RAINSTARS NINE LIVES
Rainwillow stood before the moonpool, shivering ever so slightly. Am I really ready to be the leader of this clan? Am I really worthy? He trembles with each doubtful thought. He turns to look over at Iceeyes.
"Go on, it is time, Rainwillow. It is time to walk with Starclan and come back to your clan as Rainstar." The old tortoiseshell dipped her head as signal for him to step up to the moonpool. Rainwillow takes a deep breath, and lays down at the edge of the pool, and gently dips his nose into the cold water, laying down and gathering his tail and paws beneath him. Shortly after he's gotten comfortable, he can hear the old medicine cat lay down next to him and dip her nose into water, causing soft ripples of water to hit his nose. A deep breath, and both slip into sleep, jolting up seconds later to find themselves in the same spot, but surrounded by glowing cats, all murmuring and watching. Rainwillow looks around to see Iceeyes beside him, the medicine cats eyes now clear of cataracts and shining bright green.
"Your eyes! You can see!" he exclaimed.
"My eyes are clear in my dreams. But nonetheless, it is time for you to meet your ancestors." She points her nose ahead, and when Rainwillow looks up he sees before him, the great golden cat he had just laid to rest the night before.
"Dawnstar!" His eyes glowed as the giant she-cat approached him.
"Rainwillow, my dearest friend." She dipped her head down to be closer to his. "You have made me so proud. I know you will lead Creekclan well." She presses her muzzle to his forehead. "I give you a life with the strength to lead this clan to a new world, far from the lands you know. You may struggle now, but you will find your strengths later on."
Rainwillow's paws buzzed with a rush of electricity, almost knocking the small tom over. What does this mean? Another land? A new world? But before he could ask the great leader before him any questions, she stepped back away from him, revealing a small, black tom.
"Coalheart!" He gasped at the sight of his own father, finally standing before him again. "I can't believe its really you..."
"It is, my son, I have finally found you again, I have missed you so much." Coalheart's golden eyes glistened. He pressed his forehead to his son's, and Rainwillow flashed back to being a young, naïve apprentice, just wanting to be included, following his father to that fated clearing where he was taken from him. He shuts his eyes before he can see the twolegs snatch his father away. "I give you a life for loyalty. I have spent my life dedicated to you, and died searching for you, and you will carry that same loyalty towards your family and clan." He mewed.
A rush of energy hit Rainwillow's heart. I'm ready. He thinks and pulls back to look at the old tom again.
Coalheart rubs his face against his son's one last time, and silently steps away, the sadness growing in his eyes as he drew further away.
On his left, Rainwillow sees a sleek, brown tabby approach him. He doesn't recognise this cat, but he knows that he is someone very important to his clan.
"Hello, Rainwillow. I am Creekstar, the first leader of Creekclan." Rainwillow's eyes widened at the realisation that this is the great cat who started this clan. Creekstar touched his muzzle to Rainwillow's head. "I am so glad to see my clan fall into such great, powerful paws. I know you will lead them well. I give you a life with the courage to keep our clan safe, no matter where it takes you." The once great leader lifts his head and meets Rainwillow's eyes, and he feels a surge of pride in his chest. I will make you proud, Creekstar.
As Creekstar steps away, a large grey tabby steps up to Rainwillow.
"You do not know me, my life ended just before yours began, but I have been watching you from Starclan. I am Riverwing, I was Creekstar's first deputy. You have grown up to be a fine young warrior, and you will make a great leader." He dipped his head to touch his muzzle to Rainwillow's head. "I give you a life with the selflessness. I gave everything for my clan, and i continue to watch over and protect my clan even from Starclan. You will lead your clan with your clanmates in mind before yourself. You have always shown that you will care for others first, now show your clan how you'll do it as a leader." He lifted his head to meet Rainwillow's eyes once more, and his large orange eyes glinted with starlight. As the large cat stepped back, a familiar face came into view. The beautiful grey she-cat approached Iceeyes first, both meeting eyes and pressing their heads together.
"I missed you, my love." She whispered.
"I have missed you too, Rainfeather." Iceeyes spoke with a broken voice. The two lovers spent a few more seconds together, and then Rainfeather stepped to be in front of Rainwillow.
"I have been watching you closely, my friend." Her soft, calm voice send a shiver of relaxation through his body. "You have made me very proud, and I thank you for protecting our daughter, Rabbitpaw. She will make you proud when she is your medicine cat." Her green eyes were filled with pride and relief. She silently lifted her head to press her nose to Rainwillow's head. "I give you a life for hope. Hope for the future, hope for your clan, and hope for your family. Never forget, we are looking out for you, you will get through the darkness that lies ahead." As she stepped back, a small rush of anxiety hit Rainwillow. The darkness that lies ahead? What is going to happen? But he couldn't do any more worrying before Rainfeather stepped away, and a face he's missed very dearly was revealed.
