Chapter 11
A Phoenix's Feather
It was bright when I awoke. There was no searing pain in my torso anymore, replaced by a numbness I wasn't used to. I looked around, spotting pale, the colour drained trees that made up Star Clan's fields. A lake could be seen afar.
"I really am dead, aren't I?" I asked no one.
"No, you're not." I tensed up, not expecting an answer. I turned my head around to see a pale ginger tabby tom with a black-ringed tail padding toward me, eyes hazy and cloudy.
"...I know you." I said, hesitantly, not sure if I was right or not.
The cat snorted, giving me a lopsided grin.
"Course you do, Saberpaw." he shot out my name like acid, "Kestralstar is bloody suffering, hell, StoneClan is suffering because of this damn war." I flinched as he got worked up, the constant spitting on the grass wasn't helping.
"You're not allowed to die until you fix this damn mess you've made, you hear me?" Dawnlight was snarling now, his coat of glittering stars glowing brighter than before. I sighed,
"It's that nightmare all over again. Guess I can't stop it… can I?" Dawnlight, unflinching, snorted.
"No. But you'd better fix the damn thing." And he nudged me back to life. Because that's a thing StarClan cats always do.
***BTL***
We padded on silently with the giant Thunderclan trees loomed above us, the soft, damp soil sucking away the sound of our footsteps. Upon the forest floor lie trees of yesteryear, fallen in storms long forgotten. It was early morning, the sky still as black as night. I took a deep breath. The air is rich with the fragrance of leaves and loam, fresh scents hinted that there is prey around. But I wasn't in the mood of hunting.
"What are we going to do after we arrive? It's still too early for awn patrols." Dusk asked quietly. I hesitated. For a while, only the sound of soft footsteps and our breathing can be heard. I had agreed to take Dusk back to the army shortly after our conversation just a while ago. Now we're heading back to the camp. I wonder if Starclan agrees with my decision.
"I could just slip through the dirt place and go back to my den after you wait outside. I'll wait for a few moments to leave enough scent for my army to believe I was there the whole time. Then I'll 'find' you when I go to the dirt place again." I decided. As the journey passes, sunlight rouses more colours from their sleepy monochrome and, though the road still has the black look of the night, the sky is already more bluish than charcoal.
"The camp is right there around that white spruce tree. You see? Wait here, I'll be back soon." I meowed and dashed for the dirt place without waiting for an answer.
I quickly squeezed through the narrow entrance through the dirt place, then stopped behind the fallen tree, carefully spotting for guards. Mapledawn was sitting beside the entrance, his bright orange pelt was clearly visible in the near dark. The warrior's hazel eyes were alert, mouth open, scenting for any hints of danger. I praised him silently for being a good guard, then silently retrieved into my den. Unfortunately, things weren't going to corporate with me. I slipped on the wet moss under my paws and let out a tiny squeak. Fox dung! I felt an ever slight kick in my belly as I scrambled up. I'll need to move the nursery soon. I need to end this all before my kits are due.
"Who's there?" I heard Mapledawn question, the young warrior's voice was trembling.
"I-it's me, Mapledawn," I answered, pretending to be calm but clearly failed, " I was just going to the dirt place, then I slipped. Sorry." The bright orange tom squinted at my direction, then spotted me awkwardly shaking off moss in my pelt.
"No worries " Mapledawn replied simply. I padded to the young soldier and praised him for being very alert. The bright orange tom's hazel eyes were bright. After that, I headed towards the dirt place. Nervousness turned my stomach upside down. Oh Starclan, please let this work. I slowed to a stop when I saw Dusk waiting behind a bush, looking very nervous. I did a countdown silently. Three, two, one… I screamed. Dusk jumped, looking like he is about to run away. But the white tom hesitated and saw me standing a few fox-lengths away from him, then decided to stay.
"Twilightfall?" Mapledawn rushed to my side, then he saw Dusk facing me. The young orange soldier immediately hurdled himself towards the white tom with a deafening yowl. The whole camp was awake now, with soldiers sprinting out of their dens and screaming "Intruders", excited trainees spinning in circles and searching for enemies, queens screaming for help while trying to gather their younglings, and disturbed and grumpy elders trying to stay asleep despite the chaos.
I froze on the spot, staring at my brother and my soldier fighting viciously, trying to claw each other's pelts off.
What am I supposed to do now?!
