Chapter 28
The sun began to sink in the sky, casting orange and red shadows across the landscape. Ripplesky paused to observe the scene, before climbing up the nearest tree. He felt guilty about what he had done earlier. No matter how angry he felt with Willowblaze, it wasn't right for him to hit her. After all, he was the reason she had been exiled from ShadowClan.
A few moments later, the sound of scratching alerted the silver tom. Looking down, he spotted the very cat he had been thinking about. "I'm sorry," he began, his throat closing up. "It wasn't right of me to hit you."
Willowblaze flattened her ears to her head, before looking down at her paws. "I forgive you," she whispered.
The two sat in silence for a long period of time, before Willowblaze suddenly meowed, "The sunset is beautiful. Back in ShadowClan, I often missed out on sunrise and sunset because the pines blocked the view. But over here in RiverClan territory, it's much more open. You can actually look up and see the clouds and the stars. It's great."
"I never really paid attention," Ripplesky confessed, his throat tightening up. "I always focused on myself, and the things going on around me. Looking back on my life, I feel like I've missed out on so much. I feel like I've just wasted everything, and now it's too late."
"It's never too late to ask for forgiveness," Willowblaze said.
"It is for me," he growled, tears welling up in his eyes. "StarClan will never forgive me for what I've done. I've made my nest, and now I have to lie in it."
"That isn't true!" Willowblaze protested, leaping to her paws. "If you just talk to them, I'm sure they will understand. After all, you aren't a bad cat. You've just made some mistakes is all."
Ripplesky turned away from her. How can she be so blind? "How could you say that, after everything I put you through? I ruined your life, you even said so yourself. All I do is ruin lives and you know it. I'm not a good cat, and I never will be."
Willowblaze just stood there, unable to come up with a response.
"Speechless, I see. Just as I expected." Ripplesky let out a deep sigh, before climbing his way down the tree. Once he reached the ground, he began to pad into the tall grass, heading for the direction of Fourtrees.
"Where are you going?" Willowblaze called out.
"I'm going out for a hunt. I promise I'll be back later." Pausing for a few seconds, he looked back to see Willowblaze's silhouette in the dying sun. Just then, a rumble of thunder could be heard in the distance.
By the time Ripplesky reached Fourtrees, the sky was completely dark. The sound of crickets filled the air, along with the sound of rustling branches. Would they really forgive me? he wondered. Slowly, he looked up at the sky. For the most part, it was covered by the large oak branches, but between the little gaps in the leaves he could see the white stars as they glittered in the sky.
Ripplesky then looked in the direction of Highstones. I have to at least try, he decided, before racing out onto the open moorlands. Immediately, the scent of WindClan bathed his tongue, but he ignored it. They can't stop me from speaking to my ancestors.
To his luck, the silver tom didn't encounter any patrols. Pausing beside the Thunderpath, Ripplesky gasped for breath. He had never run for so long without stopping to breath, and now his lungs were burning. As he sat there, he watched the monsters roar past him. The way they whizzed past him reminded him of how fast his life had gone by.
It felt as if just yesterday he had been an innocent kit, growing up in the nursery with Minnowfur and Splashflower.
It felt as if just yesterday he had been trapped in the fire, scared and frightened for his life.
It felt as if just yesterday Snowdust had tricked him into the life of murder and deception he now lived.
No, he decided, it isn't any cats fault but my own. I could have done the right thing, but I let anger and revenge take over my life. Once he had calmed down enough, Ripplesky stood up and raced out onto the Thunderpath. As he made his way towards Highstones, he felt as if he had the strength of a hundred warriors. With one last stride, he reached the strip of grassy land on the edge, before making his way up the tall rocky slope.
Without hesitation, the silver cat padded into Mothermouth and began his way down the dark tunnel that lead to the Moonstone. His whiskers brushed against the cold walls, but he did not feel scared. He felt strangely calm.
