Ashwings legacy

Chapter 4

   As the days went by Ashwing felt more and more restless. The time he'd spent training was now free, but he had no idea what to do with it, so he trained more. He talked with various Starclan cats about his troubles, venting how he wished he could do something other than simply exist. He knew he should be grateful for just that, knowing what his mother sacrificed, but he couldn't help but feel discontent. He wanted to do something with his skills, make a name for himself, build a legacy.
   He sat alone with his thoughts under the morning sun as he woke up from a semi peaceful sleep. He took a deep breath and decided to hunt. Starclan cats didn't require food but the forests of Starclan were still rich with prey no matter what season it was. Besides, it was a good way to pass time and hone his skills, so he didn't mind. He scented a mouse in a clearing in front of him and dropped to a masterful hunting crouch, keeping his body low to the ground and skidding along the ground quickly but silently, until he spotted it eating something on the ground just a few tail lengths away. The mouse was plump and looked extremely juicy, as every piece of starclan prey did.
   He readied himself for a pounce when rustling alerted the mouse and it bolted to safety. He stood back up with an irritated expression as the cat who had interrupted him approached. She was a scruffy black she cat with a flat muzzle and a a single yellow tooth peeking from under her lip. "Greetings Yellowfang." He says, trying to keep his voice neutral as he spoke to the old medicine cat.
He stood straiter and dipped his head in respect, even though she had blatantly, and probably purposefully, ruined his hunt. Ashwing was never particularly fond of Yellowfang, her grumpy and bossy personality always clashed with his calm and fun loving nature. Look at her, she thinks she's better than everyone... he thought to himself as she stopped a tail length away from him and huffed slightly in what was supposed to be a greeting, though to him it felt like an irritated lecture was coming his way. "Well Ashwing, so sorry to interrupt you..." she says with her signature cold sarcasm. "But I have important news for you, so follow me."
Ashwing rolls his eyes as she passes by him and he turns to follow her. She leads him to a large rock with moss on it. He'd heard that this was the place where the star council came to deliberate. The star council is a group of Starclan cats who make decisions regarding the living clans, it's made up of past leaders, medicine cats, and influential warriors. The clan founders and Ashwings mentors, are all on the council by default, but the current cats that make up the rest of the council are Firestar, Nightstar, Yellowfang, Onestar, Echosong, and Littlecloud. Cats are switched out when their knowledge of the current clans becomes irrelevant, or when they choose to do so. By that standard, Yellowfang should be replaced, but she insists on keeping the position. Sure enough, every member of the council was present, making Ashwing wonder what the occasion was, and if he was in trouble for something. He stood in the center of the clearing until Onestar spoke first. "Ashwing, we have heard many things about you as of late... not all of them positive."
Ashwing stiffened at his words, and cats nodded in agreement. Nightstar spoke next, "It's true you've been talking to various cats about your problems, is it not?" He gave Ashwing a hard stare.
Ashwing took a deep breath before responding. "Yes, that is true."
"Am I correct in saying that the nature of this problem is your restlessness? You wanting to make something of your skills that you've worked so hard to acquire?" Nightstar presses, his voice intimidatingly calm.
"Y-Yes, that would be correct." Ashwings voice breaks under the pressure and he shuffles his paws uncomfortably.
Yellowfang jumps in, bearing her mangled teeth in a snarl. "What is it with you young cats and being so ungrateful? Your mother gave her soul for you and you just can't be content can you?"
Ashwing hardens his gaze at her, intending to stand up for himself, but he can't get any words out before she continues, "As ungrateful as you are, luckily we have a solution." She says with a scoff.
Ashwing lets his skeptical gaze wander over the council, landing on Shadowstar. He tried to read her gaze but she kept her face neutral as Yellowfang continued explaining. "We have taken a vote, and decided to send you on a very important quest. One that could decide the fate of the clans."
Ashwings eyes widen but he remains skeptical as he listens intently to Yellowfang. I don't trust a word she says, but I can't afford to not hear her out. "There is something out there, something that only you can find. You must figure out what it is, and retrieve it, so it can prevent calamity in the distant future." Yellowfang says with a hint of seemingly forced urgency.
Ashwing looks down at his paws, processing all the information he was just given, before looking back up at Yellowfang. "How do you know that only I can find it?" He asks.
"Because you have a special connection to it, you'll be able to tell when you find it that it's what you're looking for." She replies, her voice strong and steady, suggesting she's telling the truth.
Ashwing looks at Shadowstar and narrows his eyes. I have to be sure... "Shadowstar, I trust you more than any cat here, so I'm only asking you this to be certain, is all of this true?"
Shadowstars ear flicks as she stiffens, but keeps her expression the same as she replies, "Yes, it's true Ashwing."
Ashwing sensed a hint of uncertainty in her voice. It's probably just because I put her on the spot. She would never lie to him, he believed that with all his heart. "Alright, I'll do it, but where should I start looking?"
Yellowfang smirks slightly before answering. "You will choose two clan cats to accompany you, you will find your first destination with them."
Ashwing felt pricks of excitement under his fur, he finally got what he wanted, a chance to use his skills in the living world. "I will accompany you to the moonpool tonight." Shadowstars voice felt like honey to his ears, but as he looked at her, he sensed something was off.
He decided to bring it up later. "Alright, Shadowstar, I'll meet you here tonight."
She only nodded in acknowledgment before turning to leave. Ashwing watched anxiously as she, along with the rest of the council, disappeared into the forest going various directions, leaving him alone in the clearing by the big moss rock. That was... weird... he knew something was wrong with Shadowstar, but couldn't figure out what. He knew he'd be saying goodbye to her that night and debated telling her his feelings, but ultimately decided against it. He trudged away from the clearing to rest until it was time to meet her later that night.

