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[Wolfstar]

"Bring them here, we need to talk before they go off," A black tom said, his pelt flecked with stars. Six cats sat by him, only five of them stood.
"You're going to talk to those five this time?" A brown she-cat asked, looking amused as the others went off.
"W-Wait up Willowstar!" A cat dashed past the two, his black and grey pelt visible as he went after a light grey and darker striped she-cat. The she-cat that stayed rolled her eyes, smiling when she looked back at the tom beside her.
"I have to, perhaps an ancient like us could give them courage for what's to come," the tom replied, leaning down and licking the she-cat's ear.

[Shadow Sharpfang]

For the most part, the five clan cats were dozing peacefully. Mintpaw was the only exception, plagued by terrible visions of Hawk scolding her. But at one point, everyone's dreams faded, only to be replaced by a new, yet vaguely familiar dreamscape. One by one, they roused, slowly but surely.

[Wolfstar]

A dark, reddish brown tom walked up to Hollowpaw. The white tip of his tail shined brightly. "Welcome, I'm sure you're surprised that Starclan's skies have reached this far. Come along now, your friends and my siblings will ask any of your questions." His green eyes closed for a moment, but he turned and waited for the apprentice to join his side.

The light grey she-cat, her darker stripes lightened with stars and joined by a black and grey tom, walked up to Mintpaw. Both of their pelts shined by stars. "Calm down young one, you're here with us for the night," the she-cat purred. The tom beside her nodded, offering a kind smile.
"You may be far from home, but our skies reach far. Come now."

A tabby tom walked up to Icepetal, his pelt dark and grey paws, chest, and underbelly lit up by stars. His tail was long as it sweapted the starry ground below him. "Warrior, welcome. Come with me, if you would." He turned, but waited for her to join him.

For Dawnscar, a large black tom came up to him, his brown underbelly and tail showed the stars in his pelt. "Welcome back. Follow me, please." He dipped his head, turning waiting for the warrior to join his side.

A small, molted grey she-cat went up to Burningsky, her darker ears and tail tip showed most of the stars on her. "Welcome back to Starclan. Come with me please, we don't have much time to waste."

[Shadow Sharpfang]

Hollowpaw was quite surprised to open his eyes only to find one of his starry ancestors standing before him. He placed his paws underneath him and pushed himself up. "Hello," he greeted, joining the Starclan cat's side and waiting for him to lead the way.

Mintpaw couldn't have been more relieved to have the comforting, starlit fields of Starclan unfold before her as she woke up. She looked at the she-cat and her accomplice and nodded slowly. "O-okay!"

Icepetal sat up and smiled softly. "Always an honour to wake up here," she purred. "Lead the way, friend." She got up and followed the tabby cat.

Drowsily, Dawnscar lifted his head and gazed up at the large black feline who had come to greet him. "Oh. Hello." He quickly got to his paws and dipped his head in return before padding over to accompany the tom.

Burningsky grumbled to herself, then her bleary eyes opened. "Oh, back here, huh?" she mumbled, standing up with a yawn. "Alright, lead me to where I need to be," she mewed to the small, grey she-cat. "I'm following."

[Wolfstar]

"My name is Leaning Oak, or Oakstar, as the clans know." He started leading the apprentice back to where the two cats sat. The ancient kept his green gaze forward as he walked, thoughts running through his head at the request he received before this.

The two smiled, and starting leading the she-cat away from where she woke up. "I am Waving Willow, but the clan knows me as Willowstar. Beside me is Ripplestar, my second leader and mate. If we had the time, he'd tell you his story." The tom flattened his ears in embarrassment, nudging her playfully.
"I would, if we were given the time, as you said."

The tabby lead the way, keeping quiet until he turned his green gaze to her. "The name I was given was Quiet Birch, but the name I received to lead was Birchstar. I'm going to be honest with you, it's nice to actually talk to someone alive from my home."

He lead Dawnscar where the two cats waited, deciding to tell the warrior his name. "My name was Shattered Cedar, but you and the rest of the clan know me as Cedarstar. It's nice to speak with a living clanmate."

"The name that my parents gave me was Falling Ash, but you and the rest know me as Ashstar. It's nice to meet you," she mewed quietly. She kept her light blue gaze forward, wondering why she was given this request.

[Shadow Sharpfang]

Hollowpaw blinked. "Oakstar? The first leader of Oakclan?" he asked for confirmation, stunned that he was awarded the honour of meeting such an ancient cat. "Wow, I can't even imagine what you might have to tell me," he murmured, ideas racing through his still weary mind.

Mintpaw gasped. "Oh, wow! Willowstar! That's so awesome, I heard so many cool stories about you!" she purred, her steps turning into eager bounces. "And Ripplestar, second leader? So cool..." She looked at them both with big, curious eyes.

