Chapter 5

Moon 16 | Hay

Sleetcrash was in better spirits one day, so much so that Hazelstar had wondered why. It was then she noticed Slate, her jaw healed. Her heart nearly dropped, seeing how brave the elderly cat was to peer around after having such a life-changing injury. Despite how unlikely it was for them to survive, it was obvious that she was much happier now. Her emerald-colored eyes glanced over to her, bright-eyed and joyful.

"Slate, this is Hazelstar." Sleetcrash introduced them. "She named you while you were unable to provide your name."

"I'm very sorry for giving you a name." Hazelstar apologized, "I just didn't wish for us to not have a name to consider you by."

"It's alright." Slate blinked warmly. "I'm just glad that I was brought to her by some caring cats to live out my golden moons."

"We will do everything we can to provide for you." She promised, "You deserve it."

.

Long, long ago; before the sun ever existed, there was just darkness and starlight.

The stars guided all creatures, however, it was hard to find prey in the darkness.

Even with starlight, it was difficult to see. As a result, we felines developed keen senses.

We can twist our ears around in order to pinpoint sounds better.

We can taste the air for scents by parting our jaws.

We can see in the near darkness thanks to our keen sense of sight.

We have developed long whiskers to feel our way around should the starlight be blotted out.

However, life was cold and hard.

One cat with a bright ginger pelt made a choice to find a way to bring light to the world.

They traveled to the highest mountain and found a hole in the sky.

Despite their fear, they bravely leaped into the hole.

The warmth of their body and the brightness of their pelt lit the hole ablaze.

This cat brought light to a world of darkness, bringing blue skies and a brighter world for kits all over.

This cat was named Sun and they curled up and remained.

That is the true story of The Hole in the Sky and how the sun came to be.

.

Hazelstar blinked as Haillaurel padded over to her. Her hazel eyes are full of apprehension. "Is something the matter?" The elderly light brown she-cat asked, sitting up onto her haunches.

"I'm sorry, I just found out I'm expecting kits." She blurted out, sounding apologetic. "I know we don't have a lot of cats and all, so I'll keep doing my duties until I no longer can."

"It's alright." She reassured her. "It's wonderful news. You and Rustyfeather get to have a family. Just to ask, how is Weevilpaw in his training? Perhaps you can get some rest if he is ready to become a warrior."

"I don't know if he would be ready, I want to assess him to make sure first, but I'll need some help. Rustyfeather has been fretting about me since we found out yesterday." She confessed.

"I understand." She meowed warmly. "I can have Miyun join you. She has a critical eye so I am sure she can report back just fine."

"Thank you. I just think Rustyfeather would feel safer if I had someone with me." She purred warmly.

Hazelstar blinked softly, "It's alright. I'll let Rainstripe know, but when you and Sleetcrash agree on when to rest and prepare for those kits, let us know. We want what is best for you above all."

"Thanks." Haillaurel relaxed, getting up and padding away to get Miyun. "I'll get to assessing him as soon as possible."

"Let me know when so I can let Rainstripe and Darkwhisper know!" she called after her.

Warmth spread in her chest at the thought of more precious kits to grace their beach. She could only imagine what they could look like and who would get the chance to train them when they were big enough. It was exciting news, however she also worried she might not be around long enough to see them or their future.

As the days had passed, Hazelstar had become more and more aware of how old she was compared to the others. She had to hope she really would be able to watch over StormClan from the Sea of Stars.

.

Now, I have heard this tale from my youth, maybe around your age.

There was a hare that could perform witchery.

What is witchery? Well, I can tell you.

This hare was faster than any other. It could even swim great distances and leap over hills and mountains!

One day, a cat wished to challenge this hare. They were one of the fastest cats around.

He boasted that he could beat the hare in a race.

The hare took his challenge and asked the cat: "what kind of race?"

The cat answered: "A race from the top of the hill to the lake and to the tallest mountain!"

The hare laughed: "Hahaha! I can beat anyone in these races! Let's see if you really can defeat me!"

