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Post by ๐๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ on May 6, 2021 19:09:22 GMT -5
Chapter OneMallowspark Gasping for air, limbs thrashing as he scrambled to his paws. His vision was hazy, his body quaking as he tried to make himself stable. It felt like his mind was spinning; confusion flooded him as his vision restored itself to see an unfamiliar den.
Long, vibrant green vines were protruding from the clay walls, small indents in the walls held plants that held a tangy scent, and in the back of the hollow, a small puddle of water flowing from a tiny waterfall in the wall. Beside him, he saw a small blue flower. He stared at it for a moment, before a rush went through him.
I need to go. He told himself, panic rising in him.
Go where? You're most likely trapped. A voice seemed to answer back.
I don't know... I don't recognize this place! He looked for the entrance, quickly spotting it as it was caked in bright, warm light. A twinkle of hope flared in him as he moved to the entrance. Only, he went crashing into the dirt. His heart pounded in his chest as his limbs felt numb. Panic settled in as he tried to lift himself again.
"You're awake- Oh!"
Whipping his head towards the voice, he saw a short brown tabby race over to him, her wide green filled with worry.
"Who are you? Where am I?"
As his words rang out, his voice sounded alien to him, startling him, and more questions raced through his mind.
"First, please calm down!" The she-cat mewed as she quickly reached for a few small seeds from the wall. "Here, eat these. They'll calm you, and then we can talk, okay?"
Talk? He stared at the seeds, gulping back his panic, and lapped up the seeds. Slowly, the feeling returned to his legs and his panic faded. The she-cat had since gone to the storage and looked as if she was sorting the plants.
He didn't trust her. He couldn't. He didn't know where he was. However, the tom watched her for a brief moment, before shifting himself to an unsteady crouch, ready to flee if needed. She seemed friendly, though he quickly began to envision the worst possible scenario that she had poisoned him.
For Star's sake, you're not poisoned! Calm down!
Right.
Eventually, the she-cat turned to him, green eyes twinkling with interest.
"My name is Littlewish," she meowed, shifting over to him, "I am HeliconiaClan's medicine cat. I know you have questions, but who are you?"
HeliconiaClan? He blinked at her before he opened his mouth to speak. The name was strange, but it felt familiar.
"I'm-" His mind went blank as he tried to think of his name.
Your.... What?
Littlewish tilted her head, her eyes questioning.
"I... I don't know," His heart dropped as took in his own words.
"That's all right," Littlewish told him, "I'm sure it'll come back to you soon."
"I... Hope so."
Littlewish nodded, though she let out a gasp as if she remembered something.
"We did find you with a head wound!" She exclaimed. "That could explain your memory loss. In that case-"
She shuffled around in place, almost like she didn't know what to do, before moving the entrance of the den.
"Sparkstar!"
He blinked at the new name. Soon enough, a bright ginger cat emerged into the den.
She was long-legged, shiny ginger fur, and her eyes green like the brightest green leaf. He simply stared at her as Sparkstar had an authoritative vibe radiating around her.
The she-cats eyes seem to focus on him intently. A strange emotion erupted in the tom's heart.
"Hello," the ginger she-cat meowed, "I am Sparkstar, the leader of HeliconiaClan. You are?"
Leader?
Are you stupid? Of course, she is the leader!
You're right, sorry.
He opened his mouth, but Littlewish beat him.
"He doesn't remember his name," she told the tall she-cat.
Sparkstar's eyes glazed over as she looked lost in thought. "I see. You've been in our camp for the past few days. I'm sure Littlewish has told you of your injury."
"She mentioned it." He answered.
The leader nodded. "Now that you are awake, I'm allowing you to stay until you are ready to travel. We can't have a stray in our camp."
But, I don't know where I belong. He thought, his eyes shifting to the ground.
Then ask if you can stay. The voice suggested.
Oh.
"Sparkstar."
Green eyes twinkled. "Yes?"
"If it's all right," He started. "I would like to stay."
