Chapter 37: Of Sound and Stars
With my son's return, I could finally refocus my attention on our growing clan. Apparently, I was absent far longer than I had expected. Dawnfur and Boragepelt had made themselves known among those trusted in our Unseen Stars. Despite having been a Starclan cat, it seemed Dawnfur had the most animosity to Starclan. Their pelt which once shined with the stars of Silverpelt faded. What replaced it definitely caught me off guard. Instead of her fur returning to the same as it had been when she was alive, her pelt instead shined with some familiar stars, our stars. For some reason it felt perfect to see that exact change. On top of that, it seemed she'd begun directing some of our camp duties. I'd have to consider soon on if she should lead her own constellation.
Quietstep also seemed to have grown in my absence. The once timid tom who cringed at a whisper now seemed to have gained some friends. I spotted him chatting it up with Snowtuft and Leafpaw. Snowtuft looked truly at ease for the first time since joining our group finally fully confident in his acceptance. The trio were discussing environments, colors, and plants.
It was time to raise two more members into the rank of trusted in our faction. I leapt onto my boulder and let my powerful aura announce the beginning of a meeting.
"It has come to my attention that I have been somewhat lacking in my duties. For that, I am truly sorry. There have been two cats who should have been promoted to trusted long ago, but my own issues set their promotion back. Today I will resolve that issue. Dawnfur, Quietstep, step forward."
I watched as the two cats stepped in front of my boulder. Dawnfur met my eyes with a mixture of defiance and respect. Quietstep watched me with more reserve. My eyes met his and I saw him suppress a flinch. He was doing his best to stand proud and tall. I raised the pillars beneath the two until they stood as high as me. I turned to Dawnfur first.
"Dawnfur. When you entered the Unseen Stars, I absolutely did not trust you. Starclan has done many of us wrong and I could not see past that pelt you bore. Despite that, you asked of me to make a promise, one I intend to keep. You asked of me to end prophecy, and I will. I swear it on my essence, my soul, and whatever tatters could remain. You in turn have trusted me, worked under my control, and now bear a proof of loyalty beyond what could simply be said. You are the first to bear a pelt of stars that is strictly ours. For that, you have earned my unwavering trust."
Instead of the usual stone bridge I'd usually construct, I made my own star shine a bridge into being. Unlike Sunflower's golden light, the celestial light came off as somewhat blue and more spiritual. I stepped onto the bridge and it felt somehow both cool and hot. It felt like guidance and freedom at the same time. I soon stood in front of Dawnfur.
"What power do you wish to have?" I mewed.
My instincts seemed to have been correct as Dawnfur responded. "I want the power of the stars."
It was a fitting idea. I created a point to condense the power into, a ball of blackness. I held the ball into the sky and streams of light from all the stars drew into the ball. Without my input, at least intentionally, a stream of meteors and falling stars shot through the sky, giving a little bit of their light to the ball in passing. It stopped as suddenly as it began. The ball of darkness I once held was instead filled with tiny little stars. I pushed it into Dawnfur. Seeing as she had the power of starlight, I didn't need to make one for her. She generated one on will.
"Please cast your star into the sky."
Dawnfur's star steaked into the sky the same way a shooting star falls. It froze in the sky somewhat close to mine. I returned to my boulder.
"Quietstep. You are a cat who has suffered under Starclan's blessing, unable to be anything but what they bound you to do. You never got a chance to grow into a cat, but I don't see that anymore. You've grown and developed. You can speak to cats and have made friends. I commend your bravery to face change and your ability to not let your unfortunate past mar your relationships and future. We are all lucky to have seen you grow. I welcome you as a full member of the Unseen Stars. Seeing as you've already gotten your power, all that is left for you is to place your own star."
I generated a small star and passed it to him. His power affected the star in a way I'd unforeseen. The star pulsed, almost to a heartbeat. I could feel a thrum in the air with each pulse. This sound the star was making didn't just reach my ears. I could feel it in my bones. It was like the sound itself was shaking the earth. When Quietstep cast it, there was final and powerful thrum. I actually had to brace myself to keep from toppling. I watched it rise to rest close to Snowtuft's star. There it stopped silently. Regardless, I turned my ears towards the star listening for that pulse it carried before. I could hear it like a whisper on the wind. One wouldn't possibly hear it without listening for it.
"I welcome Dawnfur and Quietstep as full members of the Unseen Stars. Please descend by whatever means you can think of."
Dawnfur's solution was simple and familiar. It was almost identical to how Sunflower descended from her pillar. I guess if it works, there is no point in trying something else. What I was most curious about was Quietstep's solution. I had no idea how sound would help him, but each of us is expected to somehow use our power in mobility. He'd just have to be more creative. He tensed himself and leapt. He opened his jaws and let out a burst of energy. I could only imagine it was sound, but it was so high pitched that my ears couldn't catch it. Even in the perceived silence, that blast made my ears ring painfully. The blast slowed his momentum until he settled gently onto his paws. It worked, but I planned to recommend he come up with something else. This method had too much friendly fire if my ears were any indication.
With two members earning our full trust, it was time to celebrate again. I never thought in the Dark Forest, we'd become the place of merriment and joy, but looking around, I wouldn't change a thing.