The night hummed with activity, a welcomed change from the ice cold landscape the river had been experiencing these last few moons. Frogs and crickets sang and in the distance an owl screeched as it hunted under the moonlight. The river rushed, swollen from the thawing ice, but was shallow enough to cross at some points, the smooth stones at the bottom allowing for safe passage.
A split-furred she-cat sat on the shore of a river island, paws tucked under her tail as she looked to the sky. A brown tabby tom crouched beside her, eyes half closed as he struggled to stay awake amongst the lullaby of the night. Both cats startled slightly, the tom especially taken off guard as he stumbled to his paws, when the undergrowth rustled to their right. The she-cat stood defensively in front of the tom, bristling and glaring into the bushes until a brown speckled head popped out.
“Oh! Didn’t mean to startle you!” the newcomer exclaimed, eyes widening at the display. The cat skulked out of the undergrowth, revealing a small speckled brown body. She dipped her head politely. Beside her, a shorter red tabby with white splotches crept low, looking at the two strangers with suspicion.
“Sorry. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect coming here tonight…” the split-furred she-cat apologized, turning her head to lick her shoulder fur down. “I’m assuming…you received the message as well?” she said slowly, eyeing the two.
“Yes! From one of our fallen, in a dream. We’ve been gathered together in a cave system, that way.” The she-cat angled her ears in a direction behind them. “I’m Mouse, and this is Fox.”
“I’m Marigold. This is our healer, Clover.” the she-cat dipped her head to the shorter cats, smiling. She seemed at ease now knowing they were here for the same reasons she was.
“Are we all that are left, then?” Fox asked, voice barely above a whisper.
As if to answer him, the river splashed behind Marigold and she whipped around to face two short-legged cats with flat faces. One was an old silver tabby tom, his green eyes bright as he encouraged a ginger tabby she-cat alongside him.
“Good night!” The silver tom called as he caught sight of the four cats on the shore. He leapt up, shaking out his pelt and showering the others, who scampered back to try to stay dry.
“Good evening. Where have you bunch been hiding?” Mouse greeted, tilting her head to the side. Fox was practically hiding behind his friend now, though she was almost as tiny as he was so it barely did him any good as he glared at the slowly expanding group.
“The marsh, close to the folk homes. I’m Morning, this is Swamp. We received a message a few nights ago to meet here. Any idea why?” the silver tom asked, licking at a paw. Swamp sat next to him, narrowing her eyes curiously.
“Isn’t it clear?” a voice interrupted. This time, no one did more than turn their head in the direction of the voice. It had come from the same side of the river as Mouse and Fox. A long-legged dark tabby she-cat appeared, amber eyes practically glowing in the dark. A plump black spotted she-cat trotted behind her, looking slightly shy as she dipped her head in greeting.
“And you are…?” Clover asked, looking the tall she-cat up and down, unimpressed. The stranger lifted a paw and gave it a few licks, unsheathing her claws.
“Blaze. I have a small group of cats deeper into the forests. This is Spring, my own healer. We’ve been listening. I couldn’t just stroll in not knowing what all of our intentions were.” The she-cat stated, inspecting her claws before stretching, muscles rippling under her pelt. Clover and Marigold exchanged slightly amused glances.
“Well, what do you think our purpose is here tonight?” Swamp asked, her voice slurred and deep, a harsh comparison to her companion’s clear bellowing tone.
This time, Spring spoke, eyes bright. “We believe that our dead are trying to contact us. Both Blaze and I received dreams from one of our fallen friends, Flint, beckoning us to come to this place. If you all received similar dreams, it suggests we are on the right track.”
The rest of the cats muttered agreements, all sharing small snippets of the dreams they had received. Even Fox, as untrusting as he seemed, couldn’t help but to nod his head along.
“Where do we go from here, then?” Morning asked, looking around. Suddenly, a cold breeze blew towards them, buffing their fur and almost taking Mouse off her paws. Clover darted a paw out to help settle her. Marigold squinted against the wind, following the direction it was blowing with her eyes. The wind blew from the South, and to the North of them the trees creaked and the undergrowth swayed. She could barely see a small light shining through the leaves.