Sparkstar blinked then looked at Littlewish. The medicine cat shrugged, making his heart sink. Maybe these cats don't allow outsiders to join.
Maybe they can help me find my identity? He thought.
You wish. The voice almost laughed.
The voice inside his head had him wondering if he was talking himself. But, he knew nothing about himself.
Surely I talk to myself all the time. I mean, others probably do it too.
"I will speak with my deputies and my top warriors," Sparkstar meowed, his head turning to her. "I will give you my answer in a few days."
He dipped his head. "Thank you. I don't know anything about myself. I think... I would like to stay and see if this is where I belong."
A purr rose in Sparkstar's throat. "That's fair. Feel free to come out and get something to eat. I'm sure you're hungry."
His belly rumbled in response, suddenly realizing he was hungry.
"Thank you."
Sparkstar nodded and she stood, spun, and left the den. He watched her go before he lifted himself from his position.
"Take it slow," Littlewish warned, "You've only just woke up."
He looked at the medicine cat, "Of course."
Cautiously, he moved to his paws. His legs were no longer quaking, but he felt weak. Sluggish, really. Carefully, the tom moved out of the den and into the bright golden light.
Squinting, the tom lifted his head towards the heat of the sun. The warm rays of the sun quickly engulfed him. A tangy, but sweet scent flooded through him. It lifted his heart.
As his eyes adjusted to the light, his breath was taken awake. Elegant palm trees hung over him, standing on a steep grassy cliff, ferns and plants that he had couldn't place a name littered the cliff side and formed a breathtaking sight. The sky was a bright blue, few clouds scattered.
Finally, he looked at the camp. The camp formed a unique shape, almost a full circle. The cliffside seemed to curl over the camp as if to shelter the camp.
The few cats he saw in the camp eyed him. His fur stood on end as he quickly ducked his head, though his eyes looked for Sparkstar. The ginger she-cat was across the camp, speaking to a cream-colored cat.
His belly growled again and he quickly crossed the camp towards the leader. Sparkstar glanced at him as he came over.
"I'm sorry," he started, "Where can I get something to eat?"
Sparkstar turned her head to the cream tom.
"Daysea, would you mind showing him to the fresh-kill pile?"
The cream tom turned his head towards the other tom. Daysea's blue eyes narrowed, but he dipped his head at Sparkstar.
"Follow me," the cream tom meowed, turning.
He does not like you.
He looked to Sparkstar again; his head lowered before he moved after Daysea. The cream tom led him across the camp's sandy clearing to a small cavern on the side of the cliff wall. The smell of prey filled his nose, his mouth quickly watering.
"In there," Daysea meowed, his eyes looking to a small hole, "Take whatever you need."
As soon as he was finished, Daysea was quick to turn and head back to Sparkstar. As much as he wanted to thank the creamy tom, it was probably for the best they didn't speak further. He turned his attention to the aperture, taking a look at the prey. A fat mouse caught his attention and he quickly snatched it up.
He crossed the camp and back to the medicine den, where he settled outside of the den entrance. There, he dug into his meal, eyes scanning the clearing as cats came and went.
The cats of HeliconiaClan were of all shapes and sizes, colors, and breeds. He spotted a queen and her kits coming into the clearing. The kits, only a few weeks old, stumbling around. Seeing the kits had him wanting to greet them, maybe let them be kits and play with him, but, he wasn't sure if he could stay.
He sighed as he looked to the sky. An orange glow was slowly taking over the blue, telling him that the sun was beginning to set.
Littlewish soon moved out of the medicine den, her green eyes shifting to him. The small she-cat had a purr in her throat.
"I think Sparkstar will let you join," Littlewish meowed.
"Really?"
"Really."
His heart swelled at the thought. He wanted to stay.
"Do you really not remember anything?" Littlewish asked after a moment of silence.
He looked at her, admiring the white specks in her tabby fur. His mind began to race as he tried to think of something that he could remember, but in the end, he shook his head.
"No."
