Stormlight

[reddykins]

There was rain.
One may think this was barely something worth mentioning, though Stormlight was always intrigued by the rain. Watching it pitter-patter against the roof of his den; against the grass that was always damp by the next morning; against the fur of grumpy Clanmates.
To the elder medicine cat, he was almost like their... caretaker. Like the whole of SkyClan were his kits that he had to make sure didn't wander off recklessly and come back complaining of a thorn in their paw. It was amusing at times, Stormlight had to admit, watching full-grown warriors wail like kits when they got the slightest scratch from a bramble bush. Though, the path of a medicine cat had also brought great devastation. He'd seen Clanmates come and go, but it was never a permanent good-bye for him. Stormlight knew he'd wind up seeing them again in StarClan soon whenever he'd converse with his starry-pelted ancestors. So, while some found the death of Clanmates utterly heart wretching, Stormlight had seen so many cats fall under his care. He couldn't help but feel as though there was always something more for him to do; to heal them, to let them survive.
Alas, not even medicine cats could change fate. It was all written in the will of StarClan. And what they wished would be how it went.
"No way!" The harsh, scolding tone of one of Stormlight's friends startled him from his task of watching the rain. His ears pricked, amber eyes settling on the source: Mintspirit.
"Please, Mintspirit?" Aspenpaw, the kin of Stormlight and Silentwing, pleaded to his mother. He took after his father quite well, with that mottled cloudy-colored coat. Though, he supposed it was only luck nobody had considered them unusually alike in appearance. "I promise I won't get sick!"
Mintspirit silenced her son with a flick of her thin tail. She raised her muzzle firmly, shaking her head as she kneaded at the ground, anxious. "I said no, Aspenpaw," the pale tabby sighed. "You're bound to get sick if you're out training in this weather! And what use is an apprentice if he's not training?"
Aspenpaw's tail lowered with disappointment, his gaze directed at the ground stubbornly. "I only wanted to go scout the territory," he grumbled, whiskers twitching. "I didn't want to go practice fighting moves or anything..."
"Well, going out to scout the territory means getting your paws dirty and your pelt soaked. It's for the best that you stay in the camp. Maybe one of the older warriors will go out on a patrol instea--"
Stormlight had stepped out from the dimness of the medicine den, standing in all his might before the two quarreling mother and son. His broad shoulders square, he nodded at Mintspirit warmly in greeting, to which she blinked.
"I suppose, if Aspenpaw would like to go out on a trip around the territory, it wouldn't be much of an inconvenience for him to travel with me?" Stormlight tipped his head onto one side as he looked to Mintspirit, noticing the young apprentice bounce onto his toes eagerly.
Mintspirit shifted uncomfortably. Her blue stare was filled with hesitance, as she loved and cared for Aspenpaw as she would her own kin. Though, if it was just pure trust of Stormlight with her "kit", or the fact he was Aspenpaw's biological father, she nodded slowly. "I-I... well, just as long as you keep watch. He tends to get distracted easily. I don't want him to do anything mouse-brained."
Aspenpaw shook his head, puffing out his chest with pride. "I won't do anything of the sort!" The mottled gray apprentice looked at Stormlight with gratitude; he was thankful he wouldn't have to be confined to the camp. He'd done enough waiting back at camp as a kit, and now that Aspenpaw was an apprentice, he was ready to do everything to support his Clan. Even if that meant going out to patrol the territory on his own in a storm.
"I'll be sure he doesn't wander off," Stormlight promised, rising to his feet. "I wanted to gather some herbs I'd planted a while ago, and a set of extra paws wouldn't hurt. The more I gather before this rain drowns it all, the better. You don't mind, my dear?" He gave an inquisitive glance at her once more, frowning.
Mintspirit reluctantly shook her head. Okay, perhaps she was worried somewhat. It wasn't that she didn't trust her friend to watch after her adopted kin (after all, Stormlight had been the one to give the kits to her and Aetherwing to continue with his responsibilities after Autumnpaw had deserted her position), more so she was worried about Aspenpaw fooling around. Yes, the eager one, though he didn't do well with following instruction.
"Ah, then we best be off." Stormlight cast a glimpse at the sky, still filled with rolling clouds, though by now he could assume sunset would be nearing, and nobody wanted to be wet and in the dark. "We'll be back come nightfall, I promise. He'll be fine in my care; don't worry."
Mintspirit gave one last sigh, nodding as she turned on her heels and began to pad towards the warriors' den, deciding to squeeze in some rest so as to avoid stressing out about something bad happening to the duo. Her heart sank in her chest at the thought, though the pale tabby she-cat forced herself into her nest, no matter how uncomfortable she felt.
"Shall we be going, Aspenpaw?" The salt-and-peppered angora glanced down at the fresh apprentice, the latter tom nodding excitedly. With that, Stormlight led the way through the bushes and into the territory.

