Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was over. The Clan cats, with the support of some of the Dark Forest and StarClan, had fought against Ashfur and his army, in order to restore StarClan’s connection to the Clans. Ashfur was now dead from all worlds – never to be seen again. This surely would’ve been a time for victory. 

Shadowsight felt a sensation stir deep within his gut. It was a gnawing, numbing feeling that spread throughout his body, chilling his bones. He felt his ears flatten, his gaze turning towards the darkness. Anguish welled inside his heart. A noble sacrifice had been made, in order for the battle to be won. Shadowsight could hear whispers inside his mind, reminding him of who was at fault for it all. 

“You mustn’t let them claim you.” Spiresight’s words rang in his ears, and he moved away from the scrawny black tom. 

He felt… nauseated. There was a reluctance with each pawstep he took, and an anxiousness in his eyes. He looked around. Shadowsight had soaked up the shadows for far longer than most cats should. The darkness had brought him comfort, the voice in his ear had been a lullaby to a naive, young medicine cat, who wanted to prove his worth. His mouth tasted sour, as though he had swallowed something bitter. And, indeed, he had. He swallowed down the bitter truth that… the darkness was leaving. Ashfur was gone, and he would be leaving the Dark Forest, hopefully, to never return. 

Sorrow was weighing down on his pelt. It came from a myriad of sources, and he stopped his pace, looking back at the large, overhanging trees with long shadows stretching far and wide. As a kit, he had been destined to see into the shadows. They were a place of belonging – a place of purpose for the young tom. Could he run away from everything that he had ever known?

Shadowsight tried to reassociate with his surroundings, making quiet, polite conversation with Juniperclaw. It still couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that another cat… had died for him. Cats looked at him and wanted to bless him with good fortune and success. Shadowsight had none of that throughout his life. Tragedy after tragedy had clawed at his soul, and some days… Shadowsight wasn’t ready to embrace a new dawn. It never seemed like anything was getting better. And, even in the events of today’s victory, there was a hollow loss in his soul. 

His parents should have never named him in honor of ShadowClan. He had been a disgrace to the Clan, allowing Ashfur’s presence to grow in power and take hold of the Clans. He had been part of the evil cat’s schemes, like the fool he was. ShadowClan would be known for helping Ashfur return to the lake territories. Shadowsight had caused the death of a beloved cat, who had her entire life ahead of her. 

The patrol was moving along now, yet Shadowsight’s paws were planted into the earth. Juniperclaw was looking at him now, questioningly. A question stirred from the depths of his being, haunting his conscience. 

Do I deserve to return? 

Shadowsight had never been in such a dark place, both physically and mentally. A cold chill ran down his spine, and he started thinking thoughts that no reasonable cat would ever think. The shadows were clinging onto his pelt, absorbing into his heart, pleading for him to remain where he… deserved to be. 

He was a different cat now. 

“I…I shouldn’t go back,” Shadowsight’s voice trembled. “I’ve brought danger and death to the Clans.”

“Don’t start thinking that way!” Juniperclaw’s hackles rose. “Shadowsight, you were manipulated. You never wanted anything awful to happen to the Clans.” 

Shadowsight was barely registering the tom’s words. “I’m a curse. I’m a curse to ShadowClan. I’m supposed to be a healer, but I’ve only brought harm to this world.”

“You’re a blessing,” Juniperclaw insisted. “ShadowClan wouldn’t be the same without you. I know you’re going to do great things – and I’m not the only one who believes this! You just have to believe in yourself too, Shadowsight.”

Shadowsight sank his claws into the earth. “Everything has gone wrong. How can I return? I need to atone for what I’ve done–” 

“Shadowsight. In the events of all of this, have you ever purposefully put the Clans in danger? Have you ever willingly tried to break StarClan’s connection with the living Clans and ruin the lives of the cats around you?” 

“N-No, but I–” 

“In that case, you have nothing to atone for. There’s nothing to apologize for. You have a gift – the ability to see into the darkness. You used the gift you were given and without you… The Clans could have never defeated Ashfur.” 

“Even though we won the battle… I still feel like I’ve lost. I feel like… there’s nothing left for me anymore. Ashfur’s presence – it changed everything about me. I-I felt like I had a purpose like I had achieved some level of greatness. And now that he’s gone, I feel hollow. The darkness he brought to the Clans is gone, and all that’s left is… this. If I return to the Clans, I’ll just be an outsider. I need to stay because I’ll never find happiness in the light.”

Juniperclaw’s eyes flashed with horror before he swatted at Shadowsight, claws sheathed, and hit him on the skull. “Don’t be stupid! You have an entire family and friends that are waiting for you. You have a Clan to heal. You have a story to tell the world. Don’t let your purpose rot away in this horrible place!”

Shadowsight’s eyes widened, as he finally embraced the tom’s words. “I won’t, I promise.”

“C’mon, let’s take you back home,” Juniperclaw led the way. 

Shadowsight followed the tom through the Dark Forest, feeling an alluring sense of peace. He had started to connect to bits and pieces of his former Clanmate’s message. Perhaps Juniperclaw was right. Maybe, he could find a sense of belonging within his Clan and get over the emptiness residing in his chest. Despite his words, the emptiness was still apparent, intent on breaking apart his soul and being. 

“The shadows are dispersing.” Spiresight’s words echoed in his ears. 

Shadowsight could only pray his wise friend was right. 

The Moonpool was taunting him, its sparkling waters anticipating the medicine cat’s next visit to StarClan. The medicine cats were settling down after they touched the cool waters with their muzzles. A wave of uncertainty passed over Shadowsight, as he followed suit. The water was achingly cold, and his gray tabby fur bristled. 

Your connection was with shadow, not light. 

Leafpool’s past words were colder than the Moonpool water itself. His heart ached, and he pushed aside her words. He squeezed his eyes shut, hoping and praying that he could ignite a connection with his ancestors. After all that he had gone through, surely, this would be his sweet reward. 

Darkness entered his vision, and he internally reached for the light, trying to propel himself towards the starshine that the other medicine cats could easily obtain. He could still hear the sounds of water trickling into the Moonpool, the faint breeze rushing through his ears, the faint sound of his heartbeat.

It was no use. 

Shadowsight opened his eyes and got to his paws, the painful sting of StarClan’s rejection hitting his core. The emptiness was more prevalent than ever. The feeling had followed him on the entire trek to the Moonpool, keeping him quiet. It was a feeling that other cats could neither describe nor explain. Shadowsight alone had this burden to bear, and it only became more painful when he dared to voice his concerns. So, Shadowsight resided with the pain in his soul, keeping his world of misery locked away from others. 

“What did you see?” Puddleshine prodded Shadowsight’s shoulder. 

A wave of panic jolted through Shadowsight. His fur prickled, and he averted eye contact. “I…I didn’t see anything,” the tom admitted, his voice painfully quiet. 

“That’s alright. You had a long day yesterday,” Kestrelflight commented sympathetically. 

“Yeah,” Shadowsight mumbled in response. 

“Maybe, you’ll have better luck at the next Moonpool meeting,” Alderheart smiled at him. 

Alderheart’s innocent words stabbed at Shadowsight’s soul. The emptiness, which had remained dormant, suddenly became overwhelming. Shadowsight’s heart ached with pain, knowing that he would never be able to connect with StarClan. 

“It doesn’t really matter,” Mothwing’s ear twitched. “We don’t need to speak to a bunch of dead cats every half moon.”

Jayfeather merely scoffed. “Did you see the state of the Clans without their warrior ancestors?”

Mothwing licked her forepaw, contemplating his words. “Personally, I believe that Ashfur is the result of the Clans relying too much on their warrior ancestors. If cats weren’t so desperate to hear StarClan’s words, nobody would’ve fallen for Shadowsight’s false omens.”

Shadowsight flinched, the motion too subtle for any cat to take notice. But, he couldn’t deny that her words were true. Shadowsight’s visions had undoubtedly brought Ashfur’s presence into the Clans. Everyone started talking about codebreakers, and Ashfur took control of Bramblestar’s body – thanks to Shadowsight’s help –  and brought havoc upon the warrior Clans. 

In the beginning, I was so desperate for everyone to listen to my visions, but now… I wish nobody had listened to a word I said. Shadowsight’s tail drooped. If no one had listened to him, so much destruction could have been avoided. 

“Well, the past is in the past. We can only move forward from here,” Fidgetflake tried to lighten the mood. “StarClan has reconnected with us once, and with their words to guide us, the Clans are safe.” 

“The changes to the warrior code have been approved of by StarClan,” Puddleshine murmured. 

“Did they tell you about the new rules they wanted to add?” Jayfeather blinked, his tail flicking. 

Unease crossed Frecklewish’s face, and she nodded. “It would be best to discuss it at the Gathering.”

Kestrelflight grinned. “WindClan will have some fine news to share at the next Gathering about a certain apprentice.”

“You’re getting an apprentice too?” Mothwing’s eyes widened. “There’s a certain cat on my mind for a medicine cat position.”

“That’s great!” Alderheart smiled happily for the other medicine cats. “It’ll be nice to see some new faces at the next half moon meeting.”

Shadowsight felt the conversation starting to drift around him, and the emptiness was gnawing at him once more. During his own apprenticeship days, there had been no other medicine cat apprentices. Everyone had many moons of experience, while he barely had any. He felt a pang of jealousy for the upcoming apprentices – at least, they would have someone their own age to talk to and learn from. 

Shadowsight had never truly connected with the medicine cats from the other Clans. Unease filled his stomach as he looked at each of them. He didn’t trust these cats – not even his mentor – enough to tell them about his lack of connection to StarClan. Not even Mothwing, who had no belief in her warrior ancestors, was a cat that Shadowsight would willingly tell the truth. She had been incredibly hostile to him in the past, and while Shadowsight should be inclined to forgive, he struggled to feel anything outside of this emptiness. 

Shadowsight realized that the medicine cats had left the Moonpool cavern and were heading down the slope. He was about to head after them when he paused. Just from a distance, Shadowsight could tell they were a united group with several seasons of fond memories between them. Conversation and laughter traveled freely between members of the group. Alderheart’s and Puddleshine’s tails were intertwined, and the two toms didn’t even seem to notice. Mothwing and Jayfeather, who didn’t always get along, seemed to be carrying a nice banter. Occasionally, Kestrelflight would interrupt someone, causing a storm of laughter. Even the SkyClan cats – Frecklewish and Fidgetflake – seemed to be comfortable with the rest of the group. 

Shadowsight trailed down the slope after them, the emptiness inside his heart colder than that horrible leafbare so many moons ago. All Shadowsight wanted to do was curl up in his nest and will his growing emptiness to leave his heart and soul forever in the morning.

Chapter Text

A half moon had passed since the fall of Ashfur. It was time for a Gathering, and the cats were rejoicing in their victory. The leaders’ eyes were shining with pride for their Clan, reinvigorated with StarClan’s fateful return. The deputies seemed to be sitting taller, delighted to support their leaders during these changing times. The change in the medicine cats was as clear as day to night. Their eyes shone with starshine, enlightened with StarClan’s new messages. 

Shadowsight stared at the cats around him, rejoicing over their victory. Not all of the cats around him had the chance to enter the Dark Forest or see the light of StarClan’s wonders, but they all appeared to be equally cultured on the spiritual return of their warrior ancestors. 

“Shadowsight, I’ve never been so proud to be your littermate!” Lightleap purred beside him. “You were so brave, going into the Dark Forest when I never could.”

“Yeah…” Shadowsight flattened his ears. The chanting of the cats was getting on his nerves. Unlike the other cats in the clearing, he felt no sense of victory. Instead, there was a hollowness residing in his soul. It filled the core of his body and extended up from his head and down to his tail. In the strangest way, this felt like a defeat. Shadowsight had lost his connection with Ashfur, his connection to the darkness that held him so tenderly in his darkest moments… 

Shadowsight shivered. Those moments of shadow came with all kinds of suffering. He was tricked into murdering a Clan leader, nearly killed by the imposter, lost connection with his own body, roaming the world as a spirit, assisted a murderer’s escape, entered the Dark Forest multiple times, and nearly lost his life in the final confrontation with Ashfur. 

Shadowsight felt sickened. He should’ve been the one to die, not Bristlefrost. The brave she-cat had her entire life ahead of her. She had a mate, Rootspring, who loved her enough to leave his own Clan for her. Bristlefrost was an important member of ThunderClan with enough potential to be its leader one day. She had her parents – Ivypool and Fernsong – and her siblings, Thriftear and Flipclaw that loved her dearly. All that was stripped away because of Shadowsight. Bristlefrost didn’t even get the privilege to be with her lost friend, Stemleaf, and her mentor, Rosepetal, in StarClan. She had been killed in the Dark Forest, so her soul had departed from all realms forever. She was gone forever. And, it was all because of Shadowsight. 

Shadowsight caught sight of Rootspring across the clearing. The yellow tom seemed so lost. An ache of sympathy swelled in Shadowsight’s chest. He wanted to walk over to the tom and apologize, but it wasn’t the right time to do so, as the leaders were speaking. 

“I want to honor the cats who entered the Dark Forest to save the Clans with a special title. From now on, they will be known as the Lights in the Mist,” Bramblestar announced. 

The chanting started again with a brand-new, roaring intensity. Shadowsight felt overwhelmed by the number of eyes on him. Lightleap’s eyes shone brighter in the darkness of the night, and she licked his cheek. Shadowsight glanced over to see Puddleshine giving him a warm smile as congratulations. Tigerstar was looking down at him, his eyes glowing with fatherly pride. Tawnypelt nodded her head approvingly, her tail curling. Pouncestep and Dovewing were beside her, sharing the same sentiment towards their kin. 

Lights in the Mist… The title felt chilling to Shadowsight’s soul, rather than boosting his ego. He thought about the fog and dark water of the Dark Forest. There was a sickening sense of dread that accompanied the belonging that Shadowsight felt in the Dark Forest. At times, Shadowsight feared the place would swallow him up and he would only see blackness forever. Feeling hope in that place had been so difficult that it hadn’t solved the problem, as intended. 

Changes were being introduced to the warrior code. Shadowsight didn’t bother to pay too much attention as the Clans discussed allowing cross-Clan relationships to occur and changing the rule that the Clan leader’s word was the warrior code. Hopefully, these changes would save the Clans a lot of heartache and bloodshed moving forward. 

“The spirits of our warrior ancestors have asked for further changes to the warrior code,” Leafstar announced. 

“At the Moonpool meeting, our medicine cats were able to connect with StarClan. Our ancestors requested for the Clans to add a new rule to the warrior code,” Harestar told the Gathering cats. 

Conversation immediately erupted with the new announcement. 

“Another new rule? I wonder what that could be!”

“Too much of the warrior code is changing. We’re straying from tradition!”

“We should make a new warrior code!”

“We need to shut up and listen, mouse-brains!”

Bramblestar cleared his throat. “Cats of all Clans… The new rule for the warrior code is as follows: any Clan cat who murders another cat, Clan-born or not, without the reason of self-defense, shall be killed for their crimes.” 

“M-Murder?! Since when has murder been a punishment for breaking the warrior code?” Lionblaze’s eyes widened. 

“You’re only against it because you’ve been murdering Clan cats left and right!” Scorchfur spat at the tom.

“How would the Clans know if a cat acted in self-defense or not?” Tree asked before Lionblaze could speak up.

“Well, it would depend on the circumstances of the death,” Mistystar answered. “The Clan would have to determine if a battle was taking place or if there was an accident. If neither of those took place, then an execution would be in order.”

“Who would determine if a cat is executed or not?” Cloverfoot asked. 

“The leader, of course,” Tigerstar raised his head. 

“But, what if the leader hated someone in their Clan? There could be bias,” Mothwing blinked. 

“Perhaps, it would be more suitable if a small group of cats – the leader, deputy, medicine cat, and a few senior warriors determined the cat’s fate. They will discuss the situation until there is an agreement,” Leafstar proposed. 

“What if the wrong cat is executed?” Alderheart flattened his ears. 

“That wouldn’t happen,” Jayfeather snapped. “The medicine cat would talk with StarClan to make sure that the wrong cat isn’t killed.”

“What if the medicine cat is accused of murder?” Tawnypelt narrowed her eyes. 

“Then, either the other medicine cat would communicate with StarClan or another cat with a spiritual connection would be used.”

“Why didn’t StarClan introduce this new rule earlier?” Violetshine narrowed her eyes. “When every cat was talking about code changes after the fight, this new code was never brought up.”

“I imagine StarClan was afraid of the controversy over this rule,” Frecklewish twitched her ear. “They didn’t want to taint our victory… until now.” 

“This rule will bring nothing but trouble to the Clans!” 

“It shouldn’t be added to the warrior code!”

“Clan heroes will be seen as monstrous murderers!” 

“Quiet!” Bramblestar’s voice rang out over the Gathering cats. “Your frustrations are heard, but this is StarClan’s will. We do not want to aggravate our warrior ancestors so soon after getting them back.”

Mistystar bowed her head. “This rule will hold the Clans accountable for our actions.”

“With this rule, any murderers in the Clans will be brought to justice,” Shadowsight spoke up. 

“No WindClan cat would ever commit murder!” Crowfeather hissed, lashing his tail. 

“RiverClan cats are far too honorable to kill,” Shimmerpelt held her head high. 

“ThunderClan represents the honor and nobility of the warrior code! We would never disgrace it,” Blossomfall growled. 

“Oh, really?” Icewing scoffed. “You ThunderClan cats have broken the code countless times!” 

Fiery bickering ignited amongst the Gathering cats. Shadowsight gritted his teeth, being the cause of it all. 

Why did I have to open my big mouth? Shadowsight’s tail drooped. 

“That’s enough!” Leafstar glared down at the assembly of cats, her hackles rising. “Have you all forgotten what this Gathering is about? We are here tonight, united under the lights of Silverpelt, and we are arguing amongst ourselves like kits! Our ancestors have spoken and we must accept their words.” 

“Don’t forget about the Lights in the Mist either,” Tigerstar added. “This day should be remembered for their courage and strength. They fought in the Dark Forest for all of us!” 

“We must always remember the noble cats who died along the way,” Bramblestar acknowledged. “Tonight, there will be a vigil for those who have been lost. It will be held here, to those that wish to stay.” 

The Gathering cats started to disperse, some of them heading away to the tree bridge while others resided in the hollow. Lightleap stayed by his side, beckoning Pouncestep to join them. Together, the three cats headed over to the other cats who decided to stay, several other members of Shadowsight’s kin among them. A circle had been formed, and the siblings found themselves next to Rootspring and his family. 

Shadowsight bowed his head, closing his eyes. The gray tabby felt pain stinging at him – hurting him in a way he couldn’t comprehend. The ShadowClan medicine cat wished, prayed that he could reach out to something, someone, but he was left answerless. Shadowsight opened his eyes, looking up at the sky. Glittering stars glared coldly down upon him. Despite it being the warmest season, Shadowsight felt chilled. 

A swarm of negativity entered his mind. It was a darkness, an emptiness, that had clouded him throughout much of his life. This was a part of his identity he kept hidden away in the thorniest bramble thickets of his mind. Every time Shadowsight became infested, he felt the stabbing of thorns piercing his heart. If he got too tangled up in the thickets, then… 

Shadowsight pulled himself out of his thoughts, focusing on his environment. He could see numerous pelts gathered in the clearing, the dark shadows casted upon their backs, the bramble thickets that coated the edges of the clearing. He could hear the sound of cats’ shaky breaths, the crickets chirping, and the faint rustling from grass stems. His paw twitched instinctively, but Shadowsight stilled his fear, focusing on the cats in the hollow. 

Rootspring was by his side, his shoulder twitching. The yellow tom seemed to be lost in his own world, grief clawing up his insides. The ShadowClan medicine cat felt a pang of sorrow claw at his heart, and he touched the SkyClan tom’s shoulder with his tail. 

“I’m so sorry,” Shadowsight murmured. 

Rootspring didn’t respond, his fur prickling. The tom remained deep in thought, his ear twitching. Pools of misery were deep in his sky-blue eyes, and Shadowsight longed to heal the gaping wound in the warrior. But, Shadowsight knew that this wasn’t something that could easily be remedied. There would always be a part of Rootspring that would miss his beloved. While Shadowsight could not relate to his experience, the emptiness still resided in his soul, a stone of grief in the medicine cat’s heart. Could the feeling be akin to Rootspring’s heartache?

“Shadowsight, please… Not now,” Rootspring’s plea was desperate. 

“I know that it hurts, but you’re going to get through this,” Shadowsight continued. “Rootspring, I know you. You’re strong and brave. If anyone can get through this – it’ll be you.”

Rootspring’s blue eyes glistened with emotion, and he turned away from his gaze. “Thank you… I still don’t know how I’m going to get through this. Bristlefrost was everything to me, and now, she’s…” 

“She’ll always have a place in your heart,” Shadowsight told him gently.

“But, she’s gone, Shadowsight. Not even just gone. She… I won’t even get to see her in StarClan,” Rootspring’s shoulders slumped. “And, I can’t even find her in the spirit through the earth.”

“She’s not gone,” Shadowsight asserted. “As long as cats know her name and her story, she will always be with us.”

“Even though I’ll never see her again?” Rootspring looked at him, unblinking. 

Shadowsight bowed his head. “It’s… the best we can do. Her legacy is all that’s left.” 

Rootspring nodded, a new look of determination entering his eyes. Shadowsight wasn’t so easily fooled by his composure. The medicine cat could tell that there was still grief haunting his gaze, masked by his brave face. Shadowsight opted not to comment, knowing the strength of facades easily crumbled under questioning. 

“I’ll remember her,” Rootspring whispered, the mask slipping away. 

Shadowsight touched his nose to the SkyClan tom’s cheek. “As will I.” 

All words were lost on the toms, as they looked into each other’s eyes. An equal look of despair was reflected in their eyes – dark amber and sky blue. Shadowsight licked the tom’s cheek, in an attempt to comfort him. Rootspring moved closer to his side, their pelts touching, as they sat side by side. Crickets chirped and the brambles rustled, as they stayed together, watching the full moon slowly dip down the horizon. 

Although, Shadowsight and Rootspring were considered to be ‘Lights in the Mist,’ there wasn’t an ounce of brightness in their lives.

Chapter Text

Shadowsight was carrying some coltsfoot wrapped in ivy leaves in his jaws. It was a refreshing change of pace from the adventurous life he had been living before. The stress of dealing with the threat of Ashfur was gone, and now, it was time to resume normal Clan duties. The gray tabby tom padded through the bramble barrier, noticing the activity within the ShadowClan camp. 

Cloverfoot was commanding the crowd, summoning Whorlpelt, Sunbeam, and Stonewing to go off on patrol. Gullswoop and Cinnamontail were chattering like starlings together, their eyes lighting up with excitement. Blazefire and Lightleap were sharing tongues by the entrance of the warriors’ den. Berryheart and Sparrowtail entered camp, proudly carrying squirrels and mice for the fresh-kill pile. Spireclaw and Hollowspring were playing a game of mossball in a corner of camp. Shadowsight rolled his eyes at the toms’ antics – those two had never learned how to grow up. 

Shadowsight padded over to the medicine cats’ den, setting down his herb bundle. He mewed a greeting to Puddleshine, who was talking to Flowerstem and Flaxfoot. 

“I don’t know what happened,” Flowerstem’s ears flattened. “I started feeling a bit funny this morning.”

“She was more groggy than usual, and then, she threw up this morning,” Flaxfoot’’s eyes glittered with concern. 

“Hmm…” Puddleshine’s eyes glittered thoughtfully. “You two have been spending a lot of time together, haven’t you?”

“Well, yes,” Flowerstem said, almost shyly. “We are mates after all.”

Puddleshine smiled lightly. “You might be pregnant, Flowerstem.”

“Really?!” Flowerstem’s eyes sparkled with excitement. 

“Shadowsight and I will have to monitor your condition, but your symptoms do seem to align with pregnancy. Not to mention, there’s a faint scent coming from your pelt that I’ve only smelled on expecting she-cats.” 

“I-I’m going to be a father?” Flaxfoot seemed stunned. 

“Isn’t it exciting?” Flowerstem grinned, her tail curling.

“Of course, it is!” Flaxfoot nodded, but there was a trace of anxiety in his eyes.

“Don’t worry, Flaxfoot,” Shadowsight spoke up. “I’m sure you’ll make a fine father.”

“I… never exactly had a great father,” Flaxfoot’s fur prickled. “How can I be a good father when I’ve never had a good one?”

“There are plenty of cats who are fathers or had good fathers. You can get advice from them,” Shadowsight reminded him. 

“You could even ask Tigerstar for advice,” Flowerstem purred. 

Flaxfoot’s fur bristled. “A-Ask Tigerstar for advice on being a father?” 

“Wait, don’t tell me… You’re intimidated by our leader?” Flowerstem snickered. 

“Who wouldn’t be? Tigerstar is super strong and loyal and–”

“He’s also a mouse-brain who misinterpreted the same vision twenty times and wandered around in circles,” Puddleshine chuckled. “Regardless, he’s still approachable, Flaxfoot.”

“I-I’ll just ask Stonewing and Sparrowtail for father advice,” Flaxfoot flattened his ears. 

Flowerstem merely purred, licking Flaxfoot’s ear. “Scaredy-cat,” she teased. 

The expecting queen turned to the medicine cats. “Well, thanks for the help.”

Shadowsight smiled. “Of course! Feel free to come back with any concerns.”

Flaxfoot and Flowerstem departed from the den, their tails intertwined. 

“Young love,” Puddleshine murmured wistfully under his breath. “It’ll be good to get some kits in the nursery. There hasn’t been a new litter for moons.”

“I didn’t even know they had gotten together,” Shadowsight commented. “I guess the conflicts of the past few moons took priority.”

“No, they’ve been together for a while,” Puddleshine meowed. “You just didn’t see it happening.”

“I suppose not,” Shadowsight murmured thoughtfully. 

“Anyways, the herbs?” Puddleshine prodded. 

“Oh, here you go,” Shadowsight pushed the herb bundle to the senior medicine cat. “I found coltsfoot.”

“I suppose it’s good to stock up now,” Puddleshine unwrapped the ivy leaf, setting the coltsfoot in their normal storage space. “Even though it’s greenleaf, it’s never a bad idea to be prepared for the changing seasons.”

“Though, we’ll have to be careful to not overharvest,” Shadowsight added. 

“Of course,” Puddleshine nodded. “It seems you still remember my lessons.”

“How could I forget? You taught me everything I know,” Shadowsight smiled. 

Puddleshine smiled back. “You were always passionate about herbs. I used to fear I wouldn’t be a good mentor, since I lacked your enthusiasm as an apprentice.”

“Really?” Shadowsight twitched an ear. 

“Long ago, back before Tigerstar became leader, I wanted to be a warrior like my littermates… However, Littlecloud, the past medicine cat, was about to lose his life. Our previous leader, Rowanstar, chose me to go down the medicine cat path. Leafpool trained me in the path of medicine, and although I was reluctant, I knew this was what I had to do.”

“Do you still want to be a warrior?” Shadowsight asked him. “If you want, I could–”

“Oh, StarClan, no!” Puddleshine protested. “I lost the thrill of warrior life long ago. After seeing ShadowClan go through all kinds of bloodshed, I knew I wanted no part in a war. Healing is my way of contributing to the Clan. Besides, Shadowsight, you’re far too young to take over the position on your own.” 

Shadowsight accepted his answer. “Well, you were still the best mentor I could have ever asked for, Puddleshine.”

The brown-and-white tom purred. “You’re too kind, Shadowsight.”

“Is there anything else I can do for you?” Shadowsight asked him. “I could fetch some herbs–”

“Oh, I don’t have any tasks for you at the moment,” Puddleshine brushed off his words. “Actually, Tigerstar and Dovewing wanted to talk to you in their den.”

Shadowsight’s fur prickled. “Oh.”

“I’ll come with you. There’s something we all need to discuss,” Puddleshine nonchalantly departed from the den, so Shadowsight followed him close behind. 

The gray tabby tried to keep his fur smooth and limit his anxieties. His paw twitched again, and he forced himself to still the motion. He was being ridiculous. These were his parents – nothing bad would come from this meeting.

Puddleshine entered the leader’s den, and Shadowsight followed close behind. The scent of moss and pine sap was relatively the same to the entire stench of ShadowClan. However, the familiar scents of his parents made him feel a bit more relaxed. Back when he was a kit, he often didn’t sleep in the nursery. Dovewing and Tigerstar preferred to sleep in the den together with their kits. Although it was cramped, it was nice to be around his whole family at night. Those distant memories managed to relax his mind long enough to stop kneading the moss at his paws. 

Shadowsight looked at his parents –– Dovewing and Tigerstar. They seemed content enough, but there were faint shadows crossing their eyes. Tawnypelt and Puddleshine were also in the den, harboring similar expressions. 

“So… What is this all about?” Shadowsight twitched his ear a couple of times. 

“Son, we wanted to talk to you about…” Dovewing hesitated, her tail covering up her forepaws. 

“We wanted to talk to you about your future,” Tigerstar finished. 

“My… future?” Shadowsight seemed perplexed. 

“So, that… Well, we don’t have another ‘incident,’” Puddleshine winced with his choice of words. 

Shadowsight flattened his ears. “This is about Ashfur, isn’t it?”

“All we’re saying is that… you need to be more careful about who you trust,” Dovewing said gently. 

Shadowsight’s fur flattened. “I know that.”

“Exactly!” Tawnypelt finally spoke up, irritation present in her irises. “I don’t understand why we’re having this conversation at all. He knows better.”

“Tawnypelt, we just want to make sure that Shadowsight will make the right choices,” Tigerstar interjected. 

Tawnypelt’s back arched. “Shadowsight is a responsible cat. He’s not a kit anymore.”

“We all know that,” Dovewing inputted. “Shadowsight wasn’t a kit when Ashfur visited him.”

“I was naive back then,” Shadowsight murmured. “I just… I wanted a connection with StarClan.”

“And, you have that,” Puddleshine told him, causing Shadowsight’s insides to freeze. 

“Now that StarClan’s back at the Moonpool, you shouldn’t have any problems connecting with our warrior ancestors,” Dovewing mewed kindly. 

“Just make sure to verify who you’re talking with and–” Tigerstar started listening off a plan of action. 

“Look, Tigerstar, I can promise that this won’t happen ever again,” Shadowsight was deflated. “That’s a guarantee.”

“Can’t you just take him at his word?” Tawnypelt stepped in. 

“Tawnypelt, I didn’t bring you here to argue,” Tigerstar narrowed his eyes, frustrated with his mother. 

“Did you just expect me to sit here quietly and agree with you?” Tawnypelt’s eyes glittered. “You know I’m the type of cat to speak my mind.”

“We just thought you would understand,” Dovewing said gently. “Shadowsight has always been special, and sometimes, that gets him into trouble.”

Shadowsight felt as though claws had dug into his heart, and he remained silent, tearing his gaze away from his mother. 

“Shadowsight’s gifts are a blessing,” Puddleshine commented. “His visions have helped cats, but if not interpreted correctly…” 

“We just don’t want any cat getting hurt, that’s all,” Tigerstar put it simply. 

“I never wanted anyone to get hurt,” Shadowsight murmured. 

“Of course, you didn’t,” Dovewing tried to catch his gaze. “You’re a good cat, Shadowsight.” 

“Then, why are you treating him like he’s dangerous?” Tawnypelt took a protective step in front of Shadowsight. 

“No cat is!” Dovewing was alarmed. “Shadowsight wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

“Shadowsight is a medicine cat,” Puddleshine noted. “It would go against our entire code.”

“Let’s not talk about any codes,” Tigerstar shuddered. “Too much emphasis on the rules only caused the Clans trouble.”

“The codes still have value to them. The medicine cat code especially,” Puddleshine reminded him, his fur prickling. 

“I follow the codes,” Shadowsight looked up. 

“And, that’s what matters,” Dovewing meowed. “You’re a loyal cat.”

“If only every cat could see that,” Tawnypelt glanced around the den. 

“We do, Tawnypelt,” Puddleshine told the fiery she-cat before turning to Shadowsight. “You’ve proved yourself time and time again.”

Tawnypelt couldn’t help but let out a choked snicker. Tigerstar and Dovewing looked at the tortoiseshell, deeply alarmed. The calico didn’t comment, trying to suppress her amusement. 

 “Just… make sure you talk to me about your visions straight away,” Puddleshine reminded Shadowsight. 

“Of course,” Shadowsight flicked his tail, barely registering his words. 

“Shadowsight already learned the hard way. He’s not going to make the same mistake,” Tawnypelt grumbled, exasperated.

“We just figured a reminder wouldn’t be a bad idea,” Dovewing blinked. She looked at her son. “We don’t think you’ll be fooled again, but just in case… Make sure to talk to us, alright?”

“We’re here to support you. We always have been,” Tigerstar smiled at him kindly. 

Shadowsight nodded, looking down at his paws. A sudden sense of shame started welling up in his gut. His family had always advocated for him when every cat turned against him. He thought their faith in him was unwavering. Shadowsight felt a rawness at the back of his throat, and he swallowed it down. 

“Is that all?” Shadowsight asked, twitching his tail. 

The cats looked at each other, starting to murmur amongst themselves. Shadowsight scowled, knowing they were talking about him when he was only a few pawsteps away. He tried to mute out their conversation, but he could hear something along the lines of ‘trust’ and ‘watching over him.’ Tawnypelt suddenly let out an angry hiss, then started to stalk past Shadowsight. 

“C’mon, Shadowsight, let’s get out of here,” Tawnypelt beckoned him to follow her. 

Shadowsight glanced back at the others in the den then followed the calico’s lead. The she-cat left the camp entrance, and so, Shadowsight followed her lead. The pine forest provided them with a thick foliage of cover, providing a sense of security. Pine needles crackled beneath her paws as they traveled through the thickets of forest. Starlings chirped in the trees and the occasional mouse skittered by. Neither cat felt enticed to hunt – there was too much on their minds. Tawnypelt stopped in a clearing, turning her attention towards Shadowsight. 

“I’m so sorry about… whatever that was,” Tawnypelt sighed, her eyes sharp with frustration. 

Shadowsight was surprised by her sharp, abrupt attitude. Normally, she was the type of cat who would entertain these types of conversations about ‘credibility and safety,’ but her eyes glinted with rage. 

“It’s… fine,” Shadowsight shrugged. “I can understand why they would want to have that kind of conversation.”

“Shadowsight, don’t lie to me. You were just as upset as I was in there,” Tawnypelt lashed her tail. 

“Alright, alright, I wasn’t… happy. I thought they would have more faith in me,” Shadowsight admitted. 

“As they should,” Tawnypelt nodded. “I couldn’t stand it. Ashfur was the first… or one of the first StarClan cats who talked to you. It’s not your fault that you fell for his lies so easily.”

Shadowsight merely nodded, not knowing what to say. 

“You shouldn’t have had to go through that. It won’t happen again – we already know that,” Tawnypelt nudged him. 

Shadowsight shrugged, looking down at his paws. “I know better.”

Tawnypelt touched her tail to his shoulder. “Look up. Raise your chin and look me in the eyes.”

Shadowsight complied, his troubled amber eyes meeting Tawnypelt’s emboldened green. 

“Cats will always judge you. There are cats that will never respect you. But, you know what? They don’t matter. Keep your head held high and don’t let them get under your skin.” 

Shadowsight nodded, not trusting his voice.

“Focus on what’s important to you,” Tawnypelt smiled reassuringly. “That’s what truly matters.”

“I will,” Shadowsight murmured. 

If only it could be that simple. 

Tawnypelt’s words were easily forgotten when they returned to camp.

The camp setting had changed. Scorchfur and Snowbird were by the elders’ den with Oakfur, gossiping about the state of affairs. Shadowsight felt his paw twitch as Snowbird’s icy glare fixated on him. The senior cats had their eyes on them – judgment apparent in their gazes. Forgiveness wasn’t easy to come by in those three. 

Shadowsight’s ears flattened, and he turned away, seeing Hollowspring and Spireclaw once again. The gray tabby reminisced on how Hollowspring acted towards him not long ago, back when everyone was convinced he had murdered Bramblestar. The disdain was apparent in the black tom’s beady eyes. Even though Hollowspring didn’t openly voice his thoughts, Shadowsight knew how he felt. The two hadn’t spoken for over a moon for a reason. 

Even Sparrowtail and Snaketooth, cats who appeared incredibly kind on the surface, held something against Shadowsight. From an early age, Shadowsight knew the two had doubts in his abilities. Sparrowtail and Snaketooth were the type to express fake kindness that masked condescension. Even as they smiled at him and tilted their ears in greeting, Shadowsight knew it was not genuine and trotted past the pair without a word. 

The hollowness was back in Shadowsight’s heart, reminding him of his mistakes. Cats would always remember the awful things he did in the past and wouldn’t forgive him. Did he even deserve forgiveness?

Shadowsight already knew the answer.

Chapter Text

A half moon glistened upon the horizon, far sooner than Shadowsight anticipated. He couldn’t believe it had been over a moon since Ashfur’s defeat. It was difficult to live a life with the threat of Ashfur vanquished from the Clans. Shadowsight’s paw twitched erratically as he padded through the pines. Ever since he was attacked and almost killed by the tom moons ago, Shadowsight had gained that twitch, urging him to flee from some unseen danger. 

“Are you alright, Shadowsight?” Puddleshine’s pale eyes were filled with concern. 

“I’m fine,” Shadowsight responded, picking up the pace. 

“Slow down, Shadowsight,” Puddleshine purred. “You’re going to miss the meeting spot.”

“Right…” Shadowsight stopped, allowing the fellow medicine cat to catch up, before matching the brown-and-white cat’s pace. 

“It’ll be nice to have another normal Moonpool meeting,” Puddleshine’s eyes beamed. “StarClan has been eager to reunite with us.” 

“I’m sure they have,” Shadowsight nodded, glancing down at his paws. 

“Don’t be discouraged, Shadowsight,” Puddleshine rested his fuzzy tail on Shadowsight’s shoulder. “I’m sure that StarClan will visit you this time. You’ve been blessed by so many visions – they wouldn’t cut off contact with you.”

Shadowsight’s ears flattened. “Why wouldn’t they?” 

“Why, you helped save the Clans from the imposter. That’s admirable.”

“Even after I was the one that allowed Ashfur to obtain so much power in the first place?”

“Shadowsight––” Puddleshine was about to object when a cheerful meow cut off his thoughts. 

“Puddleshine, Shadowsight,” Frecklewish greeted neutrally as Fidgetflake bounded over to them. 

“It’s so great to see you two!” Fidgetflake beamed. 

Puddleshine chuckled. “We’re happy to see you too, Fidgetflake.” 

“Fidgetflake, we don’t have the time to sit and chat. The moon is already glittering in the sky. If we dawdle, we’ll be late,” Frecklewish chidded.

“Frecklewish is right. We have to keep moving,” Puddleshine trekked forward, setting the cats at a faster pace. 

“We can talk on the way,” Shadowsight smiled at the enthusiastic SkyClan tom. 

Fidgetflake purred, walking side by side with Shadowsight. Puddleshine and Frecklewish were ahead of him, making small talk about their medicinal duties. From the way Frecklewish’s tail lashed to the irritable growl in her voice, it seemed that SkyClan cats were being careless on patrols. 

“I’m so excited for this Moonpool meeting,” Fidgetflake chirped. “I know, we just had a Moonpool meeting last moon, but I haven’t gotten to visit StarClan that much. When SkyClan was driven away from the gorge, we weren’t able to communicate with StarClan too often. Their messages were vaguer than ever, and it was hard to focus on their messages when the Clan itself was struggling to survive. It was a really stressful time, and Frecklewish was gone for a while…”

Shadowsight started to zone off, not paying too much attention to the peppy black-and-white tom’s words. While he was sure that Fidgetflake had several fascinating stories to tell, he couldn’t focus. His mind was stuck in survival mode, and his claws were half-sheathed, ready to defend himself if necessary. 

He could hear the lapping waves of the lake, which only stirred about more anxious feelings in his gut. Shadowsight recalled the stories that Tawnypelt used to tell him and his siblings in kithood. Back when Darktail was in power, he would drown cats in the lake, who disagreed with the Kin. Among the victims were several of Puddleshine’s siblings, as well as Dawnpelt – Tigerstar’s sister. Shadowsight glanced over at the gloomy surface, where a faint fog was forming. Darktail had murdered here, then died here, in a fight to the death with his father. 

The lake was also close to the place where Hawkfrost – a ruthless RiverClan warrior – was killed off by his own half-brother, Bramblestar. Hawkfrost was also Shadowsight’s ancestor – as he was Tawnypelt’s half-brother. Hawkfrost, like Darktail, was an evil cat who desired power and brought bloodshed to the Clan territories. Luckily, that ice-hearted tom was dead and would never return – not even as a ghost. 

Every part of the Clans were stained with bloodshed. Many moons ago, before his parents were even born, all four Clans fought each other over causes that not even Shadowsight could comprehend. The cats had been vicious to each other – changing alliances and causing serious injuries to many cats involved in the conflict. According to Tawnypelt, the entire territories had stunk of blood for days afterwards. 

In the latest conflict, the Clans were torn between supporting the imposter or standing rigidly against him. So many cats had died, and many of those cats weren’t able to retreat to StarClan directly after their death. They continued to suffer as possessions under Ashfur’s control. Shadowsight felt sickened, knowing how close they came to losing that final battle. 

The Clans really were just a war zone. Cats were willing to rip each other apart, their cruelty present in every season. He could understand Puddleshine’s motivations for staying in the medicine cat position. Shadowsight was no fighter, and he could barely stomach the conflicts of the past. And, the latest conflict… Shadowsight shuddered, trying to bring himself out of his dark thoughts. 

Had they entered ThunderClan territory already? Shadowsight could detect the scents of forest and undergrowth in the air. He glanced over at Fidgetflake, who, somehow, was still rambling about SkyClan’s journey to the lake and the process it took to settle there. 

“Remember that huge storm? StarClan made it flood for days! And then, you just jumped into the river,” Fidgetflake couldn’t help but chuckle. “You’re kind of crazy, did you know that?” 

“...I was sent a vision to jump into the river,” Shadowsight said flatly. “It brought the Clans together.”

“StarClan is quite strange, that’s for sure,” Fidgetflake smiled. “I’m glad your vision was real though. If not, you probably would’ve drowned out there, all alone.” 

“Yeah…” Shadowsight stopped walking, his thoughts straying in a darker direction. 

Fidgetflake was right. 

Shadowsight really was ‘kind of crazy.’ 

“Shadowsight, did your paws forget how to work? C’mon!” Fidgetflake teased, waving him to join him with his tail. 

Shadowsight broke himself out of his trance and dashed ahead to catch up to Fidgetflake. By the time he made it to the SkyClan tom’s side, he was shaking profusely, and his scent carried faint traces of fear. 

“What’s up with you?” Fidgetflake twitched an ear. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Wait – did you see a StarClan cat?” 

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Frecklewish rolled her eyes. “StarClan cats don’t roam the living world.”

“Actually, they can,” Puddleshine meowed. “Have you already forgotten about Tree’s talents?”

“It’s also happened countless times before to Clan cats not related to the Sisters. Haven’t you heard the stories of Spottedleaf watching over us?” Fidgetflake reminded Frecklewish. 

Frecklewish bristled. “So, I was mistaken. I haven’t seen a StarClan cat while I was awake.”

“Well, with Shadowsight’s spiritual talents, I’m sure it’s possible for him,” Puddleshine smiled kindly at the younger tom.

“I… didn’t see a StarClan cat. I-I just thought I heard something strange,” Shadowsight’s voice was strained as he looked back the way they came. 

Puddleshine gave him a contemplative look. “Well… It was probably nothing. Let’s keep moving–”

“Puddleshine!” The sound of footsteps caused every pelt on Puddleshine’s pelt to prickle. 

Alderheart went over to the brown-and-white medicine cat’s side, nuzzling his cheek affectionately. Puddleshine smiled, ducking his head in greeting. He murmured something to Alderheart, and the pair smiled at each other. The two toms then started to walk side by side, their tails intertwining. Jayfeather had now approached the group, his tail lashing. 

“You were lucky that we decided to wait on you four,” Jayfeather grumbled. “I would’ve gone up the WindClan slopes long ago, but Alderheart insisted.”

“Our apologies,” Frecklewish returned before looking up at the sky. “We still have some time before moon-high though. Hopefully, we will arrive right on time.”

“We shouldn’t dawdle. I wouldn’t be surprised if Mothwing and Kestrelflight are already waiting at the Moonpool.” 

“That’s what I’ve been telling this group since we were in SkyClan territory,” Frecklewish retorted. “I swear, the younger generations are just getting slower.”

The two cats shared their habit of grumbling about arbitrary topics together all the way up the moor slopes. Puddleshine and Alderheart followed close behind, deep in conversation. Once again, Shadowsight was by Fidgetflake’s side, enduring through his long tales. 

Before long, Shadowsight felt jagged rocks underneath his paws. He looked up just as they reached the top of the slope. There was a stone hollow before them with moss coating the silver, black, and white stones. There was a sharp cliff off to one side with a waterfall gushing down into a sparkling pool. 

Fidgetflake gasped beside him, his eyes sparkling with wonder. Frecklewish also sported a look of stardom, but it was more reserved than the younger medicine cat. Shadowsight saw four shadowed cats by the Moonpool, waiting patiently for them. 

The six traveling medicine cats padded down to the bottom of the hollow. From there, Shadowsight was able to recognize Kestrelflight and Mothwing, smiling proudly, as they stood next to their younger counterparts. A young, short-haired gray tabby she-cat was next to a sleek silver she-cat. 

“You both brought your apprentices!” Alderheart’s eyes gleamed. 

“Why, of course. This is Whistlepaw,” Kestrelflight touched the gray tabby’s shoulder with his tail. 

“And this is Frostpaw,” Mothwing looked over at the young silver she-cat. 

“It’s great to meet you two,” Puddleshine smiled. “Your mentors mentioned you two at our last meeting.”

“T-They did?” Whistlepaw gulped. 

“What did you say?” Frostpaw grinned. 

“It wasn’t much. We just told them that they would be meeting you two soon,” Mothwing shrugged. 

“I have talked about you before in the past, Whistlepaw. You’ve wanted to train as a medicine cat for a long time, but StarClan’s silence wouldn’t allow that to happen.” 

“And now that you have StarClan’s approval, there shouldn’t be any issues,” Jayfeather flicked his tail. 

Whistlepaw smiled, surprisingly finding reassurance in the blind cat’s words. 

“We’re losing moonlight. We should start the meeting,” Frecklewish meowed impatiently. 

Kestrelflight started murmuring instructions to the new apprentices. The two listened eagerly before lapping a few drops of the dark water and settling down by the Moonpool side-by-side. The other medicine cats followed suit, apart from Mothwing and Shadowsight. Mothwing twitched her ear, glancing over at the ShadowClan tom. 

Shadowsight swallowed a lump in his throat, approaching the starry pool. Cats claimed the reflections of StarClan cats could be seen through it. As Shadowsight gazed into the pool, all he saw was murky water. He dipped his muzzle into the water, lapping a few freezing drops. His fur prickled apprehensively. Shadowsight sat down, closing his eyes. Darkness swirled around the edges of his vision, and he succumbed to the approaching dream, sinking into unconsciousness. 

Shadowsight heard the sound of crackling bracken. He opened his eyes, realizing he wasn’t in the stone hollow anymore. The trees around him shadowed the world, and he could detect the scents of undergrowth, pine sap, fog, and… blood. Shadowsight felt a whirlwind of emotions, and he caught his breath. 

He wasn’t in StarClan. 

“You couldn’t stay away, could you?” he heard a taunting voice. 

Shadowsight’s fur bristled, and he turned his head. “Who’s there?”

He could hear the faint echo of laughter traveling through the trees. He turned his head, trying to spot the source of it all. Yet, the forest provided thick cover for anyone watching him. Shadowsight felt a swell of nervousness growing in his chest, and he started padding through the forest, sniffing the air. 

It was hard to distinguish individual scents in this confusing maze of trees. As he walked, he stepped in something sticky, but he didn’t bother to look down at his paws. He spotted a faint silhouette perched in the trees. 

“Hello?” Shadowsight tilted his head. 

The cat leapt down from the tree before disappearing in the thicket of shadows. The medicine cat flicked his tail and started wandering deeper into the depths of the forest. He jumped over fallen logs and strayed away from rose, gorse, and bramble thickets. He spotted some small bushes sprouting berries. He decided to inspect them closer, realizing in horror that the fruits were deathberries. 

He noticed that some of the berries were freshly picked. 

Shadowsight shuddered in horror, recalling his own experience with deathberries. The choking sensation of heat flooding his senses, the fear that chilled his bones, and the resolve he carried – knowing exactly what he was doing and the impact it would leave on the Clans. 

He fully understood how desperation could bring cats to their limits. 

“Shadowsight,” he heard a sly purr behind him. 

Shadowsight turned his head to see a Dark Forest cat hidden in the shadows. 

“Who are you?” Shadowsight whispered. 

“My name doesn’t hold any significance,” The cat replied smoothly. “But your name will go down in history.” 

“How so?” Shadowsight twitched an ear. 

“Why, the Dark Forest never forgets a faithful ally.”

“An… An ally?” Shadowsight felt his body go rigid. 

“Why, of course. Without you, the cats of the Dark Forest would have drowned.”

“I also helped save StarClan!” Shadowsight bristled. 

“And how much gratitude have they given you?” the Dark Forest cat chuckled. “You can’t even dream with them.”

“H-How do you know that?” Shadowsight’s fur prickled. 

“Dark Forest cats are aware to some extent about Clan life. I know it’s the night of a half moon in the Clans. You’re a medicine cat – surely you should be wandering through StarClan’s hunting grounds tonight.”

Shadowsight’s ears flattened. “You’re right. I can’t connect with them.”

The cat’s eyes gleamed. “But, you can connect with us. Isn’t that something special?”

Shadowsight’s fur prickled. “I’m nothing special. Countless other living cats entered the Dark Forest.”

“But, they weren’t gifted like you are. We had to consult them and bring them here. You can enter here freely.”

Shadowsight didn’t respond, feeling sickened to his stomach. 

“We’ve been watching over you since you were a kit,” the Dark Forest took a step closer to him. “Don’t you remember that storm?”

The storm. The storm that brought the Clans together. Shadowsight merely nodded. 

“You got visions from ‘StarClan', didn’t you? Commanding you to enter that river?”

Shadowsight nodded. 

“But, you don’t have a connection with StarClan, correct?”

Shadowsight nodded again. 

No, no, it can’t be–

The Dark Forest cat chuckled. “It seems you’ve figured it out. Your visions do come from the shadows after all.”

Cold fear suddenly traveled down his spine, causing him to freeze in rigid horror. 

A StarClan cat didn’t send him that vision. 

