The patrol of four approached Thunderclan's home, Lionblaze watched Cinderpelt limp into the thorn barrier. He didn't understand why she wasn't asking questions about this when she didn't even know where they were or why they were here. Maybe she thought this was a sign from Starclan, and medicine cats didn't ask questions. Lionblaze didn't know, he would never be a medicine cat.
Bluestar padded into the camp, as usual there wasn't enough room in the dens for everyone and many cats were asleep outside, but tonight wasn't too bad this time in Newleaf.
"Remember, this is Cinderheart's dream so other cats can't see us," Honeyfern whispered in Lionblaze's ear. Lionblaze nodded and saw his own pelt amongst the ones laying in the camp. He followed Bluestar and Honeyfern into the medicine den where Cinderheart was fast asleep next to Jayfeather, their deep breathing was a sign they were both sleeping. Odd she would be dreaming of her self sleeping... Lionblaze thought to himself.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lionblaze and the others swarmed down through the tall grasses of Starclan. Cinderheart's fur touched his, it was quaking in fear like it had been for the past couple moons. On his other side was Cinderpelt, her rhythmic limp timing the speed of the gallop through Starclan only moments after they had asked Cinderherat to join them. Honeyfern was pressed close to Cinderheart's other side, but Bluestar was the only one in front of the group, leading them through the tangling grasses, Lionblaze could hear a soft hum of a river up ahead. They had past a few cats he had seen a few moons ago before the Great Battle, Firefoot, Cherrynose, Nightcloud, and Thornclaw. But now it seemed as if Starclan cats had left this part of the forest all to the patrol.
"We'll stop here," Bluestar murmured, settling down in the tall grass. Honeyfern joined her at the blue she-cat's side, whisker poised and fur slicked back carefully. Cindereart and Cinderpelt wedged Lionblaze between them. Bluestar wasted no time,"Cinderpelt do you remember the night when the badgers invaded the Thunderclan camp?" Lionblaze glanced at the small gray she-cat.
She nodded,"I remember being with Sorreltail while she delivered her kits," Lionblaze hadn't been alive then, he had no idea how bad the badger attack was.
"Cinderheart was one of Sorreltail's kits," Bluestar touched her tail tip to Lionblaze's mate,"She was named after you,"
"I knew that, because Cinderpelt died saving me and Honeyfern and our other siblings," Cinderheart put in, Lionblaze glanced at Honeyfern, who nodded solemnly.
Cinderpelt's eyes widened, her tail started twitching wildly,"Then, then I'm dead?" Lionblaze flicked his ears. The wind rustled quietly near the group.
"Yes," Bluestar nodded,"You have been dead for many moons," The wind seemed to stop as she spoke, but her steady gaze made agitation crack like lightning around the group. Honeyfern's fur was prickling slightly, Lionblaze could smell fear, though he wasn't sure where it was coming from.
"Then why can't I remember being in Starclan," Cinderpelt objected quietly, her eyes sparkling. Bluestar blinked.
"Because you weren't," Bluestar replied, flicking an ear casually.
"You have to tell them more," Lionblaze pleaded gently, why was Bluestar being so casual about this? As far as Lionblaze was concerned, there was no way this could be a nonchalant meeting with Starclan!
"What's going on?" Cinderheart demanded, now her tail was lashing too. Lionblaze could feel this was escalating dangerously if Bluestar didn't answer more clearly.
Bluestar blinked again,"There is something you both must know,"She drew her tongue over her paw and over one ear,"But you must not ask any questions until I'm done," Lionblaze looked from Cinderheart to Cinderpelt, they both nodded quickly. Bluestar sighed evenly, as if drawing in the coolness of the day,"Cinderpelt, Starclan told you of the day you would die. We trusted with you that you would not tell another soul, even when Leafpool had abandoned her clan. You died when a badger tried to kill Sorreltail. You were a gifted medicine cat, you know, but that was never your destiny. The day that monster hit you, all of Starclan was stunned. You would've been a gifted warrior. So when you kept that secret, well, a secret, Starclan did something amazing." Bluestar glanced at Cinderheart. Cinderheart stared blankly at Bluestar, tail twitching only mildly. Honeyfern started to sob wildly, Lionblaze suspected she already knew, but Honeyfern knew her sister would be upset when she realized what was going on.
