Ambidex Hex

A Sci-Fi / Space Opera AU

Official cover by Harriertail

Fire Alone Can Save Our Planet...

For generations, four planets of an alien race of cats have shared the solar system according to the laws laid down by their ancestors. But the Thunder Fleet cats are in grave danger, and the sinister Shadow Fleet grows stronger every day. Noble soldiers are dying - and some deaths are more mysterious than others.

In the midst of this turmoil appears an ordinary working cat named Rusty... who may turn out to be the bravest pilot of them all.

---

A sci-fi retelling of the Warrior Cats series. A very simple beat-for-beat retelling but with all the characters as an anthro species of cat living in a futuristic space setting. Plot rewriting will be minimal.

Updates by chapter as I find time. This is a project for myself while I recover from surgery.

Advice on tagging appreciated

—-

Index

[Will update with each chapter]

AO3 Link

Wattpad Link

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

———

Previous Chapter || Next Chapter

———

The cold air chilled Firepaw’s bones as blackness wrapped itself around him. He could hear nothing, and his paws seemed weightless. 

Out of nowhere, a brilliant ball of light flared in front of him. Firepaw ducked his head, screwing up his eyes against the glare. The light shone, dazzling coldly as it flew past him. A comet, almost within paws reach of him. Before he could extend a claw towards it the comet blinked out, disappearing as quickly as it had come. The darkness faded away, and Firepaw found himself standing in the station center. He felt comforted by the feel of his uniform and the familiar smells of the room. He breathed in the distant odor of fuel in the landing bay, and calmness flowed through his body.

Without warning, a dreadful noise rang through the station. Firepaw’s fur bristled. It was the screeching of terrified cats racing through the hallways. Firepaw recognized their Thunder Fleet uniforms as they fled past him. He stood rooted to the spot, unable to move. The entire station seemed to scream along, the piercing cry of metal grinding into metal bouncing from wall to wall. Then came great cats, huge soldiers, their eyes glittering cruelly. Their fur was like space itself, dark and indistinguishable. They thundered towards him, shaking the floor with the tromping of their boots. The lights flickered from the force, pulling Firepaw in and out of darkness. Out of the shadows, Firepaw heard a high, desperate cry filled with grief and rage. Graypaw!

Firepaw woke, horrified. His dream vanished, leaving his ears ringing and his fur standing on end. A knock sounded from his door and he adjusted his sleep shirt, heartbeat still thrumming as opened his room to the hallway. As he rubbed his eyes and opened them to see the face of Tigerclaw peering down at him. Firepaw straightened his posture, instantly alert. 

“Something wrong, Firepaw?” asked Tigerclaw. “I heard a shout.”

“Just a bad dream,” Firepaw mumbled.

Tigerclaw gave him a curious look, then growled as he checked his watch. “Do me a favor and wake the others. We leave shortly.”

Once dressed, he glanced at the calendar on his wall. The station was meticulously climate controlled, but the planets beyond would be growing colder. The time of leaf-fall was not far off.

After fetching Graypaw and Ravenpaw, the three quickly gulped down the medicines Spottedleaf had given them. Tigerclaw and Bluestar stood watching them, ready to leave. The station was quiet with the exception of a few maintenance cats inspecting a vent. The fleet was still asleep. 

“Ugh!” complained Graypaw. “I knew they’d be bitter. Why couldn’t we just have a big breakfast instead?” He gulped down the glass of water he’d grabbed himself, wiping his chin.

“These will keep your hunger at bay longer,” answered Bluestar. “And they will make you strong. We have a long journey ahead.” 

“Have you eaten yours already?” Firepaw asked.

“I cannot eat if I’m going to share dreams with the Star Fleet at the Moonstone tonight,” replied Bluestar.

Firepaw felt his paws tingle when he heard these words. He was itching to begin the journey. With the stretch of his legs and the familiar voices, the terror of his dream had left him. All that remained was the memory of the comet, and Bluestar’s words sent a renewed thrill of excitement through him. 

The five cats made their way to the landing bay. Lionheart was there, discussing something with one of the elder mechanics. He waved a paw as the group passed. “Safe journey,” he meowed.

Bluestar nodded. “I know I can trust you to keep the station safe,” she answered.

Lionheart looked at Graypaw and smiled softly. “Remember,” he meowed, “you are almost a pilot. Don’t forget what I have taught you.”

