Post by Taxx on Nov 14, 2019 12:12:48 GMT -5
where there's smoke, there's fire
The Moon Tree was glowing, lit from above by the moon, the pure white bark sparkling from the frost that clung to its surface. Smokestorm swallowed, the fur on her back prickling. This was already farther than she’d come; usually, when she accompanied the medicine cats, she left them at the crack in the stone to make their way on alone. Without a word, Sandblaze padded toward the tree and Smokestorm followed. Her mind was a whirl of anticipation, doubt, uncertainty. What would it be like? Who would she see? On the heels of that question, as she came to a stop and blinked at one of the hollows where a medicine cat usually lay, came the worry: Would she see anyone? Would they accept her?
The scoop of earth in front of her carried the scent of Ebonyheart, and without hesitation she settled into it, curling herself down just as if she were in her own nest in camp, and stretched her head forward to rest her nose against one of the roots.
She knew immediately that she was dreaming. The ground beneath her paws was delightfully warm, and her claws unsheathed against the comforting stone. Water bubbled past, a quiet background noise, and when she opened her eyes, she was staring into the faces of the cats she’d known throughout her life. Hawkstar, Frozenrain, Fallenleaf… a choking sound escaped her and she lurched to her paws, tail twitching madly as her gaze fell on Silverstorm; their eyes met and the only thing that stopped her from darting over to him, from tucking herself against him, was the paw he lifted to halt her. Soon, he mouthed, and then turned to gaze back along the line of cats facing her.
Hawkstar rose and padded toward her, somehow more imposing than he’d been in life. Stars lit his tawny fur and his pace was unhurried and smooth, lacking the stiffness of the stride she’d come to expect from him. He looked well, and at peace. Smokestorm's eyes flicked past toward Frozenrain, and for a moment she thought she caught sight of the tiny forms of three kits crouching by the queen's paws.
Hawkstar entered her line of sight then and the dilute calico’s gaze returned to him, meeting his amber eyes and then dipping her head to him in a gesture of respect. He was still worthy of it, for everything he’d done for StoneClan. His voice was the usual calm rumble, and she straightened to look back at him as he spoke. “Welcome, Smokestorm. For moons, I have served StoneClan, and StoneClan has served me. Although your path may not be smooth, and you will undoubtedly encounter many obstacles, never forget where you come from, or who we are. If you remember that, StoneClan can never truly fall. I leave them in your paws now, Smokestorm, and have no doubt you will prove yourself a formidable leader. Thank you, for all your service under me. I have now seen all that you did for StoneClan, and for me, in my last moons as leader. Continue with that mindset, and you will excel.
With this life, I give you forgiveness.” He leaned down and Smokestorm stretched up to accept the touch of his nose to hers. There was instantly an overwhelming sense of peace that filled her, her legs nearly giving out and dumping her to the ground on her side. She forced herself to stay upright, blinking back at the tom as he continued. “You will no doubt meet conflict in your time as leader. Remember that hanging on to the wrongs done will do you no good. Forget and forgive; don’t waste time clinging to the past.”
He turned without another word, and Frozenrain rose to take his place; the gray-and-cream she-cat lifted her head to brush her cheek against Hawkstar’s shoulder as they passed, but she didn’t stop until she was in front of Smokestorm, purring quietly. “Hawkstar chose well in you, and I am proud of what you’ve accomplished. With this life I give you kindness. You are strong, Smokestorm. Temper that with mercy; understand that sometimes the smallest act of compassion can have great consequences.” Then she touched her nose to Smokestorm’s, and the younger cat’s vision wavered, seeing herself from the outside: crouched beside a young apprentice, her tail resting across the young cat’s shoulders. Comforting them, from whatever had upset the youngster. The scene faded as the older she-cat pulled her head back, green and blue eyes meeting. “Think of StoneClan as though they were kin and I promise you, they’ll never steer you wrong.”
