The Death of the Stars

Chapter One

Servalkit sat staring at the sky, staring as a star's shine was swiftly silenced. She felt a strange emptiness seep through her pelt and into her soul. A.. star... dying? No. The emptiness turned to a hollow feeling. No. She felt sick. No. StarClan cats couldn't die. This shouldn't be possible. She whimpered, and ran to the medicine cat's den. "Silentmist! Silentmist!" She cried, stumbling into the den. Tears smudged her orange fur. She was trembling. "Silentmist?" Her voice cracked.

"Yes dear? I'm here, I'm here. Don't worry darling," Silentmist murmured, bringing Servalkit close her her, wrapping her sleek tail around the kit. "It's okay. It's okay. We're okay."

"Do you know what happened?" Servalkit asked once she was calmed down more.

"I had a feeling." Replied Silentmist, stroking the shivering kit with her tail. "Can you tell me what you know?"

"Y-Yeah. The Aurora Barrier is- was weakened. A cat sacrificed themselves to keep the Dark Forest from s-spilling in. They-they're gone. Dead. They are the Barrier now. Their a-awareness spread across the Barrier. Eternal ag-agony." Servalkit gave a soft sob.

"Oh, poor dear." Sighed Silentmist. "Do you know who this poor soul was?"

"Wispstar," her voice was barely audible, filled with pain.

"Oh no. Dear!" She cried, hugging the kit tighter. After a moment of silence, Silentmist said, "You know you have a gift, Servalkit."

"I guess." Servalkit said, shifting her weight on her paws uncomfortably.

Changing the subject, Silentmist asked, "Do you want to help me sort herbs?"

"Yeah."

They worked silently on the task, grim but determined. Never give up, little kit. Silentmist told Servalkit silently. Never give up.

When they were done, wordlessly, they both climbed into the medicine cat's nest. This was not unusual, the kit had a tight bond with the medicine cat that couldn't be easily shaken. Every cat in the clan knew this, so there would be no concern when the morning came.

The dawn's light filtered through the heather in the WindClan medicine cat's den. Both the kit and the medicine cat stirred, lifting their heads groggily. Gently, Silentmist maneuvered around the kit so she didn't disturb Servalkit as she got up. Silentmist busied herself with arranging some spiderwebs that were scattered on the heather branches that made up part of the wall.

Hearing the warriors and queens stirring, she padded out into the center of the camp, awaiting the leader and Servalkit's parents. Servalkit was almost six moons now. It was time to confront them with the facts. She studied the sloping walls of the camp with detached interest. She'd looked at them so many times but seemingly every time she discovered something new. This time, a gleaming white pebble. She considered it for a moment, then dismissed it as Quailstar strolled out of his den. The pale orange tabby seemed to study her, a vague look of fear in his eyes, then he came over to her.

"Something's wrong," he said immediately.

She nodded. "I know. Let's get some fresh-kill and go to your den."

"Alright."

After they picked up their fresh-kill, they walked into the privacy of his den. "So," Silentmist began, picking at her thrush. "Tell me what's wrong."

"I.. I think a StarClan cat died. Other than that, nothing."

She nodded sadly. "Wispstar. He was a great leader." She paused. "But you know who told me that?"

He shook his head. "No."

"Servalkit."

His eyes widened in shock.