A half moon glistened upon the horizon, far sooner than Shadowsight anticipated. He couldn't believe it had been over a moon since Ashfur's defeat. It was difficult to live a life with the threat of Ashfur vanquished from the Clans. Shadowsight's paw twitched erratically as he padded through the pines. Ever since he was attacked and almost killed by the tom moons ago, Shadowsight had gained that twitch, urging him to flee from some unseen danger.
"Are you alright, Shadowsight?" Puddleshine's pale eyes were filled with concern.
"I'm fine," Shadowsight responded, picking up the pace.
"Slow down, Shadowsight," Puddleshine purred. "You're going to miss the meeting spot."
"Right…" Shadowsight stopped, allowing the fellow medicine cat to catch up, before matching the brown-and-white cat's pace.
"It'll be nice to have another normal Moonpool meeting," Puddleshine's eyes beamed. "StarClan has been eager to reunite with us."
"I'm sure they have," Shadowsight nodded, glancing down at his paws.
"Don't be discouraged, Shadowsight," Puddleshine rested his fuzzy tail on Shadowsight's shoulder. "I'm sure that StarClan will visit you this time. You've been blessed by so many visions – they wouldn't cut off contact with you."
Shadowsight's ears flattened. "Why wouldn't they?"
"Why, you helped save the Clans from the imposter. That's admirable."
"Even after I was the one that allowed Ashfur to obtain so much power in the first place?"
"Shadowsight––" Puddleshine was about to object when a cheerful meow cut off his thoughts.
"Puddleshine, Shadowsight," Frecklewish greeted neutrally as Fidgetflake bounded over to them.
"It's so great to see you two!" Fidgetflake beamed.
Puddleshine chuckled. "We're happy to see you too, Fidgetflake."
"Fidgetflake, we don't have the time to sit and chat. The moon is already glittering in the sky. If we dawdle, we'll be late," Frecklewish chidded.
"Frecklewish is right. We have to keep moving," Puddleshine trekked forward, setting the cats at a faster pace.
"We can talk on the way," Shadowsight smiled at the enthusiastic SkyClan tom.
Fidgetflake purred, walking side by side with Shadowsight. Puddleshine and Frecklewish were ahead of him, making small talk about their medicinal duties. From the way Frecklewish's tail lashed to the irritable growl in her voice, it seemed that SkyClan cats were being careless on patrols.
"I'm so excited for this Moonpool meeting," Fidgetflake chirped. "I know, we just had a Moonpool meeting last moon, but I haven't gotten to visit StarClan that much. When SkyClan was driven away from the gorge, we weren't able to communicate with StarClan too often. Their messages were vaguer than ever, and it was hard to focus on their messages when the Clan itself was struggling to survive. It was a really stressful time, and Frecklewish was gone for a while…"
Shadowsight started to zone off, not paying too much attention to the peppy black-and-white tom's words. While he was sure that Fidgetflake had several fascinating stories to tell, he couldn't focus. His mind was stuck in survival mode, and his claws were half-sheathed, ready to defend himself if necessary.
He could hear the lapping waves of the lake, which only stirred about more anxious feelings in his gut. Shadowsight recalled the stories that Tawnypelt used to tell him and his siblings in kithood. Back when Darktail was in power, he would drown cats in the lake, who disagreed with the Kin. Among the victims were several of Puddleshine's siblings, as well as Dawnpelt – Tigerstar's sister. Shadowsight glanced over at the gloomy surface, where a faint fog was forming. Darktail had murdered here, then died here, in a fight to the death with his father.
The lake was also close to the place where Hawkfrost – a ruthless RiverClan warrior – was killed off by his own half-brother, Bramblestar. Hawkfrost was also Shadowsight's ancestor – as he was Tawnypelt's half-brother. Hawkfrost, like Darktail, was an evil cat who desired power and brought bloodshed to the Clan territories. Luckily, that ice-hearted tom was dead and would never return – not even as a ghost.
