Firestar |Couregous Lion of Skyclan|
All Firestar could hear were screams when he closed his eyes. His dreams plagued with darkness and whispers, yet he could never make out what the whispers or screams were saying. All he could sense from the nightmare was pain and dread, just the thought made his head throb in pain of trying to decipher what it could mean. Firestar knew that it was not a normal dream, it was a clouded vision that not just him was hearing when he closed his eyes. His daughter, Roseglow had received the nightmares as well. Now, the whispers and screams envelopes the clan, infecting his clanmates with unease.
With being a leader held responsibility and right now as he stands upon the large branch within the sky tree, watching his clan shift at the eerie atmosphere, he knew he needed to do something. Clearing his throat before commanding attention, “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Sky Tree for a clan meeting!” His voice echos, drawing everyone to him. Pausing for several moments as he gives his clan a chance to gather.
Sighing tiredly to himself before projecting his voice, “As everyone should know there is an unknown presence surrounding Skyclan. The whispers have become more frequent and with some investigation, I have concluded that the whispers are leading away from camp. I am going to send a group of warriors with Roseglow to investigate beyond our borders to figure out what these whispers want…” he reveals. His bicolored eyes sweeping over his clanmates as they take in his words.
“I need three or four warriors to volunteer to go with Roseglow to investigate on why these…apparations are calling out to us and only us” Firestar concludes, wondering who would decide to venture into the unknown with Roseglow.
Bearchaser |Strong-Willed Soldier of Skyclan|
Bearchaser could see and sense the unease around him, the constant uncanny whispers of muddled voices fill the dense air. His dark ember brown tufted ears flick backwards in edginess as he takes in his father’s words. The newly made warrior glances around him, taking notice that his fellow clanmates were on edge as a never ending fog seemed to want to trap them within. Unless they could figure out what the voices and the nightmares wanted—they were confined until they got to the bottom of this mystery.
Taking a step forward to stand next to his older sister, Roseglow. Giving her a small smile before his marigold gaze flicker up to look at Firestar. “I volunteer to go with Roseglow on this mission” Bearchaser volunteers with a resolved look on his sharp features. He knew he was young, which meant he had more to prove.
Aspenleaf
Skyclan Warrior
Aspenleaf listened to Firestar's announcement from the entrance to the medicine cat's den. He was recovered enough by now to move himself around the den, but he didn't dare go any farther. His ears flattened back when Firestar mentioned the whispers. Roseglow had been giving him poppy seeds most nights, and between that and the remaining pain in his leg - quieted now to a dull but persistent ache - he hadn't had any nightmares himself. But he'd heard Roseglow turning in her sleep, clearly plagued by bad dreams. And he knew many of the other warriors had begun to experience them as well.
His unease turned to alarm as the clan leader laid out the plan for Roseglow to lead a patrol to find the source of the whispers. She was Skyclan's only medicine cat, and hadn't even begun to train an apprentice. Aspenleaf twitched his broken leg involuntarily, and hissed in pain. What am I going to do now?
Cranewhisper
The pale tomcat had been meticulously picking through the fresh-kill pile for a few minutes, hoping to find the perfect piece of prey to bring back to Cosmosong. The task was monotonous, and his mate had not asked him to do it, but he only wanted the best for her. Besides, plucking through the kill pile was temporarily keeping his mind off the latest unsettling goings-on around the camp. The whispers had been keeping the small tom awake at night, causing anxiety to claw at the deepest parts of his mind and soul. He didn’t dare mention his unease to anyone though. He didn’t want word of his sleepless nights and heightened anxiety reaching his mate or offspring. Cosmosong had enough to worry about, Cranewhisper didn’t want to add to her unease, especially while she was carrying kits. More stress was the last thing his beloved needed right now.
When Firestar’s voice boomed throughout the clearing, poor Cranewhisper nearly jumped out of his skin as he was violently torn from his thoughts and brought back into reality. The sharp inhale of air as a startled gasp escaped him caused him to start coughing, but he quickly clamped his maw shut and went into his breathing exercises. He didn’t need to have an episode right in the middle of camp while Firestar was trying to hold a clan meeting. It took a few moments, but eventually Cranewhisper had his breathing back under control, so he picked up a plump thrush that he deemed satisfactory from the fresh-kill pile and made his way back to Cosmosong, who had come outside to hear what her father had to say. He wordlessly pressed his pelt to hers as he settled down beside her, hoping she couldn’t hear the quiet wheeze that escaped him each time he took a breath. He also nodded a silent greeting to his son, Embermane, who was sitting on his mother’s other side. He kept his eyes tilted up towards his clan leader, but he sank to his belly to begin plucking the feathers off the prey he’d brought. Perhaps this new task would help him calm down more so he could actually listen to what Firestar was saying.
