Post by Mysteryfaith on Dec 25, 2009 19:16:02 GMT -5
Title: Not The Sun.[/blockquote]
Author: Mysteryfaith.
Pairing: Leopardstar x Onewhisker
Summary: An unlikely friendship that has survived the blaze of time is about to turn into 'something more' - but will the responsibility of a Clan change their lives forever?
Editor: Unknown, probably me.
Cover: None yet.
First Notes: Named after the Brand New song, "Millstone" (yes, the title is from another Brand New song "Not The Sun", but the actual song Millstone suited a little better.) Oh, and this wasn't posted on the old site - due to a build-up of muse and lack of suitable occupation, this is from scratch.
Last Notes: Hope you like it! ^^ Plus, it was set before Onewhisker turned into a JERK! Yayy! xP
Not The Sun
Darkness swooped like a harrowing angel over the forest, its shadow-swathed talons clutching and scratching at every crevice it could find. Light clouds drifted through the sky, and they slowly gathered around the moon, gently filtering its glow until the darkness had nearly consumed everything.
It's fitting that StarClan should hide my moon from me tonight. She bit her tongue in disgust; what was she doing here? Sneaking away from her Clan in the bitter hope that someone would be waiting for her, despite the ever-growing doubt that growled in her belly. It wasn't like her to do this - and even more frightening was that it wasn't like him to do this either.
She was always searching her mind and body for answers - some kind of hint that would point her in the right direction for sanity. It can be salvaged, she knew, but in order to save it this must end. And she wasn't about to let it go.
A distinct and familiar scent drifted into her nostrils. Onewhisker! Pleasure and worry created butterflies in her stomach, twisting and turning into a thousand complicated knots. Carefully following the scent trail, she padded forth, always making sure she was down wind of the tom. By his tracks, it looked as if he was heading for Fourtrees, where they'd agreed to meet.
Her heart fluttered in her chest, and her whiskers twitched with satisfaction; she'd given up sleep and a scrap of loyalty for good cause. Her knowledge was now confirmed - she could trust this WindClan tom, and could do so fleetingly or frequently. She was in control of his constant loyalty to her - a collection sweet decisions that felt so good.
From a little way in front, she heard the nearly-silent pawsteps of Onewhisker pause. She heard the delicate intake of cool air as he scented the breeze; she was safely behind him, so there was no point in trying to disguise her distinctive RiverClan scent now.
"Leopardstar?" Onewhisker's tender call, soft as a dove's feather, floated towards her. It felt as if her heart skipped a beat, stopped and flew away as his deep tone reached her ears. His voice was filled with some hidden emotion - StarClan, what is he feeling? Her dreadful curiosity was killing her.
"Onewhisker," she meowed softly, grinning. For a moment, she wondered: how could he have gained the knowledge that she was behind him? Was he... special? Or does he know me so well he can feel when I'm near? The thought made her paws tingle with warmth.
In front of her, the undergrowth rustled, and out trotted Onewhisker. He blinked in contentment as he saw her, and began to purr as she rubbed her muzzle against his flank. "Leopardstar, I thought you wouldn't come," he whispered affectionately, inhaling the sweet tang of her fish-tinged scent.
Leopardstar purred loudly. "Of course I'd come! You can count on me, Onewhisker." As the words slipped off her tongue, she felt a sharp blade of pain slice her heart. As a young leader, she'd told her Clan that they could count on her. Look at me now, she sneered inwardly, almost mocking herself. Promising flimsy loyalty to another - not even in my own Clan!
She shivered, and Onewhisker frowned. "You aren't catching Whitecough, are you?" He fretfully swept his tail over her flank. "You know, Whitecough in leafbare could be lethal - you honestly need to keep warm..."
Leopardstar laughed - a light, carefree chuckle that felt almost too sweet as it escaped her lungs. "Onewhisker, you worry too much. I'll be fine - you really think that after seasons of bitter weather with no health problems at all I'll suddenly fall ill after just one shiver?" It's funny how he can cause secret shivers that he immediately wants to heal without even knowing he made them in the first place.
Onewhisker smirked, eyes glinting with humour. "I suppose so - but it's still freezing in this forest. Let's get to Fourtrees, and quickly; if any RiverClan warriors find us..."
