Post on 04-Apr-2018
transcript
7/30/2019 The Ways Of The Water Lilies
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The ways of the waterlilies
Inspired by the Warriors series! Erin Hunter isan amazing author. Be sure to read Survivors,
Warriors, or Seekers.
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No copyright intended, for entertainment
purposes only!! (For both the picture and the
story)
OneYellow-jacket paced back and forth. Thats
impossible..! Yellow-jacket murmured to
himself. Calm down, Yellow-jacket. Its ok.
Youll see her in her dreams. A small female
cat reassured him. But Mooney, she was mylife! The small, pale gray cat, Mooney,
winced. Secretly, Mooney had loved Yellow-
jacket. But, Yellow-jacket was dedicated to his
girl-cat, a bright cat named Lady Cricket.
Mooney sighed. Yellow-jacket was her best
friend, and her love, but he only saw her as afriend, sadly. Lady Cricket died only the night
before, because of poison. Its not your fault.
Its the humans! Lately, more and more
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waste has been dumped into their gigantic
pond. Since the Water Lilies used that pond as
their main food source, more cats have been
poisoned. Maybe youll stop grieving once
you know I love you, Moony muttered
disdainfully. It was a blessing and a curse that
Yellow-jacket heard. He slowly sat down in
front of Mooney. He twisted his neck so he
could face Mooney. You could have told me,he whispered, lifting her head up. How? she
sniffed angrily. Just say it. Its easy. I love
you. The words rang through Mooneys ears.
She blinked back her sadness. But you dont
mean it. You probably hate me now. Yellow-
jacket sighed. Youre right. I dont mean it.Im sure of it. He nuzzled Mooney. Mooney
purred softly, and they both fell asleep, their
fur pressed together under the drooping
willow.
Two
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You love cat! Mooneys friend, Strawberry,
taunted her. Mooneys fur prickled with
embarrassment and anger. I am not. Yellow-
jacket and I are just friends. Strawberry
rolled her eyes, her deep red fur glinting in
the sunlight. Rumors spread fast, Mooney.
They say some cats found Yellow-jacket and
you under that willow. Mooney bit back the
urge to tear Strawberrys ears off. We arentlove cats. Mooney muttered. Yes, right
Strawberry said, gently prodding Mooney with
her paw. Its ok Mooney. I understand how
you feel, you know. I love Spider-web. She
led Mooney towards the willow where she and
Yellow-jacket were found. Mooney gave in.Alright. Yellow-jacket and I are mates.
Mooney spilled the whole entire story, to how
Lady Cricket died from poison, to how Yellow-
jacket overheard her mutter. Strawberry
listened intently. Its ok. Your secret is safe
with me. Mooney sighed. Thank you so
much, Strawberry. Mooney nuzzled her
friend in thanks. If only the other cats would
be this accepting, Mooney thought wistfully.
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TwoYellow-jacket, wait up! Mooney dashed to
his side, looking up at him warmly. What are
you doing? Yellow-jacket looked down and
purred. Apple set out a fish hunt. Im
participating in it. Why dont you ask Apple
herself if you can join? Itll be nice to have you
around. Beaming, Mooney ran off to the head
of the group of cats, where Apple was
marching to the pond. May I join the group? I
dont mind fishing for a bit. I just have to
stretch out these creaking bones! Apple, who
didnt have a mate and was a teaser of a cat,
smirked. Sure! Why dont you join Mint-leafs
group? They set out that way. Mint-leaf was
looking for some cats to join her group.
Mooney bit back a reply. Ok. She huffed
finally. I am not going to let Apple get in myway. Shes just jealous because she doesnt
have a mate! Mooney sighed. But they dont
even know for sure if Yellow-jacket and I are
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actually mates, dont they? They just tease us
since were together all the time. The only
actual cat who knows the truth is Strawberry!
