Chapter Text
Chapter Text
》SCENE 1. INT NASTYCLAN MEDICINE DEN. DAY, SUMMER.
Deadheart and Gourdstar enter the den. Loyalstar is awake but zoned out with his head resting on a moss-covered rock [the one Deadheart asked Furpelt to get in the previous episode].
DEADHEART
How are you feeling?
Loyalstar blinks at her, then lifts his head.
LOYALSTAR
Fine.
DEADHEART
Has the headache gotten any worse?
LOYALSTAR
No.
Loyalstar stares at Gourdstar, finally noticing him.
LOYALSTAR
Why is he here?
DEADHEART
I have a plan. He's part of it. You can be, too.
LOYALSTAR
What's it...
Loyalstar's head falls back onto the rock. He struggles to speak.
LOYALSTAR
...for?
Loyalstar's eyes are half-closed. Gourdstar looks disapprovingly at Deadheart. She doesn't look at him at all.
DEADHEART
We can bring Breadheart back.
Loyalstar's eyes widen. His claws scramble against the floor.
LOYALSTAR
Back?
DEADHEART
Yes. If you and Gourdstar could come back, so could he.
LOYALSTAR
(with inappropriate volume)
Let's do it!
Gourdstar flinches at the yell. Deadheart is unfazed.
TAILFUR
(casually)
Do what?
Tailfur comes in from behind Deadheart and Gourdstar. Gourdstar cringes.
DEADHEART
We're bringing Breadheart back to life.
Tailfur stares at her for a moment, processing. Then, he breaks out in laughter.
TAILFUR
You're what?
GOURDSTAR
(defensively)
It's not that outlandish. I'm here.
TAILFUR
I'm sorry. If anyone could figure it out, it would be Deadheart. How are you going to do it?
DEADHEART
We go to StarClan. We find his spirit. We bring him home.
TAILFUR
I'm coming with you.
Deadheart smiles.
DEADHEART
Okay.
TAILFUR
But is Loyalstar really coming?
LOYALSTAR
I am.
TAILFUR
You can barely stand. Your brain is bleeding.
LOYALSTAR
He's my best friend. He raised my daughter.
He takes a shaky step forward. His legs nearly give out. His eyes start falling shut again and he fights it.
LOYALSTAR
I wasn't there to help him. I can be... now.
TAILFUR
(to Deadheart)
You'll need to wait until he's recovered, or he won't make the journey.
Gourdstar steps between them to draw attention to himself.
GOURDSTAR
We won't have to wait. This is my fault, and I know how to fix it.
DEADHEART
How?
GOURDSTAR
Lives are tied to the body, not the spirit. I still have seven of them.
Gourdstar steps toward Loyalstar. Loyalstar looks at him.
LOYALSTAR
Do it.
Gourdstar touches his nose to Loyalstar's forehead. Both of them close their eyes. Then, Gourdstar opens his. They glow.
Gourdstar's paws shake. He collapses to the ground. The wounds on Loyalstar's head turn to scars as the wrappings fall off. He stares down at Gourdstar's unconscious body.
Tailfur and Deadheart also stare. Deadheart takes a cautious step forward. Gourdstar stirs.
GOURDSTAR
(quietly)
Did it work?
LOYALSTAR
Yes.
Gourdstar stands up.
DEADHEART
Thank you.
Gourdstar looks at her with confusion.
GOURDSTAR
You shouldn't thank me. I'm just fixing my mistakes.
DEADHEART
That's exactly why I should.
GOURDSTAR
In that case, you're welcome.
》 SCENE 2. INT NASTYCLAN MEDICINE DEN. SUMMER, NIGHT.
Deadheart sleeps in her nest. Eyes appear behind her, reflecting the moonlight. A paw taps her forehead. She opens her eyes.
TAILFUR
(whispering)
How are you getting into StarClan?
Deadheart stares at him.
DEADHEART
I hadn't thought about that.
TAILFUR
I have.
Deadheart blinks at him and tilts her head, silently urging him to continue.
TAILFUR
If StarClan ties lives to bodies and not spirits, then they might've done the same with whatever they placed on you to keep you from entering StarClan. If you can go into another cat's body, they might let you in.
DEADHEART
How?
TAILFUR
A low dose of poison—just enough to cause near death. Our souls will leave our bodies, and in that brief amount of time, we'll switch.
DEADHEART
How will we flush it out afterward?
TAILFUR
Some kittypets have access to porous charcoal. I can ask around.
GOURDSTAR
Do you have bees in your brains?
