Chapter Text
“Today is a day of great tragedy…” Sharptongue, an old wise lioness began.
She, her daughters and grandchildren were sitting in a circle. In the center laid the body of a male lion with yellow and gray fur.
“We didn’t just lose a mane…we lost a loving mate….” Sharptongue continued, glancing at her daughter Powerstrike, who had tears streaming down her face.
“And a loving father….”
The two cubs, like their mother, were also crying. Though their cries were noticeably much louder. They were sitting near the male lion’s back. Powerstrike and Waterhunter placed them there so they wouldn’t have to see their father’s face.
“Starmane was an incredible leader. He was intelligent, he was courageous, and most of all, he was kind. He put his lionesses and cubs first. He valued family about all…”
Sharptongue moved to stand.
“Let us roar my daughters, so Asra maybe find his spirit and guide him to the stars.”
The lionesses roared, their voices echoing throughout the land.
———
Powerstrike was alone. Sunce’s eye was beginning to rise up. She had woken up early.
Normally she would do this to help Starmane patrol the area and make sure there were no threats nearby. She would insist they would do it together. They were a team. They did everything together…
But not anymore….
The lioness then heard a rustle. Then she felt a paw step on her tail. She screeched in surprise, immediately turning around.
Behind her stood her sister Waterhunter, who had an amused look on her face.
Powerstrike growled.
“Waterhunter! Mother told you not to sneak up on me like that! I could have ripped your face off!” She hissed.
Waterhunter’s ears folded back. Her sister’s harsh tone made hee upset. She didn’t mean to make her angry. She was just playing around, the same way she would as a cub.
Powerstrike sighed, calming down.
“I’m sorry…” She whispered.
“I’m just…upset…about losing….”
She couldn’t bring herself to say his name. say Instead she draped her head and neck over her sister’s.
“I don’t mean to take it out on you….” She whimpered.
Waterhunter moved her paw so it rested on top of hers. It was a simple gesture, but it helped convey what she wanted to say.
‘It’s okay…let it out….’
Powerstrike sniffed. A tear fell from her eyes. Then another. And another. Soon she was crying.
At Starmane’s funeral, she shed a few tears but kept most of it hidden. She wanted to stay strong, for her cubs and fellow huntresses.
But now she was alone. It was just her and Waterhunter. Right now, they didn’t have to be strong. They were just sisters.
“I just….I miss him so much….he was my light….the father of my cubs….” Powerstrike cried.
The lioness thought back towards Smoke and Fire. She will never be able to forget the looks on their faces when she told them Starmane was no more.
“And now they are going to grow up without a father….I just…Hope we can be there for them….they need us now more than ever….”
Waterhunter listened. She missed her father Embermane everyday. He had died when she and her sister were fully grown however. She couldn’t imagine what the cubs were going through.
“How will we be able to provide for them?” Powerstrike questioned.
“It takes all three of us to successfully hunt. But one of us will have to stay behind to protect them…We…We can’t do this without him! We can’t…we can’t-“
She was interrupted by the feeling of claws digging into her paw.
“Ow!” She cried, moving away so she could face her sister.
Waterhunter gave her a smirk, satisfied that she managed to get her to stop rambling.
Powerstrike sighed.
“You’re right….I’m overthinking like I always do. We’ll find a way to work this out….I know we can…”
She looked up at the stars.
“We’ll develop new hunting strategies if we have to…no matter what, I won’t let us starve…And I know Starmane will always be with us in spirit…”
She smiled, sniffing. Waterhunter moved to gently lick her tears away, frowning.
“Oh don’t look at me like that” Powerstrike said with a laugh.
“You don’t need to feel guilty about not being able to say anything. You’ve done more than enough”
She nuzzled against Waterhunter, licking her cheek.
“Come now…we should prepare for the hunt…we have two hungry cubs and an even hungrier mother to feed” She said as the two began to head back home.