Honesty - A WillowClan Story.
So this is a gift for my friend @lonely-ghost-606 and is based on their amazing video set around their original characters! The video itself is based around the character VioletStar, and her rise and fall! It’s an amazingly well done video, and it deserves so much more attention than it has!
Please please please check them out! I promise you won’t regret it! I’ll link it here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCaB7flg7g8&t=73s Please make sure to check it out!
Anyway, this is the basic leeway for this story. But if you want more information, please check out the linked video! Again, you won’t regret it!
The previous leader of WillowClan, StarkStar, VioletFrost’s father, died when a gem cave collapsed on him. After turning the clan against the deputy originally meant to take over, VioletFrost is coronated at VioletStar! She takes over, naming a cat named NightHowler as her deputy, and a cat called DarkRain as her prophet.
But VioletStar hates DarkRain, her former mate.
And DarkRain has a secret to tell.
...
“Violetstar! Violetstar! VioletStar!”
DarkRain sat listening as the cats of WillowClan cried out their new leader’s name. He examined his clan mates gathered below the high rock, each roaring a cry of acceptance for this new age. DarkRain thought he could see a few unsure faces in the crowd, more than likely supporters of TwighlightMarsh, the recently exiled Deputy. The cat who originally would have become leader.
But he was not the cat at the ledge of the rock. VioletStar was. That was the new reality. And true to form, TwighlightMarsh’s friends uncurled their cold tongues and called out the true leader’s name as well.
VioletStar smiled, magenta eyes looming over her clan with pleasure. “Thank you. I am glad you will give your trust to me!” She meowed. The cold night breeze kissed the sides of her face, making her dark fur sway like a lion’s mane. “And now, I must ask that you place your trust in two more cats!”
DarkRain’s stomach curled.
“NightHowler.” VioletStar turned expectantly to the broad shouldered tom on her right. He broke into a proud grin. “Will you accept the position of Deputy, and help me guide WillowClan to a bright future?”
NightHowler chuckled, his large figure towered over his leader, but he had enough sense to bow his head respectfully. He wouldn’t throw away a chance like this; a chance of real power. “I will, VioletStar!”
The cats of WillowClan roared their approval.
VioletStar looked pleased. It did not last. DarkRain quivered as his leader coldly turned to him. “DarkRain.” Her voice was clear, but up close, DarkRain could see the grit fangs. “Will you take on the duty as WillowClan’s prophet, and aid us through danger and peril?”
She knew how he would answer, but there was still a pressing desire in her stare. A hunger. Refuse. Make my day.
The new prophet gulped down the hurt and answered. “I will, VioletStar.” He bowed his head, hoping his submission would placate her rage.
VioletStar huffed, satisfied. Turning away to face the cats accepting their new prophet. DarkRain was unable to feel any pride, not with those eyes still burning on his coat.
“Then let WillowClan thrive!” VioletStar cried, her voice storming over the clan! The Clan responded vigorously. “It is time to build from our mistakes and sustain the strength that flows in our blood!”
More triumphant cheers sounded across the clearing. DarkRain watched the confidence crawl over VioletStar’s face. The Clan, her clan, had made their loyalty known. DarkRain wished he could feel some kind of pleasure here, the delight he would have had for this moment moons ago.
But that was impossible.
Too much had happened now.
VioletStar called out another powerful mew before she allowed the gathering to disperse. Her fur gleamed in the full moonlight as she observed WillowClan retire to their dens. The air still fizzed and crackled with excitement, the clan all whispering in glee as they left their new Leader high above them.
NightHowler made a mew of amusement, “That went well!”
VioletStar turned from the ledge, padding away to the leader’s den, a quick snap of her tail was all DarkRain needed to say he should follow her. “Of course. Our clanmates are loyal and know what is right.” The molly mewed with a thin smile. “Now it is up to us to prove their loyalty wise.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem. Now that that traitor is gone, there’s no cat who would dare try to sabotage you!” NightHowler seemed to lick his lips at the thought of driving out the previous deputy.