Finally, the tunnel opened up into a large cave. The moon still hadn't reached the hole in the ceiling of the cave, meaning everything was still dark. As Ripplesky paced back and forth, waiting for the cave to illuminate, he wondered what StarClan would say. What if they don't even visit me? Squeezing his eyes shut, Ripplesky let out a silent prayer. I know I have done you wrong, but please hear me out-
Suddenly, the Moonstone lit up, shaking him from his thoughts. Pushing his fear away, Ripplesky raced up to the cold stone and curled up and squeezed his eyes shut. Please walk in my dreams! Please, please, please!
After what felt like a lifetime, Ripplesky found himself in a misty pine forest. For a moment, he thought he was in the Dark Forest, but he realized this place was too clean. The smell of rotting flesh and toadstool did not fill the air, and the plants seemed to give off a glow that the Dark Forest did not have.
"Hello?" Ripplesky finally called out, his throat tightening up.
Slowly, one by one, cats began to slip out from the mist. Ripplesky recognized a few of the cats, but the majority of them were unknown to him.
"Ripplesky, what brings you to StarClan's hunting grounds?" an old tom bellowed, narrowing his eyes in suspicion.
"I've come to ask for forgiveness," he gulped, his neck fur bristling slightly. Stay calm.
The old tom began to circle around Ripplesky, an angry look plastered on his face. "It's too late to ask for forgiveness. You have already caused mass destruction and chaos. You do not care about any cat other than yourself, and your actions have proved this time and time again. If you really felt remorse, you would have pleaded for us to forgive you long ago. Now you only care, because you realize your soul will forever rest with the Dark Forest."
Before Ripplesky could respond, Nightsky stepped forward. "Alderpelt, perhaps we should hear him out? After all, he came all this way to speak with us!"
"How can you show him mercy, Nightsky? He murdered you, and is the reason your sister was slain in battle. He is a monster and you know it!" Alderpelt retorted angrily.
"I know, but I can't help but feel like this whole situation is my fault. If I had just kept my mouth shut, none of this would have ever happened. Ripplesky could have gone on to be a warrior, maybe even leader. Instead I-"
"Stop making excuses for me," Ripplesky interrupted. "I could have lived a good live as a medicine cat, but I chose to do wrong. Now everyone has suffered because of me."
Nightsky gave Alderpelt a pleading look, but the old medicine cat did not seem to believe a word Ripplesky had said. "You may say those things now, but you do not mean them."
"Just give him a chance!" Nightsky begged.
Alderpelt shook his head, before turning to look at the other cats that had crowded. "Do you believe this cat can be trusted?" he called out.
To Ripplesky's disappointment, the majority of cats shook their heads and let out angry hisses.
"He's a monster!" Mudfoot cried out. "He doesn't deserve an ounce of sympathy from any cat."
"He's no better than Snowdust. If she resides in the Dark Forest, why shouldn't he?" a familiar-looking black-and-white she-cat spat.
As the other cats yelled out their opinions, Ripplesky couldn't help but grow furious. "Why can't you all just forgive me? I want to start over, but you are acting like immature kits holding onto the past. Well, I'll show you all! I don't need your permission to be a good cat. I know who I am, and I am not the monster you have made me out to be. Not anymore, at least. Today I am turning over a new leaf, and I will do whatever it takes to show you that." Lifting his chin up high, Ripplesky stared into Alderpelt's eyes, before turning away.
Immediately, the silver tom jolted awake. His heart was pounding wildly, and his mouth felt dry. I need to return home. My Clan will be worried about me. As he raced down the long and dark tunnel, he could hear loud thunder rumbling outside. Rain will do the forest good, he thought, trying to get his mind off his talk with StarClan.
Once he emerged from Mothermouth, Ripplesky noticed a heavy rain was falling from the sky. It quickly soaked him to the skin as he leaped down the rocks towards the Thunderpath. As he paused beside the dark path, his stomach began to churn with hunger. I need my strength if I'm going to continue home. Otherwise I'll never be able to make it back. Turning around, he headed in the direction of a small clump of trees.
Sniffing the air, Ripplesky quickly caught scent of a mouse. He scanned his surroundings, before spotting the small brown creature underneath some dried ferns. Once he was close enough, Ripplesky leaped and quickly killed the mouse. Licking his lips, the silver tom began to tear into his prey. It's juicy meat filled his belly, making him purr in delight. As he ate, he got lost in thought, until the sight of black clouds rising in the sky caught his attention.
