A half moon had passed since the fall of Ashfur. It was time for a Gathering, and the cats were rejoicing in their victory. The leaders' eyes were shining with pride for their Clan, reinvigorated with StarClan's fateful return. The deputies seemed to be sitting taller, delighted to support their leaders during these changing times. The change in the medicine cats was as clear as day to night. Their eyes shone with starshine, enlightened with StarClan's new messages.
Shadowsight stared at the cats around him, rejoicing over their victory. Not all of the cats around him had the chance to enter the Dark Forest or see the light of StarClan's wonders, but they all appeared to be equally cultured on the spiritual return of their warrior ancestors.
"Shadowsight, I've never been so proud to be your littermate!" Lightleap purred beside him. "You were so brave, going into the Dark Forest when I never could."
"Yeah…" Shadowsight flattened his ears. The chanting of the cats was getting on his nerves. Unlike the other cats in the clearing, he felt no sense of victory. Instead, there was a hollowness residing in his soul. It filled the core of his body and extended up from his head and down to his tail. In the strangest way, this felt like a defeat. Shadowsight had lost his connection with Ashfur, his connection to the darkness that held him so tenderly in his darkest moments…
Shadowsight shivered. Those moments of shadow came with all kinds of suffering. He was tricked into murdering a Clan leader, nearly killed by the imposter, lost connection with his own body, roaming the world as a spirit, assisted a murderer's escape, entered the Dark Forest multiple times, and nearly lost his life in the final confrontation with Ashfur.
Shadowsight felt sickened. He should've been the one to die, not Bristlefrost. The brave she-cat had her entire life ahead of her. She had a mate, Rootspring, who loved her enough to leave his own Clan for her. Bristlefrost was an important member of ThunderClan with enough potential to be its leader one day. She had her parents – Ivypool and Fernsong – and her siblings, Thriftear and Flipclaw that loved her dearly. All that was stripped away because of Shadowsight. Bristlefrost didn't even get the privilege to be with her lost friend, Stemleaf, and her mentor, Rosepetal, in StarClan. She had been killed in the Dark Forest, so her soul had departed from all realms forever. She was gone forever. And, it was all because of Shadowsight.
Shadowsight caught sight of Rootspring across the clearing. The yellow tom seemed so lost. An ache of sympathy swelled in Shadowsight's chest. He wanted to walk over to the tom and apologize, but it wasn't the right time to do so, as the leaders were speaking.
"I want to honor the cats who entered the Dark Forest to save the Clans with a special title. From now on, they will be known as the Lights in the Mist," Bramblestar announced.
The chanting started again with a brand-new, roaring intensity. Shadowsight felt overwhelmed by the number of eyes on him. Lightleap's eyes shone brighter in the darkness of the night, and she licked his cheek. Shadowsight glanced over to see Puddleshine giving him a warm smile as congratulations. Tigerstar was looking down at him, his eyes glowing with fatherly pride. Tawnypelt nodded her head approvingly, her tail curling. Pouncestep and Dovewing were beside her, sharing the same sentiment towards their kin.
Lights in the Mist… The title felt chilling to Shadowsight's soul, rather than boosting his ego. He thought about the fog and dark water of the Dark Forest. There was a sickening sense of dread that accompanied the belonging that Shadowsight felt in the Dark Forest. At times, Shadowsight feared the place would swallow him up and he would only see blackness forever. Feeling hope in that place had been so difficult that it hadn't solved the problem, as intended.
Changes were being introduced to the warrior code. Shadowsight didn't bother to pay too much attention as the Clans discussed allowing cross-Clan relationships to occur and changing the rule that the Clan leader's word was the warrior code. Hopefully, these changes would save the Clans a lot of heartache and bloodshed moving forward.
"The spirits of our warrior ancestors have asked for further changes to the warrior code," Leafstar announced.
