Requiem of Star [Clan Meeting - Important]

Everything was wrong.

Flintshard’s paws felt heavy as he shuffled through the snow, pushing his way into the ShadowClan camp. His eyes were dull, his expression cold and stiff as he dragged along with him the unmoving body of Thornstar. Beneath his natural expression was a mind racing to make sense of the evening’s events, of what he had witnessed and what now laid before ShadowClan. By all accounts...It didn’t make sense. None. It had started as an average patrol - Thornstar was finally well enough to return to her duties and they had chosen to...Celebrate by doing a patrol, just the two of them.

And yet it had been anything but and now Thornstar was dead.

How was he to explain that to his Clan? She had kits, his siblings. Now they had lost their mother while he had done nothing - unaware of the danger and what the whole situation was truly about ...Until… He came to a stop, a sigh escaping from his muzzle as he found his gaze falling toward the medicine cat’s den. The thought of trying to quickly swipe a word with Mothglow was tempting but… No, her and Eveningpaw were gone.

It was the half-moon, the two would have gone to the Medicine Cat meeting while he and Thornstar had been out. He wondered if StarClan would tell Mothglow themselves of their terrible deeds, or if she would have to wait for him to break the news… He blinked as he stared at the den, wondering how well she would take the truth. She had shown displeasure with StarClan’s recent actions - but this? This was unforgivable..

The deputy - leader now, he supposed - huffed as he turned and dragged Thornstar to the base of the Jaggedrock. He carefully dropped her into the snow, staring at her lifeless features. ...Thornstar was dead. It...He had seen it happen and yet he couldn’t believe it. He had tried prepared for the eventuality of it since he had that talk with Crowpaw - back when she was a kit - when she reminded him that it could happen. But...He wasn’t ready. He knew the world was cruel, expecting and unforgiving but…

For StarClan themselves to have taken her life…

He rocked back onto his haunches before launching himself onto the Jaggedrock, glaring up at the stars that twinkled uselessly above. “...ShadowClan! Gather in the shadows of the Jaggedrock!” he called, quickly turning to face the camp clearing as he waited for the Clan to gather. He slowly sank into a sitting position, shoulders hunched. But as always, he remained as stone-faced as ever, his expression blank as he tried to decide upon the words he would have to tell his Clan - how to inform them of StarClan’s terrible deed.

Redpaw pushed her way out of the apprentice's den at the summons, flicking snow off of her ear. The stench of death met her nose and she almost shrank away, hardly daring to look around to find the source. When her gaze fell onto the unmoving body of Thornstar, her mouth dropped open and she bowed her head as she continued forward into the clearing. Thornstar had found her when she was only hours old, and she felt indebted to the former leader for bringing her into the Clan.

She sat down in the shadow of the Jaggedrock, just as instructed, and looked up at Flintshard, who was standing upon it.

Making his way to the center of camp, the sight of Thornstar's limp body was certainly something that Daisyflame wasn't expecting to see. What in StarClan's name had happened? There wasn't the scent of any other clan cat in the air or around his leader's pelt... so what exactly had happened to her? The warrior wanted to ask the questions that were whirling around in his head, but he stayed quiet and sat down, knowing that Flintshard would most likely explain to them what had gone down. This was yet another leader he hadn't been able to protect... some promise he was upholding.

Crowpaw didn't understand the huff that was going on as her fellow den mates rushed outside at the call of Flintshard's voice. Her mentor was back earlier then usual; she had noticed him leave awhile ago with Thornstar. The black and white molly pushed her way more calmly through the apprentice den and peered out into the clearing to see what was going on. Her gaze scanned the clearing of the gathered cats and then at the jaggedrock. She could not see anything beyond her mentor standing on top and the few clanmates gathered. She padded closer curious as she neared; her nose filled with a familiar but odd scent that she was not used to. Not on familiar scent that covered the scent of another more familiar one. She paused when she got close enough before she noticed the body of their leader and froze. Gaze turned towards her mentor who stood above them and then back at Thornstar's body. What was this?....what had happened? She wanted to go and speak with Flintshard to see what in starclan's name was going on but she forced herself to keep her paws grounded. She would hear it soon enough she knew. Although it took everything in her not to go seek answers herself from her mentor or investigate Thornstar herself. It was obvious now what she had smelt when she came closer but her mind was trying to process the news fully to comprehend what was going on.

