Chapter 6

Moon 20 | Frosty

The moon was silent as Rainstripe took over the Clan. Hazelstar's brief moments of seeing her deputy was far and in between. Weevildusk had reportedly gone to cuddle with Darkwhisper and keep close to his father for comfort. Sleetcrash had managed to report that Peakstreak had recovered from whitecough, much to the elderly leader's relief. However, Slopepaw had caught it not long after and was now in Peakstreak's place. Yet, she remained in her den to stay while she healed for the rest of the moon.

Despite Haillaurel being a new mother, she was looking over the camp well, cleaning it up and trying to stretch her legs whenever possible while the Clan split itself with duties of guarding and patrolling. All the while, Hazelstar tried to look at the bright side. She was still alive, no matter how much she wished it wasn't the case. Things were getting harder and harder as she tried to focus on resting and healing.

That was, until there were barks and howls in the distance and yowls of terror piercing through the night. Hazelstar could only lay in her den, staring and horrified as the scent of blood carried through the air from the breezes and winds that flowed into her den. Grief ached in her heart as she heard the commands of Rainstripe to control the bleeding and fetch more cobwebs and moss. Sleetcrash's steady mews could be heard as she waited with bated breath.

She waited for what felt like moons before Sleetcrash and Rainstripe carried in a somewhat patched up young cat. Cravepaw was wounded and barely breathing. Whether Sleetcrash or Rainstripe had spoken, the elderly leader did not hear them. All she could hear was the racing thoughts in her head. A very young cat had been injured by a dog and there was nothing any of them could do if it became a serious problem.

Moon 21 | Long Night

Leafbare arrived, Hazelstar still was recovering and hoping her bone would be fully healed. Cavepaw barely was awake and mostly resting through his healing. Sleetcrash had been her only company while the camp life moved on without her. Thankfully, the younger she-cat had her own stories to share. As she checked over her injuries, a story flowed from her jaws without a second thought.

Have you heard of The Thieving Fox, Hazelstar?

It's a story my mother told me when I was a kit.

There once was a fox and a cat who lived in harmony.

They were wonderful friends, sharing denning spots and a nest for many seasons.

The cat was an avid hunter and often brought back prey.

However, the cat who saved the prey kept finding less and less in their store.

Eventually, the cat learned it was their friend, the fox, stealing from them.

Betrayed and angered, the cat attacked the fox, scaring it away.

This is why gray foxes are easy to scare off.

They once were friends with us cats, but after such a betrayal the friendship had ended.

It's quite a sad story, to be honest.

.

As the days slowly passed, Hazelstar could hear Sleetcrash telling a story to Weevildusk nearby. She was obviously attempting to help by sharing something to distract him with. It was comforting and gave the elderly leader something to think about as she relaxed in her den.

Sleetcrash was meowing quite loudly, as though lost in the throes of the tale she was weaving:

Would you like to hear a story I have known from my kithood, Weevildusk?

It's a comforting story for me, maybe it can help you think. It's called The Great Tail-Chaser.

Some time ago, before cats and dogs became well known enemies who never shared a language anymore, there was a kit and a pup who went on an adventure.

The pup was well known for their courage and the kit was known for their cunning.

Together they completed each other in their unique friendship.

However, the pup had wanted to become the greatest Tail-Chaser of all.

In his pack's legends there was a dog who chased the tail of the skies.

So, he wanted his friend and himself to seek them out.

Together, the kit and the pup raced around, looking to the sky together.

One night, they saw a blazing creature in the sky with the brightest tail streaking across the sky.

They both ran and chased it, however the pup stumbled and fell.

The kit ran and ran, climbing a nearby tree to try and gain enough height to reach up into the sky and snatch it.

With a great and mighty leap, the kit reached out, claws splayed out with all his might.

The blazing creature was gone from the pup's view, while the kit continued to chase it through the skies.

Never once had he caught it, but he became a blazing creature himself.

That is how a streaking-star is born. A young kit trying to become the next Great Tail-Chaser.

I like to think in the Sea of Stars above us, all animals have a turn chasing a streaking-star.

"So, Bonefleck might be too?"

I believe so. Maybe we can stargaze sometime together to see if we can hear her.

.

Somehow, the story worked and Weevildusk rose back to his paws a few days later. However, Cavepaw was still barely conscious. Hazelstar could only watch and wait patiently, hoping against hope that the young cat would wake up even more than to just eat and sleep.

However, as the shadows of the night crept in, Slate passed peacefully. StormClan grieved for her, but with a vivid warmth from how she had brought great change to their lives.

.

Hazelstar blinked warmly, it was growing darker and chillier as leafbare set in. Sleetcrash had visited her again and had much to share. Haillaurel had recovered from kitting and was slowly becoming more and more mobile around the camp and showing Gingerkit around carefully. It was heartwarming to hear, yet she still felt like she could be giving so much more to her leadership, even a tiny bit more.

Sleetcrash recounted the tale she had shared the first night several moons ago:

Have you ever heard of the story called The Ocean's Tears, Hazelstar?

