Post by ginger on Dec 24, 2019 17:11:34 GMT
Once upon a time, long before the clans had reached these lands, there was a cat named Sundragon. Even when he was only a kit, people knew that he was destined to be the next leader of the clan. His father, GreenStar, was already leader, and was always appointing deputies that he knew would not outlive him, in the hopes of one day appointing his son. Now, most people saw him as a brave and noble cat, one who could do no wrong, but even he had his secrets. You see, when he was an apprentice, his father found a young loner she-cat, who had seemingly been abandoned by her family. He brought her back to the clans, naming her Moonpaw, for her dark, inky pelt. Sunpaw treated the newcomer like a little sister, teaching her how to hunt, fight, and mark territory like his father had been teaching him.
But when the two became warriors, things began to change. Although Sundragon had a beautiful she-cat, Flowermane, at his side, his gaze often strayed over to his childhood companion. She, who had never learned about love or mateship, did not understand his advances. She foolishly mistook his wandering eyes for true love, and she followed him blindly. After all, why would the cat who had taught her so much throughout her youth deceive her now?
She was wrong. His ‘love’ led to the creation of a single life, their son. When Sundragon heard the news that Moonshadow was expecting, he shunned her, and encouraged others to do the same. Now deputy, it was easy for him to convince the clan that it was Moonshadow who had been a seductress, tricking him into fathering her kits. People were only too quick to believe.
Moonshadow became an outcast in the only home she really knew. Even the few cats that she had once called friends began to doubt her. Anyone who looked on her treated her like she was an invader, even in her own nest. When the time came for her to give birth to her litter, she secluded herself into the forest, fearful for what her clan may do to her or her son. She had hoped that maybe they could start a new life, somewhere far away from Sundragon. Perhaps, she thought, they could run far away, and find the place that she had come from before GreenStar took her in. But it was not meant to be. Sundragon was one of the best trackers in the forest, and easily followed her trail.
Out here, away from the eyes of his clan, Sundragon once again lured Moonshadow in with false promises of love. He told her that he had been wrong, and that he was just so overwhelmed with the idea of being a father. Foolishly, Moonshadow believed him. But once again, he turned on her. As soon as she had allowed him to take their son, he began attacking her, scarring her once beautiful face. She tried to fight back, but she was far too weak from delivering, and was no match for him. She was killed all too easily. As for the kitten, he was taken back to the clan, where Sundragon quickly fell into the role of a victim, claiming that it was she who had attacked him, and that she had gone crazy. Of course he had not meant to kill her, he claimed. He just had to do what was right to save the kitten. As far as the clan was concerned, he was a hero for saving their son from her rage. .
Shadowpaw, who wore the same dark pelt as his mother, grew up with his mother’s legacy looming over his head. Not a day could go by without him hearing the story of how his father had ‘bravely’ rescued him, or how much he looked like her. His life was like a pair of kittens tugging on a branch, one insisting that he was destined to follow in his fathers paw steps as some kind of protector of the clan, and the other claiming he would turn to darkness the way his mother had done all those moons ago. No matter which path he went doen, there was no denying that the eyes of his clan followed him.
But there was one place where no one could tell him which way to turn; his dreams. In his secluded nest, which he had pressed up against the den wall, he could hide from his clanmates eyes. And here, he could find the truth from the one cat that knew.
You see, with all of the lies that Sundragon had woven, and all of the wrongs that had been placed on her, Moonshadow had been unable to reach peace, and was trapped, not belonging to StarClan or the Dark Forest. She was totally alone, unable to speak, or reveal the truth to anyone in her clan. But somehow, she had found her way into the dreams of Shadowpaw. Finally, she could speak to one cat; her son.