"What's going on?" he meowed to himself, pushing the remains of the mouse away. Ripplesky quickly raced back out towards the Thunderpath to get a better view. His heart sunk into his belly as he recognized large orange flames in the distance. A fire!
Without bothering to check for monsters, he tore across the Thunderpath and onto the burning moorland. The rain had stopped for now, but the thunder and lightning raged on. Sparks floated through the air, landing dangerously close to him. I need to get back to camp and warn my family before it's too late.
As he ran, he started to notice other animals racing past him, along with members of WindClan themselves. They must be evacuating their camp, he realized.
Finally, Ripplesky reached the safety of Fourtrees where it seemed as though the WindClan warriors were taking shelter. "Are you all okay?" he asked, panting.
"What are you doing here? Haven't you been exiled from the forest?" Swiftstar demanded, ignoring his question.
"Yes, but that doesn't matter now. The moorland is on fire, and sooner or later the rest of the forest will follow. I need to get back to my camp, and you need to head deeper into the forest. With the flames moving as fast as they are, sooner or later Fourtrees will be engulfed." Ripplesky turned back to the blazing more, which sure enough, was nearly swallowed up by the fire.
"These lands are sacred. StarClan would never allow such a thing," the WindClan leader argued.
"I've come to learn you can't always trust StarClan," Ripplesky growled, before pushing past the older tom. As he padded into the undergrowth, he heard Swiftstar let out a call of protest, but he ignored it. Picking up the pace, Ripplesky headed for the Twoleg bridge.
Suddenly, he was tackled to the ground. Rolling onto his back, Ripplesky kicked up with his back feet, hoping to shake his attacker off of him. A flash of ginger fur caught his attention, making him believe he was being attacked by a fox. To his relief, he quickly noticed it was just Foxpaw. Pushing the apprentice off him, Ripplesky gave his chest fur a couple of licks. "Foxpaw, what are you doing so far from camp?"
"I should be asking you the same thing," a second voice, which Ripplesky quickly realized belonged to Birchstar, growled. The RiverClan leader stepped out from the withered undergrowth, his teeth barred in a snarl.
"What do you want?" the silver tom hissed.
"You're on RiverClan territory. I warned you about that when I exiled you," Birchstar said.
"I'm just passing through. I swear I mean no harm. Just let me get through to my family, and you'll never have to see me again," Ripplesky meowed.
"Don't worry, we've already taken care of them," Birchstar told him, smirking.
Ripplesky's eyes widened in horror. "What do you mean? Please tell me you haven't hurt them, especially not my kits. They haven't done anything wrong."
Birchstar rolled his eyes. "Don't worry, they're fine. I may be angry with you, but I would never kill innocent kits just to get back at you for all the destruction you've caused. I'm not a monster like you."
There was that word again. The very sound of it made Ripplesky's blood boil. "I am not a monster!" he cried out.
Foxpaw let out an annoyed snort. "Is that so? My father was killed because of you! If you had just confessed to your crimes instead of pinning it onto everyone else, Ember would still be alive." The apprentice then turned his attention to the far distance, his eyes widening. "The fire has spread to the other side of the river. We need to get back to camp at once, before it's too late!"
Birchstar let out a panicked shriek, before turning and fleeing. Foxpaw and Ripplesky followed after him.
"Where is my family?" Ripplesky called out.
"They're back at camp," Birchstar replied.
Finally, the three toms reached RiverClan's camp. Several warriors were gathered in the camp clearing, their eyes wide with fear. "Birchstar, the fire is headed-" Pikeheart paused once he noticed Ripplesky. "What is he doing here?"
"Don't worry about that. We must get ready to evacuate the camp," Birchstar said, before racing to the elders den.
Ripplesky began to search the camp for his family. To his annoyance, none of them could be found anywhere. "Minnowfur! Willowblaze! Frogtail! Where are you?" he shouted, hoping a member of RippleClan would hear him and come forward.
