Jayshriek’s Leader Ceremony

The mournful song of crows resonated high above, shrill voices continually wailing in a tongue unknown to all outsiders.

The somber assembly of grim birdsong served as the singular commentator to Jayshriek's silent procession forward from the depths of the chilled river, choppy currents of dark waters cresting in a silvery crown of frothy bubbles, the dark-furred tom breaking the surface just a tail-length or so away, drenched head quietly lifting from the frigid depths of the rapidly-moving currents. Heavy rivulets of water pouring down against his wet state of being, and leaving him to irritably blink in an ill-fated attempt to ward off stubbornly lingering droplets atop his sodden eyelashes, it was a few heartbeats before the blurred mausoleum of the Sunningrocks came into tentative standings within his sight. The unnaturally still spattering of disputed stones stood tall and utterly lifeless against the wilting riverbank foliage, against the waning life and color proffered by the thick swathes of undisturbed woodlands that crept skywards into the rapidly dimming sky as though it were a magnificent crown of thorns. Elsewhere, the world raged on in a perpetual search for what little traces remained of Ivystar; here, there was only the silence and stillness of a rapidly dissipating past, a tomb with runes of his own memories deeply engrained into the very fabric of the earth.  

It was here that Jayshriek had first met Kitefire, all those lifetimes ago, wreathed in the heavenly light of the her own reflection and teeth poised to spill his own blood. It was here that all of the terrible love and hate and fierce loneliness that had initially driven them together had been offered up to both the stones and the very ribbon of the river itself, an offering of holiness unknowingly given to sacrament. It was here that the strings of fate had been woven, a predisposition of inevitable tragedy weighing down upon the tangled lines of two distinctly differing souls. And now it was here where Kitefire would forever reside, embraced in the perpetual coolness of soft earth and stone, a singular thread left to continue on in its lonesome where there was once two red markers of fate deeply entwined. There was something small and soft and sad roiling beneath the unkempt, drenched dredges of Jayshriek's mane, the last vestiges of a long-lingering ghost tangled oh so deep and tight within the intricate knotting of his muscular and skeletal systems, that urged him back- whispered to flee at the prospect of pain and instead return to the chilly embrace of the river. He could give himself to the river; slip down low beneath the silky ribbon of perpetually churning liquid smooth darkness, draw the frigid waters deep into all parts vital and life-preserving, drift off into that final place just beyond the reach of the waking and embrace unending sleep.

"Jayshriek," the faintest of murmurs curled softly across the tumultuous throb of his pulse, an exhaling tone that sounded more akin to a breeze shifting through barren branches, abruptly halting any further troublesomely idyllic fantasies.

The hushed kiss of words sent a cold shudder crawling down the hard length of Jayshriek's tight spine, the unexpectedly chilly rush of surprise and disconcertment sending a pinprick of apprehension blossoming throughout the entirety of his being. Silvery rivulets of leisurely lingering shock and confusion clung heavily to the drenched, skeletal outline of Jayshriek, the gradually strengthening disruption vengefully bleeding through the rapidly melting hues of previous thoughts, sudden extreme sensory input rapidly occupying permanence within his speeding neurons. Full consciousness blossomed suddenly within his bones, a violent jarring slipping down the tensed length of his spine with all the grace and serenity of a seasonal flood, as his whirling brain finally fixed in upon the reality of the situation, a bright flash of alarm roaring to life within the central point of his being. The poignant state of forced alertness felt more biting than the chilling allure of the river.

There was someone speaking, despite the entire visible portion of the disputed grounds being utterly vacant aside from his own standing.

"Be not afraid," the faint voice wreathed around Jayshriek now, ruffling his drenched fur and bleeding down to the very marrow of his stiff bones, "I come only bearing the words of the wayward stars. I mean you no harm." It rang within his ears, it pooled within his whirling mind, peculiar aftershocks resonating down to the fine tufts of fur that resided between his toes. The odd hum of the unseen, unknown voice held brushes of familiarity; it was at once Kitefire in one moment, yet Ivystar in the next, Loonwhisper and Eris' tones woven together into some unnerving monstrosity of unnatural tongue. Not meant to be heard, at least by his ears.

"Do you take me for a fool?" Jayshriek snarled out upon sharp teeth and tongue, thunderous voice splitting the unnaturally still with an air of authority only held close when enraged, "there is no other cat here." It was just as good that he chose such a moment to punctuate his terse statement with another cursory skim of his surroundings, the solitude of the encouraging forest and his lonesome shadow the only figures rising to greet him the wake of a hidden speaker. Speaking aloud in such a defensive manner felt odd in every possible meaning of such a descriptor, yet it was still a second-nature response; it was still second-nature, a natural prelude of anatomy, to posture and rise to the perceived aggression currently faced behind the curtain of which he could not see. Wreathed in the low light of the liminal sunset and wearing the stoic expression of a particularly troublesome forefather, Jayshriek's stormy features were illuminated in a brief flash of pale teeth as his lips curled back into a leering scowl of disbelief, a faulty expression of aggression to mask the shock and disbelief.

Perhaps he had gone mad after all, all things rational and sensible and good dwelling low with the soft mud and rot. Perhaps a lifetime underscored with the gnawing teeth of failure and disappointment had ultimately culminated into a writhing mass of emotional darkness, any and all sensory input entirely lost within the depths of his apparently ailing mind.