For the next many moons, Moonshadow told her son everything. She told him how his father had betrayed her, and how he had lied to everyone in the clan. Everything that Shadowpaw has been told about his mother, his family, his clan, all of it had been a lie. At first, Shadowpaw had been hesitant, not knowing who he was supposed to believe. All of his life, he had been told of how awful his mother had been, and how she was a traitor to the whole clan. If he followed her now, maybe he was a traitor too. But what Moonshadow said made perfect sense. Why has nobody questioned how a she cat that was already weak from kitting could attack a seasoned warrior like Sundragon? And if that was true, shouldn’t Sundragon have borne more scars? If Moonshadow had tried to kill Shadowkit, then wouldn’t he show some marks of it? Of course, nobody would question a story coming from their brave and noble deputy. And now they had no possible way to question, as SunStar has established himself as their leader. Every little bit of it fell together like pieces in a puzzle.
The young tomcat begun to retreat further and further from the cats that he had called family, his loyalty shifting to only reflect the injustice and terror that his mother had faced. Soon, even Flowermane, the one cat that he used to feel connected to, was shut out. She had not defended his mother. She was just as bad as Sundragon. It never passed through Shadowpaw’s mind that Flowermane had not known of Sundragon’s betrayal. She had been lied to just like everyone else in the clans. Flowermane was blind to his treachery in the same way that Shadowpaw’s mother had been.
Moonshadow visited her son every night, feeding into his growing need for revenge. Whether or not it was what she wanted, Shadowpaw had turned to the darkness, searching for deeper and deeper meaning behind the treachery that his father had woven. He was no longer the naive apprentice that his clan had been feeding lies. He would become the bringer of truth, and the destroyer of Sundragon's lies. He would slay his father in the same way that Sundragon had slain his mother. Only then could the truth be revealed. Eventually, the darkness that grew within Shadowpaw's dreams spread into the waking world. Shadowpaw surpassed his fellow apprentices, rising to the top in every assessment. In training, his strikes became swift and precise, easily tripping up his sparring partners. He learned new moves almost automatically, as if he had known them moons before the others. There were times that he 'accidentally' allowed his claws to slip out, dripping blood from what was meant to be a friendly wrestling match. He outshone everyone else, but he showed no hint of satisfaction. There was only cold.
By the time Shadowpaw received his warrior name, Shadowstrike, cats had learned to give him a wide berth. He was praised for his impressive skills in battle, and feared by any cats who he went up against. However, one thing from his youth had not left him. No matter what he had done, cats still compared him to his parents.
But when the two became warriors, things began to change. Although Sundragon had a beautiful she-cat, Flowermane, at his side, his gaze often strayed over to his childhood companion. She, who had never learned about love or mateship, did not understand his advances. She foolishly mistook his wandering eyes for true love, and she followed him blindly. After all, why would the cat who had taught her so much throughout her youth deceive her now?
She was wrong. His ‘love’ led to the creation of a single life, their son. When Sundragon heard the news that Moonshadow was expecting, he shunned her, and encouraged others to do the same. Now deputy, it was easy for him to convince the clan that it was Moonshadow who had been a seductress, tricking him into fathering her kits. People were only too quick to believe.
Moonshadow became an outcast in the only home she really knew. Even the few cats that she had once called friends began to doubt her. Anyone who looked on her treated her like she was an invader, even in her own nest. When the time came for her to give birth to her litter, she secluded herself into the forest, fearful for what her clan may do to her or her son. She had hoped that maybe they could start a new life, somewhere far away from Sundragon. Perhaps, she thought, they could run far away, and find the place that she had come from before GreenStar took her in. But it was not meant to be. Sundragon was one of the best trackers in the forest, and easily followed her trail.
Out here, away from the eyes of his clan, Sundragon once again lured Moonshadow in with false promises of love. He told her that he had been wrong, and that he was just so overwhelmed with the idea of being a father. Foolishly, Moonshadow believed him. But once again, he turned on her. As soon as she had allowed him to take their son, he began attacking her, scarring her once beautiful face. She tried to fight back, but she was far too weak from delivering, and was no match for him. She was killed all too easily. As for the kitten, he was taken back to the clan, where Sundragon quickly fell into the role of a victim, claiming that it was she who had attacked him, and that she had gone crazy. Of course he had not meant to kill her, he claimed. He just had to do what was right to save the kitten. As far as the clan was concerned, he was a hero for saving their son from her rage. .
