An Isolated Clan: Starless Lies (Book One) - Updated 9/27

Nightgaze stared down at Melodypaw, her eyes glittering in concern. Her sister was asleep now from the poppy seeds, but Nightgaze never did well when seeing her littermates injured. It was her weakest skill as a medicine cat, getting past seeing those she loved be injured. Perhaps the rule that medicine cats shouldn’t have kits was right—she would be far too depressed by even just seeing kits of her own being wounded or ill. She sighed. Nightgaze never wanted a mate anyways, she was fine with just having her kin and Tansypaw, her friend, to bond with.

She padded over to the herb storage, grabbing some comfrey for Forestsnap’s wound. Nightgaze chewed it up into a poultice. She didn’t make much since the wound had already been bandaged, but another trick that Cardinalflight had taught her was to put a bit of poultice over the cobweb too. She applied it lightly over Forestsnap’s bandage.

”Does that hurt?” She asked. 

“Not that much,” Forestsnap replied, “Thanks for helping me out. I really appreciate you and Cardinalflight, being a medicine cat must be so hard. You can’t have mates and kits, you have to heal cats, you hold the secrets of StarClan…sometimes you don’t get enough credit.”

”Oh, it’s not that bad. I like serving my clan,” she said. But the truth was that something Forestsnap said bothered Nightgaze. You hold the secrets of StarClan. The words repeated in her head

But I really don’t, Nightgaze thought. She never received much spiritual guiding. At the Moon Tree she didn’t always see StarClan cats when she climbed its roots, and if she did see any, they wouldn’t bring her much information. Cardinalflight was the one who really held StarClan’s secrets. She interpreted signs and prophecies, Nightgaze never did any of that. She saw StarClan cats, but what did they tell her? Not much.

If only StarClan could tell me if Melodypaw is right about our father not being Branchswirl. She thought. She turned around to see Cardinalflight staring outside the medicine den, watching the battle progress. She looked rather upset, so Nightgaze trotted over to her.

”Is there something I could do…?” Nightgaze asked.

”No. You could guard the herb store, but I doubt FrostClan would attack that over territory. I’m just keeping an eye out for any more injured cats coming our way,” Cardinalflight said. But Nightgaze could see that wasn’t what she was doing. Her mentor was thinking, thinking about something that didn’t seem to make her feel very happy. Since Nightgaze’s ceremony at the Moon Tree she just wasn’t the same. Nightgaze was afraid she had gotten ill, but now she didn’t think that was it. As she and her mentor stared at their battling clanmates, blood splattering the camp, Nightgaze wanted to know what was troubling Cardinalflight, so she could fix it. 

Nightgaze took a deep breathe. “Are you okay?” She asked, looking up at Cardinalflight. It was as simple as that. Cardinalflight didn’t reply for a moment. Nightgaze shuffled nervously, looking down at her small black paws.

”I’m always okay,” Cardinalflight replied, “It’s just sometimes I know things I wish I didn’t.” 

I can relate, Nightgaze reflected. Melodypaw had told her such a huge thing, and she didn’t know if it was true or not. A part of her wanted to wake Melodypaw up, and ask her how she thought of this accusation. But that wasn’t the right thing to do. Melodypaw was injured and overwhelmed, she had to let her rest before she started asking her sister several questions.

But what was bothering Cardinalflight? It must be StarClan, Nightgaze thought, All medicine cats hold secrets of StarClan. She must have gotten a sign that she hasn’t told me about yet.

Nightgaze opened her mouth to say more, but she saw Daisyfoot trotting into the medicine den. Blood was oozing out from her shoulder. She was whining in pain. Both medicine cats sprang up to help their injured clanmate.

”Moss, chervil, daisy leaves, cobweb,” Cardinalflight commanded, rushing to get Daisyfoot to a nest. Nightgaze grabbed the said herbs from the store and placed them down. She started chewing the chervil into a poultice when she heard a yowl coming from the clearing.

”Is the fight over…?” Forestsnap asked. Melodypaw continued to stay sound asleep.