***

The rain was getting severe.
It hardly worried Aspenpaw, though, as the young tom was much too on high-alert for him to be phased by the weather. His ears were pricked, amber eyes inspecting each and every tail-length of the forest as they walked through it, paws light with every step.
"You can relax," Stormlight chimed nonchalantly, startling the apprentice. He flinched, looking over at the medicine cat as he stopped at the foot of a large-leafed plant, drenched in water. "I doubt anything is going to come barreling at us in this rain. It's coming down harder, and I don't think a fox would like to get its paws wet either. You can help me gather this dock and after, we shall check on the catmint I planted. I hope it wasn't drowned by the rains." He frowned.
Aspenpaw, reluctant to let down his guard, glowered at the elder tom. His tail dragged against the leaves that had shed from the trees, though he trotted over to where Stormlight delicately nipped at the stems of the dock, piling it beside his flank. Aspenpaw dipped down his head and grasped it roughly between his teeth, not caring if he punctured a hole in the leaves with his fangs.
He came here to protect his medicine cat on this expedition for herbs, not learn how to be a medicine cat apprentice! Aspenpaw kneaded at the ground bitterly.
"No, no!" exclaimed the angora, turning back after nipping off one last dock leaf. Stormlight gave a harsh golden glare at Aspenpaw, who spat the herbs back onto the ground, ears flattened against his skull. "That's not how we handle herbs at all, Aspenpaw! You have to be gentle - oh, see? You've bitten a hole in this one! Hmph... I suppose it'll just have to do. We haven't much time to go gather that catmint before we get drowned with the rain, too." Bitter, Stormlight scooped up the herbs between his jaws gently; the complete opposite of Aspenpaw's previous actions.
"Yeah," Aspenpaw grumbled beneath his breath, trailing far enough behind Stormlight so the elder tom wouldn't hear his remarks, "at this rate, I wish I could drown in this rain."

It was then Aspenpaw wished he listened to Mintspirit's scolding and stayed in camp.