"At the Moonpool meeting, our medicine cats were able to connect with StarClan. Our ancestors requested for the Clans to add a new rule to the warrior code," Harestar told the Gathering cats.
Conversation immediately erupted with the new announcement.
"Another new rule? I wonder what that could be!"
"Too much of the warrior code is changing. We're straying from tradition!"
"We should make a new warrior code!"
"We need to shut up and listen, mouse-brains!"
Bramblestar cleared his throat. "Cats of all Clans… The new rule for the warrior code is as follows: any Clan cat who murders another cat, Clan-born or not, without the reason of self-defense, shall be killed for their crimes."
"M-Murder?! Since when has murder been a punishment for breaking the warrior code?" Lionblaze's eyes widened.
"You're only against it because you've been murdering Clan cats left and right!" Scorchfur spat at the tom.
"How would the Clans know if a cat acted in self-defense or not?" Tree asked before Lionblaze could speak up.
"Well, it would depend on the circumstances of the death," Mistystar answered. "The Clan would have to determine if a battle was taking place or if there was an accident. If neither of those took place, then an execution would be in order."
"Who would determine if a cat is executed or not?" Cloverfoot asked.
"The leader, of course," Tigerstar raised his head.
"But, what if the leader hated someone in their Clan? There could be bias," Mothwing blinked.
"Perhaps, it would be more suitable if a small group of cats – the leader, deputy, medicine cat, and a few senior warriors determined the cat's fate. They will discuss the situation until there is an agreement," Leafstar proposed.
"What if the wrong cat is executed?" Alderheart flattened his ears.
"That wouldn't happen," Jayfeather snapped. "The medicine cat would talk with StarClan to make sure that the wrong cat isn't killed."
"What if the medicine cat is accused of murder?" Tawnypelt narrowed her eyes.
"Then, either the other medicine cat would communicate with StarClan or another cat with a spiritual connection would be used."
"Why didn't StarClan introduce this new rule earlier?" Violetshine narrowed her eyes. "When every cat was talking about code changes after the fight, this new code was never brought up."
"I imagine StarClan was afraid of the controversy over this rule," Frecklewish twitched her ear. "They didn't want to taint our victory… until now."
"This rule will bring nothing but trouble to the Clans!"
"It shouldn't be added to the warrior code!"
"Clan heroes will be seen as monstrous murderers!"
"Quiet!" Bramblestar's voice rang out over the Gathering cats. "Your frustrations are heard, but this is StarClan's will. We do not want to aggravate our warrior ancestors, so soon after getting them back."
Mistystar bowed her head. "This rule will hold the Clans accountable for our actions."
"With this rule, any murderers in the Clans will be brought to justice," Shadowsight spoke up.
"No WindClan cat would ever commit murder!" Crowfeather hissed, lashing his tail.
"RiverClan cats are far too honorable to kill," Shimmerpelt held her head high.
"ThunderClan represents the honor and nobility of the warrior code! We would never disgrace it," Blossomfall growled.
"Oh, really?" Icewing scoffed. "You ThunderClan cats have broken the code countless times!"
Fiery bickering ignited amongst the Gathering cats. Shadowsight gritted his teeth, being the cause of it all.
Why did I have to open my big mouth? Shadowsight's tail drooped.
"That's enough!" Leafstar glared down at the assembly of cats, her hackles rising. "Have you all forgotten what this Gathering is about? We are here tonight, united under the lights of Silverpelt, and we are arguing amongst ourselves like kits! Our ancestors have spoken and we must accept their words."
"Don't forget about the Lights in the Mist either," Tigerstar added. "This day should be remembered for their courage and strength. They fought in the Dark Forest for all of us!"
"We must always remember the noble cats who died along the way," Bramblestar acknowledged. "Tonight, there will be a vigil for those who have been lost. It will be held here, to those that wish to stay."
