~Warnings: Talk of death and murder, arguing, tiny hint of transphobia~ “Do some good with it” The words echoed in Snowpelt's mind as she sat by Whitestar's body. She looked around the camp. She was the leader now, she had a duty to them. At least for now. They needed some stability, Snowpelt could provide that for some seasons until things settled at least. Yeah, focus on that. Maybe the life Snowpelt had wanted for herself was gone, but she needed to be there for the cats that were still here. Snowpelt looked up as Flowersong walked over, signing ‘It's time,’ Snowpelt nodded and rose to her paws. She looked at Whitestar’s body for a moment, then turned away. She would see her soon. She and Flowersong walked out of camp, the still falling snow chilling her through her pelt. They walked alongside the stream that bordered Windclan. Snowpelt paused at the spot she had stood when she killed the Windclan cat that nearly called her Shadowfall. Goldenpelt had been vague about what Shadowfall had done in life, but knowing about her made things make more sense now. Snowpelt kept walking. The two of them came up to the moonpool and Snowpelt laid down at the edge, then lapped up a little of the freezing water at Flowersong's direction, then closed her eyes. “Oh shut up, she’s waking.” A voice said, both familiar and not. Then a more familiar and aggravating voice spoke, “Don’t tell me to shut up. She’s-” Snowpelt opened her eyes and glared at her father, which did shut him up. Snowpelt slowly rose to her paws and looked around at the gathered cats. The four cats gathered around her. Two familiar, one almost familiar, and one stranger. Her eyes drew to the vaguely familiar cat who smiled gently at her, her blue eyes a mirror of Snowpelt’s. Her pelt was mainly back, but had a spattering of white spots, almost like stars. The she-cat spoke warmly “Hi, Snowpelt. I’m so glad I’ve finally been able to meet you. Do you-” “Darklight.” Snowpelt whispered. Her mother. Darklight smiled and said “That’s me. Oh sweetheart,” Her voice broke as she moved towards her daughter, “I wish I could have been there for you, through everything that happened, I am so, so sorry.” Snowpelt blinked as Darklight nuzzled her cheek. Her eyes glanced around at the cats. Ashstar glared at her. Whitestar stared at the ground, not meeting her eyes. She looked healthier than she did when she died, but she looked so small next to Ashstar, all of her confidence was gone. Then Snowpelt’s eyes drew to the golden brown she-cat with swirls in her pelt that sat next to Whitestar. Amber-brown eyes met hers, just a bit brighter than Goldenpelt’s. In fact, the whole she-cat reminded her of Goldenpelt. But she didn’t focus on her, no, she focused on the fact these four were the only ones here. Out of all the cats she lost, only her parents, sister, and a stranger were here… she hardly even knew Darklight either, just the mother she had never met. “Where are they?” Snowpelt asked quietly, but she already suspected the answer. Darklight pulled away, looking hesitant, at a loss for words. Ashstar was the one who met Snowpelt’s eyes to say “He didn’t want to come. Said you broke your promise.” Snowpelt flinched. Darklight whirled around to glare at Ashstar, hissing “Don’t be a fox-heart!” “She killed me! She killed her sister! Don’t you dare make excuses for her. She shouldn’t even be here! We shouldn’t even be give-” “Ashstar.” The stranger said calmly, “The council has made our decision. Thunderclan needs a leader, and thus, she needs nine lives.” Ashstar glared at her, then at Darklight, but Darklight had turned back to Snowpelt and said “He’s angry, but everything is still fresh. Brightspot is talking to him right now. Your kits don’t know anything right now.” “He shouldn’t come, in my opinion.” Ashstar commented “Well your opinion is a pile of fox-dung!” Darklight snapped. “Need I remind you that she is a murderer?!” Ashstar replied. Darklight said something back, but Snowpelt wasn’t listening, eyes drawing to Whitestar and the stranger. Whitestar stared at the ground, seeming to shrink into herself even more as their parents argued. The stranger’s eyes flicked between everyone. Darklight and Ashstar snapping at each other, Whitestar, and Snowpelt. Snowpelt met her gaze and quietly asked “Who are you?” The stranger smiled gently and said “I’m Shiningcrest. I was Goldenpelt’s mother, and Darklight’s adoptive mother.” Snowpelt paused, then said “So you knew Shadowfall.” Darklight and Ashstar both flinched slightly, falling silent as they looked over. Shiningcrest nodded and said “Yes… we were… close. Until I discovered her treachery, of course. She is in the dark forest now, cursed to wander alone forever.”“Good,” Darklight spat, “She deserves it, after everything she did, and continued to do.” She looked to Shiningcrest and asked, “Do we have any idea how she was able to influence Snowpelt yet?” Shiningcrest shook her head with a sigh, saying “We don’t.”