Graypaw smiled back at Lionheart with affection. “I will always remember, Lionheart,” he mewed, extending a paw to give his mentor a firm handshake. Lionheart’s pride in his apprentice was as clear as the stars, as was Graypaw’s admiration for the deputy.

They each took their own ships, flying out in a clean V formulation with Bluestar at the front. Ravenpaw and Tigerclaw followed, while Graypaw and Firepaw were parallel on the ends. They retraced their route to Fourtrees. This was the easiest path and safest path to navigate, and would take them into Wind Fleet’s airspace and then beyond. 

As Firepaw glanced down at Fourtrees, he wondered if the tide had already begun to reclaim the ruins. But they flew too far to see clearly. Then beyond, to Wind Fleet airspace. When he had been there first, he was told that the delivery ship they rode was too slow to ever spot a Wind Fleet ship. But his current, solo aircraft was built for speed and combat. It could not keep pace with a Wind Fleet ship, but it could at least move fast enough to spot one. The space between the planets offered the patrol no company. 

“All Fleets are entitled a safe passage to the Moonstone, but Shadow Fleet seems to have no respect for the pilot code anymore, so be alert,” warned Bluestar over their shared communication channel. 

Firepaw’s back was beginning to feel stiff from sitting at attention in his seat all morning. It had to be the middle of the day by then, but he was too focused on maintaining formation to glance at his clock. He was determined to make a good impression on his leader.

Suddenly Tigerclaw’s ship tipped to the side slightly, before snapping back into formation. “Watch out!” his voice hissed from the helmet speaker. “I spotted a Shadow Fleet ship. Direct right, low wing, singular.” That meant it wasn’t fully beneath them or parallel to them. How Tigerclaw could spot a ship at that angle and with the stealth technologies the Shadow Fleet had, Firepaw couldn’t fathom. 

“Hail upwards and maintain speed. Lateral formation,” meowed Bluestar, her voice even. “Their ships have poor peripheral vision when in stealth, but they’ll detect us if they get close enough. It’s not far to the edge of Wind Fleet’s airspace now.”

They adjusted their positions, now flying ‘sideways’ compared to their previous angle. It took a few moments for Firepaw to mentally adjust to the change, reminding himself that there was no proper ‘up’ or ‘down’ in the emptiness of space. Every few seconds Tigerclaw adjusted his angle to act as lookout, updating Bluestar as she rerouted them. Soon the sightings grew more and more sparse, until Tigerclaw signaled an all clear. The Shadow Fleet patrol must have turned back.

Finally they left the Wind Fleet airspace and entered a wide expanse of nothing except occasional asteroid belts and debris. They would be entering a new galaxy soon, one still primarily populated with cats but still entirely foreign to Firepaw. Even as a planetborn, he was never taught about any settlements this far. They were under no assistance from the Fleets and operated neutrally towards them. The same species, but an entirely different civilization. 

Between them and this next galaxy was the ever present armada of Twolegs. No, not just between them. Twolegs had claimed much of the galaxy they were approaching. Firepaw had read about it during his training. Whitestorm had shown diagrams of where they’d taken over, and how they liked to spread beyond. The Moonstone and their target planet, Highstone, had been all but abandoned by Twolegs, having been deemed too much of a hassle with the unstable atmosphere. Not even their great ships could fly properly there.

A familiar formation of lights caught the patrol’s attention. 

“Is that the Thunderpath?” Firepaw radioed after a few moments of staring in awe.

“Yeah,” replied Graypaw. “It’s the same that runs through Shadow Fleet territory. Can you see Highstone just beyond it?” 

Firepaw angled his ship slightly out of formation to get a better look. He craned his neck upwards, and in the distance he could see a large, clouded planet. “Do we have to cross the Thunderpath then?”

“Yep,” mewed Graypaw. His voice was strong and confident, almost cheerful, as he faced the difficult journey.

Bluestar chimed in, her voice calm but somewhat impatient. “We can be there by moonrise as long as we keep up the pace.”

Firepaw cracked his neck as they altered course again. If they crossed now, they would only bury themselves deep into Twoleg airspace. Instead, they would cross when they were closest to Highstone. There was no way to simply fly above or below the Thunderpath without wasting hours of time. Twoleg ships and stations clustered around it. The Thunderpath was like an open wound in the monster that was a Twoleg armada; A weak point where they could slip through largely unbothered.

