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Post by Willowleaf on Nov 17, 2013 20:03:42 GMT -5
Great HeavenClan! Did you read Willowleaf's story?? That's the winner, hands down. Even Goldenheart cannot handle Starblaze's amazingness. ? Anyways, Moonstar, Norrisstar can do ANYTHING, so yeah... Here. I guess some cats are more perfect than others, but I got really sick of writing a perfect amazing Starblaze so I gave her doom. Beware, its not done yet. Best game ever.
SN: Willowleaf NAME: Starblaze DESCRIPTION: Starblaze was once a twoleg, named Star. She was lived with her aunt and uncle and sister because her real parents mysteriously disappeared while they were in the nearby forest when she was seven. Star had learned to hunt from her parents, and she knew where all the secret pathways of the forests were, where the good prey was, and how to communicate with the forest's resident animals. But she still lived with her aunt and her uncle because her sister, Moon, was trapped in their house by them, forced to do every little task their guardians wanted.
One night, she had a strange dream. She dreamed she was in a forest clearing, with shining fireflies and soft green grass all around her. There was a mysterious breeze, and a silver cat formed out of the wind! The cat smiled when it saw her, and had whispered, "The star that shines brighter than any other will come and be the only one who can defeat mad power." The cat then pressed his nose to her forehead, saying, "And I have a gift for you." And she woke up. Startled by her dream, she dressed and looked into the mirror. And gasped. On her forehead, precisely where the cat had touched her, was a gleaming jewel that reflected every color! In the light, it glimmered pink, scarlet, orange, yellow, emerald, cerulean, and a deep violet the color of her eyes. Also, around her neck was a lovely necklace, made of a thin chain of glinting and gleaming silver attached to a beautiful, iridescent gemstone that felt warm to the touch.
That afternoon, she was hunting in the forest to bring back some meat so she and Moon could have something to eat, since her step parents never gave them any food. Suddenly, she heard a rustling noise. Quickly, she climbed up a tree, and spotted four cats hunting. There were two very large ones, who were light gray and golden colored, and two smaller ones, one a bright, fiery red, and the other black. The bigger cats were talking to the smaller cats, telling them how to hunt. She climbed down the tree and called to them. They looked surprised to see her, but strangely enough, they didn't flee. One of the smaller cats gasped when she saw her, saying something like "A star!" The two bigger cats whispered to each other, muttering something she couldn't hear. She greeted them cautiously, and one of the cats finally spoke to her. "A twoleg that can talk!" the gray cat gasped. "We should take you to Rainbowstar." The cats led her deep into the forest. And along the way, she got to know the cats. The fire-orange tom cat with bright golden eyes, filled with knowledge and understanding, was named Flameheart, and was very excited to meet her. He was really nice and sweet and funny.
The big golden tom was Lionclaw, the gray one as Grayback, and the dark tabby as Tigerfang. Tigerfang, unlike Flameheart, was silent, and glared at her. Once, he even spat at her when she tripped, muttering something about clumsy twolegs while the kind Flameheart helped her up. "Oh, don't listen to him. He's been a deputy for a few moons, and now he's as grumpy as the elders," he joked.
Soon, they reached the camp, where Star met Rainbowstar, who was standing on the tall rock in the middle of the camp. Rainbowstar was a white she-cat with blue eyes and red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple splotches and speckles in her fur. She called, "Let all cats old enough to hunt gather beneath the Skyrock!" and cats in all shapes, sizes and colors came out from all around her. The space under the rock was soon filled. Suddenly, the warm sunlight of midday seemed to grow brighter. Star felt the warmth from the necklace intensify, as a multi-colored light poured from it. The clearing was blinded by brightness as something incredible began to happen. The cats around her watched and gasped and fell silent.