"Cloudpelt! Its you!" He cried out, running up to the small blue she-cat. "I missed you so much, the kits miss you too!" He meowed as he buried his face in her soft coat.
"I have missed you so too, my dear." She mewed as she rested her head on his shoulder. "Ashkit and Cinderkit will grow up strong with you as their father. I give you a life for wisdom. Be wise and raise our kits well, raise our clan well, and make us proud again and again. I know you can do it." She drew back to meet Rainwillow's eyes once more, before stepping back so a small black kit could step up.
"Oh, Rockkit, I am so sorry for what happened, I've missed you so much." Rainwillow dropped down to meet the kit's eyes.
"It is okay, you do not need to apologise." His tiny voice sent shivers through Rainwillow's spine. "You will raise my brother and sister well. I will always be with you and them." He lifted his tiny nose to touch his father's forehead. "I give you a life for offering second chances. Some cats are not how they seem. I may seem young and unwise, but I know many things from my time here. Be strong, father, do not grieve me alone." As Rainwillow opened his eyes, the tiny kit gave him one last smile before leaving. As he stood back up, a face that was unfamiliar, but comforting to see, appeared before him.
"My son, I know you have never seen me, but I have watched over you for many moons, I am so proud of you." She whispered, and he felt a rush of warmth. His mother. Grayleaf. He had only heard of her, but now, he sees so much of himself in her face, he knows she truly is his long lost mother.
"I- I can't believe it's finally you. I am so glad to finally meet you." He whispered back, and they pressed their heads together.
"I give you a life with a mother's love. I have never stopped watching over you, I have never stopped loving you, I will always be with you, Rainwillow." Her gentle voice reminded him of being just days old, eyes not open, suckling with his brother. The only moment he had with his mother. The warmest memory in his heart. As the sweet she-cat stepped away, a young black and grey cat stepped up to Rainwillow.
"Riverpaw!" Rainwillow gasped as the small tom touched noses with him.
"Hello brother, I have missed you so much, you have grown up to be so strong, and so brave, I am so proud of you. I give you a life for patience. Time may move slowly when things dont look bright, but I know you have the strength to carry on no matter how long it takes." Rainwillow felt a sharp rush of pain through his body, and took a deep, wavering breath.
"It is over." Dawnstar whispered in his ear. "We are so proud of you. Welcome, Rainstar."
His new name echoed around him, every cat raising their voice to call out, "Rainstar! Rainstar!"
Rainstar sat up straight and looked around. "Thank you, all of you." He meowed. "I will lead my life and my clan by the lives you have given me, I will make you proud." He turned to meet eyes with Dawnstar. "I hope i will forever make you proud." He dipped his head to her in respect of the leader who had guided him here.
"Go on, Rainstar, lead Creekclan with all your heart. We will be with you always."
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Kayaking up the Guajataca River
We enjoyed a lovely morning kayaking on the Guajataca River with Planeta Kayak. We also hiked up a mountain to an abandoned railroad tunnel (used long ago for sugar cane, or caña) called el Túnel Negro (the Black Tunnel, for obvious reasons. Thank goodness for cellphone flashlights!).
Rio Guajataca (pronounced REE-oh Gwah-hah-TAH-kuh) is located on the border of Isabela and Quebradillas on the northwest coast of Puerto Rico. The leisurely trip cost $40 cost per person, which included double kayaks, paddles, life jackets, and a two-hour tour. Although the water was placid and the pace relaxing, adventure seekers enjoyed a chance to dump into the river from a rope swing!
Our tour guide Jose spoke in rapid Puerto Rican Spanish, so we didn’t catch it all. But we saw mangroves and other interesting tropical trees and plants, fascinating birds, and even a nest with chicks right along the water. We suggest you wear a swimsuit under your clothes, wear good walking sandals for the hike, which is short but challenging. Don’t forget sunscreen! And bring your own water bottle, because our guide brought a cooler but apparently forgot to fill it with water bottles for his guests.
All in all, it was a refreshing day, and we recommend it! Afterward, you can head to the nearby beach and enjoy an afternoon under the palm trees.
Planeta Kayak: https://www.facebook.com/planeta.kayak/
Rio Guajataca: https://www.puertoricotravelguide.com/playa-guajataca-isabela-quebradillas/
Map: https://goo.gl/maps/edY1npssBDejbz83A
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