BELIEF FROM LONGING — STARCLAN


Pain-free and star-filled, Leaping Toad awakens to a new world.

His wounds are healed - only glowing remnants left to prove just what had caused his demise. Light-brown fur is made lighter by the starlight that adorns it, glittering within the sudden darkness.

It is only now, whilst standing among other star-filled felines, that he sees how bad things had gotten, blood and bodies everywhere, star-pelted cats upon star-pelted cats. He sees cats he knows - both within the starlight and without it - standing alongside those faces of felines he does not know. He sees Salamander cease in fighting with the flash of orange that ended his life, sees Ribbit protectively standing near his body.

Oh, how he wishes they didn't have to mourn his loss. That he could wake up in his nest tomorrow, to play yet another game with his brother. He takes a hesitant step towards them at the sound of Salamander's voice - of her pleading - only to stop before he can get too far. He wants to run up to them, wants to tell them that... that things would be okay, but...

But how could he be certain?

He looks to Rain as he speaks of creeper vine leaves, and realizes that things have to be okay. They need to be, for Ribbit, for Salamander, for his parents, and Frog's Croak. Even for Cosmos and the flash of orange. For everyone. It has to. They need to work together for this. For the future of them all.

A new game is beginning.

Leaping Toad just hopes they win.
​
 
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✵ ღ ☾ I'LL LET YOU DOWN -
She hadn't made it far. Despite Ash's small frame, the grief that swelled in her chest cavity made his body feel as if he were a full grown cat.​

He'll never be that.​
The thought had been sickening as she had crumbled to the ground, shouldering him off with a sob before placing a blood-drenched paw, once a pristine white, against his unmoving flank. She had hardly noticed when the caterwauls had come to an end, it wasn't until Twilight's screams that she was brought back to the gruesome reality. Cloudy doesn't want to let go, the selfish part of her yells to keep him close, to curl against him one last time, but she doesn't listen. Instead, she feels herself stumble back. It is agony to watch the queen, she demands to know who did it, but Cloudy doesn't have a name- only a face.​
She made it out with hardly a scratch, but one wouldn't be able to tell in her state, what was once a white canvas was now brown and crimson, but no, her wounds were internal.​
It was then that something in the air shifted, pelts of shimmers and stars arose, and Cloudy felt her pupils narrow with fear as she gazed upon these ghosts.​
❝ Ash? ❞ She rasped, her voice barely a whisper. Yet, her fallen friend did not appear, instead a silver tom began to speak, and Cloudy was forced to tear away her searching gaze to focus on him.​
Like a creeper vine…?​
Her head begins to ache, and all she wants to do is go home. Still, she warily casts her gaze to the living, waiting for their reactions to follow.
❝ Speech. ❞


IF YOU LET ME TOO CLOSE​
 ​
​
 
Crow had managed to drag Everest out of the fray. Their mate's body had long since chilled, but Crow refuses to let go of him, forelegs draped over his flanks and nose buried into his fur. Just a little longer. Sobs had faded into soft sniffles and whimpers. Orange eyes remain stubbornly closed; the achromatic feline refuses to see the sight before them. They don't want to face the lifeless, bloodied body of their lover. As they knead his pelt, they imagine he's still alive. If they focus on their own breathing long enough, they could pretend that it's Everest's.

The yowls of the warring cats stop. It's too sudden; Crow is jarred from their grief, their eyes disobeying them by snapping open. With bated breath, they glance up. Why did it grow quiet? They'd thought that they hated the battle cries and pained wails, but the silence is so much worse. Without the cacophony of war, the keening of grieving cats is so much louder. It makes their skin crawl.

Crow's breath catches in his throat. Fallen soldiers have returned to them with stars lacing their fur. Was this a hallucination? Was his grief so strong that his mind conjured a mirage of the dead? No, if that was the case, then the two colonies wouldn't be able to see them either. It's unmistakable, the bristling of fur as they stare, wide-eyed, at the ghostly figures. His own fur rises, a chill running down his spine. But why are they here? To seek vengeance against those who killed them, stripped them of life and left their families and friends to mourn? His gaze instinctively seeks out the black-and-white fur of Aspen, clutched by the icy claws of fear. Suddenly, he's all too aware of the blood caking his own fur, most of which belonged to the deceased tom.

The tom he'd killed.

A young she-cat rushes over, her own wails lifting into the sky. But Crow hardly acknowledges her, too aware of the nervous drumming of his own heart to hear anything above it.