Icepetal let out another amused purr. "Birchstar, is that so? Well, my, my." She flicked her tail and smiled. "It must be nice. I can only imagine how it must be, watching your clan grow on without you. And speaking to you, well, there's no greater pleasure."

Dawnscar grinned. "Ah, Cedarstar? I can see it," he grumbled with a laugh. "Now, I wonder what you might want with me?" He looked at the ground as he trodded along. "It's nice to see someone from back home, even if they're among the stars now. This past while has been an adventure beyond all of my expectations, and it hasn't even reached its high point."

Burningsky lifted her head, surprised. "Ashstar?" she repeated. "Huh, this is even more of a surprise. Mm, nice meeting you too." She gave the quiet she-cat a slight smile.

[Wolfstar]

"I am the first leader of Oakclan, you are correct. And I'm not going to say much when we met everyone else. My father, however, wanted to see all five of you." Oakstar picked up the pace once he saw the two cats. He turned his head, spotting one of his littermates.

Willowstar purred, "I'm flattered. What kind of stories do my clan-mates tell nowadays?" Ripplestar shook his head.
"I'm sure there's plenty, we do have descendants," He replied. "Now, how about we run back? It seems like we walked the farthest."
She nodded, turning to Mintpaw. "Lets see if my clan-mates still runs with the wind." Ripplestar took off without another word, and Willowstar smiled, running after him.

Birchstar nodded, let a small smile appear on his muzzle. "I'm sure the waters flow well for you all, as well as the fish. Sometimes I miss the taste of fresh fish, the ones up here aren't as good." He shrugged, shaking his head and seeing one of his littermates. "I see Oakstar has arrived. Wonder where the other three are."

"I'm sure walking with cats from the past is odd, but the secrets that you and the others will be told might shock you. My mother and father are the ones talking tonight, he was also the one who asked me and my littermates this request. Walking this far away from Starclan's hunting grounds is odd, but it's nice," Cedarstar said, looking at the bracken as they passed through. He wished there were more brambles, but knew it wouldn't happen.

Ashstar continued forward, picking up her pace slightly. "I heard that the tunneling has stopped in Ashclan. Is that so? If it's true, then I'm glad. Making tunneling a thing is the worst decision I've had, yet it has its perks. But lives aren't a good trade for more prey."

[Shadow Sharpfang]

"Your father?" Hollowpaw asked. "You know, we never really get to hear those stories. The way the elders tell it, it's as if you were just born one day as an adult, already leading the clan. I'd be interested in learning more, but I understand time is limited."

Mintpaw would have gladly rambled on for ages about all the fun stories she knew, but then the two leaders started to run, and as a young Willowclan cat, there was no greater pride than showing off her speed. "You bet we do!" she exclaimed as she took off at a sprint, dashing into the distance like a rabbit as she followed Willowstar and Ripplestar.

"Oh, really? I always imagined the fish here would taste better than even the most flavourful summer's catch." Icepetal laughed. "I guess I've learned something today." She looked over when Oakstar was mentioned, seeing the other leader a small way away. "Wow, I see we've got a gathering on our hands."

Dawnscar nodded along. "Ah, I see. This is a unique night. I can only imagine what he's going to tell us." He looked around at the scenery then, giving a content rumble. "I thought the same thing when we first left clan grounds. Definitely a unique experience, but one that's worth having."

Burningsky shrugged. "Yeah, don't see much of it. We still use some of the old tunnels now and then," she explained. "Probably for the best, yeah. Never really liked the tunnels myself, they make my back tingle."

[Wolfstar]

"They make us sound like we're rabbits, appearing like an adult since the young are afraid to show themselves. But that isn't the case. I'd enjoy telling you my kit-hood, but on another night." Oakstar stopped a fox-length away from the two cats. "Darkened Sky, Broken Flower. I've brought Hollowpaw just like you requested." He dipped his head, hearing a purr from the brown she-cat.
"Your father requested it, not me. This fur-ball wanted to talk," She touched the black tom's back with her bent tail. "And I see Birchstar is here as well."

Ripplestar looked back, a bright smile on his face. Willowstar passed him, and he pushed himself forward to catch her. When he did the two rolled, making Oakstar and Birchstar look at them. The two were clearly amused. "Got you like a rabbit! Just like old times!" The tom exclaimed, pushed to the side by the she-cat.
"Sorry for our sudden entrance, but we had to get here before the sun rose," Willowstar panted, dipping her head to the other leaders and living cats. "And I see my clan still run with the wind, I'm glad." She turned to Mintpaw, a grin on her face.

