Northern Star
A cool evening lingered over the forest. Northstar padded out of her den and stretched her aching muscles against the cold of the leaf-bare. Her old bones popped and cracked with her movements, the ache of age settling deep within her paws. Yet, she smiled at the activity of the camp and sat down with her tail neatly covering her paws. Cedarstorm was sending out patrols, with each passing day, he was growing into a finer deputy even with Ashrock’s recent betrayal. Speaking of the dark gray warrior, Ashrock was getting an earful from Snowdance for treading his large paws on her herbs. The gray warrior flattened his ears and stalked off to go find her some more. Many kits were playing outside the nursery under the watchful eye of their mothers. Whorlkit had pulled most of the other kits out into a game, they were all playing tag and Rustlekit was it. The blind she-kit was stalking after a hidden Strikekit. Northstar swallowed down a familiar feeling of longing.
Snow covered the camp in a thick blanket and even drifted like starlight from the sky. ShadowClan was bustling with activity, as peaceful as it had been in moons. Northstar tucked her paws underneath her, laying down as it appeared the Clan didn’t need her for anything. There was no danger, no trouble, just typical Clan life. Even though she sat all by herself, Northstar didn’t feel lonely. She purred, watching as Tumblepaw and Burningpaw chased a beetle through the thick piled snow. Oakstalk was taking Honeypaw out for training, and Frogleap and Hollowpool were sharing prey by the medicine den. A soft warmth of satisfaction rumbled in the leader’s heart when Cedarstorm assigned Stormfury to a border patrol—with neither Cloudscar, Cherryvine, or even the deputy himself to keep an eye on him. Over at the far end of camp, Falcontalon was sharing tongues with Roseleaf, with nothing but love between the two of them. Raggedthorn was a few paces away telling a story to Crystalpaw and Oakpaw while the two apprentices cleaned his fur. Out of the warriors den, Cliffheart padded alongside Owlshadow, a brightness in his gaze as he spoke with her. Northstar smiled softly, darkness finally haunted that tom no more.
Northstar took a deep breath, closing her eyes to enjoy the sounds around her. The scent of the frozen pines filled her nostrils and rumbled a purr from her throat. Kits laughed in their games, apprentices trained, warriors worked hard and loved deeply, the elders told their stories, and the queens watched ever vigilantly over their kits. This was her home, this was her Clan. ShadowClan was her everything.
“Need some company?”
Northstar opened her eyes and smiled when Closesky padded up to her. Besides Raggedthorn, he was the only cat older than her. The son of her father’s brother, Closesky had been with her at every turn. He played with her when she was a kit, helped train her when she was an apprentice, watched proudly when she became a warrior and supported her more than anyone throughout her leadership. He was the only one she let see at her lows and the one she trusted above all. “I’ll always welcome your company, Closesky.”
The elder laid down next to her, close enough that their pelts could share warmth against the cold. “You haven’t been doing much lately.”
“I know.” Northstar smiled softly at him, his concern ever in his voice and it was nice to hear. “I am tired, but I enjoy watching the Clan. Your son is making me very proud, Closesky.”
Closesky huffed. “I assume you mean Cedarstorm.” He nodded lightly. “I never thought one of my kits would be deputy.”
“I believe him to be the best choice.” Northstar leaned against him, though she had just come from her den, weariness was tiring her muscles. Perhaps it was the cold. “He’s got traits that even you don’t have, Closesky.”
“Are you alright, Northstar?” Closesky looked at her with a furrow in his brow, her weight grew heavier against him with the passing seconds.
“Like I said, I’m tired.” Northstar turned her gaze to watch the Clan, smiling softly. “I’m surprised you’re still as lean and as mobile as ever. Though, I suppose I can’t recall a day when you didn’t train and beat yourself into shape.”
His warm tongue licked her ear and he pressed against her. “You still got plenty of life left in you.”
“Perhaps.” Northstar blinked slowly, lifting her gaze to his. Sorrow brimmed his proud green eyes as he looked back at her. “Thank you, Closesky.”
“Is there anything you need?” The elder’s voice cracked and he pressed further against her. “We should get you in your den, Northstar, you’re freezing.”
Yet, the ShadowClan leader shook her head. “No. I just want to be out here.” She turned her gaze back toward the Clan and warmth filled her heart. “I want to be out with my Clan.”