"Does one need to be seen, in order to be heard?" The tremulous moaning inquired, a cool edge gracing the edge of an odd question, a faint sensation of breathing stirring the prickling fur of his nape, "The wind itself cannot be seen, yet you feel and hear it all the same. Faith is built upon what cannot be seen, all in transient from this life into the next great beyond." It felt as though a singular tendril was embedded within the fathoms of Jayshriek's nervous system, a tender tugging resonating throughout the intricate and delicate webbing of countless sinuous connections, a call to movement. The irresistible charm beckoned him forth, guiding his paws forward in the shape of a dream-like trance. Pulling him away from the gaping maw of the awaiting river, pulling him away from the chilly embrace of Kitefire's awaiting ghost. Away from his home.

"You would do well to follow my instructions sooner rather than later," The drumming whisper suddenly rang out within the pounding confines of Jayshriek's mind once more, resonating with a startling clarity. Despite the soft intone of the odd warbling voice shaded with the vague familiarity of all cats who had ever spoken to him, it now sounded as though the speaker was standing right alongside him. It he was unfortunate enough to pay close attention to the rigorous outpour of sensation coasting through the liquid pounding of his nervous system, there was an odd tingling bubbling beneath his flesh, the tight teeth of a biting chill curling deep. As though... something was truly standing next to him. Jayshriek's movements hardly felt his own, almost as though something was controlling him, strange instincts easily quashing his conscious mind down into its most condescend state of being. The invisible thread began to tug with a bit more intensity, drawing him forward and paces away from where his heart and soul resided, a coaxing movement directed towards the Highstones.

"The sun will be setting soon, we do not have much time." The licking flames of whispers persisted against the base of his skull as Jayshriek fled into the reddening evening sky, his paws drawn towards a destination that remained entirely unknown to his own being. In his wake followed only a chilly breeze, one that held the faintest traces of cool starlight and damp stone.

---

The jagged teeth of the Highstones were an unnerving sight to the young Warrior, dark pillars of a silent village curling countless leagues into the cooling dusk sky. A holy place of wisdom and strength, a sacred temple for all those with stardust within their veins, yet a distinctive brand of judgement yawning open for the frenetic presence of Jayshriek.

The whispers continued to goad him along the invisible path his paws had evidently been set upon, gathering in strength as he drew closer towards the odd destination, a championing chorus of encouragement heavy upon his rapidly flexing muscles. The bitter taste of apprehension and fear had begun to pool softly against Jayshriek's bitten tongue as he continued in his unlikely adventure, coating his clinched teeth with a filmy taste so foul it could easily make one utterly ill. Though he had started out in pursuit of his unseen instructor with little on his mind other than figuring out what sort of madness had evidently overcome his state of being, the trek towards the Highstones had stirred something a bit more foreboding within his sparking blood- an unwanted understanding of the rapidly unfolding circumstances currently blossoming right beneath his very nose.

"Keep forward. If you look back, you will be lost."

Ivystar, bearer of his blood and guiding force of his Clan, had apparently vanished without a trace, a silvery wraith of idyllic fantasies lost upon the torrential winds of chill season. All somber processions of recovery had been for naught, for there was simply... nothing to be found. And suddenly, he was hearing voices; voices guiding him forward on an entirely alien path, knowing voices imbued with the delegation of tasks he evidently had been fated for. Despairing circumstances included, perhaps it was not entirely an implausible assumption to believe that he was being sent on a recovery mission of sorts. Perhaps their futile attempts at discovering the circumstances regarding his mother's apparent disappearing were turning up absolutely hopeless because they had been looking in the wrong places all along.

"This entire procession would likely be a tad less... grim should you be willing to share the details with me." Jayshriek eventually seethed out to no visible being in particular, verbally seeking out confirmation that his alleged guide was still keeping pace with his slow-procession into the yawning darkness of the mountains. There was an intrinsic sense of disbelief and ridicule at the act of speaking aloud with no companions to be seen, especially when for several long heartbeats his only reward was the grating rasp of the mountain speaking his voice back to him, yet it felt as though these particular series of events were simply so unreal that it fortunately did not matter. What possible judgement could he invoke by speaking to himself within the depths of a sacred ceremonial mountain? It wasn't as though there were any others to witness such unseemly behavior on his behalf.

Well, except maybe any lingering ghosts. Since he now apparently took company with such creatures.

"I cannot tell you more than what you already know. The stars do not take kindly to unwelcomed interference."

Rounding a particularly rough borough of stone, Jayshriek was suddenly awash with the silvery blue light of a stark pallor. Nestled within the heart of a rather spacious cavern, jagged stone teeth bore up from the cool earth all around the glinting stone, forming a loosely scattered ring of imposing fangs. The unusually smooth stone threw dazzling reflections upon the rounded walls of the partially collapsed structure, strange shapes and figures dancing about in the shaded reaches of his straining peripheral vision. The stark light bleached everything in desolate shades, bleeding away the rich colors of stone and soft wet foliage growth that likely resided within the ancient cavern. Odd shadows stretched about all around him, swaying and licking hungrily with every ill-timed movement of Jayshriek's behalf; cool touches of damp darkness that easily intertwined with the rich liquid smoke of his own unkempt coat. He remained frozen just before the sacred stone, paused within the crumbling stone structure of the partially closed off entrance, once rich gaze bleached pale and pallid against the frigid gleam of white light.