All of a sudden, the light stopped. Star felt... different. Everything suddenly looked a lot bigger, from the mountain looming of her to the tiny pebbles in the ground. She looked down at herself and gasped. Something else felt different, too... Star craned her head around, and spotted a proud, erect tail. Star had long, elegant bright silver-white fur that shimmered softly midnight blue in the sunlight. Periwinkle, teal, aqua, gold, and lime shone through thin lines in her pelt, like highlights. Her pelt was sleek, but she was slender. She padded over to a nearby puddle and gazed at her reflection. Staring back at her were bright purple eyes, deep with emotion and knowledge, laden with bright flecks of blue, silver and gold. The jewel embedded in her forehead glowed softly the purple of her eyes, and Star's necklace was brighter and more beautiful than before, shining with multiple colors. Her long whiskers stretched outwards, and she could smell everything. All the different cat scents in the camp spoke to her, and beyond that, she smelled the scents of voles and rabbits and birds. She could hear really far, of all the mice scurrying underground, and the robin's song twittering in the air. She got up and stretched in the shining sunlight, sending a kaleidoscope of colors through the air. The cats oo'd and ah'd. Flameheart ran up to her and murmured in a quiet voice that felt full of... something, "oh, Star! You look beautiful!"
Rainbowstar looked stunned, and said, "This Twoleg has been blessed by StarClan!" The cats cheered! "We must accept her into our Clan. StarClan's wishes rule over all." Rainbowstar crouched down, ready to leap from the rock and greet her.
"Wait!" The cats gasped, and the crowd parted. Star narrowed her eyes as she spotted Tigerfang. "She may have been touched by StarClan, but she's still no warrior! She's as small and as skinny as a kit! She'll be dead in a day, whether it's by thorns or by claws!" Star watched him calmly and coolly, thinking. "I might have been a Twoleg," she said, choosing her words carefully, "but I am not weak! I hunt in this forest every day. I can climb trees and I have caught thousands of deer! I can beat a mouse-brain like you any day!"
"Oh really, well then let's see if that's true!" Tigerfang launched himself at her, paws outstretched, and long, hooked claws glinting in the sunlight. Star watched the deputy carefully, noting how as he leaped, one side was clumsily lowered. She sidestepped his assault easily, and he fell clumsily onto the ground, yowling in pain. She clawed him fiercely with her razor-sharp, shining gold claws, piercing through shadowy fur like it was butter. Tigerfang twisted, trying to snap his teeth into Star's side. Star gracefully dodged him and flanked him, slicing his side. Tigerfang shakily got up, before growling and trying to lunge at her again.
Same old tricks, she thought, easy!
Star leaped high above him, causing Tigerfang to look upwards in confusion. She landed on his back, and pushed him to the ground. Tigerfang screeched and tried to squash her under his body as he flipped over. Star leaped off, as quick as lightning, and slashed his exposed belly. Tigerfang bolted up, yowling in defeat, and ran away.
The Clan gasped! There were wild cheers of amazement by some apprentices, while other mewed their congratulations. Even Rainbowstar looked stunned! "From all my years as a leader, I never have seen a cat so powerful and coordinated!" she said, "I have come to a decision. If you would like, you may join our Clan as an apprentice. Would you?"
Star knew exactly what she wanted to say. It was so obvious! "Of course I will!" she exclaimed.
"Great!" Rainbowstar meowed! She began to speak loudly again, "Cats of DarkClan, this newcomer has decided to join us as a Clanmate. She will join us as an apprentice. And I will mentor her."
Every cat, except for Tigerfang, cheered!
"Also," Rainbowstar continued, "because of his reckless and hostile actions, Tigerfang will be suspended from his deputy duties for three moons." Rainbowstar set her blue gaze onto him. "You must learn that every warrior must show acceptance and respect. You will be helping out in the nursery. Perhaps that will teach you to be kinder!"
The deputy's eyes widened in outrage. He began to speak, but Starpaw cut in. "Rainbowstar, maybe three moons is too much. How about just one moon?" Rainbowstar looked at her, and sighed with affection and happiness at the kind Starpaw's thoughtful words. "Very well," she said, "Tigerfang, due to the forgiving tolerance of Starpaw, you only have to serve for one moon." She then turned to Starpaw and said, "Our training will begin tomorrow, at dawn."
Tigerfang hissed ungratefully at her, and still looked incredibly angry. He spat and stalked off to the nursery. Starpaw watched his retreating form, hoping that something would change him to become a kinder cat.
Starpaw heard the soft sound of paws hitting the ground, and turned. Flameheart and two other apprentices, one a brown tabby, and the other a pale cream, smiled back at her. "That was amazing!" they said. "Can you show us your moves? They were so cool!"
