Phantomstar's CURSE Marathon Page! FINISHED!
Aug 21, 2017 21:31:40 GMT -5
phantomstar57, » ѕнαdσω ⚔️, and 2 more like this
Post by phantomstar57 on Aug 21, 2017 21:31:40 GMT -5
I am revisiting this page and its story, because I would love to finish it! Celebrating the 4th anniversary of CURSE, by Shadowface, and the 3rd of NEW BLOOD!
(NOW FINISHED!)
I am opening this up to anyone who wants to play!
Post suggestions, art, even sample chapters and I may use them!
I may do some editing, just for continuity, and to fix simple mistakes, but I will try and let the author's voice shine through.
Spottail has joined in our Curse madness, as has Headphone Actor!
And Shadowface herself has graced our page!
Welcome aboard!
Phantomstar's & ♪♥♫◦°°Razz°°◦♫♥♪'s
CURSE Marathon page
Kyestorm gazed out the window to the northeast, where her distant home lay. Her mate, kits, kin, and Clans seemed so utterly far away. Though she appreciated the comforts of two-leg life, warm bed, constant food, and protection from the elements, she longed for her Clan life. She wondered about her mate, Demonstone, and of course, her largest son, Phantomstar, who now lead ThunderClan.
The enormous old red tabby Maine Coon elder shifted her weight on the window perch, pressing her nose to the crack in the sill, sniffing the cold air. She heaved a huge sigh of embarrassment, remembering how she let her guard down while hunting and a pair of two-legs startled her on the lake shore. They swooped her up in a fishy-smelling net, and carried her away. She fought the net, struggling to claw free of it, but it twisted and tightened around her until she exhausted herself. The last she saw of her clanmates, they swarmed around the lakeshore, calling to her, staying out of reach and sight of her captors. The total astonished terror on Demonstone's face seared into her memory, as Phantomstar cried, “Kyemama! We’ll find you!”
The two-legs took her to a place full of other strange cats, where her current housefolk adopted her, taking her to this cozy cottage, but Kyestorm thought only about the life she lost. She yearned to escape and find her way home, but how? Her old joints creaked, paining her on cold nights, and she knew her age put her at a disadvantage. She pressed her face to the glass, her heart twisting with homesickenss, and her stomach clenched with despair. Too much distance separated her from her loved ones.
"Demonstone, I miss you! Phantomstar, I wish you could find me, but I know you and your sisters can't leave your leader duties." Kyestorm uttered a sad keen. "I just want to come home. Oh StarClan, please let me go home!"
"But, you are home," a soft meow interrupted her pining, and she turned to face a very pretty young tortoiseshell short-haired she-cat, who regarded her with sharp green eyes. Kyestorm gazed at her new hosuemate, then sagged against the window.
"Lizzie," Kyestorm lay down on the perch, and mewled like a kit. "I know and I'm grateful for you and your generous hosuefolk, but, I'm not home. My mate, my kits, my family, are out there. I miss them all so much I can barely stand it."
“I see that,” Lizzie walked over to the window. “It’s so cold out there now. You’d die trying to get home.”
“We Maine Coons can handle the cold,” Kyestorm murmured, looking back out the window at the darkening sky. “I don’t know how to get out of here.”
“Our housefolk are afraid you’ll run away.” Lizzie explained. “They know you’re a Maine Coon, a special cat. They only want you to be happy here. Like I do.”
“They’re right. I would run at the first chance,” Kyestorm muttered, a growl rumbling in her chest, before she uttered a sad querulous cry. “My son is leader! Two of my daughters lead other Clans, and the third is deputy to her mate of the fourth Clan. My grandson is deputy in the fifth Clan. The Clans prosper. Things are so good around the lake now. I wanted to live out my elder days with my beloved mate, being fussed over and loved by everyone. Now I’ll die far from home. Away from Demonstone.”
“Don’t you like me? Don’t you consider me a friend?” Lizzie asked, her eyes wide with disappointment.
“Yes, I do,” Kyestorm answered, a short purr rattling her voice. “I like you a lot, and your housefolk have been kind, reminding me of my original housefolk from suncycles ago, but, my heart belongs with the Clan that saved my life and the lives of my kits and mate so long ago.I love them all, and my heart breaks that they think I may be lost to them and they lost to me forever.”
“There are Clan cats around here, a little ways in the mountains,” Lizzie said, flicking an ear thoughtfully. “Maybe they can help you?”
“How? I can’t get out of here,” Kyestorm lamented.
Lizzie sat on the arm of the plush red couch in the living room, studying the russet red tabby she-cat sitting on the windowsill. The red queen was easily twice her size, and had paws the size of her head. Well, maybe not quite that large, but, let's face it, Lizzie tended to exaggerate at times.
The red queen seemed upset, her head low, eyes tapered at the ends and tail hanging, limp, off the windowsill. The tip of the beautiful cat's tail twitched methodically every few moments.
Lizzie remembered the day that Kyestorm, the red Maine Coon, had arrived at her home, seemingly elderly and frail. Within moments of her release, however, Kyestorm snarled and clawed at both Lizzie's humans and her.
This confused Lizzie. Why was Kyestorm so angry at being rescued? She was very likely to be caught and killed by something monstrous in the forest where Lizzie's humans had vacationed, something like a fox or badger. It wasn't like Kyestorm was a young cat. Illness was also a great factor of wilderness living, and Kyestorm was just too old to fend off sickness.
"Demonstone, I miss you! Phantomstar, I wish you could find me, but I know you and your sisters can't leave your leader duties! I just want to come home. Oh StarClan, please let me go home!"
A mournful keen from Kyestorm made Lizzie kick out of her thoughts.
"But you are home." Lizzie spoke to Kyestorm gently, her voice rippling with confusion and uncertainty. Was she doing something wrong?
"Lizzie, I know and I'm grateful for you and your generous hosuefolk, but, I'm not home. My mate, my kits, my family, are out there. I miss them all so much I can barely stand it."
Kyestorm mewled like a kitten, and Lizzie watched as she laid down on the windowsill, resting her head dramatically against the pane of glass separating them from the world outside.
"I see that." Lizzie said it carefully this time, jumping gracefully from the arm of the couch and approaching the windowsill where Kyestorm sat. She sat below it, and then lunged up onto the windowsill beside the one the red queen was resting against. "But it's so cold out there now. You'd die trying to get home."
"We Maine Coons can handle the cold." Kyestorm's voice was cold as she turned her head to gaze out the window at the quickly darkening sky. "I don't know how to get out of here."
Lizzie sighed, turning her emerald green eyes to the white painted wood of her perch. “Our housefolk are afraid you’ll run away.” She explained, “They know you’re a Maine Coon, a special cat. They only want you to be happy here. Like I do.”
“They’re right. I would run at the first chance,” Kyestorm muttered, a growl rumbling in her chest, before she uttered a sad querulous cry. “My son is leader! Two of my daughters lead other Clans, and the third is deputy to her mate of the fourth Clan. M Grandson is deputy in the fifth Clan, The Clans prosper. Things are so good around the lake now. I wanted to live out my elder days with my beloved mate, being fussed over and loved by everyone. Now I’ll die far from home. Away from Demonstone.”
Lizzie watched the ailing queen with misery, a spark of hurt kindling in her chest.
"Don't you like me? Don't you consider me a friend?"
Lizzie's eyes read her disappointment, and her lips curved downwards into a frown. Lizzie had spent a good portion of her time attempting to befriend the red queen.
“Yes, I do,” Kyestorm answered, a short purr rattling her voice. “I like you a lot, and your housefolk have been kind, reminding me of my original housefolk from suncycles ago, but, my heart belongs with the Clan that saved my life and the lives of my kits and mate so long ago. I love them all, and my heart breaks that they think I may be lost to them and they lost to me forever.”
Lizzie felt hope take flight in her heart as she remembered something that might help the red queen. "There are clan cats around here, a little ways into the mountains. Maybe they could help you." One of her ears flicked thoughtfully as she began formulating a plan.
"How? I can't get out of here." Kyestorm's complaining made Lizzie roll her eyes.
"I may just have a way. Let me think a moment, Kyestorm."
After a moment, Lizzie's face tipped upwards into a mischievous grin. "A helpful friend taught me this trick at one point." With a soft grunt, Lizzie leaped off of the windowsill, and ran for the door locking them into the living room while her humans slept.
With a soft growl, she lunged upwards, hooking a paw around the circular doorknob. She tipped her body backwards hard, her paw around the doorknob turning it slowly.
But it wasn't quite enough.
She fell to the hard wood with a louder growl.
Kyestorm watched Lizzie, curiosity burning in her heart, staving off another wave of homesickness. Old memories flittered around in her head, as she watched her new friend. Lizzie rose to her feet, and with determination, jumped at the doorknob, and held on. Her paws slipped on the smooth brass, but Kyestorm eyed the knob as it turned. She leaped off of the window perch, hurrying over to Lizzie, as the old mischievous feelings rose up from the depths of her mind. She remembered opening doors out into her housefolk’s gardens many seasoncycles ago.
“I can help!” she meowed, hope flashing though her. Kyestorm reared up beside Lizzie and pressed her massive paws on the slippery knob. She grasped it with her long toes.
“Climb my back!” Kyestorm called out. “Get a good grip from there. Don’t worry if you accidentally scratch me.”
“This is crazy,” Lizzie muttered, but jumped up on the Maine Coon queens’s back. Grasping her with strong hind legs, she reached out, her chest resting on Kyestome’s ample shoulders, and placed her paws on the knob.
“Turn now, while I have a good grip!” Kyestorm yowled. Together they worked the slick metal handle, and it turned. But the door remained closed. Kyestorm felt her grip slip.
“Why won’t it open?” she cried.
“Pull back!” Lizzie meowed, and leaped sideways off Kyestorm’s back. “You have to pull back!”
With Lizzie clear of her, Kyestorm shifted her weight, and her hindpaws slipped out from under her. She clutched the doorknob as she fell, and it opened just as she toppled over onto her back. Lizzie darted forward, hooked her claws under the door, and pulled it open. Kyestorm scrambled to her feet and darted out into the dark hallway. She halted, and looked back, confused by the unfamiliar surroundings. As Lizzie walked out of the room, Kyestorm peered back into it, eyeing the cozy sofa, her soft bed, the full food dishes and water bowl and felt a short pang of regret.
“I really am grateful to your housefolk and I’m so sorry I clawed one of them when I first arrived. I’ve been nice since, and even purr for them,” Kyestorm apologized, meeting Lizzie’s sharp green gaze.
“I know,” Lizzie replied. “I am glad you calmed down, and they really like you. Are you sure you must leave us?’
“Yes, I really miss my family. I have to try and go back,” Kyestorm explained, then a thought occurred to her. “Won’t your housefolk be really angry if you help me escape?’
“Nah.” Lizzie flicked her tail. “I’m always sneaking out on them. They’ll be disappointed you got out, but they’ll blame themselves more for not keeping an eye on me better.’
Kyestorm looked down the dark hallway. Moonlight slanted into the window, and Kyestorm felt another stab of longing for her home and family. She looked at Lizzzie.
“What do we do now?”
"Follow me," Lizzie answered. "We'll try my cat door. Maybe my housefokk forgot it seeing they had you locked in the livingroom."
Kyestorm followed her new friend down the hall into the dark kitchen. Lizzie led her to the back door, where Kyestorm noticed a strange flap covering an obvious hole in the door. Lizzie tentatively pushed a paw against the flap and it gave way. She turned glowing green eyes to Kyestorm, and bared the tips of her fangs in a grin.
"They forgot to secure it," Lizzie purred. "Too worried about other doors. Come on."
The pretty patched tabby slipped through the opening, and Kyestorm eyed it with concern. She followed, and stuck her head through. Despite her concern, she pushed forward, before her body stuck fast in the hole. Kyestorm uttered a squeak, cutting off a wail by snapping her jaws shut. Lizzie looked back, standing in the snow, silhouetted by the moon.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm stuck!" Kyestorm hissed.
"Ate too much?" Lizzie tittered, before tilting her head.
"Not funny! My shoulders are stuck!" Kyestorm spat. "Why is this so small?"
"To keep wildlife out," Lizzie answered. "Wiggle a bit."
Kystorm growled, exhaling before twisting and turning like a snake in a trap. Her body tilted just enough to free her shoulders and she thrust through the door, leaving clumps of her red pelt behind. She stumbled out into the snow, stood up, shook herself, then trotted after Lizzie.
They traveled through the snows toward the mountains. Kyestorm felt the pull in her heart from them, and knew she needed to keep moving toward those peaks. The ground grew rough, with craggy stones, and steep terrain. A hiss from the brush stopped them, and Lizzie backed up to stad beside Kyestorm.
"Who trespasses on MountainClan territory?" A long-pelted tortoiseshell and white she-cat with intense green eyes stepped out from behind a rock. Kyestorm inhaled sharply, staring at the she-cat.
"We do," Lizzie answered. "Sorry, but my companion needs to find her way home."
"Yes," Kyestorm shook herself, meeting the other cats evergreen gaze. "Forgive me, but you look the mirror image of one of my daughters, who left the clan many seasons ago with her mate, who lived in some far away clan. I am Kyestorm of ThunderClan."
The shaggy she-cat eyed Kyestorm, expression thoughtful, ears erect.
"Hello, Kyestorm. I am Shadowface of MountainClan. So, you come from one of the ancient Clans we thought long gone? Perhaps the stories my grandfather spoke were true after all." Shadowface stepped forward and inspected Kyestorm. "Large one, aren't you?"
"What stories?" Kyestorm asked, hopeful to hear anything about Autumnglory.
"It is said my greatgrandfather's mother was an outsider, a cat who supposedly came from one of those Clans from far over the Mountains." Shadowface flicked her long fluffy tail. "She adapted well to our lands, and she was supposedly very large, like you. She was proud of her heritage but what type of cat she claimed to be was lost long ago."
"She was a Maine Coon, like me. You look so much like her," Kyestorm murmured, before lifting her head toward the peaks. "I need to get home."
"I will help you." Shadowface nodded. "An elder should not be traveling alone out here."
"Do you need me?" Lizzie spoke up.
"Go home, and be safe," Kyestorm gazed at her new friend fondly. "Thank you for everything."
"I can help," Lizzie insisted.
"It's dangerous lands up there. No place for a kittypet," Shadowface said firmly, but her voice rattled with an amused purr, taking the sting from her tone.
"All right," Lizzie capitulated, and Kyestorm saw relief in her friend;s bright green eyes. "I'll wait until you're out of sight."
"Thank you," Kyestorm moved to Lizzie and wrapped her thick tail around Lizzie's shoulders. "Stay safe and warm. I won't forget you."
"Nor I you," Lizzie mewed.
"Let's move," Shadowface interupted, and Kyestorm heard the impatience in her voice. "I can get you over the ridge by sunrise. But I must let my clan know what is going on."
"Fare well, Lizzie," Kyestorm called as she followed Shadowface. Lizzie sat down, watching.
"Take care, Kyestorm. May your StarClan watch over your pawsteps."
Kyestorm waved her tail, glancing back once, feeling a stab of grief at leaving Lizzie. She faced forward, trotting in Shadowface's wake.
"I can't!" Lizzie's voice startled her. "I cant let you travel alone once you leave MountianClan."
Kyestorm felt Lizzie rush up alongside her.
"It's dangerous," Kyestorm growled. "And cold."
"Lizzie," Shadowface grumbled irritably. "Go home."
"No!" Lizzie spat with temper. "I'm coming. I'll make sure you get home, then I can come back."
"Alone?" Kyestorm retorted.
"The ancient clan lands are far away." Shadowface said. "It will take moons, maybe even seasons to get there."
"Don't you care about your housefolk?" Kyestorm asked, remembering that long ago fire that forced her and Demonstone away from their housefolk and into the wild.
"You two work this out," Shadowface interrupted with a snort. "I'll be back."
Shadowface vanished into the rocks, and Kyestorm stared at Lizzie for many long minutes, waiting for an answer.
"I do, but, I don't want to leave you either. I need to know you'll be safe," Lizzie responded, stubbornness evident in her bristling fur.
"I may be old, but I'm not infirm yet," Kyestorm lifted a huge cream paw and flashed her huge claws. "'ll be fine."
"Stubborn old geezer. . . " Lizzie mewled in frustration, before uttering a gusty sigh. "But . . . "
"You two done bickering?" Shadiwface's voice startled Kyestorm and she leaped straight up, spraying snow everywhere, landing with claws unsheathed.
"Mousedung!" Kyestorm sputtered.
"Good reflexes for an old one." Shadowface purred with mirth, then leveled her unusual green eyes on Lizzie. "Go home, Lizzie. This will be a long, cold dangerous journey."
"But who will guide her once she leaves your territory?" Lizzie protested.
"I've spoken to my Clan Leader, so I can go as far as we need to. Beyond those peaks is another ridge where it is said Tribes live, related to the ancient Clans." Shadowface explained. "They will help guide you."
"The Tribes still exist," Kyestorm confirmed. "If you point me there I can get home."
"Agreed." Shadowface faced Lizzie. "Stubborn little she cat. You must make this decision carefully. It s time to decide, Give up your kittypet life and go with us, or go home."
(Ok Razz! What does Lizzie do?)
Lizzie made yet another lunge for the doorknob, holding on to the best of her abilities, grunting with effort as the knob gave just a small bit, before she collapsed to the ground, flattening her ears. A growl rose in her throat when she heard the thump on the floor behind her, signaling the red queen's departure from the windowsill. She gave a little mrrow of confusion when Kyestorm appeared beside her, rearing onto her hindpaws to hold on to the knob far better than Lizzie could ever hope to.
At the prompting from the red queen, Lizzie screwed up her face, muttering under her breath.
"This is crazy," she lamented softly, thought she bunched her hindlegs and vaulted onto the massive russet she-cat's back. She braced against the she-cat's hips, stretching upwards so that her chest was planted on Kyestorm's shoulders, placing smaller paws on the knob.
She reacted quickly to the yowl of the red queen, flipping the knob as hard as she could, giving a small growl of frustration when it didn't open, and Kyestorm began to slip, crying out desperately.
“Why won’t it open?”
“Pull back!” Lizzie meowed, and leaped sideways off Kyestorm’s back. “You have to pull back!”
Now that Lizzie had fallen clear, Kyestorm toppled backwards, holding on to the knob with all her might. It creaked open as the russet she-cat collapsed onto her back, and Lizzie reacted quickly, darting forwards and hooking her claws around the side of the door, pulling it open deftly. Kyestorm was out the door in a second, and Lizzie followed, a bit calmer than her companion. She watched the red she-cat pay a sad glance at the room as the door slowly closed behind them. She perked her ears at Kyestorm's next lament, apologizing to her.
“I really am grateful to your housefolk and I’m so sorry I clawed one of them when I first arrived. I’ve been nice since, and even purr for them,” Kyestorm apologized, meeting the other's gaze.
“I know,” Lizzie replied, not breaking eye contact, “I am glad you calmed down, and they really like you. Are you sure you must leave us?"
“Yes, I really miss my family. I have to try and go back,” Kyestorm explained sadly, before adding as an afterthought, “Won’t your housefolk be really angry if you help me escape?"
“Nah,” Lizzie flicked her tail, looking away, “I’m always sneaking out on them. They’ll be disappointed you got out, but they’ll blame themselves more for not keeping an eye on me better."
“What do we do now?” the red queen asked, and Lizzie flicked an ear, standing up calmly.
"Follow me," she answered, "We'll try the cat door. Maybe the housefolk forgot it, seeing that they had us locked in the living room."
She turned down the hallway, heading for the kitchen silently. There she flicked her ears and stretched out a paw, tentatively pressing against the flap on the back door that gave her access in and out of the house. It gave way under the pressure, and Lizzie turned luminescent green eyes to the red queen, baring her teeth in a feral grin.
"They forgot to secure it," Lizzie purred, "too worried about other doors. Come on."
The tortoiseshell she-cat slipped out the opening, turning around, paws buried in the shallow snow. She flicked an ear, silhouetted by the moon as she caught sight of the red queen's predicament.
"What's wrong?" she asked, confused by the holdup.
"I'm stuck!" Kyestorm hissed.
"Ate too much?" Lizzie tittered, before tilting her head in amusement. It was quite funny, the russet Maine Coon getting stuck so easily.
"Not funny! My shoulders are stuck!" Kyestorm spat, "Why is this so small?"
"To keep wildlife out," Lizzie answered simply, as though the answer was obvious, "Wiggle a bit."
Kystorm growled, exhaling before twisting and turning like a snake in a trap. Her body tilted just enough to free her shoulders and she thrust through the door, leaving clumps of her red pelt behind. She stumbled out into the snow, stood up, shook herself, then trotted after Lizzie, who had already turned away and begun moving towards the mountain range.
They traveled through the snows toward the mountains. The ground grew rough, with craggy stones, and steep terrain. A hiss from the brush stopped them, and Lizzie backed up to stand beside Kyestorm, emerald eyes narrowed fiercely, her hackles rising slightly at the threat.
"Who trespasses on MountainClan territory?" A long-pelted tortoiseshell and white she-cat with intense green eyes stepped out from behind a rock. Kyestorm inhaled sharply, staring at the she-cat, and Lizzie flattened her ears, struggling for a good answer.
"We do," Lizzie answered finally, "Sorry, but my companion needs to find her way home."
"Yes," Kyestorm shook herself, meeting the other cats evergreen gaze. "Forgive me, but you look the mirror image of one of my daughters, who left the clan many seasons ago with her mate, who lived in some far away clan. I am Kyestorm of ThunderClan."
The shaggy she-cat eyed Kyestorm, expression thoughtful, ears erect. Lizzie stood silent, dropping her fur so that she was no longer looking threatening.
"Hello, Kyestorm. I am Shadowface of MountainClan. So, you come from one of the ancient Clans we thought long gone? Perhaps the stories my grandfather spoke were true after all," Shadowface stepped forward and inspected Kyestorm, "Large one, aren't you?"
"What stories?" Kyestorm asked, and Lizzie could see hope glimmering in her eyes. The old queen seemed to be seeking something, prehaps a name.