At the sound of Flintshard calling a meeting Dawnkit let out a squee of excitement, unaware of the somber atmosphere of the camp beyond as she wiggled from her mother and dashed out of the nursery. She burst into the clearing and a mass of golden tabby fur, her golden amber eyes bright. She looked around eagerly but she soon realized the inappropriateness of her behavior as she noticed the limp body that lay before everyone. The young she-kits pelt stood on end as she carefully padded towards the gathered cats, finding her father in the masses as she scuttled over to him, eyes wide as she gently prodded his side with her tiny paw. "Papa... what happened to Thornstar?" She asked, the concept of death not being something she quite understood yet. "Why is she sleeping in the middle of camp? And why does everyone look so sad that she's asleep?" She noticed a few sharp looks from those that had heard her comment and shrank back, confused on why they gave her such harsh looks. Why was everyone so sad? Why did her father look so upset? The young kit tried to wrap her mind around everything, but she was missing some pieces to the puzzle.

Tanglepaw didn't really know what death meant until she saw Thornstar, looking a little more mangled than she expected. Thornstar's corpse was covered in dark, sticky blood. Her mouth was slightly parted, and her chest was unnervingly still. Obviously, Tanglepaw ate fresh-kill, so she knew what dead things looked like. She figured that, now that it was her leader, it would be different. Different it was. Dead lizards and mice were food, and their lifeless bodies were a symbol of good tidings. But there was a strange aura of badness around Thornstar's body. Tanglepaw couldn't find the words for how it made her feel. It was unsightly. The flat-faced apprentice wondered if it made her a bad warrior that she thought dead cats looked ugly. Somehow, she got the feeling she was supposed to be a lot more sad-looking. She let her tail and ears droop, and she stayed relatively quiet as she snaked around the crowd and sat beside Redpaw. Her paws inched away from her leader's body.

The blood came from her throat, sliced in half by something. Tanglepaw looked at it for a while before words came to her. "Somebody killed her," she whispered to herself in a private revelation. Her eyes were suddenly shooting up Flintshard, panicked the way a small kitten was at the sight of a rattlesnake. She felt like whatever killed Thornstar was waiting in the bushes behind her, because anything that could kill a leader could definitely gobble up an apprentice in three big bites. Flintshard would protect them... right?

"Mommy!" Viperkit's voice broke, as she exited the nursery and very quickly saw the limp and bloody body of her mother. Although she had been excited to hear whatever her older brother was going to tell them, Flintshard's existence was far from her mind now. She darted over to Thornstar, for once not even worried about getting her own pelt dirty, and began to groom her mother as she had often done for her. "Oh, mommy." A sob followed the words, and Viperkit had to struggle to speak around the lump in her throat, "Please...wake up, mommy." She knew, though, that the leader was not asleep. She was not so young as to not know the truth, although she couldn't completely grasp the concept of death.

His intense gaze softened as they redirected their focus Thornstar. She looked so peaceful... it looked like she had just been playing in mud. Navigating through all that squelchiness also made him tired, so he understood why she had collapsed... although, he wondered why the mud was crimson. She must have been playing in a really special place, with special red mud. Smokekit wanted to see where this special red mud came from. As he scrutinised how his mother's beautiful strands were touched by the crispy streaks of garnet, he frowned. This mud made her look dirty. The blots matted her thick fur... and Smokekit didn't like that. Without further prompt, Smokekit began tracing his tongue over the scarlet-stained rivers, wincing as the rust seeped into his mouth, tainting his tongue with a bitter, metallic tase. But he refused to cease his rhythmic grooming, timing his gentle lapping with Viperkit's. He remembered when Thornstat would always halt him to clean his pelt, and he would always protest. He was glad that she was asleep, so she wouldn't need to protest.

Flintshard watched in silent as slowly his Clanmates started to venture from their den at his call and witness the scene - listening to the faint murmering that escaped a few and the cries of his younger siblings. His expression barely shifted as he watched Viperkit and Smokekit approach Thornstar's body, trying to make sense of it all. He wish he had words of comfort for them but those words were something far beyond him.

He had only the truth, and so the truth he would tell.

