(Haven't come up with a title yet )
Part 1
The Defeated Clan
I gotta keep going! I must…for them…….and...for him! A light tortoiseshell she-cat thought panting, her long fur mangled with fresh blood, as more warm, dark blood oozed down her leg. Pine needles crunched under her paws as The ShadowClan-ThunderClan border came into view. She burst into a sprint.
I know I'm suppose to wait for Thunderclan patrol but… I might be too late!
She burst through the undergrowth on the ThunderClan side. She wrinkled her nose against the stench of Thunderclan cats, suddenly she was knocked off course. She yowled as her injured leg crumbled under her, looking up, she saw two big toms looming over her that smelled of ThunderClan. She rolled into a submissive position and flattened her ears, then yowled at the toms,
“Please! I must see CragStar! Please! It’s urgent!”
The toms looked at each other then back at her, then one said, taking a step forward,
“Why must you speak with CragStar? Shouldn't CloudStar do it?” Fear struck through her as she searched for words.
“If you don't want the death of a clan leader on your paws, take me to CragStar and fast.” The toms quickly exchanged a glance and they nodded and led her to the thunderclan camp at a sprint.
The camp walls soon came into view, as she burst through the entrance, the thorny brambles tugged at her fur and seemed to try to stop her. She winced as a thorn dug into the deep wound on her leg. Light shone brighter as she entered the clearing. One of the toms broke from her flank and disappeared into a den draped in ivy. A few moments later the tom reappeared, he nodded as the other cat nudged her toward the den.
Inside it was cold and dark, in the middle of the den sat a large dark orange tabby tom.. He spoke with a deep ragged voice, clearly edged with age and wisdom, “What is your name young one?”
“M-my name is FallingFeather… I’m a-” he finished her sentence for her “I know.. you’re a ShadowClan Queen… I smelled the scent of milk on your pelt. Now, tell me what is your business here?” She didn’t know where to start with telling him what had happened “I-They...We…” she hissed with frustration, she cleared her mind and then started from the beginning,
“A larger than normal pack of foxes attacked our camp… I was defending the nursery with FlowerWhisker, an elder, my mother, she… didn’t make it...I couldn't get to her in time” her voice quivered with pain and sorrow “The foxes got past..and into the..nursery… 5 kits were in there...I was already distracted by another fox..I couldn’t..But I tried..every cat is..” tears began to run down her cheeks and her eyes darken, “D-dead, Cloudstar sent out a patrol to get help but they weren’t enough and when they weren’t back when it was just Cloudstar and I…” she paused hesitantly, “He..he sent me to fetch help….and I saw other foxes...and the cats, who were on the patrol, pelts and blood….and then here I am….”she was now speaking in a quiet voice, FallingFeather sank to the ground as her legs felt wobbly.
CragStar dropped his gaze, he then murmured “ I see….I will send a few cats to check it out, if it is a trap you will be shown no mercy.” He slipped past her “Wait! I must show you the way to the camp! So you are there in time to save Cloudstar...please..” Cragstar’s eyes flashed, then he nodded.
Cragstar then leaped onto high rock to address his cats, he told them what had happen, and stares came from the unfamiliar faces of cats, tears rolled off her beautiful pelt.The blood from her wounds now a little dry, clumped her fur. Murmurs spread through the Thunderclan cats, then one shouted “How do we know it’s not a trap!”
He answered that as well .
The patrol left almost immediately, and they raced through the undergrowth, a dark grey tom in the lead, his white tail tip bobbing up and down. When they reached the ShadowClan border most of them slowed down, unsure if it was a trick or not. But she streaked ahead, familiar scents washing over her. She knew the patrol was right behind her, due to the fact that she could feel a cat's breathe on her tail tip.
The Shadowclan camp came into view, “There it is!” she began to speed up, but the stench of blood grew unnormally strong. She burst into the clearing followed by the patrol. She fell to the ground when the body of Cloudstar came into view,”N-no...I wasn’t fast enough..” she got up and walked over to the body of the dead leader and curled around it and murmured,”I’m sorry...my love….” she rested her muzzle on her dead mate’s head, his body still warm.
