Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“You were always a good cat.” Firestar gently bumped his head against Leafpool’s, twining his daughter’s tail with his own. “I’m so proud of you.” He purred, blinking softly.

She purred back, tears sparkling with stars as they gathered around her amber eyes. “Thank you.”

The ginger tom gave her forehead a lick, and then flicked his tail in the direction of his mate and his granddaughter. “Now go spend time with our family, I’ll be there soon. I just have a few things to tend to.”

Beaming, Leafpool ran towards Sandstorm and Hollyleaf, pressing herself into their fur joyfully. The family reunion brought a smile to Firestar’s face; seeing his mate embrace their daughter after so long was so bittersweet —as was seeing Leafpool do the same to Hollyleaf. The love of two mothers, reunited with their daughters they’d been separated from for so long, was deep as a lake.

Sandstorm cast Firestar a meaningful glance over Leafpool’s shoulder, and he nodded, turning back around.

Now that he was out of eyeshot of his daughter, the fury he’d been hiding started to bubble out. His hackles raised with each pawstep, star-speckled fur bristling as he pinned his ears. How dare they? How DARE they?! 

Tail lashing, Firestar stalked towards the group of whispering StarClan cats, rage so palpable that they froze to stare up at him.

Tallstar, Crookedstar, and Littlecloud averted their eyes, Moth Flight glared venomously, Yellowfang raised her tail in greeting, and Bluestar stepped forward.

“Firestar,” Bluestar began calmly, “I understand that you’re upset, but—”

“—But?! You don’t get to give a ‘but’ to this situation!” Firestar snarled, only a whisker-length from her face. He whipped his head around to face the entire group, burning with anger. “How dare you put her on trial like that?!”

“There are rules—” Tallstar began.

“—Shut up!” The ginger tom spat. He’d never wanted to disrespect any of the cats there before, but this incident had changed everything he’d thought about the wisdom of StarClan. “You should be ashamed of yourselves! YOU were the ones to tell her to have those kits! YOU were the ones to tell my daughters to lie! That it was their destinies to raise the three! How DARE you treat them like their place in StarClan is questionable.”

Bluestar, Tallstar, Crookedstar, and Littlecloud looked away in shame. Yellowfang dipped her head in acceptance, whilst Moth Flight raised her chin indignantly.

The white she-cat opened her mouth to speak, but Firestar shut her down immediately.

“There are cats here who have killed in cold blood, like Blackstar. There are cats like Ashfur—” he glared pointedly at Yellowfang, “—who schemed and attempted the murder of my grandchildren because he felt entitled to my daughter against her will, and who helped take one of my lives for the same reason.” He stepped back, claws flexing. “None of you are without sin. Even I have made mistakes. But Leafpool and Squirrelflight?” He shook his head, disgusted, and refused to look back toward the other cats. “They only ever did as they were asked by you. They only ever did what they thought was righteous and good. You have no right to act like they should end up in the Place Of No Stars for following the path YOU forced them on.”

“Blackstar.” A growl of disdain came to Crookedstar’s throat as he seemed to ruminate over the past ShadowClan leader’s actions, and the pain he’d caused the tabby’s family in particular. 

Tallstar too had a glimmer of rage come to his eyes at the black-footed tom’s name, his long, graceful tail lashing violently.

“You’re right.” Crookedstar meowed after a moment, flicking his own tail. “Blackstar is here. Leopardstar is here. My mother is here. The system is flawed if cats who have broken the code so viciously are given an easier trial than those who haven’t.”

“Lizardstripe.” Yellowfang added, pain in her voice. “She was so cruel to Brokenkit. So very cruel.”

“Hawkheart.” Bluestar murmured, a haunted look coming to her face.

“See?” Firestar huffed, beginning to feel relieved that the cats he respected so much were seeing reason. “I’m not saying they should be banished, but I am saying that there’s no reason my daughters should’ve been judged with such harshness when you’ve let cats like that in.”

“That doesn’t change the fact that she broke my rule!” Moth Flight spat. “It’s for the good of the Clans. I had to give up my kits, so should’ve she!”

“It’s a stupid rule!” Firestar retorted, “It only works if medicine cats don’t have families; parents, siblings, friends, that they would favor anyways. You know it’s a stupid rule!”