ThreeYou made friends with those mangy
things!? Yellow-jacket spat indignantly. Applepaced back and forth angrily. We expect
better from you! You know you cant possibly
make friends with that that that fish-
brained kitten! Mooney, who was listening
intently to the scuffle, winced. Much to her
displeasure, Yellow-jacket and Apple werefuming. Cloud-eyes, a bloomer, had made
friends with a Lightning Bolt bloomer. Cloud-
eyes were one of Mooneys favorite bloomers,
and one of her best friends. Cloud-eyes had
met a beautiful female bloomer from
Lightning Bolt place, and fell head over paws,the poor thing. Now Cloud-eyes heart was
torn into two. May, Cloud-eyes love, was a
small, mangy thing, though her fur was the
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color of the shining sun: a deep, passionate
orange-yellow. Cloud-eyes, who was a large,
handsome cat with fur peach color with dark
gold-orange stripes. His eyes, however, were
a wispy white, the same color of a fat, lazy
cloud that drifted over the sun at high noon.
Cloud and sun, Mooney thought wistfully.
They belong together! Like cloud and sun!
Marching over to Apple and Yellow-jacket, shestood defensively in front of Cloud-eyes. Its
not his fault. When a cat falls in love, they
dont want to be separated! They go to
desperate measures, Yellow-jacket. They
obviously feel the world for each other, and
with the Star Gazers as my witness, I demandyou let the poor bloomer go! You have no
business whatsoever to be digging through
his case. Mooney was eyeing Yellow-jacket
the whole entire time, and all of them were
speechless. M Mooneys right, Yellow-
jacket choked. When a cat falls in love, they
do go to desperate measures. But Cloud-eyes,
May shes a Lightning Bolt bloomer, for Star
Gazers sake! Are you sure shes your true
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love? None of the female bloomers in the
group impress you? Not even a tiny bit?
Yellow-jacket said desperately, eyeing a
cluster of bloomers by the pond. Well
maybe. Cloud-eyes gaze was settled on the
lone cat on the hill, under the willow where
Yellow-jacket and Mooney had slept only a
few nights before. You mean Lone Flower?
Cloud-eyes nodded feebly. Ive never talkedto her, but I always try to catch her eye
whenever she passes by. Lone Flower got
her name for a reason. She was a beautiful
cat, but none of the girl bloomers spent time
with her. She was solid peace and beauty; a
perfect Water Lily. Her fur seemed changeback and forth in sunlight and water. Her fur
was pure snow-white, but if she leaned close
enough to the water her fur seemed to glow
with the power and beauty of a rainbow.
When sunlight hit her fur, it reflected to her
eyes, only making them shine like the moon,
the sun and the stars together. Most female
bloomers seemed jealous of her, and all the
male bloomers drooled over her, just too shy
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to admit it, and ignored her for risk of
embarrassment. Beautiful as she was, she
always seemed serious and a bit gloomy. But
everyone agreed that if her voice was a color,
it would be a beautiful golden honey. Her
voice was as light as a baby bird. Yellow-
jacket grinned. Doesnt everyone? I nudged
Cloud-eyes with my head. Go on, Mooney
urged. Shes alone. Youll do great! Cloud-eyes took a deep breath. Ok. Thanks for
standing up for me, Mooney. He gave her a
quick lick on her ear, and bounced over to
Lone Flower. Mooneys eyes shone in
amusement and she leaned on Yellow-jackets
side. True love. I hope all turns out well.Yellow-jacket licked Mooneys ears. His mood
was light, but his expression suddenly
darkened. But what about his so-called
May?
Four
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Spring was ebbing away, and the heat was
rising. Yellow-jacket and Mooneys bond was
growing stronger than ever. Surprisingly,
Apple had fallen in love with Black-whiskers, a
handsome, serious, strict black hunter. They
were a perfect match, but their love almost
never showed, except that they joined fishing
groups together. Although Apple did love him;
you could see it whenever he was around, hereyes would brighten and her attitude would
tiltslightly. True, a lot of the female hunters
swooned whenever they saw Black-whiskers,
except when Apple was around; the she-
hunters could always detect the white, raging
fire in her eyes. So they backed off. Soon,when they entered the next fall, Apple had a
litter of buds. A girl and two boys; they were
beautiful children, and the girl, however, was
something else; they had no idea how they
generated her. While the boys were the
spitting image of their mother, the girl was a
sleek white with black splotches, and her eyes
were a strange, hot, burning red. Curious
eyes, was what Apple said, for she had loved
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all her children equally. The girl was a bit
fluffy, and whenever she touched sunlight her
eyes glowed. Apple said that she was a
beautiful creature and should be even more
beautiful when she grew into a hunter. Apple
and Black-whiskers decided to name her
Scarlet-eyes. The boys, with normal black
eyes and toned, red fur, were named Crimson
and Fire-fur. Black-whiskers treasured all ofhis children equally, just as Apple, but he was
drawn to Scarlet-eyes, because she was the
only one who actually showed resemblance to
him. Scarlet-eyes seemed very dedicated to
her brothers, and all the other buds drooled
over them. All the girls either liked Crimson orFire-fur, and all the boys turned red when
they saw Scarlet-eyes. But, since Scarlet-eyes
loved her name, literally, she complimented
the boys when they turned scarlet, crimson,
or fire-hydrant red. Red seemed to be Scarlet-
eyes, Crimson, and Fire-furs favorite color.
