Moon 13 (Newleaf): Falling Shadows
Wisteriastripe's Age: 12 Moons
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Content Warnings: Xenophobia, Emotional Abuse, Death and Grief
"So," Rushseed hissed as she circled Shadowstar. "What are we going to do with you?"
Upon returning from the gathering, Rushseed had roused the rest of the clan and called a meeting. Everyone stared wide-eyed as the deputy took charge, stalking menacingly around BleakClan's leader. Shadowstar did not meet her gaze, just stared at the ground with an absolutely shattered expression. A cold wind blew over the hollow, the newleaf warmth of day not quite touching the night.
"I swear to you, Rushseed, I did not know," Shadowstar said quietly.
"Dapplestar was a deceiver, she has besmirched the name of our noble clan by taking a TigerClan mate, and having not one, but two litters with that scum," Rushseed lunged at Shadowstar, snapping her jaws shut just before she reached the pale ginger molly's throat. "She does not deserve her legacy, you are not fit to be leader, and I'll rip all nine lives out of you myself if I have to."
"How dare you!" Antlerfleck began bristling. He lunged forward, claws unsheathed. He was only held back from striking Rushseed by Sleekbloom, who was blocking him with his wide body.
"Let the two of them sort this out, Antlerfleck. If Shadowstar is to be out leader, she needs to stand up for herself on her own merit," Sleekbloom whispered. Wisteriastripe could only just hear his voice over the rumble of the other murmurs from the gathered cats. "For too long she has let Rushseed run this clan, it is time she put her in her place."
"Rushseed, I agree with you," Shadowstar sighed.
Gasps filled the air. Clearly BleakClan did not expect Shadowstar to give in so easily. Rushseed was watching Shadowstar with orange eyes as hungry as fire. Wisteriastripe was almost certain she could see her mother's tongue swiping across her lips, but even in the light of the full moon, it was too dark to tell.
"Really? I didn't think this would be so easy," Rushseed's eyes gleamed. "You really are a pathetic leader, just like your mother."
"You are heartless, Rushseed," Primrosestripe spat, suddenly stepping out from the gathered cats. "Dapplestar was your best friend, that's why she made you deputy, and why Shadowstar trusted you enough to make you deputy again. All you are is because of her."
"I appreciate it, Primrosestripe, but really, there is no need," Shadowstar said, meeting the healer's eyes for only a moment before flashing her gaze back down at the ground. "Rushseed is right, I have been a weak leader. I believe my mother was honourable, and I will never be able to live up to her example, but Rushseed is right. Dapplestar broke the code, and I should not exist. She does not get her heir. Besides, I am tired. I just want to be an ordinary warrior, I want to keep my family safe, and fight alongside you all as an ordinary clanmate. Rushseed should have been leader all along, she has always been the stronger cat. I accept my fate, from now on, call me Shadowblaze. Rushseed and I will travel to the Moonhollow in two days time, and I will give up my lives."
"This has not ever been done before," Sleekbloom said quietly. "What if StarClan does not honour the switch?"
"Then we will accept StarClan's wishes, their will should be followed above all else," Shadowblaze flashed a wary gaze at Rushseed.
Wisteriastripe did not believe for a second that Rushseed would let StarClan tell her what to do, but to her credit, she did not say so.
"Of course," Rushseed dipped her head. "Until then, I will continue to lead this clan, as I have while Shadowblaze has been in the nursery. Once I gain my nine lives, I will be making some changes around here. BleakClan has become a tainted clan, with all of its outsider blood. We must remember who we are, and value pure-clan blood above all else."
"What will come of those of us who are not BleakClan-born?" Blueclaw asked. He stood bravely resolute, gray fur bleached silver in the moonlight, but Wisteriastripe could smell his fear-scent.
"We have lost too many cats to drive out any of our number, as tainted as we are, but I will be expecting us to make a concentrated effort to increase our number," Rushseed's eyes flashed to Antlerfleck and Sleekbloom.
"I get what you are implying, Rushseed, but Shadowstar is my mate. I will not betray her," Anterfleck warned. His green-yellow eyes gleamed sharply, and Wisteriastripe had never seen her former mentor look so serious.
"Then I shall blame you when BleakClan has become nothing more than a band of rogues," Rushseed hissed.
"We are already a band of rogues!" Violetpaw piped up, and Wisteriastripe immediately cringed. She wanted to rush over to her sister and stuff her paws in her mouth so she would stop speaking, but she was frozen to the spot, watching her clan crumble before her eyes. "Even if Sleekbloom and Antlerfleck fathered a thousand kits with pure BleakClan cats, it would only be a generation or two until the only choice would be to mate with cousins or outsiders. Shouldn't a cat be judged by their deeds, rather than where they came from? Face it, Rushseed, your perfect BleakClan is already dead and gone."