No? Well, then let me tell you about it.

The night we found you out cold and yet somehow unharmed, before our very first moon upon these shores; I shared this story to StormClan back then. We weren't even called that yet, but I shared this story then and I will once more for you too.

Long, long ago; so long ago that no current sea-cat can remember, there was a cat who lived so alone.

She was friends with Volcano, a black and red tortoiseshell who was full of vibrancy and life. She had seven kits who later had more kits.

While the lonely cat could only cry tears. Her name was Ocean and she cried many tears for the many lives her territory, the sea, had taken for so many seasons and moons.

One day, seven parentless kits found their way to her.

You see, her tears and wailing cries had brought them to her.

They felt her pain and sadness and wanted to find company with her.

Ocean no longer cried, she was happy, her heart was finally full.

She had seven perfect little kits.

None looked like her, but they were all from the same territory.

However, like all kits, they grew up and left her.

The tears began again, this time it was happy tears.

Each tear she shed became the rain that pelted the sea.

Each tear became the sea creatures.

Each tear soon transformed into the sea-cats that never could leave Ocean.

We are her tears of joy, sadness, loneliness, and pride.

No matter what came for us or what will become of us, Ocean will cry for and with us just as we will in turn.

We are part of Ocean and she is a part of us.

She is our mother from countless moons ago and she never forgets us.

.

"You told everyone that while I was recovering?" Hazelstar asked softly.

Sleetcrash nodded solemnly. "I did. If only to keep morale up after we were convinced you wouldn't survive. Not many of us have seen you when you were still young. So it is only natural that we feared for the worst. When you recovered, Darkwhisper said it was a gift from Ocean and she had returned you to us."

"In truth it was Cricketwhisper in the Sea of Stars." She murmured.

"Exactly." She murmured, looking away. "I am a healer, I have no gifts like you do or even Cricketwhisper. I just hope that I can do well despite it."

"My gift is just to live long enough to look after StormClan." Hazelstar reminded her. "Your gift is the knowledge to heal us and prevent deaths if possible. You may not always succeed, but you have kept morale up twice now. Thank you for doing your best even if you never think it is."

The light gray speckled she-cat blinked warmly. "And thank you for thinking so."

Moon 22 | Storm

After many long moons, Hazelstar's bone had healed. She began to walk every day now that her leg didn't feel strange anymore. However, Cavepaw was still in her den, thankfully resting well. She often walked outside to bring Cavepaw prey to eat and kept a close eye on him. It was the least the elderly leader could do. However, that all changed when a spider, one she had never seen before appeared in her den.

In an effort to shoo it out of her precious den, it bit her. Hazelstar thought nothing of it as she hissed out of pain before crushing it in retaliation. That was, until time began to pass. Fever raged through her body as she shuddered and shivered. She struggled against the strange systems, her limbs feeling as though they were made of fire and lightning with each movement. She winced and growled, struggling to breathe as the world slowly fell into shadow.

[Hazelstar lost a life.]

She blinked open her eyes, the endless pool of water shimmering with stars around her as Cricketwhisper stood before her. She lifted her head, her voice seeming to be gone as she saw a neat row of three cats behind Cricketwhisper.

Heatherstem, Bonefleck, and Slate...

They stood there with stars dusting their pelts and shining in their eyes.

"Heatherstem..." She breathed, hardly able to whisper as a fresh wave of grief flowed through her.

Heather blue eyes blinked sadly with the warmth of a kit to their mother.

"Bonefleck... oh stars, Weevildusk has missed you." She murmured out, her heart aching with loss.

Hazel colored eyes shone with emotion and a twitch of star flecked whiskers.

Hazelstar dragged her blurring gaze upon the familiar gray pelt of Slate and stared into those emerald green eyes. "Slate, I'm so sorry to have not gotten the chance to know you better."

"You've lost a life again, Hazelstar." Cricketwhisper meowed, amber eyes glowing in the blur of colors as Hazelstar's vision swam.

"I know..." She whispered, feeling so tired all over again.

"I'll send you back, please be careful." The dark gray tabby and white tom begged. "We can only do so much until you can no longer be part of the living."

.

Days after losing a life, Hazelstar took part in a patrol and heard a hiss of pain. Carefully, Hazelstar peered into the brush of the inland forest and warmth spread through her chest. It was a young cat who had a mangled tail. The long furred golden tabby she-cat narrowed her dark brown eyes with distrust and pain.

"What do you want?" She growled.

Hazelstar blinked kindly, rounding her eyes with sympathy. "We heard a hiss of pain, so I wanted to check it out. My name is Hazelstar, I'm the leader of a colony of cats known as StormClan. We have a healer, so, if you would like, you can rest with us for a while and heal that tail of yours."

The golden tabby was reluctant, looking away before getting up slowly. "Fine, but one wrong move and I'll shred you!" She hissed.

"Such ferocity!" Hazelstar praised warmly, "We'll watch your back and keep you safe. I promise."

"I've been named Lowpaw." She introduced herself as she stood up, revealing her somewhat stocky and short legs. "I just have these short legs and they aren't helping me escape stuff."

