#robinswoop

“Stars guide you!” Nightfrost called after them. 

Goldenstar gave her one last glance and replied in kind. “Same to you!” Her eyes flicked over to where Scorch was sitting with Yarrowshade. The rogue’s bright blue eyes were on her but twitched away the moment they met Goldenstar’s. Goldenstar sighed and turned back to watch where she was going. 

“They’ll be fine,” huffed Sagetooth, limping beside her, still bothered by her sprain. “It’s not like you’ve never been out of camp before.” 

“I know, I just… I don’t know.” She twitched her tail, frustrated by her lack of words. 

“It’s alright to be nervous,” Smokyrose said on her other side. “But you would want them to trust you if the places were reversed, right?” 

“Yeah…” Goldenstar sighed, feeling stupid. “You’re right, you’re right. Let’s just focus on getting to SkyClan before nightfall.” 

~~~

Their pace was slowed by Sagetooth’s limp, much to the healer’s frustration, but it wasn’t too late into the afternoon when they crossed the SkyClan border. The mountains loomed closer than ever and Goldenstar shivered at the cool wind flowing down from their peaks. She never got used to how big they were up close. Sagetooth frowned and looked to the sky and the dark clouds trying to gather overhead. 

“There better not be a heavy storm,” she hissed. “We’ll have to go back if the caves are flooded.” 

“I’m sure SkyClan would be happy to let us stay a day or two until the rains subside,” Smokyrose countered. Already, Goldenstar felt a chilly drop fall on the bridge of her nose. 

“Let’s hope so,” she said. “Because it’s definitely going to rain.” Slowly but surely, the rain started to come down. Despite its freezing temperature, the downpour was light for the moment, and Goldenstar smiled and breathed deeply of the fresh smell coming up from the earth. The rhythmic patter was soothing to her nerves, although she could have done without the muddy slopes. 

Suddenly a hiss stopped the patrol in their tracks and Goldenstar cursed herself for not paying more attention. Leaping down from a rocky outcropping came two she-cats. The first was a brown tabby, her short pelt bristling as she arched her back menacingly at them. The second was a younger, pretty grey tabby whose eyes sparkled with interest. Goldenstar searched her memory for their names and while she didn’t recognize the younger cat, she was pretty sure the older one was named Perchingcall. 

“You’re pretty far from the border,” growled Perchingcall. 

“Calm down,” spat Sagetooth before Goldenstar could get a word in. “Can’t you see you’re talking to a leader, a healer, and a mediator? We’re here to visit the River of the Stars.” Perchingcall rumbled angrily.

Smokyrose stepped forward a bit to try and pull the warrior’s attention. “We would be so grateful if we could rest in your camp for a bit before traveling deeper into the mountains.”

“Sure,” said the younger cat with a shrug and Perchingcall glared at her, hackles prickling. “This way.” 

“Hey!” Perchingcall snapped, “Who’s leading this patrol, you or me?” 

“What, you’re going to turn away cats who want to speak to StarClan?” The grey tabby rolled her eyes. “Don’t be stupid.” She looked over to Goldenstar and said, “I’ll lead you to the camp. Perchingcall can sit in the rain if she wants.” 

“Thanks,” Goldenstar chuckled and padded after her. “What's your name?” 

“Greyvoice,” purred their guide. “Pleasure to meet you officially.” 

“Your hospitality is much appreciated, Greyvoice,” Smokyrose said warmly. Sagetooth let out a tiny growl as she passed Perchingcall who bristled but eventually fell in to take up the rear, ears pressed angrily against her skull as they trekked through the mud towards the camp. 

Skyclan’s camp sat in a cave tucked between two slopes. Goldenstar supported Sagetooth’s weak side as they clambered up the final stretch of cliff, paws slipping over mud and gravel. When they reached the mouth of the cave, they all paused just inside it to shake out their pelts and wipe their paws. Goldenstar looked down over the camp and once again felt her gut tense at the faces looking up at her. Like at the Gathering, she was again reminded that while she felt herself, they saw the leader of RisingClan, and she did her best to carry herself proudly. 

