Chapter 76: Lesser Evil
When I fell asleep, the results were disappointingly expected. I was in that familiar starlit meadow again. With me were Redtail and Spottedleaf. The looks on their faces did not show relief for me ousting Tigerclaw. Instead, something else seemed to be on their mind. Likely Tigerclaw wasn't as gone as I'd hoped. Figures. He's the persistent type, even when persistence is a death sentence.
"So, here we are again. I'm assuming you have some news." I ventured.
"We're currently unsure of what course of actions to take. As of now, Tigerclaw's whereabouts is known, but we don't know if we should interfere. That's why we came to ask you. Suppose Tigerclaw showed up just in time to lead a clan out of a plague, would you trust him? Can he be trusted to save that clan?" Redtail asked.
I decided to entertain the not so hypothetical hypothetical. "Probably. If a strong cat is needed, Tigerclaw is your cat. Though, once the issue is cleared up, he'll likely fall back on his ambitions and underhanded tactics. As I remember him, he's a very goal-oriented cat. He's good at digging cats out of their messes, but once there is no cat to save, he tends to start digging his own and making it every cats' problem. If you are asking if I'd trust him, only if he was on a leash."
"So, you'd let him in?" Spottedleaf tested.
"Hey. He was fantastic deputy material when he wasn't trying to assassinate the leader. Would I trust him as a leader? No. As a deputy? Sure, as long as he knows his place." I answered. "So, why does Shadowclan need Tigerclaw anyways? Does Nightpelt not have his nine lives?"
Spottedleaf and Redtail bristled after I sussed them out. "How did you… Never mind. It is indeed Shadowclan that needs aid. Nightpelt never received his nine lives since Brokenstar still lives."
I decided to call them out on that lie. "That's bull and you know it. According to Bluestar, Sunstar received eight lives after Pinestar turned traitor. No. You all don't like something about Nightpelt, and it made you reject him."
Redtail conceded the point. "Fine. Fine. Starclan rejected Nightpelt. Now, Nightpelt isn't necessarily a bad cat, but he's made some questionable decisions. Raiding Windclan so soon after their return and dismissing the favor he owed Thunderclan tipped us off. He's too similar to Brokenstar while also not being distinct enough to rally Shadowclan. As of now, Tigerclaw may be their only option. He may be a strength through unrepentant ambition, but Shadowclan needs strength right now, any kind of strength. We know this might turn into a long term problem, but Shadowclan faces the possibility of extinction if nothing is done. Do we have your support in solving the problem we're going to have to make?"
That made me a little mad, but I understood their need. It was the lesser of two evils. The annihilation of a clan would be a massive hit to the forest, but at the same time, the only solution was to put a tyrant in power to stabilize the collapsing clan. I relented.
"Fine. I'll help dela with Tigerclaw later. In the meantime, you all should focus on finding a replacement candidate. Once Tigerclaw is gone, Shadowclan may dissolve again without a firm paw. Maybe look for a repentant from Brokenstar's rein." I answered.
"We'll look into it. It's about time we sent you back anyways." Spottedleaf mewed, beginning the process of sending me off. I didn't complain. They didn't know they were sending me to the Darkforest, and I wasn't too keen on correcting them. From the little I'd interacted with Mapleshade, she was an entertaining molly with a vicious streak. Hopefully I'd find her with my little visit.
My vision soon cleared to show a clearing. The ground was that familiar black sticky mud, and the trees were that iconic stone grey with no leaves or proof of life. I was in the Darkforest again. As I began to wander, I caught Mapleshade's scent. She must have been close. It was the distinct scent of blood, oak, and milk. The scent told who she was to a T, a warrior of reputable power and prowess but also a mother who gave everything she had. I found her with a cat I hadn't expected.
"How in Starclan are you here Brokentail?" I asked the tom who somehow stared at me with sightless eyes. He looked a bit younger, but it also looked scrawnier. A festering slash was across his neck, looking raw and fresh.
"It's Brokenstar to you Smudgefoot. And regarding my presence here, I died. Plain and simple. Some rogue came by while Tinlkes and I were out. Tinkles wanted me to run from a rogue. He thought I'd be so pathetic. Turns out fighting blind is a bit harder than I thought. If I could have seen, it would be that rogue here instead of me." He answered with an indignant aloofness.
"Smudgefoot! It's you! I'm so happy to see you again. I was telling this new Darkforest member all about the many wonders of this place like the perpetual starvation feeling, the general continuous feeling of being unclean, never seeing your loved ones again, and the uncanny ability of the forest to separate you from other cats if you try and stay together longer than a couple days. Honestly, the wandering and loneliness are killing me." Mapleshade mewed before turning towards Brokenstar, only, he wasn't there anymore.
"Would you look at that. Looks like the Darkforest already pulled him away. I always wondered if the Darkforest was just more aggressive to newcomers. I thought I just might have had bad luck." She mewed dismissively.
I had to ask her. "Are you ok? You just unpacked a lot. I don't imagine the isolation and whiplash of constantly losing your chatting companion is too good for you."
Mapleshade bristled at that. "You think! I can't even get to know anyone here. I wandered for ages just looking for someone to vent to, and every time I'd end up whisked somewhere else when I finally caught someone. Honestly, that small chat with you a couple moons ago was a blessing. It's the closest thing I've had to a conversation in ages. Though, I don't imagine we'll be able to keep this up. The Darkforest isn't too keen on the happiness of its residents."
That honestly made me a little sad. I enjoyed Mapleshade's company, even if she was a bit over expressive and wanted to say everything that popped into her head before she vanished. Maybe there was an answer. I mean, starclan said I had low connectivity to them, but I don't seem to have that issue here. In fact, I was able to find Mapleshade pretty easily despite what she said the Darkforest was doing. Maybe it'd let me get away with something.
"What if you try and tag along with me?" I mewed slowly, not quite sure of what I was offering the molly.
"What do you mean?" Mapleshade mewed.
"Well, Starclan seems able to connect to cats through dreams, but from my experience, it's usually the same cat who meets the dreamer each time. They must have linked somehow. How about you just try and feel something out?" I tested.
Sure enough, Mapleshade closed her eyes and seemed to be feeling something. "Wow. There's really something here. I can feel something here, kind of like a web. I can feel it tying me to you, but it's very flimsy. What if I just…" She mewed before I felt a pressure in my skull.
With that, I woke up.
"Well, that was strange." I muttered to myself.
"You're telling me." Answered a familiar molly.
I turned slowly to see her ethereal form laying beside me. In a strange way, I could and couldn't see her. It was like when imagination overlays reality. You can see and tell what's behind the imaginative figure, but the imagined thing is superimposed over reality. That's at best how I can describe seeing Mapleshade here. An orange blur burst into the den, distracting me away from my ghostly acquaintance.
"Smudgefoot. Graystripe's leaving! He decided to take his kits and join Riverclan." Whined my very distraught best friend. Ravenfeather, having woken at the noise, shifted to make room. Fireheart needed the comfort tonight.