Do take note that Nightstar doesn't deal with anxiety very well. She crams it so far down in her heart that it can't escape. She will break eventually.

Nightstar P.O.V.

I'm losing hope. We've lost nine cats in the past two sunrises. All to an enemy I can't fight! There is no catmint, there's barely any hope! We're running on dreams by now. Snowclover and Mintleaf are going to drop from exhaustion soon.

My daughter just died.

"Nightstar? I have news." Poolsky calls from outside my den.

"Coming."

"Deerheart picked a fight with, well, Ashclan. He apparently strolled into their camp and yowled out 'Come and get me dungpelts!' He's in the Warrior's den." The tom quickly explained.

Wonderful.

"I'll go see him." I mutter, walking towards my deputy.

"He, er, asked to not see you." Poolsky murmurs.

"Well, I'm all out of wishes today."

We pad to the Warriors den, Poolsky stopping to chat with his kits. Well, they're apprentices now.

I tread on.

When I get to Deerheart's nest, the brown tom doesn't seem surprised.

"I-" He starts.

"No. You will listen, Deerheart. I lost my daughter, I would know why you would like me to lose you as well." I growl.

"I didn't know you felt so strongly, Nightstar." He snarks.

"I will feel how I please, and you will keep your nose out of Ashclan. No border patrols for two moons. I will not hesitate to put a guard on you."

"But I haven't challenged Lakeclan yet!" The injured cat chuckles.

"I could always return you to an apprentice? Deerpaw was a good name for you. So? What will it be, Deerpaw? Or Deerheart?" I threaten.

"As fun as that might be, I'll take the second option." Deerheart purrs.

"Another time, then. Now, you are on nest rest for three sunrises." I order.

One problem down, infinite more to go.

I move to the center of the clearing where Mintleaf is cleaning bits of rosemary off the ground.

"Mom? Don't- don't keep this in. Please." Mintleaf meows.

"What else can I do? I have a Clan to run, more cats die everyday, and Starclan won't talk with us! Please, help me understand why we are being punished! Because, honestly, I would love to know." I cry, frustrated.

"Come on, we're going to have a chat with Jaystar." My daughter replies, padding away.

What good is Starclan going to do now?

Nevertheless I follow the young medicine cat, hoping against hope for answers.

I open my eyes to a grumpy looking Jaystar.

"Why did it take you so long to come?" My dead mate snaps.

"Well, if you hadn't heard, I've been attending funerals and running your Clan!" I hiss.

"My Clan?! You are the one who wanted it! As for the funerals, I've shown more cats to Starclan in the past moon than I'd ever hoped to! It's not Starclan's responsibility to care for you like kits!" Jaystar growls.

"Maybe, just maybe, Starclan should get off their lazy rumps and care! The only reason you're here is our memories! We, who have to suffer on, clueless to the path ahead! My Clan, our Clan is dying Jaystar. Show some sympathy!"

That did it. Leaping forward, we grappled with eachother. Biting, scratching, hissing and spitting. Desperation leaking into something manageable, claws and teeth and hateful words. I needed a good fight.

"Enough! You two fight like dogs!" A cat yowls from behind me.

Whipping around, I see the last cat I expected.

Breezepelt.

"What the Dark Forest, Nightstar? Don't you have better things to do than pick on Starclan cats?" The cheeky tom laughs.

"Do you just sit around and wait for me to do something mousebrained? Honestly, Breezepelt!" I hiss.

"It's a hobby. You could use one yourself."

"Now on to your little problem. We found catmint in Jayclan territory. Enough to feed the whole clan." Breezepelt murmurs.

-----

I think that's enough for now.

Onto an issue I'm having a bit of trouble with. Would you like to see a lbgtq+ couple in the story?

Love ya,

-Jay