Sorry it took so long to upload, school got in the way and yeah. ;-; So, here's an extra long prologue! :) Hope you enjoy and I kinda had fun toying with the personalities of these cats. :D


Summary: Fate is a thing you can never choose. You can never avoid it or change it. Once it's laid out that's how it's going to be. It decides when your hourglass is done, it decides when your soul is going to be tore from your body. Aspenfall's fate was never to be a normal one, it was toyed with. It was messed with. Just because she was "chosen". Apsenfall was just a young kit when her fate was swerved off course, and since the beginning things have been...changing. Odd occurrences at the least. Though, these strange ordeals won't be the thing that Aspenfall's fate will do to effect her. Her new fate will become dangerous to the ones she loves, and may become dangerous to herself. Will she be able to survive this new destiny? Or will her fate merely drag her down into an abyss of pain and agony?


"Fate is never fair. You are caught in a current much stronger than you are; struggle against it and you'll drown not just yourself but those who try to save you. Swim with it and you'll survive." - Cassandra Clare


"I see that the council has come to a decision."

"Indeed, and we were hoping you are willing to agree to it."

A figure appeared from the shadows of the trees and the moon's light illuminated off her mottled gray pelt, causing her fur to sparkle with stardust. Her green eyes glittered like mini galaxies as she padded closer to the large, round pool that centered the small clearing. The pool itself was glittering as well, with a billion stars sparkling within the liquid.

The she-cat settled herself down near the edge of the pool and stretched out one mottled fore-paw down to the water's surface and lightly tapped her toes to the chilling liquid. Immediately, ripples began to extend outwards against the facial of the water and an image began to arise against the small waves. The she-cat watched with an expressionless face as the waves continued to cascade over the vision and she didn't take notice of the other figures who surrounded her, all craning their necks forward as if they were waiting on the image to finally clear out as well, all of their faces were deadpanned as well.

As the ripples finally came to gradual stop, the mottled she-cat's eyes slightly widened at the illustration below her. It displayed a young kit around the age of two moons, soundly sleeping beside a white and brown tabby queen and huddled up against a brown tabby tom kit. The she-kit's fur was snow-white and her pelt seemed to have been splashed with brown then those splotches looked as if they were laced with tabby stripes. There was a content smile curled onto her face as her small body pressed closer to the queen's and her paw pulled the tom kit closer to her. The brown tabby queen finally draped her long, elegant tail around the two kits and lowered her head to lay it upon both of their small bodies. That's when the image fizzled away.

"Why must it always be such a young kit?" The mottled she-cat let her green eyes travel upwards to the multiple figures and let the claws of her forepaws bury deep within the earth below her, feeling slight anger began to brew up within the pit of her stomach. There always has been a little storm raging within her body, ever since the beginning of her role as a lead councilman and ever since the beginning of her career of snatching away a life of a cat. It absolutely disgusted her and that fire in her stomach always seemed to rage a little bit more when every new trial came avail.

"Young kits have longer lives ahead of them, Lichenstar," one of the figures trotted outwards away from the others and the moonlight was immediately sucked into his blue-gray fur and his dark blue eyes instantly captured the moon's glare and seemed to brighten into a lighter shade of blue. Lichenstar watched through narrowed eyes as the former RiverClan medicine cat found a suitable spot at the pool's bank across her way and contently planted himself down at the edge, draping his unusually fluffy tail over his paws. Out of the corner of her eye, Lichenstar also noticed more movement amongst the shadows where the blue-gray tom made is appearance and watched as a dark, reddish-brown she-cat slip from those shadows. Her leaf-green eyes showed no hints of emotion as she made her way over to the medicine cat, and continued onto settling herself down beside him, her eyes landing on Lichenstar.

"This is how it always works, Lichenstar," the speckled she-cat lifted up one paw and began to draw her pink tongue over the reddish-brown limb with gentle, soft strokes. "There is no way to stop it, and we went under a thought and consideration with this one."

Lichenstar let her eyes drift away from the former ThunderClan leader and rested them upon the surface of the glistening liquid below her, watching as the stars danced along the surface of the surface, emitting bright lights as they glided along the surface. The pool was such a delicacy, yet used for such a horrible thing. Lichenstar thought that the pool should have more purpose than showing images of cat's whose lives would be merely stripped from them by a few dead cats and replaced with something completely different. Of course, Lichenstar knew that when the council toys with a cat's fate, the outcome is generally good and the cat ends up happy and healthy. But, the changes that she has been through haven't been all that good. She was the one who was forced to take a kit named Burrkit up to StarClan after a ThunderClan warrior slammed her up against the nursery wall. Of course, Burrkit was one of the 'chosen one's' and the council simply made the impact stronger than it had to be. Lichenstar remembers that day and it burns in the back of her head every day. The council of course, felt dreadful about the whole situation, but some merely said it was how her fate was meant to be. Lichenstar bit back the fury that gripped onto her throat like icy claws; she couldn't help any of the innocent kits who deserved their lives the way it was originally put out for them.