Jayshriek's heavy breathing dwindled down into a singular weak, hardly discernible inhale. The Moonstone, the rapidly ceasing whispers had brought him to the Moonstone. No singular body to be found, no trace of Ivystar within the gut-wrenchingly tight tunnels that crept through the depths of the mountains like veins and arteries. It was just him. He had traveled here once before, ages ago whenever he was still young and still toying with the flames of his relationship with Kitefire, and yet somehow this time it seemed... different. The once comforting light suddenly encroaching upon the grounds of ancient and foreboding, the ashy specks of silver light tinged with countless lifetimes of knowledge. It was here that countless cats had come to face judgement, seek out those who would break apart the foundation of their beings to see if they were truly worthy of a noble cause, a higher purpose.

"Touch the stone, Jayshriek. I have done what the stars deem fit, so I shall be with you no more."

The invisible thread wound tighter and tighter with every reluctant step forwards, Jayshriek wincing slightly as his wild belly fur brushed softly against the frigid stone of the cavern floor. Although the light felt searing from such a minimal distance, the pain was hardly tangible- there was an uproar of sensory extreme pouring throughout the trembling tendons of his being. A floundering pulse of shock dulled his senses, entire being cast to sea at the hopeless prospect of attempting to discern this entire happening.

Stretching forward slightly, the disheveled Warrior let out a shaky inhale as his nose hesitantly brushed against the heavenly stone. All at once, countless scents rushed up to eagerly meet his twitching nose; stale air, churned earth, decay and frigid stone. Sticky drowsiness bubbled up within his pounding veins, softly licking at his stiff flesh and rigid muscles with all of the grace of a soothing mother. Slippery currents of sleep pooled heavily against the slight weights of his slow-blinking eyelids, tender weight dragging him down deep into the chilled embrace of the stone awaiting below; in those final fleeting moments of consciousness, Jayshriek could do little other than dream of Kitefire, features hazed by the curtain of looming forgetfulness.

"Welcome, Jayshriek."

The late evening sky, an ethereal simmering smudge of silky colors perpetually wreathing against the luscious backdrop of the foliage-heavy woodlands and intricately webbed rivers, was laden with little specks of twinkling light- some seeming to slip forward from their place within the strange sky, plummeting forward to rain down against the sweet-smelling foliage in a manner similar to that of rain. Thick foliage and undergrowth, rich with life and heavy under the newfound weight of budding bulbs and flowers, trembled softly in the faint breeze that crept through the ghostly forest- bringing with it the taste of all things warm and inviting. It was an odd thing to awaken too, such a vibrant difference between both the waking world Jayshriek walked within and this strange place suspended between consciousness and unconsciousness.

A silky flourish of starlight rippled suddenly against his flank, a strange trembling and warping of the limited light as something seemed to simply... appear out of thin air alongside him. The iridescent flecks of gleaming white light quaked as they hung heavily in the air for a momentary heartbeat, before sharply contracting and pulling inward with a intravenous pulse; the little bits and broken pieces of refractory light gently themselves back into the neat outline of a cat, pale blotches threaded through with lively touches of warm oranges and cool blacks bleeding out into the familiar shape of a round little cat. A slender forepaw emerged into complete vision first, offering up a gentle flick of welcome, a playful bid for the attention of the still restless and uneasy Jayshriek.

"It is so wonderful to finally meet you. I still recall the day that your mother and her littermates were nothing but squirming little bundles, absolutely precious that litter! Although I'm certain that the circumstances of your arrival have been a bit... off-putting when compared to the idyllic," the well-forgotten rounded curves of Splashwillow's wide face crinkled softly with a friendly touch of sympathy, genuine concern heavy upon her starry tongue, "but flowers often bloom most vibrant when put under strenuous conditions." The ghostly calico swept forward in a quavering, not quite natural flourish at the odd expression of discomfort shading Jayshriek's tight features.

"Oh listen to me, prattling on as though it was my own ceremony! I'm so sorry little fish, it's terribly rude of me to disrupt the entire proceedings." She simpered out a sweet little chuckle, voice steeped low with the faintest dredges of her own flustered state of being at the realization of her insistent chattering. Jayshriek did little more than offer an idle nod in response to the former Queen's words, shock and drowsiness stubbornly cleaning to his stiff bones- this entire sequence felt more akin to a bizarre nightmare of sorts, absolutely unreal in every possible interpretation of such a term. He had only returned to RiverClan a sunrise or two ago, yet hadn't even had the time to properly vet the apparent final resting place of his mate before being whisked off to a ceremony.

"I am Splashwillow, a Queen who lived during the time of your grandfather Jaystar, and I come forth bearing the first life of your ceremony. With this blessing, I grant you the gift of wisdom; be all knowing and be all fair, lead with the serenity of one who has seasons of experience within their blood." She mewed softly, her birdlike voice carrying the familiar tones of gentle strength that she had often carried herself upon during her time spent living. The calico molly's movements were slow and soft as she carefully strained forward, perching upon the rounded weight of her toes to reach the living visitor, to brush noses. All at once, a heated ache roared to life against the tense flesh of Jayshriek's being, as though an entire swarm of angry hornets had descended upon him. It prickled and pulsed throughout the knotted shape of his awkwardly tensing shape, setting his blood and quivering vision aflame with a torrential rush of new information and sensory input.

