The Forsaking [Fawnpaw & Stagpaw]

[Willow]

WILLOWSTAR

Willowstar had slept until the sun began to dip below the horizon. Rays of the setting sun filled her vision as she stretched and yawned. The ShadowClan leader stood and padded out into her camp. It was deserted save for the two apprentices, crouched together and sharing a meal. Well, those were the only two that mattered anyway. The dying light of the sun illuminated the ShadowClan camp in a glimmering yellow light. It looked almost beautiful. Willowstar let a small smile come to her mouth. This would be the last time she set her eyes upon the place she had called home for so very long. So many memories were housed in the walls of this camp. Good memories and bad memories. But soon, they would be just that: Memories. Memories without a home. She would not return. Fawnpaw and Stagpaw might return if they so choose, but their leader would not be joining them.

Willowstar made her way across the brightly lit camp to stand in front of the apprentices. “Are you ready?” she asked in a soft, almost mystic voice. Once they had given their assent, Willowstar shook herself and headed out the entrance of the camp. Again, the last time she would pass through that opening. It was… a relief more than anything. A relief to shirk off her duties and forsake her Clan. She felt no attachment to them anymore. They were all traitors. Except the two she had with her. And perhaps Lilacpaw, but Willowstar did not know her well enough.

“I will not be returning,” she announced as they made their way across the marsh. Her feet sank into mud, moist with melt water. The apprentices had a right to know what she was doing. “I will speak with StarClan tonight, but I will not return to my Clan. I have no reason to.” She did not look at them but continued onward through the swamps and marshes that filled ShadowClan territory. “Crowfrost is a fool. She thinks we must journey through WindClan territory to reach the highstones. Ha! Does she forget that our territory reaches it just as easy? We make for the Carrionplace Thunderpath. It is seldom used. We should encounter no monsters. Be wary of the rats, however.”

Still her yellow eyes stayed fixed in front of her and she did not venture a glance at the two young cats behind her. She was walking at a moderate pace, certain they could keep up even with their diminutive legs. It was odd that she was telling two young cats so much, things she would never dream of telling others. Maybe Duskfrost, but he was long gone.

The three cats made it quickly to the Thunderpath. It was indeed deserted, covered in snow and ice. Monsters hardly ever had reason to reach the Carrionplace, it seemed. They crossed slowly and without any problem. Willowstar saw the highstones in the distance, looming up against the setting sun. There was nothing between them and the highstones but open, unclaimed fields. It would be an easy journey. “Keep your eyes open,” she nevertheless warned the apprentices, “I wouldn’t put anything past WindClan.”

But, as she expected, there was nothing to speak of on the frosted fields. No living creature made its presence known as Willowstar, Fawnpaw and Stagpaw padded across. Finally, Willowstar sat at the entrance of Mothermouth, staring into the darkness. The moon had not yet risen to its full height. It was not time yet. She turned her gaze to the apprentices. “Hunt while you can.” Then, the grey she-cat waited.

[tenacious]

The apprentice had gone to bed fuming; positively fuming. If he was leader, Crowfrost would’ve had her sorry hindquarters kicked out of ShadowClan territory long before WindClan was formed! What kind of cat was so rude to their leader? For StarClan’s sake, Willowstar was…well…Willowstar. Obviously she knew things, obviously she was capable of leading, otherwise, why would StarClan have granted the she-cat nine lives? Stagpaw had hoped a nice rest would clear his mind, but he woke still irritated, still angry, and a bit worried. Wolfclaw was leaving. Crowfrost was leaving; the kits were leaving, so Wolfclaw was leaving. That meant Stagpaw was without a mentor. Besides that, he liked Wolfclaw; the warrior was fun. The brown apprentice slowly padded out of the den into a quiet camp, his tail dragging slightly on the ground as he made his way to the fresh-kill pile.

You should be happy! Stagpaw reminded himself sternly; he was going to Highstones! The thought actually seemed to do well, for Stagpaw looked a bit perkier as he picked a frog from the fresh-kill pile. His mind was spinning with a large amount of thoughts; so many that he accidently took a bite of the skin. Stagpaw quickly spit it out, curling his nose in distaste before digging in once more. He ate without noticing much and gave a slight start when Willowstar approached them.

“Are you ready?”