"Is that any way to speak to your leader? To your mother?" Rushseed's eyes were sparking balls of fury as she stalked over to face her daughter. For a second, Wisteriastripe was certain she was going to kill her where she stood, but the gray molly only chuckled. "You have guts. I may not agree with what you have said, but I like your spirit. It's about time you were made a warrior, I will give you your name when I return to the Moonhollow. However, be warned, continue speaking such blasphemy and I won't be so generous."
Thankfully, Violetpaw had the good sense to not say anything more. She simply dipped her head, though Wisteriastripe could still see the spark of defiance in her gaze. The sight made her feel like her heart was going to leap out of her chest like a fish.
"Violetpaw makes a good point. Perhaps we will have to look past bloodlines for our survival. I will accept those with outsider blood as my allies if you prove yourself worthy of it. Show me you have left the weakness in your lineage behind, turn your back on it completely. Be brutal, give everything to me and to this clan, and you have a place here," Rushseed growled. "If you show softness, if you betray us, exiling you will be the nicest thing I can do for you. I will not hesitate to kill anyone who is a threat to our survival, and I expect you all to do the same."
Blood rushed in Wisteriastripe's ears as her heart pounded even harder. She could not tell if it was from excitement or fear. Her time was coming, she knew it. She just had to prove it, she knew just how badly she wanted to succeed, and how much she stood to lose if she failed. She would not end up the next splash of blood on Rushseed's claws.
Looking around the camp, she could see both Yewswoop and Puddlebud were inspired by Rushseed's speech. Gingerpath, who was sitting at the entrance to the Healer's Clearing tunnel, wound still wrapped in cobwebs, met Wisteriastripe's gaze. She did not need to speak with him to know that they were swearing an oath to one another, a vow to be the strongest warriors BleakClan had ever seen.
"Thank you Rushseed," Shadowblaze dipped her head. "You will make this clan powerful, I know you will. Let's all go to bed, it has been a busy night."
The clan dispersed, but Wisteriastripe could tell from the chatter that no one would be sleeping anytime soon.
***
Two nights had passed since the fateful gathering. The energy in the camp had shifted since Shadowblaze had stepped down. Rushseed was already ruling the clan with an iron claw, and everyone seemed determined to show off their strength. There had been more prey brought back than ever before, and cats were far more likely to return from patrols bearing wounds from scuffles with TigerClan or Fringe cats.
Wisteriastripe was exhausted. Both she and Lilacfrond had remembered Rushseed's promise to them. Neither of them had trained an apprentice yet, but neither wanted to take the chance that the other might be given the position of deputy once Rushseed gained her nine lives. Wisteriastripe felt like she was constantly bickering with her sister, but she could not bear to let Lilacfrond outrank her. She had sent herself on as many patrols as she could fit in a day, and was not willing to slow down anytime soon.
As Wisteriastripe emerged from the warrior's den, she ran into Elkkit. The white and brown tom was carrying thorns in his mouth, and was staring up at Wisteriastripe guiltily.
"What might you be doing with those?" Wisteriastripe asked. Elkkit always seemed to be getting into trouble one way or another.
"Nothing," Elkkit's yellow eyes did not meet her gaze.
"You weren't planning on putting them in some brave warrior's nest, were you?" Wisteriastripe narrowed her eyes.
"Noooooo, I was taking them out of camp so no one would step on them!" Elkkit insisted.
"How brave!" Wisteriastripe chuckled. "How about you give them to me to throw out, and lets go back to the nursery." Despite herself, she admired the kit's gall. She would never have intentionally pissed off a warrior like that when she was a kit.
Sulking a little, Elkkit trailed behind Wisteriastripe as she returned him to the nursery.
"I found this little one 'helping out' with some thorns," Wisteriastripe told Trouthowl, nudging Elkkit towards her.
"Well, how brave of him!" Trouthowl said, catching Wisteriastripe's meaning. "I hope he did not get in the way of any of the warriors."
"No, I helped him get them out of camp safely," Wisteriastripe said. She looked around, figuring she should say hello to Lavenderpaw before she found a patrol to join. Her sister was nowhere to be seen.
"Lavenderpaw hasn't been doing too well," Trouthowl said, noticing how Wisteriastripe was scanning the nursery. "Between you and me, Rushseed has always scared her, and the thought of her running this clan has left her a mess. I can't say I'm too happy about our noble deputy becoming leader myself, but Lavenderpaw has always been a particularly sensitive one."