"It is said my greatgrandfather's mother was an outsider, a cat who supposedly came from one of those Clans from far over the Mountains," Shadowface flicked her long fluffy tail, "She adapted well to our lands, and she was supposedly very large, like you. She was proud of her heritage but what type of cat she claimed to be was lost long ago."
"She was a Maine Coon, like me. You look so much like her," Kyestorm murmured, before lifting her head toward the peaks, adding "I need to get home."
"I will help you." Shadowface nodded. "An elder should not be traveling alone out here."
"Do you need me?" Lizzie spoke up, looking a little bit put out. She had been the one to get Kyestorm out here, and was being pretty much ignored. She didn't blame the red queen, but it was tiring for a young cat like her to not get any attention at all.
"Go home, and be safe," Kyestorm gazed at her new friend fondly "Thank you for everything."
"I can help," Lizzie insisted, not wanting to be left out of the adventure she'd helped start.
"It's dangerous lands up there. No place for a kittypet," Shadowface said firmly, but her voice rattled with an amused purr, taking the sting from her tone.
"All right," Lizzie capitulated, and Kyestorm saw relief in her friend's bright green eyes, "I'll wait until you're out of sight." She felt a bit put out, but still relieved that they weren't going to actually beg her to go.
"Thank you," Kyestorm moved to Lizzie and wrapped her thick tail around Lizzie's shoulders, "Stay safe and warm. I won't forget you."
Lizzie purred slightly at the farewell from the red queen, and turned sad eyes to her.
"Nor I you," Lizzie mewed.
"Let's move," Shadowface interupted, and Kyestorm heard the impatience in her voice. "I can get you over the ridge by sunrise. But I must let my clan know what is going on."
"Farewell, Lizzie," Kyestorm called as she followed Shadowface. Lizzie sat down, watching, feeling her heart flutter against her ribs like a trapped starling.
"Take care, Kyestorm. May your StarClan watch over your pawsteps," she called, blinking green eyes.
Kyestorm waved her tail, glancing back once, feeling a stab of grief at leaving Lizzie. She faced forward, trotting in Shadowface's wake.
Lizzie sat still for only a few seconds, before a harsh twist in her stomach sent her flying onto her paws.
"I can't!" Lizzie wailed, startling Kyestorm, "I can't let you travel alone once you leave MountianClan."
The tortoiseshell she-cat raced to the red queen's side, drawing up close to them.
"It's dangerous," Kyestorm growled, "And cold."
"Lizzie," Shadowface grumbled irritably. "Go home."
"No!" Lizzie spat with temper. "I'm coming. I'll make sure you get home, then I can come back."
Irritation at being brushed off as useless so easily came up into her voice far easier than she'd expected, and she chastised herself for getting so defensive and childish so quickly.
"Alone?" Kyestorm retorted.
"The ancient clan lands are far away." Shadowface said. "It will take moons, maybe even seasons to get there."
"Don't you care about your housefolk?" Kyestorm asked, and Lizzie flattened her ears at the tag teaming, crouching down slightly like a chastised kit.
"You two work this out," Shadowface interrupted with a snort. "I'll be back."
As the long furred she-cat disappeared into the rocks, Kyestorm's gaze honed in on Lizzie, and they sat in silence for several long minutes, before the smaller cat drew herself up into a sitting position, trying to look more mature and strong than she was.
"I do, but I don't want to leave you either. I need to know you'll be safe," Lizzie responded, stubbornness evident in her bristling fur.
"I may be old, but I'm not infirm yet," Kyestorm lifted a huge cream paw and flashed her huge claws. "I'll be fine."
"Stubborn old geezer. . . " Lizzie mewled in frustration, before uttering a gusty sigh. "But . . . " She looked terribly put out, and turned her green gaze to the snow, locking in on it.
"You two done bickering?" Shadowface's voice startled Kyestorm, and Lizzie was sprayed with snow as the red queen leaped into the air with shock, sending a spray of snow out in all directions. She gave a little meow of protest, and shook herself to get the cold snow off of her dark pelt.
"Mousedung!" Kyestorm sputtered.
"Good reflexes for an old one." Shadowface purred with mirth, then leveled her unusual green eyes on Lizzie. "Go home, Lizzie. This will be a long, cold dangerous journey."
"But who will guide her once she leaves your territory?" Lizzie protested, feeling insulted by the clan cat.
"I've spoken to my Clan Leader, so I can go as far as we need to. Beyond those peaks is another ridge where it is said Tribes live, related to the ancient Clans." Shadowface explained. "They will help guide you."
"The Tribes still exist," Kyestorm confirmed. "If you point me there I can get home."
"Agreed." Shadowface faced Lizzie. "Stubborn little she cat. You must make this decision carefully. It's time to decide, Give up your kittypet life and go with us, or go home."
Lizzie felt her heart hammer in her chest now that she was truly being faced with the gravity of her decision. She turned green eyes to the snow, taking a deep breath, and then looking upwards, determined to make the right choice.
"I'll go with you," she meowed firmly, standing up with as much dignity as she could muster.
The young tortoiseshell had never been outside of her home for longer than a few days at a time. She didn't really understand what a big choice she'd just made, but her heart told her it was the right one. Her housefolk could get another cat, a nicer one than she was, and maybe they'd be happier. And she could escort the red queen to her home, and be sure that she made it through her journey.
She turned her gaze to the ground, looking a bit saddened for a moment, and then she looked up at Shadowface and Kyestorm.
"Are we going to move?" she asked softly, tipping her head. It occurred to her just then that she was both the smallest and the only one without long fur in their little group. Determined not to let it bother her, she fluffed out her coat, standing as tall as she could get herself, still barely reaching Kyestorm's shoulder. She waited for one of the two others to lead the way, looking both nervous and confident, a strange combo that Lizzie was very good at pulling off.
Kyestorm gazed at Lizzie, happy her new friend decided to accompany her, but also worried about her safely. She rumbled deep in her chest, and flexed her her claws, determined to bring Lizzie safely to ThunderClan, where she knew her family and Clan would welcome her with sheathed paws and purrs.
“Come on then,” Shadowface urged, blinking her shimmering eyes. Kyestorm wondered why the she-cat possessed such deep glowing green eyes, but decided not to pry. She followed the younger cat, down the hill, across the snowy ravine and up the mountianside. Shadowface beckoned with a flick of her tail, leading them steadily up hill, with the occasional dip into a valley or ravine. Kyestrom trotted after her, content, as long as they traveld in the direction her instincts pulled her.
The moon sank toward the horizon, and Kyestorm wondered if the Clans had a Gathering this night. Shadowface moved with stealth, grace and speed across he rough terrian. Kyestorm,s paws hurt from the ice and rocks, and she grumbled at her weakness brought on by moons of living a kittypet life. Lizzie trotted at her side, limpng, but uttered not ne complaint. Kyestorm purred, and looked down at her friend.
“Lizzie, you’re stoic and brave,” she meowed. “But you must rest that leg.”
“I can keep going,” Lizzie retorted, canting back her ears, but she shivered. Shadowface turned her head.
“We’ll rest at dawn and eat,” she mewed in low tones. Kyestorm nodded her affirmative. As the eastern sky brightened, Shadowface halted.
We rest here,” she commanded. “Make yourselves comfortable and I’ll get us breakfast.”
She melted into the undergrowth, and Kyestorm looked around, noticing a spot of conifer needles under an overhanging boulder. She gratefully sank onto the carpet and cleaned her aching feet. Lizzie curled up beside her.
“Are you alright?” Kyestorm asked. Lizzie yawned, and shivered again.
“Yes, just a sore leg.”
“And you’re cold, too.” Kyestorm flipped her tail over the little stubborn she-cat, determined more than ever to get her safely to ThunderClan. Lizzie snuggled against her, and stopped shivering. Shadowface returned as the sun peeked above the distant horizon, slanting warm beams between the trees. She dropped a large hare at Kyestorm’s paws.
“Enioy. You two share and I’ll hunt my own breakfast.”
“There is more than enough!” Kyestorm called out, as Shadowface once again melted like a wraith into the woods. Kyestorm inhaled the scent of the fresh kill, and with her worn teeth, ripped it open. Lizzie poked her head out from under Kyestorm's tail. She sniffed,
“Smells good! I’ve only had mice.” Lizzie remarked, but did not move. “My housefolk liked when I caught them in the house, but didn’t understand why I ate them.”
“Two-legs can be strange. Here,” Kyestrm tore off a piece and dropped it at Lizzie’s head. “I’m glad you're no stranger to fresh kill, like I was when I came to ThunderClan.”
Shadowface returned, gliding out of the undergrowth with a couple of plump mice in her jaws. She settled beside Lizzie, sheltering her from the breeze, but not the sun’s rays. Kyestorm enjoyed every bite of the fresh kill, and she even crunched the bones. In moments only the fur littered the snow outside the rocky outcrop.
“Ready?” Shadowface stood up, her gaze dropping to Lizzie. Kyestorm stood up, uncovering the she-cat. Lizzie jumped up, flexing her sore foreleg. She shook herself and fluffed out her short pelt.
“Yes,” Kyestorm replied, and Lizzie nodded, but Kyestorm saw a bit of ambivalence in Lizzie’s big green eyes.
“Let’s move. We can rest at sun high.”
Kyestorm dipped her head and followed. Lizzie kept close to Kyestorm’s side. The travel continued over the rough terrain, and Kyestorm ignored her aching joints and sore feet, pushing on, wanting to get home. They descended into a shallow valley when a sharp hiss of warning brought her alert. Shadowface halted in front of her, long pelt bristling. A group of cats materialized out of the surrounding brush, eyes blazing, tails bushed.
“We want no trouble,”Shadowface meowed. “We’re just passing through.”
“Where to?” the largest, a green-eyed ragged brown tabby tom sneered and Kyestorm growled, recognizing rogue behavior.
“To my home,” Kyestorm retorted, forgetting her age, as indignation welled up from deep within her.
“Oh really, old one?” another rogue snarled, baring her teeth. Kyestorm eyed the scrawny cat’s grey tattered fur. Hungry rogues make dangerous foes, she thought, then flattened her ears. She raised a huge paw and flexed her toes, exposing her claws.
“I may be old, but I’ve not forgotten my warrior life.” Kyestorm snarled back. “Let us pass.”
“Large but old,” the ragged tom leered. “Perhaps we should take you prisoner and drag you to our leader.”
“Bad idea,” Shadowface snapped, and Kyestorm’s ears shot forward in surprise. The MountainClan cat’s eyes glowed, and green shimmer appeared around her paws. The rogues paid no mind and the brown tom and the grey leaped at Kyestorm. The rest rushed forward. Kyestorm reared up, her huge paws blurs, eager to protect Lizzie. She slapped the brown tom away, but the grey she cat dove and grabbed Lizzie’s sore leg. Lizzie shrieked and fought back, but she lacked training, Others closed, and Kyestorm grabbed the grey she cat and flung her away from Lizzie. Her heart hammered in her chest, and she knew her old body might not hold out.
A scream of rage erupted from Shadowface, and Kyestorm turned in spite of her battle training. The green glow in her new friend’s eyes flashed into evergreen fire, which shot from her eyes, paws and every hair on her body, and ripped into the rogues surrounding them. Several yowled in terror, vaporizing instantly, while others suffered terrible burning wounds. In seconds, the rogues fled, and Kyestorm gaped at Shadowface, who stood, glaring after their foes. Lizzie huddled up against Kyestorm, eyes wide.
The green fire faded, and the light in Shadowface’s eyes winked out. She faced Kyestorm, her expression almost apologetic.
“How did you do that?” Kyestorm asked, after several heartbeats.
“Sorry you had to find out this way,” Shaowface answered. “I was going to warn you, in time, but, I am Cursed.”
Kyestorm stared, as fear, then wonder, flashed through her.
“Cursed?” she mewled. “It seems like a StarClan blessing.”
“It is not,” Shadowface snapped. “It’s a true Curse, destined to destroy everyone I love.”
Kyestorm stood, not knowing what to say, afraid to ask the questions swirling in her mind.
Yoohoo walked through the mountains, his heart full of sadness as he thought about the loss of his family. The young cream kitty-pet trudged on, his blue-grey striped tail and blue-grey ears low. He jerked his head up a lot of yowling and hissing erupted. He ran toward it, wondering what the heck was going on.
"Oh, I wish I still had my super speed. Why did that have to be taken away when I changed into a cat. I just feel really different than I used to be," Yoohoo thought, as he turned the corner almost tripping on a rock. Yoohoo growled at it and kept going. The battle sounds grew louder and louder. When he reached the place, he gasped at what he saw, and doubled back, ducking into a copse of conifer bushes. He peeked between the needled branches, and took in the scene. A giant elder red tabby cat, a kitty-pet, and a cat with glowing green eyes battled a group of rogues.
The green glow in the tortoiseshell’s eyes flashed into evergreen fire, which shot from her eyes, paws and every hair on her body, and ripped into the rogues surrounding them. Several yowled in terror, vaporizing instantly, while others suffered terrible burning wounds. In seconds, the rogues fled. The giant red she-cat gaped at her companion, who stood, glaring after their foes. The short-haired tortoiseshell kitty pet huddled up against the big cat, eyes wide. A few rogues that did not survive or escape the battle lay in the snow, their pelts smoking in dire warning. Yoohoo watched in utter fascination and longing.
"My eyes used to do something like that when I got mad, but that stopped too,” he muttered to himself. He peered out of the brush, afraid to move closer, and eavesdropped on the three victors, listening to their conversation, watching with spellbound fascination from his hiding place several foxlengths away.
The green fire faded, and the light in the long haired tortoiseshell she-cat’s eyes winked out. She faced the giant long-haired she-cat, her expression almost apologetic.
“How did you do that?” the huge old red tabby asked, after several heartbeats.
“Sorry you had to find out this way,” the long-haired tortoiseshell answered. “I was going to warn you in time, but, I am Cursed.”
“Cursed?” the red tabby mewled. “It seems like a StarClan blessing.”
“It is not,” the green-eyed she-cat snapped. “It’s a true Curse, destined to destroy everyone I love.”
“Hey, Kyestorm, Shadowface,” the small short-haired kitty pet spoke up. “Can we move or eat ort something? I’m cold.”
“Of course,” the red tabby called Kyestorm said. “We’ll get moving. The way home to my Clan is a long journey. I promise, Lizzie, to get you there.”
Thanks,” Lizzie blinked, and with a wave of her tail the tortoiseshell she-cat moved forward. Excitment filled Yoohoo
"I wonder if they'll let me join?" Yoohoo said, watching them disappear down the ravine. He made up his mind, and darted out from his cover, following the traveling cats’ pawprints. Suddenly a screech of rage deafened him.
“Looking for your friends?”
“What?” Yoohoo wailed, and he whirled in place, and uttered a shriek of his own as several rogue cats attacked him in fury.
“We’ll kill you for what they did to us!” one of them screamed in rage. They rushed him, and he struggled to fight them off, but knew the three would soon overwhelm him and kill him. He screeched for help, hoping the traveling strangers heard him.
"Help! Somebody help me!" Heeelp!”
CLOUDPATCH (Headphone Actor’s character)
Cloudpatch saw the young cream tom go down under a pile of rogues. The new warrior growled, his black and white pelt bristling, refusing to allow the rogues ravage the poor kittypet. He veered from his mission and hurtled forward, his long legs carrying him swiftly across the snow. He uttered a fierce yowl and tore toward the fray. The RiverClan tom barely noticed the three she-cats, and a flash of alarm put springs in his paws. He concentrated on the fight, concerned about the she cats, but he was solely occupied on the fight. While a fierce fighter, he also fought defensively. There were a lot of rogues, after all, and the last thing he needed was to be injured while he searched for the missing Kyestorm. His amber eyes narrowed at the attackers, and he gave a fierce hiss. Two of the rogues paused, leered at him, and lunged at him. He used all of his training to battle them, when suddenly, he heard a familiar snarl.
He whirled and stopped, thrilled to see Kyestorm leap forward, a challenge bursting from her chest as a snarling bellow. The rogues all looked up, and green light reflected in their widening eyes and Cloudpatch stared in stunned amazement as Kyestorm’s companion uttered a yowl of wrath. The rogues bolted, and the young tom sagged to the bloody snow. Cloudpatch stood, gaping, as bolts of green fired over the tom after the rogues from the long haired she-cat with odd flaring evergreen eyes. Kyestorm stood over the grey kitty pet.
“Are you all right?”
“I think so,” he answered blinking bright blue eyes.”Thank you. I am Yoohoo.”
“Pleased to meet you. I am Kyestorm,” Kyestorm purred, nodded and turned her attention Cloudpatch, and her tail shot up in recognition. Cloudpatch stood tall, happiness fluffing his pelt. No doubt existed in his mind on who that long haired red queen was. Kyestorm’s face broke into a feline smile as she trotted over to him.
“Cloudpaw! Is that you?
********************
Shadowface didn't like these newcomers, especially since they had all witnessed her burst of power. She wasn't going to use it. She never wanted to use it, especially on other cats, but the sheer number of pesky rogues had prompted her instincts, and thus her flame came forth...much more willingly than she would have liked.
She stepped forward as two light-colored cats trudged out into the clearing. One was clearly recognizable by Kyestorm given her exclamation. She seemed happy, despite the merciless killing she had just witnessed.
Shadowface wasn't happy that these two new cats seemed to be wanting to join them. More cats meant more trouble and conflict. It also meant more cats she had to protect.
And not to mention more wary eyes watching her.
"Kyestorm, who are these cats?" Shadowface asked, not bothering to keep the suspicion out of her voice. She wasn't going to fake or lie about her feelings on the matter. Best to get all hostilities out in the open.
Kyestorm turned, her large red form slightly glowing in the dim light from the sky. "This is Cloudpaw...or Cloudpatch now, I guess?"
Cloudpatch nodded, a smile on his handsome face. "Yes, Cloudpatch is my warrior name now. I come from the same clans that Kyestorm does."
At least he is a warrior. That will be helpful.
Shadowface turned her attention to the other tom, clearly much weaker than the other seasoned warrior, Cloudpatch. "And you? What kind of a name is Yoohoo?" She growled.
Yoohoo, surprisingly, replied back immediately. "The better question is, what kind of power disintegrates cats where they stand?"
Shadowface's evergreen eyes narrowed, taking note of his question, but not immediately answering.
Not strong, but sharp. The look in his eyes looks more than curious, it's almost...hungry. Like, when he saw my power, he wanted it for himself.
If only he knew its true nature.
She flicked her tail, and said,"A kind of power you won't be seeing again."
"Why?" Kyestorm protested, giving her a wondering look.
Shadowface shook her head. "Like I said, you should have never seen that. I need to keep it under control."
"But it just saved us all," Kyestorm pressed, now looking almost amused, as if the thought of not using her flame would be beyond idiotic.
Shadowface sighed, turning away from the large red she-cat. "We don't have time for this. Finish up your greetings and lets keep moving. More rogues may show up now that I've killed most of their patrol."
“Shadowface is right. We must go,” she motioned to Cloudpatch with her tail, following Shadowface. “Why are you here without RiverClan or anyone else?’
“I wanted to go with the search patrol your grandson leads, so I followed them but during a storm I got lost.” his face broke into a feline grin. “But I found you first.”
“Who leads the search patrol?”
“Blackhawk and Sunflight,” Cloudpatch answered.
“May I come with you?” Yoohoo interrupted. Kyestorm eyed the young tom, meeting his blue gaze. Something struck her odd about the little tom, but what eluded her. He seemed harmless and certainly needed asylum.
“Sure,” Kyestorm nodded, quickening her pace to keep up with Shadowface.
“Thank you,” Yohoo mewed, and trotted up to her. He touched noses to Lizzie, his plume tail rising in greeting. “Nice to meet you.”
“Yeah, here too,” Lizzie said. She canted back her ears. “You’re a kitty pet.”
“Yeah,” Yoohoo answered than said no more. Kyestorm glanced at the cream tom, studying his blue striped tail, and the matching blue-grey on his paws and muzzle. Kyestorm felt a touch of anger at the rogues who marred his long pelt with scratches and missing clumps of fur. Kyestorm scented the air, flicking her ears. He carried more two-leg scent than any other kittypet she met before, and she wondered about it. She growled deep in her chest, and moved, ignoring her achy joints.
“Kyemamaaaaa!” A sudden familiar yowl echoed across the terrain, so faint, yet sharp enough to carry on the breezes. Kyestorm’s heart leaped, and she plunged ahead, yowling.
“Blackhawk!” she shrieked back. Calculating the distance, she figured they moved beyond the next big ridge. So far to go yet, but a wave of hope surged through Kyestorm. Shadowface dropped back to trot beside her.
“Your kin?”
“Yes, one of my grandsons,” Kyestorm meowed with excitement. “Somehow they found us. Maybe they saw your power?”
“Maybe,”Shadowface answered with a sigh. Kyestorm gazed at her quizzically but refrained from asking her anything else. Shadowface blinked, and raised her head. “ I’ll accompany you until we find your kin.”
“Thank you.” Kyestorm mewed, and broke into a trot, heading toward that distant call. She glanced at Lizzie and Yoohoo, feeling confident her Clan would accept them, though something about Yoohoo’s scent puzzled her. After so much time in the wild, how did two-leg scent still cling to him?
"Why are you looking at me that?" Yoohoo asked.
Kyestorm looked at him and answered. "You been living in the wild in the for a while. So why do you still have the scent of two-legs on you?"
"Also why is it so strong?!" Shadowface asked with growl. Yoohoo jumped at Shadowface's loud growl.
"It's a long story." Yoohoo answered, with a sigh. "Well we have a long trip, so we have time.”
“Tell us right now!" Shadowface yowled right in Yoohoo's face. Yoohoo shook with fear and hid behind Lizzle.
"Shadowface, why are you so angry with Yoohoo? You scared him silly," Kyestorm admonished, flattening her ears briefly. Shadowface glared at the elderly giant red she-cat, and Yoohoo shivered. He did not mean to cause trouble. The two stared for a brief tense moment, but then Shadowface relaxed, and her ears came up. Kyestorm lifted her ears and flattened her pelt, and Yoohoo exhaled in relief.
. "Yoohoo, I'm sorry for yowling right in front of your face," Shadowface apologized, but in her eyes, he saw simmering annoyance.
