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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Mar 14, 2023 14:36:01 GMT -5
"There was no one." Berrywatcher finally spoke. "No one better. No one more passionate. No one else I could rely on." He shook his head, looking Eclipsesky up and down. His next words were almost breathless. "What did I do wrong? Had I spent too much time with Scarstar? Had I put too much responsibility on you too soon? Had I not been there enough?" His crestfallen eyes met Eclipsesky's. "Why?"
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Post by Icefire15 on Mar 14, 2023 14:48:06 GMT -5
Snowdance settled down along with the other medicine cats and touched the Moonstone lightly with her nose. She closed her eyes with a sigh, hoping to find some answers about the Prey Maulers or the prophecy Northstar had given her.
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Mar 14, 2023 14:55:55 GMT -5
ShadowClan's territory dappled with StarClan when Snowdance opened her eyes. The air was serene, as peaceful as when Snowdance usually arrived in StarClan's hunting grounds. Yet, a black tom sat a few tail lengths away from her. He wasn't looking at her. In fact, his black eyes were directed off and loneliness crippled his expression.
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Post by Willow on Mar 14, 2023 15:00:21 GMT -5
Eclipsesky stood, looking pleadingly at Berrywatcher "NO! This has nothing to do with you. It's my fault, everything is my fault. You were a faithful mentor, you taught me everything you knew. I looked up to you greatly, I... I still do. You were everything I ever wanted to be, you never strayed from your duty. I may have been young, but I never regretted becoming your apprentice. I am weak Berrywatcher, I don't know what happened. I tried to make amends but no matter what I do, something else seems to happen and I step over that line again. Please, tell me how to make it better."
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Post by Icefire15 on Mar 14, 2023 15:02:22 GMT -5
Snowdance sat up, looking at the black tom that sat before her. She flicked her ear, not recognizing the warrior before her, “Hello, who are you? Have you come to give me a message?” She mewed, dipping her head respectfully to the StarClan warrior. Even if she hadn’t recognized him, it didn’t mean she could be rude to him.
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Mar 14, 2023 15:11:53 GMT -5
"Stay true, Eclipsesky." Berrywatcher shook his head. "Pass that line again and StarClan will forsake your rank. I will not be able to help you. We are medicine cats. The Clan comes first. Ourselves come last. If you cannot walk the path then remove yourself from it. It is better to admit fault than to live a lie."
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Mar 14, 2023 15:14:33 GMT -5
The black tom slowly shook his head. He turned his pitch black eyes in Snowdance's direction, but it didn't appear like he could see her. "She's gone. Lost raven flown away. StarClan redeemed her sacrifice and she betrayed it. She...moved on...from me..."
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Post by Foxstar26 on Mar 14, 2023 15:20:36 GMT -5
Dawnshadow let out a cry as pain shot through her. She couldn’t see anything clearly. Large lumbering shapes, muzzles that looked like foxes or dogs. All she could smell was blood and fear. Oh Starclan what did this mean?
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Post by Willow on Mar 14, 2023 15:28:49 GMT -5
Eclipsesky shook with anguish, tears welling in his eyes. "Stay true." He laughed weakly, a broken sound. "Don't you think I've been trying Berrywatcher? No matter what I do, my emotions won't stay in check. It's making me miserable. I have tried time and time to put my clan first, I did for a long time. But, when is it my turn to be happy? When is it time to stay true to me? I don't think I'm fit for this role anymore, I've served the clan the best I could. It just wasn't good enough. Dawnshadow is more than capable of being Windclan's medicine cat on her own, she will stay true far better than I ever could."
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Mar 14, 2023 15:42:01 GMT -5
Berrywatcher watched him with eyes unjudging. He felt his own turmoil due to Eclipsesky's choices, but the tom had been like a brother to him, both of them so young to be thrust into their roles. He felt for Eclipsesky. Berrywatcher had given everything to the Clan and he was given a tornado in return. "Step down, Eclipsesky," Berrywatcher said softly. "Retire. You don't need my permission. Just do it. Retire and you will be free to be true to yourself. If you are so miserable. End your turmoil."