“Snowstar!” Greyvoice called and bounded easily down the tumble of stones into the camp. Smokyrose followed her closely, having been here many times before, and Goldenstar pressed against Sagetooth again to help her down as well. 

“Thanks,” Sagetooth huffed under her breath. Goldenstar smiled. 

Snowstar emerged from a den underneath the stones where they had entered and turned her crooked gaze on them. “Goldenstar!” she said in surprise, “You’re back sooner than expected. Is everything alright?” 

“Yes,” she responded, “Just… have some things I need to speak to StarClan about. I hope it's alright if we stay the night.” 

“Of course,” Snowstar waved her tail dismissively, “make yourselves at home. Are you fasting yet?” Perchingcall grumbled and slunk quietly into the warrior’s den.

“No,” Sagetooth shook her head. “A meal would be great.” 

“Then you’ll have one,” Snowstar boomed with a smile. Goldenstar resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She couldn’t help feeling like Snowstar was pleased at the opportunity to look magnanimous. That was alright, though, she guessed. Snowstar’s actions were more important than her motives after all. 

Snowstar lifted her head and called out, “Robinpaw! Fetch some mice for our esteemed guests.” On the other side of camp, a nearly grown ginger tom sat up straight and hurried to do as he was told. Smokyrose purred and dipped her head respectfully.

“Thank you, very much,” she said. 

“No thanks necessary,” Snowstar lifted a paw to stop her. “It is our duty as the guardians of the River. Now please, sit down and dry off. Just ask if you need anything.” Greyvoice bid them goodbye as well and padded off to talk with a cat Goldenstar recognized as Charredbranch. 

Goldenstar looked around, feeling out of place. She wasn’t quite sure how to make herself at home when everyone was looking at her. Luckily, Smokyrose’s tail brushed against her leg and urged her to follow as the elderly mediator moved to a set of grooves in the ground that seemed to have been worn from repeated usage. Sagetooth and Goldenstar joined her, settling down, and a moment later Robinpaw arrived and dropped mice in front of each of them. Goldenstar immediately tucked in, relishing the taste of prey blood. 

“Thank you, Robinpaw,” Smokyrose thanked him. “How is your eagle wound healing?” 

The apprentice twisted to look at the large scar under his right arm and up his side that was regrowing patchy bits of long ginger fur. “Good,” he purred. “I’m still hoping I can catch the eagle and give him one back.” 

Smokyrose chuckled. “Who knows, maybe you’ll get your name for it! Just be careful, alright, dear?” 

“Sure thing,” he nodded and headed off. Sagetooth’s ear twitched irritably and Smokyrose tilted her head curiously. 

“Is everything alright, Sagetooth?” asked Smokyrose politely. 

“Why do you do that?” grumbled Sagetooth. 

“Do what?”

“Why can’t you just eat your food, you have to spend every moment making cats like you.” 

Smokyrose pursed her lips a bit and said, “I just try to make cats feel seen, that’s all.” 

“Right,” huffed Sagetooth, returning to her meal. Goldenstar’s pelt prickled uncomfortably and she glanced between her two counselors. 

Smokyrose took a deep breath and said, “I think I’m going to see if Heatherfuzz is around. Excuse me.” She smiled and stood, taking her meal with her as she sought out the SkyClan mediator. Goldenstar watched her go, stomach churning. She sighed and looked back to Sagetooth who seemed unbothered. 

“You know she means well,” Goldenstar said, causing Sagetooth to look up. 

“All I know is she’s always wanted to be liked. You should have seen how jealous she was when Sunstar got made deputy.” 

“Why does it matter what she wants?” Goldenstar pushed back, a stubborn frown creasing her brow. “She makes people happy, isn’t that all that matters?” 

Someone had explained that so long as the full moon could be seen, the gathering would progress, but if clouds ever covered the moon, that meant StarClan was unhappy and the gathering would immediately come to a close. Scorch had refrained from voicing the thoughts in her head. 

Now, she glanced up at the moon as it started to rise above the clearing and the crumbling half of the old twoleg nest there. The other Clans were supposed to arrive soon, but so far, there hadn’t been sight or scent of them. 