"That's ok, I forgive ya and ya guys should know the truth anyway. I wasn't always a kitty-pet I was turned into a cat meny moons ago."
"You were turned into a cat?" Lizzle gasped, intrique shining in her big green eyes.
"Yes, and in my old life I used to have powers just like you, Shadowface."
"That would explain the look in your eyes, like you wanted to take my power." Shadowface said, in a calm voice.
"Oh, no I would never take anyone's power, I can promise ya that."
"Well, that's good to know." Shadowface grumbled, with a small smile on her face.
"So, what was your powers Yoohoo?" Lizzle asked.
"I used to have superspeed and and my eyes would change color when I got mad," Yoohoo answered.
"Cool!" Lizzle said.
“You said that you were changed into a cat. What did you used to be?" Cloudpatch asked.
"You would never believe the rest of my story."
"Oh, try us." Kyestorm meowed. “After what I’ve seen in my life, there is not much I would not believe.”
"Ok,” Yoohoo nodded. “I used to a bush baby, and four friends. We so close that we were more like a family."
"What were their names?" Lizzle asked.
"Chewoo, Lemmee, Roodee, and Pammee. We all lived in a place called Greenit which was being threatened by two crocs named Opps and Copps and they being controlled by someone called Big Boss. Well one day we were kidnapped by them, and well long story short, I survived and they didn't. Then shortly after, I was turned into cat. And was found by two-legs. “ Yoohoo paused, and inhaled, feeling nostalgic. “I loved it at first because I lived in a house when I lived in Greenit but then one day something changed and wasn't enjoying anyone."
"What did you do?" Lizzle interrupted.
"Lizzle, don’t be rude," Kyestorm whispered.
"Sorry, continue." Lizzle mewed. Yoohoo just smiled at the pretty she-cat.
"It's ok. I ran away, and I've lived in the mountains for a few days alone, sad with thoughts of my Family. I was thinking about them today and that's when I heard the fighting and found you guys. The End." Yoohoo finished.
"So, that's why you still have two-legs smell on you and still so strong you only just left them just like Lizzle." Kyestorm meowed.
Yoohoo nodded. "Yeah, and I've trying to get off but some reason I can't and it's been so hard trying to live in these mountains and I heard about clan life. I think would be safer living in a clan."
"That's right, you would, we look out other and care for each other, and welcome cats in trouble open paws," Kyestorm meowed, with a huge smile, baring the tips of her fangs. “As long as you’re honest and don’t cause trouble.”
"That makes me so happy. It would be just like my old life, just a little bit different though."
"Yes, I guess it would be," Kyestorm replied. Shadowface just rolled her eyes and growled.
"This is all very touching, but can all just get going?" All of the cats nodded in agreement. "Good, then let's go." Shadowface meowed, and as moved again, the rest of the cats right behind her.
"Hey, thanks for the story by the way." Lizzle and Kyestorm said.
Yoohoo purred "And ya guys believed too?" Lizzle and Kyestorm nodded. Cloudpatch purred. Shadowface narrowed her eyes at them.
“I didn't. You didn't tell the whole story,” Shadowface retorted, her voice low. “Why did lyou eave things out, like why you lived and your friends died, and why you turned into a cat? You're hiding something, Yoohoo. I don't trust you, and I have my eye on you.”
Kyetorm trotted beside Shadowface, and stole a glance at Yoohoo, believing the young tom’s story, yet her guts twisted with questions. What under StarClan was a bush baby? Who turned Yoohoo into a cat and why? Behind her, Lizzie and Cloudpatch engaged Yoohoo in conversation, but never asked him questions. They answered his about their lives, and Kyestorm felt content to hear Cloudpatch ramble on about RiverClan,Troutstar and Bluefrost. She lifted her head as they climbed a steep slope out of yet another ravine, Above the sky darkened, and the sun slanted long red rays across the snowy terrain.
“We won’t reach my grandson’s patrol tonight, will we,” Kyestorm stated.
“Not unless you grow wings,” Shadowface quipped, flashing her a rare brief smile. “Let’s find a place to sleep and hunt.”
Kyestorm uttered a purr of relief, as Shadowface led the group into a copse of thickets.
“I will hunt. Cloudpatch, would you care to help?”
“Yes! The young Warrior trotted forward, his tail up in salute. He followed Shadowface up a rise into coniferous cover. Large bouldrers and rocks peppered the area, and Kyestrom took note of the changing terrain. The wind blew cold, moaning over the larger stones, singing in the coniferous trees above them.
“Come. Let’s get warm and rest while our hunters work.” Kyestorm purred, Kyestorm purred, then led them to a thicket, and with her huge paws, shovelled the snow away to reveal a thick soft carpet of conifer needles. She curled up there, flicking her long tail over her nose. Lizie lay beside her, shivering. Kyestorm flicked her tal around to cover her friend, and Lizzie uttered a small sigh of contentment. Yoohoo settled on Lizzie’s other side, and Kyestorm noted his lean form. She wondered how well he hunted, but refrained from asking. A shiver passed over her, but ceased as her thick pelt puffed out. Lizzie purred, snuggling against Kyestorm, and the little she-cat’s tremors stopped. The sun sank below the horizon, taking its warmth with it. Kyestorm shivered again, and her pelt responded, burying Lizzie in a blanket of red fluff. Yoohoo moved closer, his lean body trembing. His long pelt fluffed out, but fluttered thin and tattered, and Kyestorm felt sympathy.
“Come,” Kyestorm rumbled, her maternal instincts flaring to the fore. “Sleep on my other side.”
“Thank you, thank you so much,” Yoohoo mewed, and snuggled his cream body against Kyestorm, pushing in so close only his blue tail and legs protruded from under her fur. Kyestorm grunted, amused, and shifted her weight to accommodate the little tom not much larger than a five moon old kit, Kyestorm yawned, and lay het head on her paws, her ample ruff covering Yoohoo’s head. He heaved a sigh of delight. She watched the sky and terrain, alert for any danger. The skies turned purple and pink, as more clouds banked above the western horizon.
The vivid color in the clouds faded, and the wind picked up, blowing into Kyestorm’s face. She scented snow on the wind, and flattened her ears, and flicked her tail. Lizzie uttered a startled cry of dismay, until Kyestorm’s tail covered her again. Kyestorm purred with releif as the tip of her tail settled over her nose. The moon rose over the neighboring ridge, and its silver light crept across the landscape. Kyestorm thought about her family and Clan, and a wave of homesickness gripped her. She longed to be with Demonstone, snuggled in the warrior’s den, and missed him so deeply, her heart felt slashed in two. She yearned to return to him, so their dream of loungng in the Elders den together came to fruition in a suncycle or two. She inhaled a rough, querlous purr.
“Kymamaaaaaaaaaaaaa!” The cy echoed over the rugged hills, and Kyestorm lifetd her head, tall furry ears alert, joy wiping away her sadness.. Blackhawk’s yowl sounded closer this time. She inahled deeply and uttered an answering wail, ignoring the protests of her companions.
“Here, we are herrrrreeee!”
“We come!” Sunflight’s higher voice replied, echoing between the low peaks. As the last echo died, Shadowface appeared, carrying a rabbit, her eyes narriwe with annoyance. Behind her, Cloudpatch carried a squirrel, and lay down beside Lizzie, peering at her through Kyestorm’s long woolly fur. Shadowface dropped the rabbit at Kyestorm’s feet.
“Trying to scare all the prey away for miles?”
“Sorry,” Kyestorm dipped her head, chargrined, but the joy in her heart soared. “My grandson is getting closer.”
“So I heard,” Shadowface growled, then tapped the rabbit with a paw. ‘Share ths with your friends.”
“What about you?”
“Don’t oncern yourself about me,” Shadowface answered, glancing moonrise, and settled beside Kyestorm. The Maine Coon elder flicked her ears with surprise. Heat radiated from the MountainClan cat, and Yoohoo sighed with delight, opening one bight blue eye. Shadowface glared at him.
“Don’t even ask,” she admondished him. “Unless you wsih to suffer burns. Eat your food.”
Yoohoo squeaked and closed his eye. Kyestorm struggled not to laugh. She took hold of the rabbit and carefully tore into the fresh kill. Cloudpatch settled down with the squirrel and offered pieces to Lizzie, who snatched them up, flicking her paw from under Kyestorm’s tail. Kyestorm growled, imagining a messy tail grooming ahead, but did not push Lizzie away.
She finished the rabbit, offering Shadowface a piece. The MountainClan cat nodded and took the offering. Kyestorm yawned, feeling warn and drowsy despite the cold wind, and put her head on her paws. She twitched her tail tip over her nose, and, trying to keep an eye on the moonlit ground through a veil of fur, fell asleep.
“Kyemama!”
“Angelglow! Over here!” Kyestorm turned her head, unwilling to uncover her prone companions. Her heart swelled with joy as Shadowface appeared over the slope, flanked by Cloudpatch, and her kin! Blackhawk, Sunflight, Spiderleap and Angelglow appeared out of the bliizard, and rushed to her side. Everyone crowded under the conifer branches.
“Are you hurt?” Angelglow meowed in deep concern.
“NO, but Yoohoo and Lizzie! They’re freezing to death! I’m trying to keep them warm but it’s not enough!” Kyestorm wailed.
“Here, rub their bodies. Rub the fur the wrong way.”Angelglow faced the incoming patrol, her expresion reminding Kyestorm of ThunderClan’s head Medicine cat, her son, Gentleoak, “Get over here. We need warm bodies!”
“I can help,” Shadowface said solemnly, coming up alongside the medicine cat. Angelglow canted back her ears, and Kyestorm merely waited for Shadowface’s body heat to touch her daughter’s face. Faint green auras flickered.The golden Maine Coon’s expression shifted in an instant.
“Come here! Your gift will save these two,” Angelglow moved aside, and every one pulled back.
“My Curse, you mean,” Shadowface growled, her eyes glowing. “Just don’t actually let anyone lean on me.”
The Mountain Clan cat dropped on her belly between Lizzie and Yoohoo while Blackhawk supported Lizzie and Kyestorm snuggled Yoohoo. The entire patrol surrounded the hollow, keeping the heat in while Angelglow massaged each patient. Yoohoo moaned, and opened his eyes after Angelglow kneaded and rubbed his body with her huge paws.
“Lizzie?” he called, blinking. He pushed himself to a sitting position, and noticed Lizzie’s predicament. “Lizzie!”
Angelglow turned her attention to Lizzie, performing the same brisk massage, and her silvery claws flashed in and out. Lizzie stirred, inhaling deeply. She blinked open her green eyes, meeting Yoohoo’s concerned gaze. Angelglow sat back, and Kyestorm exhaled with relief, glancing up at the storm-swept sky. “Thank you, Star Clan.”
“What happened?” she mewed. “I was having such a nice dream, of a warm forest. I didn’t want to go back in the cold.”
“You almost froze,” Kyestorm answered, a growl in her voice. “Both of you did. I couldn’t keep both of you warm enough.”
“Here, both of you eat this,” Angelglow insisted, taking a few herb from her travel bundle. “Then you must eat.”
“I’ll hunt,” Sunflight spoke up, and whirled away into the woods. Shadowface scowled, then followed. Angelglow drew out another herb from her bundle and dropped it on Kyemama’s paws.
“Eat that.”
“You remembered my joint medicine!” Kyestorm snapped up the leaves with delight, ignoring the weird flavor and texture.
“Of course, Kyemama,” Angelglow mewed, then eyed Lizzie. “Finish your medicine.”
Lizzie obeyed, flattening her ears, and lashing her tail. Yoohoo snuggled against her.
“Don’t give up again.” he meowed.
“But it was so warm and nice,” Lizzie murmured, munching a leaf.
“Please don’t ever give up again,” Blackhawk agreed, leveling his shrewd amber-gold eyes on Lizzie. You helped Kyemama, leaving your kittypet life, did you not?”
“Yes,” Lizzie straightened, a spark of indignation flaring in her eyes. Then she shivered. “But I’m so cold. I just want to sleep.”
“No,” Angelglow admondished. “Finish your herb. It will help your circulation.”
“We are in your debt,” Blackhawk added. “Your reward, should you accept, is to come home with us and become part of ThunderClan.”
“Yoohoo, too?” Lizzie asked, leaning into her friend.
“If he so wishes,” Blackhawk nodded, his eyes closing in a feline smile.
“I do!” Yoohoo answered with excitment and joy. “Oh, to have a family again!”
The scrabble of claws on stone interupted them. Kyestorm turned just as Sunflight skidded to a halt in front of her and dropped a large squirrel to the snow. Shadowface followed, carrying a mall rabbit.. Shadowface placed the rabbit on the ground in front of Lizzie before eyeing Kyestorm.
“Your granddaughter is amazing in the trees,” she commented. “If not a bit reckless.”
“Yes,” Kyestorm replied with a snort. “Crazy, but good. Better than SkyClan cats.”
“Oh, Kyemama,” Sunflight purred. “Hawkstar might not agree.”
“He may not, but he’d be denying reality,” Kyestorm said, reaching down to tear open the rabbit. She nosed the fresh kill to Lizzie. “Eat!”
Lizzie pulled the fresh kill to her chest and dove in. She ripped off chunks and offered them to Yoohoo, who gratefully accepted them. Sunflight pushed the squirrel over to Yoohoo.
“Both of you eat everything.”
“Yes, eat well,” Blackhawk said, scanning the darkening skies. “We start for home at sunrise.”
“Looks like you do not need me here any longer,” Shadowface interjected.
“You are welcome to come with us, too,” Blackhawk replied.
“Thank you, but I must return home, and back to my Clan.”
“Our deepest thanks for helping our Kyemama.” Blackhawk dipped his head.
“Yes,” Angelglow interupted. “But we still need you.”
“How so?” Shadowface scowled.
“Can you heat up that stone?” The medicine cat motioned with her bushy tail at the boulder behind Kyestorm. Kyestorm gaped.
“I don’t know.” Shadowface looked thoughtful. “I will try. Stand back.”
Everyone pulled away from the big rock. Shadowface’s eyes glowed, and Blackhawk gasped.
“The green light! The light that drew us here. It was you?”
Shadowface merely nodded, as green energy shot from her body and washed over the stone. The snow on top sizzled and evaporated. The wind moaned in the conifer branches, threatening to cool everything down again. Kyestorm hurried over, and dug down to the needle carpet, then motioned to Lizzie and Yoohoo. Both picked up their fresh kill, and obeyed, curling aganst the very warm stone. Kyestorm lay beside them, grunting at her stiff joints. Cloudptach settled in next to Lizzie, and the ThunderClan cats snuggled in around them. Blackhawk eyed the Mountain Clan cat.
“How did you do that?”
“It’s my curse, a long story,” Shadowface replied, canting back her ears in annoyance. Kyestorm flicked her tail over her grandson’t muzzle.
“Leave Shadowface to her secrets,” Kyestorm admondished, “It is enough she helped us.”
“Thank you,” Shadowface meowed, capitulating with a tail flick. “But I will tell you some of my tale as you get some rest. I will take watch.”
Kyestorm listened with rapt attention to the MountainClan’s story. Nobody slept until Shadowface leveled her sharp green gaze on them
“See why it is a curse?”
“Yes,” Angelglow answered, her sky-blue eyes shining. “But it can also be a gift. As you have done for us. Never forget that either.”
Shadowface merely grunted, turning her head to gaze through the falling snow into the forest. Angelglow reached out a huge silvery paw and touched Shadowface’s shoulder, ignoring the green shimmer just below the fur.
“Daughter!” Kyestorm yowled, and Shadowface whipped her head around to admondish the Medicine cat, but her jaw dropped instead. The golden Maine Coon’s paw remained untouched and pristine.
“I have gifts of my own,” Angelglow purred, and Kyestorm stared in shock. A shimmer of gold surrounded Angelglow’s paw. She pulled it away and tucked it under her chest. The medicine cat eyed her patients. “It is safe to sleep now.”
Kyestorm lay her head down, eyes on Shadowface, who gazed out into the woods, ears alert. Beside her Lizzie and Yoohoo fell into healthy healing sleep. Feeling safe, Kyestorm allowed herself to relax and drift off into restful slumber, surrounded by loving clanmates and one very special Mountian Clan cat.
When she woke the next morning, the storm left behind tattered clouds blowing on a stiff wind. The rising sun painted them in gold, scarlet and orange fire. The conifers sang their ancient song, dumping snow onto the forest floor. Shadowface sat watch, but Kyestorm saw weariness in the Mountain Clan cat’s body.
“Thank you, for everything,” Kyestorm purred.
“Happy to assist,” Shadowface replied, her body shedding the tired look. Around them, the cats stirred and Blackhawk took over.
“Wake! Time to move!” the black half Maine Coon tom yowled. “We’ll hunt on the way.”
Kyestorm sat up, then stretched, delighted that her joints creaked less. She felt ready to take on the journey, but worried for Lizzie and Yoohoo. Angelglow gathered her traveling bundle, and Blackhawk lay down while Sunflight helped Lizzie onto his broad back. Tiny YooHoo gratefully settled on Angelglow’s warm furry back. Both carriers draped their bushy tails over their passengers. Lizzie sighed with delight. Cloudpatch stood beside Blackhawk, glancing up at Lizzie, ready to help steady her. Spiderleap assisted Angelglow with YooHoo until the little tom disappeared under the medicien cat’s golden plume tail. Blackhawk stood before Shadowface.
“Thank you again,” Blackhawk sia din a soft purr. “ThunderClan will know of your deeds and you will never be forgotten.”
“Welcome, but I did only what any cat would do.” Shadowface flicked her tail. “Now I must take my leave. I’ve been gone too long already.”
“Of course,” Blackhawk mewed. “May StarClan light your path always.”
“Thank you,” Shadowface replied, dipped her head at Kyestorm. “My pleasure, Elder, to help you. May StarClan guide your journey home.” Shadowface then turned and vanished into the windy forest. Kyestorm watched a long moment.
“May StarClan guide you and bring an end to your curse,” Kyestorm purred, then turned to her clanmates. “Time to go home.”
As the successful search patrol headed down the hill, Kyestorm glanced back and saw Shadowface poised on the next hilltop. The sun illuminated her tortoiseshell pelt, and her green eyes shone. Kyestorm raised her tail in salute. The Mountain Clan cat returned the gesture, then disappeared over the ridge. Kyestorm longed to rest in the Elder’s den and recount her story, where ThunderClan will forever know of Shadowface. Kyestorm resumed her trot through the light fluffy snow, keeping pace with her daughter, trusting in her giant grandson to get them all home safe and sound.
YOOHOO
Yoohoo slowly opened his and let out a small groan, feeling large paws massaging his body.. 'I'm alive!'
ThunderClan’s leader paced Highledge, ignoring the blizzard fury which encompassed his camp. Cats snuggled in their dens, but Phantomstar’s thoughts lay with his younger sister and his cousins, who left moons ago in search of his beloved Kyemama. He paused, head up, tail out behind him, his thick pelt fluffed against the wind, creating an intimidating silhouette against the driving snow. His sea-green eyes roved the land beyond the camp, looking for any signs of the search party. The huge silver tabby Maine Coon paced again, flicking his gigantic white paws, extending and retracting his dagger claws.
“Why do you keep looking for them,” Phantomstar looked down at his father, Demonstone. The Elder glared at him from the Elder’s den, gold eyes full of despair.. “They’re gone. Lost with my Kyestorm.”
“I can never give up hope,” Phantomstar snapped back, sea-green eyes blazing. “I wish you did not.”
“I’m only being realistic,” Demonstone muttered, and turned away.
Phantomstar stood on the rock, letting the wind batter his body, recalling how much Kyemama loved the snow.
The storm dropped a swift deep blanket over the territories, but as day turned to dusk, the storm let up, and a few rips in the clouds allowed stars to shine. Phantomstar sat on his perch, watching, but after over two moons, his hope faded. The storm remnants blew eastward, with a strong breeze blowing snow twisters across the frozen lake, under a full silver moon. Ragged clouds scuttled on the wind, revealing Silverpelt as they parted and sailed away. Below, his father, Demonstone, shuffled out of the warm Elder’s den, and gazed up at the skies. The moon glowed, and Silverpelt twinkled, filling Phantomstar’s heart with grief. In the silent camp, he gazed at Silverpelt, realizing the Solstice stars and moon shone down on them.
“Oh, StarClan, Silverpelt brightly shines, on this Solstice night,” the high pitched song from his father’s soul reverberated through camp. A few groggy cats peered out of dens, ears up in surprise as Demonstone’s voice rolled out into the night. “Why, why have you taken my beloved, so far far away.”
“Demonpoppa?” Phantomstar asked. “Why the caterwauling?”
Phantomstar’s mate, Berryfrost, stood with him, but she looked not down at him, but across the lake. Her jaw hung open. Demonstreak and Sparkfire stumbled out of their den, blinking in the moonlight, and gazed down at his father. Phantomstar returned his attention to Berryfrost. What under StarClan shocked her to silence, when she usually blathered and yakked almost as much a Gabbiflight.
“Phantomstarrrrr!” The cry echoed across the lake, and Phantomstar jerked alert, recognizing Blackhawk’s strong yowl. Below, his father whirled, ignoring his stiff aching legs and exploded from mouth of the Elder’s den. He plowed through the snow, and scrambled up Highledge to stand beside him. From that vantage point, the whole lake became visible. To Phantyomstar’s delight, a familiar patrol of cats hurried across the ice at a swift pace. Phantomstar shook himself, and drew in a deep breath, bellowing his reply.
“Is she with you? Did you find her?”
“Yes!” Blackhawk yowled back, and suddenly answering yowls and cries filled the night from all around the lake.
“My beloved!” Demonstone leaped down from Highledge, and raced down to the shore, and onto the ice, his gait rolling and rocking, but his sure feet slipped not once. Phantomstar followed, surprised at his father’s sudden agility. The breezes brought him a beloved familiar scent, and astonished jubilation lifted every hair on his body. Ahead, Demonpoppa shot across the ice like a young warrior, adrenaline pumping strength into his old body.
