Moonpool time
And here comes the drama yet again. *Rubs hands together evilly*
As always I'm still looking for ideas as to where I should take Ignite! Also if anyone has ideas for the AU Dump, I'll take those as well. Just to see if I get interested enough to write something.
Reviews are highly appreciated! (Please)
Jayfeather gave a huff as he navigated around Thunderclan territory, on his way to the Moonpool. It seemed like he was here only yesterday when it had been in fact about over a half moon. He had trekked all the way up to the Moonpool with Firestar in order to get answers about Firestar's everything only to be told by an irate Yellowfang that Starclan didn't have all the answers.
He had bit back a response that Starclan never seemed to have any answers, but he knew Yellowfang would have just snapped at him again, maybe even torn out his ears if he had said something like that. They couldn't even give him hints as to who the Fourth was.
This half moon meeting would be different. He knew that the other medicine cats would probably be looking for answers from Starclan regarding the situation with Firestar. He bit back a growl; Firestar wasn't who anyone should be worried about. Firestar was scared of himself and his powers, but it seemed like half of the clan was afraid Firestar would turn on them like on the night he had been changed.
Meanwhile, the Dark Forest was still around plotting the four clan's demise. He wished Firestar hadn't gone through the changes, because he made a perfect distraction away from the Dark Forest.
It was wrong of him, but currently with everyone fixated on the ginger and black leader, the clans were even more divided than before. It would take a miracle for the four clans to unite against the Dark Forest now.
He quickened up his pace, scenting Kestrelflight and Littlecloud already at the Moonpool. He wanted to get the night done and over with. He gave a disgruntled chirp of greeting, and they turned to him with a short greeting, already accustomed to Jayfeather's sour and snappy attitude.
"Are we still waiting for Riverclan?" he grumbled, fur fluffed up from the cold. It was like all the remaining warmth from leaf-fall had been sucked away this night. He got a mew of affirmative and sat down with a sour look on his face, wishing Willowshine and Mothwing would hurry it up.
"So Jayfeather, how's everything been in Thunderclan?" Kestrelflight suddenly asked tentatively. His ears pricked; was that a tone of sympathy in his voice?
"Everything's fine. Why ask?" He knew what Kestrelflight was doing; he was more than likely trying to fish information about Firestar out of him.
Kestrelflight gave a hesitant laugh. "Oh you know, it's just with your leader being the way he is now, I'm just worried he may, uh," he swallowed, "act out."
Jayfeather turned his sightless gaze onto the Windclan medicine cat, his unseeing eyes unnerving the two other present medicine cats. "Your concern is unneeded. He hasn't been 'acting out' as you think." His eyes narrowed. "What are trying to imply here? That he's holding us all hostage? That we're being mistreated inside our own camp?"
Kestrelflight didn't say anything, which confirmed Jayfeather's suspicions. Kestrelflight really did think there was something going on with Firestar other than the obvious. He felt waves of concern, suspicion, and fear coming from Littlecloud; did the Shadowclan medicine cat also think that Firestar was hurting Thunderclan from beyond the border?
"Keep your concerns about my leader to yourself next time," he growled.
Kestrelflight drew his ears flat on his head. "If it's even your leader..."
Jayfeather's stare grew more intense. "Excuse me?" Did this mouse-brain just call his leader and grandfather an it?
"We can't be sure if that's even Firestar."
"Wha- of course it's Firestar you mouse-brain! What are you going on about? Did you have a bad piece of fresh-kill or something?" Jayfeather asked incredulous. Littlecloud stepped back, not wanting to be embroiled in the argument. Jayfeather tried keeping his cool; they needed the clans to unite. No one would want to ally with each other if their medicine cats were at each other's throats.
If they were fighting, it would only send an example to the clans that the other clans couldn't be trusted. Medicine cats weren't supposed to fight each other. They were to remain at the very least cordial to one another. But Jayfeather could feel his blood boil at the implications of this tom's words. Firestar was trying his hardest to remain in the clan's good graces. Now the clans didn't even think it was him, but some imposter? Some monster that replaced him?
The two toms growled at each other, and Littlecloud shifted on his paws, unsure if he needed to intervene. Thankfully he wouldn't need to.
"Uh, are we missing something here?" Their heads turned to stare at Willowshine and Mothwing, both she-cats looking horribly confused. Mothwing raised an eyebrow. "You're both not fighting are you?"
The two toms relaxed and shook their heads, grumbling out negatives. The cats stood there in silence before Littlecloud nervously stepped forward.
"Well, we're wasting moonlight here. Why not go in and share dreams with Starclan now that we're all here?" he nervously laughed. Jayfeather turned and stomped up to the Moonpool, wanting to get the night done and over with already. The other cats followed him, Kestrelflight situating himself the furthest he could from Jayfeather. Jayfeather dipped his head and lapped up some water from the Moonpool and surrendered himself to sleep.
