A Great Star Falls - Part 2

The rain had stopped and so had Joltflash’s heart. Patchstar’s body lay unmoving beside her as her last life faded away and she drifted into StarClan. At first Joltflash didn’t move. She just sat there and looked quietly at Patchstar.

The tabby she-cat stood up and moved closer to Patchstar and began to groom the leader’s fur for her to be presented to the Clan later. No one needed to see how hurt and broken she had been in her final moments. After a few minutes, the leader’s fur lay flat and she seemed just as well groomed and high honored as the days she had been addressing her Clan with youth and optimisim.

Joltflash’s ears flattened and she sighed. The tabby she-cat pressed her muzzle into the shoulder fur of her old friend and closed her eyes. “Goodbye, Patchstar. Thank you for everything you’ve done for the forest, for MoonClan… for me. You will not be forgotten.” Joltflash licked Patchstar’s shoulder before looking out of the den and into the camp. Everyone was so naïve. So unaware.

It was time to break their hearts.

Sighing, Joltflash padded out of the den and jumped on top of the Moss Rock, looking down at her fellow Clan mates. “Let all cats gather under the Moss Rock for a Clan meeting.” Joltflash’s ears were pressed to her skull sadly. She scanned the clearing as cats began to gather. Deathsong… Sorrelfox… Patchstar’s kits. It killed the deputy to have to tell them that the leader was gone. But it must be done. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes to focus before opening them once more and taking a step forward.

“Patchstar is dead. After many moons of serving MoonClan as its faithful and loyal leader, she now walks with StarClan. She was the only remaining cat I know of who was there the day SkyClan broke apart and FireClan, MoonClan, and SnowClan were formed. She was leader back when the Clans went through hard times and almost everyone died. She was leader when I was a kit and she has never made a bad decision that hurt MoonClan. She was there when Cursedstar left MoonClan to form PebbleClan as well as Cinderstar for DawnClan. She was the wisest and most caring cat I knew. I speak for all of MoonClan when I say she will be greatly missed.”

The camp was silent. No one dared move, no one dared speak. Then a small apprentice broke the silence. “NO!”

All heads turned on the small white form of Frogpaw who was standing beside her mentor Jadesnow. Her eyes filled with tears and she screamed again. “NO! NO! NO! SHE CAN’T BE DEAD!”

Her outburst seemed to tip the scales and MoonClan wailed loudly in loss. Scorpionpaw ran off into the forest, Mosskit watching him sadly from her spot beside Timidbreeze.”Scorpionpaw! Wait!” Horsepaw ran after him desperately. Sorrelfox and Deathsong both looked as if they had been frozen by a cold winters breeze and left to never thaw. Breezemoon was uneasy on his paws and he collapsed to the ground, his eyes foggy and in disbelief. There were only two cats that seemed different about this than the others.

Fallenshadow and Wishspirit.

Fallenshadow was comforting Timidbreeze with a expression unreadable. It seemed like he had just been killed himself, but it wasn’t in mourning. More unease. Wishspirit was smiling, his tail curled happily.

Joltflash huffed and called for a calming silence to fall on the Clan. Frogpaw was still broken beside Jadesnow, but her siblings had come to surround her, all mourning their mother as well. First their father, now their mother. Their fortune was not well.

“I shall travel to Moon Tree with Breezemoon. I will receive my nine lives and come back to tell you all Patchstar’s words and lead the Clan in a way I hope will make her proud. Deathsong, Sorrelfox, Spiceshadow. Please help me move Patchstar’s body into the clearing for the Clan to mourn over her loss. Trapjaw, Burntgaze, Scorchblaze, Flower. Go get lavender and rosemary to prepare Patchstar.  I know this is rough for everyone, but let her kits mourn first, then the rest of the Clan may. Wishspirit… go find Scorpionpaw and Horsepaw. He should not be left alone.”

The black tom huffed angrily. He seemed to whisper something to Fallenshadow before disappearing to do as he was told.

Joltflash jumped off the Moss Rock and went into Patchstar’s den with the three toms and carefully moved Patchstar into the clearing. The elders returned with the herbs and prepared the leader’s body, Breezemoon shakily telling them what to do. Frogpaw lunged forward and buried her fur in her mother’s neck, beginning to cry. Scratchpaw, Creampaw, and Whitepaw followed suit, mourning over their mother. Wishspirit eventually returned with Scorpionpaw and Horsepaw, who quickly ran over to join his siblings. Scorpionpaw looked wet and was shivering and Horsepaw was out of breath. Scorpionpaw must of fallen in the river. Wishspirit didn’t look to pleased, but Joltflash wasn’t surprised.

Joltflash waited patiently for Breezemoon to finish paying his respects before she tapped him on the shoulder with her tail. “Come on. Patchstar is waiting for us.” She licked his head apologetically and the two of them left the camp.

The walk was quiet. Both of them hung their head sadly. Joltflash almost felt guilty. How could she even begin to live up to the amazing things Patchstar did? They walked into the clearing and Breezemoon padded in front of her and curled up almost immediately, not speaking. Joltflash sighed and looked up at the darkening sky. Stars were beginning to show and she sat down looking up at them for a moment before laying down and closing her eyes, drifting off into StarClan.

Her eyes opened and she was surrounded. Joltflash stood up and looked around as nine cats stood around her smiling. Joltflash took a soft breath and smiled.

Patchstar took a step forward and pressed her muzzle to Joltflash’s head. “We have come to grant you your nine lives, my old friend. Lead MoonClan well and make me proud.”

Joltflash nodded in response. “I will, Patchstar.”

The tortoiseshell she-cat took a step back and Joltflash looked around at the cats that had come to greet her.

Patchstar; her leader and oldest friend. Bluewing; her youngest daughter and Spiceshadow and Jadesnow’s mother. Petalfall; her oldest daughter who had died of whitecough. Dustypaw; her only son who had been born blind and drowned. Dave; her friend and former apprentice. Cloudtail; Bluewing’s mate. Robinsong; her former mentor who had taught her everything. Eagleheart; the former deputy of MoonClan before her. Pantherclaw; her old friend who she grew up with in MoonClan.

Joltflash smiled and she looked to Dave. He had gone to StarClan where he belonged. Although his scar was still visible, his red eyes were open and he had his sight. It was a miracle. And the other miracle bounded up to her, smiling brightly.

“Mama! Mama! Guess what? I can see in StarClan! I’m not blind anymore! Isn’t it great?” Dustypaw’s tail waved happily and he jumped around his mother’s paws, his bright blue eyes full of happiness.

Joltflash purred happily and licked his forehead. “That’s wonderful, darling.” Joltflash blinked before looking at the cats who had gathered there before her ears flattened. “Patchstar… where are Foxslash and Rosemist?”

The leader sighed softly. “I have not seen either of them since I came to MoonClan. I am sorry, my old friend.”

Joltflash shook her head. “It’s alright. Everyone here is perfect.” She looked down at her son and licked his head, purring happily.

“Joltflash, it is time to receive your nine lives. Dustypaw, you may go first.”

Dustypaw nodded happily and turned to his mother. “Mama, I know you’ll be a great leader.” He leaned forward to press noses with her to give Joltflash her life, but an unfamiliar voice made him freeze.

"I'm sorry, Joltflash. Those lives aren't for you."

Joltflash’s eyes went wide and she stepped protectively in front of Dustypaw.

“… Fallenshadow. What are you doing here?”