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Post by Moonblazer on Sept 3, 2023 17:27:25 GMT -5
Stormsplash nodded, "Adderstar and I were around the same age, we had been apprentices together and became warriors together. We were easy friends. I'm not sure when his greed took over, when he started training in the dark forest. But, we were once close. When he started to implement his plans, overthrow the leaders of Riverclan, I couldn't see what he was doing. I thought he had Riverclan's best interest at heart and that was he was doing was right. It was too late before I realized he was wrong, what he was doing was evil. It cost my aunt Lilypetal her life." Splashstone listened silently to his father, his eyes drooping lightly with understanding. It had been hard to visualize Adderstar, having never known the tom or his true effects on Riverclan, but Splashstone had no reason to not believe his father. Training in the Dark Forest had been helpful, and at times he still felt like that was the only place he could go as a result of the broken code… but to lose one’s kin, due to trusting another cat they cared for, how could that be worth loyalty to one cat? He swallowed. “I’m sorry… about your aunt.” |
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Post by Icefire15 on Sept 3, 2023 17:32:39 GMT -5
Arcticpaw gave a shake of her head, “Nope. And I doubt they would tell an apprentice like me either.” She said with a sigh.
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Post by Willow on Sept 4, 2023 10:04:21 GMT -5
Eclipsesky shook his head sadly at Spiderbite, his shoulders shaking with emotion. "It's too late to move backwards now Spiderbite. I've carved my path, I must live with the consequences. Dawnshadow is a fine young medicine cat, she will care for the clan. I will help if the clan truly needs it, but my connection with Starclan... it's gone." he admitted quietly.
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Post by Willow on Sept 4, 2023 10:06:57 GMT -5
Stormsplash shook his head, "She knew what would happen when she defied them and she did it anyway to protect us. I was younger than you when she died. I have long come to terms with her death on my shoulders. You're allowed to make mistakes, put your trust in cats you thought were true. As long as you return to the light, no cat can truly fault you."
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Post by Moonblazer on Sept 4, 2023 11:17:32 GMT -5
Opalmist felt her body tremble with guilt, wanting so badly to admit that she had lost her connection too. Though, she knew her sins were far greater than any Medicine cat before them. She could only look steadily up at Swiftstar, praying the gathering would just end soon.
Splashstone looked at his father for a long time, before he swallowed, tight and shaky. He whispered quietly to him. “I… I have to admit something to you… and I don’t know how it will change your opinion of me, with what you just told me…”
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Post by Willow on Sept 4, 2023 13:26:59 GMT -5
Stormsplash nodded slowly, eyes searching his son's curiously. "Go on." he replied simply, keeping his voice light.
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Post by Moonblazer on Sept 4, 2023 13:45:55 GMT -5
Stormsplash nodded slowly, eyes searching his son's curiously. "Go on." he replied simply, keeping his voice light. Splashstone glanced around once or twice, before he swallowed and admitted. “My… mood, it changed when I was an older apprentice and into my Warriorhood, and I had felt like I wasn’t good enough unless I was truly passionate about being the best I could be… Meadowbrook was inspirational to many of us, and she offered me a way to let out my frustration in a way that wouldn’t bother the Clan.” He glanced to the side. “So, she brought me to a place one night, in my dreams. I knew it was the Dark Forest, but… I didn’t think a cat like me could even be allowed to go to Starclan, so I didn’t see much harm in embracing it. I… I learned alot, I even felt less unhappy there. But I would never want to be like Adderstar, I just… I didn’t know where else to go.” He finally admitted. |
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Post by Frozen on Sept 4, 2023 15:34:40 GMT -5
SkyClan
Once Swiftstar's report concluded, Spiritstar raised her head to speak. "SkyClan has recovered well after the fire," she began. "Our forest, and Clan, have recovered from the scars the fire left. We have four new warriors: Darkjay, Sandspirit, Ambergaze, and Withermist. We also have many new apprentices, including Hawkpaw, Emberpaw, Twigpaw, Flyingpaw, Springpaw, Halfpaw, and Pondpaw." she gave the listening cats a chance to cheer for the apprentices and warriors before continuing. "Seedflight and Shadowmask are also expecting kits, and Briarpatch has given birth to her kits." She was careful to make no mention of the struggles that had happened recently, whether it be her two lost lives or their alliance with ThunderClan. The other Clans do not need to know of our struggles, Spiritstar thought to herself. The news of the Prey Maulers is enough.
