#bubblemoon

From Downstar’s position, she had a clear view of Gorgestar and Bubblemoon, waiting quietly on their side of the border. AshClan territory was quiet, as it so often seemed to be. Bubblemoon helped his leader stretch his stiff back legs (Gorgestar’s sled, a bark board with leather straps to tie around his back, sat to the side). The round black and white tom eyed AshClan’s territory with stiff ears and claws peeking out of his paws. Gorgestar, meanwhile, was the symbol of serenity. Even as Bubblemoon rubbed his little-used muscles, he calmly studied the blinding light bouncing off the snow. With the sunrise clawing through AshClan’s trees, the world seemed ablaze.

A heavy clump of snow fell from a tree not too far from the SlugClan duo. Bubblemoon tensed, eyes locked on the suspect snow.

“Bubblemoon,” Gorgestar sighed, breathing deep, “if you don’t relax, he’ll know something is wrong.”

“I’m sorry, Gorgestar,” Bubblemoon groaned. “I’m worried. Not just for us, either. I’m worried about Downstar and Fennelspot and the rest of RippleClan, even AshClan!”

“Autumnstar is a stubborn tom who doesn’t want to admit that the Clans can’t be as insular and traditional as his ancestors wanted,” Gorgestar huffed. “Yet even he can listen to reason if we make him stop and sit a while.”

“Do you think he might attack us?” Bubblemoon gulped. The comment earned him a tired stare from Gorgestar.

“You’re the cleric of a Clan Autumnstar greatly respects,” Gorgestar said, bumping heads with the skittish tom. “I’m the soggy lump of leather that’s saved his torn flank from more than a few disasters. Autumnstar is a fierce and traditional leader, but he’s not rabid. He’ll be mad, yes, but he’ll have someone else to throw claws with.” Bubblemoon glanced at Downstar’s hiding place, but Gorgestar smacked his paw.

A few moments later, an orange figure appeared within AshClan territory. Downstar tensed as Autumnstar drew toward the SlugClan border. Gorgestar and Bubblemoon spotted Autumnstar soon after Downstar. Autumnstar’s paws crunched the wet snow under him as he stood on the border’s edge. Gorgestar pulled himself up to Autumnstar, with what little movement his back legs still retained helping him reach Autumnstar’s frost-bitten nose. The nose touch was quick and polite, but Autumnstar’s face made it clear he expected the greeting to be longer.

“Gorgestar, Bubblemoon,” Autumnstar hummed, nodding to each of the toms. “I appreciate that you called this meeting. It’s always a pleasure to get the wisdom of a noble leader like yourself.”

“I’m glad you agreed to stop by the border,” Gorgestar said. “Have you been busy since the last Gathering?”

“Somewhat,” Autumnstar said with a flick of an ear. “We’ve mostly dealt with trespassers and troublemakers. I’ve meant to warn your Clan, Gorgestar, a human hunting party set up camp in our territory. They may wander into your lands.”

“I got a sign about them,” Bubblemoon said softly. He stared at Autumnstar’s chest, even as the orange and white leader tried to catch his eye.

“I can only assume your Clan is working on a plan to drive them out?” Gorgestar sighed.

“They should move on in a couple days,” Autumnstar said as he stretched his back legs. “If not, we have ways to frighten them back to their dens.”

“On the subject of trespassers, Autumnstar,” Gorgestar huffed, “I wanted to talk to you about a young cat who visited my Clan shortly after the Gathering.” 

Usually, the SlugClan leader’s tone was airy and a little louder than need be. Yet as he spoke, his voice dropped and sucked in everyone nearby. Downstar remembered that particular effect well from her caretaker days. Autumnstar’s tail danced over the packed snow, leaving soft lines behind it. Downstar’s legs grew sore and Bubblemoon’s tail went stiff.

“They came to me to discuss the safety of their friends and family,” Gorgestar said. “I sent them home without an escort. They didn’t make it home, Autumnstar.”

“The cream-colored cat,” Autumnstar sighed. He closed his eyes. His breath clouded around his whiskers.

“Their name was Locustseeker,” Gorgestar huffed. Bubblemoon sat taller at the dead cat’s name. Downstar’s claws ached to fly into action.

“They were trespassing on our territory,” Autumnstar huffed, opening his eyes. He paced up and down the border as he spoke. “My patrol had the right to pursue.”

“Not to kill!” Bubblemoon finally snapped. He stood right on the border and made their fluffy coat look bigger. He still paled in comparison to Autumnstar, though. “The Code of Spilled Blood—“

“Doesn’t apply to rogues,” Autumnstar growled. Downstar had enough. It was time to reveal herself.

A snowball slipped from the branches of the spruce beside Autumnstar. Autumnstar stared into the pines and met Downstar’s eyes glittering within the stark shadows. She flew from the tree with a warrior’s yowl. Autumnstar swiftly dodged her. Downstar landed in the sinking snow and easily slipped into a fighting stance, her bristling fur making her twice as big. Autumnstar took a moment to realize just who had fallen from the tree and then glared at Gorgestar with a look of both anger and hurt.

“Gorgestar!” Autumnstar yowled. “You invited me to an ambush?”

“I invited you to a meeting,” Gorgestar huffed, pulling himself to Downstar’s side. “A meeting with two leaders. This hostility between your Clans needs to end.”

“We’ve had enough, Autumnstar,” Downstar growled, claws sinking into the snow. “You’re going to listen.”

“Why should I?” Autumnstar snapped. “StarClan doesn’t want you, Downdapple.” Gorgestar and Downstar squirmed at the name.

“But you know they do!” Bubblemoon whined. “They spoke to all the clerics. They approve of RippleClan.”

