The nine ghostly cats stood fearfully under a starless sky, luminous eyes wide and limbs quivering with fear.
''Mum? Mum, are you okay?'' Ternpaw nuzzled his mother's sodden body, burying his pink nose into her coal-black fur. He could tell that Nightclaw was afraid, and he understood that; they weren't meant to be here, dwelling among murderers and monsters.Trees loomed like clawed beings and eyes blinked in the shadows before them and before them, appeared a ghostly white molly.
Swanstar chuckled at their faces of fright, regarding them with cool icy eyes. Snailstep had done good to trigger the war, sending all these unfortunate souls plummeting to their doom; evidently fate had not been kind to them. Fate hadn't been kind to Swanstar either, for hunger laced her body and her pelt was ragged for the want of remaining dry for longer than two minutes. And fate had been cruel to her even before that; so she'd be twice as cruel.
Robinstorm was the first to speak, getting up on sodden paws. ''Why are we here!?'' She hissed, patchy fur bristling. ''Is StarClan just as unjust as Fritillarystar?!'' Outraged gasps from her fellow MoorClanners with the exception of Nettlefang and Swift whom all quietly agreed with the torbie's accusation. It was all very strange why they were not in StarClan; sitting high among their ancestors and regarding their living companions with protective and loving eyes.
''I know why I'm here.'' whispered Hollytail, curling a patched tail around her paws; she'd died on the brink of Leafbare. ''I killed you...'' The molly turned to face Nightclaw, guilt painting shame on her face. ''I'm a murderer.'' Hollytail turned to Darkheart. Guilt crept into the nightmarish scene and made itself king there. ''I’m meant to be here but the others? I don't understand.''
Swanstar grew bored of the whispers, gasps and mutters that spewed from the mouths of the MoorClanners; At least TumbleClan knew how to keep a stiff upper lip, they'd only ever had one murderer in their ranks and that had been Swanstar herself. Glancing skywards, Swanstar hoped that Fritillarystar was sleeping fitfully; she'd need the rest to be able to cope with what Swanstar had planned for her. But it'd all fall apart unless she gained the nine lives that Swanstar believed she so richly deserved.
''Cats of the shadows! Hear me and praise me!'' Swanstar yowled, startling Stonenose whom had been quietly muttering the prophecy over and over again under his breath. '''I have here the nine cats and the blood that ran in their veins!'' The trees darkened and the eyes that stared betwixt the trunks shone brilliantly like a thousand firefly rumps lightning up at the same time. In the new light, Swanstar appeared as she was; a crazed tyrant to the waiting nine. ''Step forward, or the shadows will make you!'' Swanstar commanded, beckoning forth a trembling black tom.
Swift was afraid of the dark, always had been and even now among the dark trees, Swift could feel his legs trembling and saw that as he neared Swanstar, the very air was freezing in his lungs. Blimey, did she carry her own leafbare around with her? Swift glared bravely at Swanstar, the regal molly taking no notice of his anger towards her. ''Why are you like this?'' Swift piped up, his voice ashamedly squeaky with fear. ''What do you have to gain from it?''
''Power.'' Swanstar replied without a moment's hesitation. ''I gain power, control and order; you see, Swift, I never had those in life.'' The white molly approached on phantom-like paws. ''But when I had my first taste, it was wonderful!'' She exclaimed, regarding the black tom's fear filled face and a soft chuckle pouring from her open maw. ''But let's not dilly dally.'' The molly turned to the rest of the MoorClanners, stood there quivering like feathers in a hurricane and leaves in a gale.
Ternpaw stepped forward, ushered by ghouls like a mother ushers her rowdy kittens into the nursery. The young tom could sense the evil that oozed off the molly’s snow-white fur, like an invisible miasma that hung around her like a veil. ‘’You’re not a good cat.’’ Ternpaw hissed, fur bristling in the cool forest air. Forest-green eyes blazed with anger, meeting Swanstar’s icy ones with unrelenting contempt. ‘’You think I don’t know that, Ternpaw?’’ replied Swanstar, rolling her eyes softly. ‘’I believe you have a life to give me.’’ She tilted her head thoughtfully, watching the tom fight with his temper and growl out his life.
