Well, 2nd challenge for Bright Lights. It took me four hours or someting, and it's 3-4000 word long... *Sighs* finally finished!
Furzepelt looked onto the horizon streaked with light pinks, oranges, and ashen grays. It was a peaceful night, the birds softly singing their evening song. The jagged peaks of Highstones were outlined against the slowly dying day.
Mouthermouth's gaping jaws stretched out in front of the two cats, large and daunting. The black opening in StarClan's safe haven looked unfamiliar to Furzepelt.
Furzepelt looked to his medicine cat, Fennelwhisker. He looked perfectly calm in the presence of the dark tunnel that they would soon enter. Of course he did. He came here every half moon.
Furzepelt tried to look brave as they approached Mothermouth's entrance, he tried to hide his fear stench from Fennelwhisker. Staying calm seemed impossible as they were engulfed in a seeping darkness that nipped at them, Furzepelt glanced around. She was unprepared to step into the tunnel.
"Darkness can't hurt you," Fennelwhisker told him, amusement dancing in his warm green eyes.
"I know," he hissed, gritting his teeth. He just wanted to seem like a brave leader, not one who was afraid of the dark.
"Of course," Fennelwhisker mewed, almost biting his tongue to keep laughter back. "We're almost there anyways, it won't be long," he told Furzepelt.
Furzepelt nodded, pleased to hear it, the dark and unfamiliar tunnel was not welcoming in the slightest. The two cats ventured further into the cave, until a soft light leaked into their dark passageway. Furzepelt couldn't imagine the cave getting any lighter.
Soon, crystal moonlight seeped into a cave, and Furzepelt was shocked with bright light emitted by the moon, and reflected by the large moonstone.
"Put your nose against it," Fennelwhisker mewed calmly. Furzepelt nodded, and lay next to it, touching his frostbitten nose to it.
He awoke in a territory with soft starlight. A slim shape padded from the shadows, it was a she-cat, who's soft silver pelt was sprinkled with stars, her fur glowing. She looked healthy, and happy, much different than the crazed she that Furzepelt remembered. She was he old self again.
"Silverstar!" He purred, her name sounded foreign on his tongue, he hadn't talked about her much after her death, yet prior to her death, he had said her name many times.
Furzepelt remembered how she had suggested that Crowpaw, a young apprentice, was a danger to the clan. She had been holding him back. Furzepelt had tried to make her see that he was just an innocent kit, but she drove herself mad about it.
She had died of sickness later. Furzepelt thought that it had probably drove her to insanity, because she knew she would die.
"Furzepelt," she mewed back. Several more StarClan cats stepped out into the clearing, Furzepelt thought he recognized his mother and mate among them.
"Furzepelt, with this life, I give you wisdom, use it to guide you clan in times of trouble," she said, gently touching her nose to his. In a flash, Furzepelt felt the seasons of experience, and he saw what he needed to do to be a great leader. He saw the boundaries between the clans, the territory that WindClan occupied, and the threats around it. He saw the hardships of negotiating with other clan leader, but mostly, he saw the satisfaction that running a happy clan brought.
He opened his eyes again to see Silverstar once more, and the next cat stepped up. "Cherryfrost! I've missed you so much! Are Brokenkit and Stormkit here?" He remembered his two sons, they had died soon after being born, and Furzepelt still mourned for them. THey had been given strong names, despite being born weak.
"They are," Cherryfrost purred, nuzzling him. Two kits stepped up, their bright, bouncy energy still in them. Furzepelt purred, bursting with happiness. "Now, this life is for love, use it to guide your clan, and teach them happiness," she mewed. She pressed her nose into his, calmly. This life was calm and happy, he realized how wonderful his clan was, and how much he loved them. When it was over, the warm feeling tugged itself away, and Furzepelt was disappointed, but the sight of Cherryfrost and their kit warmed him up a little.
She walked away, and Furzepelt couldn't help but feel disappointed in her absence. The next cat stepped up, it was Vixenpaw, a young tom who had died on the Thunderpath. Furzepelt couldn't help but feel sadness when he saw the cat, too young to have joined StarClan.