“This is ridiculous,” Russetfrond said, tail lashing. “Why did we leave so early?” 

Goldenstar stopped her pacing to shake her fur a bit and look his way. “I overestimated how long the trip would take,” she said, “I’m sorry, everyone.” Scorch shuffled awkwardly. Goldenstar had confessed earlier that she wanted to arrive early so that RisingClan would start the gathering in a place of authority, to make things easier when she announced Scorchplume’s joining and the changes she was planning to make. Scorch had been impressed by Goldenstar’s bravery, to be honest, but she hadn’t said so, only promised to be on her best behavior. 

“It’s alright,” Pantherhaze purred reassuringly. “The others shouldn’t be much longer, right?” He looked around as if hoping someone would back him up. 

“They’d better not be,” grumbled Sagetooth. Russetfrond growled in agreement. 

“Patience,” Smokyrose urged gently. “They will come in time.” Sagetooth’s ear twitched but everyone fell silent again and waited quietly for the next several minutes. 

Suddenly, Yarrowshade sat up sharply, ears swiveling, and said, “SkyClan?” Everyone turned their attention to the trees where the sounds of cats moving softly started to drift towards their ears. Scorch took a deep breath and gave her fur a few quick licks. Moment of truth, she thought. 

A white she-cat with grey ears and paws led a small party of cats out of the trees and into the clearing. Goldenstar raised her tail to greet them and started talking brightly with the cat, who she called Snowstar. Scorch sat quietly beside Yarrowshade and listened as the two groups began to mingle. Sagetooth asked a fluffy white and brown tom about someone named Tangletooth and was told he had stayed home due to body aches. Smokyrose greeted a young ginger tom named Robinpaw and asked about a scar. Russetfrond and Pantherhaze spoke with a grey speckled tabby about the rain. Scorch did her best to memorize names and details and tones of voice, to gather who was safe and who was a threat and who would be easy to persuade. 

Yarrowshade stood as a white tom with a black striped rear approached him, and Scorch’s attention was pulled closer when he called, “Charredbranch! How y’doin, man?” 

“Good,” Charredbranch said, distractedly. Scorch watched him looking her over and she curled her tail tightly around her paws as if to shield herself from his eyes, “who is this?” She picked up on the interest in his voice and resisted the urge to scoff. 

“This is Scorchplume,” Yarrowshade purred, his tail curling around her shoulders. “I found her on the thunderpath a while back and she decided to stick around.” 

Charredbranch tilted his head and smiled at her. “Scorchplume, what a lovely name.” 

“You flatter me, sir,” she purred smoothly with a cool stare and a grin. 

“Sir?” he mused with a laugh, “Wow, she’s a charmer too! It’s a shame you didn’t join SkyClan, I would have liked to get to know you better.” Yarrowshade laughed a bit, but Scorch picked up on some tension in the tail end of the sound. 

“Alright, man, ease off,” he said, “you’ll make Greyvoice jealous.” 

“Eh, she’s not here tonight,” shrugged Charredbranch, settling down. “What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.” 

“How is she?” Yarrowshade asked, finally twitching his tail off of Scorch’s back as he sat down too. 

“She’s good,” shrugged Charredbranch. The conversation moved on casually and Scorch was happy to let them change the subject, content to let herself slip into the periphery. After a while, another group of cats entered the clearing, led by a rosetted blue tom with sharp green eyes. Charredbranch perked his ears in that direction. 

“I’m gonna go say hi to Blizzardmoon,” he said to Yarrowshade, “you wanna come?” 

“Nah, I’m good,” smiled Yarrowshade. “See ya ‘round.” 

“Sure thing,” said Charredbranch, and then he dipped his head to Scorch and said, “It was good to meet you, Scorchplume.” 

“Likewise,” she smiled back and he took his leave. Yarrowshade watched him go and then leaned in to Scorch’s ear. 

“Sorry about him,” he mumbled so that Charredbranch couldn’t hear. 

“What for?” she asked, shifting her eyes but not her head in his direction. 