Deadheart and Tailfur turn toward him quickly, surprised.
TAILFUR
You should be asleep.
GOURDSTAR
It's impossible to sleep when you two are talking. You can't go through with this.
DEADHEART
I have to.
Deadheart and Gourdstar glare at each other. Gourdstar unsheathes his claws, growing tense, then finally relents.
GOURDSTAR
Fine, but I'm coming with you. I still have six lives. That's more than I'll ever need.
DEADHEART
Thank you.
GOURDSTAR
Go to sleep.
Gourdstar turns away from them and curls up.
NASTYCLAN MEDICINE DEN. SUMMER, DAY.
A paw (Loyalstar's) pats Deadheart on the forehead. She grumbles.
DEADHEART
(groggy and irritated)
What?
LOYALSTAR
Someone is here to see you. He came all the way from Twolegplace.
Deadheart gets out of her nest and follows Loyalstar into the center of camp.
NASTYCLAN CAMP. DAY, SUMMER.
Salad stands in the middle of the camp. At his paws is Breadheart's collar. When he sees Deadheart, he visibly jumps.
SALAD
Deadpaw!
DEADHEART
It's Deadheart, now. I got my medicine cat name.
SALAD
I don't know what any of that means.
Deadheart sighs.
DEADHEART
What did you come here for?
Salad pushes Breadheart's collar toward Deadheart.
SALAD
He left this behind. I tried to give it to... um...
He motions toward Loyalstar.
SALAD
But he said something about not being Breadheart. Does he have a twin?
DEADHEART
No. He's my father possessing my dad's body.
Salad looks between Loyalstar and Deadheart, confused.
SALAD
This is some fucked up forest cat religion thing, isn't it?
DEADHEART
Yeah.
SALAD
Well, if he's not Breadheart, then this is yours. What happened to Breadheart?
Deadheart puts a paw on the collar.
DEADHEART
He's dead, but we're going to fix it.
SALAD
How?
DEADHEART
Does your twoleg have any porous charcoal?
SALAD
She brought some home recently. Why?
DEADHEART
I need to get into StarClan, but they'll recognize me if I'm in my body. Tailfur and I are going take poison so our spirits will leave our bodies. We'll need the charcoal to flush it—
LOYALSTAR
No.
Deadheart turns to him.
DEADHEART
You can't control me.
LOYALSTAR
I just came back. I've already lost my best friend. I don't want to lose my daughter, too.
DEADHEART
We'll be fine. Gourdstar will be there.
SALAD
If you do it at my house, I can get my person if something goes wrong.
Deadheart glares at Loyalstar.
LOYALSTAR
Fine. But I'm coming with you.
DEADHEART
That works.
》 SCENE 3. EXT SUNSPOT. SUMMER, SUNSET.
Gourdstar loafs at the edge of the cliff, watching the sunset. Strongclaw approaches him from behind. He doesn't react as she sits beside him.
GOURDSTAR
The sunset is beautiful. I missed seeing it.
STRONGCLAW
You missed a lot of things when I was running the Clan for you.
They stare at the sunset together. Strongclaw looks away, distracted by her thoughts.
STRONGCLAW
Was the dream real? Or was that just another one of your lies?
GOURDSTAR
I never lied. You just didn't ask me if I was actually Loyalstar. The dream was real. I wouldn't be able to get Clevertail to falsify an omen if I tried.
STRONGCLAW
You're lying.
GOURDSTAR
You haven't listened to a word I've said.
STRONGCLAW
You're evil. You're a murderer. You were destined to kill countless cats and attempt to destroy the Clans, and now you're doing it again. Why wouldn't you be a liar?
Gourdstar looks at her. Then, he turns back to the sunset.
STRONGCLAW
And if you're a lying villain, then what does that make me? I'm the deputy you chose. Am I a terrible cat?
GOURDSTAR
I didn't choose you. StarClan did.
STRONGCLAW
Then why? Why would they choose me?
GOURDSTAR
Why does StarClan do anything? They're the ones who sent me here.
Strongclaw's eyes widen. Her fur bristles. She bares her teeth.
STRONGCLAW
(yelling)
Liar! You're lying!
Gourdstar is outwardly unaffected.
STRONGCLAW
(voice breaking)
You have to be lying.
GOURDSTAR
Maybe StarClan isn't what you think it is.
STRONGCLAW
You...
She slumps against the ground. Gourdstar stares at her for a moment, uncertain. Then, he leaves. Strongclaw screams.