Birchstar rolled his eyes, snorting as he sat beside Broken Flower. "I see you two still play like kits," he said. Willowstar stuck her tongue out at him, and Ripplestar lowered his head in embarrassment.
"Relax Birchstar, you're being a protective brother again," Broken Flower purred, snickering when the tabby's ears flatten.

Cedarstar nodded, spotting familiar cats gathering. "I see that the others are here." He saw Ripplestar and Willowstar tackle one another. "Seems those two still play around. It's funny..." He chuckled, walking over the group. "Dawnscar, introductions will happen once Ashstar is here."

"That's good. I believed they would be a good investment, but knowing that more tunnels won't be made anymore." Ashstar shook her head, brightening up when she saw everyone gathering. "It means more lives won't be taken by the earth. Come along now." She ran forward, stopping and lowering her head. "I'm sorry we were the last to arrive."
"It's alright, now come together everyone."

[Shadow Sharpfang]

Hollowpaw showed the ancient tom a smile. "Ah, I'd really love to hear all about it sometime," he said in an eager voice. It was a tone he didn't use often, one that betrayed more of his younger side than he usually let show. Then he looked up when the other cats came into view. He saw Icepetal and waved his tail at her.

Mintpaw watched the two leaders tumble ahead of her and giggled. Then, as Willowstar's praise, her face grew warm and she promptly return the grin with her own huge, beaming smile. "Oh! Well, if we couldn't run, who would we be?" she asked with a warm-hearted laugh. "Thank you."

Icepetal watched as everyone else arrived. She returned Hollowpaw's wave of the tail and smiled at Mintpaw's bashfulness. Then she turned her focus to the leaders, curious what would happen next.

Dawnscar snorted. "Well, not everyone grows up with age," he pointed out with a slight smile. He looked around to see who else was present and nodded his head to Icepetal and Hollowpaw. Mintpaw was too distracted to notice his arrival, else he would have greeted her too.

Burningsky hummed her agreement, but her focus was quickly grabbed away when she saw all the other cats who had gathered. "Oh, everyone else is here, huh?" she said to herself, taking a seat.

It was safe to say everyone was sharing the same thought at that point: 'What is this all about?'

[Wolfstar]

The rest of the leaders sat down, sitting tall and staying quiet. Broken Flower rose, looking at the tom beside her before talking. "I'm glad you could all come, even if you didn't really have a choice." She enjoyed the sigh that came from the cat next to her. "The stories you've heard, I'm sure, is how your leaders came together one day and started to lead. If only those stories didn't hold most of the story for you." For once, she smiled and looked at the leaders before her. Then she looked at the black tom, and let him take over.

"The leaders you know are all littermates, ones who decided a change was in order by the way we lived. My name, as odd as it is to the clans now, is Darkened Sky. The one beside me is Broken Flower. In the beginning, we lived in a gorge, nearly drowning when the wooden wall broke and let the waters run. We lost... A few cats, but their deaths shocked us, to the point where we didn't know where to go. Eventually, after countless sunrises and listening to the ones who looked up to the stars and healed with herbs, we found our home. That home is where you five reside, and we couldn't be happier. But even so, we where split. Split by.." Darkened Sky hesitated, letting his words fade until Broken Flower stood, finishing his sentence for him.

"By the one you call Hawk."

[Shadow Sharpfang]

Everyone enjoyed listening to the stories of the past, the curious apprentices especially, but no one was expecting the abrupt ending to the first segment of the recount. Everyone gave some show of surprise. Dawnscar's paws twitched but he remained seated. "Hawk? What could he have possibly done?" he asked. He felt his ears twitching and forced them to still.
Mintpaw frowned. "Aw, don't tell me he did something bad," she mumbled, tail-tip flickering anxiously.

[Wolfstar]

"Warriors can be reborn, if they wish to. We had the chance, but turned it down. He decided to go back, as well as the other four who travelled with him. Funny enough, everyone but Hawk were rogues in the beginning," Darkened Sky shrugged, turning to Cedarstar when he growled.
"Pretty sure he decided to be reborn to get away from me. Like I'd-" Birchstar smacked him with his tail, rolling his eyes when his brother hissed at him.
"What has passed has passed. I know Hawk killed Darkened Sky, but that tom realized what he did to regret it. Don't you think the weight of killing his own younger sibling is enough?" The leader asked, and Cedarstar looked at his paws, looking at his claws.
"That flea-brain isn't family, that's it." Broken Flower shook her head, sighing.

[Shadow Sharpfang]

Everyone's eyes flitted around at the arrangement of cats. Hollowpaw was gazing between the tom named Darkened Sky and Cedarstar, thinking about Hawk while he did so. This news didn't come as a shock to him personally, but he could see varying levels of surprise across everyone else's face. He decided to push the conversation along by asking, "And the others were rogues? How did they come into play, then?"

