Hi everyone! Happy early Halloween!
This fic came from the following formula: Halloween My brain new fountain pen and notebook. Then voila! Fair warning- loads of family fluff. People who don't like Bramblestar...sorry. It's early simply because I will be busy over Halloween.
As stated, this fic is based off the Halloween stories by the SkyClanCat. I hope they are doing well and hope they return but even if they don't I wish them all the best!
This story is also posted on AO3 and on Deviantart
Please feel free to leave reviews and I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the Warriors universe and the original theme of this story belongs to the SkyClanCat.
Death was incredibly inconvenient at times.
Firestar flicked his tail grumpily. Only a few moons prior (or so it seemed), he had given his final life in that climatic fight against Tigerstar and other members of the Dark Forest. And while he was grateful that he had lost his life in service to the Clans he loved, he couldn't help but be rather irked by the timing.
Why, oh why was the Great Battle (as the living had dubbed it) before Halloween?! (In reality, he knew why Tigerstar wouldn't have wanted his opposition to have the advantage of foresight gifted to his other form).
But still, he could have at least enjoyed one more glorious evening. His whiskers drooped as flashes of a tan queen (Empress his mind whispered) sporting wings and a devilish smirk raced through his thoughts.
A sympathetic purr interrupted his morose musings. He had been resting under one of Starclan's many trees (always green and full of prey) and thought he was alone. But Cinderpelt always knew how to find him.
"Missing home?" She asked, voice carefully light. He had to suppress a snort. He knew when his former apprentice and medicine cat was trying to not pry. Instead, he nodded.
She gave him a sympathetic blink. "Well, at least we can still celebrate Halloween in Starclan." The soot-colored molly sighed.
The words took a moment to register.
"What!?" His muzzle fell open in complete shock. Cinderpelt's whiskers twitched in amusement- no doubt savoring the moment. She always did love to catch him off-guard. She had mentioned something in passing once about keeping him humble and on his toes.
The cheeky molly.
"Didn't you notice? That thrumming feeling in your chest?"
"I thought it was just, I don't know, Starclan's power, or something?"
Cinderpelt actually chortled. He silently resolved to get her back- he had all eternity to come up with something, after all.
" 'Or something' would be more correct. After all, Halloween is tomorrow! Don't you remember?"
Yes, indeed he did. Hope blossomed.
"So does this mean…" He trailed off.
"That we can change here in Starclan? Absolutely." Cinderpelt chirped. "Even better, we gather around a viewing pool to see who amongst the living use our amulets!"
And the blossom was promptly crushed. The molly noticed Firestar's sudden frown. "What's wrong?"
"My charm was buried with me." He stood abruptly and began to pace in frustration. Why didn't he remember to take it off before battle as he usually did?
Later, he wouldn't be able to tell if he was inspired by the powers of Starclan or if it was any lingering (and growing) effects of his halo. It may have even been a combination of the two. But inspiration did indeed come in that moment.
"Hmm…"
Alderpaw felt awkward.
While this wasn't a necessarily new sensation for him, this time it was for a relatively new reason. The entire camp was buzzing with excitement- an excitement he had no explanation for and thus felt he wasn't part of.
Older warriors would pause in whatever they were doing to touch the strange charms around their necks with gleeful expressions. Whenever he or Sparkpaw questioned his clanmates, all they got were knowing smirks and vague answers that they would soon find out.
Jayfeather stalked out of the medicine den. Whatever was going on didn't seem to have any effect on his perpetual grumpiness. For once, Alderpaw found himself comforted by it- at least one thing never changed.
"Are you done yet?" He snapped, motioning towards the half-eaten squirrel at the apprentice's paws. Alderpaw nodded, then quickly remembering himself, added a "Yes!"
The silver tom harrumphed. "Good. Your father wants you and your sister in his den, now."
