Chapter One: Fluttering Bird Meets Bluebellkit
Coralstar bounded down a narrow path through the trees, a wad of cobwebs clutched between her teeth. It had been half a moon since the cats of the Dark Forest had won the battle with StarClan, and their wounds still weren't healing. She wasn't sure if injuries simply didn't heal in the Dark Forest or if the StarClan cats had put poison on their claws. She wouldn't put it past them.
When she entered their makeshift camp, Violetshadow was sitting beside Featherfluff, peeling a dressing off the wound on her shoulder. The silver she-cat's fur was streaked with herb paste and cobwebs, but it didn't seem to be doing any good.
"Here," meowed Coralstar, passing her mate the cobwebs and then helping him dress the wound. "Is it feeling any better?"
"A little," replied Featherfluff, but Coralstar was fairly sure she was lying.
"How are the others?" she asked Violetshadow when they were done.
"Redfoot and his cats only have minor wounds; they're all okay," her mate said, pulling a scrap of cobweb out from between his claws. "Smallstep's ear is pretty badly torn, but it's only an ear, he'll be fine. It's Fawnfang I'm worried about--he won't let me treat his wounds and insists that they don't need herbs."
Coralstar sighed. "I'll talk to him about it. How's Bluebellkit?"
"She's talking to her spider," Violetshadow responded, pointing with his tail to the low tree branch where Bluebellkit sat, her muzzle barely a whisker's length away from the spider's face. Funny how scared she was of that spider when they first met.
"Isn't that kind of . . . well, weird?" asked Featherfluff. "She spends so much time with that spider."
"It's not hurting anything," said Violetshadow with a shrug, "so I don't see the harm in it. And anyhow, the pair of them make a pretty good lookout--"
"Coralstar!" yowled Bluebellkit. "A StarClan cat's coming!"
"See what I mean?" asked Violetshadow, and then yowled, "Battle positions!"
All the cats--except Fawnfang, who stayed slumped beside a fallen tree, licking a forepaw--sprang to their paws and unsheathed their claws as the StarClan cat stepped out of the undergrowth.
Coralstar blinked in surprise. This StarClan cat was just a kit, barely bigger than Bluebellkit. "Stand down," she murmured to Violetshadow, then stepped forward. "What brings you to the Dark Forest?"
"Hi!" chirped the kit. "My name's Fluttering Bird, and I brought you herbs!" She dropped a bundle of leaves at Coralstar's paws. "When I heard about the battle, I thought you might be hurt. But Half Moon was being really strict, and I couldn't sneak out to visit you until now."
Surprised, Coralstar sniffed the bundle, recognizing the sharp, potent scents of StarClan plants. "Thank you very much," she meowed, passing the herbs to Violetshadow, who sniffed them and nodded. "These are high quality."
"Glad I could help!" mewed Fluttering Bird. "There are lots of other cats in StarClan who want to help, but Half Moon and Skystar aren't letting them. Speaking of them, I'd better get back before I'm missed." She ran back the way she had come, yowling over her shoulder, "I'll be back!"
Coralstar and Violetshadow shared a look. "So not every StarClan cat supports Skystar . . ." Coralstar meowed thoughtfully.
A sudden rustling in the undergrowth made them both jump. "Fluttering Bird? Is that you?" asked Coralstar, hackles rising.
There was no reply, and Violetshadow shrugged. "We're not the only cats out here, you know. Let's get these herbs to the others before they wilt."
The pair walked back to the others and began sorting the herbs. "She brought a bit of everything," meowed Violetshadow, peeling two leaves apart. "We'll be able to treat everybody!"
"That's great," replied Coralstar distractedly, staring out into the forest. She hadn't heard any more rustling, but she couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.
Chapter Two: A Little Bit of Mass Mind Control
Bluebellkit's spider was restless. It paced the clearing, climbed halfway up a tree and then back down, and scurried around Bluebellkit's paws.
"What's it doing?" Violetshadow wondered aloud.
"He's a he, not an it," mewed Bluebellkit. "Also his name is George."
"Well, what's George doing, then?" asked Violetshadow.
"He says there's a cat right behind you," replied Bluebellkit.
Violetshadow spun around. Redfoot, who was sitting near the edge of the forest, shrugged. "I haven't seen anyone out there."
Coralstar remembered how she had thought that someone was watching the group. "Featherfluff, Redfoot, and Wingslash, will you go take a look just to be sure?"
Redfoot shrugged. "Sure." He led the other cats into the shadows, and barely moments later Coralstar heard him yowl. She leapt to her paws, Violetshadow right behind her, and ran to meet him. "What's going on?"
"Do you know this cat?" Redfoot asked, pointing with his tail to the sleek, gray-furred she-cat that Wingslash and Featherfluff were restraining.
Coralstar took a close look. "Velvetpelt! What are you doing here?" she demanded.
"I came to warn you--" Velvetpelt began, but Featherfluff cut her off. "You attacked us not too long ago, and you work with Heart's Blood! Why should we trust anything you tell us?"
"I only helped Heart's Blood because I had to! He's a cruel cat, and he forced me to attack you. I didn't want to, and I'm sorry I did. As soon as I could, I escaped," Velvetpelt meowed, flattening her ears. "But I've got to tell you what he's planning now. He sees you and your allies as a threat to his power, and he's going to shadow-control cats and make them kill you!"
Coralstar blinked. "What's shadow control?" she asked.
"It's when a powerful cat wraps a shadow around another cat's brain and uses it to control their body," explained Velvetpelt.
Coralstar shuddered. That sounded awful. "What do you think?" she hissed to Violetshadow. "Is she telling the truth?"
"I think so," her mate replied thoughtfully, studying the gray she-cat. "Let's take her back to camp and ask Fawnfang about this shadow control. He knows about shadow travel, so he should be able to verify whether or not it exists."
"Good idea. Come with us," she meowed to Velvetpelt. "And don't try anything."
"I won't." Velvetpelt fell into step behind Coralstar as she led the way back to the clearing.
"Hey Fawnfang!" Coralstar called.
The russet tom sat up. "What? And what's she doing here?"
"She escaped Heart's Blood's control and she's staying with us now," Coralstar meowed, ignoring Featherfluff's protests. "But I need to know, is shadow control a thing? Taking over a cat's body using shadow?"
"Of course it's a thing," he meowed. "It's quite common actually."
Then how have I never heard of it before? wondered Coralstar. "Great," she muttered. "Is there any way to resist it?"
"Of course there is," Fawnfang replied. "But I think all the common ways would make you sick."
"Why, what are they?" chirped Bluebellkit, bounding up.
"You don't want to know," Fawnfang meowed. "Why don't you tell them, Velvetpelt?"
The she-cat, put on the spot, flattened her ears. "I'll tell Coralstar in private," she meowed. "Away from camp, where the kit can't hear us."
"Hey!" protested Bluebellkit. "I've been dead years longer than you have!"
"Quit it," muttered Featherfluff, drawing Bluebellkit away. "Let them talk."
