smell the air. Rain was definatly coming, and alot of it. She wondered if this was an omen of good, or bad luck. Rain brought water that made plants grow. The clan needed more herbs for the medicine cat.

She felt a small drop of rain fall onto her nose and she shook it off, entering the clearing at the border.

"Ripstar? Crystalshadow? It's tme to come back to camp." as the deputy of SkyClan, she had to make sure her leader didnt get green cough and lose a life, as well as her clan mates. This weather wasnt so bad for green cough. Just getting a chill. but no cat liked getting a chill.