Chapter 7: A Different Light

Soundpaw had woken up feeling disgruntled and cold. Her throat was burning, her limbs were aching, as were her injuries. She really didn't want to get up- She just would have rather of lay in her nest all day, but will drove her on. She wanted to get better, so she could really stand out in the field the next time there was a battle.

Maybe Boneclaw will take me out right now. She thought, groaning and stretching her limbs with some resistance, before letting a sigh leave her as she fell limp. Soon, she had pushed herself to her paws, and saw that the apprentices' den was empty. Did I sleep in that late? She blinked, quickly making her way out of the den. A majority for cats were in the center of the camp, congregated around something. Soundpaw bounded over as best as she could, slipping between cats. Her eyes widened in surprise at the sight of seeing a cat in the center, clearly prepared for a vigil.

His name… It's on the tip of my tongue… Soundpaw thought, eyes narrowing for a moment. Then, it came to her.

"Pinefang." She breathed out, and Grasswhisper, whom was beside her, turned to her, dipping her head.

"Yes." She said softly, and Soundpaw looked at her with a frown.

"Wasn't he okay though? I didn't see anybody badly injured."

"He bled out too much." The answer came from Amberstripe, whom was making her way forward. "He seemed fine, but passed away during the night in a pool of his own blood. Nobody was expecting it; Not even myself." She admit quietly. She seemed… Distraught, yet all the same cautious.

"Oh." The apprentice murmured, shifting away as elders came forth to take his body. The vigil must have already happened... Oh StarClan, Boneclaw will have my tail for me sleeping in this long! She fretted, looking for her mentor. She spotted him talking to Snowdapple, and quickly bounded over. When she approached, she heard Snowdapple speaking.

"He couldn't fight- He was always caught off guard. Couldn't hear any approaching cats." She said softly in concern. It didn't take a genius to figure out that she was referring to Hushedpaw, and Soundpaw couldn't help butting in.

"He shouldn't even be training to be a warrior- There's no way he won't get mauled in battle! Apprentice, or warrior." She meowed, both warriors looking to her.

"Soundpaw, you must give your brother a chance. Don't talk about him that way." The white and black warrior gently chided, "It was his first battle."

"It was mine too, and I got in trouble for defending!" The apprentice whined, huffing and stomping her paw on the ground for emphasis. She was about to make another comment, but Boneclaw's growl beat her to it.

"I don't want to hear it. Shouldn't you be grooming through the elders?" He order, and Soundpaw looked at him almost indignantly.

"They're burying Pinefang right now!"

"Robinmeadow isn't."

She held her tongue. He really was going to keep her punishment… An angered snort left her nostrils, and Boneclaw narrowed his eyes towards her.

"You better get to it. You wouldn't want to train and collect bedding later, would you?" He growled, and she flicked her tail crossly, turning and stalking to the elders' den. Pushing inside, she saw Robinmeadow in the back of the den, distantly staring off at one of the walls. A melancholy air hung about her, and Soundpaw cleared her throat. The ginger and white she-cat instantly looked over, blinking clouded blue eyes. Still pretty, nonetheless.

"I'm sorry, I was distracted." She apologized, and Soundpaw waved her tail dismissively, only realizing the she-cat couldn't see it.

"It's okay. I'm here to help you with any ticks and bugs." She informed, and Robinmeadow chuckled, sitting up in her nest.

"Ah, I don't need help. I'm not that old yet, I can still reach. I'm sure Humblewillow and Softcloud would appreciate the help, however." She commented, and Soundpaw voiced her understanding.

"Um, can I ask how you became blind?" She suddenly brought up, sitting down a little way into the den and curled her tail around her paws.

"Of course." She purred, briefly licking a paw and drawing it over her ear. "I had only just been made a warrior. There had been a deadly outbreak of some sort of illness. It killed many, unfortunately. A very grim time for the clans. Not even abilities could stop or prevent it." She gave a sad shake of her head. "Usually the first sign of the illness was swollen pads and gums. It gradually gave way to sores around the mouth, sometimes belly, and eventually, blindness. After that, breathing became harder, and eventually, the cat died."

Soundpaw was completely silent at the sound of this. How could something like that happen and she not have known…? Or at least been told! "I had fallen ill." Robinmeadow continued. "I had the swollen pads, I had sores on my belly. I even bled from my gums. Eventually, I went blind. I thought I was on my way to StarClan for sure, but a cure had been found by one of the medicine cats. It was a very grueling recovery- However, in the end, I was without sight. I was forced to retire early due to it." She heaved a sigh, settling back down in her nest and tucking her paws beneath her chest. She spoke again, however.