"S-So, how are we going to change her fate?" Lichenstar felt a large lump beginning to form in her throat as the words rolled off her tongue and she dug her claws deeper within the soil in attempts to push down the expanding knot within her throat. She was silently praying that Ripplepool and Applestar weren't taking notice to her actions, considering she would be 'scorned upon'. It was considered a high insult to the council to show remorse or pain when it came to their job; of course, at times they let it simply pass if the path is deeply broken for a cat. But on any other terms or occasions, you were not allowed to present any emotions towards the chosen cat.

"Her path -" Applestar raised her chin as if in pride as she began to speak but was quickly interrupted by a more solemn and grave voice.

"Aspenkit's path is going to be rough and have a few dark patches," out of the shadows emerged a jet-black she-cat, her amber eyes were sparking like mini flames and with each new paw-step stardust exploded from below her, and simply floating downwards back to her paws again. "But she will have to learn to push through that unforgiving darkness that seems to be engulfing her heart. She will need to learn to be strong, she will need to learn to persevere even when times seem bleak, and she will need to learn to be able to cope with losing the ones who are close to her."

Lichenstar's eyes widened as her claws retracted back into her paws and her eyes followed the black she-cat's silhouette as she gracefully leaped upon the large, towering rock that towered over the pool. Both Ripplepool and Applestar were staring up at the she-cat, their heads nodding in agreement at the amber-eyed she-cat's words. Lichenstar felt her heart fall deep within her chest as visions began to flash within her mind, they were of Aspenkit, and one image that the former ShadowClan leader was able to capture was of the poor white and brown she-kit caterwauling and there were multiple bodies of cats surrounding her. And, Lichenstar could see the figures of Applestar, Ripplepool, Nightleaf, and herself standing around the kit, as always, their faces twisted into a deadpanned look as the she-kit continued to wail helplessly to the dead cats.

"Lichenstar, I have had the same vision," Lichenstar was dragged out from her thoughts when she felt a voice whisper warmly in her ears and she swiveled her head around and was greeted by large, dark green eyes. She felt her breath hitch in her throat as she immediately recognized who the cat standing before her was. Her drooping heart twisted in pain and she opened her mouth to say something, but the words she was meaning to speak never made their way off her tongue. She merely stuttered and the tabby tom bowed his head and sadly shook it as he stepped forward. There was a loud, furious hiss that echoed against the trees that enclosed the clearing.

"Duststrike, you know you are not allowed to be here!" A deep, angered voice echoed against the trees' that enclosed the clearing and a dark gray tabby slithered from the undergrowth that sprouted from the earth at the oak trees' bases, and gently wrapped around the bark, embracing it in a strong grip. The gray tabby's icy blue eyes burned with displeasure as they scanned his surroundings. Lichenstar felt Duststrike tense up next to her when the tabby's icy gaze glued to the pair. Lichenstar knew that the dark tabby wasn't very…fair in ways more than others. He never has been and never will. It was a sickening thought, but it was probably part of the reason why all of those ThunderClan warriors ambushed the RiverClan camp and killed him that dark, cold night. Rainstar had set up many battles between RiverClan and ThunderClan in the past while he was still a young leader. Birchstar, the leader before Applestar, wasn't very fond of Rainstar and managed to beat him before he could set any more attacks on ThunderClan.

"You know all too well that I deserve to be here, Rainstar! Aspenkit is my daughter and if you are changing her fate I want to be here while you do so!" A deep, enraged snarl rumbled in Duststrike's throat and Lichenstar turned her head so that her eyes could meet his. In their deep green depths, they were blazing with fury and in the deepest depths; pain was beginning to sizzle up alongside the layers of rage. Lichenstar lifted up her long tail and embraced the brown tabby's shoulders, trying her best to soothe and comfort the infuriated father. The last thing she wanted was a fight to break out between him and Rainstar.