So, they arranged it for Sun High the following day.

The hare waited for the cat and had a trusty thrush and falcon to keep an eye on the race.

Finally the cat arrived and they started from the top of the hill.

The thrush made a call for the race to begin.

Both hare and cat raced down the hill; the hare taking leaping bounds to be ahead of the cat.

The hare plunged into the lake and began to paddle swiftly.

Suddenly, the hare noticed the cat was very close behind them and paddling furiously.

After what felt like forever, the hare reached the other side of the lake and took off running to the tallest mountain.

The cat somehow kept up as they raced on and on.

Once at the mountain the hare leaped up and up reaching the top in several bounds.

The cat, however, was somehow already there.

The hare gaped: "How?"

The cat chuckled: "I have my ways."

The hare tried to figure it out, before noticing that the cat's pelt was dry and covered in dust.

The hare stomped their large back feet: "You cheated!"

The cat, thinking he was the most cunning of all, laughed: "How could I cheat? Was I not behind you every step of the way?"

The hare, furious, began to conjure up their magic.

You see, the witch hare was able to use magic when they were wronged and it was that same magic that allowed them speed, agility, strength and the ability to swim.

The cat was punished as a result for being deceitful.

The hare transformed the cat into a red fox.

The fox-turned cat was horrified.

The former cat screamed: "What have you done!?"

The witch hare replied back in anger: "I turned you into what you are in your heart! A fox!"

Anger and rage filled the fox-turned cat who turned and ran with burning humiliations.

"I'll return, just you wait!" The former cat snarled over their shoulder.

Ever since, foxes have hunted hares and rabbits in an effort to find the witch hare to turn them back into a cat.

Their family disowned them, having been unable to recognize them.

The grief of being lost in front of their family and attacked made the fox-turned cat furious.

They vowed to hunt down every cat as well.

This is why foxes are dangerous and seem so cat-like; thanks to The Witch Hare.

.

After a few days, Haillaurel returned with Rainstripe to Hazelstar. Their eyes bright as they announced that Weevilpaw was fully trained and ready to be a warrior of StormClan. Quickly, they made their preparations for the evening. Rainstripe sent out a few hunting patrols and made sure the apprentices didn't notice what was changing as Haillaurel waited patiently.

Finally, evening came as the first star of the Sea of Stars glittered above the camp. Hazelstar took her position upon the Slanted-deck and prepared for the ceremony that was to come. Every cat was already gathered, the kits looking with such anticipation that Hazelstar almost felt back for not apprenticing them just yet.

"Cats of StormClan, the time has come for a single cat to join our ranks." She announced, gathering their full attention; the kit's expressions slowly fell. "In time, kits, in due time." She promised, before announcing the name: "Weevilpaw."

The gray and white tabby tom looked up, with curiosity in his pale yellow eyes. "Me?" He seemed to meow, standing up slowly.

Hazelstar nodded, bounding down from her perch to meet Weevilpaw in the center of the clearing. "I, Hazelstar, wish for our ancestors and fallen kin of the Sea of Stars to look down upon this apprentice. He has worked hard to learn the ways of our Clan. Weevilpaw, do you promise to uphold protecting and defending StormClan with your life?"

"I do." The young tom answered softly.

Hazelstar hesitated a moment, the young gray and white tom was staring unsettlingly at her. "From this moment forward," She went on forcing herself to appear calm. "Weevilpaw will now be known as Weevildusk. We honor your hard work and dedication." She placed her chin on the tom's bowed head, allowing him to lick her shoulder in response.

As the cats began to cheer, the young tom stared around in surprise. Clearly, the young one was unable to know how to feel properly. Perhaps he felt free, or perhaps he felt burdened by the new responsibilities that now will swamp over him. Whatever it was, Hazelstar knew she had to let Weevildusk grow used to it and his new name.

"Weevildusk will sit a silent vigil tonight to keep us all safe. Once the guard of dawn has awakened will he be retired to his nest and allowed to rest for the day." She announced proudly.