Shadowpaw, who wore the same dark pelt as his mother, grew up with his mother’s legacy looming over his head. Not a day could go by without him hearing the story of how his father had ‘bravely’ rescued him, or how much he looked like her. His life was like a pair of kittens tugging on a branch, one insisting that he was destined to follow in his fathers paw steps as some kind of protector of the clan, and the other claiming he would turn to darkness the way his mother had done all those moons ago. No matter which path he went doen, there was no denying that the eyes of his clan followed him.
But there was one place where no one could tell him which way to turn; his dreams. In his secluded nest, which he had pressed up against the den wall, he could hide from his clanmates eyes. And here, he could find the truth from the one cat that knew.
You see, with all of the lies that Sundragon had woven, and all of the wrongs that had been placed on her, Moonshadow had been unable to reach peace, and was trapped, not belonging to StarClan or the Dark Forest. She was totally alone, unable to speak, or reveal the truth to anyone in her clan. But somehow, she had found her way into the dreams of Shadowpaw. Finally, she could speak to one cat; her son.
For the next many moons, Moonshadow told her son everything. She told him how his father had betrayed her, and how he had lied to everyone in the clan. Everything that Shadowpaw has been told about his mother, his family, his clan, all of it had been a lie. At first, Shadowpaw had been hesitant, not knowing who he was supposed to believe. All of his life, he had been told of how awful his mother had been, and how she was a traitor to the whole clan. If he followed her now, maybe he was a traitor too. But what Moonshadow said made perfect sense. Why has nobody questioned how a she cat that was already weak from kitting could attack a seasoned warrior like Sundragon? And if that was true, shouldn’t Sundragon have borne more scars? If Moonshadow had tried to kill Shadowkit, then wouldn’t he show some marks of it? Of course, nobody would question a story coming from their brave and noble deputy. And now they had no possible way to question, as SunStar has established himself as their leader. Every little bit of it fell together like pieces in a puzzle.
The young tomcat begun to retreat further and further from the cats that he had called family, his loyalty shifting to only reflect the injustice and terror that his mother had faced. Soon, even Flowermane, the one cat that he used to feel connected to, was shut out. She had not defended his mother. She was just as bad as Sundragon. It never passed through Shadowpaw’s mind that Flowermane had not known of Sundragon’s betrayal. She had been lied to just like everyone else in the clans. Flowermane was blind to his treachery in the same way that Shadowpaw’s mother had been.
Moonshadow visited her son every night, feeding into his growing need for revenge. Whether or not it was what she wanted, Shadowpaw had turned to the darkness, searching for deeper and deeper meaning behind the treachery that his father had woven. He was no longer the naive apprentice that his clan had been feeding lies. He would become the bringer of truth, and the destroyer of Sundragon's lies. He would slay his father in the same way that Sundragon had slain his mother. Only then could the truth be revealed. Eventually, the darkness that grew within Shadowpaw's dreams spread into the waking world. Shadowpaw surpassed his fellow apprentices, rising to the top in every assessment. In training, his strikes became swift and precise, easily tripping up his sparring partners. He learned new moves almost automatically, as if he had known them moons before the others. There were times that he 'accidentally' allowed his claws to slip out, dripping blood from what was meant to be a friendly wrestling match. He outshone everyone else, but he showed no hint of satisfaction. There was only cold.
By the time Shadowpaw received his warrior name, Shadowstrike, cats had learned to give him a wide berth. He was praised for his impressive skills in battle, and feared by any cats who he went up against. However, one thing from his youth had not left him. No matter what he had done, cats still compared him to his parents.
"He's a great deputy, just like his father.'
'Look at his eyes...there is the same darkness as Moonshadow."
'Look at his eyes...there is the same darkness as Moonshadow."
They had no idea. He had not grown this strong because he wanted to impress others. He did this because he needed to. This was not a choice. This was destiny. He had to end his father's lies.