"Follow me," Velvetpelt said to Coralstar, leading her to a shadowy glade just outside the camp. She knew Violetshadow wouldn't be happy about her being alone with a cat they didn't fully trust, but she didn't have a choice. As she let Velvetpelt lead her into the darkness, her only clear thought was, Please don't let this be a trap.
Chapter Three: "So Violating!"
The shadows closed around Coralstar, and she fought back a shiver. "All right, we're out of earshot now," she meowed. "Tell me what you know."
"The only foolproof way to resist shadow control--or any shadow power, really--is to consume the blood of your enemies," explained Velvetpelt.
Coralstar's stomach lurched. "How much blood?" If it's just a little bit, that's not a huge deal . . .
"Well, it depends on how much blood you've already drank," replied Velvetpelt. "The first time it has to be a lot, but after that you only need to have a little bit at a time to stay resistant."
Coralstar's mind flashed back to the fight with Heart's Blood, how Fawnfang had come away from Voletwist with his muzzle covered in blood. Was that what he was doing?
"Are you sure about this? Cats aren't mosquitoes," asked Coralstar.
"Yes I'm sure! I watched Heart's Blood and Voletwist do it every day for moons.I know that's how it works." Velvetpelt lashed her tail. "The more important question is, what are you going to do to protect yourself and your friends? Because, no offense, I don't think most of them have the stomach for drinking blood."
"You're probably right," Coralstar meowed with a sigh. "I'm going to ask Fawnfang how shadow-controlled cats act and what it feels like to be possessed. Maybe he's got more information."
The two she-cats walked back to camp, where Violetshadow was nervously pacing and Fawnfang and Smallstep were having an argument. Coralstar touched noses with her mate and whispered, "I'll tell you later."
" 'Later' better be soon," Violetshadow muttered.
"It will be," promised Coralstar, and then called, "Fawnfang! Can you give us a demonstration of shadow control, so we know what to look for?"
"Yeah, Fawn, show us! I'm starting to think this shadow control stuff doesn't exist," challenged Smallstep.
Fawnfang pulled himself to his paws. "It's 'Fawnfang,' " he meowed, irritated. "While I understand that you might want to shorten my name to something your size, I don't appreciate it."
Smallstep spluttered. "You--"
"Enough!" Coralstar pushed in between the two toms. "Smallstep, get out of the way so Fawnfang can demonstrate." She sat down next to Smallstep on the edge of the clearing.
"Shadow control's really easy," Smallstep meowed.
Coralstar blinked, confused. "But you just said--"
"He was mistaken," explained Bluebellkit.
"How would you know? You're--"
"Just a kit? Trust me, Coralstar, that kit knows more about the shadows than most of us can imagine," meowed Velvetpelt.
"You've only just met her!" Coralstar spun to look at the rest of her friends. "What's going--wait! Fawnfang!" She turned to look at the russet tom. "You're doing this!"
Fawnfang laughed, his eyes black with shadow. "I am. See how easy it is, how impossible to detect? Without proper protection against the darkness, you're totally vulnerable."
"I'm totally vulnerable," Coralstar echoed, then yelped. "Hey! That wasn't me! Let me go!"
Fawnfang blinked, his eyes returning to their normal clear amber. Around her, her friends shook out their fur and sneezed, coming back to themselves.
"Did you just possess me?" demanded Fawnfang.
"So violating!" added Velvetpelt, rubbing her forehead.
Coralstar felt sick--not from the shadow control but at the thought of Heart's Blood's cats, forced to fight for him without any control of heir own limbs. I know we're in the Dark Forest, and I shouldn't expect cats to play nice. But this is going too far.
"Thanks for the demonstration," she told Fawnfang. "Can Heart's--Fawnfang!" She sprang forward, catching the russet tom with her shoulder as his legs gave out. Fresh blood trickled from the wound on his neck that Skystar had given him.
"Violetshadow!" Coralstar yowled, holding pressure on the would with her paws. "Bring cobwebs!"
Her mate bounded over, a wad of cobwebs in his mouth. He spit them out and took one look at the gash. "You mouse-brain! Why couldn't you have listened to me when I told you to let me treat you?" He pressed a wad of cobwebs against Fawnfang's throat. "Coralstar, put your paws here."
Coralstar did as she was told, lashing her tail at everyone else, who were crowding in on them. "Get back! Give us some space!"
"It's not as bad as it seems!" protested Fawnfang with a cough. "I just got dizzy--I haven't used shadow control in a while--"
"Save it," interrupted Violetshadow, shoving a cobweb into Fawnfang's mouth. "Coralstar, hold onto this cobweb as I wrap it." He swathed Fawnfang's neck in webs, ignoring the russet tom's protests. When he was done he meowed, "Hold still and don't let the cobwebs come off. Even with Fluttering Bird's herbs, you can't risk getting an infection."
Fawnfang grumbled something that might have been agreement.
Coralstar turned to Violetshadow. "What--"
"Coralstar!" Bluebellkit yowled. "Look out! The shadows are coming!"
Coralstar and Violetshadow spun around to see the shadows deepening all around them. Heart's Blood's laugh echoed from the darkness, and she shivered, suddenly cold, and looked at her allies: wounded, tired, unprepared, and unable to fight off shadow control.
"Oh, mousedung," she whispered.
Chapter Four: We All Have Secrets
"Fawnfang, Bluebellkit, take cover!" yowled Coralstar, springing up to stand beside Violetshadow. "Redfoot! Wingslash! Protect them."
"I don't need protecting!" protested Fawnfang.
"Just do as Coralstar says," growled Redfoot, pushing him and Bluebellkit under a fallen log and unsheathing his claws.
When she was sure they were safe, Coralstar turned to her friends. "Attack!"
She and Violetshadow surged forward just as Heart's Blood and Voletwist led their possessed cats into the clearing. "You again?" Coralstar yowled as she leapt for Voletwist, who dodged and swiped at her face. She ducked and backed up. There was no reason for her to fight Voletwist. He was a good cat--
Wait, what? Coralstar shook her head. Voletwist was her enemy! He'd already tried to kill her once! This must be the shadow control starting, she realized, diving away form Voletwist and looking for Violetshadow. Was he resisting the shadows?
When she spotted Violetshadow's gray fur through the throng of fighting cats, an unfamiliar anger filled her, and her paws carried her over to him before she realized what she was doing. I have to attack him! He deserves to die--
"No!" Coralstar yowled out loud, biting down on her disobedient forepaws. I am Coralstar of ThunderClan, and Violetshadow is my mate. I love him more than anything, and I am not going to hurt a hair on his pelt, she thought, and felt the shadows loosen their grip on her mind. "Violetshadow!" she called, seeing her mate staring at her with shadowed, unseeing eyes. "You have to fight it!"
Confusion passed briefly over Violetshadow's face, but vanished just as quickly. He unsheathed his claws and swiped at her, and she dodged, tripping over Featherfluff, who was wrestling with Heart's Blood. "Violetshadow! It's me, your mate! fight back!"