Firefang and Willownose cheered for their Clan's new apprentices and warriors. Spiritstar made it seem like there were no dangers at all.
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Post by Willow on Sept 4, 2023 15:37:50 GMT -5
Stormsplash tensed at Splashstone’s admission, he gave a stiff nod, “Many cats have been pulled into their trap.” He replied, voice shaking. “Y-you don’t go there anymore though right?”
Skyclan:
Ashfeather cheered for the new warriors and apprentices.
Sparrowstrike cheered loudly for his kits.
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Post by Icefire15 on Sept 4, 2023 16:00:25 GMT -5
Sky-
Hawkpaw flicked her ear as her name was announced, wishing Emberpaw had been able to come to the gathering as well.
Whisperstone tensed as Spiritstar started her announcement and looked over at Echowing nervously. Nothing he said could deter her from her plan now.
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Post by thistle on Sept 4, 2023 16:07:50 GMT -5
ShadowClan & SkyClan
Fuzzypaw cheered politely for the SkyClan cats.
Warblerpaw called proudly for his Clanmates.
WindClan & ThunderClan
Palegaze half-heartedly lifted his voice alongside the others, still tense.
Bluewhisker nodded, approving of the news from the allied Clan.
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Post by Moonblazer on Sept 4, 2023 16:08:27 GMT -5
Splashstone shook his head. “Not anymore…” He looked up as Spiritstar made her announcement.
Redspring nodded proudly as her apprentice was mentioned.
Withermist seemed to suddenly flinch away from Webstripe, fur bristling as his eyes shot towards a far corner of Fourtrees. He gave a low humming sound, like a broken moan.
Echowing steeled her resolve, standing to her paws as she stormed through the crowd of cats around her. She stopped in a clear spot, calling up loudly.
“That is not the only announcement about Skyclan tonight! One that involves every single clan at this gathering!” She shouted, her eyes trained up at the leaders and deputy, singed with fire.
Opalmist felt her heart drop, her eyes shooting over to Echowing with a silent and helpless gasp.
Diamondheart blinked with intrigue, his respectful cheers for Skyclan’s new apprentices and Warriors dying down as he looked down at the young Warrior.
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Post by Icefire15 on Sept 4, 2023 16:15:12 GMT -5
SKY-
Whitesun turned his head and looked at Echowing in surprise and stood up, “What is the meaning of this, Echowing?” He said, his tail flicking back and forth.
Hawkpaw blinked in surprise and looked over at Specklepaw and Sproutpaw. What was Echowing doing?
THUNDER-
Ghostscreech flicked his ear, looking at Echowing as she stepped forward. This was unexpected, what was so important that the SkyClan warrior had to interrupt the Gathering?
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Post by Frozen on Sept 4, 2023 16:15:20 GMT -5
SkyClan
Spiritstar's gaze dropped sharply to Echowing's. What is going on? Echowing said nothing about wanting to speak, she thought, feeling a sense of dread envelop her.
Willownose turned to stare at Echowing, glancing back at Redspring and Ashfeather. "What's her deal?" she whispered.
Firefang looked confused on what was happening.
WindClan
"Too bad." Gustpaw replied to Arcticpaw. He looked over at the commotion. "Huh. That's not normal, is it?"
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Post by Icefire15 on Sept 4, 2023 16:17:12 GMT -5
Arcticpaw shook her head again, her eyes wide as she looked back at Gustpaw, “I’ve never seen anything like this happen before.” She whispered to him, curious to hear what Echowing had to say.