"You shouldn't be saying such things," Wisteriastripe said, looking over her shoulder to see if anyone had overheard.
"See, I think a clan where a cat can't say what is on their mind is dangerous," Trouthowl said in a low voice. "Come on, Wisteriastripe, I know you have always wanted Rushseed's approval, but you are smarter than this. I raised you, you know. I know your heart, and it does not truly lie in ceaseless violence."
"You may have raised me, but that was your job, nothing more, you are not my mother," Wisteriastripe said curtly, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. "It's different as a warrior. I would not expect a queen to understand. Make sure Lavenderpaw sees her senses, I do not want to see her blood spilled."
"That is not a threat, is it?" Trouthowl said in a low growl, tail swishing. Her eyes betrayed the hurt she felt at Wisteriastripe's retort, but she did not challenge her. "Think about the cat you want to become, Wisteriastripe. Some bloodstains can never be licked away."
"It is not a threat," Wisteriastripe said quietly, throat suddenly feeling tight. She had to leave here, and get as far away as she could. She did not like the way Trouthowl was staring at her.
She left quickly, without saying anything more, feeling like a coward. What kind of warrior got unnerved by a queen? She almost tripped over Dapplekit as she went.
"What do you mean I can't be deputy?" The cream and ginger molly was demanding of Shadowblaze. "I was gonna be your deputy when I grew up!"
"Things have changed, my love. I'm not saying you can't ever be deputy, but I am not leader anymore," Shadowblaze said. "Now, you be good for your father. Make sure your brother doesn't get into too much trouble while I am gone, I have to take a little trip."
"But when will you be back? Can I be deputy when you get back?" Dapplekit asked.
"I'll be back tomorrow, before the sun goes down," Shadowblaze promised, "and you are still too young to be deputy."
Wisteriastripe did not stick around to hear anything more. She didn't want to be anywhere near the nursery. She was concentrating so hard on leaving that she almost ran into Rushseed.
"Ah, there you are, Wisteriastripe," Rushseed said. "I've been looking for you. I want you and Lilacfrond to accompany us to the Moonhollow. I think it would be a great opportunity to show me what you are capable of."
"I would be honoured, thank you," Wisteriastripe could hardly believe what she was hearing.
"Well, don't just sit there like a wide-eyed squirrel," Rushseed said. "Go get your travelling herbs from the healers. We have a long journey ahead of us."
***
So far, the journey to the Moonhollow had been uneventful. However, that had not stopped Lilacfrond from challenging Wisteriastripe at every step.
"I'll race you to that big tree!" Lilacfrond flicked her tail down the path between TigerClan and MulberryClan.
"You run on ahead and use up all your energy right at the beginning of our journey!" Wisteriastripe taunted. "I'm going to keep a nice even pace and you can explain to Rushseed why you collapse before we reach the Moonhollow."
"Sounds like you think you can't do it, I can race all the way down this border and back and still not be tired," Lilacfrond boasted.
"Alright then, you show me," Wisteriastripe challenged. "You'll look just like an apprentice on their first day out of camp!"
Despite her bold words, Lilacfrond did not run ahead. Instead she stewed next to Wisteriastripe. The two sisters walked in silence for a little while.
"TigerClan," Rushseed suddenly growled from in front of them. "A patrol is nearby."
Sure enough, Icystar and Tuftedwhisker emerged onto the path. It was then that Wisteriastripe noticed that Tuftedwhisker's tail was now marred by a frostbite scar. It had been a hard winter for TigerClan.
"Rushseed, Shadowstar, what brings you to our neck of the woods?" Icystar asked, staring down the patrol menacingly.
"You cannot stop us, Icystar, you know the code," Primrosestripe said evenly.
"And I am no longer Shadowstar, I am Shadowblaze. We are going to the Moonhollow so I can give up my lives, and Rushseed can get hers," The former BleakClan leader said quietly.
"So, you actually did it," Icystar looked impressed as she sized up BleakClan's new leader. "Good on you, sometimes you need to take things into your own paws. It's a good choice too, we exiled Rimestripe after the gathering. If you come across him, know he is no longer a clan cat."
"I agree," Rushseed dipped her head, a sickeningly satisfied look entering her eyes. "You and I have much to discuss. Perhaps, now that BleakClan has a much more level-headed leader, our two clans can see peace."
"Yes, come by once you have your lives, it is time this war is ended." Icystar dipped her head in agreement.
Wisteriastripe stared at the two leaders in shock. Icystar was talking as if Rushseed hadn't started the war with TigerClan in the first place. She had scolded Rushseed for it during the first raid, and now she was acting like it had all been Shadowblaze's fault. Her mind also kept catching on what Icystar had said about 'taking things into her own paws.' Did she have something to do with Bristlestar's passing?