Heart's Blood kicked Featherfluff away from him and padded over to Coralstar. "So we meet again, my lovely little warrior."
"I'm not your anything!" Coralstar growled. She tried to lunge at him, but her body wouldn't cooperate, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't lift a paw to defend herself as he got closer and closer, his foul breath bathing her muzzle.
"You shouldn't have fought against me," he meowed softly. "Now I've got to teach you a lesson." He traced a claw up her cheek, stopping just before her eye.
Coralstar couldn't move, couldn't even breathe.
"Oh, don't be afraid," Heart's Blood purred. "I'm not going to even nick your pretty ears. You see, it will hurt you far worse if your mate is the one to make the wounds." He beckoned Violetshadow with his tail, and he padded over, claws unsheathed.
Coralstar found her voice. "Violetshadow! No!"
"He can't hear you, little warrior. He--" Heart's Blood broke off with a yowl as Featherfluff bowled him over, sinking her teeth into his scruff and shaking. "Ow! Stop it, you little piece of mousedung!"
Violetshadow blinked, the shadows lifting from his green eyes. "Coralstar?"
"Oh, StarClan! Are you okay?" She pressed her muzzle to his, breathing in the scent of him.
"I'm okay," he meowed. "And I think the others are too." He pointed with his tail toward the clearing, where the other possessed cats were shaking out their fur and looking around in confusion.
"Heart's Blood must not be able to control them when he's distracted," meowed Coralstar, getting to her paws and walking over to Featherfluff, who had Heart's Blood pinned down.
"Do you surrender?" she demanded as Coralstar and Violetshadow approached.
"Never!" Heart's Blood growled, trying in vain to twist free of Featherfluff's grip.
"Hey, Heart's Blood!" yowled Voletwist from behind them, and Coralstar spun around to see him holding Fawnfang by the scruff, Redfoot and Wingslash slumped and bloody on the ground. "I got him!"
"Let him go!" yowled Coralstar.
Heart's Blood surged up, taking advantage of their distraction, and flung Featherfluff against a tree. "Good work, Voletwist!"
Coralstar lunged and tried to grab Heart's Blood, but her claws only raked the tip of his fluffy white tail. "What are you doing? Let go of him!"
Voletwist let go of Fawnfang, who slumped at his paws. His cobweb dressing was gone, and his chest fur was slick with fresh blood. "You're hurting him!" she protested.
"That, my dear, is the point," purred Voletwist, and suddenly Coralstar couldn't move. "Fawnfang, why don't you tell them why we're taking you with us?"
What? No! Coralstar tried to yowl, but her mouth wouldn't open.
Fawnfang staggered to his paws, his eyes dark with shadows. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth as he meowed, "We worked together. Then you wanted me to be your mate, and I said no."
Coralstar stared. What?
"Keep going," meowed Voletwist softly, digging his claws into Fawnfang's wound.
"I fought against you," coughed Fawnfang. "I betrayed you when I left you and Heart's Blood and Vixenshade."
Who's Vixenshade? wondered Coralstar.
"And?" prompted Voletwist.
Fawnfang stayed silent.
"And?" asked Voletwist, his voice cold. "What about how you sided with this little mousebrain"--he lashed his tail at Coralstar--"even though you agreed not to ally yourself with anyone other than us?"
"I didn't have a choice!" Fawnfang protested. He coughed, blood running down his chest. "I didn't have a choice."
"What do you mean by that?" demanded Voletwist. "Did you make a blood oath to somebody? Did someone else shadow-control you?"
"Oh, forget about it," meowed Heart's Blood. "He'll have plenty of time to tell us all about it later, and I think we've overstayed our welcome." He swept his tail toward Coralstar and her allies. "Release them."
Suddenly Coralstar could move again, and she stumbled forward. "You can't do this!"
"We can and we will," purred Heart's Blood. "See you later, little warrior."
It was an effort for Coralstar to keep herself from leaping on him and clawing that smug look off his face.
Voletwist picked up Fawnfang by his scruff, and he and Heart's Blood faded away into the shadows.
Coralstar sprang forward. "No!"
Violetshadow rested his tail on her shoulder. "We'll get him back."
Coralstar shook off his tail, glancing around at her warriors. They all seemed unhurt, just disoriented from having been possessed. Those awful cats are going to pay.
As she looked around, she realized what she probably should've noticed sooner: Velvetpelt was missing.
Chapter Five: Traitor or Truth-Teller?
"Where is she?" Coralstar spun around, searching the shadows for the gray she-cat.
"Who are you talking about?" asked Redfoot.
"Velvetpelt!" Coralstar plunged into a stand of dead bracken, sniffing for any trace of the she-cat's scent. "She's not here!"
Violetshadow unsheathed his claws. "So she finds us right in time for her former allies to attack us and kidnap one of our cats, and then she disappears?"
"I knew we couldn't trust her!" Featherfluff bristled.
"Over here! I found her trail!" called Smallstep, nose to the ground.
Coralstar bounded over and sniffed the spot Smallstep indicated. "That's her all right. She's going the same way Heart's Blood and Voletwist did."
She thought for a moment and then meowed, "Violetshadow, Redfoot, come with me."
"Wait, hold on," protested Smallstep. "You can't win a fight with them right now--not while they can shadow control cats--"
"I'm not going to attack anyone," meowed Coralstar. Although StarClan knows I'll be tempted if I find out that Velvetpelt did lead Heart's Blood to us. "I just want to see where she went. She might have gotten scared and fled--"
Featherfluff growled. "Not likely."
"--and if she did, I want to find her before Heart's Blood does. And if she was working with him, well, we need to know that."
"So you're spying," chirped Bluebellkit. "Can George go with you? He's a good spy."
It wasn't worth the time to argue. "Sure." Coralstar let the spider climb onto her shoulders. He was as heavy as a kit, and Coralstar winced as she straightened up, still sore from their fight. "All right, let's go."
Violetshadow and Redfoot fell into step beside her as she led them into the darkness, nose to the ground. Velvetpelt's scent trail was strong, and it followed Heart's Blood and Voletwist exactly, as if the she-cat had been tracking her former allies. Coralstar could smell Fawnfang's fading fear-scent, and her hackles rose. Those pieces of crow-food couldn't have gotten far . . .
Soon Velvetpelt's scent grew stronger, and Coralstar broke into a run, slipping on the slimy earth. Violetshadow's and Redfoot's pawsteps drummed behind her, as fast as her heartbeat, as she skidded around a bend in the path and then slithered to a halt.
Velvetpelt was standing in the middle of the trail, her green eyes fixed on something in the undergrowth.
Wait. Green eyes? Velvetpelt's eyes are amber!
"Who are you?" demanded Coralstar.
The she-cat blinked, and when she looked up, her eyes were Velvetpelt's normal cool amber. "I'm Velvetpelt," she meowed, sounding confused.
"But--your eyes--" Coralstar shook her head. She had much more important things to worry about. "What are you doing here?"
"Coralstar!" hissed Violetshadow from behind her. "You said you wouldn't confront her!"