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As Shadowstar walked silently ahead of him, Ashwings mind was reeling. He just couldn't tell what was bothering her, but he knew he couldn't just leave her without saying something. What should he say, what could he say that would cheer her up? "Alright, we're here." Shadowstars voice broke him from his thoughts and he stopped in front of the moonpool, the light from the stars and moon shimmering on its surface.
Ashwing decided to just throw himself headfirst into the conversation and hope for the best. "Hey, Shadowstar, I can tell something's bothering you but I don't know what... is there something you want to talk about, maybe?" He says, knowing he sounds clueless but he couldn't help it, he really was.
She stiffened and avoided his gaze while replying. "Oh it has nothing to do with you, don't worry, just other things going on."
Ashwing sensed that wasn't the full truth but didn't dare press any farther. "Alright then, if you say so."
After a moment of awkward silence, Shadowstar looks at him, her eyes full of emotion suddenly. "Ashwing, good luck. I, I..." she stammered.
Ashwing put his paw on hers and gently held her gaze. "Hey, it's alright. And thank you, I'll be just fine, especially because you'll be watching over me." He says, trying his best to comfort her.
"Goodbye for now, Shadowstar." He says, his heart twisting at the words.
She smiles gratefully at him and nods.
"Goodbye, Ashwing." Ashwing caught what seemed to be, guilt, behind her smile.
He thought nothing of it as he nodded back and turned to the moonpool and took a deep breath before diving in and paddling his legs towards the bottom. He kept swimming strait down until a faint light became visible in the distance. Despite the burning in his lungs as they cried desperately for air, he swam faster, eventually breaking the surface of the moonpool once more, but this time he was somewhere different.
He pulled himself from the pool and shook out his pelt. He looked around at the stone hollow that surrounded the water. Climbing the gravel path that snaked up from the hollow he stopped at the top, taking on the view of the lake territories with his own eyes for the very first time. He gazed at it in awe, amazed by how big it really was. He saw the hills of the moorland where windclan resided, the dense forests of Thunderclan, the lush forest of riverclan, and the dark marshlands of shadowclan. "Living clans, here I come!" He shouted excitedly.
He took one step onto the stones leading down the hill and his heart immediately leapt as he felt his paw slip. Before he knew what had happened, he was tumbling down the stone hillside, pain striking at every part of his body. His vision suddenly went blurry as a searing pain etched itself into the back of his head. He thought he felt water against his fur again as his vision blurred, his consciousness fading away to complete darkness.