“Let’s not focus on old bones not worth burying.” VioletStar said stiffly, “TwighLightMarsh is gone, let’s keep it that way. Don’t mention him and if you hear another cat do it, don’t do anything. We’re not frightened of exiled cats. If he ever comes back,” VioletStar looked back, her mouth creasing in a dominant, frightening way. “We know what to do.”
DarkRain fought to keep his pelt from prickling. He couldn’t stop himself from wondering if this cat had truly been VioletFrost. He tried to ignite memories in the darkness: images of him curled beside a warm pelt, her breath sweet on his ears, and even sweeter words being thrust into him.Â
Then the memory of the collapsing gem cave comes back. His mate weeping over the leader, the father, who never came out. The way those loving eyes had coiled over him, with nothing but hatred.
His leader was a force of power, and that was how she wanted to be seen. She had buried her past like old dirt, and stood proudly over the remains. Whatever DarkRain had been in that past, laid buried underneath her.
That was proof enough when her eyes came on him, and she only glowered before swiping her gaze back to her den.
DarkRain took it all without hesitation. He deserved it. She knew that. And he knew it better. He knew it in ways she didn’t understand. DarkRain sucked on his lower lip, his tail dragging on the floor.Â
She deserves to know. He thought. She hated him already, not much worse could happen. Maybe if he told her the whole truth, she would appreciate it, just a little. If I love her, I have to tell her. And he did love her. He always would. Not matter how many times she looked at him like that.
The sky was as dark as the rocks below their feet. Only thin slithers of moonlight could illuminate WillowClan now. The mouth of the leader’s den grew wider and familiar scents filled the air. Scents that made VioletStar stiffen, and DarkRain hold back a sob.
“We’ll meet at sunrise.” She declared, sitting back with an impatient frown. “We have to discuss new patrol groups as well as plans for hunting grounds. With the cold approaching we need to be prepared for the worst.”
NightHowler dipped his head respectfully, “Very well, VioletStar.”
The leader nodded, and darkening, she turned expectantly to her prophet. “Do you understand, as well?” She growled.
DarkRain flinched, “Y-Yes, VioletStar.” He tried to sound equal, but he quavered. He heard NightHowler chuckle scornfully. VioletStar scoffed, as if disgusted, and turned to her den.Â
“Goodnight.”
If DarkRain had any courage or love left, he had to muster it now. Just about, he did. “Wait! V-VioletStar!” He squeaked out.
The molly paused, her head already swallowed in the darkness of the den. Two piercing violet eyes glowed in the black void. “What is it?” The darkness demanded.
“May I... talk to you about something?”
There was low scratching sound from inside the den. Claws tapping at the cold stone. “Must you?” VioletStar hissed. “Can it not wait until morning?”Â
DarkRain swallowed hard, his head falling low to the ground. If he looked pathetic enough, sorry enough, maybe she would relent. “Please, VioletStar. I think you’d find it important.”
“You think?” VioletStar scoffed.Â
DarkRain let his fear become evident, he looked up shuddering. “Please.” He begged in a small mew, the voice of a new apprentice being scolded by his mentor.
The two blazing orbs thinned in the dark, hateful but contemplative. Finally, after another bite of the cold air, the moonlit tail rose up like a snake and called the tom forward. DarkRain somehow managed to catch his breath back as he weakly pushed himself up and padded carefully towards the unkind black, holding his tail between his legs. He couldn’t be anything but subservient right now.
He heard a cruel sneer behind him, “Have a good evening, DarkRain.” NightHowler called, his cackles muffling off as he left for the safety of the Warrior’s den.
DarkRain tried to shake off the ill feeling like it was nothing but dirt. But it remained. It gripped him. It overshadowed him as he crept away from the moonlight and entered the den.
He wasn’t a stranger to the den, having been called there before by StarkStar. But DarkRain couldn’t help but feel his paws clench as he entered. Like he was on unfamiliar territory. The only luminance seeped through thin crevices in the stone, just enough that he could see the dark figure of his leader, scowling in the shadows. She watched his every step as if his touch was some kind of poison to her den.
