StarClan's Mistake (Warrior Cats Fanfiction)

Chapter 6

Riftpaw gazed at Blessedpaw, who was laying right by him. He could practically feel the heat of anger radiating off the apprentice. It confused Riftpaw. Wasn't his own brother killed this way? he thought to himself. And wasn't he fine with it? What's so different about Cursedkit?

Riftpaw couldn't help but feel somewhat angry at Blessedpaw. He was blessed by StarClan, held the admiration of his entire Clan, praised for something he did not even do...Why would he be upset? What was there to be upset about? Frowning, Riftpaw turned his head away to go to sleep. He didn't need to deal with this.

But of course, Blessedpaw had other problems.

He awoke in a forest. Shadowy, just like those of home, but in a more eerie way. Blackness crept along the floor, huge trees sprung tall and formed a choking canopy. And even what he could see of the sky through the canopy was black as night. No stars. The Place of No Stars.

He quickly glanced back down and looked around worriedly. What sort of reason could there possibly be for a visit from a Dark Forest cat? Were they here to manipulate him? Deceive him? Make him into a horrendous murderer? StarClan might have his criticism now, but that did not make the Dark Forest a happy place.

He then saw a figure before him, another cat, though they were shrouded by too much darkness to be visible to Blessedpaw. "Show yourself!" he hissed. "StarClan has blessed me! You cannot harm me!"

The cat stepped into the light. It was Rottenkit.

He looked almost identical to his living brother, save for a pair of dark red eyes to contrast with Blessedpaw's bright green. And yet, with these red eyes, he appeared, by all intents and purposes, to be a normal kit. He gazed at Blessedpaw with an almost painful expression, while the other returned surprise.

"Y-You're here," was all Blessedpaw could get out.

"Please," the kit spoke, "Don't give into your hate. I know why you feel the way you do, and that's why you need to know why they feel they way they do." It took Blessedpaw a moment to realize Rottenkit was talking of the other cats in his Clan and in the other Clans.

"They've ruined your name," the apprentice whispered. "They talk badly of you every day, without even knowing you." Before the kit could respond, Blessedpaw realized something else. "Wh-Why are you in the Dark Forest? Why aren't you in StarClan?"

Rottenkit did not respond. He just held a sad gaze towards Blessedpaw. For a moment, there was silence, before he just said, "They wouldn't let me in."

"That's ridiculous!" the apprentice burst out. He raised his arm up and swiped at the floor in rage, creating a set of slash marks in the dirt. "Why wouldn't they let you in?"

"Please, brother, please!" Rottenkit begged. "Your rage doesn't solve anything. I hold no ill will towards StarClan or ShadowClan, or any of the Clans. They did what they thought they had to do. They're just afraid."

"Yes, they're afraid. They're cowards," Blessedpaw hissed, glaring at the slash mark. "They're cowards," he repeated.

"That doesn't make them your enemies," Rottenkit mewed softly.

"No, it doesn't, but it makes them cruel!" he shouted. "Cruel to you, cruel to Cursedkit!" The tom then paused, pondering something. "Is Cursedkit here?"

"That's not important, Blessedpaw."

"Is Cursedkit here?"

Silence.

"Answer me! Did StarClan reject him too? They didn't even give him any bad omens! No prophecies, no nothing! Why would he be here?!"

Rottenkit sighed, looking at the ground. "We met briefly here. But I don't know where he is. In the Place of No Stars, cats walk alone."