Nightgaze gave the poultice to Cardinalflight and looked outside the den. It was Juniperleap’s yowl they were hearing.

”FrostClan, retreat!” The yowl repeated. Cats fled from PetalClan camp, leaving only the cats of Nightgaze’s clan remaining. 

In the center, cats of PetalClan seemed to be backing away from something in the middle of the clearing. What was it? Nightgaze stepped farther away from the den to get a closer look. Her jaw then dropped in horror.

”Cardinalflight! Nightgaze!” Amberbush called in a panic.

In the center of camp was Duststar collapsed on her side, her creme fur stained with blood.

”Fogpaw!” A voice whispered in his ear, “Get up you mouse-brain! Get up!” Fogpaw was exhausted after yesterday’s battle and didn’t want to open his eyes. They felt like stones, far too heavy to be lifted. He awoke for a moment to see Melodypaw, staring at him impatiently. Nightgaze stood behind her, seeming to be looking far more empathetic for Fogpaw than her sister was.

He shut his eyes again. “Melodypaw go away,” he muttered, “I’m not on the dawn patrol.”

”This isn’t about the dawn patrol! Get your lazy pelt up, I’m wounded and slept in the medicine den yet still up earlier them you!” She hissed.

”Keep your voice down or else you’ll wake the whole apprentice den,” Nightgaze whispered to Melodypaw.

Fogpaw opened his eyes once again and lifted his head up. From the looks of outside the den, the sun wasn’t even up yet. What did his littermates want from him so earlier?

“We’ve got something to tell you,” Nightgaze said quietly, staring down at her dark, black paws. Whatever it was, Fogpaw could tell she didn’t know much about what was going on either. Melodypaw knew too much, as she always did.

At least her wounds seem to be healing nicely, Fogpaw thought, glancing at his gray tabby sister. They were pretty serious, and he was worried that Melodypaw would be weakened by the injury. But nothing could stop Melodypaw anyways, she was an unstoppable force full of energy. “What is it?” Fogpaw asked in a soft tone, gazing suspiciously at the two she-cats.

”I woke you up this earlier for a reason, other cats can’t know about this,” Melodypaw whispered, “Come quickly!”

The three littermates quietly scampered away from the apprentice’s den, careful not to awaken any cat sleeping there. Thornbranch stood in the middle of the clearing, doing his guarding duties. Melodypaw halted, causing Fogpaw and Nightgaze who were following her lead to repeat the action. “If we are trying to leave without getting caught, use the dirtplace tunnel,” Fogpaw suggested quietly. Melodypaw nodded and lead her way to the tunnel, which was between the warriors den and medicine den.

It was cramped with all three cats squeezing through the narrow space of bramble thickets trying not to make any sound. Nightgaze tripped over one of Fogpaw’s white paws, and stepped on a twig. He wanted to snap at her for her clumsiness, but knew he couldn’t do that now. Instead, Fogpaw just sent her a nearly silent hiss and kept moving. He looked back to see if Thornbranch had heard the snapping sound, and by the look of his confused face, he must have. However, Thornbranch couldn’t seem to make out where the sound had came from and brushed it off, turning back around. By the time they were back he would be gone anyways, considering dawn would strike soon.

Melodypaw exited the tunnel, followed by Fogpaw and then Nightgaze. She lead the way farther out into PetalClan territory, leaving Fogpaw with plenty of unanswered questions. What could be so important and secretive that they had to leave camp during the very early morning to talk about it? Seems unnecessary, Fogpaw thought, still annoyed that he had been disturbed so early for something he had no idea what it could possibly be.

Once they seemed to be slightly deep into PetalClan’s territory, Melodypaw stopped. She sighed. Despite it being New Leaf, nights and early mornings were still cold. Fogpaw could feel her chilling breath on the front of his light colored gray fur.

“Happen to wonder why you’ve been brought here, Fogpaw?” Melodypaw asked. The crickets chirped behind her, as if they were echoing the question.

“Of course I have,” Fogpaw snapped, “You bring me to the middle of the territory right before sunrise and don’t give me any explanation? I have a reason not to understand why I’m here!”