“Kyeeeeeeee!” the Elder shrieked in utter joy, reverting back to her original name, and ahead, a huge shaggy shape separated from the patrol, and surged ahead. Phantomstar uttered a yowl of joy, recognizing his beloved Kyemama. She rocketed across the ice, her huge paws flying, and her claws gouged up the frozen surface, flinging ice shards and snow into the air. They glittered and flashed in the bright moonlight, as Kyemama raced across the lake leaving her patrol behind.
“Demon Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!” she cried.
Demonstone barreled into his beloved, as she crashed into him. They rolled together on the ice, rubbing faces in utter disbelief and delight, twining big bushy tails, and wrapping paws around each other’s necks. Snow and ice shards exploded around them, as if in celebration.
“I can’t believe it!” Demonstone wailed to the stars. “They found you!”
“Yes, after I escaped with Lizzie’s help.” Kyestorm purred. “I’m so happy we made it!”
“I’m beyond happy,” Demonstone purred, licking her face, wrapping all four legs around her. Silverpelt shimmered above them, in a kaleidoscope of pastel colors. Phantomstar caught up to his father and mother, bouncing around them like a kit, his mind momentarily as blank as a kit;’s until his sisters and brothers all crowded around him and the happy pair. He composed himself, and greeted Blackhawk and Sunflight.
“Well done,” he yowled “I’m so proud and grateful.”
“We had no intention of letting you down,” Blackhawk purred loudly. “If it took more moons,. We’d have searched forever to find Kyemama.”
“I know,” Phantomstar mewed.
“But we had unexpected help and what a tale I have to relay,” Blackhawk meowed, his eyes wide with excitment. Cats congregated on the ice, coming from every part of the lake, interupting the moment.. While they greeted their kin and Clan, Demonstone and Kyestorm never left each other’s sides, rising from the ice and moving as one entity. Happy reows and cries echoed over the lake as the other Clans learned of Kyestorm’s return. Indistar, Nightstar, Troutstar and Smokestar led their entire Clans to this impromptu Gathering in the middle of the lake. Ice creaked and thumped, echoing ominously across the lake, causing Phantomstar to raise his voice.
“To the Island! We gather under this special moon!”
“Come Beloved,” Demonspoppa meowed. “Let’s lead this parade!”
The Five Clans gathered in the ancient spot, crossing the tree bridge onto the island. All cats surrounded Demonstone and Kyestorm, welcoming back CloudPatch, and ThunderClan’s patrol led by Blackhawk and Sunflight. They welcomed strangers Lizzie and Yoohoo, eager to hear their part in the rescue. Daisy accepted Lizzie immediately, and both chattered and mewed, tails up. YooHoo stood with uncertainty, until Daisy trotted over with Lizzie. Both twined tails with him, and, sandwiching him between them, they moved off, with Daisy explaining her nursery duties. Lizzie and YooHoo listened, enthralled, their whole demeanors relaxing. Kyestoom stood up, and pressed against her lifemate, feeling his warmth through her pelt.
Gabbiflight pushed her way through the crowd to stand in front of Demonstone, and then keened before rubbing her body on Kyestorm. Kyestorm uttered a moan and licked her daughter’s head vigorously. Her kits mewed is delight, joyful to finally meet their famous grandam Kyemama. Kyestorm dropped to her cheat to welcome her grandkits. They asked endless questions, burowing into her thick pelt to ambush each other.
“You and Firestrike had beautiful healthy kits,” Kyestorm murmured. “I was worried, with you being cousins.”
“We didn’t worry,” Gabbiflight prattled away. “We’re not first cousins and Firestrike’s mother is the great Firestar’s garnddaughter! Our blood mixd well, two wonderful lines! Our kits are strong, smart and healthy, not sick or defective. We couldn’t ignore our love.”
“I know,” Kyestorm cuckled deep in her chest. “I am ju happy the kits are perfect.”
Phantomstar finally reappeared, dragging a roe deer from the fresh kill pile across the fallen log bridge. He dragged it to the center of the clearing to offer to all in this Gathering place. Happy meowing, banter and laughter filled the snowy clearing. Moonlight glittered across the snow, whch sparkled in illusive pale colors in every gust of wind. Shimmerng snowtwisters sailed across the lake, as if StarClan itself danced in joy. Old memories flooded Kyestorm’s’s mind. She leaned into Demonstone, delighted apprentices brought them chunks of food.
“Do you know what day it is?” he asked.
“Should I?” Kyestorm queried, licking his ear, knowing full well the answer.
“Solstice,” Demonstone murmured. “Like you used to love, and Silverpelt glitters like Solstice lights. Star Clan brought you back to me, and look how the Clans celebrate.”
“Yes!” Kyestorm purred. “You’re right. Its a special night.”
“Oh, mighty StarClan, Silverpelt brightly shines on this Solstice night,” Demonstone keened, a high-pitched booming song lifted in joy. “Oh starry night, these stars shine so brightly, lighting the way, bringing my beloved back to me. Oh starry starry night, forever, we bow before StarClan every Solstice, in reverence and thanks.”
He closed his mouth and looked down, at a silent Gathering. Every cat faced them, eyes wide with emotion. Their grandkits sat with mouths ajar, then repeated the song. Kyestorm’s heart swelled and with her tail beckoned the kits to her. They raced to her, and jumped on her body, repeating Demonstone’s Solstice song.
Phantomstar flicked his bushy tail at his fellow Leaders and they took their places on the boughs of the Great Tree.
“Attention!” he cried out, his strident voice carrying across the lake. “In light of this joyous ocasion, I make this pronouncement. I, Phantomstar, Leader of ThunderClan, under the light of StarCan on this special night, decry that this night, every Leaf Bare, be a Great Gathering, called the Solstice Gathering, a day and night to celebrate everything we’re thankful to StarClan for, and to always remember the night our Kyemama returned to us.”
“I, Indistar, Leader of ShadowClan. . .” Indistar nodded at her sister.
“I, Smokestar, Leader of WindClan. . .” Smokestar dipped her head to her nephew.
“I, Nightstar, Leader of SkyClan. . .” He defered to his aunt’s mate.
“I, Troutstar, Leader of RiverClan. . .” Troutstar waved his tail.
“Agree, under StarClan, that this be so.” the four remaining Leaders answered in unison. Cheers reverberated in the clearing, and the Gathering continued, filling the island with sounds of joy. Demonstone gnawed a cracked bone, leaning into Kyestorm, who cheerfully told all the kits, and anyone else who desired to listen, the stories of her adventure. Kyestorm explained Lizzie’s part in her escape, and about an extraordinary MountainClan cat named Shadowface, who saved their lives. She finished her tale, and as everyone ate, Kyestorm glanced up at Silverpelt, silently thanking StarClan, Lizzie, Blackhawk’s determination, and the mysterious blessed Shadowface, for her Solstice Homecoming.
@Shadow face - Thanks so much for joining here! I am honored!!!
Razz - Thanks for your part in this tale!
Thanks to everyone who participated and created a character! They are part of the NEW BLOOD world!
(NOW FINISHED!)
I am opening this up to anyone who wants to play!
Post suggestions, art, even sample chapters and I may use them!
I may do some editing, just for continuity, and to fix simple mistakes, but I will try and let the author's voice shine through.
Spottail has joined in our Curse madness, as has Headphone Actor!
And Shadowface herself has graced our page!
Welcome aboard!
(THANKS to ALL who came out to play!)
Phantomstar's & ♪♥♫◦°°Razz°°◦♫♥♪'s
CURSE Marathon page
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
My rendition of Shadowface!
]
GREAT NEWS! RAZZ and I have a tale going which involves Shadowface!
(Razz , if you're still out there, hope you can play!)
LOST - A NEW BLOOD / CURSE Short Tale.
By RAZZ & Phantomstar!
My rendition of Shadowface!
]
GREAT NEWS! RAZZ and I have a tale going which involves Shadowface!
(Razz , if you're still out there, hope you can play!)
LOST - A NEW BLOOD / CURSE Short Tale.
By RAZZ & Phantomstar!
KYESTORM
Kyestorm gazed out the window to the northeast, where her distant home lay. Her mate, kits, kin, and Clans seemed so utterly far away. Though she appreciated the comforts of two-leg life, warm bed, constant food, and protection from the elements, she longed for her Clan life. She wondered about her mate, Demonstone, and of course, her largest son, Phantomstar, who now lead ThunderClan.
The enormous old red tabby Maine Coon elder shifted her weight on the window perch, pressing her nose to the crack in the sill, sniffing the cold air. She heaved a huge sigh of embarrassment, remembering how she let her guard down while hunting and a pair of two-legs startled her on the lake shore. They swooped her up in a fishy-smelling net, and carried her away. She fought the net, struggling to claw free of it, but it twisted and tightened around her until she exhausted herself. The last she saw of her clanmates, they swarmed around the lakeshore, calling to her, staying out of reach and sight of her captors. The total astonished terror on Demonstone's face seared into her memory, as Phantomstar cried, “Kyemama! We’ll find you!”
The two-legs took her to a place full of other strange cats, where her current housefolk adopted her, taking her to this cozy cottage, but Kyestorm thought only about the life she lost. She yearned to escape and find her way home, but how? Her old joints creaked, paining her on cold nights, and she knew her age put her at a disadvantage. She pressed her face to the glass, her heart twisting with homesickenss, and her stomach clenched with despair. Too much distance separated her from her loved ones.
"Demonstone, I miss you! Phantomstar, I wish you could find me, but I know you and your sisters can't leave your leader duties." Kyestorm uttered a sad keen. "I just want to come home. Oh StarClan, please let me go home!"
"But, you are home," a soft meow interrupted her pining, and she turned to face a very pretty young tortoiseshell short-haired she-cat, who regarded her with sharp green eyes. Kyestorm gazed at her new hosuemate, then sagged against the window.
"Lizzie," Kyestorm lay down on the perch, and mewled like a kit. "I know and I'm grateful for you and your generous hosuefolk, but, I'm not home. My mate, my kits, my family, are out there. I miss them all so much I can barely stand it."
“I see that,” Lizzie walked over to the window. “It’s so cold out there now. You’d die trying to get home.”
“We Maine Coons can handle the cold,” Kyestorm murmured, looking back out the window at the darkening sky. “I don’t know how to get out of here.”
“Our housefolk are afraid you’ll run away.” Lizzie explained. “They know you’re a Maine Coon, a special cat. They only want you to be happy here. Like I do.”
“They’re right. I would run at the first chance,” Kyestorm muttered, a growl rumbling in her chest, before she uttered a sad querulous cry. “My son is leader! Two of my daughters lead other Clans, and the third is deputy to her mate of the fourth Clan. My grandson is deputy in the fifth Clan. The Clans prosper. Things are so good around the lake now. I wanted to live out my elder days with my beloved mate, being fussed over and loved by everyone. Now I’ll die far from home. Away from Demonstone.”
“Don’t you like me? Don’t you consider me a friend?” Lizzie asked, her eyes wide with disappointment.
“Yes, I do,” Kyestorm answered, a short purr rattling her voice. “I like you a lot, and your housefolk have been kind, reminding me of my original housefolk from suncycles ago, but, my heart belongs with the Clan that saved my life and the lives of my kits and mate so long ago.I love them all, and my heart breaks that they think I may be lost to them and they lost to me forever.”
“There are Clan cats around here, a little ways in the mountains,” Lizzie said, flicking an ear thoughtfully. “Maybe they can help you?”
“How? I can’t get out of here,” Kyestorm lamented.
LIZZIE
Lizzie sat on the arm of the plush red couch in the living room, studying the russet red tabby she-cat sitting on the windowsill. The red queen was easily twice her size, and had paws the size of her head. Well, maybe not quite that large, but, let's face it, Lizzie tended to exaggerate at times.
The red queen seemed upset, her head low, eyes tapered at the ends and tail hanging, limp, off the windowsill. The tip of the beautiful cat's tail twitched methodically every few moments.
Lizzie remembered the day that Kyestorm, the red Maine Coon, had arrived at her home, seemingly elderly and frail. Within moments of her release, however, Kyestorm snarled and clawed at both Lizzie's humans and her.
This confused Lizzie. Why was Kyestorm so angry at being rescued? She was very likely to be caught and killed by something monstrous in the forest where Lizzie's humans had vacationed, something like a fox or badger. It wasn't like Kyestorm was a young cat. Illness was also a great factor of wilderness living, and Kyestorm was just too old to fend off sickness.
"Demonstone, I miss you! Phantomstar, I wish you could find me, but I know you and your sisters can't leave your leader duties! I just want to come home. Oh StarClan, please let me go home!"
A mournful keen from Kyestorm made Lizzie kick out of her thoughts.
"But you are home." Lizzie spoke to Kyestorm gently, her voice rippling with confusion and uncertainty. Was she doing something wrong?
"Lizzie, I know and I'm grateful for you and your generous hosuefolk, but, I'm not home. My mate, my kits, my family, are out there. I miss them all so much I can barely stand it."
Kyestorm mewled like a kitten, and Lizzie watched as she laid down on the windowsill, resting her head dramatically against the pane of glass separating them from the world outside.
"I see that." Lizzie said it carefully this time, jumping gracefully from the arm of the couch and approaching the windowsill where Kyestorm sat. She sat below it, and then lunged up onto the windowsill beside the one the red queen was resting against. "But it's so cold out there now. You'd die trying to get home."
"We Maine Coons can handle the cold." Kyestorm's voice was cold as she turned her head to gaze out the window at the quickly darkening sky. "I don't know how to get out of here."
Lizzie sighed, turning her emerald green eyes to the white painted wood of her perch. “Our housefolk are afraid you’ll run away.” She explained, “They know you’re a Maine Coon, a special cat. They only want you to be happy here. Like I do.”
“They’re right. I would run at the first chance,” Kyestorm muttered, a growl rumbling in her chest, before she uttered a sad querulous cry. “My son is leader! Two of my daughters lead other Clans, and the third is deputy to her mate of the fourth Clan. M Grandson is deputy in the fifth Clan, The Clans prosper. Things are so good around the lake now. I wanted to live out my elder days with my beloved mate, being fussed over and loved by everyone. Now I’ll die far from home. Away from Demonstone.”
Lizzie watched the ailing queen with misery, a spark of hurt kindling in her chest.
"Don't you like me? Don't you consider me a friend?"
Lizzie's eyes read her disappointment, and her lips curved downwards into a frown. Lizzie had spent a good portion of her time attempting to befriend the red queen.
“Yes, I do,” Kyestorm answered, a short purr rattling her voice. “I like you a lot, and your housefolk have been kind, reminding me of my original housefolk from suncycles ago, but, my heart belongs with the Clan that saved my life and the lives of my kits and mate so long ago. I love them all, and my heart breaks that they think I may be lost to them and they lost to me forever.”
Lizzie felt hope take flight in her heart as she remembered something that might help the red queen. "There are clan cats around here, a little ways into the mountains. Maybe they could help you." One of her ears flicked thoughtfully as she began formulating a plan.
"How? I can't get out of here." Kyestorm's complaining made Lizzie roll her eyes.
"I may just have a way. Let me think a moment, Kyestorm."
After a moment, Lizzie's face tipped upwards into a mischievous grin. "A helpful friend taught me this trick at one point." With a soft grunt, Lizzie leaped off of the windowsill, and ran for the door locking them into the living room while her humans slept.
With a soft growl, she lunged upwards, hooking a paw around the circular doorknob. She tipped her body backwards hard, her paw around the doorknob turning it slowly.
But it wasn't quite enough.
She fell to the hard wood with a louder growl.
KYESTORM
Kyestorm watched Lizzie, curiosity burning in her heart, staving off another wave of homesickness. Old memories flittered around in her head, as she watched her new friend. Lizzie rose to her feet, and with determination, jumped at the doorknob, and held on. Her paws slipped on the smooth brass, but Kyestorm eyed the knob as it turned. She leaped off of the window perch, hurrying over to Lizzie, as the old mischievous feelings rose up from the depths of her mind. She remembered opening doors out into her housefolk’s gardens many seasoncycles ago.
“I can help!” she meowed, hope flashing though her. Kyestorm reared up beside Lizzie and pressed her massive paws on the slippery knob. She grasped it with her long toes.
“Climb my back!” Kyestorm called out. “Get a good grip from there. Don’t worry if you accidentally scratch me.”
“This is crazy,” Lizzie muttered, but jumped up on the Maine Coon queens’s back. Grasping her with strong hind legs, she reached out, her chest resting on Kyestome’s ample shoulders, and placed her paws on the knob.
“Turn now, while I have a good grip!” Kyestorm yowled. Together they worked the slick metal handle, and it turned. But the door remained closed. Kyestorm felt her grip slip.
“Why won’t it open?” she cried.
“Pull back!” Lizzie meowed, and leaped sideways off Kyestorm’s back. “You have to pull back!”
With Lizzie clear of her, Kyestorm shifted her weight, and her hindpaws slipped out from under her. She clutched the doorknob as she fell, and it opened just as she toppled over onto her back. Lizzie darted forward, hooked her claws under the door, and pulled it open. Kyestorm scrambled to her feet and darted out into the dark hallway. She halted, and looked back, confused by the unfamiliar surroundings. As Lizzie walked out of the room, Kyestorm peered back into it, eyeing the cozy sofa, her soft bed, the full food dishes and water bowl and felt a short pang of regret.
“I really am grateful to your housefolk and I’m so sorry I clawed one of them when I first arrived. I’ve been nice since, and even purr for them,” Kyestorm apologized, meeting Lizzie’s sharp green gaze.
“I know,” Lizzie replied. “I am glad you calmed down, and they really like you. Are you sure you must leave us?’
“Yes, I really miss my family. I have to try and go back,” Kyestorm explained, then a thought occurred to her. “Won’t your housefolk be really angry if you help me escape?’
“Nah.” Lizzie flicked her tail. “I’m always sneaking out on them. They’ll be disappointed you got out, but they’ll blame themselves more for not keeping an eye on me better.’
Kyestorm looked down the dark hallway. Moonlight slanted into the window, and Kyestorm felt another stab of longing for her home and family. She looked at Lizzzie.
“What do we do now?”
"Follow me," Lizzie answered. "We'll try my cat door. Maybe my housefokk forgot it seeing they had you locked in the livingroom."
Kyestorm followed her new friend down the hall into the dark kitchen. Lizzie led her to the back door, where Kyestorm noticed a strange flap covering an obvious hole in the door. Lizzie tentatively pushed a paw against the flap and it gave way. She turned glowing green eyes to Kyestorm, and bared the tips of her fangs in a grin.
"They forgot to secure it," Lizzie purred. "Too worried about other doors. Come on."
The pretty patched tabby slipped through the opening, and Kyestorm eyed it with concern. She followed, and stuck her head through. Despite her concern, she pushed forward, before her body stuck fast in the hole. Kyestorm uttered a squeak, cutting off a wail by snapping her jaws shut. Lizzie looked back, standing in the snow, silhouetted by the moon.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm stuck!" Kyestorm hissed.
"Ate too much?" Lizzie tittered, before tilting her head.
"Not funny! My shoulders are stuck!" Kyestorm spat. "Why is this so small?"
"To keep wildlife out," Lizzie answered. "Wiggle a bit."
Kystorm growled, exhaling before twisting and turning like a snake in a trap. Her body tilted just enough to free her shoulders and she thrust through the door, leaving clumps of her red pelt behind. She stumbled out into the snow, stood up, shook herself, then trotted after Lizzie.
They traveled through the snows toward the mountains. Kyestorm felt the pull in her heart from them, and knew she needed to keep moving toward those peaks. The ground grew rough, with craggy stones, and steep terrain. A hiss from the brush stopped them, and Lizzie backed up to stad beside Kyestorm.
"Who trespasses on MountainClan territory?" A long-pelted tortoiseshell and white she-cat with intense green eyes stepped out from behind a rock. Kyestorm inhaled sharply, staring at the she-cat.
"We do," Lizzie answered. "Sorry, but my companion needs to find her way home."
"Yes," Kyestorm shook herself, meeting the other cats evergreen gaze. "Forgive me, but you look the mirror image of one of my daughters, who left the clan many seasons ago with her mate, who lived in some far away clan. I am Kyestorm of ThunderClan."
The shaggy she-cat eyed Kyestorm, expression thoughtful, ears erect.
"Hello, Kyestorm. I am Shadowface of MountainClan. So, you come from one of the ancient Clans we thought long gone? Perhaps the stories my grandfather spoke were true after all." Shadowface stepped forward and inspected Kyestorm. "Large one, aren't you?"
"What stories?" Kyestorm asked, hopeful to hear anything about Autumnglory.
"It is said my greatgrandfather's mother was an outsider, a cat who supposedly came from one of those Clans from far over the Mountains." Shadowface flicked her long fluffy tail. "She adapted well to our lands, and she was supposedly very large, like you. She was proud of her heritage but what type of cat she claimed to be was lost long ago."
"She was a Maine Coon, like me. You look so much like her," Kyestorm murmured, before lifting her head toward the peaks. "I need to get home."
"I will help you." Shadowface nodded. "An elder should not be traveling alone out here."
"Do you need me?" Lizzie spoke up.
"Go home, and be safe," Kyestorm gazed at her new friend fondly. "Thank you for everything."
"I can help," Lizzie insisted.
"It's dangerous lands up there. No place for a kittypet," Shadowface said firmly, but her voice rattled with an amused purr, taking the sting from her tone.
"All right," Lizzie capitulated, and Kyestorm saw relief in her friend;s bright green eyes. "I'll wait until you're out of sight."
"Thank you," Kyestorm moved to Lizzie and wrapped her thick tail around Lizzie's shoulders. "Stay safe and warm. I won't forget you."
"Nor I you," Lizzie mewed.
"Let's move," Shadowface interupted, and Kyestorm heard the impatience in her voice. "I can get you over the ridge by sunrise. But I must let my clan know what is going on."
"Fare well, Lizzie," Kyestorm called as she followed Shadowface. Lizzie sat down, watching.
"Take care, Kyestorm. May your StarClan watch over your pawsteps."
Kyestorm waved her tail, glancing back once, feeling a stab of grief at leaving Lizzie. She faced forward, trotting in Shadowface's wake.
"I can't!" Lizzie's voice startled her. "I cant let you travel alone once you leave MountianClan."
Kyestorm felt Lizzie rush up alongside her.
"It's dangerous," Kyestorm growled. "And cold."