"You are a heart now, how you beat effects all else." The edges of Jayshriek's shaking vision caught sight only of the vaguely familiar Queen's shape melting back within the endless rings of starry cats loosely encircled all around the pair.


"You look tired." The resounding purr that blossomed in the aftermath of Splashwillow's chipper demeanor was a sweet salve, gentle enough to rinse Jayshriek of the residual aches that remained entrenched within his flesh. Blinking away the slight haze of long-withstanding shock and steadily mounting exhaustion welling low and hot within the coolest points of his blood. The shimmering silver molly that had descending from the loosely fringed gathering of starry spectators was yet another woefully unfamiliar face, high lines and graceful slants of sloping curves tipped with a genuinely kind expression of gently-twined concern and amusement. "My name is Finchstream, and I was once a Warrior of RiverClan in the moons before the great flood."

Kicking up a gently trembling whirlwind of starry flecks that hung heavily upon the unusually sweet air, Finchstream suddenly pressed forward with such limited regard for the rapidly dwindling space between the pair that their whiskers were now practically brushing. The odd sensation of a chilly breathe being exhaled upon the current of a rapidly building torrent of words was neither unpleasant nor pleasant, simply serving to make his muzzle wrinkle softly with the sudden urge to sneeze. "With this life, I give you the life of love. The way of the world will always be one that bears tooth and claw before all else, and thus the ability to be good and kind and gentle and express devotion to those we cherish requires strength."

At the gentle initiation of contact between the pair, sensations immediately began to claw their way through Jayshriek's form. Dozens of emotions seemed to ripple throughout him all at once, tearing away the tension and exhaustion that lingered so heavily upon his tightly-bound shoulders. It was full of serenity and passion so fierce that it practically stole his breath away; it felt as though a lifetime of fear and rejection had merely been rinsed away with a single reaffirmation. Only as the final tremors of this latest life began to eventually subside did Finchstream make to pull away, pale gaze wide with an intrinsic understanding of what had just transpired. "It can be easy to lose yourself in the longing for all the love lost, but it is important to remember all that you still have- you are fortunate enough to still have a living and breathing child of flesh and blood, who is surviving all the same as you. It would do you good to remember and act upon such."

---

Splashwillow - belonging to seer
Finchstream - belonging to rainyheart

A gray she-cat was the next to approach, moving forward from the ranks of StarClan cats to stand before Jayshriek with a warm smile.

"Greetings, Jayshriek. My name is Dappleshine, I am the daughter of Dewlight and Gingerstripe. It's so good to finally meet you, Ivystar was a dear friend of mine." She purred as she introduced herself before her expression became more serious. "With this life, I give you Compassion. Sometimes there are motive guiding others that we can't see, or situations that are difficult to understand, and you must use compassion to attempt to understand their reasonings." Touching her nose to his, Dappleshine allowed the life to flow into the tom's body, a rush of confusion, fear and rejection overwhelming in its power before fading into a calm acceptance. Stepping away, she smiled again. "Your clanmates, and others that are wandering lost, will thank and praise you for your concern and sympathy towards them." With those final words, she lowered her head respectfully and turned to rejoin the ranks of star-pelted cats.

The sensation that began within the overly-tense tendons of Jayshriek's toes was oddly soothing in the absence of the crushing rejection, soul-clinching fright that wreathed within the fathoms of his already exhaustion heavy lungs just mere moments prior. Countless seasons seemed to pass within the blink of an eye, illuminating the infinitesimal brief cycle of life that he had become so accustomed to, so egregiously desensitized to. Basking in the strange sense of relief that welled up from the long-lingering remnants of Dappleshine's life, Jayshriek's attention only returned to the present as soft, graceful footfalls caught his shock-addled attention.


Silky slips of slate grey patches bled into starry white fur, gentle rivulets of tabby stripes curling across the unfamiliar ghostly shape.

Jaystar's silver pelt rippled with starlight, pulsating and ebbing as though it were captivated by a strange living being. Jayshriek remained stationary as his old namesake continued to strode forward from within the depths of the seemingly endless ranks of silent overseers, the odd etheral specks of light continually sputtering and dwindling in rhythmic catches, occasionally leaving behind nothing but smooth tabby fur. It was utterly entrancing. Though he had never held enough seasons within his grasp to ever actually meet his direct bloodkin, the seemingly endless barrage of grandiose stories made the former Leader recognizable enough. The alertness and recognition that curled across the shaded regions of his peripheral vision was not entirely his own, some sort of natural understanding simply stemming from the way his latest counterpart conducted and moved throughout the fluid space of there and not-quite-there.

"Jayshriek." Jaystar exhaled, low droll of his measured voice setting the silvery flecks of starlight whirling around the conversing pair trembling with a newfound, quavering movement, "I take it as though you have recognized me, so sufficient to say heartfelt introductions are not necessary?"

Reaching out with a prodding forepaw to gently box the sharp curve of Jayshriek's twitching ear, the silver-furred tom's slender features were awash with the faintest hints of a carefully crafted undercurrent of warmth, the knowing gleam of intrinsic rapport and fondness fostered by shared blood twisting within his gaze just enough to off-set the stern start of their exceedingly minimal words. Weight carefully pitching back upon the natural strength of his ghostly hindlegs, the starry RiverClan Leader was quick to strode a singular pace or two in the rapidly dwindling direction of his kin, movements practiced and eased under the reassurance of an entire lifetime of confidence. Watching as the residual storming of innate anger and discontent bled forth from the tense outline of Jayshriek, the ghostly cat continued to peer closely at his counterpart as deference remained just out of reach, a closely-guarded secret hidden low and tight within the clinched confines of the still living cat's heart.