***


"My, you look quite... well, ridiculous!" Stormlight purred in amusement as he glanced over his shoulder to ensure Aspenpaw was following along. The dock leaves were spat at his feet, as the angora would have to squeeze through a narrow opening to reach his catmint stocks. "You look like you've just taken a dip in the river, Aspenpaw!"
The apprentice lashed his tail, irritated. He dug his claws into the soil, scoffing, "Well, if we weren't taking so long, maybe my fur wouldn't be all wet!" Aspenpaw's whiskers twitched. "Besides, I came out here to protect SkyClan's medicine cat! Not to learn about the history of herbs - I'm not a medicine cat apprentice!"
His eyes widened seconds after speaking. Aspenpaw took a step back, his jaws clamped tightly together as his heart sank in his chest. He'd overstepped his bounds. Nobody dared to speak back to their medicine cats; not even quick-witted elders!
What would happen now? Would Stormlight claw his ears off for being disrespectful? Would he bring him to Almondstar for being such a mouse-brain? Aspenpaw felt himself sink lower to the ground in embarrassment, not caring if mud clung to his belly.
"F-forgive me, Stormlight," said Aspenpaw quickly, sucking in a nervous breath. "I-I didn't mean to... well... I-I just, um-"
"No."
Aspenpaw's ears pricked as he perked himself back up. "W-what?"
Stormlight turned back to face the young apprentice. "There is no need to explain yourself," the salt-and-peppered medicine cat meowed gently, though Aspenpaw noticed his limbs were particularly tense - it was clear he was restraining himself from scolding Aspenpaw. "I understand you aren't a medicine cat apprentice in training; you are to be a warrior as soon as you are ready. But, is there shame in the path of the medicine cat? Is that why you are so against it all?"
"Against it?" Aspenpaw repeated, his head tipped onto one side in confusion. He shook his head immediately, striding forward. "Of... of course not! Medicine cats are just as important as any other cat in our Clan! You look after us when we're sick or injured from battle - you save so many cats!"
Stormlight flicked his tail, turning on his paws to face the crevice in the stone wall. "Precisely." His whiskers twitched. "You seem to understand perfectly, Aspenpaw. And what will happen when I eventually go to join StarClan? What will happen when there is no apprentice to inherit my position? What will be of SkyClan then?"
His golden eyes twinkled in a far-away wisdom and fear. "Even I do not know. That is what brings great trouble ahead for us all; StarClan does not know, and neither do I. But... we can only trust in our ancestors to make the right decisions in the future. Hopefully, by the time I join their ranks, I will have found a new successor. Somebody else to train in my path, and inherit my title."
Aspenpaw remained silent, only swallowing the lump of fear that lingered in his throat. He forced himself to nod, although what Stormlight was saying just went in one ear and out the other. It seemed like nonsense, though it was simply words too wise for Aspenpaw to comprehend.

Stormlight turned back to notice Aspenpaw kneading at the ground awkwardly. His ears grew warm with embarrassment, realizing he had gone off again in his worries and rambles.

"Enough of my nonsense," Stormlight forced himself to say, his maw light with a slight smile. "Come along, Aspenpaw. To get to the catmint, we'll have to walk along a tall ledge. It's for safety precaution, of course, though don't worry - it's not too high up. You'll be fine."
And Aspenpaw, putting his trust in the medicine cat, followed him through the crack in the stone wall.


***


No way. No, no, no. This is too high up. This ledge is too narrow! And with all this water, I'm bound to slip and slide right off of here! Aspenpaw's eyes were huge and round with fear.
Stormlight turned to face the apprentice, his claws unsheathed and digging into a break in the stone ledge; fur damp, though still bristling. "I told you not to worry," he mewed, "we will be fine. Just dig your claws into the cracks and nooks of the stone if you're so worried. I promise not to be long; we just need to nip off the leaves and head back to camp."
Aspenpaw swallowed once more. "I-I don't know, Stormlight," he spoke quietly, crouching low against the ground as rain pattered against his spine. He stole a peek over the side of the ledge, only seeing a very, very long fall. "Can't you go without me? I can wait right here to take the catmint back through the wall."
"Aspenpaw, please," the elder tom pleaded with a sigh. "Put your trust in your medicine cat. Nothing can go wrong - I've been here countless times, with Autumnpaw, too. Sometimes I let her go through here on her own because I was much too plump to fit through the crevice!"
"I-I suppose..."
"That's the spirit!" Stormlight purred excitedly, his tail kinked over his shoulder in a signal to follow. "Come along now, Aspenpaw! The sooner we get to the catmint, the faster we'll be back at camp - and far, far, far away from this ledge."
The words far alone seemed to soothe the jumpy apprentice. Aspenpaw eagerly nodded and kept in pace right behind Stormlight, still uneasy every time he glanced to his right side. Though, the mottled tom forced himself on, claws digging into the stone as Stormlight had instructed.
Maybe this isn't as bad as I thought it'd be, Aspenpaw thought to himself, ears flattened as he concentrated on where to place his paws and dig in his claws. Maybe Stormlight was right! I was overreacting about nothing!
As if he could hear his thoughts, the medicine cat turned around with a sly grin on his maw. "Is it as bad as you thought it would be?"
Aspenpaw's whiskers twitched excitedly as he shook his head no, a purr rising in his chest. It was somewhat fun; trudging on the narrow ledge. To the apprentice, finding a crook to bury his claws in worked as some kind of training - maybe for perfecting his footing? It'd come in handy later when he was taught how to climb trees, Aspenpaw noted.