Every part of the Clans were stained with bloodshed. Many moons ago, before his parents were even born, all four Clans fought each other over causes that not even Shadowsight could comprehend. The cats had been vicious to each other – changing alliances and causing serious injuries on many cats involved in the conflict. According to Tawnypelt, the entire territories had stunk of blood for days afterwards.
In the latest conflict, the Clans were torn between supporting the imposter or standing rigidly against him. So many cats had died, and many of those cats weren't able to retreat to StarClan directly after their death. They continued to suffer as possessions under Ashfur's control. Shadowsight felt sickened, knowing how close they came to losing that final battle.
The Clans really were just a war zone. Cats were willing to rip each other apart, their cruelty present in every season. He could understand Puddleshine's motivations for staying in the medicine cat position. Shadowsight was no fighter, and he could barely stomach the conflicts of the past. And, the latest conflict… Shadowsight shuddered, trying to bring himself out of his dark thoughts.
Had they entered ThunderClan territory already? Shadowsight could detect the scents of forest and undergrowth in the air. He glanced over at Fidgetflake, who, somehow, was still rambling about SkyClan's journey to the lake and the process it took to settle there.
"Remember that huge storm? StarClan made it flood for days! And then, you just jumped into the river," Fidgetflake couldn't help but chuckle. "You're kind of crazy, did you know that?"
"...I was sent a vision to jump into the river," Shadowsight said flatly. "It brought the Clans together."
"StarClan is quite strange, that's for sure," Fidgetflake smiled. "I'm glad your vision was real though. If not, you probably would've drowned out there, all alone."
"Yeah…" Shadowsight stopped walking, his thoughts straying in a darker direction.
Fidgetflake was right.
Shadowsight really was 'kind of crazy.'
"Shadowsight, did your paws forget how to work? C'mon!" Fidgetflake teased, waving him to join him with his tail.
Shadowsight broke himself out of his trance and dashed ahead to catch up to Fidgetflake. By the time he made it to the SkyClan tom's side, he was shaking profusely, and his scent carried faint traces of fear.
"What's up with you?" Fidgetflake twitched an ear. "You look like you've seen a ghost. Wait – did you see a StarClan cat?"
"Don't be ridiculous," Frecklewish rolled her eyes. "StarClan cats don't roam the living world."
"Actually, they can," Puddleshine meowed. "Have you already forgotten about Tree's talents?"
"It's also happened countless times before to Clan cats not related to the Sisters. Haven't you heard the stories of Spottedleaf watching over us?" Fidgetflake reminded Frecklewish.
Frecklewish bristled. "So, I was mistaken. I haven't seen a StarClan cat while I was awake."
"Well, with Shadowsight's spiritual talents, I'm sure it's possible for him," Puddleshine smiled kindly at the younger tom.
"I… didn't see a StarClan cat. I-I just thought I heard something strange," Shadowsight's voice was strained as he looked back the way they came.
Puddleshine gave him a contemplative look. "Well… It was probably nothing. Let's keep moving–"
"Puddleshine!" The sound of footsteps caused every pelt on Puddleshine's pelt to prickle.
Alderheart went over to the brown-and-white medicine cat's side, nuzzling his cheek affectionately. Puddleshine smiled, ducking his head in greeting. He murmured something to Alderheart, and the pair smiled at each other. The two toms then started to walk side by side, their tails intertwining. Jayfeather had now approached the group, his tail lashing.
"You were lucky that we decided to wait on you four," Jayfeather grumbled. "I would've gone up the WindClan slopes long ago, but Alderheart insisted."
"Our apologies," Frecklewish returned before looking up at the sky. "We still have some time before moon-high though. Hopefully, we will arrive right on time."
"We shouldn't dawdle. I wouldn't be surprised if Mothwing and Kestrelflight are already waiting at the Moonpool."