Then, that meant… 

StarClan wasn’t looking after him when he was in that flooding river. He could have easily died. And, since he was a kit, he should’ve died. The current was strong, and the Clans were facing a storm sent by StarClan to destroy them, if they failed to join together… 

“StarClan has never had your back,” the Dark Forest cat purred. “But, we always have.” 

Shadowsight looked up, realizing that other Dark Forest cats were surrounding him, their eyes gleaming. Among the pelts, he recognized Maggottail, Mapleshade, and others, who were pleased to see him.

“You’ve always been one of us.”

“You’re always welcome here.”

“You’re an honorable Dark Forest cat.”

“You belong here.”

Their praises flowed through Shadowsight’s ears, which were now flattened. He felt cornered, and his paw started twitching, but there was no way to flee his predicament. He was surrounded on all sides by cats who considered themselves to be his allies. This was a celebration. 

“Shadowsight! Shadowsight! Shadowsight!” The cats began chanting his name. 

Shadowsight’s ears started ringing. He crouched down, every hair of his pelt quivering. Their words made him feel hollow, as though his soul had been carved out of his chest. His heart was pounding, and he closed his eyes, just wanting to escape from this emptiness… 

“STOP!” Shadowsight screamed, opening his eyes. 

He realized that the dark shadows had dissipated and the forest had vanished. Shadowsight was back in the stone hollow next to the Moonpool. The eyes of the medicine cats were on him, fearful and concerned. 

“Shadowsight, are you alright?” Puddleshine’s pale eyes were bright with alarm. 

The tom wasn’t able to respond, shaking tremendously. He tried to stand up, but his body wouldn’t cooperate, and he collapsed back onto the stone. He flinched, looking down at his paws, realizing they were stained with blood. Shadowsight quickly tucked them away before any cat saw. 

“I-I’m fine!” Shadowsight insisted, his stutter betraying him. 

“You were shaking in your sleep,” Mothwing wasn’t convinced. 

“It’s… nothing,” Shadowsight averted eye contact. 

“Shadowsight, that was not nothing. Every cat woke up from their dreams long before you did,” Kestrelflight meowed. 

“Was that a vision?” Frostpaw gasped, her eyes glittering. 

“If that was a vision, I never want to have one,” Whistlepaw quivered. 

Kestrelflight and Mothwing exchanged anxious looks. 

“Frostpaw, Whistlepaw. Go to the top of the hollow and wait for us there,” Kestrelflight told the apprentices. 

“But, if that was a vision, then I want to–” Frostpaw was cut off. 

“That was an order. Go to the top of the hollow now,” Jayfeather hissed. 

Without another word, the two apprentices started scurrying out of the hollow. 

As soon as the apprentices were out of the hollow, Puddleshine spoke up. “Shadowsight, what was that?” 

Shadowsight had started collecting his bearings, and he stood up, his thick fur still bristling widely. “It was nothing.”

Jayfeather was about to object when Shadowsight continued. 

“It doesn’t matter. It was just a bad dream.”

“You’re not lying to us, are you?” Puddleshine asked. 

“I wouldn’t lie about this!” Shadowsight hissed. 

“Sometimes, a bad dream is just a bad dream,” Mothwing’s golden tabby fur was ruffled. 

“Mothwing, not even you can deny that Shadowsight is different. He’s had signs from StarClan since he was a kit!” Jayfeather snapped. 

“He has had seizures since he was a kit,” Mothwing corrected. 

“You’re allowed to lack faith in StarClan, Mothwing, but now, you’re just being ridiculous,” Frecklewish snorted. “Don’t you remember the imposter?” 

“Of course, I do! That’s what too much faith in a bunch of dead cats can result in.”

Bickering suddenly ensued, cats glaring and hissing at each other. Jayfeather, Frecklewish, and Mothwing were the deepest ones in the debate, their claws half-sheathed. Alderheart and Fidgetflake were trying to moderate the fighting, but their words fell on deaf ears. The cats were talking over each other, to the point where no cat could understand anything that was being said. 

“Enough!” Shadowsight shouted, causing all of the cats to fall silent. 

“We shouldn’t be squabbling. Especially not here with the eyes of our ancestors looking down upon us,” Shadowsight reminded him.

Fidgetflake, who stayed quiet during the feud, nodded. “We should focus on being happy that StarClan is with us again. If we make them angry, then…” 

“Then, they may not share dreams with us in the future,” Frecklewish nodded before glancing over at Mothwing. “At least, to the cats that believe in StarClan.”

Mothwing dismissed the she-cat’s words. “We shouldn’t pester Shadowsight. He can share his dreams or keep them to himself.”

Puddleshine glanced over at his younger counterpart. “I only have one question to ask you, Shadowsight. Was that a vision from StarClan?”

Shadowsight shook his head. “It was just a bad dream about a memory from the battle.”

Puddleshine nodded. “I completely understand. I still have nightmares about the malicious things Darktail did.”

“It hasn’t been long since Ashfur was killed. The nightmares will get better soon,” Alderheart reassured him. 

“Maybe, next time, you’ll be able to meet with StarClan,” Frecklewish nodded. 

Shadowsight sighed.  “It’s been a long night. We should return to our Clans.”

The cats nodded in agreement and started exiting the hollow. When they reached the top of the hollow, Kestrelflight and Mothwing called their apprentices over to join them. The young she-cats eagerly went over to their mentors, flashing Shadowsight a look of concern and fear. The medicine cats ventured down the moor slopes, Shadowsight taking up the rear of the group.

As he walked, Shadowsight left a trail of bloody paw prints behind him.

Chapter Text

Dark trees blocked out the light, and there was no horizon to look forward to. Shadowsight glanced around, his ears flattened, his paw twitching erratically. He could see silhouettes looking down on him from the trees, chanting his name with enthusiasm. Their eyes gleamed with dark-hearted mischief, and Shadowsight darted through the forest, leaving a trail of blood behind him. 

As he raced forward, he saw a silhouette standing in his path, their ice-cold blue eyes glimmering. Shadowsight felt his steps come to a halt, as he stared at the gray-flecked tom. The other tom grinned. 

“We are one and the same.” 

“No… No, I’m not!” Shadowsight’s ears flattened. 

“We’re both murderers.” 

Suddenly, Ashfur was knocked over his paws by Bristlefrost. The pair fell into the murky water and started sinking under its weight. Shadowsight screamed and tried to rush over to them. Yet, his fur suddenly got snagged onto a bramble. He hissed, trying to pull it off of him. However, the more he struggled, the more brambles got stuck in his pelt. 

Shadowsight craned his head, seeing Bristlefrost taking Ashfur down into the depths of the water. He yowled, begging her to come back up to the surface, begging her to save herself. He could hear the voice of a cat beside him calling for Bristlefrost. Shadowsight’s stomach churned, as Bristlefrost’s form sunk completely underneath the surface of the water… 

Shadowsight woke up with a gasp, his heart pounding in his chest. The brambles surrounding him and the thick aroma of herbs revealed his location. The gray tabby breathed out a sigh of relief and stretched in his nest, discovering the moss had been shredded. Parts of his nest were even scattered elsewhere. Sheepishly, the medicine cat pieced his nest back together. He would have to collect some moss later. Shadowsight noticed that the wall of the medicine cat den had been torn. His pelt ached and burned, and he felt a sticky substance trailing down his back. 

“Shadowsight!” an alarmed voice brought him out of his thoughts. 

The gray tabby turned his head as the brown-and-white medicine cat entered the den with a fresh set of herbs. 

“What’s wrong?” Shadowsight padded over to his side, wincing. 

“What’s wrong is that you’re bleeding!” Puddleshine dropped his herbs and grabbed some spare cobwebs. 

“Oh,” Shadowsight sat down, looking at his pelt. There were several brambles snagged in his gray tabby fur, as well as several blood trails escaping his pelt. Yet, the pain was pretty mild, especially compared to the injuries he had had in the past. 

Puddleshine started pulling the brambles out of his pelt. “You had another nightmare, didn’t you?”

“N-Nightmare? What are you talking about?” Shadowsight’s fur bristled. 

“You thrash in your nest during nightmares. There’s moss and brambles in your pelt. Not to mention, your denial of the situation proves you had a nightmare,” Puddleshine observed, applying cobwebs to his wounds.

“Alright, fine,” Shadowsight conceded. “You’re right.”

“So, then. What was it about?” Puddleshine added some marigold poultices to his wounds. 

“It was just about the battle,” Shadowsight shrugged. 

“What cats did you see?” Puddleshine probed. 

“Just some Dark Forest cats,” Shadowsight answered flatly. "It wasn't that eventful."

Puddleshine pulled away, sighing. “Shadowsight, I can cure your physical wounds quite easily. However, I can’t tend to your emotional wounds if you won’t tell me what’s going on.” 

Shadowsight flattened the ear he was able to move. “I’m fine, Puddleshine.”

Puddleshine didn’t look convinced. 

The sound of rustling by the den entrance distracted the pair. The medicine cats looked over to see Flowerstem and Flaxfoot, who both looked a bit troubled. 

“Is everything alright?” Puddleshine asked the pair. 

“Well, I know pregnancy is supposed to come with its ups and downs, but…” Flowerstem’s words trailed off. 

“The downs are happening a lot more than the highs,” Flaxfoot continued. “The morning sickness is just getting worse, she hasn’t been sleeping well at night, and some days, she’s weaker and feverish…” 

“Is there anything you can do?” Flowerstem asked them anxiously. 

“Of course there is,” Shadowsight reasoned. “There are some herbs that can give you strength.” 

“That would be wonderful,” Flowerstem smiled before her face contorted. “I never expected that kits could be so… difficult. And they’re not even here yet!” 

“Are you talking about kits?” Berryheart suddenly entered the den, her eyes warm. “I’m expecting my second litter!” 

Flowerstem’s eyes glimmered. “Really? That’s wonderful! Our kits will grow up in the nursery together.” 

Berryheart purred. “ShadowClan could use some new life.”

“Berryheart, did you come here for some more feverfew?” Puddleshine asked. “I’m afraid I’ve just run out.”

“Do we have any burnet?” Shadowsight asked Puddleshine. 

“No, we are out of that as well,” Puddleshine’s tail lashed. “We’ve been replenishing our stocks, but we always run low on the herbs we need.” 

“I can go out herb collecting,” Shadowsight offered. 

“That would be great,” Puddleshine looked over at Berryheart. “Stop by again at dusk, and we’ll give you some herbs.” 

“Is there a way to make herbs taste less bad?” Berryheart wrinkled her nose. “I’ve barely been able to stomach them.”

“I could put the herbs in some prey,” Shadowsight meowed. 

“That would be great,” Berryheart smiled. 

“Could you do the same for me?” Flowerstem asked. 

“Of course,” Shadowsight nodded. “Any prey preference?” 

“A mouse would be great,” Berryheart purred. 

“I’ll have a squirrel if possible,” Flowerstem licked her chest. 

Shadowsight nodded. “I’ll set aside the prey after I return from gathering herbs.”

The queens and Flaxfoot retreated from the den, and Shadowsight followed after them. 

“I didn’t know you two got together,” Berryheart looked over at Flowerstem and Flaxfoot. 

“It hasn’t been going on for very long,” Flowerstem admitted. “But, we’ve been in love for a long time.” 

“Ever since we were apprentices together,” Flaxfoot’s paws scuffled the earth. 

“Well, I’m sure you two will make wonderful parents,” Berryheart looked at the two approvingly. 

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Flaxfoot meowed. “I have no doubts in Flowerstem, but… I don’t think I would be a good father.”

“Maybe, you should talk to a father then,” Berryheart told him. “Maybe, then, you’ll stop having bees in your brain.”

“We were thinking of asking Tigerstar,” Flowerstem purred. 

Flaxfoot bristled. “N-No, we weren’t!” 

Berryheart nodded. “That sounds like a good idea.”

“He’s in the clearing now – we should talk to him,” Flowerstem nudged her mate. 

“W-What? N-No, of course not, we should leave him be–” Flaxfoot protested meekly. 

The she-cats started dragging a reluctant Flaxfoot over to the Clan leader. Shadowsight couldn’t help but purr at their antics. His father was far more approachable than Flaxfoot thought he was. He looked over at the clearing, seeing his littermates over by the warriors’ den. 

“Shadowsight!” Pouncestep called out to her brother. “Come join us.”

Shadowsight smiled, heading over to his sisters. “What’s going on?”

“Well, Pouncestep and I are about to head off on patrol,” Lightleap meowed. “Are you busy?”

“Well, I’m about to go searching for herbs,” Shadowsight meowed. 

“Perfect! You’re coming with us,” Pouncestep announced, already starting to walk towards the camp entrance. 

“Are you trying to get me to mark the border while you mess around?” Shadowsight teased playfully. 

“Oh, shush, that’s what Lightleap does,” Pouncestep nudged his shoulder. 

“I do not!” Lightleap insisted, her tabby pelt bristling indignantly. 

“Yes, you do,” Pouncestep smirked. 

The two sisters promptly started bickering, and Shadowsight waited for their argument to end, exasperation igniting inside him. He loved his sisters dearly, but sometimes, they could be extremely irritating. 

“When are you two going to grow up and stop bickering all of the time?” The soft voice of a she-cat caused the argument to cease. 

The two she-cats turned their heads, fur bristling, as Dovewing stood before them, a stern look of disapproval on her face. 

“W-We weren’t bickering!” Lightleap squeaked. 

Pouncestep lashed her tail. “It was just a minor disagreement. Don’t worry – we sorted it out.”

“You two are way too old for this,” Dovewing muttered under his breath, her eyes glimmering with amusement. 

“H-Hey, at least we don’t still play moss ball like Hollowspring and Spireclaw do every day!”

“Is it really a good thing if you have to compare your maturity levels to those two?” Dovewing teased, her eyes lightening up. 

“That was obviously just one example. We–”

“That’s enough, Pouncestep,” Dovewing cut her off. “Since you two are so mature, why don’t you head off on the border patrol, so you’ll be back before sundown?”

“But, Shadowsight is coming with us,” Lightleap protested. “We wouldn’t want to leave without him.”

“I just want to talk to him for a moment,” Dovewing told her daughters gently. “He’ll be on his way soon.”

“But–” Pouncestep pouted. 

“You wouldn’t interrupt a conversation between mother and son, would you?” Dovewing asked them gently.

“Alright, alright,” Pouncestep conceded. “I’ll leave you two be.”

Pouncestep waved her tail, then at last, departed from camp.

“Make sure to join us soon!” Lightleap chirped as she made her exit. 

“What do you need?” Shadowsight asked his mother, his tail drooping. 

“Puddleshine told me about your nightmares,” Dovewing’s voice lowered to a whisper. 

“They’re really not that bad,” Shadowsight scuffled his paws. “Puddleshine is over exaggerating.”

“Shadowsight – look at your pelt! Puddleshine told me those scratches were from brambles.”

“I’m fine,” Shadowsight insisted. “I just rolled over in my sleep.”

“It was more than that – you got those thorns in your pelt during your nightmare,” Dovewing’s eyes were wide with concern. 

“It’s not as bad as it looks,” Shadowsight winced. 

“I know you’re lying,” Dovewing was troubled. 

“Look, I’ve been through worse,” Shadowsight brushed her off.  “I need to gather herbs. Pouncestep and Lightleap are waiting on me. Can I go now?”

“Shadowsight, this isn’t like you,” Dovewing frowned. “You used to be really open with me, but now…”

“Now, I just have nothing to say,” Shadowsight lashed his tail, starting to feel frustrated. 

“I know that’s not true,” Dovewing seemed hurt. “Shadowsight, you’re not usually a liar…” 

“I haven’t been lying to you!” Shadowsight insisted. 

“You’re right,” Dovewing nodded. “You just haven’t been telling me the full truth.”

“There aren’t any more crazy visions that’ll get any cat killed,” Shadowsight told her bitterly. “What else do you need to know? StarClan hasn’t said anything to me.”

“I don’t care about any of that,” Dovewing looked at him. “I want to know if you’re happy.” 

Shadowsight felt his breath hitch, and his throat closed up. He looked away from his mother, his shoulders hunched. 

Dovewing rested her tail on his shoulder. “I know you’re going through a tough time right now. I was in a similar spot once as well. Sometimes, even after the villain is dealt with, there’s still more going on.” 

“There’s nothing going on,” Shadowsight’s voice cracked. “Just leave me be.” 

“Shadowsight, if there’s anything I can–”

“Just leave me be,” Shadowsight looked up at her desperately. “Please.”

Dovewing’s eyes glimmered. “Alright. You may go.”

Shadowsight trudged out of camp, feeling a wave of bitterness cross over him. His mother always had a way of turning every conversation into an emotional one. He understood that she was trying to be supportive, but it came off the wrong way. When Dovewing had these types of conversations with his sisters, it normally went better. But for Shadowsight, he only grew more reserved and closed off with her attitude. 

Lightleap and Pouncestep were waiting for him a short distance away from camp. Their eyes glittered with concern by Shadowsight’s changed demeanor. 

“C’mon, we should get going. You two need to mark the border, and I need to search for herbs,” Shadowsight walked past his sisters, his tail lashing. 

“Y-Yeah, of course,” Lightleap nodded, deciding not to pry. 

“What border are you going to be marking?” Shadowsight asked. 

“We’re heading over to the SkyClan border,” Pouncestep meowed. 

Shadowsight nodded. “That sounds good. Can we travel by the lakeshore? I’m sure there will be some feverfew there.”

“Of course,” Lightleap changed course towards the lakeshore. 

As the siblings padded through the pine forest, their paws snapping pine needles, Pouncestep started letting out small mrrows of laughter. Lightleap and Shadowsight turned to their littermate, confusion on their faces. 

“Don’t you remember,” Pouncestep giggled, struggling to get her words out, “how we snuck out of camp as kits?”

Lightleap’s eyes lit up. “How could I ever forget? We wanted to get a headstart on our warrior training.”

“And, I wanted an early start to my medicine cat training,” Shadowsight inputted. 

“Yeah! Remember how we started ‘training’ on our own?” Pouncstep nudged Lightleap. “You wanted to catch a fish.” 

Lightleap’s fur fluffed indignantly. “We were down by the stream, and they were fishes in the water.”

Shadowsight purred. “But ShadowClan cats don’t eat fish!” 

Lightleap licked her chest, embarrassed. “I just wanted to try it. I thought it would make me a cooler warrior!”

Pouncestep snickered. “Yeah, that went well. As soon as you slipped into that stream, you started wailing!” 

“It was deep and dangerous!” Lightleap defended herself. 

“There wasn’t a current that day,” Shadowsight reminded her.

“And, the water didn’t even go up to your underbelly!” Pouncestep laughed. “You were so scared for no good reason.”

Lightleap cuffed her sister around the ears. “Don’t act like you were any better! Don’t you remember the squirrel story?”

“The… squirrel story?” Shadowsight twitched his ears. 

“Lightleap! You promised not to tell him about that,” Pouncestep hissed. 

“That was back when we were kits,” Lightleap smirked. “Not to mention, you embarrassed me, so now it’s your turn!”

“Alright, you have got to tell me the details about this,” Shadowsight grinned. 

Pouncestep merely grumbled, flattening her ears. 

“So, when you ran off due to that weird vision you had,” Lightleap twitched an ear towards Shadowsight. “Pouncestep thought it would be a good idea to catch a squirrel.” 

“I wanted to feed the Clan,” Pouncestep raised her head. 

“Mhm, and that went so well, didn’t it?” Lightleap snickered. “Anyways, anyways, Pouncy saw a squirrel and thought it would be a good idea to hunt it.”

“Don’t call me Pouncy!” The gray she-cat’s fur bristled. 

“Alright, Pouncy,” Lightleap grinned, knowing she riled up her sister. “She saw the squirrel on the ground and started chasing it like a WindClan cat! She didn’t stalk it whatsoever.”

“I didn’t know the proper technique at the time!” Pouncestep hissed. 

“Calm down, Pouncy, it’s all in the past,” Lightleap giggled. “Don’t get so defensive.”

“Says the cat who got all grumbly about their kithood shenanigans,” Shadowsight butted Lightleap’s shoulder. 

“Shut up,” Lightleap grumbled while Pouncestep snickered. 

“Anyways, when Pouncestep started chasing the squirrel, she tripped over her own paws and fell!” Lightleap’s eyes lit up mischievously. “But, that’s not all. She had fallen onto an ant hole. Those angry ants started swarming her, and she yowled and ran like a coward!”

“You were just as scared!” Pouncestep’s fur bushed.

“Nu-uh,” Lightleap shook her head. “Those ants weren’t even poisonous. Puddleshine said so.”

“And, you discovered this after the fact when you ran into camp, tattling to everyone about how we ran away from camp,” Pouncestep scowled. 

Lightleap’s fur prickled. “Yeah, yeah, whatever. It’s all in the past now.” 

Pouncestep rolled her eyes, nudging her sister. “Mouse-brain.” 

“What about you, Shadowsight?” Lightleap turned her eyes to her littermate. “Do you have any embarrassing kithood stories?”

“You usually ended up going off on your own,” Pouncestep’s eyes glittered. “Surely, you have some good tales.”

“Well…” Shadowsight thought back to his kithood days with a frown. 

He did end up going off on his own often in his kithood days. While Lightleap and Pouncestep would play warriors, he would be eager to learn about all kinds of herbs. He regularly ventured out of camp at an early age, trying to learn more about the world around him. Most of the time, nothing too dramatic happened to him. Whenever he sensed danger, he would climb a tree or make sure his scent couldn’t be detected by predators. He did get in trouble every once in a while though.

One time, Shadowsight had a seizure in the middle of the forest, all alone. Fear had suffocated him as his body spasmed violently, his sight morphing from his pine tree surroundings to complete shadows. Yet, it hadn’t been complete blackness – he saw a red moon and stars disappearing from the sky. He heard muffled sounds of cats yowling and gushing water. Blood tainted his paws, and he had heard a scream before returning to reality… 

As a kit, Shadowsight had been terrified of the vision. He was still terrified of it now. He never told his mentor or parents about what he saw, fearing what they would think of him. However, he was reassured by the fact that the vision never came true. And since StarClan didn’t send that dream… then, it was probably just a nightmare. 

“C’mon, you gotta have a story,” Pouncestep pressed. “Or, are you too shy to embarrass yourself in front of your siblings?” 

“I’m thinking,” Shadowsight insisted. “Just give me a moment.”

“Make sure to tell us a good story,” Lightleap nudged him. “Not just a bothering herb collecting one.”

“Aren’t we supposed to be searching for herbs?” Shadowsight glanced around, his eyes suddenly lighting up. 

He spotted a clump of flowers near the lake water. The medicine cat darted over to the herb clump, grabbing a hefty amount of flowers by the stem. 

“This will be perfect for Berryheart,” Shadowsight’s voice was muffled. 

“Huh?” Neither of his sisters could hear a word he said. 

Shadowsight ignored his littermates as he saw a dark clump of leaves with purple flowers. He fetched the plant, his eyes lighting up.

“Feverfew,” he tried to explain, but his herbs made his voice distorted. “And burnet.” 

“Ugh, we’re not going to hear a single word he’s saying, as long as he has those plants,” Pouncestep rolled her eyes. 

“You’ll have to tell us a story later,” Lightleap meowed. 

“Hey, look! The border’s really close––let’s race!” Pouncestep swatted her sister’s shoulder before taking off. 

“No fair! You got a head start!” Lightleap darted after her littermate. 

Shadowsight didn’t chase after them, knowing that he had no chance at beating his sisters. Instead, he watched the gray she-cat and tabby she-cat weaving their ways through the pine trees. The two were in a tight race, though Lightleap had surpassed her sister. Pouncestep suddenly lunged for her sister, causing them to tumble down a slope. Shadowsight’s eyes widened, and he hurried after the pair. He peered over the slope to see the two in a heap. He sniffed the air, realizing the two were directly on the border. 

Shadowsight set down his herbs and went over to his sisters. “C’mon, you two. Get up – we’re on the border.” 

Lightleap got off her littermate. “Did I win?” 

“No, I did. You fell on top of me,” Pouncestep grumbled, standing up. The gray she-cat started grooming herself to smooth down her ruffled fur. 

“Could you give a cat some warning before you crush him?” an annoyed tom meowed. 

Shadowsight’s eyes widened as he recognized the SkyClan cat. “Rootspring, are you alright?” 

“Apart from having my airways compressed and getting dazed… I’m fine,” Rootspring grumbled, his fur spikier than usual. 

“Sorry about that,” Lightleap ducked her head in embarrassment. 

“We were in a race, and you were in the way,” Pouncestep was unapologetic. 

Rootspring merely rolled his eyes. “As long as you weren’t going to ambush SkyClan, it’s no big deal.”

Shadowsight was surprised by the yellow tom’s tone. He didn’t usually sound so… apathetic. He expected Rootspring to be angrier about the situation or a bit more surprised. Yet, he didn’t seem to be showing much of any emotion. 

“Hey, Shadowsight, these are your littermates, right?” Rootspring’s blue eyes rested on his amber. 

“That’s right! I’m Lightleap,” the tabby introduced herself. 

“I’m Pouncestep,” the gray she-cat meowed coolly. 

“With names like those, I’m not surprised you two cause so much chaos,” Rootspring’s ear twitched. “You probably leap and pounce at each other all the time.”

“And, are you any better?” Shadowsight teased. “You do spring into action a lot.” 

“Oh––This must be Rootspring!” Pouncestep’s eyes lit up with recognition. 

“Shadowsight talks about you a lot back at camp,” Lightleap’s eyes lit up mischievously. “One time, he talked about how you saved him for an entire quarter-moon. He wouldn’t shut up about it.”

Shadowsight’s ears burned. “...Lightleap, that was because I was violently attacked, got left in a ravine to die, had my soul separated from my body, and I was stuck in a near-death state for days.”

“Still wouldn’t shut up about it,” Pouncestep muttered. 

“Well…” Rootspring coughed to get their attention. “Maybe, you should be grateful that he’s able to tell you the story.”

“Of course, we’re grateful!” Pouncestep and Lightleap replied at the same time, stunned by Rootspring’s words. 

Rootspring gave the sisters a look. “Maybe, you two should focus on marking the border.”

“T-That’s what we were planning on doing anyway!” Lightleap insisted, her fur prickling. 

“Then, do it,” Rootspring replied, his voice deathly calm. 

“C’mon, Lightleap. We should mark the border,” Pouncestep told her littermate, beckoning her to follow. 

Lightleap muttered something under her breath before following her sister. The two she-cats made their way away from the lakeshore, heading up along higher ground. Rootspring and Shadowsight didn’t move – their eyes fixated on each other. 

“I’m still grateful for what you did,” Shadowsight broke the silence. 

“It’s all in the past,” Rootspring brushed off his words. “Besides, we’ve both saved each other, right? I helped you in that ravine and you helped me in the Dark Forest.”

“Y-Yeah,” Shadowsight winced at the mention of the dreary place. 

“So, we’re even,” Rootspring responded. 

“I guess you could say that,” Shadowsight shrugged. 

“You don’t seem well,” Rootspring commented, examining his pelt. 

“Neither do you,” Shadowsight replied. 

“I’m fine,” Rootspring dismissed his words. 

“So am I,” Shadowsight meowed. 

“Shadowsight, it’s obvious that you aren’t fine,” Rootspring’s eyes flashed with concern. 

“It’s obvious that you aren’t fine either!” Shadowsight’s ears flattened. 

Rootspring sighed. “Neither of us are fine.” 

“...How are you holding up?” Shadowsight was venturing into dangerous territory. 

“I’m… getting better,” Rootspring admitted. “Before, I was hardly able to leave my nest, but now, I’ve been able to go out on patrol on my own.” 

“Have you talked to any cat?” Shadowsight twitched an ear. 

“My family has been there to support me, but they’re… not my best resource. They didn’t know much about my relationship,” Rootspring told him. 

“Oh… that’s a shame,” Shadowsight shared similar sentiments with his own family. 

“However, I’ve been talking to Bristlefrost’s family. We’re… We’re grieving for her together,” Rootspring’s eyes filled with resolve. “We promised each other that we’re going to get through each and every day.”

“That’s what Bristlefrost would have wanted,” Shadowsight was relieved. 

Rootspring’s eyes were pained, and he nodded. “I know. I just… I wish I could see her again.”

Shadowsight took a step closer to his friend, resting his tail tip on his shoulder. “She’s still with us. I know she isn’t a spirit, but we have her memory and legacy to uphold.”

“Are you sure she’s not in StarClan?” Rootspring asked, desperation in his eyes.

Shadowsight wished he could say yes. “...I’m not the cat you should ask.”

Rootspring’s eyes widened, but before he could respond, Shadowsight heard his littermates calling his name. The ShadowClan tom turned his head to see Lightleap and Pouncestep waiting for him. Lightleap had been kind enough to grab his herbs for him. Pouncestep’s tail flicked with impatience, her eyes voicing her impatience. 

“I need to get going,” Shadowsight stepped away from Rootspring. “I’ll… see you around.” 

Rootspring nodded. “Will do.”

Shadowsight padded away from the tom, following his sisters up the slope. He couldn’t help but look back, seeing Rootspring by the border, his eyes staring directly into Shadowsight’s soul. The medicine cat forced himself to look away. 

At least, Rootspring was starting to recover. 

Shadowsight didn’t think he ever would. 

Chapter Text

Shadowsight sliced open the belly of a mouse, placing the feverfew flowers inside. Blood dribbled out of the prey and onto his paws, and he licked it off, savoring the delicious taste. Alongside the mouse was a squirrel, already stuffed with burnet. Shadowsight sniffed the prey, rich with the scents of the forest. His tail swiped away some scattered herbs, clearing the mess at the corner of the den. Fading rays of light came from the torn bramble wall. Shadowsight concluded that he should present the prey to the queens soon. 

The tom padded out of the den, glancing around the sparse clearing. Most cats were still out on patrol, including Berryheart and Flowerstem. The two she-cats weren’t too far along in their pregnancies to reside in the nursery den yet. Despite their bodily concerns, the two she-cats decided to go on patrol with their friends and mates. Shadowsight couldn’t blame them – their lives would be forever changed once the kits came along. They would be confined in the nursery for several moons, nursing their young. 

The cats that remained in the clearing were idly chatting with one another, occasionally kneading the grass in anticipation. Shadowsight’s stomach growled, and he glanced over at the entrance to camp. The first hunting patrol had returned earlier, but most prey had been left on the pile. After all, ShadowClan might have better pickings brought back by the other patrols. Shadowsight had grabbed prey from the first patrol, not wanting to dissatisfy the queens’ specific requests for squirrel and mouse. 

Snaketooth was absorbing the sunlight infiltrating camp while exchanging pleasantries with Oakfur. Yarrowleaf and Tawnypelt were having a polite conversation over by the nursery. Shadowsight padded over to the latter group, hearing snippets of their conversation. 

“Did you hear the news?” Yarrowleaf’s eyes were sparkling. “My son is going to be a father.”

Tawnypelt’s eyes glowed. “That’s wonderful! Is Flowerstem the mother?”

Yarrowleaf nodded, purring. “She’s a great match for him.” 

“I think she’ll make a good mother,” Tawnypelt responded, “even if she’s a bit anxious.”

“Flowerstem won’t need to worry,” Shadowsight interjected. “I mixed up some strengthening herbs to help her along with her pregnancy.”

“That’s very kind of you, Shadowsight,” Yarrowleaf fondly smiled at him. 

Yarrowleaf had been a second mother to Shadowsight. He had grown up alongside Flaxfoot and Hopwhisker in the nursery. They had been so close to each other that they saw each other as littermates. Shadowsight’s violent seizures caused him to require constant surveillance in kithood. Yarrowleaf had looked after him, and consequently, he had a closer connection with her than his littermates did. Even past the nursery, Yarrowleaf was by his side. Yarrowleaf had supported him during his medicine cat training, helping him memorize herbs when Puddleshine wasn’t around. During Ashfur’s reign, she had always defended him, even when ShadowClan was turned against him. 

“It was nothing,” Shadowsight scuffled his paws. “She was in distress. It was my duty as a medicine cat to help her.”

“Pregnancy is tough for every she-cat,” Tawnypelt seemed sympathetic. “However, too much medication might make her sick.”

“I’ll promise to monitor her,” Shadowsight accepted her advice. 

Normally, it was tougher to accept advice from warriors about his medicine cat position. However, Tawnypelt was also a cat he had by his side since kithood. They had gone on an entire journey together to the Tribe and back. She always believed in him and observed his talents at an early age. Her criticism came from a place of good heart. 

“I’m sure our talented medicine cat knows what he’s doing,” Yarrowleaf’s eyes glimmered, and she nudged Tawnypelt teasingly. Shadowsight couldn’t help but chuckle. 

“I was just thinking about how Dawnpelt was during her pregnancy,” Tawnypelt meowed, her words greeted with silence. “She was always complaining about every little thing. Pregnancy is tough for everyone, but she-cats were meant to handle it by design.”

“Those three kits of hers… they turned out to be…” Yarrowleaf’s voice trailed off, and she gave Tawnypelt a guilty glance.

“It’s alright, I don’t mind talking about it,” Tawnypelt started grooming herself, masking her emotions. “Sleekwhisker ended up being a filthy traitor to the Clan. I don’t care if she’s alive or not. Juniperclaw poisoned Clan cats and got what he deserved. I’m thankful he saved Shadowsight before he died, but that’s about all. Strikestone stayed loyal to his Clan, and he got killed in the battle against the imposter. I never had much of a relationship with him before his death.”

Not many cats think about it, but… Tawnypelt has gone through a lot of loss. Shadowsight felt sympathy welling up in his chest. 

Yarrowleaf’s ears flattened. “I can’t believe I was so close to Sleekwhisker all those moons ago…” 

“It’s not really such a big surprise,” Tawnypelt’s voice was bitter. “You were apprentices together, and many young cats opted for Darktail’s ideals. You were part of the Kin together. You had Nettle’s kits, and she was the main cat supporting you.”

Yarrowleaf didn’t speak, and Shadowsight felt increasingly uncomfortable. He didn’t know much about the events the she-cats were talking about. He wasn’t even present during Rowanstar’s leadership – he arrived when Tigerstar assumed power. 

“I’m not mad at you,” Tawnypelt’s eyes were calm. “We’re Clanmates, and you’ve proved your loyalty to us. We were having a nice chat just now, weren’t we?” 

“You’re right,” Yarrowleaf meowed. “I’m just surprised you aren’t more… resentful.” 

“So many ShadowClan cats are dead. Darktail and Ashfur brought so much destruction to our home. I want to hate. I lost my mate, my daughter, my daugher’s mate, all of my daughter’s kits, and nearly lost my own brother. Yet, I learned long ago, back when my son, Flametail, died that… I can’t give into that hate. I keep my bitterness at bay, and I have been healing the best I can.”

Shadowsight twitched his ears. “What about sadness? All of that loss must have been awful to cope with.”

“It was,” Tawnypelt bowed her head. “But, I know my loved ones would have wanted me to move on and learn to live my life without them.”

“And, you’ll be reunited in StarClan someday,” Shadowsight murmured. 

“That’s right,” Tawnypelt raised her head. “And, I know cats will judge my family. Rowanstar is no exception. I will always live by my rule – keeping my head held high and not letting them get under my skin.” 

“I completely understand,” Yarrowleaf agreed. “Cats looked down on me for having a relationship with a rogue. Some cats didn’t even like my kits as a result. I just had to ignore their words and live my life the way I wanted to.”

Living life the way I want to? That sounds… wonderful. 

There was suddenly a welcoming yowl, and Shadowsight turned his head to see cats streaming into camp, carrying the day’s prey. The crowd naturally consolidated in the center, and all of the Clan chatter drowned out whatever conversation could be had with Tawnypelt and Yarrowleaf. Shadowsight tilted his ears to see Berryheart and Flowerstem with the hunters. The two had caught some lizards and a starling, and their eyes were shining. 

The prey pile had grown to its usual height, causing all of the cats’ eyes to gleam with enthusiasm. Oakfur, being the Clan’s only elder, was the first cat to pick his prey, choosing Berryheart’s starling before departing to the elders’ den. Scorchfur and Snowbird soon joined him after they grabbed a few mice and a squirrel. The crowd of cats slowly started to disperse as cats grabbed their meal for the evening. 

Flowerstem was about to grab a squirrel when Shadowsight touched his shoulder to her tail-tip. 

“Don’t you remember? I got you a squirrel already.” Shadowsight told her. 

Flowerstem’s eyes gleamed. “Oh, right. I almost forgot about that. I’ve been feeling better since this morning.”

“Oh, do you not want the prey then?” Shadowsight asked. 

“No, no. Of course, I’ll have your squirrel,” Flowerstem smiled. “You went through all the trouble of herb collecting for it anyways.”

“It’s not a problem, Flowerstem,” Shadowsight smiled earnestly. “I’m glad that I’m able to serve my Clanmates.”

Flowerstem purred, then beckoned Berryheart over to her side. 

The black-and-white she-cat tilted her head. “Oh, this is about herbs, isn’t it?”

“I already put the prey off to the side,” Shadowsight told the queens. “Let me just fetch it from my den.”

“Of course, we’ll just wait for you,” Berryheart agreed. 

Shadowsight headed back to his den, encountering a messy herb store. He didn’t realize he had been so careless when he entered from the herb gathering. His juniper berries and watermint were completely jumbled. Shadowsight chastised himself under his breath, knowing he would have to fix the mess later. Puddleshine wouldn’t be happy to see this. 

Shadowsight cautiously grabbed the mouse and squirrel, tilting his head so that the herbs wouldn’t fall out. He trotted out of the den, trampling over some lilies in the process. Berryheart and Flowerstem were waiting for him in the clearing. 

“Thank you so much!” Flowerstem licked her chops, starting to salivate. 

“That mouse looks even juicier than the ones from the hunting patrols,” Berryheart smiled. “This will be a meal I’ll never forget.”

Shadowsight let go of the prey, smiling. “I hope the prey will mute the taste of the herbs.”

“I’m sure it will,” Berryheart grabbed her mouse and retreated across the clearing. 

Flowerstem eyed her squirrel, her eyes sparkling. “I almost want to devour it right now. But, I’m sure Flaxfoot would want a bite of this, so I’ll have to share,” she turned her head to Shadowsight. “The herbs won’t hurt him, right?”

Shadowsight shook his head. “There are traveling herbs inside. They can give a cat strength, which is good for pregnancies and long journeys. Flaxfoot should be fine.”

Flowerstem purred, thanking him, before taking her large squirrel over to her mate, who was talking with Tigerstar. Shadowsight’s ears twitched as he heard snippets of their conversation. 

“Hey, uh, Tigerstar?” Flaxfoot’s voice trembled, and he struggled to maintain eye contact. 

“Yes, Flaxfoot?” Tigerstar was relaxed. 

“Thanks for, uh, the advice earlier,” Flaxfoot smiled. 

“Of course,” Tigerstar smiled. “You’re going to be an excellent father, Flaxfoot.”

“Thanks,” Flaxfoot grinned before eating some squirrel. 

Flowerstem purred beside her mate, eating a bite of squirrel. “Tigerstar, you raised some fine kits. Especially Shadowsight.” 

Tigerstar’s chest puffed with pride. “He’s an asset to ShadowClan. The Clan wouldn’t be the same without him.”

Shadowsight’s heart swelled. His father’s words filled him with resolve. Tigerstar had so much faith in him from the very beginning. His father knew he was special and that he was destined for important things. Unfortunately, one of those important things was allowing the imposter to enter Bramblestar’s body. For a while, Shadowsight was convinced he was a burden on his Clan. After all, he made vital mistakes that made Ashfur harder to eliminate. Cats even suspected that Shadowsight was working with the imposter. He had been manipulated by the cold-hearted tom for moons, and his absence left a gaping hole in Shadowsight’s soul. 

Yet, Tigerstar’s words were a promise of hope. His words guaranteed a new future for Shadowsight. A future where he would leave the past behind him. Like Tawnypelt said, he would raise his head high and ignore what other cats thought about him. He could serve his Clan faithfully, and cats would prosper due to his talent as a medicine cat. He wouldn’t be manipulated anymore, and he would lead a happier life. 

When Ashfur was around, Shadowsight had doubted these sentiments. But, he could say with certainty that he was––

Shadowsight heard the sound of coughing. His ears perked up in alarm, and he glanced around the clearing anxiously. Berryheart’s eyes were glazed, and she was coughing erratically, a mostly eaten mouse in front of her paws. Shadowsight heard a choked gasp, and his fur bristled as he turned to see Flaxfoot and Flowerstem harboring similar symptoms. The cats in the clearing were letting out yowls of alarm, some of them rushing to their Clanmates’ aid. 

“We need yarrow!” Puddleshine yowled to Shadowsight before rushing into the den. 

Shadowsight quickly followed the tom into the medicine cat den. Panic and despair mixed together in his heart as he noticed the state of the den. The herb piles weren’t sorted properly, and the jumble of scents was confusing him. He dismissed these thoughts – he needed to focus! He started searching the herb stores, his nose sniffing out for yarrow. 

Puddleshine swatted at some herbs in frustration. “Where is it? Where is it?!” his voice rose dramatically. 

Shadowsight started clawing herbs off to the side that weren’t what he was looking for. His eyes were focused on finding the yarrow, yet in the mix of plants, he couldn’t detect the one plant that could–– 

Shadowsight gasped, snatching some stinging nettle. “C’mon, this will work!” 

Puddleshine’s eyes widened, and he snatched another clump of it. “Great! Hurry!”

The two medicine cats darted out of the den. Even though their search had taken no more than a few heartbeats, every moment counted. Puddleshine went to Berryheart’s aid while Shadowsight rushed over to Flowerstem and Flaxfoot. Tigerstar was nearby, his eyes filled with horror at the scene. Yarrowleaf had come to her son’s side, and she was trying to speak to him. 

Shadowsight crouched down besides Flowerstem and Flaxfoot. “C’mon, you need to eat this!” 

The cats weren’t responding, causing every hair on Shadowsight’s pelt to rise. His paws instinctively reached out to open Flowerstem’s mouth. The she-cat’s throat spasmed and her breath was incredibly faint. He sliced open the stinging nettle, placing the seeds on the she-cat’s tongue. Beside him, Yarrowleaf copied his motions, trying to get Flaxfoot to consume the seeds. 

“You need to swallow these, c’mon!” Shadowsight begged the she-cat as he started massaging the she-cat’s throat, trying to tempt her into swallowing the herb. Yet, the she-cat’s body wasn’t responding to his actions or commands. Her eyes were glazed over, almost as if, as if––

Flowerstem coughed, spitting out the stinging nettle seeds. Her glazed eyes shone with the last light of life. And in that light was everlasting fear. “F-Flaxfoot…” she weakly looked over at her mate. “I love you.”

Flaxfoot smiled faintly, unable to stomach his own seeds. “I love you too.”

With one shuddering breath, accompanied by another, the two cats fell still. 

A horrified scream broke out in the clearing from Yarrowleaf. The queen’s eyes were filled with horror, and she nuzzled Flaxfoot’s cheek, trying to get some sort of response from him. She nudged his body with a paw, causing not a single muscle to twitch. 

“P-Please… Flaxfoot, wake up! You need to keep fighting – you need to swallow these seeds, they’ll make you better…” Yarrowleaf was shaking, barely able to stay on her paws. “C’mon, my son, keep fighting…” 

“Flowerstem…” Shadowsight’s voice cracked. “You’re expecting kits, you can’t…” his words trailed off, knowing she was long gone. His words couldn’t reach her now. 

Moments later, Shadowsight heard a ginormous yowl of grief. He turned his head to see Sparrowtail hunched over his mate, Berryheart, sorrow all over his face. Puddleshine was by his side, his shoulders slumped in defeat. Sunbeam, Hollowspring, and Spireclaw were by their mother’s side, their cries of grief reaching the stars above. Gullswoop and Cloverfoot had their heads bowed. Yarrowleaf turned her head, her expression breaking once again. Shadowsight’s heart ached. Not only did Yarrowleaf lose her son, she also lost her sister. 

“H-How could this happen?” Hopwhisker was by Shadowsight’s side, her eyes lit with grief. “My brother’s dead just before he got to have a family with the she-cat of his dreams.”

“She was my sister,” Snaketooth touched Flowerstem’s pelt. “I was going to help her raise her kits.”

All around Shadowsight, he could hear the words of his Clanmates voicing the stories of the deceased cats. His ears were flattened to his skull, as their words echoed throughout his head. He looked down at his paws, which were stained with the blood of prey and the blood of his Clanmates. His amber eyes were wide, as he stared at his surroundings. These were the cats he was supposed to heal, the cats he was supposed to protect. 

And now… 

They were dead. 

Chapter Text

The orange rays of dusk transformed to the red streaks of sunset before dissipating into the purple hues of twilight. The ShadowClan camp had been deeply unsettled by the recent tragedy. Any cat who hadn’t yet eaten their prey left it untouched, fearing that they would suffer the same fate as their Clanmates. The bodies of Flowerstem, Flaxfoot, and Berryheart had been rubbed with mint and rosemary, effectively hiding the scent of death. Now, they laid in the center of the clearing. Cats were sitting vigil for their lost friends, family members, and loved ones. 

Shadowsight stayed distant during the vigil, straying away from the crowd. He looked down at his paws, which he washed in the stream promptly after the deaths of his Clanmates. The blood was gone, but in his eyes, his paws were still stained. How could he have allowed this to happen on his watch? What did he do wrong?

Shadowsight recounted his day. Berryheart and Flowerstem had entered his den, requesting herbs. Shadowsight had left camp with his sisters to fetch feverfew and burnet. He returned to camp, grabbed the largest squirrel and juiciest mouse on the freshkill pile, then stuffed the herbs inside. What did he miss?

The gray tabby wandered into the medicine cat den, which was incredibly messy. Neither Puddleshine nor Shadowsight had the chance to sort out the herbs after the incident. Shadowsight started reassembling the herbs, relying on his limited night vision and his nose to detect which herb was which. He organized the herbs back into their usual piles. The herbs were normally sorted between leaves, berries, and flowers, and Shadowsight arranged the stocks to that organization. In the chaos from earlier, many herbs had been smashed, including their entire stock of juniper berries and tansy. Strangely enough, Shadowsight couldn’t find any yarrow in their herb stores. 

It’s just like Puddleshine said. We always run out of the herb we need the most. Shadowsight thought regretfully. 

A cold wind came in through the broken gap in the bramble wall. Shadowsight sighed, looking over at the wreckage. His tail lashed in frustration, knowing he was the reason that hole was there to begin with. The nightmares had been plaguing his mind ever since the fall of Ashfur, reminding him of who was killed, who was saved, where he belonged, who was there for him… 

His mind was a rushing torrent, and each thought rushing through his mind was a droplet of water. He couldn’t rationalize over the white noise residing in his mind. He closed his eyes, his tail flicking, as he became absorbed in his own world. Shadowsight intended to close his eyes for just a moment, just long enough to collect his bearings, yet that single moment lasted long enough for him to enter a dreamlike state. 

“Shadowsight,” he could hear the echo of a voice in his mind, and he turned his head. 

The trees around him were plagued with darkness, the scent in the air was thick and murky, and a dense fog obscured his farsighted vision. The ground beneath him was squishy, a mixture of moss and mud. For a moment, Shadowsight thought he was sinking and was temporarily struck by fear. Yet, he was able to move his paws freely, and he wasn’t being pulled downwards. 

He was safe. 

Shadowsight knew exactly where he was, and it sent chills down his spine that he was able to connect with this place so easily. The buildup of negativity, despair, and anguish in his mental space must have propelled him to wander among this unholy plain of existence. Those emotions still resided in his heart, but it was accompanied by a numbness that drowned out these feelings. The fear had vanished. The despair was lessened. The misery was muted. 

“You’ve come back here once again,” it was the voice of the cat who called his name. Shadowsight’s ear twitched, and he recognized the voice. He had never met this cat once in the living world, but encountered them before in the spiritual world. 

“I’m not trying to return to this place,” Shadowsight insisted, his tail sweeping the long grass behind him. “I just end up here anyways.”

He saw the silhouette of the cat, their eyes gleaming in the darkness. “You’re always welcome here,” the cat purred. 

Shadowsight’s fur prickled. “This place isn’t exactly… welcoming.” 

“But, you wouldn’t say that ShadowClan is any better?” He caught the hint of a smirk on the other cat’s face. 

Shadowsight hesitated, his paw twitching. “ShadowClan… it’s my home.”

“Are you sure about that?” The cat’s voice was as smooth as a fresh sheet of ice on a lake. “Weren’t you born outside of the Clans? You’ve always been an outsider.”

“I-I found a place for myself. I’m ShadowClan’s medicine cat,” Shadowsight raised his head. 

The Dark Forest cat started chuckling. “And isn’t that so fortunate? You’re a medicine cat who brought a menace to the Clans. You’re a medicine cat that can only dream with the Dark Forest. You’re a medicine cat that can’t even keep their own Clanmates alive.” 

Shadowsight winced, knowing the words spoken could not be denied. 

“I don’t understand you, Shadowsight,” the cat mewed. “Why are you so desperate to stay here?”

“Because the cats here are my kin! I have my parents, my littermates, and Tawnypelt. I even have cats in my life that I consider family, just not by blood. Yarrowleaf, Hopwhisker, Flaxfoot–”

“Flaxfoot, a cat you saw as a littermate, killed by your own paws.” 

Shadowsight bowed his head, accepting the harsh reality. “Did he make it into StarClan?”

“Yes, he did, along with your other victims.”

“I never meant for anyone to get hurt,” Shadowsight mumbled. 

“They're still dead now. You can’t change that,” the cat sneered. “Face it, Shadowsight. Family means nothing. They’ll either turn their backs on you, or you’ll turn your backs on them.”

“Turn my backs on them?” Shadowsight repeated their words, his eyes widening. 

“It’s either that or wait for them to all turn on you,” the cat answered simply. “You know it will happen.” 

Shadowsight didn’t respond, his heart aching in his chest. 

“So, what’s it going to be?” The cat’s green eyes flashed in the darkness. 

Shadowsight suddenly gasped, the fog dissipating in his vision. The darkness was still here, but in a different hue than before. The thick aroma of herbs reminded him of his location, and he stood up, shaking out the tension in each of his legs. His muscles often tightened during these dreams, and he had to find ways to release that tension. 

With the absence of the Dark Forest, the dark emotions had returned in full swing. Rawness clawed at his insides as grief engulfed his soul. His amber eyes glanced around the medicine cat den, still searching for answers, an explanation for everything that happened. Finding none, Shadowsight retreated out of the den. 

The stars of Silverpelt glittered coldly down on the ShadowClan cats sitting vigil. A wave of guilt lodged itself into Shadowsight as he realized he had fallen asleep during this time of mourning. He padded over to the group as quickly as he could, ending up between Yarrowleaf and Puddleshine. 

