[Estelle]

Weird was the only way he could describe this. Weird, strange and unusual. And all the words the describe something that shouldn’t be. Is this what StarClan is supposed to look like? Empty and dark, cold and ruthless. Or is this the Dark Forest? Neither option seemed viable though. Maybe this was some in-between, some space devoid of time and feeling. Heh. Maybe this is where all the missing cats went.

But something stood in front of him, evidently the only source of light emanating from the few stars in its pelt and the steps it left behind. His eyes were immediately attracted to the form, a name popping into his mind the moment he laid eyes on it. Goosefury, a former warrior of RiverClan. Though they never spoke, he was one of the few faces from his youth he could recall the name off. So, he’d died and joined the stars now too. A shame.

A cold fury of a wind hit him, knocking into his side as his eyes momentarily closed from impact, but he quickly regained his composure. Then he spoke. And briefly Gingerfrost’s expression faltered, a shadow casting over his face before it vanished into the darkness. Neutrality. Patience. Understanding. He did not sit, opting to remain standing and upright, head held high as he listened to the clearly aggravated tom. He’s faced judgement before, this was no different. It only came from a cat long dead.

He couldn’t deny Goosefury’s words. He couldn’t deny having played along with Beansprout’s games when he should’ve taken a stance against him the moment seeds of doubt were planted within him and the clan. Instead, he’d given the benefit of the doubt. Was that so wrong? Apparently so. He still had a lot to learn, evidence being what happened with Beansprout. He once really thought he could trust him to lead the clan, and see where that got them.

His eyes flashed shut for a brief moment of reflection when opened again to meet the StarClan tom’s. So, the former leader hadn’t even been given a name – not that a name meant much. The lives were far more significant, and even then he had his doubts about them.

The news that he wouldn’t receive lives, not even a name, shouldn’t come as a surprise. If anything, seen the anger in the feline opposite him, Gingerfrost had lost the little bit of expectancy he had for them the moment he arrived. Should he care? Should this be the moment he screamed in opposition and indignancy?

Truthfully, it was… Not very practical in some aspects. But considering he had trouble believing in them in the first place, did he really care? The tabby’s tail gave a twitch.
“That’s fine by me.”
Is all he replied, voice even as he looked to him with what could only be neutrality. He wasn’t offended, and he didn’t truly care about receiving these lives, it wasn't his priority. So if the starry feline wanted him to work for them, that was fine. What mattered to him was the safety of the clan, that they’d succeed.

Some part of him had hoped this visit would impart him with some sort of wisdom he hadn’t before, but evidently he’d been mistaken. This was nothing more than an age old tradition involving cats long dead and supposedly better-knowing. He was going to believe they were better knowing because his sister stood among them, and only for that reason. She had always been the smarter one among the two, albeit the more irresponsible one too.

And just like that, the world around him began to darken. Or at least, darken more than it already was. H e felt his mind and body swirl in place, dizziness in his mind until he suddenly woke up in the cave he’d been before, the stone awfully cold under his nose. Mildly shaken from the experience (mainly the travelling, as he’d have to call it), the tabby shook his head then fur as he got back up to his paws.

Well then. No lives, no name. He as still Gingerfrost. Undoubtedly, Beansprout had renamed himself. Gingerfrost didn’t know if he had it in him to do that too… If anything he’d go by ‘Gingerstar’ among the other leaders to keep up appearances. They didn’t need to know about this, even so, he didn’t see himself lying to the clan about all this. Backlash he may receive, they had a right to know, and did not want to experience the same judgement as when Beansrpout had lied to them. Maybe it was a risk, but he’d rather be honest.

Emerging from the cave, he was met with the sight of Crowstorm dutifully standing guard. Gingerfrost made himself know with a swish of his tail, giving the feline an appreciative nod for his help. Momentarily, he was quiet, then spoke up.
“You can head back if you wish, I’ll be making a detour.”
He mew, offering Crowstorm a last glance to give him the chance to follow or leave. Then, he began moving away, trailing not far from their original path though enough to see new parts of the area. If they were going to look for a new camp, he wanted to get an idea of what the place around them was like first.


[ @dino. @Starfall ]