“I’m not even going to entertain this conversation.” With a frustrated growl, the white she-cat whipped around, stalking away.

Firestar had to bite back the urge to call after her, to tell her that she only clung so tightly to the rule because if she didn’t, she’d have to face her decision to abandon her own kits.

Calm down, hold your tongue. He scolded himself. It's not worth starting a fight.

The group sat silently for a moment, waiting for the tension to fizzle away.

“Who… who controls the system?” Firestar wondered aloud, latching onto the question in a sudden shock. “Because if Leafpool almost ended up in the Dark Forest…” his heart sank. Is there anyone else there that shouldn’t be?

The concept seemed to wash over each of the cats around him at once.

“I’m sure that wouldn’t happen,” Bluestar furrowed her brow. “StarClan is too wise to not have some sort of checks and balances in place.”

“They let SkyClan be driven out because there weren’t enough trees.” Firestar responded bluntly.

The cats went silent again.

“You should speak to the founders.” Yellowfang said after a moment, motioning for him to follow her with her tail. 

The others nodded, and so the flame-colored tom padded after her, mind and heart racing. 

Around him, sparkling trees of oak and birch stood tall and brave, their wood taking on bluish hues, and their leaves as silvery-white as the stars. The grass, a gentle turquoise, felt soft under his paw pads, springing back up as soon as it was no longer underfoot. White and silver flowers wound around the path the pair took, wafting a scent so sweet and familiar, and yet something Firestar couldn’t quite pin down.

For him, the landscape of StarClan always reminded him of the forest territory of ThunderClan. Even with his many years at the lake, the forest had always been his home, and always would be. He’d heard that the surroundings shifted and changed to match an ethereal version of whatever each individual cat loved most. As he watched the ragged she-cat leading the way, Firestar wondered what Yellowfang saw.

“I’m proud of you, you know.” Yellowfang rasped, hopping over a shimmering stream. “You’re still looking out for others, still making sure things are fair and just.”

“You don’t get the right to be proud of me. ” He stopped, slouching slightly. His claws dug into the iridescent sand below. “I love you, but what you’ve done to my family…We can’t just go back to how it was.”

The gray she-cat stopped too, lowering her head. “You’re like a son to me. It was never my intention to hurt you or your loved ones. I only wanted to help.”

“I won’t forget that you lied to Squirrelflight.” Firestar twitched his whiskers, hurt in his heart. He had loved Yellowfang like a mother, and learning she’d told his kin such a harmful lie had nearly broken him. And then to learn that she’d been the tiebreaker in letting Ashfur stay despite the suffering he’d caused Squirrelflight…

“I’m so sorry Firestar.” Yellowfang croaked, her tail limp against the ground. “If I could go back in time, I’d change that in a heartbeat.”

Firestar couldn’t meet her eyes. He silently continued on, trying to focus on the gargantuan task ahead instead of the pain of betrayal. He didn’t want to be mad at her. He wanted to forgive her. He just … couldn’t yet.

At least we have an eternity for that.

It wasn't long before the pair came to a deep blue thicket, much like the tunnel entrance to the old ThunderClan camp.
Yellowfang paused at the entrance, looking back over her matted gray shoulder at Firestar with one paw raised. “Please be respectful.”

With that, she disappeared into the thicket.

Following after, Firestar pushed into the tunnel, gazing wide-eyed at the walls. Light blue, teardrop shaped flowers glowed softly in the darkness, leaving a trail for the ginger tom to follow. The edges of the thicket brushed softly and pleasantly against his pelt. 

For a time, the tunnel seemed to stretch forever; but then the light appeared. As Yellowfang exited the thicket, bright, white light beamed into it, beckoning Firestar forward. He couldn’t see anything outside of the white, but he knew in his heart that he’d find the founders there. 

He stepped through.

Firestar’s breath caught in his throat.

Gathered in a semi circle around a mirror-like pool of water, six glittering cats sat upon crystalline stumps, facing Firestar with glowing eyes. Each was significantly larger than regular cats, radiating unique auras, divine and strange in form.

At the furthest left, a huge and muscular orange tom crackled with electricity, static arcing along his thick fur. Lightning sparked from his yellow eyes. Dark clouds gathered around his head like a crown, growling like an oncoming storm.