‘’I give you the life of bloodlust; may you never feel satisfied with the amount of red flowers you grow, you monster.’’ Ternpaw watched the leader’s eyes quiver as a red light seemed to coat every shadow in a layer of russet; it was satisfiying and with that Ternpaw’s smile misted away into nothing, his entire body following shortly.
Nettlefang approached shortly, grim as he watched the young apprentice fade away like morning mist. In his opinion Ternpaw’s unfortunate death was the pivot for his life’s down spiral and while he didn’t resent the apprentice for dying, Nettlefang couldn’t help but wonder if all this would’ve happened if they’d just quickly and efficiently caught the murderer rather than toss accusations around based off a bias.
‘’Swanstar, I give you life of ever-lasting guilt; may you never feel redemption for what you have done and may the nightmares haunt you.’’
Nettlefang was thankful for the void swallowing him up, rendering him gone forever; perhaps the rest that Nettlefang truly deserved. Behind him, had stood Stonenose; silent and muttering something about the third wing under his breath. The grey healer didn’t look Swanstar in the eye, perhaps he was afraid she’d turn him to stone and have him live up to his name.
‘’I give you the life of silence; may you spare others the wrath of your sharp tongue.’’
Cat after cat after cat had vanished before him and Swift’s legs trembled as he approached Swanstar; although she seemed a little ruffled by the curses that were bestowed on her, it didn’t stop her from being oh so composed and menacing. Glancing anxiously over his shoulder, Swift flashed Robinstorm a loving and piteous look before turning back to his worst nightmare.
‘’I give you the life of lovesickness; may you never have the courage to give your heart to the one you truly love.’’ And with a last look at Robinstorm, Swift vanished from this world forever, Nightclaw briskly taking her place in front of Swanstar.
Curling a coal-black tail around her paws, Nightclaw looked upon Swanstar with a look heavy with hatred and a mother’s anger. ‘’You were the one that caused all this; monster.’’ She snarled, realizing that Swanstar truly felt no remorse for all that she’d done.
The blizzard-white cat chuckled and stared at Nightclaw. ‘’Monster? How charming.’’ She cooed. ‘’That’s actually one of the nicer things others have called me, dear.’’ Swanstar informed, eyes shining like two slivers of a coloured crescent moon. ‘’And now, my life?’’
Angrily Nightclaw hissed at Swanstar, spitting her life out with spite. ‘’I give you the life of a mother’s wrath; may boundless anger be your only friend and cloud your senses.’’ And in a fading mass of black fur, Nightclaw cursed Swanstar for the rest of her life.
Dustfoot, Hollytail and Darkheart all approached at the same time; staring unblinkingly and unlovingly at her. The first to speak was Dustfoot, voice low with rage and contempt burning bright.
‘’I give you the life of never forgetting; may you know the past entirely and burn for it.’’ The siamese turned away and padded into nothingness; leaving behind his family in return and the three remaining she-cats trembled; for different reasons. Hollytail was the first of the two remaining to step forward and she’d been trembling because of fear.
‘’I’m sorry...I’m sorry.’’ She gabbled, bowing under Swanstar’s unrelenting stare. ‘’Get up, I’ve murdered too; you get over it eventually.’’ The TumbleClanner murmured, flicking an ear impatiently and waiting for the russet molly to get on with it. Struggling onto quavering paws, Hollytail stared at Swanstar and sighed.
‘’I give you the life of grief; may you weep and weep and weep for all that you’ve destroyed.’’
The strangely beautiful molly vanished into oblivion, leaving Swanstar impatient and the two remaining mollies visibly stirred by all the lives they’d heard so far. ‘’Do you have no compassion, Swanstar?’’ piped up a coal-black she-cat, amber eyes wide in the dark. ‘’What a shame; you could’ve been a valuable asset to your clan.’’
This comment stung and Swanstar turned on her, spitting insults. ‘’I was a valuable asset to my clan; they just frittered power away on the those less valuable.’’ She sighed, wondering when the last two would come and what they were. ‘’What’s my life, Darkheart? Spill.’’ And spill did Darkheart.
‘’I give you the life of longing; may you watch the one you love struggle from afar and may you also love the those that despise you.’’
Although Darkheart had the fortune to charm Lizardpath, she’d not lived long enough to take it a step further although StarClan knows that had she become mates with Lizardpath; one of their kittens would’ve become a leader, a legendary and wise one at that! But alas this wasn’t the case, for fate decided the day was to be cruel. Watching her shadow-dark friend fade away, Robinstorm swallowed and approached; a brave face in all that was grim.
