the-adventures-of-badgerclan

[the-adventures-of-badgerclan]

Since he was a small kit, Gale had a big dream; he saw the many difficulties that cats suffered no matter where they went, and longed to create a safe haven for cats of any age. This dream was started after Gale was forced to watch his mother get run over by a twoleg monster when he was only 5 moons old. He still remembered the acrid tang he had tasted in his mouth as he stood there, rooted to the spot, watching the monster speed off after causing the worst tragedy in Gale’s life. He had barely survived after that, wandering around the forests aimlessly, trying his very best to find something - anything - to eat. But with such a small body, Gale was incapable of catching even a mouse. After a particularly devastating failed catch - he had almost HAD it- Gale collapsed into the leaves and grass of the forest, unable to go any farther. He was unsure how long he had lain there but the very moment in which he had given up all hope, Gale smelled a scent unlike any he had ever encountered before. It was unmistakably a cat, but such a fresh and welcoming scent could surely not come from anyone living. Then, he heard a whisper, a male cat who sounded so sincere Gale could not help but listen. “Don’t give up Gale, I know you can do it. There’s a fire in you which no one can quell,” the cat breathed. “Rise, young kit, like the star you are.” 

Gale’s eyes popped open, his determination renewed, and he looked around for the strange cat. All he managed to catch, however, was a glimpse of long tabby fur. After that moment, Gale had managed by himself for many moons, barely scraping by at times but always keeping the strange cat's words in his mind. He would never give up hope again, but continued forward like a blazing star. After some time, Gale noticed that he could see cats who lingered after their death, a trait he believed to have gained from spending so much time on the brink of death. When he met other rogues on his journeys, he often heard tales of a large group of cats around a lake, who had strong loyalties to each other and would protect and defend each of their cats with great ferocity. Each of these stories only fueled Gale’s desire to create his own clan, and he spent many years trying, but to no avail. Finally, on one day in Newleaf as he neared his 50th moon, he met a cat named Flax.

Flax had eyes like sunlit ice which seemed to pierce right through you and a long tabby pelt, reminding Gale of the ghost cat from his past even though the scent was nothing similar. He padded into the clearing, somehow setting Gale at ease immediately. Something about this cat made you feel as if you had known him for moons, even though they had just met. The two cats started chatting, and by the next morning they had become traveling companions. Miraculously, Flax shared the same goal as Gale, and the two set out in earnest to find others who could join them in their clan. They ended up finding eight other cats to join them, and settled in a forest grotto surrounded by giant, towering trees which provided many good spots for dens. 

As the clan was getting settled, it became time to choose a leader, and the choice was unanimous; Gale would lead the cats and guide the clan in the right direction. His first act as leader was to declare the group Badgerclan after their great strength and ferocity. He then made Flax his second-in-command, out of all of them this cat surely deserved the title of deputy. Finally, Bittern became the medicine cat because of her knowledge of herbs, and the cats started to settle into their life together.

After a half-moon, Gale was in the forest hunting when he picked up a scent that stirred a memory from long ago. It was cool and sweet like the night air, and as he turned toward the scent’s source, he glimpsed a tabby tail disappearing behind a tree. He followed it around the forest, almost losing the cat but each time catching another whiff of the scent. Finally, he came to a great tree, the width of 20 cats. The roots supporting the tree were exposed, leaving a large space under the tree. In this space, Gale realized suddenly, was a cat. They had tabby fur that glowed like compressed starlight, and he recognized that it was the one who had saved him as a kit.

As he padded into the clearing where the cat was standing, Gale noticed that this was not an ordinary tree-cave. The moon filtered through the small holes between the roots, hitting the many small blue stones embedded in the ground and trunk. Standing in the tree-cave, Gale felt as if he had left the world behind. A small cough brought him back to reality, and he realized the cat was waiting for him to speak. “U-um, hello,” he spluttered awkwardly, and the cat smiled slightly. 

“Hello Gale, I am Lowwind,” she answered smoothly, “Do you know why we are here tonight?” A jolt of panic shot through him as he asked himself that same question. 

“Am I in trouble?” he gasped out, but Lowwind only laughed.

“No silly, now that you have a real clan you have been recognized by Starclan, which holds all of your ancestors and will use their wisdom to guide you in your adventures. You meet me tonight, but the cats under your care will all meet me one day when they join the stars. Aside from the leader, only the medicine cat will commune with Starclan. They must come here every half-moon to receive instruction.” Gale’s mind swirled with this large intake of information, but Lowwind wasn’t finished yet.

“Finally, as the leader of a clan, you will receive nine lives, so that your clan will have a strong and wise anchor for many years to come. Step forward, and I will grant you your first life.” Gale did as he was told, though he was feeling quite uncertain about whether or not this was all a big joke. It didn’t seem like one, though, and he knew he definitely wasn’t creative enough for this to be a dream his mind made up. 

“Gale,” Lowwind mewed, “with this life I give you unquenchable determination, like a blazing star” and then she stepped back into the shadows. As she spoke, Gale felt the heat of a million suns in his chest, almost more than he could bear. Another cat stepped forward to take her place, and Gale recognized his mother. He gasped and ran forward, amazed to have this chance to reunite with her. His mother’s scent was warm and so, so good. He buried his nose in her pelt and they stood there for a moment. Then, his mother spoke. 

“With this life, I give you the clarity to see what is happening around you, judge well my child.” With this Gale found his senses’ abilities doubled, and the intake of information made him gasp. After his mother stepped away with a last loving look, he was met by other cats. Each was unknown to him but claimed to have journeyed from other far away clans. And each of these cats bestowed upon Gale a life, until he at last had all nine. At this moment, the cats all started to fade away, appearing further and further away from him. “Goodbye Galestar…” Their silvery voices intertwined to create a haunting melody and Galestar was left alone in the glowing cave with a new name and a lot to think about.