"Thornstar is dead," he started, his voice calm as if he was stating an obvious fact...Which, to be fair, he was. "We had chosen to go out on a border patrol only to run across a tom. He..." he drifted off, blinking as he tried to find the words that would do justice of what he had seen. It...It didn't make sense to Flintshard and yet he believed everything that the tom had said, who he had claimed to be. "He claimed to be a StarClan cat, sent to...Speak with Thornstar. I would have not believed his claim if it wasn't for the stars that illuminated his form. Thornstar agreed, told me to keep watch while she stepped away to talk with this...StarClan cat." He paused, taking in a deep breath. "I did not expect what happened next. The tom...Struck her down without warning - he had not been sent to talk with her. He had apparently been sent to kill her. As I raced over to..." Yet again, he stopped. ...What had he been expecting to do? He had been so stunned by the situation, having not expected the tom to so casually do what he did. He had run over, not to attack the tom - no, he was far to...Worried for his mother. ...Would things have been different if he had attacked the tom? Would he have killed him for such an action? It was pointless to question that now - what done was done and he had to live with the reality of the situation. "...I raced over to check on Thornstar but she was already dead. The tom told me that he expected that I would not make the same mistakes as her before he walked away. That was when I realized that Thornstar would not be granted resurrection - that she was...Truly dead. I attempted to chase the tom but he was gone - another sign that he was indeed a StarClan cat. I waited...Thornstar did not awaken. And so I returned to camp with her body."

A heavy sigh escaped him, eyes closing as he shook his head. "StarClan has chosen to punish those who break their laws - acting where some of us refuse to do so. They have made their point clear in their...Action against Thornstar. Whatever they are threatening, it was not an idle threat." He spared a glance toward the medicine cat's den, wondering what Mothglow would think of this entire situation. She wouldn't be happy...And he assumed she would not be pleased with the words that followed. "I am the new leader of ShadowClan. This is not a position I take...Happily, but it is what Thornstar always expected me to do whenever she died. None of us thought it would be so soon, none of us could prepare...But StarClan is demanding action where the Clans have been passive. And I will not risk their anger against us. This cannot happen again." He turned to stare at the cats beneath him, standing to his full height as he scanned the crowd. "ShadowClan, hear me. Thornstar allowed scorned lovers to join ShadowClan, she herself fell into a...Relationship, with the RiverClan leader. I do not condemn her for those actions, but StarClan certainly did. And so, I am making a stand where Thornstar did not. From this point forward, ShadowClan will not take in cats from the other Clans. I will not stand for...Love that is scorned by the Stars themselves. I will not allow action that could bring down StarClan's wrath upon us. ShadowClan must remain strong, loyal. We are better than how the other Clans see us and I refuse to let StarClan make an example of us any more.

"...I will give you all time to process this information. Thornstar is gone but we must carry on. I shall name a deputy tonight, once Thornstar is buried. I..." he drifted off. He would have to get his lives - perhaps not tonight. Not with Mothglow gone and most of the night had already passed. Tomorrow then, once he had time to talk to her about the...Situation at paw. He would have to see StarClan, perhaps see the tom who had taken Thornstar's life. "...I will go and receive my lives tomorrow. That is all." He turned and jumped down from the Jaggedrock, taking a moment to pause and stare at where his younger siblings were curled near Thornstar's body. ...This was not right. They did not deserve this. He, Sparkfire, Nightpaw...They would be fine. They...They had to be fine. But Viperkit? Smokekit? The others? ...They were so young. He shook his head, making his way toward Thornstar's den. ...His den, now. Truth be told, he wasn't happy with his choice. He wanted to be angry at StarClan, at that tom. But what other option was there? Refuse and share the same fate as Thornstar? ShadowClan needed him alive, not to be another martyr. There...There wasn't anybody in ShadowClan that would be harmed by taking their...Side. This would be for the best, he had to keep ShadowClan safe. Mothglow would not be happy, that was for certain but... He could use that. Having a view different from his own would prove useful. ...Now it was time to decide upon a deputy.

He slipped into the leader's den to muse on his options...And to mourn in silence for his fallen mother.

Crowpaw did not understand the story her mentor spoke of. She did not believe Starclan would be that...heartless. Yes what Thornstar allowed and did herself was not in the best interest of her clan and for that she had to pay the consiquences but to such degree as that? Her amber eyes turned from her mentor to the young kits mourning by their mother's side. They were too young to feel such grief and loneliness at losing a precious member of their family. The black and white molly turned towards Flintshard and opened her mouth to speak but stopped herself. She did not have the right to question him right now on the matter at hand. In fact it was best to let the news sink. When she had spoken to Flintshard that early morning a few moons prior to her apprenticeship about what his goal was and what he planned for the clan if he was to ever become leader someday; the young molly did not believe it would have been this soon. It was a shock to them all no doubt. She understood the rules and she understood those laws were broken by her leader but such a punishment...She shook her head and watched as her mentor headed for his new den. She would speak to him later and hopefully help him understand or at least help him process and move on. Instead, the apprentice took it upon herself to find her paws leading her towards the young kits of the fallen leader. She wrapped her tail around the young ones by their mother and cleared her throat; the least she could do for her mentor and his younger siblings after what transpired.