"Don't feel bad, I am happy here," Vixenpaw mewed, probably sensing his sadness.
"Of course," Furzepelt mewed gently. The young brown tabby tom stepped up to him.
"With this life, I give you a gift for mentoring. Use this to teach your clan, and help them." The young cat craned his neck, and Furzepelt leaned down to touch his nose. He was brought back to the days of mentoring Sparrowfall, a young, bubbly apprentice in his days. Sparrowfall always got into trouble, and Furzepelt had his paws full, but he had managed to make Sparrowfall into a great young warrior. Furzepelt also felt pain for keeping his apprentice safe. He knew that his apprentice was his responsibility.
Once again, he opened his eyes, and Vixenpaw stepped away. In his place, Blueshine, an elder stepped up. He remembered her. She was loved by all the clan in her day, though few seemed to remember her. Furzepelt remembered when he, Cherryfrost, and Runningfoot, then Furzepaw, Cherrypaw, and Runningpaw, would run to her to hear a story about something, anything, they didn't care.
"Blueshine!" He exclaimed happily.
"Yes, young one," she purred, happy to see him. "I have come to give you a life." She leaned close to him, touching his nose to hers. "With this life, I give you compassion," she mewed to him.
He was brought back to the time of playing as a kit, and seeing their favorite elder. She always could feel for them, and was always careful to tell their favorite stories to cheer them up. Furzepaw could confide in her for anything, and she would give him sympathy and compassion.
He opened his eyes, a slim queen walked up to him, it was Whitestep, a queen who had carried and raised many kits with love, treating the clan as her own kits. Her final battle was with the greencough that had wracked her body to the breaking point, until she finally subsided to it. The clan had felt her loss greatly, especially her beloved kits.
"Whitestep!" He dipped his head to the queen, respect flowing over him.
"Furzepelt," she greeted him, with a small purr. "Good to see you here," she said. "Shall we get to it?" Without waiting she touched her nose to his. "With this life, I give you a mother's love. Use to treat your clanmates like they are your kits."
Furzepelt prepared for a happy and warm life, one that wouldn't hurt, but instead he felt pain, white and hot. He felt as if he were being torn into so many pieces. He felt a burning, fierce desire to keep everyone in his clan safe and happy. The pain faded as he woke up, and he opened his eyes to see Whitestep step down. He understood that a queen loved her kits so fiercely, she would suffer and die for them.
A ginger and white tom stepped up, he had yellow-green eyes, and a scar on his cheek. Furzepelt wasn't sure who the tom was, he had never seen him before. "Hello, Furzepelt." The tom said. His voice was deep and husky. "I'm Foxstep," he said. Furzepelt remembered his father telling him of a cat called Foxstep, he had saved his clan, leading a pack of dogs away, a heroic decision that had cost him his life, but had saved every cat.
"Are you Foxstep, the cat who-," Furzepelt started to say.
"I saved the clan from dogs, as any warrior would have done," Foxstep said. "Now I am here to give you a life." Furzepelt nodded, dipping his head. "With this life," he began. "I give you bravery, use it to defend and protect your clan." He touched his nose to Furzepelt's delicately.
Furzepelt was swept to the heart of battle. Screeching and yowling echoed all around him. A young apprentice was being pinned to the ground by a large, senior warrior. Furzepelt felt indignation about the unfairness of the match, and he felt like he could take on anything. Feeling alive, he launched himself at the larger warrior, tearing him off the apprentice. They tussled, he felt pain rip at him, but soon opened his eyes once more.
Foxstep walked away, and a mousy brown she cat replaced him. He nodded his head in greeting.
"I'm Mousestar, the leader before Silverstar," she mewed. Furzepelt nodded, impressed. He had heard great things about Mousestar. Silverstar had always have to live up to her shadow. Mousestar had ruled the clan very well, and every cat had loved her.
"It's an honor to meet you," he said.