Starpaw smiled. "Of course I can show you. It's a good thing Tigerfang will be serving the kits for a while. I hate bullies," she said, remembering her aunt and uncle. The apprentices led her to a sandy area, and watched her in amazement as she did twist after kick after claw. Slowly, the apprentices began to tire, and went back to their dens to rest. But loyal Flameheart stayed. He watched her warm, clear amber eyes, full of affection and joy. Starpaw finished one last battle move, and Flameheart stood up. Shyly, he walked up to her.
The looked into each other's eyes, Flameheart's warm, kind amber eyes into her deep, multicolored ones. He asked softly, "Hey... Starpaw... would you like to go on a date with me?" Starpaw gasped with joy, "Of course!" She couldn't believe it! Flameheart had just asked her out!
They walked to the edge of DarkClan's territory, a grassy cliff that overlooked a gleaming blue ocean. Starpaw looked at Flameheart, noticing his long, luxurious bright fox-red fur, and the lean, hard muscle beneath it. His orange eyes were shining and bright, unclouded by a single speck of dust. They reached the edge of the cliff and watched the setting sun together. The sun left a brilliant reflection of fiery red light on the surface of the water, streaked by paths of orange and yellow. It looked to Starpaw as if there was a path from her through the water to the sun. The two cats snuggled up to each other as the last traces of flame-light faded into shiny stars, bits of light in the cold, dark sky.
The day passed quickly.
The next morning, Starpaw woke up a little before dawn. Flameheart was awake, and he purred softly as he saw her. Starpaw purred back and they walked through the forest, catching two voles, three birds, two rabbits, and four mice. They were carrying them back to camp when Starpaw heard yowling.
"My kits! They're gone!"
Starpaw dashed back into camp, gracefully leaping over roots and stones. She quickly found her way back to camp through the large forest, and gasped. Frostshine, the gentle queen who was white colored with kind, gentle, sparkling violet-blue eyes, was sobbing. Larkwhisker, the silver tabby beside her, who had sweet features and a sleek body, was trying desperately to console her.
"A fox must have taken them!" Frostshine said.
"A fox couldn't have got in," Starpaw said, "the brambles are much too thick and sharp."
The hysterical queens nodded, grateful for Starpaw's intelligent and thoughtful comment. Starpaw continued, "It must have been someone inside the camp!" Suddenly, she gasped. "Have any of you seen Tigerfang?"
The queens glanced at each other before Frostshine spoke up, "We left the den to get some prey, and that was when our kits disappeared, as well as Tigerfang!"
Rainbowstar, who was watching the exchange, suddenly talked. "Starpaw, you have shown yourself to be an extraordinary apprentice. Will you go hunt down Tigerfang?"
"Of course I will!" she said. Starpaw turned, and dove out of the gorse entrance. She used her keen sense of smell and sight to search for him. There were tufts of tabby fur scattered all around the brambles and thorns in the forest, all that smelled of Tigerfang. She tracked him for a long time. After a while, she spotted him! He was standing next to a hole in the ground, dangling the kits by their scruffs in front of it. He muttered, "Come on, come on!" Starpaw sneaked up behind him, paws gently touching the ground, and leaped! She hit him in the back, using her sun-gold claws to slash through his thin, patchy fur. He yowled before clawing at her face, and a rumbling noise emanated from the hole. Starpaw valiantly ignored the pain and sunk her teeth deep into his flesh. Tigerfang tried to claw her off, but it was useless against her tight grip. All of a sudden, the growling stopped, and an enormous badger stomped out of the hole! It bit at Starpaw, but couldn't get its teeth into her pelt as she swiftly leaped onto the badger's back. Tigerfang cowardly fled at the sight of the badger, leaving the defenseless kits to battle against it! The badger roared angrily and tried to raze Starpaw with its claws, but she leaped out of the way again swung a powerful paw at its face. The badger moaned, a long stream of blood leaking from its wounds. Starpaw slashed again and again, until the badger gave up and rushed back into it's den. Starpaw stood, panting. She had won! She beat a badger! Proudly, she returned to camp.