Nervous of testing his mentor's temper further, Alderpaw mumbled a quick "Yes, Jayfeather" before scampering off to the base of the Highrock where Sparkpaw was already waiting. Together, the siblings scrambled up the rocky path.
"Enter" a strong voice called out and both ginger kittens pushed their way into the den. Inside, a strong tabby tom with warm amber eyes was waiting for them. Further in, their mother watched, her own gaze sparkling with what he could only identify as excitement.
"Has anyone told you about Halloween yet?" Bramblestar asked, eyeing them curiously.
"No!" Sparkpaw blurted. "We tried asking Graystripe and all he said was that we'd find out soon enough. So, we tried Blossomfall, and Molewhisker and Brackenfur and-"
"Ok, ok" their father chuckled. "So, everyone's keeping it a surprise." He shared a quick glance with Squirrelflight, who tilted her head as if to say Well go on then.
"Alright" mewed Bramblestar slowly. Alderpaw realized he was gathering his thoughts for what was probably a long-winded explanation.
And indeed, it was. However, it was also very enlightening. Apparently, Halloween was a night where the boundary between the living and the dead blurred ever so slightly. To chase away the malevolent demons that were prone to wander into their world in search of souls to torment, it was customary to disguise oneself.
What's more, Thunderclan had been wholly unaware of the custom until the arrival of a strange black queen who not only told them of the event but also gave them amulets (not once but twice) that disguised them in return for safe passage through their territory.
His ginger sister looked as if she were about to combust from eager anticipation at the tale. But Alderpaw?
He was worried. Evil demons? Blurring of the realms of the dead and the living? What could be fun about that?
"I guess this means we'll need to prepare for a battle." He fretted, making a mental note to check with Jayfeather and Leafpool about their herb supplies.
Squirrelflight leaned forward to give her son a comforting lick on his ear. "No, no, there won't be a battle." She soothed. "It's just fun and games."
Fun and games? How could a night with potential demons be fun? And what was this about disguises?
"What do you mean about the amulets disguising us?" Sparkpaw must have read his mind.
"The charm you wear will make you look…different. How exactly you'll find out soon enough." Squirrelflight mewed gleefully. He'd been so focused on her words that it took him a moment to register that his mother's fluffy tail was pressed flat against Bramblestar's muzzle.
His father gave his mate a slightly annoyed glance and gently swatted her tail away.
"But you don't have to participate if you don't want to. After all, this night is supposed to be fun." Bramblestar mewed gently and Sparkpaw, who until this point was practically vibrating with exhilaration, threw her brother a concerned glance.
Alderpaw considered for a moment. It did sound like fun on the face of it, but on the other paw., if demons were involved, a better and more talented warrior may very well need this strange bit of magic.
He would just be in the way. Again
"I- I think I'll pass for now, thanks." He mumbled.
Before his parents could respond, Sparkpaw burst out, "Oh, could I join in? Please!? I've been working really hard!" Alderpaw was grateful for the distraction, and he felt her tail briefly brush his in a comforting gesture.
Bramblestar gave a loud purr then stood and gave a short stretch before retreating to the back of the den in search of something. After a moment of rustling, he padded back with a small rock on a vine dangling from his maw. The rock, or amulet, as Alderpaw corrected himself, seemed to be carved to mimic the head of a very large cat.
One of the great cats of old… He mused.
"This was the charm given to Goldenflower." Bramblestar murmured wistfully. Alderpaw knew that name. His sire's mother had passed into Starclan moons before he was born, just after the clans had made the Great Journey, but that didn't stop Bramblestar telling his kits of her courage as both a warrior and mother in the face of their clan's distrust. The large tabby draped the vine over his daughter's head which allowed the charm to settle on her chest fur.
"It suits you." Squirrelflight purred and both parents radiated pride as their daughter examined the gift. At Bramblestar's dismissal, Sparkpaw scampered away while Alderpaw slunk after her.
Neither kitten saw the concerned glances exchanged between their parents.
Alright, slow start. But it continues...now!
