Ah, this one's rough, but I had to test it out. Musical Challenge: "One Last Time" from Hamilton, a song to a scene between Maplestar, the longtime leader of ShadowClan, and his deputy, Darkwhisker. To da reviews:
succulentsofa: Yes, slice-of-life stories are really fun to write! I definitely like doing the character development stuff- though there's no plot, character interactions are pretty fun. Thanks for reviewing!
Also, even if you're not on the FallenClan forum, feel free to review and let me know what you think!
"Maplestar!" Darkwhisker shrieked, running toward Maplestar's prone form. Then he saw the wound. He let out a choked sob. "M-Maplestar…" The wound stretched along the cinnamon tabby's flank, blood seeping into the churned earth.
"Maplestar, can you see me? I-I'm here." Darkwhisker meowed, black paws churning the ground feverishly.
Maplestar chuckled, but it was painful. He hoarsely replied, "Oh, really? I thought you were busy."
Darkwhisker immediately lost his panic, face dropping into his normal serious frown. "Not funny Maplestar." Urgently the deputy sniffed Maplestar's wound, trying in vain to find any way of stopping the incessant flow of blood. As every moment passed, Maplestar was closer and closer to death. Every breath could be his last. "What can I do? What do you need so I can stop this?"
Darkwhisker was all business, trying to shove down the emotions that were boiling, stronger than he'd ever allowed them to be in a long time. He tried to force them down with a heavy paw, but it bubbled up and then he found himself sobbing, burying his muzzle into Maplestar's ragged pelt.
"Darkwhisker," Maplestar said gently. He coughed. "I still have time, Darkwhisker. I need to warn you about Nightshade."
"Maplestar, I know. Nightshade is starting a war. He needs to be stopped." Darkwhisker fumed, pacing around Maplestar.
"Nightshade gave me the terms of surrender this morning." Maplestar stated plainly.
"You're kidding." Darkwhisker spat. Yet Maplestar seemed less focused on that, staring off dreamily.
"Darkwhisker, I need a favor."
"Whatever you say Maplestar! Nightshade will pay for his traitorous behavior-"
"Shh." Maplestar wheezed, running his tail gently on Darkwhisker's flank. "Talk less…"
"ShadowClan will rally to me, I fight his army myself, you'll see what I can do him-"
"Please Darkwhisker, listen. I need you address the clan when you return-"
"When we return!" Darkwhisker exclaimed, starting to search around the empty clearing again. Quickly he plastered pine needles to Maplestar's wound, while the leader tried weakly to shove his paws away.
"No, Darkwhisker. You'll have to face him alone." Maplestar told him gravely.
"No way, good luck defeating you once you get your next life!" The black tom argued desperately.
"Darkwhisker, we both know that when my eyes close, they won't open here."
"I'm sorry, what?" Darkwhisker froze, whiskers trembling. Maplestar met his eyes, only confirming the deputy's worst fears: this was Maplestar's last life. But before Darkwhisker could try to argue, or say anything, Maplestar let out a quiet, trembling sigh.
"One last time." Maplestar breathed, eyes fighting to stay open.
"Relax, sit here with me
One last time
Let's take a break tonight
And we'll teach the clan how to say goodbye
You and I."
"No Maplestar! Why?" Darkwhisker pleaded, still refusing to stay still.
Maplestar ignored him. "I wanna you to talk about neutrality."
"Maplestar, with ShadowClan and Nightshade's band on the verge of war, is this the best time-" Darkwhisker interrupted.
"I want you to warn against our clanmates fighting-"
"But-"
"I'd recommend you start listening
I want the clan to know what I have learned
The hard-fought wisdom I have earned-"
"As far as the clan is concerned, you have to live, you have to continue to serve as leader. Not me. I could never-"
"No!" Maplestar snapped, loudly for a cat who was slowly dying. Darkwhisker jumped. Maplestar resumed speaking, voice weak yet holding authority.
"One last time.
The clan will hear from me
One last time
And if we get this right
We're going to teach them how to say
Goodbye
You and I-"
"Maplestar." Darkwhisker protested, shaking his head. "Nightshade will say you're weak."
"But the clan will see that they're strong."
"Your leadership has been so unique."
"So will yours, you'll move them along."
Darkwhisker's voice cracked. "Why do you have to say goodbye?"