His mentor looked him in the eyes, ears flattened, and silently shook his head, before turning away. A fresh wave of pain crossed over Shadowsight’s heart, and he didn’t try to catch Puddleshine’s eye. The elder medicine cat must have reached the same conclusion that Shadowsight had. The gray tabby turned his head towards Yarrowleaf, and he gently placed his paw on hers, causing the ginger she-cat to turn her attention towards him.

Her yellow eyes were filled with raw emotion – grief, anguish, heartbreak, and anger mixed together in one expression. Her eyes hardened once she caught Shadowsight’s eye, and he felt himself shrinking under the intensity of her gaze. 

“Don’t ever speak to me again,” Yarrowleaf murmured so quietly that Shadowsight almost didn’t catch her words. 

Shadowsight felt as though the coldest leafbare wind had slashed across his cheek. The weight of her words registered in his mind, and he felt his already lowered spirits become destitute. A cat he saw as a mother figure had turned her back on him – never wanting to speak with him ever again. 

I deserve it. Shadowsight told himself, glancing around the clearing. His siblings, Pouncestep and Lightleap were side by side on the opposite side of the clearing, their eyes dull as they gazed down at their lifeless Clanmates. Were their resentments towards him building up in every passing moment? 

I deserve it. Shadowsight saw the silhouette of his mother, Dovewing, her eyes filled with mourning. Shadowsight scarcely saw the kind she-cat in such a broken state. Would her love for him disappear when she pieced together what he had done?

I deserve it. Shadowsight saw the dark silhouette of his father, Tigerstar, next to Dovewing. There was a look of defeat in his eyes as he observed his fallen Clanmates – cats he had hunted with and fought alongside. Would he lose the pride he held for his son once he heard the news? 

Hollow emptiness filled his subconscious as he accepted his fate. The cats around him – the cats he valued so deeply – would turn their backs on him one by one. He already lost the approval of two of the cats he cared about, cats who deeply influenced him and inspired him in his day-to-day life. Shadowsight couldn’t expect forgiveness or closure. After all, this accident was his fault. He didn’t deserve to be forgiven. 

“So, what’s it going to be?” The familiar voice mocked him in his mind. 

Shadowsight could wait it out, wait to hear every cat he loved voice their disapproval of him and turn their backs on him. He could allow himself to be hurt over and over until he was a husk of his former self. Shadowsight could remain here under his Clan’s brutal scrutiny and judgment. As he glanced around the clearing, he saw the hostile eyes of Spireclaw, Hollowspring, Sparrowtail, Gullswoop, Snowbird, Scorchfur, just to name a few. The cats who already despised him only had more reason to hate him, and the cats who didn’t already would soon become as cold as they were towards him. Shadowsight could wait for judgment to pass down on him and remain in a Clan with cats he had hurt. 

Or… He could escape from it all. Shadowsight didn’t have to stay here. He wasn’t the only medicine cat, and he was an awful medicine cat, so his departure from the medicine cat den would be a blessing on ShadowClan. The half of the Clan that hated him already would be relieved for him to exile himself. The other half of the Clan, which would soon turn their backs on him, wouldn’t have to endure painful conversations with him. If he left, there wasn’t a chance he could hurt a Clan cat ever again. 

Dawn light was entering the Clan camp. The cats in the clearing dispersed, many of them retreating to their dens after staying up all night to mourn their loved ones. Cloverfoot didn’t have the heart to send anyone on dawn patrol, as she too was grieving the loss of her sister, Berryheart. The deceased: Berryheart, Flaxfoot, and Flowerstem were a vital part of the Clan community, and their absence deeply affected ShadowClan as a whole. 

Yarrowleaf, Hopwhisker, Cloverfoot, Sparrowtail, Snaketooth, and Oakfur carried the bodies of Flowerstem, Flaxfoot, and Berryheart out of camp. Soon after, Tigerstar and Puddleshine followed, knowing their prominence would be important for wishing the deceased a proper farewell to StarClan. Shadowsight hung back, knowing his presence would not be wanted. 

Shadowsight glanced around the clearing, finding it scarce. Cats were either sleeping in their dens or they were out burying their Clanmates. The medicine cat started to pad to the camp entrance before he hesitated. Shadowsight detected a familiar silhouette at the entrance, and he veered away. He didn’t want his departure to be disclosed. Instead, Shadowsight walked behind the nursery, finding a gap that was created long ago by his littermates during their naughty kithood days. Shadowsight pulled at the tendrils, increasing the width of the gap, before squeezing through to escape the confines of camp. 

“Where are you going?” a familiar face caused Shadowsight to stop in his tracks. 

He turned his head to see Tawnypelt watching him, an unreadable expression on her face. The she-cat must have heard the rustling of the brambles. Shadowsight bowed his head in defeat after being so easily caught. He couldn’t find the strength to meet her gaze, knowing she too would turn her back on him. 

“Shadowsight…” Tawnypelt’s voice wavered. “You’re leaving, aren’t you?”

The ShadowClan medicine cat merely nodded. 

“You weren’t even going to say goodbye?” Tawnypelt asked quietly. 

“I… didn’t think about goodbyes,” Shadowsight admitted. “After everything that’s just happened, I didn’t think–”

“Shadowsight, look at me,” The medicine cat listened to her, raising his head to see Tawnypelt’s green eyes glimmering with pain. 

“I understand,” Tawnypelt whispered. “I understand exactly what you’re doing.”

“You do?” Shadowsight tilted his head. 

“I had to leave my Clan once too. It was hard and painful, but I needed to do it for my own sake,” Tawnypelt explained. 

“That’s… That’s exactly how I feel,” Shadowsight told her. 

Tawnypelt’s shoulders slumped. “I wish it didn’t have to be this way, but it’s for the best.”

“The accident… it’s all my fault,” Shadowsight looked down at his paws. 

“Shadowsight,” There was sharp intensity in the she-cat’s green eyes. “Did you want those cats to die?”

Shadowsight’s eyes widened. “Of course not! I would never–”

“I never doubted you,” Tawnypelt told him calmly. “You’re not a killer, Shadowsight.”

Shadowsight didn’t know what to say. Tawnypelt… still had faith in him after all of this time. The feeling of relief that blossomed in his chest was greater than any time his parents had stood up for him in the past six moons. He felt like a kit again – easily comforted by the smallest words. His eyes brightened considerably. 

“However…” Tawnypelt continued her thought. “Not every cat is going to see it that way. Cats have been against you ever since you started having those visions, Shadowsight,” Tawnypelt reminded him. “And, with everything that’s happened… I know that not everyone trusts you. Cats are willing to think the worst of you.”

“I can’t exactly blame them,” Shadowsight muttered. 

“I blame them. I really do,” Tawnypelt’s eyes were fiery. “And, this is why you must leave.” 

Shadowsight blinked, startled. 

“Have you forgotten the new rule to the warrior code? Any Clan cat who murders another cat, Clan-born or not, without the reason of self-defense, shall be killed for their crimes. You’re not a murderer, but I fear that… you may be found guilty."

Shadowsight felt raw, sickened by that realization. If he lacked faith in his own innocence, then his Clanmates would be convinced that he was a killer. After all, Shadowsight had openly talked about putting herbs in the prey, and cats witnessed the cats’ early demise after eating their prey. All of the evidence linked back to Shadowsight and his misdeeds. 

 “I didn’t even consider that,” Shadowsight blinked, startled. 

Tawnypelt rested her tail-tip on his shoulder. “I will always believe in you. And, I’ll find ways to support you however I can. Yet, I can’t guarantee that I can help you every night. You need to find a good shelter. I’d recommend going into the deeper woods and staying on the outskirts of Clan territory. I’ll find you tonight, I promise.” 

Shadowsight touched his nose with Tawnypelt’s. “Thank you.” 

“Of course. I just want to help you,” Tawnypelt smiled at him, though her eyes had concealed grief. 

“What are you going to tell the rest of the Clan?” Shadowsight suddenly felt a wave of nausea running over him. 

“Don’t worry about any of that. I’ll take care of it,” Tawnypelt reassured him. 

“Am I going against your advice?” Shadowsight asked her. “By leaving, that is.”

Tawnypelt shook her head. “This time… the lesson doesn’t even work. The judgment of your Clanmates could sentence you to death. And… There's a second rule that applies better to this situation.”

“There is?”

“Forge your own path. I want you to find a place where you belong. If you wish, you could be with a cat that makes you truly happy. Remember – you won’t be bound by the warrior code or the medicine cat code as a loner. By forging your own path, I believe you will be happier outside of the Clans.”

Shadowsight’s throat tightened. “I’ll still miss you.” 

“You’ll be alright,” Tawnypelt’s eyes glowed. “Remember – I’m still going to support you however I can. I’ll head to the deeper woods tonight and find you.” 

Shadowsight nodded, his ear twitching as he heard a crack of a twig. 

Tawnypelt’s eyes widened. “You need to get out of here.”

Shadowsight immediately ran, not looking back to see which cat had overheard their conversation. He zigzagged through the pine trees, his paws cracking twigs and his pelt occasionally getting snagged on a bramble. He didn’t halt his pace, desperation and fear pulling along his adrenaline. Grief tugged at his heart, knowing that he had lost his calling both as a medicine cat and as a Clan cat. A light drizzle had started, effectively masking Shadowsight’s scent. As soon as he leapt across a small stream, Shadowsight realized he had crossed the ShadowClan border into loner territory. 

It was official. 

Shadowsight had left ShadowClan. 

Chapter Text

Shadowsight’s paws trekked through puddles as he wandered through the forest. The area beyond ShadowClan’s borders had a mixture of pines, oak, and birch trees. It was as though he was in a mixed biome of ThunderClan and ShadowClan land. The wilderness felt vast, endless, and daunting. The hollowness within Shadowsight had followed him across Clan borders, and he looked back the way he came regretfully. Despite ShadowClan not being the most welcoming home, at least, it was a home. 

I am on my own now. Shadowsight told himself, dismissing his thoughts. I need to take care of myself. 

His stomach started growling, reminding the tom that he hadn’t eaten since yesterday morning. His medicine cat duties had kept him away from the freshkill pile, and after the deaths of his Clanmates… He couldn’t stomach anything that night. Shadowsight felt exhausted, and he knew he needed to catch some prey to keep himself going. 

Shadowsight recalled some of the hunting tips his sisters had given him. During their apprenticeships, they regularly talked about training. Pouncestep had gone on and on about all kinds of fighting techniques, while Lightleap told him about the different kinds of hunting crouches. Shadowsight had prattled on and on about herbs and the occasional vision, but his littermates often zoned out during those lectures. To be fair, Shadowsight did the same with their warrior training from time to time. 

Think! Shadowsight’s tail lashed behind him. What did Lightleap tell you? 

If he remembered correctly, Lightleap had told him to get into a crouch and sniff the air for prey. Once he picked up on a scent, he needed to stalk it, and once he was close enough, he would pounce!

Shadowsight crouched down, sniffing the air for prey. The air was fairly musky, and the early morning rains had washed away several scents. Shadowsight’s tail lashed the leaves at his paws impatiently, causing a mouse to scurry by. Shadowsight gasped, then immediately lunged forward, his claws unsheathed. His paws didn’t land squarely on the earth, and he lost his balance, his nuzzle hitting the forest floor. The mouse was long gone, deep inside a tree hole. 

Shadowsight grumbled in frustration, and he got back on his four paws. 

Well, that was a disaster. Shadowsight thought to himself. 

He continued to pad through the trees, his tail drooping at the loss of his dignity. If his littermates saw that stunt, it would become as infamous as ‘the squirrel story.’ His heart ached with affection for his siblings, and he hoped they were doing well back in ShadowClan. Patrols would have been sent out by now. He wondered if they knew about his disappearance yet. Tawnypelt said she would explain to the Clan. How would she tell them? What would she say to his parents? To Puddleshine? Shadowsight was now agitated and anxious. 

But, he knew he couldn’t turn back now. 

Shadowsight felt no sense of resolve or determination. Instead, it was numb acceptance that was propelling him forward. The hollow ache in his heart was something that Shadowsight had grown accustomed to by this point. In the six moons of being told lie after lie, after his visions had been believed then ridiculed, after being treated like an enemy… Leaving the Clans seemed inevitable. Shadowsight wished it didn’t have to be under these circumstances. He never wanted to hurt any cat, but maybe… 

Shadowsight heard the chirp of a starling, and he was disturbed from his thoughts. His amber eyes narrowed instinctively as he spotted the dark-feathered bird on the limb of a birch tree. The starling’s song was mocking him, and his claws unsheathed. Climbing was a skill mainly reserved for SkyClan cats, but Shadowsight had the instincts. Under stressful circumstances, he needed to climb trees before. He could do this. 

Shadowsight sprung at the tree, his claws digging into the birch wood. He started climbing upwards, trying to be as discreet as possible. His eyes were fixated on the bird, as his stomach growled eagerly. He made his way up the branches until he was level with the one the starling was perched on. The starling was oblivious to his presence, tapping its beak on the branch. Shadowsight positioned his body onto the branch and crouched down. The starling started to flutter away, and Shadowsight quickly lunged for the bird, his claws barely scraping its feathers. Shadowsight landed hard on the branch, causing it to snap, sending the young tom plummeting to the ground. 

The gray tabby hit the forest floor with a thud, and he glowered in defeat. He examined his foreclaws, which had a few starling feathers caught in them. Shadowsight looked around the clearing, hoping that he had injured the starling badly enough to make it render it unable to fly. Unfortunately, Shadowsight had no such luck. 

Maybe… I should give up on hunting for now. Shadowsight decided, his spirits sinking. 

The tom traversed through the woods, trying to spot a good place for the shelter. Since he was living on his own now, he needed to create a den. The woods already provided him a decent amount of foliage to protect him from the elements. After passing through a clearing, he spotted some trees that were rather close to each other. His eyes lit up as he envisioned weaving a wall of brambles and honeysuckle with a moss and bracken nest inside. This would work rather nicely. 

Shadowsight got to work right away, spotting some nearby bramble bushes. He snagged some of the tendrils with his claws and ignored the stabbing sensation in his paws. He had endured through pain ten times greater when ripping apart the barrier that imprisoned the spirit of Bramblestar. As he pulled apart bramble tendrils, his paws were a bloodied mess covered in thorns. He ignored the pain and worked past sunhigh to assemble them in the formation of a wall between the two trees. He carried some honeysuckle, which was much easier to handle, and started to thread it through the bramble tendrils, creating… 

Something that vaguely resembled a den. 

Shadowsight was disappointed by his work. The idea had looked so much grander in his head. He envisioned a strongly threaded bramble wall with intricately woven honeysuckle. However, the den looked like it was in shambles, barely a shelter. If it stormed, the den would easily collapse. 

Maybe it could be salvaged if he forged for better materials. He turned around, glimpsing strands of ivy hanging from an oak across a narrow stretch of the river. Shadowsight crouched down, lunging across the passage. 

As soon as his paws hit the ground, the tom was greeted by a loud hiss. Shadowsight turned his head, alarmed to see a group of cats facing him.

None of the three cats carried Clan scent. The cat, who seemed to be in charge, was a black-and-white she-cat with scarred marks on her throat. Alongside her were a tortoiseshell she-cat with white paws and a blue-gray she-cat with only half of a tail. 

"Keep your paws off of our side of the river," The black-and-white she-cat raised her head, her yellow-green eyes cold. 

Shadowsight’s eyes widened. “Is this not loner land?” 

"Not anymore," the blue-gray she-cat casually stretched her forepaws, unsheathing her claws, "consider this entire river ours."

Shadowsight’s paw twitched, and he tried to maintain his cool. “I'm not here for the river or prey; I just wanted to grab some materials for my den."

"You call that a den?" The black-and-white she-cat glanced over at the shelter, unimpressed.

"Oh, c'mon, you two. This isn't necessary. We don't own this land, and we hardly need to act like ruthless rogues," the tortoiseshell stepped in. "He has the scent of a Clan cat. He's probably just lost and can't find his way back home."

"I'm not a Clan cat," Shadowsight insisted, his fur prickling. 

"Whatever, pine-breather. You're a nuisance where you stand," the blue-gray she-cat brushed off his words. "Stop trying to romanticize the 'rogue life' and get lost."

"I'm not––I'm not pretending to be an outsider; I genuinely am one," the dark gray tabby reiterated. "I'm not here for trouble; I just want to––"

"I don't care who you are. I don't care how you feel," the black-and-white she-cat loomed over him. "Get out of here. Now."

"Oh, look at him. He's trembling like a leaf," the tortoiseshell's eyes gleamed with pity. "Can't we just let him grab the vines and go?"

"He's a contamination," the blue-gray she-cat wrinkled her nose. "If anything, he needs to get his paws further away from us."

“I-I’m just trying to find a place to set––” Shadowsight was cut off by a claw swipe to the cheek. 

“This is my last warning. Get out of here, or we’ll do our worst,” the black-and-white cat growled. 

Shadowsight’s instincts took over, and he immediately leapt back across the waterway and fled further into the trees. He could hear the sound of pawsteps racing after him, and his adrenaline spiked dramatically. He zigzagged through the forest, leaping over small streams and crossing through clearings. His paws were burning with agony due to the thorns being embedded deeper into his paw pads. He could hear yowls in the distance, and he knew that he needed to hide. Weighing his options, Shadowsight dove into the confines of a bramble bush, opening up old wounds. Shadowsight fought back a hiss of pain as he heard the sound of pawsteps getting louder and louder. 

“His scent trail disappeared,” the tortoiseshell murmured, "that Clan cat is rather clever."

Shadowsight squinted between the bramble thickets, realizing the she-cat had come alone. He had assumed the entire pack had been hunting him. 

"Uh, hey! If you're secretly listening to me, and I just can't see you, then... I just wanted to say sorry. My friends can be a bit much sometimes. We wouldn't––I wouldn't have done anything to hurt you."

Shadowsight's ear twitched, curiosity sparking. He considered revealing his position, but decided against it when he heard more pawsteps approaching.

"Why'd you have to run off like that?" The blue-gray she-cat asked with a growl of irritation.

"You were being very rude to that tom," The tortoiseshell flicked her tail. "He deserves an apology."

"Well, I'm sure chasing after him was the perfect way to show your remorse," The other she-cat rolled her eyes, "you sure scared the cat out of him."

"I would've called out his name, but I didn't catch it," the tortoiseshell sighed. "I wasn't trying to be aggressive."

"Just forget about him. Out of sight, out of mind," the blue-gray she-cat meowed, "let's head back."

The pawsteps started retreating, and Shadowsight was finally able to release the breath he had been holding.

What strange cats. Shadowsight mused, slipping out under the bramble bush. 

His entire body ached, and he took a moment to groom himself, tearing out thorns where he could. He examined his paws, which were stained with blood. He ripped out the remaining thorns, which were deep in his paw pads.

As he plucked out the final thorn, he noticed a collection of vines at his paws. Had they been left by that kind tortoiseshell? 

Carefully, Shadowsight looped the vines over his shoulders and began traversing through the forest, agitated about his injuries. He would have to travel further away from this territory if he wanted to remain safe from the ire of aggressive cats. 

He traveled till dusk, and he spotted some marigold flowers and dock leaves along the way. He chewed up the herbs into poultices and used them to fight off infection and soothe his paws. The pain wasn’t the worst he had experienced, but as a medicine cat, he knew the dangers of infection. His wounds now treated, the tom settled up in a pine tree, looping his vines around the branches. He scanned the horizon, only seeing forest in all directions. The tom had no perception of where the Clan boundaries were. 

“Shadowsight!” The gray tabby looked down, grinning as he spotted a tortoiseshell she-cat carrying two fat voles. He scrambled down the tree trunk, greeting the familiar cat with a meow. 

“Tawnypelt,” Shadowsight purred. “I didn’t know if you’d be able to find me.”

The ShadowClan cat smiled, setting down her prey. “Your scent might have been masked by the rain, but you still left behind a trail. I followed it, and I was able to piece together where you ended up pretty easily.”

“Are my tracks that noticeable?” Shadowsight’s eyes flashed with alarm. 

The tortoiseshell shook her head. “Not anymore. I destroyed the trail as I tracked you down.”

Shadowsight breathed a sigh of relief. “I really didn’t think this through.”

“That’s understandable,” Tawnypelt shrugged. “None of this was planned.”

“I guess you could say that,” with his words, Shadowsight’s stomach started growling. 

“Did you eat today?” Tawnypelt asked him inquisitively. 

“Hunting… wasn’t as successful as I thought it would be,” Shadowsight admitted sheepishly. 

“I had a feeling this would happen,” Tawnypelt muttered and she pushed the voles in his direction. “Here, eat these.”

“Are you sure? We could split them––”

“Shadowsight. You haven’t eaten for an entire day. Eat them,” Tawnypelt wasn’t taking ‘no’ for an answer. 

The gray tabby meowed a ‘thank you’ to the she-cat before taking a bite of vole. The taste was mesmerizing, and he realized just how hungry he was. He gulped down the voles in rapid succession, licking his chops. 

“Thanks, Tawnypelt,” Shadowsight purred, smiling. 

His expression soon fell as he saw the she-cat’s eyes narrowing. 

“Your pelt has thorns in it,” Tawnypelt walked over to his side, starting to pull out the thorns. 

“Yeah, there was an accident with a bramble bush,” Shadowsight winced as each thorn got tugged out. “I’m fine though. I took care of most of the thorns and used marigold and dock.” 

Tawnypelt didn’t look relieved in the slightest. “You aren’t used to fending for yourself.”

“Well, yeah, it’s not a big surprise. I was a Clan cat,” Shadowsight flinched at the word ‘was’. 

“Shadowsight, you don’t know how to take care of yourself out here,” Tawnypelt’s ears flattened. 

“It’s alright – I’ll learn quickly,” Shadowsight tried to reassure her. 

Tawnypelt looked at him. “I’m going to stop by as much as I can. You really need help.” 

Shadowsight wanted to resist her offer to help him, but he knew it would be fruitless to refuse. The she-cat was looking at him with an intensity he saw too often in others. It was a mix of determination and desperation with the former masking the latter. Shadowsight recognized that expression, and he had reflected it many times in the past six moons. 

“Thank you, Tawnypelt,” Shadowsight accepted her offer. “Your help is appreciated.”

“We should plan on a meeting spot,” Tawnypelt told him. “Perhaps, this could work.”

“For now,” Shadowsight decided. “I might move on from this area.” 

“Just let me know what you decide to do,” Tawnypelt told him. “I can’t help you if I can’t find you.”

“I know,” Shadowsight mewed. 

“You’re going to make it through this,” Tawnypelt told him, her even tone forced. 

Shadowsight nodded. “I’ll do my best to adapt.”

He would have to. 

If he didn’t learn how to survive out here, then he might as well be eating deathberries. 

Chapter Text

“Juniperclaw,” Shadowsight’s eyes widened as he caught sight of the familiar black tom. 

The former ShadowClan deputy turned towards him, his eyes glowing in the darkness. “You went against my advice.”

“W-What are you talking about?” Shadowsight’s movable ear flattened. 

Juniperclaw beckoned Shadowsight to move closer to him. The tom was always on guard, in case a cat tried to cross between StarClan and the Dark Forest. The tom was completing the task very well – bearing some wounds, but looking steady and strong. The gray tabby padded over to the black tom, whose tail was lashing behind him. 

“I told you to stay away from this place,” Juniperclaw’s eyes weren’t filled with rage or fear, instead disappointment and sorrow. “Yet, I’ve heard your pawsteps in these woods for multiple nights.”

Shadowsight bowed his head. “I haven’t been able to stay away.”

“That’s what makes this place so dangerous!” Juniperclaw hissed. “You’ll keep being tempted to return.”

“Juniperclaw, you don’t understand,” Shadowsight’s heart ached. “This place is a part of me.”

Horror struck Juniperclaw’s gaze. “Shadowsight…”

Shadowsight couldn’t process Juniperclaw’s words, if he had even responded at all. His consciousness was starting to dissipate, and the world around him became fuzzy and started wavering, as though he was staring into a rushing stream. He could feel his body being jostled, and he could feel the softness of moss, the roughness of bracken, and the sting of bramble thorns in his side. 

“...Clan––purpose… place,” Shadowsight caught small fragments of Juniperclaw’s words, but the sound of chattering starlings overpowered the guard’s voice. 

“Wake up, Shadowsight,” A voice commanded him, and he felt himself being pulled out of the dream world, as if he was a kit and his mother had picked him up by his scruff, taking him back to camp… 

Shadowsight’s amber eyes shot open, and he tilted his head, squinting as he adjusted to his surroundings. He caught a glimpse of a familiar tortoiseshell pelt, and he blinked before resuming wakefulness. He let out a yawn, then proceeded to get back on his paws, stretching to release the tension in his limbs. 

“You’re still having strange dreams?” Tawnypelt frowned. “I heard you mumbling in your sleep.” 

“Yeah, those dreams never went away,” Shadowsight groomed his pelt, picking out a few stray thorns.

Over the past few days, Tawnypelt had been stopping by regularly, helping him establish a life out here. The main priority had been establishing a temporary den, by hollowing out a bramble bush and threading it together with the vines Shadowsight acquired to make a semi-stable shelter. Tawnypelt had mostly coated the insides with moss, but Shadowsight still found himself getting snagged on thorns every single night. 

“Is StarClan sending you prophecies?” Tawnypelt asked him. 

Shadowsight chuckled hoarsely. “StarClan hasn’t spoken to me for over a moon. They’re never going to talk to me.”

Tawnypelt didn’t catch the meaning of his words. “Just because you’re a loner now, it doesn’t mean that StarClan isn’t looking out for you. They are still with you, even if you cannot see their members at this time.” 

Shadowsight twitched an ear. “I suppose so.” 

“If StarClan isn’t speaking with you, then… are you having nightmares about what happened?” Tawnypelt questioned. 

Shadowsight shrugged. “Sometimes.” 

“It wasn’t your fault, Shadowsight,” Tawnypelt told him. 

How would you know that? Shadowsight fought off the urge to scream. You weren’t even there in the final fight!

Shadowsight didn’t voice these thoughts out loud. Instead, he merely flicked his tail and nodded. 

“C’mon, I know what will get your mind off of things,” Tawnypelt smiled. “Let’s go hunting.”

Shadowsight nodded, knowing it would do him well to work on some survival skills. The two padded over into the mixed forest, the trees starting to feel familiar in Shadowsight’s eyes. He had settled in this terrain for a few days, and he had grown accustomed to the natural environment. They went to a spot in the territory that Shadowsight recognized pretty well. It was a ginormous birch tree with a few fallen logs by its side. It towered above the others, although the trees around it had fallen. 

Tawnypelt jumped onto one of the logs and faced Shadowsight. “Alright, this is a good spot to start. If you’re going to live alone in the wild, you have to be able to catch your own prey.”

Shadowsight nodded, trying his best to not roll his eyes as Tawnypelt stated the obvious. She entered ‘mentor mode’ quite quickly and had been coaching him on various survival tasks for days now. 

“Sniff the air. Can you pick up any prey scents?” Tawnypelt asked him. 

Shadowsight’s nose twitched as he caught the familiar smell of a mouse. 

“It seems you’ve picked up a trail,” Tawnypelt purred. “Now then. Assume your hunting crouch.”

Shadowsight crouched down, his underbelly touching the forest floor. 

“Don’t forget your tail,” Tawnypelt reminded him. “It should be sticking out straight, not sweeping the leaves.”

Shadowsight corrected his mistake. “Alright. What next?”

“Check the wind direction,” Tawnypelt told him. “Make sure you stay upwind.”

The weather was on Shadowsight’s side, so he merely twitched an ear, waiting for further instruction. 

“Then, you cautiously stalk towards your prey,” Tawnypelt instructed. “Make sure you’re not stepping on any undergrowth, or else your prey will flee before you have the chance to catch it.”

Shadowsight listened to the she-cat’s words and started to follow the scent trail, his eyes narrowing in concentration. He followed the trail to its location – some high-growing grass that camouflaged the mouse. Immediately, Shadowsight pounced. Yet, he overestimated his distance and ended up jumping past the prey into a bramble bush. The mouse scurried off as Shadowsight let out a hiss of annoyance. 

“Well, your stalking technique was pretty good,” Tawnypelt commented. “C’mon, let’s keep searching for prey.”

Throughout the entire morning, Tawnypelt continued to teach Shadowsight how to hunt prey. Her words became repetitive, and he had a hard time listening to her lessons. He always managed to do almost everything right, but one slip-up in his hunting crouch, stalking, or pounce would ruin his catch. Tawnypelt had remained relatively patient with him, yet her comments became increasingly more dry as the morning continued. 

“Alright, there’s a den of mice under this bramble bush,” Tawnypelt told him, her tone slightly exasperated. “What are you going to do?”

“I’ll stalk it, get down into a crouch, then pounce,” Shadowsight answered. 

Tawnypelt shook her head. “No, Shadowsight! You crouch down first, then you stalk it. You also wouldn’t pounce because then, you would jump into your fifth bramble bush of the day!”

“Look, Tawnypelt, I know what to do and telling me the same lesson again and again won’t teach me anything!” Shadowsight snapped back. “Just give me a chance to try on my own.”

“Fine,” Tawnypelt flicked her tail. “Go ahead.”

Shadowsight turned away from the tortoiseshell, his fur bristling. He struggled to calm his nerves and suppressed a growl. He crouched down, his tail sticking out straight as he stalked across the terrain, his paws avoiding any sticks or fallen leaves. He acknowledged his prey’s location – inside the bramble bush. 

Prey naturally go to confined spaces to hide. Shadowsight thought to himself. It’s where they feel the safest. 

Shadowsight reflected back to his own life. Whenever his friendship with his sisters went downhill, he would often sulk on his own in a place where no cat was around. Sometimes, this would be the nursery, the apprentices’ den, or the medicine cats’ den, though other times, it would be out in the forest in a secluded location. The bramble bush, though dangerous to get under, provided him with claws of protection from all sides. 

Now then… What would disrupt that sense of security? An idea suddenly sprung to his mind. 

Shadowsight stalked around the bush, his paw lashing out on the underside of the bush. Hearing the scurrying of movement, he instantly rushed to the other side, where the mice were retreating. He pounced, judging his distance, and his paws managed to capture one of the mice, which he killed with a swift bite to the neck. 

He grinned, showing off his catch to Tawnypelt. 

Tawnypelt let out a sigh of relief. “It’ll do. Bury it for later. It’s time for some battle training.”

“Battle training?” Shadowsight set down the mouse and started to bury it. “But, I won’t be in any battles.”

“Right…” Tawnypelt’s words trailed off. “Call it fight training then. You need to know how to defend yourself.”

Shadowsight finished burying the mouse and followed the she-cat. They went to a new part of the terrain, specifically a clearing that was devoid of sharp stones or bramble bushes. Tawnypelt halted him with a tail signal, then walked a few paces away.

“Now then, what are you going to do when an enemy runs in your direction?” Tawnypelt coached him. 

“Run away?” Shadowsight twitched his ear. 

“Depending on the size of the threat, that might be the best option,” Tawnypelt accepted his answer. “However, you’re not always going to be able to run away. So, what would you do then?” 

“I guess I would probably try to avoid the attack somehow.”

Tawnypelt dashed towards him, easily knocking Shadowsight off his paws. 

“Your reaction time is slow,” Tawnypelt commented, getting off of him and walking back to her prior position.

“I-I didn’t expect you to do that!” Shadowsight bristled. 

“You’re not supposed to. You don’t expect the enemy to come at you. You just need to know how to react.”

“Right, but then, how do I react?” Shadowsight was puzzled. 

“Well, you said you were going to avoid the attack, right?” Tawnypelt pressed. 

“Yeah, but I didn’t think about any specifics on how to do that…”

“Don’t overthink it, Shadowsight. Just act.” Tawnypelt instructed before dashing towards him again. 

Shadowsight tensed up before moving to the side. Tawnypelt’s shoulder collided with his, and he was put off balance. From there, Tawnypelt was able to shove him down to the forest floor. 

“You can’t hesitate, Shadowsight!” Tawnypelt yelled at him. “If you hesitate, then you can be taken down easily.”

Shadowsight flinched, then nodded. “Alright, alright.”

“Alright… let’s do this again,” Tawnypelt went to her previous position. 

Shadowsight focused intently on the she-cat, who hadn’t charged towards him yet. The she-cat was grooming her paws and looked calm and relaxed. For a moment, Shadowsight forgot she was a threat. She looked passive and non-confrontational. She was just another cat. 

Tawnypelt started rushing towards him, and Shadowsight quickly moved to the side, successfully avoiding her attack. 

“That was great!” Tawnypelt’s eyes gleamed. “Now then, let’s work on more complex moves…”

The two cats continued to train throughout the afternoon and past dusk. Tawnypelt taught him about basic attack moves, useful dodging techniques, sizing up the enemy, and places that would provide Shadowsight an advantage in a fight, such as trees or hills. The tom couldn’t help but feel a sense of guilt whenever he landed a blow on the she-cat, even though claws were sheathed. He felt like he was going against his morals by being a fighter. 

“I want to teach you one more move before we finish tonight,” Tawnypelt told him, her eyes glinting. “This move is one that you would use as a last resort, in a desperate fight for your life.”

Shadowsight gulped, his eyes widening. “Tawnypelt, I––”

“You need to learn this move, Shadowsight,” there was desperation in her eyes. “This is the last thing you must know.”

Shadowsight bowed his head in acceptance. 

“I hope you never need to use this move, but just in case, you need to know it.”

Shadowsight raised his head to meet the she-cat’s eyes. Tawnypelt approached him, the distance between their pelts less than two whisker-lengths apart. 

“When you are fighting in close quarters or if you are cornered or pinned, you often run out of options when defending yourself. When the situation gets dire, this move is often necessary.”

“I understand,” Shadowsight flicked his tail. 

“For this move, you would need to raise a forepaw, claws unsheathed, and rake it deeply across an enemy warrior’s throat. This move attacks the jugular – which is vital for survival,” Tawnypelt instructed.

Shadowsight shuddered. “I… I don’t think I could do that to another cat, Tawnypelt..” 

“You might need to, Shadowsight,” Tawnypelt’s voice was grave. “The world is dangerous, and you may have to fight to remain a part of it.”

“...Do I have to practice the move?” Shadowsight asked quietly. 

Tawnypelt hesitated, then shook her head. “Just know where to use your claws.” The she-cat raised her head, her paw gesturing to certain parts of her neck to show where the jugular was. 

Shadowsight winced as a terrifying mental image formed in his head. He could picture deep wounds on the tortoiseshell’s neck, draining her of her life source as the light faded from her eyes…

“C’mon, Shadowsight, the training session is over,” the horrifying image dissipated as Tawnypelt touched her tail-tip to his shoulder. 

In silence, Shadowsight and Tawnypelt padded through the woods, their paws crumbling leaves and underbrush. They returned to the spot where Shadowsight had buried his kill. Shadowsight dug up his prey and sat on a log. Shadowsight offered half of his prey to the she-cat, who flicked her tail in rejection. Shadowsight proceeded to eat his prey quietly. 

“I worry about you, Shadowsight,” Tawnypelt’s shoulders slumped. “That’s why I was being so hard on you today.”

Shadowsight swallowed a lump of prey down. “You’re afraid, aren’t you?”

“Of course, I am,” Tawnypelt admitted. “The woods are already dangerous enough for Clan cats, but living on your own… it can be even tougher.”

“Tawnypelt, I know how to stay alive,” Shadowsight meowed. “I trained as a medicine cat, sure, but I know how to hunt. I just need more practice, and I’ll get plenty of it out here on my own.”

“I could never forgive myself if something horrible happened to you out here,” Tawnypelt told him. 

“I’ll be okay, I promise,” Shadowsight reassured her. “Your training has helped me out a lot.”

“Will it be enough?” Tawnypelt whispered, more to herself than Shadowsight. 

“Tawnypelt,” Shadowsight caught the she-cat’s gaze. “I need you to trust me.”

“Of course, I trust you. You’re my son’s kit and my former Clanmate. I’ve trusted you since you were a kit,” Tawnypelt’s voice was hushed and thick with emotion. 

“You need to trust that I will survive out here,” Shadowsight elaborated. 

Every muscle in Tawnypelt’s body tensed. “Shadowsight, I––”

“Tawnypelt, there’s a lot of options for a cat like me. I can travel to places where there’s more prey, I can join a hunting group, or I can turn to alternative ways of getting a meal. I’m not going to starve out here.”

“I know,” Tawnypelt nodded. “I just want to look out for you, and as a Clanmate, I––”

“I’m not a Clan cat anymore, Tawnypelt,” Shadowsight meowed. “You’re under no obligation to care for me under the warrior code.”

“This was nothing to do with the warrior code!” Tawnypelt snapped. “You’re part of my family, Shadowsight.”

Shadowsight bowed his head. “I’m not saying that you can’t check on me. But, I don’t need to be coddled. You’ve given me some skills that I can use to survive out here, and that’s all I need. You don’t need to wander out of camp every night to see me.”

“Aren’t you going to get lonely?” Tawnypelt asked him quietly. “You don’t have Clanmates anymore.”

“I was lonely inside the Clan. I can be lonely outside the Clan,” Shadowsight averted eye contact. “I’ve never had a lot of friends, and I’ve learned to embrace solitude.”

Tawnypelt's eyes glimmered. "I'm sorry you felt that way back in ShadowClan. Maybe we should rethink this. If you come back, we could get this mess sorted out. We could––"

“No, I don't want to go back," Shadowsight shook his head, "I just want to move on from that place, and to do so… I have to leave.”

“Leave?” Tawnypelt’s fur spiked. “Where are you going to go?”

“I think I’ll head east,” Shadowsight told her. 

A strange glimmer entered the tortoiseshell’s eyes. “I understand. I’m sure you’ll find what you’re looking for out there.”

“Yeah, I’ve picked up more scent trails from that area. I think it’ll be a good place to settle down.”

The tortoiseshell purred, her tail curling. “I’m sure it will be.”

“And, Tawnypelt,” he smiled at the she-cat. “If I return to this place, I’ll leave some kind of sign on the ShadowClan border to let you know.”

She nodded approvingly. “Just make sure that you come back to visit sometime, otherwise I’ll track you down myself!”

Shadowsight purred. “I promise.”

Tawnypelt touched noses with him. “Take care of yourself out there. If you see any threats that are too big to handle, climb a tree or hide in a thornbush. Make sure you bury your prey or predators will steal it. To build a sturdy shelter, thread honeysuckle or vines tightly into bramble or gorse. Follow your instincts – you’ll never regret it.”

“I will,” Shadowsight took her advice to heart. “I’ll forge my own path.”

“There’s one last rule,” Tawnypelt told him. 

“What is it?” 

“Follow your heart,” Tawnypelt meowed. “Find out who or what makes you happy and stick with it. However, your heart should stay in tune with your instincts. Together, those two elements will guarantee prosperity over simple survival.”

“I promise,” Shadowsight told the she-cat. “I’ll always remember your rules.”

“Good bye, Shadowsight. May StarClan light your path.”

Shadowsight’s chest tightened, and he turned away from the she-cat. 

“I wish the same for you,” Shadowsight murmured, padding away into the darkness. 

No stars would light his path as their brightness was obscured by dark clouds. 

Chapter Text

“I can’t wait to reach the Clans!” Lightkit’s eyes gleamed with excitement. 

“We’re going to be warriors,” Pouncekit grinned. “We'll be the best hunters and fighters in the Clan!”

Shadowkit twitched an ear. “Is that the only option?” 

Dovewing nuzzled him. “Of course not, Shadowkit. There are also medicine cats – who heal cats and communicate with our warrior ancestors.”

Shadowkit’s eyes gleamed. “Could I be a medicine cat?”

Tigerheart nodded. “You could. We have a medicine cat back in ShadowClan.”

“Is he nice?” Shadowkit tilted his head. 

Dovewing’s eyes widened. “How did you know it was a tom?”

Shadowkit shrugged. “I don’t know. I think I saw him once.”

“Are you sure you aren’t talking about one of the Guardian cats?” Dovewing asked him. “They are healers after all.”

Shadowkit’s fur bristled. “No, I didn’t. He was brown and while and smelled weirder than the other cats.”

Dovewing and Tigerheart exchanged a look, their eyes betraying their bewilderment. 

“Well… I’m sure you’ll love Puddleshine. He’s a kind, caring cat, and he’ll be happy to train you,” Dovewing purred. 

“Are you sure you’re going to want to be a medicine cat?” Pouncekit wrinkled her nose. “That sounds boring!”

“Don’t you want to learn how to hunt and fight?” Lightkit asked, twitching an ear. 

“Any cat can learn how to hunt and fight,” Shadowkit mewed. “But, not every cat can be a medicine cat.”

“In fact, there are usually only one or two medicine cats per Clan,” Tigerheart told him. 

“Unless you’re from ThunderClan. They have three!” Dovewing smiled. 

“And, since ShadowClan just has one medicine cat — the Clan will need me,” Shadowkit grinned. 

“That’s right,” Tigerheart’s eyes gleamed. “ShadowClan has a very special place for you.” 

“Your father was always such a soft-heart,” A scoffing voice spat out. 

Shadowsight flinched, looking over at the Dark Forest cat. Their green eyes gleamed with malice as their teeth curled into a snarl. Their sneer stretched wide, and Shadowsight had never seen a cat who held so much contempt in their eyes. He wondered what could have driven a cat to that kind of state. 

“You’re lavishing in kithood memories? How pathetic,” The cat swatted a paw, causing his family to disappear like mist. The blow landed on Shadowsight’s cheek, leaving claw marks behind. Shadowsight shrank back, his fur on edge. 

“What do you want with me?” Shadowsight cried out. “I’m not a Clan cat anymore, and I’m not going to get tricked again!”

The cat chuckled, grinning. “Mhm, sure sure. You’re so naive, Shadowsight. You always have been.”

“You’re a spirit of the Dark Forest,” Shadowsight growled. “Why do you want to talk to some random loner?” 

The cat snickered. “Shadowsight, you may be a weak, naive, and fluff-brained cat, but you’re always going to be special. Don’t tell me you already forgot the celebration in your honor.”

“You want to mock me, isn’t that right?” Shadowsight’s tail lashed. “Ashfur lost, and you won’t get over it.” 

The cat cackled. “Oh, please. Ashfur was an obsessive maniac who was going to destroy StarClan and the Dark Forest in his madness. I’m glad he’s gone.” 

“Then, what do you want?” Shadowsight pressed, his claws unsheathing in frustration. 

The cat’s tail curled. “Did the little kitty cat unsheathe his little claws? You couldn’t land a blow on me if you tried. You’ve always been weak, Shadowsight. I saw you cowering in that tree.” 

Shadowsight flinched at the fresh battle memories, and he sheathed his claws. “I just want an explanation. Why do you keep talking to me?”

“You’re the cat that keeps roaming the Dark Forest,” The cat started grooming themselves. “I don’t summon you there.”

“I told you before, and I’ll tell you again – I’m not trying to return to the Dark Forest!” Shadowsight hissed. 

“Yet, you end up there anyway,” Their eyes flashed in the darkness. “Admit it, Shadowsight. You are drawn to the place. There is a connection between you and the Dark Forest that will always be there.”

“So, that’s the reason you’re talking to me?” 

“Perhaps, I have something to tell you,” The cat smirked. “It could even be… a message from StarClan.”

“Tell me!” Shadowsight’s eyes widened. “I want to hear it.”

“Maybe, I will. Maybe, I won’t. You don’t seem to be pleased to see me,” The cat padded past him. “Perhaps, it would be better if I just left now…”

“Wait –– please!” Shadowsight urged. “Don’t go. I’m sorry, I do want to hear what you have to say.”

“You seem desperate,” The cat was amused. “Why should I tell you anything?”

“Because that’s the reason you’re here!” Shadowsight meowed. 

“Maybe, I just wanted to stroll around before heading back to the Dark Forest,” the cat kept walking away. 

Shadowsight chased after the cat. “Please, don’t go! I’ll do anything to hear what you have to say.”

The cat’s eyes gleamed. “Anything?” 

Shadowsight nodded without thinking. “Yes, just tell me!”

“Alright, I’ll tell you.” The cat smiled. “Just promise to return the favor later on.”

He agreed. “I will, I will! Now, tell me StarClan’s words.”

Shadowsight had never received a message from StarClan before. He had been deceived into thinking he had ‘visions’ back when he was a kit, but all of his signs and images were sent from a murkier place. After all, Leafpool said he had no such connection with his warrior ancestors. Shadowsight wriggled in anticipation, eager to hear their words. 

“StarClan has shared its first prophecy with the Clans since Ashfur appeared,” the cat purred. “The medicine cats have received this message and are planning to tell the Clans about it at the upcoming Gathering.”

The setting around the two cats started to shift. The calm meadow of a kithood memory turned into a pine forest with thick shadows encapsulating a clearing. Shadowsight could barely see the setting around him, only able to clearly depict the gleam of the Dark Forest cat’s gaze. He looked up to the sky, his eyes widening as he caught sight of a blood-red moon. The glittering stars above started to dissipate one by one until none were left in the sky. The sun was rising, leaving thick red streaks across the horizon. All around him, he heard muffled sounds of cats crying out as water started gushing down. Shadowsight was unable to detect a water source, since his vision was growing hazy. He didn’t even know if he was still in the pine forest. He padded forward, feeling an oozing substance on his paws. A sharp scent caught his nose, and he gasped, realizing there was blood on his paws. Nauseated, he closed his eyes, only to hear a piercing scream echoing throughout his ears. 

“Shadows descend upon the horizon as bloody dawns approach the Clans. Only the most defiant of cats can end the suffering.”

Shadowsight let out a scream, and he instantly emerged from the dream, thorns stabbing at his sides. He let out a hiss as he dislodged his thorns. His cheek was burning, his flesh raw from the claw wound. He was trembling, his dark gray tabby fur spiking in all directions. Shadowsight’s eyes were wary, and he glanced around the den, afraid that something was going to attack him. His breaths were shallow, and he tried to fixate his attention, trying to calm himself down. Yet, he remained unconsolable as a terrifying realization came about in his mind. 

He had the same dream back in his kithood days without a prophecy to explain it. 

Shadowsight crouched down, staying hidden from sight in the cover of a berry bush. He watched as Clan cats jumped onto the log that connected the island to the main territories. The dark gray tabby caught the distinct, fishy scent of RiverClan, and he wrinkled his nose. He stayed as still as possible and prayed that the mud and moss he had rolled into would shield the remainder of his fading ShadowClan scent. 

As the last cat from RiverClan crossed the tree bridge, Shadowsight waited a few moments longer before making his crossing. His movements were quick, but he tried to be discreet, not wanting any attention to his unknown presence. As soon as his paws landed on island sand, he retreated into the cover of some shrubbery. 

Shadowsight observed the cats on the island. Their scents morphed together into a mixture of RiverClan, WindClan, ThunderClan, SkyClan, and ShadowClan. The last two scents caused him to tense up, and he crouched, keeping his tail close to himself to maintain his anonymity. He could hear the sound of branches creaking as a lone cat decided to climb a tree. Next to his bush, two RiverClan she-cats were gossiping idly about the other Clans, causing him to roll his eyes. It was the same usual judgmental Clan chatter about WindClan being too skinny, ThunderClan being too self-righteous, ShadowClan being too evil, and SkyClan being too strange. The last comment irked him the most, and he fought the urge to hiss out an unexpected reply to the chattering she-cats. 

Shadowsight briefly inhaled as he caught the sight of a yellow tail passing by. The distinct pattern on that tail could only belong to one tom. He found himself pulling himself out of his enclosure to get a better view of the yellow-furred cat. He was touching noses with a gray-and-white tabby she-cat, their blue eyes glittering. Shadowsight found himself padding closer, taking refuge in a closer bush to catch snippets of their conversation. 

“Greetings, Ivypool,” Rootspring bowed his head. 

“It’s good to see you, Rootspring,” Ivypool’s eyes were a pool of warmth yet withheld hidden grief. “How has SkyClan been faring?”

“It’s been a moon of peace, which is all we need right now,” Rootspring nodded. 

“How are you faring?” Ivypool’s eyes narrowed slightly. 

Rootspring sighed. “It’s hard, but I’m getting through it. That’s what Bristlefrost would have wanted.”

Fernsong had joined the pair, his green eyes fresh with a new wave of grief. “Are you sure she’s gone forever?”

Rootspring looked utterly defeated. “I’ve tried consulting the earth, but I’ve gotten no answers. I-I saw her die… she really is gone.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Thriftear murmured, her amber eyes filled with understanding. “You did everything that you could. She died to save you.”

Rootspring shook his head. “It wasn’t for me. It was for the Clans, StarClan, and the Dark Forest.”

“But, didn’t Bristlefrost jump in to save you?” Flipclaw tilted his head. 

“No, that was Shadowsight,” Rootspring explained. “She jumped in front of him, attacked Ashfur, and sent them both into the dark water… And that’s when they drowned.”

Thriftear’s eyes narrowed, but she said nothing. 

“She will be remembered as long as the Clans survive,” Ivypool cracked a smile. “She saved everyone.”

“Why couldn’t she have lived?” Flipclaw’s eyes glistened with regret. “I didn’t get to spend enough time with her in the last few moons she was in our lives…”

Rootspring didn’t answer, and he merely closed his eyes as his eyes swarmed with conflicted emotions. Shadowsight felt his heart aching for the SkyClan warrior. He wanted to comfort him, but he knew that revealing his presence would only create a scene and provide no closure for Rootspring. Shadowsight hung back, guilt swelling up in his chest. He felt as though he had been stung by a wasp, and the poison was multiplying in his body, spreading throughout his limbs and making him feel raw and intoxicated with anguish. 

“Cats of all Clans! It is time for the Gathering to begin!” Mistystar announced, her voice raspy. 

The cats on the island all fell silent and turned towards the leaders. Mistystar was quivering, her frail form on the lowest branch of the giant oak tree that the leaders sat on. Bramblestar was a few branches above her, opposite to Tigerstar. Although the imposter situation had been resolved, there was still tension between the pair. Harestar and Leafstar were on higher branches, looking relaxed and basking in the peace of the Gathering. 

The deputies sat at the roots of the tree, their chests puffed as they supported their leaders. Reedwhisker was looking a bit gray in the whiskers, but his eyes were filled with the resolve of a younger deputy. Squirrelflight and Crowfeather were sitting next to each other, and they seemed to be relaxed around each other. Hawkwing and Cloverfoot were patiently waiting for the Gathering to start. 

The news of the Gathering drawled on, and Shadowsight scarcely paid attention to what was being said. His gaze was fixated on the crowd of medicine cats. Puddleshine was without Shadowsight tonight, and he seemed to be on edge, his fur prickling. Alderheart was by his side, his tail intertwined with his as he murmured something in his ear. Jayfeather and Frecklewish were whispering to each other as the leaders spoke. Frostpaw and Whistlepaw were oblivious, snickering about one thing or another. Kestrelflight, Fidgetflake, and Mothwing remained quiet. 