"Wondrous! And we're nearly there. I can scent the catmint just faintly, though the smell of this rain is drowning most of it out." Stormlight frowned, turning back around to follow the stone path. "I hope it wasn't destroyed by this storm. How tragic would that be? I'd have nothing to treat our Clanmates with, should they fall victim to greencough!" He shivered. "Pray to StarClan nobody does, and that the herbs are well."
Aspenpaw's nose twitched. He could scent the mint-thingy-ma-jig? All the way from here? He breathed in deeply, but the mottled tom still couldn't find any trace of the herbs Stormlight spoke of. He hadn't had much exposure to catmint, anyways, though he assumed it would have a sharp, jolting scent like mint. After all, they both had that in their name. Perhaps it was meant to serve as a hint.
Growing irritated with his lack of superior senses, Aspenpaw lashed his tail as he gave up on finding a nook to dig his claws into. The stone was still slippery, but by now the peppered tom was adjusted to walking along the ledge with confidence. Besides, trying to single out the mint-thing scent was Aspenpaw's concentration. He wanted to prove to Stormlight he could be a good apprentice. You never knew; maybe he'd throw in a word to Almondstar about his ceremony being early! Maybe he'd be given a warrior name earlier than any other cat in SkyClan!
He closed his eyes, relaxing. Despite the downfall on his scrawny frame, Aspenpaw forced the thought of it aside as he concentrated, imagining on the scent of catmint.
Sharp, jolting... minty.
The mottled gray and black apprentice followed after Stormlight blindly, his whiskers twitching off the water that drip-dropped onto them, his nose twitching.
Catmint, catmint, catmint...
"Aspenpaw!"
The apprentice's eyes bolted wide open as he noticed his route had taken a diagonal turn. Aspenpaw's fur bristled as he realized one of his forelegs had already been suspended in the air of the cliff side, the other paw just barely dangling onto the edge of the stone. His haunches - his sturdy legs - were on the ledge confidently, though as Aspenpaw realized his situation, they grew weak and slippery.
He froze, tense. Aspenpaw didn't want to dare move a muscle. He wouldn't test StarClan - he didn't want to die! His breath grew eerily quiet.
"Don't move an inch!" Stormlight barked, noticing how Aspenpaw trembled. He took gentle pawsteps towards the apprentice, stretching out his neck in preparation to grasp his scruff, should he teeter off the side. His heart raced in anticipation.

I've already lost Silentwing... and your brother and sister, Aspenpaw.
I can't lose you, too.
His teeth dug into Aspenpaw's scruff so roughly that it made Aspenpaw let out a yip of fear as Stormlight dragged him back to the inner side of the ledge, his amber eyes cold and afraid.
"Th-th-thank... you," Aspenpaw managed to stutter out, still trembling as he realized how close to death he'd come. He didn't want to even think about how painful a fall from this height might be. He could barely see the bottom of the cliff!
"Stay in front of me," was all Stormlight could say, pressing against the side of the stone wall so Aspenpaw could slip in front of him. The storm-colored apprentice could've sworn he'd heard the medicine cat's voice crack, though Aspenpaw shrugged it off.
Aspenpaw led the way from there on out down the path, still occasionally tasting the air for the catmint scent. But, he was only met with the smell of rain and his own fear.
After another few moments of traveling (with Stormlight keeping an intense eye on Aspenpaw, walking somewhat closer to the ledge in case he'd zoned off and nearly walked off the side of the cliff again), Aspenpaw brightened as he noticed a patch of leafy plants in the distance. Far, though close enough! His heart nearly burst out of his chest in excitement.
Aspenpaw spun on his heels, yellow eyes big. "There it is, Stormlight!" he beamed. "The... the minty-stuff you needed!"
Stormlight, still afraid and numb to everything happening, only forced an absent nod. His mind kept replaying images of his family, and most importantly, of Aspenpaw - his son literally staring death right in the face.
The monotone-colored apprentice frowned. Albeit he was fearful of what had occurred earlier, Aspenpaw was just about over it now. He was excited to see the catmint and gather it, then to leave this place as soon as possible. He'd tell everything that happened to Mintspirit - excluding the story of how he'd nearly wandered to his death, as Mintspirit would never let him leave camp again - and his fellow apprentices.
Taking note of Stormlight's glumness, Aspenpaw realized how gleeful he would be when presented with his stocks of catmint. An idea forming, Aspenpaw grinned widely.
"H-here, Stormlight - I'll go gather it for you!"