“I never said you—“

“Enough!” Nightgaze yowled. She then looked down at her paws, seemingly ashamed of yelling at her littermates. “Just get to the point Melodypaw. Tell him what you think.”

“I don’t just think it, I know it’s true, whether I like it or not!”

“Just tell him!”

“Fine,” Melodypaw sighed, “Branchswirl is not our father.”

Fogpaw gave Melodypaw a cold stare. What did she mean? Of course Branchswirl was their father!

“Very funny, but I’m not that mouse-brained,” Fogpaw said, rolling his eyes, “Great StarClan Nightgaze, I didn’t think you would ever follow along with Melodypaw’s tricks.”

“Fogpaw, I don’t think you understand. Melodypaw is convinced that this accusation of her’s is correct, so we should listen to her. I don’t know if the fact is true either, but we should at least give her a chance,” Nightgaze replied.

“I was Branchswirl’s apprentice! I would be the first cat to know he was lying if he was!”

“Well you weren’t, I was. And he is lying!” Melodypaw exclaimed.

“Prove it,” Fogpaw hissed.

“While the battle with FrostClan was going on at camp, I was on my way to the medicine den because of how bad my wound appeared to be,” Melodypaw began, “Graywillow was fighting a FrostClan cat. I couldn’t tell who it was, due to other battling cats blocking the way. I overheard Graywillow talking to the cat. I had been ready to jump to her defense, even if I was injured, until I heard what she was telling the cat. She was hissing at him in agony, saying that he was never their for her and her kits, saying that Branchswirl acted as a better father then he could ever be,” Her eyes flashed with fury as she spoke, clearly upset about what she was reciting, “According to what I heard, we are half FrostClan. No other cat seems to know, they were all to busy fighting. We have been lied to our whole life! Can you believe it?”

Fogpaw stood, not moving an inch. Why? he thought, She can’t really be telling the truth… He knew Melodypaw was right. She had given clear evidence, and by the expressions she was showing her emotions were valid. But Fogpaw didn’t want to believe her. Branchswirl was not only who seemed to be his father, but his mentor. How could such a cat lie to him?

He turned over to Nightgaze. The small black she-cat seemed confused. She looked like the lights in her head were flickering, as if she was still processing what Melodypaw had told them. Fogpaw stared down at his white paws, silent. It didn’t make sense. What FrostClan warrior would Graywillow have fallen for?

After a few moments, Fogpaw finally looked up from the ground. “This isn’t right, we should talk to Graywillow. I want to know if she really did lie.”

“Of course she lied!” Melodypaw said, “Our mother is a traitor to PetalClan! Our birth was a mistake, we are forbidden kits. We should have never been born.”

“Don’t take it all out on Graywillow. It’s not her fault she fell in love,” Nightgaze told her sister.

“What do you know about love?” Fogpaw snapped. He didn’t want to jump in to defend Melodypaw currently, but it was true. Nightgaze was a medicine cat, she couldn’t fall in love. The last thing Fogpaw seemed to need was another forbidden relationship in his kin.

Nightgaze sighed. “You are right, I don’t know anything about love. I just don’t think we should beat Graywillow up about it.”

“She lied to us. Not just a small lie, but told us false information about our own birth. Branchswirl should be blamed just as much,” Melodypaw said.

“Does Branchswirl even know we aren’t his kits?” Fogpaw asked. His sisters went silent. Had Branchswirl just been another victim of Graywillow’s mistakes? Nightgaze was right in Fogpaw’s opinion, they shouldn’t blame Graywillow, but what if she had not only lied to them, but her own mate too? Did she even consider Branchswirl her mate?

“Then that makes Graywillow even more of a foxheart then she already is. Who knew a cat could be so cowardly!” Melodypaw hissed.

“We should head back,” Nightgaze said, changing the subject, “I have to check on Duststar.”

Fogpaw continued the topic. “Yes, how is Duststar?” He asked.

Nightgaze sighed. “I’m not aloud to share that information. Not yet, at least. Cardinalflight and I don’t want to worry the clan.”