Her voice was soft, mystical in a sense, and Stagpaw’s eyes narrowed for a moment. “As ready as I’ll ever be,” he responded, voice almost wary, before standing and padding out of camp with the two she-cats. Stagpaw walked in silence; normally, he would’ve begun rambling, but he sensed now was not the time.

“I will not be returning.”

Stagpaw’s mouth fell open and he nearly ran into Willowstar. She was not returning? But…no…ShadowClan needed Willowstar! They didn’t have a deputy, or a medicine cat; Willowstar was all they had left. Stagpaw was too shocked by the she-cat’s words to argue, to even make a tiny squeak. He merely stumbled on, silent, mind spinning faster then it ever had before. There wouldn’t be many cats left in ShadowClan, he realized with a start. Lilypelt, Swampclaw, Lilacpaw, him, and Fawnpaw. Three cats ruled out to be leaders. Swampclaw and Lilypelt would do no good- Lilypelt was too…not loyal to be a good leader. Swampclaw was too revengeful; he would lead all the cats to their deaths! Stagpaw blinked as Willowstar went on. Yes, Crowfrost was a fool…and what would he be, if he returned to ShadowClan?

Willowstar leaving doomed the Clan of the night. Stagpaw looked up at the sky was they padded on; why? Why? His ambitions had been to use his power for ShadowClan. The tom took a deep breath and the familiar scent of his Clan calmed him.

ShadowClan isn’t gone. Willowstar remains. Fawnpaw remains. That is all I need, that is all ShadowClan needs.

As he walked, Stagpaw prayed that he was right.

[{Otter}]

They moved out of camp, treading quietly and swiftly upon squishy, watery ground. Leafbare was coming to a close, and the snow that had draped ShadowClan's swamplands had finally started to melt. That was all fine and well, but the muddy water left behind was just as cold as before, clinging icily to the small apprentice's paws and even to her belly as it brushed against the various foliage. Within minutes Fawnpaw was shivering with cold, but she made no complaint as she followed Willowstar and Stagpaw through ShadowClan territory.

They moved silently, with few words spoken by Willowstar and none by Stagpaw. This fact alone was enough to cause Fawnpaw's ears to flatten uncertainly, but on top of that, the aura radiating from Willowstar was less than encouraging. Her leader did not seem to be happy. Well, that was obvious enough. But more than that, she seemed...angry. Furious. And bitter. It took not so long for Willowstar to speak, and then Fawnpaw understood. Willowtar was ridding herself of ShadowClan.

Stagpaw said nothing, a shocking thing in itself, but as Willowstar continued to speak, Fawnpaw felt no interest in speaking, either. What would two apprentices say to the leader of ShadowClan? Or ex-leader, anyway. Nothing.

But what should she feel about this? What should be done? Without Willowstar, and with Duskfrost gone, ShadowClan had nothing. In what world could Swampclaw or Lilypelt work together, and in what alternate universe could either of them be leaders? None.

And...what did this mean for her? For Stagpaw? She shook her head softly as she hurried after Willowstar, having to stretch her short legs out as far as they could to keep up with her leader's long step. When the leader was leaving, what was the loyal thing to do--stick with the leader, or the Clan? She had no idea, and yet....Fawnpaw looked up at Willowstar, and she had her answer. Living with Willowstar would mean less fighting. What did three cats have to fight against? No other Clan would bother them. Perhaps they would go live in the loner lands. That way, all they would have to worry about would be the rare loner or fox, and feeding themselves. Not a hard thing to do.

And yet, as they reached the moors and mothermouth loomed ahead, Fawnpaw thought of their ancestors. StarClan. Willowstar was coming to speak to them, but why? If she was just going to leave ShadowClan, why would she face StarClan? What if they...struck her down?

With that thought in mind, rare words crept from Fawnpaw's mouth and she asked quietly, "What will StarClan do?"

((Very sucky, sorry x.x Just wanted to throw something out so we could keep it going. I'll do better next time))

[Willow]

The apprentices were nearly silent as they walked. Neither expressed any amazement at Willowstar’s proclamation that she would not be returning. A glance at the two showed that they were simply being quite though they were amazed. Stagpaw’s mouth hung open while his sister simply seemed deep in thought. The former leader wondered what they were thinking, if they were contemplating joining her in exile or if they thought she was insane. She didn’t care either way, but the company of the two cats might be nice.