The former matriarch had turned away, but she’d barely taken two steps away when a black-and-white shape was hurtling forward and Smokestorm was suddenly faced with a pair of shining bright amber eyes. “Hi!” the cat chirped, and as she spoke she consistently hopped from paw to paw. “My name’s Cricketleap. I’m Cicadasong’s aunt, Skunkspots’ sister. It’s great to meet you, Smokestorm! I hope we get to meet lots more in the future!” There was a quiet cough from one of the other cats, but rather than hurry along, Cricketleap rolled her eyes expressively. “Yeah, yeah, I’m getting there, I just wanted to say hi first! We’ve got all night, don’t we?” No reply came, just a sigh, and the she-cat’s tail stuck up, clearly proud of her victory.
If Cricketleap weren’t standing right in front of her, Smokestorm would have wondered if she hadn’t been born again in Cicadasong. She shared a lot of the same hyperactive tendencies as the younger, and she stifled a purr of amusement. Smokestorm jerked back in startled reflex as Cricketleap darted her head forward to press her nose against the deputy’s. “With this life, I give you optimism. Life’s more than hunts and patrols and leading. Don’t let yourself get stuck in a rut! Stop and have fun sometimes, look on the bright side whenever you can. Don’t let whatever bad things that happen turn you sour.” Despite the cheer in her gaze, her words carried weight and Smokestorm shifted, unable to help remember her tendency to retreat emotionally when life took a rough turn. The life given, however, swept that away in a heartbeat, the lingering grief for Hawkstar’s passing and the worry about her own abilities fading under a wave of awe. Like nothing would ever get her down again. The glimmer of the Moon Tree, the frost glittering in the moonlight and sending dots of light on the stone walls that surrounded them, caught her attention for a moment and she watched them, caught up in the beauty of it. She could do this. Why would Hawkstar have chosen her if he hadn’t thought so?
Cricketleap pulled back, a smile on her face as she spun around to prance back to the line of cats and plopping down just as another rose to take his turn. Smokestorm caught her breath, sitting taller, her tail twitching as she recognized Eagletalon. The stocky, sandy-furred tom padded across to her; it’d been too long since she’d seen him last- seasons since she’d spun around after sending off that fox and saw her mother’s mate lying limp on the ground in the Gathering clearing. The ease of the previous life faded; her heart squeezed again as she remembered the trek home, remembered Duskflower’s cry, saw grief shining from the eyes of her siblings. When was the last time she’d thought of him? She couldn’t even remember.
"Welcome, Smokestorm,” Eagletalon purred as he came to a stop in front of her. “I never thought I'd be a father figure to StoneClan's next great leader. I'm honored to have been a part of your life." His eyes were soft, but his smile was wide, pride spilling out of him like light through autumn leaves. He leaned forward, but instead of the formal nose-touch he rested his chin on her head. Smokestorm leaned in, eyes closed as she breathed in his scent, familiar and yet tinged with the scents StarClan left on his pelt. "With this life, I give you honor and selflessness. You have plenty already, but remember them in times of hardship. Honor to yourself, to the Clan, to the Code. You've got the whole Clan watching you, now. Don't let your pride make choices for you, Smokestorm. The worst thing you can do as a leader is put your own thoughts and feelings above everyone else's." There was no pain in this life, just the glimmer of memories that came with it, pouring into her.
Eagletalon took a step back, the warmth of his smile dimming as a storm of emotions took hold of him. "I kept an eye out for Fallingstar, for Hawkstar, and now I'll keep an eye out for you." The warrior purred, slowly taking his place with the other StarClan cats. "Keep your head up, Smokestorm. Don't waste another second mourning me or the past. You've got a bright future just waiting for you to grasp it."
Smokestorm knew there were more lives to receive, but she hated to watch Eagletalon go, wishing there was something she could do to bring him back with her. No matter how safe and well he was here- she missed him. Just like she knew Duskflower, Mistcloud, Kestrelclaw and Meadowflight missed him. She had to swallow a couple times before she could speak, and then it was a breathless whisper. “I’ll tell them you were a part of this. Thank you for everything, Eagletalon.”
“He understands,” a different voice broke in, and Smokestorm recognized Fallenleaf as she closed the distance, her white fur shining so that the faint ginger markings the younger she-cat knew were there were impossible to make out. She hardly hesitated as she gave Smokestorm a lick between her ears before pulling back and smiling down at her. “Love needs no thanks, Smokestorm. We do not expect our kits to thank us for what we do, even if they are not our own.”
