Omen of the Sun Book Three: Dusk

Chapter Six

Goldleaf

Dying young sucked.

Goldleaf had gotten used to the way things were in StarClan- how he'd be out walking, and a random cat would run by and blink at him, say, "You're Goldkit!" and smile because they had known him as a kit. How he'd keep turning to ask Lightningfeather something and remember, oh yeah, he wasn't there. How he'd see cats bearing scars that showed proof of battles won and lost, and he'd wish he'd died cooler. Instead he had died because of the cat he loved most.

So, for a cat who didn't want to be dead, StarClan was really quite annoying. The thing that bothered him most, however, was the weather. It was always sunny and daytime, and Goldleaf really liked thunderstorms and nighttime.

So that was a minus.

Curling up in his perfectly soft, warm, cozy nest that he kind of hated, Goldleaf shut his eyes for the umpteenth time that... day? He didn't know what to call it, but he was tired, so he was trying to sleep. However, sleep did not want to come, so opening his eyes with a snap he got out of his nest, shaking out his pelt.

Maybe he could look through the seeing-pond. Maybe he would see Sunpool.

Goldleaf padded out of his den constructed from moss and brambles and padded aimlessly through the forest. StarClan knew no boundaries, but it was an exact replica of the Living Land (StarClan's term for the territories below). There were different sections that all were the exact same as the land below to provide comfort to the fallen.

Goldleaf padded through the forest until he reached the land where CloudClan split into FlowerClan. The seeing-pond, where StarClan looked down on the living, was at the very edge of the territory, almost in rogue land. A few cats walked past him now and then, nodding at him. He was grateful that they didn't recognize him, because he was in a weird enough mood as it was.

He kept walking until he reached the seeing-pond. As it always was before a visit, the water was glassy and smooth, like the sky as it snowed. He was alone there, for which he was grateful. He wanted to send Sunpool a dream, and talk to her. He wanted to know what was going on.

Taking a deep breath, he stared into the seeing-pond, his stomach feeling like a huge rock had settled in it. That was odd, since no cat ever got sick in StarClan. Shaking it off, he blew on the surface. "Send a dream to Sunpool of CloudClan."

He had seen other cats do this before; his father had taught him the day after he died. He knew he was doing it right, so he was therefor surprised when nothing happened.

Then the surface rippled and showed Sunpool, Cinderstorm, and Lightningfeather in an unfamiliar forest. They were with some strange tortoiseshell-looking she cat, whom Goldleaf didn't recognize. He narrowed his eyes and a stab of hurt passed through him. Have they moved on from my death already?

Sunpool lunged forward and pinned the tortoisesell she cat smoothly. Lightningfeather was staring at Cinderstorm, who was staring back at him. Then they both broke off staring at each other and turned to face Sunpool and the tortoiseshell.

He couldn't interact with them. But maybe he could send them a sign that he was there, watching.

Concentrating, he flicked his gaze to a tree right above Lightningfeather and flicked his tail, hoping it would work. The leaves were heavy with snow and a dark pine green. Evergreen- the tree that never changes. He liked evergreens.

Dismissing the thought, he willed one of the leaves to change. It did, to his delight, turning a golden brown and faling gracefully, fluttering in the wind, to land in front of Lightningfeather. As he had known he would, Lightningfeather glanced down, then his eyes widened. He hooked it with a foreclaw, and whispered something to Cinderstorm. Goldleaf grinned as they both glanced up at the sky. I'm watching, he thought, a sudden ruh of warmth for his friends passing through him. I'm always watching you. He absentmindedly poked out a forepaw to touch the rippling surface of the water, then drew his paw back in. To break the surface is to end the connection, he remembered Raintail telling him.

Sunpool, meanwhile, was snarling something he couldn't hear at the she cat. The she cat struggled, but Sunpool's paw was strong and kept her pinned. Who is that? Goldleaf wondered, his paw hovering hesitatingly over the surface. He wished he could reach out and touch the water, but restrained himself.

Lightningfeather was leaning forward, his eyes growing as Sunpool growled something that made the she cat's head fall back. Copying his friend by leaning forward, Goldleaf watched with hawklike accuracy as Sunpool unsheathed her claws. They glinted in the sunlight.

Then a black shape came out of nowhere, breaking the surface of the water. Goldleaf jerked back, and looked upwards. A raven, as dark as night against the bright sky of StarClan, had interrupted him.

Then a voice behind him spoke. "StarClan is no longer safe, little warrior."

And with an icy plunge in the back of his neck, everything went black.

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE MY WIFI'S ALL BETTER YAAAAAAAAAAY MORE UPDATES

Secrets in Shadows and Snowfall will be edited soon! Yay!

Guess who that cat who spoke to Goldleaf at the end was! Hehe you'll probably guess but...

ALSO! I forgot to mention it last chapter, but I put a Valentine Morgenstern quote in there! If you've read TMI (or just City of Bones) then go find it! If anyone does, I'll dedicate :)

Right, that's all, so good day to all!

-Rainfeather