Before the medicine cat could object, Aspenpaw broke into a sprint along the inside of the ledge, his haunches confident and his strides powerful. His paws drummed against the stone path loudly, though not for more than a second. The wind lapped at his face, forcing Aspenpaw's ears to flatten as the rain also drip-dropped into his eyes, and on his nose.
"Aspenpaw, no-!" Stormlight began, though the apprentice was already out of earshot, his mind carrying him towards the herbs.
The angora spat out a bitter curse to his ancestors for being blessed with a mouse-brained son, though Stormlight broke into a run after Aspenpaw, heart racing as fast as he did to catch up to the young tom.

Within a second, Aspenpaw felt his forelegs sweep out from beneath him. The pads of his paws slipped and slid on the cool, moist stone, and the breath was knocked from his lungs as the apprentice thudded against the ledge, the water carrying him back to the cliff.
He wailed, eyes wide; "Stormlight! Help me!"
Claws scrabbled against the stone, but it was no use. Aspenpaw's lower body was already dangling uselessly against the side of the cliff, his hind legs scraping against the wall to try and get better footing. However, the rain was making it hard for Aspenpaw to dig his feet into any jutting stones to hoist himself back up. His claws were so tightly curled into the smallest chip in the rock that he was afraid they'd break off.
"Aspenpaw!" Stormlight gasped, skidding to a stop beside the apprentice. He watched him struggle for a minute before leaning his head down to nip his scruff and drag him back onto the ledge. Though, with Aspenpaw's legs flailing about and his awkward positioning, it was difficult for the salt-and-peppered tom to reach for his scruff.
"I-I can't reach you!" wailed the medicine cat, growing desperate. He'd take his own life before his son's. Stormlight's eyes widened for a minute.
He'd take his own life before his son's.
Stormlight, with a newfound determination and expertise, lowered his forebody off of the cliff to stretch his neck out and grasp Aspenpaw's fur. With a grunt, the medicine cat managed to catch a mouthful of mottled coat between his teeth, to which Stormlight attempted to hoist back to level with him.
His hind legs, though, had nothing to support this weight with. Stormlight tugged and tugged, though he couldn't seem to be able to pull Aspenpaw back up... unless...
Stormlight's thoughts were interrupted as Aspenpaw's claws were spat out of the break in the stone, leaving the young tom dangling from death without a solid grip on anything. He was still flailing about in fear, though Stormlight refused to lessen his grip on his son.
He'd drowned out Aspenpaw's cries for help, with Stormlight's haunches scrabbling against the stone; Aspenpaw's weight was finally dragging him down. He was losing whatever strength he had left, and Stormlight was not about to let his Clanmate - his kin die like this.
With all the courage and willpower he could find within, Stormlight felt strength surge through his body for a split second. Like all his ancestors from above gave him the power to save his kin.
And a split second was long enough for Stormlight to build up the momentum to swing Aspenpaw to the side, sliding him onto the stone ledge, though the sudden shift in weight brought the medicine cat clinging to the cliff side in desperation.
"S-S-Stormlight!" Aspenpaw yowled, finally scrambling up onto his paws. His ears were flattened and fur was bristling and jutting out in every which way. His golden eyes were wide with fear, and his claws unsheathed, even if Aspenpaw knew there was nothing more he could do. "Wait, I-I can... I can save you! H...hang on!"
Stormlight's forepaws were hanging onto the floor of the ledge, his expression... at ease, now, as far as Aspenpaw could read.
How? How can he be so calm in a situation like this?! "Y-you're going to... to-"
Aspenpaw watched, horrified, as lightning flashed and with it, Stormlight's right paw slid off of the stone. His claws weren't even unsheathed, nor trying to dig into the stone! Did he want to die?! Was he crazy?! SkyClan would have no medicine cat left if Stormlight died in this split second!
"Look after them, Aspenpaw," Stormlight managed to spit out. Though his ears were flattened and his eyes bulging with fear, his voice was soothing and... almost accepting? As if he knew this moment would come now.
"Quiet!" Aspenpaw snarled, still desperately trying to reach for the elder tom's scruff as he sank lower and lower along the side of the cliff. "I-I'm going to save you, Stormlight! SkyClan... SkyClan needs you! I... won't... let... you... abandon your Clan!" He dipped his head lower, jaws open to grab onto the first bundle of fur Aspenpaw could reach.
"Promise me," Stormlight suddenly barked out, making Aspenpaw flinch and recoil. His paw was slipping from the ledge, and Aspenpaw's heart sank as he wished the tom would shut his trap and let him be saved!
"Promise me you will look after them! All of them!"
"I... won't let you... die like this," Aspenpaw choked out, scrabbling to reach for the tom. He couldn't breathe, suddenly - all the air in his lungs suddenly felt like it got knocked out. "No...!"
"Promise me, Aspenpaw!"