Shadowsight suddenly heard the sound of his father’s voice, and he looked up at the giant oak tree. Tigerstar’s expression was somber, and his amber eyes were filled with grief. Every cat in the clearing sensed the dampened mood and went completely silent. Even Whistlepaw and Frostpaw had stopped chatting, their ears perked as they looked at the ShadowClan leader. 

“ShadowClan has less thrilling news to share tonight,” Tigerstar announced, his shoulders hunched. “Around a quarter moon ago, three of our warriors – Berryheart, Flowerstem, and Flaxfoot tragically passed away. Berryheart and Flowerstem were expecting kits when they died, and ShadowClan mourns them and the lost generation.”

A chorus of distressed yowls erupted from the Gathering, praying the lost cats safe travels to StarClan, wishing for good luck with the next queens, and mourning the lost cats. Shadowsight felt as though he was a stone being smashed into pieces as small as dust particles. He bowed his head in guilt, unwilling to look up at the cold stars of Silverpelt. 

“Aside from that…” A look of grief-stricken panic crossed the dark tabby’s face. He tried to speak, but no words would escape his throat. He took a deep breath and bowed his head. “Aside from that… ShadowClan has been well. Greenleaf has blessed the Clan with plenty of prey to hunt and… and plenty of herbs to collect.”

Shadowsight blinked, realizing that his disappearance had not been noted to the Gathering. He could help but feel a sense of relief blossoming in his chest. He wanted his removal from Clan life to go by seamlessly, and it seemed that his wish had been granted. He spotted Puddleshine out of the corner of his vision, his pale eyes swarming with a mix of emotions. Alderheart leaned against his side, his nose touching the tom’s cheek. 

“Before the Gathering concludes, the medicine cats would like to share a message from StarClan,” Tigerstar announced, beckoning the medicine cats to come over. The large group padded over to the base of the tree, and the deputies moved away to give them room. The medicine cats started murmuring to each other, and Frecklewish ended up climbing to a low branch of the oak tree. 

“Cats of all Clans, StarClan has returned to us, thanks to the efforts of the Lights in the Mist. At the latest Moonpool gathering, our ancestors spoke to us once more. They shared their words of wisdom and shared a prophecy with us,” Frecklewish informed the Gathering, their eyes glowing in the night. 

“A prophecy?” Dovewing’s eyes widened. 

“Does this mean there’s more trouble in the Clans?” Gorsetail complained. 

“We’ve been through enough turmoil,” Needleclaw declared, her eyes straying over to her brother’s. 

“Can’t StarClan bless us with good fortune?” Shimmerpelt’s eyes glimmered. 

“StarClan has given us all of the blessings of the land this greenleaf,” Frecklewish snapped, her spotted tail lashing behind her. The she-cat’s pale green eyes were fiery. “They have returned to us because they care about us! They are not here to curse us. They merely present prophecies to prepare us for future dangers. They did not create threats and destruction for the Clans!”

Hushed silence greeted her words. 

The mottled tabby’s fur was bristling. “Now, then, I’ll enlighten you all with the words of StarClan. Claws descend upon the horizon as hazy fog obscures the Clans. Only the most violent of cats will be able to end the war.”

Her words were greeted with chaos. The cats of the clearing started turning on each other, snarling insults, unsheathing their claws, and bristling their fur in fury. The cats who had once been joking around, sharing tongues, and mourning ShadowClan’s losses were now feral, fueled by animalistic instincts. Shadowsight spotted Lionblaze and Scorchfur facing off, as the golden tabby warrior landed a blow on the warrior’s ear. A screech erupted from a RiverClan warrior and a yowl came from a WindClan apprentice. The leaders were shouting, trying to quell the panic. 

Shadowsight heard the rapid sound of rustling leaves, and he turned his head to see a light tabby running away from the conflict, across the tree bridge. Followed by that was the sound of a cat leaping down from a tree. Shadowsight was unable to spot whoever that cat was. He glanced up at the sky, noticing that dense cloud cover had covered the moon and all of the stars. Sudden fear entered Shadowsight’s limbs, and he wondered if it was going to storm. 

“Clouds have covered the moon!” The leaders shouted in unison. 

Some of the cats heard their words and broke off their disagreements with other warriors diplomatically. Cats started retreating from the Gathering, announcing the news to other feuding warriors. The cats started to disperse as more cats received the message, creating a vibrant chorus of breaking twigs, crunching leaves, and the creak of wood as cats jumped onto the tree bridge. Shadowsight stayed in his position, waiting for the crowd to file out. He glanced around, watching as the leaders followed their Clanmates off the tree bridge. His heart tugged as Tigerstar passed the bush, oblivious to his son’s presence. As soon as the last leader crossed the tree bridge, Shadowsight escaped from the confinement of the shrub, shaking some leaves out of his fur. He heard the sound of a thud as a cat jumped down from a tree. 

“You came to the Gathering,” Shadowsight’s fur spiked at the sound of the familiar voice. 

He turned his head to see a broad-shouldered, yellow tom with blue eyes watching him. He was only a few paces away, sitting by the roots of a tree. Rootspring’s eyes betrayed nothing, and he seemed unaffected by the turmoil of the Gathering. 

“Yes, I did,” Shadowsight acknowledged, his paw twitching. He looked up at the sky anxiously, a faint chill running down his spine. 

“You weren’t sitting with the other medicine cats,” Rootspring commented. 

Shadowsight nodded, averting eye contact.

“Did you know about the prophecy?” Rootspring asked him, tilting his head.

Shadowsight shrugged.

“Who’s going to be the next Bristlefrost?” Rootspring lost his composure, and he dug his claws into the earth. “Who’s going to be StarClan’s next cruel sacrifice?”

Shadowsight’s throat felt dry, and he bowed his head. “I don't know. I'll never know.”

Rootspring growled softly. “It’s so unfair.”

Shadowsight met his gaze. “I know.”

Rootspring padded over to his side, his voice quiet. “Want to walk along the lakeshore together?” 

Shadowsight nodded. “Of course.”

Rootspring started to pad towards the tree bridge, and Shadowsight followed him in stride. The yellow tom jumped onto the log and started to cross the bridge, his eyes still glinting with fear as he looked down at the water. Shadowsight followed with a similar caution. Both cats couldn’t help but miss Bristlefrost – the cat of their trio that had never been afraid of water. The toms leaped onto the shore and started to cross through WindClan territory. 

“I would ask about how your life in ShadowClan has been going… but I think Tigerstar summarized it pretty well,” Rootspring said flatly, his blue eyes dull. 

“Rootspring…” Shadowsight hesitated, his words trailing off. 

“What’s wrong?” Rootspring slowed down his pace, his blue eyes steady on Shadowsight’s amber. 

“There’s something I need to confess,” Shadowsight admitted, licking his chest fur. 

“Go ahead,” Rootspring’s gaze remained cool. “You can tell me anything, Shadowsight.”

“Rootspring, I… I abandoned my Clan,” Shadowsight confessed. 

Rootspring’s calm expression didn’t change. “I suspected as much.”

“Huh?” Shadowsight’s fur prickled in confusion. 

“You weren’t sitting with the other medicine cats,” Rootspring meowed. “I figured there must have been an important reason why you wouldn’t be with the group. Exile was a potential reason.”

“It wasn’t an exile,” Shadowsight cringed at his words. “I left my Clan by choice.”

Rootspring didn’t respond, his patient eyes awaiting an explanation, a confession, or an elaboration of sorts. The dark gray tabby couldn’t help but feel unnerved by his lack of emotion. Just six moons earlier, Rootspring’s emotional state had been ablaze, fiery, and out of control. Now, he was calm, patient, and reserved in his emotions. Perhaps it was just maturity, but to Shadowsight, it felt like something even more. 

“The… accident… was a quarter moon ago. I put feverfew and burnet in Berryheart's and Flowerstem's prey to help them manage some symptoms of their pregnancies. Flowerstem shared her squirrel with Flaxfoot. And then-then, everything went wrong. All of them started coughing and seizing, and me and Puddleshine ran to help them, but-but they all died. They all died. If I had been faster or if I had been a better medicine cat, then those cats would still be alive. Berryheart would be close to having her second litter. Flaxfoot and Flowerstem would finally get to start a family together. Instead, all three of them are gone. I'm a failure, Rootspring. A good medicine cat doesn't get their patients killed."

“Shadowsight,” Rootspring looked him in the eyes. “Why do you blame yourself for everything?” 

“Everything bad that's happened in the Clans in recent memory has been because of me. My 'visions' and my stupid belief in their credibility led to so much turmoil. And, even without them, I'm still hurting cats. I became a medicine cat because I wanted to help other cats, but instead, all I end up doing is hurting everyone around me."

Rootspring shook his head. “Shadowsight, you were used as a scapegoat. I only saw a fraction of how you were being treated, but I’m guessing it got much worse.”

Shadowsight’s chest ached. "But I deserved it. When the Clan found out my visions weren’t from StarClan, cats started to turn on me. Everything just got worse after Ashfur was imprisoned. For a while, I wasn’t allowed to be a medicine cat. Cats… Cats wanted me dead for letting Ashfur go.”

Rootspring stopped in his tracks. “You never deserved to be treated that way.”

Shadowsight sighed. “Well, it doesn't matter what I deserved then. It happened anyway. That was in the past, and for what I've done now, I left the Clans. They're finally rid of me. I can't hurt anyone else anymore."

“Shadowsight…” Rootspring’s eyes softened.

Shadowsight padded past the SkyClan warrior. “C’mon, dawn will be here soon. You should return to your Clan.”

“I don’t want to leave you alone out here,” Rootspring protested. “I know that it’s going to storm.”

Shadowsight looked up at the sky, seeing the faint formation of clumped, dark clouds. He felt a raindrop land on his muzzle, followed by a swift breeze. His fears of a storm weren’t ill-founded. 

Rootspring rested his tail-tip on his shoulder. “Do you have a den?”

Shadowsight nodded. “It’s in the distant woods past ShadowClan and SkyClan territory.”

“I’ll come with you you, if you don’t mind,” Rootspring smiled at him. 

“But what about your Clan?” Shadowsight’s eyes sparked with alarm. “Won’t they be worried that you’re gone from camp?”

Rootspring dismissed his words. “They can spend a night without me. Most nights, I wander around the territory alone anyway. They won’t suspect a thing.” 

“It’s quite far from here. Are you sure you won’t be too tired?” Shadowsight fretted. 

“I’ll be fine, I don’t mind,” Rootspring told him. “I just want to be here for you tonight.”

Shadowsight smiled softly and didn’t attempt to dissuade Rootspring again. The pair walked along the lakeshore as rain droplets started to pelt their fur. Under the cover of the trees of the forest territories, less water slicked down their pelts. Yet, the boom of thunder and flash of lightning caused Shadowsight to flinch in alarm and press himself against Rootspring’s side. For a while, the two cats didn’t speak, since the rain and thunder would’ve drowned out any conversation. In the early flare of dawn, the pair entered the den. Shadowsight collapsed on the moss, and moments later, he felt the warm, slick pelt of Rootspring’s pelt pressed against him. 

Sleep captured the two toms swiftly, and all nightmares were impeded that day.

Chapter Text

Bright sunlight infiltrated the den, causing Shadowsight’s amber eyes to open blearily. He felt oddly content, despite the air smelling freshly of rain. Normally, Shadowsight would have restless nights when it stormed. He felt a ball of warmth curled up beside him, and he turned on his side to see a golden warrior sleeping next to him. Rootspring had stayed with him the entire night. 

Shadowsight smiled softly to himself, and he rested his head on his front paws, allowing himself to relax rather than confront the day. The toms hadn’t had the chance to just rest for a while now. The conflicts of the past had kept them preoccupied, and there was always something to worry about. Some of that tension had resolved with the fall of Ashfur, although Shadowsight feared it would return with the talk of prophecy. 

Shadowsight’s thoughts didn’t linger for long. Rootspring opened his sky-blue eyes, letting out a yawn. His eyes squinted due to the sunlight, and he muttered something under his breath before turning towards the den enclosure, closing his eyes again. 

“Rootspring,” Shadowsight said softly. “It’s almost sunhigh.”

Rootspring grumbled, rolling over again, his sky-blue eyes sparking with mild irritation. “Really? I barely noticed.”

“I know what you mean,” Shadowsight meowed. “We both slept pretty heavily last night.”

Rootspring’s eyes glittered with relief. “No nightmares?”

Shadowsight smiled. “No nightmares.”

“That’s good,” Rootspring relaxed. “Do you think your fear is going away?”

Shadowsight shrugged. “It’s hard to say. Some nights are better than others. I always have a better night when another cat is by my side.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Rootspring meowed. “You never did tell me why you’re afraid of storms.”

“It was a long time ago,” Shadowsight subconsciously started to groom his pelt. Certain patches of his fur were white, signifying his old injuries. He uncoiled the knots in a large white patch of pelt. “It was moons ago.”

“I don’t mind hearing the story,” Rootspring said, “unless you don’t want to tell me.”

“You came to my den because of the storm,” Shadowsight pointed out. “It’s only fair that you know the reason I’m afraid of them.”

Rootspring shrugged. “Again, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”

Shadowsight brushed off his words. “It’s not a big deal. I told the entire Gathering about what happened.”

“Is this about your codebreakers vision?” Rootspring asked. 

“It was earlier than that,” Shadowsight meowed. “It was about driving darkness out of the Clans.”

“Oh! Now, I remember that Gathering. That was when the trouble first began,” Rootspring blinked. “Tigerstar told the Gathering about your message.” 

“When the Clans initially lost contact with StarClan, I was compelled by Ashfur – who I thought was a StarClan cat – to go to the Moonpool all alone. I followed his instructions and when I got there… I was struck by lightning,” Shadowsight winced, as reminiscing the memory always brought back a flash of imaginary pain from that fateful day. 

Rootspring’s eyes widened. “Oh, Shadowsight – I should have known. I was at that Gathering. I’m such a mouse-brain for not realizing how that would affect you.”

“It’s alright,” Shadowsight told him. “I acted like it wasn’t a big deal to the cats around me. My parents, Puddleshine, and Tawnypelt were really concerned, but I insisted I was fine.”

“You obviously weren’t,” Rootspring’s voice was hushed. “I’m still shocked that you’re alive.”

“I don’t know why or how I lived,” Shadowsight flattened his movable ear. “I just know that there was a lightning strike that hit me. And so... I’m afraid I won’t be so lucky next time.”

“I’ll make sure to come here whenever there’s a storm,” Rootspring tried to reassure him. “I know I can’t make storms go away, but I’ll be here to support you.”

“I really appreciate it,” Shadowsight smiled softly. “But, you are under no obligation to come here. Your Clan must be worried about you by now.”

“As long as I bring something back to the fresh-kill pile, they won’t be too worried,” Rootspring told him. 

“I just don’t want you to get into trouble, that’s all,” Shadowsight stood up, the movement rubbing off some of his jitters. 

“You always tried your best to follow the rules,” Rootspring murmured. “I learned early on to disregard the code.”

“And that defiance got the warrior code changed,” Shadowsight smiled softly. 

Rootspring got onto his paws. “Let’s not worry about the code right now. I just want to think about something else. Everyone back at camp is grumbling about all of these changes, and I just want some peace.” 

“Fair enough,” Shadowsight’s stomach grumbled. 

Rootspring purred. “Maybe, we should go hunting now.” 

Shadowsight chuckled. “Sounds like a plan.”

The two toms padded out of the den. Shadowsight had moved on from the place he had been living in back when he first left ShadowClan. The den was in the more distant outskirts of SkyClan territory, and the landscape had some streams and woodland. There were less pine woods in this area, but Shadowsight’s homesickness was eased by Rootspring’s presence. 

“Do you know any good hunting spots around here?” Rootspring asked him, tilting his ears. 

“I’ve only been in this area for a few days, but I’ve seen some squirrels in a certain clearing of the woodland,” Shadowsight told Rootspring. 

Rootspring’s eyes gleamed. “Sounds great!”

Shadowsight purred, knowing that Rootspring’s instincts were in tune with a true SkyClan cat’s. After all, that Clan was known for its leaping and climbing talents. He led the way through the trees, his eyes captivated to a distant meadow that grew blue violets. Shadowsight strayed away from that area, not wanting to disrupt the beautiful landscape. He crossed a stream, his eyes gazing down at the rushing current. Rootspring held the same hesitance, but crossed just as easily. 

Shadowsight sniffed the air. “This should be the squirrel hunting spot.”

Rootspring’s eyes glittered, and he crouched down. “I can already see a squirrel over there.”

Shadowsight spotted the squirrel in question on the branch of a nearby tree. 

“I’ll climb that tree,” Rootspring whispered to him. “Climb the tree right next to it, in case it slips through my claws.”

Shadowsight obeyed Rootspring’s command, stalking over to the adjacent tree. He climbed up the trunk, keeping his motions as quiet as possible. In his peripheral vision, he could see Rootspring climbing the tree that contained the squirrel. As Rootspring climbed up the tree, the squirrel scurried up a few more branches. Rootspring followed suit, and Shadowsight kept himself in line with the golden tom. 

The squirrel stopped on a branch, starting to head for the edge. Rootspring climbed up onto the branch while Shadowsight perched himself on the branch across from the squirrel. Rootspring’s eyes gleamed, and he lunged for the prey. At that moment, the squirrel jumped branches. Shadowsight quickly bit the squirrel’s neck, killing it.

Rootspring purred. “Nice catch!”

Shadowsight dismissed his words. “We caught it together. After all, you sent the squirrel jumping to my branch.”

Shadowsight climbed down from the tree, the squirrel in his jaws. He jumped from a low point of the trunk to solid ground. He heard a faint thud as Rootspring modeled his actions. Shadowsight set down the squirrel on the ground. 

“We should probably eat that before someone else gets their claws on it,” Rootspring licked his chops. 

Shadowsight nodded. “I know there are some predators in this area, so that would be for the best.”

“Here, you can have it,” Rootspring nudged it towards him. “It was your catch.”

Shadowsight shook his head. “We can split it. After all, it was our catch.”

“Fair enough,” Rootspring nodded, “but you get the first bite.”

Shadowsight rolled his eyes, but accepted the tom’s offer. He bit into the prey, a broad range of delectable flavors entering his mouth. This squirrel tasted better than anything he had eaten for the past quarter-moon. Rootspring had already taken his bite. 

“Wow,” Rootspring said while he ate. “This is way better than anything I’ve eaten for the past few days.”

Shadowsight let out a meow of agreement before taking another bite. The squirrel was completely eaten a few moments later with only some bones to indicate a kill had been made. Shadowsight felt incredibly satisfied, even though the squirrel shouldn’t have done much to quell his appetite. 

“Thanks for letting me come over,” Rootspring smiled. “I needed this more than you knew.”

Rootspring had a bright light in his eyes – something that Shadowsight hadn’t seen in a moon. The golden warrior looked content and at peace. He was different from the cat at last moon’s Gathering, where they had been given the title of ‘Lights in the Mist.’ He was different from the warrior he encountered at the ShadowClan border with his siblings. He was even a bit different from the lost soul at last night’s Gathering. Although Rootspring still had grief to overcome, he was recovering. No, it was even more than that. He was truly finding a way to move forward in the aftermath of Bristlefrost’s death. Shadowsight couldn’t help but believe that he somehow ignited this change in Rootspring.  

“You’re allowed to come over whenever you want to.” Shadowsight invited, feeling rather content. “It doesn’t have to be when a storm is raging. If you ever just need to talk, you are always welcome here.” 

Rootspring nodded. “I’d be happy to make these meetings every quarter moon or even more frequently.”

“I would like that,” Shadowsight responded eagerly. “I can show you around the territory – I know some good places around here, not just for hunting but for sunbathing, stargazing, viewing the area…” The tom started to ramble. 

Rootspring’s eyes sparkled with endearment. “That sounds wonderful. Maybe, every time we hang out, you could show me something different? I can bring prey next time, so we can just enjoy our time together on a full stomach.”

“That would be nice,” Shadowsight smiled shyly. “I do enjoy hunting with you too – I wouldn’t mind doing it again if you don’t want to bring prey over. I can also catch us something too if you don’t want to hunt one day.”

Rootspring purred. “Let’s not get too wrapped up in the details. All that matters to me is that we get to spend time together.”

“I’m glad you feel that way,” Shadowsight reiterated. “But, I know it won’t be easy. You’re a Clan cat, and I’m not. My den isn’t located too close to the SkyClan border. I know you have responsibilities to take care of and a family that loves you.”

“Shadowsight,” Rootspring’s voice was quiet. “You are incredibly important to me. I don’t care that you’re not a Clan cat anymore – I still want to have a connection with you. You’re one of the few cats who understands and I can’t afford to lose you.” 

Affection bloomed in Shadowsight’s chest, and his eyes sparkled. This level of elation was unrivaled by anything else he had ever experienced in his life. Just a few words from Rootspring could make him feel like everything was right in the world. 

“Rootspring, you don’t know how much that means to me,” Shadowsight’s voice cracked. “After defeating Ashfur, I lost my connection with him. It’s technically a good thing, and I should be happy about it. I am happy that he will never terrorize the Clans again. I just miss the presence he brought to my life. That connection made me feel… whole. And once that bond was erased, I was left with this wound. I still bear the wound, and I don’t know how to heal it.”

“But, what you just said made that feeling start to disappear. I feel like I’m starting to feel just a bit better after everything that has happened,” Shadowsight’s eyes glittered gratefully. 

“Maybe, that doesn’t make any sense to you, and maybe, I’m just rambling about something crazy, but it’s just the way I feel, and I can’t help but think that I feel better when I’m around you,” Shadowsight rambled. 

“I understand that feeling perfectly,” Rootspring reassured him. “You’re not saying anything crazy or nonsensical. Bristlefrost was a massive part of my life, and I was always determined to impress her and be by her side. She made me feel whole. Once she was gone, I had an emptiness that I couldn’t heal. I tried to find solace within my own family and Bristlefrost’s, but there was still something missing.”

“Then, I saw you at the Gathering. I knew you weren’t going to be alright, since the storm was going on, and I wanted to help you out. You gave me something to do, Shadowsight, and lately, I haven’t been able to do anything that brings me contentment. But today has been great, and I’m glad I could help you with what you’re going through.”

“Don’t get me wrong – Ashfur was obsessing over Squirrelflight,” Shadowsight’s fur prickled uncomfortably at the comparison to Bristlefrost. “But, that emptiness from the loss is something we share in common. Losing someone who understands you hurts worse than a lightning strike. I thought I had nothing left.” 

“That’s not true, Shadowsight,” Rootspring shook his head. “You’ll always have me.”

“I know,” Shadowsight smiled. “We always have made a good team.”

A dark glitter entered the SkyClan warrior’s eyes. “I suppose you’re right.” 

Shadowsight swallowed a lump in his throat, knowing that most of their teamwork came from their shared desire to defeat Ashfur. The words were a painful reminder of when they had once been a trio and how that bond had been lost with the death of Bristlefrost. 

“Sorry,” Shadowsight apologized needlessly. 

“It’s okay,” Rootspring maintained eye contact. “I’ve accepted that she’s gone, and you’ve helped me with my recovery.”

“You can always talk to me about her, y’know,” Shadowsight touched his tail to his shoulder. “I knew her too. Dovewing and Ivypool would sometimes meet up and take their kits along. Bristlefrost and I would play together as kits and knew a bit about each other. I know it’s not as impactful as knowing her as a warrior…”

“What are you rambling on about?” Rootspring blinked. “You knew her as a warrior. We used to meet up after Gatherings and hang out sometimes. Bristlefrost and I got to talk more than you two did, sure, but we didn’t sneak out of camp every night to hang out.”

“Really?” Shadowsight’s eyes glittered. “I thought you two snuck off all of the time to spend time together.” 

“Bristlefrost always put her Clan responsibilities above our relationship. At first, she didn’t return my feelings. Then, she was tied to being Ashfur’s accomplice and needed to show absolute loyalty. After that, Bristlefrost wanted to focus on her Clan following Ashfur’s imprisonment. We had a few moments after that, but we never had the chance to spend much time together and have, well, a relationship.”

“Oh, I see,” Shadowsight blinked. “That’s unfortunate.”

“It really is,” Rootspring’s shoulders slumped. “I tried to find her spirit inside the earth, but I couldn’t. She was completely gone from this world. We could’ve had a future together, but that was all cut short.”

“I know we won the fight against Ashfur, but nothing about it feels like a victory,” Shadowsight murmured.

“It’ll get better,” Rootspring placed his paw on Shadowsight’s. “That’s what I have been telling myself every single day. It doesn’t always feel that way, but as long as you believe that something will get better… You’ll be able to keep going.”

“And, as long as you have the right cats by your side, it feels possible,” Shadowsight smiled at him. 

Chapter Text

The stars were glittering coldly above Shadowsight as the dark gray tabby walked along the lakeshore. His fur was slicked down with water, concealing the remnants of his scent. He was wandering across ShadowClan territory in the dead of the night. Shadowsight’s anxiety ran high, knowing that there may be a midnight patrol in the territory. His paw twitched every couple of steps, and he glanced around the terrain, sniffing the air nervously.

The reason why he was venturing through Clan territory was because of all of the Twolegs who had come to the lake territories. Since it was greenleaf, the Twolegs were here to disrupt the land. Many of them had settled near Shadowsight’s den and scared off all of the prey. The dark gray tabby knew it would only get worse from here and decided to move on from his den. Shadowsight would still need to venture back to the outskirts of SkyClan land to visit Rootspring again, but for now, he was establishing a new place for himself. 

Shadowsight was heading to the outskirts of RiverClan territory. There were less Twolegs in that area due to the lack of woodland and marshy land. Not to mention, fishing was more promising on the lake for the Twolegs than the small creeks of RiverClan land. At least, that’s what Shadowsight heard from Clan gossip and Gatherings. 

Shadowsight caught the distinguished scent of pine sap mixed with marsh and moss in the wind. His fur prickled, and he recognized that particular scent. He searched the area for some kind of cover and spotted some high reeds. He quickly darted inside their confines, crouching down and tucking in his tail. His heart was racing, and his paw was twitching frantically. The anxious, uncontrollable tremor was causing the reeds to shake. 

The scent loomed closer than ever before, and Shadowsight realized that the wind wasn’t on his side. His scent was being blown towards the ShadowClan cat. Shadowsight heard the crackling of reeds, and his fight-or-flight instincts kicked in. He immediately darted out of the winds and started racing towards RiverClan territory. He could hear the loud sound of pawsteps chasing after him, and he found himself increasing his pace as much as he could. 

Shadowsight had wanted to disappear from ShadowClan territory for good, and he planned to keep it that way. He couldn’t let himself be discovered. His pelt was masked into the shadows, making him unrecognizable to the ShadowClan warrior. All he had to do was keep pushing forward to the RiverClan border and cross it. 

Shadowsight caught the scent of fish and river grass in the breeze. His heart leapt. He was so close! In just a few fox-lengths, his paws would be on RiverClan soil. He could hear the sound of a cat’s breath behind him, and he didn’t dare to look back, his senses pricking with alarm. 

The loner suddenly felt a set of claws hook into his pelt and a heavy weight on his back, forcing the tom to collapse, his muzzle going straight into the dirt. Shadowsight felt blood pooling down his back, and he let out a soft growl of defeat. The warrior’s grip was tight, and he heard the sound of a gasp. 

“Shadowsight? Is it really you?” The cat’s voice trembled with emotion. 

“You were always faster than me,” Shadowsight managed to mutter. 

The warrior’s claws sheathed, allowing Shadowsight to get back up onto his paws. The tom was slightly dazed, and it took me a moment to collect his bearings. He turned around to see a dark brown tabby pelt with glittering amber eyes. 

“I was so worried about you,” the cat confessed. “I searched the entire territory for you! I kept looking every single day, knowing that you were out there somewhere. And, look where we are! I found you, Shadowsight. I finally found you…” 

Shadowsight’s movable ear flattened, and he averted eye contact. He let out a heavy sigh. “I’m so sorry, Lightleap, but this was never supposed to happen.”

“What are you talking about?” Lightleap was perplexed. “You’re talking crazy! You disappeared from ShadowClan without a trace. Did StarClan compel you to leave? Were you being held hostage? Were you searching for rare herbs? Did you–”

“Please, Lightleap! Enough of this.” Shadowsight begged, unable to stand the interrogation. “I left by choice.”

Lightleap’s expression contorted. Her eyes were flashing with a variety of emotions – astonishment, fury, grief, confusion, and horror. Her ears flattened, and her dark tabby fur bristled. Shadowsight took a step back in fear. He had never seen his sister in this kind of state before. 

“I was worried that you were dead!” Lightleap spat out. “You left the Clan in the middle of the night without telling any of us anything. I couldn’t sleep at night – I would either patrol the territory or stand guard and wait for you to come back to camp. I couldn’t focus during warrior duties, and all I wanted to do was see you again. And, this is what I get? A brother who willingly and deliberately left me without saying a word in advance.”

Lightleap’s words were more vicious than dog bites, each word going deeper and deeper into his skin until they started to eat at his heart, making him ache in all kinds of ways. He couldn’t counter anything that was being thrown at him. He did leave her and the rest of his family, aside from Tawnypelt, without uttering a single word. Shadowsight had placed the truth in the paws of Tawnypelt, letting her decide what to do with it. Knowing the she-cat, she would’ve kept his disappearance as vague as possible. And, knowing Lightleap’s personality, she would’ve ignored her words. 

“Why would you do this to us?” Lightleap demanded an answer. “Tell me, Shadowsight! Tell me why!”

Shadowsight’s paw twitched. 

“Don’t you dare try to run away again either!” Lightleap’s back arched. 

“I won’t run, I promise,” Shadowsight reassured her, his voice shaking. 

Lightleap’s eyes glimmered. “Good. Now, answer my question.”

“Well–” Shadowsight’s words were cut off by a sudden yowl. 

He turned his head in the direction of the RiverClan border. There was a midnight patrol marking the border. A black-and-white she-cat had run up to the group, her fur spiking in all directions. 

“C’mon! You need to return to camp at once – something terrible has happened!” The RiverClan she-cat told her Clanmates. 

The RiverClan cats raced into the deeper interior of their territory. Shadowsight and Lightleap watched them go, their fur bristling. 

“We should check out what’s going on,” Lightleap decided, striding towards RiverClan territory. 

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Shadowsight hesitated. 

“Did some cat say something right now? I don’t listen to the words of cats who abandon their family,” Lightleap stalked towards RiverClan territory. 

Shadowsight’s fur bristled, and his shoulders slumped. Shadowsight padded besides his sister into the unfamiliar terrain. There was no need for concern for being spotted. The reeds made their presence unknown, and the direction of rustling reeds indicated that every cat was heading to one central location. 

Lightleap and Shadowsight saw some streams splitting off into different directions. Two bubbling streams flowed around a triangle of land. The two cats stayed hidden under the cover of darkness and the confinement of a shrub. 

“I can’t get a good view of the camp,” Lightleap muttered to Shadowsight. ‘We should move to higher ground.”

“Won’t that make it easy for us to be spotted?” Shadowsight whispered to her. 

Lightleap’s tail lashed, and she stalked off, doing what she willed. Hesitating for a heartbeat, Shadowsight followed his littermate. He felt uneasy as he headed after her, afraid of being spotted. However, he could hear the sound of a rising commotion from the RiverClan cats, not directed towards them. Perhaps, there was a distraction that would keep their presences unknown. Lightleap had climbed onto a low branch of a willow tree, and Shadowsight scrambled up next to her, accidentally breaking a few twigs. Shadowsight’s pelt bristled in alarm, but no unfriendly eyes glared at him from the camp. 

“Is every cat in the camp?” A silver she-cat’s tail lashed with agitation. 

“Everyone is here, Shimmerpelt,” the black-and-white warrior meowed. “I just fetched the last patrol.”

“Thank you, Havenpelt,” a gray-and-white tom said gratefully, his whiskers prickling. 

“Everyone really is here,” Lightleap murmured into his ear. “That gray-and-white tom is Sneezecloud. And, over there – the tortoiseshell, Brackenpelt, the pale brown cat is Curlfeather, and Nightsky is even here! Those four are usually on night patrol. Oh, and over there, those cats are…”

Shadowsight twitched his ear as Lightleap rambled on, registering the identity of every cat in the clearing. 

“Why did you wake us up, Curlfeather?” Graypaw grumbled. “I have dawn patrol this morning.”

“And, I only just got to sleep,” Mistpaw’s eyes glimmered with irritation.

“Shush,” Curlfeather’s expression was grave. “You need to listen.”

Shimmerpelt let out a yowl, reasserting every cat’s attention. “I apologize for the inconvenience this meeting may have caused everyone of you. But, this is serious, and the situation must be addressed right away.”

“Why are you addressing us?” Mosspelt, an elder, complained. “Isn’t this the job of the leader or deputy?”

“She holds the authority as a senior warrior,” Duskfur, a fellow senior warrior, supported Shimmerpelt. “She has the right to bring up grievances in RiverClan.”

“And, what grievance would that be?” Minnowtail’s eyes glittered. “Surely, Mistystar and Reedwhisker ought to hear this. Why aren’t they out in the clearing with the rest of us?”

Shimmerpelt bowed her head. “That’s because the leader and deputy of RiverClan have passed away.”

Chaos brought out among the assembled group. Mosspelt and Mallownose yowled prayers to StarClan, grieving for their lost leader and deputy. Fognose and Splashtail were fearfully looking into each other’s eyes and huddling up close. Graypaw and Mistpaw had their ears flattened, and they retreated to the safety of their mother, Curlfeather. Frostpaw’s eyes were glittering with great fear, and she was trembling immensely, her light gray fur bristling. Besides her, Mothwing stood, not one fur on her pelt out of place. She was maintaining strong resolve, yet her amber eyes were scanning the crowd of cats for their reactions. 

Shimmerpelt’s eyes were gleaming with fury. “Mistystar and Reedwhisker were having a pleasant conversation in the leaders’ den tonight, talking about the future prosperity of RiverClan. No senior warriors were invited to this meeting, but I was able to catch snippets of their conversation while I guarded the camp entrances. That’s when I heard the sound of choking.”

Mothwing stiffened, her claws unsheathing into the earth. 

“I rushed into the leaders’ den to see her,” Shimmerpelt’s eyes were scorching as she gazed at Mothwing, “standing over the bodies as they writhed and thrashed violently. She was trying to pin Mistystar down, her claws unsheathed.” 

Shadowsight felt all of his limbs go frozen, and he felt a sickening sense of dread building up in his stomach. His amber eyes were fixated on the scene – Mothwing, in particular. The weight of the accusation had hit the golden tabby she-cat, resting in her eyes, yet she refused to cower. The medicine cat remained tall, her eyes flashing in defiance. 

“I was doing my job as a medicine cat,” Mothwing insisted. “The two cats were going through some kind of seizure. Holding a cat down is a way to prevent them from hurting themselves in that state!”

“Perhaps, I would believe you,” Shimmerpelt’s eyes remained cold, “if you weren’t a coldblooded killer.”

“W-Wait! Hold on, are you… Are you accusing my mentor of being…” Frostpaw scarcely managed to get her words out, her voice becoming choked and distorted. Her blue-green eyes were glistening with fear, and she looked to her mentor for assurance, a sign that this wasn’t real. However, Mothwing simply bowed her head, acknowledging what had transpired. 

“That can’t be right!” Icewing narrowed her eyes. “Mothwing has been our medicine cat for generations! She was a healer before we left for the lake territories. That was before most of us were born!” 

“She was one of Mistystar’s closest friends,” Podlight’s eyes glimmered. “Shimmerpelt, don’t let this tragic accident cloud your judgment of our medicine cat.”

Shimmerpelt hissed in reproach. “My judgment is not clouded! I have always stood for RiverClan’s honor, and I want us to thrive! We cannot survive if there is a murderer among us. I even have evidence to back up my claim!”

“Evidence?” Mallownose tilted her head. 

“That’s right,” Shimmerpelt presented the scraggly white petals of a plant. “Mistystar and Reedwhisker coughed these petals up.”

Frostpaw gasped sharply. “Those are the petals of a water hemlock plant!”

“Does anyone know what a water hemlock plant is?” Shimmerpelt glanced around the clearing. The cats looked at each other, no answers in their eyes. The warriors collectively affirmed their lack of knowledge. 

“I know what it—” Mothwing started to speak up. 

“So, Frostpaw, what does water hemlock do to other cats?” Shimmerpelt ignored Mothwing. 

“W-Well, from what I remember, it causes seizure-like effects like violent thrashing. It-It also causes foam to form at the mouth and cause difficulty breathing.” Frostpaw shuffled her forepaws, looking down. “When ingested, the cat will experience extreme pain before passing away shortly after…” 

“Seizure-like effects?” Shimmerpelt reiterated. “That’s exactly what our dead leader and deputy experienced right before their passing.”

“B-But, I don’t understand,” Frostpaw’s ears flattened. “Wouldn't a water hemlock plant only take away one of Mistystar’s lives?”

“She was on her last one,” Mothwing said solemnly. 

“That information is sacred to medicine cats, correct?” Shimmerpelt questioned. 

“That’s correct,” Mothwing admitted. 

“Harelight,” Shimmerpelt nodded to the white tom. “You were on guard before I was, right?”

“I guarded camp from sun-high to sundown,” Harelight nodded. 

“Did you see Mistystar and Reedwhisker at all?” Shimmerpelt questioned. 

“Yes, I saw them go into the leaders’ den for that meeting,” Harelight attested. 

“Did any cat accompany them?” Shimmerpelt tilted her head. 

Harelight hesitated, flashing Mothwing a guilty glance. “Yes. Mothwing was with them.”

“Isn’t that interesting?” Shimmerpelt murmured to herself. “Thank you, Harelight.”

Mothwing’s eyes were glowering. She angrily stepped towards the silver she-cat, her lips curling into a snarl. “Every cat is grieving over the loss of our leader and deputy right now. And here you are, disrupting the peace by throwing out wild accusations. Back down, Shimmerpelt. We shouldn’t be bickering about this right now – we should be preparing the bodies for burial.”

“That sounds like something a killer would say,” Shimmerpelt sneered. “Of course, the Clan murderer wouldn’t want us to talk about the circumstances that aren’t in their favor.”

“Enough of this,” Icewing hissed. “You’re accusing our head medicine cat of murder because of a plant and a meeting! How do you even know that Mothwing poisoned her Clanmates?”

“I don’t,” Shimmerpelt conceded. 

“Well – there goes your entire argument then!” Icewing’s fur prickled in satisfaction. “Why don’t we just move on from this and–” 

“I wasn’t finished,” Shimmerpelt snarled, her eyes cold. She turned towards Frostpaw. “Have you ever connected with StarClan?”

Frostpaw nodded. “I have.”

“Have you ever received dreams from StarClan while you were in RiverClan territory?” 

“I-I’m not usually supposed to share what StarClan has told me, but I have been visited by my ancestors, even when I’m not at the Moonpool,” Frostpaw admitted. 

Shimmerpelt’s eyes glittered. “Why don’t you get some rest, Frostpaw?” 

Mothwing’s fur bristled. “Frostpaw, don’t let some crazy dream dictate how you see me!”

“Mothwing,” Podlight’s eyes were cold. “Don’t disregard the importance of StarClan.”

“Every cat knows about your lack of faith,” Havenpelt raised her head, “but we still believe. Don’t put down our faith.”

“Besides, Mothwing,” Shimmerpelt looked at the medicine cat, “if you are innocent, then why should you fear the words of StarClan?” 

Mothwing gritted her teeth, but said nothing. Frostpaw padded past her mentor, her eyes downcast, as she entered the medicine cat den. A group of warriors went to the leaders’ den, fetching Mistystar’s and Reedwhisker’s bodies. Their forms barely resembled the noble cats they had once been. Their frames were contorted due to when they were experiencing a seizure-like state. Foam had formed outside their mouths – a truly horrifying sight of death. The aroma of the deceased traveled upwards, and Shadowsight was able to catch the horrendous reek of the deceased. 

“I can’t believe this is happening,” Lightleap murmured. “Both the leader and deputy were killed?”

“And now, their medicine cat is being blamed for their deaths,” Shadowsight’s shoulders slumped. 

“It’s so unfair,” Lightleap growled, “I just know that Mothwing wouldn’t do anything like that.”

“Tell that to Shimmerpelt,” Shadowsight muttered, glancing down at the sleek, silver she-cat. He expected to see her eyes flashing with bitterness and anger, but they were filled with mourning. Mistystar and Reedwhisker were resting in the clearing. Shimmerpelt’s nose touched Reedwhisker’s fur, her eyes glimmering with grief. 

“Misystar was such a great cat,” Mosspelt praised, “she was one of the oldest – if not the oldest cat in all of the Clans.”

“Is it true that she was the daughter of Bluestar?” Graypaw’s eyes glittered. 

“That’s right,” Mosspelt nodded, “she was also the daughter of Oakheart – who was Crookedstar’s deputy. Mistystar was also the sister of Stonefur – who was Leopardstar’s deputy. You could say that leadership was in her bloodline.”

“Unfortunately, that bloodline died with Reedwhisker,” Duskfur commented. 

Shimmerpelt’s fur prickled. “The legacy of our leader and deputy will live on. It doesn’t matter if their bloodline is over.”

“Well said,” Mosspelt purred, “StarClan will remember your words when they choose the next leader.”

There was a sudden yowl from the medicine cat den, and Frostpaw came running out, her pale gray fur spiked on edge. Her Clanmates turned towards the young apprentice, alarmed by her appearance. 

“Are you alright, Frostpaw?” Curlfeather, Frostpaw’s mother, went to her side. 

“I-I’m fine,” Frostpaw stuttered, “but I-I got a sign from StarClan.”

At this point, every cat had turned their attention towards Frostpaw. The light gray she-cat’s ears were flattened, and her blue-green eyes flashed back and forth across the clearing. Faintly, Shadowsight could see her whiskers trembling. 

“Tell us,” Shimmerpelt meowed, her eyes twinkling. 

Frostpaw started murmuring, too quietly for any cat to hear her. 

“Speak up!” Owlnose interrupted. “No cat can hear you.”

Frostpaw flinched, her tail drooping. “S-Sorry…” 

“It’s alright, Frostpaw,” Mothwing told her apprentice, “take a deep breath and tell the cats what you saw.”

Frostpaw’s blue-green eyes glittered with anguish. “Mothwing, I’m so sorry…” 

“Do what’s right for the Clan,” Havenpelt told Frostpaw, “you’re the only cat in RiverClan who can speak with StarClan. It’s your duty to tell us your vision and what it means for the Clan.”

Frostpaw nodded meekly. “I…I was visited by Jayclaw, m-my father. We were sitting at a stream, and he told me to look down at the water. When I did, I saw the leaders’ den and-and there were lilies all over the ground. Mistystar and Reedwhisker were on the ground, poisoned by water hemlock. I-I saw a cat holding the plant, their amber eyes glittering. They had tabby stripes and-and the more I looked at this cat… I realized it was Mothwing. Jayclaw told me something else…”

“What was it?” Fognose twitched an ear. 

“Shadows descend upon the horizon as bloody dawns approach the Clans. Only the most defiant of cats can end the suffering,” Frostpaw recited. 

“The prophecy!” Mosspelt’s voice croaked. 

“...That prophecy sounds different from the one at the Gathering,” Mothwing murmured. 

“You have no right to speak!” Podlight snapped at her. “StarClan spoke to Frostpaw and showed us that you were the killer!” 

“Why would I want to kill Mistystar and Reedwhisker?” Mothwing’s tail lashed. “I’m a medicine cat, not a warrior.”

“Perhaps, you were planning on manipulating Frostpaw, so you would become leader,” Icewing accused her, turning on the cat she had once fiercely defended. 

“I’m nothing like my brother!” Mothwing hissed in defiance. 

“I-I saw you last night, Mothwing,” Harelight meowed, his ears flattened. “Only Mistystar, Reedwhisker, and you entered that den.”

“You’re wrong!” Mothwing hissed. “When I was pinning down Mistystar, I saw a shadow! There was another cat there…” 

Duskfur shook her head. “I didn’t detect any other cat scents in the leaders’ den when I helped bring the bodies to the clearing.”

“But, there was another cat! I swear,” Mothwing protested. 

“Are you seriously going to give us that argument?” Shimmerpelt scoffed. “You were spotted entering the den with the deceased cats. Water hemlock killed the cats – an herb that the medicine cats only knew about. You knew that Mistystar was on her last life. Frostpaw even had a sign from StarClan that you were the killer!”

“Why should we trust a word that you say?” Minnowtail hissed, her claws unsheathing as she glared at Mothwing. 

“Every cat here – including you, Shimmerpelt, respected me for my talents and service to my Clan. Now, tonight, you’re willing to throw all of that trust away?” Mothwing glared at the clearing of cats, her fur bristling. 

“I-I don’t know, Mothwing,” Frostpaw was shaking, “I-I don’t want to think of you as a killer. But, Jayclaw is my father, and he showed me what happened…” 

“Jayclaw was a great warrior of RiverClan,” Curlfeather raised her head. 

“He always played with us when they were kits!” Mistpaw and Graypaw mewed. 

“He was the fastest one out of all of us,” Brackenpelt purred. 

“He left RiverClan for moons,” Mothwing lashed her tail. 

“And, he returned back to us,” Owlnose meowed. 

“His loyalty may have been tested, but he was truly a loyal RiverClan warrior,” Mallownose raised his head. 

Mothwing’s fur prickled. “And, yet, I’m not a loyal RiverClan medicine cat?” 

“Don’t take it so personally,” Lizardtail’s eyes were cold. “We have no reason to trust you after this.” 

“Surely, not everyone here agrees!” Mothwing’s voice was pleading, and she looked at each of her Clanmates. “Not everyone has spoken up about their beliefs.”

“Why don’t we change that?” Shimmerpelt lashed her thick tail. “If you believe Mothwing killed Mistystar and Reedwhisker – stand over by the warriors’ den. If you think otherwise – stand over by the medicine cat den.”

The cats in the clearing started to disperse, and the overwhelming majority flocked to the warriors’ den. Mothwing and Frostpaw stayed in the middle of the clearing, having a hushed conversation. Their eyes were pained, and Frostpaw turned away to join the cast by the warriors’ den. Not a single cat was on Mothwing’s side. 

“All of you are against me?” Mothwing’s eyes gleamed with a different light, and she truly looked defeated. 

“There’s no proof that you didn’t kill them,” Breezeheart meowed. 

“There was another cat–”

“No one saw any trace of this other cat – no scent, no pawprints, nothing,” Gorseclaw shook his head. 

“We don’t know what water hemlock is,” Sneezecloud commented. “Only the medicine cats knew how it worked, and since you were spotted in the den…” 

“There’s no proof of your innocence,” Shimmerpelt approached Mothwing, claws unsheathed. 

Mothwing growled, her own claws sliding out. “I didn’t kill those cats.”

“The warrior code doesn’t care about whether or not you confess your guilt,” Duskfur growled. 

Mothwing stiffened. “I didn’t kill them!” 

“Any Clan cat who murders another cat, Clan-born or not, without the reason of self-defense, shall be killed for their crimes,” Curlfeather recited. 

“I don’t see any injuries on you, Mothwing,” Minnowtail tilted her head. 

“Not to mention, death by herbs? That doesn’t sound like a self defense strategy,” Havenpelt narrowed her eyes. 

“It’s not.” Shimmerpelt backed up her Clanmate. “This murder was premeditated.” 

The sun was starting to rise above the horizon, casting the RiverClan camp in vibrant rays of light. The sky was streaked in blood-red hues. Shadowsight crouched further back into the willow tree, worried about casting a shadow on the clearing. He looked over at Lightleap, whose amber eyes gleamed with anger and helplessness. Shadowsight looked down on the scene, knowing there was nothing that could be done. He didn’t know how to back up Mothwing or save her from her inevitable fate… 

Shadowsight wanted to rip his gaze away from the scene, but his attention was fixated. Claws of guilt were digging into his soul, and he fought against the instinct to leap down into the clearing. He couldn’t do anything to change the outcome and jumping into action would make everything so much worse… 

“You’re a killer,” Nightsky spat out, her back arched. 

“The words of the warrior code must be followed,” Havenpelt’s tail lashed, her eyes icy. 

“Mothwing, you have committed the severe crime of killing two RiverClan cats – even worse, the leader and deputy of this Clan. The evidence has been contemplated and weighed against you. Your guilt has been cast down upon you, and punishment must fall upon you. May StarClan help your evil spirit in your days out of this world. Do you have any last words?” Shimmerpelt glared down at the golden tabby she-cat. 

“StarClan means nothing to me,” Mothwing hissed. 

Pandemonium broke out among the RiverClan cats. Shimmerpelt lunged for Mothwing, pinning her down. The golden tabby started to fight back, prompting Duskfur and Mallownose to keep her still. Podlight and Lizardtail went to the entrances of the camp, blocking off any escape routes. Curlfeather quickly brought her three kits, Mistpaw, Graypaw, and Frostpaw away from the gathered ones. Frostpaw kept looking back at the scene, her blue-green eyes filled with desperation. Other cats were goading on the fighting. 

“Go for her throat!” Splashtail yowled. 

“She doesn’t deserve any mercy after what she did to our Clan!” Minnowtail snarled. 

“It was a mistake for Leopardstar to ever take her into the Clan!” Mosspelt growled. 

Lightleap crouched down, her claws unsheathed, her tail lashing behind her. She looked like she was about to strike. Shadowsight touched his tail to her shoulder, bringing her out of her warrior instincts. He merely shook his head, looking back at the horrible sight. 

Shadowsight could barely see Mothwing under the mixture of gray, brown, silver, black, and white pelts that crossed his vision. Yet, he could hear her screams loud and clear, ringing in his ears. Frostpaw raced into the fray of the crowd, but she was shoved back by Shimmerpelt. Curlfeather grabbed her daughter by the scruff and forcefully pulled her away from the execution. Shadowsight couldn’t hear Frostpaw’s words over the horrific screaming. 

Then, it was over. 

The crowd dispersed, blood coating their paws. Their eyes gleamed in vengeance, then calmed to a state of acceptance. Cats who fought against Mothwing went to the streams to get blood off of their pelts. Icewing, Harelight, Mosspelt, and Curlfeather took Mistystar and Reedwhisker out of camp for burial. Graypaw and Mistpaw retreated to the apprentices’ den, trembling every step of the way. Shimmerpelt was glaring down at a bloodied form, her eyes sharp with fury. 

“You tore apart my Clan, so I tore you apart,” Shimmerpelt snarled quietly, her claws glistening with blood, golden fur caught between them. 

Havenpelt touched her nose to Shimmerpelt’s cheek. “You did what you had to do for RiverClan. You can rest now.”

“No!” Shimmerpelt snapped. “There’s still so much that needs to be done. We need to check and see if there’s more poison in camp. The fresh-kill pile needs to be restocked. The borders need to be marked. We need to… We need to figure out who’s going to be our leader and deputy!”

