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The stony walls of the tunnel system rose up around Thymefur, the gray tabby making their way through the dark on careful paws. Winding tunnels stretched out before them, twists and turns trying to lead them astray.
The feline still managed to find their way to the Luminous Cavern, an open space in the tunnels where bright, colourful crystals lit up the walls and ceiling. It was here that ShineClan communicated with their ancestors, StarClan.
Thymefur needed to speak to them before the Star Festival commenced, just to make sure everything was going well on their end.
They layed down near the largest crystal present in the cave, right in the middle. The medicine cat touched their nose to the shimmering object, quickly falling into a deep sleep. they blinked open their eyes to the sight of StarClan's hunting grounds, seasons melting together in a sea of colours.
All around, StarClan cats were busy setting up decorations for their own Star Festival. Though, most would be mingling with the living, even if they could not see them.
The veil separating their world from that of the living cats was thinnest on the day of the festival, allowing them easier access. Usually they'd need to step into another cat's dreams if they wanted to visit.
As Thymefur busied themselves looking at everything around them, a tawny she-cat approached them, stars shining in her fur. From their previous visits here, they knew her name was Brindleskip.
"Greeting Thymefur, I believe you are here to check everything has been going well?" She asked the medicine cat after greeting them with a quick touch of her nose.
Thymefur dipped their head at the she-cat, "yes, I am, though it seems I have nothing to worry about." The gray tabby indicated the general state of StarClan with their tail.
Brindleskip laughed softly, eyes twinkling. "We've certainly been working hard these last few days. We all want the festival to go well."
There was something in the way she said it that made Thymefur pause. "Is there a reason it wouldn't go well?" They asked, concern beginning to form in their eyes.
The Star Festival was more than just a party, it strengthened ShineClan's connection with StarClan and the natural magic of the forest. They absolutely needed it to continue.
Brindleskip shook her head, "no, well, I don't think what's coming is going to stop the festival, I believe ShineClan will be able to face this issue with only a little bit of trouble. And it's not what you're afraid of, I promise. That's still a long ways away."
Relief flooded Thymefur for a moment before her words fully registered. "But it is still going to happen?"
There was a sad look in Brindleskip's gaze. "Yes, I'm sorry Thymefur I know how hard you've been trying to stop it." She rested her tail on their flank in a gesture of comfort.
The gray tabby breathed in deeply and nodded, "I'm going to keep trying, there must be a way to fix what has yet to come."
"I wish you luck," the brown tabby meowed as Thymefur felt themselves waking up and fading away from StarClan.
Another StarClan cat came up to her as she sat on a hill overlooking the entire territory. "I worry about them, Thymefur I mean. They've gone back so far with no results, it must hurt so very, very much."
There is no response from the other cat except for a quick nod of their head as they settle down besides Brindleskip.
Thymefur slowly blinks open their eyes, yawning and heaving themselves back on four paws. They turned and left the bright glow of the crystals behind, picking their way through the darkness again.
Outside the cavern, the sun has already sunk pretty low and Thymefur begins to make their way home, hoping to make it before nightfall.
They stop to collect some herbs on the way back to camp, gathering a few between their jaws.
Suddenly, a shiver flows down their back and a hiss comes from behind Thymefur as they turn to see a strange cat stalking towards them, causing them to drop the herbs at their feet in surprise.
Obviously having crossed the border, the stranger has a sleek cream-colored pelt, dark blue eyes intensly boring into Thymefur. Their gaze has the medicine cat rooted to the spot, unable to move. No matter how much Thymefur tries, their muscles stay locked in place.
"Hello," the stranger meowed, voice soft but with something dangerous hidden in their tone. "Missing a certain calico?"
"What?" Thymefur tilted their head in confusion. What was this cat talking about? No one was missing, right?
The stranger narrowed their eyes when Thymefur remained silent, "have they not told you yet? That's not very nice of them."
Well, of course their Clan hasn't told them yet, the tabby has been visiting StarClan the whole day and every cat knows not to bother them during that time unless absolutely necessary. The way this cat talked was strange, almost like they were trying to make Thymefur doubt their Clanmates.
Which, now that the medicine cat thought about it for a bit longer, was exactly what they were trying to do. That was not going to work, Thymefur knew they could trust their Clanmates.
The cream-furred stranger didn't seem happy when they didn't get a response and growled, claws unsheated and flexing in the dirt.
"Are you listening to me? Pay attention!" Quick as a snake, the stranger lashed out with their paw and struck Thymefur across the cheek, causing them to yowl loudly in pain. They didn't have time to react as their opponent jumped them, pinning them to the ground.
Fear grips the tabby's throat, staring up at the angry stranger. They still can't move most of their body, feeling claws dig into their side.
Right at that moment, a blur streaks past and shoves Thymefur's attacker off of them.
It's Wildrunner, the she-cat must have been nearby enough to hear their earlier yowl.
Timbernose follows close behind her, along with Minnowfin. The three surround the stranger who looks furious at the interuption.
They seem unwilling to fight so many opponents at once though, and Thymefur watches as the stranger turns to run away. Immediately, their Clanmates start to fuss over them, checking the scratch - which had stopped bleeding, it wasn't very deep - and asking if they're okay.
"I'm alright, I'm mostly unharmed. Also, they said something about a missing calico? What does that mean?" Timbernose and Minnowfin glance at each other but Wildrunner is the first to answer.
"Mosspaw's missing, though I suppose 'kidnapped' would be a better word. That cat probably has something to do with it."
Wildrunner's theory seems to hold some truth as multiple groups of warriors all return to camp that night with tales of similar encounters with strange cats.
Thymefur has to wonder, is this what Brindleskip meant?