Her stare was like he was a predator’s kit. Hate and bloodlust clouding her vision.
DarkRain breathes shakily, trying to muster his bravery, looking around the den for something to compliment. The ground seemed like it wanted to push him away. It looked like everything that had made the den SwiftStar’s was gone, cleared away for the new leader. But his scent remained. It was there like the hiss of a waterfall, making it so much harder for DarkRain to admit the truth.
VioletStar let out a low groan as DarkRain continued to hesitantly wander. “Well?” She demanded, the lash of tail audibly snapping against the stone. “You said this was important? I hope you weren’t lying to your leader!” The tapping of her claws became clear again.
Suddenly DarkRain felt like any voice he had had been choked out of him.
“I-I...”
“Spit it out!” Her voice was growing with impatience.
He needed to get it out now. He had to tell her the truth. The words were on his mind and stuck bitterly to the end of his tongue, all he had to do was just say it.
Look her in the eye and say it.
He found her eyes, and her hatred, and he cast away again.
“I-I’m sorry.” He whimpered out, tears beginning to prick his eyes.Â
VioletStar erupted with a frustrated hiss. She’d heard this performance before! This pathetic self-pity, she had no time for it now! “If that’s it, I’d suggest you leave quickly before you make me angry!”
The wiser part of DarkRain knew it would be best to follow her orders, but something small somehow compelled him to remain shakily seated. “I’m sorry. I just-”
“Yes, yes, I’ve heard this fox-dung before!” VioletStar growled, “You’ve mewled it out enough, and I’ve been perfectly clear how much it means.” Her back was to him. “I don’t want to repeat myself. Get out.”
Somewhere, DarkRain felt the hurt overshadow his fear. She wanted nothing to do with him. He was nothing to her anymore. “I just want-”
“I know what you want, and I’m telling you now,” She turned to him slightly, one eye dangerously leering over at him. “Those days are nothing anymore. Whatever you think we had, it doesn’t exist!”
DarkRain shook his head a little, the pain in his paws was starting to grow numb. “You don’t mean that.”
“You dare question my word!” VioletStar screamed, loud enough that DarkRain knew somecat would hear. She stormed over to where he stood, her whiskers poised, her muzzled scrunched in fury. Her thick fur lashed out in the dark like claws, dragging a yowling monster aside it. DarkRain had never noticed just how large she was until he was cowering under her stare. He backed away to the wall of the den, a sharp point of rock edged painfully against his back, but he still creased into it. That pain was better than the approaching ferocity of the molly in front of him.
“N-No, I’m just trying to...” His voice drifted and died as she snarled viciously, making him retreat back.
“How many times do I have to beat it into that scrap of dirt you call a mind?” VioletStar roared, “I don’t want your apologies! It will not change anything!”
DarkRain felt his legs begin to give, one foreleg slipped and flailed like a fish out of water. VioletStar didn’t give him any time to reclaim his footing, a paw lashed out and pushed him into the stone. DarkRain hit the ground, wincing.
“I will only say this one more time.” VioletStar warned, every grumble in her throat sounding like the hungry snarls of a fox. “I don’t care what excuses you have. You could have done something then, you could have saved him!” DarkRain felt the tears seep over his cheeks. “You weren’t there for him when he needed you. You failed him! And you failed me!”
Every word cut deep into DarkRain’s bones. He shook under the cold whispers of his leader, trembling like a newborn kit in the snow. VioletStar loomed there until DarkRain had fallen to his paws, his head tucked into the shadows. She let out a repulsed hiss. “Look at you! Why couldn’t it have been you instead of him?”
That hit the worst.
That was the underline.
That was the naivety that VioletStar didn’t know she had.
That was the truth that DarkRain needed to tell.Â
He felt the weight of each tear as it darkened over his cheeks. His voice mumbled out of a stir of soaked, weeping breaths. “You’re right. It should have been me.”
VioletStar rolled her eyes, but she backed away a little, admiring his crying form. “We’ve already established that. Will that be all?” She spat.