A look of relief flashed in Littlewish's eyes, and she turned her head. He blinked at the look in her eyes, but he didn't question it.
"The sun will set soon," Littlewish meowed, moving towards the den, "Feel free to take the nest in my den."
"Alright," he meowed, watching her go.
His eyes turned to the sunset, a purr rising in his throat.
----
Standing at the base of a ledge, he stared up at the ginger she-cat as she stood proudly. Cats were all around him, eyes flickering towards him. He felt awkward, but he tried to not show his discomfort.
Today is the day. He thought, his heart racing.
He had only been in the camp for a few days and he knew he wanted to stay. Everything that he has witnessed, had him wanting to join in. He's learned about the clan's system, especially when it came to hunting. Seeing groups of cats going to and fro with prey in their jaws. He so desperately wanted to hunt with them as he felt like he needed to help out. Since then, he felt that he was meant to be in HeliconiaClan.
Sparkstar decides your fate. He told himself, uneasiness starting to settle in.
Calm down.
"Cats of HeliconiaClan!" Sparkstar's voice rang out, his head snapping towards the leader, "Today I am welcoming a new member. He had told Littlewish and I that he has no memory of himself."
Silence fell over the cats, heads turning towards one another. He felt his heart drop as he wondered if these cats didn't want him to join. He had been given some odd looks since day one.
You're a stranger to them. Obviously, they won't trust you.
"Tom," Sparkstar looked at him, her eyes skeptical, "Do you wish to join and learn how we live, even if you choose that you don't belong here?"
His heart raced.
"I do," he meowed.
Sparkstar was silent for a long moment before her eyes shifted to the sky.
"Then by the powers of our Stars, I shall name you. From now on, you will be known as Mallowspark. Mallow has been given to you as it was the flower that appeared at your side when I saw you. Spark has been given to as I see a fire in you."
Mallowspark. He took in the new name, his heart swelling.
"As our code states, Mallowspark, warrior of HeliconiaClan will spend the night at our Star's Edge," Sparkstar continued. "For now, according to our code, Mallowspark, warrior of HeliconiaClan, shall join the next hunting patrol."
Mallowspark glanced around the cats, wondering which ones would come with him. Even though he had been in the Clan for a few days, he never learned their names.
"Astercloud," Sparkstar meowed.
The dark, blue-gray tom that sat beside the leader turned his head towards her, his blue eyes wide.
"Take Rainflash, Skypaw, Lilydawn, and Crowspring," Sparkstar told him.
From where he stood, Mallowspark could see a strange look in his eyes.
"Yes, Sparkstar," the tom meowed, as he hastily moved down from the ledge.
Cats began to move as the cats called for patrol gathered. Mallowspark recognized Skypaw and Rainflash. The two white cats looked similar to each other; perhaps brother and sister? A large, muscular black tom, maybe Crowspring, stood next to Astercloud. The deputy looked like an apprentice next to him.
Finally, Lilydawn. She was just an average she-cat that Mallowspark wouldn't mind befriending, if only she would stop glaring at him. It made his skin crawl.
"Shall we go?" Crowspring questioned, his green eyes narrowing.
"Yes," Astercloud meowed, "We'll show you the territory, especially the Star's Edge."
Mallowspark dipped his head as the deputy immediately began to head out of the camp.
Finally exploring! His heart thumped in his chest as he couldn't wait to see what these cats' territory looked like.
Will you calm down? You're like a kit going out for the first time!
Disappointment flooded through him.
I've been cooped up for days, I can finally stretch my legs!
He could imagine himself rolling his eyes.
Whatever.
As soon as they left the well-hidden camp, Mallowspark's eyes moved to the familiar palm trees. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, nothing too flashy.
Though he quickly found that being outside of the shade of the camp, his thick pelt was burning up.
Soon Mallowspark quickly realized that the trees were now scattered and not aw clumped up like they were near the camp. Patches of sunlight were taking over the grassy path. Though as Mallowspark looked towards Astercloud, the sunlight blinded him.