Next to him, a light gray tom stood upon his crystal, his fur trailing and shifting with clouds. His paws were abnormally large and strong, claws hooks for climbing. It seemed the sun glowed behind his head, rays of light framing his fierce face.

Beside him, a smaller tom sat calmly, his dark gray body reminding Firestar more of feathers than fur. At first, he seemed to look the most like a normal cat out of the council; until he spread out a pair of great wings.

To his right, a light brown tabby’s pelt rustled as if she were long grass in a breeze, her legs stretching long and swift below her. Heather petals swirled about her head in a whirlwind, never settling.

A silvery-blue tom was next, his fur seeming to churn like the water of a raging river, foam flicking off the edges and dripping around him before evaporating. Droplets floated above his head, glistening and refracting rainbows in the starlight.

Firestar nearly didn’t notice the last cat: in fact, his eyes seemed to slip away from her without his input whenever he tried to look for too long. The she-cat was a shade of pitch black, and yet translucent in a way that gave off an optical illusion, blending with the background. She stretched tall and long in the light, more shadow than cat, and a ringlet of dark mist around her head obscured much of her eyes.

Finding himself frozen in awe, Firestar gazed upon the founding cats, his breath taken away. Though his body screamed at him to bow and look away, he held himself steady, heart pounding.

“Greetings Firestar.” The winged gray tom spoke first, bowing his head in a surprising show of respect. “I am Gray Wing. This is Thunderstar, founder of ThunderClan,” with his tail, Gray Wing gestured towards the stormy orange tom, “This is Skystar, founder of SkyClan,” he flicked his tail to the lighter gray cat beside him, and then continued down the line, “Windstar, founder of WindClan, Riverstar, founder of RiverClan, and Shadowstar, founder of ShadowClan.”

Firestar respectfully dipped his head, taking a steadying breath. His mind raced as he took in the presence of such important cats, and for a moment, he wondered if he should really take their time with his proposition. 

Then he thought of his daughters’ faces.

“Greetings founders. You have my respect, but I come to you today to challenge the flaws of StarClan.” Firestar spoke loudly and clearly, causing looks of shock to ripple across the crowd.

Yellowfang seemed to shrink back beside him, shaking her head as if to warn him not to be so brash, but he ignored her.

“I just witnessed a violation of justice,” He continued. “My daughters, Squirrelflight and Leafpool, were brought before a jury of StarClan cats and tried. They were nearly sent to the Place of No Stars for so-called-crimes that were for the greater good.” He swallowed at the intense stares of the founders, but continued despite the shakiness he felt in his hackles. “Leafpool bore three kits, two of whom held the power of stars in their paws; the prophecy cats, Lionblaze and Jayfeather. However, as she was a medicine cat, and their father was a WindClan tom, she had to hide the kits’ parentage. My other daughter, Squirrelflight, at the insistence of StarClan cats, took them in as her own and kept her sister’s secret. These kits grew up to save the Clans from the threat of the very Dark Forest my daughters were threatened to be sent to.”

A booming voice cracked from the mouth of the orange cat, Thunderstar. “The jury decided they deserved their place in StarClan. I don’t see the problem.” He growled, rumbling like thunder.

“The problem,” Firestar felt his fur begin to rise, not out of fear, but from the static in the air, “Is that they came so close in the first place. The system must be deeply flawed for cats to be punished so harshly for doing what StarClan itself has asked them to do.”

“You have some audacity, coming here to complain about something that almost happened.” Snarled the pale gray Skystar, moving forward intimidatingly.

Refusing to back down, Firestar started forward, only for Yellowfang to stop him with a tail across his chest. He cast her a glance, and with a sigh, settled down.

Gray Wing stopped Skystar the same way, keeping a calm and steady tone. “I think it's fair that you feel anger. Your daughters did follow the requests of StarClan, and should not have been scrutinized so heavily for doing so. You have our apologies.”

The other deities, including a reluctant Skystar, murmured their agreement.

Gray wing sat silently, glancing behind Firestar at the tunnel, and then back at the fiery tom. He shook his wings, clearing his throat. “So… that’s all?”

“No.”

The cats looked intrigued.