As more and more of Cosmosong’s siblings volunteered to leave, Cranewhisper could see the concern growing on his mate’s face. He reached out and gently laid a paw on hers, offering a small smile up at her. “Everything’s gonna be okay, love,” he murmured, keeping his voice low to avoid interrupting the meeting. “They’ll be back in no time and all of this will be sorted out. I’m sure of it.”
---
Embermane
Stoic as always, Embermane approached the gathering crowd after his grandfather called a clan meeting. He quickly made his way to Cosmosong’s side, announcing his presence to his mother by resting the tip of his feathery tail on her shoulder. The young warrior never had much to say, but recently he’d found himself even more lost for words than usual. He wasn’t good at comforting others, and everyone was so on edge lately due to the whispers and nightmares, he just found it easier to keep his mouth shut at the moment. Hopefully things would go back to normal soon.
At his father’s approach, Embermane dipped his head respectfully to the much smaller tom. He didn’t say anything, but Cranewhisper’s wheezing caused a small frown to find its way onto the large warrior’s face. From a very young age, Embermane knew his father was sickly, so he’d always tried his best to make things easy for Cranewhisper. He wished there was something he could do for him now. He was worried all the stress and anxiety these strange whispers were causing would kill his father. He hated that there was nothing he could do to make it better.
When Firestar called for volunteers to accompany Roseglow to put an end to the ghostly voices, determination flashed in Embermane’s eyes. He could go! He could do something to make this better! He opened his mouth to speak, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw his mother’s face. All the volunteers so far had been kin, and Cosmosong already looked so worried…
As much as Embermane wanted to help solve this, to do something to ease his family’s suffering, he couldn’t bring himself to add to his parents’ stress. He’d only just become a warrior anyways, so he had no business trying to get involved in something like this, even if his intentions were good…
So he looked down at his paws and said nothing.
C O S M O S O N G
The tortoiseshell feline exited the nursery upon hearing her father's voice calling a Clan meeting. She had been resting until then, curled up in a warm nest that Cranewhisper had insisted on prepping for her. However, Firestar's booming voice indicated an important meeting and she didn't intend on missing it, regardless of how swollen her belly had become.
Cosmosong settled near the rear of the clustered cats, her bi-colored eyes tipped upwards to where her father stood, addressing the Clan. Even from where she sat in the back, she could see the white that began to tinge the great warrior's cream muzzle. She hoped that the stress of the visions her sister had received hadn't begun to age him faster than his time.
She listened to what he said with her ears stretched forward, but she couldn't suppress the frown that adorned her face. Unease pricked her pelt. The mention of whispers involving her Clan unsettled her, but she knew that her father would never let anything happen to his loved ones. To his Clan. His family. She watched as her siblings began to volunteer one by one to assist Roseglow.
As a member of the oldest litters of Firestar's kits, Cosmosong felt protective over her younger siblings. She had assisted in raising them ever since she was younger, helping her mother whenever she could. It almost felt like sending her own kits out into battle... It made her uneasy. But she had to trust in them to keep each other safe and not to behave recklessly.
"Come back safely," she mewed softly.
roseglow
The ginger tabby emerged from the medicine den at the sound of her father’s voice, unable to hide her anxiety from her clanmates. Roseglow sat underneath the Sky Tree, kneading the ground nervously. Self-consciously, she drew her fluffy tail around her paws, almost protectively, to continue the soothing action. Roseglow had always been a nervous cat - an incredibly gentle and kind cat, absolutely, but unfortunately, she was riddled with anxiety and an ongoing insecurity about her abilities and value to the clan. So when Firestar approached her not even five moons ago, detailing a dream from Starclan appointing her as the new medicine cat - a role their Clan had gone without for a few moons, causing them to rely on help from the other Clans - Roseglow immediately felt conflicting emotions of doubt and relief. Maybe this was why she struggled to fulfil her duties as a warrior - even failing her first assessment - maybe she was meant to be a medicine cat! But still, doubt crept into her thoughts, nagging at her with words as sharp as claws, that she would never be good enough. Even though she had her mentor in Starclan, Goldenshine who was a Skyclan medicine cat from long ago, and the other Clans medicine cats guiding her paws, she couldn't help the creeping thought of I'm not good enough.
And now, the Clan was riddled - not with a disease, but whispers and nightmares that refused to relent their tight grip on every single one of Roseglow's clanmates and herself. The feline desperately tried to help her clanmates, providing poppy seeds and leaving herbs and flowers that aided a peaceful sleep hanging within the different dens, but nothing was working. The daytime provided no respite either, and although the camp seemed to shelter the dissonant noises better than their territory, they still crept through and unsettled everyone. For a few sunrises, the she-cat felt a pull towards the piece of land unclaimed by any of the Clans, as if the solution to their problems would be found there. Roseglow had spent time discussing with Firestar how to resolve their situation, and her father had settled on a patrol that she would lead to the mysterious, unknown woods. Stifling a yawn of exhaustion, Roseglow tried her best to keep herself calm, knowing she had to be brave, despite the fear she felt.