Keeping their distance and staying parallel to the armada, they flew in mutual, nervous silence. Even when it was time to arc closer to the Thunderpath, Bluestar was silent. The patrol moved as one, following the subtle tilt of their leader’s ship.

A sudden dull booming made them break as they each tried to angle to identify it. Ships bigger than Thunder Fleet’s but smaller than a Twoleg’s weaved between the structures. The cannons on the front sputtered periodically, a ‘grrrrbwwwwwark, grrrrbwwwark’ sound as they fired at small debris and asteroids. They flew directly into the small explosions, unphased.

Dogs! Firepaw’s heart missed a beat. His paws tensed around the yoke of his ship and his fur bristled.

Tigerclaw’s voice rang out from the helmets. “It’s all right. They’re Twoleg workers!” he hissed. 

Firepaw looked at the two dogs piloting around. Their ships were bulky and moved with a boldness that made the orange apprentice shudder. He’d known about dogs even back on his home planet. A dog was to a Twoleg what a Fleet was to a Fleet Settlement. They would guard, run deliveries, and keep out trouble. In return, the Twolegs kept them fed and sheltered. Rarely did a dog leave its ship. Dogs were not stupid or completely under Twoleg control; Some flew solo, and some liked to cause trouble on the planets. The memory of Dog Attack drills made Firepaw shudder. 

It was hours more before they reached the crossing point of the Thunderpath. Firepaw was grateful that Spottedleaf’s herbs had kept him alert and kept his hunger under control. They all hovered at the path, with Bluestar at the lead. A Twoleg ship raced past, then more. To and fro they went, only a few ship lengths from their formation. 

“We’ll go one at a time,” meowed Tigerclaw. “Ravenpaw, you first.”

“No, Tigerclaw,” Bluestar’s voice interrupted. “I shall go first. Don’t forget, this will be the first time of crossing for the apprentices. Let them see how it is done.”

Firepaw stared at his leader’s ship as she broke from the formation to drift ahead. The comms were silent as she waited. Another Twoleg ship rushed past; the only warning was a small glint in the distance before it blared through. After a brief pause, no longer than a heartbeat, Bluestar raced across to the other side. Her ship was noticeably further now.

“Off you go, Ravenpaw; now you’ve seen how it’s done,” meowed Tigerclaw. 

Firepaw didn’t need to see Ravenpaw’s face to know his expression. He felt the same, and could smell his own fear-scent. The black cat pressed his ship forward. There was no sight of Twoleg ships, but Ravenpaw hesitated. 

“Go!” hissed Tigerclaw from his ship. Firepaw saw Ravenpaw’s wings tilt slightly, likely from an accidental tilt of the yoke. He straightened his ship and started to push forward, while Firepaw resisted the urge to close his eyes. Another Twoleg vessel sped out of the distance and hurtled past, causing Ravenpaw to pull back on the yoke hard out of reflex. 

Finally the black cat raced through the Thunderpath and over to Bluestar. “Clear…” came Ravenpaw’s voice, trembling through the speakers. Firepaw felt his fur shiver as he took a deep breath to calm himself.

Graypaw was lucky. A long lull let him cross safely. Then it was Firepaw’s turn.

“Go on, then,” growled Tigerclaw. Firepaw looked from Tigerclaw’s ship to the Thunderpath, and then inched forward. He waited, as Bluestar had done. A glint in the distance meant one was approaching, and he swore to himself he would go after it passed. His heart lurched as he realized the ship was crashing through the satellite boundaries. It was coming right towards him! His friends yelled over the speakers as he cried out and flung his ship to the side, bits of satellite debris pelting his ship like angry rain. The sound of metal on metal rang through his body and a vibration pulsed through his ship as something heavy clipped his wing. 

He was spinning now, and his mind couldn’t orientate itself. This was the end. The Twoleg vessel had hit his ship. Enough damage and it could very well explode. Firepaw clenched his jaw hard enough to make it ache and waited for the inevitable blast of heat to take him to the Star Fleet. The spinning slowed, and his eyes opened slowly to look around, body still trembling. There were no alarms going off, and all engines were intact. “It was just larger debris,” he called out shakily, trying to assure himself more than the others. The Thunderpath was misshapen but still, and he flew across it as fast as his ship would allow. 