***BTL***
As soon as I jerked awake, I regretted that moment. I felt like I was gutted, sewn back together with a fishing hook then they feed me solid food only for me to spit it back out. Which I now proceed to do. I vomited out some brown stuff… I don't really know what it was, but it smelled like two-leg trash.
But that smell wasn't what reached me first. It was how much everything hurt. I guess it was to be expected after being stabbed, gutted then put back together.
"*Gasp*" I swivelled my head around to see Willow standing there in shock, a clump of spider webs at her paws.
"Good morning, Willow." I said, keeping the pained tone to a minimum, "I really messed up, didn't I?"
I laughed dryly as she stared on, shaking in the cave entrance.
"You big idiot." she hissed.
***BTL***
"Mapledawn! Down!" I screamed. The two toms finally parted, panting. Mapledawn turned to me, eyes wide with shock. Dusk shook his pelt free of scratched out fur and padded to my side without a word. Wolfclaw and Tigerwing broke through the long grass, eyes alert and hackles raised. Now that's some great warriors, er, soldiers. But not at this moment, please. The two sergeants stared at the situation, speechless. A few heartbeats later, more cats rushed out and spotted us.
"What's happening?" Iceclaw questioned.
"Where the invaders?" Whitepaw meowed.
"Who is he?" Shadecloud narrowed her gaze on Dusk.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Lightningstreak shouted. More confused meows and yowls showered me while I struggled to take another breath in the chaos.
"BACK TO THE FALLEN TREE! WE'RE HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS! NO MORE QUESTIONS UNTIL THEN!" I finally snapped, forcing back another growl of frustration. Things can't get any more worse than this. The cats grumbled and slowly backed away, clearing a path for me and Dusk into the camp. I hopped onto the fallen tree and motioned Dusk to sit right next to me on the sandy floor. More cats streamed out from their dens, unhappy mumbles filled the clearing. When all the cats sat down and the crowd fell silent, I opened my mouth to speak.
"Crystallics, I apologize for waking you up at such an early hour. If you are feeling uneased, everything is okay. It was a false alarm. Now," I called Dusk to stand up in front of the crowd, "This is my brother, Duskrise." the Crystallics started to talk again, suspense tugged at every cat's hearts.
"He is also a Crystallic." I meowed.
"Tanzanite the Phoenix," Dusk added.
"Duskrise would be joining our army as your temporary deputy. He served as a deputy in Skyclan before, so there is no need to question his abilities. " I announced. The crowd immediately divided into little groups of unhappy cats, confusion and anger sharpening their words. I ignored all this and turned to Dusk. The white tom looked as shocked as the other Crystallics. His haloed blue eyes were wide. I sighed and motioned Stormtail, who looked calmer than the other Sergeants, to come forward.
"This is Stormtail," I meowed to my puzzled brother, "he will tell you about every single cat in this camp and teach you the rules of us Crystallics after the ceremony." The dappled dark grey tom nodded expressionlessly, dark blue eyes clouded with something I cannot read.
"Crystallics!" I called. The crowd gathered again with mixed expressions with some cats yelling angrily at me and some looking puzzled. When all was quiet again, I raised my head to the rising sun, letting the early light shower me in streaks of gold. The Crystallics needs something to make them happy again with Dusk suddenly becoming their deputy.
"Whitepaw, would you come forward please." I meowed. The trainee looked confused as she stood up and edged towards me, but a heartbeat later when Breezefrost let out a huge gasp and complained about how she didn't have time to lick the leaves off her daughter, Whitepaw's eyes brightened. The black she-cat bounced towards me, tail high up above her head. When she leaped on the fallen tree, I took a deep breath and started on the ancient words spoken countless times by my ancestors. You may NOT mess up, Twilight.
"I, Twilightfall, general of the Crystallics, call upon my ancestors to look down on this in training. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a soldier in her turn." I meowed rather shakily and hoped for the cats to ignore it. Watching Whitepaw's excited amber eyes with a hint of sadness, I took another deep breath. The trainee is still mourning for her lost sister.
"Whitepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" I meowed loudly for everyone to hear. The black she-cat was trembling with excitement and nervousness. But her voice was extremely calm and determined.
"I do." she meowed.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your soldier name. Whitepaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Whitefern. StarClan honours your helpfulness and loyalty, and we welcome you as a full soldier of the Crystallics army." I felt my muzzle touch her furry forehead and a soft lick on my shoulder after those words. The whole army chanted her name with Breezefrost screaming the loudest.
"You'll be an excellent soldier," I whispered before pulling away. The former apprentice gave me a thankful look and bounced down to greet the whole army's warm praises and congratulates.