Closesky could only nod back to her, his ears pulled back with the grief within him. Northstar laid her head on his paws, his warm tongue gently cleaned her pelt in rhythmic strokes. She could hear his heart beating against his chest, an aching drum that shouted the words he couldn’t say. Northstar turned her gaze back to the activity of the camp. Snakesong followed Smokestorm around the camp, the gleam of her affection plain in her eyes, yet the lazy tom missed it every time. Lionscorch and Songbreeze were pressed together against the cold, their gazes flirting toward the nursery with hopes and fears of their own. Eaglesight, Shadedpine, Hiddendream, and Viperpool were all caught up in conversation. Tigerfury was ready to take Foxshadow, Flintclaw, and Shortcloud out of camp for a hunting patrol. Kinkfire and Stormcloud were sitting closer together than usual while Cloudflight and Cardinalblaze worked on patching up the elder’s den roof.
Northstar smiled. Every warrior, every apprentice, every kit, queen, and elder. She knew every single cat that walked the camp before her. She knew their history, she knew their natures, she knew their potential, and watched them all grow. Cliffheart had come to the Clan broken and lost in darkness, but was now a proud and self-assured warrior. Tigerfury, Littlemoon, and Jaysong were kits of a banished ThunderClan she-cat that no one saw hop in, but now led the Clan as warriors admired. Goldberry had endured trial after trial yet walked among them as a loyal warrior. She could go on and on, having been here through it all and seeing many cats come and go.
ShadowClan, Northstar purred, she slowly closed her eyes, a smile upon her face.
My ShadowClan.
“They certainly are.”
Northstar opened her eyes at the sound of the new voice. A black she-cat sat beside her, deep blue eyes watching the Camp in front of them. Around the she-cat’s right eye was a white crescent moon of fur. Immediately, Northstar was on her paws. “Moonstar!”
The former leader purred softly, glancing over at Northstar, stars danced in her pelt like they did in the night sky. “Northstar.”
“What are you doing here?” Northstar almost stepped forward to nuzzle her grandmother, but she paused. For a fleeting moment, her gaze glanced down at Closesky, yet he was unaware that she had even moved. Northstar had to do a double take. Her cousin was still cleaning her pelt, his ears back in grief. Northstar’s body laid still against the old elder.
“No.” Northstar shook her head. Stepping back, she looked from her body and back to Moonstar. “It can’t be now.”
“It is, my dear one.” Moonstar nodded calmly, understanding reflecting in her eyes. “It’s time to come home.”
“But ShadowClan--”
“Has flourished because of you.” The former leader gently cut Northstar off. “For seasons, you have led ShadowClan through every hardship. You have shown grace, dignity, and pride throughout your leadership. As we once said, your reign was written in the stars, and you’ve have become a leader ShadowClan will be proud of forever.”
“I…” Northstar looked back toward the Clan, her ears falling back in uncertainty. “I’m honored, Moonstar, but Cedarstorm--”
“Can learn no more from you.” Moonstar smiled softly. “Now, he must learn to lead on his own. It is time he makes his own success and his own mistakes. Northstar, you have given every part of yourself for ShadowClan. You have sacrificed your own dreams, your own family, for the sake of this Clan. It is time for you to rest.”
Northstar shook her head, sorrow tightening in her throat. “Leading ShadowClan is all I know. What could be beyond that?”
“I’m glad you asked.” Moonstar purred and stepped toward the younger leader. “Take another look at your Clan, Northstar.”
The star printed leader hesitated. Looking back at her Clan would only well grief within her soul. How could she give up those she had cared about for so long? How could she walk away from the apprentices aspiring to be stronger? The kits that would experience so much through life? And the friends and deep connections she made along the way?
Yet, the stars danced within ShadowClan’s camp. Northstar gasped in tearful surprise as a black warrior with white feather-like patches walked through Eaglesight’s conversation. His pelt sparkled and shone, yellow eyes looking upon Northstar with the deepest affection. Northstar’s voice cracked with joyful sobs. “Ravenstrike!”
She would’ve run to her long, lost mate, but another starlit cat stepped from the activity of the camp. His pelt was the color of the darkest shadow like his name. Beside him padded a she-cat painted with black and white dapples. “Father! Mother!”