“Can you even say what wounds she had?” Fogpaw asked.

“She had several. Specifically one wound to her underbelly was the worst, but she seemed to never stop fighting, causing it to worsen.”

“Why are we talking about this when the fact that we’ve been lied to our whole life ponders around our heads?” Melodypaw snapped.

“You seemed pretty invested in Duststar yesterday after she got her wounds, actually,” Nightgaze pointed out.

“That’s only because I wanted to help!” She exclaimed, “Not to mention that you shunned me away anyways.”

“Let’s just head back to camp,” Fogpaw said, “The sun is rising. I want to just curl up back in my nice warm nest and say this was all just some bad dream, okay?”

“Well, this isn’t a bad dream,” Melodypaw replied, “It’s a nightmare, but in real life. We’ll head back, but neither of you better forget this. This is serious.” Neither sibling replied to their sister’s rage. They just trotted back to camp, leaving Fogpaw in his upsetting thoughts, knowing that Melodypaw was most definitely telling the truth.

Excited to see Tansypaw here, I’ve been curious about her character for a while! Learning that Swamptail found her and her siblings has me wondering…

Sweetfang seems like an interesting antagonist/rival for Nightgaze. It’s really cool to see a warrior jealous about being passed over for a medicine cat position! And Nightgaze’s uncertainty about her qualification for the position only makes things more intriguing.

I was wondering (if it’s not a spoiler), who named Tansypaw and her littermates? Did Swamptail help name them?

Fogpaw breathed heavily on Sweetfang’s fur. His claws were unsheathed, but they weren’t digging into flesh. Not yet, at least.

“What are you doing, mouse-brain!” She hissed, “Get your dirty paws off me!”

“Then stop trying to get your dirty paws on my sister!” He shot back. Sweetfang rolled over without warning, causing Fogpaw to tumble underneath her paws, him now being the pinned one.

“You don’t know that move, Fogkit? The kits fight better than you!” She went to dig her claws into Fogpaw belly, but Fogpaw stopped her, slashing her across the face. Sweetfang scratched his stomach in return. Fogpaw shoved her off him.

“Stop it!” Nightgaze cried, “We don’t need any more wounds in the clan after battle, especially if I’m causing them!”

“Sweetfang, stop!” Tansypaw protested.

“Fogpaw, how about we make a deal?” A voice mewed from behind him. Fogpaw turned to see the large, white shape of Silentstep. Silentstep was the most skilled cat at fighting in the entire clan, and every cat knew it. He was a natural fighter, no cat wanted to pick a fight with him.

“If you’re defending your own sister, I can defend mine.” He hissed. The white cat’s voice was deep, he intimidated Fogpaw already.

“Why don’t you listen to your other sister and stop the fight!” Tansypaw yowled. Nightgaze stood in shock. She seemed even more scared than Fogpaw.

“Er…uhm—“ Before given a chance to answer, Silentstep slashed at his ear and nicked it. Blood dripped down from the wound.

“Keep the nick,” Silentstep said, “It’s a message for you in the future. Don’t pick fights you know you won’t win.” Fogpaw stared down at a singles drop of blood from his ear that sat in the ground. He frowned.

I defended Nightgaze, but lost in the process… He thought sadly.

“STOP IT!” A voice yowled. Fogpaw looked up to see Swamptail, walk furiously towards the four cats involved in the fight. “Do you think Duststar will be thrilled to wake to her clanmates shredding each other?”

“But—“

“No ‘but’s! Sweetfang, apprentice duties for half a moon. Fogpaw, your warrior ceremony will be delayed for a moon.”

“What!?” Fogpaw exclaimed, “You didn’t even ask for Branchswirl’s approval. You can’t just delay my warrior ceremony without my mentor agreeing!”

“I’m the one in charge right now, not your father.”

He’s not my father, and gets approval of Sweetfang’s punishment when your basically her father? He’s bending his own rules in favor of Sweetfang! Fogpaw thought.

“Sweetfang is only getting punished for half a moon though!” Fogpaw protested.