"That's what I've been telling this group since we were in SkyClan territory," Frecklewish retorted. "I swear, the younger generations are just getting slower."
The two cats shared their habit of grumbling about arbitrary topics together all the way up the moor slopes. Puddleshine and Alderheart followed close behind, deep in conversation. Once again, Shadowsight was by Fidgetflake's side, enduring through his long tales.
Before long, Shadowsight felt jagged rocks underneath his paws. He looked up just as they reached the top of the slope. There was a stone hollow before them with moss coating the silver, black, and white stones. There was a sharp cliff off to one side with a waterfall gushing down into a sparkling pool.
Fidgetflake gasped beside him, his eyes sparkling with wonder. Frecklewish also sported a look of stardom, but it was more reserved than the younger medicine cat. Shadowsight saw four shadowed cats by the Moonpool, waiting patiently for them.
The six traveling medicine cats padded down to the bottom of the hollow. From there, Shadowsight was able to recognize Kestrelflight and Mothwing, smiling proudly, as they stood next to their younger counterparts. A young, short-haired gray tabby she-cat was next to a sleek silver she-cat.
"You both brought your apprentices!" Alderheart's eyes gleamed.
"Why, of course. This is Whistlepaw," Kestrelflight touched the gray tabby's shoulder with his tail.
"And this is Frostpaw," Mothwing looked over at the young silver she-cat.
"It's great to meet you two," Puddleshine smiled. "Your mentors mentioned you two at our last meeting."
"T-They did?" Whistlepaw gulped.
"What did you say?" Frostpaw grinned.
"It wasn't much. We just told them that they would be meeting you two soon," Mothwing shrugged.
"I have talked about you before in the past, Whistlepaw. You've wanted to train as a medicine cat for a long time, but StarClan's silence wouldn't allow that to happen."
"And now that you have StarClan's approval, there shouldn't be any issues," Jayfeather flicked his tail.
Whistlepaw smiled, surprisingly finding reassurance in the blind cat's words.
"We're losing moonlight. We should start the meeting," Frecklewish meowed impatiently.
Kestrelflight started murmuring instructions to the new apprentices. The two listened eagerly before lapping a few drops of the dark water and settling down by the Moonpool side-by-side. The other medicine cats followed suit, apart from Mothwing and Shadowsight. Mothwing twitched her ear, glancing over at the ShadowClan tom.
Shadowsight swallowed a lump in his throat, approaching the starry pool. Cats claimed the reflections of StarClan cats could be seen through it. As Shadowsight gazed into the pool, all he saw was murky water. He dipped his muzzle into the water, lapping a few freezing drops. His fur prickled apprehensively. Shadowsight sat down, closing his eyes. Darkness swirled around the edges of his vision, and he succumbed to the approaching dream, sinking into unconsciousness.
Shadowsight heard the sound of crackling bracken. He opened his eyes, realizing he wasn't in the stone hollow anymore. The trees around him shadowed the world, and he could detect the scents of undergrowth, pine sap, fog, and… blood. Shadowsight felt a whirlwind of emotions, and he caught his breath.
He wasn't in StarClan.
"You couldn't stay away, could you?" he heard a taunting voice.
Shadowsight's fur bristled, and he turned his head. "Who's there?"
He could hear the faint echo of laughter traveling through the trees. He turned his head, trying to spot the source of it all. Yet, the forest provided thick cover for anyone watching him. Shadowsight felt a swell of nervousness growing in his chest, and he started padding through the forest, sniffing the air.
It was hard to distinguish individual scents in this confusing maze of trees. As he walked, he stepped in something sticky, but he didn't bother to look down at his paws. He spotted a faint silhouette perched in the trees.
"Hello?" Shadowsight tilted his head.
The cat leapt down from the tree before disappearing in the thicket of shadows. The medicine cat flicked his tail and started wandering deeper into the depths of the forest. He jumped over fallen logs and strayed away from rose, gorse, and bramble thickets. He spotted some small bushes sprouting berries. He decided to inspect them closer, realizing in horror that the fruits were deathberries.