Coralstar put her tail over her mate's muzzle. "Answer the question."
"I--I wanted to see where they went," Velvetpelt stammered. "So--so I could tell you so we could rescue your friend . . ."
Violetshadow and Redfoot snarled in unison. "Really?" Coralstar asked, stepping forward. "You think I'll believe that?"
Velvetpelt's eyes flashed, momentarily appearing green again. "All right, fine," she snapped. "I know where they took Fawnfang, but I didn't lead them to your camp."
"How do you know where Fawnfang is if you aren't working with them?" demanded Coralstar, unsheathing her claws.
"I used my eyes," replied Velvetpelt, a touch of exasperation in her voice. "Just like I assume you're here to do. I can save you the trouble, you know."
"Where are they?" asked Coralstar. "And you'd better not lie to me."
"They're just over that ridge," answered Velvetpelt, pointing with her tail. "I swear by StarClan that's the truth."
What does StarClan mean to a cat from the Dark Forest? wondered Coralstar. "Violetshadow, stay with her. Yowl if she tries anything. Redfoot, come with me--I need to see if she's telling the truth."
"Don't get caught," warned Violetshadow, his eyes dark with concern.
"We won't." Coralstar and Redfoot crept through the bracken in the direction Velvetpelt had pointed. Soon they could hear voices, and Coralstar's fur stood on end when she heard Heart's Blood's high, cold laugh and Fawnfang's yelp of pain. I swear by the Dark Forest, he's going to pay for this.
The pair snuck even closer until they could see Heart's Blood and Voletwist standing over Fawnfang's limp body. It took all of Coralstar's self-control to stop herself from leaping at Heart's Blood and clawing that sadistic smile off his face. She growled, long and low. I'll have to go back to camp and get more cats, and if we attack from all sides perhaps we can distract them, make it so they can't use shadow control . . .
"Coralstar!" hissed Redfoot, pointing with his tail to the other side of Heart's Blood's camp.
Velvetpelt! Oh no, did she hurt Violetshadow--
The gray she-cat snuck closer and caught Coralstar's eye, then crept around Heart's Blood's camp and stopped in front of Coralstar and Redfoot.
"Did you hurt my mate?" Coralstar demanded, trying to keep her voice low.
"No--I just put him to sleep, like we do to cats who are getting nine lives," Velvetpelt meowed. "Look, Coralstar--"
"Wait. What? You put him to sleep? And what do you mean, 'when we give cats nine lives'?" asked Coralstar.
"Oh, mousedung," muttered Velvetpelt.
"Mousedung what?" demanded Coralstar. "Tell me the truth, right now, or it won't be Heart's Blood you have to worry about."
Velvetpelt sighed, then vigorously shook her pelt, which turned golden as Coralstar watched, eyes wide. She blinked, her eyes turning back to the green that they had been earlier.
Coralstar stared. "Star Flower!"
Chapter Six: A Little Bit More Truth
"What are you doing here?" Coralstar demanded, fur bristling. "What do you want with us?"
Velvetpelt--Star Flower--shook her head. "I don't want anything to do with you right now. Of course, I'll kill you sometime. But not now. I'm here for Fawnfang." She pointed with her tail towards Heart's Blood and Voletwist's camp. "And if you ever want to see him again, you'll do exactly as I tell you."
"Hold on," Coralstar meowed. "I'm not saying we won't do what you want, but first--why do you want Fawnfang? How do you even know each other?"
Star Flower sighed. "When he was alive, Fawnfang was a medicine cat who used his knowledge of anatomy and herbs to get away with sixteen murders. However, he only killed cats that were bad, cats that deserved the Dark Forest, and he would've gone to StarClan when he died, since we believed he was helping the Clans."
Coralstar bit her tongue to stifle her protest. Violetshadow and I got sent to the Dark Forest for falling in love, but a serial killer would've gone to StarClan?
"But Fawnfang didn't want to go to StarClan," Star Flower continued. "He wanted to go to the Place of No Stars and continue killing bad cats, so he and I made an agreement: I would convince StarClan to send him to the Dark Forest, and in return he would complete a task for me. He hasn't been upholding his end of the agreement, and I'm here to make sure he keeps his promise. That's all."
That . . . almost sounds reasonable, thought Coralstar. "So you're not going to kill him?"
"Of course not!" exclaimed Star Flower. "I've grown rather fond of him."
Coralstar could feel Redfoot bristling beside her. "Do you believe her?" the ginger tom hissed.
Before Coralstar could reply, Star Flower lashed her tail. "All right, you've procrastinated long enough. It's time to rescue Fawnfang. Do exactly as I say, and I might let you see him again." She gave Coralstar a crooked grin. "Ready?"
Coralstar looked at Redfoot, who gave her a tiny nod. "Okay," she meowed.
"Good. Follow me, and keep quiet." Star Flower dropped into a hunting crouch and began to creep through the undergrowth towards Heart's Blood and Voletwist. The air was heavy with the fear-scent of multiple cats, and Coralstar's stomach twisted. How can they do this to innocent--or, well, relatively innocent--cats?
Coralstar fell into step behind Star Flower, and Redfoot brought up the rear. Star Flower's fur glowed with faint starlight, illuminating the ground ahead of her and making the fungus on the tree trunks glow an eerie blue-green. Coralstar shivered.
Soon they were just outside of Heart's Blood's camp. Star Flower signaled with her tail, telling them to stop.
"Carrotstar, you go to the right," Star Flower whispered. "Whatever-your-name-is, go to the left. When I yowl, attack whichever cat is guarding Fawnfang. Got it?"
Coralstar stifled a growl at Carrotstar, but she nodded. George--who she had completely forgotten about--gave her ear a sharp tug, and she bent down to let him climb down to the ground. "Ready," she hissed.
Star Flower checked to make sure they both she and Redfoot in position, then yowled, "Attack!"
All three cats burst out of the undergrowth, yowling battle cries. Voletwist, who was bent over Fawnfang's slumped form, let out a screech of surprise. "Heart's Blood! Vixenshade!"
A lithe ginger she-cat that Coralstar assumed was Vixenshade sprang to her paws and leapt at Redfoot, who skilfully dodged and swiped her paws out from underneath her, sending her crashing headlong into a tree. Satisfied that Redfoot could take care of himself, Coralstar lunged and hooked Voletwist's pelt in her claws. "Let him go!" she yowled, dragging the blue-gray tom off of Fawnfang, who lay unmoving in a puddle of blood.
Voletwist yowled and struggled, swiping at Coralstar's face. One of his claws hooked her lip and she yelped, feeling blood run down her chin. Voletwist twisted hard and pulled free of her grip, but Star Flower leapt on top of him and, after a brief struggle, swiped him hard on the head. He fell to the ground and lay still.
Panting, Coralstar looked around. Redfoot was sitting on Heart's Blood, pressing his muzzle into the dirt, and Vixenshade was lying unconscious next to the tree that she'd crashed into.