[Wolfstar]

"Rogues travel, and they came to us. They helped us too. All clans were originally made of rogues, not sure why the clans resent them," Broken Flower thought for a moment, shaking her head. "Never mind, don't answer that."
Darkened Sky nodded, wrapping his tail around his paws as he continued. "Many of us were rogues, even Ripplestar here. That's another story to tell though. For now, we send you into battle with a clear mind and strength. Don't believe those loner's words, they'll try to make you turn on one another. They know more than you know. We'll be with you, because death isn't an option for you five." The leaders stood, going to their living clan-mates. Oakstar and Willowstar looked at one another, nodding.

"Stay with us awhile longer, we have something to tell the two of you apprentices," Oakstar whispered to Hollowpaw. Willowstar whispered the same phrase to Mintpaw.

[Shadow Sharpfang]

The clan cats took great heed in the words of their ancestors. "We understand," Dawnscar said, keeping his head high despite the burden that he was balancing on his shoulders. "We'll be cautious. I, for one, won't let any of us die outside of our home."
"Aye aye," Icepetal agreed, smiling. "Clan cats don't deserve to die a loner's death, right?"
Everyone shared a united cheer to pep each other up for the battle ahead, and they would walk out of this meeting feeling more prepared than they ever had.

Hollowpaw's ear flickered as Oakstar told him to wait awhile. "Ah, of course, Oakstar," he said with a dip of his head.
Mintpaw's reaction was much more drastic. "Huh? Stay? Um, yeah, okay!" she said. Her whiskers were quivering in anticipation for what the ancient leaders might be about to tell her and her thoughts raced with an endless series of possibilities, none of which were remotely probable.

[Wolfstar]

"For now, your ancients will lead you back. Feeling well rested and ready for battle is all that you can do, sadly. We'll be here for you, and answer any questions for you tonight. We thank you, for your courage and skills," The tom dipped his head, as well as the others before the remaining three leaders waited for their living clan-mates.

Birchstar raised his head, his green gaze turning towards Icepetal. "If you have any questions for me, we can take a swim in the brook nearby. I would like to know how my clan-mates have been, if you don't mind me asking."

His brown tail swept the ground behind him as Cedarstar raised his head, looking as his litter-mates and parents before turning to Dawnscar. "Let's get back to the bracken and bramble, being out here is starting to get uncomfortable."

Ashstar looked up at Burningsky, her blue gaze going to the trees before looking back at the warrior. "Let's see if we can find somewhere shady to sit, or do you want to lay somewhere sunny?"

Oakstar, Willowstar, and Ripplestar stayed where they were, sitting down and waiting for the others to leave.

[Shadow Sharpfang]

Icepetal purred. "Ah, a swim sounds nice. I haven't had the opportunity to bask in a river in a long time. I'd love to tell you how the clan is faring, and I might have a few questions for you as well." She nodded and followed him away. "Let's be going, then. See you in the morning, everyone!"

Dawnscar grinned at Cedarstar. "Haha, I would agree with you, but lately I haven't had much of the comforts of home. I don't know when I miss the brambles and when I don't anymore, but right now, I think I'm missing them more than usual. Lead the way." He flicked his tail in farewell to everyone else.

Burningsky sighed. "Lazing in the shade would be nice. Know a good spot?" she asked, giving Ashstar a curious look.

The pair of apprentices shared farewells with the three warriors, then sat with the leaders to wait for everyone else to be on their way.

[Wolfstar]

Birchstar waved his tail, saying goodbye before leading Icepetal to the brook he spoke about. He spotted the reeds, letting the scent of them and the brook relax him.

Cedarstar nodded, saying farewell before leading the warrior back into the bracken and brambles. The shade from the trees reminding him of his days alive.

Ashstar said her goodbyes, tilting her head in thought. "Hmm. How about under an alder? It's not an ash tree, but that's what they have out here. Some birds like to sing their quiet songs there. Does that sound alright?"

Broken Flower watched them go, then turned her head and whispered something to Darkened Sky. "I know, just give it a bit. I don't want the warriors to hear," he whispered back. She replied with a shrug, laying back down and looking at her paws.

[Shadow Sharpfang]

Icepetal sighed at the sight of the brook and slipped into the cool waters. The smell of the reeds, the feeling of the water on her pelt, it was the most relaxing sensation she'd experienced in days. "Thank you for leading me here," she purred.

Dawnscar gazed around as they entered a shadowy, thick area of the woodlands. "Not bad," he mumbled gruffly. "Not bad..."

Burningsky nodded. "It's all the same to me," she said. "Hm, when was the last time I just sat back and listened to the birds sing, I wonder?"

The two apprentices continued to wait patiently.