She gazed at the group of Thunderclan cats the got up and headed toward the nursery, and one of the cats followed, his dark grey pelt similar to Cloudstar’s. She curled around the bodies of 3 of the dead kits’ bodies, her ears flattened as he entered, “What do you want?” she hissed “Are here to finish off the last of Shadowclan? If so, I’d be thankful to join them in Starclan.” She turned her head to allow him to easily kill her, but he just sat down and shook his head. “No, I’m not. I’m here to share my condolences. The clans must hear word of this. I will b-” she interrupted him, “ I will go… alone… to the gathering tomorrow, to show that Shadowclan is still alive, and then, is when they will learn about what happened here today….now since there is no need for you and your warriors to be here, you can leave. I will not be staying here, after I mourn and bury all the bodies, I will be a rogue, from then on, seeing as I have no place to go.”
As she stands, her legs collapsed under her, yowling in pain, which caused the rest of the Thunderclan patrol to come running. The grey tom helped her up then added “You are in no condition to do anything of the sort! You will come back to Thunderclan and see what Cragstar says to do with you. I am positive he will let you stay to heal.” he then added,”We never properly met, I’m SmokePelt.” He then smiled at her.
“Thank you SmokePelt, I’m FallingFeather.” she murmured warmly but weakly.
He helped her move the dead kits bodies, then he dug 5 tiny graves just outside the nursery entrance and FallingFeather gently laid her kits and the other kits in them. She covered them with the soil from their home. SmokePelt signaled to the patrol to dig holes for each cat, some of them looked resentful, but they did what they were told.
They worked long into the evening, but not a sound was made, it was as if the whole forest knew there was a brutal massacre.
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When they patrol finally arrived once more at the ThunderClan Camp, Cragstar called to her, telling her that due to her wounds, she would be staying in the den of OwlDream, the medicine cat. As FallingFeather slowly and tiredly exited the leader’s den, she looked toward where the ThunderClan Nursery was. Two queens were outside sharing news, their kits were playing, when the kits approached her. She smiled at the site of the young healthy kits who reminded her of her own, dead kits.
“Hey FerretKit! She does smells of Shadowclan!” One kit gazed at her.
“Invader!” the other kit yowled an alarm call, not realizing what was going on.
All around the camp were warriors poking their heads out in alarm, but by this time the queens realized what had happen and hurried over to the kits. But before they could reach them a hawk appeared and dived towards them. Without hesitation, FallingFeather threw herself over the kits and the hawk grabbed her instead of the kits. She turned toward the hawk, now off the ground, and attacked it, killing it, causing it to fall to the ground with her. Time seemed to freeze, as if the world wanted to prolong her from hitting the ground. She turned toward the earth, putting the dead hawk closer to the ground then she was.
Suddenly leaves surrounded her as she landed in the thorny brambles that surrounded the camp. Blackness consumed her and she heard muffled yowls and hisses, but they quickly vanished.
She awoke to coldness and the smell of fresh herbs. Looking around she saw a long-furred russin blue she-cat moving about. FallingFeather sat up, making the nest rustle. The she-cat come almost at once when she heard this.
“Lie Down!” She said sternly. FallingFeather obeyed at once. The she-cat sighed, then said staring into FallingFeather’s eyes with her own deep blue eyes, “My name is OwlDream. I heard about you. FallingFeather was it?” The she-cat then sat and wrapped her tail around her paws.
FallingFeather looked up at OwlDream and asked
“W-what happened? I remember landing in the brambles..but that's it. The rest is all fuzzy and black…” OwlDream turned and began to mix herbs again “Well, after you landed in those thorns, a lot of the warriors raced over to help kill the hawk when we realized that you had already killed it. The hawk landed a few tail lengths away from you.” she hesitated as if she was remembering “SmokePelt was the first to find you, he was also the one who carried you here. He is really something, you know. He stayed here until a few moments before you awoke.”