“I thought you were space dust!” cried Graypaw as Firepaw raced past him, trying to give himself plenty of distance. 

“Me too!” Firepaw gasped as he slowed the engines. He was trying to stop shaking. He turned his ship to watch Tigerclaw dart through the path towards them.

“Twolegs!” He spat into his mic as he reached the group.

“Firepaw, do you need a moment to rest before we go?” Bluestar asked softly.

Firepaw glanced at the ship’s clock. It was getting late, and they still needed to journey on foot on Highstone. “No,” he answered after a moment. “I’m okay.” But he had been gripping the yoke so tightly that his arms and paws had begun to ache. 

The cats carried on, with Bluestar in the lead. Now they were ready to enter the atmosphere of Highstone. Swirls of  dark clouds concealed much of the planet, but there were a few openings available. The formations gave the planet a striped appearance; deep oranges, greens, and blues peered between the dark clouds in uneven lines. They moved slowly into the atmosphere, with Bluestar guiding them through the clouds meticulously. The weather seemed to layer itself, and the stripes broadened and thinned without any rhythm. It was no wonder Twolegs didn’t bother with this planet. Their ships would be much to big to navigate between the storms efficiently. 

Despite the cloud coverage, the ground beneath was lush and green. Shallow rivers combed through tough looking plants, drifting between their roots and appearing again miles later. Then the ground sloped upwards to a ginormous mountain formation. It clawed well into the sky, the top concealed by the clouds. 

They settled at the base of the mountains where the grass began to thin to stone. Small lights had been set up to indicate a landing and taxi zone. It wasn’t until they were on the ground that Firepaw noticed there were carvings in the stone. Doorways and tarps shading them littered the mountain side. The structures were angular with water running between them. Atop a few structures were smaller, personal farms, while down river there were larger fields. It was early enough that it wasn’t crowded, but a few cats milled about. Most were mildly curious or mostly unbothered by the arrival of the Fleet cats. As he hopped out of his ship, he saw a few cats tidy up their storefronts. 

As the patrol gathered, Bluestar motioned to the town. “This is Mothermouth. And there,” she pointed a gloved paw to the stairs climbing the mountain. “That’s where we’ll meet with the Star Fleet.” She did not remove her helmet as she turned to glance at the sky. The low sunlight moved in waves across the ground as it crept through the clouds. “We can wait here until the eclipse is closer. You should find some food if you are hungry and stretch.”

Firepaw was pleased to have a chance to browse and eat. He was starving now. Graypaw clearly felt the same as he ripped off his helmet and leapt towards the town. Firepaw and Ravenpaw followed, while Tigerclaw set off in the opposite direction. Bluestar remained where she was, standing still and silent, gazing at the mountains through the visor of her helmet. The dim light occasionally glinted off the fang-like accents of her helmet.

The three apprentices bounced from stall to stall, making small talk and admiring the unfamiliar foods. Firepaw and Graypaw both settled on a roasted vegetable kebab with a sweet glaze, while Ravenpaw bashfully purchased a meaty stew and spent the remainder of his money on various sweets that now filled his pockets in awkward lumps. 

With Tigerclaw they sat down at a wooden table amidst a flower garden and feasted. But in spite of their meal, no cat said much, and the air still felt thick with tension and anticipation.

Afterwards, the cats stored their helmets and overcoats in their ships and did a few stretches. Now the sun had grown brighter and the city had become more lively. Different vehicles kicked dust into the warm air, and a few planetborn kits came to stare at their ships and pester their parents with questions. Graypaw entertained a few of them by letting them teach him a ball game, while Tigerclaw spoke casually with the parents, too far out of earshot for Firepaw to know what about. Ravenpaw was idly drawing in the dirt with a stick and Firepaw spent his time watching the sun race along the ground in waves.

Only when another  hour had passed did Bluestar call out, “Come. It is time.”

———

Previous Chapter || Next Chapter

Did you know:

I’m over halfway done! I’m on page 100/160 in the original novel!

In other news, I commissioned the ever talented @harriertail for an official book cover of Into the Cosmos ! It turned out gorgeous! You can check it out in the index (pinned to my profile!) and be sure to give Harriertail some love!

