The Keeper of the Souls

by Jayflight

Welcome, Shrewpaw. Don't be frightened. No, this is not StarClan, but it is safe. I am Rock, keeper of the world beneath which your Clanmates walk.

Can I take you back? Yes, and I will. Would you like to hear a story on the way? Then I shall tell you of the Keeper of the Souls of cats.

The Keeper was born in the mountains so long ago that even I, the foreseer of all moons past and to come, cannot remember. When he was only twelve moons old, he died of the great sickness that your Clanmates now call greencough. He was the very first small cat to die.

When his soul passed, the Keeper found himself in the forest that is now called StarClan. He was alone. He found pawprints of huge cats, but the lions, tigers, and leopards had long since faded away.

The Keeper of the Souls soon became desperate to find other cats, as he had no company. He ran for many moons through StarClan, searching for a friend. Eventually he wandered into the Place of No Stars, but was frightened by its darkness and went back.

One day, the Keeper discovered a rabbit hole in the ground. His curiosity got the better of him and he crawled in. He continued to crawl deeper into the earth until he had lost his sense of direction.

The tunnel went on and on, but then arrived at a cave with a rushing river. The Keeper looked up and saw a hole in the roof. Through it was coming a stream of sunlight – not StarClan's – but real light. He tried to find his way back to the surface through the tunnels, but could not. He was trapped. In desperation, the Keeper tried to find his way back to StarClan. He tried all the tunnels he could find, but they continually led him back to the cave.

Soon, other cats died and discovered the pawprints of a cat like them when they were on their journey to StarClan. They followed his pawsteps and found the forest. These cats decided that this must have been the first cat to die, as the legends told by their elders had said, and called him the Keeper of the Souls, as without his pawsteps to follow they would surely have become lost. To thank him, they granted him the power to see the past, the present, and the future.

Deep in the cave, the Keeper watched continually for someone who might penetrate his dark prison, where it seemed he was to be kept forever. The sharpclaws migrated from the mountains back to the lake and many died in the tunnels. Such was a young cat called Fallen Leaves. Then they left, and for many uncountable moons he was alone.

Then, one day, he watched as a great multitude of cats came to live beside the lake. He knew they were there to stay, and why they were needed to come. He would no longer be alone.

We have come as far as I can go. Follow those pawsteps and they will lead you safely to StarClan.

You have a question? Who is the Keeper?

He and I are the same cat.

Hope ya'll enjoyed this one! Please, don't forget to review! :)

~LMarsh