“While I do deeply appreciate the apology,” Firestar meowed, sweeping his tail across the grass, “It does not fix the deeper issue. As I sat watching their trial, I realized something; there’s a great discrepancy on who gets into StarClan and who doesn't. I realized that there don’t seem to be any set rules to keep you in, nor to keep you out.” He strode towards the pool of water. “At first I thought, ‘well, killing in cold blood must automatically disqualify you from being here’, and then I remembered Blackstar. Ashfur too; he got in with the same amount of judgment as my daughters despite his attempted murders and successfully aiding in one of my own lives being taken.” 

“I see.” Gray Wing said with an understanding nod. “I can understand where the frustration comes from.”

“I thought ‘maybe those are just flukes’; but I couldn’t shake thinking about it as much as I tried, and I began realizing there were many more examples just like that.” He pondered aloud, dipping his paw into the pool and watching it ripple outwards. “I started wondering who else in StarClan had done worse than my daughters, and what the jury’s thought process was in letting them in. Had they all done something redeeming enough to skirt by? Or was it subjective and based on the luck of who was chosen to decide their fate?” 

Seeming to be trying to stay interested, but clearly seeming to have heard it all before, Gray Wing nodded. “Of course there is a bit ob subjectivity in the juries, but—”

“—And then,” Firestar raised his voice a bit despite the pleading look in Yellowfang’s eyes, “I wondered; ‘what about the other way around?’”

This silenced the gray founder, who’s mouth stayed ajar for a moment. A look came to his face, thoughts turning in his mind, and his eyes suddenly lit up with genuine focus.

Gotcha.

“If murderers can get into StarClan, and the mothers of heroes can nearly get cast into darkness, then how many cats suffer in the Place of No Stars undeservingly?”

Several heartbeats passed, in which the ancient cats stared ahead in shock.

“Most cats there deserve punishment.” Thunderstar shifted uneasily, though Firestar could see from the look on his face that he wasn’t fully assured in what he was saying.

“Most?” Firestar narrowed his eyes. That’s what I was afraid of. StarClan, how deep do the flaws go?! “Who exactly is in the Dark Forest right now?

“You won’t know most of them.” The ancient leader meowed, voice rumbling.

“Tell me anyway.”

Thunderstar exchanged glances with the other five, and then relented with a sigh. “From ThunderClan; Mapleshade and Frecklewish, though they were from before your time, as well as Thistleclaw, who Bluestar likely told you about, and Darkstripe.”

Riverstar chimed in, his voice bubbling like a brook. “From WindClan, we have Rushtooth and Marshcloud.”

“From ShadowClan,” Shadowstar added, “We have Maggottail, Snowtuft, Clawface, Stumpytail—”

“—Stumpytail?” Firestar interjected. He’d heard that name before. He narrowed his eyes, trying to hone in on the memory. That’s right; Stumpytail of ShadowClan. He had fought alongside WindClan to try to kill Brokenstar when we held him captive. I clawed his belly. I think he was killed in the battle with BloodClan… “What did Stumpytail do?”

The leaders exchanged uncomfortable glances.

Firestar tried to remember the short-tailed tom. Sure, they’d fought, but as far as he knew, Stumpytail hadn’t taken any lives, and had stayed loyal to ShadowClan instead of following Brokenstar into exile. Thinking harder on it, he realized he hadn’t seen him in the Great Battle at all. “What did he do?”

“Mistakes were made.” Shadowstar said in a hurried tone.

“Every cat makes mistakes, but what were his?” Firestar tilted his head.

Shadowstar swallowed and cast her gaze to the side. “I wasn’t talking about his mistakes.”

Chapter Text

Stumpytail gasped, shooting to his feet. He blinked in the bright starlight, mind swirling as he tried to get his bearings.

“Stumpytail.” Growled a familiar voice.

The short-tailed tom turned around to see Raggedstar’s face, decorated with starlight.

So I’m in StarClan. He realized, raising a paw to his throat. That’s right. The battle, that BloodClan cat, the teeth on my neck…

He took a step forward, looking around at the group of cats for his family, but to his confusion, he didn’t see them. Instead, other than Raggedstar, Newtspeck, Featherstorm, and who Stumpytail recognized as a previous RiverClan deputy, Oakheart, as well as two cats he didn’t recognize, stood around him.