Chapter 13

———

Previous Chapter || Next Chapter

———

Firepaw thanked the stars that the landing bay was nearly empty with so many of the Thunder Fleet pilots still at the gathering. His landing was hurried and rough, causing a few cats to jump up in alarm and approach his ship as it powered off, ensuring he was alright. He did not remove his helmet as he pushed past his elders, promising he was safe and had just hurried home because he wasn’t feeling well. When one of the hanger mechanics offered to escort him to Spottedleaf, Firepaw was already running down the hallway to the station center alone.

This part of the station was quiet, most cats having gone to the gathering or to their sleeping quarters. He was panting but forced himself to slow his steps, his heartbeat pounding in his ears. There was still time to speak to Yellowfang before the others returned from the Gathering. Silently, he crept across the station center and into the sleeping quarters. Once he found Yellowfang’s door, he began to knock. Quietly at first, but then with more urgency.

“Yellowfang,” he hissed, glancing around. “Yellowfang! Wake up: it’s important!”

There was the soft clunk of the lock and two orange eyes peered through the crack of the doorway. “I wasn’t sleeping,” meowed Yellowfang quietly. She sounded calm and alert. “You came straight from the Gathering to me? That must mean you’ve heard.” She blinked slowly and looked away. “So Brokenstar kept his promise.”

“What promise?” In his confusion, Firepaw forgot to whisper. Yellowfang seemed to know more than he did about what was going on.

Yellowfang did not bother to keep her voice low. “Shadow Fleet’s noble captain promised to drive me from every planet,” she replied dryly, eyes narrowing. “What did he say about me?”

“He warned us that our kits were in danger as long as we sheltered the Shadow Fleet rebel. He didn’t say your name, but Thunder Fleet guessed who he was talking about. You must leave before the others get back. You are in danger!”

“You mean they believed Brokenstar?” Yellowfang opened the door wider now. Her ears were flattened and her tail swished angrily.

“Yes!” Firepaw meowed urgently. “Darkstripe says you’re dangerous. The other cats are scared of what you might do. Tigerclaw is planning to come back and… I don’t know… I think you should go before they get here! Take my ship. I will deal with the consequences.”

Beyond the station center, Firepaw could hear the yowls of angry cats. The others had returned. Yellowfang hurriedly threw on her boots and Firepaw fetched her coat, his mind still spinning with questions. “What did Brokenstar mean when he warned us to keep a close eye on our kits?” he couldn’t stop himself from asking. “Would you really do something like that?”

“Would I what?”

“Would you harm our kits?”

Yellowfang flared her nostrils and looked steadily at him. “Do you think so?”

Firepawa met her gaze without flinching. “No. I don’t believe you would ever harm a kit. But why would Brokenstar say such a thing?”

The noise of the cats was coming nearer, and other doors in the hallway began to open as cats were woken by the calamity. Scents of aggression and anger began to flood the space. Yellowfang looked wildly from side to side as Firepaw pulled her around a corner to hide from prying eyes.

“Go!” Firepaw urged. Her safety was more important than his curiosity.

But Yellowfang remained where she was and stared at him. A calm look suddenly came into her wide eyes. “Firepaw, you believe I’m innocent, and I’m grateful for that. If you believe me, then others might. And I know Bluestar will give me a fair hearing. I can’t run forever. I’m too old. I shall stay here and face whatever your Fleet decides for me.” She sighed and pushed past him, walking out towards the station center.

“But what about Tigerclaw? What if he—”

“He is headstrong, and he knows the power he has over the other soldiers—they are in awe of him. But even he will obey Bluestar.”

He removed his helmet, opening his mouth to respond, but nothing came out.

“Go away, Firepaw,” hissed Yellowfang, baring her blackened teeth at him. “Don’t make trouble for yourself by continuing to help me now. There is nothing you can do for me. Have faith in your leader, and let her decide what happens to me.”

Firepaw realized Yellowfang had made up her mind. He pressed a paw onto her shoulder, resisting a hug, and instead held her gaze for a few heartbeats before stepping back. Yellowfang retreated into her room and shut the door.

Through the passageways came the cats—Bluestar first, accompanied by Lionheart. Frostfur and Willowpelt were right behind them. Once Frostfur had spotted Yellowfang’s door, she bared her teeth and retreated towards the nursery, the fur on her tail bristling in alarm. Tigerclaw and Darkstripe strode forward, shoulder to shoulder, removing their helmets and looking grim. The others followed behind, with Ravenpaw and Graypaw at the rear. As soon as he saw his friends, Firepaw crept around the corner to join them.

