- Oct 22, 2022
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- 261
- 63
Compassion. Courage. Love. Resolve. Sensibility. Remembrance for StarClan. Brotherhood. Strength.
And a final life, willed unto him by the snow-streaked leader ShadowClan called its own until this very moon. A final life to entrench him in the crux between life and death for eight times over, and a new name to herald his reign until his ninth and ultimate passing. Touching noses with Chilledstar in the world beyond may have been the first time they'd interacted on a phyisical level. But when they did, and Smogstar assimilated their supreme blessing into his being, their parting words to him shall always echo the clearest within the dells in his mind.
Not the loudest, though.
Tears dampened the edges of his eyes when he awoke. A smothered sob, a shaken and ragged breath through grit teeth. It was the same hurt that'd dislodged its seed in his chest at the turn of Leaf-fall to Leaf-bare. Renewed, and growing again and more alive than ever, threatening to choke him then and now.
Starlingheart knew. She needn't hear him recount who'd visited and sanctified him while in his dream state. That Halfshade emerged, touched his nose, and gave him the farewell denied to him by circumstance; it was flagrant, palpable in how Smogstar wrestled himself back to his waking senses. And throughout the walk back, as he spoke on what'd occured, the medicine cat served as an anchor point he dearly needed. Support not demanded-for, but offered all the same.
The thicket thickened, the humid air returned full-fold. ShadowClan's threshold had never seemed less daunting or far-removed in his travels. Returned, reaffirmed and replenished, the newly-anointed leader and his companion trotted side by side back towards home. With the sun cresting the horizon now, it is safe to assume Mirepurr's precautionary patrol and the guard held by Forestshade have long retired. Drawing near the chief opening in the pine wall, flickers of activity signalled the early risers readying for the day ahead.
"Again, thank you, Starlingheart," Smogstar repeats when the territory's heart and inner workings open ahead. "I'd have gotten lost in Mothermouth without you. Get some decent rest if you can, you have my permission."
Amber eyes don a tint of sensibility when he harks his focus back to camp. Heavybranch's gift to him. He must continue this trend of no hesitation, forward movement only, into his future as leader. No quarter granted to grief's metal yoke. Steeling himself, Smogstar makes towards path through the brambles. Towards where he belongs.
Passing camp's outer limits, he surveys ShadowClan proper. Here, he will be greeted and acclaimed as Smogstar for the very first time. One name, two syllables, and a mantle weighing heavy yet fitting just right upon his pelt. It is with the dawn breaking behind him, the nine new lives blessed by the ancestors resting in his bones, muscles, sinews, ligaments, that he resumes his purpose to his clan.
"I'm back," he meows simply. "StarClanโwell, Chilledstar specificallyโhas endowed me a new name." Elaboration seems superfluous. Precedent should inform them on how to refer to him now. His tail flicks, and he turns his attention to a cat whose demeanour reflects fatigue born from vigilance. "How did the night go while we were away?" he asks. "Is the clan alright?"
And a final life, willed unto him by the snow-streaked leader ShadowClan called its own until this very moon. A final life to entrench him in the crux between life and death for eight times over, and a new name to herald his reign until his ninth and ultimate passing. Touching noses with Chilledstar in the world beyond may have been the first time they'd interacted on a phyisical level. But when they did, and Smogstar assimilated their supreme blessing into his being, their parting words to him shall always echo the clearest within the dells in his mind.
Not the loudest, though.
Tears dampened the edges of his eyes when he awoke. A smothered sob, a shaken and ragged breath through grit teeth. It was the same hurt that'd dislodged its seed in his chest at the turn of Leaf-fall to Leaf-bare. Renewed, and growing again and more alive than ever, threatening to choke him then and now.
Starlingheart knew. She needn't hear him recount who'd visited and sanctified him while in his dream state. That Halfshade emerged, touched his nose, and gave him the farewell denied to him by circumstance; it was flagrant, palpable in how Smogstar wrestled himself back to his waking senses. And throughout the walk back, as he spoke on what'd occured, the medicine cat served as an anchor point he dearly needed. Support not demanded-for, but offered all the same.
The thicket thickened, the humid air returned full-fold. ShadowClan's threshold had never seemed less daunting or far-removed in his travels. Returned, reaffirmed and replenished, the newly-anointed leader and his companion trotted side by side back towards home. With the sun cresting the horizon now, it is safe to assume Mirepurr's precautionary patrol and the guard held by Forestshade have long retired. Drawing near the chief opening in the pine wall, flickers of activity signalled the early risers readying for the day ahead.
"Again, thank you, Starlingheart," Smogstar repeats when the territory's heart and inner workings open ahead. "I'd have gotten lost in Mothermouth without you. Get some decent rest if you can, you have my permission."
Amber eyes don a tint of sensibility when he harks his focus back to camp. Heavybranch's gift to him. He must continue this trend of no hesitation, forward movement only, into his future as leader. No quarter granted to grief's metal yoke. Steeling himself, Smogstar makes towards path through the brambles. Towards where he belongs.
Passing camp's outer limits, he surveys ShadowClan proper. Here, he will be greeted and acclaimed as Smogstar for the very first time. One name, two syllables, and a mantle weighing heavy yet fitting just right upon his pelt. It is with the dawn breaking behind him, the nine new lives blessed by the ancestors resting in his bones, muscles, sinews, ligaments, that he resumes his purpose to his clan.
"I'm back," he meows simply. "StarClanโwell, Chilledstar specificallyโhas endowed me a new name." Elaboration seems superfluous. Precedent should inform them on how to refer to him now. His tail flicks, and he turns his attention to a cat whose demeanour reflects fatigue born from vigilance. "How did the night go while we were away?" he asks. "Is the clan alright?"