Coralstar rushed over to Fawnfang. "Are you okay? Fawnfang, can you hear me?" She pressed her paws to his neck wound, trying to stop the slow trickle of blood that wept from it.
Star Flower bumped Coralstar with her shoulder. "Out of the way." She breathed onto Fawnfang's face, and the russet tom went completely still, his breathing stopped.
Coralstar stared in horror. "What did you do?"
"Relax, I put him in the trance that we put leaders in to recieve their lives," meowed Star Flower, wrapping Fawnfang's wound in what looked like starlight. "He'll be fine."
After a moment Star Flower straightened up, Fawnfang's scruff clenched in her teeth. "I'm taking him back to StarClan for treatment," she mumbled around Fawnfang's fur.
"When will he be back?" asked Coralstar, stepping forward. "You can't just keep him--"
"Actually, I'm a StarClan cat, so I can do whatever I want," corrected Star Flower. "But if he holds up his end of our arrangement, he can go back to the Dark Forest." She began to climb straight up, using the air as a ladder. "See you when I kill you!"
Coralstar and Redfoot shared a glance. "I've got to go after her," Coralstar meowed. "This is my chance to talk to StarClan again!"
Redfoot shook his head. "It's too dangerous!"
"I'll be okay," Coralstar replied, hoping desperately that it was true. "Take care of the others--and tell Violetshadow what happened." She stepped up onto the air and started to climb before the ginger tom could protest.
"Come back soon! Be careful!" Redfoot yowled after her.
"I will!" Coralstar dug in her claws and climbed faster, desperately heading for the glittering starlight in the distance.
Chapter Seven: The Council of Elders
Coralstar scrambled up the rapidly weakening air until her paws landed on warm, solid ground. She squinted at the sudden brightness, and once she stopped seeing spots, her jaw dropped in astonishment. Everything was bright and clean, with a brilliant blue sky and warm sunlight slanting between the boughs of healthy, growing trees. The air was rich with prey-scent and the smells of growing things.
So this is StarClan, she thought.
Ahead of her, Star Flower was dragging Fawnfang through the bracken. "Wait!" Coralstar called.
Star Flower spun around, dropping Fawnfang. "What are you doing here?" she demanded. "You're not welcome in StarClan."
"I need to speak to whoever's in charge of StarClan," Coralstar meowed firmly. "And I think you know why."
Star Flower shrugged. "You can talk to the Council of Elders--but given how they already voted to kill you, I don't think they'll change their decision." She bent to sniff Fawnfang, then waved her tail toward a large oak tree several fox-lengths away. "Past that tree is the trail that will take you to the Council's meeting area. You can get there yourself--I've got to get Fawnfang to a medicine cat."
Coralstar bounded off toward the tree. Sure enough, a small, twisty path, not unlike the ones that crisscrossed ThunderClan territory, snaked away into the bracken. Heart beating fast with excitement, Coralstar hurried down the trail.
Soon, she came into a large, open clearing carpeted in soft, short grass. Four tall oak trees stood around the clearing, and directly in front of the tallest oak was a smooth boulder.
It looks just like Fourtrees, thought Coralstar, only bigger and brighter.
"Can I help you?" asked a soft voice, and Coralstar nearly leapt out of her fur. A slender white she-cat with dark-green eyes was sitting in the shade of the boulder, and Coralstar wasn't sure how she'd missed the she-cat in her first look around the clearing.
"Um. Maybe? I'm Coralstar, and I'm here to speak to the Council of Elders," Coralstar replied.
The she-cat's gaze sharpened with interest. "So you're Coralstar." She padded closer, her long white fur rippling. "I am Half Moon, head of the Council of Elders. I assume you are here to ask that we spare your afterlife?"
Coralstar blinked in surprise, then dipped her head. "It's an honor to meet you!" she meowed. "And yes, that's what I came to talk about."
"Well, let's hear your side of the story," meowed Half Moon, sitting down and curling her fluffy tail around her paws.
Coralstar blinked in surprise. So there are nice StarClan cats! "In the Dark Forest, we think that we deserve to be left alone. We haven't hurt StarClan, and we don't see why StarClan should be able to hurt us," she began. "I know lots of Dark Forest cats have done bad things in their lives, but that doesn't mean their spirits should be killed. After all, the purpose of the Place of No Stars is for the spirits of cats that did bad things in life to have a place to stay for all their afterlife."
Half Moon nodded thoughtfully. "You do have a point," she meowed. "However, most warriors of StarClan believe that, by doing something bad enough to get sent to the Dark Forest, a cat forfeits their right to live, even as a spirit." She stood up and paced the length of the clearing. "I'll have to call a meeting of the Council," she meowed. "Perhaps, if you are the one to speak to them, you can get them to understand your point of view."
"Thank you!" Coralstar exclaimed, hardly able to believe her luck.
"Don't thank me yet," meowed Half Moon. "Wait here--and feel free to hunt if you are hungry. I'll gather the Council." She padded out of the clearing, following a path that led toward the sun, which had started to sink toward the horizon.
Coralstar wasn't hungry. Her belly fluttered with excited nerves. Half Moon had told her not to thank her yet--nothing had been decided, after all--but Coralstar felt sure that, if she could just talk to StarClan, get them to see that Dark Forest cats were cats too, that she might be able to save her Clanmates without ever lifting a claw.
Violetshadow, just you wait. I'll be home soon . . . with good news.
Chapter Eight: Smallstep's Secret
Soon, rustling in the undergrowth announced Half Moon's return. With her were a small gray tom and a white she-cat with vivid green eyes.
"These are Gray Wing and Moth Flight," Half Moon meowed. "Most of the Council is unreachable right now, but they are willing to listen to you." She sat down, and Gray Wing and Moth Flight followed suit.
Uncomfortable under the StarClan cats' intense gazes, Coralstar repeated what she had told Half Moon. When she had finished, Gray Wing and Moth Flight shared a thoughtful look.
"You do have a point," Gray Wing finally said, his amber eyes thoughtful. "However, since the Dark Forest can still communicate with living warriors and potentially influence them, they do pose a threat. A small one," he added, seeing Coralstar bristle, "as most Dark Forest cats would, as you said, prefer to be left alone and not be involved with the Clans."
"A small threat is still a threat, though," replied Moth Flight. "Coralstar and her friends may not wish to harm StarClan or the living Clans, but they can't speak for every cat in the Place of No Stars."
Gray Wing nodded. "True. And if we let the Dark Forest live, what's to stop the few cats who do want to hurt the Clans from doing so?"
"Coralstar is right that it's not fair to kill the spirits of the Dark Forest," meowed Moth Flight. "But the safety of the living Clans--and of StarClan--must come first."
Coralstar stood up, her fur bristling. "You can ensure the Clans' safety without killing cats' spirits!" she protested.
Moth Flight fixed Coralstar with her green stare. "How?"
"Well--we could make an agreement that no Dark Forest cat would hurt a living cat or a StarClan spirit," Coralstar suggested. "And if they did hurt a someone, then StarClan would be free to kill them." She swallowed hard; the thought of StarClan warriors killing any Dark Forest cats made her sick, but if it was the only way to save most of them . . .