"They left a while back, looking for you. We tried to get them to stay in camp, but they wouldn't listen to us," Brambletail meowed, stepping forward.
"You've got to be kidding me! Can you tell me which way they've went?" Ripplesky asked.
"They split into two different groups. Waveheart, Splashflower and Minnowfur headed towards the abandoned Twoleg den, while Willowblaze and Frogtail headed for the Twoleg campgrounds." Brambletail's gaze was filled with fear as she glanced towards the black smoke that now covered the sky.
"And where are the kits?" he wondered. Please don't tell me they're out all alone!
"Don't worry, they're safe in the nursery with Rainfall," Brambletail reassured him. "Perhaps you should go stay with them. I'm sure the others will be returning home soon."
Ripplesky began to pace back and forth, unsure of what to do. He knew it would be impossible to search for both patrols at once, so for now he decided his best hope would be to wait. Giving a nod of thanks to Brambletail, he scurried over to the nursery. Inside, Rainfall was curled up fast asleep in her nest. Beside her were two little kits, along with his own three.
"Three?!" he suddenly exclaimed, realizing Icekit was missing from the bunch.
"Father, you're here! We were so worried about you," Blossomkit squeaked, racing up to him.
"Where is Icekit?" Ripplesky demanded, sniffing around the den for his son.
"He followed mama out of camp. He said he wanted to help find you," Lionkit spoke up.
Just then, Ripplesky felt as if his heart had shattered into a million pieces. "Does Willowblaze know this?" When the kits shook their heads, Ripplesky let out a groan. "You three stay put! I have to go find Icekit, before it's too late!"
Tearing out of camp, Ripplesky headed in the direction of the Twoleg campgrounds. "Icekit!" he yowled, sniffing the air for any signs of his son. "Icekit, where are you?" As he padded further and further away from the river, the silver tom began to get choked up by the smoke. It was clear the fire was close by, meaning that Icekit would be burned alive if he was anywhere near.
"Ripplesky?" Willowblaze exclaimed, racing up to him. "Where did you go? We were all so worried about you. You said you would just be gone for a quick hunt-"
"Icekit's missing. He followed you out of camp, and he must have gotten lost," Ripplesky coughed.
Willowblaze's eyes widened in horror. "Oh StarClan, no! We have to find him, quick! The campgrounds are up in flames, and sooner or later this very spot we're standing on will be as well."
"We need to hurry up then," Frogtail meowed grimly, before racing away to look for Icekit.
"Icekit! Where are you?" Ripplesky yowled again. I'll never be able to live with myself if Icekit isn't found, Ripplesky thought. As the three cats searched through the territory, a faint cry could be heard in the distance.
"Do you hear that?" Ripplesky asked, pausing.
"I don't hear anything," Willowblaze said, straining her ears. Finally she exclaimed, "Wait, I think I hear a little cry! It's coming from over there." The pale brown she-cat flicked her tail in the direction of a beech copse that grew nearby.
"Help me! Somebody help!" a tiny voice yelled.
"That has to be him. Let's go!" Without waiting for the others, Ripplesky raced in the direction of the trees. Half of them had already been engulfed by the flames, and the remaining few were starting to burn.
"Icekit?" Ripplesky called out as he looked up at the branches of the trees. Embers and other debris from the fire floated through the air, burning his pelt. "Icekit, can you hear me?"
A few seconds later, a tiny voice could be heard. "I'm over here!" Ripplesky continued to scan the trees, before spotting his son high up in one of the burning beech trees.
Springing forward, Ripplesky began towards the tree. "Don't panic, I'm coming to get you!"
"Ripplesky, no! It's too dangerous!" Willowblaze called out a few seconds after she appeared. "Let Frogtail get him."
"I have to do this," he told her, before hooking his claws into the tree. As he climbed up, he felt the sweltering heat of the fire all around him. Smoke burned his eyes and lungs, but he continued on. He had to save his son no matter what. I can't let him die. Below, Frogtail and Willowblaze gathered, their eyes wide with fear.