Roseglow blinked in surprise when Bearchaser, her younger brother, was the first to volunteer - followed by more of her siblings and Cinderpeach, especially honoured by the words they shared. She gave them all a grateful look, knowing that having kin with her could ease her nervousness, and hoped that one day she could be as brave as them. Glancing up at her father, Roseglow waited for his approval before turning to look at the patrol. Hesitating for a moment, the medicine cat gulped quietly before speaking.
"Thank you," she started, dipping her head to emphasize how grateful she truly was, "I'm not sure what we'll find out there, but I believe that together, we can solve this for our Clan. I need to prepare travelling herbs as well as herbs to bring with us just in case anything happens." She paused, praying to Starclan that nothing would happen to harm her kin and clanmates. "I know it will be hard, but try and rest at least a bit and eat something, then come to my den for your herbs, we can head out just after sun high."
Macawblaze
The newly made warrior had spent the majority of his morning lazily lounging, enjoying his new free time as warrior no more cleaning elders dens or picking ticks off pelts, he’d leave that for his younger siblings. His ears twitched as the sound of Firestars voice filled the camp, there went his quiet day. The calls of his father, something all his siblings were familiar with, it was one thing to ignore but it was another to ignore his leaders. Knowing better the ginger warrior rolled onto his paws, pulling himself up to listen to the announcement.
Seeing his other half Bearchaser step forward to volunteer Macawblaze couldn't sit by and let him get all the glory. Bounding quickly after his brother, cheerfully giving him a small nudge with his shoulder, “Check it out our first mission as warriors.” More so inviting himself rather than asking for permission at first.
Feeling the stares from his other siblings, Macawblaze chuckled softly before rolling his shoulders back, standing up straight to address his kin.
“I’d also like to accompany them Firestar umm Sir..”
Raccoontuft
The Mysterious Loner of Skyclan
Newly-appointed warrior and another of Firestar's daughters, Raccoontuft flicked her ears as she looked up at her father sitting among the branches of the Sky Tree. It had soured her feelings of pride on becoming a warrior the more she noticed the whispers, becoming more and more aware of their insistence. But unlike some other cats of the clan, Raccoontuft hadn't told a single soul she had been hearing them or even acknowledging them at all. After all, it was part of her personality to be mysterious and vague. It would totally contrast her image if she started blabbing about her emotional turmoil, even though Roseglow was one of her eldest siblings. Not even Brackenwing, the terrifying senior warrior that was one of her half-sisters, would ever get to know. The older she-cat couldn't claw the information out of her, no matter how many patrols it made her late for.
With so much of her family all congregated into Skyclan, she had to admit at times she longed for some space. As much as the dark tabby loved her family and her clanmates, it was oppressive at times to be surrounded by those you knew so closely at every moment of every day. She needed a break. Even if it was with relatives, a time away from the clan sounded great. However, as she went to open her mouth, another cat spoke up first.
Cinderpeach
The Sweet Flame of Skyclan
"I'll go, Firestar." Cinderpeach offered, standing up quickly from the crowd of assembled cats. The uniquely-patterned calico molly lifted her head as she wove her way between her clanmates to reach the front of the crowd. She dipped her head respectfully as she looked up at her leader. "I have not had to face a challenge such as this head-on as of yet, but it would be an honour to serve my clan and our medicine cat as a guide for the journey."
The demure molly blinked her baby-blue eyes, tail curling over her paws as she glanced somewhat nervously over at the ginger she-cat by her. Oh Starclan, Scarletshimmer hadn't noticed her, this was... this was her chance. It wasn't that it was her only reason for wanting to go, of course! But a chance to get her crush to notice her was... always welcome. She missed Raccoontuft's eyes burning holes in the back of her head from the glare, and remained entirely oblivious to the way the dark tabby molly glared at her for taking her chance away, as if Firestar would have wanted to send all of his kin anyway.
Scarletshimmer {{The Want To Be Guiding Light Of Skyclan}}
“I’ll go, if you allow me, father.”
The voice of Scarletshimmer, the daughter of Firestar and Auroraskies echoed across the clan, filled with unwavering determination. Once upon a time ago, Scarletshimmer was quite the sheltered and terrified Skyclanner, nothing like her mother or her father. She was just about scared of everything that moved, or looked at her funny, even other members of her clan. Though she had grown braver over time, it must still come as quite a shock to others that she was volunteering herself.
Especially given the fact that Scarletshimmer still had issues with retaining the borderlines of their own territory, seeing as she hadn’t ventured enough around it to commit it to memory. How was she going to survive out there, investigating, when she was so lacking in experience, despite her leaps and bounds in progress?
Yet, despite all of that, she seemed to stand firmly as she marched up to the front of the crowd. Her shoulders and head held high, looking unshaken, as she dipped her head to her father.
“If you’ll have me, father I would be honored to accompany Roseglow on this journey. I want nothing more than to protect my kin and my clanmates, please allow me to serve my clan in this way."