“There! Follow the wind.” She pointed with a paw before standing and trotting off in the direction. Clover followed close after as did the rest of the cats, Blaze and Spring slowly taking up the rear.
Not much deeper into the trees, the group emerged into a glade. Unlike the darkness around the island, this area was illuminated by a small pool towards the Northern edge of the space, fed by a couple of tiny streams trickling from the river. Blue-green light shown from the water, lighting up the plants and trees above it.
“What is this?” Morning asked, voice cracking in awe as he stepped forwards. Looking down into the water, small snails littered the shallow bottom, letting off an impressive glow.
“The snails, they’re…glowing?” Clover observed, sounding unsure of himself. Marigold nodded, reaching a paw in slowly and tapping one of the snails. It quickly receded into its shell.
“If I was a wise dead cat, this is where I would want to talk to us.” Blaze mumbled, sitting near the edge of the pool and glancing out of the side of her eye to the snails, looking slightly unsettled.
“Where are they, then?” Fox asked, shifting his weight from one paw to the other anxiously. Mouse gave him a pitiful look and rested her tail on his shoulder.
“If they talked to us once while we slept, maybe that’s the key.” Spring offered, slowly lowering herself to the ground and tucking her legs under herself.
“Sleep? In this strange place?” Blaze scoffed, though her eyelids were growing heavy and her ears did droop a little. The other cats slowly felt the same, legs shaky as they all but collapsed onto the ground and rested their heads on their paws, closing their eyes. Soon, they all slept soundly on the shore of the small pool, the only sound the creaking of the branches above them and the singing of frogs and bugs.
When they next opened their eyes, they were surrounded by mists in an endless meadow. The cats huddled close, unsure of where they were and feeling watched. Soon, the cause revealed itself. All around them starry furred cats appeared, eyes shining with glee at the sight of the living felines.
“Who are you!” Blaze snarled, fur bristling. Fox was in the same position, teeth bared as he whipped one way and then the other, trying to face cats on either side of him.
“Be still, friends. We are no foes.” A gray and white cat soothed, stepping forwards. Blaze glared at them with squinted eyes before all the anger in her body flooded away and she leapt forwards, burying her face in the cat’s fur. Spring followed, letting out a choked sob of happiness as she curled around the cat.
“Flint! It really was you!” the black she-cat exclaimed, eyes closed tight as she rubbed her face against the starry cat’s cheek.
“We are all real! And we have been expecting you.” Another cat, an orange tabby looking strikingly similar to Swamp, stepped forwards, this time drawing Swamp and Morning to him. “Welcome to the meadows, my friends.”
“I’m so glad you figured out our message! It’s so hard to express things after we die, it took a lot of work to get to you!” A small tabby she-cat purred in glee, hopping up to Mouse and Fox. Mouse looked at her lovingly, embracing her in a tight hold with her paws wrapped around her. Even Fox’s eyes softened as he bumped his head against the small she-cat’s.
Marigold kneaded the ground with her paws, looking slightly down as the cats around her began chatting with each other. Clover nudged her shoulder, giving her an apologetic look. However, another cat soon stepped out of the throng of strange starry beings around them, his black spotted pelt glittered with light. Marigold lit up, letting out a mrrow of excitement as she all but tackled the tom.
“Tarantula!” She yowled out, eyes wet. Clover slunk up next to them, looking just as happy.
“Marigold, my friend, it’s good to see you. While we are very happy that you all are here, we didn’t call you just for a reunion.” Tarantula purred, giving the she-cat’s ears a lick before slowly pushing past her. The other starry cats joined him, facing the eight living cats.
“We’re here to give you information. This land you have settled…it's full of energy and life. It’s allowed us to remain after death and watch you.” Flint began slowly.
Mouse and Fox’s small friend spoke next. “The land is supporting all of you with prey and space. That isn’t usual for so many animals in such a small space. It's not natural.” she purred out, eyes bright.
“Yes, which is why we want you to stay here. Let us watch over you and guide you as you form a life here with families.” Tarantula continued, voice almost pleading.
“We are all survivors of the folk house and being abandoned. We all have that in common. This is one of the only places we can stay close together and grow without struggling.” The last cat, the orange tabby, spoke.