"I'd imagine so, but in time you will be able to." Hazelstar encouraged her. "I have faith that you will be more than a Lowpaw."

"I don't think I ever will be. I've been "Lowpaw" for my whole life." She confessed.

"In StormClan, nobody stays a 'paw for long. If you'd like, you can train among us and become stronger and have other cats to watch your back and back you up in a fight." Hazelstar offered, "But you have time to decide while you're healing. We never let someone injured push themselves when they should be focusing on getting better."

"I'll think about it, but no promises." The golden tabby she-cat flicked her ears, following the patrol back home with Hazelstar seeming to be in step with her.

For Hazelstar, it was a lot like she found a new young daughter to watch over. One that would bring pride in her heart as she found her place. Lowpaw could never replace Heatherstem, but the love of an elderly she-cat was always going to grow with maternal care.

Moon 23 | Ice

Hazelstar didn't know when or how. She had just been asleep in her nest when Rainstripe's wails of panic roused her from her deep slumber. Sleetcrash came in soon after, she didn't understand what was going on. She was fine, wasn't she? Then Rainstripe told her what she had seen: Hazelstar curled up in her nest but her flanks unmoving until now. She couldn't believe what had happened as she started to make a realization.

She couldn't live forever, not even with nine lives. They were dwindling away now, forcing her elderly body to face its mortality. Someday- and maybe soon- Rainstripe would have to lead the Clan without her. Fear and grief raged in her chest. Their battle was relentless as she tried to not look too deep into it. How could she not? She was destined to die from old age if at all.

.

As the days passed since losing a life, it was time for Seedpaw to become a warrior. Hazelstar took her place on the Slanted-deck and yowled the familiar summons: "All cats old enough to swim and fish gather before the Slanted-deck for a Clan meeting!" Her mew cracked with the age of her many long moons of life.

Rainstripe's eyes glowed with pride as she nudged her son to the center of the clearing.

"Seedpaw, do you promise to defend and protect StormClan with your life?" Hazelstar asked.

"I do." He answered strongly, determination blazing through him.

She blinked as she carefully leaped down, the sand and frost being kicked up in small clouds as she stalked towards the warrior-to-be. "Very well. I, Hazelstar, leader of StormClan ask the Sea of Stars to look down upon this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand our ways and the code you taught us and we wish for you to accept him as a warrior in turn."

Slate gray eyes glimmered with aw and hope as Hazelstar stopped before him. "Seedpaw, your warrior name is now Seedblur. We honor you for your observance." She spoke strongly, resting her chin upon his head as the newly made warrior licked her shoulder fur in turn.

"Seedblur will hold a silent vigil to keep watch for danger tonight. When a warrior or Rainstripe rises from their nest to begin the day will Seedblur be allowed to rest." She announced, lifting her tail as the chorus of the small Clan began their cheer of Seedblur's new name.

The ceremony took a lot from Hazelstar, as such she retired to her den to rest. Her aging body was making it difficult to keep up with Clan needs now.

.

After a few days of rest, Hazelstar tackled the next ceremony with renewed gusto. With another summons, she stayed at the base of the Slanted-deck. Her body is now too old and frail to follow through like it used to. She was certain that was the part of the ceremony last time that sapped her strength.

"Cats of StormClan, it is time for one of my favorite ceremonies. Gingerkit, please come to me." She beckoned with her tail as the ginger tabby she-cat trotted over with shining pale green eyes. "Until you receive your warrior name you shall be now known as Gingerpaw. Your mentor will be Weevildusk, I'm sure he will teach you everything you need to know."

With all the excitement that the beach could ever offer, Gingerpaw not-so gently smashed her nose into Weevildusk's. Luckily they laughed it off and began their training right away.

The ceremony was short, but it was expected as she had to use every ounce of her strength to keep moving. It wasn't fair, not at all. Yet, Hazelstar knew she couldn't be too hard on herself. She was old and it wouldn't be long until she stayed as one of the spirits of the Sea of Stars to greet and welcome Rainstripe as the newest leader.

Allegiances (as of Moon 23)

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
APPRENTICE: LOWPAW

Haillaurel - pale cream ticked tabby she-cat with hazel eyes

APPRENTICE: SLOPEPAW

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: GINGERPAW

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

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

Apprentices:

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

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

Lowpaw - long-furred golden tabby she-cat with bronze-colored eyes

Gingerpaw - ginger tabby she-cat with pale green eyes

Elders:

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

Author's Note:

I had written this well originally, but I didn't save since the 19th moon and my computer needed to be restarted.
So sadly, I had to rewrite for Moon 20 - 22 and as a result Slate rng'd to pass away. :c I was shipping her pretty hard with Hazelstar, so I'm sad about that loss.

However, we have Lowpaw now, so I'm hyped up again!

(And Hazelstar can't seem to be alive for long, seems like her rng is pushing for her turn now!)

[ Edit: I will admit, I forgot. I knew I was supposed to upload something on the 10th, but I forgot- This chapter is never meant to be apparently. lol ]

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