Hehe family drama time
They sat vigil for Cedareyes that night, and Mistshade sat beside her sister, wrapping her tail around her. Leopardleaf didn't react, staring at her former mentor's body with an expression that suggested that she knew something that no other cat did.
Birchears sat across from them, though there was no sadness in her eyes, Mistshade knew that she didn't really care.
How can you not care about your own brother? It's probably your fault that he ended up like this anyways.
Leopardleaf followed her gaze, and the hatred in her eyes as she glanced at their mother was scary, Mistshade knew that something had happened between Cedareyes and Birchears before he died.
"I bet you're proud, aren't you?" Leopardleaf spat at Birchears, causing cats around her to glance up in surprise.
Birchears didn't blink. "Why would I be proud?"
Leopardleaf blinked back tears. "I heard what you said to him the day before he died!"
She glanced around at the other cats who were sitting vigil. "If I remember correctly, she called him a screw-up, said that was the only reason that he became a medicine cat, because he was worthless. She called him a disappointment to his Clan."
Mistshade let out a small gasp of surprise, she knew that Birchears and Cedareyes had never really gotten along, but she didn't think that she'd ever say those things to her own brother.
That's terrible. I knew that something had happened.
"You're not sad about him." Leopardleaf mewed in a low, trembling, voice, leaning close to her mother. "You couldn't care less. You never cared about him."
Cats were watching wide-eyed, but Mistshade didn't care, this family debate had been a long time coming.
"You don't know that." Birchears hissed back. "I grew up with him."
Leopardleaf raised an eyebrow. "But you never seemed to care. You never cared about him, not after that it was clear that he was more special than you, that he was always better than you. He will always be better than you."
An anger filled Birchears's eyes, a one that suggested that she had heard this before, she let out a hiss and clawed Leopardleaf's cheek, the medicine cat stumbled backwards, bleeding.
"How could you?" Mistshade gasped, rushing over to Leopardleaf. She glared at Birchears. "How could you hurt your own daughter, your medicine cat?"
"She's no daughter of mine." Birchears spat, breathing heavily. "Any cat that's a medicine cat in this family isn't. My stupid brother and his gift, he started this entire mess. He's a coward, he was. He didn't even die honorably, killed himself like a coward."
Leopardleaf let out a pained wail and buried her head in Mistshade's fur, Mistshade glared at her mother.
"Why must you be so cruel all the time?"
"She can't handle the truth." Birchears replied coldly.
"Birchears, Mistshade, ENOUGH!" Goldenstar yowled, breaking the horrified silence that had fallen over the rest of the cats.
"Birchears, do not say such things about your brother! He was an extremely kind cat and served his Clan well."
Cats around her nodded, many of them shooting unfriendly looks at Birchears.
"I remember when I got a bellyache as a kit, he helped me with it." Spirepaw murmured, glancing down at Cedareyes's still form. "He was really nice."
Cats began to share memories of what he had done in his life, finally it came to Mistshade's turn, and she spoke quietly.
"My greatest mistake was treating him unkindly, he was a wonderful cat, and he played a very important role with the whole overthrowing Applestar thing, it wouldn't have worked without him. He never lost his temper, he had never ending patience, and I will always regret that I never got to spend more time with him."
She leaned into her sister's shoulder, and the two of them sat in peaceful silence. I have to give my sister strength to keep moving, after this terrible day.
After the vigil, Mistshade sat by her sister, not saying a word.
Sandspark rose from his place next to Goldenstar and padded over to Birchears, muttering something about having to talk to her. Oof.
Sandspark was a normally calm cat, but he would not stand for what Birchears had said, and Mistshade knew that this might be the end of their relationship.
As much as I despise my mother, I hope that Sandspark does not go too hard on her. He's not very fun to be around when he's angry.
Goldenstar's face was stone-cold as she padded away, the lichen curtain in the entrance of her den brushed gently as she passed through it, and Mistshade heard a long sigh from the golden leader.
Curlflight came up next to them, her belly round with the kits she was carrying, she began to lick Leopardleaf's ears reassuringly, who glanced up at her.
"How are you?" Curlflight murmured.
"As good as I can be." Leopardleaf cast a last regretful glance at Cedareyes's body before heading to her den, her tail trailing behind her.
"It's been a hard past few moons for her." Mistshade mewed quietly.
"I know." Curlflight sighed. "I wish I could be with her more, but these guys have been keeping me in the nursery."
She glanced at her belly.
"How many?" Mistshade asked.
"Cedareyes predicted three, but you never know." Curlflight responded. "Do you think you'll ever have kits?"
"For Starclan's sake, Curlflight, I've only been a warrior for a few moons, I can worry about kits later in my life."
Curlflight grinned. "I suppose. I know that Skyblaze will be a wonderful father to them."