“How long was I out?” FallingFeather’s voice quivered.
“Just the night. The dawn patrol just left.” OwlDream replied. FallingFeather sighed with relief, thankful that she didn’t miss the gathering.
She sat up, and sniffed her injured leg. She quickly pulled back as a strong smelling aroma flood her nose.
“What is that?!” FallingFeather she yanked her head toward OwlDream, who padded toward her and said calmly, “Burdock root, chervil, goldenrod and cobwebs. Now, here” she set down a leaf in front of FalllingFeather, “Eat this. It’ll take you mind off of ShadowClan. It’s goatweed.”
As FallingFeather chewed on the foul tasting herb, which made her gag, 2 queens entered the den. She looked up, and made eye contact with one of them. “Thank you for saving my kits, FallingFeather!” One exclaimed.
Part 2
The Darkest Gathering
She waited just outside of the gathering area, and watched Thunderclan enter. After a few heartbeats she entered, holding her head high and padded toward Shadowclan’s normal place. The cats went silent as she entered alone. A question caught her ear as a cat asked quietly to its neighbor “Where is the rest of the clan?”
Grief struck through her as the words hit her ear. She flattened them and looked at her paws, as her eyes darkened. Thankfully, Cragstar immediately started the gathering, he was the first one to step forward.
“Cats of All Clans! I bring tragic news!” he paused and beckoned to FallingFeather to come and tell them all what happened. “FallingFeather, come up here and tell the clans what happened to your clan.” As she padded toward the rock, she hesitated, unsure if she should jump up on top or not. But Cragstar insisted. So she leaped up with what strength she had. Then looking out, she seemed to loom over every cat, with a quick glance at Cragstar she began.
“Yesterday.. a abnormally large pack of foxes attacked my clan's camp...Cloudstar sent a patrol to fetch help from all of you but they didn't return...I was defending the nursery, with FlowerWhisker, an elder,” she watched as emotion flashed in some of the elders eyes. “She was struck down before I could reach her. I raced to help her but I was jumped by another fox and after FlowerWhisker’s murderer killed her. It got to the nursery...which was housing 5 kits,” her voice cracked a bit as Cragstar padded up beside her and gently laid his tail across her shoulders and whispered gently “It's ok...go on..” she nodded, agony in her eyes.
“When it was only Cloudstar and me, Cloudstar sent me to fetch help…..I ran to Thunderclan who sent a patrol...but by then it was too late, they were dead. So what you see is all of Shadowclan. I am the last Shadowclan member.” Her gaze darkened as a cat shouted
“How do we know that's not a lie so that way Shadowclan can attack us in surprise?” Murmurs of agreement came from the large group of cats.
“Do you know what it’s like,” anger rose in her voice, her fur bushed out as she yowled “Watching your own mother die and you couldn’t do anything about it? Watching your father, your sister and brother? Your mate who was also the leader of your clan? And worst of all your own kits, who you couldn’t save even if you tried?! All of them die!? Huh?! Do you know what it’s like having everyone you know and love torn away from you?” She paused for a heartbeat and her voice trailed into sorrow “You couldn’t do anything about it?” Her gaze raked the crowed and every cat's’ face was racked with sorrow and darkness, some even guilt.
She leaped down and headed back toward her spot but sat with her back turned toward the large group of cats. No one spoke for several long moments when finally a few elders approached her. A smaller she-cat padded forward and spoke in a voice edged with age “We were friends of Flowerwhisker. I am Froststep, this is Deerwing and the other tom is Robinheart. Your mother was a brave warrior in her day, and we know Starclan has accepted all of Shadowclan,” An elderly she-cat padded up to her and sat next to her and wrapped her tail around FallingFeather, and said “ Now listen here young one, every cat hates a clan or clans and most of all other cats, it's only natural that some cat said and I quote ‘How do we know that's not a lie?’ etc, etc, but they don't actually mean it. I’m sure you were a great mother to your kits, sweety.”