He noticed that some of the berries were freshly picked.
Shadowsight shuddered in horror, recalling his own experience with deathberries. The choking sensation of heat flooding his senses, the fear that chilled his bones, and the resolve he carried – knowing exactly what he was doing and the impact it would leave on the Clans.
He fully understood how desperation could bring cats to their limits.
"Shadowsight," he heard a sly purr behind him.
Shadowsight turned his head to see a Dark Forest cat hidden in the shadows.
"Who are you?" Shadowsight whispered.
"My name doesn't hold any significance," The cat replied smoothly. "But your name will go down in history."
"How so?" Shadowsight twitched an ear.
"Why, the Dark Forest never forgets a faithful ally."
"An… An ally?" Shadowsight felt his body go rigid.
"Why, of course. Without you, the cats of the Dark Forest would have drowned."
"I also helped save StarClan!" Shadowsight bristled.
"And how much gratitude have they given you?" the Dark Forest cat chuckled. "You can't even dream with them."
"H-How do you know that?" Shadowsight's fur prickled.
"Dark Forest cats are aware to some extent about Clan life. I know it's the night of a half moon in the Clans. You're a medicine cat – surely you should be wandering through StarClan's hunting grounds tonight."
Shadowsight's ears flattened. "You're right. I can't connect with them."
The cat's eyes gleamed. "But, you can connect with us. Isn't that something special?"
Shadowsight's fur prickled. "I'm nothing special. Countless other living cats entered the Dark Forest."
"But, they weren't gifted like you are. We had to consult them and bring them here. You can enter here freely."
Shadowsight didn't respond, feeling sickened to his stomach.
"We've been watching over you since you were a kit," a Dark Forest cat took a step closer to him. "Don't you remember that storm?"
The storm. The storm that brought the Clans together. Shadowsight merely nodded.
"You got visions from 'StarClan', didn't you? Commanding you to enter that river?"
Shadowsight nodded.
"But, you don't have a connection with StarClan, correct?"
Shadowsight nodded again.
No, no, it can't be–
The Dark Forest cat chuckled. "It seems you've figured it out. Your visions do come from the shadows after all."
Cold fear suddenly traveled down his spine, causing him to freeze in rigid horror.
A StarClan cat didn't send him that vision.
Then, that meant…
StarClan wasn't looking after him when he was in that flooding river. He could have easily died. And, since he was a kit, he should've died. The current was strong, and the Clans were facing a storm sent by StarClan to destroy them, if they failed to join together…
"StarClan has never had your back," the Dark Forest cat purred. "But, we always have."
Shadowsight looked up, realizing that other Dark Forest cats were surrounding him, their eyes gleaming. Among the pelts, he recognized Maggottail, Mapleshade, Silverhawk, and others, who were pleased to see him.
"You've always been one of us."
"You're always welcomed here."
"You're an honorable Dark Forest cat."
"You belong here."
Their praises flowed through Shadowsight's ears, which were now flattened. He felt cornered, and his paw started twitching, but there was no way to flee his predicament. He was surrounded on all sides by cats who considered themselves to be his allies. This was a celebration.
"Shadowsight! Shadowsight! Shadowsight!" The cats began chanting his name.
Shadowsight's ears started ringing. He crouched down, every hair of his pelt quivering. Their words made him feel hollow, as though his soul had been carved out of his chest. His heart was pounding, and he closed his eyes, just wanting to escape from this emptiness…
"STOP!" Shadowsight screamed, opening his eyes.
He realized that the dark shadows had dissipated and the forest had vanished. Shadowsight was back in the stone hollow next to the Moonpool. The eyes of the medicine cats were on him, fearful and concerned.
"Shadowsight, are you alright?" Puddleshine's pale eyes were bright with alarm.
