Feathershade let out a gasp when she saw her son drag her daughter's limp pelt into camp. Feathershade let out a wail of grief and rushed to her wounded kits. "Mintshard!" she cried.
The black tabby medicine cat hurriedly approached the mournful she-cat and quickly examined the wounded as a crowd of cats surrounded them. Mintshard gently nosed Splashheart's limp form and let out a sigh.
"I am afraid she is already gone, Feathershade…" Mintshard explained.
Feathershade let out a long wail as her mate, Mousethorn, pressed up against her flank. "You're supposed to be a medicine cat! How can you be one when you let my daughter die?"
Mintshard flicked his ears, as if the comment didn't affect him but his bright green eyes betrayed his actions. He glanced over Reedleg's frigid form and noticed a few claw marks that laced around his flank. He stretched out his tail towards the younger tom. "Come, Reedleg, I'll treat your wounds." He swiftly led the bewildered tom through the crowd. Reedleg darted his amber eyes around the camp, as if he were expecting creatures to appear and ambush him.
Goldenstar made his way through the gathering cats with Moonshadow at his side. He rested his tail on Feathershade's shoulder.
"Splashheart will be missed," Goldenstar announced. "She was a noble warrior and died protecting her Clan. We shall hold her vigil for the rest of the night." He gave the gray and white she-cat a quick lick on the ear before heading for the medicine cat's den. Inside, Mintshard was already coating the smokey warrior's wounds with cobwebs and sticky pawfuls of marigold.
Cedarstep, now slowly recovering from his wounds, raised his head in worry. "What happened?" the senior warrior asked.
"We're about to find out," Goldenstar replied. He couldn't help but notice his daughter's unmoving form not far; her posture unchanged in the few sunrises she's been here. Mintshard reported earlier that her wounds were recovering nicely, but she failed to gain consciousness.
Shaking his mind of his worries, he approached Mintshard and Reedleg. The medicine cat was now lowering the young warrior into a soft nest.
"Reedleg, what happened?" Goldenstar asked. He felt Moonshadow's presence next to him. "Where is the rest of your patrol?"
"Where is Moonshine?" Moonshadow growled, digging his claws into the soft earth.
Reedleg gazed up at the two toms. "We…found Quailpaw with another cat," he began, but was quickly interrupted.
"Was Quailpaw injured or harmed in any way?" Goldenstar inquired.
"No…no, it did not seem like it," Reedleg panted. "We were soon captured by dogs and the cat ordered Splashheart and me to deliver a message to you. He said to tell you to meet him up on the cliffs for a battle over territory rights in two sunrises."
Goldenstar couldn't help but glance towards the entrance of the den. Soft morning light enter the den, signaling an approaching morning.
"It's almost dawn," Moonshadow noted.
Goldenstar nodded. "Where is the rest of the patrol?"
"The crazy cat kept them and told Splashheart and me to go back to camp," Reedleg went on. "And then…and then…a dog came out of nowhere and attacked me. It would've killed me if Splashheart hadn't…hadn't pushed me out of the way before it could deliver a killing blow. The dog went away after that; it seemed like it only wanted to kill one of us."
Moonshadow looked at his leader. "What shall we do?"
Goldenstar gave a worried glance at his deputy.
What shall I do? This is my first major conflict I've had to deal with as Clan leader…
"I must converse with StarClan to decide," Goldenstar replied. "They will know what to do."
Moonshadow nodded. "I'll arrange an escort for you."
"That will not be necessary," Goldenstar interrupted much to his deputy's and medicine cat's despise.
"But the pack's out there!" Moonshadow insisted.
"Surely StarClan will contact you here," Mintshard meowed.
Goldenstar shook his head. "I must venture towards the Star Shard, and I will go alone while there is still faint starlight. Moonshadow, if it makes you feel any better, send a patrol if I am not back by sunset."
Moonshadow regrettably nodded.
Goldenstar flicked his ears and exited the den. He passed by Feathershade, Mousethorn, the expecting Dustberry, and a few other cats were surrounding the fallen warrior's lifeless pelt. Feathershade let out a whimper and Mousethorn immediately draped his tail over hers.
Goldenstar left the camp without any interruptions. He made his way towards the waterfall as he passed by a clearing marked with blood. He drew back his ears; the dogs will pay for what they did to his daughter, he was sure of it. The sound of the mighty waterfall was soon heard and the towering spiral of water soon came in to view.