The elders sat with her for the rest of the gathering, but throughout cats came up to her and apologized for what happened earlier. Smokeplet slowly made his way over to her, he was her only friend in Thunderclan even after Cragstar made her a Thunderclan cat, the rest of Thunderclan was still very hostile.
“Hey!” He meowed as he sat down next to her, closer then the elders, “You did great up there, I could tell you weren't listening after the gathering started again so Cragstar told the clans that you are now a Thunderclan member, so on and so forth!”
“..cool.” her meow was edged with bitterness but she held her tongue against it.
The cold seeped into her fur, and she shuttered. SmokePelt must have took noticed because he leaned closer to her, looked at her and smiled, making her feel the way CloudStar did. She suddenly realized and shifted away, avoiding eye contact and pushing her ears back. It was too soon to move on. Way too soon. SmokePelt seemed to realized and moved away a bit.
“I-I’m sorry...I didn’t mean it that way…” SmokePelt mewed apologetically.
FallingFeather didn’t reply, She only tucked her paws under her. Emotions washed over her as if she was a kit who was lost in the forest, alone. She looked up at Silver Pelt, most of the stars shining brightly, as if they were new. She stared at the darkness, that seemed to go on forever, in the sky too. It spoke of how she felt at that very moment.
The wind howled through the island that the gathering took place on. It sounded of the voice of CloudStar, as if he were speaking to her. She stood up abruptly, her eyes wide, she looked around for a glimpse of a familiar face. The cats that stared at her were from the other clans, but no stary pelts shown from their ranks.
Cats turned to look at her, a questioning look on their faces. FallingFeather looked around, a troubled look in her eyes. Where are you? Please! She sat frustrated.
Finally the Gathering ended. As the clans departed, FallingFeather fluffed up her fur against the strong, cold wind. She followed ThunderClan at the back, hoping she would catch a glimpse of some stary pelts.
When the ThunderClan camp came into view, the brambles seemed to glow in the moonlight. Thorns stabbed her sides as she pushed through. She finally was able to curl up into a nest, and drift asleep.
Stars swirled around her, as cold, dark mist consumed her. Suddenly her paws hit cold ground, looking up she saw standing before her star filled pelts that glistened in the pale moonlight. These pelts were gently faded, as if they were going to disappear. There standing in front of FallingFeather was Starclan, not only were these cats of StarClan, but of ShadowClan too. All of them.
Then one cat padded forwards, his his dark grey fur so familiar.The cat spoke, his voice kind, but with wisdom intertwined. “My dear, it’s good to see you one last time.” He pressed his muzzle to her’s.
“Cloudstar!!” She quickly nuzzled him back, as sadness and joy washed over her. But to her dismay, she did not move. Her paws were frozen to the ground like a tree, anchored to the dirt. She quickly went into a panic. Cloudstar took noticed and ran his tail down her flank.
“It’s ok, this is natural.” Cloudstar took noticed and ran his tail down her flank. Warmth surged through her, as his familiar scent flooded over her.
Another she-cat stepped forward, it was FlowerWhisker. She touched noses with her mother who said as Cloudstar stepped away, “You must move on.” FallingFeather looked at her mother with bewilderment.
“Move on?! But then your memory of who all of you were will fade and will be forgotten?!” she gasped at the thought. FlowerWhisker sighed gently and gently wrapped her tail around her daughter. “You must move on and let love into your heart once more,” she paused “For there is another cat who loves you out there, FallingFeather.”
Her mother began to fade, along with the rest of cats that stood in the background. “No! Please don’t go!” she yowled and tried to reach out ,but she could not move.
She jolted awake, she was now in the warriors den. Most of the ThunderClan warriors moved away from her, but Smokepelt was in another nest next to her own. She laid down once more, but this time with her furr touching his.