Softly, DarkRain managed to shake his head enough that VioletStar rose a brow. “No.” He sobbed, the guilt tearing into him all over again. “It really should have been me!”
Now, VioletStar was listening. And she listened to the whole story, her face breaking into horror, despair, and then dark outrage.
...
StarkStar waited until DarkRain had finished before he said anything.
“Are you absolutely certain?” WillowClan’s leader said softly, he rested on his bed of moss, softly looking over the shaking cat.
DarkRain nodded, his breaths quick and terrified. “I remember all of it, StarkStar. It’s going to happen.” He cried out, fear choking him. The bloody images of his dream still haunted him. The collapse of the gem cave. His body broken and bleeding as the downfall buried him underneath.
StarkStar made a soft noise in his throat, “How many times have you had this dream?”
“Every night for the past week.”
StarkStar sighed grimly, “Why didn’t you say anything then?”
DarkRain looked up at his leader wistfully, still smelling blood even now. “I didn’t want to bother you or VioletFrost. I thought it was just a stupid nightmare.” His voice squeaked at the end, his throat beginning to strain. “But now... I’m certain, StarkStar. I’m going to die!”
Suddenly, StakStar was beside his trusted clanmate. There was a trusting authority around the leader, the kind that could calm down any storm. “You are not going to die. If you like, I can send someone else instead of you for the travel to the gem cave!”
DarkRain burst up in horror. “No! You can’t do that!” He cried, startling his leader at the pleading in his tone. “If it’s not me, it will just be another cat! I can’t send just sit here knowing that someone else will take my place!”
“It might not happen at all, DarkRain.” StarkStar knew how pointless those words were, now he just sounded like an elder trying to calm down a kit’s nightmare, instead of a leader hearing of a vision. Visions were not wrong often.
DarkRain cast his face down again, whimpering. “No. I know it is. I have to go. I have to die. I couldn’t live it it ended up being another cat. What if it ended up being...” His mate’s face filled his vision and he placed a paw over his eyes. “What do I do?!”
StarkStar looked sympathetically at the crying cat. DarkRain was broken in horror. Not just because he was scared of the inevitability of his death, but because he knew what would be left behind if he truly did leave this world.
StarkStar had seen it before. He knew better than anyone how VioletFrost had been after her mother’s death. It had taken moons before his beautiful daughter was anything like herself again. He thought she had found real joy again when DarkRain had become her mate; the love that she needed was there and willing to give her whatever she wanted.
And now, it would be taken from her all over again.
DarkRain knew this too, and he was scared. Terrified, for her.
The thought of leaving her all alone... that was what made DarkRain weep. He’d have given his life to see her smile. Now she would be left in the dark once again.
StarkStar feared if she’d be able to find herself again.
He looked up, thinking long and hard. He had to do something. Not just for VioletFrost, but for DarkRain as well. He was a good cat who only cared for the feelings of others. He didn’t deserve this. And VioletFrost didn’t deserve to lose such a mate.
So what could he do? If the vision was set, so was time. Some cat’s time was coming soon. Even if he called off the mission to the cave, the vision would still claim its victim sooner or later. Who’s to say the cave wasn’t a more merciful death that awaited? These visions could very well punish those who dared defy fate.
StarkStar picked a pieced of fluff out of his claws, letting out a low groan. It would do no good to run away from it. But still... He padded over to where DarkRain lay, still sobbing in fear. His paw gently touched the younger cat’s back. DarkRain sniffed, rubbing a paw over his watery eyes. The air was thick with abject threat, wavering like dark smoke around the den.
StarkStar’s paw rubbed over DarkRain’s thick coat. “You’ll come with me on the mission, but I promise you, nothing will happen to you. I would not let that happen to you or VioletFrost.”
DarkRain was not encouraged by this. Numbly, he looked down again. “It’s not something we can just change, StarkStar.”
StarkStar patted over the cat, then stepped over to the den entrance. “We can still try. Stick by me when we enter, and I swear that I’ll do what I can to keep you safe.”
“How can you do that?” DarkRain asked softly, careful to not let his bitterness show. He wouldn’t offend his leader, especially the one who had trusted him with his daughter’s love.