“Well. She had been doing it since I was a young apprentice.” Wide eyes turned to look at her in surprise, even Whitestar, who looked fearful. Snowpelt sighed and said “Through my apprenticeship, she spoke to me. I didn’t know who or what she was. One day, during a fight, she took over briefly. I pushed her away until after… they died.” Whitestar flinched, and Snowpelt saw understanding dawn in her eyes. Darklight growled softly and said “One of these days, I’m going to walk into the dark forest and give my mother a piece of my mind.” Shiningcrest sighed and said “You know she’s a much better fighter than you.” Darklight closed her eyes, took a breath, then looked at Snowpelt and said “I’m sorry I’m so… angry today. It’s been… rough. Ashstar has not been making this any easier. I’m sorry he’s your father. I should have known what he really was and chosen a different mate for myself.” Ashstar rolled his eyes and said “Sure, like how your siste-” “Brother!” Darklight snapped, “And don’t you say a word about him. He found his happiness somewhere cats weren’t constantly judging him for who his mother was.” Ashstar huffed and Darklight turned back to Snowpelt and said “Ignore him. He’s not worth our time. Anyway, I wish we could have met earlier. I tried to get a dream to you, but I couldn’t, so I went to your friend, Flowersong.” “An action completely unsanctioned by the council, might I add.” Ashstar commented. “Shut up. I hoped that would work, but apparently my mother was too… you know. She was in your head. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to do more. The council is really strict on dream messages, otherwise I would have visited you, both of you, years ago. I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for you when you needed me, and I’m sorry he was your father.” She glared at Ashstar, who glared back. Snowpelt ignored them, eyes landing on Whitestar again, who flinched back when they made eye contact. Shiningcrest sighed and glanced at Whitestar worriedly, saying something too soft for Snowpelt to hear in her ear. Something felt… off there. As their parents fought, Whitestar seemed to have shut down, literally and metaphorically leaning on Shiningcrest for support. Whitestar would have only just met Shiningcrest, right? Perhaps she was at Whitestar’s nine lives ceremony? But that didn’t explain this weird mother-kit-like dynamic. Snowpelt glanced over to her parents as Darklight snapped “I should have listened to Goldenpelt the first time she told me to leave you!” Ashstar rolled his eyes, “Yes, because that badger has perfect judgement.” “Don’t you say a word about her, you never liked her, and you were always trying to get me to stop being friends with her! Which is terrible! Ugh! How did I never see any of this before!” “Stop trying to make me look like the bad guy for-” Snowpelt sighed and asked Shiningcrest “Are they always like this?” Shiningcrest sighed and said “Ever since Ashstar joined us, yes. It happens whenever the two of them are in the same vicinity.” Ashstar and Darklight paused, then Darklight sighed and said “Snowpelt, I’m sorry sweetheart. He manages to get on my nerves a lot. Especially when it comes to you.” Ashstar glared and hissed “Maybe because she’s a murderer who poisoned me and sicked foxes on me!” Darklight hissed back “Maybe that’s because you were a terrible father to her over something she can’t control!” Ashstar lifted his chin and said “Well, she ended up turning out just like your mot-” “Dont. you. Dare.” Darklight growled, voice deadly, finally making Ashstar shut up. Darklight lifted her head and said “I fought my whole life to be seen as different from the cat who gave birth to me, and I refuse to let my daughters be compared to her.” Darklight closed her eyes, took a breath, then said “But all of this isn’t the point of today. I hope Brightspot and the others will be over soon, but Snowpelt, it is time for you to become leader of Thunderclan and receive your nine lives.” Darklight smiled gently, but before anyone else could speak, Snowpelt quietly said “No.” ~First~ https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1066586971/ ~Previous~ https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1364978112/ ~Next~ WIP Sorry it's been 2 months, I've been busy with collage. That being said, we are in the final stretch! But don't expect more than a chapter a month probably, because collage, I have less time to work on it. But we will reach the end, I've got at least 14 more chapters planned, perhaps more? Anyway, thank you for your patience, and I hope you enjoyed!
