NOTHING CAN COME OF NOTHING \ howlingstar

[BERRYHEART]

Only moments ago, he had seen a star-written wraith in lucidity, a dream-vision as real as the sight that laid before stirred eyes. It was difficult to tell if he had even been asleep, or if he had simply been persuaded to think with shut-eye that he had fallen into a dream. Either way, there was one thing Berryheart was absolutely sure of- that vision had come from StarClan. He remembered the day that Prickles had dragged himself into camp, refusing outright the aid of his predecessor, bled into his memory like a sun-spot. The vision of his ghost had been just as bright, and as dawn sprawled above the camp, Berryheart felt oddly peaceful yet unendingly curious. The thread of that curiosity lead him to his mother's den, a speckled form casting a shadow over her stirring frame.

"Mama," he said quietly, voice as low and monotone as ever- but if anyone would recognise the crypticness misted in his asymmetrical gaze, it would be his mother. The threat of illness slept still in the shadows, and he hoped in this omen there lay an answer- he only regretted that he was not arriving to tell her of a solution. "StarClan spoke to me. They said... the vine will not grow without all of its leaves."

\ @HOWLINGSTAR ​

PENNED BY PIN ☾​

 

[HOWLINGSTAR]

Unlike her son, Howlingstar’s sleep had been restful, her mind silent as darkness enveloped her. She is only stirred from her sleep when a shadow falls over her face, barring the dawn’s light from filtering into her small cave. She blinks open bleary green eyes to see Berryheart standing in her den’s entrance, looking…ambiguous. She sits up, stifling a yawn, doing her best to wake up as quickly as possible. “What’s gotten you up so early?” The tabby asks drowsily, her sleepy gaze flitting over her pelt in a quick scan to ensure she has no clumps of moss sticking to her.

Hearing his words, however, her full attention snaps to him. Gaze sharper than it had been moments prior, she sits up straighter and leans forward with interest. “A prophecy?” She mews, tone lilting. Vine. Leaves. The words are familiar, and she recalls the cryptic prophecy said to the cats of the forest all those moons ago at Fourtrees. “The five leaves of the creeper vine…” She murmurs uncertainly, brown furrowing as she stares at the ground. Her gaze finds her son’s again, her head tilting. “Did they say anything else? What is happening to the leaves? Is it…” She didn’t want to finish the sentence. Will Yellowcough keep the vine from growing? Will a clan perish? Will they all perish?​

 

[BERRYHEART]

His mother gave voice to what he had been considering- that the vine was the famous creeper vine, bearing five leaves for the five Clans. But, without all of its leaves… a prophecy… the two did not feel quite in tandem. “Perhaps… a warning.” he offered, dull green gaze slipping off to the side before they found their way back to the more verdant pair of the tabby before him.

“Just to keep our wits about us.” A frown began to take its place on his fire-flecked features, his thoughts whirring but unable to lock upon anything specific, anything that offered closure. StarClan would not simply be dooming them- he had faith in that, at least. “The Clans cannot thrive without all five, that’s what it means. Must ThunderClan keep an eye out for all of them?” It sounded exhausting… surely, that could not be what StarClan was implying? But without any other context- without even an image… what more could they glean?

​

PENNED BY PIN ☾​

 

[HOWLINGSTAR]

Howlingstar's stomach twists nervously when her son guesses it could be a warning. Her brow furrows as she stares at the ground, deep in thoughts. She mulls the words over in her head, again and again, and it indeed does sound like StarClan is warning them. But of what? Berryheart's next words cause her ears to flick with interest, as if his realization has spread to her in an instant. She blinks surprised green eyes at him. "...If StarClan sees it as our duty. If the prophecy says it is so, we must listen." What a heavy burden ThunderClan must hold, to be the pillar of strength and honor in the forest and keep every clan standing. "Will you share this with the other medicine cats tonight?" She mews curiously, knowing he meets with them for the half-moon gathering on this very night.​