“And yet just a moon prior, my cleric got a sign saying the opposite,” Autumnstar growled. “Do you really think StarClan would change its opinion in a single moon?”

“They do when you kill your own Clanmates,” Downstar hissed.

“I did what I had to,” Autumnstar said, “just as I always do.” His back paws shifted, acting as Downstar’s only clue of the impending assault. Gorgestar flailed back as Autumnstar slammed into Downstar. The tortoiseshell leader moved in time to avoid Autumnstar’s full strength, but he still caught her back legs. As her flank collapsed under Autumnstar’s weight, she spun around and swiped at his shoulders.

“Your own Clan wants to move on!” Downstar yowled, ducking under Autumnstar’s paw. “Why not let them?”

“Because the longer you’re around, the less my Clan has to survive!” Autumnstar roared. “You’ll take fish from our river—” He kicked Downstar in the stomach— “Scare prey from our land—” He smashed her head into the ground, sending her teeth through her tongue— “And bring the next great threat right to our camp!” Before Downstar could push herself up, Autumnstar churned his hind paws up and down Downstar’s spine.

“Autumnstar, enough!” Gorgestar hissed. He dragged himself toward the fight, but Bubblemoon pressed into his shoulder, urging him back.

“It’s only a matter of time before you invite a rogue into your midst who’ll threaten us all,” Autumnstar hissed, leaning into Downstar’s ear. Her head spun and her thoughts fluttered too quickly for her to catch, making her slow to realize what Autumnstar planned to do. “It’s my duty as a true leader to stop that.” 

Sharp fangs bit into the back of Downstar’s neck as though she were a piece of prey. Just like prey, she was gone before Autumnstar let go.

[Image ID: Locustseeker faces Downstar, saying “Tell Autumnstar I say hello.” Under Downstar, it says LIVES LEFT: 8]

For a while, it was like Downstar was asleep. She felt and thought of nothing. She would have thought it peaceful, had she had the state of mind to consider such things. However, as she suspected, her senses soon awoke in a gentle wave of warmth and splashing water.

Downstar laid on a coarse beach, her tail touching the edge of the ocean’s lapping waves. The sun danced above the horizon and made a beautiful yellow line over the ocean. The forest stretched beyond the beach, with distant mountains framing the land. A cream-colored cat sat beside Downstar, purring. Their fur shimmered in the sunrise.

“One life down, eight to do,” Locustseeker purred. 

Downstar hurried to stand. Oddly enough, the dizziness and pain that had enveloped her a short time before was gone. She checked her back, but there was no sign of Autumnstar’s claws digging into her well-toned muscle. She supposed that was to be expected. 

“Apparently, when you die,” Locustseeker explained as Downstar checked herself over, “you have to spend a minute in StarClan to recover. I argued with your daughter, but I got to be the one to greet you. Thanks for the name!”

“You deserved it,” Downstar said softly, braving herself to meet Locustseeker’s eyes. Without an apprentice name, they truly looked like an adult. When they left camp, they looked so young, though…

“I know Dad’s mad about me not having a grave to visit,” Locustseeker sighed, “but can you please tell him that’s not important? Just visit Twinekit’s grave if he misses me.” Downstar nodded dumbly. She sat beside the fallen apprentice and stared at the sea. Why had the Clans never thought to move eastward? She had lived by the coast for almost two years, and couldn’t imagine anything else now. How strange.

“One last thing before you go back,” Locustseeker said, drawing Downstar’s eye. Locustseeker’s whiskers twitched as they held back a laugh. Mischief twinkled in their gaze. “Tell Autumnstar I say hello.”

Somehow, coming back to life was more painful than dying. Downstar found herself gasping as pain rippled down her back and her body found itself no longer sitting on a warm beach but laying in cold, red snow. The snow sunk into her fur and chilled her skin. Autumnstar faced Gorgestar and Bubblemoon, clearly in the midst of a deep argument. However, as Downstar scrambled for breath, Autumnstar froze. Bubblemoon raced around the AshClan leader and skidded up to Downstar.

“Take deep breaths, Downstar,” Bubblemoon cooed. “StarClan’s healed most of your wounds, but you still have some scraps down your back. Take a minute.” Downstar groaned as the pain settled through her bones. Bubblemoon groomed her fur the wrong way to warm her up.

“You’re alive,” Autumnstar gasped in the softest voice Downstar had ever heard from the rampaging leader.

“Nine lives, Autumnstar,” Downstar coughed. Autumnstar stared at her without blinking, taking in every breath and twitch.

“You really thought StarClan rejected her?” Gorgestar sighed. Autumnstar’s breath quickened. His ears tilted so far back, Downstar thought they would go through his head. Before Downstar could think up another clever retort, Autumnstar raced over the border. The sound of his paws slamming into the wet snow lasted long after he vanished.

“Not how I expected that to end,” Downstar sighed, “but I’ll take it.”

(Downstar: 78, female, leader, adventurous, trusted advisor, very clever)

(Locustseeker: 12, nonbinary (they/them), historian apprentice, troublesome, moss-ball hunter)

RippleClan is free of whitecough. As Fennelspot warns the Clan of future whitecough signs, Rustshade notices how beautiful his eyes are.

[Image ID: Rustshade, Puddlespeckle, and Burdockcreek look up at Fennelspot in the upper left corner as he says, “And for StarClan’s sake, please don’t cough on other cats!”]

(Fennelspot: 76, male, cleric,  insecure, valuable insight, incredible runner)

(Rustshade: 63, male, codekeeper, sneaky, learner of lore)

(Burdockcreek: 13, male, historian, competitive, learner of lore)