"What would ensure that the Place of No Stars holds up their end of the agreement, though?" asked Gray Wing. "We can't constantly supervise the Dark Forest, nor can we trust the spirits to turn themselves in, if they hurt someone."
Half Moon, who had been listening silently, rose to her paws. "We have no desire to surveil the Place of No Stars," she meowed firmly. "What we need is a foolproof plan that will keep all cats--living and dead--safe."
There's no such thing as a foolproof plan, thought Coralstar, but she kept her mouth shut.
"I think we should consult with Riverstar and Broken Shadow," meowed Moth Flight. "This is a difficult situation, and perhaps they will have some wisdom."
Gray Wing nodded. "Good idea. Half Moon, shall I fetch them?"
The white she-cat nodded. "If you can find them."
"I'll go with you," offered Moth Flight. "I think Broken Shadow said she was visiting the Star Cave . . ." Their voices trailed away as they walked off, leaving Coralstar alone with Half Moon.
"Will you be all right on your own for a while?" asked Half Moon. "I would like to see if Thunderstar and Windstar have returned from their mission."
"Yes, of course--wait, a mission?" asked Coralstar.
"Yes," replied Half Moon, refusing to elaborate further. "I will return soon." She slid off into the undergrowth, her white pelt gleaming in the light of the sun, which was rapidly sinking toward the horizon. Violetshadow must be worried, she thought. I've been gone a while. But hopefully I can negotiate some kind of agreement that will keep us--or at least most of us--alive . . .
"What in StarClan's name are you doing here?" demanded a voice behind her, and Coralstar spun around to see Skystar glaring at her.
Oh, fox dung.
"I'm talking to the Council of Elders," she replied stiffly.
Skystar made a show of looking around the empty clearing. "I don't see the Council anywhere."
"Half Moon and some other cats went off to gather them," Coralstar explained.
"Getting your claws into Half Moon, are you?" meowed Skystar. "Well, I can't have that." He paced closer. "Half Moon is exactly the kind of cat who'd be swayed by your story, and I can't let you jeopardize my mission." Before Coralstar could move, he lashed out, stiking her hard on the side of her head. Lights flashed behind Coralstar's eyes, and then everything went dark.
***
A golden-and-white she-cat was standing next to a gray tom. "Where are we?" the she-cat whispered to the tom, looking around with a mixture of fear and awe.
"I think we're in the Place of No Stars," the tom replied replied after a long pause.
Coralstar's mouth fell open in shock. That's me and Violetshadow, the day we died! She reached out, trying to touch Violetshadow's pelt, but her paw passed right through him. Oh. this is just a dream.
The Dark Forest swirled, and Coralstar stumbled dizzily, trying to stay on her paws. When the scene re-formed, she was standing above the ravine that sheltered ThunderClan's camp. Hesitantly she padded to the edge and peered down into camp. Her past self was standing on the Highrock, addressing the Clan. As soon as she realized that, the scene changed again, and Coralstar saw herself as an apprentice, bounding through the woods at her mentor's side, a mouse held in her jaws.
Why am I seeing this? Coralstar fought against the vision. I already know what happened, I lived it! I need to be fighting Skystar!
But the vision wouldn't fade. Coralstar saw herself as a tiny kit, curled up at her mother's belly, and then the vision changed again, showing two cats she didn't recognize carrying her, as a newborn kit, through the forest.
Why was I out of camp at that age? she wondered, looking closer. Behind the cats that were carrying her, a small golden tom staggered, his fur torn and bloody. "Please! Not my daughter!" he yowled.
That's not my father, Coralstar thought in confusion. What's going on?
"She's better off without you," spat the taller of the two unfamiliar cats. "Why don't you run on back to SkyClan territory where you belong, before a patrol finds you?"
"No!" protested the small tom. "You have no right to take my kit! Give her back or you'll pay for this, I swear!" But he was stumbling, blood soaking his pelt, barely able to keep up. "Please!"
The cat carrying tiny Coralkit gave a soft growl. "She's ours now, Smallstep. You are no longer her father."
Smallstep? thought Coralstar, shocked. Smallstep is my father? My parents lied to me?
With a wrench, Coralstar pulled free from the vision and opened her eyes into StarClan. She tried to stand, but pain seared through her limbs and she looked down to see that she was wrapped in brambles.
Skystar's blue eyes glittered coldly. "Welcome to StarClan."
Chapter Nine: Half Moon and Skystar
Skystar stepped closer and unsheathed his claws. "I can't let you convince Half Moon to let the Dark Forest live," he explained, "so I have to kill you."
Coralstar struggled against the brambles binding her. "You can't! Half Moon is expecting me to talk to the Council of Elders, she'll wonder where I am--"
Skystar lashed his tail against her muzzle. "I think you overestimate how much Half Moon cares about you. It's barely been a day since you met, and you think she'll come looking for you, a lousy little warrior from the Place of No Stars? You've got--"
His words were cut off as a white blur slammed into him, knocking him onto his back. "What the--?"
"Half Moon!" gasped Coralstar in relief as the white she-cat pinned down Skystar and cuffed him around the ears.
"What, in the name of all that is sacred, do you think you're doing?" demanded Half Moon, glaring at Skystar with slitted emerald eyes. "Explain yourself. Now."
Skystar scrambled to his paws, shaking out his ruffled fur. "Um--nothing?"
Half Moon glared at him a moment longer, then turned to Coralstar. "Hold still," she meowed, using her teeth to pull away the bramble stems. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," replied Coralstar, licking at the scratches on her shoulders.
"Then come on," meowed Half Moon. "The Council has gathered. You too, Skystar," she added when the gray tom tried to slink off into the undergrowth.
It was then that Coralstar realized that she had no idea where she was. Skystar must have taken me away from the clearing while I was knocked out. She fell into step behind Half Moon, grateful for the StarClan warrior's presence.
After weaving through the forest, Half Moon led the three into the clearing where they had first met--only now, the clearing was packed full of cats. Half Moon leapt up onto the large boulder, and Gray Wing, Moth Flight, and two cats Coralstar didn't recognize sat down at the foot of the rock, the way Clan deputies did at Gatherings. Eighteen other cats--including Star Flower, Coralstar realized--took their positions in a semicircle in front of the boulder. Skystar tried to join them, but Half Moon gave a low growl. "Sit with the observers for now."
Skystar hunched his shoulders and slid into the crowd of cats that sat facing the boulder.
"Cats of the Council of Elders of StarClan, thank you for assembling on such short notice, especially when many of you were already on other assignments," Half Moon began. "The Council has been called to hear the complaints of Coralstar of the Dark Forest, who believes that a solution to the conflict between our afterlives can be reached without bloodshed."
"That'll never happen!" jeered a cat from the crowd.