"Whitefern! Whitefern! Whitefern!" After the voices died down, I called Willowmist's kits to me. I gave them their apprentice names, Stonepaw mentored by Falconflight, Rowanpaw mentored by Fawnleaf, and Jawpaw mentored by me. The new apprentices squirmed under their mother's furious licks and the whole army's chants.
"Jaypaw! Stonepaw! Rowanpaw! Whitefern!" I leaped down from the fallen tree and stood amongst my cats, calling out their names proudly. The Dusk case forgotten, I felt happy and complete for the first time in those days. I purre when I felt a slight kick in my stomach and a feeling of nausea.
My kits are coming soon. And I'm ready to welcome them into this world.
***BTL***
"Willow…" I coughed.
"B-but you almost-!" She argued as I stood up, limping to her side.
"Shhh." I whispered, "I'm alive, you did well." She stared at me in shock, tears welling up in her eyes.
"I-I didn't know what I would do if you died!" She turned her gaze to the ground, "You brought peace into the camp! Something I wished for so long!"
She started sobbing, her choked cries only a whisper in the breeze.
"If it weren't for you, Zig would be dead by now… t-thank y-you…" She whimpered. I smiled wearily.
"No, thank you." I said warmly, "Without you, this clan would have all died of infection and disease."
"C-chief…"
"Now, how 'bout you help me to Aspen?"
"Oh… right!" Willow hurried to my right, propping up my injured shoulder. We then set off toward the boulder.
***BTL***
I yawned lazily and stretched in my den, kicking dried moss all over the stone floor. After the tour around Crystallic territory yesterday, I was as exhausted as Jaypaw. The morning sun streamed into the small cave from its entrance, illuminating the smooth pebbles scattered on the cold stone floor. I got up and padded out my cave after grooming myself. A purr rose from my throat when I paused on the flat stone outside my cave. Bathing in the golden sunlight, breathing in the fresh air, and listening to my clanmates' casual chatters. It was one of those peaceful days I dreaded for the past three moons. The dawn patrol had already returned. Falconflight, Stonepaw, Snowflame, and Shadecloud were sitting at the fresh-kill pile, sharing tongues. I spotted Jaypaw and Rowanpaw hopping around Stonepaw excitedly while the dark grey tom managed to gulp down his mice and tell the story of his first dawn patrol. Also a purrfect day for a first and formal hunting lesson.
I turned and went on to find Dusk and Stormtail huddled together beside the fallen tree, discussing something quietly.
"How was it? Your first day of being a Crystallic deputy?" I meowed briskly as the two raised their heads to greet my approach.
"It was great," my brother's eyes were bright, "Stormtail even showed Zan and me how to mark our territory with electricity! He also taught me how to use pebbles to keep track of how many cats are in the camp, and how many are not!" he announced proudly like an apprentice who just fought their first battle. I could see Stormtail was suppressing a purr of amusement as he nodded agreement.
"We sent Lightningstreak, Willowmist, Hawkwing, and Finchfeather out on a border patrol. Tigerwing is also leading a hunting patrol beside the Shifter territory. Fawnleaf and Rowanpaw are going to Sandy Grounds for a hunting lesson after they eat." Dusk added.
"Great! I'd like to join them with Jawpaw." I meowed. Dusk nodded and carefully picked up two pebbles from a pile and dropped them into another pile of the same, round pebbles found in my cave.
"Now I know where my pebbles go all the time," I mumbled.
"I'd like to join Tigerwing." Dusk volunteered, ignoring my bitter comment.
"You'll have to be fast to catch up to them," I warned. But the white tom already ran out of camp and disappeared down the camp entrance.
"The benefits of being a deputy's mentor. You never need to get in patrols." Stormtail grumbled and dropped another pebble into a pile. I left and turned to where Rowanpaw and Fawnleaf were waiting. It's my first time out with my first apprentice. Jawpaw spotted the waiting patrol and trotted towards my direction, his blue eyes shining with the same excitement and nervousness that tinged through my paws. I exchanged amused glances with Fawnleaf, then set out of camp and headed towards Sandy Grounds, where in-trainings practice their hunting and battling skills.
"We're going to Sandy Grounds, where you will learn some simple hunting techniques," I announced. Rowanpaw gaped at me while Jaypaw just stiffened.
"Don't worry, it's very easy. I know you'll get it soon." Fawnleaf encouraged. The cream tabby she-cat just nodded and walked closer to her brother until their pelts touched.