Wisteriastripe suddenly felt sick. Clan cats were supposed to be honourable, and to stand up for one another. Wasn't that the whole point?
"Psst!" A voice suddenly sounded from the bramble wall of the border path. Wisteriastripe turned to see Crocuspaw beckoning her towards him.
Wisteriastripe looked over her shoulder to see if anyone was watching her. Everyone was so engrossed in the conversation with Icystar they would not notice her slipping away.
"What do you want?" Wisteriastripe hissed.
"Believe me, you are the last cat you want to talk to." The fur along the back of Crocuspaw's spine prickled. "But I can't stop having that dream. I need to tell you about the prophecy."
"Quickly, I can't have my patrol seeing me disappear! Rushseed will have my pelt if she knows I am talking to you," Wisteriastripe urged.
"I keep being visited by a ginger tom. He does not smell of any of the clans, I do not think he is from StarClan. Whenever he speaks, I see the whole forest blanketed with wisteria, covering everything like kudzu." Crocuspaw explained. "At first, it looks as though the clans are destroyed, but that's when I see them. There are still cats, and they still smell of the six clans, but some of them are wearing kittypet collars, and some look like rogues or loners. Then the ginger cat speaks to me, and he tells me 'Wisteria will take root in the forest, and the forest will be changed.' I think you are going to change the clans, and I think you are going to save us all."
"You have to be joking," Wisteriastripe felt sick to her stomach. Kittypet warriors? Surely Crocuspaw was mistaken. Perhaps the prophecy was warning that she couldn't be too weak, or else the clans would grow too soft and be taken over by kittypets.
"I swear on StarClan that I am not. The ginger cat then tells me that I have to tell you about my vision, because you will not hear him," Crocuspaw said. "So I am fulfilling my duties."
Will not hear him? If Crocuspaw was talking about the ginger cat that kept appearing in Wisteriastripe's dreams, she had tried to hear him. It wasn't that she wouldn't, it was that she couldn't. She felt a prickle run up her spine at the accusation.
"You have bees in your brain. Why would you listen to a dead cat who is not even a StarClan cat?" Wisteriastripe asked.
"Because I am an outsider, and so are you. We got lucky, and we found a home in our clans, that's all the separates us from any kittypet or loner." Crocuspaw was starting to sound a lot like Violetpaw. "Why should we get to live while they die at our claws? Why should we find a home in the clans while they are barred? I love TigerClan, and I will give everything I have to serve them, but every cat should be given that opportunity, if they want it."
Wisteriastripe's head was starting to hurt. This was the second time she had been challenged today. She wanted to snap back at him, like she had with Trouthowl, to push all this nonsense away, but there was something in his intense blue gaze that made every word die in her throat.
"Just think about it, okay?" Crocuspaw said. "I don't know why it's you. I think Violetpaw would make a lot more sense, but I have heard this prophecy enough to know that it is undeniably you. The ginger cat even said so himself."
"Who even is this ginger dream cat?" Wisteriastripe asked, hoping that Crocuspaw could not smell the fear-scent she knew was emanating from her.
"All I know is that he told me his name is Dixie," Crocuspaw said, shrugging. "Though that name means nothing to me."
"Dixie?" Wisteriastripe said quietly as her throat tightened.
"Do you know him?" Crocuspaw asked, tilting his head slightly.
"I never met him, but he is one of my fathers," Wisteriastripe said, unsure why she was telling a TigerClan cat this. "I need to go. The patrol is going to notice I am gone soon."
She was glad Crocuspaw didn't say anything more to her as she left through the brambles, though she could feel his burning gaze on her pelt every step of the way.
***
Wisteriastripe was exhausted by the time the patrol reached the Moonhollow. The waning moon was just rising over the horizon as they exited the tunnel into the hollow, and the night-chill of the air was only slightly warmer than the cold of the tunnels.
She was grateful to have finally arrived. Between all her extra patrols and the weight of her conversation with Crocuspaw, she wanted to curl herself into a ball and never wake up, but she could hardly show weakness in front of Rushseed and Lilacfrond. Her sister in particular had been prodding her the entire journey with various challenges, and it had been difficult to give excuses without coming off as weak.
The cats ascended the stone path towards the basin, and Shadowblaze and Rushseed knelt down to drink from the water before curling up and falling asleep.
"You two keep watch," Primrosestripe told Wisteriastripe and Lilacfrond before bending down to take her own drink of water, leaving the two sisters awake and watching over the dreaming cats.
"Do you think it is going to work?" Wisteriastripe asked.