The cats cheered when she burst into the camp. They had all heard the results her valiant fight against the badger and Tigerfang. Flameheart, especially. He watched her with joy and happiness. Rainbowstar leaped onto the Skyrock and shouted, "Today, due to the actions of a particularly brave and skill cat, a new warrior will be made!" Starpaw listened, awed. Rainbowstar couldn't be talking of her, could she?
"Starpaw has tracked down the traitor Tigerfang and defeated a badger that threatened DarkClan. She will now be made a warrior!"
Starblaze gasped.
"I, Rainbowstar, leader of DarkClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn. Starpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
Starpaw smiled. "Of course I do!" "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Starpaw, from this moment you will be known as Starblaze. StarClan honors your strength, intelligence, honor, bravery, agility, gracefulness, cleverness, nimbleness, beauty, hardiness, good-heartedness, dexterity, virtue, kindness, gentleness, fierceness, battle skill, adeptness, positiveness, loyalty, and brilliance. We welcome you as a full warrior of DarkClan.
Starblaze felt the praises of DarkClan warm her pelt, but remained modest and took them in proudly, but not showing off. The crowd cheered so loud the forest shook! Starblaze noticed Flameheart was cheering especially loud. She smiled brightly at him.
Over the next few days, Starblaze excelled at hunting and fighting. She caught the most prey out of the warriors, and won the most in their practice skirmishes. And one rainy day, Rainshine, DarkClan's medicine cat, beckoned to her with his tail. Starblaze approached, curious. Rainshine glanced around furtively, and whispered, "Have you noticed the amount of ill cats around the Clan recently?"
Starblaze nodded. "Of course I have. Thorntooth was coughing this morning, and Deerspots looked a bit green."
Rainshine glanced at her, impressed. "Yes," he said, "They have greencough."
Starblaze gasped! As a twoleg, she had helped the village doctor with his work, and had learned about the deadly greencough, as well as many other diseases and their herbal treatments, since there were only herbs nearby, no modern medicine.
***FLASHBACK*** Star stood in a snowy field, desperately digging with her bare hands, feeling for the soft, furry texture of catmint leaves. Half the village, including her sister Moon, were sick with greencough, the deadly disease that had plagued the lands in the middle of winter. She recognized it when she first saw the patients- sickly green colored, and coughing up their pain. She also knew that the treatment was exceedingly rare. And so she was searching the snow for the precious herb.
After a few minutes of searching, Star realized that her efforts were useless. She closed her eyes and lowered her head in defeat, when she felt something. Something in her that said there was catmint here. She just had to search a little more...
Star moved in a dreamlike state, feeling nothing and hearing nothing. Her feet moved on their own accord, traveling towards a seemingly nonexistent destination. Slowly, she bent down, and began to dig with her eyes closed, until she touched something soft. Star opened her eyes, and gasped! Right below her hands was an amazing shrub of catmint, enormous and delicious-smelling. She pulled it out by the roots. There was enough to cure the whole village! Holding her precious cargo under her thick, fur-lined jacket, she began to trek back home when she saw the hare.
It was an enormous white specimen, barely visible to anyone except for Star's keen vision. It was right near her, only a few steps off. Star picked up a nearby, sharp gray stone and trekked softly towards it. She had learned hunting from her real parents, how to walk extremely quietly and softly, and how to sneak up on unsuspecting prey. Star lunged forward, but the hare began to dash off. Star chased after it, easily overtaking it with her long, slender legs, and stabbed it in the neck. Smiling, she returned to the village, confident and hopeful, with herbs and prey. ***END FLASHBACK***
"We need catmint, fast!" she said, "I promise I'll find some!" Rainshine nodded and replied, "Thank you. I asked you because I knew you were strong, fast, and dependable." He melted back into his den. Starblaze dashed into the rain-soaked forest.
She sniffed around for the catmint, hoping and wishing as she searched through the dewy undergrowth. All of a sudden, the strange feeling took hold of her. There was something useful... but this time it was different. An inherent tinge of blood filled her, shockingly dark. Ahead of her was someone with intentions to kill... and yet, there was something hopeful too. Starblaze walked forward slowly, waiting, knowing.
A ear-splitting screech suddenly split the air, and a shadow hurtled towards her.
