Post by 💗Hollyleaf💗 on Oct 31, 2024 23:17:13 GMT -5
Onestar's Reflection
(it's not long, but it's something I got random inspo for)
The wind made the tall grass rustle softly around the mottled brown tom, his pelt bristling but otherwise he was motionless. His long tail was wrapped neatly around him and laid across his front paws. His amber eyes were focused on the forest a little ways off into the distance, the trees looked smaller from his position at the crest of a hill, though he knew they stretched far into the sky. He was far too familiar with the deep undergrowth, the thickets and bramble bushes that blocked every path, the unpredictable terrain of the ThunderClan forests. It was the day following their invasion that had caused the sun to disappear, a battle that would have likely proven a loss to him and his clan. A battle that he was certain now was a mistake. He had betrayed a cat he respected, a cat he saw as a friend for many seasons, a cat that had saved his life and the lives of all of his clanmates more than once before. Firestar had been right – attacking in the middle of the night was cowardly, unacceptable. If StarClan really did cover the sun out of anger, he deserved it. All of WindClan deserved it. What had he been thinking? That he could drive out the whole of ThunderClan – a clan of strong, well fed warriors – and take over their territory for himself? Onestar snorted and finally made a move, shifting on his paws and digging up some grass beneath him. Mouse-brain, Onestar thought to himself angrily.
(it's not long, but it's something I got random inspo for)
The wind made the tall grass rustle softly around the mottled brown tom, his pelt bristling but otherwise he was motionless. His long tail was wrapped neatly around him and laid across his front paws. His amber eyes were focused on the forest a little ways off into the distance, the trees looked smaller from his position at the crest of a hill, though he knew they stretched far into the sky. He was far too familiar with the deep undergrowth, the thickets and bramble bushes that blocked every path, the unpredictable terrain of the ThunderClan forests. It was the day following their invasion that had caused the sun to disappear, a battle that would have likely proven a loss to him and his clan. A battle that he was certain now was a mistake. He had betrayed a cat he respected, a cat he saw as a friend for many seasons, a cat that had saved his life and the lives of all of his clanmates more than once before. Firestar had been right – attacking in the middle of the night was cowardly, unacceptable. If StarClan really did cover the sun out of anger, he deserved it. All of WindClan deserved it. What had he been thinking? That he could drive out the whole of ThunderClan – a clan of strong, well fed warriors – and take over their territory for himself? Onestar snorted and finally made a move, shifting on his paws and digging up some grass beneath him. Mouse-brain, Onestar thought to himself angrily.
Onestar had done one of the most despicable things a leader could do and for what? Respect of his clan? He was their leader, appointed by Tallstar and accepted by StarClan – why should he need to prove anything to them? He had spent many seasons fighting for his clan as an apprentice and a warrior. Until he had been elected last minute as the new leader at Tallstar’s death, the whole clan had respected him as a strong and reliable cat. It was different, now. More complicated. He couldn’t lead his clan and still have connections to Firestar. Was it worth it, though, the respect of his clan? If it meant breaking the warrior code and defending his warriors and apprentices that did the same. Was it worth it to gain favor from his clan but lose it from StarClan? What would happen next time WindClan was struggling from sickness or prey-shortages and the only clan that had ever truly been their ally turned them away? RiverClan were no allies. They only agreed to help with the invasion for the promise of a territory extension themselves – Onestar couldn’t rely on them to bite his tail if he asked.
Onestar stood, tail suddenly lashing and he began to pace. What was he thinking, attacking ThunderClan! What was he to do at the next gathering, when Firestar inevitably challenged him for the invasion? Onestar growled and slashed his paw across the ground, sending dirt spewing around him. He’d messed everything up. He was the leader, for StarClan’s sake, he didn’t need to drive another clan out to prove himself to his clan. Onestar sighed and sat back down, tail still lashing behind him. Something caught his eye, a ThunderClan patrol by the edge of the lake, just by the border. Onestar peered hard at the patrol and he started. Among the cats was the unmistakable fiery pelt of his former friend. Onestar thought back to the time young Firestar and Graystripe appeared in that opening under the Thunderpath, insisting they were there to bring them back to the forest. Onestar had been as terrified as his clanmates, how uncertain they were that it was the will of StarClan.
“So much for StarClan,” Onestar snarled to himself. He had probably turned their warrior ancestors against his clan forever. How angry did StarClan have to be to cover the sun? Covering the moon was normal, it was expected, it happened often enough. But never had they covered the sun out of anger. Already, WindClan was the hungriest of the clans, their diet consisting mainly of rabbits – now how would their ancestors punish them? Would they even survive the coming seasons? Onestar sighed and turned away from the other clan, his tail finally coming to a rest. He couldn’t dwell on this now. He had a clan to lead, a clan that still licked their wounds and hungry. Onestar began to pad back towards his camp, head low, shame eating away at him with every step. There was no coming back from this. WindClan would never be seen the same way, not anymore. Their reputation, thanks to him, was tarnished. They were prey-stealers, trespassers, cowards now. Though his clan seemed to look at him differently, now, their eyes holding more satisfaction than before, he didn’t deserve it. The respect he was reaching for could never be earned, not now, but there was no going back. He would have to hold his head high and own this. Wilting would make him look weak, weaker than attacking a clan of sleeping cats had made him look.
Onestar paused at the entrance to the WindClan camp and sent one more glance over his shoulder. The moors blocked view of the trees but he knew they were there – ever strong. Proud, tall. The old tom let out a heavy sigh and slipped into the camp.
you’re welcome!