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Post by Willow on Mar 14, 2023 16:18:39 GMT -5
Eclipsesky went still, letting Berrywatcher's permission wash over him. It was everything he had wanted to hear, but it still broke his heart to hear it. Berrywatcher had meant everything to him when he was young, and knowing that his mentor wouldn't be furious with his decision placed a new sense of peace within him. He got to his paws, padding forward to touch noses with his former mentor. "I assume this is the last time I will see you then old friend. I hope I will redeem myself one day to join you in the ranks of Starclan when my time comes. It has been an honor to serve as Windclan's medicine cat."
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Post by Foxstar26 on Mar 14, 2023 16:20:28 GMT -5
Dawnshadow woke, gasping for air. She scrambled back from the moonstone. Her fur was fluffed and eyes wide. What had that all meant? Had Eclipsesky had a similar vision? She tried to slow her heartbeat, trying to calm down as to not disturb anyone else.
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Mar 14, 2023 16:32:05 GMT -5
Berrywatcher flattened his ears in a pang of sorrow when Eclipsesky touched noses to him, but he didn't move away. His voice came out as a soft whisper. "I hope you find what you're looking for and I hope it makes you happy."
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Post by Icefire15 on Mar 14, 2023 16:42:18 GMT -5
The black tom slowly shook his head. He turned his pitch black eyes in Snowdance's direction, but it didn't appear like he could see her. "She's gone. Lost raven flown away. StarClan redeemed her sacrifice and she betrayed it. She...moved on...from me..." Snowdance blinked in surprise when she saw his blind eyes, listening to his words and hearing the sorrow and loneliness in his voice, “What do you mean? Who is she? Where has she gone?” She asked, trying to understand him. |
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Post by Willow on Mar 14, 2023 16:43:30 GMT -5
Eclipsesky gave Berrywatcher a bittersweet smile as he stepped back, the landscape around him starting to fade away. "Me too Berrywatcher."
As Eclipsesky awoke slowly, blinking his eyes open and taking in the cats still sleeping around him. He sat up, suddenly feeling empty. The moonstone no longer held the comforting energy he had grown to love. It felt no different than the stones that made up the tall rock. A tear fell as he realized this was his last half-moon with Starclan, his connection was gone.
He turned, hearing Dawnshadow's panicked breathing. He pulled himself together, knowing he had to help his apprentice. He could mourn his losses later. "Are you alright Dawnshadow?"
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Mar 14, 2023 16:52:30 GMT -5
The black tom slowly shook his head. He turned his pitch black eyes in Snowdance's direction, but it didn't appear like he could see her. "She's gone. Lost raven flown away. StarClan redeemed her sacrifice and she betrayed it. She...moved on...from me..." Snowdance blinked in surprise when she saw his blind eyes, listening to his words and hearing the sorrow and loneliness in his voice, “What do you mean? Who is she? Where has she gone?” She asked, trying to understand him. |
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Post by Foxstar26 on Mar 14, 2023 16:56:47 GMT -5
Dawnshadow looked at Eclipsesky as he awoke. He seemed different somehow but she couldn’t put her paw on it. She forced her fur to lie flat and shook her head. “I had a vision…” she whispered. “Did I wake you?”
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Post by Moonblazer on Mar 14, 2023 17:06:47 GMT -5
Peachdapple watched, the darkness around her making her fur prickle, and yet all she could scent was the familiar and angering scent of a cat she had detached from her life long ago. Her father’s stench clung around the black dirt and undergrowth that seemed to claw at her pelt. She was not afraid. Never would she ever be afraid of such a place. She knew this place, and knew why she scented him.
She saw the dark shadow of him slinking around, and her voice rose to a low scoff.
“Really? You expect me to believe that you of all cats could have any kind of influence over Starclan? Coward. That’s all you’ve ever been.” Peachdapple watched the shadowed cat circle around her in the undergrowth. She could see the black fur, even the shock of white Wrenflight had. This was surely a vision, and she felt a flash of angered determination realizing that he must be planning something.
Her claws extended. Vision or not, she knew how real a threat could be, even in dreams. She faced her father with her chest squared, having as little care for him as he had for her his entire life.