Outside the Mothermouth, Fawnpaw finally spoke. She asked what StarClan would do. Willowstar smirked and shook her head. “I’m not sure, Fawnpaw. They’re probably take my extra lives away and forsake me. They’ll punish me somehow, I’m sure.” She shrugged and looked into the gaping cave. Willowstar didn’t care what StarClan did to her. They had no real power over her anymore. She was her own master.

Soon, the moon was in the proper position and Willowstar stood. Her yellow eyes moved to look at the two apprentices. “You two can come inside with me. There’s no point in guarding the entrance.” With that, the grey tabby stood and stretched. With a final look at the two young cats, she ventured into the darkness. She walked slow, slow enough that the apprentices could keep up and follow the tip of her twitching tail. As she walked, she thought of StarClan’s reaction. And smirked bitterly.

Finally, the three made it to the open cavern under the mountain. The moonstone was illuminated just as they approached it. Willowstar looked at the apprentices and smiled. “This won’t take long,” she promised, breaking the silence that was supposed to be held within Mothermouth. Willowstar crouched beside the glowing stone and pressed her nose against the cold surface. She sighed and closed her eyes tight, waiting.

She waited for a long time before a great expansive forest appeared before her eyes. She blinked and sat up in her dream. This was not StarClan’s territory, at least not the clearing she was used to seeing. The grey she-cat shook herself and looked around, puzzled and intrigued. She saw two cats padding towards her and then she knew instantly where she was. The realization came with a feeling of icy dread mixed with deep excitement.

The Dark Forest.

Ironic that she came here in StarClan’s most sacred place. The power of the Dark Forest must be growing. The two cats—Brokenstar and Tigerstar—stopped walking a few paces in front of her and sat beneath the tall oak trees. Willowstar noticed that there was no moon here. She stared at Tigerstar, this was a cat she had heard of in every legend and story of the past yet she had never seen him. He was the most evil of cats, surpassing Brokenstar even. He was also powerful. Even in death, Willowstar felt a certain amount of fear towards the muscular brown tabby.

“Welcome, Willowstar,” Brokenstar greeted her with a dip of his head. Willowstar nodded in response, saying nothing. “I’m sure you’re wondering how we brought you here in StarClan’s most sacred place, aren’t you?” Willowstar smirked. They obviously knew her thoughts. Again, she nodded. “The Dark Forest’s power is growing and StarClan knows it. They are trying, always, to beat us back down. But they are failing. This meeting is proof of that. However, there has been a recent development that has put them slightly ahead of us. But not for long.” He gave her a grin then nodded to Tigerstar.

The former ThunderClan leader continued the introduction. “Remember Elkstar? She has become a prophet of StarClan. She is a living cat but immortal and as powerful as a StarClan cat. She walks among the cats as living proof of StarClan’s power.” Willowstar’s eyes grew huge, fitting the pieces together before she was told.

“And you want me to represent the Dark Forest?” she asked with a hint of incredulity on her voice.

Tigerstar nodded. “What better cat is there to represent the power, strength and independence of the Dark Forest than you, dear Willowstar?” He was flattering her now, his voice dropping to a purr. But it was working. Willowstar dropped her eyes and stared at the ground. “You are unsure still. Think about it, you would live forever in the forest, combating Elkstar and fighting for the Dark Forest. We will win, Willowstar. Our cats do not grovel to our power, they do not blindly serve us as StarClan cats do. Cats who follow the Dark Forest have higher intelligence and strength and are independent thinkers. But we need you to lead them.”

The former ShadowClan leader continued to stare at the ground, clawing up tuffs of grass. In her mind, she weighed her options. If she refused, she would become a simple loner, haunting ShadowClan’s territory. If she accepted, she would become so much more, but at what price? How would true immortality feel? Could she go on fighting forever? She tore at the ground more.

The two toms stood as if on cue. “Think about it, Willowstar,” Brokenstar murmured and turned. “No, wait!” Willowstar had leaped to her feet as well, yelling at the two former leaders to stop. They turned, unsurprised. They had expected her to accept from the beginning. “I’ll do it.”

