Warriors: Bound To Stars

Chapter 38 || Shadows

The taste of sap hung thickly in the air, flooding Batchaser's senses. His blue eyes scanned the forest, paws crunching on pine needles and tail waving through the foliage.

⠀⠀ShadowClan hadn't changed. The pines towering above his head blocked out the sun, and the branches strewn along the tree tops gave almost a cold chill to the area. The needles under his paws were sticky and pointy, clinging to his pads like mud. He flicked them off with a paw and grunted, ears twitching. It's been so long... Batchaser thought with a frown. It's been ages since I was here. And nothing has changed... Well.

⠀⠀Only the lack of cats was different. ShadowClan had been very aggressive and territorial during Fallenstar's reign, and now it seemed like there weren't even patrols. Much like RiverClan, the borders were stale, but not non-existent. That had to be a sign, right? I wonder if they'll remember me. He huffed. Time seems to pass differently in StarClan and the Forgotten Eternity... it was only a few moons there. It's been at least fifteen down here. Maybe more..! He shook his head and continued walking. If ShadowClan did remember him, then Batchaser's life was going to be a lot easier.

⠀⠀"Come on. You can't be serious."

⠀⠀The voice caught Batchaser off guard. His eyes widened slightly and he dropped low to the ground, slinking into the blankets of undergrowth to shield his body. He crept forward slowly, peering through the bushes. He saw a huge, long-furred black she-cat pacing aggressively. "Why do you say that?" she snapped in return to the previous voice.

⠀⠀Batchaser's heart thundered when he saw the white she-cat standing to the side, the scent of herbs clinging to her pelt. Cloudflame! He screwed his eyes shut and remembered the last thing he'd ever seen as a living cat. Cloudflame had stood over him, trying desperately to help, but... to no avail. That's one cat that'll remember me. I wonder what they're arguing about, though?

⠀⠀Cloudflame narrowed sharp yellow eyes at the unknown black she-cat. "Because you don't want to do anything to protect your Clan."

⠀⠀"I can't do anything." The black she-cat shook her head and rose to her paws, standing at least two heads over Cloudflame. Her muscles rippled under her fur and she showed her teeth. "I would appreciate it if you did your job and healed, Cloudflame. I don't need your advice."

⠀⠀"My job may be in medicine, but I'm also meant to guide you when needed." The black she-cat whirled around to storm off, but Cloudflame skidded to a halt in front of her. "Listen to me!"

⠀⠀"Or what?" Cloudflame was quiet. The black she-cat grunted and shouldered her way past the medicine cat. "That's what I thought."

⠀⠀Yeesh. Batchaser shook his head and waited for them both to leave. I could talk to her, I guess, but... I'd rather make a surprise entrance.

⠀⠀Before Cloudflame turned to walk away, she froze in place, tail-tip twitching. She whirled around, claws unsheathing, and suddenly dove into the foliage where Batchaser was hiding. He yelped in surprise and felt her paws sink into his shoulders, weight spinning on top of him. He rolled out from the bushes and grunted when his back was slammed into the ground, Cloudflame growling as she glared down at him. Her expression morphed into one of disbelief and shock, and she leapt off of him, shaking like a leaf. "B-Batchaser?"

⠀⠀"Yes," he mumbled, staggering to his feet and swaying slightly. He shook the clinging pine needles from his black pelt and glanced up at Cloudflame. "Nice to see you, too."

⠀⠀"Oh..." She raised her gaze and examined her surroundings. "I didn't know I was in StarClan.. this whole day has been... fake?"

⠀⠀Batchaser sighed heavily, drawing her attention. "No," he said, "I'm... I'm not here to talk to you from StarClan. We aren't even in StarClan."