Half Moon's eyes flashed, but she continued as if the cat hadn't interrupted. "Coralstar, would you tell the Council--"
"She's not going to tell you anything!" yowled Skystar from where he sat. "This entire listening-to-the-Dark-Forest thing needs to stop--"
"Skystar, that's quite enough from you," meowed a long-furred silver tom from his position at the foot of the boulder. "Our leader is speaking."
Skystar's hackles rose. "I won't stop! Half Moon and this Carrotstar mousebrain are going to destroy StarClan!"
Half Moon and Moth Flight shared a significant glance.
"Should we--" Moth Flight began.
"Yes, I think we should," replied Half Moon firmly.
Moth Flight stood up. "I know this isn't great timing, but I'd like to make a formal suggestion that Skystar no longer be part of the Council," she meowed. "He's been nothing but trouble since the Dark Forest issue first came up, and frankly, I don't think he's helping anyone by being on the Council."
"How dare you!" exclaimed Skystar, but around the clearing, cats were nodding in agreement, and Coralstar heard someone mutter, "It's about time!"
So Skystar isn't as well-liked in StarClan as he might want me to think . . . Coralstar realized.
Half Moon waved her tail for quiet. "Of the Council--no, not you, Skystar, you sit this one out--how many of you think Skystar should resign?"
Twenty-two cats stood up and raised their tails, Half Moon included; only Star Flower remained sitting, her tail wrapped tightly around her paws.
"Well, that's a clear majority," Half Moon meowed. "At our next meeting, we will discuss Skystar's resignation. He will sit out this meeting." She sat back down and wrapped her fluffy white tail around her paws. "As I was saying before, Coralstar is here to share the Dark Forest's point of view and provide a peaceful solution. Coralstar, whenever you're ready."
Coralstar shifted her paws self-consciously as all the StarClan cats turned to look at her. She opened her mouth to begin, but was cut off by a furious yowling. "Attack! ATTACK!!"
Coralstar spun around, hackles rising, in time to see Heart's Blood charge into the clearing. Oh, fox dung, he must've followed me!
"Dark Forest, attack!" Heart's Blood yowled. "Destroy StarClan!"
Chapter Ten: Chaos!
"StarClan! Stand your ground!" yowled Half Moon, leaping to her paws. The Council of Elders fell into formation behind her, flanked by the cats that had been observing the meeting.
"How dare you trespass on StarClan's hunting grounds?" demanded Half Moon, her tail lashing and her green eyes narrow.
Heart's Blood glared right back. "Your hunting grounds will be ours!" He leapt at the StarClan leader, who dodged and raked her claws down his side. The clearing erupted into battle as dozens of shadow-controlled warriors threw themselves into the fight.
"Don't kill them!" Coralstar yowled. "Most of them are under shadow control!" But her voice was lost in the noise of battle.
Voletwist emerged from the throng and spotted Coralstar, and his icy gaze lit up. "Vixenshade! She's here!" He and a skinny ginger she-cat leapt for Coralstar, who reared up onto her hind paws and boxed Vixenshade's ears, sending her reeling, and then leapt onto Voletwist's shoulders. He staggered under her weight and tried to throw her off, but she dug in her claws and held on.
Teeth met in Coralstar's tail, and she shrieked as Vixenshade pulled her off of Voletwist. "You still haven't learned your lesson?" Vixenshade sneered, wiping Coralstar's blood off her muzzle. "It's useless to try to defy us."
"Oh, really? Then why has my group beat yours in every fight so far?" retorted Coralstar, leaping for Vixenshade. The two she-cats rolled, scratching and biting, across the clearing until they were under the boulder that Half Moon had stood on to address the Council. Seeing her opportunity, Coralstar slammed Vixenshade against the stone, and she dropped to the ground, stunned.
Breathing hard, Coralstar straightened up, her pelt burning. She spotted Moth Flight, pinned down by a shadow-controlled tom, and raced over, swiping at the tom's face and sending him reeling. "Are you okay?" she asked, helping Moth Flight to her paws.
"I'm all right," Moth Flight replied, shaking out her fluffy white fur. A yowl from behind made both she-cats spin around, where they saw Heart's Blood fleeing, pursued by Gray Wing and two StarClan warriors she didn't recognize. Voletwist followed, trying to dislodge a small gray tom who clung to his back. Once he got free of the gray tom, he bolted in Heart's Blood's pawsteps.
Sensing that the cats who controlled them were fleeing, the shadow-controlled warriors abandoned their fights and ran after Heart's Blood and Voletwist. Coralstar hoped they weren't too badly hurt--after all, they hadn't chosen to fight this battle.
Half Moon leapt onto her boulder. "Is any cat badly hurt?"
Every cat checked their own wounds, then looked around at their Clanmates. "No, we're all okay," meowed Gray Wing, taking his place at the foot of the boulder.
"See, she's a liar!" yowled Skystar, leaping up onto a fallen tree at the edge of the clearing. "She claims Dark Forest cats just want to be left alone, but if that's the case, then why did twenty or thirty of them just attack us?"
Every gaze turned to Coralstar.
Chapter Eleven: Reform or Die
Coralstar stood up straight, ignoring the stinging of her wounds. "Most Dark Forest cats do want to be left alone," she meowed. "Most of the cats that attacked us were being shadow controlled by Heart's Blood, their leader. They didn't want to attack, and if given the choice, they'd choose to leave StarClan alone."
"Pretty convenient," challenged Skystar. "How do we know this 'shadow control' is actually a thing, and that those warriors weren't acting of heir own free will?"
Many StarClan warriors nodded in agreement.
"Shadow control is real," Coralstar protested. "I've been shadow-controlled before, and it really does totally control a cat. They're not able to stop their body from doing whatever the stronger cat wants it to."
Most of StarClan still looked skeptical. Coralstar found Star Flower's face in the crowd. "Star Flower, if you want proof, just ask Fawnfang. He can tell you all about shadow control."
"My warrior has no place in this discussion," meowed Star Flower firmly.
"Your what?" asked Half Moon, then shook her head. "We can talk about this later. Coralstar, I believe you when you say many Dark Forest cats want to be left alone. However, this attack proves that not all cats from the Place of No Stars feel that way. I don't want to kill the ones that mean no harm, but we need a solution." She gazed over the Council with an intense stare. "Any ideas?"
The StarClan cats bent their heads together in discussion, and the murmur of voices filled the air. After a while, Gray Wing stepped away. "We have an idea."
Half Moon jumped down from the boulder, and Gray Wing spoke quietly into her ear. Half Moon nodded. "I think that could work."
Coralstar fidgeted and tucked her tail around her paws. What would work? From how triumphant Skystar and Star Flower looked, it couldn't be ideal . . .
Half Moon climbed back up onto the boulder, and Coralstar noticed that the she-cat was moving a lot more slowly than she had before. I hope she's not badly hurt . . .
"We've reached a decision," she announced. "All the cats in the Dark Forest must prove that they are good cats, who are not going to attack other afterlives or cause problems. If they do so, they may live. Those who do not will die."
