Fallen Star - Chapter 4

The darkness was obliterated as light slowly seeped through to Stygian’s vision. Slowly, she lifted her head, and stared blurrily around the barn. Her eyes fixed on Dagon, who appeared to be already awake. He was sat in the entrance to the barn, looking out to the hills and the abandoned cottage Stygian had known and loved. Stygian carefully lifted herself up - stretching each limb in turn and opening her jaw in a wide yawn – then padded over to Dagon’s side. He made no signs to prove he had noticed her.

“You alright?” she asked him.

“It’s unsafe here. We should move on, and quick,” was his instant reply, though it did not answer Stygian’s question, who’s eyes slitted in a confused manner.

“Where to?” she asked, though the answer to that was obvious.

“To follow the cat that has your friend. That is, if you want to save your friend?”

“Of course I want to save him! But why are you so eager to move on straight away? Why is it unsafe here? We haven’t even eaten yet.”

“I just… know that we should move, otherwise… I just know I’m right okay?” Dagon snapped.

Stygian didn’t reply, shocked by Dagon’s snappy tones.

“We can eat whilst we’re moving. We shouldn’t’ waste any time otherwise the trail will be unclear.” - Stygian nodded – “Good. If that’s all, we’ll be on our way.”

With that, Dagon stood and padded out into the open. Stygian turned her head to look into the barn that had been hers and Blizzards home for such a long time. She felt weird leaving it today, even though she would probably return to it once Blizzard was back with her. But… but what if Blizzard never did come back with her? Stygian shook her head as if to shake the thought away, and stood, following Dagon out of the barn.

Once Stygian had caught up with Dagon, they both set a steady pace toward Highstones. Both of them were silent as they travelled; the only communication made was when they were helping each other cross the Thunderpath. The steep extent to the top of Highstones was unnecessary, for as soon as the couple were on the other side of the Thunderpath, Dagon picked up the cat’s scent straight away. It followed the Thunderpath – Dagon and Stygian crept under bushes to avoid their paws getting crushed by the large monsters, still not speaking.

“How long have you been living at the barn? And what the hell was happening when I found you?” Dagon asked casually, breaking the silent spell that had been cast over the two.

Stygian paused before answering. “Well, I’ve lived there since I can remember. Blizzard, the cat we’re looking for, came across me when WindClan abandoned him in the barn. He told me about him being born to a traitor, and thus being abandoned because of claims he was of “bad blood”. I took him in, and since we’ve been good friends. I honestly don’t know what was happening at the top of Highstones. I was just calling Blizzard for dinner and usually he’s there, but he didn’t come so I went searching for him. Then I just saw the large cat and him at the edge of Highstones. I went to fight the cat, but found out about his size and was instantly thrown aside.”

“And you’ve never had contact with the clans?”

“Not really. I mean, sometimes I meet cats heading to Highstones but they rarely stop. And I’ve always been a rogue, or a loner or whatever you want to call me, from what I recall.”

The silence cast itself over the pair again, only to be broken by Stygian a few tail-lengths further on.

“What about your past? How did you come across me?” she asked.

“I was from ShadowClan, but left just a short while ago. I was searching for a place to stay, when I saw that large tom attack you and run off with your friend. And, being the brave heroic tom that I am,” he grinned, “I came to help you.”

Stygian snorted her amusement at his claim of being brave and heroic, and the silence ensued once more. The pair carried on walking; stopping to catch prey when the sun was at it’s highest. With their stomachs full, they came across another.

“The scent travels across the Thunderpath,” Dagon muttered as his nose searched the ground for any scent. “We’ll need to cross it.”

“Okay,” Stygian replied, eager to carry on. She padded to the side of the Thunderpath, looking back and forth for any oncoming monsters. A couple sped past here, but after that the coast was clear. She was about to race to the other side, when Dagon jumped in her way.

“No,” he hissed with strict tones. “We shouldn’t cross just yet. ShadowClan territory is the other side of that path.”

“So?” Stygian retorted. “Does it really matter? We’re just going to get Blizzard back and then leave.”

Dagon paused, looking down at the ground.

“But it’s the Gathering today. It’s the full moon. They have probably taken Blizzard to the Gathering.”

“How can you be so sure? They might have left him in their territory, and their territory will be less guarded due to the Gathering. This is the perfect moment to run in and get him!” Stygian leaped to the side, about to cross the Thunderpath. Once again Dagon stepped in her way.

“No! Stygian, just listen to me! It’s not as easy as it sounds, invading ShadowClan. I should know. Just… just rest here for now, okay? Please?”

Stygian frowned, her upper lip curled in distaste. But she backed away from the Thunderpath, and turned around to find somewhere to rest. Dagon remained where he was for a few moments, his head looking over the Thunderpath at the marshland that was ShadowClan. Then he leaped after Stygian.

Stygian had found a patch of grass, and had curled up in it.

“I’ll go fetch some food for whenever we’re hungry,” Dagon grunted, disappearing once again. Stygian made no reply, but closed her eyes despite her not being tired. But surprisingly, she fell asleep almost instantly.

A large black cloud hovered above Stygian’s head, large droplets of water falling from them and crashing onto her form. She tried to find cover, but all around her was dark grass and muddy ground. When her paw lifted, the mud clenched to it like a vacuum trying to pull it back down. But before she had time to fight against the mud, a shadow was seen in front of her. Had it been there all the time? Or had it just appeared out of nowhere? Stygian’s whole body froze, as the shadow crept closer. It turned out to be a massive, strong-built dark tabby tom. It’s eyes were a fiery amber, and a snide smirk playing on its maw.

“Hello, Stygian,” it growled. Stygian’s heartbeat raced faster inside her, although the rest of her remained as still as a log. She knew this tom – every cat in the forest would recognise this tom, even the smallest kit.

“Tigerstar?” she asked. She had heard all the stories about this tom, with too much ambition for his own good. Although all the other cats hated him, Stygian had a secret respect for the tom.

“Yes, Stygian, it is me,” he replied. “But this is no place to chat. Just heed these words; an unknown foe is secretly at work.”

The shadow of Tigerstar slowly grew fainter.

“Wait, Tigerstar!” Stygian called, although she could not race after him for the mud kept her firmly on the ground. “Stay just a moment long-“

“For StarClan’s sake, Stygian!” Dagon growled, prodding Stygian rather viciously in the side. “Can you stay awake for more than 5 minutes?”

“What?” Stygian asked, lifting herself off the ground slowly, to sit upright.

“You fell asleep! You’re always falling asleep!”

Memories of the dream crept back into Stygian’s mind. She shook her head. “Sorry, it must be this injury playing up,” she said, though she wasn’t sure if that was the truth or not.

Dagon grunted. “Anyway, I’ve got food now, and it’s getting dark. So you can go to sleep now.”

With that, the tom slumped down in a pile of grass, curling several times before settling down. Soon Stygian could hear his steady breathing as he fell into sleep. She followed suit, curling up in another patch. Though unlike Dagon, she did not sleep. Her icy blue gaze kept firm on the ground in front of her, her mind whirling. Why had she had yet another dream? And what did this one mean? But she didn’t brew on it for too long – she had always said it was bad to think of things for too long. So the she-cat blocked all those thoughts away, closing her eyes firmly shut. After a while, she soon drifted off to sleep as well.