"Please be careful!" Willowblaze begged.
By the time Ripplesky reached the branch Icekit was on, the majority of the tree along with the ground underpaw was up in flames. Carefully, Ripplesky crept out onto the smoldering branch and scooped up his now unconscious son. I know you're angry with me StarClan, but please let Icekit make it out alive. Scooping him up by the scruff, Ripplesky padded towards the end of the branch. As he walked, it bounced up and down under his weight, threatening to snap at any second.
"The branch is on fire! Hurry!" Frogtail screeched.
Bunching his muscles, Ripplesky leaped forward. As soon as his paws left the branch, it snapped in half, sending a shower of splinters and sparks into the air. Twisting through the air, Ripplesky tried to balance himself, but it was too late.
He landed roughly, snapping his back leg. Icekit tumbled from his mouth, before laying unconscious a few fox lengths away.
Willowblaze raced forward and began covering her son in licks, while Frogtail padded over to Ripplesky. "Come on, we've got to get going right now."
"My leg," he croaked, his lungs burning for air. "I think I broke it."
"Are you okay?" Willowblaze cried out, her eyes tearing up.
"D-Don't worry about it," Ripplesky whimpered, staggering to his paws. As he placed weight down on his back leg, he immediately collapsed.
"Frogtail and I will help you," Willowblaze told him, before padding over to his side. Slowly, she nudged him to his paws, where he immediately collapsed once more.
"Just go," he argued, wincing in pain. "I promise I'll catch up to you. I just need a few seconds to rest."
"You don't have a few seconds! The fire is right here," Frogtail said, his voice filled with fear.
Ripplesky squeezed his eyes shut. He knew he would just slow them down. "Just go," he repeated, sitting up the best he could. "The kits need you, Willowblaze."
Tears rolled down Willowblaze's face as she stared at him. "They need their father too. I will not leave you here." She then looked up at the fire, which would quickly engulf them if they did not move quickly. She exchanged a few looks with Frogtail, before bending down to nuzzle Ripplesky. "I love you. Please return home." Without saying another word, she picked up Icekit and followed Frogtail towards RiverClan's camp.
Ripplesky tried to follow them, but he was in too much pain to move. As he watched his mate and friend go, tears began to roll down his face. He knew he would not make it out alive, but he didn't care. He had given up his life to save Icekit, which was the most important thing a father could do. As the smoke rolled over him, the silver tom began to choke for air. Crawling forward, he tried to get away, but his body was too weak. Growing limp, Ripplesky collapsed.
Help me, StarClan...
Several years later...
Icewhisker stumbled through the camp entrance, a bundle of marigold clamped in his jaws. Staggering forward, the medicine cat slowly made his way towards his den. As he neared, his apprentice Mousetail, poked her head out.
"Where have you been?" she exclaimed. "I've been looking for you all afternoon!"
"I went to go fetch more marigold," Icewhisker replied, dropping his herbs at her paws.
Mousetail's whiskers twitched. "You're too old to be leaving camp by yourself, especially during this time of year. It's too cold out and you could catch greencough again. What would the Clan do without you?"
"They would have you to look after them," Icewhisker said, plopping down in his nest.
Mousetail looked down at her paws. "I-I don't think I'm ready for that responsibility yet. I still need you to guide me, Icewhisker." The small brown tabby's eyes started to tear up as she looked at her mentor.
A small purr rumbled in the silver-gray tom's throat. "You have been my apprentice for many years. I know if something were to happen to me, you would be able to take care of the Clan just fine. That's why I chose you as my apprentice. Have faith in yourself, because I cannot be around forever to guide you."
"Thank you," she whispered.
The den became silent for a few moments, before Icewhisker rasped, "My father took over as RiverClan's medicine cat when he was just a young apprentice. I was just a young kit when he died, but my mother said he was one of the best medicine cats she saw." The old tom let out a sigh as he thought about his parents. His memories of his father were vague, but he still felt a strong connection towards him. After all, he saved me from the fire. If it hadn't of been for him, I wouldn't be here right now.