"Of course it will. StarClan would have bees in their brain to think that Shadowblaze makes the better leader," Lilacfrond huffed.
"Are you just saying that because you want to be deputy?" Wisteriastripe challenged.
"No, I'm saying that because I have eyes in my head." Lilacfrond narrowed her eyes. "You're not going soft on me, are you?"
"Of course not!" Wisteriastripe balked.
"Good, because I can't lose my competition!" Lilacfrond said, looking away.
Was that a compliment? Wisteriastripe stared at her sister, trying to get a read on her, but she wasn't meeting her gaze.
Her eyelids suddenly felt very heavy. She fought to keep them open, feeling like she would rather die than be caught shirking the duty bestowed upon her. However, despite her best efforts, she just could not stop them from closing, and she half-collapsed, half-lay down as she drifted off to sleep.
***
A different ginger cat was awaiting Wisteriastripe in her dreams. This one had a darker pelt, like a more vibrant version of Violetpaw's. His eyes were violet, looking very much like Wisteriastripe's. He had a similar lack of jowls to Blueclaw, though Wisteriastripe noticed he had fluffed up his long face fur to give the impression of jowls.
"I figured I might have an easier time getting through to you than Dixie, as you and I are very much alike," He said. "I'm doing this as a favour to him. I don't think any of you should have anything to do with the clans, you should be Fringe cats, but he is convinced you have a destiny there."
"...Shari?" Wisteriastripe asked, eyes widening. Was this the cat who bore her?
Shari dipped his head in acknowledgement. "You have grown up well, Wisteriastripe. I have been watching you. I wish you could have given your prowess to The Fringe, but I am still proud of your strength. Come, I have something to show you."
As the two cats walked, the void around them solidified into forest. They eventually found themselves on the rim of the Moonhollow, looking down into it. Wisteriastripe had never seen it from this angle, as the clifftops were strictly SnowyClan territory. Down on the stone platform by the pool, Shadowblaze, Rushseed and Primrosestripe stood together. A crowd of starry cats surrounded them. This must be the Moonhollow from StarClan's side.
"You can walk in StarClan?" Wisteriastripe breathed, staring wide-eyed at her father.
"If you know what you're doing, a cat can walk in any afterlife. I learned to do it so I could visit Dixie," Shari explained, "and to keep an eye on my daughters."
"Why are we here?" Wisteriastripe asked.
"Dixie wanted you to see it," Shari said, shrugging. "Something about watching as your clan turns onto the path of destruction."
"What does that mean?" Wisteriastripe's eyebrows furrowed.
"Look, if you keep asking questions we will miss what is happening below. Let's just watch," Shari sighed.
In the depths of the Moonhollow, Shadowblaze was standing in front of the other two living cats. In front of her was a tortoiseshell cat with a white belly and star on her forehead. She could see enough family resemblance to tell this was Dapplestar.
"I am very disappointed about this, you know," Dapplestar said to Shadowblaze, who could not meet her mother's gaze. "You had a legacy to carry, and now you are giving it up. It is not too late to turn back."
"I can't remain BleakClan's leader knowing I am half-clan," Shadowblaze said quietly. "Besides, I was not cut out to be leader. I have tried, and I am just not strong enough."
Dapplestar stared at her daughter for a long time, like there was more she wanted to say. She then looked at the StarClan cats behind her. Wisteriastripe could tell from the way that they looked back at her that Dapplestar's disloyalty was not going unpunished here either. She did not have as much power here as she was positing.
Dapplestar sighed. "Very well. Shadowstar, we revoke your lives. From this moment on you will once more be known as Shadowblaze. May you continue to serve your clan with all the strength of a leader, even in your diminished role."
Dapplestar touched her nose to Shadowblaze's and a light emerged from the former BleakClan leader's chest, returning to her mother's body. The ginger molly gasped, as if in pain, but she did not pull back as seven more cats stepped forward and removed their lives from her one by one. By the time it was over, Shadowblaze was shaking, almost unable to stand. Primrosestripe moved forward to support her, licking her comfortingly on her shoulder.
Dapplestar rejoined the crowd, and a brown rosette molly with cream patches stepped forward, beckoning Rushseed forwards. The gray molly's eyes gleamed hungrily as she stepped up to join the StarClan warrior.
"Applegaze, you look well," Rushseed grinned.
A jolt flashed through Wisteriastripe. Applegaze! This was Seedpaw's mother, who had died in the same battle Wisteriastripe and her sisters had been born in.
"I could not have asked for a more honourable way to die," Applegaze dipped her head. "Thank you for leading us into battle, it is my honour to give you your first life. I give you this life for sympathy for your clanmates. You must be strong together if you hope to stand against the forces of those outside your borders."