Yarrowshade faltered a bit. “For being such a meathead?” he said as if it were obvious. 

“Oh, was he?” she said dismissively, one ear flicking. “I guess it takes one to know one.” 

He rolled his eyes and shoved her a little, causing her to chuckle wryly. “Oh, come on, I’m not that bad.” 

“Sure,” she raised a brow skeptically. “You sound exactly like that when you talk to Nightfrost.” 

Yarrowshade winced. “Do I really?” 

“A bit,” Scorch nodded. 

“Well, at least I didn’t flirt with you when we first met. He shouldn’t have talked to you like that.” 

“Honestly, Yarrowshade, it’s fine,” she huffed, starting to get annoyed. “It’s not like I haven’t been ogled before. I know how to take care of myself.” Her tail twitched as she looked out over the clearing. “He wasn’t even persistent or anything.” 

Yarrowshade frowned but fell quiet. Scorch almost felt more irritated by it. Was he pitying her? She huffed through her nose and turned to watch Goldenstar climbing up the ruins of the twoleg nest after the blue rosetted tom who had just entered. She had a feeling Goldenstar wasn’t happy that he beat her there. 

Shortly after that, the third and (to her understanding) final group of cats arrived, led by a fluffy ginger she-cat. Scorch was surprised to see a pair of older kittens among the group, a russet tom and a white she-cat with a ginger splotched tail. She flicked her tail to get Yarrowshade’s attention and then nodded in their direction.

“You bring kits to these gatherings?” she asked.

He brightened at the sight of them. “Those must be new apprentices!” He said, “They’ve got to be at least six moons old to attend a gathering. By the looks of it, those are Furrowleap’s kits.” He pointed at the speckled brown tom hovering over them and introducing them to a SkyClan cat. 

“Hm,” Scorch said simply, intrigued. She supposed she had been younger when she started taking care of herself, so it wasn’t that strange, but something about it being formalized made her pelt prickle. The ginger cat who had led the others in, bounded quickly to join the other leaders on top of the mossy ruins, and shortly after Goldenstar stood and raised her tail with a yowl, drawing everyone’s attention. 

“Welcome, everyone!” she called as chatter faded and everyone settled down to listen. “I’d like to start the gathering off by introducing a new member of RisingClan.” Scorch took a deep breath and made sure to adjust her posture to something more regal before everyone turned their eyes on her. “Our new warrior, Scorchplume, has joined our ranks along with a new healer named Oddstripe, who stayed home with their newborn kits tonight.” Everyone began to murmur immediately. Scorch cast her gaze around cooly, challenging anyone to stare. Many cats did. 

Goldenstar continued after a moment, “Both cats came seeking our aid and, after spending some time among the Clan, decided to stay. Furthermore, Scorchplume has brought some concerns to my attention that I have been trying to address in RisingClan and that I would urge you all to consider as well.” The crowd rippled apprehensively, even the leaders shifting on top of their perch, and Scorch braced herself. Goldenstar definitely wasn’t the most effective speaker. Still, she admitted, this was a difficult topic to begin with. 

“I have come to believe that the Clans need to change,” said Goldenstar, retaining her composure for the moment. “For too long we have made the thought of life outside the Clans a terrifying fate worse than death. We have-” 

“It is!” cried a cat from below, and a few cats hissed in agreement. Some laughed.

Goldenstar spoke louder and firmer, “We have pushed away cats that could have strengthened us and disparaged those who find their paths leading them away from the Clans!” Several cats booed and hissed. Beside Scorch, Yarrowshade’s muscles tensed and shifted expectantly. 

“Goldenstar,” said the blue tom next to her, “listen to what you’re saying. Are you really so weak to have let this stranger upend your Clan on a whim?” Scorch felt eyes turning on her and she glared back at a few of them. 