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Post by Willow on Sept 4, 2023 16:36:18 GMT -5
River:
Stormsplash felt his fur sit flat again, "Good. Good. Then no harm done Splashstone. It's in the past." The older tom turned curiously to the Skyclan warrior, wondering what she could be yowling about.
Sproutpaw blinked at Hawkpaw and Specklepaw, "Who is that?"
Sky:
Sparrowstrike whipped around to look at Echowing, his eyes wide as he stared at the younger warrior.
Specklepaw sat up taller trying to see over the other apprentices. "Is that Echowing?"
Shadow:
Duskpaw's ears fell flat as Echowing called out, "What's going on?" she hissed lowly.
Spottedpaw frowned, not liking the sudden tense atmosphere of the clearing.
Thunder:
Darktail flicked his tail anxiously as he looked at the young Skyclan she-cat.
Webstripe flinched as Withermist moved so fast. "What's wrong with you?" he whispered, looking only mildly concerned for the strange tom.
Wind:
Swiftstar looked down at Echowing in surprise, glancing over at Spiritstar to see her reaction.
Sagefoot frowned, looking between Whitesun and Spiritstar.
Eclipsesky blinked, noticing how tense Opalmist had become. What was going on?
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Post by thistle on Sept 4, 2023 16:48:58 GMT -5
ShadowClan & SkyClan
Fuzzypaw frowned, standing onto his hind legs and looking over the crowd to try to spot the source of the commotion.
Warblerpaw let out a low hiss. What was she doing?! She was going to embarrass the Clan at this rate.
WindClan & ThunderClan
Palegaze looked over at the SkyClan warrior, irritation replaced by confusion.
Bluewhisker flicked an ear, gaze icy as she eyed the young warrior. Disrespectful, she thought with disdain.
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Post by Moonblazer on Sept 4, 2023 16:54:19 GMT -5
Echowing snapped her gaze sharply to Whitesun before she growled. “The meaning of this is the truth! The Warrior Code binds us, and it’s been trampled on this night, as it has many nights before!”
“Echowing! What are you-“ Frostyfoot’s ears fell as he tried to rush to his daughter. He stopped though as she whipped around angrily.
“What I’m doing is telling the truth about your LIE!” She howled, before she shouted to all the Clans. “When my father brought me and my siblings to camp, it was believed that our mother was some wandering rouge who left us! For moons, we knew who our real mother was, but we had to hide it for the sake of this excuse of a traitor!” She spat hatefully at her now stricken father.
“Our mother was not some wandering rouge! Our mother is Opalmist! Medicine Cat of Shadowclan!” She exclaimed.
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Post by Willow on Sept 4, 2023 17:01:54 GMT -5
Wind:
Eclipsesky looked to Opalmist in shock, eyes wide as the full moon in the sky. "No.. Opalmist.. is it true?"
Swiftstar's frown deepened, looking quickly to Spiritstar and then Cedarstar. Not only Windclan was losing a medicine cat it seemed.
Sagefoot looked down, unable to meet Cloudscar's eyes. Those kits were like her, yet they felt much more like Fireblaze and Goldheart than she and her littermates.
River:
Stormsplash sat uncomfortably, ears flicking nervously as he watched what was unfolding.
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Post by Icefire15 on Sept 4, 2023 17:06:03 GMT -5
Snowdance stiffened and looked at Opalmist in shock. “It… can’t be.” She whispered, ears flattening against her head. How did she not notice the symptoms? Or any of it?
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Post by Moonblazer on Sept 4, 2023 17:10:14 GMT -5
Diamondheart blanched in surprise. The deputy flicked his gaze right to Cedarstar, unable to imagine that the tom would have known, if this was true. He inwardly thanked Starclan that it wasn’t Riverclan put in this situation, though he prayed that it wouldn’t cause an all-out altercation.
Dreamlily’s eyes grew wide as saucers as she looked at her sister. Horror filled her, and she stumbled close to her father as though she could try and protect him. Deep down, she knew that couldn’t work. Why?! Why would Echowing do this?! She was going to ruin them all!