Starblaze turned faster than humanely (or felinely) possible and slashed her attacker in the face. He yowled and fell onto the damp forest soil, wriggling pathetically in a useless attempt to fight back. Of course, he could have just gotten back on his feet, but Starblaze's amazingness prevented that. Starblaze angrily stalked up to him, and gasped. It was Tigerfang! And right next to him was an entire pile of freshly-picked catmint!
Tigerfang's growled and his eyes suddenly flashed red. The downpour grew heavier and lightning flashed as sickly purple tendrils of darkness arose from his paws and wrapped around the herbs. Starblaze watched in horrified amazement as the catmint turned black and the leaves shriveled into dead curls. Tigerfang threw his head back and laughed, "Muahahaha! Now DarkClan will have no protection from greencough!"
Starblaze was enraged. "How did you become so cruel as to want to destroy helpless kits and elders?" she shouted.
Tigerfang smiled meanly. "I was always this cruel, kittypet." He leaped away from her, shadow tendrils trailing by his paws, and ran into the forest.
"No!" Starblaze screamed, chasing after him. Branches tore at her face as she raced through the undergrowth, but she didn't slow down. All she cared about was getting Tigerfang, for the lives he had doomed, for the misery he would cause. His retreating form flickered in front of her and she followed, bursting into an open clearing, the-
DarkClan camp
A shudder ran through her pelt. Her paws flew across the ground.
But it was too late.
Tigerfang stood in the middle of the camp, grinning insanely, shadows crackling and hissing around his feet. He stood over a flame-colored tom, whose eyes were once clear and as bright as the sun.
She stood, stunned, as Tigerfang escaped.
The Clan watched her in a haze of gray, individual cats melted into the driving rain. She padded up to Flameheart and sunk her muzzle into his rapidly cooling fur, breathing in the last traces of his scent. All of DarkClan yowled in despair at the sight of the lovers, creating a cacophony with the sound of rain pounding on stone. Tears fell along with the rain.
Suddenly the stormclouds broke and a spiraling ray of light fell upon Starblaze and Flameheart. A quick gale swept past the clan, and a silver cat was formed from the wind. It was the cat from her dream! He smiled kindly and gently when he saw her, and touched his nose to her forehead gem, murmuring, "I see you are in great turmoil right now, Starblaze. Do not give up hope, for hope is the tool of the good and wise. As his nose touched her, her gem flashed a million different colors, blinding the forest in light. Starblaze felt the good touch her soul, and a great change inside of her occurred.
Somewhere in the dark shadows, Tigerfang shrieked as goodly light washed over him. He gathered his shadows closer around himself but the separated and fragmented them. Still, he resisted and the darkness inside him grew deeper.
In the brilliant light, Starblaze felt something growing, sprouting from her shoulders. Something unearthly, something beautiful. All of a sudden, the light stopped and Starblaze felt a breeze stir the something on her back. She turned- and gasped. On her back was a pair of large, feathery wings, pure white and gleaming in the beautiful daylight. She flapped them experimentally and rose up into the air. Laughing joyfully, she winged her way around camp, testing out her new, wonderful wings. The silver cat watched her happily, delighted that he had been able to help the most amazing and graceful Starblaze.
But all of a sudden, Starblaze remembered about Flameheart. She landed in front of the silver cat and looked at him, grief and sadness in her eyes. He was so touched by her feelings that he started crying. "I'm sorry, Starblaze. Not even the me, Silverstar, the great leader of StarClan, can bring back the dead. But, I can show him to you one more time if you would like."
Starblaze nodded before Silverstar finished talking. "Yes. Even if its just one more time, I still want to see him."
"Very well," was the reply. A sudden flame crackled in the center of the clearing, burning away to reveal none other than Flameheart! Starblaze padded into his strong, comforting embrace and they stood together.
"Stay strong, my love," Flameheart whispered into her ear.
"I will, always," she promised him.
All of a sudden, the two StarClan cats began to fade away. Silverstar whispered to her before he left, "Use these powers you have been granted wisely, Starblaze. Use them to save DarkClan from mad powe..." His voice faded away with the wind.
Starblaze raised her head to the newly-cleared sky. She spoke clearly and loudly, so all the cats could hear. "StarClan has given me a new life, a new power, and a new pair of wings. I will use these gifts to rid DarkClan of the evil that has plagued us for so long. The darkness will never rule over us, for light is the true ruler." And with that, she leaped into the air, searching for any sign of Tigerfang.