“I’m not letting anyone upend my Clan,” Goldenstar retorted, ears pinning back. “I’m listening to feedback and trying to be more compassionate and open minded! This isn’t a spur of the moment decision, I’ve spent weeks thinking about this, I even spoke to Sunstar about it!” Of course, there was that appeal to StarClan. It seemed effective though, causing confused murmurs in the crowd. 

“From now on,” Goldenstar continued, pressing her advantage, “cats joining RisingClan are no longer required to change their names or renounce their old lives. Any cat who wishes to leave is free to do so and will be welcomed back at any time. Even strangers passing through, if they bear no ill will, are welcome in my camp.” 

“Next you’ll be eating out of twoleg’s paws and purring at their feet!” shouted a white and grey tabby she-cat and a few of her clanmates nodded. Goldenstar bristled, and Scorch realized quickly that she didn’t have a good way to respond. A vision of the gathering spiraling out of control flashed before Scorch’s eyes, of Goldenstar being shamed and disgraced. Before she could think better of it, Scorch found herself lifting her tail and speaking. 

“It sounds to me like you would rather cling to your traditions even as they fail you than admit someone somewhere might possibly know something you don’t.” Her voice was clear and strong and cut through the chatter. All eyes turned in her direction. 

The cat who had just spoken rounded on her and stood, tail brushing up furiously. “You have no right to speak here!” she hissed.

Scorch laughed. “I’m a full and respected member of RisingClan. I have just as much right to speak here as any of you.” 

“You’re no warrior,” the cat hissed, lashing her tail and stepping closer. Scorch tensed, anticipating a fight. “You’re nothing but a pitiable stray!” 

Scorch stood and took a step towards her, narrowing her eyes coldly. “Really?” She laughed again, harsher this time. “I’ve fought for every scrap of food I’ve ever had. I’ve seen more and done more than you could imagine. I was attacked by a monster and survived! You?” She scoffed and looked the young warrior up and down dismissively. “You look like you’ve barely grown into your paws.” Beside her, Yarrowshade couldn’t help but laugh and she even heard a few tense laughs or sympathetic winces throughout the crowd. The cat clearly grit her teeth in white hot embarrassment and rage and Scorch grinned smugly. 

“Watch your mouth, stray,” hissed the cat, taking another step forward.

Suddenly, a voice from atop the ruins boomed, “Tumblefang! There is no fighting at the gathering.” Both the she-cat, Tumblefang it seemed, and Scorch looked up to see Snowstar glaring down at them. Tumblefang growled lowly but sat back down, shoulders hunched. 

Scorch bowed her head deeply and said, “My apologies, Snowstar. Don’t be too hard on her. I should have known better than to respond to such a childish outburst.” Yarrowshade chuckled again and Scorch sat down smoothly, a confident smile on her face. She glanced at Goldenstar who seemed to be trying very hard not to grin. 

Snowstar nodded regally and asked, “Is there anything other news you’d like to share, Goldenstar?” 

“No,” said Goldenstar, “I think I’ve said enough for now. Although I would urge any leaders or mediators to visit if they want to know more.” She sat down and folded her tail over her paws. 

“Alright,” Snowstar nodded again. “I would like to share that Robinpaw has finished his training and been given the name Robinswoop.” 

The gathering didn’t last much longer. As they left, she could tell that cats were watching her and made sure to be the picture of grace and composure. Regardless, she could tell Sagetooth was not happy. Oh well, she thought. As a priest of this StarClan faith, she was probably never going to be very fond of Scorch and her new way of doing things.

Goldenstar bumped up into her with a purr. “Wow, you were amazing. Thanks for saving my hide there.” 

“Of course, your excellence,” Scorch purred. “It was honestly very satisfying.” 

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a cat put someone in their place that effectively,” Yarrowshade laughed. “And without a single threat? You have a gift!” 

“I know,” purred Scorch. Goldenstar and Yarrowshade laughed. She continued, “Do you think there will be consequences for your announcement? Cats seemed pretty upset.”

