when the stars begin to fall

When the sun dawned after Thornstar's death and StarClan's silence, Mothglow took the time to watch it. To watch the stars fade away, much as they had done over the last few moons; and the sun take its place. It was a desperate attempt to remind herself not to fall apart - she had an apprentice to teach, to look after; she had a Clan to care for in the meantime. But even when the stars faded, the light of the sun came to take their place.

And Mothglow had an apprentice to discuss the current state of affairs with. "Eveningpaw," she murmured, voice serious. "We need to talk."

It had been awhile since Mothglow said her actual name instead of Evie, her ears turned to face her mentor before she tilted her head in curiosity. "Whhhyy?" She mewed. "Is... Is something wrong with Starclan?" Her voice turned serious. "You haven't been so serious before, you're even more serious than my ceremony, is something wrong?" Her voice changed to a soft whisper as she moved closer to her grand-aunt. "Is it about me?"

Mothglow waited to see Eveningpaw's attention focused on her before speaking again. "In a sense, I suppose something is wrong with StarClan," she muttered. Then, more directed to Eveningpaw, she shook her head. "It's not about you, no. There's nothing wrong with you. I suppose I should have spoken with you about this at your ceremony, or after, or before any of this began - but there wasn't enough time. Either way, now we must make time."

She paused. "What did Flintshard tell the clan about Thornstar's death? I know what he told me, but I'm not sure if he shared it with everyone." Without waiting for an answer, though, she carried on. "It happened when I and the other medicine cats were gathered at the Moonstone, but... StarClan was silent that night. Our ancestors had abandoned us, after all this time... And then I came home, and saw Thornstar. I asked Flintshard what happened, and he told me what he saw - StarClan killed her themselves. You're a medicine cat, if one in training - and it's important that you know the things I know. Right now, that knowledge is simple - we can't trust StarClan, at least right now. Our ancestors have turned their backs on us, and we will forge our own paths if we must. Cats will still need healing, whether or not StarClan cares, and that is just as important, if not more so."