“She didn’t start the fight,” Swamptail said. Fogpaw glanced at Tansypaw and Nightgaze. They both shown guilt in their eyes. Nightgaze mouthed the words I’m sorry.

Fogpaw turned back to Swamptail. “What about Silentstep’s punishment?” He asked, more calmly this time.

“I didn’t do anything besides defend my sister,” Silentstep said.

Fogpaw was now furious. That was all he had done! “But—“

“I said no ‘but’s!”

“Sweetfang tried to attack Nightgaze! I’m the one who didn’t do anything besides defend my sister!”

“I see no claw marks on Nightgaze,” Swamptail said. Fogpaw turned to Nightgaze once again. He was right. His sister wasn’t wounded at all. “Silentstep gets no punishment.”

“Fogpaw should be confined to camp too!” Sweetfang mewed.

“His warrior ceremony being delayed is enough,” Swamptail replied, “Now go. I’ll want to be seeing both of you cleaning Cottontail’s bedding or doing mouse bile some time today.” He then padded off

“Fox-heart,” Sweetfang muttered, going in the direction of the medicine den. Fogpaw followed, gloomily looking down at his paws.

“Wait!” Nightgaze said, prancing towards Fogpaw. She stopped when she was right by his side. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s not your fault Sweetfang’s a piece of mouse dung,” Fogpaw replied.

“At least Silentstep stopped before he could tear you to shreds,” Nightgaze mewed.

“Where’s Tansypaw?” Fogpaw asked. He wanted to know more about Sweetfang wanting to be a medicine cat. He had overheard Nightgaze and her talking about it before Sweetfang tried to attack his sister.

“She went to go tell Melodypaw what happened,” Nightgaze said, “Apparently she had gone out for a walk through the forest. I think the issues with our parents is getting to her head.”

Fogpaw noticed how Nightgaze hadn’t said what the “issue” was out loud. If any cat in the clan found out, Graywillow could be exiled. Even worse, they could be exiled too. But Duststar wouldn’t do that…

“Oh shoot!” Fogpaw said as they walked in the medicine den, “Melodypaw’s going to kill me! We aren’t going to become warriors together!”

“It’ll be fine,” Nightgaze said, “Now lay down so I can get you some herbs. Your wounds aren’t serious, they just need some poultice so they don’t get infected.” She then went to grab the herbs. Cardinalflight stopped tending to Sweetfang’s minor wounds and whispered something to Nightgaze that Fogpaw couldn’t hear. Cardinalflight kept glancing back at him.

I bet their talking about me, Fogpaw thought.

His attention was then driven to the sleeping body of Duststar. Her belly rose up and down slowly, proving she was still breathing. The wounds looked terrible, small bits of dry blood quivering around where poultice had been smothered. No wonder why Nightgaze is always so busy, she’s responsible for even the leader’s health.

Graywillow then barged into the medicine den. “Oh, my kits! I heard the whole story!” She said. Sweetfang let out a grunt of annoyance, but Graywillow didn’t seem to hear her. Instead, she approached Fogpaw and started licking his wounds furiously.

“Stop it!” Fogpaw hissed, half playfully.

His mother stopped for a moment. “Are you two alright?”

“We are completely fine,” Nightgaze said, dropping a mouth full of herbs in front of the nest Fogpaw lied on. Graywillow the continued to lick Fogpaw, this time going for his injured ear.

“Ow!” Fogpaw wailed, “It’s still sore there!”

“Fogpaw just has some minor scratches and a torn ear. Nightgaze was left unharmed,” Cardinalflight informed Graywillow.

Graywillow stopped licking again. “Where’s Melodypaw?” She asked, “I visited her last dusk fall. She didn’t seem happy to see me.” Fogpaw frowned. Graywillow was so caring, he had nearly forgotten she had been in a half-clan relationship. Melodypaw was going to be salty, and she seemed to hate their mother at the moment.

And Graywillow has no idea that Melodypaw is mad at her because she overheard her mother’s biggest secret, Fogpaw thought.