They're not here for vengeance, though. The tom that Crow recognizes as Rain speaks, telling them that the fighting must come to an end. That's what I've been trying to tell you all! For once, though, Crow remains silent. It seems as if their mouth does not wish to form words. Rain's next words, however, only confuse them. Their lips purse, staring at the starry leader. Spread like the leaves of a creeper vine? What the hell does that mean?

They don't dwell on it long before they see him. Their Everest, stepping forwards to stand near Rain. They gasp, fresh tears building in their glassy eyes. "Everest? Oh, Everest, my love," Crow breathes. They run towards him without a second thought. The feline would try to envelope their deceased mate in a hug, only to fall through the shimmering tom, landing heavily on their stomach.

It's enough to cause them to break down into more sobs. They couldn't touch him — what kind of cruel joke is this? To see but never to touch? All they wanted was one more embrace, just a few more moments to bask in his warmth... But that was impossible.

"Everest-" Through the sobs, he stumbles to his paws. His legs tremble, lifting his pleading gaze to Everest's translucent face. "Everest, please- Please stay. Don't leave me again." His voice wavers with the fear that he'll lose Everest for the second time.

In the back of his mind, he knows it's impossible. But he pushes the reality of the situation away, telling himself that no, it is possible. He might not be able to touch Everest, but he could see him. He could talk to him. That's easier to swallow than losing him altogether.​
 

He stands beside his littermate, storm-green eyes dull with grief.

His father. His father is gone.

He... He could've saved him. He could still be alive. If he'd only been paying more attention, he could've gotten to Red first. Made it so his brother would be safe, so his father could survive.

Because of that coward of a marsh cat, his father was dead. Squall and his siblings were left fatherless, left without parents to guide them for the second time in their life. His home was left without their leader, right when they needed one the most. What was to happen now? To his family? To his home? To the whole forest?

His breath catches in his throat at the sight of star-silhouetted cats, each holding the appearance of those who had fallen in this unnecessary battle. But, it is the sight of silver fur - fur that resembled his own, even without the lack of relation - that causes him to step forward.

"Rain...?" he asks, his voice small, and it's as if he's back to being the scared, mewling kit Rain once found, once took in as his own child, alongside his brother, all those moons ago.

He finds himself stepping forward once more. It takes everything in him to not beg and plead for his father to stay - Squall knows he can't, that Rain is dead, and will never step foot in the pine forest ever again. Not in the same way as he once did, at least.

Squall hears his father's words - of creeper vines and peace - and bows his head in acknowledgement. He will not continue this fight, if it's what his father wills. If it's what the fallen wish for. No, enough damage has been done. It was time for change for the better.
​
 
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"SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO FACE THE THINGS YOU FEAR, EVEN IF IT'S YOURSELF"​
He will never forget the wailing of mothers and lovers and siblings and friends tonight- each etches itself into his no longer beating heart. Constellations dance in his pelt as he moves to walk away from the crowd, tail hanging low in resignation. He understood wanting to leave after seeing his body, cold and lifeless on the ground. He wouldn't blame Crow for such a decision.

Heavy pawsteps catch his attention, and as something rushes through his ethereal form, Everest is compelled to try and catch Crow. But saddened reminders were in his eyes, and as his hues shifted to look at Crow. His precious Crow. Their begging causes tears to sparkle at the corner of his eyes; they couldn't be together yet.

"Stay alive. Even when it feels like the world is ending. Even when you don't know what to do anymore. Stay alive. And when it is time, you will return to me. I will wait for you. For eternity, if I have to. Do you hear me, my Crow?"

Everest walks closer to his mate's sobbing form, watches as Crow struggles to stand. Everest shakes his head sadly at their begging wail, head swiveling to gesture to Rain. It was almost time. With the prophecy given, the starry cats had no reason to remain on this plane of being. There's a shaky breath, and Everest returns his gaze to his grieving mate. He leans in hesitantly, all of the love he could possibly show to his mate was shown in his eyes, in his protective stance that shielded Crow from the world; his pelt barely visible amongst the starry icicles that glittered amongst his body. His nose barely touches Crow's forehead, knowing that if he actually did, he'd merely go through his mate's body. Instead, he exhaled a soft, chilly breath against his mate's forehead- something to ground Crow to reality.

In life, they couldn't be together. But when it was time, in death, maybe Crow would choose him again. Just as they had when he was alive.

Jaws part, and words don't leave his lips. No, he had said these words plenty of times. It was etched into their hearts, and neither would forget them.

