The Mothkit Question

Bloodstar traveled to Highstones on the 25th day of the Moon of First Fishing (2007) to try and get advice from his ancestors about Mothkit.

Written by Kitsufox about her Characters Bloodstar, Fiercestar and Gingertail.

The Mothkit Question

Bloodstar moved silently through the chilled tunnel, out of the sunshine that gleamed outside. The Moonstone was reflecting the sun's brilliance as he approached, glowing like a miniature underground sun. The big red tom cat took a deep breath and stretched out on the stone, his nose pressed to the sun warmed quartz. Sleep enfolded him...

...Bloodstar blinked as awareness returned and he emerged into the strange dreamscape so like the forest he knew. There was no cat in sight immediately, but they all seemed to like making an appearance. As if on cue a familiar orange-furred form glimmered into focus. "Gingertail." Bloodstar couldn't help but purr at the sight of his mother.

"Bloodstar." She returned the purr and rubbed cheeks with her son. Even her dream-self still had the gray fur around the muzzle, but all stiffness had vanished. "You worry about your kits." She licked quickly between his eyes too quickly for him to argue. As if the tom so much larger than she was still little more than her tiny dark-furred kit. "Mothkit will be fine."

"Nothing is fine when a kit cannot grow to serve its Clan." A second spirit shimmered into the dreamscape, finding solid form as a huge orange and white tom with a battered face. Bloodstar hadn't seen Fiercestar since his last death. Being amongst the most painful things that had ever happened to him the moment had not been forgotten, nor had the burning words of his grandsire on that day.

"Is it really that bad?" Bloodstar turned to look at his grandsire, concern on his face. "Is there no hope?"

"Mothkit may grow up unable to be a warrior... but what about the medicine cat's path?" Gingertail's voice was hopeful, searching for a place in the Clan for her grandkit.

"No." Another sudden appearance, this one as instant as if the cat had stood from laying on the grass.

"This is Twilightheart. He was medicine cat when I was a kit. Twilightstar was named for him." Fiercestar didn't mince words with his introduction. "I asked him to come. I thought this might come up."

"A medicine cat counts on their eyes. How can they tell a limb is properly straight, or that a cat's eyes or gums are a healthy color? Or even something so simple as finding the best leaves growing on a plant. Mothkit might be able to assist a medicine cat, but never able to be one. Would you trust your healing to a cat that would have to reach in and feel about in the wound to tell how deep it is?" The black-furred cat shook his head, then met Bloodstar's eyes. "I'm sorry."

"Then there is nothing I can do." Bloodstar lowered his gaze, not moving when his mother ran a comforting tongue over his cheek.

"You must do what is best for ThunderClan." Even Fiercestar's normally harsh voice had softened. "It isn't as if you can be held responsible for her blindness."

"I won't have you pinning this on Cottonwhisker's blood..."

"Bloodstar, it can't be blamed on her, either. Gingertail is responsible. Your father was not the quality of cat he should have been." Fiercestar's amber eyes turned on his daughter, filled with accusation.

"Who was he?" The words sprang from Bloodstar unbidden. "What was wrong with him?" A coil of fear bound itself in his chest.

"Nothing that can be helped. The blood runs in your veins. Worry about the future, not the past. Good breeding will restore things." Fiercestar dismissed the question, turning to walk into the woods. He paused for a moment, speaking over his shoulder. "ThunderClan has enough to worry about without you turning your mind to some no-account tom without the backbone of a proper cat." Then he continued, never actually reaching the forest, instead just falling apart like smoke on the wind. Twilightheart waved his tail in a feline shrug, following Fiercestar into whatever place it was StarClan cats went when they weren't sharing tongues with leaders and medicine cats.

"Gingertail?" He stared at his mother, hopeful. "Please. Tell me?"

"Some things are best left unsaid." She looked deeply sad. "Take care, Bloodstar." She rubbed cheeks with him once more, then left him. He closed his eyes...

...When his eyes opened he was back in the sun-ridden chamber of the Moonstone. He wondered if they ever actually told anycat anything.