Kaelan
Leader of The Immortal Ones
“You’ll have to forgive me for the sudden intrusion,” Kaelan’s false sincerity echoed off the damp walls, a polite veneer that masked his utter disregard for them as he slowly descended the spiraling path, slow and unhurried. There was no need to rush, not when he stood between them and their only exit.
Behind Kaelan, several of his members carried Ravenstar's lifeless form, the stake jutting out obscenely from the Shadowclan leader’s chest. Once they reached the cavern floor, he gestured to his followers to lay Ravenstar on the cold, damp stone, nearest to the shimmering pool. “It is upon this hallowed ground that I must perform the sacred rite; to drain the essence of Ravenstar’s life force and reclaim his lives as my own, healing myself of the sickness that has plagued my veins for far too long,” he elaborated with an unsettling calm, as if he were discussing something far more mundane; every gruesome nuance laid bare with an eerie nonchalance.
With an unsheathed claw, he gently moved the fallen leader’s head to the side, eyeing his neck— the spot where he would soon sink his teeth into. The familiar tang of blood, rich and metallic, lingered on his tongue, calling to the darkest corners of his mind like a siren's song. It had been a while since he’d fed on another, and he could already taste it, feel the surge of strength and vitality that’d flood his senses once his teeth connected with flesh.
Lifting his gaze, almost reluctantly, he fixed his hollow stare on the medicine cats, a glint of something more feral still lingering in their sickly depths. There was a small fact still unknown to the unsuspecting healers. A detail he had not yet shared. "One among you,” he declared, “Will accompany the Shadowclan leader on his final journey," his gaze raked over the assembled medicine cats, lingering on each face, "And by doing so, I will gain your connection to Starclan, your healing powers." The cave, once a sanctuary, now felt like a tomb as he detailed their fates. Every second closer to the inevitable conclusion that now awaited them.
Before they could even think of protesting, he held up a paw, silencing them. “Now, now. Rest assured that whoever is chosen will not die in vain,” in an attempt to quell their fears, he adopted a soothing cadence, as if speaking to them in hushed tones could somehow mask the horrifying reality of their situation; make it seem less dire. Not that it mattered to him how they felt. While he’d much rather they cooperate, come to him willingly, it didn’t matter if they fought back or not. A decision would be made regardless. “Change is always frightening, especially when it's as profound and necessary as this,” he continued, the feverish light in his eyes at odds with his gentle tone as he tried to reassure them, tried to convince them that they were doing the right thing, “But after I kill your leaders, I will merge the five into one and bring peace to your land. No more will any of you suffer or die needlessly. This is not just a sacrifice; it is a rebirth. Embrace this transformation, for it is through the ashes of the old that the new shall rise. You—all of you—will be the architects of a new dawn.” His breath came in rapid bursts, quick and shallow, as he relayed his vision of a better world. In his mind, this was for the greater good. Not murder.
Turning on a heel, he waved them off with a casual flick, allowing them some privacy to come to a decision. He wouldn’t need an answer from them until after he was finished with Ravenstar. "Deliberate amongst yourselves to select the one who shall fulfill this fateful role,” he told them, languidly making his way back over to the Ravenstar’s body. As he reached the fallen leader, he sat beside him, ready to begin the ritual, when suddenly, he looked as though he’d remembered something.
With slow deliberation, he turned his head, allowing just one eye to lock onto the gathered medicine cats. That single eye, lifeless and startlingly empty, bore into them, a silent threat. "Oh, and if you fail to choose,” his voice dropped, the usual ice and frostiness returning, “I will just slaughter all of you."
Ravenstar Shadowclan Leader
“Ravenstar, what’s happening?” Larkpaw questioned, his amber eyes widened slightly as the area shook around them. Ravenstar’s eyebrows were furrowed for a moment before letting out a shout of pain, his paw went straight to his chest. His entire chest and heart was hurting, the tissues were starting to heal and coming back together which resulted in the healing to come with devastating results.
“Are you ok?!” Larkpaw questioned, running towards Ravenstar. The Shadowclan leader was gasping for air, screaming in pain as the tissues, veins and muscles were slowly and painfully coming back together.
It wasn’t until Ravenstar suddenly gasped for air, to which Larkpaw laid with him and the small apprentice pressed himself against the leader. The spirit guide was helpless, he couldn’t do anything but watch the Shadowclan leader in pain. “It’s ok.” Larkpaw tried soothing, biting the inside of his cheek.