The Clan was looking stronger and more full every day, soon even more kits would come and even more trainee's to become warriors. However, the worries from days before managed to resurface and threaten to overcome all the good news happening around her. Yes, the last time this happened Heatherstem was lost, but this time would be different.

This time, they were ready to fight even the Sea of Stars to keep their warriors with them for as long as possible.

.

Now, this is a story that might be a little more difficult to understand.

But one day you will.

Our story begins with a cat, young and naïve.

She loved to bring back presents to their den, feathers, berries, and flowers; everything they found beautiful!

However, one of the things she wanted most was a shiny object, beautiful and glimmering.

It was a stone of some sort, it glistened like stars.

You know how the sea looks in the distance, all shimmery and shiny out there?

The stone was similar to that kind of beauty.

It was as though it was the piece of stars or even the moon!

Many called it the Starstone, others called it the Moonstone.

This cat had fur black as the night sky, ticked with silvery gray like stars.

Her eyes were the color of the sea in the evening, orange and burning.

She wished for the Starstone to be hers.

To do this, she ventured into a cavern known to have a piece of the heavens trapped within.

She hoped it would be hers, however, she soon discovered the area was sacred.

You see, there were spiritual cats that lived nearby and wished for their stone and the stone's pebbles to be left behind.

As a result, she had to sneak in and challenge fate.

She traveled deep into the cave and found it.

She stole a sparkling pebble...

... and left the cave.

The spiritual cats found out and begged their sacred grounds to forgive them for not being able to stop her.

Their sacred spirits were angry, but not with the spiritual cats who revered them.

Their Star Seer, a cat who can read the stars with clarity, walked to their sacred stone.

With the private meeting, they created a curse to befall the she-cat who stole from them.

She was half way home when the curse took hold.

The stone glowed brightly, stealing her sense of sight.

She screamed and yelled for help.

The spirit who was chosen to curse her felt it was not enough.

The spirit bestowed upon the she-cat Nine Lifetimes.

A curse that forced her to live nine different lives in order to understand the wrong she had committed.

The curse would allow her to live normally, but return to the living with memories of the past.

Eight lifetimes later, she had returned as a black tomcat.

They felt the grief of the many lives forced upon them.

The grief of leaving loved ones that were never truly theirs in the end.

They found the stone and tried to return it, remembering how the curse began.

However, it was far too late.

When the stone was returned, the Sacred Spirits appeared before them and gave them the ending of their curse.

This cat was fractured into many cats, taking the form of every life they had spent until the original she-cat stood where the tom once had.

She begged for the punishment to be over.

Her lives agreed with her.

The Sacred Spirits answered unforgivingly:

"You are no longer a single cat, you must now be cursed into the shadows."

Before she can beg for it to change, she and the lives she lived sank into the earth below her.

No longer distinct from the shade and darkness, she was swallowed by the light, lost forever for her ignorance.

This was a story my mother told me long ago.

She always called this story The Cursed Cat.

Now, remember it as well as I do, young soon-to-be trainees.

For you need to not steal to become an honorable and loyal cat.

.

At last, the time came as Rainstripe believed her kits were ready. Hazelstar climbed to the Slanted-deck and stood proud before yowling her summons, waking every cat who was not yet awakened that morning.

"All cats able to fish and swim, come below the Slanted-deck for a Clan meeting!"

Every cat came out, surprised and anxious as they filed into position. Rainstripe and Darkwhisper had their youngest kits ready, fretting over their long fur to the best of their abilities.

Hazelstar lifted her head. "The time has come for some kits to be made into apprentices. Slopekit, Seedkit, and Cavekit."

As they were named, the kits filed over, some more excited than others, earning amused murmurs from the gathered cats.

"Slopekit, from this moment forward, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Slopepaw. Your mentor will be Haillaurel. I know she is expecting kits soon, but I entrust her to manage until she has to be a queen for a while."

Haillaurel and Slopepaw touched noses, whispered promises from one to the other.

