Chapter Text
Stars gilded the sky in a mesmerizing array of white speckles, a heavy contrast to the pitch black night. Entering Blackmouth, two cats padded towards a roaring waterfall.
They gathered around the Moonfall, the rushing water hiding their sacred Starstone. A sand grey tortoiseshell stepped forward, sharp eyes seemingly glowing in the low light as their ears pinned back.
“Make haste, Daisy in Snow. We only have til’ nightrise…” They hissed, keeping their voice low in case of intruders.
The apprentice dipped her head to her mentor,
“Of course, Shell.” Daisy whispered politely, whiskers twitching curiously as she tasted the air.
There was a hint of a long-gone squirrel, with the sharp tang of catmint coming from behind the waterfall. There was also something much more sinister; the scent of blood. Daisy grimaced at its metallic aroma, averting her head to avoid its stench, all too familiar by now…
Shell moved first; padding though the Moonfall with ease. They beckoned Daisy forwards with a flick of their tail, with Daisy obeying and stepping through the sheet of water as well. It was cold, like a chill straight to her very bones as rushing water cascaded through her thick fur. Daisy had adapted to this feeling, fortunately. Considering the fact that she was always around water – it would be hard to dislike it.
The Starstone glittered with raindrops, moonlight shining through a gap in the stone roof. Flowers and herbs surrounded it, still green and lively despite the cold of leafbare. Nightshade, catmint and chervil being most abundant of all: Daisy found this fact odd as chervil only ever grew at the edges of her and TreeClan’s borders. There was something… Unnatural, about this place. She had never been to the Starstone before – only hearing of it through tales by the elders. Frankly, she only half-believed it even existed until now.
Shell looked behind themselves, then back to the crystal once they made sure there was no cat following them. They moved carefully, stepping close to the Starstone before resting in front of it on their belly.
Daisy did the same, laying on her belly next to Shell. Daisy shivered uncomfortably as the stone’s coolness seeped onto her thin layer of fur. As Shell pressed their nose to the stone, she followed, closing her eyes and letting her mind take over.
Awakening into a dream, silvery stars surrounded Daisy on every side, and the ground looked as if it was made of the purest seawater. It was as if a mist of sorts had fallen around them, glittering like rain on a dimly lit morning. It was both hauntingly beautiful and delightfully scary, all at once. Looking around, Daisy quickly laid eyes upon the three cats; a pelt of the darkest cold midnight, a pelt of the richest yellow flame, and a pelt of the bluest morning sky. She tilted her head curiously, squinting at the glistening brightness their fur produced.
A broad tom—colored with purest fire—stepped forward, his eyes shining with thousands of red and orange sparks that looked as if a flame was hiding in his gaze. They shone so brightly, Daisy felt as though she could see age old wisdom behind his firey irises. The cat spoke, his voice dark and cold in contrast to his pelt colors. “Shell on Shoreline.” He told, tail flicking towards the sand grey cat standing next to Daisy.
Shell moved closer to the tom at his call, their voice having the same cold tone just barely masking an undercurrent of wonder. “Blaze of Lion.” They called back to the other.
“You have returned..,” The ginger tom observed aloud, sizing the medicine cat up. Shell’s demeanor briefly shifted to that of uneasiness. Daisy was confused by what Blaze meant by ‘returned,’ but kept her mouth shut.
Shell nodded their head in an ominous fashion, opening their mouth to reply when another cut in.
A she-cat—one of blackest nights—moved, her body having a transparent sheen to it that let the stars surrounding shine though her fur.
“Shell on Shoreline. We have many…” She paused for a moment, “...Pressing matters to discuss.”
Daisy couldn’t help but look in awe at the Starclan warriors surrounding her and Shell, eyes wide. She had never seen such cats before, their forms only ever being retold in legends she would hear from the elders.
“Leaf of Holly Plant, I can assure you-”
"Silence!" Leaf growled, her gaze locked square on the two. It seemed as if the stars around them dimmed with her words, only adding to the unease Daisy felt. Leaf’s hackles raised in anger,
“We are not fools! You do not get the chance to lie to us.” Leaf spat, bristling.
With a swift move of her thick black tail, Leaf of Holly Plant brushed the tip of it over the youngest cat’s shoulder, inviting.
“Feather of Jaybird,” She spoke, her voice a tad softer than the tone she used with Shell, just moments before.
The final cat—who’s fur was the color of translucent seamist—stepped up at his sister’s call, his blind eyes glittering as if Silverpelt had blessed them. He was regal and tall, a chilling glow radiating from his fur that made Daisy’s eyes widen in awe. As he spoke, it sounded as if there were hundreds of cats saying his words as well, each voice determined and strong.
“One shall be split in two. Claw may meet tooth and fire; the battle will arise upon us. Ear and eye broken, she will prevail. There shall be a new soul carrying old, and dusk will fall silent.”
The three spiritual cats' eyes darkened, the echo of the prophecy faded around them. Daisy was frozen in a mixture of confusion and concern, slowly tilting her head up to face Shell. Their expression was firm and unwavering, despite the faintest flicker of fear in their eyes.
“Who is this cat you speak of!? Whatever do you mean?!” Shell demanded, their voice dangerously close to a hiss. The StarClan warriors remained eerily silent; and with a flick of Feather’s tail, the world swam into darkness.