“You went to warn Yellowfang, didn’t you?” whispered Graypaw when Firepaw reached his side.

“Yes, I did,” Firepaw admitted. “But she won’t leave. She trusts Bluestar to treat her fairly. Did anyone miss me?”

“Only us, somehow,” replied Ravenpaw.

Around the station, cats who had stayed behind began to wake up or emerge from the hanger and medical facilities. They must have scented the aggression and heard the tension in the voices of the returning cats, for they all came running into the station center with their tails held high.

“What has happened?” called a tabby warrior named Runningwind.

“Brokenstar has demanded the rights to our settlements!” replied Longtail loudly enough for all the gathered cats to hear.

“And he warned us about a rebel cat who will harm our kits!” added Willowpelt. “It must be Yellowfang!”

Meows of anger and distress rose from the crowd.

“Silence!” ordered Bluestar, who had ascended to the balcony. Instinctively, the cats settled in front of her.

A loud screech made every cat turn its head towards the sleeping quarters. Tigerclaw and Darkstripe were dragging Yellowfang roughly from her room. She shrieked furiously as they hauled her into the clearing and dumped her in the center. Both drew their weapons, having put them back on their belts after the Gathering. Without thinking, Firepaw reached towards his own weapon to spring at Yellowfang’s persecutors, only to paw at empty air. He’d left it in his ship.

“Wait, Firepaw,” growled Graypaw in his ear, having noticed the movement to his hip. “Let Bluestar deal with this.”

“What is going on?” demanded Bluestar, leaning over the railing of the balcony, glaring at her soldiers. Her ceremonial robes drooped like curtains, undone slightly from her hasty entrance. “I gave no order to attack our prisoner.”

Tigerclaw and Darkstripe sheathed their blades, lips curling back as they lifted their chins.

Frostfur appeared from the nursery hall and pushed her way through to the front of the fleet. “We got back in time,” she meowed with a gasp. “The kits are safe!”

“Of course they are!” snapped Bluestar.

Frostfur seemed taken aback. “But… you are going to throw Yellowfang out, aren’t you?” she meowed, her blue eyes wide.

“Throw her out?” spat Darkstripe, hovering a paw over his weapon once more. “We should kill her now!”

Bluestar fixed her piercing blue eyes on Darkstripe’s angry face. “And what has she done?” she asked with icy calm.

Firepaw held his breath.

“You were at the Gathering! Brokenstar said she—” Darkstripe began.

“Brokenstar only said that there is a rebel cat somewhere in the galaxy,” meowed Bluestar, her voice menacing as she began to descend the stairs. “He did not mention Yellowfang by name. The kits are safe. For as long as she is in my station, Yellowfang will not be harmed in any way.”

Bluestar’s words were met with silence, and Firepaw heaved a sigh of relief.

Yellowfang kneeled and looked up at Bluestar, her eyes narrowed respectfully. “I will leave now, if you wish, Bluestar.”

“There is no need,” Bluestar replied. “You have done nothing wrong. You will be safe here.” The Thunder Fleet captain lifted her gaze to the crowd of cats that surrounded Yellowfang and meowed, “It is time we discussed the real threat to our Fleet: Brokenstar. We have already begun to prepare for an attack by Shadow Fleet,” Bluestar began, reaching to help Yellowfang stand. “We’ll carry on those preparations, and patrol our airspace more frequently. Wind Fleet has gone. River Fleet has surrendered its planets to Shadow Fleet soldiers. Thunder Fleet stands alone against Brokenstar.”

A murmur of defiance rippled through the cats, and Firepaw felt his fur prickle with anticipation.

“Then we’re not going to agree to Brokenstar’s demands?” meowed Tigerclaw.

“We have never shared our colonies before,” Bluestar answered. “They have always managed to support themselves on their own planets. There is no reason why this should change.” Tigerclaw nodded approvingly.

“But can we defend ourselves against a Shadow Fleet attack?” asked Smallear’s tremulous voice. “Wind Fleet didn’t manage it! River Fleet won’t even try!”

Bluestar met his old eyes with her steady gaze. “We must try. We will not give up our settlements without a fight.”