As the group moved out of the trees, Mallowspark felt sand beneath his paws. Blinking, he let his eyes adjust. But what he saw was beautiful. A large body of water, shimmering in the sunlight. White sand made the tips of that water look transparent.
"Woah."
Astercloud turned to him, blue eyes twinkling. "This is the Star's Edge. You'll be here tonight."
Mallowspark looked to the smaller tom. "Really?"
"Sparkstar, Daysea, and I will be here," he meowed.
"Don't say anymore," Lilydawn glared at the deputy as she passed.
Astercloud looked at her, his eyes narrowing. The deputy's tail lashed, ears pinned. Feeling anxious as the she-cat was clearly hostile, Mallowspark lowered his head.
"Lilydawn," Astercloud warned.
"Oh shut up," the she-cat's tail lashed, her green eyes flashing dangerously. "We all know what Sparkstar is doing."
Rainflash let out a hiss at the cream she-cat. Mallowspark's heart raced.
My Stars, she's angry.
Hearing that, Mallowspark paws itched with panic.
Angry at me. Mallowspark's ears pinned back.
"We are not discussing this," Astercloud's voice became bitter, "For now, we need to trust Sparkstar."
Lilydawn rolled her eyes. "We trusted Palestrike and look where that got us."
"Stop."
The cream-and-white she-cat looked to Crowspring.
"Deputy's word is the law, abide by it or be punished," Crowspring told her, "You know the-"
"The Code! It's always the Code!" Lilydawn hissed, her fur bristling as she turned towards the black tom. "Does the Code allow-"
"Go back to camp," Astercloud voice was firm.
Lilydawn's demeanor quickly changed. "Astercloud-"
"Now. I will deal with you when I get back."
Mallowspark watched as Lilydawn looked at the sand before she sighed. She was quick to glare at the ginger tom before she raced off. Astercloud watched her go before he let out a long sigh.
"I'm sorry," Astercloud meowed, "She'll be punished when I get back."
Feeling nervous for Lilydawn, Mallowspark looked at the deputy. "What... Kind of punishment?"
Astercloud's eyes widened, almost as if he didn't expect the question.
"Nothing too bad, maybe some restrictions," Astercloud told him.
Oh.
Why feel bad for her? She needs to be punished.
Mallowspark swishes his tail in the sand, his eyes narrowed. He didn't like that someone was getting in trouble because of him.
"Anyway," Astercloud spoke up, snapping him out of his thoughts, "Let's continue."
Watching the HeliconiaClan cats move back into their patrol formation, Mallowspark felt a prickle of alarm. The ginger tom followed after the clan cats. But as he went, he couldn't help but think. Most cats look at him with anger or with suspicion. What did he ever do to them? He just joined!
He stopped in his tracks, eyes trained on his paws, wondering.
Did I make the right decision?
Chapter Two
Mallowspark Standing at the edge of the water's edge, Mallowspark looked towards Sparkstar. Now that the sun has set, Mallowspark's heart was racing. Astercloud had told him that he, Sparkstar, and Daysea would be there, but for what? But Astercloud failed to mention that other cats were going to be present. A tom named Spiderwind and a she-cat named Berrystone. The two cats didn't seem pleased to be there. Anxiety prickled through his skin as waited for the leader to speak.
The leader was standing with Daysea and Astercloud, their heads pressed together, clearly discussing something.
Finally, the ginger she-cat pulled away and she moved towards him, her green eyes flashing as Mallowspark shifted.
"Mallowspark," Sparkstar spoke up, "According to our code, you will have to stand in the Star's Edge. Our Ancestors will judge you and see if you are worthy of becoming a member of our clan."
Judged? Mallowspark's belly churned.
"Then after you are judged, you will spend the night here."
Bah, is judgment all these cats do?
The distaste in those words had Mallowspark's heart sinking.