"I'm their leader, Onewhisker, they'll do as I say even if they don't approve of it." Another claw of pain hit her, and she winced, turning in order to hide it from the WindClan tom. I am their leader, she murmured to herself silently, and they will do as I say even when they know I'm wrong.
Onewhisker began to trot away, but stopped after a few steps. He slowly turned around, and squinted at Leopardstar, as if struggling to see her clearly. A glimmer of pain flashed in his eyes, and like her, he looked as if he was battling with himself inside. This is wrong, but it feels so right.
He looked as if he made a decision - his jaw became tense and clenched, and his whiskers twitched with a strange sort of frustration - and turned properly to face her. "Leopardstar..." he began gently, his voice tender. He gingerly took one step towards her as she looked up.
"What is it?" Her tone was still as liberated as she felt; right here was where she felt most at home, with this tom in this forest. But it's still horribly reminiscent of unfaithful cats, countless warriors who've succumbed to cross-Clan relationships in the past...
Onewhisker took a deep breath, then set his gaze firmly on hers. "Have you ever thought about... about choosing a mate?" His eyes, usually bright and calm, became clouded with a hidden doubt. "You know - someone you'd want to spend the rest of your life with."
Leopardstar frowned; why bring up mates now? Isn't this limited amount of time just for us to be friends? "Well," she meowed slowly, mulling the question over in her mind, "I've thought about it, definitely, but as a leader there's little time for me to even visit another queen's kits, so it's not really suitable for me."
One of the many doubts flickering in his eyes faded away. "So if you weren't a leader," he mewed, his voice now gaining more strength and confidence, "you'd choose a mate?"
Leopardstar laughed once more, surprised by his sudden enthusiasm. "If the right tom came along, then sure, I'd be with him." She met his gaze, and shook her head playfully. "Why are you so interested in my romantic situation?"
A few more doubts clouded Onewhisker's large eyes once more, and his confidence faltered. "Right tom?" His nose twitched with worry, and his ears flicked sorrowfully. "Do you have anyone in mind? I mean, is there anyone you... anyone you really 'connect' with?"
Leopardstar's tail swished with silent laughter. "I told you, Onewhisker, if I could have a mate then I'd -"
Suddenly it all clicked. The meetings, the conversations, the questions. It was all... all because he loved her. And you love him. That huge, lumbering thought was impossible to push away, and she felt a tingle in her paws as she looked at his hopeful eyes.
"I..." Leopardstar was, for once, truly lost for words. "I don't know what to say, Onewhisker." Her voice was a hoarse whisper - every scrap of humour had evaporated, and liberation seemed so far away now. It felt as if chains had been attached to her paws, and now two armies of hidden warriors were tugging her in half - one army for Clan loyalty, the other for love.
"Then I'll tell you what I want you to say," Onewhisker murmured, taking one step forwards. "I'll tell you exactly what I've wanted you to say since I met you, Leopardstar. Say you love me."
Leopardstar frowned, and her gaze flickered over the forest. The trees, swaying in the cold, gentle breeze. The sky, barely scarred with fluffy clouds, littered with shimmering stars. The cat stood before her who'd been waiting for the words she so desperately wanted to say.
Her eyes lingered on his, and for a moment she felt a flame so mighty, so utterly poweful, in her heart, she almost stumbled backwards with its phenomenal force. I love you, Onewhisker. I love you.
But she could never say so.
Many seasons later
It was leafbare once again, with an ice-tinged wind flying across the frozen lake. Underneath its sparkling surface, fish were hungrily gulping at algae and pieces of floating seaweed. And on top was a small island bustling with felines.
"What will Leopardstar say?"
"It's been too long since a battle!"
"But it's a Gathering!"
Excited and nervous cats slid around eachother, searching hungrily for a place to sit beneath a tall tree. Silhouetted in front of the glowing full moon were four cats, stood together on the branches in tense positions. Tonight would not go well.
"Cats of all Clans," a strong, male voice boomed over the gathering crowds, "welcome to the Gathering! Please settle so we may begin."