While Sagetooth didn’t seem to appreciate the comment on her age, she didn’t say much. Both she and Goldenstar spent the majority of the trip panting and focusing on their paws so as not to slip or fall. Goldenstar marveled at the ease with which the SkyClan cats made the climb. Robinpaw didn’t even look at his paws for most of it, eyes trained on the skies, likely searching for that Eagle he had mentioned. 

They paused for a rest every hour or so, during which time Goldenstar was left with nothing to think about aside from her rumbling stomach. The fasting was intended to make it easier for the spirit to leave the body and travel to StarClan in dreaming, but she couldn’t help but watch the birds further down the slope and dream of chasing them down. Mouth watering, she decided she officially didn’t like fasting. 

Sometime around noon, the group reached the mouth of the cave they were here to enter. It wasn’t much more than two tail lengths tall, made of smooth dark stone that twisted and tunneled deeper into the mountain. 

“Here we are,” Charredbranch said, doing a quick glance for hawks or eagles. “We’ll be hunting in the area and swing back around when we’re done. Hopefully we’ll have enough to spare a meal for you when you get out.” 

“That would be lovely,” Goldenstar laughed hungrily. “Good luck. We shouldn’t be too long.” 

Sagetooth, already heading down the tunnel, called back, “Come on, we’re not here for small talk!” 

“Right, coming!” Goldenstar called after her. Charredbranch gave her a sympathetic smile and she grinned back before bounding to catch up with Sagetooth. 

They padded through the tunnel for a good long while, their paw pads making only the slightest of noise on the cool stone floor. Soon the light from outside was obscured by the twists and turns of the tunnels and they were plunged into darkness. Using their whiskers to navigate, they didn’t speak as they ventured deeper, the path slowly sloping downward. Just like the only other time she had been here, Goldenstar’s pelt prickled uneasily. It felt to her like all kinds of ghosts could creep up on them or spy from the darkness. Shuddering, she decided to strike up a conversation. 

“What do you think StarClan will say?” she asked softly. Even in her attempt to make some noise, it felt wrong to talk at full volume in such hallowed passages. 

“StarClan?” Sagetooth mused, “I doubt they’ll like it. But I know at least Sunstar will hear you out.” 

“Good,” Goldenstar nodded to herself - it wasn’t like Sagetooth could see the gesture, “She’s the only one I really want to talk to.” Sagetooth grunted but didn’t continue the conversation. With a sigh, Goldenstar resigned herself to eerie silence. 

After a while - a few minutes? Half an hour? More? It was hard to tell - her ears picked up on the sound of rushing and dripping water ahead. The sound grew louder and louder as the tunnel became thinner and shorter, squeezing down around them until she had to duck and follow behind Sagetooth single file. Still, hope bloomed in her chest as a soft blue glow started to reflect off the ridges of the smooth stone tunnels. Eventually, the light was just up ahead. The tunnel opened up into a grand chamber. Sagetooth padded down the stony bank ahead of them to the edge of a flowing river that emerged out of the rock and disappeared back into it a few meters later. Goldenstar stepped out of the tunnel and looked up, still in awe of the sight that gave the river its name. 

On the roof of the cave was a spread of vibrantly glowing blue dots. They clung to the ceiling, crept down the walls, and reflected off of the dark surface of the river. Goldenstar felt like stepping into that water would cause you to be swallowed by the night sky itself. She slipped out of the tunnel and settled down beside the already loafing Sagetooth. 

“Well, I’ll see you on the other side,” said the healer. She bowed her head to take a drink from the pool and Goldenstar did the same. Greedily, she lapped at the cool, stony tasting water, her empty stomach begging for anything to fill it. She forced herself to stop after a few heavy gulps and pulled back, curling into a ball against Sagetooth’s flank. She closed her eyes, took a few slow, deep breaths, and let the peace of the location take her into the depths of dreaming. 