"With this life, I give you dignity," Jaystar eventually began, sharp jut of the chin tilting earthbound as he brushed in ever-closer to his namesake, starry amber gaze sharp with the seemingly infinite knowings of an endlessly unfolding horizon, "the ability to command honor, to represent yourself and all those you stand for with respect and grace. Such as the lone stag that guides and protects an entire herd." A starry exhale crept across the unkempt whiskers and curled tendrils of bristly dark fur that graced the hard lines of Jayshriek's angular face, some unknown and invisible current pouring between the contrasting pair, an entire existence's worth of experience and knowing pouring through his veins with all the grace and subtly of a roaring summer wildfire. It pooled hot and intensity within the base of his skull, intricate webbings of synapses and neurons simmering into ashes in a white-hot flood of crushing emotion, all things certainty and grounded seeping low and hot within the dark and twisty places unseen below the surface. "The earliest battle within leadership is one that goes unspoken between predecessors and successors for fear of invoking insecurity; it is the act of grappling with inferiority, where you must leave behind all that you were to become all that you must be. To find pride, within yourself and the station you have been granted, will guide you upon the path to dignity and resolution for all those beneath you."

"Certainty in your place and within the world is half the war."

---

Dappleshine - belonging to mosspelt
Jaystar I - belonging to jay bird

Striding forward in a shimmering haze of wan starlight and frigid moonlight, the figure that melted into permeance within the absence of Jaystar was not one Jayshriek even facilitated the idea of expending the necessary energy involved within uncovering such an unknown figure; rippling tabby markings underscored with the slightest hint of transparency yet unseen with several of the previous inhabitants. Older than all of his memories, then. Forcibly unlocking his strained muscles and leveling himself to meet the strange tom now wavering just within his immediate proximity, it took a concerning amount of effort to halt the trembling of his weary limbs, overwrought and overstrung by the unbelievable events currently unraveling at the helm.

"I am Otterleap, a Warrior born far before the reaches of your time- long before most of your bloodkin were anything but a glimmer of starlight in the sky, a promise of what was to come." Otterleap rumbled, acrid cold scent tempered with the faintest remnants of long-lingering riverwater and brine. Shaded somewhere faint and lonesome within the gentle creasing of the unfamiliar broad tom's face was a touch of resignation, so very much unlike several of his predecessors; a heaviness to the ghostly muscles and nerves not entirely dissimilar to the invisible weights laden upon Jaystar's pallid shape. "I come bearing the life of judgement, the gift of arriving at sensible and resolute conclusions as quickly as possible- regardless of how difficult pursuing said conclusion might be." He eventually murmured, voice softening slightly as he leaned forward to knock his muzzle against Jayshriek's head in a rather ungraceful manner. He hardly had time to wince from the harsh gesture for a new vicious onslaught of anguish was opening upon him like a spring downpour, washing away any other thoughts. It was sharp; full of grief and hesitation, as though faced between shaded trails heavy with peril, each of which would surely bring turmoil and destruction. Otterleap merely sat idle and made to watch as he struggled against the raging inferno of torment that he had willingly bestowed in exchange for a life, the faintest ghost of fangs splitting through soft flesh and the hot tang of blood weeping forth from some unknown source and laden heavy upon his tongue.

"You would do well to remember what you have felt here, for it will be with you every moment of your waking days should you ever fail to provide sound judgement." The warning was soft, a voice full of vehement promise, innate and familiar understanding. A slight shudder ran down Jayshriek's spine at the thought of having to withstand such a turmoil every day. He surely was not strong enough to bear such a burden; he’d likely wither and die inside, his carefully orchestrated exterior crumbling away like ash in the wind. "To make a call to assuredness and action is no easy feat, even when in the moment is seems as simple as breathing."


A somber dredge of pallid starlight rippled out suddenly against the stagnant liminal space unfolding endlessly in the wake of young Jayshriek, a pale wraith of cool shade materializing with the faintest hissing of sudden movement grinding upon stone. All at once, the orderly outline of a cat seemed to just... emerge, cool greys and beguiling undercurrents of faint whites suddenly weaving themselves into existence as the ever-quivering lights present among the ethereal night sky pulsed sharply. Big pale eyes suddenly blinked into light before the living counterpart, cool blues accentuated by the faintest touches of white curling across the broad molly's features like rivers slicing through unbroken earth. Identical to his mother in one liminal heartbeat, a perfect stranger in the next.

"Jayshriek." The grating rasp of Ivystar's perpetually grim voice was made all the more hard by the ever-lingering remnants of a intrinsic snarl, the ravages of war not yet lost upon the partially forgotten tongue. "Although I cannot say that I'm surprised to bear witness to a new Leader so soon, I can confidently say that I am not exceedingly thrilled to have you bearing witness before me. But I shall digress, for conversations such as these have little matter with those who hold no influence."