"And I will get to visit them, right?" Mistshade smiled. "They're going to love their mother's sisters more, me and Leopardleaf are so awesome."
Curlflight let out a small snort of amusement. "When hedgehogs fly."
She leaned her head on Mistshade's shoulder. "At least I know that I'll be raising them in a wonderful family."
"But-"
Birchears's voice came from outside of the camp, and Mistshade pricked her ears to hear the conversation.
"I haven't paid enough attention to them." Sandspark mewed sadly. "I didn't see how you treated Leopardleaf and Curlflight like crow-food. I know one thing now, I cannot ever be mates with a cat who said such things to her own brother and daughters. I will die happy if you never speak to me again."
He whipped around the corner and caught Mistshade spying.
"Um…"
"It's fine." He padded over to the warrior's den and disappeared inside, his tan fur dirty and his eyes dull with tiredness.
"Our family is a mess." Curlflight mewed sadly. "Nothing will ever be the same again."
—
(Ryewillow's POV)
The half moon shone above them as Ryewillow padded to the Moontree with the other medicine cats, dropping back to walk beside Dustwing, who was slightly slower with his limp.
"How have things been going in Streamclan?" He asked.
"Sagestreak was murdered, Slashclaw killed him, Stormstar killed Slashclaw, but Firefur died too." Dustwing responded sullenly, his eyes dull with grief. "So pretty terrible."
Great Starclan.
"I'm so sorry." He mewed quietly. "That is terrible indeed. But don't worry, it will get better. At least Slashclaw is dead now."
Dustwing shrugged. "Yes, I suppose. I suppose he was also partially involved with the attempt on my life all those moons ago."
Oh, yeah. That's probably true.
Ryewillow nodded. "Well, I'm extremely glad that it didn't succeed."
Dustwing gave a small smile. "Thank you."
The glance that the two of them shared was rare, and Ryewillow felt his heart skip a beat. I've had a huge crush on him for a while now, but I don't know if he returns my feelings at all. Great Starclan, why am I so awkward?
"Of course." Ryewillow whispered.
Frostlight cleared his throat from in front of them. "Well, lovebirds, we're nearly there."
Dustwing snapped out of his shock and glanced back at the medicine cat. "Of course. Thanks."
Frostlight looked amused. "Um, sure? Also, you guys should just be mates now, you're so adorable."
He drew up to pad beside Leopardleaf, who had been silent almost the entire journey; she had dropped the news about Cedareyes, which Ryewillow was devastated about.
He remembered the gray tom, he had been a young medicine cat when Ryewillow had been an apprentice, and had given him really good advice, especially because Ryewillow's mentor was quite harsh on him. Ryewillow had never met such a kind cat before, and he hoped that he would be able to talk to Cedareyes tonight. Lilacpaw was walking beside Leopardleaf, admiring some flowers that were growing by the edge of the path, Ryewillow gave her a gentle nudge to keep her going.
"We can admire the flowers on the way back." Lilacpaw nodded and bounded ahead, her purple-gray fur shining in the moonlight.
"She seems like a good apprentice." Dustwing commented.
"She is." Ryewillow felt a pang of love for his energetic apprentice, she had been amazing since her first day and he was confident that she would make an amazing medicine cat.
"Do you have any kits who might be your apprentice?"
Dustwing shook his head. "Not currently, but I'm not worrying about an apprentice yet. I'm still fairly young, and if there aren't any more murder attempts, I think that I'll be able to live a few more moons."
They padded into the hollow that surrounded the Moontree, and Ryewillow's golden fur shone in the dim light. Leopardleaf had already laid down and touched her nose to the Tree gently, and Ryewillow laid down beside Dustwing, doing the same.
Darkness enveloped him, and he opened his eyes gently to find himself in a grassy field.
Well then.
He glanced around, but no one was there. Huh.
He padded through the field, glancing around, suddenly his gaze landed on a forest that was on his right. A very specific forest, actually.
Why am I so close to the Dark Forest?
He backed away, peering into the shadowy trees, glancing for cats. Well, maybe no one did notice me.
He turned, but froze when he heard a chilling voice from the trees behind him. "Why would the little medicine cat come visit us?"
Amber eyes glinted from the shadows, and in a heartbeat Ryewillow knew who it was.
Darkstar. Oh, Starclan, save me.
"I, um, it was an accident." Ryewillow stammered, backing away rapidly. "I'll just be going now."
"Ah, yes, run off to your starry friends." Darkstar spat. "But tell them that it won't be long until they meet their doom. You can only trap a cat in this forest for so long."
Ryewillow broke into a sprint, dashing away from the forest, his blood pounding in his ears. Trees flashed around him as he pounded forward, he had to get out of there. Suddenly his paw got caught on a root, he tripped, falling onto the ground. His paw stung.