I love you.​
✦ ★ ✦​
 
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With effortless grace and single-minded purpose, Moth strode down from the stars. She did not understand what strange miracle had given her this chance, but she did not intend to waste it. Her steps weaved between friend and foe alike, leaving a glimmering trail in their wake. Her blank eyes passed over them all, paying them no heed. There was only one cat she was looking for.

Her gaze did rest - if only for a moment - on Briar. Watching as her leader was torn apart by grief and regret. All over the battle she had lead them all into, had announced so proudly. There is no comfort she can offer her, so she moves on.

It was Flicker she sought. They had been separated so quickly, so cruelly that there had been not a moment for them to exchange last words. There were so many things that she wished they could have done. Her heart lamented the days they would no longer get to spend together, the conversations they would not get to have. She couldn't fix any of that. With this one chance, therefore, she'd settle for one last farewell.​
[ BORE THE SHADOWS THAT YOU MADE ]​
 
*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ She's been defeated.

For the first time in Flicker's life, the fire that burns inside her has been snuffed. She feels as though she had been the one to die beneath the black and white murderer's claws, the one who could no longer see or hear or feel. Ember had beaten her back down again and again, and Flicker had finally stayed beneath the flame point's golden paws. She'd watched her go, feeling nothing.

Nothing but defeat, exhaustion, hopelessness.

After what had seemed like hours but was probably not quite so long, Flicker had shoved herself to her paws. She's bruised from her brawl with Ember, and from being pinned by the white cat, but she has gotten off more lightly than many of her companions and foes. The blood on her paws is her enemy's. The fur between her claws is white.

She moves as though hypnotized into the clearing, taking in the sight through dull orange eyes. Cats are crying over their dead, but the truly haunting thing is that they have risen again. Her jaw comes unhinged, just a little, as Rain himself rises with stars glittering in his long fur. Spread like the creeper vine. There's a wisdom to him now where there once had only been vitality, the foolishness of mortals.

Flicker gazes about her, disbelief frank in her expression. But if Rain had risen again--then maybe--

And her eyes do land on a gleaming soft pelt, one so cruelly similar to the friend she's lost. Flicker limps closer to Moth's starry shape, fear and pain beginning to cramp in her throat. "You're here again," she croaks, tears pricking the corners of her eyes. "I'm sorry I couldn't... I'm sorry I let you die. I'm so sorry." She does not expect Moth to forgive her, but she has to know. She has to know that Flicker knows she fucked up.​
✦ PENNED BY MARQUETTE.​
 


Howling Wind had already been forced into submission. Green eyes locked onto gray, and with a breath of relief she felt the claws that pressed against her throat retract. Mercy. She was being shown mercy by a cat who didn't have to let her life. Cats were dead all around them, yet this molly let her walk away with a few scars and nothing more.

Her gaze would be torn away from Ember as the sky darkened, the dawn's stars glittering brightly despite the clouds rolling in. Being allowed up, she rolled onto her stomach and pushed herself tiredly to her paws, muscles aching. But she didn't focus on that; she was focusing on the wisps and stars that danced in the air before all of them. Tails and ears and legs manifested, and she realized that these were the cats that had fallen. Allies, enemies, all walking with stars in their pelts and in their pawprints.

A sharp gasp escaped the tabby and she felt her legs wobble. Was she dreaming? What was happening?

Like the creeper vine.

What would such a thing even mean? She wanted to ask, but she couldn't speak. She could only stare in terror at the ghosts walking about the clearing, murmuring goodbyes to their loved ones. She was downright terrified of this sort of unknown.
​
"speech"​
 

"SUREFIRE, YEAH, THE SETTING SUN WANTS COMPANY"​

The hiss that whistled from her dry, blood-cracked throat fell on a sudden silence. The tawny cat Daisy Flight had been chasing off froze before her, amber eyes wide with bewilderment, mouth agape. Unnatural white glimmered in their gaze. All around them the spitting, ripping and howling had simmered to an odd hush, as the battle sucked in a breath.

She couldn't help it, she knew turning her back on an enemy meant certain doom but there was a pull the molly couldn't ignore. It tugged at her tired heart, an electric thrum that buzzed through the dust-smoked air. Turning revealed a sight she could never have anticipated.

Above the war-torn glade descended an undulating sea of stars, wisps of ephemeral starlight tethering them to the sky above. There were tails that span gold, paws alight with silvery lustre and eyes that blazed fiercely in every shade imaginable. It was terrifying. Her multi-toned pelt went rigid in fear, the faces of the dead stepping down towards them. Then the silence split with wailing, the living a choir of lament.