His confusion turned to unease as he realized they were glaring at him.

“Stumpytail of ShadowClan: son of Rowanberry and the condemned Clawface, you stand trial before StarClan for your crimes.” One of the strangers, a light brown and ginger she-cat with fierce blue eyes, stepped forward. 

Stumpytail widened his eyes, looking back and forth between the cats. “Trial?..”

“Us six have gathered here to decide your fate, whether you will walk among stars, or forever in shadow.” The she-cat hissed, tucking her tail over her paws. 

Gasping for breath, Stumpytail trembled at the ferocity in her tone. He bowed, trying to keep steady. It's okay. He tried to reassure himself. I was a good cat. I’ll be okay.

Raggedstar was the first to address him.

“Stumpytail,” he growled again, shaking his head with a sigh, “You have much to answer for.”

“What do you mean? I —I never killed anyone.” Stumpytail tensed up, slightly surprised by his leader’s words.

“Yes, but you have broken many codes.” Raggedstar growled, narrowing his eyes. “I shall begin. I saw promise in you; that’s why I apprenticed you to my son, Brokenstar.”

Monster.

It felt as if dark claws had wound their way around Stumpytail’s lungs and heart, dragging him down into a nightmare. Memories rushed through his mind; the agony his mentor had inflicted upon him, claws, fangs, cruel words —scratches, bruises, slamming into trees, into rocks, the ache in his jaw as he clung to a branch —blood, so much blood, bodies, kits wailing— He could feel himself hyperventilating, blackness creeping into the edges of his vision as he gasped for air. Brokenstar. Brokenstar. Menace. Monster. Brokenstar.

The short-tailed tabby could barely hear Raggedstar speak over the blood rushing in his ears. He couldn’t focus —not with what felt like the stench of Brokenstar curling around him even now.

“Stumpytail!” Raggedstar snapped, bringing the ShadowClan warrior’s attention back to him.

Stumpytail swallowed, trying to remember what Runningnose had told him to do when the memories of Brokenstar surfaced. Breathe deeply, exhale slowly, focus on what you can feel beneath your paws. Such soft grass. Focus on what you can see. Stars, and these angry cats. Focus on what you can smell. Brokenstar isn’t here, it’s just the smell of Raggedstar and the others. Focus on what you can hear. Raggedstar’s voice.

“One of the most important codes there is, is that the word of the leader is law,” Raggedstar meowed. “Without it, cats would fall into anarchy with their own choices.”

“What?” Stumpytail lurched, unbalanced and confused, trying to understand if he’d heard his leader right. Was he mad at Stumpytail for not backing Brokenstar? After everything he’d done, after even killing Raggedstar? Surely not.

To his horror, Raggedstar confirmed his fear. “Though Brokenstar was a flawed leader, he was the leader at the end of the day. You went against the code by aiding in driving him out, as he still had the rightful claim to ShadowClan despite his crimes. You then proceeded to join with an enemy Clan, WindClan, in attacking ThunderClan camp in an attempt to kill Brokenstar.”

“One of the things he did right!” A young gray tom who Stumpytail didn’t recognize interjected, tail puffing up. “Brokenstar was a monster, he didn’t deserve any loyalty.”

THANK you!

“While that may be true, it sets a dangerous precedent!” Raggedstar argued with the WindClan cat. “It is not up to the living cats to decide to stop following their leader, as it is not up to StarClan to revoke their lives! It wasn’t up to Stumpytail to make that call.”

“I don’t think it’s fair to blame Stumpytail for that.” The tom growled with a raised chin. “I don’t feel that it should be counted among his sins.”

Thank you! Stumpytail opened his mouth to reply, but the look the thing warrior sent his way shut that train of thought down immediately.

“You don’t remember me, do you?” The gray tom tilted his head to the side, anger and disappointment in his amber eyes.

Hesitating for a moment, Stumpytail swallowed and shook his head. “I don’t, I’m sorry…”

“My name is Stoneclaw.” He hissed. “You saw me die.”

A lump formed in Stumpytail’s throat. Dismaying as the information was, he still couldn't remember Stoneclaw. 