What she did not expect, was for not her father to slink out towards her, but instead the silent and startling visage of her brother instead. Her cold anger melted into a confused horror, as she watched another set of paws reach out of the shadows and circle around Silentflare’s shoulders.
In an instant, Peachdapple realized what this was, and a furious bellow, rich with desperation and volume, escaped her throat.
“Don’t you dare go near him! Do you understand me?! I won’t let you!”
She sprang forwards then, claws extended as she tried to rush towards where Silentflare was being swallowed by shadows. As soon as she reached them though, her paws scrabbled on thin air, the darkness around her exploding with lightning, clouds swarming up into the sky as she felt her body ripple with the sensation of falling. Screeches filled her ears, lightning cracking and fading with a final crash in the air. Around her, the chill of mist and the echoes of the screeches filled her ears, her mouth, her eyes.
Behind her, she turned in the air, and saw a swarm of darkness falling behind her, the warping shapes in the shadows changing from frightening phantoms to terrified spectors, yelping, screaming, falling!
Peachdapple closed her eyes as she hurtled down, one final voice whispering in her ear.
“Jump. You will never fall.”
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Post by Willow on Mar 14, 2023 17:25:12 GMT -5
Softmist appeared behind Opalmist, placing her tail over the cat she had raised as her own in comfort. "Be still Opalmist. There is nothing you can do for your daughter. She has chosen her own path much like you have chosen yours. I have come to say goodbye." she mewed, voice heavy with sadness. "The clans will soon know of your children. You will be cast out and your connection to Starclan will be severed. There is nothing more I can do for you." The old queen laid her head on Opalmist's much like she had done time and time again when they had walked together in Shadowclan. "I wish you luck on your journey, may you find happiness and peace. It is all I ever wanted for you."
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Post by Moonblazer on Mar 14, 2023 17:36:10 GMT -5
Softmist appeared behind Opalmist, placing her tail over the cat she had raised as her own in comfort. "Be still Opalmist. There is nothing you can do for your daughter. She has chosen her own path much like you have chosen yours. I have come to say goodbye." she mewed, voice heavy with sadness. "The clans will soon know of your children. You will be cast out and your connection to Starclan will be severed. There is nothing more I can do for you." The old queen laid her head on Opalmist's much like she had done time and time again when they had walked together in Shadowclan. "I wish you luck on your journey, may you find happiness and peace. It is all I ever wanted for you."
She tried to run to the comfort of her, tried to bury her muzzle into her fur, and yet her body felt unmovable. She felt a rush of misery at the she-cat's words. She had dreaded this day, even if she had always known deep down that it would happen. All she had worked for, what she had given up to stay Shadowclan's medicine cat apprentice... she knew then, that she had made the wrong decision, and the hardest part was that she could feel that it was the kits that would suffer for it.
It was her fault. It was all her fault.
"I... I don't... I can't..." She stammered, voice rich with panic. Memories not of her own seemed to screech in her mind, and her head began to ache fiercely. "I never wanted to hurt them! I just wanted to... I..." She sobbed. "Please, punish me! Starclan, the Dark Forest, anything but my kits! Anything!" She begged through the torrent of loss as the connection began to sever. She wanted so badly to reach farther into Softmist's embrace. |
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Post by Willow on Mar 14, 2023 17:58:25 GMT -5
Softmist hummed a soft shhh, licking Opalmist's head. She took a step back from her, misty eyes matching her daughter's. "I will watch over them the best that I can. That, I promise you. The connection is already being broken Opalmist, I must bid you goodbye. I love you, my dear. Be strong." Softmist's body became hazier and hazier until she faded away altogether leaving only a trace of the sweet milk scent she had carried.
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Post by Foxstar26 on Mar 14, 2023 18:38:13 GMT -5
Dawnshadow looked at Eclipsesky as he awoke. He seemed different somehow but she couldn’t put her paw on it. She forced her fur to lie flat and shook her head. “I had a vision…” she whispered. “Did I wake you?” |
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Post by Moonblazer on Mar 14, 2023 18:54:28 GMT -5
Softmist hummed a soft shhh, licking Opalmist's head. She took a step back from her, misty eyes matching her daughter's. "I will watch over them the best that I can. That, I promise you. The connection is already being broken Opalmist, I must bid you goodbye. I love you, my dear. Be strong." Softmist's body became hazier and hazier until she faded away altogether leaving only a trace of the sweet milk scent she had carried.