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Post by thistle on Sept 4, 2023 17:12:17 GMT -5
ShadowClan & SkyClan
Fuzzypaw fell down to all four paws again, bristling. "No...!" she said, disbelieving.
Warblerpaw's jaw was agape with shock. What? How? And why would Echowing reveal this now!?
WindClan & ThunderClan
Palegaze flattened his ears. Hadn't there been enough bad news for one night?
Bluewhisker bristled, but said nothing.
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Post by Frozen on Sept 4, 2023 17:25:47 GMT -5
ThunderClan
Slatesight looked at Hornetstrike in shock. He wasn't the only medicine cat who had broken the code in that way. He shook his head, dreading Cedarstar's and Spiritstar's reactions. "She won't be a medicine cat after all this is over," he said in horror.
Nighteye immediately looked to see Slatesight's reaction. He dug his claws into the earth. Judging from what happened with his brother, this wouldn't end well. She couldn't keep this between ShadowClan and SkyClan?
Aspenfall's pelt pricked uncomfortably. As the kit of a medicine cat, he hoped nothing bad would happen to Opalmist and Frostyfoot's kits... but something inside him told him otherwise. Echowing surely didn't do this with good intentions.
Magpiewing's initial shock turned into a sort of dark satisfaction at the chaos that was now about to unfold. Just as Slatesight had been rightfully punished for breaking the code, so now was another medicine cat. And Echowing had the guts to announce it at a gathering, she sniffed to herself. Now they'll be punished for the moons of lies they fed their kits and Clanmates, just like Slatesight.
ShadowClan
Shortcloud gaped in surprise at the news. Opalmist had broken the code?!? She never would've suspected it.
Cinderspeck shuffled back away from the crowd, wanting to get away. Such a revelation clearly shouldn't have been revealed, and he had a bad feeling about what was going to happen. Oh, poor Opalmist... he thought, not one for letting cats be punished and hurt.
WindClan
Slushfur kept close to Blacktail. "What's her aim?" she murmured. "Echowing isn't letting such a scandal go public without an ulterior motive. And I think she's going to get what she wants." she growled.
Gustpaw met Arcticpaw's gaze. "I... I think something's going to go down." he said, hoping it wouldn't end in a fight.
RiverClan
Glacierpaw moved close to Foxripple as commotion broke out. "What's going on?"
SkyClan
Willownose bared her teeth. "What's the meaning of this? What's Echowing doing? Did Frostyfoot really break the code with Opalmist?" She let the questions escape her jaws before she had answers.
Firefang glanced hopelessly up at Spiritstar. There's no way that was true... was it? Could Frostyfoot have done such a thing?
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Post by Moonblazer on Sept 4, 2023 17:50:06 GMT -5
THUNDER:
“Starclan…” Hornetstrike whispered, eyes wide with horror as he looked at Slatesight. “You at least took a mate in the same Clan… this-…this would be very different, if it’s true!” He fretted.
SKYCLAN:
“It’s not true…” Redspring breathed, voice low and quivering ever so slightly as she padded towards her brother. She stared at him for a long moment, before she looked at Opalmist, and then at Echowing, Whisperstone, and Dreamlily. Their silent fear only made it achingly clear that it was true. Redspring’s heart broke as anger and sadness filled her. “It can’t be true! You said the mother was a rouge! You said it to my face, I-“
Withermist shook his head quickly, looking at Webstripe as he whispered. “There will be darkness from this… so much. It is true, but she is poisoned.” He trailed off, suddenly turning away to slink back towards the rest of his Clan.
SHADOW:
Honeycrest’s jaw dropped, eyes wide as he shot his eyes quickly over to Opalmist. Holy Starclan, a scandal like that would fracture Shadowclan’s reputation! How could she be so stupid?! He narrowed his eyes sharply, wondering if Skyclan was just trying to bluff to tear Shadowclan down.