Maplestar slowly pushed Darkwhisker's paws away, letting the pine needles fall, and the blood flow freely. Darkwhisker winced, every instinct screaming to replace them, but he couldn't with that look in Maplestar's eyes. "If I say goodbye, the clan learns to move on. ShadowClan outlives me when I'm gone. I once heard a great cat say:
'Every warrior sits under their own vine, or pine tree. But with their clan beside them, no one shall make them afraid. They'll be safe in the clan we've made." Maplestar swallowed back a sob. "I want to sit under my own vine, and pine tree, Darkwhisker. A moment alone, in the shade. At home with all my ancestors who've done the same." Maplestar let out a strangled gasp. "One last time."
"One last time?" Darkwhisker repeated hesitantly, and with overwhelming sadness.
It had been him who had once told Maplestar that. When they'd faced a harsh leafbare, when there was scarcely a piece of prey to be found anywhere on the territory, he'd reminded his leader that despite each cat being an individual, ultimately the clan would stick together. The territory was theirs. It would sustain them. Under the vines and pine trees, who'd shelter them from the worst of the cold.
He slumped in defeat, and began to listen to the last words he'd ever hear Maplestar say. The leader's yellow eyes began to fade.
"Though, in reviewing the incidents of my leadership, I am unconscious of intentional error, I am nevertheless too sensible of my defects not to think it probably that I may have committed many errors." Maplestar started, face tinged with pain as he carefully thought out every single word. Darkwhisker shook his head, silently crying. Maplestar was a better leader than I could ever hope to be. Humble. Wise.
And the father I never had. Maplestar's eyes slowly closed, his voice barely a whisper, with long pauses in his speech.
"I shall also carry with me
The hope
That my clan will
View them with indulgence;
And that
After forty-five moons of my life dedicated to its service with an upright zeal
The faults of incompetent abilities will be
Consigned to oblivion, as I myself by now will be chasing prey in StarClan
I anticipate with pleasing expectation that my death in which I
Promise myself to realize the sweet enjoyment of partaking
With my fellow fallen warriors, the benign influence of the good warrior code
While ShadowClan will thrive under Darkwhisker's leadership, the ever-favorite object of my heart, and the cat who I undoubtedly trust.
With mutual cares, labors, and dangers."
Maplestar fixed Darkwhisker with his suddenly intense yellow gaze. "One last time."
The last breath left his body, and Maplestar slumped into the pine needles. Darkwhisker let the tears freely fall, unable to hold them back any longer after his leader's final address to the clan. He'd have to repeat it to the entire clan again, which would be difficult, but right now, all he could do was grieve.
The cat who I undoubtedly trust… Darkwhisker's eyes glistened. Thank you, Maplestar.
Maplestar could see the StarClan warriors surrounding him, oblivious to Darkwhisker's tears as he saw their glimmering pelts, and joyous expressions. Softly, as if it were one and thousands of cats, the warriors began to whisper.
"Maplestar's going home…"
"Teach 'em how to say goodbye…" Darkwhisker murmured, eyes unseeing as he stared blankly at Maplestar's body, shuddering with the beginnings of a sob.
Maplestar felt no pain, now separated from his limiting body. He took in the words, letting them flow around him like birdsong.
"Maplestar's going home…"
Maplestar finally saw Darkwhisker, and gently placed a paw on his shoulder. "You and I, Darkwhisker." He mewed. Darkwhisker let out a wail of grief, collapsing onto the ground.
"Maplestar's going home…"
"Going home," Maplestar echoed, tasting the sweet words on his tongue. The words began to swell like waves in the lake, growing louder.
"Maplestar's going home…"
"Darkwhisker." Maplestar mewed, feeling no urgency, only peace. "History has its eyes on you. Don't ever forget."
"Maplestar's going home…"
Maplestar leapt among the starry warriors, joining them.
"We're gonna teach 'em how to say goodbye!
Say goodbye! (Teach 'em how to say goodbye!)
Teach -em how to (Teach 'em how!)
Say goodbye! (Say goodbye!)
To say goodbye! (Say goodbye!)
Say goodbye…"
Maplestar touched his nose to Darkwhisker's. "One last time."
"One last time." Darkwhisker meowed, staring around at the empty clearing.