All around the station, Firepaw saw the cats nodding in agreement.

“I shall travel to the Moonstone tomorrow,” Bluestar announced. “The soldiers of the Star Fleet will give me the strength I need to lead Thunder Fleet through this dark time. You must all get some rest. We have a lot to do when the daylight shines on our settlements. I wish to talk with Lionheart now, and then I will prepare an official announcement for the rest of the station so they may keep informed.” Without another word, she turned and strode back up the stairs to her quarters.

Firepaw noticed the look of wonder that had entered the eyes of some of the cats when Bluestar had mentioned the Moonstone. Now the Fleet cats hurriedly gathered in groups, meowing in hushed voices full of excitement.

“What’s the Moonstone?” Firepaw asked Graypaw.

“It’s a moon made of transparent crystals. It lines up with its sun and eclipses its planet, but because of the crystal it glows,” whispered Graypaw. His voice was hoarse with awe. “All the Fleet captains have to spend one night at the Moonstone when they are first chosen. There, the spirits of the Star Fleet share with them.”

“Share what with them?” Firepaw prodded Graypaw.

Graypaw frowned to himself. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “I know only that the new captains have to sleep in the light of the eclipse, and as they sleep, they have special dreams. After that, they have the gift of nine lives, and take the name ‘star.’”

Firepaw watched Yellowfang limp back to her room. It looked like Tigerclaw’s rough treatment had aggravated her old injury. As he trotted back to his own bedroom, Firepaw decided to ask Spottedleaf for more painkillers in the morning.

“So what happened?” mewed Dustpaw eagerly, popping his head out of his room. He seemed to have forgotten how much he resented the new apprentice in his eagerness to hear about the Gathering.

“It’s like Longtail said. Brokenstar demanded control over our settlements…” Graypaw began.

Sandpaw and Dustpaw leaned in their doorways and listened, but Firepaw was lost in thought, his mind wandering back towards the station center. He had seen Bluestar and Lionheart talking urgently as they walked into her quarters, but he wasn’t able to hear what they discussed.

Then he noticed the lanky shape of Ravenpaw round the corner, with Tigerclaw beside him. Firepaw saw Ravenpaw’s ears flatten as the young cat flinched away from Tigerclaw’s fierce words. The dark warrior loomed over him, a head taller than the apprentice, his eyes and teeth flashing in the dimming overhead lights. What was he saying to Ravenpaw? Firepaw was just about to creep nearer and listen when Ravenpaw backed away, turned, and ran down the hall towards the apprentice quarters.

Firepaw greeted Ravenpaw as he reached the gathering of apprentices, but Ravenpaw hardly seemed to notice him. Instead, he pushed his way past the others and into his room without a word. Sandpaw let out a soft snort at the sight.

Firepaw was about to walk over and knock on Ravenpaw’s door when he noticed Lionheart approaching.

“Well,” meowed the Thunder Fleet deputy, striding up to the apprentices. “It seems that Firepaw, Graypaw, and Ravenpaw are about to reach another important stage in their training.”

“What’s that?” mewed Graypaw, looking excited.

“Bluestar wishes you three to accompany her on her journey to the Moonstone!” Lionheart didn’t miss the look of disappointment on the faces of Dustpaw and Sandpaw, because he added, “Don’t worry, you two; you’ll make the journey soon enough. For now, Thunder Fleet needs your strength and skill at the station. I will remain here as well.”

Firepaw looked past Lionheart to see his captain. She was out of the ceremonial robes and was dressed simply in uniform pants, boots, and undershirt. He watched as she moved from one group of soldiers mingling in the hallway to another, meowing instructions to each. Firepaw wondered why she had chosen him for the journey, when there were others more deserving.

“She wants you to rest now,” Lionheart continued. “But first, go to Spottedleaf and collect the medicines you will need on this expedition. It’s a long way. You will need something to give you strength and quell your appetite. There will be little time for eating.”

Graypaw nodded, and Firepaw dragged his gaze away from Bluestar to nod as well.

“Where is Ravenpaw?” asked Lionheart, glancing around.

“He’s in his room already,” replied Firepaw.

“Good. Leave him to sleep. You can fetch the medicine for him,” meowed Lionheart with a small nod. “Rest well. You leave at dawn.” He flicked his tail and retreated back down the hallway.