“I can organize the patrols,” Havenpelt told Shimmerpelt. “You can search for any leftover poison. Take Frostpaw and another cat with you to check.”

The two cats disbanded, and Mothwing’s body was left on full display. Shadowsight could barely even see her golden tabby fur – blood coating the majority of it. Her claws were unsheathed, and her amber eyes were open, filled with a lost spark of determination and desperation. Her mouth was slightly open, her fangs dripping with blood. The death had not been clean – and Shadowsight suspected that she died of blood loss from all of her combined wounds, rather than a specific injury. Hatred had motivated this cruel fate for Mothwing. 

“Shadowsight,” Lightleap was looking at him, her eyes glistening. “Now, I understand why you had to leave the Clans.”

Chapter Text

Shadowsight padded through the outskirts of SkyClan territory, a squirrel in his jaws. It was late sunset with the first hues of twilight in the sky. His nose twitched as he caught the nearby scent of the SkyClan border. He walked over to an ash tree and patiently waited, setting his kill down by his paws. Shadowsight had fulfilled his promise to Rootspring, and they would be meeting once more – a quarter moon after the Gathering. 

He saw the distant silhouette in the forestland, and his fur prickled. Shadowsight sniffed the air, detecting Rootspring’s scent. He visibly relaxed, his tail sweeping across the leaves on the forest floor. The SkyClan tom approached him with two voles in his jaws. 

“I guess we both had the same idea,” Shadowsight chuckled. “You might need to return a vole back to SkyClan.”

“Oh, I didn’t eat fresh-kill with my Clanmates tonight.” Rootspring meowed. “I wanted to share my prey with you.”

“Thank you,” Shadowsight touched noses with him. 

“Right back at you,” Rootspring’s eyes sparked. 

The two toms started eating their prey with Rootspring biting into the squirrel while Shadowsight ate the voles. 

“So…” Shadowsight paused between vole bites. “How have you been?”

Rootspring’s fur prickled before smoothing down. “I’ve… been doing okay. I started going out on patrol with more of my Clanmates, which makes Leafstar and Hawkwing happy.”

“Anything interesting happening in SkyClan?” Shadowsight twitched an ear. 

“Blossomheart had two kits. Every cat is already speculating on who’s going to be their mentors,” Rootspring meowed. 

Shadowsight’s gut felt queasy with the talk of kits. He couldn’t help but reminisce on Flowerstem and Flaxfoot, who were just about to start a family together. And, there was Berryheart, who was going to have her second litter. Those potential futures had been blighted away before they had the chance to begin. Shadowsight’s shoulders slumped, and he wondered if his former Clan would have more litters. 

“...Ah, there aren’t many kits in the Clans,” Shadowsight’s paw twitched. 

“Yeah…” Rootspring’s tail flicked. “Needleclaw is hoping that we’ll become their mentors. She’s been meowing on and on about becoming deputy of SkyClan someday. She even thinks that she could be leader and have me as her deputy.”

“Do you want to become deputy?” Shadowsight asked him. 

“Absolutely not!” Rootspring shook his head. “I wouldn’t be good with that kind of responsibility.”

“I don’t think you couldn’t do it,” Shadowsight meowed, “but it doesn’t…” 

“It’s not a good fit for me,” Rootspring affirmed, “Bristlefrost was the type of cat who wanted that position. I don’t have her ambition.”

“And, that’s alright,” Shadowsight murmured. 

Shadowsight couldn’t help but feel a ginormous wave of relief crash over him. A small, selfish part of him sincerely didn’t want Rootspring to become deputy. That kind of responsibility would set an image of Rootspring that he would have to uphold. Their visits would have to lessen or disappear altogether. Rootspring would be busy with his duties, and he couldn’t have a bad reputation of sneaking away from his Clan. Guilt flared through Shadowsight, burning his insides. He should be focusing on what Rootspring wanted – not what he wanted… 

“Besides, I have other roles in my Clan,” Rootspring meowed. “I can see the spirits.”

“Yeah…” Shadowsight’s fur ruffled, and he averted eye contact. 

“Are you alright?” Rootspring asked him. “You’ve seemed… off since I got here.” 

“I’m alright,” Shadowsight tried to maintain eye contact. 

Rootspring still had doubt in his eyes. “How has your loner life been going?”

Shadowsight shrugged. “It’s going okay, I suppose. The Twolegs started coming by, so I had to abandon my old den.”

“Fox dung,” Rootspring muttered. “Did you get settled somewhere else?”

Shadowsight nodded. “I have been living in the outskirts of RiverClan territory.”

“RiverClan territory…?” Rootspring’s eyes glittered in a different light. “That’s quite far away from here.”

“I’m still willing to travel back to SkyClan to see you, don’t worry,” Shadowsight reassured him. 

“How has your life been out there?” Rootspring asked him, his yellow fur prickling. 

“It’s decent,” Shadowsight meowed. “There’s a lot of streams and marshy water, which isn’t ideal. But, it works for now.”

“Maybe, you should travel past the Horseplace?” Rootspring suggested. 

“There’s a lot of Twolegs in that area though,” Shadowsight scuffled his forepaws. 

“Didn’t you used to live around Twolegs?” Rootspring asked him. 

“My siblings and I were born in an abandoned Twoleg den. We used to sneak away and watch the Twolegs, but we were always too scared to interact with them. Dovewing and Tigerstar wanted us to stay away from them. We also had to travel through Twolegplace on our way back to the Clans. It was pretty hectic, and since I was so young, I was pretty scared. I don’t know if I’d want to relive that experience,” Shadowsight’s fur ruffled. 

“I understand,” Rootspring also expressed discomfort, “I had to venture into Twolegplace once. Strange scents, Thunderpaths, dogs, Twoleg traps… It wasn’t great. But, at least, I had Bristlefrost by my side.”

Shadowsight blinked in surprise. “I don’t remember hearing about this.”

Rootspring twitched an ear. “It was back when Ashfur was imprisoned. A patrol was sent out to look for the Sisters to find out how to get rid of Ashfur. We ended up summoning the spirits of the lost Clanmates from the battle, and that was when the Clans decided to kill Bramblestar…”

“And, then, I was stupid enough to let the imposter go,” Shadowsight muttered. 

Rootspring shook his head. “Don’t say that. If the Clans killed Bramblestar’s body, then Bramblestar would’ve died. Ashfur would still be around to terrorize the Clans.”

“...Why don’t you just tell me more about this adventure of yours?” Shadowsight’s voice cracked. 

Rootspring paused, touching his nose to Shadowsight’s cheek in reassurance. His blue eyes were glittering with mild concern and hidden anxiety. Shadowsight’s gaze softened, and he slowly blinked at the tom, flashing him a small smile. 

“That adventure taught me a lot of things,” Rootspring admitted, “I learned how to utilize my abilities and communicate with the earth on a deeper level. I got to see what it was like to venture outside of the Clans, and it really is incredible out there. I learned how to think quickly in tough situations. I also realized some… other things.

“I confessed my feelings for Bristlefrost… again. And, this time, she said she wanted everything to work out for us. We talked about changing Clans for each other, but we realized that we were bound to our Clans, just as strongly as we were bound to each other. We wanted things to work out, but we never found a solution. Maybe, we were never supposed to. Bristlefrost was always fiercely loyal to ThunderClan, and she wanted to be with her family and help Spotfur raise her kits. I wanted to be with my family and…” Rootspring’s words trailed off. “I wanted to be close to you.”

Shadowsight jolted in surprise. “What?”

“I was worried about you,” Rootspring meowed. “When I saw you in that ravine moons ago… I wanted to look out for you. Then, you ended up being in the same camp as Ashfur. I didn’t want something bad to happen to you again. SkyClan territory is between ShadowClan and ThunderClan territory. If I left my Clan, I wouldn’t be as close to you.”

“You were willing to stay in SkyClan for me?” Shadowsight felt a rush of emotions surging inside him – wild confusion, estranged happiness, and soft reassurance. “Even though you wanted to have a future with Bristlefrost?”

Rootspring nodded. “I would never forgive myself if something bad happened to you, something I could have prevented, but couldn’t because of changing my Clan.”

“And then, I left my Clan…” Shadowsight murmured. “Your decision ended up being a waste.”

“No, it wasn’t, Shadowsight.” Rootspring’s eyes burned into the dark gray tabby. “If I could do it all again, I wouldn’t have made a different choice.”

Shadowsight felt his heart warming with the tom’s truthful sentiments. He smiled fondly at the yellow tom, aware that he had his full attention. The dark gray tabby started to sink into the warm feeling as though he were having a peaceful dream. In his mind, the whole situation was surreal. 

“I really care about you too,” Shadowsight averted eye contact, licking his chest fur. 

Rootspring smiled, but his blue eyes were deeply troubled. “Are you sure there’s nothing bothering you?”

“I wasn’t sure if I should tell you this, but you might as well know.” Shadowsight meowed. “I saw something back when I was in RiverClan.”

Rootspring drew in a sharp inhale. “Were you hurt?”

“No, no, I was fine,” Shadowsight reassured him, “I wasn’t directly involved.”

Rootspring’s hackles relaxed. “I think I know what you saw.”

“Did RiverClan tell the rest of the Clans what happened?” Shadowsight asked. 

“I found out because…” Rootspring hesitated. “Maybe, it’s better if I show you rather than tell you.”

“Alright,” Shadowsight twitched an ear, wondering what the tom meant. 

Rootspring closed his eyes, his muscles tensing up. His expression contorted in deep concentration, and his claws were slightly unsheathed into the earth. The SkyClan tom was completely still as he completed some large mental task. Slowly, a faint, wispy presence started to appear, their figure becoming more solid. Shadowsight stood, transfixed, as he recognized golden tabby stripes and bits of orange in a gaze. 

“Mothwing?” Shadowsight’s eyes widened. “What are you doing here?”

The golden tabby’s ear twitched. “I could be asking you the same question. This doesn’t look like ShadowClan territory.” 

“My situation doesn’t matter,” Shadowsight brushed off the she-cat’s words. “Why aren’t you in StarClan?”

“Why would I want to go there?” Mothwing scoffed. “They never did anything for me when I was in trouble.”

“You… rejected StarClan?” Rootspring’s eyes widened. 

“Sure, you could call it that,” Mothwing started grooming herself casually, “Leopardstar and Mudfur begged me to join their ranks, but I chose to roam the living Clans as a spirit instead.”

“Did you see Mistystar or Reedwhisker?” Shadowsight asked. 

“I did not,” Mothwing meowed, “we died so soon after each other. Perhaps, Mistystar and Reedwhisker were being visited by their deceased loved ones.”

“You didn’t kill them, right?” Shadowsight asked her. 

“Do you seriously think I would be offered a place in StarClan if I was the murderer?” Mothwing gave him a sharp look. 

“You were executed for nothing?” Shadowsight was appalled. 

“All because of StarClan’s new code, I died,” Mothwing growled, “after that ordeal, I couldn’t bear to enter StarClan. It was their fault that I died. They even gave Frostpaw a sign that I murdered the leader and deputy!”

“I know,” Shadowsight nodded, “I saw everything. From the moment you were accused to your execution.”

Rootspring hissed. “We should do something about this! Mothwing, you need to return to RiverClan and tell your Clanmates about what actually happened!”

“They didn’t believe me when I was alive,” Mothwing reminded Rootspring, “why would they believe me as a ghost?”

“This isn’t right! We need to fix the warrior code,” Rootspring insisted. 

Mothwing chuckled drily, “in the eyes of RiverClan, there’s no need. After all, they went through a ‘proper procedure’ of sorts. They accused me, backed it up with evidence, got Clan agreement, got a vision from StarClan, and fulfilled the code.”

“There’s nothing that can be done,” Shadowsight bowed his head in acceptance. 

“We can’t afford to think like that! We have to set this right,” Rootspring snarled, “no cat should have to die unjustly.”

“You aren’t going to ‘set things right’ with my death,” Mothwing scoffed, “it’s too late for me.”

“Then… I’ll figure something out by the next Gathering,” Rootspring growled. 

There was a burning passion in the SkyClan warrior’s eyes. His yellow fur was bristling in fury, and his tail lashed back and forth. The last time Shadowsight had seen the tom this angry was back when Ashfur was a major threat. There was an ambition in his gaze, a determination in his words, an eagerness for justice and truth. 

“Good luck with that,” Mothwing meowed, “go lose a fight you could never win. You’re fighting against a system that is designed against the accused. Your ideas will be shut down. The last time I tried to fight for myself, I was mocked and denied a voice.”

“I’ll prove you wrong,” Rootspring asserted himself, “I’ll find a way to save cats, so no cat will have to experience what you went through.”

Mothwing snickered. “If you manage to do that, I’ll go to StarClan.”

“Sounds like a deal then,” Rootspring took her completely seriously. 

Mothwing’s ghost form disappeared from view, the only sign of her appearance being a soft wind that caressed Rootspring’s and Shadowsight’s thick pelts. 

“Mothwing is just being bitter,” Rootspring said, more to himself than Shadowsight, “it is possible to reform this broken system.”

“I believe in you,” Shadowsight told the young warrior, “and I will help you however I can.”

Chapter Text

Shadowsight padded past the Horseplace, catching a whiff of Twoleg scent along his way. He could see a Twolegplace to his right, bright lights shining out of their dens. Faintly, Shadowsight could detect shadows moving inside them. He strayed closer to the lakeshore, feeling dampness on his paws. He heard stories about Clan cats who became kittypets. Shadowsight couldn’t understand why they would go down that route. 

After all, becoming a kittypet meant giving up all independence. A kittypet couldn’t decide their home, as the Twolegs could move at any time. A kittypet would have their name changed and were branded with ‘collars’ that tied them to their ‘owners.’ A kittypet relied on the food provided to them by their Twolegs and left their dirt in a gravel box of sorts. A kittypet could even lose the chance to go outside and enter the wilderness completely. 

Shadowsight shuddered, unable to imagine that kind of life for himself. In ShadowClan, he had been given a name by his parents that he was still proud of. He had the skills to survive in the wilderness: hunting and healing. The dark gray tabby still lacked some defense skills – he hadn’t gotten much from that part of Tawnypelt’s teachings. She was a fine mentor, but skills could only be sharpened with practice. Shadowsight hadn’t gotten into a fight and he had no desire to spark conflict. He had nothing that he would defend with tooth and claw. Shadowsight still craved a wilderness life, aware of the connections he still had there. 

He heard the sound of crackling reeds. Shadowsight crouched down, his presence hidden in the shadows as a bright half moon shone overhead. He scanned the terrain and spotted a light gray pelt treading nervously across the RiverClan border. The dark gray tabby easily recognized the cat as Frostpaw. The loner followed her from a distance, stalking cautiously so he wouldn’t make a sound. 

The moorland provided less cover, and Shadowsight opted to crouch down into a gorse bush. He watched as Frostpaw met up with a mottled gray tom and a gray tabby she-cat – Kestrelfight and Whistlepaw respectively. The three medicine cats started traveling at a brisk pace, and he could hear muffled conversation from the group. Shadowsight followed behind them, hiding in thick prairie grass and gorse bushes along the way. 

“Why isn’t your mentor with you tonight?” Kestrelflight asked the RiverClan apprentice. 

“She… uh… She got sick,” Frostpaw scrambled for an excuse. 

“Hm, she’s a pretty strong willed cat,” Kestrelflight mused. “It must be a bad sickness. Does she have greencough?”

“Yes! I mean, no. It’s nothing contagious,” Frostpaw explained. 

“It’s not good for a cat as young as yourself to go alone,” Kestrelflight’s eyes were filled with concern. “Did any cat escort you to the border?”

Frostpaw’s pelt bristled. “I-I’m a capable apprentice! I can go on my own.”

“StarClan was guiding her paws tonight,” Whistlepaw meowed. 

“StarClan can’t always protect you from a badger,” Kestrelflight muttered, “on our way back, we’ll walk you to the RiverClan border.”

“Y-You don’t have to do that!” Frostpaw insisted. “I’m a strong RiverClan apprentice. I’ll make it back to camp just fine!”

“Kestrelflight, you don’t have to mother her,” Whistlepaw reminded her mentor, “I could make it to the Moonpool and back just fine too.”

“Whistlepaw, you’re older–” 

“Look, just don’t argue about this, okay?” Frostpaw’s tone was on the verge of begging. “I-I’ll be fine.”

Whistlepaw gave the apprentice a quizzical look. “Are you alright? Forget the walk back to camp. You seem… agitated.”

“What? Of course not!” Frostpaw’s fur spiked. 

Kestrelflight gave Frostpaw an understanding look. “I think I know what’s bothering you.”

“Y-You know?” Frostpaw froze. 

“It was because of Shadowsight, wasn’t it?” Kestrelflight tilted his head. “His… dream… was quite terrifying to witness. I promise – that’s not how StarClan’s visions work at all. Shadowsight is… different, that’s all.”

“You always have been an outsider,” a silky voice purred into Shadowsight’s ear. 

Shadowsight gasped sharply, turning his head to see a familiar Dark Forest cat. 

The evil cat’s form was cast in shadow, its pelt indistinguishable. Their green eyes gleamed with malice, and Shadowsight swore the cat was smirking. 

“How are you here?” Shadowsight whispered quietly. “I’m not dreaming right now.”

“When Ashfur was taken down, rips between the spirit world and the natural world were repaired. Mostly. I can slip into this world whenever I please.”

Shadowsight tensed. “The Dark Forest… is it planning to rebel again?”

The shadow cat cackled. “Oh Shadowsight… Why would you even want to know? You’re an outsider, remember?”

“I still care about cats within the Clans,” he insisted. 

“Oh, right. Him,” The cat’s green eyes gleamed. “He’ll leave you soon enough.”

“Leave…?” Shadowsight’s fur bristled in alarm. “If you’re trying to scare me, it won’t work.”

“Shadowsight, I’ve been around more liars than there are toes on my paws. You are, by far, the worst one I have ever met,” the Dark Forest cat snickered. 

“I know you’re just trying to get under my skin,” Shadowsight growled. “What do you want from me?” 

“Dismissive as ever,” the cat sniffed, “I thought you’d be more grateful. After all, I gave you the words of StarClan.” 

Shadows descend upon the horizon as bloody dawns approach the Clans. Only the most defiant of cats can end the suffering. Shadowsight recalled the prophecy’s words, his claws unsheathing. Frostpaw had recited the same prophecy back in RiverClan before Mothwing’s execution. 

“Do you want to be thanked?” Shadowsight’s fur prickled. 

“I really don’t care,” the cat rolled their eyes. 

Shadowsight thought about how the prophecy’s words had affected him. He went to the Gathering consequently and ran into Rootspring there. The two toms had gotten the chance to spend time together – which was an uncommon experience back when Shadowsight was a Clan cat. They were even meeting somewhat frequently now. 

“Well… thanks,” Shadowsight shrugged. 

“You’re thinking about that stupid tom again, aren’t you?” 

“What?” Shadowsight flinched. “How did you know that?”

“Because you’re an idiot. You’re easy to read.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Shadowsight narrowed his eyes. 

“I guess you’re too dumb to figure it out,” the cat smirked before dissipating from his view. Frustrated, Shadowsight lunged towards the disappearing cat, feeling as though icicles had pierced his pelt as he landed on the remnants of shadow. He jolted away, watching as the cat’s form seeped away. He shuddered to himself and looked down at his paws, which bore no marks of the cat’s appearance. 

“Dark Forest cats…” he muttered to himself. 

He looked over his shoulder to see that the medicine cats had disappeared from his view. He cursed to himself, then started to race across WindClan territory. Shadowsight had completely forgotten about his mission! His paws trampled the heather in his path and he charged up the moor slopes, hearing his heartbeat in his ears. The dark gray tabby didn’t slow down his pace until he saw the stony slope leading up to the Moonpool. He stopped in his tracks, catching his breath, as his heartbeat started to gradually slow down. He stalked up the slope, catching the fresh scents of the medicine cats from all five Clans. The loner felt his insides ache as he caught a whiff of Puddleshine’s scent. He padded to the top of the hollow and crouched down, a silhouette in the midnight. 

The Moonpool was sparkling down below as the medicine cats dreamed with their warrior ancestors. Frostpaw was twitching occasionally in her sleep, muttering something under her breath. The rest of the medicine cats remained still. After what felt like an eternity, the cats rose to their paws, their expression dappled with confusion. 

“Did I do something wrong?” Whistlepaw asked her mentor. “I didn’t have any dreams.”

“No, you did just fine,” Kestrelflight reassured his apprentice, “I didn’t have any dreams either.”

“I didn’t share dreams with StarClan,” Jayfeather meowed, his tail flicking with irritation. 

“You’d think that they would communicate with us tonight out of all nights,” Frecklewish snorted, “they just gave us a new prophecy after all.”

“Claws descend upon the horizon as hazy fog obscures the Clans. Only the most violent of cats will be able to end the war,” Jayfeather recited. “With that kind of prophecy, surely StarClan would want to leave us more confused than ever before.”

“I think that might have been their intention,” Alderheart mewed, “they could have wanted us to sort out the prophecy on our own.”

“On our own?” Jayfeather scoffed. “StarClan has been entangling with Clan affairs more and more often – not less!”

“I hope we can figure out the prophecy soon,” Whistlepaw shuddered, “I don’t want a war.”

“If there is fighting between our Clans…” Fidgetflake looked at the other medicine cats uneasily. “Does that mean our meetings will end?”

“No,” Puddleshine shook his head, “in times of war, the medicine cats need to be closer than ever. We stay out of Clan fighting and heal all cats. That is StarClan’s will.”

“Wouldn’t our… Clanmates not want us to talk to each other?” Frostpaw asked hesitantly. 

“A leader may try to restrict your ability to talk to us,” Alderheart admitted, “but sometimes you have to act on your own accord.”

Puddleshine purred in approval, his eyes glowing. 

“I’m still perplexed about all of this,” Frecklewish glanced over at the Moonpool, “the stars are shining brightly. Did anyone dream with StarClan?”

“All I dreamed about was catching a butterfly.” Alderhear admitted sheepishly, and he turned to Puddleshine. “Did you…”

Puddleshine merely shook his head. Beside him, Fidgetflake echoed the same sentiments. 

“What about you, Frostpaw?” Whistlepaw looked at her fellow apprentice. 

“Oh! I, uh… No, I didn’t get the answers I was looking for,” Frostpaw glanced around the clearing, her eyes dejected. The she-cat’s paws were trembling, as though she was searching for something to dig her claws into. Yet, the entire hollow was made out of stone, leaving her in an agitated state. 

“I almost wish Shadowsight was here tonight,” Jayfeather muttered, lashing his tail. “Where is he anyways?” 

“He left,” Puddleshine meowed flatly, sweeping his tail. 

“What do you mean by that?” Frecklewish narrowed her eyes. 

“Shadowsight left ShadowClan over a half moon ago,” Puddleshine looked down at his paws, “No cat has seen him since.”

“Oh, Puddleshine…” Alderheart rested his tail on the tom’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry. Did he say anything to you?” 

The brown-and-white tom shook his head, eyes heavy with emotion. The ShadowClan medicine cat looked tired, drained in a way that Shadowsight had never seen him before.

“I guess I’m not the only sole medicine cat in a Clan,” Frostpaw murmured. 

“Did something happen to Mothwing?” Kestrelflight’s fur bristled. 

“I-I wasn’t supposed to say anything!” Frostpaw flinched, her light gray fur prickling. "J-Just pretend I didn't say anything."

“It’s okay, Frostpaw,” Puddleshine told her, “what happens at the Moonpool stays at the Moonpool.”

“We won’t tell anyone,” Fidgetflake nodded. 

Whistlepaw rested her paw on Frostpaw’s. “We’re here for you, Frostpaw.”

“She… She’s dead,” Frostpaw confessed, her voice breaking. “I…I really shouldn’t say anything else. S-Shimmerpelt told me to keep quiet about it.”

“Shimmerpelt doesn’t have authority over you,” Jayfeather reminded her, “she is just a warrior. As a medicine cat, you hold more power in the Clan.”

“B-But, she’s more than that!” Frostpaw’s ears flattened. “Ever since… Ever since…”

“You can tell us,” Alderheart said softly. 

Frostpaw’s blue-green eyes were glistening with emotion, and her shoulders slumped. “Ever since Mistystar and Reedwhisker died, I–”

“T-The leader and deputy of RiverClan are dead too?!” Fidgetflake screeched in surprise. 

“Keep your voice down,” Frecklewish hissed at him. 

“How did this happen?” Kestrelflight’s eyes were wide. “Was there an attack? A sickness?” 

Frostpaw shook her head. “It was poison.”

Puddleshine stiffened. “Did you find the culprit?”

Frostpaw nodded. “It was Mothwing.”

“I understand now,” Puddleshine meowed, “Mothwing was executed, wasn’t she?”

“E-Executed?” Alderheart’s eyes widened. 

“Yes,” Frostpaw bowed her head. “It had to be done. She entered the leaders’ den and poisoned the leader and deputy with water hemlock. She put the herb in their prey. They died soon after. Shimmerpelt caught her afterwards and showed us all of the evidence.”

“Why would Mothwing do such a thing?” Jayfeather muttered. “She wouldn’t…”

“I-I know it’s hard to believe, but m-my father visited me in StarClan and it was undeniable,” Frostpaw’s voice wavered, “after that, there was no other choice. The Clan killed her in the middle of camp.

“She… She’s gone now,” Frostpaw’s words were strained, “I saw her bloodied, battered body. I watched the Clan leave her on the outskirts of territory l-like she was nothing more than carrion. RiverClan hates her so much now, and I should too, but I… I just miss her. I feel lost and empty without her.”

The other medicine cats went to console the grieving RiverClan apprentice. Whistlepaw stayed right by the she-cat’s side, murmuring comforting words. Alderheart and Kestrelflight offered to help her learn about herbs. Frecklewish and Jayfeather said they’d help her connect to her warrior ancestors. Puddleshine provided his sympathies while Fidgetflake was lost in shock, astonished that so many cats could be gone from their lives within a moon. 

Shadowsight felt a sickening feeling building up in his gut, and he turned away from the stone hollow. The loner trekked down the slope, his paws numb. He heard the wind rustling in his ears as a gorse bush rustled, potentially the sound of restless rabbits on the moorland. His heart felt empty, and he felt waves of vibrant emotions passing over him – a mixed combination of sadness, anger, anguish, bitterness, envy, and estrangement. 

Shadowsight entered the forest territories, staying close to the outskirts. The scent of ThunderClan brought back old memories. Before SkyClan’s territory was firmly established, Dovewing would take him and his siblings to the ThunderClan border to meet with Ivypool and her kits. So many kit games had been played all those months ago – find the pinecone, hide and seek, warriors, climb the badger, and so many more. 

Shadowsight recalled how Bristlefrost’s eyes used to light up every time she won the warrior game. She had carried extraordinary skills at such a young age, probably an inheritance from Ivypool. Flipclaw and Thriftear, as kits, complained that she would always yammer on about the warrior code. That strict code following mentality would draw her closer to the imposter in the future. Bristlefrost boasted that she would become the leader of ThunderClan one day. At one point, she had been close to achieving that goal. Bristlefrost wasn’t all about showing off her talents and pride though. She often went easy on Shadowsight as a kit, understanding that he was learning how to be a medicine cat and that he had a history of seizures. Truly, she was a remarkable warrior in the making, and it sent agony to Shadowsight’s soul that her future had been cut short. 

Shadowsight crossed the border into SkyClan territory, and he felt his flash flood of emotions slow to a calm riverbed of feelings. He padded through the terrain, his ears noting the rustling of the leaves and the scratching of prey. The dark gray tabby strayed closer to the border, catching a specific scent in the breeze. Eagerly, he darted through the trees, his heart filling. The tom entered a clearing and came to a halt, his eyes glowing. 

He heard the voice of a cat he deeply cared about and felt as though his heart had taken wings.

Chapter Text

“Shadowsight,” Rootspring meowed, his eyes filled with warmth. 

Shadowsight smiled. “You look well. I hope you’re not too tired after waiting half the night for me.”

“I couldn’t sleep,” Rootspring confessed, his tail lashing, “especially considering everything that’s going on.”

“Maybe, we should go farther into the outskirts of Clan territory?” Shadowsight suggested.

“Good idea,” Rootspring glanced around the clearing, “we wouldn’t want a Clan cat listening in on our conversation.”

“I know a good place to go,” Shadowsight whisked his tail, beckoning Rootspring to follow him. 

Although Twolegs had disrupted the natural landscape, they had not destroyed all of the beauty of the woods. They mostly kept to their strange camps and cleared paths, rarely venturing into the deeper undergrowth. Shadowsight weaved his way through the trees and stopped before a stream. He thought about Bristlefrost’s unwavering courage and crossed the water. He turned back to Rootspring, encouraging him with a small smile. From there, Shadowsight entered a meadow filled with blue violets and heather plants. 

Shadowsight sat down. “This ought to be a good spot.”

Rootspring sat down beside him, his yellow fur brushing against Shadowsight’s. “It’s rather nice.”

Shadowsight nodded in agreement. “So… What did you find out in your investigation?”

“I prowled around RiverClan territory for a few nights and made some interesting discoveries,” Rootspring’s eyes gleamed with a different light. “First of all, Shimmerpelt is really asserting her authority. She’s conducting Clan meetings and has been leading many hunting patrols. Havenpelt has been organizing them with her. Those two have been sleeping in the leaders’ den like they own the place.”

“Has any cat tried to stop them?” Shadowsight asked the tom. 

“Icewing doesn’t seem too happy about it. Neither do the apprentices,” Rootspring admitted, “Duskfur is really angry. She’s the lead senior warrior and believes she’s entitled to a leadership role. But, most of the Clan supports Shimmerpelt and Havenpelt. Some cats really admire them for ‘ridding the evil from RiverClan.’” 

“You mentioned the apprentices,” Shadowsight meowed. “It’s not just Frostpaw?”

“Frostpaw and her littermates, Graypaw and Mistpaw,” Rootspring clarified, “Graypaw and Mistpaw don’t think Shimmerpelt has a right to boss them around. Shimmerpelt has been giving them more tasks to complete with den fortification and forest hunting. Shimmerpelt says they need to be prepared for anything that comes their way, but those two are not happy about it.”

“That seems like a typical apprentice complaint,” Shadowsight shrugged. 

“It’s a bit more than that,” Rootspring commented, “Shimmerpelt is really hard on them. She wants them to put in all their effort and do it perfectly. She yelled at Mistpaw for being too slow when she was gathering moss. When Mistpaw started hurrying up, Shimmerpelt said she was being too sloppy. Graypaw received similar treatment.”

“And, we all know about Frostpaw…” Shadowsight’s ears flattened. “I feel so bad for her. She lost her mentor at such an early age. She must feel incredibly lonely.”

“She hasn’t been spending much time with her Clanmates,” Rootspring told him, “she doesn’t say much to her family either. She’s cooped up in her den, sorting out herbs, and muttering to herself about whatever’s on her mind.”

“I hope it’ll get easier for her,” Shadowsight meowed, “some of the medicine cats are going to visit her and help her with training.”

“She’ll need all of the help she can get,” Rootspring looked at him, “it sounds like an incredibly hard job. I could never do it.”

“It’s hard, but not impossible. With the proper time and dedication, a cat can learn the herbs easily enough,” Shadowsight shrugged, “I’m sure that you could do it.”

“Trust me, Shadowsight, I tried, and that did not work out.”

“You… were a medicine cat?” Shadowsight’s eyes widened. 

“I was,” Rootspring admitted, “Leafstar thought my powers would make me better suited for a medicine cat. I tried out the role, and… I couldn’t handle it. I was no good with the herbs, I panicked at the sight of blood… And, I found out that I couldn’t see the spirits of StarClan. I could only see the spirits of those who chose to wander the living world as a ghost. You and I will always be different in that way.”

Shadowsight remained quiet, holding back a flinch. He averted eye contact, shame welling up in his chest. Rootspring and Shadowsight had more in common than the warrior thought. 

“This whole situation… It's so frustrating. The injustice of it all…” Rootspring growled, raking his claws against the earth. “We shouldn’t have to be talking about this. We should be here having a good night, a normal meeting, talking about how our latest hunts went, funny stories… But, ever since this happened, I’ve felt the urge to do something about it. I can’t sit around and do nothing! There has to be something… but I don’t know what to do.”

“You’re a good cat,” Shadowsight touched his nose to Rootspring’s cheek, “you’re doing the right thing. I don’t know where we can go from here either… Mothwing is already dead, and we can’t decide the leader of RiverClan.”

Rootspring growled. “It’s all because of that stupid code! I thought everything would get better when cats started talking about changing the code. But, it’s only gotten worse. An innocent cat died because of the warrior code, and more cats will if nothing else is done. Why did this have to happen?”

“StarClan told the medicine cats about the new code,” Shadowsight murmured. 

“StarClan… I can’t believe they were too much of cowards to tell us the new rule to our faces,” Rootspring snarled, lashing his tail. “I want to know why they created this rule. Why did they think this was the right thing to do?”

“I don’t know why,” Shadowsight looked away.

Rootspring’s eyes suddenly glinted. “You could ask StarClan my questions! You have a connection with them.”

Shadowsight gulped, then bowed his head. “Rootspring, I… I can’t communicate with StarClan.”

“Are you sure?” Rootspring frowned. “You were a medicine cat once.”

Shadowsight flinched. “Even if I was a ShadowClan medicine cat, it wouldn’t matter. Rootspring, I’ve never had a connection with StarClan.”

“What?” Rootspring was stunned. “But you spoke with Ashfur, so surely, after restoring the Moonpool’s connection to StarClan…”

“I know, I was shocked too,” Shadowsight confessed, “but it’s the truth. Leafpool told me I would never have a connection with StarClan.”

Rootspring’s eyes gleamed with anger. “After everything you’ve been through? You saved StarClan, but they won’t allow you to dream with them. That… That isn’t right.”

Shadowsight sighed. “Does it even matter? I’m not a Clan cat anymore. I’m sorry I can’t help you with your mission.”

Rootspring shook his head. “Of course, you can still help. There’s so much more you could do without a connection to StarClan. After all, you watched that Moonpool meeting. Tell me about what happened there.”

“Alright,” Shadowsight appreciated the change in topic, “I… didn’t find out that much useful information. The medicine cats didn’t connect with StarClan. The medicine cats didn’t talk much about the prophecy either.”

“It is quite the ominous prophecy,” Rootspring commented, “I can’t believe medicine cats rely on them to predict the future. They don’t help the Clans whatsoever.”

“Yeah…” Shadowsight murmured. “They didn’t present any theories about its words. They’re just as lost as we are.”

Rootspring muttered something under his breath, raking his claws against the earth, before glaring up at the stars. Shadowsight twitched an ear, but didn’t comment on what he said. 

“The other medicine cats know about what happened,” Shadowsight meowed, catching the yellow tom’s attention. 

Rootspring bristled in surprise. “That’s odd. Shimmerpelt told Frostpaw to keep quiet about it.”

“She broke that oath tonight, I suppose,” Shadowsight meowed, his voice flat, “the medicine cats consoled her and promised to support her during her medicine cat journey.”

“It’s good that she has a support network,” Rootspring smiled, “especially as large as hers. She has the medicine cats, her mother, and her siblings to confide in.”

Shadowsight said nothing, his tail resting on his paws. 

“I found my own support,” Rootspring continued, “though it’s mainly not from my own Clan. There’s Ivypool, Fernsong, Thriftear, and Flipclaw, who have helped me out a lot, with my grief. Tree, Violetshine, and Needleclaw have done what they can, but it’s not the same. They didn’t know her the way I do. Sometimes, I don’t think they even know who I am. But, I can always count on you, Shadowsight, to understand me.”

Shadowsight’s heart melted, and his amber eyes glowed. “Rootspring, I’ll always be here, whenever you need me to be. I know that so much is changing right now, and we’re separated across borders, but I’m here.”

Rootspring relaxed. “I know that, Shadowsight. And, in turn, I am here for you. I worry about you being all alone out there…”

“You don’t need to worry about me,” Shadowsight insisted, “I know how to take care of myself. Tawnypelt taught me.”

Rootspring looked troubled. “I can’t help it. I care about you, and I don’t want something bad to happen to you.”

“I know how to hunt and fight,” Shadowsight raised his head.

“I know that, but…”

“I’m not helpless,” Shadowsight narrowed his eyes. 

“It’s not that–”

“Rootspring, I’m a capable cat and I can fend for myself!” Shadowsight raised his voice. 

“That’s what I thought about Bristlefrost!” Rootspring suddenly snapped, his yellow fur bristling. His blue eyes were lit up with intensity, and Shadowsight noticed the warrior was trembling. “I knew she was a strong, capable cat who could look after herself, but then, she died right before my eyes…”

Whatever anger had formed in the toms’ eyes dissipated like mist once the sun had risen. Their expressions broke, revealing fragments of emotion – heartbreak, sorrow, despair, and empathy. 

Shadowsight pressed his muzzle to Rootspring’s. “I’m so sorry, you never should have had to go through that.”

“Stop,” Rootspring pulled away, his eyes glimmering, “you’re talking as though you didn’t lose her too. She was just as important to both of us. I was her mate, and you were her kin. We were close – the three of us. Don’t you remember how we used to hang out after Gatherings?”

“I could never forget about that,” Shadowsight’s voice wavered, “Bristlefrost always climbed the Great Oak, so she’d know what it would be like to sit up there as a leader one day.”

“I was always too scared to climb that tree,” Rootspring admitted sheepishly, “but I always challenged her to climbing competitions in the other trees.”

“And, then, you climbed so fast that you lost your grip and fell into a thornbush,” Shadowsight nudged him, “it took me half the night to pluck out all of those thorns!”

Rootspring purred, “I was helping you improve your medicine cat skills. You had to think fast to find some cobwebs.”

Shadowsight rolled his eyes, but retained a smile, “and you improved your pain tolerance?”

“Well, yeah, I had to,” Rootspring’s fur fluffed out of embarrassment, “I couldn’t look like an idiot in front of Bristlefrost.”

“I don’t think you succeeded that night,” Shadowsight smirked, “she was snickering the whole time.”

“H-Hey, it wasn’t the whole time! She got some marigold,” Rootspring fought for dignity. 

“At my request,” Shadowsight reminded him. 

Rootspring smiled fondly, “she was always so considerate.”

Shadowsight cleared his throat, shooting Rootspring a look. 

“Oh, yeah, it was nice of you to help me too,” Rootspring chuckled. 

Shadowsight merely smiled affectionately. “Those nights were really nice, weren’t they?”

Rootspring nodded, “we didn’t have many nights like that. I miss them.”

“It’s not the same without her,” Shadowsight murmured. 

“That’s… alright,” Rootspring said slowly, “she’s gone from our lives, and so, these meetings will naturally be different. We’re not apprentices anymore. You aren’t even a Clan cat anymore. Ashfur is gone. We’re not a trio anymore. I’ve worked through her death, and I’m not… I still miss her every day, but I’m able to look back on our time together happily. We had our run, and now, it’s over.”

“You’re so much stronger than I could ever be,” Shadowsight told him. “If I lost a mate, I don’t know if I could ever move on.”

“You just have to get through each day,” Rootspring told him, “no matter how much it hurts. You need to have cats to support you, especially when you’re having your worst days. And, then, you need to have hope for the future. You have to see something that makes you want to keep going. At least, that’s how I survived through it all.”

“Bristlefrost would be extremely proud of you,” Shadowsight murmured. 

“It’s what she would have wanted,” Rootspring responded. “And, at this point, I would be alright if we… stopped talking about her as much. Part of my recovery was to talk about the good memories. When we meet up again, I’d rather just talk about us.” 

“That’s alright,” Shadowsight told him, “and if you change your mind, that’s alright too. You can talk about Bristlefrost as much or as little as you’d like to.”

“Oh Shadowsight, you’ve always been so–”

The sound of a kit’s cry cut off Rootspring’s thoughts. The two toms started bristling at the sound, trying to detect where the wails were coming from. Shadowsight spotted a blur of movement between the trees, and he immediately raced towards it, Rootspring by his side. The two cats stopped upon encountering a soft-furred kit with blood dripping down its side. 

Chapter Text

“Get cobwebs,” Shadowsight ordered Rootspring. 

The yellow warrior nodded, then ran off to obey the loner’s command. 

The soft-furred kit gazed up at Shadowsight with fearful green eyes. “W-Who are you?”

“I’m Shadowsight,” the loner introduced himself, “I’m here to tend to your injuries.”

The kit winced. “I got attacked by something really nasty.”

Shadowsight’s fur bristled in horror. What kind of monster would attack a helpless kit? He inspected her wounds, seeing gashes down her flank. “Who did this to you?”

“An evil thorn bush,” the kit shuddered, “I was running through the woods when it snagged me with its claws.”

The dark gray tabby visibly relaxed. “I thought an animal attacked you.”

“It might as well have been,” the kit chirped, “it had an evil look in its eyes – I just know it! That grumpy, old thorn bush wanted me to die.”

Shadowsight found the she-kit’s imagination to be morbidly fascinating. “Why were you in the woods by yourself?”

“I’m not in the woods by myself,” the gray she-kit insisted, “you and that fuzzy tom are here too. Plus, there’s snakes, foxes, badgers, and wolves in these woods. I’m not alone.”

“Fuzzy tom, eh?” Rootspring had returned with cobwebs in his jaws. “I’ve never been described as that before.”

Shadowsight took the cobwebs from the warrior and started applying them to the kit’s scratches, using pressure to keep them securely fastened to the kit’s soft pelt. Shadowsight was amazed by its softness, and he realized that it had been a long time since he had been around kits. ShadowClan didn’t have any new litters after he, Pouncestep, Lightleap, Flaxfoot, and Hopwhisker had been born. He wondered how much his old home had changed. 

Don’t think that way. Shadowsight chastised himself. I’m not a ShadowClan cat anymore. I never will be one again. 

The gray kit squirmed, dislodging some of her cobwebs. “But, you are the fuzziest cat ever! My mother is short-haired. I thought my father was fuzzy, but you’re even fuzzier!”

“Careful, Fuzzball,” Shadowsight purred, “those cobwebs prevent you from bleeding out.”

“My name’s not Fuzzball!” The kit raised her head. “The yellow fuzzy tom is Fuzzball. I’m Dovekit.”

There was a sound of rustling leaves, and the cats turned to see a cat, masked in the shadows, approaching them. Dovekit’s eyes lit up with recognition, and she bounded over to the mysterious cat’s side. 

“Hawkdream! I met a cat who’s even fuzzier than you!” Dovekit’s eyes gleamed as she fluffed her fur. 

“Oh, really?” The tom’s ears twitched, and his eyes flashed. “Does that mean you won’t spend any time with your father anymore?”

“Wha–No! Of course not,” Dovekit insisted, “you’re the best father ever! These cats will never replace you.”

Hawkdream purred, his green eyes glittering. “I was just teasing. I was just a bit worried, since a certain kit disappeared from camp…”

“Oh! I was looking for her,” Dovekit squinted, “but I haven’t found her anywhere.”

“I found her,” Hawkdream’s gaze rested on his daughter. 

“Really?” Dovekit’s tail rose. “Where is she now?”

“She’s back at camp sleeping in her den with her mother.”

“Then, we should go back there and say hi!” Dovekit gasped. 

“I was talking about you,” Hawkdream’s whiskers twitched. 

“But, what about–” 

“Did you hurt yourself?” Hawkdream’s eyes widened as he saw her scratches. 

“She got into a ferocious battle with a thorn bush,” Shadowsight explained, “I was working on patching up her injuries when you arrived.”

Hawkdream turned his attention to Shadowsight, his eyes filled with warmth. “Thank you so much for that. My kit has the tendency to run off, and I fear that she’ll get into all kinds of trouble.”

“I think you’re a bit too late for that,” Rootspring inputted, “she already got hurt out here, all alone.”

“It wasn’t my fault!” Dovekit insisted. “That thorn bush attacked me, and I–”

Hawkdream’s tail rested on his kit’s muzzle. “Well, I’m glad that two thoughtful cats were looking out for her. These incidents have been causing her family so much distress.” 

“I bet her Clan is very worried about her,” Shadowsight meowed. 

“Oh! You have the wrong idea,” Hawkdream shook his head, “we’re not Clan cats.”

Dovekit muttered something, but her words were silenced by Hawkdream’s tail. 

“But, I don’t understand,” Rootspring eyed him critically. “You two have Clan names.”

Hawkdream chuckled, “do you Clan cats lay claims to names, as well as territory? Cats can call themselves whatever they choose.”

“Our naming system is a tradition that goes back for generations,” Rootspring insisted, “it’s what separates us from other groups. You seem to be following the same naming system, so…”

“Hawkdream is right,” Shadowsight interrupted Rootspring, “these cats can name themselves whatever they want.”

“Can I choose your names?” Dovekit pawed Hawkdream’s tail away, her eyes intent on Shadowsight and Rootspring. “Cuz, I would call you Snowy and the yellow one Fuzzball.”

“My name’s not Snowy,” Shadowsight told her, “I’m Shadowsight.”

Dovekit seemed puzzled. “But, you have white patches in your fur. Why isn’t your name Snowy?”

Shadowsight suddenly felt self-conscious of his scars. He had gained those white patches several moons ago during some of his most traumatic memories. He always saw them as something bad, but Dovekit’s innocence made them sound more intriguing, rather than tragic. 

“Why isn’t your name Pigeon? You’re gray,” Shadowsight countered. 

“Because my parents chose my name,” Dovekit’s tail lashed. 

“Exactly,” Shadowsight smiled at the kit, “my parents and mentor picked out my name.”

“My parents and leader are the reason I’m not named Fuzzball,” Rootspring purred, “I’m Rootspring.”

“Why don’t you change your names?” Dovekit tilted her head. “Your names don’t make sense.”

Shadowsight had soon learned the proper way to communicate with this kit. “Why don’t you change your name?”

“I have to be older before I can change it,” Dovekit muttered, “but I like the ‘Dove’ part of my name.”

“Well, we like our names,” Rootspring insisted. “So, we don’t want to change them.”

Shadowsight merely twitched an ear, shuffling his forepaws. 

Hawkdream’s whiskers were twitching with amusement, and he let out a few quiet purrs. “I appreciate you two humoring my kit, but we do need to get back to camp sometime. Dovekit shouldn’t be awake this late.”

“But, everyone else here is awake,” Dovekit looked at him indignantly, “why can’t I be?”

“These cats would be on their way back to their dens, if you were sleeping,” Hawkdream reminded her, “and so would I.”

“You didn’t have to stay awake,” Dovekit retorted, “I could’ve made it back to camp all by myself.”

“The woods are a dangerous place, and you already got hurt. Who knows what could’ve happened to you?” Hawkdream picked up his kit by the scruff. “We’re heading back home right now.”

“Ow!” Dovekit complained, squirming. “Your teeth are sharp.”

“I could give her a badger ride,” Shadowsight offered. 

Dovekit’s eyes lit up. “I want a badger ride!”

Hawkdream set down his kit, who immediately scrambled over to Shadowsight. The loner purred and crouched down, allowing the kit to climb up onto his back. He winced as her claws dug into his pelt, but her excitement was infectious, and he soon forgot about the pain. 

“Are you sure you want her on your back?” Hawkdream’s eyes glittered with concern. “Our den is quite far from here.”

“I can manage it,” Shadowsight insisted. 

“I’ll come with you,” Rootspring added, “we can alternate, if you get tired, Shadowsight.”

Hawkdream seemed hesitant. “Are you sure? You’ve already been through so much trouble, taking care of my own kit. This really isn’t necessary–”

“Badger rides are a vital part of life!” Dovekit yowled. 

Shadowsight purred, “it’s alright, Hawkdream. We don’t mind.”

“Alright…” Hawkdream conceded, his attention flicking to Dovekit. “Try not to dig in your claws too much. And, make sure to thank Shadowsight and Rootspring for being so kind to you.”

Dovekit nodded eagerly. “Thank you! Thank you so much, Snowy and Fuzzball.”

“It’s Rootspring,” the SkyClan warrior’s words fell on deaf ears. 

“I’ll lead the way back to camp,” Hawkdream meowed, taking the lead with stride. Shadowsight and Rootspring followed behind, Dovekit clinging eagerly to Shadowsight’s back. The loner winced, but flashed a smile at Rootspring, who couldn’t help but return it. 

“What Clans are you two from?” Hawkdream asked the pair. 

“I’m a SkyClan warrior,” Rootspring puffed out his chest with pride. 

“I’m… not a Clan cat,” Shadowsight told him. 

Hawkdream slowed his pace, so he was walking alongside the dark gray tabby. Shadowsight was able to see the tom more clearly, making out dark ginger tabby stripes on the tom’s flanks. His pelt coloring and pattern was a unique combination that Shadowsight had never seen before. His eyes complimented him well – a dark forest green. Shadowsight made sure he was matching the other tom’s pace. 

“Yet, you seem to have a history with the Clans,” Hawkdream commented to Shadowsight, twitching his ears towards Rootspring. 

“Look, Shadowsight’s personal life is none of your beeswax,” Rootspring’s pelt prickled. 

“It’s alright, Rootspring,” Shadowsight meowed, “Hawkdream’s just curious.”

“I just don’t want him to make you uncomfortable,” Rootspring sounded uneasy. 

“It’s fine, Rootspring,” Shadowsight reassured him before turning to Hawkdream. “I was once a Clan cat.”

“Which Clan were you from? LightningClan? WaterClan?” Hawkdream twitched his ear. 

Shadowsight purred, noting the tom’s unfamiliarity with Clan life. “I was from ShadowClan. The territory is filled with pine trees, and we usually hunted voles, lizards, and frogs.”

“You eat frogs?” Dovekit gasped. “I want to eat frogs!”

Shadowsight smiled, “Personally, I wouldn’t recommend them. They taste gross. Pouncestep loves them though.”

“Who’s Pouncestep?” Dovekit asked. “I want to be their friend!”

“She’s my sister. She lives in ShadowClan with the rest of my family,” Shadowsight explained. 

“She’s your kin?” Dovekit gasped. “That’s perfect! We should visit her right now.”

“I’m afraid we can’t do that,” Shadowsight shuffled his forepaws, “she wouldn’t be interested in seeing me again.”

“But–” Dovekit was cut off by her father. 

“Family relationships can be tough,” Hawkdream’s green eyes were deeply sympathetic. “We won’t pry.”

Shadowsight’s eyes glimmered with gratitude. “Thank you. May I inquire about your family life?”

“Well–” Dovekit mewed. 

“It’s quite complicated,” Hawkdream insisted, his shoulders slumping, “it’s rather late to tell that kind of tale.”

Shadowsight nodded respectfully. “I understand that completely.”

Rootspring had been relatively quiet. “Those relationships can be tough, but there’s always a chance for resolution. It may take some time, but it’s possible.”

“Your optimism is appreciated,” Hawkdream’s voice was firm, “but sometimes, those bonds can never be salvaged. It can be easier to terminate a relationship than suffer through more turmoil.”