"Lizzie," Shadowface grumbled irritably. "Go home."
"No!" Lizzie spat with temper. "I'm coming. I'll make sure you get home, then I can come back."
"Alone?" Kyestorm retorted.
"The ancient clan lands are far away." Shadowface said. "It will take moons, maybe even seasons to get there."
"Don't you care about your housefolk?" Kyestorm asked, remembering that long ago fire that forced her and Demonstone away from their housefolk and into the wild.
"You two work this out," Shadowface interrupted with a snort. "I'll be back."
Shadowface vanished into the rocks, and Kyestorm stared at Lizzie for many long minutes, waiting for an answer.
"I do, but, I don't want to leave you either. I need to know you'll be safe," Lizzie responded, stubbornness evident in her bristling fur.
"I may be old, but I'm not infirm yet," Kyestorm lifted a huge cream paw and flashed her huge claws. "'ll be fine."
"Stubborn old geezer. . . " Lizzie mewled in frustration, before uttering a gusty sigh. "But . . . "
"You two done bickering?" Shadiwface's voice startled Kyestorm and she leaped straight up, spraying snow everywhere, landing with claws unsheathed.
"Mousedung!" Kyestorm sputtered.
"Good reflexes for an old one." Shadowface purred with mirth, then leveled her unusual green eyes on Lizzie. "Go home, Lizzie. This will be a long, cold dangerous journey."
"But who will guide her once she leaves your territory?" Lizzie protested.
"I've spoken to my Clan Leader, so I can go as far as we need to. Beyond those peaks is another ridge where it is said Tribes live, related to the ancient Clans." Shadowface explained. "They will help guide you."
"The Tribes still exist," Kyestorm confirmed. "If you point me there I can get home."
"Agreed." Shadowface faced Lizzie. "Stubborn little she cat. You must make this decision carefully. It s time to decide, Give up your kittypet life and go with us, or go home."
(Ok Razz! What does Lizzie do?)
LIZZIE
Lizzie made yet another lunge for the doorknob, holding on to the best of her abilities, grunting with effort as the knob gave just a small bit, before she collapsed to the ground, flattening her ears. A growl rose in her throat when she heard the thump on the floor behind her, signaling the red queen's departure from the windowsill. She gave a little mrrow of confusion when Kyestorm appeared beside her, rearing onto her hindpaws to hold on to the knob far better than Lizzie could ever hope to.
At the prompting from the red queen, Lizzie screwed up her face, muttering under her breath.
"This is crazy," she lamented softly, thought she bunched her hindlegs and vaulted onto the massive russet she-cat's back. She braced against the she-cat's hips, stretching upwards so that her chest was planted on Kyestorm's shoulders, placing smaller paws on the knob.
She reacted quickly to the yowl of the red queen, flipping the knob as hard as she could, giving a small growl of frustration when it didn't open, and Kyestorm began to slip, crying out desperately.
“Why won’t it open?”
“Pull back!” Lizzie meowed, and leaped sideways off Kyestorm’s back. “You have to pull back!”
Now that Lizzie had fallen clear, Kyestorm toppled backwards, holding on to the knob with all her might. It creaked open as the russet she-cat collapsed onto her back, and Lizzie reacted quickly, darting forwards and hooking her claws around the side of the door, pulling it open deftly. Kyestorm was out the door in a second, and Lizzie followed, a bit calmer than her companion. She watched the red she-cat pay a sad glance at the room as the door slowly closed behind them. She perked her ears at Kyestorm's next lament, apologizing to her.
“I really am grateful to your housefolk and I’m so sorry I clawed one of them when I first arrived. I’ve been nice since, and even purr for them,” Kyestorm apologized, meeting the other's gaze.
“I know,” Lizzie replied, not breaking eye contact, “I am glad you calmed down, and they really like you. Are you sure you must leave us?"
“Yes, I really miss my family. I have to try and go back,” Kyestorm explained sadly, before adding as an afterthought, “Won’t your housefolk be really angry if you help me escape?"
“Nah,” Lizzie flicked her tail, looking away, “I’m always sneaking out on them. They’ll be disappointed you got out, but they’ll blame themselves more for not keeping an eye on me better."
“What do we do now?” the red queen asked, and Lizzie flicked an ear, standing up calmly.
"Follow me," she answered, "We'll try the cat door. Maybe the housefolk forgot it, seeing that they had us locked in the living room."
She turned down the hallway, heading for the kitchen silently. There she flicked her ears and stretched out a paw, tentatively pressing against the flap on the back door that gave her access in and out of the house. It gave way under the pressure, and Lizzie turned luminescent green eyes to the red queen, baring her teeth in a feral grin.
"They forgot to secure it," Lizzie purred, "too worried about other doors. Come on."
The tortoiseshell she-cat slipped out the opening, turning around, paws buried in the shallow snow. She flicked an ear, silhouetted by the moon as she caught sight of the red queen's predicament.
"What's wrong?" she asked, confused by the holdup.
"I'm stuck!" Kyestorm hissed.
"Ate too much?" Lizzie tittered, before tilting her head in amusement. It was quite funny, the russet Maine Coon getting stuck so easily.
"Not funny! My shoulders are stuck!" Kyestorm spat, "Why is this so small?"
"To keep wildlife out," Lizzie answered simply, as though the answer was obvious, "Wiggle a bit."
Kystorm growled, exhaling before twisting and turning like a snake in a trap. Her body tilted just enough to free her shoulders and she thrust through the door, leaving clumps of her red pelt behind. She stumbled out into the snow, stood up, shook herself, then trotted after Lizzie, who had already turned away and begun moving towards the mountain range.
They traveled through the snows toward the mountains. The ground grew rough, with craggy stones, and steep terrain. A hiss from the brush stopped them, and Lizzie backed up to stand beside Kyestorm, emerald eyes narrowed fiercely, her hackles rising slightly at the threat.
"Who trespasses on MountainClan territory?" A long-pelted tortoiseshell and white she-cat with intense green eyes stepped out from behind a rock. Kyestorm inhaled sharply, staring at the she-cat, and Lizzie flattened her ears, struggling for a good answer.
"We do," Lizzie answered finally, "Sorry, but my companion needs to find her way home."
"Yes," Kyestorm shook herself, meeting the other cats evergreen gaze. "Forgive me, but you look the mirror image of one of my daughters, who left the clan many seasons ago with her mate, who lived in some far away clan. I am Kyestorm of ThunderClan."
The shaggy she-cat eyed Kyestorm, expression thoughtful, ears erect. Lizzie stood silent, dropping her fur so that she was no longer looking threatening.
"Hello, Kyestorm. I am Shadowface of MountainClan. So, you come from one of the ancient Clans we thought long gone? Perhaps the stories my grandfather spoke were true after all," Shadowface stepped forward and inspected Kyestorm, "Large one, aren't you?"
"What stories?" Kyestorm asked, and Lizzie could see hope glimmering in her eyes. The old queen seemed to be seeking something, prehaps a name.
"It is said my greatgrandfather's mother was an outsider, a cat who supposedly came from one of those Clans from far over the Mountains," Shadowface flicked her long fluffy tail, "She adapted well to our lands, and she was supposedly very large, like you. She was proud of her heritage but what type of cat she claimed to be was lost long ago."
"She was a Maine Coon, like me. You look so much like her," Kyestorm murmured, before lifting her head toward the peaks, adding "I need to get home."
"I will help you." Shadowface nodded. "An elder should not be traveling alone out here."
"Do you need me?" Lizzie spoke up, looking a little bit put out. She had been the one to get Kyestorm out here, and was being pretty much ignored. She didn't blame the red queen, but it was tiring for a young cat like her to not get any attention at all.
"Go home, and be safe," Kyestorm gazed at her new friend fondly "Thank you for everything."
"I can help," Lizzie insisted, not wanting to be left out of the adventure she'd helped start.
"It's dangerous lands up there. No place for a kittypet," Shadowface said firmly, but her voice rattled with an amused purr, taking the sting from her tone.
"All right," Lizzie capitulated, and Kyestorm saw relief in her friend's bright green eyes, "I'll wait until you're out of sight." She felt a bit put out, but still relieved that they weren't going to actually beg her to go.
"Thank you," Kyestorm moved to Lizzie and wrapped her thick tail around Lizzie's shoulders, "Stay safe and warm. I won't forget you."
Lizzie purred slightly at the farewell from the red queen, and turned sad eyes to her.
"Nor I you," Lizzie mewed.
"Let's move," Shadowface interupted, and Kyestorm heard the impatience in her voice. "I can get you over the ridge by sunrise. But I must let my clan know what is going on."
"Farewell, Lizzie," Kyestorm called as she followed Shadowface. Lizzie sat down, watching, feeling her heart flutter against her ribs like a trapped starling.
"Take care, Kyestorm. May your StarClan watch over your pawsteps," she called, blinking green eyes.
Kyestorm waved her tail, glancing back once, feeling a stab of grief at leaving Lizzie. She faced forward, trotting in Shadowface's wake.
Lizzie sat still for only a few seconds, before a harsh twist in her stomach sent her flying onto her paws.
"I can't!" Lizzie wailed, startling Kyestorm, "I can't let you travel alone once you leave MountianClan."
The tortoiseshell she-cat raced to the red queen's side, drawing up close to them.
"It's dangerous," Kyestorm growled, "And cold."
"Lizzie," Shadowface grumbled irritably. "Go home."
"No!" Lizzie spat with temper. "I'm coming. I'll make sure you get home, then I can come back."
Irritation at being brushed off as useless so easily came up into her voice far easier than she'd expected, and she chastised herself for getting so defensive and childish so quickly.
"Alone?" Kyestorm retorted.
"The ancient clan lands are far away." Shadowface said. "It will take moons, maybe even seasons to get there."
"Don't you care about your housefolk?" Kyestorm asked, and Lizzie flattened her ears at the tag teaming, crouching down slightly like a chastised kit.
"You two work this out," Shadowface interrupted with a snort. "I'll be back."
As the long furred she-cat disappeared into the rocks, Kyestorm's gaze honed in on Lizzie, and they sat in silence for several long minutes, before the smaller cat drew herself up into a sitting position, trying to look more mature and strong than she was.
"I do, but I don't want to leave you either. I need to know you'll be safe," Lizzie responded, stubbornness evident in her bristling fur.
"I may be old, but I'm not infirm yet," Kyestorm lifted a huge cream paw and flashed her huge claws. "I'll be fine."
"Stubborn old geezer. . . " Lizzie mewled in frustration, before uttering a gusty sigh. "But . . . " She looked terribly put out, and turned her green gaze to the snow, locking in on it.
"You two done bickering?" Shadowface's voice startled Kyestorm, and Lizzie was sprayed with snow as the red queen leaped into the air with shock, sending a spray of snow out in all directions. She gave a little meow of protest, and shook herself to get the cold snow off of her dark pelt.
"Mousedung!" Kyestorm sputtered.
"Good reflexes for an old one." Shadowface purred with mirth, then leveled her unusual green eyes on Lizzie. "Go home, Lizzie. This will be a long, cold dangerous journey."
"But who will guide her once she leaves your territory?" Lizzie protested, feeling insulted by the clan cat.
"I've spoken to my Clan Leader, so I can go as far as we need to. Beyond those peaks is another ridge where it is said Tribes live, related to the ancient Clans." Shadowface explained. "They will help guide you."
"The Tribes still exist," Kyestorm confirmed. "If you point me there I can get home."
"Agreed." Shadowface faced Lizzie. "Stubborn little she cat. You must make this decision carefully. It's time to decide, Give up your kittypet life and go with us, or go home."
Lizzie felt her heart hammer in her chest now that she was truly being faced with the gravity of her decision. She turned green eyes to the snow, taking a deep breath, and then looking upwards, determined to make the right choice.
"I'll go with you," she meowed firmly, standing up with as much dignity as she could muster.
The young tortoiseshell had never been outside of her home for longer than a few days at a time. She didn't really understand what a big choice she'd just made, but her heart told her it was the right one. Her housefolk could get another cat, a nicer one than she was, and maybe they'd be happier. And she could escort the red queen to her home, and be sure that she made it through her journey.
She turned her gaze to the ground, looking a bit saddened for a moment, and then she looked up at Shadowface and Kyestorm.
"Are we going to move?" she asked softly, tipping her head. It occurred to her just then that she was both the smallest and the only one without long fur in their little group. Determined not to let it bother her, she fluffed out her coat, standing as tall as she could get herself, still barely reaching Kyestorm's shoulder. She waited for one of the two others to lead the way, looking both nervous and confident, a strange combo that Lizzie was very good at pulling off.
KYESTORM
Kyestorm gazed at Lizzie, happy her new friend decided to accompany her, but also worried about her safely. She rumbled deep in her chest, and flexed her her claws, determined to bring Lizzie safely to ThunderClan, where she knew her family and Clan would welcome her with sheathed paws and purrs.
“Come on then,” Shadowface urged, blinking her shimmering eyes. Kyestorm wondered why the she-cat possessed such deep glowing green eyes, but decided not to pry. She followed the younger cat, down the hill, across the snowy ravine and up the mountianside. Shadowface beckoned with a flick of her tail, leading them steadily up hill, with the occasional dip into a valley or ravine. Kyestrom trotted after her, content, as long as they traveld in the direction her instincts pulled her.
The moon sank toward the horizon, and Kyestorm wondered if the Clans had a Gathering this night. Shadowface moved with stealth, grace and speed across he rough terrian. Kyestorm,s paws hurt from the ice and rocks, and she grumbled at her weakness brought on by moons of living a kittypet life. Lizzie trotted at her side, limpng, but uttered not ne complaint. Kyestorm purred, and looked down at her friend.
“Lizzie, you’re stoic and brave,” she meowed. “But you must rest that leg.”
“I can keep going,” Lizzie retorted, canting back her ears, but she shivered. Shadowface turned her head.
“We’ll rest at dawn and eat,” she mewed in low tones. Kyestorm nodded her affirmative. As the eastern sky brightened, Shadowface halted.
We rest here,” she commanded. “Make yourselves comfortable and I’ll get us breakfast.”
She melted into the undergrowth, and Kyestorm looked around, noticing a spot of conifer needles under an overhanging boulder. She gratefully sank onto the carpet and cleaned her aching feet. Lizzie curled up beside her.
“Are you alright?” Kyestorm asked. Lizzie yawned, and shivered again.
“Yes, just a sore leg.”
“And you’re cold, too.” Kyestorm flipped her tail over the little stubborn she-cat, determined more than ever to get her safely to ThunderClan. Lizzie snuggled against her, and stopped shivering. Shadowface returned as the sun peeked above the distant horizon, slanting warm beams between the trees. She dropped a large hare at Kyestorm’s paws.
“Enioy. You two share and I’ll hunt my own breakfast.”
“There is more than enough!” Kyestorm called out, as Shadowface once again melted like a wraith into the woods. Kyestorm inhaled the scent of the fresh kill, and with her worn teeth, ripped it open. Lizzie poked her head out from under Kyestorm's tail. She sniffed,
“Smells good! I’ve only had mice.” Lizzie remarked, but did not move. “My housefolk liked when I caught them in the house, but didn’t understand why I ate them.”
“Two-legs can be strange. Here,” Kyestrm tore off a piece and dropped it at Lizzie’s head. “I’m glad you're no stranger to fresh kill, like I was when I came to ThunderClan.”
Shadowface returned, gliding out of the undergrowth with a couple of plump mice in her jaws. She settled beside Lizzie, sheltering her from the breeze, but not the sun’s rays. Kyestorm enjoyed every bite of the fresh kill, and she even crunched the bones. In moments only the fur littered the snow outside the rocky outcrop.
“Ready?” Shadowface stood up, her gaze dropping to Lizzie. Kyestorm stood up, uncovering the she-cat. Lizzie jumped up, flexing her sore foreleg. She shook herself and fluffed out her short pelt.
“Yes,” Kyestorm replied, and Lizzie nodded, but Kyestorm saw a bit of ambivalence in Lizzie’s big green eyes.
“Let’s move. We can rest at sun high.”
Kyestorm dipped her head and followed. Lizzie kept close to Kyestorm’s side. The travel continued over the rough terrain, and Kyestorm ignored her aching joints and sore feet, pushing on, wanting to get home. They descended into a shallow valley when a sharp hiss of warning brought her alert. Shadowface halted in front of her, long pelt bristling. A group of cats materialized out of the surrounding brush, eyes blazing, tails bushed.
“We want no trouble,”Shadowface meowed. “We’re just passing through.”
“Where to?” the largest, a green-eyed ragged brown tabby tom sneered and Kyestorm growled, recognizing rogue behavior.
“To my home,” Kyestorm retorted, forgetting her age, as indignation welled up from deep within her.
“Oh really, old one?” another rogue snarled, baring her teeth. Kyestorm eyed the scrawny cat’s grey tattered fur. Hungry rogues make dangerous foes, she thought, then flattened her ears. She raised a huge paw and flexed her toes, exposing her claws.
“I may be old, but I’ve not forgotten my warrior life.” Kyestorm snarled back. “Let us pass.”
“Large but old,” the ragged tom leered. “Perhaps we should take you prisoner and drag you to our leader.”
“Bad idea,” Shadowface snapped, and Kyestorm’s ears shot forward in surprise. The MountainClan cat’s eyes glowed, and green shimmer appeared around her paws. The rogues paid no mind and the brown tom and the grey leaped at Kyestorm. The rest rushed forward. Kyestorm reared up, her huge paws blurs, eager to protect Lizzie. She slapped the brown tom away, but the grey she cat dove and grabbed Lizzie’s sore leg. Lizzie shrieked and fought back, but she lacked training, Others closed, and Kyestorm grabbed the grey she cat and flung her away from Lizzie. Her heart hammered in her chest, and she knew her old body might not hold out.
A scream of rage erupted from Shadowface, and Kyestorm turned in spite of her battle training. The green glow in her new friend’s eyes flashed into evergreen fire, which shot from her eyes, paws and every hair on her body, and ripped into the rogues surrounding them. Several yowled in terror, vaporizing instantly, while others suffered terrible burning wounds. In seconds, the rogues fled, and Kyestorm gaped at Shadowface, who stood, glaring after their foes. Lizzie huddled up against Kyestorm, eyes wide.
The green fire faded, and the light in Shadowface’s eyes winked out. She faced Kyestorm, her expression almost apologetic.
“How did you do that?” Kyestorm asked, after several heartbeats.
“Sorry you had to find out this way,” Shaowface answered. “I was going to warn you, in time, but, I am Cursed.”
Kyestorm stared, as fear, then wonder, flashed through her.
“Cursed?” she mewled. “It seems like a StarClan blessing.”
“It is not,” Shadowface snapped. “It’s a true Curse, destined to destroy everyone I love.”
Kyestorm stood, not knowing what to say, afraid to ask the questions swirling in her mind.
YOOHOO (Spottail’s character)
Yoohoo walked through the mountains, his heart full of sadness as he thought about the loss of his family. The young cream kitty-pet trudged on, his blue-grey striped tail and blue-grey ears low. He jerked his head up a lot of yowling and hissing erupted. He ran toward it, wondering what the heck was going on.
"Oh, I wish I still had my super speed. Why did that have to be taken away when I changed into a cat. I just feel really different than I used to be," Yoohoo thought, as he turned the corner almost tripping on a rock. Yoohoo growled at it and kept going. The battle sounds grew louder and louder. When he reached the place, he gasped at what he saw, and doubled back, ducking into a copse of conifer bushes. He peeked between the needled branches, and took in the scene. A giant elder red tabby cat, a kitty-pet, and a cat with glowing green eyes battled a group of rogues.
The green glow in the tortoiseshell’s eyes flashed into evergreen fire, which shot from her eyes, paws and every hair on her body, and ripped into the rogues surrounding them. Several yowled in terror, vaporizing instantly, while others suffered terrible burning wounds. In seconds, the rogues fled. The giant red she-cat gaped at her companion, who stood, glaring after their foes. The short-haired tortoiseshell kitty pet huddled up against the big cat, eyes wide. A few rogues that did not survive or escape the battle lay in the snow, their pelts smoking in dire warning. Yoohoo watched in utter fascination and longing.
"My eyes used to do something like that when I got mad, but that stopped too,” he muttered to himself. He peered out of the brush, afraid to move closer, and eavesdropped on the three victors, listening to their conversation, watching with spellbound fascination from his hiding place several foxlengths away.
The green fire faded, and the light in the long haired tortoiseshell she-cat’s eyes winked out. She faced the giant long-haired she-cat, her expression almost apologetic.
“How did you do that?” the huge old red tabby asked, after several heartbeats.
“Sorry you had to find out this way,” the long-haired tortoiseshell answered. “I was going to warn you in time, but, I am Cursed.”
“Cursed?” the red tabby mewled. “It seems like a StarClan blessing.”
“It is not,” the green-eyed she-cat snapped. “It’s a true Curse, destined to destroy everyone I love.”
“Hey, Kyestorm, Shadowface,” the small short-haired kitty pet spoke up. “Can we move or eat ort something? I’m cold.”
“Of course,” the red tabby called Kyestorm said. “We’ll get moving. The way home to my Clan is a long journey. I promise, Lizzie, to get you there.”
Thanks,” Lizzie blinked, and with a wave of her tail the tortoiseshell she-cat moved forward. Excitment filled Yoohoo
"I wonder if they'll let me join?" Yoohoo said, watching them disappear down the ravine. He made up his mind, and darted out from his cover, following the traveling cats’ pawprints. Suddenly a screech of rage deafened him.
“Looking for your friends?”
“What?” Yoohoo wailed, and he whirled in place, and uttered a shriek of his own as several rogue cats attacked him in fury.
“We’ll kill you for what they did to us!” one of them screamed in rage. They rushed him, and he struggled to fight them off, but knew the three would soon overwhelm him and kill him. He screeched for help, hoping the traveling strangers heard him.
"Help! Somebody help me!" Heeelp!”