He opened his eyes, ready to give Starclan a piece of his mind, but stopped as he noticed that his surroundings were very... normal. He couldn't catch a whiff of the omnipresent starlight that clung to Starclan territory, nor could he scent any Starclan cats he knew of. He opened his mouth to taste the air, only catching the leafy scent of Thunderclan territory. He blinked; why was he here?
His ears pricked as he caught chatter coming from close by and he followed the sound and ducked into the bushes when cats passed him by. What- was that Brambleclaw? The tabby was being followed by cats he recognized and cats he hadn't seen before. Brambleclaw was half carrying and half dragging a large hawk with a pep in his step.
He noticed the other cats with Brambleclaw looking just as excited as he did and caught multiple cats carrying large pieces of prey in their jaws. His eyes narrowed; what was going on?
He followed the patrol as they entered a large clearing and he couldn't keep in his gasp of surprise. There in the clearing taking up most of the space was the creature from his dreams, which he was utterly convinced was Firestar. His eyes had opened as soon as the patrol drew near, but didn't move to unwind himself from his curled up position, only lifting up his head to look down at the patrol. There was spark of happiness and love in the creature's eyes as he gazed down at Brambleclaw.
Brambleclaw placed the large hawk down near Firestar, and stepped aside so other cats could place their prey on the ever growing pile of fresh-kill. This looked like some kind of offering.
The cats crowded around Firestar as they gazed up at him reverently, chattering to him how their day went. Brambleclaw strode forward and Firestar lowered his head completely to the ground for Brambleclaw to butt heads with.
Jayfeather stared at the group of cats, totally lost. They were now passing prey around and chatting with each other happily, almost like this was some kind of event. Brambleclaw stayed with Firestar, and Jayfeather watched as Firestar carefully trapped Brambleclaw inbetween his forelegs and chest, giving the tabby the gentlest nuzzle he could give.
Oh... Firestar's eyes were green instead of the burning red like in his vision. Not only that, but Firestar seemed content and happy, an air of love exuding from him as he gazed upon the happy tabby he was holding and the group of cats that were visiting him.
Sandstorm padded up to the two, and Firestar lovingly gave her a nuzzle before letting her climb into the spot next to Brambleclaw. The two cats were purring loudly.
Jayfeather was confused; why was he being shown this? Was this another path for Firestar to take? Was it possible for him to become a guardian instead of a destroyer?
Everything faded into black, and he was startled at the panicked voices coming from behind him.
"You all saw what happens if we allow him to stay within the clans! We'll all be killed and the lake will be destroyed!" Kestrelflight wailed. "We're all going to burn if he doesn't leave!"
"Let's think through this rationally. We saw those shadow cats running away from the flames, but we can't be sure as to who they were. Maybe the creature was trying to protect us?" Willowshine said worriedly.
Jayfeather's eyes widened in shock. The medicine cats received the same vision he did, with Firestar destroying everything, roaring in anger.
"That creature is what Firestar will become if we leave him alone! Starclan has spoken; he's a danger to everyone in the clans. He has become our destroyer, not our savior!" Kestrelflight forcibly spat.
Jayfeather, having enough, got up and stalked up to them. Willowshine perked up at seeing him. "Jayfeather, did you also receive the dream?"
He flicked an ear. "I did, but I received that particular dream some time ago. I saw something way different than what you did last night."
"Of course you had that dream. You're trying to protect it aren't you?! You were going to keep it to yourself and not tell us what Firestar is to become!" Kestrelflight snarled.
Jayfeather whirled around to glare at him. "I was doing nothing of the sort! We don't know what that dream means! For all we know, he's trying to protect us from an unseen threat!"
"You would defend that thing wouldn't you?" Kestrelflight turned to the other three uncomfortable looking medicine cats. "Think about this would you? The dream all but confirms what needs to be done about Firestar." He gave a nod to Littlecloud before all but sprinting away from the Moonpool. Littlecoud left soon after, lost in thought.
"I don't know what all this is about but, it seems really bad," Jayfeather heard Mothwing mutter to herself. Jayfeather didn't wait to stick around and made his way back to Thunderclan territory. He had serious news to give to Firestar.
It's up to Willowshine and Littlecloud to come up with their own interpretations and give advice to their leaders. They aren't the ones who make the final call for anything really, unless it's medicine related. Mothwing still doesn't believe in Starclan at this point, so no dream for her. Or any dreams really.
The dream has Kestrelflight utterly convinced that Onestar was right about Firestar being their destroyer.
There's another path in all of this though. Firestar can still be a guardian- to Thunderclan anyway. Why would he want to protect the other clans when they don't treat him with respect? Honestly I can see the dragon mentality taking over and him thinking that the lake territories belong to him, and he's just letting the cats live there. He wouldn't be wrong- he can kill everyone easily as a dragon.
Tell me how I did.