“I can understand your perspective,” Shadowsight turned towards Hawkdream, “there’s a point where having no connection with someone is far better than having one.”

“Clearly, we had different experiences,” Rootspring murmured, twitching an ear. 

“The life of a rogue is far different from a Clan cat’s.” Hawkdream raised his head. “We have the tendency to roam. It is far easier to move on from old connections. You’re not obligated to share a camp with them, so you can settle elsewhere when something works out. It brings about a sense of freedom in a way.”

“It’s an escape from judgment,” Shadowsight commented, “you don’t have to worry about what any cat thinks. You’re able to choose your own life for yourself. You’re not confined to a set of rules.”

“The codes are changing,” Rootspring reminded Shadowsight, “the Clans are becoming more flexible.”

“Is all of it for the better?” Shadowsight challenged. 

“Fair enough,” Rootspring acknowledged, “and that’s why I’m working to fix what’s broken in the Clans.”

“I wish you luck with your endeavors,” Hawkdream’s whiskers twitched. 

“Thank you,” Rootspring muttered, his blue eyes narrowed. 

Hawkdream stopped, his green eyes glinting. “I can take Dovekit home from here.”

“Are you sure?” Shadowsight glanced over at his surroundings. The pine trees around them casted dark shadows on the landscape, and it was difficult to even see the pelts of the cats around him. A sudden, cold wind was roughly caressing the landscape, and he shivered. He sniffed the air, catching traces of predator scent. “It might be safer if we went all the way to camp.”

“My friends value their privacy,” Hawkdream’s voice was smooth. “They wouldn’t like strangers in their camp.”

“We wouldn’t tell any cat about your camp,” Rootspring dipped his head. 

“Why should I trust the words of a Clan cat, Rootspring?” Hawkdream twitched an ear. 

Rootspring’s fur prickled, “I don’t know why you have a grudge against the Clans–”

“I never said I had a grudge,” Hawkdream’s whiskers twitched, “It is common practice to distrust large groups. More cats creates a higher desire for territory. My area could be targeted for extra hunting grounds. I wouldn’t want Clan cats to fight with my friends over some land.”

“The Clans wouldn’t do something like that,” Rootspring scoffed. 

Hawkdream’s whiskers twitched. “Then, why have I heard so many rumors? Clan cats attacking kittypets, loners, not to mention, each other? Why, I’ve heard they can’t even trust their own leaders to be themselves!”

“How dare you mock Clan conflicts?!” Rootspring hissed, his yellow fur bristling, as his claws unsheathed. His blue eyes flared with anger, and he was prepared to lunge at the dark ginger tabby. 

“Rootspring!” Shadowsight turned on the warrior. “Perhaps, it would be for the best if you headed back to your territory.”

Rootspring’s claws sheathed, and the fire in his eyes turned to something cooler. The warrior turned away. “I’ll see you next quarter moon, Shadowsight.”

“Good bye, Fuzzball!” Dovekit chirped. 

“It’s Rootspring,” the yellow tom muttered under his breath before trudging away. 

Once the SkyClan warrior had disappeared in the darkness of the pine trees, Shadowsight turned to Hawkdream. “Sorry about that.”

Hawkdream tilted his head. “You have no reason to apologize. It’s been a long night, and perhaps that put your friend on edge.”

Shadowsight twitched an ear and shuffled his forepaws. 

“By the way, Shadowsight,” Hawkdream’s gaze rested on his, “I wouldn’t mind showing you my home sometime.”

“Huh?” Shadowsight was perplexed. “I thought you disliked having strangers in your camp.”

“You won’t be a stranger for long,” Hawkdream’s eyes were warm, “I imagine we’ll see each other again quite soon.”

Dovekit’s eyes glittered. “You better! I want more badger rides.”

“I think this one has been going on for long enough,” Shadowsight chuckled, crouching down, “would you mind getting off my back, Dovekit?”

“Fine, fine,” Dovekit grumbled, but reluctantly dislodged her claws from Shadowsight’s pelt, and jumped down to the forest floor. Even though she was disappointed, Dovekit’s eyes were still bright, and she was relatively happy. Shadowsight found himself smiling. Her happiness really was infectious. 

“You’re quite a generous tom,” Hawkdream commented, “I haven’t met any cat quite like you.”

“What do you mean?” Shadowsight twitched an ear. “Surely, cats show kindness to each other in these woods.”

Hawkdream shrugged. “Usually, cats ask for something in return. Yet, I haven’t heard anything about a bargain from you. And, would I be correct to suspect you wouldn’t ask for anything?”

Shadowsight nodded. “I would never expect anything in return.”

Dovekit was giving him an inquisitive look, her green eyes concentrated on Shadowsight’s. “You’re weird, Snowy. Are you sure you used to be a Clan cat?”

Shadowsight chuckled. “Believe it or not, it is my heritage. I was a medicine cat once. That’s why I knew how to heal you.”

“Are cobwebs enough to treat her scratches?” Hawkdream looked at his kit, concerned. 

“Well, adding marigold would fight off any infection.” Shadowsight glanced around, spotting a nearby clump. He went over and plucked the flowers, chewing them up into a poultice. The loner examined Dovekit’s pelt, realizing that most of her cobwebs had fallen off. He removed the remaining ones, noting that her wounds weren’t bleeding anymore. He applied the poultice to her scratches, which caused the kit to squirm uncomfortably. 

“Ugh,” Dovekit’s tail drooped, “Hawkdream, did you really have to ask about my injuries? This gunk is nasty!”

“It’ll make you heal faster,” Hawkdream nuzzled her cheek, “I wouldn’t want you to get an infection.”

Dovekit’s fur prickled. “But, I’m too strong to get an infection.”

“Infections can happen to cats, no matter how strong they are,” Shadowsight told her, “even the strongest cats can get infections if they don’t treat their wounds properly.”

“Infections are like enemies, right?” Dovekit twitched an ear. “Like that nasty thorn bush?”

Shadowsight nodded. “Yes, you have to fight them off, just like evil thorn bushes. By treating your wounds with herbs, you can win a fight with infection before it’s even begun.”

Dovekit smiled, her eyes glowing. “If I’m stronger, that means I’ll be smarter and faster too, right?”

“Of course,” Hawkdream’s tail curled. “Cats back at camp will value your skills and talents as well.”

“In that case, I’ll always treat my wounds with herbs!” Dovekit’s eyes glimmered. 

Hawkdream smiled. “You’ll also be able to heal faster if you go back to camp and get some rest.”

“Then, let’s get back to camp!” Dovekit demanded impatiently. 

Hawkdream purred, his eyes warm. “Alright, alright.” 

“Have a good night,” Shadowsight wished them well, “make sure to get some good rest.”

“I wish the same for you,” Hawkdream’s eyes twinkled, “I think you could use it.”

Shadowsight merely purred in response, watching as the father and daughter disappeared into the shadows of the forest.

Chapter Text

Shadowsight detected fresh RiverClan scent in the breeze, and he quickly crouched down in the confines of a juniper bush. He had to stop his tail from instinctively lashing in frustration. RiverClan border patrols passed by twice as frequently, making it harder for the tom to live on the outskirts of territory. His amber eyes flashed as he observed the patrol. 

Duskfur was leading it with Podlight, Sneezecloud, and Graypaw following behind. The head senior warrior marked a patch of tall reeds, her eyes glittering with anger. 

“I can’t believe that Shimmerpelt is our leader now,” Duskfur snarled to herself. 

“It’s Shimmerstar,” Podlight corrected her, his eyes narrowed.

“Surely, as your mother, you would think I’d be a better leader?” Duskfur challenged, her fur rippling. 

“StarClan made their choice,” Podlight said solemnly, “it is our duty as loyal RiverClan warriors to back up their decision.”

“With your kind of attitude, I can understand why you didn’t become deputy,” Sneezecloud told Duskfur. 

Duskfur barred her teeth. “You’re just happy because your mate is deputy.”

“Havenpelt is my former mate,” Sneezecloud reminded her, “and frankly, I think she’s the right fit for the job.”

“Maybe, she’s too good at her job,” Graypaw muttered, “I’ve been assigned to so many hunting and border patrols! I think my paws are going to fall off.”

Duskfur roughly nudged him, “you lack a warrior’s mindset. You need to embrace hard work, not long to escape it.”

“And, that mindset fostered such a great relationship with your kits,” Podlight scoffed. 

“I provided for you and my Clanmates.” Duskfur defended herself. “It would have been selfish for me to stay in the nursery full time.”

“And, thank you for providing me with such a loving father figure,” Podlight said flatly. 

“Don’t blame me for your father’s choices!” Duskfur hissed. 

“Enough!” Sneezecloud glared at both of his Clanmates. “We all understand that you two have a complicated relationship, but would you please save your bickering for when you two are alone?”

The two warriors glared at each other, then grumbled in agreement. 

“We need to put up a strong, united front,” Sneezecloud declared, “we don’t want outsiders to exploit our weaknesses.”

“That’s a load of fluff,” Duskfur growled, “we have an outsider roaming among us back at camp!”

Graypaw bristled. “She acts so entitled. She thinks that she has the authority of a warrior.”

“She only responds when she is referred to by her ‘warrior name.’” Podlight snarled. “She hasn’t earned one yet!”

“Still, we need to respect our leader’s decision,” Sneezecloud told the others, “Podlight, didn’t you say that Shimmerstar was chosen by StarClan?” 

“Yes,” Podlight answered, “I support her as my leader, but I will not back up all of her decisions.”

“But, doesn’t the warrior code–”

“The warrior code has changed,” Duskfur lashed her tail, “The Clan leader’s word is not law. It can be questioned and argued against.”

“Right…” Sneezecloud bowed his head. “I still think Shimmerstar made the right judgment call. The Clan could use more members.”

“More cooperative members,” Graypaw muttered, “that rogue doesn’t do much of anything.”

“RiverClan has always thrived on pure blood,” Duskfur meowed, “it’s good riddance that Mothwing was killed. This new rogue is poisoning our bloodline.”

Graypaw looked at her, his fur ruffled, “we all bleed the same blood.”

“Clearly, Curlfeather hasn’t raised you well,” Duskfur looked down on the apprentice, “your Clan heritage is extremely important. If you lack RiverClan blood, you are not a true RiverClan warrior.”

“But, what about Firestar? He was a kittypet, but then, he became one of the best leaders in the Clans!” Graypaw insisted. 

“Clearly, you’ve been talking to those ThunderClan apprentices too much,” Duskfur narrowed her eyes. 

“Well, then, what about Stormfur?” Graypaw raised his head. “He saved the Clans from destruction!”

“He also abandoned his Clan,” Duskfur reminded him. 

“What about Mistystar?” Graypaw questioned. “You respected her more than any other cat, despite her half Clan heritage!”

“She grew up in RiverClan as a kit. Her half Clan blood doesn’t dictate anything.”

“What about Feathertail?” Graypaw hissed. 

Duskfur didn’t respond, merely lashing her tail in response to his question. 

“Regardless…” Podlight inputted awkwardly. “It does the Clan no favors to have a cat unfamiliar with Clan life suddenly infiltrating our ranks. Especially during such a stressful time.”

The cats murmured their agreement and started walking further down the border. 

“At least, she keeps Frostpaw company,” Shadowsight heard Graypaw utter before the rest of the conversation ebbed away. 

Seeing that the coast was clear, Shadowsight padded away from the bush and started walking away from RiverClan territory. His paws crumbled the reeds beneath him, and he looked on the horizon, his eyes set on the Horseplace. He would have to keep traveling around the lake to find a new place to settle. 

The RiverClan cats’ conversation irked him. Clearly, there was a lot of tension in the Clan. Their troubles seemed to be adding onto each other, the conflict weaving deeper and deeper into a knotted mess. He couldn’t believe that Rootspring thought there was a way to fix all of this. The yellow tom’s eyes had sparked with determination, willing for the codes to be changed, for life in the Clans to improve. Shadowsight could not be so hopeful, already envisioning the kinds of destruction that could befall the Clans. 

He trudged past the Horseplace, his nose wrinkling at the foul smell of the place. The horses were outside, their eyes beady and their noses wet. He crouched down, his fur prickling uncomfortably. He knew that a few cats lived in the nearby barn, and he couldn't understand why they would want to live near all of these strange animals. Then again, he heard that the hunting in the barn was excellent. 

Shadowsight looked ahead, seeing WindClan territory. He could see the silhouettes of cats marking the border and hunting on the land. If he dared to cross the border, the tom would be spotted in an instant, completely exposed on the moor. He glanced over, seeing a long array of Twoleg dens. Shadowsight sighed, knowing it would be the safer route. 

He went over to a wooden Twoleg structure, which he recognized as a fence. He crouched down and jumped onto the fence, his claws grasping onto the wood clumsily. His dark gray tabby fur bristled, and he used his tail for balance. He glanced around at his surroundings. The Twoleg dens seemed to stretch on for forever with all kinds of chaos going on around him. He spotted some Twoleg kits running around and yelling in some grass. Further away, monsters traveled noisily across the Thunderpath. Shadowsight felt unnerved, finding the terrain completely unpredictable. 

Shadowsight gingerly walked along the fence, his eyes intent on his paws. He jumped down onto the ground, landing in a Twoleg garden. He sniffed the air, catching the scent of catmint mixed alongside some other Twoleg scents. The dark gray tabby fought the temptation to roll in the herbs, knowing that some kittypet needed them more. The Twolegs probably grew these for some sick kittypets. He felt a dash of sympathy well up in his chest. 

He looked up to see a white tom watching him. Shadowsight let out a meow of greeting, but the cat raced off without another word. The loner frowned at the cat’s antics, wondering why he was so skittish. Shadowsight walked away, flicking his tail. 

He could see a Thunderpath up ahead, and he rested his paw on the blackstone, detecting vibrations. He took a step back as a monster raced by, bringing about a wind that caressed his pelt roughly. He placed his paw down again, feeling no vibrations. He glanced both ways before racing across the Thunderpath, his fur bristling. He slowed down once he made it to the other side. 

Shadowsight wandered between the Twoleg dens, sniffing the air for danger. However, his nose was useless as hundreds of unfamiliar scents clogged his nose. He twitched an ear, hearing a plethora of unfamiliar noises. Shadowsight realized his eyesight was going to be his best sense, and he frequently looked around at his surroundings, his claws half-sheathed. His neck fur raised warily, and he felt nervous in his surroundings. 

As he walked past a Twoleg den, he heard a strange, guttural, growling noise. He let out a terrified yowl of surprise as a hole emerged from a Twoleg den, a monster greeting him on the other side. Shadowsight immediately ran away, jumping over a Twoleg fence and falling into the next yard, completely disheveled. 

He heard a purr of amusement. “Some cat isn’t from the neighborhood.”

Shadowsight lifted his head to see a soft-furred, gray she-cat sitting in the yard, grooming herself. Her eyes were filled with warmth and he could see a purple collar wrapped around her neck. 

“I haven’t been in Twolegplace for a long time,” Shadowsight admitted. 

The she-cat’s eyes glittered. “You’re a Clan cat!”

“Oh, no, that’s not true…” Shadowsight shook his head. 

“But, what about your vocabulary?” The gray-furred she-cat pressed. “Only Clan cats refer to this place as Twolegplace. Let me guess – you would call me a ‘kittypet.’”

“Okay, okay,” Shadowsight dipped his head, “you’re right. I do have a history with the Clans.”

The she-cat purred. “I have a history with the Clans as well. My name is Velvet.”

“I’m Shadowsight,” he introduced himself. 

“Are you from ThunderClan?” Velvet asked him eagerly, her amber eyes glowing. 

“Uh, no, I’m not. Sorry.” Shadowsight shook his head.

Velvet’s ears flattened in disappointment. “Do you know a cat named Alderheart, by chance?”

“Oh!” Shadowsight twitched an ear. “Yes, I do know him.”

“How is he doing?” Velvet asked, licking her chest self-consciously. “We met once, a long time ago.”

“He’s doing great,” Shadowsight smiled, “he’s been doing a great job as a medicine cat. He’s still as kind as he has always been. He’s befriended the other medicine cats, and he’s especially close to Puddleshine.”

“I’m glad that he was able to move on from me,” Velvet smiled softly. 

Wait, did Alderheart and this she-cat…? 

“Who are you talking to, Velvet?” the voice of a tom cat interrupted Shadowsight’s thoughts. 

A splotchy ginger tabby jumped onto the fence, their collar jingling in the process. They leaped down into the yard next to Shadowsight. His yellow eyes brightened when he saw the dark gray tabby. 

“Another stray!” the ginger tabby grinned, his tail curling. “Every day, I’ve been seeing a new face around here.”

Velvet purred in amusement. “Fuzzball, this is Shadowsight.”

“Shadowsight?” Fuzzball gasped. “Are you a Clan cat? Your name matches their naming system! Granted, I have met some cats that have nature names and even some ‘last names’ that represent their family, which is super strange, but really interesting. I’ve also met some cats with some really really long names that are like ten words long! But, your name has shadow and sight into it, which matches up perfectly, and so, it’s like you’re a Clan cat, and that’s really awesome because I know tons of Clan cats and––”

“Yes, I have a Clan name!” Shadowsight said, louder than he intended, alarmed by how much this kittypet was rambling. 

Fuzzball’s eyes sparkled. “Well, that’s wonderful! I’m an expert on Clan life! Did you know that I was Jayfeather’s favorite assistant? I helped him out so much in the medicine cat den – I could have been his apprentice! Although back then, there were three medicine cats, so the den would’ve been a bit cramped. 

“I was also super helpful to this tom named Tigerheart. Ever heard of him? I tried to show off some warrior skills and attack him, but he was always way stronger than me! He taught me what being a warrior was all about – going on quests and hunting! I helped him search for his pregnant mate. Without me, he would’ve been completely lost. I wonder how he’s doing now…”

Shadowsight was startled by how much this tom knew about the Clans. “Tigerheart did find his mate, Dovewing, and they went back to ShadowClan together. Tigerheart became Tigerstar – leader of the Clan. Dovewing had three kits, who are all grown up now.”

“Tigerheart is the leader of ShadowClan? That’s incredible! I knew he would succeed in his quest, thanks to all of my help. He never came back to say hi ever again. I bet he’s been incredibly busy being the leader of ShadowClan. How are his kits doing? What are their names? Are they she-cats or toms? Are they warriors? Do they have kits? Are they training apprentices? Is one of them deputy?”

“Slow down.” Shadowsight chuckled. “His kits, Lightleap and Pouncestep, are doing just fine. They are both she-cats and warriors of ShadowClan. Neither of them have taken on a mate or had any kits. Since they haven’t mentored any apprentices, neither of them can be deputy of ShadowClan.”

“Wait, I thought there were three kits,” Velvet blinked, curiosity sparking in her eyes. 

“I’m the third kit,” Shadowsight admitted. 

“No way!” Fuzzball’s eyes widened. “That’s crazy! You’re Tigerhear– Tigerstar’s son?! I’m your uncle now.”

Uncle? What’s that? Shadowsight was perplexed, but he decided not to question it. 

“C’mon, I got to show you around like a proud uncle would,” Fuzzball flicked his tail and jumped back on the fence. 

Shadowsight decided to follow along with the tom. After all, he needed to navigate through the Twolegplace anyway. He might as well follow this strange kittypet. He was a lively, energetic spirit and seemed rather interesting. He would make for good company. He jumped up onto the fence and looked back at Velvet. 

“You two can go on without me,” Velvet smiled kindly, “my housefolk wouldn’t want me to wander off.”

Shadowsight felt a flash of pity for the she-cat. She was completely confined living with the Twolegs. She was stuck in a den and a tiny parcel of outside land. Her adventuring instincts were limited by her Twolegs’ commands. He meowed a farewell, then turned away, following Fuzzball along the fences. 

The splotchy ginger tabby was overjoyed to have a companion. “You should come down here all the time! We could be the best uncle nephew duo there ever was! The other house cats would be so jealous of us. And, since you’re a Clan cat, you can hunt birds and scare away the pesky dogs. You’ll be an asset here.”

“I don’t think I’ll stay around here for too long,” Shadowsight told him, “I’m planning to move past the Twolegplace and settle in the outskirts of WindClan territory.”

Fuzzball shivered, “I can’t believe you would want to settle out there. I love learning more about the Clans, but I would hate to live there long term! Jayfeather and Alderheart and Leafpool and Briarlight were the best company I could ask for, but I got so dirty and had tons of ticks. And, it’s going to get colder from here. Last winter was so cold that I didn’t dare to go outdoors most days. My housefolk and I would snuggle up on the couch by the fireplace under warm blankets. It was so nice and relaxing and comforting. You should give it a try!” 

Shadowsight was confused, and he twitched his ear. “Why would you want to give up so much independence? Don’t you get a thrill from hunting and living in the wilderness? Your Twolegs confine you inside their dens and dictate your freedom. You eat gross meals, make dirt in a gravel box, and you’re only allowed outside when they let you go.”

“My housefolk love me dearly,” Fuzzball explained, “they want to keep me safe and healthy. That’s why they give me special food and don’t want me to go outside at night. I have a lot of freedom as a house cat. I’m allowed to roam the neighborhood throughout the day, but I’m supposed to be in the house by nightfall. It’s a good deal. I wouldn’t want to be outside in the rain or cold. I don’t have to worry about predators sneaking up on me at night. It’s an easy life, and I wouldn’t give it up. It was fun trying to be a Clan cat for a while, but it wasn’t a good fit for me. Though, you seem to be the type of cat who would be suited to Clan life. After all, you grew up there and live by their rules. Not to mention, your father is Clan leader, and I bet you carry that pride with you wherever you go as a ShadowClan cat.”

“Don’t call me a Clan cat,” Shadowsight told Fuzzball, “because I’m not one of them. I’m just a cat who roams the wild. I used to be a ShadowClan medicine cat, but I left that life behind.”

“So… You’re all alone?” Fuzzball tilted his head. “Does that mean you don’t have any friends? Do you have a den for yourself? Do you wander every single day? Is it hard to catch prey? Do you run into a lot of danger? How do you know you won’t get attacked at night? Do you sleep in a tree? Where are you heading next?” 

Before Shadowsight could answer, he heard soft snickering. He looked around, trying to spot where the sound was coming from. Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, a cat lunged down from a tree branch and onto the fence, landing perfectly. Shadowsight looked up to see a tabby she-cat with a pink collar, her eyes glittering. 

“Did Fuzzball find another stray to interrogate?” The tabby chuckled. 

“I-Is there a rogue here?” The meek voice of a tom asked from up in the tree. 

Shadowsight let out a meow of greeting, turning to the cat in the tree. The cat had a black pelt, which blended in perfectly with the shadows of the tree. His kittypet collar jingled as he backed away, his green eyes glittering with intense fear. 

“Stay away from my territory!” The cat spat out, his voice quivering. 

“Alright, alright, I’m not trying to intrude–” Shadowsight was about to jump down from the fence when the tabby stopped him. 

“No, that won’t be necessary.” The tabby reassured him before turning to the black tom. “It's okay, Loki. He isn’t from the Kin. We should be safe.”

“Shadowsight was from the Clans,” Fuzzball meowed, “he used to be a ShadowClan cat.”

“ShadowClan is the worst one of them all!” Loki squirmed. “They let all of those murderers into their Clan.”

Shadowsight vaguely remembered the stories he was told about the Kin. “Don’t worry – they are all gone now. Darktail and his rogues were defeated, and none of them are in Clan territory anymore.”

“I know about that!” Loki’s voice trembled, his claws digging into tree bark. “But what about Sleekwhisker?”

“She is also long gone,” Shadowsight nodded. “A ShadowClan patrol drove her away moons ago.”

Loki breathed a sigh of relief, and he climbed down from the tree. He jumped onto the fence beside the group of cats, his black fur still bristling. He started grooming his pelt, forcing his fur flat. “I’ve been so worried about the Kin. I was forced to join them alongside Zelda and Max. It… It really wasn’t great, and Max ended up dying. Even though they were defeated, I still worry that Sleekwhisker is going to kill me for betraying the Kin…”

We had mentors when we were in the Kin,” Zelda explained, “Sleekwhisker was Loki’s mentor and Violetpaw was mine.”

Shadowsight blinked. “Violetpaw? Was she a black-and-white she-cat by chance?”

Zelda nodded. “That was her. She was really kind and really brave.”

Loki meowed in agreement. “She stood up to the Kin and helped bring them down. I will always admire her for what she did. I wonder what she’s up to now.”

“She became a warrior of SkyClan,” Shadowsight grinned, “she’s known as Violetshine now. She got a mate named Tree and they had two kits together: Rootspring and Needleclaw.” 

“That’s wonderful news!” Zelda’s eyes glimmered. 

Loki nodded. “I haven’t seen her since the battle with the Kin. I’m glad she’s happy with her family.”

Shadowsight smiled. “I spend a lot of time with her son, Rootspring. He’s a lot like his mother – kind and brave.”

“Let me guess. He also gets into a fair amount of trouble and can be hot headed too.” Zelda purred. “Like mother, like son.”

Shadowsight chuckled. “I suppose you could say that. But, he gets into trouble for the right reasons. When he’s really frustrated, it’s usually about a bigger problem that’s bothering him that he desperately wants to solve.”

“I hope I can meet him sometime,” Loki’s eyes glowed. 

“He’s been a bit busy right now, but maybe I could get him to stop by sometime,” Shadowsight nodded. 

The cats heard the sound of creaking and turned their heads to see a Twoleg calling, waving its forelegs. The Twoleg seemed slightly alarmed that four cats were on the fence. 

“I should go inside,” Loki dipped his head, then retreated to where the Twoleg was waiting for him. The Twoleg made some more strange noises, waving its forelegs, before returning to the den. 

“I should also get going,” Zelda dipped her head before leaving Shadowsight and Fuzzball. 

“Let’s keep moving,” Shadowsight meowed, “I’d like to get out of Twolegplace by nightfall.”

Fuzzball nodded in agreement. The pair traveled through the maze of Twoleg dens, jumping onto fences, crossing Thunderpaths, and avoiding dogs and hostile Twolegs. Shadowsight was glad to have Fuzzball around, despite his relentless chatter. The loner would be completely lost without his kittypet guide. 

Suddenly, Shadowsight felt a raindrop hit his back, causing his fur to spike. Then, another drop. He looked up at the sky anxiously, seeing that dark clouds had formed. Anxiety chilled his bones, and his paw started twitching erratically. A small drizzle had started, which he knew would grow stronger with each passing heartbeat. 

“Ugh, it’s going to storm!” Fuzzball complained. “I’m going to head off to my housefolk. They wouldn’t want me out in this weather.”

The splotchy ginger tabby darted off the fence back into the crowd of Twoleg activity. Shadowsight was frozen in shock, paralyzed by fear. His ears flattened, and he had the urge to call out to Fuzzball. But, it was too late. The kittypet was long gone. 

Shadowsight’s shock had now dissipated, and he was able to look around. The sun had been blocked out by the clouds, and he could hear a growl of thunder. He lost his balance on the fence and landed harshly on his side. He got up to his paws, feeling dazed. He spotted light coming from a Twoleg den due to an entrance being left open. 

No, I shouldn’t. This is ridiculous and dangerous.

The rain started falling more heavily onto his pelt, the cold reaching his skin. He looked around at alternative options. There was a maze of Thunderpaths the way he came from. He shuddered at the name implication. Thunder was always followed by lightning. Shadowsight glanced back at the den, starting to pad closer to it. 

Twolegs are unpredictable. 

Shadowsight looked up at the sky, hearing more growls of thunder. The weather was just as bad, if not even worse. If he stayed out here, he would have to risk his odds in the storm. 

Making up his mind, Shadowsight fled into the Twoleg den. 

Chapter Text

Shadowsight stayed in the shadows, shivering from the dampness in his pelt. He glanced around at his surroundings, his fur bristling nervously. Everything around him was strange and unfamiliar to his eyes. The loner sniffed the air, catching an innumerable amount of smells. He heard the thunderous sound of Twoleg pawsteps, and he hid underneath… something as quickly as he could. 

It was a tight squeeze, and he struggled to feel remotely comfortable. His back brushed up against something soft, and he crouched down as slow as he could. He could see faint traces of light and some Twoleg hind legs in the distance. Their voices were boisterous, and Shadowsight flattened his ears, trying to mute them out. He heard a second voice that was more muted, and the conversation became more accustomed to that mood. 

Shadowsight peeked outside of his confinement, catching a delicious aroma. He could hear the sound of clinking and clanging, followed by a loud yell that summoned a younger Twoleg. The three Twolegs seemed to be enjoying themselves, their voices light as they continued their chatter. He could hear more sounds besides the Twolegs’ voices, but he didn’t know where they could be coming from. Through all of the chaos of noise and chatter, Shadowsight glimpsed true joy radiating from the Twolegs, and he felt himself smiling along with them. 

Seeing that the Twolegs were thoroughly distracted, Shadowsight escaped his confinement. He looked around, knowing it would be wise to go elsewhere. Yet, Shadowsight remained nearby. He jumped on top of the object he had been hiding underneath, realizing how soft and cozy it was. The dark gray tabby spotted a pelt of sorts sprawled across the surface of the object. Remembering how cold he was, Shadowsight padded over to it, nosing the pelt. It was softer than kit fur, yet it didn’t seem to be made from any animal Shadowsight knew of. He crouched down and slid underneath the pelt, already feeling warmer than before. The pelt provided him with warmth and protection, and he curled up into a ball, feeling himself slowly drifting away… 

***

“Shadowpaw!” A voice hissed. 

Shadowpaw turned his head to see Rootpaw, a SkyClan apprentice he had met not long ago. 

“What do you want?” Shadowpaw asked apprehensively, his fur on edge. 

“I just want to talk,” Rootpaw mewed, “stay here. I need to get another cat.”

Shadowpaw simply nodded, watching with bewilderment as the yellow tom darted off. With all the madness that had been happening tonight, this meeting was the least of his concerns. 

“Rootpaw, are you crazy?” Shadowpaw heard a familiar voice and lifted his head to see Bristlefrost approaching him alongside Rootpaw. “This is dangerous!”

“I know!” Rootpaw insisted, his eyes glowing. “But, I wanted us to have a chance to meet each other.”

Bristlefrost looked over at Shadowpaw, then at Rootpaw. “I’ve already met Shadowpaw, and I’ve met you. I really need to get going back to my Clan–”

“Don’t go!” Rootpaw pleaded, his tail drooping. “I want more than introductions. I want us to spend time together, and y’know, have fun.”

Bristlefrost’s eyes widened. “Did you even listen to what Bramblestar was rambling on about? This isn’t a time to be ‘having fun.’ The Clans are changing, and–”

“Actually, this is the best time,” Shadowpaw objected, “if everything is about to change, we should take advantage of this opportunity before it’s gone.”

Rootpaw smiled at him. “That’s right. I don’t know if the three of us can ever hang out like this again.”

“We’re not supposed to be hanging out at all!” Bristlefrost’s voice nearly escalated to a wail. “We could get punished for this.”

“Hey, it’s alright. If anything happens, just blame it on me,” Rootpaw reassured her. 

“There’s no way I’m going to blame you!” Both Bristlefrost and Shadowpaw shouted at once. 

“This was my idea,” Rootpaw meowed, “I’m the reason we’re staying late.”

“We decided to follow along with this,” Bristlefrost raised her head, “if we get in trouble, we’re not going to scapegoat anyone. We’ll take full responsibility like warriors would.”

“And like fully trained medicine cats would,” Shadowpaw added. 

Rootpaw’s eyes glittered. “You’re not going to leave, Bristlefrost?” 

Bristlefrost shook her head. “You two have convinced me. Plus, I’ve been gone long enough that I might as well stay.”

“Great!” Rootpaw’s eyes sparkled with delight. “What should we do?”

“Rootpaw, weren’t you the one who planned this?” Shadowpaw couldn’t help but purr.

“Well, yeah…” Rootpaw shuffled his paws. “I’ve just never really had friends before. Needlepaw is my sister, and Kitepaw and Turtlepaw aren’t the kindest apprentices in the Clans… I don’t really know what friends do.”

Shadowpaw felt a rush of sympathy. “To be honest, I barely know either. I played some kithood games with my siblings, along with Flaxpaw and Hoppaw, but we all started to drift apart once we became apprentices. At least, they drifted away from me.”

“Because you became a medicine cat?” Bristlefrost looked at him. 

Shadowpaw nodded. “I was learning about different herbs while they were learning about different battle moves. We didn’t really know how to hang out anymore, I suppose. I also started having more visions and seizures, which didn't help the situation..."

“That sounds hard,” Bristlefrost blinked at him. 

“Do you know what friends do?” Rootpaw asked Bristlefrost. 

“Fortunately, yes,” Bristlefrost nodded, “cats typically talk about how their day went, share prey together, play games together, make jokes, and connect in a way that they don’t with acquaintances.”

“Alright, that doesn’t sound too hard,” Rootpaw twitched an ear. 

“So…” Bristlefrost looked at the two toms. “How was your day?”

“Oh, it was just okay,” Rootpaw shrugged, “it started going downhill with the Gathering, but it’s better now that I’m with you two.”

Bristlefrost’s eyes glowed, and she turned away, shielding a fond smile. Shadowpaw found himself smiling easily. 

“What about you?” Rootpaw turned to Shadowpaw. 

“Oh, my day?” Shadowpaw blinked. “It was awful.”

“Do you want to talk about it?” Bristlefrost tilted her head. 

“...I think the Gathering sums up the situation very well,” Shadowpaw turned away. 

“Hey, let’s try to not focus on the bad stuff,” Rootpaw nudged him, “we can think about all of that tomorrow.”

Shadowpaw seemed perplexed. “I’ve… always only been able to think about the terrible stuff.”

“Well, then, let’s change that,” Rootpaw’s eyes brightened, “you’re going to have such a good night that you’ll forget about every single horrible thing in life.”

“We’ll see,” Shadowpaw twitched his ear, shuffling his forepaws. 

***

A sudden flare of agony shot through Shadowsight’s tail, and he woke up with a surprised, pained yowl. He glanced over, freezing, when he saw a Twoleg kit staring at him, her blue eyes wide with a mix of emotions. Her paws grabbed onto Shadowsight and the fuzzy pelt he was hidden underneath. 

“W-Wait, put me down! I don’t like heights!” Shadowsight meowed in complaint. 

The Twoleg kit merely let out soft coo’s at his antics, then started yowling. She carried Shadowsight securely in her paws and walked throughout the Twoleg den, searching for something. Shadowsight felt his heart racing, and he fought against the instinct to dig his claws into the Twoleg kit. For, he knew that his claws were sharp, much sharper than Dovekit’s. And, despite his terror, he didn’t want to hurt the Twoleg kit. 

The Twoleg kit started to walk downwards, and Shadowsight peered over to see that the floor had jutted out in a deescalating manner. Every time the Twoleg kit stepped forward, Shadowsight felt himself falling slightly, and he braced himself for a potential fall. Yet, not once did he slip from the Twoleg’s grasp. They made it to solid ground, where Shadowsight spotted two fully grown Twolegs. They turned towards their kit, their eyes locking on Shadowsight’s. 

 “S-Sorry about all of this! I can leave now…” Shadowsight couldn’t read their gazes clearly. One of the Twolegs had mismatched eyes – one brown and the other blue. The second Twoleg’s eyes were obscured by some kind of contraption on their head. He tilted his head, quivering in the Twoleg kit’s arms. 

Suddenly, the Twolegs were at his side, their paws caressing his pelt and softly cooing. Shadowsight shrank back into the pelt he was wrapped around in, feeling nervous. His tail twitched a couple of times. 

“What are you doing?” Shadowsight asked them, feeling embarrassed. This whole situation was odd to him. All of the attention was on him, and it was all positive. He didn’t understand why the Twolegs kept making weird noises or caressing his pelt, but he didn’t dislike this. 

Shadowsight felt himself being lowered to the ground, and the pelt that had been wrapped around him unraveled and fell to the floor. Shadowsight meowed at the Twolegs, not understanding what they wanted from him. The male Twolegs were talking to each other, their paws regularly pointing at him. One of them walked away, practically running. The other Twoleg was baring their teeth, their mismatched eyes glittering. Meanwhile, the Twoleg kit continued to stroke his pelt, and his spine arched as he leaned into the contact. He brushed against the Twoleg kit’s legs, purring contently to himself. 

After a short while, there was the sound of noise coming from higher ground. The other Twolegs started walking to the source of sound, and Shadowsight followed, twitching his ear. On a higher surface, there were a plethora of strange objects. Curious, Shadowsight jumped onto the higher surface, his attention transfixed on the unfamiliarity of it all. One of the Twolegs let out a noise of complaint, but Shadowsight didn’t get down. 

One of the Twolegs started shaking something and poured the strange substance into a shiny container. Shadowsight’s nose twitched as he recognized it immediately. 

Kittypet food! His stomach churned with discomfort. 

“Can I get a mouse instead?” He complained. 

Shadowsight heard a growl of thunder, and his dark gray tabby fur bristled. He jumped down to lower ground, staying close to the hind legs of the Twolegs. He was greeted with more cooing and strokes. The kittypet food was moved down to the floor in front of Shadowsight’s nose. 

“I’ll take a vole. Or a starling. Even a toad.” Shadowsight tried to bargain. 

His stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn’t eaten since that morning. 

I’m not a kittypet, I’m a Sha–– his thought process cut off. I’m a loner. I can hunt for myself. I don’t need kittypet food. 

He looked up at his Twolegs. “I want real food.”

The Twoleg kit left out sounds of sadness, causing Shadowsight’s heart to ache. It was a strange feeling. This Twoleg kit was an entirely different creature that he could barely understand. But, he still felt enticed to make her happy. Reluctantly, he took a bite of the kittypet food. Strangely enough, it tasted better than he expected to. He continued to eat the pellets, catching a minor tang of something. Was this fish? Shadowsight had never eaten one before, but it was the only prey that seemed to match its description. Were these pellets made from prey animals? 

Don’t be silly. Shadowsight rolled his eyes. It’s just some Twoleg trick. 

The Twoleg trick fooled him well enough that he ate the entire serving he had been given. By this point, he felt uncomfortably full. 

“Okay, fine, kittypet food isn’t horrible. Don’t think I’m ever going to eat this again though.” Shadowsight raised his head. 

The Twolegs interpreted his response positively and rewarded him with more strokes. Shadowsight leaned against their legs, leaving his scent on the Twolegs. Suddenly, he heard the sound of squeaking, and his ears twitched as a mouse flew past him. He darted after the escaping prey, pouncing on it. Yet, when his claws dug into its soft pelt, Shadowsight realized he had been deceived. No blood pooled at his paws. The mouse continued to let out squeaks. 

Shadowsight twitched his ear, knowing there must be a real mouse around here somewhere. He licked his chops and started to investigate the Twoleg den. He searched his old hiding spots, sniffing the air to try to catch the scent of mouse. Unfortunately, his sense of smell was muffled by other Twoleg smells. He wouldn’t be deterred though. As he wandered, the imposter mouse flew over his head a few times, but he ignored it. 

Shadowsight entered a section of the den with many fuzzy pelts, and he eagerly grabbed one in his jaws, dragging it around the Twoleg den with him. The Twolegs followed him wherever he went, occasionally trying to take away the pelt. Whenever their paws grabbed for it, Shadowsight sat down on it, making his complaints known. Eventually, Shadowsight gave up on his search for the mouse and merely laid down on the pelt, curling up into a ball. He felt the Twolegs scooping him up with their paws, bringing him back to the room with the fuzzy pelts. He laid down, wrapped in the various fuzzy pelts. 

As Shadowsight drifted off to sleep, the Twoleg kit laying next to him, he realized he could still hear the roars of thunder, pounding rain, and howling winds coming from the outside. This type of weather would make him shaken with fear, anxiously looking around for any lightning strikes.

Yet, here, the storm was an absent minded thought as Shadowsight succumbed to darkness.

Chapter Text

Morning rays of sunlight infiltrated into the Twoleg den, causing Shadowsight’s eyes to blearily open. He glanced around at his surroundings warily for a moment before realizing what had transpired the night before. Shadowsight stood up, stretching his legs, before jumping off of a pelted surface. He followed the source of sound and saw one of the male Twolegs doing something. Whatever it was, it definitely smelled good. Shadowsight let out a meow of greeting before jumping onto a higher surface to get a better view of what they were doing. 

Shadowsight’s eyes widened as he saw a blaze radiating off the sides of a shiny object. Letting out a yowl of alarm, he leaped down from the counter, his dark gray tabby fur bristling in all directions. He darted away from the flames, retreating into a dark, secluded area. 

His heart was pounding, and he was trembling fiercely. He closed his eyes, recalling a past vision that had been sent by Ashfur. A fire had erupted from the center of the lake, its flames spreading out to divide the five Clans. Ash had fluttered from the sky as the Clans were separated and consumed by the fires… That ‘vision’ was a manipulation designed to declare codebreakers as the reason why StarClan wasn’t coming back. Shadowsight had never seen a fire outside of his visions until today. 

Shadowsight heard the loud sound of Twoleg pawsteps, along with a flicker of noise, causing brightness to flood the place Shadowsight was in. He shrank back, sniffing the air and inspecting the Twoleg. There was no soot on his pelts, nor was there any in the air. He couldn’t see any embers on the Twoleg as well. The Twoleg bared his teeth at him, crouching down to his level, in order to stroke his pelt. Shadowsight felt himself relaxing as the Twoleg let out soft coos of reassurance. 

How can he be so calm about this? Shadowsight wondered to himself. Those flames could destroy the den! 

The Twoleg started walking back the way he came with a normal gait. Hesitantly, Shadowsight followed him, wondering if the Twoleg was insane. He jumped onto a higher surface across from the source of the flames. He was able to observe the Twoleg fidgeting with something, causing the flames to go down, almost disappearing from sight. Shadowsight sniffed the air, catching no stench of ash or burning. 

Do the Twolegs have special powers? Can they control the natural elements? Shadowsight tilted his head. 

He could detect the sound of movement and saw the other Twolegs coming over to him, stroking his pelt and letting out soft coos. The male Twoleg with mismatched eyes grabbed onto Shadowsight and placed him on the floor. In retaliation, Shadowsight jumped back up to higher ground, laying down on the surface. The Twoleg let out a soft growl of defeat, but he didn’t try to displace Shadowsight again. The Twoleg kit let out soft sounds of joy. 

The other male Twoleg turned around, his obscured eyes flashing with disapproval. He placed the tom cat on the ground, which only caused Shadowsight to jump back onto the higher surface. 

“This is my spot,” Shadowsight insisted, lashing his tail. 

The male Twoleg merely stroked his pelt, his touch lingering on some of his white patches. Shadowsight felt his fur prickle self-consciously as the Twoleg’s paws traced out the outline of the scarred fur. He spoke in his Twoleg tongue, causing the other Twolegs to jump into the conversation. Shadowsight’s ear twitched as he heard a sound repeating over and over. He could catch fragments of the word, but couldn’t piece it together entirely. 

The Twolegs went to the source of the flames, which had now disappeared entirely. They were holding strange objects and taking something out of the shiny thing that had been resting on top of the flames. Shadowsight caught the scent of a delicious aroma, and he licked his chops. 

Shadowsight was placed down on the ground again, causing him to let out a small growl of frustration. One of the male Twolegs grabbed the shiny container – the one that had contained kittypet food – the night before. 

“I told you –– I’m not eating that again,” Shadowsight complained as dry pellets were put into the container. 

The Twoleg didn’t understand and put the container down in front of Shadowsight, shaking it slightly. Shadowsight didn’t bother inspecting the kittypet food and jumped up onto the higher surface. He noticed that the delicious aroma came from some flat, round Twoleg objects. On top of the objects was some delicious smelling substance with a drizzly liquid coming from the top of it. Shadowsight sniffed it and was about to lick it when he was forcibly taken away by the Twolegs. 

“Why don’t I get fed that?” Shadowsight complained. 

He received a mixed reaction from his Twolegs, some growling and some cooing at his antics. Shadowsight merely lashed his tail, confused and frustrated. He received more pelt strokes, and he leaned into the touch. The Twolegs were speaking to him once again, using that same word over and over again. Shadowsight longed to understand what it was, but he couldn’t decipher its meaning. 

One of the Twolegs had picked up the shiny container with kittypet food, replacing its contents with a wetter substance. Shadowsight twitched an ear curiously as the Twoleg set it down in front of him. He sniffed it, its aroma making his mouth water. He could even detect a hint of rabbit in the mix. He started devouring the food, not thinking twice. Moments later, he had finished off the entire serving. 

It’s not kittypet food. Shadowsight lied to himself. It’s too good to be kittypet food. 

The Twolegs had left him alone to eat the food that Shadowsight had originally been sniffing. Shadowsight jumped back onto the higher surface to be eye level with the Twolegs. This time, he didn’t investigate their food, just laid down, sprawling across the higher surface. One of the Twolegs was giving him a disapproving look, but Shadowsight stayed where he was. 

Shadowsight observed the Twolegs. The three of them looked quite different from each other. The one with disapproving eyes had silver fur on top of his head, yet he didn’t look elderly by any means. He wore primarily red pelts. The other male Twoleg had spiky black fur on top of his head. His blue and brown eyes perplexed Shadowsight, and he wondered if the Twoleg had always been that way. He wore primarily blue pelts. The Twoleg kit had brown fur on her head and glittering blue eyes. She primarily wore light blue pelts. Although the Twolegs looked vastly different from each other, Shadowsight could tell they were family. 

The Twolegs had finished their meal and brought their flat, round objects to a dip in the higher surface. The Twolegs fidgeted with something, causing a stream of water to emerge from a silver, curved funnel. 

The Twolegs can control fire and water? Shadowsight was impressed, watching as the Twolegs rinsed their objects and placed them in a mysterious contraption that opened and shut, seemingly out of nowhere. After the Twolegs had finished, they wandered off to separate sections of the den. Shadowsight stayed on the higher surface. A while later, the Twolegs returned, stroking Shadowsight’s pelt and letting out softer, sadder coos. Shadowsight jumped down to the ground, wondering why their antics were different than before. 

The Twolegs wandered to a section of the den that Shadowsight recognized very well. 

This is the way out! Shadowsight’s eyes gleamed.

Shadowsight knew that he couldn’t stay here forever. He had friends and family that didn’t live in Twolegplace. Shadowsight was unfamiliar with these Twolegs, and he didn’t know how they would treat him. Although they were quite kind and generous, they could keep him inside the den, away from the outside world. Shadowsight couldn’t let that happen. 

As soon as he saw a glimmer of light, Shadowsight exited the Twoleg den, running as fast as he could. Faintly, he could hear the sound of Twoleg pawsteps and yowls. But, he didn’t let himself look back, leaping over fences and racing past other Twoleg dens. A weight rested in his chest, but he ignored the ache, knowing it would pass momentarily. He didn’t stop until he couldn’t hear the sound of the Twolegs anymore. Shadowsight jumped over one last Twoleg fence, his heart pounding in his chest. 

“Shadowsight?” He heard a cat meow in disbelief. 

The dark gray tabby raised his head to see a striped gray tabby she-cat looking down at him. Vaguely, he recognized her, but he couldn’t determine who she was. 

“What are you doing here?” the gray tabby twitched an ear. “The neighborhood is quite far from ShadowClan territory.”

Shadowsight sniffed, not catching a trace of Clan scent on the gray tabby. She was wearing a purple collar, cementing the fact that she was a kittypet. 

“I’m not a ShadowClan cat anymore,” Shadowsight decided to confess, “so it doesn’t matter where I roam.”

“Is this situation in the Clans that bad?” the gray tabby’s eyes sparked with horror. “It was horrible when I left, but I didn’t think that…”

“Oh, no, the situation in the Clans is… better,” Shadowsight was hesitant with his choice of words. 

The gray tabby blinked in disbelief. “Is Bramblestar gone?”

“The imposter Bramblestar is dead,” Shadowsight explained. “The real Bramblestar is back.”

The gray tabby let out a sigh of relief. “That’s good news. I didn’t think the situation in the Clans would ever get better, so I left.”

“I feel bad about asking this, but… Who are you?” Shadowsight tilted his head. 

The she-cat purred. “In the Clans, I was known as Flywhisker. It’s alright that you didn’t know who I was. We never talked at Gatherings, and it’s been moons since I left ThunderClan.”

“Flywhisker…” Shadowsight vaguely recalled seeing her with her Clanmates at Gatherings. 

“Oh, don’t call me that anymore,” the she-cat shook her head. “I’m–”

“Athena!” a voice called out as a golden tabby tom jumped down onto the grass. “There you are. Juniper was wondering where you went.”

“Wait, are you a–” Shadowsight blinked in surprise. 

The gray tabby nodded. “He’s my brother, Snaptooth. We left the Clans together.”

The golden tabby’s eyes flickered. “I’m Apollo now.”

“I see,” Shadowsight nodded respectively, acknowledging their kittypet names.

“What are you doing in the neighborhood, Shadowsight?” Apollo asked him, twitching an ear. 

“I think he’s looking for his own housefolk,” Athena’s eyes glittered. 

“What–No! Of course not!” Shadowsight’s pelt bristled. “I was just passing through. 

“Wait a moment…” Athena sniffed his pelt. “You smell like the good stuff. Your owners spoil you rotten!”

“Oh, you have the wrong idea,” Shadowsight insisted, “I don’t have any housefolk.”

“We can help you get some!” Athena grinned. “C’mon, I can show you around the neighborhood. You’ll find the perfect owners in no time.”

“Athena, he just said he’s just passing through,” Apollo nudged her. “Besides, there’s too much trouble in the Clans for him to leave.”

“The codebreaker conflict is… over,” Shadowsight told him, shuffling his forepaws.

“I don’t think you’re telling the full truth,” Apollo narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Shadowsight's scars. 

“The Bramblestar conflict is resolved,” Shadowsight insisted, “and the warrior code was changed.”

“Yet, there’s still conflict in the Clans?” Apollo’s eyes were unwavering. 

Shadowsight nodded. “It’s not… perfect. Not all of the changes to the warrior code were good.”

“So, nothing has changed!” Apollo spat out, lashing his tail, “I swear, those Clans never spend a moment without conflict. Cats will always exploit the warrior code for personal benefit.”

“Calm down, Apollo,” Athena rested her tail on his shoulder, “we are not Clan cats anymore. There’s no point in getting riled up over something we aren’t involved in.”

“I’m not a Clan cat anymore, but I’m still upset,” Shadowsight twitched his tail. 

“Tigerstar exiled you?” Apollo’s fur bristled. “His own son?” 

“No, no! Of course not,” Shadowsight shook his head. “I left by choice for a… different reason.”

Apollo and Athena exchanged a look. 

“Well, I can say with certainty that becoming a kittypet was the right decision,” Athena declared, smoothing down her pelt. 

Apollo let out a meow of agreement. “It’s for the best. I’m glad you left the Clans before the conflict got any worse.”