Wisteriastripe could tell from the flash in Rushseed's eyes that gaining a life was just as painful as losing one, though Rushseed held herself strong, showing none of the same weariness Shadowblaze had displayed.
Applegaze then rejoined the crowd of starry cats, and Seedpaw stepped forward, brushing pelts with her mother on the way. Wisteriastripe's breath caught in her chest. Even now, her heart ached with grief for her lost friend.
"I give you this life for honesty," Seedpaw says. "Some secrets should not be kept hidden." She had to reach up to make contact with Rushseed's nose. It was strange to realize that the apprentice was now smaller than Wisteriastripe, now that the warrior was fully-grown. In life, the apprentice had been older and larger.
The next cat was an elderly silver sokoke tabby tom with yellow eyes. Though he was old, his eyes were sharp and every move was clearly calculated.
"I am Rainfeather, BleakClan's StarClan guide. I give you a life for precision. Every claw-strike is valuable, and comes with consequences." The old tom said, touching noses with Rushseed.
It was strange, seeing a cat Wisteriastripe had only heard of in Trouthowl's nursery stories. Rainfeather had been a sickly cat, who had spent most of his life in the elder's den, but he was respected for the way he had watched over BleakClan in life, just as he now lead the BleakClan cats of StarClan in death.
Next was a silver rosette tom. His muscles rippled with strength and his eyes gleamed with a look she had seen on Rushseed's face many times before.
"I am proud to call you a descendant of mine, I am Downydapple, the warrior who felled a thousand enemies," The silver tom said. "I give you a life for accountability. Remember the legacy you are carrying as your forge a new path for BleakClan."
A shiver ran down Wisteriastripe's spine. Downydapple was the greatest warrior in BleakClan's history, the hero of many stories and the victor of many impossible battles. She couldn't help but quiver in the presence of such a powerful cat, and she wondered if she would ever be as powerful as he was.
The next cat to come forward was a soft-looking pale ginger tabby tom with golden eyes. He looked out of place among the other, fiercer warriors, and Wisteriastripe realized that he must be Sporefur. The tom was the protagonist in many a cautionary tale about trusting twolegs. He had been taken away, and had never been seen again by BleakClan.
"I give you a life for courage," Sporefur said. "Though I know you lack none of it, life throws twists and turns, and you must always be strong."
Rushseed's face showed clear distaste at being given a life by a warrior-turned-kittypet, but she accepted the life without comment.
The sixth cat was a solid gray tom with pale green eyes. He was extremely thin, almost unhealthily so, though he walked with his head held high and green eyes gleaming with wisdom.
"I am Irisflood. I lost my life during a redcough outbreak, where I chose to leave camp with the other sick cats and care for them to spare those still strong and healthy back at camp. I give you this life for empathy. Sometimes the survival of a clan comes at great sacrifice, and strength does not always look like claws and teeth. There are many ways to serve your clan."
Rushseed accepted his life, though Wisteriastripe could tell without her mother saying anything that she would not be taking Irisflood's advice.
The next cat was a speckled golden tom with golden eyes. Rushseed's eyes flashed in recognition as he stepped forward to grant his life, though Wisteriastripe could not recall him from any nursery tales.
"Canaryfur, I remember the battle that killed you," Rushseed dipped her head.
"I did not need to die. I rushed into battle trying to please cats older and stronger than me," Canaryfur's eyes flashed sharply at Rushseed, as if trying to pass on a warning. "With this life I give you mercy. Not every battle needs to be fought."
"It was your own fault you got killed," Rushseed snorted after she received the life. "You were too reckless for your own good."
Canaryfur bristled at her, but did not interrupt the ceremony, returning to the crowd with his golden fur fluffed up and tail swishing angrily. Wisteriastripe wondered if he regretting giving that life to Rushseed. After all, until Rushseed lost her seventh life, a piece of his soul would dwell within her body.
The eighth cat to present a life was a tortoiseshell tom with cream ear and tailtips. Cream also covered his paws and splashed across his chest. He walked up and bestowed his life upon Rushseed.
"With this life I give you spontaneity. You may be old in age, but you must be vigorous and open to move with the flows of time," He said. "I am Crowriver, and I spent my life advocating for changes to the warrior code to allow cats to change their gender. Change is coming, and you must be ready for it."
Wisteriastripe was almost certain Crowriver had turned to wink at her before returning into the crowd, though she did not understand why he should pick her out of all the cats gathered.
The final cat to step forward was Dapplestar.
"Rushseed, despite your betrayal to my bloodline, you have always been my best friend. It is my honour to give you your final life. With this life I give you loyalty. Do not forget those who have stood by your side."