“Well then,” mewed Sandpaw. “You’d better go and see Spottedleaf.”

Firepaw listened for sourness in her voice, but there was none. There was no time for jealousy now. All the cats in the station seemed to be united against the threat from Shadow Fleet.

Firepaw and Graypaw walked quickly towards the medical bay. The area was quiet, most cats asleep now that the commotion had settled.

Spottedleaf seemed to be expecting them as she emerged from the doorway with a few small parcels. “You have come for the traveling medicine,” she meowed.

“Yes, please,” Firepaw answered. “And I think Yellowfang needs more painkillers. She seemed to be feeling her wounds.”

“I will take her some after you have gone. Here,” she held the parcels out towards the apprentices, opening the lid of one. “One for each of you. The dark green pill will stop your hunger pangs during the journey. The other will give you strength. Eat them both just before you leave. They’re not as good as a fresh meal, but the taste won’t last long. You can wash it down with something from the mess hall if you need to.”

“Thanks, Spottedleaf,” mewed Firepaw, accepting the parcels. As he took them from her paws, she gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder, smiling softly. Firepaw purred his thanks as Graypaw took a parcel and tucked it into his pocket. The friends turned and headed out of the medical bay.

“Good luck!” Spottedleaf called after them. “Travel safely.”

They arrived back to their rooms and placed one parcel in front of Ravenpaw’s door.

“Well, I just hope the cafeteria has extra fruit juice tomorrow if I’m gonna wash the taste of these out of my mouth!” muttered Graypaw.

“It must be a long way to the Moonstone. We’ve never been given medications for travel before. Do you know where it is?” Firepaw asked.

“Beyond all the Fleet airspaces, the planet is called Highstone. Half the problem is we have to journey on foot after landing on Highstone to reach Mothermouth,” Graypaw waved a paw dramatically as he explained. “That’s where Bluestar will meet with the Star Fleet. Most of the planet’s atmosphere can’t be flown through. Nobody is completely sure why.”

“Have you ever been there before?” Firepaw was impressed Graypaw knew so much about this mysterious place.

“No, but all apprentices have to make the journey there before they become full-fledged pilots.”

The thought of becoming a pilot made Firepaw’s eyes gleam with excitement, and he couldn’t help standing a little taller.

“Don’t get your hopes up. We still have to finish our training!” Graypaw warned, as if reading his thoughts.

Firepaw looked down at the little box of pills and then at his friend. It was late into the night now, the overhead lights dimmed and warm colored. “We should get some sleep,” he mewed. But he couldn’t imagine being able to sleep with the thought of tomorrow’s adventure spinning through his mind. Attending the Gathering, a journey to the Moonstone—how far away his planetborn life seemed now!

———

Previous Chapter || Next Chapter

if ya don't mind, I have made a fan design for Tigerclaw of your Warrior Cats au. Yo hace an official design in mind or...?? Im saying that because I want to make him as canon as possible!! thank ya :3

My favorite part about the warrior cats fandom is seeing different takes on how characters look, so all of my designs for fur colors I don’t consider Canonical or anything. You’re always welcome to just do how you imagine a character for the fur design and use whatever design I offer as a general vibe. The current ref sheet designs weren’t even made by me, but by the artists I commissioned.

The only thing I try to keep canonical and consistent is the helmets/uniforms! At the moment Tigerclaw/star does not have a canonical design for his helmet, and it’s just safe to put him in either the Pilot uniform or deputy uniform respectively, depending on when in the plot you’re drawing him.

Songs I’m considering so far are:

The Distance by Cake (lead contender rn)

Supermassive Black Hole by Muse

Under Pressure by Queen

Roman Candle by Make Believe Love

Meteorological by Guerilla Toss

I’m doing an animated mass attack and I need 28 grumpy & sunshine characters! Fill out this form for a chance! All teams welcomed!

Spoilers technically cause, for the sake of Artfight, I put them as they are at the end of the first book.

If you’d like to make them first book accurate, give them all the apprentice uniform Ravenpaw has, and don’t do any fun patterns of Fire and Gray’s helmets.

Because everyone is on different planets with vastly different temperatures, terrains, etc, some of them wear little to no clothes. Some wear tons. Some might trim their fur shorter to keep cool. Kits might wear more or less than full grown cats.