Rustling was heard from behind Goldenstar and the WaterfallClan leader twirled around with his claws sheathed. Two familiar scents came to the tom's nose and he let out a growl.
"Springpaw and Fallspaw!" Goldenstar snapped. "Come out at once!"
The two littermates came out of the bushes with their heads down and their tails between their legs.
"We're sorry, Father…" Springpaw moaned.
"We saw you leave camp and we wanted to come with you!" Fallspaw insisted.
Goldenstar let out a sigh. "Alright…you two may come along."
Springpaw bounced on his paws. "Yippee! Where are we going?"
"We're going to the Star Shard, where I will contact StarClan," Goldenstar explained.
"We're going to see StarClan? That's awesome!" Fallspaw chirped as Goldenstar quickly padded onward. His two kits bounded after him, squealing in delight. The golden tabby tom carefully but quickly made his way onto the slick path that lay behind the plummeting water. Goldenstar checked behind him and saw his two kits keeping a good pace behind him. Fallspaw fluffed out her thick pelt as mist dampened it. Springpaw merely snorted at the swirling mist and marched onward. Goldenstar glanced up, daylight was approaching and the tom quickened his pace.
He entered the damp camp and was met with darkness. Letting his golden eyes adjust to the darkness, Goldenstar hurried forward with his kits behind him. The last time he'd been here was to receive his nine lives, but seemed like eons ago. He quickly found the Star Shard, a faint glowing piece of shiny rock amongst a wall of rugged boulder.
"It looks so cool!" Fallspaw whispered.
"I must touch the shard and StarClan will let me fall asleep," Goldenstar quickly explained as his kits nodded. The WaterfallClan leader quickly pressed his nose against the shard and prayed that he wasn't too late.
Goldenstar awoke in the familiar clearing where he received his nine lives. Tall trees surrounded the perimeter of the clearing; a tall boulder was to left and a small prattling creek to his right. Starlight glittered everything in a pale silver and the grass seemed like it was covered in morning frost.
"Where are we?" Springpaw chirped and Goldenstar now noticed his two kits besides him.
"We're in StarClan," Goldenstar replied.
"It looks peaceful here," Fallspaw commented, glancing wildly around.
"Yeah, but…where are the cats?" Springpaw asked. "It's called StarClan for a reason."
"Welcome back, Goldenstar."
Goldenstar and his kits twirled around and came face to face with a pale gray tabby tom with pale green eyes.
"Quailfeather!" Goldenstar purred. "It's so good to see you!"
"Likewise," the former medicine cat purred.
"Your name is Quailfeather?" Fallspaw asked.
The StarClan tom rested his gaze on his granddaughter's. "Yes, and yours is Fallspaw."
Fallspaw blinked. "How do you know my name?"
"Oh, oh, what's my name?" Springpaw interrupted and shoved his sister aside as Fallspaw let out a yelp.
"Yours is Springpaw," Quailfeather responded. "The cats in StarClan know all of the names of the Clan cats."
"Then, do you know of Quailpaw and Whiskerkit?" Springpaw asked.
Quailfeather nodded. "Quailpaw is safe and Whiskerkit was close to joining us." He turned towards Goldenstar. "Don't fret, my son, your daughter won't be joining us anytime soon. She will make a full recovery thanks to Mintshard."
"Wait, you're our grandfather?" Fallspaw asked.
"That is right," Quailfeather replied. "But that is a story for another time." He thought for a moment. "Why don't you two go down that path and find Limpkit and Pumpkinfur? They can answer all the questions that you have."
"That sounds like fun!" Springpaw agreed and he led his sister down the path into the forest.
Quailfeather turned back again to his youngest son. "Don't worry; your littermates will take good care of your kits. Anyways, StarClan has heard of the tom named Ink and was devastated when he attacked the Clans with his pack of dogs."
"Can they be defeated?" Goldenstar asked.
"They can, but not in a familiar way," Quailfeather replied.
"What do you mean by that?" Goldenstar inquired.
"Some battles can't be won by tooth and claw," Quailfeather warned.
"But all of my battles have been won due to my strengths," Goldenstar insisted. "Smoke Claw and Jaggedstar were defeated both by violence."
"Goldenstar, we both know that's not the only way to win battles," Quailfeather soothed.
"Then…are you saying that I shouldn't bring any warriors to the final fight tomorrow?" Goldenstar asked.
"You shall fight Ink that way or else you will perish!" Quailfeather growled. "But you will not defeat him by your claws."