The cat seemed to see that in Stumpytail’s face, because he got angrier. “When you attacked WindClan and drove them out?! I was only twelve moons old! I had only just been made a warrior that day, and had been on watch. One of the ShadowClan warriors slashed my throat before I could warn anyone of your ambush, and your filthy clan drove WindClan out of our territory while I bled to death on the camp floor! My sister had to leave my corpse behind! It rotted there, unburied, because you and your clanmates left instead of giving a proper burial!”

Stumpytail remembered now. He’d been there during that battle; Brokenstar had ordered it to take more territory to feed ShadowClan. He’d known there’d been fatalities, but hadn’t severely injured anyone himself. Realizing that Stoneclaw’s life had been cut so short without Stumpytail even seeing him on the ground—

Stoneclaw closed his eyes tightly. “You are complicit.”

Now, Oakheart stepped forward, his reddish-brown fur puffed up. “Tigerstar killed my son, Stonefur,” He snarled. “Executed him after starving and beating him.”

Stumpytail looked down to his paws, swallowing. The sight had been so brutal. The gray warrior had stood between Blackfoot and those young apprentices, laying down his life without hesitation… his body, so broken, battered, and bloody already, so starved that his ribs had shown through his thick pelt… and still, Stonefur had fought. 

“You were there during the TigerClan alliance, you saw firsthand as they killed innocent half-Clan cats.”

“I couldn’t stop them!” Stumpytail cried. 

“You didn’t try.”

“He would’ve had me killed too!”

“Better to die at least trying to do the right thing instead of sitting back and looking away.” Oakheart stepped back. “You are complicit.” 

Guilt gnawed at Stumpytail’s chest. Nobody had stepped in when Tigerstar had begun his torment, certainly not himself. He’d looked away each time, too sickened and scared by the sights of the TigerClan camp to do anything. 

He hadn’t even watched Stonefur’s killing blow.

Maybe I should have. He thought, watching the RiverClan deputy step back. I died so soon afterwards anyways. At least I would’ve given my life to do good.

“I am Daisytail.” The brown and ginger she-cat stepped forth again, shaking Stumpytail from his spiral. “I am the founder of the fifth rule of the Warrior Code. I am here to represent the many heartbroken mothers affected by Brokenstar apprenticing kits too early.”

Wide eyed and panicking, Stumpytail flattened his ears to his head. He knew where this was going. “It was never my choice, I had nothing to do with his actions.”

“But you were given a kit-apprentice nonetheless.” 

Nausea rising in his stomach, he turned to face Newtspeck; Brownpaw’s mother. Heartache radiated off of her, and Stumpytail could see the face of her son in her own. He could see the amber eyes of his apprentice in Newtspeck’s, and images of the little brown tom flashed through his mind.

“I —I did my best to protect him!” Stumpytail stammered, regret weighing down on him like heavy stones. “I didn’t choose to have him as an apprentice that early, I couldn’t—”

“You should’ve done anything!” Newtspeck snarled. “You should’ve stopped the training!”

“I couldn’t! Brokenstar would’ve reassigned him—”

“The blood he spilt is on your claws.” Hissed Featherstorm, eyes burning with hatred as she joined in. “Mosspaw died because Brownpaw didn’t understand what he was doing.”

The sight of the kit-apprentice’s body washed over Stumpytail like a wave. The cry of grief from Featherstorm rang once again in his ears. 

“I wasn’t his mentor when that happened. I wasn’t there.” Stumpytail’s voice broke. He could see Brownpaw turning to look up at Stumpytail as he was announced an apprentice after the event, so innocent, so confused by his actions…

“But you were made so directly after!” The grieving mother cried. “You should’ve reprimanded him, should’ve told him not to be proud of what he did or glad to be an apprentice!”

He hadn’t been able to tell the kit he’d done something so wrong.

“You should’ve refused to mentor such a young cat!” Newtspeck spat. “He wasn’t ready!”

“None of them were ready.” Daisytail growled. “The fifth code; not making a kit an apprentice before six moons. You are complicit.”

Stumpytail bowed his head, shoulders trembling. He’d done what he could for the apprentice, even asked for his warrior ceremony to be held back longer than his siblings so he could grow more, only for sickness to take him anyway. If I could only see him, to apologize for not being able to protect him—

“Now, we must deliberate.” Raggedstar interrupted his train of thought, turning to the others with his paw raised. “Those of us who believe Stumpytail’s afterlife should be spent in the Dark Forest, raise your paw.” 