"And you know the rules all too well, Duststrike!" Rainstar's eyes were like daggers as he stalked toward the pool, Applestar and Ripplepool remained silent as the gray tabby shouldered his way in between the two and perched himself right on the edge of the bank, letting his long, feathery tail rest on the surface of the water. "If you were not chosen to be a part of the council, then you are not allowed to be here!"

"Shut up you stuck up badger! Duststrike has all the rights to be here if it concerns his family!" Another cat, a small, mottled brown tabby tom, slipped past the shadows and emerged into the clearing. His eyes too, were flaming with fury as he trotted towards the former RiverClan leader, who was now heaving himself to his paws and rotating his body so he could face the smaller tom. Lichenstar felt her own body tense up in nervousness as the two former leaders stared down each other, both of the toms eyes were wildly burning with unnecessary rage. It was Duststrike's turn to blanket her shoulders with his tail and draw her closer to him, their pelts were now brushing up against each other's, but Lichenstar didn't even care to step away.

"You are such a flea-brain, Kestrelstar! The rules state-"

"I do not care about those stupid rules, bee-brain! Duststrike has rights if it comes to his daughter!" The mottled tabby curled his lips back and let out a vicious, deep-throated snarl. His bright yellow eyes glowing with hatred and so much rage that it took Lichenstar's breath away. Their ancestors certainly weren't very smart when they chose the council this time, choosing the two leaders who never liked each other, one a fair-minded tom and one self-obsessed. It was like Rainstar's and Birchstar's relationship. Oh StarClan, why would you bring two cats who are always at each other's throats together to shape the fate of a young kit!?

"I do not see why you were chosen to be in the council, small bird. You are just a weak and cowardly tom who does not deserve the title of a leader!" Rainstar hissed bitterly and Lichenstar let out a shocked gasp, and Applestar, Ripplepool, and Nightleaf's eyes all widened in awe at the RiverClan leader's harsh and painful words. Kestrelstar also seemed taken back, the fire slightly extinguished from his eyes and was lighting up with surprise, but it quickly resolved back into animosity once again.

"You fox-heart!" Kestrelstar yowled in complete rage and lunged forward, his yellow eyes were wild with fury and his lips were curled back to reveal his thorn-sharp teeth. Though, before the mottled tabby could barrel into Rainstar, there was a flash of white and silver and Kestrelstar was knocked sideways, causing a provoked snarl to bubble up in the tabby's throat. And, Lichenstar could hear a disgusted laugh rumble in Rainstar's throat as the two cats crashed into the ground, the white-and-silver cat immediately pinning Kestrelstar to the ground, shoving his muzzle into the dirt.

"Mouse-brains," Lichenstar's ear twitched as Duststrike muttered under his breath and he removed his tail from her shoulders but she never proceeded to taking her own tail off of his shoulders, fearing what he might do if she does.

Kestrelstar struggled helplessly under the white and silver tom's weight and the larger tom snapped at the former leader's face, as if telling him to stop or else. The mottled tabby continued on with his actions though, hissing and growling in irritation. Though, it only earned him to get a face-full of mud as the tom shoved his face deeper into the dirt. Applestar and Ripplepool watched silently on the side-lines, neither one attempting to make a move to help the struggling leader. Rainstar watched with amusement glittering in his icy blue eyes. Lichenstar wanted so desperately to claw that smug look off the dark tabby's face, she felt longing to just feel her claws on his skin. She was never known to be a hostile and blood-thirsty leader, she wasn't, but she wasn't going to just let the dark tabby get away with pushing around Kestrelstar. She wished both he and she weren't in the council, maybe then she could teach him a lesson.

"Let him up, Icestorm," Nightleaf seemed to have been pulled from her shocked state and the jet-black she-cat hauled herself to her paws, her amber eyes were still a little shaky as she flicked her gaze towards the tom pinning down Kestrelstar and her muscles seemed to still be tense as she leaped down from the rock she had positioned herself on and wearily landed beside Applestar, whose face was still deepened in surprise. No signs of her past, cocky self was visible on her features.

The double-colored tom let out a huff of annoyance before finally letting his paws off of Kestrelstar's head, the mottled tabby instantly leaped to his paws and sent icy glares at every cat in the clearing. Lichenstar felt her claws slide from their sockets when the small tom's narrowed eyes locked onto her green eyes. She could see the dismay that passed through them but it quickly switched back into stormy rage. Lichenstar felt her heart clench in her chest and she felt her head lower in disappointment. The backstory between the two was very interesting at the most. Lichenstar was always by the side of the former WindClan leader, always helping his Clan when they were in need, even sheltering a few of his warriors when they were sickly. In return, the former medicine cat, Heathershade, had given ShadowClan catmint and burdock root, which was very helpful, considering that ShadowClan had always had trouble with greencough and rats. The last favor between the two was when Kestrelstar defended Lichenstar from a badger that had her cornered in her den. He threw himself in front of her and battled the badger away, but not without earning a slit throat. Lichenstar wasn't able to pay him back after, only continuing to help WindClan as their new leader, Breezestar arose. The tom was just like Kestrelstar and Lichenstar and the tom got along, never did they share the same relationship as her and Kestrelstar did.