Ivystar's smoky pelt rippled with frosty touches of sad starlight as she drew closer to Jayshriek, pulsating and ebbing as though it were captivated by a strange, unseen living being. Odd little ethereal specks of light seemed to sputter and flicker with each smooth movements, sparking and twinkling with a unique lifeforce that was utterly captivating, as the old ill-mannered RiverClan Leader closed the much-appreciated distance between the pair. The strange, predatory gleam within the old she-cat's gaze was faint, the drive to size up the unfamiliar cat standing before her much too enticing to resist. A dry, sharp-cut sigh seethed past the tightly-clinched confines of Ivystar's teeth as her movements gradually drew to a halt, faintly unnerved by the odd feeling of sharing a close proximity with a living creature.

"I am Ivystar, forbearer of your mother's name and Leader of RiverClan in all the seasons that came before your kin." Whether it was humor or repulsion laced between the sharp assessment, the brevity of the old ghost’s tone rendered any further assessment a moot point. It was always so hard to tell whether she meant to bear words of compassion or words of compulsion, and there was so little difference to be had. "With this life, I grant you the gift of ferocity. You have inherited the mantle of conflict; the destiny of one meant to know wars on all fronts, whether it be through violence or famine or disease, all shades of hardship shall be known intimately." Bending forward so that her white-speckled muzzle gently brushed the protruding ridge of Jayshriek’s own, the starry molly exhaled softly at the faint brush of contact, an invisible web of agony inevitably blossoming between the pair, the newly-proclaimed successor sharing the ancestral burden of a newly-granted life. Ivystar remained close for a few integral seconds longer, intimate with the sharp flood of pain likely dousing the young RiverClanner standing just ahead of her, before drawing away with a faint brush of chilly, star-sodden light. "You must harden your heart against all that stands in your way between success and failure, you must be ruthless enough to bear the weight of such a terrible burden all atop your own shoulders. Bear ice within your veins as proudly as though it were your second skin, for the kind are the first to suffer when fate turns upon you."

Slipping back into the wavering outline of onlookers, Ivystar's pale shape was quick to abandon the lightly familiar outline of Jayshriek as he awaited the next steps for the ancient ceremony, cold words hanging heavy against the heavenly backdrop of the ongoing ceremony.

---

Otterleap - belonging to pikachu
Ivystar I - belonging to pikachu

From the shimmering background stepped a tom with an unruly pelt. From his frame, the Riverclan origins were evident. His messy pelt was a stark contrast to Jayshriek’s stark black coat. The Starclan cat was a vivid, dilute calico, with blue and orange hues smattering his pelt, and splashed with dashes of white. Across the former warrior’s maw was a lopsided grin. Dull green eyes regarded the leader with curiosity and as he trotted forward, he did so in a way that almost made it seem like they were old companions. However, this was kin that had passed long before Jayshriek’s inception.

“Jayshriek! Welcome to Starclan. Although, I’m sure some cat already said that but doesn’t feel right to not greet you myself.” Sparkfrost’s smile only grew as he spoke until he stopped suddenly, as if remembering something, “I suppose you probably don’t recognize me, huh? I’m Sparkfrost, one of Ivystar’s littermates. I’ve been with Starclan for some time, so I can’t expect you to remember someone you never met before. I should know better than any cat…” He laughed, some personal joke that he did not even think to explain to the tom standing before him.

“Anyways, Starclan sent me here with a purpose - I can’t forget that! I’m here to give you a life that I think will help you out a lot.” There came another short chuckle as he ducked his head to butt it into the young leader’s shoulder before pulling back to meet his gaze. As he spoke once again, his voice possessed a mildly contrasting tonation, hints of seriousness lining the words instead of warm embrace, “I’m going to give you the gift of Joy. Being leader is a tough thing, Ivystar knew it, as did every cat before her and you can’t go around being serious all the time. It’s easier if you enjoy yourself, take time to find joy in your clanmates and in the small moments. It’s not so hard once you give it a try.”

Sparkfrost touched his nose to Jayshriek’s and immediately, the young warrior was filled with an overwhelming fire - pure and unadulterated joy. It was unstoppable and seemed like it would never stop, but snapped away in an instant, as the Starclanner pulled back. This life threatened to leave it’s host breathless, yet filled with a certain contentment. Sparkfrost’s features mirrored this sensation, as they always had. Instead of the wild grin, there was now a satisfied smile, “Enjoy that life for me, Jayshriek, I look forward to seeing you use it.”


There to present his second to last life, shrouded in an odd sense of unfortunate mystery, was Ivystar. Her emerald eyes twinkled with starlight, but her gaze lacked the traditional attributes of kindness and helpfulness a respectable ancestor held. In place of them was a burning fit of anger and disappointment, not necessarily in her son, but for what she had let happen to her Clan. For a variety of reasons, the Clan was absolutely plummeting. She’d appointed a warrior as her deputy that she knew did not have the heart to fulfil the role, at no fault of her own. In what some would call a brash manner, she had attacked a known murderer and that had ultimately led to her death, six times over. Nevermind the fact that they had lost the gorge to WindClan.