Coralstar blinked in surprise. That's actually . . . better than I expected. Of course, it meant that cats like Heart's Blood would die, but most of them--once freed from shadow control--would live.
"How will a cat prove that they're not going to cause problems?" asked Coralstar.
"We will discuss that later and come up with a solution," replied Half Moon. "Right now, you need to return to your territory and inform your Clanmates of our decision. I imagine for some of you, becoming a cat that's not going to cause problems will take time."
Coralstar forced her hackles to stay flat. We're not all monsters, you know! But she dipped her head to Half Moon. "I'll do that."
Half Moon signaled with her tail to two gray she-cats that Coralstar didn't recognize. "Escort her back to her territory."
With a last look around at StarClan's territory, Coralstar followed the she-cats through the undergrowth. The sun was setting, and the leaves on the trees were painted crimson. Coralstar shivered. She'd loved sunsets like these when she was alive, but now, the red landscape made her think of battle.
Soon they reached the place where StarClan's hunting grounds turned into fog and mist. "This is where we leave you," meowed the taller of the she-cats.
Coralstar dipped her head to them and stepped into the swirling fog.
Chapter Twelve: Fluttering Bird's Fate
The fog was solid under Coralstar's paws as she walked further into the gray cloud. She kept her whiskers pricked, half afraid she would walk into a tree. But no solid objects emerged from the mist, and she kept walking. She wished she'd been able to see Fawnfang before returning to the Dark Forest. Why didn't Half Moon know about him? Surely a warrior choosing to go to the Dark Forest so he could continue killing evil cats was the kind of thing the leader of StarClan would remember?
And what was going to happen to the Dark Forest? Some cats, like Violetshadow, were good-hearted but had done a few bad things. They, she was sure, would have no trouble passing StarClan's test. But what about the morally gray ones, or the ones who would still be considered bad? Didn't every spirit, even the bad ones, deserve to exist in some form? And was there any crime so severe that it was justifiable to kill the perpetrator in both body and spirit?
Well, maybe even the bad cats can become better, just enough so that they can pass the test. But how? They probably don't want to change.
I'll talk to Violetshadow about it, she thought. Maybe we can find a way to help cats become better cats? Would any of them even be interested in improving? And for that matter, would they even consider becoming nicer an improvement?
Violetshadow. He's going to be so worried about me! Coralstar walked faster as the fog began to thin. Soon she could see the squishy, lifeless ground under her paws. It looked even bleaker than usual after seeing StarClan's lush hunting grounds, but Coralstar pushed on. She didn't recognize the territory, but surely she'd come across familiar ground soon?
But no matter how far she walked, the landscape didn't change. There were no trees here, and the hills were too low and uniform for her to use as landmarks. It was like a dead and dark version of the moor, and Coralstar shivered. Was that a voice behind her?
Coralstar shook her head. She was tired, and imagining things. That must be it.
But the voice called out again, closer this time. And it sounded like it was calling her name.
Coralstar spun around, hackles rising. "Who's there?"
"It's me!" called a high-pitched voice. A kit? "Wait for me!"
Soon, Coralstar could see a small brown cat bounding in her pawsteps. "Fluttering Bird? What are you doing here?"
The kit skidded to a halt, panting. "Star Flower found out that I'd snuck out to help you," she meowed in a small voice. "She said if I liked the Dark Forest so much, I should go live there. And she threw me out."
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" meowed Coralstar, wrapping her tail around Fluttering Bird's small shoulders. "You can stay with us--we'll take care of you."
"Thanks, Coralstar," meowed Fluttering Bird, then gaped her jaws in a yawn. "Sorry. I've been up all night waiting for you to come back."
All night? How much time had passed in the Dark Forest while she was in StarClan?
"Climb on my back, then," meowed Coralstar, crouching to allow the kit to scramble onto her shoulders. "We'll be back to camp soon, and you can get some rest in a real nest."
"Thanks," murmured Fluttering Bird tiredly.
Coralstar straightened up, her sore muscles protesting under Fluttering Bird's weight. She finally recognized the hills in the distance, and set off toward them.
It was a long walk, and at some point Fluttering Bird fell asleep. Coralstar guessed it was well after moonhigh in StarClan by the time she finally made it up the last hill and into her camp. Violetshadow was sitting guard, and he sprang to his paws when he saw her. "Coralstar! You're okay! Redfoot said--wait, is that a StarClan kit? Coralstar, why is there a StarClan kit on your back?"
Coralstar let the now-awake Fluttering Bird slide to the ground and relayed the whole story--who Velvetpelt was, following Star Flower, talking to the Council of Elders, the battle, and meeting Fluttering Bird on the way back. Violetshadow's eyes grew wide. "I can hardly believe it."
"Which part of it?" asked Coralstar with a yawn, the day finally catching up to her.
Violetshadow's whiskers twitched in amusement. "All of it. But it's late, and we all need some rest. We can talk about everything tomorrow."
Coralstar yawned again. "Good idea." She picked up Fluttering Bird by her scruff and followed Violetshadow to their nest. She curled up with the kit, and Violetshadow went to wake the next cat for guard duty.
She was more than half asleep by the time Violetshadow curled around her and gave her ears a lick. "Good night."
"Night," Coralstar mumbled in agreement, then dozed off, Fluttering Bird cradled between her paws.
Chapter Thirteen: Afterward
When Coralstar finally awoke the next day, both Violetshadow and Fluttering Bird were gone. She stretched and got to her paws, still stiff from yesterday's fight. Redfoot was grooming his fur, and he sprang to his paws as Coralstar approached. "Violetshadow told me what happened," he meowed. "I'm glad you're okay."
"Thanks," replied Coralstar. "Where's Fluttering Bird?"
"Playing with Bluebellkit," Redfoot meowed. "They get along really well."
Coralstar purred. "I'm glad." Maybe a playmate her own age would help distract Fluttering Bird from what her Clan had done to her.
"Hey Coralstar!" called Featherfluff, and Coralstar turned. The silver she-cat looked healthier, her fur sleek and eyes bright. "I was thinking, Violetshadow said that the Dark Forest cats will have to prove that they're good acts who won't cause trouble in order to live?" She looked to Coralstar for confirmation, and Coralstar nodded.
"Do you think we could help cats improve, so they pass StarClan's test?" Featherfluff asked.
"I was thinking the same thing on my way back last night," replied Coralstar. "I think we could. Of course, some cats won't want to change, but we can help the ones that do."
"Great!" Featherfluff gave a little bounce. Coralstar wondered what she was so happy about, but decided not to pry. Maybe she's finally found her true love.
"More cats joined us last night, while you were sleeping," Featherfluff continued. "There are quite a few of us now!"
"Oh, that's great!" meowed Coralstar, feeling more hopeful than she had in a while. "Will you introduce us? And then we can get started helping cats pass StarClan's test?"
"Sounds good!" Featherfluff replied. "They're outside camp--we'll need to expand if they're all going to fit here." She led Coralstar out into the forest, and it might have just been her imagination, but everything seemed brighter today.
END OF PART TWO
Part 3 available here!