“So…you called us here to tell us that you want us to keep living here? After you died from the conditions this place created?” Blaze scoffed, ears flicking back in disbelief.
“While the abundance of food here is unnatural, that is still a part of life. Working together, your groups will be able to survive and even thrive here. If you leave, that might not be guaranteed.” Flint explained soothingly, stepping closer to the cats. Tarantula stopped her with a shake of his head.
“We did summon you to tell you this, but there is more. We want to bestow each of your groups a gift to help you, something that connects you to this afterlife we’ve created but helps you thrive in the living world.”
“A gift? What kind of gift?” Marigold asked, stepping forwards curiously. Tarantula smiled at her, beckoning her closer. The other cats did the same, leaving Blaze, Marigold, Fox, and Morning standing before them.
“A name to show your skills and power, for one. We have each discussed this and have decided that these names will show your standing in your groups and identify you’re skills and training amongst you all.” Tarantula explained.
The orange tabby nodded. “Yes, and on top of that, extra lives for those who are to lead each group in this new life. These will help you protect your family and defend them against any danger you face.”
“We want to bestow these on each of you, and any cat that follows in your path. In turn, we want you to give each of your family members a name of their own to describe their own personal strengths once you get home. Explain to them what we have told you and help them embrace this new gift.” Flint finished. The final cat, the small gray tabby, leapt forwards at the end of her words and touched her nose to Fox’s forehead, causing him to grimace in pain and shiver.
“I, Heavypaw, grant you, Foxstar, nine lives. Use these to guide your family, Chasmclan, to a bright future.” She stated, voice echoing around them. Fox fell to his belly, panting as the she-cat stepped back. The other cats watched in shock. Blaze opened her mouth to say something, but was stopped by Flint touching her nose to her head next.
“Blazestar, I, Flintsmoke, grant you nine lives. Defend Vineclan with pride for many years to come.” She spoke. When she pulled away, Blaze stumbled slightly, staring at the ground. She looked like she may be sick before she closed her eyes, breathed deeply, and stood up straight.
Morning was next, puffing out his chest and trying to stand strong as the orange tabby touching his head. “I, Bumblequiver, grant you, Morningstar, nine lives. Guide Marshclan through this harsh yet beautiful territory.”
Marigold shifted her weight on her back paws, fear rising in her chest. She turned her head from watching the other cats to face Tarantula as he stepped forwards. “Be still and calm. Take this gift with grace and strength, as I know you are capable of.” he soothed. She swallowed thickly before nodding, closing her eyes as he touched his nose to her head. She grit her teeth as pain surged through her body, threatening to force her down.
“Marigoldstar, I, Tarantuladapple, grant you these nine lives. Use them to keep Bloomclan safe and learn the way of this new life with grace.” he said, voice echoing. As he pulled back, peace and warmth ebbed through her body, replacing the stinging pain. She slowly relaxed, flexing her claws to help her come back to herself. When she opened her eyes, the cats had backed away from the living.
“This is our gift. Please use it wisely. This place, the glade, will be your gateway to speak to us for guidance. When you arrive home, give your family their names, appoint someone to support you and take your place in the event you fall, and find a healer to guide you in health and spirit.” Flint said, eyes warm as she dipped her head. With that, the cats began to fade. Mouse squeaked out a farewell, voice cracking as the edges of Marigold’s vision darkened.
The living cats woke with a gasp, chests heaving as they roused. Blazestar was the first to stand, legs shaking and eyes narrowed.
“I need to return home. I need to tell my group…Vineclan…what has happened.” She spoke finally. The other cats nodded, though no others stood to leave as Blazestar turned and ran, Spring wobbling slightly after her.
“I need a moment to rest before I leave, Swamp. Give me a moment.” Morningstar rasped, looking much older than he did when he first arrived. Foxstar and Mouse gave the rest of the cats a quick farewell before making their leave.
Marigoldstar looked at Clover, eyes wet as she thought about what they had just experienced. He looked at her expectantly, eyes wide.
“Let’s get home.” she purred, turning towards the meadows.
Bloomclan has been formed
Marshclan has been formed
Vineclan has been formed
Chasmclan has been formed