"I don't think it's that hard." I heard her whisper. Jawpaw twitched his ears, looking annoyed.
"I'm not nervous. You are." he simply meowed, leaving his sister clawing at his ears with sheathed claws. The two trainees took off, chasing after their tails and each other, their happy meows filled the lively birch woods. Fawnleaf flanked me while we trotted to our destination, her ginger-brown tabby fur brushing against mine. We exchanged amused expressions and training techniques until we reached our destination. The two young in training were already waiting there, chatting excitedly. Suddenly, I paused and just watched Fawnleaf pad towards the trainees.
Destination… When will I reach my destination? I shook this thought out of my mind, and quickly joined the other cats. No depressing thoughts today, only happy ones.
"Come on, I know you can do it!" I encouraged them as they fell on their faces after their first tries. Fawnleaf had to turn around to hide the smile on her face.
"I think I'll never become a soldier!" Rowanpaw whined when she saw her teacher's shaking shoulders.
"No depressing thoughts," I told her, "only happy ones. Make it a happy day." But I wasn't exactly talking to the young cream coloured tabby she-cat. Can a day be happy when Saber's not here? I let my smile wear away.
***BTL***
My revival gave way to ecstatic yowls and dismayed moans, the buzzing excitement of the apprentices and blank looks of the seniors looking for a battle. The green glint in their eyes still worries me, sending a shiver down my back as I remembered my time with the god-like being.
"Chief!" an off coloured white blur entered my vision. It was Choco with Ivy trailing close behind him.
"Theresacrystallicattheedgeofourterritoryandmaybecrosseditand-" Choco started rambling before Ivy stuck a paw on his muzzle.
"He means that there's a new guy on our territory and that the rest of the hunting group is holding them off," she said while Choco batted her paw off.
"And the new guy won't leave until he 'speaks with our boss'." The lynx point tabby finished. I twitched against Willow's support. I look at her, questioning if I was well enough.
"Ah, well...you shouldn't shift or fight. You should also have a support with you and you shouldn't strain yourself while negotiating… yeah, that's it." Willow listed off, checking the scar on my torso.
"I'll do fine, Willow," I told her, "It's probably not something too big." I turn to Choco, gesturing for him to lead the way. He opened his mouth and pointed to his left. Only to be shut up again by his apprentice.
"Don't listen to my idiot of a mentor. His sense of direction is as bad as a mole's sight." Ivy deadpanned.
"Hey!" Choco shouted indignantly, swatting away Ivy's paw.
'I sometimes wonder who's the mentor and who's the apprentice.' I sweatdropped.
I followed the two of them to the western edge of the forest, where a stream creates the border. As stated, a group of crystallics were there standing on the rocks bickering with a bear, most likely whoever Aspen sent on duty.
"This is stupid," I heard on of cats say, watching a white tom with gray ears, paws, and fluffy tail shouting at the bear, who looked really bored and tired of the crap the Crystallic was throwing at him.
"I have a right to see your leader," the oddly familiar tom yelled.
'Does he not know how to chill?' I grimaced, 'actually, I don't have a right to say that…'
*yawn*
I tripped.
"Chief!" Choco, the caring bugger, rushes over to me.
"I'm fine, shoo," I said, not attempting to growl.
'Thank you for waking up and scaring the ever living shit out of me, Levin.' I thought sarcastically.
A pleasure to serve Levin replied with a grin on his reptilian face. He's sitting in my mindscape, curled around a tree.
I stepped next to the bear and made eye contact with it. It gave a tiny nod before backing up into our side of the woods. I turn to glare at the newcomer.
"I don't have time for this," I said as threateningly as possible. He doesn't flinch or move from his rock in the water.
"So you're their leader?" He instead asked, a hint of anger in his voice. I sneered,
"Who else would I be to have the guts to come here injured?" His eyes show a mix of fear and determination.
"For the sake of all after me," he leans back, preparing to pounce, "I'll kill you so no one else will die!" He jumps across the gap between to rock and solid land, claws unsheathed and teeth bared.
'Did they change that story so much that it made them the good guys?' I thought a split second before he reached me.
His strike connected, right on the top of my head between my ears.
"Chief!" this time Ivy jumps out.
"Stay back," I spot a hazy dot of dark grey out of the edge of my vision.
"Wha-!" The white Crystallic's claw struck ice, a thick plate of it shielding my head.
"Takes one to know one, amateur," I said, pushing him off to the side. He's snarling, clearly offended by me.