It was familiar, and she couldn't understand why, and yet... this part of her? It was agony.
"I'm sorry!" She sobbed. "I'm so sorry!"Opalmist awoke with a ragged gasp, body coiled with tension and agony. She scrambled back from the Moonstone, unable to feel sensations that had become second nature to her. The air was still and cold, and mothermouth no longer whispered their ancient secrets to her. She held back a sob, unable to show or tell what she knew now in front of the other Medicine cats. Instead, she ushered herself towards the back of the cavern at the entrance, waiting shakily for Snowdance. Please. Please, she had to leave. |
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Post by Icefire15 on Mar 14, 2023 19:02:11 GMT -5
Snowdance lowered her head, his grief almost overwhelming her. He must have been talking of a lost mate, to feel such sadness like this. “I see. I think… I think I understand.” She mewed, looking back up at the warrior, his name still unknown to her. She vaguely remembered stories of a deputy named Lostraven, but it had been so long since she had heard those stories. Could this be who the StarClan warrior be talking about. “I’m truly sorry for your loss.” She murmured.
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Post by Willow on Mar 14, 2023 19:08:59 GMT -5
Eclipsesky shook his head, eyes searching his apprentice's "No, my dream was over. You didn't wake me. You can tell me what you saw on the way back to camp if you would like. Until then we must wait for the others to wake up."
He jumped at Opalmist's equally alarming rising, he blinked as he watched her hurry towards the cave mouth. He frowned looking back at Dawnshadow. "Trouble must be coming for Shadowclan as well."
The longer he sat by the moonstone, the more he felt like he no longer belonged amongst the circle of medicine cats. The faint whispers were gone, the stone now looked dull even with the moon's light shining down on it. He stood, backing away from it and motioning for Dawnshadow to follow, "Come we'll wait at the entrance as well."
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Post by Moonblazer on Mar 14, 2023 19:15:58 GMT -5
Peachdapple's eyes snapped open, the final words of her dream sending a wave of confusion and sudden, heavy finality to her heart. Her eyes darkened as she narrowed them at the Moonstone, the image of her father getting his paws around Silentflare burned into her mind. If the Dark Forest, and her father, wanted to put their paws on her kin, she would fight with all of Starclan to stop it. That sign seemed simple enough.
It was the falling that truly startled her. The lightning, the chilling screeches around her, the mass of shadows that fell behind her as she hurtled down with the dark, stormy sky around her. The final words echoing in her mind.
"Jump. You will never fall."
Peachdapple swallowed at the implication of the words, not sure what to make of that vision just yet. What she did know, as she slowly rose to her paws, was that she needed to see Silentflare, and she needed to see if he was already tainted by their father's selfish and hateful claws. She looked towards Aspenfall, feeling a wave of emotion that she couldn't explain, as if she only had few fleeting moments left with him.
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Post by Foxstar26 on Mar 14, 2023 20:05:21 GMT -5
Dawnshadow nodded her eyes, moving to hurry out of the cave. Her fur prickled with unease. What did it mean? All she knew was Windclan was in danger. She hoped Eclipsesky might make sense of the vision, perhaps having one of his own.
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Post by Frozen on Mar 14, 2023 21:07:20 GMT -5
Aspenfall awoke to the sensation of grass tickling his nose. The medicine cat stood and observed his surroundings, flicking his ear in curiosity. This place didn't seem like StarClan or ThunderClan; there were no trees in sight and nothing but grass beneath his paws. WindClan? he wondered to himself before shaking his head. This didn't seem like the moor either.