Soon, Apple was ready to leave the budding.
Apple, come here! Black-whiskers whizzed
past, so he obviously didnt say it. She looked
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around. Her buds were playing with each
other, so they couldnt have said it. The hiss
rang out in the open air again, yet Apple was
the only cat in the clearing. Apple do you
remember me you swore Apple Apple
whipped around, and let out a choked cry of
horror. She couldnt have been more
surprised if it was the devil himself, or if it was
a Lightning Bolt cat, leaping on her, claws andfangs. Standing before her, face to face, was
her dead sister, Lady Cricket.
FiveLLady Cricket? Apple choked. Yes, it is
me, sister. You said you wouldnt forget me
but you seem to have your mind busy. Lady
Crickets voice was wispy and light, but in a
threatening way. Black-whiskers come!!
Apple screeched, but Lady Cricket stoppedher. You will be taking my place, seeing how
it feels to be dead. I will take your place, and
then you will feel all the pain and loneliness I
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have been feeling for all those seasons. My
own sister. Well, let me tell you, sister, Ive
been watching how you continue your life like
nothing happened. To have your life ripped
away from your paw-tips. And to sit there,
watching your own kin, enjoying life. You
dont know how that feels. But soon you will.
And youll experience it first-hand. And in the
blink of an eye, Lady Cricket, in Apples body,was gone.
Six
Black-whiskers, where are you? Black-whiskers head popped out from behind a
berry bush. Im having a minnow with Mint-
leaf. Lady Cricket bounded over with a small
catfish. I caught a catfish, but I was a bit
lonely and I hoped I could join you. Black-
whiskers, who knew Apple inside and out, wassurprised by her change of attitude. After all,
Black-whiskers was Apples matebut Lady
Cricket has entered Apples body without any
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cat knowing. Black-whiskers, who loved Apple,
allowed her to join. Mint-leaf had finished her
share of the minnow and left with a flick of
her tail. Lady Cricket nudged the catfish near
Black-whiskers. Hey, Black-whiskers said
through a mouthful of catfish. I heard a
screech a bit earlier today. Do you know who
screamed? I was worried for you. Lady
Cricket swallowed a mouthful of catfish. Shenarrowed her eyes, and they gleamed with
hatred and amusement. No idea.
SevenA couple days passed. Everybody noticed the
change in Apples behavior, but assumed it
was nothing. Let the poor cat be happy, was
what Black-whiskers said, gazing fondly at
Lady Cricket. True love. Cant ever change
it. Mooney sighed. Yellow-jacket looked atApple. He didnt hear the screech, but Apple
was starting to remind him of Lady Cricket. If
only he knew what happen, Applethe real
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Applethought. She gazed sadly over her
friends. She was nothing more than a thought
and thin air. But Apple snapped. She just
snapped. Im not taking this anymore! Ive
been gone for five days already. My sister has
no right to hold me hostage in this terrible air
trap. Then Apple paused. This is what she felt
like? Is this how she felt, watching me, day by
day until she snapped? And Ive only beenhere five days. Shes been like this for years!
Apple sighed. My poor little sister. My poor,
poor sister. But shes obviously not going to
prance over here and offer my body back. I
have to tell someone. Apple stepped out of
the shade of the willow. Then she stopped.She walked back into the shade. And then she
walked out again. Apple felt if she could
scream. My fur! If I step into the sunlight, my
fur still shines! Maybe since Im still living. My
spirit is the color of my fur. But then Apple
thought. Its only the faintest tint of red! I
obviously could detect it because Im near it.