To Stumpytail’s terror, one paw after another raised around him. Daisytail was the first, shortly followed by the two furious queens, Stoneclaw, and last of all, Oakheart.

No.

It was unanimous.

No!

Raggedstar raised his chin, glaring down at Stumpytail with fury in his eyes. “Stumpytail, by this trial, you have been condemned. You will spend your eternity in the Place of No Stars.”

“Please! No!” Stumpytail cried, legs giving out beneath him. “Please, let me talk to Cinderfur, to Brownpaw, to anyone who could vouch for me. I was a loyal warrior, I never killed anyone, I did what I could, please—”

Please don’t send me there. Not with him. Please...

But the stars had already faded. He was surrounded by rotted trees, creeping fungus  and a darkness so thick and oppressive that he thought he might choke on it. Tearfully, he stared up at the inky sky, desperate for some sort of light, a distant star to show he wasn’t alone, but found nothing. With a wail of despair, Stumpytail curled up in the mud, and closed his eyes.

~~~~~~

Firestar shook his head in disgust, pacing back and forth. “So, you gave him a botched trial?”

“Yes.” Shadowstar admitted, nearly disappearing into the background as she turned her face away. “We hadn’t realized when we confirmed the cats who’d asked to judge him that they each had a bone to pick. They were still so angry at anyone who had anything to do with Brokenstar or Tigerstar at that time, it skewed their judgment. They just wanted to punish someone, anyone. He just happened to be the one to die at the time and give them that opportunity.”

“If I’d realized his trial was happening, I would’ve tried to get involved.” Yellowfang said solemnly. “He wasn’t a supporter of Brokentail, but a victim, even more so than most cats. You see, he was his apprentice, and I witnessed firsthand the abuse he suffered at Brokentail’s claws. But that connection, no matter how unwilling on Stumpytail’s part, unfortunately put him directly in the others’ warpath.”

Firestar exhaled, squeezing his eyes closed and lashing his tail. “So, give him a retrial.”

“We can’t do that.” Thunderstar meowed sharply, lightning sparking from his mouth.

“And why not?”

“Because. It’s always been that way.”

“Well…” Firestar pondered, gazing around at the cats surrounding him, “Maybe we should change that.”

The cats stared at him skeptically, but the idea had already stuck. He hadn’t liked Stumpytail personally; their overlapping time in the forest was during a turbulent period between ShadowClan and ThunderClan after all, but he believed deeply in justice. StarClan especially should’ve been a place where justice prevailed, but the system was clearly flawed. Instead of looking the other way, Firestar wanted to change it for the better.

“Just hear me out,” He continued, the idea starting to grow and evolve in his mind. “We could create a trial; send them back into their memories to relive their biggest moral failures. We’d erase their memories so they wouldn’t realize it was a test, and then do it again until they grow and change and make more just decisions.”

“How would we even do that? Most of the cats there are murderers or cowards. They won’t change.” Skystar growled skeptically. “Why should any of them have a second chance to get into StarClan?”

“Don’t start. Not you.” Gray Wing cast the SkyClan founder a warning look, and turned to Firestar. “I’m interested. How would this work?”

“We’d leave just enough of a feeling behind that they could choose to act on it.” The orange tom paced back and forth excitedly, green eyes burning with determination. “I believe if given enough time, we’ll see real change and improvement. If they’re able to pass the test, they can enter StarClan on probation.”

“Who would we even try this with?” Gray Wing tilted his head curiously. “Unfortunately, there are many cats who do deserve their place in the dark forest. It wouldn’t feel wise to allow someone genuinely dangerous into StarClan.”

“We start with cats with deep remorse who are willing to change, or who were punished for crimes that are small compared to murder and usurpation.” Firestar explained, leaping onto the boulder. “Stumpytail for one, a couple others; we’ll ask around.”

The cats around him nodded thoughtfully, Gray Wing especially seeming receptive to the idea.

They're listening. They’re actually listening! Firestar raised his tail, excitement beginning to bubble up in his chest. I can do this. I can make a change to the afterlife. 