“The same way we always do as a clan.” StarkStar smiled like a tender father, the father DarkRain had always seen him like. “We watch out for each other and protect each other when danger is near. I will not break that duty, especially with you, DarkRain.”
DarkRain smiled thinly at the kind words of his leader, but that did not mean he was convinced. You couldn’t tempt fate. Fate was eternal, and it had decided that he was to die.
But that didn’t mean that StarkStar was lying.
He would protect DarkRain from danger.
For DarkRain, for VioletFrost, StarkStar would do anything.
...
DarkRain found it hard to talk about what came next. About how the gem cave had indeed collapsed. About how his leader had pushed him out of danger. About how the vision did claim itself a victim.
The tears streamed down DarkRain’s cheeks by the time he was finished. He was afraid. So afraid like before. Terrified to see the face of the one he loved so much.
He had seen her pressed against the ruined cave, screaming and bawling as she realised that her father was gone. When he had reached out, awe-struck, convicted by her father’s sacrifice, he had barely touched her back before she snapped around, the love usually held in that beautiful violet tainted with blame and severance.
She thought him responsible before.
She knew it now.
There was no sound made apart from DarkRain’s quiet cries. “I-I’m so sorry, VioletStar.” The song of the moon-high crickets was all that responded to him. He forced the oxygen into his lungs. “If I’d known that he’d save me... I’d do it all over, and stop him!”
The emptiness continued, DarkRain thought somewhere he could smell blood again.
His eyes fluttered open, but he didn’t look up. He did feel the shadows loosen on him though, allowing him some space. DarkRain didn’t take the chance. “Violet...” He mewed softly, like he would have done in her ear not so long ago. His eyes closed again, fresh tears slipping through the slits. “I know you’ll never forgive me, but please know that I’m sorry. I wish it had been-”
There was the sound of claws scraping violently on the stone, like they were being dragged away.
Then there was a tight sound of cutting air.
And then came the pain.Â
It came all over his cheek like scalding thorns, DarkRain barely made a sound before he was struck to the floor. He could feel his fur tear, and the warm blood soak into his fur. His face stung terribly and he knew a horrible mark would be left.
But it was shock that kept him silent, kept him gasping in raw, rugged breaths. He pulled his paw from the wound and felt the blood drip along the pads. Drip. Drip. Drip. It was all the darkness allowed for a moment. DarkRain tearfully looked up, eyes raw from crying, his pupils small as they looked up at his attacker.Â
A minute of glacial silence followed; DarkRain crying and moaning in pain, as VioletStar loomed furiously over him. Her fangs were bared frightfully, every pointed fang gleaming, it looked like she would at any moment burst forward and tear out his throat. She could do it easily. DarkRain just kept still, beaten,unable to recognise his former love through her anger.
“He died for you.” VioletStar monotoned, her voice slow and thundering. “He died for you.” She repeated, inhaling with great force and growling the air out like it was venom. “You let him die for you.” The Den felt heavy with her words. “You selfish waste of fur...”
There were tears in her eyes, small and sparkling with malice.
DarkRain’s heart ached, his mouth quivered, but he fell silent again as her blood soaked claws unsheathed in warning.
“It’s all your fault. You knew what was meant to happen and you used it like the coward you were!” Her breath became hot as she lowered, her growl ever-growing. “You used my father’s loyalty to run away like a rat!”
For a brief moment, there was a contortion of pain, but it was gone in a second. “And why? Because you were worried how I’d be without you?” There was a low rumble that sounded between a laugh and a sneer.Â
DarkRain felt her voice, icy on his ear. “You fool.”
The tom didn’t know what to say, his tongue was paralysed by fear. Fortunately, VioletStar carried on in her growling whispers, never allowing him a moment to think. He would take this all in, here and now.
“If it had been you, it would have been the most generous thing you’d ever done for me. You actually think I would have mourned for you?” She spat in revulsion. “Don’t be so vain. I never loved you like that. The only reason I ever gave you a chance in the first place was because my father trusted you enough that he pointed you to me. You were nothing to me but a last resort.”