"We are not here to fight," Nightleaf began, shifting her narrowed gaze between Rainstar and Kestrelstar. "We are here to do our jobs."

A snort of annoyance emitted from Rainstar and Kestrelstar's eyes glued to him, his lips were twitching and his claws were digging deep in the earth. Icestorm sent a warning glare at the small mottled tom and the former RiverClan warrior's neck fur was bristling upwards. Nightleaf flicked her gaze towards Icestorm and Lichenstar noticed that fire that raged up in the black she-cat's fiery eyes, it was like she was sending a silent threat towards the tom, whispering to him through her mind to stop his wrong doings or he will earn consequences.

"S-So, let's continue shall we?" Applestar finally uttered, her wide, leaf-green eyes were still quivering yet her tabby-speckled fur seemed to have finally relaxed and settled itself down upon her skin. Ripplepool seemed to have finally been pulled from his slight trance upon hearing the former ThunderClan leader's voice and he quickly lowered his muzzle to run his pink tongue over his chest fur, brushing down the ruffled blue-gray fur. Lichenstar suppressed a sigh when the two finally seemed to come back to life, it was nice that Applestar wasn't being an annoying, cocky she-cat, but she seemed to be merely replaced by Rainstar, who eventually taunted Kestrelstar to his breaking point.

"Yes, Duststrike you might as well join us," Lichenstar turned to the tabby beside her and he emitted his own sigh as he pulled away from her tail and stepped closer to the pool, all of the cats too huddled closer to the pool's bank. Applestar seemed surprisingly uncomfortable as Rainstar settled himself down beside her, he must have noticed too, because a sly, devious smirk rolled on his face. Applestar proceeded to scooting closer to Ripplepool after seeing Rainstar's new feature.

"Alright, let us begin," Nightleaf's meow was loud and it rang around the hollow, the jet-black she-cat's silhouette paced closer towards the glimmering pool and reached one fore-paw down to the water, lightly taping the surface, it immediately caused the water to illuminate into a bright, silvery glow.

Slowly, all of the other cats moved onto following Nightleaf, each placing one fore-paw down to the face of the liquid and with each new paw hitting the water the silvery glow brightened. Lichenstar breath hitched in her throat as she watched the glow embrace the councilmen and wrap their bodies in its magnificent glow. Lichenstar always thought how beautiful this procedure was, but this part and this part only. She wished the purpose of doing this always came out with a better ending. She didn't like to watch cats suffer because of this, because of what she was doing. She wished her ancestors would see how much it clawed at her heart when she does this, how much pain was brought down on her and bore its weight on her shoulders. They are just blind. They can never see past their own noses. Lichenstar thought bitterly and she flattened her ears against her skull. There was no escape from this; she was forced to do this. She couldn't get out of it.

Lichenstar lowered her head and reached out her paw to gently tap the water with her toes; the cool chill instantly raced up through her veins and tickled her spine. Her back arched at the icy pain and she felt her claws dig deeply into the ground in attempts to conceal the chilling pain. She felt her eyelids race to cover her eyes as quickly as possible and she felt them tighten their grip on her bottom eyelid, as if they didn't want to open again. She didn't protest though, she wouldn't want to see what was happening either.

I am so sorry Aspenkit, please forgive me… Lichenstar knew that the scrap of fur she saw earlier wouldn't hear her apologies, but it didn't matter to her. Lichenstar could already picture what was in store for this she-cat, what kind of fate that the council would force upon her. Lichenstar could hear the cries and caterwaul of many cats ring in her ears, and the sound of desperate calls, pleads almost. It wasn't a good sign. And the sticky and warm stench of blood wasn't helping the situation. This was all like déjà vu to her, these sounds, these cries; it was all like when Burrkit's fate was being redesigned. And, Lichenstar felt her heart leap into her throat because she knew all too well what happened in the end for Burrkit. Lichenstar's eyelids tightened their grip on her bottom eyelid, feeling tears well up in her eyes.

Please, forgive me…