“I think I speak for us all when I say I have concerns.” Windstar commented, her voice, though as loud as the others, seemed a soft whistle like a breeze. She laid her tail over her paws, blinking curiously. “We need proof of concept before implementing such a drastic change. How do you suggest we do this?”

Tilting his head, Firestar made up his mind quickly, acting on impulse and a gut feeling. “Well, I can be the first subject.”

There was a murmur among the crowd, until Riverstar spoke up. “Could you elaborate?”

“I will be the first to take the trial.” Firestar meowed, meeting the eyes of each founder, one after the other. “I have faults, we all do. That’s the point. As the one who’s come up with this, I think it should be my responsibility to test it, so we can work out all of the kinks before applying it in the field.”

“You already made it to StarClan!” Thunderstar seemed surprised. “You don’t have a reason to go through it, so why would you bother?”

“I’m not perfect, nobody is.” Firestar admitted. “Yes, I made it to StarClan, but everyone has room for improvement. It would be hypocritical to suggest a trial I myself wouldn’t be willing to go through. I refuse to be complicit.”

“It 'll be painstaking.” Thunderstar’s whiskers twitched, sending a wave of electricity through them. “You’ve given so much for the Clans already! Why give more now?”

“Well, that’s because I’m working towards something I feel is important enough to do so.” He puffed out his chest, meeting the eyes of each of the founders. “I believe they deserve a second chance, don’t you?”

There was a heartbeat of silence as the cats exchanged glances with one another.

Gray Wing spoke up first. “I believe you’re right, Firestar.” He paused for one more second, before nodding as if making up his mind. “I support this idea. I vote we try this.”

“I vote with Gray Wing.” Thunderstar rumbled, bowing his head respectfully at the other tom. “If he believes in this plan, I will believe in it too.”

“I agree.” Windstar chimed, turning towards the others. “Gray Wing has a sort of wisdom when it comes to these things. If he thinks it will work, I’m willing to give it a shot.”

“Me as well.” Riverstar blinked softly. “Though, I was on board before I knew Gray Wing was. I think you’re right, Firestar; everyone deserves a second chance, and I think it's about time we begin to give it to them.”

Shadowstar lashed her tail thoughtfully for a moment, seeming to take in her companions’ words. After a long silence, she nodded sharply. “Alright then. I’m willing to give this a shot. As long as we can keep the rest of StarClan safe.” She hung her head, ears flattening with shame. “I know a disproportionate amount of cats from my own Clan are in the Place of No Stars, and I’d like to do right by them and help them if I can.”

Skystar was the last, grimacing at Firestar with disgruntlement. “Why should we trust that you’ll keep this under control? Just because you were some sort of hot-shot when you were alive—”

“—He brought back your Clan from extinction!” Gray Wing snarled, causing each of the cats to jump slightly in surprise. “If anyone should be open to the idea of second chances, it should be you! You caused the deaths and injuries of so many of our friends and loved ones, and were you not a founder yourself, and stood trial today, you would end up right there in the muck with the ones he’s trying to help!” 

To Firestar’s surprise, Skystar flinched back. 

“Rainswept Flower!” Gray wing stepped closer to his face, puffing up. “She had been with us since the beginning. Bumble! An innocent cat who had been such a comfort to Turtle Tail! Misty! A MOTHER whose kits you orphaned!”

Skystar tried to step back further, not meeting Gray Wing’s eyes.

Firestar could tell the winged cat was almost always a voice of calm and reason. To see him so livid was humbling; whatever had set him off seemed to have been a long time coming.

“Micah. Willow Tail. You caused their deaths.” Windstar added with a growl, her voice a tornado. “Me one of the times!”

“Not to mention what happened to Jagged Peak, and the other cats you made miserable and scared, or who died because of your rash decisions.” Gray Wing continued, though his fur began to lay flat again. His eyes softened, his demeanor becoming gentler. “My brother… I love you, I do, but you have to admit the hypocrisy of this. You cannot try to take the moral high ground here.”

Skystar scoffed, though he was visually shaken, and shame had crept into his expression. “Fine, whatever, I’m in.”

Satisfied, Gray Wing stepped forward to face Firestar, eyes glimmering with intrigue. “Alright Firestar, savior of the Clans, accept your proposition to change the system. We give our blessing for this monumental experiment; may it save many souls.”