Its on me. No cat could possibly detect it that
far away. But Im still glowing I could go
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closer. Maybe theyll notice the tint of red and
save me. Apple streaked across the clearing
and desperately paced back and forth in front
of Black-whiskers. But he wasnt paying
attention; he was nuzzling Lady Cricket. Apple
felt her heart shatter. But she didnt give up. I
am a Water Lily. I am peace. I am beauty.
Water lilies are compassionate and forgiving. I
will forgive my sister someday. But this has tobe turned around now. Apple felt her heart
being glued back together. Mended in perfect
harmony. She felt her eyes burning the white,
hot fire that she always used to scare the she-
hunters away. But she was using it for good
this time. She closed her eyes. She felt herheart shaking, pounding, and hammering
against her chest. I couldnt give up. Not now.
Her heart felt like it would burst. Her fur
glowed. She opened her eyes. And sure
enough, she glowed like fire.
Eight
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She was surrounded by flames, but it didnt
hurt. It only strengthened her. She shined
bright. Her figure was outlined by flames and
crackling sparkles. Her heart glowed brighter,
and the fire shot up in the air. She heard
every cat gasp. She was seen! Lady Crickets
jaw dropped. So did everyone elses. Apple?
Black-whiskers whispered in awe. Yes?
Everyone gasped again when she spoke. Hervoice sounded light, but in it contained the
whole power and fury of the flames around
her. She spoke with wisdom. Lady Cricket.
Yellow-jacket gasped. Everyone spun towards
Lady Cricket in Apples body. Lady..! Yellow-
jacket murmured. Yes, Yellow-jacket. It isme. Yellow-jacket left Mooneys side, and she
didnt stop him. But how? Why? Yellow-
jacket was a tide of emotions. He wanted to
ask a million questions but he was speechless
to the scene before him. I loved you, but did
anyone care when I died? Nobody gave a
single thought, not even Apple, my own sister.
But she is no longer my sister. I switched
places against her will. She has no idea how I
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felt. I was angry. But Yellow-jacket you
seemed to move on so quickly She
murmured. I have never forgotten you. I
grieve for you every day and night, my dear.
But its time to move on. Lady Cricket
seemed to get a flicker of sense in her. But
she snarled. Ill never forgive anyone of you!
My friends, ha! You mangy fur balls were
nothing to me. Dead, as I am. Yellow-jacketseyes were glazed with pain. Please dont say
that. I loved you. But it was Apples turn to
step in. Enough! Apple snapped. Her gaze
rested on Lady Cricket. I am your older
sister. We have always been sisters. I love
you, and I always will. But what you havedone to me is unacceptable. You cannot
blame your group mates for your death, Lady
Cricket. We all have different ways of
grieving, and we all treasured you, I can
promise you that. But Yellow-jacket is right,
Lady Cricket. It is time to move on. Lady
Cricket was silent. Time seemed to stop. Lady
Cricket sighed. Youre right. Ive spent too
much time being stuck on the past. She
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gingerly stepped out of Apples body, and it
dropped to the floor as of it was nothing but
an item of clothing. Lady Cricket stood beside
Apple. Her eyes were glowing and her ivory
fur shone, just like Apple. Apple gave her
sister a nuzzle. Lady Cricket touched noses for
the final time. I wont forget you, Apple. I
wont forget any of the Water Lilies. Apple
buried her head in her sisters fluffy fur. Illnever forget you either, Lady Cricket. Lady
Cricket shone brighter than Apple. Its time.
No! Apple cried. Trust me. Lady Cricket
licked Apples ear. Thank you so much. Lady
Cricket started to fade. But she said one last
thing. This is for the best. Ill join Mother andFather. Well watch over you and guide you, I
promise. We are sisters. I love you. Lady
Cricket could barely make out the last three
words before she disappeared. But Apple was
quick enough. I love you, too. And Apple
swore that she saw Lady Cricket smile, and
she saw her mother and her father, standing,
waiting for her sister. The portal allowed her
to look just one more heartbeat before it
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closed. And Apple knew that her sister hadnt
lied; they would always be watching her.
Loving her.