The Gathering cats started to disperse, some of them heading away to the tree bridge while others resided in the hollow. Lightleap stayed by his side, beckoning Pouncestep to join them. Together, the three cats headed over to the other cats who decided to stay, several other members of Shadowsight's kin among them. A circle had been formed, and the siblings found themselves next to Rootspring and his family.
Shadowsight bowed his head, closing his eyes. The gray tabby felt pain stinging at him – hurting him in a way he couldn't comprehend. The ShadowClan medicine cat wished, prayed that he could reach out to something, someone, but he was left answerless. Shadowsight opened his eyes, looking up at the sky. Glittering stars glared coldly down upon him. Despite it being the warmest season, Shadowsight felt chilled.
A swarm of negativity entered his mind. It was a darkness, an emptiness, that had clouded him throughout much of his life. This was a part of his identity he kept hidden away in the thorniest bramble thickets of his mind. Every time Shadowsight became infested, he felt the stabbing of thorns piercing his heart. If he got too tangled up in the thickets, then…
Shadowsight pulled himself out of his thoughts, focusing on his environment. He could see numerous pelts gathered in the clearing, the dark shadows casted upon their backs, the bramble thickets that coated the edges of the clearing. He could hear the sound of cats' shaky breaths, the crickets chirping, and the faint rustling from grass stems. His paw twitched instinctively, but Shadowsight stilled his fear, focusing on the cats in the hollow.
Rootspring was by his side, his shoulder twitching. The yellow tom seemed to be lost in his own world, grief clawing up his insides. The ShadowClan medicine cat felt a pang of sorrow claw at his heart, and he touched the SkyClan tom's shoulder with his tail.
"I'm so sorry," Shadowsight murmured.
Rootspring didn't respond, his fur prickling. The tom remained deep in thought, his ear twitching. Pools of misery were deep in his sky-blue eyes, and Shadowsight longed to heal the gaping wound in the warrior. But, Shadowsight knew that this wasn't something that could easily be remedied. There would always be a part of Rootspring that would miss his beloved. While Shadowsight could not relate to his experience, the emptiness still resided in his soul, a stone of grief in the medicine cat's heart. Could the feeling be akin to Rootspring's heartache?
"Shadowsight, please… Not now," Rootspring's plea was desperate.
"I know that it hurts, but you're going to get through this," Shadowsight continued. "Rootspring, I know you. You're strong and brave. If anyone can get through this – it'll be you."
Rootspring's blue eyes glistened with emotion, and he turned away from his gaze. "Thank you… I still don't know how I'm going to get through this. Bristlefrost was everything to me, and now, she's…"
"She'll always have a place in your heart," Shadowsight told him gently.
"But, she's gone, Shadowsight. Not even just gone. She… I won't even get to see her in StarClan," Rootspring's shoulders slumped. "And, I can't even find her in the spirit through the earth."
"She's not gone," Shadowsight asserted. "As long as cats know her name and her story, she will always be with us."
"Even though I'll never see her again?" Rootspring looked at him, unblinking.
Shadowsight bowed his head. "It's… the best we can do. Her legacy is all that's left."
Rootspring nodded, a new look of determination entering his eyes. Shadowsight wasn't so easily fooled by his composure. The medicine cat could tell that there was still grief haunting his gaze, masked by his brave face. Shadowsight opted not to comment, knowing the strength of facades easily crumbled under questioning.
"I'll remember her," Rootspring whispered, the mask slipping away.
Shadowsight touched his nose to the SkyClan tom's cheek. "As will I."
All words were lost on the toms, as they looked into each other's eyes. An equal look of despair was reflected in their eyes – dark amber and sky blue. Shadowsight licked the tom's cheek, in an attempt to comfort him. Rootspring moved closer to his side, their pelts touching, as they sat side by side. Crickets chirped and the brambles rustled, as they stayed together, watching the full moon slowly dip down the horizon.
Although, Shadowsight and Rootspring were considered to be 'Lights in the Mist,' there wasn't an ounce of brightness in their lives.