Chapter Text
An ear-splitting wail was the only sound breaking through the heavy silence in StarClan’s usually lively territories. Rows upon rows of watchful eyes were trained on the little silver pool in the centre of the clearing, the water rippling with the reflection of a brown-and-white tabby in the midst of giving birth.
Somewhere, a kit flinched at the sudden sound, after which an older cat curled their tail around the smaller one. Shushing softly, they led the kit away to a quieter area.
Another cry rang through the air. One cat closed their eyes as a small bundle slid onto the floor of the den the queen was laying in, alongside three little kits. The she-cat, still breathing hard, leaned forward and bit through the thin bundle to allow the youngest of the three to breathe.
Only it didn’t.
Panic flashed in the mother’s eyes as she pulled the ginger kit closer, starting to frantically lick the small bundle of fur from tail to head.
It had no effect. There was no movement.
A silver-gray tom stepped forwards in StarClan. “It’s a stillborn,” he announced. Some gasps could be heard in the watchful crowd.
“But the prophecy!” A queen called out, sparking murmurs in the rows of warriors.
“If the kit’s born dead…”
“We’re doomed!”
“What if we send one of us to inhabit his body?”
Instantly all the whispers quieted down. Every cat turned their heads to where the last comment came from. The pale ginger tabby who’d spoken flattened her ears, unnerved by the sudden attention.
“Brackenwing,” the gray tom who’d made the announcement meowed, “can you repeat that idea for all of us to hear?”
Brackenwing didn’t seem so comfortable with that question. Her eyes flitted through the crowd, tail twitching nervously. She cleared her throat with downcast eyes.
“I.. I said, what if we send one of ours to inhabit the kit’s body? That way, technically, the prophecy can be fulfilled,” she slowly trailed off.
“And who do you suggest should give up their afterlife in this place?” Some ShadowClan tom yowled sceptically from one of the rows further away. A few cats mumbled their agreement.
The warrior continued with a sneer. “What warrior would give up their well-deserved place here in StarClan, which they worked for their entire life, for a kittypet’s body? Even for the prophecy?”
A new voice spoke up, not too far from the ShadowClan tom. “Maybe phrase it a bit differently, but I would.”
The speaker, a mostly black WindClan tom, stood up, weaving through the rows of warriors until he arrived at the edge of the pool. “I’ll go.”
A small scoff came from the direction of the ShadowClan warrior who’d spoken earlier, but he made no further comment.
The pale silver-gray cat from before nodded at the volunteer in greeting.
“Wildfire.”
“Featherwhisker,” the WindClan warrior returned.
Featherwhiskers ears twitched. “Are you sure about this?” she questioned. “Inhabiting a living body is an irreversible decision.”
Wildfire’s reply was drowned out by the urgent call from a dappled light brown tom making his way towards the WindClan warrior. “You can’t! Wildfire, you can’t.”
The tom stopped in front of Wildfire, his eyes pleading. “You’ve lived an honourable life. Stay here and get the rest you deserve. Please.”
But the WindClan warrior just shook his head, putting a paw on top of the brown tom’s.
“I’m going, Fallowflight.” There clearly was no room to argue, and though it was obviously against every single one of Fallowflight’s instincts, he backed down.
Featherwhisker called for attention from the large group of StarClan cats. “Are we all in agreement to send Wildfire, a WindClan warrior who’s been here for seasons, to inhabit the body of the fire the prophecy mentioned to us, in order to fulfill said prophecy and allegedly save all of the Clans?”
Some small mumbles of agreement could be heard. This was apparently enough for Featherwhisker.
“Then on behalf of all of us, I wish you good luck on your mission, Wildfire.”
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In the living world, the heart of a little ginger kitten started beating.