Goldberry stood stock still, staring at Opalmist with all the pain and sympathy in the world. He could just tell by her stiffened stance that this was no lie…
“That can’t be true! Opalmist would never!” Coalhaze exclaimed, heartbreak in his voice as he looked at Vixenflame.
RIVERCLAN:
Foxripple gave a slow whistle, clicking his tongue as he whispered. “So… thiiiiis is the kind of gossip that reaaaallly should have been left in the medicine den. Well… This might just be the biggest scandal of your time. Thank Starclan that it’s got nothing to do with us. Starclan, Echowing’s got to be real hateful about this, she’s going to make her Clan look like an utter sham!” He whispered.
WIND:
Blacktail’s ears fell as he whispered. “She must have so much anger that it’s clouded her judgement. Oh, what an awful thing to share in front of every Clan.” He looked up warily at the sky, amazed that there seemed to be no clouds.
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Sept 4, 2023 18:02:08 GMT -5
Cedarstar remained stoic through Spiritstar's report simply because he wasn't sure how to react. When the SkyClan leader finished, he took a breath, hoping the gathering would end, but Echowing's outburst pinned his ears back. He shot a disapproving look at Spiritstar when he realized the leader wasn't expecting the outburst from her own clanmate and she continued to remain silent about it.
Cedarstar's fur prickled like needles at Echowing's claim. He couldn't even move. How dare this warrior accuse Opalmist of breaking the code; yet, the look on Frostypelt's face. The way Opalmist had been distant the past couple moons. He flicked his gaze to her and his voice came out tight. "That's a bold claim. Opalmist, you're a skilled medicine cat of ShadowClan. Is what that young cat says true?"
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Sept 4, 2023 18:04:38 GMT -5
Spiderbite couldn't fathom the words that came out of Eclipsesky's mouth, but he didn't get the chance to respond when Spiritstar gave her report and Echowing made her claim. He scoffed and glanced at the other medicine. "How insulting. She can't really expect us to believe you broke the code, Opalmist. I know her, she just wants attention."
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Post by Willow on Sept 4, 2023 18:08:50 GMT -5
Shadow:
Opalmist hung her head as Cedarstar's gaze pierced through her, unable to look at her leader. She stood, padding forward in front of the crowd. Her legs shook as she turned to look everyone, her eyes finally resting on Frostyfoot. "Echowing is telling the truth." she stated lowly. "She is my daughter, and Frostyfoot is their father. I have lived with the weight of my decision for too long, I will not hide it anymore."
Duskpaw gasped as Opalmist admitted the truth, "What's going to happen now?"
Sky:
Ashfeather stood, hovering behind Redspring, his heart broken for his mate. He looked back at Willownose with a frown, unsure on how they could help.
Thunder:
Webstripe watched Withermist stumbled away, the other tom's words whirling in his mind. "Poisoned?" he repeated quietly.
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Post by Icefire15 on Sept 4, 2023 18:10:16 GMT -5
SKY-
Whitesun’s fur bristled at Echowing’s announcement, his eyes looking first at Frostyfoot, then Opalmist before finally looking back at Spiritstar.
Firepaw looked at Sunpaw, his ears flattened against his head. His sister looked just as shocked as he did.
Whisperstone flinched when Echowing revealed their true parentage, his eyes flicking between his sisters and father.
RIVER-
“No kidding.” Arcticpaw whispered back to Gustpaw, turning to watch.
SHADOW-
Vixenflame looked over at Opalmist in shock, looking over at the medicine cat apprentice.
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Post by Moonblazer on Sept 4, 2023 18:13:33 GMT -5
Frostyfoot stared at Redspring for a long moment, before his eyes closed and he swallowed when Opalmist made the admission. He took a long breath, before turning to look at the cat he had loved so tenderly back then… who he still loved, and had always loved, every day they’d been apart, hiding their secret. He gave Echowing a mournful look, able to see the raw hate in her eyes. It destroyed him.