“I..I will move on.”
The Defeated Clan
I gotta keep going! I must…for them…….and...for him! A light tortoiseshell she-cat thought panting, her long fur mangled with fresh blood, as more warm, dark blood oozed down her leg. Pine needles crunched under her paws as The ShadowClan-ThunderClan border came into view. She burst into a sprint.
I know I'm suppose to wait for Thunderclan patrol but… I might be too late!
She burst through the undergrowth on the ThunderClan side. She wrinkled her nose against the stench of Thunderclan cats, suddenly she was knocked off course. She yowled as her injured leg crumbled under her, looking up, she saw two big toms looming over her that smelled of ThunderClan. She rolled into a submissive position and flattened her ears, then yowled at the toms,
“Please! I must see CragStar! Please! It’s urgent!”
The toms looked at each other then back at her, then one said, taking a step forward,
“Why must you speak with CragStar? Shouldn't CloudStar do it?” Fear struck through her as she searched for words.
“If you don't want the death of a clan leader on your paws, take me to CragStar and fast.” The toms quickly exchanged a glance and they nodded and led her to the thunderclan camp at a sprint.
The camp walls soon came into view, as she burst through the entrance, the thorny brambles tugged at her fur and seemed to try to stop her. She winced as a thorn dug into the deep wound on her leg. Light shone brighter as she entered the clearing. One of the toms broke from her flank and disappeared into a den draped in ivy. A few moments later the tom reappeared, he nodded as the other cat nudged her toward the den.
Inside it was cold and dark, in the middle of the den sat a large dark orange tabby tom.. He spoke with a deep ragged voice, clearly edged with age and wisdom, “What is your name young one?”
“M-my name is FallingFeather… I’m a-” he finished her sentence for her “I know.. you’re a ShadowClan Queen… I smelled the scent of milk on your pelt. Now, tell me what is your business here?” She didn’t know where to start with telling him what had happened “I-They...We…” she hissed with frustration, she cleared her mind and then started from the beginning,
“A larger than normal pack of foxes attacked our camp… I was defending the nursery with FlowerWhisker, an elder, my mother, she… didn’t make it...I couldn't get to her in time” her voice quivered with pain and sorrow “The foxes got past..and into the..nursery… 5 kits were in there...I was already distracted by another fox..I couldn’t..But I tried..every cat is..” tears began to run down her cheeks and her eyes darken, “D-dead, Cloudstar sent out a patrol to get help but they weren’t enough and when they weren’t back when it was just Cloudstar and I…” she paused hesitantly, “He..he sent me to fetch help….and I saw other foxes...and the cats, who were on the patrol, pelts and blood….and then here I am….”she was now speaking in a quiet voice, FallingFeather sank to the ground as her legs felt wobbly.
CragStar dropped his gaze, he then murmured “ I see….I will send a few cats to check it out, if it is a trap you will be shown no mercy.” He slipped past her “Wait! I must show you the way to the camp! So you are there in time to save Cloudstar...please..” Cragstar’s eyes flashed, then he nodded.
Cragstar then leaped onto high rock to address his cats, he told them what had happen, and stares came from the unfamiliar faces of cats, tears rolled off her beautiful pelt.The blood from her wounds now a little dry, clumped her fur. Murmurs spread through the Thunderclan cats, then one shouted “How do we know it’s not a trap!”
He answered that as well .
The patrol left almost immediately, and they raced through the undergrowth, a dark grey tom in the lead, his white tail tip bobbing up and down. When they reached the ShadowClan border most of them slowed down, unsure if it was a trick or not. But she streaked ahead, familiar scents washing over her. She knew the patrol was right behind her, due to the fact that she could feel a cat's breathe on her tail tip.
The Shadowclan camp came into view, “There it is!” she began to speed up, but the stench of blood grew unnormally strong. She burst into the clearing followed by the patrol. She fell to the ground when the body of Cloudstar came into view,”N-no...I wasn’t fast enough..” she got up and walked over to the body of the dead leader and curled around it and murmured,”I’m sorry...my love….” she rested her muzzle on her dead mate’s head, his body still warm.