"But Ink was the one who let his dogs harm Whiskerkit and steal Quailpaw!" Goldenstar insisted. "He must pay for his crimes just like Smoke Claw and Jaggedstar paid for killing Ashwhisker, Pumpkinfur and yourself!"
Quailfeather let out a hiss. "Goldenstar, you will never become a great leader if you do not learn to see the other side of the fight, of every conflict. A great leader is one who avoids battle when possible; you can't undo what has happened to your kits, and we both know that you won't always be there to protect them. Soon they'll be warriors with responsibilities of their own; it is what every parent must accept in order for their kits to succeed."
Goldenstar let out a sigh. "You're right, Quailfeather…you always were."
Quailfeather stifled a purr and rested his muzzle on his youngest son's forehead. "Fear not, Goldenstar. You are a great leader and you deserved your leadership. You've raised and continue to raise four wonderful kits who will undoubtedly serve their Clan well."
"Quailfeather…when will Whiskerkit wake up?" Goldenstar worriedly asked.
"She will awake when the time is right," Quailfeather responded. "Now, you have a Clan to guide and two kits to return to their mother. Don't ever forget that StarClan will be at your side until it is your time."
Goldenstar nodded and padded towards the path. "Quailfeather, how did you ever get so—" he stopped when he realized the pale gray tabby tom wasn't there anymore; he had disappeared into the wind. Shrugging that off, he continued down the path and quickly found his two kits nagging his littermates.
"Why is your name Limpkit?" Springpaw asked the pale gray tabby she-kit, who was no bigger than the apprentice.
"Why were you named 'Pumpkin'?" Fallspaw asked the annoyed dark ginger tom.
"Was our father always so amazing?"
"Did Stripedwhisker always have his limp?"
"Was Tinyspirit an elder when you were our age?"
"Why does Leopardnose keep having more kits?"
"Why is Leopardnose with Ryeleaf?"
"Whatever happened that brought you here to StarClan?"
"Why are you so young?"
"Why do cats often call you 'annoying'?"
Goldenstar let out an mrrow of amusement. "Now, now, kits. Let's not annoy your kin."
"But we just wanted to ask a few questions!" Fallspaw insisted.
"Emphases on few," Pumpkinfur grumbled.
"Why don't you two wait for me by the creek?" Goldenstar insisted.
"But we wanted to ask more questions!" Springpaw whined.
"I'm sure you've asked plenty," their father replied.
"Aww!" Springpaw and Fallspaw both moaned, but the two littermates both headed back towards the creek.
Once they were out of earshot, Goldenstar turned towards his littermates. "It's good to see you two once again."
"You sure have annoying fur-balls as kits, Goldenstar," Pumpkinfur snorted, the dark ginger tom as obnoxious as always.
"You haven't changed a bit, Pumpkinfur," Goldenstar purred.
"Pft. Since when do I change?" Pumpkinfur sneered.
Goldenstar turned towards his only sister, Limpkit. Goldenstar never got to fully meet Limpkit since she died the day they were born.
"How are you doing, Limpkit?" Goldenstar asked his less than a moon old sister.
"I'm doing great!" Limpkit happily purred. "Honeywhisker's been teaching me all about StarClan ever since I arrived."
"And apparently cats say that she's got more wisdom than me!" Pumpkinfur growled. "She's not even a warrior."
Limpkit suddenly flashed her sharp green eyes at him. "You don't have to be a warrior to be wise," she growled. "It's all about perspective."
"And you have a lot of it," Goldenstar purred. He twitched his ears when he heard playful yowls towards the clearing.
"It sounds as if you are needed elsewhere," Limpkit soothed. She gently pawed his much larger chest with her tiny paw. "Don't fret about your Clan; as long as the warrior code survives, so will the Clans. No cat could've asked for a better leader."
"Also, Goldenstar," Pumpkinfur added in a more serious tone. He narrowed his dark green eyes. "Don't make the same mistakes our ancestors did."
"What do you mean?" Goldenstar asked. Limpkit and Pumpkinfur began to fade away and Goldenstar realized that he was about to wake up in the real world. Pumpkinfur's mouth opened once more, as if he said something, but his voice was barely audible.
"What?" Goldenstar asked, desperate for an answer. He could barely see his littermates now and everything was turning into a blinding white. Goldenstar had to clench his eyes shut in order to avoid blindness. He heard Pumpkinfur's loud voice once more.
"You know exactly what I mean."