Ravenstar woke up with a gasp, shooting up from his resting place. Feeling someone holding him down, Ravenstar looked to see Desertstar and let out a breath. “Desertstar?” Ravenstar weakly said, feeling the pain of his chest. The black tom was still recovering, Looking over, he saw Woolypaw running towards him.
“Desertstar.. Thank you.” The black tom said quietly, with a small smile towards her. The Shadowclan leader was certainly grateful for Desertstar saving his life, she was someone that he could trust completely.
Barely registering the voices of the medicine cats, Kaelan sank to the cave floor, giving them very little thought as he settled himself beside Ravenstar's still form. To him, their words were meaningless and insignificant, mere buzzing in his ears. It didn’t matter to him who chose to sacrifice themselves; all that mattered was that someone did. Regardless of how they came to that decision, who they chose, it would have to wait until he was ready to hear them. He had a ritual to preform.
Jaws parted, his lips peeled back to reveal the sharp, pointed fangs that would soon pierce flesh as they hovered near Ravenstar’s pulse point. The scent of blood, although stale and old, filled his nostrils, stoking the hunger that gnawed at his insides. However, just as Kaelan's teeth grazed Ravenstar’s throat, a sudden force slammed into him, knocking the breath from his lungs. The impact threw him off balance, sending him staggering to the side as he struggled to regain his footing, and when he looked up, he snarled in frustration. Between Kaelan and Ravenstar now stood the Skyclan leader, head held high and bi-colored eyes burning with a quiet fury.
For a moment, he simply stared at the large, orange tom. He had not accounted for the Skyclan leader to intervene in such a manner. "Firestar," Kaelan hissed, his voice dripping with venom as he slowly stood back up, "How nice of you to join us.” With a sudden, lightning-fast movement, Kaelan lunged at the Skyclan leader, his claws outstretched and aiming for the vulnerable flesh of his throat. Firestar, however, was ready for him. He deftly sidestepped the attack, allowing Kaelan's momentum to carry him forward, and as the Siamese cat stumbled past, Firestar lashed out with unsheathed claws, raking across Kaelan's side; crimson liquid welling up, staining his pale fur a vivid red.
That, however, did little to slow Kaelan down. While it was true that the sickness had weakened him, his desperation and madness had lent him a tireless strength. Careless with rage, he ignored the stinging pain at his side and sprung forward, the mist curling around him as he launched himself again at Firestar, a flurry of claws and teeth.
Desertstar crouched low to the ground, her heart pounding in her chest as she crept silently along the shadows towards Ravenstar. As she neared, the scent of old blood hung heavy in the air, and the sight of the stake protruding from his chest made her stomach churn. She hunkered down beside him, pushing past her nausea, and leaned in close. "Ravenstar, it's Desertstar. I don’t know if you can hear me but I’m going to pull this out of you now," her voice was barely above a breathless murmur, yet the desperation in her tone was unmistakable as she hoped that somehow, against all odds, her words would reach him. Having seen Starclan heal injuries far worse than this, she’d theorized that the only reason why Starclan couldn’t heal him now was because the stake was still embedded in his chest, putting him in a coma-like state, suspended between life and death. It was a gamble, sure, but perhaps if she could remove it, they would be able to heal him.
Kneeling beside him, she gently took hold of the stake with her teeth, careful not to cause any further injury, and with a swift tug, she pulled it free. A fresh wave of blood gushed from the opening, and relief washed over her at the sight. If the blood was still flowing, it meant he was possibly still alive. Still fighting. Desertstar turned her attention back to Ravenstar, her paws pressed tightly against the wound, slowing the flow of blood. "I know you’re still in there," she gritted her teeth, her voice raw with emotion as she willed him to fight, clinging to the hope that he’d eventually wake.
Meanwhile, Kaelan circled Firestar, his movements jerky and unnatural, the sickness that ravaged his body evident in every labored breath. The Skyclan leader was much stronger and healthier than him, he'd give him that, but Kaelan was clever— and far more ruthless. A cruel smile spread across his face before he suddenly aimed for the cave wall behind Firestar. With a powerful kick, he sent a cascade of rocks and debris tumbling down. Firestar tried to dodge, but in the cramped quarters of the cave, there was nowhere to go. A sharp, jagged rock the size of a cat's paw struck his skull with a sickening crack, and the Skyclan leader staggered, his eyes glazing over as blood began to trickle down.
