Chapter Text
Bristlefrost woke with a start, all around her was darkness.
The dark water swirled and tugged her down, and she fought it with all her might as she pulled herself towards what she thought was the surface.
She remembered falling in, dragging a grey tom with her. Who had he been? She remembered she had been trying to save someone, what had been their name? She remembered a yellow face peering at her from above the water, wailing for her, a Tom's voice she recalled. Who had he been? She remembered she loved him.
She pulled against the water and tugged herself upwards in a rapid movement. She could see sickly light pouring into the water from above and she swam with all of her might until she reached it, her face broke the surface to a starless sky, a murky forest surrounding her, she grasped a root with her claws, tugging herself out of the water with a final heave.
She collapsed on the muddy ground coughing up water that leaked from her lungs as she looked around the starless forest, the dark forest she remembered. She shakily got to her paws and shook the water from her grey pelt, it slashed all around her as she stood up. She looked at her paw, the small crescent moon mark on the side of her leg was still there, an odd marking she had since kithood… Who was her mother again? She couldn't remember her face… she couldn’t remember anyone's face. What was wrong with her? Why can’t I remember them?
She heard pawsteps and looked up to see a black and white she-cat approaching her. “We’ve been waiting for you.” The she-cat huffed tilting her head. “I am sorry I couldn't get you out sooner, your spirit was weak, young one.” The she-cat murmured, almost like a queen comforting her kit. “All of that aside, my name is Truthseeker, I am the first moon.”
Bristlefrost remembered the story of the moons, they would take something from the clans, while stars would bring something. “You’re the reaper of the first moon?” She questioned looking up and down the sleek furred she-cat, she doesn’t look that scary.
“Yes, that is me, you too are a moon, the third one, though you’ve been in that awful water for so long we already have the fourth.” Truthseeker hummed. “I am not a moon! What did I take from the clans?” Bristlefrost bristled, how could this she-cat accuse her of something like that? “You don’t have to take anything to be a moon.” Truthseeker huffed. “The clans didn’t even exist when I was around.” The black she-cat sighed.
“So I am a moon… Is that why I can't remember anything??” Bristlefrost questioned, it was really unnerving her, the lost memories. “No, you must’ve been down there so long your spirit started to fade, no worries they’ll return in due time, in the meanwhile, come with me, you should meet the others.” Truthseeker began moving and Bristefrost followed on unsteady legs.
She hoped Truthseeker was right.