As she padded forward with her son’s figure in sight, she felt a stirring sense of hopelessness in the pit of her heart. She hadn’t raised him the way she should have, and as a result she was entirely unsure how fit he was to lead; whether he had what it took to make things right where she was wrong. “Jayshriek,” She mewed, settling a few feet from where he resided. “This is a rather untraditional ascent to leadership. I hope that you are truly prepared to take on the responsibility that comes with your new role.” She mewed, a cynical bitterness evident in her tone. “I’m here to give you the virtue of humility. Arrogance is not a good look on you, but especially if you are to be a decent leader for our Clan. By making this commitment, you agree to above all, put your Clan first. It is imperative that you do not stray from this path. You’ve got much work to do, so don’t let your own selfish desires get in the way of it.” Stepping forward, Ivystar touched her nose to the dark tom’s, feeling the power of the life she gave flow from her and to his tangible form. She could feel whatever little strength remained after his previous seven lives were given draining. This process took a lot out of a cat, and he would leave with a burden unlike any he’d ever experienced before. After a few moments, she stepped away, leaving him with one final life to be granted.

“I know I haven’t done the best for you, as my son. I wish more than anything I had been a better mother to you, but my opportunity has since passed. Take whatever anger you hold for me and apply that energy elsewhere, because it’s a waste of your valuable time and effort.” Tail tip twitching with irritation, she locked eyes with him as she spoke. “I may not have a physical presence with you anymore, but know that I still expect you to do right by our Clan. I have the power to give you a life, but don’t begin to think I can’t take them away if you prove unfit as a leader.”


Receiving this latest portion of an additional existence, the latest piece of some unknowable and unimaginable force seeping into the hidden and tight of his shaky being, was not the difficult part.

The difficult part came within the recognition of just why his mother was standing before him, why she rippled and shimmered with the gracings of starlight and threaded through with the shades of limited immortality; as though he hadn't already reached this conclusion an unknowable amount of times over, as though he hadn't known exactly what he was likely against the moment the whispers had first wreathed through the pounding confines of his shock-addled skull. Ivystar, Kitefire, his children. Jayshriek could do little more than stand before the ghostly outline of his mother as she slipped through the ceremonial processions with the ease of one speaking of the weather, hardly displaying any genuine disposition about her evident untimely fate. Ivystar, Kitefire, his children. Even the frigid touches of the latest dredges of a new life did little to provoke an immediate reaction, the unkempt dark-furred tom standing resolute with the stillness of the deepest winter icing atop the rivers, pupils rapidly expanding and contracting at his mothers proximity.

Take whatever anger you hold for me and apply that energy elsewhere, because it’s a waste of your valuable time and effort.

The carefully conditioned muscles atop the shoulders, so delicately interwoven in an intricate map of overlapping bands of untried strength, tensed in a seething mixture of wariness and imbued agitation at the final command, the voice of his mother, the voice of his Leader. The aquiline curve of Jayshriek's sharp muzzle scrunched upwards in a thinly-veiled display of at the idea of disregarding such a long withstanding wound, at the idea of entombing such a volatile element of his soul, at the idea of... accepting and letting go. Delicately weighted spine tensing into a posture of defensive attention, the dark-furred tom's ears pressed tightly against the narrow confines of his skull at Ivystar's subvocal challenge.

"I will lay to rest what was only when I discover what happened." You cannot ask this of me, not just yet.

---

Sparkfrost - belonging to ripped
Ivystar II - belonging to maple

A permanent dull ache had settled deep within the cavity of the slender she-cat’s chest. The afterlife was supposed to be devoid of such unpleasant sensations but it seemed even her best attempts to find peace were overshadowed by the hapless desire for a tom whose life appeared to be destined for something outside of her. Once, it had been a river that split their paws, and the blood of their ancestors that soaked those borders. Now it was a matter of life and death that tore a jagged rift between the pair. Kitefire had not stopped longing for the warmth of Jayshriek, unable to avoid the relentless gnawing that drove her to press into the silken fur underneath his chin.

If she could spend an eternity perched firmly underneath the Riverclanner’s stiff jaw, perhaps then she would finally rest in the afterlife.

But now, there was something that clawed the divide into something cavernous - a circumstance in which she was now forced to aid in making matters worse. Jayshriek would not only be made to live a whole life without her, but nine of them. Upon hearing the news, the she-cat had become a churning torrent of emotion. He would be with their kit, there to care for the cats that she had left behind. But really what had been left behind beyond the frail sense of family the two of them had crafted? It was selfish to long for her kin to leave the forest, to join her in a permanent deal. Perhaps she had always been a creature drawn in an insensitive direction and this had merely drawn the ugliness of it from the depths.

Had her life already not accomplished that fully enough?

This had to be her punishment, to bestow a life, a name, to the tom who she could now only truly witness in fleeting glances. Starclan had watched her this entire time, cursing her in such a bitter manner, while blessing her with a boundless afterlife that she’d be further fated to spend alone. Kitefire wanted to curse, to yowl at the stars, and yet she’d found the fire burning in her chest to be little more than smoldering embers. There was not any way to push back against what would further condemn their circumstances. Instead, the she-cat leaned into the budding eagerness, the unrelenting desire to simply breath in his comforting scent once again.

Her paws shifted eagerly, unable to hold back and lay in wait as the other lives were bestowed upon the former warrior. She knew little of the circumstances that had brought him here, or what had ordained him worthy, nor did she care. Kitefire simply wanted to close the distance between them, to sate the longing that caused her pelt to itch like a nest of red ants. With each passing moment it seemed that a memory of air was stripped from her lungs. There was no need for such sustenance while residing among the stars, and yet the presence of the dark-pelted tom reminded her of what it was to indulge in such sensations.