"The illness killed my sister… And now I've lost one of her kits, Pinefang." She nearly whispered, a now grim tone crawling into her voice. "All I have now is Buzzardstripe, my sister's other kit. My own kits died due to the illness, and my mate was killed in battle long ago." She shook her head slowly.

"I'm… Very sorry, Robinmeadow. I… Had no idea…" Soundpaw finally breathed out, shoulders sagging slightly. Here she was, complaining about her own family, whereas the young elder barely had any family left to speak of. Guilt started to gnaw at her, and she squirmed uncomfortably. "I… Guess I shouldn't really take my own kin for granted…" Robinmeadow let out a soft murmur, before chuckling.

"I understand it's not easy. Your brother, being how he is. It's very risky for him to become a warrior apprentice, but with the right training, he could become the first deaf cat to ever successfully be a warrior." She meowed softly, looking straight towards Soundpaw, almost as if she could look at her. Uncomfortable, the young she-cat looked away, standing up.

"I don't think he'll ever become a warrior." She admitted quietly, gaze downcast as the guilt broiled up in her belly even more so. There was no answer from the blind elder at first, and the apprentice almost thought that she had offended Robinmeadow in some way. She opened her jaws to elaborate, but Robinmeadow spoke first.

"I understand you may feel that way. He will, grow, however. And I'm sure whatever ability he has yet to discover will help him in the long run as well." She purred, looking towards the den as she heard the approach of her denmates.

"I'm sorry about Pinefang, Robinmeadow." Softcloud heaved a raspy sigh as she came into the den, shifting and settling down in her nest. Once soft, grey and white fur now was more patchy and clearly aged. Even her face seemed weathered as well.

"If the journey to the burial grounds wasn't so… Rough, we would have of course let you accompany us." Humblewillow added as he settled as well, briefly touching his nose to the younger she-cat's ear.

"I know, I understand." She mumbled. Soundpaw could tell that Robinmeadow didn't want to speak much of it, so she spoke up.

"Um, I'm here to help you with ticks and the like." She informed, padding over, and Softcloud gave a small purr.

"Ah, no ticks. Some fleas, though. I know Humblewillow has some especially feisty ones, so you should work on him first." She suggested with a raspy chuckle, and the elder tom grumbled, shifting and beckoning the apprentice over. Soundpaw settled beside him, beginning to part through his fur and pick them out.

"Did I ever tell you about Lotusstar as a kit?" He suddenly spoke up, and Soundpaw sounded out a 'no' as her teeth cracked down on a flea.

"Well, ya see, many seasons ago, the clans didn't always have abilities." He started.

"Yeah, you mentioned that." Soundpaw answered, moving to another part of his body riddled by fleas.

"Well, ShadowClan had this one leader, and her name was Lotusstar. She was a feisty, crafty she-cat. Very proud and arrogant- The definition of ShadowClan." He chuckled, continuing soon after, "But, ya see, as she aged, she grew much weaker. Her clan was starting to be looked down upon, and Orchidstar, who lead RiverClan at the time, was seeing this as well. RiverClan wanted ShadowClan to suffer." He huffed, and this surprised Soundpaw slightly. Usually it seemed to be the other way… Or ShadowClan was more supreme.

"So, one night at a gathering, Orchidstar saw how weak Lotusstar was. The she-cat was clearly an elder, and was barely holding onto the branch she sat on. So, when the gathering ended, Orchidstar tripped Lotusstar. Lotusstar fell, split her head and busted open her side. It killed her." Soundpaw made a small noise of surprise, yet all the same, disbelief. "What? Ya don't believe me?"

"Well… Not entirely." She admitted, sitting up after she had finished. "How did they know it was Orchidstar? And why would she do it under the truce?"

"Alderstar of ThunderClan had seen her do it. Nobody knew, but one day, Alderstar told Newtstar, who was ShadowClan's new leader. When ShadowClan attacked RiverClan, word had spread." He explained, watching as Soundpaw went to check on Softcloud, whom was nearly dozing off. "As for why she did it, well, Orchidstar wasn't exactly a patient soul. She wasn't the most kind either, and certainly was ambitious."

"Can't StarClan take away her lives for doing something like that?" She then asked as she started to work on Softcloud.

"Back then? No." He meowed, settling down more into his nest. "StarClan recognized Orchidstar as a strong leader for RiverClan, and they also knew Lotusstar was nearing the end of her days, and she had an able deputy." He rested his head on his paws as Soundpaw listened silently. He then added, "These days, however… If it's for the sake of a clan, then yes, maybe StarClan is able to take away lives."