"Thank you, but I am here to give you a life now," she said, leaning in to touch noses to him. "With this life, I give you equality. Use it to judge your clanmates fairly."
Furzepelt was at a scene, it was a normal afternoon, but he sensed something in the air. One young cat sat alone, not sharing tongues with the rest of the clan. It was because his father had betrayed the clan. His name was Crowpaw, and his father, Gorsefur, who had brought a family of foxes to camp by accident, and he was hated for that.
Furzepelt sat beside him, talking to him. He told the apprentice that he had proved his loyalty many times. He knew that the apprentice deserved to not be left out, so he spoke with the other apprentices about being nicer to Snowpaw. He knew that this would be fair.
He opened his eyes to see Mousestar walk off. She was replaced by Emberpaw, a young medicine cat apprentice that had been led to a thunderpath, because he had thought a clanmate was honestly telling him that there was an injured cat on the ThunderPath. Emberpaw had immediately gone to the ThunderPath, even though Fennelwhisker, who was her mentor had told her not to.
"Emberpaw," he purred, "I've missed you, so has Fennelwhisker!" He looked over at his trusted medicine cat who sat in with StarClan, watching the ceremony.
"I know," Emberpaw said. "I've talked with Fennelwhisker." She said, waving her tail at the WindClan medicine cat. "Now,' Emberpaw leaned closer to Furzepelt, she touched her nose to his. "With this life, I give you caution, use it to understand when your clanmates are lying, or leading you to danger."
Furzepelt felt the betrayal of having a clanmate lie to you, it ripped at him. I hurt again, he grimaced, why did these lives always hurt. Finally, the pain ebbed to a sore in his chest, and he flinched, thinking back to the sharp pain from earlier, and not wanting to repeat it. That was the pain of being betrayed, and the ache that lingered afterward.
He opened his eyes, and Emberpaw stepped away, replaced with Patchear, a great senior warrior. Everyone had been surprised when Silverstar had chosen Furzepelt over Patchear, including Furzepelt himself. Furzepelt had been not sure about assigning patrols, and didn't feel too confident when assigning patrols. He was not sure if Patchear was mad at him for getting deputy or not, but Patchear had told him that he was fine with it, and gave Furzepelt reassurance, and confidence.
"Furzepelt," Patchear addressed him. "Like when you were made deputy, there will be time, when your clan questions your judgement. They will not always blindly agree with you. This is tough for many new leaders, and it may sway your confidence, but you must keep trusting your judgement," he said. He touched his nose to Furzepelt's. "With this life, I give you confidence, use it to lead your clan effectively, and trust your own decisions."
Furzepelt was on the highrock, he had clearly just announced something, because about half the clan was angry, yelling at him. Another part of the clan still looked dissatisfied with the decision, but seemed to be keeping quiet about it. Only a small gaggle of cats were looking at him encouragingly. Furzepelt flattened his ears, these cats couldn't get to him.
"Be quiet!" He yelled with such authority that the cat's gazes snapped up to look at him. "This is my decision, and whoever opposes me can leave," he said, pointing his tail at the exit. Nobody moved, they just stared at him in shock. "That's what I thought," he growled. He leapt down from the highrock, and into his den.
Furzepelt opened his eyes. "Congratulations," Silverstar mewed. "You have received your nine lives. She dipped her head, her blue eyes shining. "Lead your clan well, Furzestar," she said.
"Furzestar! Furzestar!" StarClan cats called. He puffed his chest out in pride. Soon, their voices faded, as did the light. Dark branches swooped over his head. "Where am I?" He muttered. "Is this StarClan?"
"Doesn't appear to be," a voice said beside him, and Furzestar looked to see Fennelwhisker beside him. Both cats ducked as an ebony bird, dark as night swooped inches away from them. Furzestar's pupils became wide with fear.
"Beware the crow," Fennelwhisker said. "StarClan is sending us a warning!"