Athena tilted her head. “Wait, Shadowsight, did you change your name? After all, you aren’t a Clan cat anymore.”

Shadowsight shook his head, shuffling his forepaws. “I’m not changing my name.” 

“Fair enough,” Apollo shrugged. “Shadowsight is a cooler name than Snaptooth or Flywhisker.”

Shadowsight merely shrugged. 

“So, where are you heading next?” Athena asked him. 

“Well, my plan is to head to the outskirts of WindClan territory,” Shadowsight meowed, glancing around. The Twolegplace seemed to stretch on for forever in all directions. 

“If you go past those gardens,” Apollo flicked his tail, “and cross the two Thunderpaths, you should find a fence. If you get past that, you should see the moors.”

“Thank you so much,” Shadowsight purred, jumping onto a nearby fence. 

“Of course!” Athena’s eyes twinkled. “Feel free to come back whenever you’d like.”

“Stay safe out there,” Apollo’s tail twitched. 

“Will do,” Shadowsight nodded before jumping down into a garden. 

He caught the scent of marigold, and he smiled to himself. It was nice to know that the Twolegs grew herbs in their gardens. Shadowsight didn’t realize that so many Twolegs had medicine cat knowledge. Their cats must be rather grateful and healthy. Shadowsight made his way through the gardens, catching the scent of chervil, juniper, and even catmint along the way. Catmint was incredibly popular in Twoleg gardens, and he felt reassured, knowing that no kittypet would die of greencough. 

He jumped down, spotting the two Thunderpaths that Apollo mentioned. He rested his paw on the Thunderpath, glancing in both directions. He felt a vibration, and he backed away as a flurry of monsters came by. His fur bristled, and he hung back for a moment. Then, he put his paw back on the Thunderpath, checking both ways. There was no vibration, so he crossed the path. Shadowsight crossed the second Thunderpath easily. 

There was a fence up ahead, but it was different from the ones he had seen before. It was taller than the others, and it was made out of a silver material, rather than wood. Bracing himself, he launched himself onto the fence and started climbing it, the material hurting his claws. Still, he persevered and climbed to the top of the fence, his tail curling with pride. 

Now, he just had to make his way d–

Suddenly, Shadowsight lost his balance, plummeting to the ground. He let out a yowl of surprise, and there was no time for him to save himself. His pelt caught onto something sharp, causing him to let out a screech of pain. He looked down, his eyes widening in horror as he recognized what he was on top of. 

Silverthorn! 

Shadowsight started squirming in panic, trying to escape his confinement. But, his struggles only caused his fur to get tangled into the bush and get himself pulled further into the bush. He let out another scratch as the silverthorn tore open his skin. He kicked out his hind legs, causing a storm of pain to ignite in his fur. 

“I’m trapped!” Shadowsight wailed out loud. 

He could hear the roar of the Thunderpath in his ears, and he realized that no cat in Twolegplace could hear him now. He could see the deserted moors, and he knew he was too far away for a WindClan patrol to see him either. Dread and helplessness filled his stomach. Shadowsight was completely alone. 

I’m going to die out here.

Chapter Text

A faint drizzle poured down from the sky, soaking the dark gray tabby’s pelt. Shadowsight glanced around bleakly, hopelessness aching in his chest. He had been out here from morning to dusk, and soon enough, the moon would rise. He had tried calling out for help throughout the day, but the Thunderpath had drowned out his yowls. He had attempted to squirm his way out again, almost causing his eyes to get scratched out by silverthorn. His body was positioned at an angle, where his head and neck could stick out of the silverthorn bush, but the rest of his body was stuck inside of it. 

“You are pathetic,” he heard a familiar voice mocking him. 

Shadowsight could see a shadow in front of him, its bright green gaze mocking him. He let out a growl of disappointment, knowing that this encounter wouldn’t get him anywhere. 

“Yeah,” Shadowsight accepted his fate, “this is a pretty dumb way to die.”

The shadow cat snickered. “You think you’re going to die out here?”

“Well, what else is going to happen?” Shadowsight tilted his head. “The Thunderpath drowns out my voice, I’m in the middle of nowhere, and no cat knows where I am, except for those kittypets who think I’m fine.”

“Those kittypets were a waste of time,” the shadow cat meowed, “all of them were. I can’t believe you stayed with Twolegs for the night.”

“Why do you care?” Shadowsight snapped defensively. “Why are you even here? Do you just want to watch me die?”

The Dark Forest cat chuckled. “Shadowsight, you are such a fool. I don’t want you dead.”

“W-What?” Shadowsight stared at the shadow in disbelief. 

Rather than explain, the cat dissipated from Shadowsight’s view. He let out a frustrated hiss. Was this how medicine cats felt when they spoke to their warrior ancestors? Perhaps, Ashfur had done the Clans a favor by disrupting their connection with StarClan. 

Wait –– what am I thinking?! Shadowsight was horrified with himself. StarClan is good for the Clans! 

But, they’ve never looked out for me. Shadowsight thought to himself, sickened to his stomach. 

He looked up at the sky, praying that he could prove himself wrong. As a kit, he had always been told that his warrior ancestors were kind, benevolent, and accepting. Tigerstar and Dovewing even told him that Spiresight - who never was a Clan cat - resided in StarClan. Although his parents had been proven wrong, Spiresight did have the opportunity to go to StarClan, but chose to go down a different path. Shadowsight was also told that StarClan looked after Clan cats, no matter where they wandered. 

Were the stars shining down brightly tonight? 

Were his warrior ancestors looking down, caring for him from afar?

It was a starless night. 

The claws of hopelessness embedded into his pelt, deeper than the silverthorn could. StarClan wasn’t looking out for him, like usual. The seeds of betrayal were deep rooted in Shadowsight’s heart, and he fought the urge to curse out his warrior ancestors. It was pointless to cry out to cats that wouldn’t listen to his calls. 

The world around him was darkening, and he became increasingly aware of how alone he was out here. The wind rushed past his ears, brushing the heather stems, while the occasional owl flew overhead, their eyes watchful. The terrain was empty, sprawled with moors. When the wind stopped, Shadowsight heard deafening silence, and he felt more helpless than before. For a moment, Shadowsight wished the Dark Forest warrior had returned. Even though her words were spiteful, at least she was someone he could talk to. 

The Dark Forest had been here for him. It was just like he had been told at that one Moonpool meeting. In the midst of his turmoil, they had appeared before him. Shadowsight had that cat watching over him, guiding him to leave the Clans before harm could come his way. He had even been filled in on the words of StarClan’s messages through her. Even though the spirits of the Dark Forest were cruel, indifferent, and uncaring, they were a presence. Anything was better than nothing. 

As a stab of despair struck Shadowsight’s soul, he spotted a glimmer of hope in a pair of eyes. 

“Hey! Could you help me out?” Shadowsight yowled. 

He feared that he wouldn’t be noticed, his voice drowned out by the Thunderpath. But, his spark of hope hadn’t disappeared. The cat rushed over to his side, and he was able to make out their appearance more clearly. It was a tortoiseshell she-cat, and for a moment, he was deceived into thinking she was someone else. Then, he realized that the she-cat was far too small to be his father’s mother. Not to mention, her markings were different from Tawnypelt’s. 

“Oh my goodness! Are you alright?” The she-cat’s eyes widened in horror. 

“No,” Shadowsight admitted, “I’m really not.”

“You’re right, that was a stupid question,” the tortoiseshell scoffed to herself. 

“Ask me all the stupid questions you want,” Shadowsight told her, “just get me out of this silverthorn bush while you ask.”

The she-cat grabbed onto his scruff. “Maybe, if I just–” 

She tried to pull him out of the silverthorn bush, but her tugging only caused more of the silverthorn to get embedded into his pelt. Shadowsight let out a hiss of pain, tensing up. 

“Sorry! Sorry,” the tortoiseshell apologized quickly, “I have no idea what I’m doing.”

“Hey, I’m just glad that some cat knows I’m out here,” Shadowsight told her honestly. 

“I don’t think I’ll be able to get you out of this,” the tortoiseshell looked at him anxiously. 

Shadowsight fought off his rising panic. “Maybe, there’s something you could use to push away the silverthorn?”

“Alright, I’ll look around,” the tortoiseshell nodded before dashing off. 

Why is she out here all alone, especially at this time of day? Shadowsight wondered. She barely looks big enough to be an apprentice! 

The tortoiseshell returned, carrying two large sticks in her jaws. She set them down at her paws. “Maybe, these can be used to push away the silverthorn?”

“Perhaps, if you positioned them a certain way, they could pull the silverthorn away,” Shadowsight suggested. 

The tortoiseshell nodded. She picked up one of the sticks, tilting her head at an angle to maneuver it. She padded over to Shadowsight’s side, pushing the stick into the silverthorn. Using her teeth and forepaws, she pulled away some of the silverthorn tendrils. 

“That’s perfect!” Shadowsight’s eyes sparkled. “Now, just get the other stick and–”

The tortoiseshell let go of the stick, causing the silverthorn barbs to spring back, pressing into Shadowsight’s pelt once again. He let out a screech of pain. 

“I’m so, so sorry!” The she-cat’s eyes widened. “I didn’t think it would–”

“It’s okay, it’s okay,” Shadowsight told her through gritted teeth, “I didn’t know that would happen either.”

“At least, it was kinda working,” the tortoiseshell scuffled her forepaws, “until I let it go, that is.”

“Some cat would have to hold that stick to keep the silverthorn away from that side,” Shadowsight meowed, mostly to himself. 

“I can get some backup,” the tortoiseshell’s eyes glittered with sudden resolve. “I’m a fast runner, I’ll be able to get them in a jiffy!”

“Wait – who are you going to get?” Shadowsight asked her, his mew nervous. 

“Just my friends,” the tortoiseshell explained, “they’re really nice.”

“What’s your name?” Shadowsight asked her. 

“I’m Drizzle,” she meowed. 

She’s not a Clan cat. Shadowsight realized, and he felt more relaxed. 

“I’m Shadowsight,” he told her. 

“You’re a Clan cat, right?” Drizzle asked him quickly. 

“Once, I was. But now, I’m just a loner,” Shadowsight explained. 

Drizzle accepted his answer with a nod before dashing down a moor slope. In the darkness of the night, the tortoiseshell disappeared among the shadows. 

I hope I said the right thing. Shadowsight thought to himself. She seemed so nervous. 

He waited patiently for the she-cat, threads of anxiety shooting down his spine with each passing moment. Drizzle seemed like a kind she-cat, so he didn’t think she’d leave him alone out here. But, that didn’t cancel out the chance that something could happen to her. She seemed to be quite young… 

Shadowsight heard the sound of pawsteps, and he lifted his head, seeing three silhouettes walking over to him – their eyes flickering. He caught traces of their scent, and he tensed up instinctively. 

“I’m back!” Drizzle announced, padding over to Shadowsight’s side. “I brought backup, like I promised.”

“S-Shadowsight?!” The other two cats let out gasps of shock. 

Shadowsight recognized the she-cats instantly. The gray tabby she-cat and light gray she-cat - Whistlepaw and Frostpaw respectively - were staring at him, their eyes glittering with astonishment. 

“What are you doing here?” Whistlepaw asked, her ears flattened. 

“I thought you left the Clans,” Frostpaw whisked her tail. 

“I am here because I’m trapped in a silverthorn bush,” Shadowsight rolled his eyes. “And, I’m not on Clan territory.”

“Why did you leave?” Whistlepaw asked, her whiskers still quivering in shock. 

“Can we save the questions for later?” Drizzle lashed her tail. “He’s not going to be very eager to answer your questions when he’s suffering.”

Frostpaw nodded. “So, what’s the plan?”

“Well, I grabbed some sticks,” Drizzle meowed, “we can use them to push away the silverthorn. Then, some cat can grab him by the scruff and drag him out of the silverthorn.”

“I can grab him by the scruff,” Whistlepaw offered, “I was a warrior apprentice for nearly six moons –– I’m strong enough to do this.”

Frostpaw looked at the silverthorn tendrils. “I don’t think two sticks will be enough to push all of the silverthorn away…”

“I don’t care,” Shadowsight meowed quickly, “I just want to get out of here.”

“This is… definitely going to hurt,” Whistlepaw winced at his condition. 

“I am already in extreme pain,” Shadowsight meowed, “just do it. It’ll only get worse if I stay here.”

“Should we stop if you start screaming?” Drizzle asked him. 

“No,” Shadowsight meowed. “I just need to get out.”

The she-cats nodded grimly. Drizzle and Frostpaw grabbed onto the sticks, and they pulled the silverthorn away from either side of the tom. Whistlepaw looked at the loner, hesitating. Shadowsight merely twitched an ear, beckoning her to get on with it. Her eyes filled with resolve, and she went over to him, grabbing him by the scruff. She started pulling him out of the silverthorn bush. The tendrils on Shadowsight’s underbelly and back scratched, frustrated that their victim was getting away. Shadowsight gritted his teeth, holding back a scream. He saw fresh blood pooling out of fresh cuts, and he squeezed his eyes shut, feeling squeamish. The process was less excruciating than Drizzle’s first attempt, but it was still extraordinarily painful. As his tail was getting pulled out, a single yowl of pain escaped him as large tufts of his fur were forcibly removed by the silverthorn. 

Finally, he felt grass beneath his paws. He opened up his eyes, seeing the three she-cats looking down at him anxiously.

“We need cobwebs!” Frostpaw told the others. 

“And, lots of marigold,” Whistlepaw added. 

The three she-cats ran off in separate directions, their pelts spiked with alarm. 

Shadowsight examined his wounds – wincing as dull throbs of pain hit him. Many tufts of his fur were missing, and there were long gashes in his pelt. Old scars from fighting Ashfur in the Dark Forest had been reopened. Blood coated his fur, and his tail in particular was a bloody mess. He wished there was a stream to wash off the blood, but there wasn’t one nearby. Instead, the tom opted to lick off the blood, his pelt prickling as he caught the metallic taste to his blood. 

Drizzle had returned, cobwebs tangled up in her pelt. Upon seeing Shadowsight’s amused gaze, the tortoiseshell’s fur prickled. “I-It was more efficient this way!” she defended herself. 

“I didn’t say anything,” Shadowsight smiled, his tail starting to curl at her antics. Yet, the movement caused a stab of agony to shoot down his spine. His amused expression contorted into a painful one, and his tail rested flat against the ground. 

“What are cobwebs used for, anyways?” Drizzle seemed puzzled. 

“They’ll soak up the blood,” he explained to her. 

Drizzle nodded, untangling them from her pelt. She started applying the cobwebs to his wounds, starting up polite conversation while she worked. “How did you fall into a silverthorn bush, anyways?”

“I climbed the fence,” Shadowsight responded, glancing back at said fence. “I didn’t expect it to be so tall or have silverthorn waiting for me on the way down.”

“Why did you climb the fence?” Drizzle seemed puzzled. “The Twolegs can’t be that bad… right?”

“The Twolegs are nice,” Shadowsight tried to twitch his tail, an immediate mistake, “the kittypets are also kind. But, I’d rather wander as a loner. I was leaving Twolegplace, so I had to climb the fence.” 

“That makes sense,” Drizzle meowed.

“Why are you out here, all alone?” Shadowsight asked her. 

“I’m not alone! Frostpaw and Whistlepaw were with me,” Drizzle insisted. 

“You were alone when I first saw you,” Shadowsight reminded her, “you only fetched them, in order to help me. I’m surprised you were out of your den so late.”

“I just like night wanders,” Drizzle insisted, applying some cobwebs to his tail. “There’s good hunting.”

Shadowsight winced at the pressure, but tried to keep himself relaxed. “Won’t your family worry about you?”

A dark shadow crossed over the she-cat’s gaze. “They won’t mind,” her words were flat. 

Shadowsight swallowed down a lump in his throat, and he knew better than to pry further. 

All of the sudden, the two cats heard the sound of pawsteps. They turned their heads to see Frostpaw and Whistlepaw carrying a plentiful amount of herbs in their jaws. 

Shadowsight’s eyes widened in surprise. “How did you gather so many herbs so quickly?”

Whistlepaw spat out her herb bundle. “I stopped by the WindClan camp to pick these up. I ran into Frostpaw on the way back, and she helped me carry these here.”

Frostpaw set down her herbs, acknowledging Drizzle with a nod. “It seems that you already took care of the bleeding.”

“I found a bunch of cobwebs in a log,” Drizzle licked her chest fur. 

Whistlepaw padded over to Shadowsight, starting to remove the cobwebs. 

“What are you doing?” Drizzle’s eyes widened. “His wounds will start bleeding again!”

“Oh, they won’t,” Whistlepaw shook her head, “the cobwebs soaked up the blood.”

“Then, why are you removing them?” Drizzle twitched her ears. 

“So, we can apply some marigold to Shadowsight’s wounds,” Frostpaw mewed. 

“What’ll that do?” Drizzle seemed perplexed. 

“It’ll fight off infection,” Shadowsight told her as Frostpaw and Whistlepaw chewed up some marigold. 

“I didn’t know herbs could heal,” Drizzle murmured to herself, watching as the medicine cat apprentices applied the poultices to his wounds. 

“Herbs have many uses,” Shadowsight meowed, “they can fight infections, cure bellyaches, lower fevers, reduce coughs, induce sleepiness, have strengthening benefits, cure broken bones, among other purposes.”

“That’s incredible!” Drizzle’s eyes sparkled. “How do you know so much?”

Shadowsight purred. “It’s because I was trained as a medicine cat. I’m surprised you know so little. After all, you know Frostpaw and Whistlepaw – who are both medicine cat apprentices.”

“Well, we don't really know each other,” Frostpaw explained, scratching her ear. 

“We’ve had our greetings, but we don’t talk much," Whistlepaw shrugged.

“Those two chat close to my night hunting spots,” Drizzle started grooming herself, “so, we’ve encountered each other a few times.”

Shadowsight looked at Frostpaw and Whistlepaw inquisitively. “You two are from separate Clans.”

“She’s been helping me with my medicine cat training!” Frostpaw defended herself, her light gray fur bristling. 

“Medicine cats defy Clan boundaries for the greater good of their Clans,” Whistlepaw raised her head. 

“Besides, Puddleshine and Alderheart do the same thing,” Frostpaw lashed her tail. 

“You’re not even a Clan cat anymore,” Whistlepaw narrowed her eyes, “so you don’t have the right to judge us.”

Shadowsight’s whiskers twitched. “I wasn’t judging you. There’s no reason to be so defensive.”

Frostpaw averted eye contact, trying to groom down her pelt, which still prickled stubbornly. “Regardless, it’s none of your beeswax.”

“Fair enough,” Shadowsight shrugged, “I won’t tell anyone, as long as you don’t disclose that you saw me here.”

“Why did you leave the Clans?” Whistlepaw asked him quietly. 

“You left all of your friends and family behind,” Frostpaw’s ears flattened, “and you left Puddleshine all alone in the medicine cat den.”

Before Shadowsight could respond, Drizzle spoke up, her tortoiseshell fur bristling. “A cat’s life shouldn’t be tied to a group. Every cat is free to forge their own path and follow their heart, no matter what any cat thinks.”

The medicine cat apprentices looked at each other, twitching their ears. 

“I… suppose that makes sense,” Whistlepaw murmured. 

“We all have to make our own choices,” Frostpaw whispered. 

“And, I’ve chosen to stay out of the Clans,” Shadowsight meowed. 

“Chosen?” Whistlepaw murmured. “I thought you were sent away.”

“I… didn’t necessarily want to leave,” Shadowsight chose his words carefully, “but I needed to.”

“You needed an escape,” Drizzle twitched an ear. 

“Did StarClan will it?” Whistlepaw’s eyes glowed. 

“I would not know,” Shadowsight answered simply, “for they have chosen not to speak with me.”

“What’s StarClan?” Drizzle asked.

“They are the ancestors of the Clan cats,” Shadowsight meowed, “they communicate with their descendants through… strange methods. The medicine cats have a special connection with StarClan and interpret the messages they send to us.”

Whistlepaw was about to comment, then thought better of it. 

“StarClan holds the Clans together,” Frostpaw mewed, “without them, the Clans would never survive.”

“Speaking of Clans…” Whistlepaw’s tail lashed behind her, “we ought to head back to ours soon, Frostpaw.”

Frostpaw dipped her head. “Of course,” she turned her head to Shadowsight, “stay safe out there, Shadowsight.”

Shadowsight’s fur prickled in slight embarrassment. “I won’t need to be rescued by some apprentices again, I promise!”

Frostpaw merely purred, then started to walk away, with Whistlepaw by her side. The two she-cats started talking in quiet whispers, their pelts brushing against each other. Dawn was on the horizon as rays of light hit the she-cats pelts. Even though Frostpaw was clearly going through a hard time with the loss of her mentor, she found strength in her fellow medicine cat apprentice. They were quite the pair. 

Shadowsight glanced back at Drizzle, his eyes glistening with concern. The tortoiseshell’s shoulders were hunched, her tail drooping. “Well…” the she-cat started slowly, looking down at her paws, “I’m going to head back to my, uh… camp now. It was nice meeting you, Shadowsight.”

The tortoiseshell started to walk away, and Shadowsight immediately got onto his paws. “Drizzle, wait!”

Looking back, Drizzle’s eyes were clouded with confusion. “What is it?” 

“I’ve been living alone for quite a while now,” Shadowsight told her, “and I know how difficult it is.”

“Oh… You don’t need to pity me,” Drizzle insisted, “I have… hunting friends and kittypet friends and denmates to look after me. 

There was discord in the she-cat’s voice, and she refused to make eye contact with Shadowsight. She shuffled her forepaws, bits of cobweb still caught in her claws. Her sudden reserved nature only increased his concern for the young she-cat. 

“Oh, I wasn’t implying anything about your personal life,” Shadowsight meowed, “I was just speaking from my personal experience. Now that I’ve been injured, it’ll be harder for me to hunt and build a new den. I was wondering if you’d like to come with me and give me a helping paw.” 

“Well… I don’t know,” Drizzle murmured. 

He glimpsed a spark in her eyes. “It would only be for a couple of days. You can back out of the agreement at any time, and my feelings wouldn’t be hurt.”

Drizzle looked up at him. “What’s the catch?”

“I could teach you more about herbs,” Shadowsight offered, “the outskirts of Clan territory have all kinds of terrain. We’d be able to find all kinds of herbs out there. I could teach you their uses, and it might help you sometime in the future.”

Drizzle pondered for a moment, her eyes focused on Shadowsight’s. “Alright. I’ll come with you temporarily.”

Shadowsight purred. “Let’s get going then.”

“Just a moment,” Drizzle flicked her tail, “I need to fetch something from my den.”

The she-cat padded away, and Shadowsight followed her. In the outskirts of WindClan land, there was some sparse woodland. Drizzle padded through the trees, heading to a small den weaved between two beech trees. It was scrappily put together, like Shadowsight’s first den had been. He glanced around, seeing no other dens or nests besides Drizzle’s. His heart ached, realizing his suspicions had been correct all along. Drizzle emerged from the den, carrying a fragile lily flower in her jaws. Most of its petals had fallen off, except for one. 

“It’s… It’s for good luck,” Drizzle murmured. 

Shadowsight smiled. “I think we both need some more good luck in our lives.”

Chapter Text

Shadowsight tugged in the last bramble. “How does it look?”

“It’s great and all, but…” Drizzle hesitated, twitching an ear before averting eye contact guiltily. 

“What’s wrong?” Shadowsight took a few steps back, then looked at the den. Brambles, vines, and honeysuckle were woven together tightly, preventing potential rain from seeping through. With its design, there was more than enough space for two nests. Shadowsight sniffed the air, not catching any traces of predators or rotting materials. His silverthorn wounds ached, but he pushed past the pain, knowing that this task was far more important. 

“No, no, it’s fine, really,” Drizzle shuffled her forepaws, “we worked really hard on this…”

“Drizzle, it’s alright,” Shadowsight meowed, “just tell me what’s troubling you.”

Drizzle twitched her tail, then sighed in resignation. “I… I’m not comfortable with this.”

Shadowsight blinked. “Do you want to build a separate den?”

Drizzle shook her head. “You would insist on helping.”

“Well, you’re not wrong,” Shadowsight chuckled. 

“It’s been… a long time since I’ve slept around other cats,” Drizzle admitted, “it would be strange to see another cat’s face first thing in the morning.”

“You’re used to privacy,” Shadowsight thought out-loud, “I have an idea.”

Shadowsight grabbed onto a few leftover brambles from denbuilding and started threading them together. He brought them to the middle of the den, attaching them to the back wall of the den. Shadowsight added some vines to increase the stability of the barrier, then stepped back. There was now a dividing wall, separating the den in two. 

“Would this work?” Shadowsight asked her. “You won’t see my face right when you wake up.”

Drizzle paused for a moment, then nodded. “Yes, yes, this would be perfect.”

Shadowsight purred in satisfaction. “I’m glad you like it.”

Drizzle smiled at him shyly. “Thanks for all of the help with the den. I would’ve been completely lost without you.”

“Don’t mention it,” Shadowsight shrugged off her words, “I’ve had to build a couple of dens, and I got the hang of it overtime.”

“I just sleep where I can find cover,” Drizzle twitched an ear, “I only tried to make a den recently, and you know how… great… that looked.”

“You’re young,” Shadowsight reminded her, “that was probably your first time making a den.”

Drizzle merely nodded. “I’ve had to learn everything I needed to on my own… for the most part.”

“Well, what do you know?” Shadowsight twitched an ear. 

“Well…” Drizzle’s ears suddenly shot up, twitching erratically. She crouched down, her eyes intent on something Shadowsight didn’t see. The she-cat lunged past the tom into some undergrowth, emerging with a small mouse in her jaws. “I’m a really good listener.”

“I didn’t even know there was prey there,” Shadowsight’s eyes widened. 

“Like I said, I’m a good listener. If you pay attention, you’ll notice things that other cats don’t,” Drizzle’s tail curled, “like how there’s a stream close to our den or that the wind has a minor breeze today.”

Shadowsight purred, “or prey in the underbrush.”

“Speaking of prey, I doubt this mouse is going to be enough to satisfy any cat,” Drizzle buried her prey, “we ought to hunt for more.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Shadowsight meowed, “you could teach me about your listening skills on the way.”

Drizzle grinned, twitching an ear. “We should head down to the stream. The hunting will be good there.”

“Lead the way,” Shadowsight purred. 

Drizzle bounded through the terrain, her movements light and energetic. Her antics reminded Shadowsight of an eager apprentice, excited to go on their first patrol. Shadowsight followed her, matching her lively pace. She suddenly slowed down to a halt, her tail rising.

Her ear was twitching rapidly. “Did you hear that?”

“Huh?” Shadowsight tried to listen, but to him, the world around him was silent. 

Drizzle tilted her head. “Up there.”

Shadowsight followed her eyes, seeing a gray-furred squirrel residing high up in the branches of a tree. The animal was moving along the branches, and now, the tom could hear small fragments of noise from the creature. Drizzle’s fur was bristling in anticipation, and she scrambled up the tree. Shadowsight followed her, wondering if she’d need any help.

Drizzle was now perched in a branch, watching the squirrel. Its beady eyes caught sight of the she-cat, and the squirrel leaped to the neighboring tree. Instead of giving up her pursuit, Drizzle launched herself into the other tree, causing a cascade of leaves to fall, some of which were orange. Shadowsight watched as the she-cat bounded from tree to tree, her eyes intent on the squirrel. 

Rootspring does the exact same thing. Shadowsight thought to himself with a purr. I should get him to meet Drizzle sometime. 

As Drizzle launched into another tree, her claws caught onto the squirrel’s tail. Eyes glittering with excitement, the she-cat bit down on her prey’s neck, killing it efficiently. She raised her head, showing off her catch. 

“Great job!” Shadowsight told her as the she-cat got back to the ground. 

“I never give up,” Drizzle grinned. 

“It certainly helps with your hunting skills,” Shadowsight commented, looking up at the trees. 

“I’ve picked up my talents from the world around me,” Drizzle purred as she buried her prey. 

“How did you hear that squirrel?” Shadowsight asked her. “It was so far up in the tree.”

“You have to focus on the world around you,” Drizzle meowed, “you have to be ready to act at any time.”

“So, you anticipate?” Shadowsight twitched an ear. “Don’t you get agitated when you don’t find anything?”

“That’s why I have all sorts of hunting tricks,” Drizzle mewed, “if one fails, then the other might succeed.”

“What sorts of hunting tricks?” Shadowsight asked her curiously. 

“It’s easier to show you, rather than explain,” Drizzle started padding through the forest, beckoning Shadowsight to follow with a flick of her tail. The loner followed her, noticing that she wasn’t running this time. In fact, her movements on the forest floor were silent, avoiding any leaves and twigs. Shadowsight tried to mimic her, but still snapped the occasional twig. The two were deep in the outskirts, making WindClan moors far from sight. 

“This is a perfect spot,” Drizzle stopped in the middle of the forest. 

“What’s so special?” Shadowsight twitched an ear, listening intently. “I can’t hear anything.”

“But, look around,” Drizzle looked at the scenery, “something will come by soon.”

“So, are we going to stalk for something?” Shadowsight asked. “I know all about that.”

“Of course you do,” Drizzle meowed, “that’s a basic hunting strategy. I know the elite hunting methods.”

“Alright, Master Hunter,” Shadowsight nudged her teasingly. 

The she-cat’s fur had spiked his words. “Don’t call me that.”

“Sorry…” Shadowsight winced. “I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.”

“It’s… fine. Just sit down.”

“What?” 

“Just be quiet and get down,” Drizzle was sitting down, her forepaws close to her chest, “keep your underbelly on the ground.”

“Okay, okay,” Shadowsight whispered, obeying her commands. 

Drizzle was completely still, her tortoiseshell fur smooth. Her tail didn’t lash, and she closed her eyes, her ear twitching slightly. Shadowsight found himself looking around, perplexed by what they were doing. He didn’t understand. What were they waiting fo–

Drizzle’s paw suddenly snaked out, snagging a fat vole in her claws. She quickly killed her prey and grinned. 

“That’s what happens when you become a bush,” Drizzle purred. 

“Wait, what?” Shadowsight tilted his head. 

“Becoming a bush,” Drizzle repeated, “you just stay still and quiet, and the prey will come to you. I knew someone who hunted like that. He always caught a lot of prey that way.”

“Interesting,” Shadowsight mused, wondering if he knew any cat who hunted that way. 

Drizzle picked up her prey. “C’mon, we caught prey for both of us. Let’s go back and gather it.”

Shadowsight purred. “Technically, you were the hunter. I just tagged along.”

“Well, you got injured, so it’s to be expected,” Drizzle shrugged, “besides you–” she suddenly let out a hiss of pain. 

Shadowsight’s eyes widened. “What’s wrong?”

He noticed the position the she-cat was in. Her paw was caught in a mouse hole, just large enough for her paw to get stuck, but not large enough for her to get it out. Shadowsight immediately started digging away the earth, freeing the she-cat’s paw. 

“Thanks,” Drizzle winced as she pulled her paw out. When she set it down on the ground, her tortoiseshell fur bristled. 

“I think you sprained it,” Shadowsight’s eyes rested on her paw, “wait here a moment – I know exactly what will fix this.”

Shadowsight headed back through the forest, sniffing the air. His anxiety had flared, but it was stilled by calm, steady determination. Drizzle would be fine, as long as he found what he was looking for. He followed the fragrant scent of herbs, passing by juniper and yew berries. He passed by borage and catchweed. Shadowsight was amazed by the amount of herbs in the terrain, and he would have to remember this place for the future. Finally, his eyes rested on what he was looking for – a plant with bell-shaped flowers and deep roots. He tugged on the plant, making sure to pull out the roots. He returned back the way he came, where Drizzle was waiting for him. 

“What’s that?” Drizzle’s ears pricked curiously. 

“It’s comfrey,” Shadowsight told her, his words muffled. 

“Huh. What does it do?” Drizzle asked curiously. 

“Well, it has various uses,” Shadowsight started plucking off the leaves of the plant, “it can be used for wrenched claws, stiff joints, and even burns. It’s commonly used to mend broken bones, but I figure it can help with your sprain as well.”

“Wow,” Drizzle’s eyes glittered, “I can’t believe I never knew all of that.”

“It’s not a big deal,” Shadowsight shrugged, starting to chew up the roots into a poultice, “most cats know nothing about herbs. Only one or two Clan cats in each Clan become medicine cats. I know some groups that take an interest in healing, but those cats are few and far between.”

“So, how is this comfrey supposed to heal me?” Drizzle asked. 

Shadowsight lapped the poultice on the she-cat’s paw. “By applying a poultice to the sprain, it should fix the pain between your bones.”

“That’s really weird, but interesting,” Drizzle mused, “my body heals, thanks to the help of some plants?”

“It does seem strange.” Shadowsight smiled. “Your body naturally mends itself. Herbs aid with your body’s healing process, speeding up recovery.”

“I guess that makes a bit more sense,” Drizzle twitched an ear, her eyes glittering with inquisitivity, “will you teach me more?”

“Of course,” Shadowsight purred, “I did promise to teach you, after all.”

“Well, can we get started right now?” Drizzle’s tail twitched with slight impatience. “There’s gotta be some herbs around here–”

The she-cat took a single step, causing her entire face to scrunch up in pain. Shadowsight went to Drizzle’s side, supporting her. 

“You need to rest,” Shadowsight reminded her, “herbs still take time to be effective.”

She dipped her head in acceptance, her eyes clouding with shame. “Sorry, I'll be more careful.”

“It’s alright,” Shadowsight reassured her, “I can still show you some herbs on the way back, and I can bring herbs to the den and tell you about them. When you’re better, I can take you deeper into the woodland.”

Drizzle purred. “That would be great.”

“Alright, Drizzle,” Shadowsight pushed a pawful of purple-blue berries towards her, “tell me what these are.”

“Juniper berries!” Her tortoiseshell fur sparked with excitement. 

“And, what are they used for?” Shadowsight prompted. 

“They can cure bellyaches,” Drizzle meowed. 

“That is their main use,” Shadowsight nodded, “do you think they’re used for anything else?”

“Hmm…” Drizzle pondered for a moment, her ears twitching erratically, “they can, umm, treat coughs?”

“Not quite,” Shadowsight shook his head, “they can help with cat’s breathing though.”

“Mouse dung,” Drizzle cursed, “coltsfoot and catmint help with coughs.”

“Correct,” Shadowsight smiled, “catmint can be lifesaving to many cats, especially in leafbare.”

“And, the Twolegs grow it,” Drizzle’s tail curled, “those weird creatures can do some great things.”

“Have you ever been around Twolegs?” Shadowsight asked her curiously. 

“I’ve been to Twolegplace a couple of times,” Drizzle admitted, “I always thought it was too loud and dangerous. The Twoleg kits loved me though! They would always pet me and feed me their food. But, I could never stay there long-term. Twoleg environments feel… suffocating. I wouldn’t be free.”

Shadowsight meowed in agreement, “while the Twolegs are kind, I’m not accustomed to their weird lifestyle.”

“I like living in the wilderness,” Drizzle meowed, “even though it’s dangerous and lonely.”

“It doesn’t have to be so dangerous and lonely,” Shadowsight smiled at her. 

Drizzle merely returned a shy smile. 

A screech broke out in the den, causing Shadowsight to stir from a dreamless sleep. He glanced around the den wildly, trying to spot any danger, only to find none. Yet, his panic hadn’t eased – he couldn’t see Drizzle through the bramble screen. The loner detected thick waves of fear scent radiating off of Drizzle. Instinctively, he padded to her side of the den, his amber eyes widened with concern. 

The tortoiseshell she-cat was thrashing in her nest, her legs sprawled out in her slumber. Drizzle’s limbs were flailing, and her unsheathed claws were unintentionally ripping apart her nest. On one of her claws, she had snagged her lily flower, tearing its remaining petal. Her face was scrunched up, as though she was in physical agony, which was unlikely. Her sprain had healed two days ago. She was letting out cries in her sleep, trembling violently. 

Shadowsight’s heart ached for the young she-cat. He rested his paw on Drizzle’s shoulder, shaking her lightly. “Drizzle, you’re having a nightmare. You need to wake up.”

Drizzle’s trembling had worsened. Her flailing had stopped, and she curled up into a ball. She continued murmuring, her phrases growing more clear to Shadowsight’s ears. 

“Mercy! Please give me mercy… W-Why? No! Stop…” The she-cat was quivering. 

“Shh… You’re not there anymore,” Shadowsight told her, pawing her shoulder and cheek gently, “you’re safe.”

The she-cat’s breaths became staccato, and she let out an ear-piercing scream. “STOP!” 

Drizzle’s eyes shot open, glistening with terror. Upon seeing Shadowsight, she let out a hiss, striking him with her claws. The loner recoiled, wincing as drops of blood trickled into his eyes. “Drizzle, it’s okay! It’s just me, Shadowsight!”

Through his muddled vision, he saw Drizzle’s eyes return to clarity. “Oh my goodness! I’m so sorry, I don’t know what I was thinking. I didn’t mean to attack you, Shadowsight!”

“It’s alright, it’s an instinctive response,” Shadowsight wiped away the blood with his forepaw, clearing his vision, “you weren’t thinking because you couldn’t. You acted, in order to protect yourself.”

Drizzle was trembling. “I-I need to get cobwebs and marigo–”

“No, it’s alright,” Shadowsight reassured her. 

“You’ll get an infection, if I don’t treat it!” Drizzle snapped before darting off. 

Shadowsight chased after her. “Wait, Drizzle! You need to–”

He stopped when the she-cat re-emerged with a pawful of cobwebs.

“I need to treat the blood.” She insisted. 

Shadowsight assented, dipping his head. Drizzle applied cobwebs to the wound, holding her paw for a moment to soak away the blood. 

“If I had hit you harder, I could’ve–” Drizzle’s words were choked, and she started trembling. 

“Hey, let’s just try to calm down,” Shadowsight told the she-cat, “just take a deep breath and–”

“How can I be calm when another cat is hurt?!” Drizzle’s fur bristled. 

“If you want to heal other cats, you must remain calm,” Shadowsight told her firmly, “if you can’t do that, you won’t be able to evaluate the situation properly. Drizzle, your claws barely scraped my fur. My wound isn’t even bleeding anymore.”

Drizzle’s eyes were intent on his injury, her flanks heaving. “I-I… I…”

Shadowsight licked the she-cat’s ear. “Just focus on calming down. Lean your head on my chest and listen to my heartbeat. Focus on that and work on matching it.”

The smaller cat rested the side of her head on his chest, her body facing a nearby tree. She was still quivering from the after effects of shock. The tom licked the she-cat’s ears and forehead, watching her with concern in his eyes. Her quivers lost their intensity, and her staccato breaths lessened. Her eyes were closed as she concentrated on being calm. 

“There you go,” Shadowsight smiled, “you’re going to be alright.”

“I’m sorry, Shadowsight,” Drizzle mumbled, her ears flattening, “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“You did nothing wrong, Drizzle,” Shadowsight insisted, “you had a nightmare and you recovered from it.”

“No cat… No cat has ever been around me when I had a nightmare,” Drizzle murmured. 

“Is that why you wanted the bramble screen?” Shadowsight murmured. 

Drizzle nodded. “I thought the privacy would be enough to prevent a panic, but I…I’m too weak to get over this stupid dream.”

“You’re not weak,” Shadowsight told her firmly. 

“But, I have nightmares all the time,” Drizzle’s voice shook. 

“I have nightmares too,” Shadowsight told her, his voice soft. 

Drizzle looked at him inquisitively. “Are you just saying that to make me feel better?”

Shadowsight shook his head. “Of course not. Have you seen the white patches on my pelt?”

Drizzle nodded. 

“Those are old scars,” Shadowsight explained, “I got them back when I lived in the Clans.”

“Why would a cat want to hurt you?” Drizzle asked him. 

“I could ask you the same question,’’ Shadowsight gave her a sad smile, “it seems that misfortune has stricken us both.”

Drizzle remained quiet for a long moment. “I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep again tonight.”

Shadowsight looked up at the sky, noticing that it was moon-high. “It’s not close enough to dawn to start the day.”

“You can get some rest,” Drizzle insisted, “I can keep watch of the den or get in a night hunt.”

“Drizzle, I don’t want you to do that,” Shadowsight told her. 

“I won’t be able to sleep,” Drizzle reiterated. 

“At least, lay down in the den and close your eyes,” Shadowsight told her gently, “it’s better than nothing.”

“But, what if I have another nightmare?”

“I’ll be there for you,” Shadowsight smiled at her. 

“But, what if I hurt you?”

“You can sleep in my nest with me,” Shadowsight offered. 

Drizzle was perplexed. “Won’t that make it more likely that I’ll hurt you by accident?”

“For some reason, I never have nightmares when I sleep near my loved ones,” Shadowsight told her honestly, “I wonder if you’re the same way.”

“I… haven’t been able to test out that theory,” Drizzle looked away. 

“Might as well test it now,” Shadowsight started to pad back to the den. 

“But, I might kick you in my sleep.”

“It’ll be alright,” Shadowsight reassured her, “I wake up pretty easily to sudden movements or sounds. If you have a nightmare, I’ll notice it before any damage is done.”

Drizzle still seemed hesitant. 

“It’s also completely fine if you want to sleep alone,” Shadowsight added.

“...We can try sharing a nest,” Drizzle decided, “but if I accidentally hurt you, I’m never doing it again.”

Shadowsight entered the den, kneading the moss to make it more comfortable. He laid down at the edge of the nest, sparing plenty of room for Drizzle. The tortoiseshell hesitated, then laid down, curling up into a small ball. Shadowsight smiled softly to himself, then closed his eyes. 

Sleep captured the two cats swiftly, and all nightmares were impeded for the remainder of the night. 

Chapter Text

“You can fish?” Shadowsight’s eyes sparkled, his tail curling. 

“I’ve learned to experiment,” Drizzle’s words were muffled by the trout in her mouth.

“You know so much,” Shadowsight twitched an ear, “do you ever go hungry?”

Drizzle shook her head. “When I was younger, I used to struggle. But, I got better at hunting when I was hungrier. I’ve always had two meals a day in the past half-moon.”

“When I started living on my own, I was the same way,” Shadowsight meowed, “but fortunately, a cat from my old Clan taught me some basic hunting skills.”

“I’ve learned from observing others,” Drizzle mewed, “sometimes, they would give me hunting lessons.”

“You must know a bunch of cats then,” Shadowsight’s whiskers twitched. 

Drizzle nodded, “no one ever offered to stay with me though.”

“How long were you all alone?” Shadowsight asked her. 

“Long enough,” Drizzle responded promptly. 

Shadowsight knew better than to pry further into the matter. 

Drizzle suddenly dropped the trout, her ear twitching erratically. Her eyes gleamed distinctively. “Rabbit!”

The she-cat started trekking through the forest, following her hearing. Shadowsight followed the she-cat, holding back a purr of amusement as her ear continued to twitch. Drizzle suddenly paused, her eyes locked on a light brown rabbit in a clearing. 

“The rabbit will scram if we lunge for it,” Drizzle murmured. 

“We can hunt it together,” Shadowsight offered, “If you drive it towards me, I’ll kill it.”

“All right,” Drizzle decided, “get into position.”

Shadowsight stalked around the clearing, making his pawsteps softer than sheep fur. He crouched down behind the rabbit, making eye contact with Drizzle across the clearing. The tortoiseshell’s eyes narrowed in anticipation. She stalked closer to the rabbit before lunging for the prey. Instantly, the rabbit raced over to Shadowsight’s position. He swung his claws, intending to rake its throat open. Yet, the rabbit narrowly dodged his claws and started charging off in a new direction. 

“Fox dung!” Drizzle started haring after the prey. 

“Drizzle!” Shadowsight chased after the she-cat through the thick terrain. “Just leave it!”

However, Drizzle didn’t listen to his words, continuing to follow the rabbit through the undergrowth. Shadowsight ran after her, impressed by the she-cat’s remarkable endurance. Drizzle managed to leap over the deeper foliage while Shadowsight found himself tripping over his own paws. His sides ached painfully as he followed her, but he pushed through the agony. 

Shadowsight spotted the she-cat up ahead. She was lost in her own world – focusing solely on the rabbit. Her pace had not broken, if anything, she was getting even faster. The loner looked past the she-cat, his heart lurching. 

The dark gray tabby bolted forward. “Drizzle! Look out!”

Shadowsight’s words reached the tortoiseshell’s ears in time. She skidded to a halt, her green eyes gaining clarity and fear. Shadowsight felt his stomach drop as he saw the creature standing before the apprentice-aged cat. It was ginormous with thick, gray fur, beady yellow eyes, and sharp, barred teeth. He caught a whiff of blood scent on the creature. 

“Run!” Shadowsight screamed at her. 

Drizzle had frozen up, her small frame trembling as the large creature loomed over her. The creature let out low growls and snarls. As it raised its forepaws, prepared to strike the young she-cat, Shadowsight lunged at the creature’s side, sinking his claws into its thick fur. The creature let out a sharp cry, similar to a dog’s bark. Its attention diverted from Drizzle, shaking Shadowsight off his back. The loner hit a tree hard, sending jolts of pain rushing down his spine. 

“D-Drizzle! Get out of here,” Shadowsight begged the she-cat. 

Yet, the she-cat wasn’t obeying his commands. She was quivering tremendously, but she bit down on the creature’s leg, preventing it from pursuing Shadowsight. The creature growled deeply, sinking its teeth into Drizzle’s scruff, shaking the she-cat. Shadowsight’s eyes widened with horror, and he lashed at the creature’s beady eyes, causing it to release Drizzle with a howl of pain. 

Shadowsight lashed his tail, crouching down and backing away. The creature was enraged, ready to strike at him. As the creature’s jaws tried to capture him, he dodged him swiftly, swiping at its snout. He darted off between the trees, hearing the undergrowth crackle as he was pursued by the predator. He felt a wave of triumph cross over him, knowing that Drizzle would now be safe. He realized he was exiting the forestland, and he turned around, knowing he would easily be caught on the moorland. He saw the creature racing towards him with beady eyes thirsting for blood. 

“Shadowsight!” He heard Drizzle’s wail, horrified that the tortoiseshell was following him. 

“Drizzle!” In his moment of distraction, the creature had caught up to him, sinking its teeth into his chest. Panic stabbed into him, and he started fighting back with everything he had, his movements a flurry of claw swipes. Vaguely, he caught glimpses of tortoiseshell fur. Shadowsight felt flares of pain in his body, but they were dulled by his fueled adrenaline. At last, the creature fled from his vision, and he caught his breath, feeling pain threading through his body. 

“Shadowsight, are you okay?” Drizzle’s eyes were on his, filled with fear. 

The loner paused, examining his pelt. He had the occasional bite mark, but most of the blood was from his chest fur. “Cobwebs, dandelion, and either golden rod or horsetail would be best. Were you injured?”

Drizzle shook her head. “I’m fine. I’ll get you those herbs!” 

The she-cat darted off back into the forestland, her tortoiseshell fur bristling. He caught traces of blood on the she-cat’s pelt, and he felt a pang of anxiety shoot through his pelt. Shadowsight glimpsed around his surroundings, seeing a nearby brook. Reluctantly, he entered the water, rinsing the blood off of his pelt. Although the current was mild, he got out of the creek as quickly as possible. He spotted some water lilies alongside the bank, and he plucked one, hiding it under his paws. 

Drizzle returned, letting out a mew of greeting. “Huh. You don’t look as bad as I thought you did.”

“I washed my pelt,” Shadowsight shook out his pelt, “you won’t need to use the cobwebs on me.”

Drizzle inspected his wounds and started applying some horsetail poultices. Shadowsight chewed on the dandelion roots, numbing some of his pain. He made sure to leave some leftover herbs for Drizzle. 

“Alright. That’s the last poultice,” Drizzle meowed, “how do you feel?”

Shadowsight smiled. “I feel great. How about you?” 

“I’m fine,” Drizzle mewed. 

Shadowsight tilted his head, “I’m going to examine you, just to be sure.”

“But I–”

“You know better than to object,” Shadowsight told her firmly, “even the smallest scratch should be treated to prevent infection.”

Drizzle sighed, but bowed her head in acceptance. Shadowsight started his examination, applying some cobwebs on the bloody patches of her wounds. Once they were soaked, he removed them, seeing a bite mark in Drizzle’s scruff, along with some minor scratches along her pelt. He applied some goldenrod and horsetail, causing the she-cat’s fur to prickle. 

“That weird creature got you good, huh?” Shadowsight made small talk as he worked. 

Drizzle shuddered. “I never thought I’d see a wolf ever again.”

“Wolf? Is that what it was?” Shadowsight tilted his head. 

“Yeah. They don’t usually come over the ridge,” Drizzle nodded, “you were really brave, driving it away.”

“It was mostly instincts,” Shadowsight admitted, “though I did learn some fighting techniques from a cat in my old Clan.”

“I know how to fight, but I… I froze,” Drizzle told him shamefully, “you could have died.”

“The chest bite missed my scars,” Shadowsight tilted his head, revealing his scar, which remained untorn, “so I’ll be fine.”

Drizzle didn’t look convinced. “We’re having awful luck.”

“I’m quite familiar with bad luck,” Shadowsight’s voice softened, “and I’ve always survived through it all.”

“If only I hadn’t torn apart my lily,” Drizzle grumbled to herself, lashing her tail. 

“Hey, don’t stress about it…” Shadowsight moved his paw, revealing a new water lily. “This will keep us safe.”

Drizzle gasped. “Did you have that on you when the wolf attacked?”

Shadowsight nodded. “Yes, this good luck charm kept us safe. It’s the reason we didn’t suffer any major injuries.”

Drizzle purred. “Thank goodness.”

Shadowsight rested his tail on her shoulder. “Let’s return to the den. Perhaps, you can find your trout on the way back.”

“Yeah…” Drizzle’s eyes glistened. “I’ll have to be more careful when I go out hunting.”

“You didn’t mean for anything bad to happen,” Shadowsight told her.

“It’s not about that. If I’m not careful, some cat could get hurt,” Drizzle looked over at him.

Shadowsight touched his nose to her cheek, “don’t be so hard on yourself. We’re safe, remember?”

“Thanks to that water lily,” Drizzle picked it up in her jaws and started to trot back the way she came. Shadowsight followed, feeling queasy for lying to the tortoiseshell. 

It was worth it. Shadowsight insisted. I want her to feel safe. 

***

Starlight was twinkling above as the two rogues sat in a clearing, not far from their den. 

“Hey, Shadowsight?” Drizzle looked over at him, her green eyes glittering. 

“Yes, Drizzle?” He met her gaze. 

“I know I already asked before, but…” Drizzle’s eyes drifted. “Could you tell me more about StarClan?”

“Of course,” Shadowsight meowed, looking up to the stars, “the stars above us are Silverpelt - where warrior ancestors reside. Every time a Clan cat dies, their spirit joins Silverpelt, creating a new star.”

