Chapter Text
Chapter Text
》SCENE 1. SHININGCLAN CAMP. DAY, FALL.
[Note: Use the GS Loyalstar design for Loyalstar from this point onward.]
Breadheart and Grasstuft are heading out of the camp. When they reach the forest, they pause.
BREADHEART
All of the flowers are dead now. What else would Blankspots have liked?
Grasstuft doesn't respond. Breadheart continues searching the forest floor and sniffs a pinecone. He tries to pick it up in his mouth and quickly drops it, cringing at the taste.
BREADHEART
Grasstuft?
He turns toward her. She's facing away from him, hunched. He approaches her.
GRASSTUFT
I miss him.
BREADHEART
I'm sorry.
GRASSTUFT
You don't need to apologize.
Breadheart lays his tail across her back. She leans into him.
GRASSTUFT
Loyalstar does.
Breadheart's eyes widen.
BREADHEART
Blankspots was his mentor. I'm sure he's grieving, too.
GRASSTUFT
(progressively losing control of her emotions)
He's not. I talked to him-he's not! I asked him to come and he said no, and when I asked why, he told me there was no point. 'Blankspots is in StarClan, he'll be around forever!' But he's not here! He's not alive...
As Grasstuft speaks, Breadheart alternates between shock and disgust. This isn't the Loyalstar he knows.
Breadheart hesitates for a moment, then grows determined.
BREADHEART
I'll talk to him.
SHININGCLAN LEADER'S DEN.
Cut to Breadheart in front of the leader's den. He takes a breath before entering. Loyalstar is laying in his nest, licking between his claws.
BREADHEART
Why didn't you come with us?
Loyalstar looks at Breadheart.
LOYALSTAR
Where?
BREADHEART
(irritated)
Blankspots's resting place!
Loyalstar looks at his claws.
LOYALSTAR
He rests in StarClan. Bringing flowers to his buried body does nothing but waste time.
BREADHEART
It shows him we care.
LOYALSTAR
You think he sees it?
BREADHEART
I hope he does.
LOYALSTAR
He doesn't.
Breadheart stares at Loyalstar for a moment, his mouth hanging open as he formulates a response.
BREADHEART
You really think he doesn't?
LOYALSTAR
I know he doesn't.
BREADHEART
How?
Loyalstar turns away.
LOYALSTAR
I just do.
An awkward silence passes between them. Breadheart tries a different approach.
BREADHEART
I know Blankspots was your mentor, so it must be hard-
Loyalstar whips back toward Breadheart with a snarl.
LOYALSTAR
It doesn't matter.
BREADHEART
But it does! It's okay to grieve-
LOYALSTAR
You don't understand! I have things to grieve, but you don't know any of them.
BREADHEART
Blankspots was your mentor, and Palefur was your mate. You lost them both within a few moons. I lost one of my closest friends. I don't want to lose another.
Loyalstar puts his teeth and claws away. He takes a breath and turns toward the wall of the den-away from Breadheart.
LOYALSTAR
Leave.
BREADHEART
Okay.
Breadheart exits the den.
》SCENE 2. SHININGCLAN MEDICINE DEN. DAY, FALL.
[Note: Use Deadpaw's apprentice/Deadpaw design in this episode.]
Clevertail is organizing her herbs. She sweeps some dead leaves into a pile of other dead herbs before placing the remaining ones back into their spot. As she moves onto the next herb, Breadheart enters.
CLEVERTAIL
Breadheart! How are you?
BREADHEART
What do you know about StarClan?
CLEVERTAIL
You'll have to be more specific.
BREADHEART
I talked to Loyalstar a few sunrises ago. He told me Blankspots couldn't see us. Is that true?
Clevertail pauses.
CLEVERTAIL
I don't think so, but I don't know. We only see a small section of StarClan.
BREADHEART
Well, next time you meet with them, can you ask?
Clevertail cringes, but tries to hide it.
CLEVERTAIL
They don't really answer questions.
BREADHEART
I know.
Clevertail turns to him, her ears curled and a confused expression on her face.
CLEVERTAIL
Have they spoken to you before?
Breadheart opens his mouth to respond but is interrupted when Deadpaw and Strongclaw enter. Deadpaw is covered in scratches and thorns, and is shaking. Strongclaw stares down at her disapprovingly.
STRONGCLAW
(flatly)
She fell in a bush.
Breadheart, Clevertail, and Strongclaw exchange glances.
CLEVERTAIL
That's a lot of thorns.
DEADPAW
(mumbling sadly)
It was the middle of the bush.
Breadheart approaches her and licks her forehead.
BREADHEART
I bet it was. Let's get those thorns out.
》SCENE 3. SHININGCLAN TERRITORY. DAY, FALL.
[Note: Use Spinepaw's apprentice/Spinepaw design.]
Begin with an environment shot, either wide or close up. Breadheart steps into frame. He sniffs the air, opening his mouth slightly. Tremortail and Spinepaw are with him.
SPINEPAW
I can't smell anything!
TREMORTAIL
Then use your nose.
Spinepaw sniffs loudly.
SPINEPAW
Oh.
Spinepaw motions toward a random section of forest.