Tigerstar have her a dark grin and padded forward. “I give you the gift of Immortality and undying strength, Willowstar.” He touched his nose to her forehead, just as had happened in her naming ceremony. But the lived hadn’t felt anything like this. Willowstar screamed out loud against the agony pouring through her, the feeling of life after life after life building up within her was brutal. Finally, it all ended with a rush of ecstasy and the she-cat collapsed upon the ground. Brokenstar was there now. “And I give you intelligence and power. You already posses these traits, but I shall simply increase their strength.” He touched her forehead now and the pain was only what she remembered from her ceremony moons ago. It felt like nothing after the immortality Tigerstar had granted her.

“You will no longer be known as Willowstar. That is a name from the past, useless and tainted by StarClan. Instead, you will embody that which you have left. You will become ShadowClan and your new name shall be Shadow.” Tigerstar licked her ear once. “And you shall lead the Dark Forest to righteous victory.”

The forest faded away rapidly to leave a glowing moonstone in its place. Willowstar—no, Shadow—stood slowly on stiff, pained legs. She looked at the two brown apprentices. “I am done.”

WORDS: 1,111
AUDIENCE: Fawnpaw & Stagpaw
COMMENTS: Shadow! And now I have to change that image after only using it once....

[{Otter}]

[bg=black][atrb=border,0,true] Darkness closed in upon them as they entered Mothermouth. Fawnpaw's eyes widened slowly as she cast around for any sign of light, but within a few pawsteps, there was none. She kept close to Stagpaw, taking strength and courage form the feeling of her brother's solid body beside hers, as they followed Willowstar into the abyss. This can't be a good thing, she thought uneasily, ears flattening as they traveled ever further into the cold, dark hole. Finally, they came to the cavern she had heard about from the elders. Never before had Fawnpaw entered, and a shiver ran down her spine as she gazed upon the stone that glowed with StarClan's light. Willowstar padded forward to press her nose against the glowing stone. Before long, ShadowClan's former leader was breathing deeply, as if in sleep. Fawnpaw sat down and glanced at Stagpaw uncertainly. As they waited for what seemed like moons, Fawnpaw drifted off into a doze. That is, she thought it was a doze. But as she opened her eyes to her dream, she found herself standing in a brightly lit forest, the very leaves of which seemed to glow like stars. Eyes wide, Fawnpaw spun around in search for Stagpaw and Willowstar, calling out wildly as she found they were no longer with her. And then, a breeze arose. It whispered through the air and blasted against her fur, sending a shiver of fear down her spine. Why was she so afraid? She didn't know, and the quiet young apprentice cowered against the dewy grass as she waited. Finally, a cat appeared. She walked slowly, her blue-gray fur glistening with the light of StarClan. Her eyes, when the sought out Fawnpaw's were full of insurmountable rage, and the tawny apprentice shrank back, seeking a shadow to hide in. There were none. No shadows in StarClan, and she stopped searching and held her ground, eyes widening as the she-cat approached. A few words were spoken, just a few. Confusing, horrifying words. "Fawn," the she-cat hissed, addressing the young apprentice by a new name. "You have chosen to walk through life alongside a traitor of StarClan. Your voice will no longer be necessary to you." The she-cat bent down and touched her nose to Fawn's before the young cat could even flinch. All at once, a horrible emptiness seemed to swallow her throat. She felt no pain. Instead, it was...nothingness. Nothing at all. Light green eyes opened, and Fawn sprang to her paws in the dark cavern of Mothermouth. Willowstar was awake now, and Fawn saw Stagpaw beside her, but as she opened her mouth to ask if they had seen the strange, blue-gray cat, nothing came out. No words, no mewl, no squeal of surprise. She gaped at Stagpaw like a fish out of water, tail lashing in fear as she shifted her eyes to Willowstar. Her leader...Why had the StarClan cat called her a traitor? What had she done? I can't even ask her. I can't even say anything, she thought, finally closing her mouth and flattening her ears in submission. Another cat may have continued to try to squeal. Another cat may have started racing in circles in an attempt to get her message across. But not Fawn. She knew when she was beat, she knew when there was no hope. And now, she knew, there was none. Word Count;; 554 Muse;; not so bad Notes;; poor Fawn ^.^

[tenacious]

Take away Willowstar’s lives…then what would she be? Just Willow? He couldn’t recall what the she-cat’s warrior name had been. But, if she is leaving ShadowClan, why keep a warrior name at all? Stagpaw wondered silently; it would certainly be more logical for Willowstar to drop her old name. Perhaps she would become just Willow. He shrugged to himself before returning to the present. But no cat spoke any more. Stagpaw took to whispering what seemed like insanities beneath his breath until Willowstar stood once more, looking over at him and Fawnpaw.