"Come, lets go into the nursery. Let the elders and older warriors grieve. There will be time for questions later." she soothed them.

She was not a motherly type of cat for the most part; more logical and straight forward but she believed the kits deserved someone who was willing to step up and take that role if only for the moment to help them calm down. She did not have the answers that they most likely sought other then the story given by Flintshard but she would do her best to help them.

"Viperkit, Smokekit, Dawnkit lets go inside the nursery for a little while okay?" she offered urging them way from the leader's body. They did not need to be witnessed to that much longer for such young eyes.

Rookpaw lurked, as Rookpaw was wont to do. She lurked and she watched, taking in the entire scene with a harsh yellow gaze. Thornstar was dead. She understood that leaders received more than one life, but if what Flintshard said was true -- and she had no reason to not believe him -- the mighty Thornstar was struck down by one blow from StarClan itself. A chill breeze ran through camp, ruffling the apprentice's dark fur and causing her to shiver. She didn't move a single muscle when Flintshard turned to disappear into the depths of the leader's den. Only her gaze followed as Crowpaw lead Thornstar's kits and her baby sister into the nursery with a motherly touch. Finally the she-cat rose and padded over towards the fallen leader. There was so much blood. It was almost beautiful, in a way. Hesitating, feeling eyes on her, she looked back towards her father with a glance before leaning down to touch her nose to Thornstar's cold fur. It was the least she could do.

What Flintshard declared was the best thing for the Clan, she decided. Why would they let cats from those other Clans in? It didn't make sense to her. Neither did taking mates from other Clans. What, was ShadowClan not good enough? Were the cats that called it home not good enough? Her fur bristled and she stalked away from the body, her eyes narrowing. Just like Flintshard, she wouldn't let ShadowClan be made a mockery of. Not if she had anything to say about it.

Keeping his gazed locked on Flintshard, Daisyflame's attention was diverted when his youngest daughter, Dawnkit, prodded his side and asked him what was wrong with Thornstar. Great Silverpelt... would she even understand the concept of death if he told her? Of course, he didn't want to hide the truth from her, no matter how difficult it was to share, but even then... Before he was even able to open his maw to speak, his amber gaze snapped back up to the deputy as he began to speak, and what was said next cause the entire clan to collectively gasp. Thornstar... had been struck down by a StarClan cat? How was that even possible? He knew cats of the Dark Forest could take physical form, but the cats of the stars? No, it couldn't be...

Listening as Flintshard went on, the warrior found himself nodding his head in agreement. Though he was a follower and supporter of his leader, what Thornstar had done was certainly wrong and against the code. It was hard, still supporting her after the truth had been revealed, but he knew that as a faithful warrior, he needed to keep believing in his clan, which sometimes meant giving other cats the benefit of the doubt.

Once Flintshard was done speaking, Daisyflame nudged Dawnkit over towards Crowpaw, thankful for the apprentice taking care of the kits. Padding over to the leader's cold, motionless pelt, he pressed his muzzle to it. "May... the stars light your path," the white and ginger tom mewed solemnly, before taking a step back so that the others could do the same. He didn't quite know where the she-cat would go post-death because of her... transgression, but wherever it was, he hoped she found peace and happiness. Although he was never very close to the leader, Daisyflame prayed that he would be able to see her again someday, though next time it would most likely be when he joined the stars as well.

~~~~~

Having sat by Rookpaw, Tulipfang gasped along with the clowder of clanmates, shocked at what Flintshard had said. Thornstar was killed by a StarClan cat? How could a StarClan cat even come down from the stars? Well, whoever had killed her wasn't messing around. The she-cat never knew that StarClan could be so ruthless... so maybe it wasn't them? Questions whirled around in the warrior's mind until she shook her head as if to rid herself of such confusion. It didn't matter who killed Thornstar; she was dead. There was nothing any-cat could do, as hopeless as that sounded.

Watching as her clanmates began to gather around the limp body, Tulipfang stayed where she was, not feeling as if it was her turn to say farewells yet. She hadn't known the leader very much and didn't want to get in any-cat's way, especially Thornstar's family members.