CLOUDPATCH (Headphone Actor’s character)
Cloudpatch saw the young cream tom go down under a pile of rogues. The new warrior growled, his black and white pelt bristling, refusing to allow the rogues ravage the poor kittypet. He veered from his mission and hurtled forward, his long legs carrying him swiftly across the snow. He uttered a fierce yowl and tore toward the fray. The RiverClan tom barely noticed the three she-cats, and a flash of alarm put springs in his paws. He concentrated on the fight, concerned about the she cats, but he was solely occupied on the fight. While a fierce fighter, he also fought defensively. There were a lot of rogues, after all, and the last thing he needed was to be injured while he searched for the missing Kyestorm. His amber eyes narrowed at the attackers, and he gave a fierce hiss. Two of the rogues paused, leered at him, and lunged at him. He used all of his training to battle them, when suddenly, he heard a familiar snarl.
He whirled and stopped, thrilled to see Kyestorm leap forward, a challenge bursting from her chest as a snarling bellow. The rogues all looked up, and green light reflected in their widening eyes and Cloudpatch stared in stunned amazement as Kyestorm’s companion uttered a yowl of wrath. The rogues bolted, and the young tom sagged to the bloody snow. Cloudpatch stood, gaping, as bolts of green fired over the tom after the rogues from the long haired she-cat with odd flaring evergreen eyes. Kyestorm stood over the grey kitty pet.
“Are you all right?”
“I think so,” he answered blinking bright blue eyes.”Thank you. I am Yoohoo.”
“Pleased to meet you. I am Kyestorm,” Kyestorm purred, nodded and turned her attention Cloudpatch, and her tail shot up in recognition. Cloudpatch stood tall, happiness fluffing his pelt. No doubt existed in his mind on who that long haired red queen was. Kyestorm’s face broke into a feline smile as she trotted over to him.
“Cloudpaw! Is that you?
********************
SHADOWFACE
Shadowface didn't like these newcomers, especially since they had all witnessed her burst of power. She wasn't going to use it. She never wanted to use it, especially on other cats, but the sheer number of pesky rogues had prompted her instincts, and thus her flame came forth...much more willingly than she would have liked.
She stepped forward as two light-colored cats trudged out into the clearing. One was clearly recognizable by Kyestorm given her exclamation. She seemed happy, despite the merciless killing she had just witnessed.
Shadowface wasn't happy that these two new cats seemed to be wanting to join them. More cats meant more trouble and conflict. It also meant more cats she had to protect.
And not to mention more wary eyes watching her.
"Kyestorm, who are these cats?" Shadowface asked, not bothering to keep the suspicion out of her voice. She wasn't going to fake or lie about her feelings on the matter. Best to get all hostilities out in the open.
Kyestorm turned, her large red form slightly glowing in the dim light from the sky. "This is Cloudpaw...or Cloudpatch now, I guess?"
Cloudpatch nodded, a smile on his handsome face. "Yes, Cloudpatch is my warrior name now. I come from the same clans that Kyestorm does."
At least he is a warrior. That will be helpful.
Shadowface turned her attention to the other tom, clearly much weaker than the other seasoned warrior, Cloudpatch. "And you? What kind of a name is Yoohoo?" She growled.
Yoohoo, surprisingly, replied back immediately. "The better question is, what kind of power disintegrates cats where they stand?"
Shadowface's evergreen eyes narrowed, taking note of his question, but not immediately answering.
Not strong, but sharp. The look in his eyes looks more than curious, it's almost...hungry. Like, when he saw my power, he wanted it for himself.
If only he knew its true nature.
She flicked her tail, and said,"A kind of power you won't be seeing again."
"Why?" Kyestorm protested, giving her a wondering look.
Shadowface shook her head. "Like I said, you should have never seen that. I need to keep it under control."
"But it just saved us all," Kyestorm pressed, now looking almost amused, as if the thought of not using her flame would be beyond idiotic.
Shadowface sighed, turning away from the large red she-cat. "We don't have time for this. Finish up your greetings and lets keep moving. More rogues may show up now that I've killed most of their patrol."
********************
KYESTORM
Kyestorm eyed Shadowface, still not comprehending the she-cat’s unease with her own marvelous powers, but knew more rogues might show up. She wanted to move on, too.“Shadowface is right. We must go,” she motioned to Cloudpatch with her tail, following Shadowface. “Why are you here without RiverClan or anyone else?’
“I wanted to go with the search patrol your grandson leads, so I followed them but during a storm I got lost.” his face broke into a feline grin. “But I found you first.”
“Who leads the search patrol?”
“Blackhawk and Sunflight,” Cloudpatch answered.
“May I come with you?” Yoohoo interrupted. Kyestorm eyed the young tom, meeting his blue gaze. Something struck her odd about the little tom, but what eluded her. He seemed harmless and certainly needed asylum.
“Sure,” Kyestorm nodded, quickening her pace to keep up with Shadowface.
“Thank you,” Yohoo mewed, and trotted up to her. He touched noses to Lizzie, his plume tail rising in greeting. “Nice to meet you.”
“Yeah, here too,” Lizzie said. She canted back her ears. “You’re a kitty pet.”
“Yeah,” Yoohoo answered than said no more. Kyestorm glanced at the cream tom, studying his blue striped tail, and the matching blue-grey on his paws and muzzle. Kyestorm felt a touch of anger at the rogues who marred his long pelt with scratches and missing clumps of fur. Kyestorm scented the air, flicking her ears. He carried more two-leg scent than any other kittypet she met before, and she wondered about it. She growled deep in her chest, and moved, ignoring her achy joints.
“Kyemamaaaaa!” A sudden familiar yowl echoed across the terrain, so faint, yet sharp enough to carry on the breezes. Kyestorm’s heart leaped, and she plunged ahead, yowling.
“Blackhawk!” she shrieked back. Calculating the distance, she figured they moved beyond the next big ridge. So far to go yet, but a wave of hope surged through Kyestorm. Shadowface dropped back to trot beside her.
“Your kin?”
“Yes, one of my grandsons,” Kyestorm meowed with excitement. “Somehow they found us. Maybe they saw your power?”
“Maybe,”Shadowface answered with a sigh. Kyestorm gazed at her quizzically but refrained from asking her anything else. Shadowface blinked, and raised her head. “ I’ll accompany you until we find your kin.”
“Thank you.” Kyestorm mewed, and broke into a trot, heading toward that distant call. She glanced at Lizzie and Yoohoo, feeling confident her Clan would accept them, though something about Yoohoo’s scent puzzled her. After so much time in the wild, how did two-leg scent still cling to him?
********************
YOOHOO
Yoohoo looked at Kyestorm, and she smiled at him. But then his eyes went wide as he saw her face turn into a puzzled look. "Why are you looking at me that?" Yoohoo asked.
Kyestorm looked at him and answered. "You been living in the wild in the for a while. So why do you still have the scent of two-legs on you?"
"Also why is it so strong?!" Shadowface asked with growl. Yoohoo jumped at Shadowface's loud growl.
"It's a long story." Yoohoo answered, with a sigh. "Well we have a long trip, so we have time.”
“Tell us right now!" Shadowface yowled right in Yoohoo's face. Yoohoo shook with fear and hid behind Lizzle.
"Shadowface, why are you so angry with Yoohoo? You scared him silly," Kyestorm admonished, flattening her ears briefly. Shadowface glared at the elderly giant red she-cat, and Yoohoo shivered. He did not mean to cause trouble. The two stared for a brief tense moment, but then Shadowface relaxed, and her ears came up. Kyestorm lifted her ears and flattened her pelt, and Yoohoo exhaled in relief.
. "Yoohoo, I'm sorry for yowling right in front of your face," Shadowface apologized, but in her eyes, he saw simmering annoyance.
"That's ok, I forgive ya and ya guys should know the truth anyway. I wasn't always a kitty-pet I was turned into a cat meny moons ago."
"You were turned into a cat?" Lizzle gasped, intrique shining in her big green eyes.
"Yes, and in my old life I used to have powers just like you, Shadowface."
"That would explain the look in your eyes, like you wanted to take my power." Shadowface said, in a calm voice.
"Oh, no I would never take anyone's power, I can promise ya that."
"Well, that's good to know." Shadowface grumbled, with a small smile on her face.
"So, what was your powers Yoohoo?" Lizzle asked.
"I used to have superspeed and and my eyes would change color when I got mad," Yoohoo answered.
"Cool!" Lizzle said.
“You said that you were changed into a cat. What did you used to be?" Cloudpatch asked.
"You would never believe the rest of my story."
"Oh, try us." Kyestorm meowed. “After what I’ve seen in my life, there is not much I would not believe.”
"Ok,” Yoohoo nodded. “I used to a bush baby, and four friends. We so close that we were more like a family."
"What were their names?" Lizzle asked.
"Chewoo, Lemmee, Roodee, and Pammee. We all lived in a place called Greenit which was being threatened by two crocs named Opps and Copps and they being controlled by someone called Big Boss. Well one day we were kidnapped by them, and well long story short, I survived and they didn't. Then shortly after, I was turned into cat. And was found by two-legs. “ Yoohoo paused, and inhaled, feeling nostalgic. “I loved it at first because I lived in a house when I lived in Greenit but then one day something changed and wasn't enjoying anyone."
"What did you do?" Lizzle interrupted.
"Lizzle, don’t be rude," Kyestorm whispered.
"Sorry, continue." Lizzle mewed. Yoohoo just smiled at the pretty she-cat.
"It's ok. I ran away, and I've lived in the mountains for a few days alone, sad with thoughts of my Family. I was thinking about them today and that's when I heard the fighting and found you guys. The End." Yoohoo finished.
"So, that's why you still have two-legs smell on you and still so strong you only just left them just like Lizzle." Kyestorm meowed.
Yoohoo nodded. "Yeah, and I've trying to get off but some reason I can't and it's been so hard trying to live in these mountains and I heard about clan life. I think would be safer living in a clan."
"That's right, you would, we look out other and care for each other, and welcome cats in trouble open paws," Kyestorm meowed, with a huge smile, baring the tips of her fangs. “As long as you’re honest and don’t cause trouble.”
"That makes me so happy. It would be just like my old life, just a little bit different though."
"Yes, I guess it would be," Kyestorm replied. Shadowface just rolled her eyes and growled.
"This is all very touching, but can all just get going?" All of the cats nodded in agreement. "Good, then let's go." Shadowface meowed, and as moved again, the rest of the cats right behind her.
"Hey, thanks for the story by the way." Lizzle and Kyestorm said.
Yoohoo purred "And ya guys believed too?" Lizzle and Kyestorm nodded. Cloudpatch purred. Shadowface narrowed her eyes at them.
“I didn't. You didn't tell the whole story,” Shadowface retorted, her voice low. “Why did lyou eave things out, like why you lived and your friends died, and why you turned into a cat? You're hiding something, Yoohoo. I don't trust you, and I have my eye on you.”
********************
KYESTORM
Kyetorm trotted beside Shadowface, and stole a glance at Yoohoo, believing the young tom’s story, yet her guts twisted with questions. What under StarClan was a bush baby? Who turned Yoohoo into a cat and why? Behind her, Lizzie and Cloudpatch engaged Yoohoo in conversation, but never asked him questions. They answered his about their lives, and Kyestorm felt content to hear Cloudpatch ramble on about RiverClan,Troutstar and Bluefrost. She lifted her head as they climbed a steep slope out of yet another ravine, Above the sky darkened, and the sun slanted long red rays across the snowy terrain.
“We won’t reach my grandson’s patrol tonight, will we,” Kyestorm stated.
“Not unless you grow wings,” Shadowface quipped, flashing her a rare brief smile. “Let’s find a place to sleep and hunt.”
Kyestorm uttered a purr of relief, as Shadowface led the group into a copse of thickets.
“I will hunt. Cloudpatch, would you care to help?”
“Yes! The young Warrior trotted forward, his tail up in salute. He followed Shadowface up a rise into coniferous cover. Large bouldrers and rocks peppered the area, and Kyestrom took note of the changing terrain. The wind blew cold, moaning over the larger stones, singing in the coniferous trees above them.
“Come. Let’s get warm and rest while our hunters work.” Kyestorm purred, Kyestorm purred, then led them to a thicket, and with her huge paws, shovelled the snow away to reveal a thick soft carpet of conifer needles. She curled up there, flicking her long tail over her nose. Lizie lay beside her, shivering. Kyestorm flicked her tal around to cover her friend, and Lizzie uttered a small sigh of contentment. Yoohoo settled on Lizzie’s other side, and Kyestorm noted his lean form. She wondered how well he hunted, but refrained from asking. A shiver passed over her, but ceased as her thick pelt puffed out. Lizzie purred, snuggling against Kyestorm, and the little she-cat’s tremors stopped. The sun sank below the horizon, taking its warmth with it. Kyestorm shivered again, and her pelt responded, burying Lizzie in a blanket of red fluff. Yoohoo moved closer, his lean body trembing. His long pelt fluffed out, but fluttered thin and tattered, and Kyestorm felt sympathy.
“Come,” Kyestorm rumbled, her maternal instincts flaring to the fore. “Sleep on my other side.”
“Thank you, thank you so much,” Yoohoo mewed, and snuggled his cream body against Kyestorm, pushing in so close only his blue tail and legs protruded from under her fur. Kyestorm grunted, amused, and shifted her weight to accommodate the little tom not much larger than a five moon old kit, Kyestorm yawned, and lay het head on her paws, her ample ruff covering Yoohoo’s head. He heaved a sigh of delight. She watched the sky and terrain, alert for any danger. The skies turned purple and pink, as more clouds banked above the western horizon.
The vivid color in the clouds faded, and the wind picked up, blowing into Kyestorm’s face. She scented snow on the wind, and flattened her ears, and flicked her tail. Lizzie uttered a startled cry of dismay, until Kyestorm’s tail covered her again. Kyestorm purred with releif as the tip of her tail settled over her nose. The moon rose over the neighboring ridge, and its silver light crept across the landscape. Kyestorm thought about her family and Clan, and a wave of homesickness gripped her. She longed to be with Demonstone, snuggled in the warrior’s den, and missed him so deeply, her heart felt slashed in two. She yearned to return to him, so their dream of loungng in the Elders den together came to fruition in a suncycle or two. She inhaled a rough, querlous purr.
“Kymamaaaaaaaaaaaaa!” The cy echoed over the rugged hills, and Kyestorm lifetd her head, tall furry ears alert, joy wiping away her sadness.. Blackhawk’s yowl sounded closer this time. She inahled deeply and uttered an answering wail, ignoring the protests of her companions.
“Here, we are herrrrreeee!”
“We come!” Sunflight’s higher voice replied, echoing between the low peaks. As the last echo died, Shadowface appeared, carrying a rabbit, her eyes narriwe with annoyance. Behind her, Cloudpatch carried a squirrel, and lay down beside Lizzie, peering at her through Kyestorm’s long woolly fur. Shadowface dropped the rabbit at Kyestorm’s feet.
“Trying to scare all the prey away for miles?”
“Sorry,” Kyestorm dipped her head, chargrined, but the joy in her heart soared. “My grandson is getting closer.”
“So I heard,” Shadowface growled, then tapped the rabbit with a paw. ‘Share ths with your friends.”
“What about you?”
“Don’t oncern yourself about me,” Shadowface answered, glancing moonrise, and settled beside Kyestorm. The Maine Coon elder flicked her ears with surprise. Heat radiated from the MountainClan cat, and Yoohoo sighed with delight, opening one bight blue eye. Shadowface glared at him.
“Don’t even ask,” she admondished him. “Unless you wsih to suffer burns. Eat your food.”
Yoohoo squeaked and closed his eye. Kyestorm struggled not to laugh. She took hold of the rabbit and carefully tore into the fresh kill. Cloudpatch settled down with the squirrel and offered pieces to Lizzie, who snatched them up, flicking her paw from under Kyestorm’s tail. Kyestorm growled, imagining a messy tail grooming ahead, but did not push Lizzie away.
She finished the rabbit, offering Shadowface a piece. The MountainClan cat nodded and took the offering. Kyestorm yawned, feeling warn and drowsy despite the cold wind, and put her head on her paws. She twitched her tail tip over her nose, and, trying to keep an eye on the moonlit ground through a veil of fur, fell asleep.
********************
KYESTORM
Kyestorm woke with a start, feeling cold on her nose. She blinked, noticing the overcast morning skies, and the snow pelting her face. The wind howled in storm fury, driving snow across the landscape. Lizzie and Yoohoo shivered against her, protesting her movement with soft mewls. She sneezed, and turned to Shadowface, who sat, keeping watch. Snow melted off her pelt, and every so often she shook out her long fur, flinging droplets everywhere. The Mountain Clan cat gazed at Kyestorm.
“We should get your shaking companions moving,” she meowed, and stood up. “ Or they may freeze to death despite your pelt.”
“You’re right,” Kyestorm scanned the skies, scenting the wind. “Wicked storm. It will get worse”
“It will not be easy travel . . .” Shadowface growled, interrupted by a yowl that exploded from very close by.
“Kyemamaaaa!” Kyestorm recognized her daughter’s voice.
“Angelglow!” Kyestorm jumped up with excitement sprawling Lizzie and Yoohoo in the snow. Lizzie hissed, scrambling to her feet, while Yoohoo rolled over twice with a yowl before leaping to his paws. Shadowface eyed Kyestorm.
“Why do they all call you Kyemama? Isn’t your name Kyestorm?”
“Yes, but my kits, including my milk sons, called me that, then my grandkits, my great grandkits, and their mates call me that, because I am their Kyemama,” Kyestorm answered with an amused meow. Shadowface lifted a brow but said nothing further.
“Here! We’re here!” Kyestorm yowled into the wind. She twitched her ears, straining to catch any sound of her approaching Clan mates. The wind screamed above them, and Kyestorm hoped her kin heard her reply. She glanced at Yoohoo, who shivered violently, and Lizzie who bravely tried not to tremble with cold.
“Kyemama!” Blackhawk’s cry, muffled by falling snow, drifted up the ravine.
“Come on, let’s move,” Kyestorm urged and trotted forward. Shadowface moved at her side. Yoohoo and Lizzie moved together, following Kyestorm, while Cloudpatch totted behind Shadowface. They traveled until sunhigh, and Kyestorm felt anxious. Yoohoo and Lizzie shivered from the biting winds, and snow crusted everyone’s backs, except Shadowface’s.
“Blackhawk!” Kyestorm shrieked into the wind.
“Kyemama!” the answering cry came faint and further away.
“They’re going the wrong way!” Kyestorm wailed, and broke into a run. Shadowface flanked her, and Cloudpatch moved on their heels. They raced for a while, until a feeble yowl sounded behind them. Kyestorm skidded to a halt in a spray of snow, and looked back. Yoohoo and Lizzie stumbled together, eyes wide, and both trembled with cold and fatigue. Kyestorm uttered an inarticulate mew, wondering if she possessed the strength to carry them. The two hurried to her and pressed into her pelt.
“Sorry, Kyestorm,” Lizzie muttered. “It’s just so cold.”
“My fur is not thick enough for this,” Yoohoo mewled. “I always found somewhere to hide and ride out bad weather.”
Kyestorm lowered her head, her legs shaking.
“I wish I could carry you,” she mewed, “but I’m old, and no longer have that strength.”
“Kyestorm, stay here,” Shadowface said. “Keep them warm and I’ll go find your kin. I’ll take Cloudpatch, if he is willing.”
“I’ll go,” Cloudpatch brightened. “They know me.”
Shadowface and Cloudpatch melted into the blinding snow. Kyestorm looked around and spotted a conifer bush beside a rock.
“Come on. We wait there. I’ll keep you warm,” Kyestorm insisted, leading them to the leeward side of the boulder. Conifer limbs hung down laden with snow, creating a windbreak. Kyestorm shivered and her thick fur lifted. She dug big hole in the snow, and sat down. Lizzie and Yoohooo snuggled against her and carefully she lay down on her belly. Both of her companions sighed with relief. The wind moaned through the forest, and Kyestorm felt cold seep into her body from inaction. She growled irritably at her age, remembering a time when cold never penetrated her pelt, never bothered her joints, and never nipped her face.
Time passed and her eyelids sagged, and she shook herself to stay awake. Her companions muttered protests, but she ignored them. She caught herself several times dozing off, and instinctively knew not to let herself sleep. Her eyelids closed, and her nose fell into the snow. She jerked her head up, but this time her companions uttered no sound. Panic shot adrenaline through Kyestorm and she sat up.
“Lizzie! Yoohoo!” she yowled. Both lay curled up, sound asleep, not responding to her voice. She jumped to her feet, spraying snow onto them. She bounced on Lizzie, then Yoohoo.
“Wake up! Wake up! You’re going to freeze to death!” She screeched at both of them. Neither of them responded. “No! Oh StarClan , no!” She raised her voice into a heartrending wail. “Shadowface! Blaackhawk! Angelglow! Help!”
********************
YOOHOO
“We should get your shaking companions moving,” she meowed, and stood up. “ Or they may freeze to death despite your pelt.”
“You’re right,” Kyestorm scanned the skies, scenting the wind. “Wicked storm. It will get worse”
“It will not be easy travel . . .” Shadowface growled, interrupted by a yowl that exploded from very close by.
“Kyemamaaaa!” Kyestorm recognized her daughter’s voice.
“Angelglow!” Kyestorm jumped up with excitement sprawling Lizzie and Yoohoo in the snow. Lizzie hissed, scrambling to her feet, while Yoohoo rolled over twice with a yowl before leaping to his paws. Shadowface eyed Kyestorm.
“Why do they all call you Kyemama? Isn’t your name Kyestorm?”
“Yes, but my kits, including my milk sons, called me that, then my grandkits, my great grandkits, and their mates call me that, because I am their Kyemama,” Kyestorm answered with an amused meow. Shadowface lifted a brow but said nothing further.
“Here! We’re here!” Kyestorm yowled into the wind. She twitched her ears, straining to catch any sound of her approaching Clan mates. The wind screamed above them, and Kyestorm hoped her kin heard her reply. She glanced at Yoohoo, who shivered violently, and Lizzie who bravely tried not to tremble with cold.
“Kyemama!” Blackhawk’s cry, muffled by falling snow, drifted up the ravine.
“Come on, let’s move,” Kyestorm urged and trotted forward. Shadowface moved at her side. Yoohoo and Lizzie moved together, following Kyestorm, while Cloudpatch totted behind Shadowface. They traveled until sunhigh, and Kyestorm felt anxious. Yoohoo and Lizzie shivered from the biting winds, and snow crusted everyone’s backs, except Shadowface’s.