Hazelstar continued on. "Seedkit, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Seedpaw. Your mentor will be Weevildusk. I know he is a new warrior, but I entrust him to teach you just as expertly as his mentor had taught him."

Weevildusk gently touched noses with Seedpaw.

So, the elderly leader swept on like a crashing wave. "Cavekit, until you receive your warrior name, you will be now known as Cavepaw. Your mentor will be Miyun. She has proven herself well and I believe she will do well with you in turn."

Miyun's eyes sparkled with excitement, turning and gently touching noses with Cavepaw the moment the young tom was close enough.

With the ceremony coming to a close, it was time for the apprentices to venture beyond the walls of the camp. And it was time for some one on one training to have some apprentices catch up with Weevildusk. Hazelstar felt guilty for not having kept up with Peakpaw well, but it was so hard at her age. Yet, it was no excuse. She needed to do whatever it took to help her apprentice become a warrior.

Moon 17 | Sturgeon

A new moon rolled by as Seedpaw remained in the medicine den. The new apprentice had been bitten by a gray fox, Sleetcrash worked hard the day it happened. Now, it was only a matter of time while she worked hard. Hazelstar felt guilty for giving such a young warrior an apprentice; but Rainstripe was trying to convince everyone that Seedpaw would be fine. Hazelstar was certain the mother just didn't want to think about it anymore.

If it wasn't any worse, Haillaurel had moved dens from Rustyfeather. The ginger she-cat was against it, but understood that her mate didn't want to wake her anymore when she had such priorities to give to the Clan. Haillaurel found a perfect den and made it into a soft and warm space for her and her kits. She even offered it as a nursery for more kits in the future since it gave the other cats a chance to rest peacefully while giving her the space she would need when it comes to kitting.

Hazelstar allowed it, appreciating the offer for future kitting cats. Not long after, Rustyfeather believed Bonepaw was ready for her warrior ceremony. Hazelstar agreed, the guilt slowly eating at her even more. She was certain Peakpaw wouldn't be too happy to be so far behind. There was no one to blame, but herself. She had to keep trying harder than anyone else to teach her apprentice well.

The familiar summons escaped her jaws. "Cats of StormClan, gather with me before the Slanted-deck!" The cats gathered instantly, their eyes shining with anticipation. "I, Hazelstar, ask the Sea of Stars to look down upon this apprentice. She had trained hard to understand our ways among this beach and I gave her to you as a warrior in turn. Bonepaw, do you promise to uphold the livelihood of every cat in StormClan even at the cost of your life?"

"I do." She answered strongly.

"Then I give you your warrior name. Bonepaw, from this day forward, you will now be known as Bonefleck and we honor your honesty and openness." She rested her head upon Bonefleck's head as the newly made warrior licked her shoulder in return.

The ceremony was done. Cats cheered the new name for Bonefleck and Hazelstar could only look at Peakpaw who cheered like anyone else. Was there jealousy? Was there any anger in her eyes? She wasn't sure, but she knew it would take some time before she could be a warrior like her litter-mates.

.

Hazelstar had been training Peakpaw hard, treating them like an adult as much as she could to express her gratefulness for the young she-cat to still treat her with respect. So much so, that one day she took the young cat to sunbathe. At first Peakpaw wasn't so sure, but Hazelstar managed to coax her to relax and join her. She apologized for not being the best mentor, to which the young black and white she-cat assured her that it was not the case.

Peakpaw never blamed her, not entirely. Sure there were things that Hazelstar could have done differently, but she was still willing to make it right and accept the responsibility. Much more than Peakpaw could ask for when she had been sure it was her own fault from time to time. Their bond only seemed to strengthen as Hazelstar confessed that Peakpaw had been the first trainee she taught solely and was more used to giving her knowledge to many cats. It was hard to relearn, but she had faith that her time with Peakpaw had taught her just as much, if not more than her valued apprentice would ever know.

For that day, my heart was full and I was able to let Heatherstem's memory rest within my mind.