"Your father was a medicine cat?" Mousetail exclaimed. "But I thought medicine cats were forbidden from taking a mate and having kits." It was no surprise to Icewhisker that his apprentice had never heard of Ripplesky. After his death, cats stopped mentioning Ripplesky. It was almost as if he didn't exist. The only cats who seemed to remember where those closest to him, but even then his memory was not passed on to the newer generations of the Clan out of fear and shame.
"Both of my parents were medicine cats, actually. My mother, Willowblaze, came from ShadowClan. She was exiled as soon as the Clan found out she was pregnant, so she came to live with my father, who at the time was living as a rogue."
"Why?" Mousetail asked, her eyes wide.
"It's a long story, one I will have to tell you in the morning," Icewhisker yawned. Mousetail said something more to him, but the old medicine cat was too tired to make out what she had said. As he drifted off to sleep, his body felt strange, almost weightless. The air around him began to grow cold, and suddenly he found himself in a starry meadow. Gathered all around him stood familiar faces which he had not seen in seasons.
Immediately, Icewhisker knew what had happened to him. "I wish I would have known it was my time," he whispered. "I didn't even get to say goodbye."
Willowblaze padded towards her son and touched noses with him. "You can visit Mousetail's dreams soon and say your goodbyes then. Right now, you must say hello to everyone. They've been looking forward to seeing you."
Purring, Icewhisker padded towards the crowd of cats. To his left, he spotted his sisters Blossomheart and Poppysplash. Waveheart and Splashflower were sitting directly behind them. Minnowfur, Frogtail, and their kits Cherryflower and Waspfur sat to his right. Lionwhisker and his son, Nettlepaw, were also there.
As Icewhisker looked through the crowd, he started to feel overwhelmed. "There are so many cats here..." he trailed off, trying to find his father.
"Don't bother. He isn't here," Willowblaze sighed, her eyes full of sorrow.
"Where is he?" Icewhisker asked, feeling a pang of sadness. I want to thank him for saving my life all those years ago.
"We don't know. None of us have seen him. We even checked the Dark Forest, but he is no where to be found. I guess his spirit walks in another realm that we do not know about," Willowblaze replied, flicking her tail.
Icewhisker flattened his ears to his head, but did not know what to say. Before any cat could speak, two silhouettes appeared at the top of the rise. As the unfamiliar cats made their way towards the group, Willowblaze let out a gasp.
"It can't be!" she whispered. "Ripplesky?"
"It's me," Ripplesky meowed as soon as he was close enough. Ripplesky's pelt was glossy and well groomed, and his blue eyes were full of happiness. The black she-cat that stood behind him looked equally happy.
"But... how? I thought you walked with another afterlife!" Minnowfur said in shock.
"Where have you been? We've been looking for you for ages!" Splashflower exclaimed, running up to her son. "We've all missed you so much."
As the cats gathered around Ripplesky, the black she-cat opened her mouth to speak. "Ripplesky's spirit walked in afterlife for cats with conflicted spirits. After enough persuasion, StarClan told me I was able to fetch him and bring him back where he belongs."
Ripplesky frowned. "How can you say that, Nightsky? After everything-"
"You're not a monster, Ripplesky. Your crimes are in the past, and are all forgiven. Stop beating yourself up over what you cannot change," Nightsky told him. "I know I was angry with you once, but I'm over it. Please believe me when I say you belong here."
"Thank you." He smiled slightly, before turning towards Icewhisker. "Welcome to StarClan."
Once again, a loud purr rumbled in Icewhisker's throat as he padded towards his father. He quickly nuzzled him, before meowing, "Thank you for saving me all those years ago." Backing away, Icewhisker stared into his father's blue eyes. They were filled with warmth and happiness, opposed to the cold stare he had held when he was alive. Icewhisker could tell his father was truly a changed cat, and that he was happy to be among his family once again.
I apologize for not updating in such a long time. I did not have access to a computer, so I was not able to update. With that said, I hope everyone enjoyed this last chapter. I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has read and supported this story. I had a lot of fun writing and creating this story, so I hope you guys enjoyed it as much as I did.
Thanks for reading!