Her nose pressed to the deputy’s and she continued, “With this life I give you love. I hope you get to experience all forms of it: the love of a cat for their Clan, the love of a mother for her kits, the love of a cat for their mate.” Her eyes sparkled with a hint of amusement, but Smokestorm hardly noticed before her eyes were closed against the life that came. This wasn’t the gentle sense of affection she felt for her mother and sister- it felt more like how a warrior would feel in battle. The fierce desire to keep safe the shadowed kits huddled between her front paws, the choking worry that something might harm them- it was suddenly much easier to understand Mistcloud’s agonizing grief at the news of Ashpaw’s death.
Trembling as Fallenleaf stepped backward, Smokestorm sucked in a breath to calm herself, squaring her shoulders and looking up as the next cat approached. She didn’t recognize him, but the short height was a hint, confirmed when he introduced himself. “My name is Nightpaw. I am the son of Dawnblossom, born while she was a warrior.” He stepped closer and Smokestorm stretched her head out to accept the touch of his nose. She’d never heard of Nightpaw, but then, she’d never known a time when Dawnblossom had been anything but a medicine cat. How long ago had he lived? “With this life I give you patience. There will be obstacles in your way, and there will be times your Clanmates will disagree with your choices. Getting upset or refusing to listen will only make things worse. Keep a cool head, an open mind, and everything will turn out okay in the end.” The life itself sent a feeling of calm through her; a core of strength and peace despite the whirl of anger, hate, grief that would normally send her leaping into battle or secluding herself from everything.
When she’d opened her eyes again, Nightpaw was gone and the more familiar form of Dawnblossom was approaching. Her gaze shone with warmth; as she came to a stop, she leaned forward to offer a gentle rub of her head and a purr. “Congratulations, Smokestorm. Duskflower raised a strong daughter, and she’ll be so proud to see you fulfill your role as leader. With this life, I give you healing.” Again, a bolt of grief and rage filled her, so strong that it was nearly choking, and every muscle tensed, her pelt bushing and her tail lashing uncontrollably. Then it eased and she was aware of her racing heart and that she was panting.
“There will always be loss. It is, sadly, the way of things.” A twinge of grief pricked at her mind again, but Smokestorm was too overwhelmed to wonder what it meant. “Strength takes many forms. Sometimes a strong body shields a wounded mind. Never be afraid to mourn the loss of those you love, Smokestorm, but never let that turn your paws toward a path you might regret. Sometimes, company when you’re at your lowest is the best thing you can have.” Pulling back, she smiled at the younger she-cat. “Keep these lives in mind. They’ll help you when you need them.”
Dawnblossom turned to go and another cat stepped forward; Smokestorm recognized Darkfrost easily. The silver she-cat, her aunt and her mentor, paused in front of her with pride in her eyes and a smirk on her face. “If it isn’t my apprentice,” she purred. “Look how far you’ve come. And to think I might have been the one to set you on this path.”
Locking eyes with her first mentor, Smokestorm tipped her head,, a silent and only slightly mocking gesture at the StarClan cat’s attempt to claim credit for the way she’d turned out. Darkfrost snorted, her tail sweeping side to side, and then leaned closer. “With this life, I give you loyalty.” There was little time for Smokestorm to wonder about the reasoning behind it; the moment her nose touched Darkfrost’s there was a surge of fierce aggression and pride, the same feeling she’d felt many times over as she’d sprung to the battle on behalf of StoneClan: confidence in her ability and training, the knowledge that she was doing right in defending the territory her Clan owned. Everything she did, she did for StoneClan, and she relished the flood of the life that told her Darkfrost approved.
“I’ll be watching you,” the silvery she-cat stated, almost as if in warning as she turned, tail up and waving as she made her way back to her place. Smokestorm’s eyes swept the half-circle of cats and paused on Silverstorm as the tom, who had sat and watched quietly through the ceremony, finally rose to his paws to approach, to take his turn giving a life.