"The crow?" Furzestar asked. "Would this refer to Crowpaw?" He searched Furzestar's eyes, he wanted him to answer no. Crowpaw came from a long line of traitors and fools, so he hoped that Crowpaw would be the exception. But Fennelwhisker's face was grim.
"It would appear so," he sighed. The two cats ducked as a second crow swooped above their heads. "Something is happening right now!" He yowled. "We need to get back to camp immediately!"
The two cats woke up in the cavern once more. Fennelwhisker pushed Furzestar out quickly, and they scrambled out the cavern. The tunnel was much less frightening to Furzestar when he had to rush through it. It barely even crossed his mind. But he was still relieved when he stepped outside into the fresh air.
"Come on, Furzepel- star," he quickly corrected himself. Furzestar was impressed with the medicine cat. He was surprisingly quick. Furzestar was struggling to keep up with him. Soon, after much bounding through the highstones territory, they arrived at the ThunderPath. It had an acid like smell to it, and Furzestar flattened his ears when a monster sprayed water up, churning it with it's big paws.
"Mousedung!" Fennelwhisker exclaimed. "Now we have to wait." Monsters rolled by them, but soon, there was a gap between two cars. Fennelwhisker darted onto the ThunderPath.
"Fennelwhisker!" Furzepelt exclaimed. "You'll kill yourself!" But the medicine cat nimbly dodged in between the two cars and leaped to the edge of the ThunderPath, looking at him expectantly.
Furzestar took the chance, and darted across the ThunderPath, hopping in front of a monster. He almost froze in fear, but to his shock, the monster came to a dead stop in front of him.
Furzestar looked at the monster in shock. Several loud noises came from the monster, so he quickly jumped over to where Fennelwhisker was, skidding down the hillside.
Fennelwhisker stared at him, clearly choking back an amused purr. "Real graceful," he said, and the two cats got running again. They travel for some time, before Furzestar stopped. He looked at what he saw on the ground in disbelief. "Fennelwhisker!" He called urgently. The medicine cat had trailed behind a bit.
"What is i-," he stopped when he saw the body. Alderstorm looked like he had been in a pretty bad fight. Fennelwhisker rushed to Alderstorm's side.
"Dead," he confirmed. "Killed by a cat."
"Beware of the crow," Furzestar whispered. He stared at Alderstorm in shock. Alderstorm had been one of his candidates for deputy.
"Today, WindClan falls to us," Fennelwhisker looked up in alarm. Furzestar flattened his ears. It was undoubtedly Crowpaw's voice.
"Oh no," Furzestar said, running toward WindClan camp, no, sprinting. He sprinted as fast as a LionClan cat. Outside of the camp, he saw Beetail limping away from the camp. "Are you okay?" He asked looking at the blood dripping from her wounds. "And what happened?"
"I'll live," Beetail responded. "And Crowpaw happened."
"Wait out here," Furzestar instructed her. "Fennelwhisker will be on his way." He burst into camp. Crowpaw was snarling at a white she, who Furzestar recognized to be Snowfall. Several cats stood behind him, fear in their eyes.
"Crowpaw," Furzestar said, addressing the black tom. "I'll admit it, I was shocked that you'd done all this. StarClan warned me at the Moonstone." Something caught his eye, a bleeding ginger and white she-cat, Brightpaw, Fennelwhisker's apprentice. Oh Fennelwhisker, hurry up, he thought. He figured that he was probably out with Beetail.
"So nice of you to join us," Crowpaw said, ignoring Furzestar's remarks. "I was just in the middle of killing all that opposed me. Snowfall looked at him, she had many wounds, but there was a fierce determination in her eyes.
"Oh, can I go first?" Furzestar asked. His claws were itching, he knew that he could defeat Crowpaw. He leaned down to Mosspaw, and innocent apprentice beside him, and hissed, "go get Fennelwhisker, he's probably just out of camp." Mosspaw nodded and darted away.
crowpaw narrowed his eyes, and launched himself at Furzestar. Furzestar felt the full force of Crowpaw's claws. He rolled over, crushing Crowpaw on the ground. He put a paw in the center of Crowpaw's chest and battered at his stomach.