Hallowed constellations materialised into familiar forms. A fever bloomed in the warrior as she stumbled forward, desperation hand in hand with her trepidation. Blinking away the blood that seeped from her ear she caught sight of the opalescent cream of Marigold's starry pelt. And there- Haku's patchwork visage rippled into being. Had Ember's training not been enough?

When Rain's loud, lucid words struck the clearing, Daisy Flight flinched. All her life, she had held onto the comfort that those who were dead were gone. The writhing street cats she had been forced to put an end to, for the sake of her own fragile life, in her mind were loosed to nothingness. Now, here was their leader. Strung up in stars. They shouldn't be here, forced to look over the living. Her lungs heaved like that of a mouse, caught beneath the claws of a predator. She didn't want them here- how could she confront the dead when she stood living?
​
✿ ✿ ✿​
 
Her heart stops momentarily when she sees him approach her. Amber - or, an apparition of him. Briar breathes out a shaky sigh and dares to move from his lifeless body to this new form looming over her. He smiles, acknowledges he can see her, but doesn't speak. She looks into his eyes, longing for him to be here by her side alive. She isn't sure what's going on here. It's all so confusing, but she is seeing it with her own eyes, so she cannot doubt.

The first of the spirits to speak is Rain. He tells them to cease the fighting, to grow like the creeper vine. Briar has no idea what that means, but she is glad the fighting is over. The tom's starry eyes linger on her a moment and the back of her neck prickles as their eyes meet. Rain may not blame her for this battle, after all, it is a burden shared by all. But she knows many here do. Still, despite the loss, she knows nothing would have sent her on a different path. She was protecting her own in the best way that she could. She had given the pine cats countless chances to leave over the past twelve moons. This fight was inevitable.

And now... now it appeared that she would not get what she wanted. This entire forest - the marsh, the moors, the river, the oak and pine forests - they no longer belonged to her. She doesn't offer any words of her own, simply crawls back over to Amber's body and resumes her position curled over it. Tonight she will sit her vigil and tomorrow she will contemplate what these starry cats were telling her, telling all of them.​
 
Finally.

Finally, what had been brewing for seasons was finally completed. He'd been dreading this day from the moment those strays took to the forest. He'd been able to do nothing but watch, a pair of ghostly eyes in each fern, each dark shadow, each perch. He had always been watching. Waiting, already heartbroken for the lives that would join him in the afterlife on this day.

As his new comrades rose from their former vessels, he padded towards one limp body in particular, tabby and white fur glowing with stars. Silently, he came to a stop, standing beside the lifeless form of the pine leader with sorrow filling his orange eyes. He glanced around, gaze lingering on Briar before staring back down at the body, waiting. When the heavenly soul did rise, Hare Whiskers would look upon him with deep respect before greeting him with a dip of his head. "Rain." Straightening himself, he looked upon the cats in the hollow as the other tom relayed their celestial message.

Murmurs of confusion and shock sounded, but they would receive no answer tonight. "Bury your dead. Go home to your nests," He thundered, lifting his white chin and black-tipped tail. They had much to consider. Once more, he looked to Briar, glowing eyes brimming with many emotions. Sadness. Pride. Love. Longing. The cat he had taken in and even viewed as a daughter, now crying out over her dead mate's body. He wished he could hold her, tell her it would all be okay, that he was so proud of her. But he couldn't - his time here was up. Like a gust of brisk wind, he vanished into the dawn air. SPEECH."​
 
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He nods along to Hare Whiskers words standing alongside the grizzled tom as if they are old friends, and in a way they were, though the time they had known one another in life had been short. He looks upon the cats gathered, watching their confused faces in response to his words and oh how he wishes he could elaborate but no, he must be vague. They must come to the conclusion themselves, despite how badly he wished he could guide them, to rest his tail on their backs and tell them it will all be okay and that he would take care of it, like he always had.

"come back here to meet in a quarter moon, the path should be made clear to you by then" he says.
For a moment, his eyes desperately search for his kids, wanting to convey to them how badly he would miss them, how badly he wished he could say goodbye but knew he could not. Besides, he would always be watching over them. He shoots a sad smile in their direction. 'Take care of each other' he silently wills them before reluctantly he turns to join Hare Whiskers in oblivion, dissolving into the dawn sky where he would be a silent observer, protecting them in the only way he was able to now. ​
✦ ★ ✦​
 
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