Warriors: Bound To Stars

Chapter 41 || Red Snow

By the time Batchaser had calmed down, the sun was already dipping below the skyline, splattering orange and pink streaks across the vast empty space above. The snow had stopped hours ago, but there was still a thin blanket underneath them. The surrounding pine trees rustled with the wind, last remaining leaves fluttering to the ground.

⠀⠀Spiderstar was quiet. Her paws were rooted to the ground, thick black fur bristling with the breeze. Batchaser had propped himself up beside a rock, chest heaving back and forth. His gaze was unfocused, thoughts rolling all over the place. There were so many things he'd forgotten about his death - Paleheart, mainly.

⠀⠀A shadow moved in his peripheral vision and Batchaser flinched, immediately tensing. It was just Spiderstar. She dropped down next to him on her belly, yellow gaze flickering. "So...you remember everything?"

⠀⠀He nodded slowly, unsure of whether his voice would be able to come out or not. Batchaser looked at her, but he felt dissociated, like he could hardly control his body. "Yes. Paleheart."

⠀⠀She smiled sadly. "I had to help you remember. I'm sorry."

⠀⠀Batchaser shook his head, thin tail flicking. "It... it's fine." His voice came out low and broken. "I always wondered why...why he killed me."

⠀⠀Spiderstar's lips thinned into a neutral line. "We were furious, you know."

⠀⠀The black tom looked up at her, confused. "About what?"

⠀⠀"Paleheart killing you," she replied. "ShadowClan was. Especially me. When... when I told my father about my suspicions, and that night in the forest, he was so angry he drove ThunderClan out. The prophecy was just an excuse- he wanted them dead, especially Paleheart, and certainly didn't want them near me. I... I only learned later what could've happened to me that night had you not been around."

⠀⠀Batchaser shivered, fur along his spine tingling. He didn't want to think about that night. "What happened after ThunderClan was driven out?" he murmured.

⠀⠀The large black she-cat shifted her paws. "Things were tense. My father....he believed Doestar was going to come back and kill him, and I suppose that paranoia was well-earned."

⠀⠀Batchaser frowned. Doestar was a mystery he hadn't yet been able to solve - what were her motives? Uniting the Clans? That seemed like the twisting of words in her own favor. Batchaser also wanted to know what was up with those creepy powers of hers. Seriously. It was weird. "And she killed him."

⠀⠀Spiderstar bristled uncomfortably. "Yes," she said slowly. "I only became deputy before he...." The huge black she-cat shook her head, chest heaving. "ThunderClan destroyed us, Batchaser. I don't know what to do. I don't know how to lead my Clan."

⠀⠀He could see the vulnerabilities cracking, the mask crumbling. Batchaser knew something about that. "You do know," the black tom countered. "Fallenstar was your father. He was a smart cat - perhaps infamous, but still smart. I don't doubt your judgement, and I think you know exactly what to do. You're just scared you'll be wrong."

⠀⠀Spiderstar blinked at him. She shook her head slowly. "You're different than I remember."

⠀⠀He frowned. "I guess...I've learned a lot. I've seen a lot. Met new cats, experienced new things. I'm bound to change."

⠀⠀The black she-cat flicked her bushy tail. "Yeah, I suppose you're right-"

⠀⠀The world became a blur of colors and sounds. Batchaser hissed as pain thrummed in his skull, pressing harshly against his head. His claws unsheathed, tail lashed back and forth. His eyes opened but he couldn't see anything except Silverpelt glimmering against an indigo sky, where stars began to pulse and explode, balls of light showering the earth.