She gazed at the group of Thunderclan cats the got up and headed toward the nursery, and one of the cats followed, his dark grey pelt similar to Cloudstar’s. She curled around the bodies of 3 of the dead kits’ bodies, her ears flattened as he entered, “What do you want?” she hissed “Are here to finish off the last of Shadowclan? If so, I’d be thankful to join them in Starclan.” She turned her head to allow him to easily kill her, but he just sat down and shook his head. “No, I’m not. I’m here to share my condolences. The clans must hear word of this. I will b-” she interrupted him, “ I will go… alone… to the gathering tomorrow, to show that Shadowclan is still alive, and then, is when they will learn about what happened here today….now since there is no need for you and your warriors to be here, you can leave. I will not be staying here, after I mourn and bury all the bodies, I will be a rogue, from then on, seeing as I have no place to go.”
As she stands, her legs collapsed under her, yowling in pain, which caused the rest of the Thunderclan patrol to come running. The grey tom helped her up then added “You are in no condition to do anything of the sort! You will come back to Thunderclan and see what Cragstar says to do with you. I am positive he will let you stay to heal.” he then added,”We never properly met, I’m SmokePelt.” He then smiled at her.
“Thank you SmokePelt, I’m FallingFeather.” she murmured warmly but weakly.
He helped her move the dead kits bodies, then he dug 5 tiny graves just outside the nursery entrance and FallingFeather gently laid her kits and the other kits in them. She covered them with the soil from their home. SmokePelt signaled to the patrol to dig holes for each cat, some of them looked resentful, but they did what they were told.
They worked long into the evening, but not a sound was made, it was as if the whole forest knew there was a brutal massacre.
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When they patrol finally arrived once more at the ThunderClan Camp, Cragstar called to her, telling her that due to her wounds, she would be staying in the den of OwlDream, the medicine cat. As FallingFeather slowly and tiredly exited the leader’s den, she looked toward where the ThunderClan Nursery was. Two queens were outside sharing news, their kits were playing, when the kits approached her. She smiled at the site of the young healthy kits who reminded her of her own, dead kits.
“Hey FerretKit! She does smells of Shadowclan!” One kit gazed at her.
“Invader!” the other kit yowled an alarm call, not realizing what was going on.
All around the camp were warriors poking their heads out in alarm, but by this time the queens realized what had happen and hurried over to the kits. But before they could reach them a hawk appeared and dived towards them. Without hesitation, FallingFeather threw herself over the kits and the hawk grabbed her instead of the kits. She turned toward the hawk, now off the ground, and attacked it, killing it, causing it to fall to the ground with her. Time seemed to freeze, as if the world wanted to prolong her from hitting the ground. She turned toward the earth, putting the dead hawk closer to the ground then she was.
Suddenly leaves surrounded her as she landed in the thorny brambles that surrounded the camp. Blackness consumed her and she heard muffled yowls and hisses, but they quickly vanished.
She awoke to coldness and the smell of fresh herbs. Looking around she saw a long-furred russin blue she-cat moving about. FallingFeather sat up, making the nest rustle. The she-cat come almost at once when she heard this.
“Lie Down!” She said sternly. FallingFeather obeyed at once. The she-cat sighed, then said staring into FallingFeather’s eyes with her own deep blue eyes, “My name is OwlDream. I heard about you. FallingFeather was it?” The she-cat then sat and wrapped her tail around her paws.
FallingFeather looked up at OwlDream and asked
“W-what happened? I remember landing in the brambles..but that's it. The rest is all fuzzy and black…” OwlDream turned and began to mix herbs again “Well, after you landed in those thorns, a lot of the warriors raced over to help kill the hawk when we realized that you had already killed it. The hawk landed a few tail lengths away from you.” she hesitated as if she was remembering “SmokePelt was the first to find you, he was also the one who carried you here. He is really something, you know. He stayed here until a few moments before you awoke.”