~~~
In the dead of night, Starblaze was following a trail. The footprints were fresh, with no sign of Tigerfang even trying to hide them. She glided along the path, sure she was going to catch him this time and bring him to justice for all the crimes he committed. The trail was leading out of DarkClan territory, into a vast area of Twolegplace, one she had never seen before due to it being far away from her home. But her acute sense of direction never failed her, and even when she had to track him over stone, she never lost his trail.
Inside the Twolegplace, it was dark and foreboding, more so with night. Tall buildings loomed over her, dark and distant and gray. But Starblaze radiated an aura of good, and she felt confident and powerful as she stepped through twisting gray alleyways. After a few minutes, she reached a clearing in the metal trees, where a great chunk of stone rose from the ground. Starblaze approached the rock, but then she noticed something. Tigerfang''s scent doubled backwards! He wasn't in the clearing, but he was a few minutes ago. She was turning to leave when she heard a voice, as cold as ice and as sharp as a knife.
"Stop."
Starblaze turned. A black cat with one white paw stood on the stone. Around his neck was a blood-red collar, with long dog's teeth poking out of it. His eyes were as cold as his voice- fierce, frozen ice as beautiful as it was lethal. The cat jumped down from the rock and landed less than a whisker away from her. His eyes traveled down the length of her body, from her lovely shining gemstone to her silky multicolored fur to her luxurious angel wings. He growled, a gentle sound that seemed more like a purr than a growl of anger, "You are beautiful."
Starblaze looked back at him. His body was lithe and thin, his eyes sharp and beautiful. She felt so attracted to this wonderful, mysterious stranger, but forced herself to hold it in. But his eyes... they were so alluring, deep and crystalline and glinting so bright against his fur. He watched her with the same intensity, and he asked, "What is your name?"
"Starblaze," was her reply.
"And I am Scourge," he said. "You are a very beautiful cat," he repeated, "Would you like to stay with me in my domain? I rule over Twolegplace- it is my home, and it is my kingdom."
Starblaze hastily agreed, not being able to take her eyes off of this gorgeous Scourge.
He led her to the top of the rock. "From here, you can see all of my lands," he told her, "From the edge of the forest to the mountains where Twolegplace ends, this is all mine." Starblaze could only nod, amazed.
Suddenly, a pair of cats burst into the clearing. One was a dark gray tabby she-cat with a green collar full of dog teeth, the other was a dusty ginger tom, with an orange collar. They were holding a third cat between them, a ugly ash-colored she-cat with eyes the color of dirt. "Leader Scourge," they chorused together, "We found this cat stealing food from the Prey Storagehouse."
Scourge's eyes narrowed into chips of ice. "Why were you stealing my prey?" he asked the ash-colored cat, his voice dangerously low.
The she-cat merely looked at the ground.
Scourge growled menacingly, but she didn't respond. "Kill her," he told the two guards. They nodded and unsheathed their claws.
"Wait!" Starblaze shouted. All the cats turned to her. Starblaze abhorred killing unless when it was absolutely necessary. "If you kill her," Starblaze chose her words carefully, "Then I'll leave you forever." Scourge's eyes widened.
"No," he whispered. He hastily turned to the guards and said, "Spare her." They nodded and dragged the cat away. Scourge turned back to her and said, "Starblaze. Please, never leave me. I know I have only met you for a few hours now, but..." Scourge stared into her eyes, "I love you."
Starblaze gasped for the fifth time that day. But it wasn't a complete gasp. She knew that in her heart, she loved him too. And so what better time would there be to say,
"I love you, too."
Scourge's eyes softened. He padded up to her and rested his head on her shoulder. Together, they watched the sun rise. But all too soon, it was time for Starblaze to leave. Scourge pleaded for her to stay, but she knew she couldn't. "I have to stop Tigerfang," she told him, "My Clan will be vulnerable without me."
"Then let me come with you," he replied, "Please. We could rule over the lands together, with your forest and my Twolegplace."
"Yes, together," Starblaze agreed. They walked through the alleyways regally, continuing out of Twolegplace and into the forest.