Moon 18 | Harvest

Hazelstar saw the large dog and fought valiantly, wounded badly. The moon flies by without her knowing as she stays in the medicine den to heal from the broken bone she had. Sleetcrash worked hard and fast, but whether it helps has yet to be seen.

In the few times Hazelstar was conscious she was able to learn that Haillaurel and Rustyfeather had a single she-kit. They named her Gingerkit. Pride filled Hazelstar, she wished she could see them as she remained immobile in the medicine den's nest.

The rest of the moon was quite uneventful for Hazelstar, who was left to wonder what was going on beyond the nest she was curled up in.

Moon 19 | Hunter

After many moons, Hazelstar was able to give Peakpaw their warrior name, Peakstreak. She honored her strong will and patience. However, the elderly leader couldn't remember much of it now as she had been drowsy from poppyseeds to help her rest. Yet, she still tried to remember whether she had done the ceremony correctly.

Recently she noticed that Seedpaw was able to leave the medicine den with a scar. Hazelstar was grateful for it, but before she knew it, Sleetcrash and Rainstripe helped her back to her private den. She wasn't sure why until she could see Peakstreak being coaxed into the medicine den. She couldn't pick up what they were saying, but she was positive the young warrior was now sick with something.

.

As the days passed, Hazelstar could hear a commotion as cats filed into the clearing. She couldn't go and see what it was and had to wait patiently. It took until the sun was almost gone for some cat to come and tell her what happened. Cold dread flowed through her as Miyun explained the bad news.

Rogues attacked Bonefleck and he was murdered just because he and Rainstripe were about to help return the kits back to their parents. Bonefleck was sent off to the Sea of Stars by Darkwhisper. Sadness overcame Hazelstar. She had never expected their rogue neighbors to have done such a thing. She wanted to go out and fix it, but it was too late.

Hazelstar truly couldn't protect her Clan and that, alone, was demoralizing in her eyes. Bonefleck was still a new warrior and he didn't deserve to be killed while trying to help. She wished, desperately, to somehow take their place. Yet, she knew she could never for many moons to come.

Allegiances (as of Moon 19)

Leader: Hazelstar - long-furred light brown elderly she-cat with bronze-colored eyes

Deputy: Rainstripe - long-furred dark gray tabby she-cat with gray eyes

Healer: Sleetcrash - long-furred pale gray and white tabby she-cat with pale green eyes

Warriors:

Rustyfeather - dark ginger tabby she-cat with pale blue eyes

Miyun - long-furred unusually spotted pale silver she-cat with warm gray eyes
APPRENTICE: CAVEPAW

Weevildusk - long-furred gray and white tabby tom with pale yellow eyes
APPRENTICE: SEEDPAW

Peakstreak - long-furred speckled black and white she-cat with heather blue eyes

Apprentices:

Slopepaw - long-furred brown ticked and white she-cat with bright gray eyes

Seedpaw - long-furred gray ticked and white tom with slate gray eyes

Cavepaw - long-furred white and black tabby tom with heterochromia eyes (one cobalt, the other emerald)

QUEENS AND KITS:

Haillaurel - pale cream ticked tabby she-cat with hazel eyes (Mother of: Gingerkit, a ginger tabby she-kit)
APPRENTICE: SLOPEPAW

Elders:

Slate - masked gray and white tabby she-cat with emerald colored eyes

Darkwhisper - long-furred dark gray and white tabby tom with yellow eyes

Sea of Stars (New Member)

Bonefleck - long-furred speckled cream and white she-cat with hazel eyes

Author's Note:

I'm sorry, I had to separate the 16th moon with the three stories that Darkwhisper apparently told the kits because I thought it was cute and wanted to write them.

As the moons go, I wonder when and where will Hazelstar no longer be the leader.
Sometimes I'm scared that I will roll a moon and the lives won't be able to stop her from dying of old age.
She is about 13 years old, going on 14 in a few moons in the game. So she is really old. ;v;

Thank you for reading, have a fantastic morning, day, evening, or night~! - NightSky