He turned to pad towards Opalmist, slowly turning at her side and looking at everyone. He lifted his head, voice wavering, but steady in honesty. “It… is true. All of it.”
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Post by 🌙Moonpower🌙 on Sept 4, 2023 18:17:47 GMT -5
Cedarstar's lips parted with his shock. StarClan, it was true. He flicked his gaze from her to Frostyfoot and back again. How did no one notice? How could Opalmist...His heart fell. She broke the medicine cat code. All those times, Cedarstar blinked and the fur on his shoulders rose. All those times we needed her. Now that he thought about it, Opalmist had gone out to gather herbs quite often. Queen kitted or someone got hurt and Opalmist hadn't been around to help them. She was with him. Cedarstar shot a glare at Frostyfoot, but hurt stole his gaze back to Opalmist. They trusted her. He trusted her. She vowed to give her all to ShadowClan just like the rest of them. She betrayed us. Cedarstar thought coldly. Our medicine cat betrayed me.
Cedarstar struggled to breathe. Agony ripped through his stomach, shoulders and chest. "I don't want to die."
The nest he laid on was sticky and warm. His own blood leaked further into the den. Cedarstar's eyes filled with tears, he locked his gaze on the tom standing over him. "H-help me…pl-please."
"You're bleeding out. I can't stop it."
"N-no." Cedarstar pinned his ears back and fear welled in his throat. This couldn't be the end. The world was growing fuzzy, but he fought it with all his might. "I don't want to die." Why couldn't StarClan hear him? He had dreams he hadn't achieved, and his apprentices…Were they okay? "I'm not ready."
"You don't have a choice." The medicine cat flattened his ears. "There's nothing I can do. You're in StarClan's paws now."
Cedarstar weakly lashed a claw at the medicine cat, but the tom stepped back to dodge. Cedarstar bared his teeth. His vision grew so fuzzy, he couldn't focus on the tom, but he recognized his empty paws. "You're not even trying." Cedarstar looked at the herb stores. There was moss and cobwebs, and a lot of leaves of green. "Do something."
"I..." the other tom hesitated. "I can't. It…it won't matter…anyway."
"You can't just sit there! Do...do something!"
The tom hung his head.
"H-Help me!"
The tom's tone was tight. "I won't."
"Worthless!" Cedarstar spat blood at the tom. "What good are you if you won't even try? I want–" Cedarstar fell back against the nest. Every breath felt shallower and shallower. He stared at the wall with unblinking tears rolling down his cheeks. 'I don't want to die.' He didn't have the strength anymore to say another word, but he stared at a speck on the wall, resisting the dark void. 'My dreams…I just wanted…' His thought cut off with an overwhelming sense of grief tightening his chest. The pain of his wounds didn't matter. How could StarClan be so cruel? How could their medicine cat be so uncompassionate? 'I hate them,' he thought. 'StarClan. Medicine cats. I hate them.' He did everything for them and this was how they repaid him? 'I'll never trust them again.' Darkness encroached on the edges of his vision. Cedarstar watched his dreams fade away. 'I just wanted...'
Like a gust of wind the memory hit Cedarstar. Hatred prickled every hair on his pelt. His gaze found Opalmist's and he slowly curled his lips to bear his fangs. This is the last time a medicine cat betrays me. "Get. Out."
Spiderbite stared at Opalmist like she just grew two heads. It was...true? How could she do such a thing? Betray StarClan like that?! He stepped away from her like she was a stranger. First Eclispesky...now her? These were cats he looked up to. He wanted to be like them! How could they betray the greatest thing they could ever be? He started out of his thoughts when he heard Cedarstar's hiss. He stared wide eyed at the leader, but blinked when he didn't quite recognize Cedarstar. He...looked like Cedarstar, but were the ginger patches on his fur always that red? Where are his scars? Spiderbite blinked, but Cedarstar didn't change. Scars don't just disappear, and yet, Cedarstar had fur all over his pelt like the fire hadn't happened. His pelt prickled. What's going on?
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