Welcome and thank you for deciding to drop by this humble story! A tiny Rainwhisker would like to thank you everyone who's interested in this story! I...don't know what to say haaaaaa. I'll just do review replies here.
~ review replies ~
Nova2AceGirl - I suppose it's quite depressing starting a story with death scenes. But I promise that this story will get fluffier and lighter, at least it'll not be depressing all the time. Thank you!
Tallpaine22 - Thanks(?) Well, I guess that's something I'm suppose to do when someone die, eh?
Silver Shadows in the Night - Thank you! I certainly agree with you! I hope they'll gain some recognition, too. Many minor cats have very lovable personality! And for the question, at first, it was a coincidence (Rainwhisker and One-eye), but later I decided to add Runningbrook to the crew, considering her fur colour, for the reason of them being littermates. Well, seems like I have a passion for cats with grey furs then XD. I feel bad for One-eye, and Rainwhisker too! I mean, losing people dear to them just in a short amount of time. That's just sad.
Now, on with the chapter!
On the land of warrior ancestor, the ever soft breeze blows past the moorland as sunlight shone lightly down to the cats below. The air is warm and rich with scents of preys, a paradise that even the toughest of cats would lie down and bask in the golden sun rays, down on the fluttering grass. Stretching and bunching their strained muscles after countless of tasks of the living.
Cats of all clans, both ones who barely died and ones with old starry transparent pelts were mingling peacefully, each basking in the pleasant glow and chilly breeze. Even those with barely visible pelt were there, crouching with paws fold neatly, their eyes closed. It was such a peaceful atmosphere that would be hard to find if cats were to go down into the world of the living again.
In the midst of the gathering cats, one brown tabby tom weaved through the crowd of cats elegantly. Taking each strides with consideration. Behing him, a grey she-cat followed, hard on his tail, but with equal grace. Both padded without saying a word until the edge of the crowd came into view, a moorland that slowly turns into a forest lushes with prey. Nearby, a sleeping dark grey tom was present, his pelt now was very transparent, almost crystal clear as his flank rose slightly with each breathing. With no hesitation, the two padded towards the dark grey cat.
"Rainwhisker." The dark brown tabby greeted and dipped his head. The addressed grey tom looked up from his place, smiling. He then stood up and dipped his head in respect in return, friendliness still present in his eyes as he sweep his gaze around the coming cats.
"I see that you're well, Bramblestar." Rainwhisker chuckled, recalling the time when the tabby leader was still a deputy, warrior even. "And you too, Mistystar." Mistystar didn't say anything, merely dipped her head in respect for the fallen warrior, but she still held the friendly gleam in her eyes.
Bramblestar looked at him silently for a while, observing the grey tom's pelt again. While Mistystar's and his pelt isn't that see-through, Rainwhisker's pelt is very clear, even paler that his littermates, Sootfur and Sorreltail, if they were to be compared. With that realization, the brown leader felt pity for the grey warrior in front of him, but said nothing.
Mistystar looked at the younger leader beside her, when Bramblestar said nothing, she spoke up instead. "Rainwhisker, please follow us." Rainwhisker looked surprised, but nodded nonetheless. "Yes, of course. If may I ask, what's wrong?" No answer was given to him. Together, the three of them crossed the moorland, and padded far north past the rich green meadows, past the land that started to morph into a pine hill, until they've reached a pine forest. They continue in silence, each musing in their own thoughts along the hiking, till they reached their destination, the heart of the pine forest. At the heart of the pine forest, lay a large clearing. which, rest in the middle of it, is a small group of cats. Slowly, as synchronizing, the occupants turned to face the direction they were.
Instantly, Rainwhisker recognized Firestar. Followed by Bluestar and One-eye, the leader and elder of his kithood respectively. Lastly, a pale grey tabby she-cat that he barely knew by name as Runningbrook. As he was inspecting the two she-cats that reminded him of his kithood, he met One-eye's confused gaze, and the same question popped into his head. 'Why am I here with these great leaders anyway?' Seeing that One-eye is still gazing at him, he shrugged. The pale grey she-cat rolled her good one eye at him before returning to looking at the leaders. He felt hot with embarrassment, even though Starclan cats doesn't really felt that anymore, especially when they're fading. Runningbrook gave him a sympathetic glance, but said nothing.
Now that he noticed, Runningbrook's and One-eye's pelts were really transparent, just like him. The three of them appears to blend in with the pines and soil rather than standing out like the rest of cats there. His self esteem almost shrink as the discovery dawned on him, now he wasn't sure what to feel anymore. This is probably the most expressive since when he'd joined Starclan, even. But before he could continue, Bluestar's voice cut his muse short.
"Rainwhisker, One-eye, Runningbrook." She started, facing them fully as the other cats were now by the blue-grey leader's side, forming a semicircle around them. He could feel One-eye scooted closer to him a bit, and felt his fur prickled with anticipation. "Starclan has received a message." Bluestar announced, her figure stood high and mighty in the shade of pines. "That we've been given the legendary chance that were rumored in Starclan since the creation of it." She cleared her throat. "We've chosen you three, along with other few cats who were unappreciated, to receive this second chance." He blinked as the information sink in to his head. A second chance at what? And was he unappreciated? So does One-eye and Runningbrook?
Fortunately, Runningbrook voiced out his doubts and fears for him, to his relief. "What do you mean? A second chance? And we're unappreciated?" Her voice rose incredulously at the latter question, a look of utter disbelieve on her face, and frankly, he would bet his face wasn't that different from her disbelieving ones.