“How long was I out?” FallingFeather’s voice quivered.
“Just the night. The dawn patrol just left.” OwlDream replied. FallingFeather sighed with relief, thankful that she didn’t miss the gathering.
She sat up, and sniffed her injured leg. She quickly pulled back as a strong smelling aroma flood her nose.
“What is that?!” FallingFeather she yanked her head toward OwlDream, who padded toward her and said calmly, “Burdock root, chervil, goldenrod and cobwebs. Now, here” she set down a leaf in front of FalllingFeather, “Eat this. It’ll take you mind off of ShadowClan. It’s goatweed.”
As FallingFeather chewed on the foul tasting herb, which made her gag, 2 queens entered the den. She looked up, and made eye contact with one of them. “Thank you for saving my kits, FallingFeather!” One exclaimed.
Part 2
The Darkest Gathering
She waited just outside of the gathering area, and watched Thunderclan enter. After a few heartbeats she entered, holding her head high and padded toward Shadowclan’s normal place. The cats went silent as she entered alone. A question caught her ear as a cat asked quietly to its neighbor “Where is the rest of the clan?”
Grief struck through her as the words hit her ear. She flattened them and looked at her paws, as her eyes darkened. Thankfully, Cragstar immediately started the gathering, he was the first one to step forward.
“Cats of All Clans! I bring tragic news!” he paused and beckoned to FallingFeather to come and tell them all what happened. “FallingFeather, come up here and tell the clans what happened to your clan.” As she padded toward the rock, she hesitated, unsure if she should jump up on top or not. But Cragstar insisted. So she leaped up with what strength she had. Then looking out, she seemed to loom over every cat, with a quick glance at Cragstar she began.
“Yesterday.. a abnormally large pack of foxes attacked my clan's camp...Cloudstar sent a patrol to fetch help from all of you but they didn't return...I was defending the nursery, with FlowerWhisker, an elder,” she watched as emotion flashed in some of the elders eyes. “She was struck down before I could reach her. I raced to help her but I was jumped by another fox and after FlowerWhisker’s murderer killed her. It got to the nursery...which was housing 5 kits,” her voice cracked a bit as Cragstar padded up beside her and gently laid his tail across her shoulders and whispered gently “It's ok...go on..” she nodded, agony in her eyes.
“When it was only Cloudstar and me, Cloudstar sent me to fetch help…..I ran to Thunderclan who sent a patrol...but by then it was too late, they were dead. So what you see is all of Shadowclan. I am the last Shadowclan member.” Her gaze darkened as a cat shouted
“How do we know that's not a lie so that way Shadowclan can attack us in surprise?” Murmurs of agreement came from the large group of cats.
“Do you know what it’s like,” anger rose in her voice, her fur bushed out as she yowled “Watching your own mother die and you couldn’t do anything about it? Watching your father, your sister and brother? Your mate who was also the leader of your clan? And worst of all your own kits, who you couldn’t save even if you tried?! All of them die!? Huh?! Do you know what it’s like having everyone you know and love torn away from you?” She paused for a heartbeat and her voice trailed into sorrow “You couldn’t do anything about it?” Her gaze raked the crowed and every cat's’ face was racked with sorrow and darkness, some even guilt.
She leaped down and headed back toward her spot but sat with her back turned toward the large group of cats. No one spoke for several long moments when finally a few elders approached her. A smaller she-cat padded forward and spoke in a voice edged with age “We were friends of Flowerwhisker. I am Froststep, this is Deerwing and the other tom is Robinheart. Your mother was a brave warrior in her day, and we know Starclan has accepted all of Shadowclan,” An elderly she-cat padded up to her and sat next to her and wrapped her tail around FallingFeather, and said “ Now listen here young one, every cat hates a clan or clans and most of all other cats, it's only natural that some cat said and I quote ‘How do we know that's not a lie?’ etc, etc, but they don't actually mean it. I’m sure you were a great mother to your kits, sweety.”