"Then why am I here?" Cinderheart stood,"To tell Cinderpelt I have the same name as her? I'm no medicine cat, Bluestar, but I don't think that warrants a trip to Starclan when I could be dreaming in my den," She turned around as if to leave, but where would she go? She was in Starclan! Lionblaze stood with her though, trying to guide her back to the group with his tail.
Bluestar spoke again,"Do you two remember coming to the moonpool tonight?" The wind whipped across the moor. Everyone was silent until Cinderpelt spoke,"I remember being there, Honeypaw was having her medicine cat apprentice ceremony," Lionblaze let Cinderheart turn around and sit back next to Cinderpelt, leaving Lionblaze alone.
Bluestar narrowed her eyes,"But how could you? You've been dead for many moons," she mewed evenly. Lionblaze could tell she was trying to draw the realization out of the two she-cats instead of coming out and saying it directly.
"Maybe I was in spirit-" Cinderpelt was interrupted by a shrill wailing.
The fur along Cinderheart's spine rose quickly,"You're her! You're the she-cat I see in my head! When I attacked Jayfeather!" Lionblaze glanced at Honeyfern, her face was buried in her sister's shoulder.
Bluestar glanced at Cinderpelt, eyes resting on her with respect and confidence.
"Cinderheart is right, but Cinderpelt you have always been with Cinderheart, you two are one in the same," Bluestar explained carefully,"Cinderpelt when you kept the secret, Starclan awarded you with a new life, where you could be a warrior," Lionblaze looked at his mate, resting his tail over her back.
"What does this all mean?" Cinderheart demanded, eyes wide and tail lashing. Her claws scraped at the moorland grasses, the wind wrapping them around her paws.
"Cinderpelt was reborn, as Sorreltail's fourth kit," Bluestar mewed,"You Cinderheart, are Cinderpelt. You two have always been one, do you know why you know so much of medicine herbs with no medicine cat training?" Bluestar didn't wait for an answer,"But during the Great Battle in Thunderclan's camp, you saw your son, Mountainpaw fight against too many warriors than he could handle. You rushed in, but they overpowered the both of you. Mountainpaw's back leg snapped didn't it? You knew how that felt, your own leg had broke, one falling from a tree and once as Cinderpelt," Bluestar stepped forward, nose to nose with Cinderheart. Cinderheart's back was arched and her eyes were shut as memories swamped through her mind, Lionblaze wished he could read her mind like Jayfeather, then he might be able to comfort her. All he could do was press as close as he could to her.
"The memories of Cinderpelt's life overcame you, she took over. But you were both in a panic now, the only thing either of you do was run," Bluestar's eyes were so hard and cold Lionblaze didn't know if this was the same she-cat he had heard about all his life about being calm and thoughtful. "So you did, and you've lived your lives split, but Thunderclan need it's deputy, which means whenever Cinderpelt is active she must act the same as Cinderheart. Lionblaze will help you learn about your clanmates Cinderpelt but Cinderherat you should be fine." Bluestar touched noses with Cinderpelt and Cinderheart. Lionblaze twitched his nose, cat scent drifted across the moor, though he hesitated to turn his head.
"Do you both understand?" Bluestar stood up, stretching her spine luxuriously and pulling her ears the back of her head as she yawned. She glanced at the younger she-cats. Honeyfern licked her sister's head and sat next to the old gray blue she-cat.
"I-I think so," Cinderheart mumbled, leaning on Lionblaze's golden tabby fur. It was good to be with Cinderherat again, even under these circumstances.
"Yes Bluestar," Cinderpelt dipped her head. Lionblaze felt the moor drift away into haze, slowly the sky was darkening until he opened his eyes. He was back at the moonpool.
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