They heard the screams long before they reached DarkClan's camp.
When Starblaze heard them, she flew. Her paws never touched the ground. Scourge dashed after her, not far behind.
They soon reached the camp. Starblaze first noticed quiet sobbing in the bushes by the camp, clear to her acute ears. She pushed aside the bushes, revealing gentle Frostshine. The frost-white cat formed barely coherent words when he saw her, babbling in grief-filled agony. "Tig-tigerfang... h-h-he killed... Rainbowstar!"
Starblaze let out one of her characteristic gasps! She dove through the walls of the camp, ignoring the brambles that tore at her fur. The scene burst out to her eyes in a gruesome painting of death. Rainbowstar lay crumpled in a heap, and several other warriors littered the ground in piles of gray, golden, white fur and blood. Tigerfang was towering over a silver tabby, his teeth long and fortified with horrible shadows.
Starblaze lunged at him, claws outstretched. But her legs didn't comply with her actions, and she was too slow, too helpless to do anything but to watch Larkwhisker's throat being torn out by unnatural teeth. As her bloodied body sunk to the ground, Tigerfang turned to her. His voice was hissing and cruel, like a snake, and while he spoke, shadows pulsed around him. "So, Starblaze, you've finally decided to show up. But why are you so late? It's almost over already."
Starblaze growled back, "You killed Rainbowstar, you killed my Clanmates! Leave now, or I will kill you in the name of justice."
Tigerfang smiled back, his eyes crazed with blood. "Very well, Starblaze. But I will be back!" He turned and bounded away.
The sickly, cloying scent of blood and death stained the camp. Starblaze felt sickened by the gore. Her legs shook underneath her. Scourge pressed against her side. "You should rest, my dear," he counseled.
"Yes," Starblaze replied. Her mind felt dulled from grief, and she let Scourge lead her to the Warriors' Den. She sunk into a nest of soft moss and closed her eyes. The last thing Starblaze saw was Scourge, his icy blue eyes sharp against his pelt of night, before falling asleep.
She awoke in a dream land.
Starblaze stood on a cliff overlooking an enormous valley. Fierce gales howled around her, throwing up pebbles and charging at the ground. All of a sudden, they converged at a single spot in front of her, forming a gray cat with ruffled, unkempt fur and bloodshot eyes. Starblaze sighed in relief, "Silverstar, thank StarClan you're here! Tigerfang killed Rainbowstar and a bunch of other warriors and he's going to attack us again and I know I need to kill him but I don't know if I have enough power-"
She was cut of by the sound of bitter laughter. Silverstar chuckled, "Oh, Starblaze. You never really knew, did you"
Starblaze was confused. "What do you mean?"
"Starblaze, Starblaze. Did you know that every light has a shadow? No matter how high a flame grows, it cannot outrun the darkness it casts. Everything I have given you- your body, your powers, your wings, your love- all took my light power. But with this focused light I have created you with, there must be shadows to balance it. And there are. In Tigerfang, a cat who was once light, until a brighter star outshined him and casted her shadow over him. So he turned to the new power in the darkness, and chased after his own dreams with them. But the path from light to dark had changed him, and now he chases after new dreams, ones that are nightmares to other cats."
"But you, Starblaze. I gave you a prophecy, and the light power to fulfill it. And you called on that great power not to save DarkClan, but to give yourself the appearance you desired, a mate you desired, and wings you desired." Silverstar dissipated back into wind, his voice full of anger and regret.
And when Starblaze awoke, nothing had changed.
It was like she had never slept. Her head ached, and she trembled uncontrollably. Starblaze steadied her nerves and stood up.
Scourge slipped into the den. "How are you, my love?" he asked.
"I need to save DarkClan from Tigerfang," she meowed, "I need to rally the cats."
Scourge nodded, "Of course."
Starblaze exited the Warriors Den, Scourge by her side. They climbed up onto the high peak of the Skyrock. Starblaze proclaimed, "Let all cats old enough to hunt gather beneath the Skyrock!"
A handful of cats emerged from their dens. Among them, Starblaze recognized Frostshine, the gentle queen, and Rainshine, DarkClan's medicine cat. Starblaze took a deep breath and began to speak.
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