Redstar's Time

[Runfast]

Redstar, the leader of Darkclan, stood atop the Gray Rock, looking up at the stars.
"Oh, Starclan," he whispered. Thoughts of his medicine cat and his apprentice swirled through his mind. And now that an avalanche was blocking the pass into the Frost Forests there was no way to reach Blueblossom, his sister, and all of the kits that were still there.
Redstar looked down at his paws - More flowers? How in Starclan do these keep getting stuck to everyone's feet?... - doing his best to focus on all of the good things that had been brought by the Rebellion - a new Darkclan for one... Perhaps even freedom from Abyssclan as long as they didn't attempt to attack.
The red tom sighed.
What would - could - he possibly do if they came around, Shadowstar and his long-clawed thugs. No Clan that stood up to them could win, it was a proven fact. His mother had told him the stories of Moonclan, how strong seemingly magical they were.
Now they were gone, only the myth of them remaining.
Will the same happen to my Clan if we stand up to Abyssclan?

[Longstorm]

Redstar fell into a deep sleep, the stars swirling around his eyes.
A cold breeze blew across his face while the sounds of the mountains faded away. Soon, a gentle bird song sounded somewhere in the distance, warmth all around him.
"Hey," a soft, familiar voice mewed.

[Runfast]

Redstar slowly opened his eyes, yawning widely. He breathed in sleepily, taking in the scents of the lush, warm forest of oak, stone, and sunlight.
Redstar's eyes flew open, leaping to his paws. Where was he!?! This wasn't Darkclan! Instead of the soft, earthy ground with stone dens, steep cliff faces and trees surrounding him, there was tall, lush grass all around him. It seemed familiar, in a way. But who had called to him?
"Hello," he called, shaking off the flowers that were still there. "Hello?"

[Longstorm]

"Hey," the voiced mewed again, more gruff and adult this time. It was Thornstar, the previous leader of Darkclan, the one who'd appointed Redstar as deputy. The last time he'd been seen in the living world his deep amber eyes had been wild with sickness, his thick gray pelt stiff with filth, the rotting flesh of cats stuck in his teeth.
But here and now, his eyes held wisdom, his gray pelt lush and silky once more, the carrion gone from his lips.
And there on his face was that old expression, the one that said "I am not amused."

[Runfast]

Redstar almost felt like lowering his eyes and asking for forgiveness or some chore to work of whatever he'd done - but he fought it off.
"Thornstar," he mewed happily. "It's good to see you again - and in good health!... Is this Starclan?" Thornstar lacked the stars in his fur and the golden-tinged sky wasn't as mystical or starry as Starclan's hunting grounds.

[Longstorm]

Thornstar scoffed and rolled his eyes, sneering, but there was a hint of sadness there.
"That's not important now. I have a message for you." Thornstar's tail twitched as he padded closer to Redstar. He cleared his throat.
"Get it together, kit. I didn't make you deputy so you could slack off as leader." The gray tom was staring at the red tom in an disconcerting style. "And please, no 'buts'. If you feel unsure about your choices (and I know you do) pretend you are. Being leader is more than speaking to your ancestors or giving out names. You hold the fate of the entire Clan in your paws. You're your Clanmates' future, their protection, their representative, and their greatest chance of survival in the wretched lives they have. Their pain is your pain, their needs are your needs. You give all you have and take nothing for yourself. You are Darkclan in the flesh."

[Runfast]

Redstar's ears drooped, bowing his head in submission.
"What would you have me do," he murmured.

[Longstorm]

Thornstar smirked.
"Swallow the herbs. Accept that you're a terribly inexperienced leader, and surround yourself with smarter cats... And for the Clan's sake, appoint your deputy! I know you've been getting my signs these past two moons, and ignoring them." Thornstar was still smirking, rolling his eyes. "Typical," he 'pffted'.

[Runfast]

Redstar's ears pricked and he looked up.
"Wait - signs?" With the way Thornstar was looking at him, he felt as though he ought to know... Redstar looked down at his paws, something he did when he was thinking. Wait... Oh, no. Redstar looked up at Thornstar, an incredulous look on his face. "Seriously? But isn't the cat too young - hasn't even had an apprentice!"

[Longstorm]

Thornstar chuckled. "Then give it a little time... Think about it for a while - but not very long," he added sharply.

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