Bluestar shared a glance with Firestar, before the fiery ginger leader turned to them and began to confessed. "Sadly, you three are thought to be...slightly insignificant to the forest when you are still living by the majority of cats. While One-eye, who maybe a bit more recognizable and thought of, was marred with a permanent damaged eye for as long since her apprenticeship." At this, One-eye looked away with a vague wistfulness in her eye, Runningbrook was rather miserable, while unexpectedly, he felt betrayed and fury sparked in him, but he forced it down. "Even though you three, and other unappreciated cats, contributed and sacrificed so much, putting the clan needs before yourself, you were easily forgotten by new generation cats." Firestar concluded. The ginger leader then nodded at Bluestar, who bobbed her head back in gratitude.
One-eye stared at the cats blankly as she realized her supposed role when she was living, and there was no denying that she - no, the three of them, were flabbergasted and never in their life, expect it at all. Well, he might, but never thought it to be this insulting. Runningbrook must've felt the same, for she gritted her teeth, her figure shaking but said nothing.
Mistystar's eyes sparkled with silent sympathy for them as Bluestar spoke again. "And because of that, you, and the rest of those cats, were chosen to receive this second chance." He still can't understand why were they unappreciated, moreover, what is the second chance Bluestar kept talking about? Bluestar seems to knew the latter question that were troubling their minds, for that she replied calmly. "And the second chance I mean is, a second chance at life. Or in other words, to be reincarnated."
He could hear One-eye's gasp beside him softly, but he's too shell-shocked to care himself. Reincarnated? How in the Starclan could they reincarnated? And if they really could, why would they gave this chance him, One-eye and Runningbrook? Why not the great Firestar? Why not the elegant Bluestar? Why not somebody else? Fox dung, why not Willowpelt, his mother? The questions wormed restlessly in his mind, and more questions started popping out of nowhere. Is it a kind of revenge on something they've never did? Maybe they remember the wrong cat? Even though he was never one to overthink things, this time he just couldn't let it be. And so does One-eye, it seems. However, Runningbrook seems hopeful even with the confusion in her eyes.
Firestar took noticed of their strange behaviors and promptly smiled. "Don't think about it too much, just know that Starclan believe in you. We'll be watching you." But slowly, his smile faltered, and he frowned. " Bluestar," The blue-grey leader turned to Firestar, a questioning look in her eyes. "Isn't it time already? Nighttime is now falling over the lake." Bluestar eyes widen fractionally before she turned to the three confused cats. "There's not much time left." Her eyes held an urgent gleam, but her voice is calm as ever. Rainwhisker founded himself smiling in nostalgia. Her actions somehow reminds him of his time in the old forest, when he was still a tiny little kit. And he supposed that if this is not a dream, then he'll probably going to be a kit soon, once again. But that doesn't mean he could be accepting it so soon.
"Bramblestar." The brown tabby leader nodded at Bluestar and stepped forward until he was in front of them. "Follow me." Bramblestar instructed, and he found himself nodding along with One-eye and Runningbrook. With that, the brown tabby leader leaded them into the deeper parts of the pine forest, the rest of the cats were nowhere to be seen.
They trudged deep into the forest, trotting with a rapid pace in silence. The only sound around them were birds chirping and their pawsteps, until they discovered a steep marshy slope which seemed to be a landmark signaling the end of the pine forest territory. Without any hesitation, Bramblestar glided down calmly and waited for them. He and One-eye looked at each other once, before gingerly, he shuffled down the slope. Not long after he reached the bottom of the slope safely, did One-eye followed. She managed all right halfway down, but suddenly, she tripped on something and started to slide down the slope at an unnerving pace. He was about to dash up and help her, but Runningbrook beat him to it. She grabbed One-eye by her scruff and they gradually skidded down to a stop at the base of the slope. Both she-cat smiled to each other, with the action quickly tugged a smile on his lips.
He swear he could see Bramblestar smiled in relief before the brown tabby leader informed them about their current status. "We're almost there, let's not waste time now that everyone's safe."
They continued to follow a trail after Bramblestar, the scenery changing spectacularly along with each twist and turn that sent the three of them awestruck as they padded through the forest. With one last maneuver around a fallen tree, a starry glistening pool of crystal clear water lay upon them. Slowly, one by one, Bluestar, Firestar and Mistystar emerged from the undergrowth. With that, Bramblestar padded back until he was in line with the emerged cats.
"And why did you brought us here?" One-eye asked, having recovered from her stupor recently. Bluestar looked at them knowingly, but answer nothing. "Crouch near the pool, and touch your noses to the water." Rainwhisker blinked, that doesn't even answer anything! One-eye grumbled as she looked at him. What do you think? He could almost imagine her saying that with merely a glance, even with her one good eye. Runningbrook looked at him meaningfully before tenderly, she crouched. He thought about it for a heartbeat before nodding, creeping near the pool and crouched. The pale grey one eye she-cat heaved an inaudible sigh before padding the pool and imitated the stance herself.
Immediately, the pool shone and burst into a pure white light, enveloping every cats around the vicinity. Faintly, he could hear Bluestar murmuring. "They shall be other ones of your kind to join you. Welcome them warmly and live happily like how you dreamt of it." But then, would you really receive the happiness you've always wanted this time around? His subconscious whispered.
But before he could think of anything more, his consciousness faded into black.
I'll post the allegiances after this chapter. I don't really want to publish it before this chapter, for I fear the timeline won't make senses. Say, I wrote this quite some time ago, so I apologize for the difference of the writing style. I wonder, what do you think about this chapter and the settings so far? I hope that it'll be - even if a little - realistic enough. Anyway, thank you so much for reading this little story! Every review, favourite and Follow is greatly appreciate!