"I don't need some traitorous bitch to lecture me!" He swiped at me, anger impairing his strength as I sidestepped to the right to avoid it.
"I prefer 'half-bred bastard' over that," I commented bitterly, making him slip on some steaming ice, "I also prefer if you left us alone from now on." And I promptly used my ice to catapult him back into his territory, his awestruck teammates running in after him.
That was fun~ The leviathan materialized beside me, wearing a smirk. I rolled my eyes,
"It was annoying," I told him, turning to look at Scar, the bear from before, scowling at me. Ivy looked like she was lost in thought, staring out into space. Choco's waving his paw in front of her hoping for a reaction.
By the way, Levin said, floating in front of me, when did ja get that nasty scar?
"...I met this camp's motherfuckering disaster and almost died." I told him.
Oh… I turned to the three shifters, opening my mouth to tell them to go back to camp. Then an ear-splitting scream filled the air, like an old creaky monster on a wide thunder path. I snapped my head around and saw a heart-wrenching sight;
A Phoenix rose above the treeline, its feathers a fiery silver amidst the blue sky. I paled at the sight, a purely shocking fact intruded into my mind.
'Twilight, you had a brother?'
***BTL***
"WHO. DID. THIS." I glared at the border patrol, trying to force out the answer which I already knew but don't want to believe in. The Crystallics lowered their heads, and standing in the lead, was Dusk. The once snowy white Crystallic coat soaked with blood, a severe burn melted away the fur from his left shoulder to his back, leaving a hideous, black brimmed scar on the beaten tom. The other cats in the patrol were also burned, blisters and burnt spots missing fur covered their bodies. Tanzanite, Dusk's Crystal circled her Crystallic, then rose to the treetops. Angered cries of an energy outburst rocked the ground and shook the trees. I ignored the Crystallic and hopped down the fallen tree.
"Dear general, it was the Shifter Chief, Saber, who burnt us with his peculiar ice. He took us by surprise." Tigerwing reported after the silver phoenix's sharp cries slowly faded away. The pale brown tabby's voice was hoarse with fear and pain. Saber. Why does it have to be Saber?! I squeezed through the beaten crowd of cats surrounding their wounded comrades. Silvermist sat beside Dusk, her gentle paws applying honey on the deputy's burn while he tried to force back cries of agony.
"How is he?" I swallowed back a sob when I saw Dusk's burn up close. The fur around the scar was charred black while the skin had been burnt into a lifeless grey, leaving the pink inside covered with a mass of blisters.
"Bad." the silver tabby replied without looking up, her brilliant green eyes focused on the burnt deputy. I looked around me. All cats, even Lightningstreak, stood with their heads down and shoulders slumped, their eyes stared out in space lifelessly. I stood there, anger, confusion, helplessness, hatred, love, worry, spun in my head. Round and round, round and round… Finally, I padded back to the fallen tree and turned to look at every single one of my cats right in their panicked eyes.
"My dear comrades. We see the sails of the enemy approaching. We smell their scent over our borders. They had already killed and wounded too many of us!" I shouted over their whimpers of fear.
"Soon now, we will have to meet them face to face. But never fear, my soldiers, never fear. For we have the power of each other." I announced, tail high above me, eyes determined. Quickly, the Crystallics gathered what was left of their strengths Here, I'll show you. Gather around me, Crystallics, gather around! Release your anger through your powers! Call out your noble Crystals, for tonight, they shall fight amongst our sides like many nights before! Let them come even with the armies of the Dark Forest. They will not succeed! And when this day of battle is ended, we meet again in on the holy fields of Starclan. Tonight, we are glorious! We shall declare battle on the Shifters!" I cried as loud as I can, while my comrades chanted our name.
"Crystallics! Crystallics! Crystallics! Crystallics!" Blinding colourful lights bloomed from each Crystallic, battle cries of their Crystals deafened every cat's ear. I watched them, realizing I'm panting with excitement.
Just one last time. I blinked under Silverpelt, imagining Saber's eyes filled with all the stars in the sky. Let me bring glory to this army for one last time as a general, shall I step down to raise my kits whole-heartily as a proud mother and noble soldier of this Crystallic army.
"Crystallics! Crystallics!" I chanted along. Just one last time.
A/N: Oh wow. I didn't think this convoluted story made by a scatterbrain and an overworked high schooler could gather even one follower. I'm honestly shocked. Thanks, I guess? I don't really have anything else to say.
~Storm