SPINEPAW
Is there something over there?
TREMORTAIL
Yes.
Breadheart closes his mouth. It's been open the entire time.
BREADHEART
I smell something over that way. Let's split up.
Tremortail's tail twitches. She grins.
TREMORTAIL
Certainly.
The group splits up. Breadheart follows the scent to a male brown-headed cowbird. He prepares to pounce, but just before he can, a yowl echoes through the forest. The cowbird startles and flies away.
BREADHEART
Deadpaw!
He runs through the forest, searching for the source of the sound. Then, he finds it: Deadpaw is pinned to the ground, bleeding from a scratch on her face, while Strongclaw looms over her.
STRONGCLAW
Weak! If you were in a real battle, you'd be dead!
Breadheart growls and leaps at Strongclaw. They roll on the ground, growling at each other. Deadpaw watches with wide eyes and bristling fur.
BREADHEART
What were you doing to her?
STRONGCLAW
Training.
BREADHEART
That didn't look like training!
STRONGCLAW
And you don't look like a true warrior, Bread.
Breadheart, newly enraged, unsheathes his claws. Strongclaw unsheathes hers as well. The fight intensifies, and they begin yowling.
Just after Breadheart gets a good hit in, they're interrupted.
TREMORTAIL
What's going on here?
Tremortail and Spinepaw stand together.
STRONGCLAW
Tremortail! Help me subdue this traitor!
Tremortail leaps into the fight, then turns back toward Spinepaw and Deadpaw.
TREMORTAIL
You two-go get Loyalstar!
Spinepaw starts to run off, but Deadpaw doesn't move. Spinepaw pauses upon realizing this.
Breadheart backs away from the two cats, growling. Strongclaw strikes him.
TREMORTAIL
Go!
Spinepaw leaves Deadpaw behind.
Breadheart shakes his head and jumps backward, raising his back and fluffing out his fur. Tremortail and Strongclaw close the gap, leaving Breadheart with no choice but to take alternating swats at them to keep them away.
BREADHEART
(out of breath)
Why?
STRONGCLAW
Why what, traitor?
BREADHEART
You know.
Tremortail turns to Strongclaw, confused.
TREMORTAIL
Know what?
STRONGCLAW
He's trying to distract you.
Tremortail returns to glaring at Breadheart. Breadheart glares back, but his gaze softens as Loyalstar arrives with a small group of warriors (exclude Grasstuft and include Longstep).
BREADHEART
Loyalstar! You'll understand-
LOYALSTAR
Understand what?
Loyalstar pushes past Strongclaw and Tremortail.
BREADHEART
Please-
LOYALSTAR
You attacked my deputy. What excuse could you possibly have for treason?
BREADHEART
She was hurting Deadpaw!
Loyalstar flicks his ear. His expression shifts, but his demeanor doesn't meaningfully change.
LOYALSTAR
Is that so?
STRONGCLAW
Liar!
Loyalstar's head snaps toward Strongclaw.
STRONGCLAW
You attacked me! Deadpaw was part of it!
LOYALSTAR
An apprentice attacking their own mentor?
STRONGCLAW
That's why I didn't expect it!
Loyalstar hums. Strongclaw shifts her stance.
STRONGCLAW
The sign. This is what it was, wasn't it?
Loyalstar's eyes widen.
LOYALSTAR
Yes, the sign.
Breadheart gasps.
BREADHEART
You-you can't believe her. She's the liar!
Loyalstar stares at him coldly.
BREADHEART
You know me, Loyalstar! Would I ever do something like this?
LOYALSTAR
Longstep, Tremortail-escort this cat and his accomplice out of our territory.
Breadheart's face falls.
BREADHEART
You can't!
Loyalstar turns away.
BREADHEART
(rising in volume)
You can't!
Longstep herds Deadpaw toward Breadheart as Tremortail steps closer to Breadheart.
BREADHEART
(yelling)
Loyalstar!
Loyalstar turns toward him.
BREADHEART
(quietly)
Don't I mean anything to you?
Loyalstar leaves.
》SCENE 4. DARK FOREST.
Gourdstar lays in the Dark Forest, despondent. The only noises around him are his breaths and the kind of static a microphone picks up when it hears nothing else. He sighs and scrapes his claws across the ground.
A stick cracks. He startles. Nothing happens despite his searching.
GOURDSTAR
(yelling)
I know you're here!
Laughter echoes through the forest.
GOURDSTAR
Come out!
His voice echoes. He receives no response.
GOURDSTAR
Fine. Watch me if you want. I'm going to sleep.
He goes back to where he was sitting before and lays down. Shortly after he closes his eyes, paws appear in front of him. He opens an eye.
[Note: avoid showing Star's full body. If possible, just show his paws or only show a silhouette. He shouldn't be seen in full light until the finale.]
GOURDSTAR
Finally tired of this pointless staring?
STAR
You're so fascinating.
GOURDSTAR
Get whatever you're up to this time over with.
STAR
What would you do to get out of here?
Gourdstar sits up.
GOURDSTAR
(disbelieving)
Out?
STAR
Yes, out. I have a task for you, pumpkin.
Fade out on a shot of Gourdstar's bewildered face.