"Let us not wait for them," came an irritated female snap. "This matter is urgent, Bramblestar, and you know it!"
The male voice replied, "Say what you will, Russetstar, but I believe that we should wait for our warriors to actually listen to us before we speak."
Russetstar gave an annoyed grunt, and shuffled anxiously on her branch. Beside her, another silhouette sat, not nearly as stiff as its companion. The ShadowClan leader knew only too well that this was not allowed - but she felt a thirst for support on this important evening, and who better to deliver it than her deputy Tigerheart?
A few branches above her sat a large she-cat, her speckled pelt almost visible despite the nearly unearthly glow of the moon. Her muscles were stiff, and there was a steely glint in her amber eyes; today she was on a mission, and nothing could make her intentions tremble.
Opposite her sat an equally determined-looking tom, perched with claws dug into the thick bough of the tree. His eyes twinkled in the moonlight, fixated on the crowd nearly settled below him. As his Clan finally arranged themselves comfortably - all following the proper traditions of the Gathering but still bustling with uncontrollable excitement - he began to speak.
"I would go through with the normal formalities of this Gathering," he meowed in a loud, powerful voice, "but this is not a normal meeting between the Clans, and so I cannot. Instead, I must turn to Leopardstar for an explanation." Dramatically, he turned to the she-cat opposite him, his nose twitching with disgust.
Leopardstar turned to greet him, hackles rising. "Onestar, you are accusing RiverClan of an undignified crime we would never commit!" Yowls of support rose up to greet her furious hiss. "Whatever - or whoever" - she shot an angry look below her at the ShadowClan leader - "is stealing your prey has nothing to do with us!"
Onestar scowled. "Liar!" More howls of agreement soared to accompany his own. "You've always been out to sabotage WindClan, and you may apologise and try to make things right, but we all know that in four seasons you'll be trying it again!" Onestar's furious meows made him seem less like the youngest leader and more like the most powerful.
In the moonlight, Leopardstar flinched; defeated, she thought sorrowfully. But there was one last plan of attack she could take. Yes, it was bold. Yes, it would ruin Onestar's reputation forever. She hated having to even think about announcing it - telling everyone how stupid she'd been so many moons ago. Yet it was the only way to save her Clan, and StarClan knew she'd die to protect them.
"Clans of the lake," she began in a menacing murmur, "many of you do not remember the old forest which is now infested with two-legs. But those of you who do will know that back then, Tallstar was leader of WindClan, and Onestar was just a warrior." She shot a furious glare at him. "A warrior and a traitor!"
Onestar whirled around on his branch, livid. "I'm no traitor!" he hissed, fixating his gaze on the older she-cat opposite him. His eyes sparkled with a hidden knowledge - a knowledge shared only with the RiverClan leader. That mysterious glitter pleaded silently to her: don't say it.
But she had to. "Yes, your beloved leader, WindClan, had a friendship with a cat from another Clan. This friendship, formed at Gatherings and that had lasted for many moons, was harmless until the young Onewhisker chose to turn it into romance!"
A furious WindClan warrior in the midst of the crowd cried, "How can you know all of this, when it was so long ago? Our leader is innocent!" Oh, how I wish they knew the whole story... Leopardstar could barely continue over the noise of enraged howls.
"Do you want to know how I know this?" Leopardstar howled, feeling a spark of excitement now. Lead the crowd on. Let them know who has betrayed them. "Would you like to hear why I am so experienced in this tom's actions?"
The crowd howled with excitement and expectation. Out of the corner of her eye, Leopardstar saw Onestar now gripping the branch with all four paws. She turned, and for a moment, regretted her actions. His face was a mixture of terror and hope - he was still wishing that she would stop now, let him go...
"I know this," she choked out, not enjoying this any more, "because..." Every eye was trained on her, every warrior ready to hear what she had to say. The island became silent, and in the moonlit branches below her she saw two pairs of hungry eyes from both of the other leaders. Everyone was hanging on her words... She could either please them or release her long-lost friend - the one she loved, the one she'd always loved - from this terrible treachory.
"I know this," she murmured, her voice barely over a whisper, "because he loved me." In the moment of shocked silence that followed, she added to herself, "And I loved him back."
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