Seizing the momentary advantage, Kaelan lunged forward, sinking his teeth into Firestar's shoulder and wrenching him to the ground. Firestar's eyes rolled back in his head, and he crumpled to the cave floor, his body going limp as unconsciousness claimed him. Desertstar, unable to leave Ravenstar’s side yet, as the blood from his wound was still pooling beneath her paws, could only watch in horror. She kept low to the ground, waiting for Starclan to intervene and heal him before it was too late.
E C H O S O N G
Every cell in Echosong's body was screaming at her that this was wrong. It didn't seem to matter that the leaders had a plan. It wasn't a matter of trust - somehow, over the last many moons, she had grown to trust these Clan cats (though she couldn't pin down exactly when that had happened). Despite all her history, she had taken a Clan name, had cemented herself here on these lands with these cats. And stars, she had never been good at just waiting.
As a loner, Echo had seen her fair share of cruel cats. Not everyone lived by a code, but this cat - Kaelan - was still so much worse than she was used to. As Woolypaw stepped forward, Echo's muscles coiled tight, tension winding its way through her body. No matter how much she reminded herself that there was a plan, the feline was undeniably ready for things to go wrong - after all, what predictions did they have here, standing in the face of this chillingly callous cat? The best Echosong could do was to take a half-step, just enough to bump her shoulder against Woolypaw's flank as she went by. She'd hardly spoken to the younger cat, but that didn't matter; the other medicine cats were as good as family to Echo, regardless of words shared between them. She kept her hazel eyes fixed firmly forward, on Kaelan and his crew, tensed and prepared for good or bad to come. Beneath her, her claws scratched faint grooves into the stone floor, grounding her to this moment.
Woolypaw could barely stand steady on her shaking paws as the body of her precious leader was dragged forward. “Ravenstar…” She breathed, her eyes fixed on her leader’s lifeless form. This didn’t make sense, wasn’t he supposed to have more lives? He was still such a young leader, how could this be happening? Her ears were flattened backwards and her eyes were wide with horror. Someone was going to have to give their life for this twisted cause…! Her eyes darted around to the other medicine cats, all wise and strong in their connections to Starclan. Even standing there in this dire situation, Woolypaw felt out of place. They were all so much more skilled than she was when it came to healing, and she’d only spoken to Starclan in whispers--even at the moonstone in her dreams she could barely hear their voices. She was the weakest link. If someone had to go, she knew who it had to be. And she also knew that above anything else, she wanted to be by Ravenstar’s side. He had to be alive still, he still had his lives…There was no way he was dead! If she could just get to him, she could use what little knowledge she had to save him. She trusted that the other leaders would execute their plan and that her life would be spared, and even if it wasn’t, the entirety of the forest would be safer in the paws of those more experienced than her. She hesitated briefly, but her hesitation in life had only contributed to her lack of urgency. No time to discuss. She knew his plan had to be insane cult nonsense, but she couldn't let Kaelan drain Ravenstar's life force. Even if it was nonsense, she had to act. She had to move.
Starclan, please guide me through this. She tried to channel her connection to Starclan and calm her body by inhaling deeply through her nose, the best way she knew how to relax herself. She could feel suddenly, deep in her spirit, that it had to be her. With a single glance to Waspsight, she stepped forward. There was no need for deliberation, they would just try to talk her out of it. “Me!” She squeaked, trying not to let the panic show in her words as she stood firm to gain her composure. “If it means you won’t hurt the others, I know it has to be me.” Her tone was resolute, but the pitch of her voice made her sound like a kit, and although it wavered, her confidence rang through the cave and echoed off the walls. Her expression and demeanor did not match this confident tone of voice, her ears still flattened and her pelt still bristled with fear. She was faking all her courage, acting like she could stand to face all of the Immortal Ones with a single claw. She tried to keep her gaze focused on Kaelan, but her eyes betrayed her and flashed towards Ravenstar’s corpse. She couldn’t help but keep her eyes on him for a second to scan for signs of life, but couldn’t focus on him long as she made sure to pull her focus back towards Kaelan's scarred face.