Rushseed gritted her teeth as the final life flowed through her. Of all the lives, it seemed to be the most painful. Once the pain ebbed, she held her head high. A black star, the same colour as the stripe along her back, now sat on her chest. As Wisteriastripe looked closer, she noticed that the star marking on Shadowblaze's shoulder was gone, replaced by a single speckle.
"Let me be first the one to welcome you as Rushstar, BleakClan's new leader." Dapplestar said. "Lead well, and remember the weight of responsibility that sits on your shoulders."
"Rushstar! Rushstar! Rushstar!" The name echoed around the hollow as the starry cats welcomed the new leader, and with that the ceremony was done.
"A cat like that as leader only spells doom," Shari sighed, eyes darkening as he got to his feet. "Not for your clan, but for all who live outside their borders." He turned to look at Wisteriastripe. "You walk a narrow, treacherous path, be careful which way you fall."
The Fringe cat walked away, leaving his daughter alone at the rim of the Moonhollow. Wisteriastripe wanted to call after him, but the scenery around her was fading, and soon she found herself waking up on cold stone.
She quickly got to her feet, relieved that Rushstar, Shadowblaze and Primrosestripe were still asleep.
"Have a nice nap?" Lilacfrond sniffed. "Don't worry, I kept us all safe all on my own."
Wisteriastripe's thought were too consumed with the dream she had just woken from to form a retort. This was the third warning she had received today about following in Rushstar's footsteps, and she did not know what to think of it.
***
"From this moment on, you will be known as Violetbark. StarClan honours you determination, and we welcome you as a full warrior of BleakClan. Congratulations on being the first warrior I have named during my leadership, I hope you take it for the honour that it is," Rushstar announced, touching noses with Violetbark. Wisteriastripe could see the hesitation on her sister's face that most others would miss. Still, she couldn't help but feel relief that Violetbark had finally earned her name. It meant she had finally been accepted into the clan.
"Violetbark! Violetbark! Violetbark!" The clan chanted. Though their voices were enthusiastic, there was an apprehension in the air, as heavy and electric as the sky before a thunderstorm.
The patrol had returned from the Moonhollow as the sun was setting, and Rushstar had immediately called a clan meeting announcing her new status as leader.
"Will Lavenderpaw be getting her full name?" Trouthowl asked, standing up and stepping towards the Tallbranch. Lavenderpaw lingered near the back of the crowd, hunched over and shaking, not making eye contact with any cat.
Rushstar's face stretched into a disgusted sneer. "She has done nothing to earn it. Even by a queen's standard, she is weak and useless. She will remain an apprentice until she grows a spine, I am willing to leave her a 'paw her whole life if she doesn't smarten up."
Wisteriastripe could see tears forming in Lavenderpaw's eyes, and her sister began shaking harder. Trouthowl opened her mouth to challenge Rushstar further, but the leader gave the queen such a glare that she clamped it shut, teeth clenched, and returned to Lavenderpaw's side. Trouthowl began stroking her apprentice's back, speaking calming words that Wisteriastripe could not hear.
"Next matter of business, my deputy," Rushstar said, sitting up straighter and surveying her clan. "Since I have taken leadership so suddenly, I do not feel prepared to name a deputy quite yet. I will take the next moon to keep an eye on everyone, and will name a deputy once I am satisfied I have a strong and capable choice."
The crowd bust into an uproar.
"This is nonsense! A new deputy must be named before moonhigh!" Sleekbloom yowled, mouth agape.
"You must not anger StarClan so early in your leadership by breaking the code," Primrosestripe snapped, ears back.
"StarClan may be angry, but they cannot take my lives away from me. I am doing what I think is best for this clan, regardless of if StarClan agrees. If anyone wants to challenge me further, be my guest." Rushstar glowered.
The camp fell silent, and no one said anything more. They knew better than to challenge their new leader.
"Then, with that, I conclude-" Rushstar began.
"Wait!" Fallowcrawl interrupted, stepping forward in front of the gathered cats. "While everyone is here, I have something to confess. I've been hiding it since I was an apprentice, but I can't stay silent anymore!"
Wisteriastripe opened her jaws to yowl at her friend to stop, but the young healer met her gaze and shook her head. Heart pounding, Wisteriastripe fought every instinct rushing through her nerves and shut her mouth. She could only watch in horror as her friend destroyed her entire life.
"Seedpaw did not die from eating a poisoned rabbit," Fallowcrawl said, now making pleading eye contact with Pondskip. Her mate was staring at her wide-eyed, pupils nothing more than pinpricks. "It's my fault she is dead. I was trying an experimental treatment, I didn't realize that what I was feeding her was poison."
