Chapter 89: Family Ties
I was actually somewhat amused when the clans below decided to move homes, not for any kind of malicious cruelty, but rather that the Darkforest did not. Even Starclan, in their 'infinite' power, had to make the journey. The oddity lay in the fact that the Darkforest already reached that territory. In fact, ever since Scourge's fall, it covered all of the Twoleg Place as well. I know why the Twoleg Place remained. It was the new religion that they followed, sending their worthy to me. The oddity lay in the new territories, or rather, the old territories. You see, the new territories that the living clans moved into happen to coincide with a location in the Darkforest that was very old, the location of the broken obelisk. I mostly just let Starclan do their thing while observing Tigerstar make his move.
Hawkfrost was a daddy's boy. I mean this in the most pathetic way possible. He craved his father's attention the same way a needy kit pesters their mother. Don't get me wrong. There's nothing wrong with craving a little attention. The problem lay in his methods. All Hawkfrost cared about was his legacy. He wanted to be Tigerstar in every way, and it was embarrassing. I faintly had to wonder if this was an outcome of Hawkfrost being around Darkstripe, who literally had infectious Stockholm Syndrome, or Hawkfrost's life was so miserable this was all he could gravitate towards. Maybe it was a bit of both.
Then Hawkfrost died at Brambleclaw's paws. It was a long investment that Tigerstar went through to train up such a fanatic of a pawn, and now he was here. At least it wasn't a total waste. Hawkfrost hinted at Tigerstar's interactions. He'd also still be a functional pawn for Tigerstar here. Maybe after enough time he'd realize how futile it was to try and make Tigerstar proud. Even the most blind cat could tell Tigerstar was that internally selfish. He'd never be content with what he had, another reminder as to why I keep the full breadth of what a cat can do in the Darkforest hidden.
I could feel the day was coming. Three small and growing forms rested within Thunderclan's young and admittedly foolish medicine cat. She bore the same sin as me, and yet her kits were destined for greatness. Starclan once again proved how wishy-washy their judgement was. My kits had been condemned to death for breaking one code. The medicine cat was breaking two, and possibly more. I decided to peer in on these coming kits.
I could feel it. They were definitely the kits of prophecy. Each was strongly connected to Starclan. Being born of a medicine cat seemed to have amplified their spiritual power. On top of that, Starclan had blessed each kit, ensuring their powers would grow even stronger. Even in Starclan's grand plan, they had to be petty. I noticed as they cursed one kit with blindness. He would bear the punishment for the medicine cat's lack of chastity. It made my blood boil. It was then that I decided to add my own little "blessing." It wasn't much, but I gave the blind kit what amounted to a loose guide to sensing souls. I already knew that being in the living world would interfere with the ability somewhat, but with it, a cat could essentially get a cold read. They could sense basic emotion and more if grown with practice.
I felt the little cursed soul latch onto that memory fiercely. I could already tell he'd be a little spitfire. Good. That curse had destined him for a hard life. He'd have to be tough to make it through what was to come. My blessing would serve him well in his life to come.
While Starclan was obsessing about the coming kits, I finally had time to meet with someone who deserved my respect. I could finally see one of my kits again. I creeped over to the new border to wait, sending a signal through the barrier to them. It didn't take them long to respond.
From Starclan's land came a cat with a large and imposing form. His muscles were taught, and his fur was slick. It was his face that bore his most distinct feature. His jaw sat crooked from a bad break during his kithood. I couldn't be more happy to see him, my dear kit Crookedstar.
"It has been far too long mother." Mewed the tom in a joyful choking sob.
I met him, wrapping him in an embrace. A deep throated rumble emanated from the tom as he rubbed excitedly up against me, seemingly drinking in the moment for all that it was worth. My own purr complimented his as I affectionately pushed up against him.
"It has really been too long. I'm so sorry I didn't search you out sooner." I answered ruefully.
"I forgive you. Starclan has been busy ever since Tigerstar died. We even have some new cats showing up from a place called Skyclan. I've met my siblings, Petalflower, Lartchtail, and Patchfur. They've apparently been taking care of my daughter Silverstream ever since she died. Those scamps may be older than me, but they certainly don't act it, dragging me into games of tags and such. I may rag on them a bit, but they reminded me that the aches and pains of life don't follow us here. I can actually run and play without worrying about my joints. My only complaint is that that's all there is to really do. In a way, it's too ideal. You have to find something to do. There is never a need." He rambled.
"I'm so glad you've had kin to support you over there. Please give those three my best wishes. Unfortunately, I didn't only call you for a reunion, but business can wait. I've got some more cats to introduce you to. You've got three more siblings that I don't believe you've met." I mewed excitedly.
"Oh. And who am I to call brother or sister now?" He mewed in a matching excitement.
From a shadow of a tree came Moonpaw. Her paw steps were silent as she made her approach. If her fur wasn't such a brilliant silver, we'd have never seen her coming. Her brother decided to make his entrance as well, stepping out from behind me after exiting my internal domain. His golden fur lightly swayed in a nonexistent breeze giving him an almost fiery appearance.
"These two are Moonpaw and Sunpaw. Both are Frecklewish, Splitpelt, and I's kits. They were born to Frecklewish."
Moonpaw made her greeting first. "It is a pleasure. I am Moonpaw of the outer guard. My job is to protect mom from the outer threats of the Darkforest by means of stealth." She mewed curtly.
Sunpaw spoke next. "I'm Sunpaw. I don't have no fancy titles like sis, but I'm strong. I'll give any cat that messes with mom or us a good beating. I know I'm not smart, but I am good at reading cats. No one abuses us."
"Happy to meet you. I'm-" Crookedstar mewed before Moonpaw cut him off.
"Crookedstar, former leader of Riverclan and one of Mom's adopted kits. We know. Mom goes on and on about how proud she is of you. Of course, she does this about all of us. Either way, we already have the rundown."
Crookedstar paused for a moment before looking at me. "You said three. Where's the third?"
This was a bit stressful for me. "The last of your siblings… is not a cat you'd expect. I promise you he's actually a good cat. I'll explain why in a moment, but maybe it'd be easier if I just showed you."
From my side emerged Tiny, formerly Scourge.
"Scourge! Really? You really say Scourge is a good cat?" Crookedstar mewed.
I gave an exasperated sigh before explaining. Tiny threw in some tidbits that I missed, and we managed to get Crookedstar nodding by the end.
"I'm glad to find you aren't a psycho after all. It is good to meet you little brother." Crookedstar mewed, drawing an irked expression out from Tiny.
"Um. I wouldn't use size words around Tiny. Tiny may be his name, but jokes at it piss him off." Moonpaw mewed.
"What? Tiny can't handle a little belittling? He's got a short fuse?" Crookedstar teased.
Well, that had been enough. Tiny tackled Crookedstar. The two fought, but it wasn't a real fight. It was the same way kits do. I smiled as I watched them. They were brothers in every sense of the word.