~~~

Goldenstar sat up suddenly, surrounded by gently swaying dark blue grass. Everything around her seemed to glow with a gentle luminosity. Everything was peacefully quiet, the sound of birds singing being the only real noise. It was interesting. Last time she had been here, she had been surrounded by every cat she’d ever seen die, friends she had lost, the center of a throng of familiar faces. Now she seemed to be… alone. She sat up taller, peering over the grass and frowned. 

“Hello?” she called cautiously. “Sagetooth…? Sunstar?”

No response. She stood, stretched, and looked around a bit. The place was a mirror image of RisingClan’s territory, and she knew exactly the spot she found herself in. Smiling, she took off towards the little tree near the border that Sunstar used to go to relax. She arrived shortly and, sure enough, there was Sunstar, lounging in its branches. 

“Sunstar!” she trilled, picking up her pace to bound the last through meters. 

“Goldensun!” purred the starry cat, lifting her head, “Or well, Goldenstar, I should say. What brings you to my neck of the woods?” 

“I need some advice,” Goldenstar said. She bunched her legs underneath her and sprang up into the tree to join her former mentor. 

“Well, I’ll do my best,” chuckled Sunstar, “But you really ought to learn to run the Clan without me.” 

Goldenstar smiled fondly. “I promise, I’ll give you a rest after this. How much do you… see? Like do you keep eyes on us?” 

“A little bit. I could see more but I’ve mostly been enjoying the peaceful season in paradise.” 

“Have you seen our guest?” 

“The rogue,” Sunstar nodded knowingly. “I had to get a peek. Everyone is talking about her.” 

“That figures,” Goldenstar chuckled, “Smokyrose has helped her bring some concerns to me, things that worry her about Clan life.” Sunstar’s face softened at the mention of her sister but she pulled it into something more serious as Goldenstar continued. “I can tell she needs a home, that she’s… like a stranger in her own life. She seems to think I’m some tyrant who will punish her if she steps a whisker out of line. She called me ‘your excellence.’” 

Sunstar laughed a bit. “I see. Interesting. So you want her to join the Clan.” Goldenstar grinned. Of course, her old mentor and closest confidant knew exactly what she was thinking.

“Yeah, but she has a few worries about the way we do things. And now that she’s pointed them out, I can’t stop seeing them.” 

“Like what?” 

“Well… Mainly, she thinks the Clan is designed to keep cats inside it, like to not allow them to leave.” 

“Well, Is it?” asked Sunstar, and Goldenstar was taken aback by the question. 

“Of course not,” she said instinctively, then, knowing what Sunstar would likely say, added, “or… at least I don’t want it to be.” 

“There you go. So again, I’m gonna ask you, do you think it is designed that way?” 

Goldenstar sighed. “Maybe. I don’t know. I’d like to think cats could leave any time they wanted but… she says they don’t even know they can’t leave most of the time. Or that they can leave, but if they do they get judged or… shunned. And… I mean, I hate to say it, but I think she’s right. I mean think about someone like Redleaf.” Sunstar frowned and nodded and Goldenstar continued. “My question is; what do I do about it?” 

“Hmm. A good question,” Sunstar ran her tongue over her forearm thoughtfully, then passed it over one ear. “But I think you already know the answer.” 

Goldenstar groaned in frustration. “Everyone keeps saying that!” 

“Are they wrong?” 

“I don’t know!” she cried, tail lashing. “I don’t feel like I know what to do! I can’t just… start changing things, I-”

“Why not?” asked Sunstar, stopping Goldenstar in her tracks.

“What do you mean, ‘why not?’” she starred, baffled. 

“Why not?” repeated Sunstar, firmer this time. “You are Goldenstar of RisingClan! You are one of the most powerful cats living in this territory, not to mention the most stubborn, headstrong, passionate cat I know.” Goldenstar blushed a bit under the praise, even if she was upset. “All you have to do is decide to change things and you can! It sounds like Smokyrose is already on your side, and she’s an excellent mediator and a perfect cat to help you through this.” 

Goldenstar sighed and shook her head. “Why do you always have to be right?”