100 Oneshot Challenge!

I smell something strange…

Moondance spun around wildly, her heart beating fast and hard. Her golden eyes flickered all around but she could not see any further than her own paws. There was a thick peculiar fog around her, making her feel vulnerable without a clear vision of her surroundings. She could hear whispers in her ears, repeating the same things over and over again. Foolish. Wanderer. Lost. Kill.

Her anxiety increased, and so did her fear. She stumbled backwards, clumsily crunching the leaves on the ground she had carefully avoided earlier on. She held her breath as she heard another hiss.

I hear something strange…

Her mind raced with wild thoughts. Maybe I should not have come here after all, she thought. The mist suddenly vanished, revealing three black figures before her.

I see something strange…

A closer look nearly made her heart stop. There were stitches on their mouths, sealing them shut, which why the hisses weren't even cat-like. They were speaking to her through their minds.

What do you want, strange cat? They asked in unison, never shifting their cold gaze from her. She took a deep breath and as firmly as she could, replied.

"Take me to your leader."

She couldn't help suppressing a shiver down her spine as she followed them. The ground was stone cold under her paws as she made her way through the camp. There were yellow eyes glinting in the darkness, watching her every move.

Our leader is waiting for you. One of them mouthed to her and she nodded, stepping into a hollow den. It was much brighter that she expected and she caught a scent of life in it. A gray cat was inside. The moment their eyes met, she wanted to rush over and nuzzle her but something in her gaze stopped her.

"Nightingale?" The name felt weird on her tongue - She had not spoken of it for moons.

"I go by the name of Nightstar now." The reply was curt. The gray she-cat rose to her paws.

There was an empty feeling in her heart now. The cat she had once loved was no longer like the cat she used to know. "Nighting-star," She quickly corrected herself and earned a glare from Nightstar.

"Are you here perhaps to ask for forgiveness?" Nightstar sneered.

Moondance paused, unsure whether to tell the truth. After a few heartbeats, she finally admitted, "Yes."

"Do you expect me to forgive you?" The gray she-cat let out a snarl. "Do you remember what you told me?"

Mummy, why is everyone staring at me like this?

Stay away from me, you were never meant to be born.

Mummy, don't say that. Nightingale feels lonely…

I don't care about you!

Mummy! Where are you taking me to?

Stop calling me that. I'm not your mother!

Mummy! Mummy, don't say that! What did I do?

Your eyes, Nightingale. Your eyes….

Tears stung her eyes at the painful memory. She found herself looking into the pair of purple eyes which she had grown to love and hate.

"I'm sorry…" Her voice trailed off. She didn't know what to say. Nightstar however bristled in fury.

"You came here just to say you're sorry? Did you know how life for me was? You ruined my life!" She seethed with rage, her claws already unsheathed. "So what if my eyes were purple? I don't care what colour eyes I have! Does StarClan look down upon me? StarClan gave me a chance when you didn't!"

"I tried to fight for you! And what did I get? I was disowned by my mate and shunned by my Clanmates because of you!" Moondance snapped back. "I had no choice!"

"A mother always fights for her kits no matter what happens," Nightstar said through gritted teeth.

"I know," she replied softly, guilt welling up in her chest. "I know…"

"I was barely three moons when you threw me out alone, far from the Clans. Did you know how afraid I was?" her voice trembled as she spoke, as though she was experiencing it all again. "I spent so many moons trying to figure out what I did wrong."

There was a long silence before Moondance mewed," Why don't you come back to ThunderClan?"

"Go back?" Nightstar shrieked with mocking laughter. "To the Clan who threw me out when I needed them? This is my home now! Where I am finally accepted for who I am!" There was a hint of pride in her voice, a rare fondness in them. But they vanished almost immediately when she whipped her head to face her. "Never, Moondance, never. No one can make me go back. I know what will happen if I do. Jeered, taunted and shamed. I will not go through all that again."

"I give you my word that no cat will treat you badly."

"I don't think I can believe in anything you say now, Moondance." Her eyes flashed. "Perhaps it would be good if you leave forever."

She flinched at her words, hurt by the sharpness of her tone. "Fine," she managed to choke out bitterly. "But at least address me as your mother…"

"Mother?" Nightstar repeated, a blank look on her face.

"Like you used to… in the nursery. Do you remember?" Moondance stood close enough to Nightstar that she could feel their fur brush.

"You don't deserve it, Moondance. You don't deserve my love anymore. I don't want to see you ever again in my life. Get out of my den now."

Moondance was taken aback. "What?"

"I said get out of my den! I don't belong to you anymore! You had a chance to change your mind but you didn't! Get out of my sight now!" Nightstar spoke harshly, her tail lashing from side to side.

Moondance took a step back, realising that she could no longer see the resemblance of the kit she had once loved. Look at her. Look what I turned my only kit into. A monster. And with that, she fled.

Nightstar watched the retreating figure. She didn't feel any happiness. Just a hollow feeling in her heart, eating the life away from her slowly.

StarClan told me that cats with strange eyes will never lead a happy life…