Starless

Dust knows of past and present and future.

He's lived the past. He lives in the present. He will live on in the future.

Or, he thought he knew of it.

His legacy died the day he left his home, left to be a wanderer. He dreamed of his story being told for generations to come. It would most likely be that it would be cut short in two generations, three if he is lucky.

He should have trusted Talon's judgement, not his own. That's a thought, however. Not a regret.

What he regrets is that he never will see his kits, perfect bundles brought out to the world by his mate. He wanted to name one Flicker. He told Asher about this, and she laughed at him, telling that she would consider his offer. Dust can now only hope that one of his children will carry that name with pride.

What does it feel like to die? The dark brown tabby wonders as he watches the moon sailing down towards him. He twists slowly, stretching his paw toward Asher. She stares at him, eyes like golden stars.

Will it be painful?

Will it be peaceful?

Would he be one of those demons in tales, shivering and quivering with unrest?

Would he-

His thoughts are cut off as the moon comes for him.

"Dust!" His mate's cry echoes in his ears.

A deafening thud as a boulder crushes the cat before Asher.

Cats behind the white she-cat let out caterwauls of shock as the dust settles onto the ground.

There is silence. A limp paw quivers before going abruptly still.

SCENEBREAK

A while away, a tortoiseshell she-cat leaps over the flat stones which are her home. She lunges toward a small, brown, quivering ball of flesh. The mouse has no time to react as the she-cat ensnares it in her jaws.

The tortoiseshell looks up, triumphant. Then she pauses when she hears a ghost of a boom.

Did a boulder fall? she wonders. She is still for a moment before shrugging and padding on. She has kits of her own she is hunting for.

And after that one fateful day – when one died, one lived, one was born and one was written in the stars – the stars stop appearing in the night sky.

Clan of Clear Skies

Prophet of Skies (Skywatcher) – large ginger tabby she-cat with amber eyes and a torn right ear (formerly known as Fox that Walks on Stone)

The Respected (Or: The Council)

Talon that Swipes at Hare (Talon) –tortoiseshell she-cat with amber eyes

Moss that Grows on Rock (Moss) – gray and white tom with shredded ears

Spider that Spins Web at Dusk (Spider) – dark gray tabby tom with ragged fur

Fog that Rises at Dawn (Fog) – silver tabby she-cat with blue eyes and white paws and a fluffy tail

Stone-Guards

Shadow of Jumping Hare (Shadow) – black tom with sleek fur

Bird that Soars Through Storms (Bird) – ginger tabby she-cat with white paws

Hoot of White Owl (Hoot) – black and white she-cat

Warble of Early Bird (Warble) – dark brown tom with thick fur

Sharp Call of Mountain Eagle (Sharp) – blue-gray ticked tabby she-cat with amber eyes

Kite that Utters Piercing Cry (Kite) – blue-gray tabby tom with amber eyes

Soft Light of Dawn (Soft) – long-haired white she-cat

Prey-Hunters

Snow that Falls on Trees (Snow) – small gray and white she-cat

Wind of Coming Storm (Wind) – dark ginger tabby tom

Shallows of Calm Stream (Shallows) – blue-gray tabby she-cat with amber eyes

Red of Bright Dawn (Red) – russet tom with blue eyes

Ice that Settles on Cliff (Ice) – lithe white she-cat with gray patches

Glow of Setting Sun (Glow) – cream tom with green eyes

Blaze of Great Wildfire (Blaze) – black and white she-cat

To-Bes

Tangle of Wolf's Fur (Tangle) – long-haired gray tom

Clouds Over Mountains (Cloud)– long-haired white tom with a notably plumy tail

Pebble that Shines Underwater (Pebble) – dark brown tabby she-cat with hazel eyes

Kit-Mothers

Flower of Golden Meadow (Flower) – ginger and white tabby she-cat (mother to Wind's kits: Tumble and Rush)

Kits

Tumbling Falls that Splash Great Waters (Tumble) – dark ginger tabby she-cat with white paws and chest

Rushing Rivers where Salmon Leap (Rush) – white and ginger tom

Cats outside of the clans (otherwise known as the Settlers)

Asher – white and pale gray she-cat (the leader)

Rushmore – ticked ginger tabby she-cat with white paws

Leaf – golden tabby she-cat with green eyes

Flicker – long-haired white and ginger tabby tom

Starling – black she-cat with a white chin and tail tip

Wasp – golden tabby tom

Petal – cream spotted tabby she-cat

Panther – thick-furred black she-cat

Tavern – white tom with a long scar running down his face