"So it wasn't my rabbit that killed her?" Pondskip took a step back, staring blankly ahead. Her voice shook as she spoke. "All this time, I thought it was me-"
"That's why I had to confess the truth," Fallowcrawl was looking at Pondskip with eyes brimming with a soft affection. "I couldn't let you carry that guilt anymore, not when it is my burden to bear." She turned to address Rushstar and the rest of the clan again. "I have learned from my mistakes, I have worked hard to learn how to heal properly, and no longer take risks with herbs I don't understand. I would love to keep serving you as your healer, but understand if you want me to step away from my duties and become a warrior instead."
Primrosestripe was staring at Fallowcrawl with an intense look of loathing. Wisteriastripe had never seen the head healer look at someone with such venom.
"I trusted you," She spat, arching her back as she raised her lips in a hiss. "I knew there was something that didn't line up about Seedpaw's death, but I figured my apprentice wouldn't lie to me. If you had only come clean in the moment-"
"Then you would have made me become a warrior apprentice!" Fallowcrawl wailed. "I love healing, I don't want to be anything else, but it's worth it now, if it means that Pondskip can stop feeling guilty about killing Seedpaw."
"If you had trusted me, we could have worked something out. I would not have demoted you immediately, mistakes happen, and it is possible to learn from them. Instead you lied to me and lied to your whole clan and put them in danger by being a mediocre healer," Primrosestripe's face was consumed with fury. "Do you ever wonder why I named you Fallowcrawl? It's because you crawled your way to becoming a healer, your guilt weighed you down so much your healing skills suffered. It's a miracle no one else was killed at your paws. The only reason I made you a full healer is because your mother begged me, and I could not say no to my leader."
"Fallowcrawl, you are responsible for the death of one of the few full-blooded BleakClan cats we had left," Rushseed's eyes were nothing but slits as she seethed with her own rage. "If only you had killed one of our outsiders, your sentence would be lessened."
"Please, I promise I will be a good warrior. Just let me learn. I'll give up my title," Fallowcrawl pleaded, cowering under the looks of shock and rage from her clanmates. Wisteriastripe's heart broke for her friend. It was an accident, she didn't deserve this. She wanted to yowl across the camp and defend her clan, but she knew doing so would be suicide.
"You are definitely not becoming a healer while I am alive," Primrosestripe spat. "I would like to propose that Fallowcrawl not even be allowed to train as a warrior until we figure out a suitable punishment. I will of course leave that up to you, Rushstar."
"Very well, Fallowcrawl, you shall be treated as a prisoner until I decide what to do with you. You will only eat when I give permission for a warrior to bring you food, and you will not contribute to the clan as a warrior or a healer. You will be confined to the camp, under a constant guard, and no one will be allowed to speak to you unless I command them to do so." Rushstar announced. "You must be punished for taking the life of Seedpaw, but I do not want to be hasty in removing someone with BleakClan blood from the clan, even if it is tainted by TigerClan filth. I need some time to think."
"Yes Rushstar, I understand," Fallowcrawl was crouched low on the ground. She cast a desperate glance at Pondskip, who would not meet her gaze. She then looked to Wisteriastripe. The warrior knew she could not draw any attention to her support of her friend, but she nodded, hoping that she understood.
The former healer was then shuffled away by Yewswoop and Puddlebud, who took her to a rotten log at the edge of camp. Wisteriastripe had been told it once was the apprentice's den, but many seasons ago it had fallen into disrepair. Even now, she could see puddles from where a recent rain had leaked through the roof.
"Well, with that out of the way, the meeting is adjourned." Rushseed sighed. "I will organize the moonhigh patrol and guards for the night, and the rest of you may go to sleep."
Wisteriastripe knew she should be tired after travelling to the Moonhollow and back within the past couple of days, but after all the excitement of the meeting, she felt wired. She instead turned to Violetbark, who was getting ready to sit her vigil at the entrance of the den.
"Congratulations on your warrior name, it suits you," Wisteriastripe said, finally breaking the silence between her and her sister. Violetbark simply looked at her and did not respond. Wisteriastripe could not tell if it was because Violetbark had already begun her vigil, or if she was refusing to speak to her on principle.
Sighing, Wisteriastripe turned to go settle down in the warriors' den. Maybe sleep would come for her if she lay down in her nice mossy bed. Her head was spinning with all that had happened within the past several days, and she didn't know what to make of half of it. Perhaps things would be clearer in the morning. As she curled up in her nest, she screwed her eyes shut, begging everything whirling around her mind to stop. It took a while before her head was empty enough to allow her to doze off into a fitful slumber.
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