One day passes.

I like to learn about herbs.

Two days pass.

I learn that these little red berries heal ears. I don't understand how. The elder's ears look perfectly fine to me.

Three days pass.

We've been coming inside Elder's den rather a lot recently.

Four days pass.

"I guess I'm not too far away from StarClan now, aren't I?"

I turn to Elder and then to Brown-white, who is behind me, with wide eyes, astonished. What is this? This is so strange! Elder was mouthing! But something came out of him. And I sensed it? Is it sensing? Did it have a name? I'm so confused. It is like something just passed through the air, but it isn't actually anything like I've ever imagined. I didn't see it, so how could I have just caught it? Did I catch it?

I think my ears did something. Did they catch the thing Elder mouthed? They feel different somehow.

Brown-white inclines his head slightly, mouthing something back at Elder, looking concerned; he didn't see me. Why isn't anything coming out of Brown-white? If it is something special only to Elder, how come I didn't sense anything before? I recall the memories of my sisters dragging me to Elder to watch him mouthing long strings that made my sisters purr in delight.

Or maybe it is something that's special to me.

I think I have powers.

Brown-white leaves Elder some white-petaled flowers with yellow centers.

"Thank you." Elder dips his head down to lap them up.

I paw at Brown-white, mouthing to try to get his attention. When cats mouth across the camp, the cat they are trying to capture usually responds, so why is my mouthing not working?

When we end up in the forest Brown-white looks at me, tilting his head in the way he does when he's confused. I try my best to mouth to him what happened, but found I couldn't. How am I supposed to mouth things I don't know how to explain about?

I lash my tail in frustration at myself, then finally paw at my ears.

Brown-white's green eyes dawn with realization. He looks a little fearful, and I reel back. I don't know if he understands or doesn't, but I don't understand what there is to be afraid of.

Later, we go back to the camp slowly, only to find an odd scent clinging to Elder's fur. He's so still. Brown-white hangs his head, curling his tail around me, and grieves.