~The Kitten and the Wolf~

Brambletail looks at River with great interest when she mentions that she'd found the source of the ashes that had been falling all over the forest.

Take me to it.

He asks her, waiting for her to lead the way.

River nodded and quickly took off in the direction that she had come from just a little bit ago, twitching her ears though as she did and looked around some as she did.

Brambletail followed River to the large clearing and stopped when he spotted the carvings. He stares at them with a mixture of sorrow, grief and regret.

I see....so this is what had been making such a ruckus.

He says to himself.

River looked up at him a bit and tilted her head some.

What are they for? One of them smelled like you so I was worried about you.

Brambletail is silent for a moment before he responds to River's question.

These are the carvings of the previous guardian's of the forest.  The ones before me that protected this place.  The fact that their spirit's put a carving of me here must means that it is almost time for me to pass my duties onto the next generation and join them.

He explains to her.

River looked at him surprised and moved close to him, putting her paws on him as she stood up on her hind paws to get closer to his face.

No! You can't leave me alone! You still have to teach me how to fight, and we have to make the forest better together!

Brambletail sighs sadly when River protests his impending reunion with his fellow guardians of the forest.

Unfortunately little one, I will have no choice. Once my duties as the guardian of the forest have been fulfilled I have to pass them onto the next generation and join my ancestor's to watch over them until they too have fulfilled their duties.

He sees the log that River had mentioned before and walks over to it, sniffing at it before widening his eyes in a bit of surprise. He turns his head back to River.

River....this log has your scent all over it. Come here and try to move it.

He tells her, moving aside for her and sitting back onto his haunches.

River's ears went down as she listened to him a bit, not liking what he said since she wanted him to stay. When he walked over to the log and told her to move it she walked over slowly, still sad about what he said.

It's too big for me to move... that's why I asked you to come over. I rubbed ash off of it before I went back.

She mumbled as she moved over, trying to tell him why it would smell like her. When she reached him and the log though she looked at it confused for a bit, not sure how to move it before she put her front paws against it and tried to push it away.

Surprisingly the log actually feels much lighter than River was and it moves very quickly away from the river.  Suddenly the water from the river that had accumulated behind and underneath the log for so long burst forth and washed River into its tide.  The tide was so strong that it dragged her underneath the water as it quickly washed over the big fire that had been producing so many ashes before.  The water quickly overruns most of the forest and washes the ashes away from the landscape, trees and myriad other forms of plant-life springing to life in the aftermath of the flash flooding of the forest floor.  Water enters River's lungs as it moves along until suddenly she feels something dig into her scruff and powerfully drag her up to the surface of the tide.  Soon she's back on the bank of the river near the clearing where she'd moved the log with Brambletail soaking wet next to her and on his side.  His breathing is very ragged and his sodden fur was heavy on him, making it even harder for him to breathe.

River couldn't help but give a squeak when the water rushed out all of the sudden, having thought that the log wouldn't have moved. Of course she struggled when being dragged in the water, panicking even more when she couldn't get up out of the water before she felt herself being pulled out. She started coughing and gasping as soon as she could get any air, shivering as she laid on the ground next to Bramble. It took her a while before she could catch her breath properly, still shaking as she got up weakly and went to lick Bramble's fur since she heard his breathing.

Brambletail gives a weak chuckle and opens his eyes part of the way when he sees River licking his fur, not moving from where he was.

Heh....you should worry about your own fur before mine little one. You are more important to this forest than I am now.

He tells her, coughing a bit from the water that'd entered his lungs.

River shook her head a bit as she coughed quietly and licked his fur more and tried to dry him off.

Y-You are more important, I don't know how to do anything without you...

Brambletail gives her another weak chuckle as he coughs a bit more, this time a bit of water coming out from his lungs.

Don't you get it yet? The forest has already chosen my successor for me. That log that you had moved....you saved the forest because it wanted you to be the next guardian. I wasn't supposed to move that log. You were.

He explains to her.

River stopped a little bit and sat back as she looked at him, her ears going back as she did.

I-I'm so tiny though! I-I can't fight, I-I nearly drowned t-twice today. I-I don't know anything a-about the forest!

She protested and shook her head, not wanting to accept it and have him go away.

Brambletail gave River another weak chuckle when she voiced her protests.

Not true at all. Had you been using your claws when we were training earlier, you most certainly would have beaten me or even killed me. You are more than capable of defending yourself and it is because of your youth that you can do so much more for this forest than I can. That sapling you had found by the river, it was uncovered by the ashes when you showed it to me. It was you that did that wasn't it?

He asked her, a smile on his muzzle now.

River whined a little bit as she listened to him, her ears staying back as she went to clean his fur again.

All I did was listen to you though... and I wanted to show you that the forest could come back so you would be happy.

Brambletail smiles at her genuinely, pride shining in his amber eyes.

But I am happy River.  I am happy that I got to meet such a wonderful creature such as yourself.  And I am happy that I will be leaving my forest in such good hands.

River mewed quietly as she listened to him, shaking her head as she tried to curl up with him.

I don't want you to go away though, I don't want to be alone.

Brambletail lifted up his head as he felt his body growing weaker.

You will never be alone young guardian. I will always be with you in your heart. And anytime you would want to see me, you need only visit the shrine in that clearing you found. I will always be there for you when you need me the most.

He gives another rough cough as River curled up with him, a warm smile on his muzzle as he moved to lay his head on the ground.

I have a rather selfish request River if you would hear it.

He asks her, his body now easily showing signs that he was nearing his time.

River mewed quietly and pawed at his muzzle as she moved closer to him, her ears against her head as she nodded some.

W-What do you want?

She asked him after a minute.

Brambletail lifted his head up a last time before responding to River's question.

Would you stay here with me? Until the end?

He asks her, his head falling back to the ground. He was now too exhausted to even really lift his head anymore. It would only be a matter of time now.

River whimpered quietly but nodded as she moved closer, up under his chin as she shook some.

I-I don't want you to leave me though, w-what will I do after?

Brambletail smiles quietly as River moved up under his chin this time, hearing her concerns.

You will protect this forest. Serve as its guardian and watch over its inhabitants. If you do this, then the forest will never abandon you. It will always protect you in return and keep you safe and well nourished. And when I am finally gone, I only ask that you give me a proper burial. What you do after that is up to you.

He tells her, his breathing now starting to become more shallow.

River mewed and shook her head as she pawed at his muzzle some.

I-I am still too small to do i-it... b-but if you think I-I can I will try to.

Brambletail lets out a sigh of relief when River finally agrees to his sentiment. Relaxing his muscles, he closes his eyes and uses the last of his strength to speak.

Thank you....River....my little guardian....be strong....

He rasps, his breathing finally starting to peter off as the moon rises into the sky and shines onto the two of them.