so step right out. [VA] [DNP]

[stag]

➣ Being taken deeper into the world of dreams was not a pleasant one, Mumblepaw felt as if it was going to kill him as the world formed around him, fully aware of the place. The Starless Stalks was the best guess he could give. The place was dreadful, it fit the description of the tales terrible, however.

Eyes scan the area, gaze falling straight into the dark trees as a rotten scent fills his nose. Death, it was always so nice to think about. You could hunt forever and be free, but now it was only a faint thought. This place wasn’t bright, it was darker than any story had ever told of. The cat takes a few steps forward, the smell of rotting flesh flooding through it’s nose as he recoils. Regaining their footing, the calico cat now looks around. The scent was closer and stronger than before. He can hear the paw steps, they hit the ground with a sound that echoes faintly through their ears. The shadows offer no comfort here, blending into them would not work. It was clear that whoever was coming closer knew of fang before snake knew of them. Attempting to take deep breaths through their mouth didn’t work and only resulted in a coughing fit as the silhouette of another joined them in the darkness. Mumblepaw tries to make out the other cat, a figure covered by the shadows and no eyes staring back at them that he could see.

Calling out to the figure would be no use. The figure would soon come into view. A dark grey cat, scars covered the cat's body, eyes not filling the empty sockets. Backing away from them, Mumblepaw is silent. But the figure spoke, their voice was direct, and they could practically burn fang from how hot they were from clear anger. No yells or yowls, a message that was directed straight towards him. They stopped moving away to listen, the figure was younger than him, that was clear enough but the words it spoke were not that of an eight moon cat, this spirit had been here for a long time, much longer than Mumblepaw wished to think about.

The connection finally hit snake….this cat was from the Starless Stalks. This cat was a spirit beyond snake’s understanding. They were a part of those who sent messages to him and the settlements. Only those cats had the power to take him into a dream like this, he was here for a reason. This cat was powerful among the Stars that Guide. The dark air around the figure was so heavy that it sunk to the ground, giving it a smokey hue. It reminded Mumblepaw of him, the cat with the ragged pelt and midnight black pelt that had taken him and showed them the truth about the flood that had taken everything from fang.

“Who do you think you are? How surprising…considering that relaying messages is what you think your purpose is to them. You, you are nothing but a tool they control, and use to benefit themselves. You are nothing without them, aren’t you? Perhaps your parents were right to name you Minnowkit after all...”

The cat falls silent, the learner is quiet for a moment before stepping closer. Their mouth open to verbally retaliate but nothing escapes his lips. Green eyes dart from side to side as it seems eyes cover the landscape.

No. Who did they think they were? Dragging him to this place again, with nothing to offer. No wisdom, no message, nothing but insults and hate towards them. The learner froze at the start of the figures statement then that name came back. The prefix that only truly meant to show his former status, the attachment towards it was now gone; a bridge that had long since been burned.

The figure flicks their tail, standing up aiming to return to the shadows. That wouldn’t be happening, not tonight.

Every mistake, every once of anger that he had managed to hide, after losing their belonging and the memories. The last straw was that name, calling fang that name had broken something. Like the stick during the meeting so long ago. It came flooding to the surface like no other.

Paws were in motion as the calico locked onto the shape of the smaller cat, claws digging into the dry surface below their paws. The cat turned around, ducking below the launch that Mumblepaw had made towards them.

“How far do you truly think attacking me, attacking the spirits, the foundations of what you believe so much in, will get you? How disappointing,” It only caused another wave of rage to bubble onto the surface as Mumblepaw let out another hiss jumping towards the figure again.

Claws about to tear into the figure's fur as it just melted. Like snow on an early spring morning. It all just melted into darkness, leaving Mumblepaw to crash into the ground. Gone. The cat had escaped.

This flung him back into the present, eyes shooting open as a hiss flooded out of their mouth. Claws dug into the ground as he stood up, movements sharp enough to cut through even the toughest flesh. Breathing now catching up with them as they left the learners' den swiftly and into the rough clearing.

Breaths flew from their muzzle as Mumblepaw tried to calm down. The cat's words, they had taunted him. Claimed things that were not true, only to get a reaction. A reaction that the calico had given. Another venom-filled hiss rung through the air. The camp was silent for now as Mumblepaw paced its walls. The sun had fallen only a short while ago, sleeping was not an option anymore, and the chance of meeting that cat was one that he didn’t wish to face.

The learner cannot stop repeating the words. You are nothing without them. White paws itching to claw into something, into that cat's flesh. The urge was stronger than the pure hatred he had felt towards the failed Commander before their father.

The Stars that Guide had allowed that dream to happen, they had allowed that cat to take him to the Starless Stalks. Why was their care for him so… inconsistent? They cared for them during the flood, hell, they had given them the true meaning of the flood. He felt like he was drowning, and they did not care. They did not care about anyone else? No, they cared about fang. That cat was lying! He was their messenger after all!

Mumblepaw was something without them……..right…….?