“Blackhawk!” Kyestorm shrieked into the wind.
“Kyemama!” the answering cry came faint and further away.
“They’re going the wrong way!” Kyestorm wailed, and broke into a run. Shadowface flanked her, and Cloudpatch moved on their heels. They raced for a while, until a feeble yowl sounded behind them. Kyestorm skidded to a halt in a spray of snow, and looked back. Yoohoo and Lizzie stumbled together, eyes wide, and both trembled with cold and fatigue. Kyestorm uttered an inarticulate mew, wondering if she possessed the strength to carry them. The two hurried to her and pressed into her pelt.
“Sorry, Kyestorm,” Lizzie muttered. “It’s just so cold.”
“My fur is not thick enough for this,” Yoohoo mewled. “I always found somewhere to hide and ride out bad weather.”
Kyestorm lowered her head, her legs shaking.
“I wish I could carry you,” she mewed, “but I’m old, and no longer have that strength.”
“Kyestorm, stay here,” Shadowface said. “Keep them warm and I’ll go find your kin. I’ll take Cloudpatch, if he is willing.”
“I’ll go,” Cloudpatch brightened. “They know me.”
Shadowface and Cloudpatch melted into the blinding snow. Kyestorm looked around and spotted a conifer bush beside a rock.
“Come on. We wait there. I’ll keep you warm,” Kyestorm insisted, leading them to the leeward side of the boulder. Conifer limbs hung down laden with snow, creating a windbreak. Kyestorm shivered and her thick fur lifted. She dug big hole in the snow, and sat down. Lizzie and Yoohooo snuggled against her and carefully she lay down on her belly. Both of her companions sighed with relief. The wind moaned through the forest, and Kyestorm felt cold seep into her body from inaction. She growled irritably at her age, remembering a time when cold never penetrated her pelt, never bothered her joints, and never nipped her face.
Time passed and her eyelids sagged, and she shook herself to stay awake. Her companions muttered protests, but she ignored them. She caught herself several times dozing off, and instinctively knew not to let herself sleep. Her eyelids closed, and her nose fell into the snow. She jerked her head up, but this time her companions uttered no sound. Panic shot adrenaline through Kyestorm and she sat up.
“Lizzie! Yoohoo!” she yowled. Both lay curled up, sound asleep, not responding to her voice. She jumped to her feet, spraying snow onto them. She bounced on Lizzie, then Yoohoo.
“Wake up! Wake up! You’re going to freeze to death!” She screeched at both of them. Neither of them responded. “No! Oh StarClan , no!” She raised her voice into a heartrending wail. “Shadowface! Blaackhawk! Angelglow! Help!”
********************
YOOHOO
Yoohoo traveled beside Lizzie staying close to Kyestorm.
The wind howled through the mountains and snow fell thickly. Yoohoo looked at Lizzie wondering if she would make it. Her teeth chattered very loudly and ice started to form on her pelt. Yoohoo noticed that ice started to form on his body too.
'How much farther do we have to go? Me and Lizzie are gonna freeze to death soon.' Yoohoo thought with a sigh, and he tried snuggle closer to Kyestorm but he still shivered
“Angelglow!” Kyestorm cried, and jumped up with excitement sprawling YooHoo into the snow, and he rolled over and got to paws again. He was fine, just a little shaken up and covered in snow, he sighed and shook his fur. Now, he was even more cold in fact he felt frozen to the bone. His teeth chattered loudly and shivered more fiercely. 'Thanks a lot Angelglow and will we really freeze to death!'
He noticed Kyestorm giving him a worried look.
'She knows it too.' Yoohoo thought with a gasp, then spoke to the big red queen.
"I'm sorry Kyestorm, my fur isn't thick enough for this weather and I can usually find a place to stay warm and dry but there's nothing here."
"My fur isn’t thick enough for this weather either and it's bitter cold." Lizzie added.
Yoohoo nodded, agreeing with Lizzie.
"I know and I wish I could carry you, but I'm just to old and don't have the strength."
Yoohoo nodded understanding.
The wind blew harder and he knew a bad storm was on the way then heard Kyestorm say to Shadowface. "My kits went the wrong way!"
His eyes went wide and he thought. 'That's not good.'
Then heard Shadowface say that she and Cloudpatch would go find Kyestorm’s kin, and Kyestorm vowed to keep him and Lizzie warm.
Yoohoo felt the storm getting stronger, and saw that Kyestorm knew too. She dug a hole, then led him and Lizzie in.
Yoohoo snuggled down into Kyestorm warm fur but he was still cold. He dozed, then gasped when he saw Lizzie not moving. 'Oh no, Lizzie!' He thought, unable to mew, as the cold won over him. His eyes closed, and in panic snuggled more deeper into Kyestorm's fur, falling into a deep sleep.
After while he heard Kyestorm yowling "Wake-up! You're gonna freeze to death!" But couldn't wake-up, he felt Kyestorm jumping on him but still couldn't wake-up.
“What's going on? Am I dead?" He queried. Then he saw a cat coming up to him, his eyes went wide with shock. It was Lizzie, just as happy as she could be.
"Hi, Yoohoo it's good to see a familiar face."
"Lizzie, what's going on? Are we dead?"
"I don't know, but I like this place a lot better. It's warm and not so cold."
Before Yoohoo could respond another cat came up to him, one he did not recognize.
"Hello, who are you?"
"My name is Firestar and I have been watching you, Yoohoo, and you are not dead."
"Ok, then what is going on then Firestar?"
"You are in a coma."
"What about Lizzie?"
"I don't know about her."
"So, you're saying that I still could wake-up."
Firestar nodded.
"But, you're not sure about Lizzie."
Firestar shook his head. “She is giving up.”
Yoohoo just and sighed and watched Lizzie play.
"She seams so happy here. But, I am not ready to give up."
“Keep her occupied. Talk to her.” Firestar said, his green eyes gleaming. “Help is coming.” He turned away and faded into the warm forest.
“OK,” Yoohoo replied, and followed Lizzie, shouldering her so she didn’t leave this spot, while waiting to wake-up and join Kyestorm again in the chilly weather.
********************
The huge black half Maine Coon tom lead his patrol with certainly, stopping every so often to scent the air. Above the trees rocked in the blizzard’s fury, and a fierce wind blew snow into his face. A new very familiar scent mingled with the odors he remembered from his grandmother’s abduction. For moons, he followed the trail, trackng two-legs and their monsters into the mountains. The evening they saw strange bright green light flash in the mountains ahead, and heard a wild catfight. Backhawk heard his grandmother’s snarl, which echoed through the peaks. He and his patrol honed in on the green light, which faded, but Blackhawk fixated on the peak where the light flashed. But now stormclouds obscured the horizon, and whipped snow across the landscape.
“We’e close,” his cousin, Sunflight, meowed with excitement. “I knew that was her voice we heard a few sunrises ago!”
“Cat scent on the wind,” Blackhawk meowed, new hope filling his heart. “I think I smell Kyemama! Hope Cloudpatch is with her.”
“I sure do!” Spiderleap hurried up alongside Blackhawk. “She is that way.”
Blackhawk agreed with Spiderleap’s tail point. Angelglow glided to his side. Blackhawk glanced at his golden half sister, one of ThunderClan’s medicine cats.
“What would she be doing in this storm?” Angelglow mewed with worry.
“Trying to get home if she escaped the two legs that kidnapped her,” Blackhawk answered, then raised his voice to a wind piercing yowl. “Kyemamaaaaa!”
“Here, we are herrrrreeee!” the reply, muffled by snow, carried on the wind.
“We come!” Sunflight shrieked into the wind, her black tail lashing. Her long red ticked pelt lifted, crackling the crusty snow on her back. Blackhawk surged forward following the sounds. The patrol moved together in a tight formation, plowing a path through the deepening snow.
“Kyemamaaaa!” Angelglow cried into the wind.
“Angelglow!” Kyestorm’s voice floated in the wild wind.
“Kyemama!” Blackhawk called, his ears swiveling as her tried to pinpoint his grandmother’s location. They moved for most of the morning, but at sunhgh, Blackhawk paused with uncertainty.
“Kyemama!” Blackhawk’s yowled into driving snow.
“Blackawk!” Kyestorm’s answer sounded fainter.
“Kyemama!” Blackhawk screamed, his heart hammering, realizing they followed an echo.
“They’re going the wrong way!” Kyestorm’s distant wail confirmed his thought.
“The wind confused us,” Blackhawk wailed, rearing up o his hindlegs, peering past the snow, ears quivering as he struggled to pinpoint the sound. Sudden motion to his right drew his attention and he whirled, pelt bristling. Two feline shapes glided out of the snow haze, a long-haired tortoiseshell she-cat and one very familiar River Clan warrior.
“Cloudpatch!” Sunflight meowed in joy. Cloudpatch hurried up to her, and glanced at Blackhawk
“Hallo!” Cloudpatch yowled in joyous greeting. “This is Shadowface of Mountain Clan, and she is helping Kyemama! I found them!”
“Lead on!” Blackhawk met Shadowface’s unusual green gaze, and dipped his head in thanks. More time later to learn her story, he thought. Blackhawk ran at Cloudpatch’s heels. They headed up the ravine, and Shadowface surged ahead.
“Kyestorm! We found your kin!”
But before the call died on the wind, Kyemama’s voice, full of horror and despair, rang out over the rocky terrain.
“Wake up! Wake up! You’re going to freeze to death! No! Oh StarClan , no! Shadowface! Blaackhawk! Angelglow! Help!”
********************
The wind howled through the mountains and snow fell thickly. Yoohoo looked at Lizzie wondering if she would make it. Her teeth chattered very loudly and ice started to form on her pelt. Yoohoo noticed that ice started to form on his body too.
'How much farther do we have to go? Me and Lizzie are gonna freeze to death soon.' Yoohoo thought with a sigh, and he tried snuggle closer to Kyestorm but he still shivered
“Angelglow!” Kyestorm cried, and jumped up with excitement sprawling YooHoo into the snow, and he rolled over and got to paws again. He was fine, just a little shaken up and covered in snow, he sighed and shook his fur. Now, he was even more cold in fact he felt frozen to the bone. His teeth chattered loudly and shivered more fiercely. 'Thanks a lot Angelglow and will we really freeze to death!'
He noticed Kyestorm giving him a worried look.
'She knows it too.' Yoohoo thought with a gasp, then spoke to the big red queen.
"I'm sorry Kyestorm, my fur isn't thick enough for this weather and I can usually find a place to stay warm and dry but there's nothing here."
"My fur isn’t thick enough for this weather either and it's bitter cold." Lizzie added.
Yoohoo nodded, agreeing with Lizzie.
"I know and I wish I could carry you, but I'm just to old and don't have the strength."
Yoohoo nodded understanding.
The wind blew harder and he knew a bad storm was on the way then heard Kyestorm say to Shadowface. "My kits went the wrong way!"
His eyes went wide and he thought. 'That's not good.'
Then heard Shadowface say that she and Cloudpatch would go find Kyestorm’s kin, and Kyestorm vowed to keep him and Lizzie warm.
Yoohoo felt the storm getting stronger, and saw that Kyestorm knew too. She dug a hole, then led him and Lizzie in.
Yoohoo snuggled down into Kyestorm warm fur but he was still cold. He dozed, then gasped when he saw Lizzie not moving. 'Oh no, Lizzie!' He thought, unable to mew, as the cold won over him. His eyes closed, and in panic snuggled more deeper into Kyestorm's fur, falling into a deep sleep.
After while he heard Kyestorm yowling "Wake-up! You're gonna freeze to death!" But couldn't wake-up, he felt Kyestorm jumping on him but still couldn't wake-up.
“What's going on? Am I dead?" He queried. Then he saw a cat coming up to him, his eyes went wide with shock. It was Lizzie, just as happy as she could be.
"Hi, Yoohoo it's good to see a familiar face."
"Lizzie, what's going on? Are we dead?"
"I don't know, but I like this place a lot better. It's warm and not so cold."
Before Yoohoo could respond another cat came up to him, one he did not recognize.
"Hello, who are you?"
"My name is Firestar and I have been watching you, Yoohoo, and you are not dead."
"Ok, then what is going on then Firestar?"
"You are in a coma."
"What about Lizzie?"
"I don't know about her."
"So, you're saying that I still could wake-up."
Firestar nodded.
"But, you're not sure about Lizzie."
Firestar shook his head. “She is giving up.”
Yoohoo just and sighed and watched Lizzie play.
"She seams so happy here. But, I am not ready to give up."
“Keep her occupied. Talk to her.” Firestar said, his green eyes gleaming. “Help is coming.” He turned away and faded into the warm forest.
“OK,” Yoohoo replied, and followed Lizzie, shouldering her so she didn’t leave this spot, while waiting to wake-up and join Kyestorm again in the chilly weather.
********************
BLACKHAWK
The huge black half Maine Coon tom lead his patrol with certainly, stopping every so often to scent the air. Above the trees rocked in the blizzard’s fury, and a fierce wind blew snow into his face. A new very familiar scent mingled with the odors he remembered from his grandmother’s abduction. For moons, he followed the trail, trackng two-legs and their monsters into the mountains. The evening they saw strange bright green light flash in the mountains ahead, and heard a wild catfight. Backhawk heard his grandmother’s snarl, which echoed through the peaks. He and his patrol honed in on the green light, which faded, but Blackhawk fixated on the peak where the light flashed. But now stormclouds obscured the horizon, and whipped snow across the landscape.
“We’e close,” his cousin, Sunflight, meowed with excitement. “I knew that was her voice we heard a few sunrises ago!”
“Cat scent on the wind,” Blackhawk meowed, new hope filling his heart. “I think I smell Kyemama! Hope Cloudpatch is with her.”
“I sure do!” Spiderleap hurried up alongside Blackhawk. “She is that way.”
Blackhawk agreed with Spiderleap’s tail point. Angelglow glided to his side. Blackhawk glanced at his golden half sister, one of ThunderClan’s medicine cats.
“What would she be doing in this storm?” Angelglow mewed with worry.
“Trying to get home if she escaped the two legs that kidnapped her,” Blackhawk answered, then raised his voice to a wind piercing yowl. “Kyemamaaaaa!”
“Here, we are herrrrreeee!” the reply, muffled by snow, carried on the wind.
“We come!” Sunflight shrieked into the wind, her black tail lashing. Her long red ticked pelt lifted, crackling the crusty snow on her back. Blackhawk surged forward following the sounds. The patrol moved together in a tight formation, plowing a path through the deepening snow.
“Kyemamaaaa!” Angelglow cried into the wind.
“Angelglow!” Kyestorm’s voice floated in the wild wind.
“Kyemama!” Blackhawk called, his ears swiveling as her tried to pinpoint his grandmother’s location. They moved for most of the morning, but at sunhgh, Blackhawk paused with uncertainty.
“Kyemama!” Blackhawk’s yowled into driving snow.
“Blackawk!” Kyestorm’s answer sounded fainter.
“Kyemama!” Blackhawk screamed, his heart hammering, realizing they followed an echo.
“They’re going the wrong way!” Kyestorm’s distant wail confirmed his thought.
“The wind confused us,” Blackhawk wailed, rearing up o his hindlegs, peering past the snow, ears quivering as he struggled to pinpoint the sound. Sudden motion to his right drew his attention and he whirled, pelt bristling. Two feline shapes glided out of the snow haze, a long-haired tortoiseshell she-cat and one very familiar River Clan warrior.
“Cloudpatch!” Sunflight meowed in joy. Cloudpatch hurried up to her, and glanced at Blackhawk
“Hallo!” Cloudpatch yowled in joyous greeting. “This is Shadowface of Mountain Clan, and she is helping Kyemama! I found them!”
“Lead on!” Blackhawk met Shadowface’s unusual green gaze, and dipped his head in thanks. More time later to learn her story, he thought. Blackhawk ran at Cloudpatch’s heels. They headed up the ravine, and Shadowface surged ahead.
“Kyestorm! We found your kin!”
But before the call died on the wind, Kyemama’s voice, full of horror and despair, rang out over the rocky terrain.
“Wake up! Wake up! You’re going to freeze to death! No! Oh StarClan , no! Shadowface! Blaackhawk! Angelglow! Help!”
********************
KYESTORM
“Kyemama!”
“Angelglow! Over here!” Kyestorm turned her head, unwilling to uncover her prone companions. Her heart swelled with joy as Shadowface appeared over the slope, flanked by Cloudpatch, and her kin! Blackhawk, Sunflight, Spiderleap and Angelglow appeared out of the bliizard, and rushed to her side. Everyone crowded under the conifer branches.
“Are you hurt?” Angelglow meowed in deep concern.
“NO, but Yoohoo and Lizzie! They’re freezing to death! I’m trying to keep them warm but it’s not enough!” Kyestorm wailed.
“Here, rub their bodies. Rub the fur the wrong way.”Angelglow faced the incoming patrol, her expresion reminding Kyestorm of ThunderClan’s head Medicine cat, her son, Gentleoak, “Get over here. We need warm bodies!”
“I can help,” Shadowface said solemnly, coming up alongside the medicine cat. Angelglow canted back her ears, and Kyestorm merely waited for Shadowface’s body heat to touch her daughter’s face. Faint green auras flickered.The golden Maine Coon’s expression shifted in an instant.
“Come here! Your gift will save these two,” Angelglow moved aside, and every one pulled back.
“My Curse, you mean,” Shadowface growled, her eyes glowing. “Just don’t actually let anyone lean on me.”
The Mountain Clan cat dropped on her belly between Lizzie and Yoohoo while Blackhawk supported Lizzie and Kyestorm snuggled Yoohoo. The entire patrol surrounded the hollow, keeping the heat in while Angelglow massaged each patient. Yoohoo moaned, and opened his eyes after Angelglow kneaded and rubbed his body with her huge paws.
“Lizzie?” he called, blinking. He pushed himself to a sitting position, and noticed Lizzie’s predicament. “Lizzie!”
Angelglow turned her attention to Lizzie, performing the same brisk massage, and her silvery claws flashed in and out. Lizzie stirred, inhaling deeply. She blinked open her green eyes, meeting Yoohoo’s concerned gaze. Angelglow sat back, and Kyestorm exhaled with relief, glancing up at the storm-swept sky. “Thank you, Star Clan.”
“What happened?” she mewed. “I was having such a nice dream, of a warm forest. I didn’t want to go back in the cold.”
“You almost froze,” Kyestorm answered, a growl in her voice. “Both of you did. I couldn’t keep both of you warm enough.”
“Here, both of you eat this,” Angelglow insisted, taking a few herb from her travel bundle. “Then you must eat.”
“I’ll hunt,” Sunflight spoke up, and whirled away into the woods. Shadowface scowled, then followed. Angelglow drew out another herb from her bundle and dropped it on Kyemama’s paws.
“Eat that.”
“You remembered my joint medicine!” Kyestorm snapped up the leaves with delight, ignoring the weird flavor and texture.
“Of course, Kyemama,” Angelglow mewed, then eyed Lizzie. “Finish your medicine.”
Lizzie obeyed, flattening her ears, and lashing her tail. Yoohoo snuggled against her.
“Don’t give up again.” he meowed.
“But it was so warm and nice,” Lizzie murmured, munching a leaf.
“Please don’t ever give up again,” Blackhawk agreed, leveling his shrewd amber-gold eyes on Lizzie. You helped Kyemama, leaving your kittypet life, did you not?”
“Yes,” Lizzie straightened, a spark of indignation flaring in her eyes. Then she shivered. “But I’m so cold. I just want to sleep.”
“No,” Angelglow admondished. “Finish your herb. It will help your circulation.”
“We are in your debt,” Blackhawk added. “Your reward, should you accept, is to come home with us and become part of ThunderClan.”
“Yoohoo, too?” Lizzie asked, leaning into her friend.
“If he so wishes,” Blackhawk nodded, his eyes closing in a feline smile.
“I do!” Yoohoo answered with excitment and joy. “Oh, to have a family again!”
The scrabble of claws on stone interupted them. Kyestorm turned just as Sunflight skidded to a halt in front of her and dropped a large squirrel to the snow. Shadowface followed, carrying a mall rabbit.. Shadowface placed the rabbit on the ground in front of Lizzie before eyeing Kyestorm.
“Your granddaughter is amazing in the trees,” she commented. “If not a bit reckless.”
“Yes,” Kyestorm replied with a snort. “Crazy, but good. Better than SkyClan cats.”
“Oh, Kyemama,” Sunflight purred. “Hawkstar might not agree.”
“He may not, but he’d be denying reality,” Kyestorm said, reaching down to tear open the rabbit. She nosed the fresh kill to Lizzie. “Eat!”
Lizzie pulled the fresh kill to her chest and dove in. She ripped off chunks and offered them to Yoohoo, who gratefully accepted them. Sunflight pushed the squirrel over to Yoohoo.
“Both of you eat everything.”
“Yes, eat well,” Blackhawk said, scanning the darkening skies. “We start for home at sunrise.”
“Looks like you do not need me here any longer,” Shadowface interjected.
“You are welcome to come with us, too,” Blackhawk replied.
“Thank you, but I must return home, and back to my Clan.”
“Our deepest thanks for helping our Kyemama.” Blackhawk dipped his head.
“Yes,” Angelglow interupted. “But we still need you.”
“How so?” Shadowface scowled.
“Can you heat up that stone?” The medicine cat motioned with her bushy tail at the boulder behind Kyestorm. Kyestorm gaped.
“I don’t know.” Shadowface looked thoughtful. “I will try. Stand back.”
Everyone pulled away from the big rock. Shadowface’s eyes glowed, and Blackhawk gasped.
“The green light! The light that drew us here. It was you?”
Shadowface merely nodded, as green energy shot from her body and washed over the stone. The snow on top sizzled and evaporated. The wind moaned in the conifer branches, threatening to cool everything down again. Kyestorm hurried over, and dug down to the needle carpet, then motioned to Lizzie and Yoohoo. Both picked up their fresh kill, and obeyed, curling aganst the very warm stone. Kyestorm lay beside them, grunting at her stiff joints. Cloudptach settled in next to Lizzie, and the ThunderClan cats snuggled in around them. Blackhawk eyed the Mountain Clan cat.
