Chapter 9: Founding Stars
The camp was massive and grand, but it was also lonely. Each of us had our preferences of where to rest and lounge while we thought on our future. As kittish as it sounds, I'd grown emotionally attached to my boulder. It was my first creation, and it was the first thing to provide me happiness in this twisted place. Most of all, it was mine. Even if we someday rebuilt the camp from scratch, I would keep my boulder. The simple unyielding nature of a boulder appealed to me and this one provided further use by the shelves along the sides that grew moss in usable swathes. After we had raised it to be the speaking figurehead, I'd thrown in my own subtle twist. The shelves for the moss were just beyond the reach of a cat, but a cat who could create could reach the shelves by making a step. This boulder was a representation of what the forest offered. It gave everything a cat could need if they have the faith to get it. If it were anything, I'd say it was the heart of the camp.
Frecklewish would spend her time in the new warriors' den or be out hunting in our prey place. She was working herself into a routine finding comfort in a new normality. I noticed subtle things about her works that always made them distinctly hers. The warriors' den was not perfectly smooth or overly intricate. It looked like a bush was weaved into stone to give it the support of a cave and the comfort of our traditional dens. Within was a floor, not smooth, but with a rut implying many paws had passed in and out of there. Small scratches in the stone could be seen like a warrior had sharpened his claws against it. It was subtle things that made Frecklewish's creations unique. The nursery had little scratches implying kittens had played. Everything looked lived in.
Splitpelt took to hanging by his statues. They always seemed to have some nostalgic value to him. Sometimes I'd even seen him holding conversations with the things. He'd answer his own questions, but it seemed he was communicating with the different parts of himself. He'd even sleep beneath the statues. I hadn't noticed it before, but Splitpelt had hidden a single cat sized den under each statue except Skystar's. Skystar was the only statue he didn't give answers for. He'd just give it rhetorical questions so he had an excuse to reminisce.
Splitpelt's creations were just as much of an enigma as he was. The medicine den was purely functional in terms of nest and shelf placement. The shelves were smooth and square. There were no imperfections. On the other paw, inside the den were strange statues. They were recreations of scenes. A butterfly on a flower. Frost on a rose. A fish leaping from a stream. They all were lifelike and felt significant while also seeming to be about the simplicities from life. From his creations, I took inspiration. I snuck out of camp while he was resting to add some beauty to our hunting reserve. Some simple roses grew from the bushes. I made some butterflies and moths for the day and some fireflies for the night. I craved the simple beauty Splitpelt reminded me to enjoy. I grew a plethora of purely aesthetic flowers, insects, birds, fish, and even rocks to make this place a bit more alive. I snuck after him and Frecklewish the next time they went hunting and could tell it had been worth it. They took the time to look at the little things that I had created. Somethings they added a slight twist to. They added the small things they valued into the reserve. It looked more Starclan than I'd even witnessed approaching Starclan and it was ours.
We felt we were ready to share our creations now, but I was more reserved. Our creations could be so easily destroyed by a cat who did not appreciate it. I did not want to give a cat the idea on creation without them understanding it is more than a weapon. It is an art.
"I call another meeting of the Unseen Stars."
Frecklewish and Splitpelt met me on my boulder.
"I think it is time to begin recruiting. I have a few ground rules for now until we trust them. One: we do not tell them how to create. They will learn when we think they wouldn't abuse it. Two: we make them believe I am the source of the creation powers. It'll make learning easier for them as well as keep any cat from turning against us. Three: we are the founders, and our word carries weight over theirs until we have good reason to elevate their position. I want to avoid any coups."
Frecklewish looked at me with confusion. "Why do you want to be the provider of creation powers?"
"We'll have cats we can trust able to create and cats who we can't won't have the power. If we really wanted to, we could even limit some cats by telling them they could only create specific things. It is not really a lie because their belief will ensure it is restricted that way. Who knows. Maybe specializing will give us new insight on creation."
Splitpelt nodded his agreement, but Frecklewish did not like dishonesty.
"I'm sorry if it is hard to agree to Frecklewish. I just want us safe. I'll let you be the one to reveal the whole truth to a cat when we trust them. You are a cat who never deserved to be cast into the Dark Forest, and this place is twisted. We can't trust everybody, so we'll test them to see if they deserve a second chance."
Frecklewish reluctantly nodded. We grouped up at the entranceway to camp and I let out a searching pulse. I found tow shades close to each other and began our route. We found them locked in combat. From my senses it was clear both were amalgamation shades, but one was more unstable than the other. The unstable was some sick twist of a tortoiseshell, but it was clear the color separations were from other cats' souls. The other was a lot more solid. It was a white skinny tom who gave off a strange Shadow Clan scent. I knocked the tortoiseshell off the tom and stared it down. The thing spun on me with fury. I don't think the thing could even have a coherent thought given how its mouth foamed in rage and its form warped with each step. It took a flying leap at me, so I decided to show off a bit. An obsidian spike caught the thing through the chest impaling it. It writhed there twisting and scratching trying to free itself, but it was dying again. It finally went slack and I could feel its soul dissipating. I decided to take a chance and grabbed the soul with my powers keeping it together. I removed it from the spike and began my work. Just like the maggots, I was ripping a fundamental part from the soul to give it more use. I pulled and shrouded its many memories into something simple. With ripping so much away, I couldn't make a full grown cat from this, so I went with the next best thing. I left the amalgamation a kit with none of that twisted rage from holding so many conflicting memories at the same time. The white cat looked up to me in awe.
"What did you do?"
"It couldn't be saved as it was, so I removed all the rage and conflictions in it. Its now a she-kit I will raise to be better. Now what is your name and why are you here?"
"My name is Snow… Snow… Tuft? Yeah. Snowtuft. I didn't mean to intrude on your territory."
"That's not what I meant. I meant why were you thrown in the Darkforest?"
Snowtuft seemed to ponder a bit. I could tell he was searching for an answer himself.
"I don't really know. I think I was angry at some cats and did something I regret, but its all foggy."
I gave the cat a soft smile. He'd passed my test. I wanted cats with regrets or no memory at all over those that did all they did without remorse. I nodded to Frecklewish. She approached with soft paw steps.
"Snowtuft. How would you like to join us? We have a safe place to rest. It is like a clan. We fight for each other and protect each other. You'll have to live with her," she said gesturing to the mewling kit, "but things will be more stable."
Snowtuft looked dumbfounded before nodding.
"Somewhere safe sounds nice. I'll do my best to live up to your expectations."
I guided them home smirking as I saw the wonder cross Snowtuft's face. I set the kit down and launched myself onto my boulder with Frecklewish and Splitpelt following suit.
"Snowtuft. Is it your wish to join us the Unseen Stars and seek redemption from your past sins? Do you wish to follow us and guide others to redemption as well?"
He stood stiffly with a determined look on his face.
"I do."
"Then from this day forth, you are Snowtuft of the Unseen Stars. As for the kit, she shall be Foamkit of the Unseen Stars. I hope you all support me in raising her to be un upstanding cat."
The kit gave out a shrill cry like she was trying to answer my call. I let my companions show Snowtuft around while I brought the kit into the nursery. It was a small change of self, but I made myself able to nurse the kit. It was a small experiment that could prove valuable in the future.