Her voice was smooth and gentle, which made what she said so much worse for DarkRain. His heart strained at her words. He desperately tried to believe that she was only saying this because she knew it hurt him. But there was no hesitation in her tone. She was rehearsed, unbounded. She meant everything.
Every time she had laid beside him, every word they’d shared, the time that DarkRain had treasured so strongly.
It meant nothing to her.
She had loathed it. Loathed him. And now, she didn’t have to hide it anymore.
VioletStar pulled away, leaving the tom open mouthed and quivering where he lay. Her hateful stare glistened as she wiped away the pricking tears. “Clearly, my father and I were fools as well. Trusting you?” She turned away, her growl low and pitiful, laced with a small pain. “And now I’ll suffer because of that. All because I took pity on you, making you think a cat like you could be loved.” She spat on the ground, her claws leaving deep red lines on the stone. “You’re impossible to love.”
She hated him, so strongly. DarkRain had lost the desire to even speak anymore. His body trembled with so much agony. The worst part was, he couldn’t disagree with a word his leader said. He had been meant to die. He had let StarkStar die for him. He had been a fool to think VioletStar could have ever forgiven him, much less loved him.
All this time, he had been running. Fleeing from fate and the truth.
VioletStar had been clear to make him understand.
“I’m sorry.” He said, toneless from the hurt. He didn’t know what else to say.
He said the wrong thing. VioletStar rushed forward again, and DarkRain cowered and waited for the claws to rip through him again. They never did. Only an unbelievable screaming. “If you say that one more time, I will send you to the Dark Forest here and now!”
“It doesn’t matter how many times you apologise! Done is done! I made my mistakes and paid for it, and believe me, you will pay for yours in time! StarkStar is dead! It’s all your fault; and that will never change! Understand!”
DarkRain kept his eyes squeezed shut, accepting the verbal beating like he deserved.
“You should be dead, and it would give me nothing but pleasure to be the one to make it happen.” VioletStar snarled. She began to wipe the blood off her paws, flicking the claws on her clanmate’s fur. “But unlike you, I care for my clan. And they need a prophet.” She backed away, shoving DarkRain’s pelt again.
“You may keep your role in the clan. But I warn you, make sure that you remain of use to me. Because if you fail at any moment, you’ll be wishing that you died in that cave!”
DarkRain already did. He kept silent and submissive though.
VioletStar stalked over to her bedding, but she didn’t lie down. “Now.” She said, her soft voice dripping with blood and ready to spring again. “If that’s all there is, get out of my sight!” Her thick fur prickled again, clear with the answer of what would happen if DarkRain refused her commands.
He didn’t argue.
That cold back, shaking with anger, was the kindest thing he would ever see of his leader now.
Biting back a whimper of pain, DarkRain achingly clambered to his paws. His cheek still burned and the blood still dripped, but he still limped away from his leader. A part of him wanted to look back, as if by some miracle he could find one last light of forgiveness.
He really was a fool. He hissed away the thought and carried on, embracing the moonlight like it was his mother’s fur. He wandered out, as alone as he always had been. Briefly, he wondered if the pain of the cut or the words hurt more feverishly. But did it really matter.
The one cat who cared about him had died because of him.
The cat he had loved now wanted him dead.
This was his life now. And unlike everything before, he couldn’t run away from it.
VioletStar would never let him forget.
He’d have to make up some kind of excuse for his injury. Or maybe VioletStar would rejoice in her clan knowing what she had done. They’d sooner trust her than him, after all.
DarkRain let out a shaky breath, this all hurt too much to think about.
He... He needed some rest; it was the only peace he could hope for from now on.
...No.
That was a fool’s thoughts as well.
There would be no peace. Never again.
DarkRain knew she’d be there. In his worst nightmares, those burning violet eyes would always be there, piercing through the dark.
...
Hope you all enjoyed this. And I really hope I did your video and story justice, Ghost! You deserve the best and beyond buddy!
Thanks for reading!