“How did you do that?”
“It’s my curse, a long story,” Shadowface replied, canting back her ears in annoyance. Kyestorm flicked her tail over her grandson’t muzzle.
“Leave Shadowface to her secrets,” Kyestorm admondished, “It is enough she helped us.”
“Thank you,” Shadowface meowed, capitulating with a tail flick. “But I will tell you some of my tale as you get some rest. I will take watch.”
Kyestorm listened with rapt attention to the MountainClan’s story. Nobody slept until Shadowface leveled her sharp green gaze on them
“See why it is a curse?”
“Yes,” Angelglow answered, her sky-blue eyes shining. “But it can also be a gift. As you have done for us. Never forget that either.”
Shadowface merely grunted, turning her head to gaze through the falling snow into the forest. Angelglow reached out a huge silvery paw and touched Shadowface’s shoulder, ignoring the green shimmer just below the fur.
“Daughter!” Kyestorm yowled, and Shadowface whipped her head around to admondish the Medicine cat, but her jaw dropped instead. The golden Maine Coon’s paw remained untouched and pristine.
“I have gifts of my own,” Angelglow purred, and Kyestorm stared in shock. A shimmer of gold surrounded Angelglow’s paw. She pulled it away and tucked it under her chest. The medicine cat eyed her patients. “It is safe to sleep now.”
Kyestorm lay her head down, eyes on Shadowface, who gazed out into the woods, ears alert. Beside her Lizzie and Yoohoo fell into healthy healing sleep. Feeling safe, Kyestorm allowed herself to relax and drift off into restful slumber, surrounded by loving clanmates and one very special Mountian Clan cat.
When she woke the next morning, the storm left behind tattered clouds blowing on a stiff wind. The rising sun painted them in gold, scarlet and orange fire. The conifers sang their ancient song, dumping snow onto the forest floor. Shadowface sat watch, but Kyestorm saw weariness in the Mountain Clan cat’s body.
“Thank you, for everything,” Kyestorm purred.
“Happy to assist,” Shadowface replied, her body shedding the tired look. Around them, the cats stirred and Blackhawk took over.
“Wake! Time to move!” the black half Maine Coon tom yowled. “We’ll hunt on the way.”
Kyestorm sat up, then stretched, delighted that her joints creaked less. She felt ready to take on the journey, but worried for Lizzie and Yoohoo. Angelglow gathered her traveling bundle, and Blackhawk lay down while Sunflight helped Lizzie onto his broad back. Tiny YooHoo gratefully settled on Angelglow’s warm furry back. Both carriers draped their bushy tails over their passengers. Lizzie sighed with delight. Cloudpatch stood beside Blackhawk, glancing up at Lizzie, ready to help steady her. Spiderleap assisted Angelglow with YooHoo until the little tom disappeared under the medicien cat’s golden plume tail. Blackhawk stood before Shadowface.
“Thank you again,” Blackhawk sia din a soft purr. “ThunderClan will know of your deeds and you will never be forgotten.”
“Welcome, but I did only what any cat would do.” Shadowface flicked her tail. “Now I must take my leave. I’ve been gone too long already.”
“Of course,” Blackhawk mewed. “May StarClan light your path always.”
“Thank you,” Shadowface replied, dipped her head at Kyestorm. “My pleasure, Elder, to help you. May StarClan guide your journey home.” Shadowface then turned and vanished into the windy forest. Kyestorm watched a long moment.
“May StarClan guide you and bring an end to your curse,” Kyestorm purred, then turned to her clanmates. “Time to go home.”
As the successful search patrol headed down the hill, Kyestorm glanced back and saw Shadowface poised on the next hilltop. The sun illuminated her tortoiseshell pelt, and her green eyes shone. Kyestorm raised her tail in salute. The Mountain Clan cat returned the gesture, then disappeared over the ridge. Kyestorm longed to rest in the Elder’s den and recount her story, where ThunderClan will forever know of Shadowface. Kyestorm resumed her trot through the light fluffy snow, keeping pace with her daughter, trusting in her giant grandson to get them all home safe and sound.
YOOHOO
Yoohoo slowly opened his and let out a small groan, feeling large paws massaging his body.. 'I'm alive!'
He sat up on shaky paws and looked around he saw some new cats and waved his tail in greeting.
"Lizzle look at all new cats we got here." No response. "Lizzle, Lizzle! Lizzle wake-up!" He shook her but she didn't move, he thought about what Firestar said. "She's giving up." tears came to Yoohoo's eyes. "Lizzle no, don't give up on me. You've become my best friend! Please wake up, please!" Just when he thought all hope was lost, Angelglow turned her attention to Lizzie, performing the same brisk massage, and her silvery claws flashed in and out. Yoohoo watched in fascination. Lizzie stirred, inhaling deeply. She blinked open her green eyes, meeting Yoohoo’s concerned gaze.
"Lizzle I was so worried."
"What happened? I chasing a butterfly and all of sudden I woke up back in cold again." "I know but this is where we belong." Lizzle was about to protest, when a bundle herbs landed at her paws and same bundle landed at Yoohoo's paws. Both cats looked up into Angelglow's beautiful face, meeting her stern but kind sky-blue eyes. YooHoo licked his right up but Lizzle was hesitant.
"Lizzle what are ya doing? Why aren't ya eating those herbs?"
"I-" "don't ya wanna keep fighting?"
"No, I don't."
"Why?"
"I'm not like you Yoohoo, I just wanna go back to sleep and be back in that warm forest." 'Firestar help me out here.' Yoohoo thought with worry.
Angelglow eyed Lizzie. “Finish your medicine.”
Lizzie obeyed, flattening her ears, and lashing her tail. Yoohoo snuggled against her.
“Don’t give up again.” he meowed.
“But it was so warm and nice,” Lizzie murmured, munching a leaf.
“Please don’t ever give up again,” Blackhawk agreed, leveling his shrewd amber-gold eyes on Lizzie. You helped Kyemama, leaving your kittypet life, did you not?”
“Yes,” Lizzie straightened, a spark of indignation flaring in her eyes. Then she shivered. “But I’m so cold. I just want to sleep.”
“No,” Angelglow admondished. “Finish your herb. It will help your circulation.”
YooHoo watched until he saw Lizzle lick up the herbs.
Lizzie obeyed, flattening her ears, and lashing her tail. Yoohoo snuggled against her.
“Don’t give up again.” he meowed.
“But it was so warm and nice,” Lizzie murmured, munching a leaf.
“Please don’t ever give up again,” Blackhawk agreed, leveling his shrewd amber-gold eyes on Lizzie. You helped Kyemama, leaving your kittypet life, did you not?”
“Yes,” Lizzie straightened, a spark of indignation flaring in her eyes. Then she shivered. “But I’m so cold. I just want to sleep.”
“No,” Angelglow admondished. “Finish your herb. It will help your circulation.”
YooHoo watched until he saw Lizzle lick up the herbs.
"Oh, thank goodness." He breathed out. After a while he started to feel very hungry. He heard Lizzle's belly grumble too. Then he smelled food, his belly rumbled very loudly.
'I'll wait for Lizzle to eat first.' he thought. He watched her tear off a very big piece, and munch it down. Then she waved her tail for Yoohoo to join her, and he very happily joined her and together they finished the whole meal. With their bellies full they started to feel sleepy but wondered where they were gonna sleep, then they saw Shadowface heat up the rock under the tree bough.
'I hope it's warm.' Yoohoo thought and lay down in front of it. 'Oh! It is warm.'
He fell asleep very quickly, Lizzle cuddled right behind him and this it was a safe sleep.
“Wake! Time to move!” the black half Maine Coon tom yowled. “We’ll hunt on the way.”
YooHoo remembered what Blackhawk said earlier. He heard Lizzle say something that made his heart skip a beat, and Blackhawk asked if he wante to join, he happily answered "Yes I love too, I'll have a family again."
Then he felt himself getting picked up and placed on a warm furry broad back, and big furry tail covering his back like a blanket. He snuggled into the ThunderClan medicine'' cat's fur.
"Hold on tight, YooHoo," Angelglow said and moved down the hill. YooHoo gripped her neck with his front paws. He felt safe and warm.
"Oh, this feels so good and I'm going to join ThunderClan! This is a dream come true."
His heart soared as Angelglow merely purred her approval.
KYESTORM
The journey grew long, but Blackhawk kept a brisk pace. Kyestorm worried about Lizzie and Yoohoo, but they fared well. Hunters brought prey at night’s rest and morning rise. Even a fierce snow squall detered them not at all. Kyestorm scented the wind and caught familar whiffs. Finally on a bright moonlit night, with Silverpelt glittering above, they climbed over a rise, and ahead, the familiar lake shimmered in the moonlight. Yowls of joy went up from the patrol, and Kyestorm joined them. They raced down the hill onto the frozen surface.
“Phantomstarrrrr!” Blackhawk’s yowled.
“Is she with you? Did you find her?” Phantomstar’s query echoed over the lake.
“Yes!” Blackhawk yowled back, and suddenly answering yowls and cries filled the night from all around the lake. A lone figure burst from the forest of ThunderClan’s territory and rocketed out onto the ice. Kyestorm recognized that rolling, rocking gait and joy shot adrenaline into her limbs.
Kyeeeeeeee!” the familiar cry jump-started Kyestorm’s heart. Her huge paws flew, claws gouging up the frozen surface, flinging ice shards and snow into the air as she surged ahead of Blackhawk.. They glittered and flashed in the bright moonlight, as Kyestorm raced across the lake, leaving her patrol behind. She ignored Angelglow’s yowl of warning, trusting her instincts on the ice.
“Demon Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!” she cried.
Kyestorm’s heart swelled with joy she never before experienced, as he barreled into her. She reared up and they crashed chest to chest, wrapping their forelegs around each .They rolled together on the ice, rubbing faces in utter disbelief and delight, twining big bushy tails, and wrapping paws around each other’s necks. Snow and ice shards exploded around them, as if in celebration. Kyestom glanced up at Silverpelt and the moon, and realized she arrived home on Solstice Eve, the most wonderful day of Leaf Bare.
********************
KYESTORM
The journey grew long, but Blackhawk kept a brisk pace. Kyestorm worried about Lizzie and Yoohoo, but they fared well. Hunters brought prey at night’s rest and morning rise. Even a fierce snow squall detered them not at all. Kyestorm scented the wind and caught familar whiffs. Finally on a bright moonlit night, with Silverpelt glittering above, they climbed over a rise, and ahead, the familiar lake shimmered in the moonlight. Yowls of joy went up from the patrol, and Kyestorm joined them. They raced down the hill onto the frozen surface.
“Phantomstarrrrr!” Blackhawk’s yowled.
“Is she with you? Did you find her?” Phantomstar’s query echoed over the lake.
“Yes!” Blackhawk yowled back, and suddenly answering yowls and cries filled the night from all around the lake. A lone figure burst from the forest of ThunderClan’s territory and rocketed out onto the ice. Kyestorm recognized that rolling, rocking gait and joy shot adrenaline into her limbs.
Kyeeeeeeee!” the familiar cry jump-started Kyestorm’s heart. Her huge paws flew, claws gouging up the frozen surface, flinging ice shards and snow into the air as she surged ahead of Blackhawk.. They glittered and flashed in the bright moonlight, as Kyestorm raced across the lake, leaving her patrol behind. She ignored Angelglow’s yowl of warning, trusting her instincts on the ice.
“Demon Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!” she cried.
Kyestorm’s heart swelled with joy she never before experienced, as he barreled into her. She reared up and they crashed chest to chest, wrapping their forelegs around each .They rolled together on the ice, rubbing faces in utter disbelief and delight, twining big bushy tails, and wrapping paws around each other’s necks. Snow and ice shards exploded around them, as if in celebration. Kyestom glanced up at Silverpelt and the moon, and realized she arrived home on Solstice Eve, the most wonderful day of Leaf Bare.
********************
PHANTOMSTAR
ThunderClan’s leader paced Highledge, ignoring the blizzard fury which encompassed his camp. Cats snuggled in their dens, but Phantomstar’s thoughts lay with his younger sister and his cousins, who left moons ago in search of his beloved Kyemama. He paused, head up, tail out behind him, his thick pelt fluffed against the wind, creating an intimidating silhouette against the driving snow. His sea-green eyes roved the land beyond the camp, looking for any signs of the search party. The huge silver tabby Maine Coon paced again, flicking his gigantic white paws, extending and retracting his dagger claws.
“Why do you keep looking for them,” Phantomstar looked down at his father, Demonstone. The Elder glared at him from the Elder’s den, gold eyes full of despair.. “They’re gone. Lost with my Kyestorm.”
“I can never give up hope,” Phantomstar snapped back, sea-green eyes blazing. “I wish you did not.”
“I’m only being realistic,” Demonstone muttered, and turned away.
Phantomstar stood on the rock, letting the wind batter his body, recalling how much Kyemama loved the snow.
The storm dropped a swift deep blanket over the territories, but as day turned to dusk, the storm let up, and a few rips in the clouds allowed stars to shine. Phantomstar sat on his perch, watching, but after over two moons, his hope faded. The storm remnants blew eastward, with a strong breeze blowing snow twisters across the frozen lake, under a full silver moon. Ragged clouds scuttled on the wind, revealing Silverpelt as they parted and sailed away. Below, his father, Demonstone, shuffled out of the warm Elder’s den, and gazed up at the skies. The moon glowed, and Silverpelt twinkled, filling Phantomstar’s heart with grief. In the silent camp, he gazed at Silverpelt, realizing the Solstice stars and moon shone down on them.
“Oh, StarClan, Silverpelt brightly shines, on this Solstice night,” the high pitched song from his father’s soul reverberated through camp. A few groggy cats peered out of dens, ears up in surprise as Demonstone’s voice rolled out into the night. “Why, why have you taken my beloved, so far far away.”
“Demonpoppa?” Phantomstar asked. “Why the caterwauling?”
Phantomstar’s mate, Berryfrost, stood with him, but she looked not down at him, but across the lake. Her jaw hung open. Demonstreak and Sparkfire stumbled out of their den, blinking in the moonlight, and gazed down at his father. Phantomstar returned his attention to Berryfrost. What under StarClan shocked her to silence, when she usually blathered and yakked almost as much a Gabbiflight.
“Phantomstarrrrr!” The cry echoed across the lake, and Phantomstar jerked alert, recognizing Blackhawk’s strong yowl. Below, his father whirled, ignoring his stiff aching legs and exploded from mouth of the Elder’s den. He plowed through the snow, and scrambled up Highledge to stand beside him. From that vantage point, the whole lake became visible. To Phantyomstar’s delight, a familiar patrol of cats hurried across the ice at a swift pace. Phantomstar shook himself, and drew in a deep breath, bellowing his reply.
“Is she with you? Did you find her?”
“Yes!” Blackhawk yowled back, and suddenly answering yowls and cries filled the night from all around the lake.
“My beloved!” Demonstone leaped down from Highledge, and raced down to the shore, and onto the ice, his gait rolling and rocking, but his sure feet slipped not once. Phantomstar followed, surprised at his father’s sudden agility. The breezes brought him a beloved familiar scent, and astonished jubilation lifted every hair on his body. Ahead, Demonpoppa shot across the ice like a young warrior, adrenaline pumping strength into his old body.
“Kyeeeeeeee!” the Elder shrieked in utter joy, reverting back to her original name, and ahead, a huge shaggy shape separated from the patrol, and surged ahead. Phantomstar uttered a yowl of joy, recognizing his beloved Kyemama. She rocketed across the ice, her huge paws flying, and her claws gouged up the frozen surface, flinging ice shards and snow into the air. They glittered and flashed in the bright moonlight, as Kyemama raced across the lake leaving her patrol behind.
“Demon Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!” she cried.
Demonstone barreled into his beloved, as she crashed into him. They rolled together on the ice, rubbing faces in utter disbelief and delight, twining big bushy tails, and wrapping paws around each other’s necks. Snow and ice shards exploded around them, as if in celebration.
“I can’t believe it!” Demonstone wailed to the stars. “They found you!”
“Yes, after I escaped with Lizzie’s help.” Kyestorm purred. “I’m so happy we made it!”
“I’m beyond happy,” Demonstone purred, licking her face, wrapping all four legs around her. Silverpelt shimmered above them, in a kaleidoscope of pastel colors. Phantomstar caught up to his father and mother, bouncing around them like a kit, his mind momentarily as blank as a kit;’s until his sisters and brothers all crowded around him and the happy pair. He composed himself, and greeted Blackhawk and Sunflight.
“Well done,” he yowled “I’m so proud and grateful.”
“We had no intention of letting you down,” Blackhawk purred loudly. “If it took more moons,. We’d have searched forever to find Kyemama.”
“I know,” Phantomstar mewed.
“But we had unexpected help and what a tale I have to relay,” Blackhawk meowed, his eyes wide with excitment. Cats congregated on the ice, coming from every part of the lake, interupting the moment.. While they greeted their kin and Clan, Demonstone and Kyestorm never left each other’s sides, rising from the ice and moving as one entity. Happy reows and cries echoed over the lake as the other Clans learned of Kyestorm’s return. Indistar, Nightstar, Troutstar and Smokestar led their entire Clans to this impromptu Gathering in the middle of the lake. Ice creaked and thumped, echoing ominously across the lake, causing Phantomstar to raise his voice.
“To the Island! We gather under this special moon!”
“Come Beloved,” Demonspoppa meowed. “Let’s lead this parade!”
KYESTORM
The Five Clans gathered in the ancient spot, crossing the tree bridge onto the island. All cats surrounded Demonstone and Kyestorm, welcoming back CloudPatch, and ThunderClan’s patrol led by Blackhawk and Sunflight. They welcomed strangers Lizzie and Yoohoo, eager to hear their part in the rescue. Daisy accepted Lizzie immediately, and both chattered and mewed, tails up. YooHoo stood with uncertainty, until Daisy trotted over with Lizzie. Both twined tails with him, and, sandwiching him between them, they moved off, with Daisy explaining her nursery duties. Lizzie and YooHoo listened, enthralled, their whole demeanors relaxing. Kyestoom stood up, and pressed against her lifemate, feeling his warmth through her pelt.
Gabbiflight pushed her way through the crowd to stand in front of Demonstone, and then keened before rubbing her body on Kyestorm. Kyestorm uttered a moan and licked her daughter’s head vigorously. Her kits mewed is delight, joyful to finally meet their famous grandam Kyemama. Kyestorm dropped to her cheat to welcome her grandkits. They asked endless questions, burowing into her thick pelt to ambush each other.
“You and Firestrike had beautiful healthy kits,” Kyestorm murmured. “I was worried, with you being cousins.”
“We didn’t worry,” Gabbiflight prattled away. “We’re not first cousins and Firestrike’s mother is the great Firestar’s garnddaughter! Our blood mixd well, two wonderful lines! Our kits are strong, smart and healthy, not sick or defective. We couldn’t ignore our love.”
“I know,” Kyestorm cuckled deep in her chest. “I am ju happy the kits are perfect.”
Phantomstar finally reappeared, dragging a roe deer from the fresh kill pile across the fallen log bridge. He dragged it to the center of the clearing to offer to all in this Gathering place. Happy meowing, banter and laughter filled the snowy clearing. Moonlight glittered across the snow, whch sparkled in illusive pale colors in every gust of wind. Shimmerng snowtwisters sailed across the lake, as if StarClan itself danced in joy. Old memories flooded Kyestorm’s’s mind. She leaned into Demonstone, delighted apprentices brought them chunks of food.
“Do you know what day it is?” he asked.
“Should I?” Kyestorm queried, licking his ear, knowing full well the answer.
“Solstice,” Demonstone murmured. “Like you used to love, and Silverpelt glitters like Solstice lights. Star Clan brought you back to me, and look how the Clans celebrate.”
“Yes!” Kyestorm purred. “You’re right. Its a special night.”
“Oh, mighty StarClan, Silverpelt brightly shines on this Solstice night,” Demonstone keened, a high-pitched booming song lifted in joy. “Oh starry night, these stars shine so brightly, lighting the way, bringing my beloved back to me. Oh starry starry night, forever, we bow before StarClan every Solstice, in reverence and thanks.”
He closed his mouth and looked down, at a silent Gathering. Every cat faced them, eyes wide with emotion. Their grandkits sat with mouths ajar, then repeated the song. Kyestorm’s heart swelled and with her tail beckoned the kits to her. They raced to her, and jumped on her body, repeating Demonstone’s Solstice song.
Phantomstar flicked his bushy tail at his fellow Leaders and they took their places on the boughs of the Great Tree.
“Attention!” he cried out, his strident voice carrying across the lake. “In light of this joyous ocasion, I make this pronouncement. I, Phantomstar, Leader of ThunderClan, under the light of StarCan on this special night, decry that this night, every Leaf Bare, be a Great Gathering, called the Solstice Gathering, a day and night to celebrate everything we’re thankful to StarClan for, and to always remember the night our Kyemama returned to us.”
“I, Indistar, Leader of ShadowClan. . .” Indistar nodded at her sister.
“I, Smokestar, Leader of WindClan. . .” Smokestar dipped her head to her nephew.
“I, Nightstar, Leader of SkyClan. . .” He defered to his aunt’s mate.
“I, Troutstar, Leader of RiverClan. . .” Troutstar waved his tail.
“Agree, under StarClan, that this be so.” the four remaining Leaders answered in unison. Cheers reverberated in the clearing, and the Gathering continued, filling the island with sounds of joy. Demonstone gnawed a cracked bone, leaning into Kyestorm, who cheerfully told all the kits, and anyone else who desired to listen, the stories of her adventure. Kyestorm explained Lizzie’s part in her escape, and about an extraordinary MountainClan cat named Shadowface, who saved their lives. She finished her tale, and as everyone ate, Kyestorm glanced up at Silverpelt, silently thanking StarClan, Lizzie, Blackhawk’s determination, and the mysterious blessed Shadowface, for her Solstice Homecoming.
THE END!
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@Shadow face - Thanks so much for joining here! I am honored!!!
Razz - Thanks for your part in this tale!
Thanks to everyone who participated and created a character! They are part of the NEW BLOOD world!