- Nov 29, 2023
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Every pawstep taken transforms them. Every mile creeping on closer to Highstones transforms them. Every single breath transforms them — Mirepurr for now, and who knows what after...?
The name Mirestar does not feel right. They wonder if it is akin to blasphemy to even turn it over within the confines of their cheek, tasting it and refusing the urge to wince, like it carries iron-tang with it. If they're lucky, they will not receive that new name... perhaps Chilledstar will pull them close with fur shimmering with the stars, amusement within their gaze as they break the news: Smogstar is alive, he's just hit his head, he's gotten a little lost on the way home.
Mirepurr's eyes glide over to Starlingheart beside them. Surely, if that is the case... StarClan would have told her so, instead of dragging them all the way over here. She's done this trip just a few moons ago. Had Smogstar been quiet, or had his desire to hear himself talk won him over in the end?
Bitter amusement flickers across their face. It is almost endearing to imagine.
The pair continue on in silence, and on occasion, Mirepurr sends a wayward glance to the skies, or towards their surroundings. WindClan has not been spotted; their patrols must have just missed the ShadowClanners. Perhaps a lucky sign... Mirepurr would not wish to jump to excuses, or stars forbid, get into a quarrel. Hostile warriors challenging a deputy with flimsy combat and a medicine cat in tow, whose own battles are conducted elsewhere, between life and death itself? It would not bode well.
They are spared from such antics. Night settles amongst the tussocks and the far-looming lands that remain unknown; Highstones themselves have not been familiar to Mirepurr until now. It had always been home to a plane that does not belong to them...
And before they know it, Mothermouth beckons; in the same moment, it deters.
Darkness yawns, darker than what they are used to. ShadowClan's marshes can be traversed now without proper focus, without even opening their eyes — years spent amongst the pine-litterd forest floor has made it certain. But this... Mirepurr is entirely out of their element here, and they are happy to allow Starlingheart to lead them.
If the night had been quiet before, it becomes dead silent now. Mirepurr shuffles behind Starlingheart; every brush of fur against walls, every sharp intake of breath, every flutter of eyelids is turned up to a maximum... they swear the volume is deafening, even as their ears press against their skull. Mirepurr has never known themself to be claustrophobic- but then again, they've never had to do this before.
"Starlingheart, I can't do this-" The sacred lack of words for this night is broken. Mirepurr stops themself from saying any more, but that panicked cry is out there now; it echoes throughout Mothermouth, and surely, StarClan themselves have heard every word, loud and clear.
Mirepurr comes to an abrupt halt. Their head is bowed and every muscle within their body is strained. Starlingheart does not need to say any more — if she attempts to console them, they simply nod, as a curt indication that they will not be turning back. They cannot do that- not to their Clan, not to themself. If Mirepurr is to see them again, it will be with concrete answers... not with the embarrassing admission that they turned tail and ran in the last heartbeat.
When they've shut their eyes hard enough for a headache to start, Mirepurr opens them once more. Wide blues stare into Starlingheart's sole green. She is still here... despite it all.
That is enough for them to keep going.
The thunderclap of Mirepurr's own heartbeat ushers them forward; sets a frantic rhythm for the two of them to attune themselves to. Their nerves are fraying at the ends, but they have to see this through, if they came this far. Would seeing Smogstar here be the better alternative?
Mirepurr's next breath gets stuck in their throat when the Moonstone finally presents itself, outlined by stalagmite and stalactite alike. Ethereal as is, without the whispers of StarClan within earshot; it glimmers under the moonlight that manages to peek in from the roof, and Mirepurr swears they've never seen anything quite as beautiful.
It breathes back sincerity into them as they regard Starlingheart. "Thank you." Regards her for the last time; for the next step is to curl up near the base of the Moonstone, and allow themself to be taken under StarClan's gentle wings.
Finally... a closing of eyelids, a sharp curl of cold as their nose touches the shining surface, and-
"...I'm ready."
HI thank you my sweet life givers... there is no order except for the very last one!