Smokestorm couldn’t sit and wait for him to approach, even though the distance was no more than a couple tail-lengths; she jerked to her paws and met her father halfway, and as her head pressed to his, her eyes closed and a ragged purr swelled in her chest. Silverstorm was purring too, one paw hooked over her back to draw her in closer, and she didn’t care what any cat might think of her- they ought to understand, right? How long it had been since she’d seen him, sick and dying from the illness that had struck so hard; how hard it had been in the days following, when she was reminded over and over that he was gone.
He still was; except in her dreams. Maybe she could see more of him now. He looked so much better than he had the last time. He was the strong cat she remembered- the warmth of his affection as plain as ever, but there were things she realized she’d forgotten, as she pulled back. His scent, for one- and the left ear that curled back at the tip. And his voice.
“Smokestorm,” he welcomed, pulling back. “My daughter. I don’t think it’s possible to say just how proud I am of you. You have come so far, and you have so much farther to go. I have watched you every step of the way, and now I am glad to be able to come to you, to help when you need it.” His head turned toward Eagletalon and he shared a nod with the sandy-colored tom. “I am glad you had Eagletalon, and that you accepted him. He was good for you, and your mother and sister, and he loved all of you as much as any cat can love.”
He turned back and their noses touched, his bright amber eyes shining back at her. “With this life I give you pride: both in yourself and in the Clan. Have pride in your cats, from the oldest elder to the youngest kit. Their accomplishments will be yours, too. Remember that though you will lead them, and they will look to you, that you need them just as much. A leader is nothing without the Clan standing with them.” The life flowed into her as Silverstorm spoke, a series of flashes of memory: her first prey caught, her first battle won, becoming a warrior with Mistcloud, watching her sister lie in the nursery with her kits, becoming deputy. Pride marked each moment, not always in herself but in others too, and as it faded she felt Silverstorm pull back, a gentle smile on his face.
He lifted his head and began: “I now hail you by…”
“Wait!” Smokestorm interrupted, suddenly shaken by the thought that she was losing her chosen tie to her father- losing the last part of her name that was his. She could fix that though. “I want to-”
“No.” Silverstorm’s voice was firm, even with the soft look in his eyes. “I was proud to share my name with you- after all, it certainly fit! But you are your own cat, Smokestorm, and there’s no need to cling with unsheathed claws to this. You will always have me, but you must shine on your own.” He waited a moment for Smokestorm’s reply. She couldn’t say the words aloud, but she finally gave a nod of acceptance and her father continued. “I now hail you by your new name, Smokestar. Your old life is no more. You have received the nine lives of a leader, and StarClan grants you the guardianship of StoneClan. Defend it well; care for young and old; honor your ancestors and the traditions of the warrior code; live each life with compassion and strength.”
The call of her new name went up, chanted from the nine cats who had given her a life; Smokestar swallowed, gazing around at them, meeting each gaze for a moment before silence fell again. They dispersed; Hawkstar and Frozenrain, with the kits she had seen gamboling around their paws, padded off together, while the others went their separate ways. Only Silverstorm remained, sitting close by and watching her for a moment before speaking.
“What’s wrong? You have your lives, you should wake and return to your Clan now.”
Her paws shuffled before she turned to her father, eyes wide. “I thought Ashpaw would meet me here. But he didn’t come. Is he angry? We looked… I tried…”
A rasp of his tongue over an ear, and then the barest whisper of breath as Silverstorm began to fade from view. “I suppose you’d better go look for him, then, hadn’t you?”
It took a moment, her first thought that Silverstorm was telling her to search for her nephew among StarClan’s territory, before understanding gripped her and she gasped, turning her head with the intent of meeting Silverstorm’s eyes, but it was the Moon Tree she saw instead, shining just beyond her nose as the dream dissolved. The rustle of fur behind her told her Sandblaze was still there, but her mind was whirling with the news. If what her father had said was true… then Ashpaw wasn’t dead. And they had to find him.
Stiffly, Smokestar rose to her paws, stretching for a short minute before turning to her medicine cat. “Ready?” she asked, and when he nodded she padded forward to exit the cavern and return to her home. StoneClan waited, and she couldn’t wait to be back where she belonged.
Smokestar of StoneClan
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