The tom wasn't able to respond, shaking tremendously. He tried to stand up, but his body wouldn't cooperate, and he collapsed back onto the stone. He flinched, looking down at his paws, realizing they were stained with blood. Shadowsight quickly tucked them away before any cat saw.
"I-I'm fine!" Shadowsight insisted, his stutter betraying him.
"You were shaking in your sleep," Mothwing wasn't convinced.
"It's… nothing," Shadowsight averted eye contact.
"Shadowsight, that was not nothing. Every cat woke up from their dreams long before you did," Kestrelflight meowed.
"Was that a vision?" Frostpaw gasped, her eyes glittering.
"If that was a vision, I never want to have one," Whistlepaw quivered.
Kestrelflight and Mothwing exchanged anxious looks.
"Frostpaw, Whistlepaw. Go to the top of the hollow and wait for us there," Kestrelflight told the apprentices.
"But, if that was a vision, then I want to–" Frostpaw was cut off.
"That was an order. Go to the top of the hollow now," Jayfeather hissed.
Without another word, the two apprentices started scurrying out of the hollow.
As soon as the apprentices were out of the hollow, Puddleshine spoke up. "Shadowsight, what was that?"
Shadowsight had started collecting his bearings, and he stood up, his thick fur still bristling widely. "It was nothing."
Jayfeather was about to object when Shadowsight continued.
"It doesn't matter. It was just a bad dream."
"You're not lying to us, are you?" Puddleshine asked.
"I wouldn't lie about this!" Shadowsight hissed.
"Sometimes, a bad dream is just a bad dream," Mothwing's golden tabby fur was ruffled.
"Mothwing, not even you can deny that Shadowsight is different. He's had signs from StarClan since he was a kit!" Jayfeather snapped.
"He has had seizures since he was a kit," Mothwing corrected.
"You're allowed to lack faith in StarClan, Mothwing, but now, you're just being ridiculous," Frecklewish snorted. "Don't you remember the imposter?"
"Of course, I do! That's what too much faith in a bunch of dead cats can result in."
Bickering suddenly ensued, cats glaring and hissing at each other. Jayfeather, Frecklewish, and Mothwing were the deepest ones in the debate, their claws half-sheathed. Alderheart and Fidgetflake were trying to moderate the fighting, but their words fell on deaf ears. The cats were talking over each other, to the point where no cat could understand anything that was being said.
"Enough!" Shadowsight shouted, causing all of the cats to fall silent.
"We shouldn't be squabbling. Especially not here with the eyes of our ancestors looking down upon us," Shadowsight reminded him.
Fidgetflake, who stayed quiet during the feud, nodded. "We should focus on being happy that StarClan is with us again. If we make them angry, then…"
"Then, they may not share dreams with us in the future," Frecklewish nodded before glancing over at Mothwing. "At least, to the cats that believe in StarClan."
Mothwing dismissed the she-cat's words. "We shouldn't pester Shadowsight. He can share his dreams or keep them to himself."
Puddleshine glanced over at his younger counterpart. "I only have one question to ask you, Shadowsight. Was that a vision from StarClan?"
Shadowsight shook his head. "It was just a bad dream about a memory from the battle."
Puddleshine nodded. "I completely understand. I still have nightmares about the malicious things Darktail did."
"It hasn't been long since Ashfur was killed. The nightmares will get better soon," Alderheart reassured him.
"Maybe, next time, you'll be able to meet with StarClan," Frecklewish nodded.
Shadowsight sighed. "It's been a long night. We should return to our Clans."
The cats nodded in agreement and started exiting the hollow. When they reached the top of the hollow, Kestrelflight and Mothwing called their apprentices over to join them. The young she-cats eagerly went over to their mentors, flashing Shadowsight a look of concern and fear. The medicine cats ventured down the moor slopes, Shadowsight taking up the rear of the group.
As he walked, Shadowsight left a trail of bloody paw prints behind him.
