Fernfreckle's Dream

Chapter 9

As the moons passed, Fernstar gradually became a more confident leader. The anxiousness he had before had reduced itself, and he soon stopped fearing speaking in front of the whole forest during gatherings. 

His confidence led from one thing to another, and eventually he found himself risking his lives to protect Mossclan. Most of his deaths were from protecting his cats. He was terrified at first, but continuing to come back and being praised for his sacrifices really made his heart soften. 

However, he soon did start to run short on lives, as he had a weakened immune system and got very sick during one leafbare after rescuing Rushkit from the icy cold waters of the dividing rivers. He almost had his apprentice, Riverpaw, save him, but he knew better than to risk the life of Runningpond's son. 

Time has passed, and Fernstar has gotten older. He noticed himself starting to slow down, but that wouldn't stop him from being the best leader he could be. He was welcomed by all, and grew to be close friends with Darkstar. It wasn't too hard for them to connect, as their clans were so peaceful towards each other. Bonestar however, didn't think too fondly of Fernstar. He often mocked him during gatherings, and Darkstar had to tell him to be quiet. Fernstar though... Fernstar thought Bonestar would grow out of his attitude once he became an adult, but he was wrong. But he was a leader too. An equal. Therefore, he should be respected. All leaders should be respected. 

Right? 

----

It was a quiet, April night. Fernstar sat upon the leader's rock, accompanied by the leaders of Flowerclan and Frostclan. He and Darkstar were happily talking away, as usual. Bonestar just ignored them. The cats below them were buzzing with conversations, and Fernstar was glad seeing that everyone was getting along well. However... Brackenclan wasn't anywhere to be found. As he was about to ask Darkstar about them, he heard Dawnfleck speak. 

"Sorry for the delay..." He breathed as Brackenclan made their way into the crowd. He leaped up onto the medicine cat rock to sit with Phloxberry, Beetlecloud, Cottonleaf and Hollygaze. "I'm.. sad to announce that Sandstar's final lives were taken by the fire in our camp a few sunrises ago." 

Everyone gasped with horror. Fernstar felt his mind go blank. 

But.. Sandstar was only leader for five moons! How could he have died so quickly? Poor Brackenclan... I could smell the smoke, but we were too late to help... 

"However, my brother, Emberwind, has taken over as leader and will now be known as Emberstar. One of his back legs were injured during the fire, but I still believe he will make a wonderful leader."

Fernstar watched as Emberstar lifted himself up onto the rock. One of his hind legs was deeply damaged by the fire, like Dawnfleck said, and he had two new brown markings on his face. His leader marks. 

"Poor Emberstar," Darkstar sighed. "I can't imagine what it was like going to the moonstone with only three working legs." 

"Yeah..." Fernstar sighed. "Hey, Emberstar. Welcome to the leader's rock." 

"Thanks," he grunted. "Getting up here is exhausting." 

"You get used to it, don't worry," Darkstar smiled. 

Fernstar felt a spark of jealousy. 

"Emberstar, you're straight, right?" he blurted out. 

"Uhhhhh... Yeah, why?" 

"Prey has been running well in Frostclan," Bonestar meowed, purposefully cutting everyone off. "However, our old deputy, Rubblebreeze, took his own life earlier last moon, and we were forced to replace him with Stoneback, who has been an okay deputy so far." 

Fernstar looked over at the deputy rock to see Stoneback sitting in between Plumfall and Cedarfall. He seemed to glow with Bonestar's.. somewhat praise. Fernstar could tell what the gleam in the deputy's eyes meant. 

"Ashpool has taken over Rosepaw's training, and we've also welcomed Splashpetal as a senior warrior. That is all." 

"Well, as for us..." Emberstar muttered. "We aren't doing too good. All of our elders died in the fire. Softlight, Lionsight, Rocktooth, Daisywind and Oakriver are all dead. The elder's den is empty now. We also lost a warrior, Greenthorn. He and I were rescuing some kits from the nursery but his life was taken by the same flames that wounded my leg. I've given my apprentice, Brownpaw, to Briarfish, as I probably shouldn't have an apprentice until I've adjusted to my new.. lifestyle. And as for who my deputy is, I have chosen Sandstar's sister, Hailglow, in his honor and of course for her skills." 

"Smokepaw has started his training," Fernstar meowed. "Dustbird has shown to be an incredible mentor. Unfortunately, I did have to exile one of my warriors. Stormdream. She was caught cheating on Deerdawn with a kittypet. She violated the warrior code, so she was exiled." 

Fernstar sighed to himself. He remembered it so clearly. Honeyshade had found Stormdream with a kittypet named Jake, and reported it right away, leading in her exile. Deerdawn was understandably heartbroken, but Plumfall has been coming to his aid. 

Plumfall has so much kindness in her heart... I can't help but respect that about her. 

"Do you have anything to share, Darkstar?" he asked, hoping to hear his crush talk. 

"Nope, nothing has really happened for us, but we've been doing well," Darkstar meowed. 

"Oh, that's to-" 

Before Fernstar could finish speaking, a small rock hurled itself through the air and hit Darkstar in the side of the head. He fell back, unconscious. 

Everyone went silent for a few seconds. It seemed that every pair of eyes in the forest were focused on Darkstar. 

Everything seemed to slow down for Fernstar. He felt his body go numb and his eyes started to sting because he couldn't even blink. When he found himself able to move again, he quickly fell down and held Darkstar close. 

"Darkstar?? Can you hear me??" he whispered. "Please wake up..-"

"WHAT'S GOING ON?" Bonestar shouted. 

Out of the darkness of the night, a large group of cats seemed to appear. In the front is an old black tom with burn marks on his sides. His green eyes and unusual grin unsettled everyone. 

As Fernstar examined the crowd, he noticed Stormdream close behind him. 

What is she DOING??

"Greetings, clan cats," the tom meowed. "My name is Nettlestar. I was once a Brackenclan cat, but you all must know that you are all very flawed. And yet, my clan, Rogueclan, would like to live in the forest with you all. Rogueclan is full of cats that were exiled for breaking your special, pathetic warrior code. We will bring a new beginning to the clans. Simply let us be the fifth clan of the forest... or we'll make you respect us." 

Silence. 

Fernstar felt his mind start to race. The only thing  he could do was hold Darkstar tighter. 

"I-I got him..." Phloxberry lifted herself up onto the leader's rock and attempted to take Darkstar from him. However, he couldn't let him go. He was too scared. 

"You. Over there." Nettlestar points to Briarfish. 

"M-Me?" she piped up, panic in her voice. 

"Yes. Don't you think the warrior code is flawed?" 

"I..." 

"STAY AWAY FROM HER!" A warrior of Frostclan stormed in front of Briarfish and growled. She launched herself at Nettlestar, but he easily dismissed it by slicing the flesh on her muzzle open with a single swipe. She hit the ground with a thud and held her snout in pain. 

"WHITEPELT!" A tom who looked like her came to her rescue. 

"You all have one moon to decide. We will return for the next gathering. Farewell." Nettlestar flicked his tail at Rogueclan and they all disappeared into the shadows from where they came.