Ow. I didn't know you could hurt yourself in Starclan. I suppose, I'm so clumsy that it's no surprise that I would be the one to figure it out.
"Ryewillow?" Dustwing's concerned mew came from above him. "Are you alright?"
Oh, great Starclan. Of course I make a fool of myself in front of him.
"Um, yeah." He scrambled to his paws, slightly favoring the one that he had injured. "Just, um, didn't see where I was going, I suppose."
Dustwing gave a small smile. "Are you sure that that paw is okay?"
Ryewillow nodded, but when he put his weight on his leg he let out a gasp of pain.
Dustwing raised an eyebrow in a "I told you so" gesture. "Here, lean on me. We can be crippled together."
Dustwing!
The two of them limped back to where the other medicine cats were standing.
"Are you alright, Ryewillow?" Lilacpaw rushed over to him. "How did you sprain your paw in Starclan?"
Ryewillow shrugged. "I'm not sure, but the walk home is sure going to be fun if this keeps up."
"I didn't know you could receive injuries in Starclan." Frostlight glanced at him curiously.
"I didn't know either." Ryewillow let out a snort of amusement. His gaze grew serious. "But where are the Starclan cats?"
Frostlight shrugged. "I guess that they decided not to visit today."
Suddenly Ryewillow spotted a pale gray form from a while away. "Hey, who is that?"
"Streamstar! No way!" Dustwing's eyes lit up.
"Hello." A quiet voice came from next to Leopardleaf, and she spun to see a ghostly black tom with a white flare on his chest staring at her, his pale green eyes glinting.
"Cavernstar?" Leopardleaf breathed. "Is it really you?"
He nodded, his form flickering gently. "You probably wonder why the founders themselves came to say hello."
A gentle voice came from behind him, and Ryewillow spun to see Springstar sitting next to him.
He dipped his head respectfully. "Springstar."
"Can we get this over with?" Streamstar asked, pacing impatiently. "The longer that we delay Darkstar's rise to power again, the more powerful she will get."
"What?" Frostlight widened his eyes in surprise.
Cavernstar nodded sadly. "The barriers that keep the Dark Forest cats in that forest are weakening. Darkstar has been straining against them for many seasons, and it will not be long until she has escaped, endangering us all. We will try to keep the fight here, but be prepared, as it may spread to the living Clans."
Springstar stepped forward next. "There are only two powers that are in the living world that are left. They must join together, and only if they do that, we may be able to regive the other two powers."
Streamstar gave a grin. "I'd like to see my descendant out there."
"But how?" Leopardleaf asked, shuffling her paws nervously. "You two didn't have any kits, or at least, none that lived."
Springstar nodded. "I know, but there is the power of regiving one's power. We shall give our power up to a living cat, one who will use it for the rest of their lives and keep the power going. But it is risky, once we give the power we cannot take it back, and we shall hope that we will choose the right cats."
"Who will you choose?" Lilacpaw asked quietly.
"Well, we've been looking, and I think I have my choice." Streamstar said with a glint in her eye. "But we cannot tell you, and the two cats with the powers must join together."
"But who has Cavernstar's power?" Dustwing asked.
Frostlight let out a sigh. "Pinemist does. I should've figured it out earlier."
"Who's Pinemist?" Lilacpaw asked, tilting her head in confusion.
Great Starclan, Pinemist… Isn't he supposed to be dead?
"But Pinemist is dead." Frostlight said sullenly. "He didn't continue the power."
"He's not." Cavernstar said softly. "He is very much alive, and has been for many seasons."
Frostlight widened his eyes in surprise. He's alive?!
Ryewillow grinned. "So all we need to do is to get Blackdawn and him to meet each other, and hopefully work together to bring the other two powers back."
His face fell. "That sounds a lot harder when you say it out loud."
Leopardleaf gave a small smile. "We're medicine cats. We pulled off the whole scheme with the Cavernclan battle, we'll be able to do this too."
Frostlight nodded. "And there's a lower chance of me being killed this time."
Dustwing winced. "I second that."
"Warning, Applestar is not dead." Cavernstar mewed gravely. "As long as she is alive, she is a danger to all of the Clans."
"She and Pinemist had a run-in recently, didn't they?" Streamstar asked, flicking her tail.
"Well, that is all of the help we can give to you now. We hope that it will help, and we ask you to prepare yourselves." Springstar gave them one last reassuring smile before they all plunged into darkness.
Ryewillow woke up at the Moontree with the other medicine cats, his leg no longer hurt, which was a relief, they all exchanged bewildered glances.
"Well." Ryewillow mewed at last. "I think that we have a lot to do."
I'm not planning to have a whole Dark Forest battle thing, btw. But... yay! Thank you to everyone who has reviewed on this story, and please do review, I love hearing your opinions and they honestly make me write faster... Stay safe, everyone!
Have a good day (or night), and keep writing!
-Mintflight