“What’s StarClan like?” Drizzle asked. “Are they just stars in the sky?”

“Well, StarClan has its own territory. There is endless prey and past injuries are healed. Cats live out their spirit lives in the form they were happiest in,” Shadowsight meowed, “sometimes, they show their land to the living.”

“You mentioned something about how they communicate with the living. Could you tell me more about that?”

“Well, StarClan communicates through signs and omens. They may enter a cat's dreams and share prophecies with them. This is when a cat might see StarClan land. They could also send their message through nature – causing storms, showing strange plants, and so on.”

“And you can talk to them?” Drizzle’s eyes widened. 

“Medicine cats usually have the talent and faith to communicate with StarClan. It is part of their job to guide their Clans through the messages that StarClan brings them.”

“Could my water lily be a sign from StarClan?” Drizzle asked him quietly. 

“I… I’m not sure,” Shadowsight averted eye contact, “usually, a message from StarClan is only understood after its words have already come true.”

Drizzle nodded, but didn’t speak further on the subject. 

“Why are you so curious?” Shadowsight twitched an ear. 

Drizzle flinched, looking down. “Sometimes, those medicine cat apprentices talked about StarClan. It was nice to think of having an afterlife, rather than roaming as a ghost or just… ceasing to exist.”

“I’m sure there are other afterlives as well,” Shadowsight reassured her, “don’t feel pressured to believe in StarClan due to fear.”

“Have you seen cats there?” Drizzle asked him curiously. 

“Not many cats. I saw Needletail, Leafpool, Firestar, Silverstream, Feathertail, Gray Wing, Skystar, Millie, and Briarlight.”

“I see,” Drizzle murmured, “Does every cat go to StarClan?”

“All good Clan cats go to StarClan,” Shadowsight meowed, “or, well, most good Clan cats go to StarClan. Clan cats with evil in their hearts are meant to go to the Dark Forest.”

“The Dark Forest?” Drizzle tilted her head. 

“The Dark Forest is, well, a dark forest. There is no prey for any cat to hunt there. Cats are often hostile to each other and live their spirit lives being bitter and vengeful. In the past, there was black water that could drag a cat down and kill them. There used to be a fog that could make a cat vanish. Being in that place can fill a cat’s heart with… emptiness.”

“Why do you know so much about the Dark Forest?” Drizzle asked him. 

“Back in the Clans, I needed to travel there to fix a conflict between the Clans, StarClan, and the Dark Forest. It wasn’t a pleasant experience, but I did what I had to do. The end result restored StarClan, the Dark Forest, and the Clans in proper balance with one another.”

“Did StarClan help you?”

“Yes, the cats I mentioned before helped me,” Shadowsight meowed, “there were also other cats on my side. Graystripe, Mistystar, Violetshine, Crowfeather… along with Bristlefrost and Rootspring.” 

“Did everyone make it out okay?” Drizzle asked him. 

“...Most of us did,” Shadowsight turned away, “we won and that’s what matters.”

“With StarClan back in order… Are the Clans fine now?”

“I wouldn’t know the full details,” Shadowsight admitted, “I left them behind moons ago.”

“Are you going back?”

“Some cat needs to look after you,” Shadowsight licked the she-cat’s ear, “I’m not going to abandon you.”

Drizzle’s eyes glistened, and she leaned against Shadowsight. “Thank you. You don’t have to sta–”

“I’m staying, and you can’t change my mind,” Shadowsight told her softly, “unless you genuinely want to get away from me.”

“Of course, I don’t want that!” Drizzle’s fur bristled. “It’s been… really great having you around.”

Shadowsight purred. “It really is a sign of good luck that we met, huh?”

“Even though it was under bad circumstances,” Drizzle’s fur prickled. 

With her words, sharp agony pierced through Shadowsight’s body, and he winced, letting out a gasp between gritted teeth. 

“What’s wrong?” Drizzle stood up, alarmed by his behavior. 

“I’m not sure,” Shadowsight flinched as another wave of pain struck his pelt, “I’ve been feeling this way ever since… Ever since…”

The revelation hit him head-first. With a sickening wave of nausea, he knew exactly what was happening. The silverthorn bush injuries, which he thought had healed, had not. There was still a problem lurking within, impacting his body processes. 

“Ever since what?” Drizzle was perplexed. 

“Ever since the silverthorn incident…” Shadowsight’s fur prickled. “I believe I have had an internal infection growing inside of me.”

“Infection? What herbs should I get? Horsetail? Marigold? Stinging nettle? Sweet-sedge?” Drizzle’s eyes sparked with determination. 

“A silverthorn infection is… different from the others,” Shadowsight explained slowly, bracing himself for what would come next, “and so, a different cure is needed.”

“Well, alright then! What’s the cure?” Drizzle’s eyes gleamed with fascination. 

“Deathberries.”

Horror struck Drizzle’s features, and she stepped back in shock, her eyes glimmering with fear. “D-Deathberries? Surely, the infection isn’t that bad… I can’t let something bad happen to you, and there’s no way I could–”

“Hey, hey, it’s okay,” he attempted to reassure her, “I’m not about to die.”

“But deathberries are poisonous!” Drizzle’s fur was bristling, and her claws unsheathed. “They can kill the strongest cats within heartbeats! How–”

“Let me tell you a story,” Shadowsight willed for her to remain calm, “back when I was a kit, my mentor - Puddleshine - suffered from a bad infection from silverthorn. Alderheart tried everything to treat him, but nothing would work. Alderheart then realized that there was only one cure for his condition - deathberries.”

“Are you sure you’re not mistaken?” Drizzle sounded anxious. “Maybe, Alderheart used juniper berries or blackberries.”

“Trust me – it was deathberries. The whole Clan was horrified by what could happen. But, Puddleshine trusted Alderheart. And so, Alderheart cut up the deathberries, removing their seeds. By eating the flesh of the deathberries, Puddleshine was cured.”

“Were there any side effects?” Drizzle wasn’t entirely convinced. 

Shadowsight shook his head. “He’s completely fine. He mentored me, and I never noticed anything off about him.”

“I-I’m still not sure about this,” Drizzle’s ears flattened. 

“Herbs have many interesting qualities,” Shadowsight told her, “some good herbs can become harmful when overused. Some bad herbs can become good when used carefully.” 

“I suppose that makes sense,” Drizzle reasoned, “but what if I make a mistake?”

“Then, grab some emergency yarrow,” Shadowsight told her, “if I start gagging or shivering, that means I have been poisoned.”

Drizzle hesitated, uncertainty in her eyes. 

“I trust you, Drizzle,” Shadowsight told her, “can you trust me?”

Drizzle closed her eyes, “I do trust you.”

The she-cat left the clearing for a short while, fetching the necessary herbs. When she returned, Shadowsight was waiting for her patiently, occasionally twitching and wincing in pain due to his infection. She set the deathberries and yarrow down at his paws. 

“I-I got what you asked for,” Drizzle’s voice wavered. 

Shadowsight nodded, glancing at the red berries, “can you slice them open? Carefully avoid the seed when you do so.”

“B-But, what if I…” Drizzle’s words trailed off. 

“I want you to do this,” Shadowsight told her calmly, “I trust you completely. This could also be beneficial for you later. You may meet a cat with a similar condition in the future. I’d like you to be able to help them.”

“O-Okay,” Drizzle started carefully slicing the berries, plucking out the seeds as she worked. Unease clouded her gaze as she met Shadowsight’s eyes. The loner counted the seeds to the number of berries. 

“You got out all the seeds,” Shadowsight told her proudly. 

“G-Great,” Drizzle looked at him with trepidation, “are you sure there’s nothing else we can do?”

“It’s the only option I know of,” Shadowsight bowed his head, “we must trust each other.”

Shadowsight proceeded to eat the berries’ flesh, noticing Drizzle’s eyes intently on his. The deathberries were soft to chew and their juices left a bitter, yet familiar, tang in his mouth. He swallowed them down, waiting for its effects. The burning sensation inside his body started to dissipate, numbing to a dull ache. 

“Did it work?” Drizzle whispered. 

Shadowsight grinned, licking the leftover berry juice off his muzzle. “It worked like a charm.”

Drizzle breathed out a sigh of relief. “Thank StarClan, I was so worried…”

Shadowsight rested his tail on her shoulder. “You did everything just right.”

“I know, I must have, since you’re here and you’re fine and all, but I…”

“Have more faith in yourself,” Shadowsight smiled, “you’re better at healing than you think you are.”

“But, I feel like I know so little,” Drizzle’s ears flattened, “I’ll never be as good as you.”

“It took me over six moons to learn everything that I know now,” Shadowsight explained, “you haven’t even been learning for a quarter moon! It’ll take time, but you’ll get there eventually. And, I’ll always be here to teach you.”

“Always?” Drizzle questioned, tilting her head. 

“Always,” Shadowsight promised. 

Chapter Text

BONUS SCENE:

Rootspring was slinking through the forest, his eyes alert on his surroundings. He sniffed the air, catching whiffs of the ShadowClan border. He could hear the distant rush of RiverClan’s currents, and his eyes glittered. Despite the long distance, the yellow tom was willing to travel as far as he needed, in order to gain more information. 

Mothwing. He concentrated on the earth beneath him, his claws gripping onto the grass beneath him. C’mon, Mothwing, I know you’re out there.

His words received no response and a hollow wind traveled through his ears. He lashed his tail in frustration, growling to himself as he wandered through the pine trees. Mothwing had once resided in these dark woods, but she had returned to her home Clan in the final moons of her life. 

I shouldn’t have to think like that. Rootspring shuddered. She should be alive and training Frostpaw in RiverClan.

Rootspring crossed into RiverClan territory, detecting faint traces of Shadowsight’s and Lightleap’s stale scents. He couldn’t believe that nearly a moon had passed since the deaths of RiverClan’s leader, deputy, and primary medicine cat. It was too much loss and too sudden to be coincidence. He stayed low in the reedbeds, catching traces of Shimmerstar’s and Frostpaw’s scents. Curiously, he followed the trail, making sure that the wind was on his side. 

He spotted the two gray she-cats sitting underneath a willow tree. A pile of herbs and trout resided at their paws. He could hear muffled conversation, and he stalked closer, keeping himself as silent as the dead. 

“Frostpaw, you have done an excellent job serving your Clan,” Shimmerstar’s words were warm with praise. 

“Thank you,” Frostpaw wouldn’t make eye contact with her leader, busy organizing her herbs and putting together leaf wraps. 

“Since you are the primary medicine cat, perhaps you ought to take your full medicine cat title,” Shimmerstar urged, her eyes glittering. 

Frostpaw shook her head. “I still know so little. Alderheart and Puddleshine have done their best to train me, but I need time. Not to mention, Whistlepaw has been training for as long as I have, but she doesn’t have her name.”

“You do understand our… unique circumstances,” Shimmerstar pressed, “RiverClan needs you to step up.”

“I am well aware,” Frostpaw muttered. 

“Our Clanmates hold a great deal of faith in your abilities. Surely, that suffices for you to gain your full name.”

“I still need StarClan’s approval,” Frostpaw reminded her leader sharply. 

“Of course,” Shimmerstar dipped her head respectfully, “perhaps, you should voice your interests with them tonight.”

“I have been struggling to connect with my ancestors,” Frostpaw confessed. 

Shimmerstar’s eyes glimmered with sympathy. “This is because of Curlfeather, isn’t it?”

“Every night, I reach out to her spirit, but it won’t answer my calls,” Frostpaw’s tone was wretched. 

“What about your father?” Shimmerstar tilted her head. 

Frostpaw remained quiet, her tail quivering. 

Shimmerstar touched her tail to the she-cat’s shoulder. “Your parents are gone, but that does not mean you’re all alone. You still have your littermates and your Clan is here to support you. Havenpelt and I are always available.”

“Alderheart and Puddleshine have been incredibly supportive,” Frostpaw added, “they understand what it’s like to lose a mentor or a mother.”

“It’s a shame that evil cats have roamed amongst the Clans, preying on innocent cats and destroying lives,” Shimmerstar sighed, her eyes thoughtful, “if only Mothwing had never been accepted into the Clans…” 

Beyond Shimmerstar, Rootspring saw the faint outline of a cat - who he recognized as Mothwing herself. Her amber eyes were glinting with rage, and her claws were unsheathed. She raised a forepaw, intent on attacking the leader. Rootspring let out a slight gasp, taken aback. 

“Intruder!” Shimmerstar yowled. 

“I can’t believe you would do something like this,” Hawkwing’s eyes narrowed. 

“Actually, I think this is perfectly in character,” Tree countered. 

Rootspring looked between the two toms, feeling frustration building up inside him. “Look, I don’t care what either of you say. I don’t regret what I did.”

“Rootspring,” Hawkwing’s eyes were sharp on his, “that’s not what I’m going to talk to you about.”

Rootspring lashed his tail. “Then, what am I going to get lectured about?”

“Responsibility,” Hawkwing responded simply. 

“Great StarClan,” Rootspring rolled his eyes, “I broke the warrior code again. How treacherous.”

“Honestly, I’m more worried about your apathy to… everything,” Tree winced. 

“Look, Rootspring, you’ve lived your whole life here. You trained as an apprentice and became a warrior here. You are meant to abide by the basic rules of the warrior code.”

“Of course,” Rootspring meowed, his eyes sharp, “I always bring prey home for the elders and queens. I wouldn’t attack any cat during a Gathering. I would never kill in battle.”

“What about the rules for trespassing?” Hawkwing narrowed his eyes. "You broke the rules, and you must be punished. You will be confined to camp for a quarter moon."

“I crossed the border for a good reason!” Rootspring insisted. “There’s something going on in RiverClan and–”

“They changed their leadership,” Hawkwing cut him off, “there’s nothing more to it.”

“It’s not that simple,” Tree challenged, “Mistystar and Reedwhisker died at the same time. Mothwing was executed. Frostpaw was left to speak for StarClan and appoint a new leader.”

“Mothwing killed them,” Hawkwing meowed, “Justice was served in RiverClan.”

“I have my doubts,” Rootspring growled, “if Mothwing was a killer, she would be in the Dark Forest. She roams the living with stars in her pelt.”

“Are you sure you weren’t–”

“Hawkwing, you know better than to doubt my son,” Tree narrowed his eyes. 

“Something must be done,” Rootspring insisted, “and I have a plan…”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: MEETINGS

“This is ridiculous,” Drizzle’s whiskers twitched with amusement as Shadowsight put a chervil poultice on her nose. 

“It’s part of the game,” Shadowsight purred, “you can easily track my scent using your nose.”

“But, what about my mouth? I can still track scents with that,” Drizzle tilted her head inquisitively. 

“Well, one time, my sister, Lightleap, cheated during this game, so she had to lick mousebile…”

“Ew! Ew! Okay, okay, I won’t break the rules,” Drizzle gagged. 

Shadowsight’s tail curled. “Great. Make sure to flatten your ears while I hide, so I’m not tracked down quicker than a mouse!”

Drizzle chuckled. “Okay, fine. But, I’m going to use my hearing when I find you.”

Shadowsight rolled his eyes. “Alright, fine, I’ll let you use two senses.”

“Technically, three when I pounce on you,” Drizzle grinned. 

“That’ll turn to four if you break the rules,” Shadowsight’s eyes glittered. 

“No mouse bile!” Drizzle insisted, her tortoiseshell fur bristling. 

“Alright, alright,” Shadowsight smiled, “I’m going to go now.”

“After my heart beats one hundred times, I’ll look for you.”

She can hear her own heartbeat, even when she’s calm? Shadowsight was impressed. He watched as the she-cat closed her eyes, then started to dart through the undergrowth, making a zig zag pattern and looping around to confuse any potential trail he left behind. After leaving a false trail, he started padding off in a new direction, keeping his movements on the forest floor quick and nimble, not disturbing the forestland. He glanced around, evaluating potential hiding spots. He saw a hole at the bottom of a tree and crouched down to fit inside of it. He managed to cover up some of the hole with some low-hanging ivy tendrils. 

He listened carefully, trying to detect any of Drizzle’s movements. He could hear the leaves rustling overhead, along with the chitter chatter of starlings and jays. The scents of mushrooms and earth emanated from the tree, concealing Shadowsight’s scent. His tail quivered in anticipation, batting the sides of the hollow tree a few times. He readjusted his position, scattering a few leaves in the hole of the tree. 

Shadowsight heard the sound of ginger pawsteps, and he stilled his movements, his heart rate increasing. The crackling of leaves and the crumbling of bracken hardly made a sound, but it resonated sharply in Shadowsight’s ears. Suddenly, a black-and-ginger paw batted his nose, claws sheathed. 

“I found you!” Drizzle’s eyes glittered with delight. 

Shadowsight purred, entering the open forestland. Drizzle wiped off the chervil poultice, her eyes shining, her tail curled. 

“How’d you find me so quickly?” Shadowsight asked her. 

“Your trails were too messy to mislead me,” Drizzle grinned, “and you were so loud in that oak tree – I just knew you had to be in there.”

“I wasn’t that loud,” Shadowsight insisted.

“I could hear you halfway across the forest,” Drizzle argued, “the rustling leaves, snapping branches, your swishing tail… It was all there!”

“Alright, maybe I made a bit of noise,” Shadowsight allowed, “but your ears are so sharp that you could probably hear me breathing halfway across the forest.”

Drizzle’s fur prickled. “It was really loud when I was getting close to that tree.”

Shadowsight purred in amusement. “My point has been proven. Have you always been that talented?”

“Well, sorta. I could hear more than other cats at an early age,” Drizzle admitted, “but once I started living on my own, I… needed the skill.”

“For hunting and sensing danger,” Shadowsight presumed. 

Drizzle nodded, but didn’t speak further on the subject. “We’re quite far from the den.”

“There’s a reason for that,” Shadowsight meowed, his tail swishing across the forest floor, disturbing the leaves, “I need to get closer to the Clan territories.”

“Are you going back?” Her eyes sparked with fear. 

“No, no, of course not,” Shadowsight shook his head, “I need to meet with a tom there.”

“What’s so special about him?” Drizzle asked curiously. 

“Well, he’s my friend and I like him a lot,” Shadowsight shrugged, “we meet up every quarter moon.”

“If you like him so much, why aren’t you staying with him?” Drizzle asked him, her tone changing. 

“It’s not that simple, unfortunately,” Shadowsight shuffled his forepaws, twitching an ear, “we’ve gone down separate paths. It’s a blessing that we get to see each other at all.”

Drizzle shrugged, “I suppose I can’t complain, since your choice caused us to meet.”

“Exactly,” Shadowsight purred, “and I can’t imagine leaving you behind for anyone or anything.”

Drizzle smiled, her eyes glittering. “When are you leaving?”

“I’ll have to go soon,” Shadowsight looked up at the sky, seeing that it was sun-high, “otherwise, I’ll have to run there.”

Drizzle nodded. “I can stay back and protect the den.”

“You can come along if you want,” Shadowsight offered. 

“I’ll be fine,” the tortoiseshell dismissed his words, “I don’t want my paws to get sore from traveling.”

“Fair enough,” the dark gray tabby agreed, “I should be back by sunrise.”

“I’ll be waiting for you,” Drizzle promised. 

“Make sure to get some rest,” Shadowsight told her, “in case I come back later than I anticipate.”

“Alright, I will, mother,” Drizzle teased. 

Shadowsight rolled his eyes and licked the she-cat’s ears. “I just want you to take care of yourself.”

Drizzle purred. “I know.”

Shadowsight started to pad away, his pawsteps crunching up forest leaves. Before he could exit the clearing, Drizzle ran up to him, nuzzling his shoulder. 

“I…I’ll miss you,” Drizzle murmured into his fur. 

“You won’t need to,” Shadowsight told her softly, “I’ll be back by tomorrow.”

Drizzle bowed her head. “I know…”

Shadowsight ran his tail along the she-cat’s spine. “I promise I’ll come back home.”

“That’s all I need to hear,” Drizzle murmured. 

The orange hues of dusk were entering the sky, and a cool wind brushed along Shadowsight’s flanks. Leaf-fall was approaching steadily, bringing the cold weather along with it. The leaves were turning orange, and he could hear their crackle, as the wind caused them to glide across the terrain. The dark gray tabby caught the distant whiff of ThunderClan’s scent line and made sure he was at least three fox-lengths away from the border. 

Shadowsight’s paws were aching, but he pressed on, knowing it would be worth it. Rootspring was waiting for him. The thought of the golden warrior made his paws tingle with anticipation and warm flurries to culminate in his heart. He found himself increasing his strides, a small smile plastered on his face as he thought about the tom. 

Shadowsight entered a familiar forestland, and his heart raced, knowing he was close. He started bounding through the forest, hardly hesitating to jump over streams or navigate through the thick undergrowth. Shadowsight caught sight of the blue violet meadow as he passed by, and he smiled to himself fondly. 

Rootspring and I ought to spend another night there. Shadowsight thought to himself. The terrain is so beautiful. 

He sniffed the air, catching the rich scent of prey. He heard the sound of snapping twigs, and he turned his head, surprised to see a squirrel scurrying along the forest floor. As he unsheathed his claws, a heavy weight swooped down onto him, knocking the dark gray tabby off his paws. He let out a mrrow of surprise, and his claws dug into thick fur. Shadowsight’s amber eyes stared into a pair of green, causing him to release his claws, blinking in surprise. 

“My apologies,” a familiar voice rumbled in his ears, “I didn’t mean to attack you.”

“O-Oh, it’s alright,” Shadowsight stuttered, his heartbeat racing. He could see smooth stripes on the cat’s pelt, and he found himself instinctively relaxing, “I bet you were hunting that squirrel.”

“Indeed, I was,” the dark ginger tabby’s tone was regretful, “it would’ve made a nice meal for Dovekit.”

Hawkdream got off of Shadowsight, grabbing onto his scruff and helping him up onto his paws. The dark ginger tabby started inspecting his pelt, sniffing it. 

“You’re not injured, are you?” Hawkdream’s eyes glistened with concern. 

“No, no, I wasn’t,” Shadowsight shook his head, “I was just, well, surprised, that’s all.”

“Understandable,” Hawkdream commented, “not many cats expect to get jumped on.”

Shadowsight shuddered, traces of an old memory creeping up along his spine. “Y-Yeah.”

Hawkdream’s ears were flattened, his tail lowered. “I ought to be more careful while I’m hunting. I was so obsessed with the scent of prey that I didn’t bother checking my surroundings.”

“No worries,” Shadowsight chuckled, “no cat got hurt, and that’s all that matters.”

Hawkdream sighed in relief before giving him a charming smile. “I told you we would meet once again.”

“And, what do you know?” Shadowsight grinned. “Here we are.”

“I trust that you’ve been well?” Hawkdream’s eyes rested on his dark gray tabby fur. 

Shadowsight nodded. “I’ve been on a few adventures.”

“I see you got a bit scratched up,” Hawkdream’s eyes glittered, “did you get into a fight with a thornbush?”

“I wish,” Shadowsight grumbled, “it was a silverthorn bush. It was not a pleasant experience.”

“That sounds awful,” Hawkdream told him, “but it seems that you’ve made a remarkable recovery. You didn’t get snatched away by those cruel Twolegs.”

“Oh, they’re not all bad,” Shadowsight smiled, “some of them aren’t nice and leave silverthorn out. But, some of them are quite kind.”

Hawkdream’s fur prickled. “Are you thinking of staying with them?”

“No, no,” Shadowsight denied, “I prefer the way of life that I’m currently living.”

“It is quite lonely though, isn’t it?” Hawkdream gave him a sympathetic look. 

“It can be,” Shadowsight admitted, “but I’ve made some friends on my travels. I don’t feel… empty anymore.”

“Leaving Clan life… Did that happen to leave this void in your heart?” Hawkdream questioned. 

Shadowsight sighed, his ears flattening. “I’ve experienced it during my time in the Clans. It’s part of what drove me away from them. But, I haven’t felt that emptiness for a while. Being around loved ones makes the dark thoughts disappear.”

Hawkdream rested his tail on his shoulder, smiling at him gently. “There are cats who are willing to look after you, even in your darkest moments.”

“I know.” Shadowsight smiled back at him. “I’ve met several cats who deeply care about me.”

“I haven’t seen you wandering about these woodlands,” Hawkdream commented, “did you happen to move your den?”

Shadowsight nodded. “I’ve settled in WindClan’s outskirts for now. There’s plentiful hunting and the cats are quite friendly.”

“Do you think your settlement change is… permanent?” Worry etched into the rogue’s tone. 

Shadowsight shrugged. “Potentially. I’m around some nice cats and hunting land.”

“I see,” Hawkdream mused, “I suppose that showing you around my camp would be out of the question.”

“Of course not!” Shadowsight protested, his eyes glittering. “I would love to visit sometime.”

Hawkdream flashed him a shy smile. “I could take you there tonight.”

“Oh! That would be nice and all…” Shadowsight shuffled his forepaws, hearing the sound of distant crackling leaves and twigs echoing in his ears, “but tonight wouldn’t work. There’s somewhere I must go.”

“Are you sure?” Hawkdream pressed. “Your presence wouldn’t be a major fuss back at home. They would welcome you in a jiffy.”

“I made a few promises tonight, and I can’t afford to break them,” Shadowsight told Hawkdream, “I can visit you another time. A daylight meeting would be better than a night time one. More cats would be awake then.”

“I won’t force you to come,” Hawkdream bowed his head, “but my offer is always available to you.”

“Thank you for understanding,” Shadowsight licked his ear, “I promise I will visit you sometime.”

Hawkdream’s eyes glimmered in the darkness of the night. “I would love that.”

“I bet Dovekit would love another badger ride,” Shadowsight purred. 

“She does miss you,” Hawkdream grinned, “she keeps pestering me about when Snowy will return.”

Shadowsight chuckled. “She still calls me that?”

“She also calls your strange friend, ‘Fuzzball,’ as well,” Hawkdream’s tail curled, “she is quite attached to the names that she has given you.”

“Kits,” Shadowsight rolled his eyes playfully. 

“She’s getting bigger every day,” Hawkdream’s eyes glowed. 

“Oh, great.” Shadowsight winced. “She’s already as heavy as a rock. If she grows any bigger, my back will give out.”

“Perhaps, her badger ride days are over, then,” Hawkdream’s whiskers twitched, “I’ll let you break the news to her.”

“Oh, StarClan, I couldn’t!” Shadowsight confessed. “I don’t want to think about her reaction.”

“She does have to grow up someday,” Hawkdream started grooming himself. 

“You’re a wonderful father,” Shadowsight told him. 

Hawkdream dipped his head, his eyes flashing. “I know.”

“Well, I have to get going,” Shadowsight whisked his tail, smiling at the dark ginger tabby, “I’ll see you around!”

“I wish you good luck on your travels,” Hawkdream returned. 

Shadowsight left the dark ginger tabby, glancing up at the sky. Sudden anxiety traveled through his bloodstream. There was a dark sky overhead with stars glittering above. Rootspring was waiting for him! He bounded through the trees, crumpling undergrowth on the path. As he went, he heard the crackling of bracken. Shadowsight jumped over a stream, his heart leaping out of his chest. He sniffed the air, catching traces of Rootspring’s scent. He headed to the SkyClan border, disappointment entering his gaze. 

Rootspring’s fresh scent lingered at the border, yet the tom was nowhere to be found. Shadowsight sniffed the air, realizing that the tom’s trail led back into SkyClan territory. 

I’m so late! Shadowsight realized with a sinking feeling. He went back to camp… 

Shadowsight followed the scent trail, hoping he could catch Rootspring on his way back. He didn’t want to wait another quarter moon to see him! There would be Gathering then, and it would be hard for Shadowsight to spend time with the tom. The loner wouldn’t want to exhaust Rootspring either. He padded further into the forestland, his senses alert for any night patrols. Shadowsight looked between the trees, hoping to see a yellow pelt, but he was greeted with shadows. 

Fox dung! Shadowsight cursed in his mind as he followed the trail at a brisker pace. He could hear owls hooting overhead, their eyes looking down at him ominously. He ignored them, breaking out of the forest line to see an approaching valley. 

Shadowsight realized he was close to the SkyClan camp, and he crouched down, approaching the valley’s side. He peered down to see Rootspring’s yellow tail retreating into the warriors’ den. Shadowsight wanted to yowl after him, but he held back, knowing he would alert the other cats in camp. 

It’s no use. I should turn back. Shadowsight reasoned. 

Before he could head back, his eyes locked with another’s. Shadowsight froze, recognizing the cat extremely well. If her black-and-white patterning and glowing amber eyes weren’t recognizable enough, their shared history was. The loner found himself motionless, his heart racing, as he stared at Rootspring’s mother - Violetshine. 

I’ve been caught! Fear paralyzed his limbs. Even if he was able to run, the black-and-white warrior would catch him in an instant. 

The SkyClan she-cat approached him, her eyes glowing. “Stay there or you’ll regret it.”

Shadowsight was stiffer than a tree branch. Violetshine padded down into the valley of the SkyClan camp. Shadowsight wanted to look down into the valley to see what she was up to. But, he rigidly obeyed the she-cat’s orders, not daring to move a whisker. He saw two silhouettes coming up the valley, and he fought the urge to cower. 

Violetshine was back with a familiar tom by her side. 

Shadowsight blinked in shock. “How did you–”

Violetshine waved her tail. “Let’s talk outside the valley.”

The she-cat trotted past them, walking into the thicker forestland. Shadowsight made eye contact with Rootspring, who mirrored his expression of perplexment. They followed her into a nearby clearing. The she-cat sat down, her tail wrapped around her forepaws. 

“Rootspring, you ought to get more sleep,” Violetshine told her son, “you almost missed an important meeting.”

“Wait, what–” Rootspring’s fur bristled, his eyes widening. 

Violetshine ignored him. “And honestly, Shadowsight, going all the way to the camp? Really? If you’re going to have a meeting spot, stick to it, even if he doesn’t show up.”

Shadowsight merely dipped his head, knowing the she-cat was right. 

Her gaze turned to Rootspring. “If you were going to sneak out, you should’ve stuck to your decision instead of trying to sneak back in before moon-high. You don’t even cover up your trail well. No wonder you were caught sneaking around RiverClan.”

Rootspring was about to speak, his fur bristling when Violetshine continued. 

“Honestly, it’s a wonder that I’m the only one who knows about your quarter moon meetings,” Violetshine sounded exasperated. 

“You knew?!” Both Shadowsight and Rootspring were stunned. 

“Of course I have,” Violetshine’s eyes twinkled as she looked at her son, “I’m your mother, and I’ve been quite worried about you. When you started acting different and leaving the camp at night, I investigated the situation. And, then, I found you in that makeshift den with Shadowsight. When were you going to tell me about this?”

“V-Violetshine, it’s not what you think,” Rootspring stuttered, his fur prickling out of embarrassment, “we’ve only met up a couple of times, and we were just talking about, uh, important things. Please don’t tell anyone…!”

“Rootspring, you know that–”

“He’s a loner!” Rootspring confessed.

“That doesn’t matter–”

“It’s not–”

“Are you–”

“Violetshine,” Rootspring hissed, his eyes sparkling with fear, “it’s not like that.”

Violetshine merely shook her head. “You’re not usually like this.”

….What just happened? Shadowsight twitched an ear. 

Rootspring smoothed down his pelt. “Are we done here?”

“Rootspring, don’t be rude to your mother,” Shadowsight scolded him, turning to Violetshine. 

The she-cat merely purred. “It’s alright, Shadowsight. He’s normally like this when he’s embarrassed.”

Shadowsight couldn’t help but chuckle. “He is so embarrassed. Rootspring, you look like a fuzzball!”

“S-Shadowsight, don’t back her up!” Rootspring’s fur sparked out in all directions. 

“Relax, Rootspring. We’re only teasing you because we love you,” Violetshine’s eyes glimmered. 

Rootspring’s fur didn’t settle. 

“Well, I’ll leave you two alone,” Violetshine’s eyes hadn’t lost their mischievous edge, “Rootspring, make sure to be back before dawn.”

“I will, Violetshine!” Rootspring’s voice was higher than it normally was. 

The SkyClan warriors padded back towards the valley, leaving Rootspring and Shadowsight completely alone in the woods. Rootspring was frantically trying to groom down his pelt, which continued to spike out. 

“Violetshine has really been on my back,” Rootspring muttered, “every cat has been. At least, Needleclaw knows how to back off. I’ve been trying to figure out more information about how everything is going down in RiverClan. They all insist that it’s none of my business and I shouldn’t get involved with it. I’ve even been confined to camp." 

“Technically, it is another Clan,” Shadowsight permitted, “but I understand your concerns.”

“Mothwing hasn’t spoken to me,” Rootspring lashed his tail in frustration, “and you can’t speak with StarClan.”

Shadowsight dipped his head. “I cannot speak with those ancestors.”

“Those ancestors…?” Rootspring’s eyes sparked inquisitively. “Are you implying that you can speak with other groups? Like the ghosts?”

“No, no,” Shadowsight shook his head, “I can’t speak with StarClan or ghost cats. I can see the spirits of the Dark Forest though.”

“The Dark Forest?” Rootspring’s eyes flashed. 

“I haven’t been able to break contact with them,” Shadowsight confessed, his tail drooping, “they’ve continued to haunt me, even after Ashfur’s downfall.”

Rootspring licked his cheek. “That’s awful.”

“It’s… alright. I’m used to having an evil spirit taunting me,” Shadowsight averted eye contact. 

“Oh, Shadowsight…” 

Shadowsight felt a loathing spreading through his body, as though frost had entered his bloodstream. Throughout his life, cats had looked down on him for the way that he was. His seizures caused his parents to look over him diligently, fearful that he was going to stop breathing in his sleep. Then, the fears had escalated into prophecy drama. Shadowsight had been manipulated and groomed by the imposter to do his bidding. He had nearly been killed by the imposter, and upon waking up, every cat’s eyes shone with pity. When Ashfur was imprisoned, Shadowsight was stripped of his full medicine cat position. Countless experiences warped through his mind, each one more sickening than the last. Waves of disgust lapped in his stomach, and he flashed Rootspring a cold look. 

“Don’t pity me!” Shadowsight snapped, more harshly than he intended. 

Rootspring seemed taken-aback, and he dipped his head in apology. 

“I can fend for myself,” Shadowsight lashed his tail, “I’ve suffered for most of my life, and you, out of all cats, know that. My Clanmates turned their backs on me, StarClan turned their backs on me. I do my best to just make it through each day and feel something other than gnawing emptiness and regret.”

Before Rootspring had the chance to respond, there was a crackling in the undergrowth. The two toms turned, surprised to see a new, but familiar face. 

“Tree? What are you doing here?” Rootspring’s fur prickled. 

“Rootspring, we need to go,” Tree’s eyes were glittering with anxiety. 

“Go? Go where?” Shadowsight tilted his head. 

“There’s no time to explain,” Tree barely registered Shadowsight’s presence. 

Rootspring nodded. “Is it…?”

Tree’s gaze darkened. “It's time to initiate the plan.”

Chapter Text

“I have to go,” Rootspring barely glanced at Shadowsight before he darted off into the forest, following Tree’s lead. 

The… plan? Shadowsight tilted his head inquisitively, recalling Tree’s words. He found himself compelled to follow the father and son. The toms were running through the trees. He padded through the forest, keeping his pawsteps light. The loner kept himself confined to the shadows, his ears pricked to catch snippets of the conversation. 

“Will the Emergence be there?” Rootspring asked hurriedly. 

“Of course,” Tree returned. 

“I hope we have enough cats to make this work,” Anxiety was laced in Rootspring’s voice. 

“It would be best to have a ShadowClan recruit,” Tree mused. 

“Shadowsight would have been my best choice, but…” Rootspring’s voice trailed off. “I think it’s best if he remains uninvolved.”

What's that supposed to mean? Shadowsight felt his fur prickling. 

“Stay close to the lakeshore,” Tree reminded him, “we’re in the thick of ThunderClan territory.”

Rootspring nodded, his eyes wistful as he looked at the lakeshore. The father and son were almost indistinguishable – their pelts yellow and thick, their strides the same length. Shadowsight struggled to keep up, torn between speed and stealthiness. The SkyClan toms were talking too quietly for Shadowsight to hear. He opted to lessen his pace, becoming a silent shadow in the night. Before long, Tree leapt over the WindClan stream, beckoning Rootspring to follow. The tom’s blue eyes glittered before he shook his head, following close behind. 

Shadowsight’s heart sank, knowing how much harder it would be to remain unseen on the moor. He glimpsed onwards, seeing the occasional gorse bush and tree. If he was cautious, he could hide in the high-growing heather. Shadowsight crossed the stream, not looking down at the torrent. He stalked along the moorland, ducking in whatever hiding spots he could find. 

“...the future of the Clans hinges on what we do here,” Tree murmured to Rootspring. 

“I know,” Rootspring growled, unsheathing his claws, “you know what I stand for.”

The toms sprinted down a moorland slope, straying away from the lakeshore. Shadowsight followed them, tensing as he caught a metallic scent in the breeze. His pace increased, shaking the heather around him. The sound of pawsteps ebbed away, and Shadowsight hid within some thicker foliage. 

The sight that greeted him was one he would never forget. 

A soft-furred lump was lying on the grass, blood pooling out of numerous wounds on its stomach, neck, and face. His stomach twisted, noticing how the cat’s white splotches had disappeared under a sea of red. The tom’s forepaw was extended, claws unsheathed. His expression was lost under the sea of wounds on his face. Tufts of fur were caught on a gorse bush, speckled with blood. Deep scratches along the earth indicated a struggle; the victim’s paws were caked with dirt. There were petals of flowers, remnants of berries, and leaves of plants close to his body. A cluster of WindClan cats had gathered around the cat’s body, their eyes filled with a broad range of emotions. 

“How could this have happened?” Harestar dipped his head, his green gaze clouded. 

“This is no justifiable death for a medicine cat,” Crowfeather growled, lashing his tail, “or any cat, for that matter.”

“Who could have done such a thing?” Nightcloud snarled. 

“I-I can’t believe any cat would dare to attack a medicine cat!” Breezepelt’s fur was prickling. 

“This happened far too close to the WindClan camp,” Larkwing’s eyes glittered with concern. 

“Don’t worry,” Sedgewhisker touched Larkwing’s shoulder, “Emberfoot is guarding the nursery.”

“A medicine cat killed in cold blood,” Tree murmured, “this is truly despicable.”

“You arrived,” Harestar acknowledged the SkyClan cats’ presence. 

“We’re still waiting for the rest of the Emergence,” Rootspring dipped his head, “Sorry for the wait.”

“It doesn't hurt to have more time to process,” Appleshine admitted, “we’re still struggling to wrap our heads around this.”

Whistlepaw padded into the clearing, carrying rosemary and mint. She started to approach the deceased when Tree stepped in front of her. 

“Wait,” Tree told the gray tabby apprentice, “it’s too early for that.”

“What are you talking about?” Whistlepaw’s fur bristled. “He’s dead, I’m supposed to–”

“It’s necessary to preserve the murder scene,” Rootspring insisted. 

“This all seems quite strange,” Woodsong sounded perplexed, “why do we have to do this?”

“There could be clues pointing to the killer. I don’t want to disrupt the body,” Tree told her. 

“But, we already have a killer,” Oatclaw lashed his tail. 

“You have no evidence!” Flutterfoot hissed. 

“How do you already have a suspect pinned down?” Tree was genuinely shocked. 

“Well–”

There was the sound of thudding pawsteps across the moor. 

“Our apologies for the wait,” the leading cat dipped her head, shielding an old scar across her neck. 

“We traveled as fast as we could,” a tortoiseshell with white paws was panting. 

“No cat expected that this would happen,” a blue-gray she-cat mused.

Shadowsight stifled a gasp, instantly recognizing them from moons prior. They had been the strays who chased him away when he was on loner territory. 

“It’s alright, Luckyflower,” Harestar nodded to the black-and-white she-cat, “you had to run across multiple Clan territories.”

“I’d do anything for the Emergence,” her green eyes glittered. 

“Who are you?” Leaftail narrowed his eyes at the tortoiseshell and blue-gray she-cats. “I haven’t seen you two at Gatherings.”

“We’re recent additions to the Clans,” the blue-gray she-cat raised her head, “my name is Wishstream.”

“I’m Hopetide,” the tortoiseshell was looking down at her white paws. 

“Why are we letting all of these outsiders into our Clan?” Breezepelt narrowed his eyes. 

“I can understand your reservations,” Tree dipped his head, “I urge you to not view this as an intrusion. We are merely presenting an idea, a theory of justice.”

“Justice will be served when our killer is dead,” Appleshine snarled. 

“We are here to determine who that killer is,” Rootspring meowed. 

“But, we already know who it is!” Woodsong lashed her tail in frustration. 

“And, what makes you so certain?” Tree was level-headed. “How can you determine that your beliefs are rational and not fueled by prejudice or fear?”

“This system is meant to push forward a logical method for solving these problems,” Hopetide spoke up, her eyes sparking, “it can secure a better future for the Clans.”

“As long as execution is part of the warrior code… It must be dealt with properly,” Luckyflower nodded, her eyes cool. 

“I have heard about this system,” Crowfeather meowed, “and I am willing to test this. Since I’m the Clan deputy, it’s my job to protect my Clan from threats - external and internal. I’ll be the accuser.”

“And, I’ll back you up every step of the way,” Breezepelt’s eyes glinted. 

“In that case, I will be the defender,” Rootspring raised his head. 

Accuser? Defender? Shadowsight found himself growing more confused by the terminology. I’ve never seen anything like this in the Clans. 

“We will make our own contributions,” Luckyflower looked to Hopetide and Wishstream. 

“Naturally, I will mediate and take no sides,” Tree nodded, “if one side is making an argument that’s too rash, I will step in. The same applies if any cat attacks each other, whether it’s physically or verbally. This is meant to be civil.”

“Harestar,” Rootspring nodded to the leader, “your job is to evaluate the arguments and evidence presented and decide judgment.”

“But, if the Clan has a two-thirds vote in favor of the opposite side, then their judgment will be ruled over yours,” Tree dipped his head. 

“I understand,” Harestar twitched an ear. 

“I think that’s everything,” Rootspring twitched his ear. 

“In that case, who has been suspected for killing Kestrelflight?” Tree asked. 

“M-Me.” A tortoiseshell she-cat stepped forward, her yellow eyes glittering with intense fear. 

“No, not you!” Whistlepaw’s ears flattened in horror. “Not my own sister…”

“Songleap,” Crowfeather addressed the suspect curtly, “you were the last cat seen with Kestrelflight before his death.”

“I-I…” Songleap’s breath hitched, and she started trembling in fear, “well, it was, umm…”

“She’s not the killer!” Flutterfoot insisted, his brown-and-white fur bristling. “I know my sister. She wouldn’t do something like that.”

“Songleap has been a loyal WindClan warrior from day one,” Featherpelt raised her head. 

“If that’s the case, we wouldn’t be having this conversation,” Brindlewing lashed her tail. 

“Enough,” Tree stepped in, his eyes cool and calm, “I understand that this argument could be quite personal,” he flashed a meaningful glance towards Songleap’s family, “but we must rule this argument in favor of facts, not personal biases. Songleap is only a suspect. We do not know if she committed the murder or not.”

Crowfeather bowed his head in agreement. “Well said. Still, as WindClan’s deputy, it is necessary for me to look into this incident with suspicion.”

Breezepelt merely narrowed his eyes at Tree.  

“Aside from Songleap, who was the first cat to find and investigate the murder scene?” Tree asked. 

“That would be me,” Luckyflower dipped her head, “I managed to piece together exactly what happened before getting the rest of the Emergence.”

“In that case, would you, err, share your story? Tell your account…?” Harestar hesitated, his eyes clouded with confusion.

“Testify is the word you’re looking for,” Breezepelt told Harestar. 

“Err, yes,” Harestar dipped his head, “Luckyflower, please testify about what you saw.”

“Gladly,” Luckyflower blinked, “it would be in the best interest of WindClan to resolve this incident quickly.”

“I had just left camp to go hunting near the ThunderClan border when I heard a shrill scream. I rushed over to see Songleap beside Kestrelflight’s body. Kestrelflight had wounds along his face, neck, and stomach. Some cat had torn him to shreds, evident from the heavy blood spill. There were signs of a struggle, as shown in the claw marks along the earth.”

“This case seems pretty clear-cut to me,” Nightcloud muttered. 

Rootspring ignored Nightcloud, observing the scene before him. “Did anything… change between your time running around Clan territory? Or, is the murder scene just as you remember it before?”

“There was more blood,” Luckyflower’s tail twitched, “and more cats had arrived to see what had happened.”

“Was Songleap still there?” Crowfeather asked her. 

“Yes, she was frozen in shock,” Luckyflower dipped her head, “Since other cats were around, she couldn’t flee. You arrived soon after, Crowfeather.”

Rootspring sniffed around the crime scene, noticing the deep marks in the earth. “I assume this is where the struggle took place.” 

“These marks were made by a cat who was attacked and lost their balance,” Tree sniffed Kestrelflight’s body, “he fell on his back.”

“A vulnerable position,” Crowfeather commented, “he didn’t have the chance to defend himself.”

“I don’t understand,” Rootspring’s voice was thick with confusion, “he would only need to be killed with one wound. Why would some cat attack his face, throat, and stomach?”

“It was from the struggle, naturally,” Crowfeather dipped his head, “the two fought, then Kestrelflight fell on his back. Songleap proceeded to claw his throat out.”

Songleap’s fur bristled, her eyes widening in horror, but she couldn’t utter a sound. 

“A struggle suggests that the victim was able to strike back,” Rootspring mused, his gaze resting on Songleap’s pelt, “yet she doesn’t have a speck of blood on her.”

“Perhaps, she washed her pelt off in the nearby stream,” Crowfeather tilted his head. 

“I’d argue otherwise. There’s no water on her pelt, and no evidence to suggest she went there,” Rootspring’s tail twitched, “I don’t see any scratches on her either.”

“She’s thick-furred,” Breezepelt’s fur prickled, “an injury could be hidden.”

“Whistlepaw,” Rootspring twitched his ears, “could you check and see if Songleap has any injuries?”

Whistlepaw nodded, sniffing the tortoiseshell’s pelt, “she’s not hurt.”

“See?” Rootspring’s eyes sparked. “Songleap couldn’t have attacked Kestrelflight!”

“Don’t be daft,” Crowfeather’s eyes were icy, “Songleap is a trained warrior. She could have avoided a counterattack from Kestrelflight.”

“A cat’s anger could influence them to attack brutally, even after their opponent is long dead,” Breezepelt growled. 

“Then, what about the blood?” Rootspring tilted his head. 

“She could have licked it off her paws,” Crowfeather answered simply, “there’s no way to prove she did or didn’t.”

Rootspring’s neck fur prickled. “Well, let’s move on.”

Breezepelt snickered. “You’re not much of a defender. Changing the subject when the truth doesn’t fall into your paws.”

“There are multiple angles to view a situation,” Tree meowed, “the truth isn’t always as simple as you think. I have a few questions of my own…”

“Aren’t you supposed to moderate?” Breezepelt grumbled. “You shouldn’t be taking sides.”

“I’m not,” Tree insisted, “I am merely curious about why Kestrelflight was gathering herbs,” his tail rested on a pile of goldenrod and lungwort. 

“What a stupid observation. He’s a medicine cat.” Breezepelt rolled his eyes. 

“It may seem like a minuscule observation,” Tree shrugged, “but it still doesn’t make sense, considering his occupation. Kestrelflight had a young apprentice who would have benefited from an herb-gathering expedition. Why wasn’t she with him? Why would he fetch these herbs so late? The murder occurred past sunset, did it not?”

“I can explain," Whistlepaw dipped her head. 

“Would you be willing to tes…testify?” Harestar stuttered. 

“Of course,” Whistlepaw gave her sister a meaningful glance. 

“After sunset last night, I was sorting herbs in the medicine cat den. Kestrelflight was getting… impatient when I accidentally crushed some herbs. So, he sent me away to clean out the elder’s den. Just ask Whiskernose and Gorsetail – they’ll back me up. That’s probably why Kestrelflight was gathering herbs that late.”

“You mentioned that Kestrelflight was getting impatient,” Rootspring pressed, “was there any particular reason for that?”

Whistlepaw scuffled her forepaws. “I’m a new apprentice, and I don’t know where all the herbs go.”

“Surely, you know better than to ask a question like that,” Tree nudged Rootspring with a purr, “you were a medicine cat apprentice once. You barely knew what you were doing.”

Rootspring’s fur rose in embarrassment. “Fair enough.”

“Was the need for herbs really that urgent?” Tree asked curiously. 

“Leafbare is coming,” Whistlepaw’s ears flattened, “we need to keep the den fully stocked.”

“Did you stay in camp the whole time?” Rootspring twitched an ear. 

“Err… No,” Whistlepaw admitted, averting eye contact, “I left camp to fetch more bedding.”

“Could you elaborate on that?” Rootspring asked. 

“That would be ridiculous,” Crowfeather interrupted, “it’s completely irrelevant to Kestrelflight’s murder.”

Harestar twitched an ear, “Rootspring, why do you want to know this?”

“Whistlepaw left camp around the time of Kestrelflight’s murder. She may have noticed something peculiar.”

“Okay,” Harestar seemed to shrink in his pelt, “Whistlepaw, give us your testimony.”

“When I left camp, I didn’t notice much of anything. It was dark outside, and I was busy gathering bracken. I did see some flower petals, but I didn’t pay too much attention to them.”

“Well, that testimony was useless,” Breezepelt muttered. 

“If I may,” Wishstream looked up at Harestar, “I think I could assist with this situation.”

“How so?” Harestar was perplexed. 

Wishstream stepped forward, her green gaze resting on Whsitlepaw’s. “You’re a medicine cat apprentice, are you not?”

Whistlepaw nodded, twitching an ear. 

“Did you train as a warrior apprentice before?” Wishstream asked. 

“For about two seasons,” Whistlepaw admitted, “I could’ve gotten my warrior name, but I always wanted to train as a medicine cat.”

“Since you have been an apprentice for so long, you’ve had apprentice responsibilities for quite a while, haven’t you?”

“Well, yeah, obviously.”

“Do you enjoy cleaning out the elder’s den and taking care of their ticks?”

“It’s my duty to the Clan.”

“I wasn’t asking for a polite answer,” Wishstream’s eyes gleamed, “I’m asking for an honest one.”

“Well, none of the apprentices like the job,” Whistlepaw shrugged, “and I don’t either.”

“So, we agree that you don’t like taking care of the elders,” Wishstream mused, “in that case, why would you be so concentrated on taking care of them?”

“Well, that’s just what I was supposed to be doing.”

“Whistlepaw, you’re an apprentice,” Wishstream clarified, “are you completely certain that you wouldn’t have strayed from your task?”

Whistlepaw’s fur bristled. “What are you trying to–”

“Whistlepaw, your job today is to tell the truth,” Wishstream told her, “getting defensive isn’t going to get us anywhere.”