Sparkstar's eyes flashed as she moved to the water's edge. The golden tom watched as she dipped her paw into the water, and for a moment, nothing happened. Then, the water burst with color. Blue, green, and many different colors swirled around, mixing with each other almost as if they were trying to take shape.
"Woah!"
Sparkstar looked at him, her whiskers twitching at his reaction. "Mallowspark, go ahead and step into the water. All four paws must be in the water."
Mallowspark observed the water again, briefly wondering what would happen if he moved into the water; he had no idea what would happen. Anxiety prickled through him as his mind raced. But, he knew that if he voiced his concerns, maybe they would take back his joining.
Swallowing his prickling nervousness, Mallowspark padded forward and into the water. The water was warm, but not warm enough to keep him in the water for long. A chill ran up his legs as he moved a bit further into the sea.
Now... I'm supposed to be judged? Mallowspark wondered as he looked at the swirling colors all around him. He glimpsed at Sparkstar and the two deputies, tense with anticipation.
A tingling feels shot up his legs, the sea's water quickly rising to reach his chest. All around, a fire broke out, the heat quickly engulfing him. Alarmed and his skin crawling with terror, Mallowspark took a few steps back. As he did so, the sand beneath him appeared to shift. A powerful rumble caught his attention, his green eyes locking with a distant island off the shore of theirs. The tallest tip of the island started to crumble.
I don't like this! Horror prickled through him and the ginger tom swung his head at his leader.
Sparkstar stood, her fur bristled, a seemingly fearful expression had engulfed her face. That was all he needed. Immediately, he escaped the water, quickly moving to the leader's side.
Daysea, Spiderwind, and Berrystone hurried away from the pale ginger tom as he shook his paws from the water, though he could feel their eyes on him. He could feel the resentment from his new clanmates. Mallowspark couldn't help but feel timid and wondered what this judgment meant.
"Are you alright?"
Mallowspark blinked as his green eyes met Astercloud's. The deputy had a strange flash in his eyes but appeared to be genuinely worried. While he was shaken up, Mallowspark wasn't really sure what he saw or what to make of it.
"Oh-, I think I'm alright..." Mallowspark told him, though he looked at Sparkstar.
"Sparkstar," Daysea spoke up, his meow thick with a warning.
The ginger leader lashed her tail, seemingly shutting up the deputy. She looked to be lost in thought for a few heartbeats before she studied at her deputies.
"I would like to speak with you two again," she meowed before her green eyes shifted to Mallowspark. "Mallowspark, according to our code, you will have to stay here at the Star's Edge for the night."
Without a word, Spiderwind and Berrystone were quick to take off back to camp. Mallowspark watched them go, his heart racing as he glanced towards the deputies. Daysea's blue eyes were narrowed as he too glanced at him.
"We will come and get you at sunrise," Sparkstar meowed, her tail swaying in the sand. "You can sleep if you like, but, we recommend that you stay awake all night."
Stay awake all night? Mallowspark thought. That's pretty easy. I can do that.
Hah, good luck!
Mallowspark couldn't help but narrow his eyes at the voice, irritated with the remarks. When she didn't get a response, Sparkstar tilted her head as if to encourage one. Mallowspark promptly gathered himself, a purr rising in his throat as he lowered his head, "See you at sunrise then."
Sparkstar merely watched him, before she inclined her head as well, "Good night."
The three cats suddenly moved back to the line of palm trees, leaving Mallowspark alone and in wonder. What he saw in the water, the mountain the crumbled on that island, did Sparkstar see it too?
His eyes panned back to the island. An overpowering feeling of unsettlement engulfed him as he saw that the peak was still occupying the island.
I saw it crumble! His paws trembled. He didn't know what to think!
It's a sign, mousebrain.
"A sign of what?" He inquired aloud, fur standing on end.
How should I know? I'm just a voice in your head.
Mallowspark lashed his tail, annoyed. "Not helpful."
After a moment of no response, he sighed as he looked to the night sky, watching the stars glitter. He couldn't help but wonder what would happen now.
Tomorrow will be interesting.
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