"I'll do it!" Stormlight's kin wailed, just wishing he would be silent. "I-I... I'll do it, Stormlight! I will look after them - all of them! I will do my everything for SkyClan as you will do for them now. Because you aren't going to fall!"
Stormlight's eyes softened as Aspenpaw promised. That was all he wanted.
It was all he needed to hear.
Even if SkyClan wouldn't have anybody to succeed his position, Stormlight had put all of his trust into his ancestors to make the right decision - to find SkyClan a new medicine cat. Somebody better than him; somebody who wouldn't be so foolish and love-struck to put their needs above the Clan's.

Stormlight felt the smile on his maw grow. His heart tingled, and everything around him from this point onwards was a blur. He was content leaving his son, Aspenpaw, with the promise to look after SkyClan. Even if he wouldn't follow the path Stormlight desired him to, he was glad Aspenpaw would be there to look after them - to hunt for the kits and elders, to learn how to defend himself and SkyClan's territory, to eventually find someone who meant as much to him as Silentwing was to Stormlight.
His paw slipped.
And, from Aspenpaw's view, he let out a heart-shattering cry to the clouds as he watched Stormlight's outline fade into nothingness as he fell down the cliff.


***

okay i thought that, since storm never had a formal death, i would write one last little story about how he died, so that he didn't just "disappear." no, no, stormy had to save his lil baby boy aspen from sliding off to his death.
unfortunately, this is about where the stormlight family tree leads off. aspenpaw, after this, returns to camp begrudgingly bearing the news of what happened to stormlight, and that's when all the chaos ensues - up until ebonyfrost's replacement of him.
but, for the short period of time skyclan had w/o a medicine cat, aspenpaw fell into a deeply depressed state of mind as he realized stormlight's death was his fault. and after refusing to eat and staying out in the territory in the rain all day, aspenpaw was diagnosed with a case of greencough, which eventually took him to starclan with his father.
yeahhh, the silentstorm family was basically destined for a tragic life, especially since he was a rule breaker and had babies with his former mate, silentwing. woopsie doopsies. that's against the code, silly stormlight!
but uhhh think of it this way: aspenpaw and stormlight are still friends in starclan and he doesn't know stormlight is his father and stormy doesn't plan on telling him - he just wants to get to know his kin as if he was a fellow skyclan apprentice. of course, stormlight expresses a fatherly affection towards aspenpaw, but he thinks nothing of it, and spends all his time hanging around stormlight in starclan as he's the only cat he knows, and he feels like he owes debt to him for causing his death.
anyways, yep that's the story around storm's death if you were curious.
thanks for reading!!