The elders sat with her for the rest of the gathering, but throughout cats came up to her and apologized for what happened earlier. Smokeplet slowly made his way over to her, he was her only friend in Thunderclan even after Cragstar made her a Thunderclan cat, the rest of Thunderclan was still very hostile.
“Hey!” He meowed as he sat down next to her, closer then the elders, “You did great up there, I could tell you weren't listening after the gathering started again so Cragstar told the clans that you are now a Thunderclan member, so on and so forth!”
“..cool.” her meow was edged with bitterness but she held her tongue against it.
The cold seeped into her fur, and she shuttered. SmokePelt must have took noticed because he leaned closer to her, looked at her and smiled, making her feel the way CloudStar did. She suddenly realized and shifted away, avoiding eye contact and pushing her ears back. It was too soon to move on. Way too soon. SmokePelt seemed to realized and moved away a bit.
“I-I’m sorry...I didn’t mean it that way…” SmokePelt mewed apologetically.
FallingFeather didn’t reply, She only tucked her paws under her. Emotions washed over her as if she was a kit who was lost in the forest, alone. She looked up at Silver Pelt, most of the stars shining brightly, as if they were new. She stared at the darkness, that seemed to go on forever, in the sky too. It spoke of how she felt at that very moment.
The wind howled through the island that the gathering took place on. It sounded of the voice of CloudStar, as if he were speaking to her. She stood up abruptly, her eyes wide, she looked around for a glimpse of a familiar face. The cats that stared at her were from the other clans, but no stary pelts shown from their ranks.
Cats turned to look at her, a questioning look on their faces. FallingFeather looked around, a troubled look in her eyes. Where are you? Please! She sat frustrated.
Finally the Gathering ended. As the clans departed, FallingFeather fluffed up her fur against the strong, cold wind. She followed ThunderClan at the back, hoping she would catch a glimpse of some stary pelts.
When the ThunderClan camp came into view, the brambles seemed to glow in the moonlight. Thorns stabbed her sides as she pushed through. She finally was able to curl up into a nest, and drift asleep.
Stars swirled around her, as cold, dark mist consumed her. Suddenly her paws hit cold ground, looking up she saw standing before her star filled pelts that glistened in the pale moonlight. These pelts were gently faded, as if they were going to disappear. There standing in front of FallingFeather was Starclan, not only were these cats of StarClan, but of ShadowClan too. All of them.
Then one cat padded forwards, his his dark grey fur so familiar.The cat spoke, his voice kind, but with wisdom intertwined. “My dear, it’s good to see you one last time.” He pressed his muzzle to her’s.
“Cloudstar!!” She quickly nuzzled him back, as sadness and joy washed over her. But to her dismay, she did not move. Her paws were frozen to the ground like a tree, anchored to the dirt. She quickly went into a panic. Cloudstar took noticed and ran his tail down her flank.
“It’s ok, this is natural.” Cloudstar took noticed and ran his tail down her flank. Warmth surged through her, as his familiar scent flooded over her.
Another she-cat stepped forward, it was FlowerWhisker. She touched noses with her mother who said as Cloudstar stepped away, “You must move on.” FallingFeather looked at her mother with bewilderment.
“Move on?! But then your memory of who all of you were will fade and will be forgotten?!” she gasped at the thought. FlowerWhisker sighed gently and gently wrapped her tail around her daughter. “You must move on and let love into your heart once more,” she paused “For there is another cat who loves you out there, FallingFeather.”
Her mother began to fade, along with the rest of cats that stood in the background. “No! Please don’t go!” she yowled and tried to reach out ,but she could not move.
She jolted awake, she was now in the warriors den. Most of the ThunderClan warriors moved away from her, but Smokepelt was in another nest next to her own. She laid down once more, but this time with her furr touching his.
“I..I will move on.”