One by one the stars filled the camp. Alongside Ravenstrike, Darkshadow, and Dappleleaf came her sister: Songecho, her uncles: Jaggedclaw and Tigerfrost, Blizzardstorm the former medicine cat, Duskpaw, her old friend. Then Talonfury, Lizardstripe, Crimsontail, Bateyes, Batflight, Longsight, Loneraven, and Pouncefire kin by blood, but close in heart. Brightmask, Nightstrike, Swiftleap, Brightflame, Grizzleyheart, Onyxheart, Softmist, Lionshade, Mistyflower, and so many more beloved Clanmates that Northstar never thought she would see again stepped through the camp. Each looking upon her with warmth and happiness. Northstar’s heart was overwhelmed. Joyous emotion and grieving loss overflowed from her like a wild waterfall. Even members of the other Clans padded through the camp entrance. Scarstar, former leader of WindClan, Silverstar, former leader of ThunderClan, Rain and Blazestar, leaders of RiverClan, Hopestar and Russetfall, leaders of SkyClan. Every outsider that she had assisted or her life had effected for the better walked through the camp entrance, gratefulness shining in their eyes.
“Come home, Northstar.” Ravenstrike stepped closer to her, a loving smile upon his face. “We’ve missed you.”
She almost went to him. How easy it was to lift and paw and reach for that first step. Yet, she hesitated. A crack split her heart in two and she glanced back at Closesky behind her. The elder was ever taking care of her, cleaning her pelt though her breaths were weakening. He didn’t call for Snowdance, he didn’t alert the Clan. Instead, tears rolled from his closed eyes and he continued to care for her, continued the promise he made so long ago. He even knew.
Northstar suddenly bounded toward the Clan Rock, leaping upon it with ease. She held her head high, pride shining in her eyes at the Clan that laid before her. “I thank you all for the lives I got to live. I am the proudest leader in all the Clans!” She let her gaze sweep the camp, looking at each face and committing them all to memory. Every starlit warrior and every Clanmate that knew not of what was happening. This was the greatest life she could’ve ever lived. To give her all to what she loved most and leave it in the comfort and peace of knowing they would be just fine without her. “I love you, ShadowClan. I will watch over you always.”
When Ravenstrike stepped below Clan Rock, Northstar jumped down beside him, pressing her fur into his like she had dreamed so many times before. Joy lifted her spirits. Her parents and sister each rushed to her side, nuzzling against her in close reunion. Overwhelming warmth filled Northstar’s heart and banished the cold of the falling snow.
One by one the starlit cats turned to slip away into the shadows, blending with it like the night was their second pelt. Northstar watched them go with wonder, knowing that beyond those shadows was the StarClan hunting grounds. Her heart skipped a beat in excitement.
“Are you ready?” Ravenstrike took one step to follow after Darkshadow and Dappleleaf, but he paused for her sake.
Northstar took one last look around the ShadowClan camp. Her whole life had been within this territory. This had been her home, her heart. Warriors continued their day without any knowledge of what she was experiencing. Apprentices skidded through camp and practiced training moves while the kits were running around playing. A rumbling purr rose from Northstar’s throat at everything her eyes fell upon. She had endured so much as ShadowClan’s leader: at a young age, she gained the respect of her Clanmates, proved herself a strong leader to the other Clans. She fought with honor against AdderClan, made allies, and had the other leaders wishing for her respect. She had stood her ground, opened her borders and strengthened the Clans as a whole. Northstar shook her head, grief in her heart at how much she would miss ShadowClan, but she nodded back to her mate, smiling with warm pride. “ShadowClan will be fine. I’m ready.”
Ravenstrike smiled brightly, entwining his tail with hers. His fur was as warm as the morning dawn when Northstar leaned into him, a strong sense of belonging bringing a smile to her face. With each step she took, stars twinkled upon her pelt, shining brighter and brighter as the moments passed by. Into the shadows, the long lost lovers went together. Mist swirled up and around them and the lights upon their pelt dappled like fireflies into the night, yet neither held any fear. Night descended upon the land, the shadows stretching great lengths over ShadowClan’s territory. Due to the north, a new star lit up the sky, ever to be watchful upon the Clan she loved down below.