Elemental Claws: Cliff's Perspective

Falling Star

As I used my claw to carve doodles into the stone of my favorite spot, I heard shouting and panicking. I stood up and stretched. Being curious, I ventured out to see what had happened. I kept a relative distance, since I was still upset with Nathan about Otter. I tried to act nonchalant as he padded up to me. I forgot to breathe when I saw the pained expression on his face.

"Cliff..." he started.

I looked anywhere except at him.

"It... it's Star."

Suddenly time seemed to freeze. The chaos dimmed and the noise faded away. I struggled to find my breath. Finally, I managed to find words.

"Where? How bad is it?"

Nathan didn't say anything, just motioned for me to follow him. It was painful, putting one paw in front of the other. Nothing could have prepared me for what I would see. 

Nathan gestured toward a cliff. In my head, I begged for him to not say the awful words. 

"She was on patrol. I heard screaming and found her at the bottom," he seemed to struggle to get the words out. "I think it may have been a rogue who attacked her."

I screamed and ran to the cliff, peering over the edge. Star's body was small, so far away. Even from up there, I could tell there would be no reviving her. 

"Star!" I cried out. "Star, please!"

The others watched with pity as I sobbed. I hated those looks of pity. First when Otter died, now Star. Why couldn't they stop staring?

"Star! Star, no! Please! I need you, Star!" 

Without thinking, I began to climb down the side of the cliff. 

"I'm coming, Star!"

My tears blurred my vision and I lost my footing. I could only hear my own screams as I realized I'd have the same fate as the cat I loved. Suddenly, I realized I wasn't falling. When I looked up, Nathan and Falcon were holding onto me. They pulled me back up to safety and set me down. I looked up bewildered. 

"Th- thank you..." I stuttered, still in shock. 

I was especially surprised by Nathan. Why would he save me? I'd been nothing but rude to him since the day Otter died. That moment bonded us in a way that couldn't be broken. He had helped save my life. I wish I could say I was worthy of it. 

I excused myself and ran back to my spot. I curled up and finally let myself cry in private. The raw type of crying that most try and hide from others. I felt so alone, I didn't know who to talk to. Juniper, like a brother to me, wouldn't talk to anyone for some reason. As I mourned Star, slowly, my emotions seemed to slip out of me. I felt empty. I hadn't felt this empty in years. Four to be exact. Not since my accidental mass murder. 

As I let everything fade away, I thought about Star and Otter watching from the Star Clan. They would see me again someday. But for now, I had to be strong. For them, for me, and for everything I would face in the years to come.