Soundpaw couldn't help but think of Springstar. The she-cat was surely as well nearing the end of her days…

Maybe something would befall their leader.

More guilt gnawed at Soundpaw's belly as she thought that it would be for the better.

The days passed. Soundpaw would do the same routines. Hunting one day, training another, it was all clock work. She was becoming more able with her sound ability, and would practice even some with Thornkit, whom would be made an apprentice anyday, along with her littermates. It all went smoothly, save for the occasional rifts between her kin, but that was normal.

What was not normal, however, was the recurring dreams she was having.

Not exactly events that kept happening, it was more… The place she was in. It was a serene forest. Calm, lush forest filled to the brim with life, almost too perfect. She occasionally saw cats, none that she knew or could recall, and when she tried to approach them, either she was ignored, or they had disappeared.

She was in the same place again tonight. It was the same, and she was almost driven out of her mind by it. She stalked irritably through some under brush, and when she finally broke out into a clearing, what she saw startled her.

A grand, golden she-cat, perched atop a good sized rock. Her tail was curled around her paws, and she had beautiful, snowy white wings, gilded at the tips and edges. Soundpaw's mouth went slightly agape. She would've approached, and was about to, but she then realized she would just be ignored. Once again.

With ears flat against her head, she turned to move elsewhere.

"Soundpaw." Halting, her ears instantly perked up, and she looked over, straightening. The beautiful she-cat was looking at her, friendly and calm. She beckoned the apprentice forth with the flick of her tail, and slowly, she crept forward, dark blue eyes peering up at her in awe. The golden cat purred. "I know it's strange for someone here to speak to you. However, you will not be here for much longer." She said softly, rising to her paws, and leaped off of the rock, striding towards Soundpaw.

The apprentice was silent, blinking almost owlishly up at her, and the cat chuckled. "I am Goldenstar, SunClan's first leader." She introduced, and Soundpaw squeaked, taking a half-step back.

"R-really? Why are y-you talking to me?" She asked almost timidly, so surprised by this.

"I want to ensure your future. Make sure you know what's best for you and your clan." She explained softly, straightening up. "Follow me." With that, she was off. She'd turned on tail, bolting down a pathway. Startled, Soundpaw scrambled at the ground at first, before following. It was hard to keep up with the she-cat. She was bigger, and her strides were swift and easy. Soundpaw had to pump her legs faster, and when Goldenstar finally stopped, she nearly ran into her haunches.

Landing on her own haunches, she coughed, standing and shaking out her fur, looking at the sight before her. It was a tall, looming forest. There was a sickening aura emanating from it, resulting in an inward shudder from Soundpaw. "This forest is where the evil of the clans lurk. The cats who never made it to StarClan." Goldenstar explained quietly, not looking at the apprentice, whom was now beside her. "It is called The Place of No Stars. It's mostly empty, and it no longer causes any trouble."

"No longer?" Soundpaw asked in confusion, and Goldenstar sat.

"Long ago, there was a great battle. Light against dark. The cats that lurked in the Place of No Stars had trained cats in the regular clans. Cats that were still leaving. Then, one day, there was a great war. The evil cats broke through the barrier and attacked the clans. They also attacked StarClan. It was a battle like never before- Many were lost, wounded… StarClan cats included." She meowed solemnly, and Soundpaw let out a breath. Was that even possible? "Today, however, these cats cause no trouble. And the ones that do are stopped by StarClan."

"Why… Why are you telling me this?" Soundpaw finally asked, looking up at Goldenstar, whom looked down at her with a soft purr.

"Because young hearts are easy to tempt." She crooned. "You must keep on a sturdy path, Soundpaw. Never lose your way, especially into the dark. Become the strongest you can and help protect and serve your clan. Can you do that?"

"I can." The apprentice breathed out, and the golden leader purred out softly, dipping her head and pressing her berry pink nose to Soundpaw's forehead. She young she-cat closed her eyes, letting out a breath as her head started to become foggy.

"I know you can. You will become something great one day. StarClan lights your path." Goldenstar's voice was almost an echo, but it was there, soft as kitten down and light as a feather.

Soundpaw awoke the next day with a burst of energy in her paws, and a new will like never before.

However, as her dreams came night after night, she never got to visit the forest again.

A/N: Here it is! I don't know why, I had trouble writing this. Right, okay. OC's are accepted, though it's doubtful they'll affect the story. We'll see. Message me if you want something specific or have ideas for yours!

Fun Fact: Once a cat fades away from StarClan, they don't disappear forever. They're eventually reincarnated.