Stagpaw hesitated before entering the cavern; darkness immediately surrounded him and all instinct told Stagpaw to turn back around and run. Not only that, but he didn’t even like the dark that much (ironic that he had once been apart of ShadowClan…). He walked slowly beside Fawnpaw, gazing around him and often looking over his shoulder, as if some cat had followed them in and was preparing to attack. After more then enough time had passed for Stagpaw’s taste, the three cats entered the chamber where the moonstone rested. A shiver of excitement rolled down Stagpaw’s spine as he came to a halt. He watched Willowstar pad forward and, then, sleep. Honestly, it wasn’t an exciting buildup; why couldn’t StarClan send down some lightning? Mind you, nothing to hit any of them. Or to trap them in the cave…heck, maybe what had happened was really just fine after all.

The tom plopped down beside Fawnpaw, his brow furrowed as he began to think. Where would the three of them go? And what would happen to ShadowClan territory? Oh, he’d flay any Clan that dared to try and claim it! A light snarl built up in his chest at the very idea, but Stagpaw kept it from bursting into the air. He watched as Fawnpaw fell asleep as well and, with the glow of the moonstone being the only light, Stagpaw was quite tempted to sleep himself, but he forced himself to stay awake. He had nothing to say to StarClan and this was a place for speaking to StarClan. After what seemed like moons, Willowstar awoke, and Stagpaw opened his mouth to ask her what had happened when Fawnpaw awoke as well. His sister sprang to her paws, opening her mouth to speak, but nothing came out and…was that fear?

“Fawnpaw, what’s wrong with you?” Stagpaw questioned, his eyes narrowing out of concern. He stared at her for a moment longer before looking over at Willowstar.

[{Otter}]

[bg=black][atrb=border,0,true] What was wrong with her? She had no idea. Worse than that, she had no idea how to let him know about her dream. About the blue-gray cat that had taken her voice away. The cat who had called Willowstar a traitor. The cat that had called her Fawn instead of Fawnpaw. Clearly, Stagpaw hadn't had any form of dream, or else he would doubtlessly look a bit more freaked out than he was now. Instead, he just looked concerned. Fawn heaved a soundless sigh and rose slowly to her paws. There really was no point in trying to explain to Stagpaw what had happened. Instead she opened her mouth at him and tried to speak, not for her own benefit, but to show him that she couldn't. Her tail lashed uneasily and she glanced frequently at Willowstar. What had ShadowClan's former leader seen? Why was she counted as a traitor?

[Willow]

A certain power and darkness seemed to exude from her as she stepped from the now dim stone. She felt it coursing through her muscles and down her spine, strengthening her. Tigerstar’s magic was still working within her. Shadow shook herself, trying to dispel the odd tingling sensation but it would not go away. She pawed at the ground restlessly and looked at the two siblings. Fawnpaw was dozing and appeared to be hardly moving. She looked the way leaders and medicine cats did when they shared tongues with StarClan. Shadow’s brow furrowed questioningly as she stared at the little she-cat.

Finally, Fawnpaw awoke and stared around as if she had just seen a ghost. Perhaps she had. The apprentice opened her mouth as if to speak but nothing came out. Shadow flicked her tail in annoyance, wondering what silly game she was playing. “Come on, we need to get back to our territory,” she said and shook herself against yet the tingling feeling remained. She growled softly. Apparently she’d just have to get used to this if she wanted her immortality.

The former leader made her way out of the twisting tunnel swiftly. She knew the way by heart even in the pitch blackness. When she walked, her paws seemed to hit the ground with echoing crashes though it was only her imagination. Her eyesight seemed stronger, but that too was probably imagination. She blinked in the bright moonlight outside the mouthermouth. Her gaze was brought to the twinkling stars. StarClan warriors. And Dark Forest warriors. She grinned slightly at those stars, knowing her “gods” were up there alongside the conventional worship.

Then she turned her yellow eyes to Fawnpaw and Stagpaw. “Are you two hungry or tired?”


WORDS: 289
AUDIENCE: Fawnpaw & Stagpaw
COMMENTS: Yeah, will change her image sometime… lol