Path to the Stars

Chapter 1: Yellowfang: To Never Forget

Yellowfang awoke to a familiar scent: Fireheart! She felt herself losing strength but she knew she must tell the deputy her secret. She called out to him, her voice scratchy and wizened. She knew her lungs must be blackened with smoke.

Fireheart raced into her den, his green eyes wide with fear and hope. Yellowfang could barely comprehend what he was saying. She struggled to keep her eyes open as she stared at Fireheart. She was glad he'd be the last thing she saw.

"You're a brave warrior, Fireheart," Yellowfang said fiercely, "I could not be prouder of you if you were my own son. And StarClan knows how many times I have wished that were, instead of...Brokentail."

She had said it. Finally. Taking in a deep shuddering breath, Yellowfang continued. "I killed him. I poisoned him. I wanted him to die." She broke off into a fit of coughing.

"Let me fetch you some water." Fireheart was watching her with a growing look of dread in his bright eyes. Yellowfang tried to purr but her throat was too dry and damaged.

"Water's no use to me now. I want to tell you everything before I-"

"You're not going to die! Tell me what I can do to help you."

Yellowfang spat back and forth with the ginger-pelted tom for another moment, secretly enjoying the relay. It reminded her of when Fireheart had first found her. Her eyes clouded over in sadness. She was getting weaker by the moment. Yellowfang knew StarClan was calling but she had to tell Fireheart one last thing; the last thing she'd ever say to another living cat.

"Thank you for bringing me to ThunderClan," she mewed, her dimming eyes glowing briefly with happiness, "Tell Bluestar I have always been grateful for the home she gave me. This is a good place to die. I only regret that I will miss watching you become what StarClan has destined you to be."

As Yellowfang's vision faded away, she allowed her scorched lungs to take in one last breath before stopping completely. She fell into darkness, Fireheart's face burned into her mind as she slipped away into oblivion.

The next moment Yellowfang arose. Was she dead? Where was StarClan? She could only see darkness. Suddenly, a warm aroma she remembered from when she had first entered ThunderClan, made its way into her scent glands. Spottedleaf! The delicate tortoiseshell she-cat appeared before her slowly, her starry pelt see-through and silvery.

"Welcome," Spottedleaf said warmly, looking directly at Yellowfang, "you are safe with us now."

Yellowfang felt her body grow lighter and lighter until she left the shell of herself behind, her new star-studded fur glistening with the sudden reappearance of light. Yellowfang purred as she realized she felt ten times younger. She stepped forward to greet Spottedleaf, strangely happy to be leaving the material world behind.

"I am ready for StarClan's judgement," Yellowfang said softly, feeling completely at ease in the presence of the other medicine cat.

"Don't be silly, Yellowfang," the tortoiseshell said, her sparkling whiskers twitching in amusement, "you shall not be judged. Every cat knows what you did, you did for your Clan. You were a brave and loyal medicine cat. Now come, StarClan awaits you."

Yellowfang croaked out a thank you, relief washing over her. She had hoped StarClan wouldn't punish her for her actions against her only son. She shouldn't have been worried. She followed the dappled-coated she-cat upward, into the expanse of sky above her. Yellowfang did not look back.

"There's someone who's been waiting for you," Spottedleaf said softly, when the two cats had reached a level place in the clouds. They were far above the ground and Yellowfang noticed a sliver in the sky, a gap that pulsing with friendly light.

Following Spottedleaf, Yellowfang bounded into the hole in the sky, letting the tingling sensation spread across her body. When she opened her eyes, she was by the edge of a forest that looked almost exactly like the one that covered the Clan's territories.

Standing in front of her, his huge eyes shining, was a cat Yellowfang thought she'd never see again.

"Raggedstar!

The tom purred in delight as Yellowfang ran her muzzle along his jaw. She hadn't realized how much she missed him until now. "How did I live without you?"

"I missed you, Yellowfang," Raggedstar said, his voice deep and warm.

Yellowfang pressed her cheek against her mate's face, a growing feeling of belonging reaching through her veins. She mewed in bittersweet pleasure. She'd left Fireheart and her Clan behind, but was now greeting an old love.

A comforting breeze rustled through the forest's leaves, brushing the two cats closer together. Yellowfang closed her eyes. She hadn't really died. Her soul's life was just beginning.

---------------

How'd you like the first chapter? Review please!! And I'm open to suggestions about which cat to do next.