One day, before a gathering, he cornered the leader in his den, finally confronting him after moons of seeking revenge. As they fought, Shadowstrike tore away his father's lives, one by one. And SunStar ripped him to shreds in return. After what felt like lifetimes of blows, Shadowstrike pinned his father down, ready to take away the final life he had left. He was not going to kill his father before he knew everything. He told him all that he knew; how he had betrayed, seduced, and killed the cat that had loved him like none other. And now, he would finally get the revenge that he had been chasing after. But once again, something came in his way. Unknown to him, SunStar was not alone. Just outside of the den, Flowermane had been waiting. She ran into the den, and begged Shadowstrike to have some mercy, and not to kill his father. Had it been only her, Shadowstrike would have had no problem shrugging her off, and finishing the job. But there was another she-cat there, who appeared in nothing but shadow. After all of this time, and all of the pain she had felt, Moonshadow still felt drawn to save her former lover. Shadowstrike found himself trapped between the cat that he had been ready to murder for all of his life, and the two she-cats that could not help but love him.
He backed down, swearing that if his father revealed the truth to the rest of the clan, he would allow him to live. But, SunStar's lies had still not ceased. Although he agreed to his son's terms, the moment he was allowed to rise, he beat Shadowstrike down. Weakened by all of the fighting, Shadowstrike fell beneath his leader's claws, and died, betrayed one final time. But SunStar was not going to live tonight. In seeing her step-son's death, Flowermane's eyes had been opened. She took up Shadowstrike's cause, and finished what he had begun. SunStar lay dead beside his son.
Now, the clan was left without leader or deputy. But they had one thing. Flowermane revealed to all what had really happened. She told every side of the truth, as if Moonshadow had been whispering in her ear. She told everyone how Sunstar had been a liar, and a murderer, but also how he had been a kind, and tender father to her kits, and how he had tried to lead his clan well. She left no detail uncovered. No longer would everyone feel one single side of her former mate's story. They only knew one way. They knew the truth.
One day, before a gathering, he cornered the leader in his den, finally confronting him after moons of seeking revenge. As they fought, Shadowstrike tore away his father's lives, one by one. And SunStar ripped him to shreds in return. After what felt like lifetimes of blows, Shadowstrike pinned his father down, ready to take away the final life he had left. He was not going to kill his father before he knew everything. He told him all that he knew; how he had betrayed, seduced, and killed the cat that had loved him like none other. And now, he would finally get the revenge that he had been chasing after. But once again, something came in his way. Unknown to him, SunStar was not alone. Just outside of the den, Flowermane had been waiting. She ran into the den, and begged Shadowstrike to have some mercy, and not to kill his father. Had it been only her, Shadowstrike would have had no problem shrugging her off, and finishing the job. But there was another she-cat there, who appeared in nothing but shadow. After all of this time, and all of the pain she had felt, Moonshadow still felt drawn to save her former lover. Shadowstrike found himself trapped between the cat that he had been ready to murder for all of his life, and the two she-cats that could not help but love him.
He backed down, swearing that if his father revealed the truth to the rest of the clan, he would allow him to live. But, SunStar's lies had still not ceased. Although he agreed to his son's terms, the moment he was allowed to rise, he beat Shadowstrike down. Weakened by all of the fighting, Shadowstrike fell beneath his leader's claws, and died, betrayed one final time. But SunStar was not going to live tonight. In seeing her step-son's death, Flowermane's eyes had been opened. She took up Shadowstrike's cause, and finished what he had begun. SunStar lay dead beside his son.
Now, the clan was left without leader or deputy. But they had one thing. Flowermane revealed to all what had really happened. She told every side of the truth, as if Moonshadow had been whispering in her ear. She told everyone how Sunstar had been a liar, and a murderer, but also how he had been a kind, and tender father to her kits, and how he had tried to lead his clan well. She left no detail uncovered. No longer would everyone feel one single side of her former mate's story. They only knew one way. They knew the truth.