‘’You can stop pretending, Robinstorm, I know you’re broken on the inside.’’ Swanstar mocked, trying to break the plump torbie apart. ‘’Oh dear, Robinstorm, so stupid for thinking your fate lay in being Robinstar.’’ The torbie prickled at this accusation. ‘’I didn’t want to be leader! I just wanted Fritillarystar to realize she was wrong.’’
‘’Sure, you did.’’ Swanstar sneered. ‘’Nobody ever rebels against their leader unless its for their own gain, Robinstorm.’’ The molly circled Robinstorm like a hunting monster, eyes bright and predatory. ‘’You can stop trying to be a hero.’’
‘’Swanstar, shut up.’’ Robinstorm commanded, turning on the snow-white cat. ‘’No more of your lies; just take this life and wait until you get what’s coming for you.’’ The torbie snarled at Swanstar, looking into the murky depths of the woods.
‘’I give you the life of revenge; may it consume you until it’s all you desire.’’
Lightningstrike sat sullenly in the corner of camp, aware despite his blindness that Oakfeather was glaring at him; condemning him for his murder of her mate. He didn’t blame her for that, he’d condemn a murderer too. He heard paw-falls and before he knew it, Oakfeather’s voice was blasting into his ear.
‘’You’re a disgrace.’’ The molly snarled, voice trembling with emotion. Lightningstrike’s pelt bristled with irritation. He didn’t need to be told that by Oakfeather; the way Avocetblaze avoided him was enough and the way his heart chided him was enough. He didn’t need an angry mother scolding him too. ‘’I know, Oakfeather, and I can’t ask for forgiveness…’’ The pale pelted tom finished his sentence with a heavy sigh. Oakfeather wasn’t satisfied but he could hear her walking away; apparently she was never able to truly unleash her wrath on anyone, murderer or not.
The atmosphere of the clan was stifling and Ravenflower hated it, even as she conversed with Harefoot about TumbleClan; the memories that ought have been happy were overshadowed by the feeling of unease. ‘’Harefoot, do you think something bad is going to happen?’’ The former healer inquired, releasing that the camp was unusually silent; save for the loud chatter of Trouttail, but then everyone suspected that molly was a few whiskers short of a mouse.
‘’Bad? Why?’’ Harefoot murmured, his stumpy tail twitching with anxiety; it always did whenever he got scared. Although Ravenflower had long given up the art of healing, it didn’t erase the bond she had with StarClan; sacred and very special. ‘’Did StarClan tell you that?’’ He whispered, eyes suddenly shiny with awe and mystique.
Ravenflower shook her head, as a punishment for her betrayal StarClan had tugged their bond away with her and had refused to speak to her since. ‘’They haven’t spoken to me since I left TumbleClan; but I just feel like something’s about to happen.’’ An ear-twitch. ‘’It’s a gut feeling.’’
‘’I see…’’ Harefoot murmured. ‘’Lets hope it’s just a gut feeling.’’
‘’I don’t think it is.’’
‘’Don’t say that!’’
‘’Don’t say what?’’ inquired Sandleap, ambling up to them with large fretful eyes. ‘’Is it serious?’’ The russet tom murmured, plopping himself down before them. ‘’Are we in danger?’’ Sandleap piped up, causing Avocetblaze to stir out of her sleep and Neritefang to cast an odd look at him. ‘’What is it?’’ Sandleap continued, babbling in fear.
‘’You need to calm down.’’ Ravenflower replied, frowning at him. ‘’It’s just a gut feeling.’’ The former healer sighed, feeling guilty for spreading feelings of distress around the camp. ‘’No use panicking about gut feelings.’’ She soothed, laying her head down. ‘’But why are we worrying? We’ve got nine new clanmates and that should be reason enough to smile.’’
Harefoot and Sandleap shared an uncertain look and nodded in agreement, although they weren’t entirely sold on the idea that they should be smiling when it was true that there was something dark and sinister on the horizon. Like a ghoul digging it’s way out it’s grave.
Swanstar has returned.
Harefoot, Sandleap and Ravenflower go on patrol
Trouttail and Smallwhisker gather herbs
Lizardpath and Linnettail go hunting