He saw a flash of movement in the grass and felt the itch to hunt in his paws. A mouse scurried from the undergrowth, followed by yet another before his eyes. Before the medicine cat could consider if he was actually dreaming, prey began rushing out in droves all around him in a way that he couldn't imagine. Realization struck Aspenfall at the sight. I'm not supposed to be looking at the scenery. This has to be an omen. His heart began to race as he watched to see what StarClan was attempting to show him. It was rare for him to receive omens; he figured they went to Peachdapple instead.
Prey of different kinds continued to surround Aspenfall in silence before they all stopped and faced him. The silence as the creatures stared at him, unblinking, gave him a chill down his spine. All at once, chaos erupted. The animals began lunging at one another, biting and clawing, as he was deafened by the sudden fight. Some of the creatures went down fighting and covered in blood; others fell to an unseen force. Aspenfall flattened his ears and turned away from the carnage. Great StarClan!
As if StarClan heard his expression, the noise of battle faded. Aspenfall turned back to the scene for one more moment before jolting awake. He was back at the Moonstone and completely unharmed. He immediately turned to Peachdapple and saw she was awake. Had she received an omen, too? Or was her visit peaceful? The look on her face did nothing to reassure him, and he tried to smooth the ripple on his spine. Is StarClan warning us of famine?
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Mar 14, 2023 21:16:42 GMT -5
Spiderbite took a deep breath of anticipation before he opened his eyes to the wide skies of StarClan. He let out a gasp of wonder. He sat on a tree branch in the tangling oaks of SkyClan's territory, but the sky was much closer than it normally was. Starlight dappled down upon him the sweet warmth of sunlight.
A few of the stars drift downward and Spiderbite stood up when they flashed against the branches. Cats stood in their place. Though Spiderbite had never met these cats before, he recognized them. "Eaglecry," he whispered breathlessly. The golden tom was Lavendersky's former mentor. "And Gorgeriver." The silver streaked tom had trained Eaglecry. "And..." Spiderbite stared as more and more cats appeared in the trees. Though different, Spiderbite recognized the knowledge in each of their eyes. "You're all medicine cats!"
Eaglecry stepped forward with a smile on his face. "SkyClan's medicine cats. We've come to welcome you, Spiderbite."
Spiderbite sucked in a breath. "You mean..."
Eaglecry nodded. "StarClan welcomes you, Spiderbite, and accepts you as a full medicine cat of SkyClan."
Gorgeriver dipped his head. "We trust you'll care for SkyClan well."
Spiderbite lifted his head taller. "I swear it. I won't let you down. I'll heal everyone I can." He flicked his tail and an overwhelming sense of joy swept through him. Tears welled in his eyes. "I've wanted nothing more than this."
Eaglecry rumbled with a purr. "We know, Spiderbite. I'm proud of how Lavendersky trained you. Because of the hardships SkyClan has faced, you're apprenticeship took longer than most, but you preserved. For that alone, StarClan honors you."
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Mar 14, 2023 21:24:43 GMT -5
Spiderbite dipped his head to the medicine cats. "I'll make you proud. I'll stand for StarClan and heal SkyClan to the best of my abilities."
Eaglecry and Gorgeriver exchanged an amused look at Spiderbite's enthusiasm. Yet, sorrow then trickled their faces. "Spiderbite." Eaglecry stepped forward to lift Spiderbite's head. "Dark times are ahead for SkyClan."
Spiderbite blinked in surprise. "What do you mean?"
Gorgeriver looked downward into the dark below the branches. "Darkness is brewing. It's hold is strong. One by one, the trees will tremble. Roots may not be strong enough. Spirits disheartened. SkyClan must be quick."
Spiderbite looked from Gorgeriver to Eaglecry and back again. "What does that mean?" His fur bristled when he remembered the stories his mentor told him. Warned him of. "Is the Dark Forest active again?" He looked at Eaglecry. "Tell me what that means!"
Eaglecry held a steady gaze on him. "Keep the faith, Spiderbite. Do not stray from StarClan's path."
Spiderbite flattened his ears. He stomped his paw. "I won't stray. I swear it! I'm a medicine cat. It's all I wanted to be, but what do you mean? What's wrong with the trees?" Spiderbite gasped when the medicine cats of old started to fade away. "Eaglecry, wait! What do you mean?!"
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