And then, it was time.

Eight other lives coursed through the veins of the Riverclan warrior. Now, it was her turn. Kitefire almost couldn’t get her paws to move; she had to shake out her starry coat to rouse even the mere thought of pulling forward. Wide eyes were entranced with the tom as she went to go meet him. Each step was stiffened, slow, as she appeared from the backdrop and began to close the distance between them. Then, she was running, galloping, and butting her head into his scruff. She nuzzled his fur without any utterance of a verbal greeting. Here she was, supposed to be standing on the behalf of the ancestors to greet a new leader, and instead she was embracing him as if it were the only thing sustaining her.

Several moment passed before Kitefire finally pulled away to regard him, “I don’t know why any cat would want you as a leader, but here we are.” Although her voice was mocking, there was a twitch of whiskers and the edges of her maw turned up slightly in a teasing grin. There was some honesty to it but, regardless, she longed to support him as readily as she had when walking through the territories. Stretching to stand as tall as her paws would allow her, the she-cat sought out his eyes, wanting to read them… lose herself in them.

“I wish I could use this life myself… to join you, to watch you at your side, to see Flypaw grow. But it wasn’t fated, I won’t indulge in the longings of a kit. Take this life and use it for me, don’t waste it.” Kitefire’s head tipped slightly, straining to hear a response, a promise, but she didn’t wait long. There was a whole clan down there waiting for guidance. With a flick of her tail, she spoke with a certain clarity, “I give you the life of loyalty so that your paws may be firmly rooted, in all ways. Let it become part of you, let me continue to live through you.” Her voice cracked slightly as she leaned forward to press her nose gingerly to his. It was a tad more forceful than intended, betraying the way in which the she-cat longed to press into him, merge into one being.

The life spoke it clearly, burning deep into the new leader’s pelt, forceful and unyielding… yet grounding and security. Unlike the previous lives, this one did not fade, it lingered and ignited the pelt, preparing him for the call, “I’m happy to be the first to call you Jaystar. Go back to them, tell Riverclan, tell all the clans, so they may know your name… for both the good and the bad.”

Against every screaming fiber of her ethereal body, Kitefire spared him one last glance, in it not holding back. In that gaze, she betrayed her relentless love, pitiful desire, and hopeful reassurance. She would be with him every step of the way, until it was time for them to be together once more.


Ships sailing in the night, forever stranded against the silent divination of unseen currents, twin mirrors of midas touch that brought nothing but decay and desolation, too ever fleeting to ever truly hold. But there was nothing to hold now, not ever again; embrace made only of starry threads of universe matter and frigid white light, all flesh and bone and warmth returned to the earth and entombed within stone. And as far as the newly-titled Jaystar could plausibly entertain, perhaps that was just the ultimate flaw, the negating line that ran deep within the center of his being, some great part of him just as remote and forever withdrawn as Kitefire, as Ivystar. For there could be no pain great enough to ever deter him from seeking the presence of Kitefire, no shadowy promise of suffering upon the horizon that could dissuade his desire to see her, to return to her for one final time and remain embraced until the sun had long flickered away into perpetual darkness. Until they were nothing, yet everything at once. The terrifying surge of endorphins that had pulsed through his thundering bloodstream at the vision of Kitefire made all the mournful little aches and pains very upon sweet, the ghostly touch and weight of her melting away what little aches and pains still curdled atop his weary bones.

It was all too fleeting, the ethereal touches of StarClan curling and flickering at the edges of this wet peripheral vision, the natural press of ever passing light drawing the formal proceedings to a close already. The visions before him were already wavering and sputtering, not entirely dissimilar to the death throes of a sputtering candle, countless unknown and known faces breaking into glistening spectrals of fading light that began to curl skywards, leisurely drifting off to some invisible existence. It would never be enough, the outpour forever shallow enough to fail at soothing the ravenous ache that had split open within his bones upon their first encounter. It would never be enough, because Kitefire would always be more; forever more to the soft, wet heart of him.

"Wait," Jaystar eventually choked out, heart and lungs clogging the constricting expanse of his throat and vocal chords as he hurriedly sought to press his forehead against Kitefire's own, reaching reaching reaching. It had been so little time, could they truly not spare just a few more heartbeats together? It had been so long already, and even longer still until... the next. The honey-wine darkness of his gaze was greatly obscured by the rapidly expanding width of his pupils, blown wide and glassy against the gently strengthening light breaking apart the remaining brushes of his dissipating visions, shaded by the characteristic brush of desperation. "Wait- not yet, please not yet. I'm not ready." Kitefire's shape was rapidly losing permanence, fawn streaks and simmering reds slowly dusting away into the the gathering white light of encroaching consciousness, ravenous fangs of alertness strengthening to a ever-heating simmer beneath his prickling flesh and bone. "To live just a single heartbeat beyond this moment is a brand of torture I am terrified of bearing, but to live nine entire lives without you?" Jaystar hurriedly spit, consecrations upon holy stone, brain alight with both the frenetic urgings of his personal torment and the gathering awareness building at the base of his tense spine, "I would forsake it all, give it all up without a singular moment's hesitation, just to be with yo-"

Jaystar awakes with a start, held only by the embrace of cold stone and the rapidly fading memory of Kitefire's face.

---

Kitefire - belonging to ripped