Crowpaw struggled under his grip, breaking free. His bit down on Furzestar's paw, making him screech. A few warriors ran to help Furzestar, but he waved them away with his paw. This was his battle, not theirs. Crowpaw used the moment to tackle Furzestar, clawing him up everywhere.
Furzestar lashed out a paw, and heard a screech. Suddenly, Crowpaw's attacks stopped. Furzestar stood up. He had, by some miracle, lashed his claws across Crowpaw's eyes. He stood up. His wounds were minor. Fennelwhisker was next to him, pressing cobwebs to his wounds.
"No," Furzepelt pushed Fennelwhisker away.
"What are you talking about?" He asked. "You're injured."
"Brightpaw-," he managed to gasp out. Everywhere hurt, but he sort of relished the pain, as a trophy of victory.
"Yeah, I know," Fennelwhisker said. "She's not here. I think she might be tending to the kits." Furzestar pointed to the heap of bloody orange and white fur at the end of the clearing. Fennelwhisker looked up, and at his apprentice. He looked down at Furzestar, he looked torn, but he got up, running over to Brightpaw.
"Brightpaw!" He called. "Brightpaw!" He over Brightpaw's body. Furzestar looked at him, hoping to see if she was still alive or not, but his eyelids were too heavy, and he closed them. When he awoke, he was in a silvery clearing, Silverstar was looking at him.
"Welcome Furzestar," she said. "I know it seems a bit too soon after your ceremony, but you have just lost a life," she said.
"What?" He mewed. "I need to know what happened to Brightpaw! Did she join you yet?" he looked at Silverstar, pleading for a good answer, but she shook her head.
"I cannot answer that," she said.
"It's like you're taunting me," he yowled. "Let me back!" He stood up, his blue eyes wide, yowling at her.
"Furzestar," she said. "I cannot let you back immediately." His stared at her, anger boiling up in him.
"Why not?" He asked, indignance and frustration building up in his voice.
"You handled Crowpaw well," she said. "And the clan is safe. I chose right when I picked the deputy. You have proven to me that you will make a great leader." She sighed, sadness glinting in her sharp blue gaze. "I think this is my fault," she said. "If only I hadn't held back Crowpaw, he would have made a great young warrior. I brought this upon you, and I'm sorry." She said.
"Silverstar," Furzestar said to his leader. "Nobody will blame you. Accidents happen, you made a bad decision, but you are still one of the best leaders WindClan ever had." Deep down inside, despite his words, he couldn't help but feel a little anger towards Silverstar. I was her fault. If she hadn't been so paranoid, Alderstorm, and possibly Brightpaw would still be alive.
"Now, I have to go fetch Alderstorm to bring him to StarClan," Silverstar mewed. "I have no clue what I'll say. Furzestar nodded to her, and he found himself back in the clearing.
There was a small crowd around him, but he stood up, his wounds were healed. "I'm fine," he said to his clan. "I lost a life, but I'm okay."
Fennelwhisker was nowhere in sight, fearing the worst, Furzestar headed into the medicine cat den.
"How is she," Fennelwhisker asked. She was in a nest in the far corner, and Furzestar felt his heart nearly skip a beat when he saw her flank rise and fall.
"She'll live," he said. "Thank StarClan." He pointed his tail to Crowpaw, with his eyes scratched. "He'll live too, so we should make a prisoner's den to confine him to. I doubt he'll try anything with no sight."
Furzestar nodded. "Sounds good to me." Hazelpelt walked into the den, she was supporting Snowfall, who was bleeding in many places.
"Ah, yes," Fennelwhisker said, guiding her to a nest, and beginning to tend to her wounds. Hazelpelt stayed in the den, not leaving. Crowpaw had been her mate. "Hazelpelt?" Fennelwhisker said, he also seemed confused on why she was here.
"It's just that," she mewed. "I'm expecting Crowpaw's kits."
Whelp, g'day people!
