Chapter Text
Chapter Text
》 SCENE 1. NASTYCLAN MEDICINE DEN. DAY, SUMMER.
[Note: Deadheart and Tailfur use their regular designs, but Loyalstar still uses his Breadheart's Body design, and Gourdstar should use Loyalstar's regular design. Deadheart and Tailfur swapped back offscreen, but Gourdstar and Loyalstar didn't swap.]
Deadheart is doing inventory on the herbs. Fuzz, Flick, and Flare are helping her. She sniffs at a particularly dry leaf before pushing it toward Flare, who carries it to a spot with other dried herbs.
Clevertail, carrying a bundle of herbs, enters with Grasstuft beside her. She sets them down next to Deadheart and sits.
CLEVERTAIL
You should take a break.
DEADHEART
I'm almost done.
Clevertail motions toward the bundle of herbs she just placed down. Deadheart stares at her, irritated.
CLEVERTAIL
Please.
Deadheart gets up. She stops in front of Grasstuft, who's still standing at the entrance.
GRASSTUFT
Hello, Deadheart.
Deadheart dips her head.
GRASSTUFT
Do you want to share prey with me?
DEADHEART
Sure.
They exit the medicine den.
NASTYCLAN CAMP.
Cut to them heading toward the prey pile. In the background, show a mixture of characters from NastyClan and ShiningClan (exclude Wormbite, Strongclaw, and Tailfur—they appear later). Grasstuft stands beside Deadheart while Deadheart picks a piece of prey. She grabs a fish and the two sit down a short distance away.
GRASSTUFT
Quickspring and Furpelt are talking about finding a tom to help them have kits.
DEADHEART
That's nice.
GRASSTUFT
I thought so, too.
They sit in silence for a bit. Deadheart eats the fish without paying much attention to anything else as Grasstuft watches her with a smile.
Wormbite and Strongclaw come through the entrance. Wormbite sees Deadheart and rushes over.
WORMBITE
Deadheart! Hi!
Deadheart looks at him. He grins.
WORMBITE
We found an old bird's nest. It fell on Strongclaw's head.
STRONGCLAW
It didn't.
DEADHEART
There are sticks in your fur.
STRONGCLAW
Maybe it did.
DEADHEART
You look ridiculous.
STRONGCLAW
You're ridiculous.
DEADHEART
Spar?
Strongclaw nods.
STRONGCLAW
After the sundown patrol.
She walks away.
WORMBITE
She's so cranky. Does she stick fire ants in her nest every night?
DEADHEART
She used to be worse.
WORMBITE
Still...
Deadheart returns to eating the fish.
NASTYCLAN TERRITORY. SUNSET, SUMMER.
Deadheart stands in front of Strongclaw. They circle each other briefly. Then, Deadheart makes a feint. Strongclaw jumps backward. Deadheart leaps at her, smacking her face with her paws. Strongclaw attempts to retaliate, but Deadheart dodges.
Then, Deadheart pushes herself into Strongclaw and pins her by the shoulder. Strongclaw struggles underneath her for a moment before giving in.
STRONGCLAW
I yield.
Deadheart releases her.
STRONGCLAW
How did you become so skilled? You're a medicine cat. When I taught you, you could barely land a blow.
DEADHEART
I was afraid. I learned not to be.
They stare at each other for a moment. Deadheart starts walking toward camp, but pauses. Ahead of them are Gourdstar and Loyalstar. Gourdstar and Loyalstar approach.
LOYALSTAR
Strongclaw, Deadheart. We figured you'd be here.
STRONGCLAW
How?
GOURDSTAR
You spar every sunset.
STRONGCLAW
Oh.
LOYALSTAR
(to Deadheart)
Tailfur is almost finished his portion of the herb count. It took a while to get catmint from twolegplace. He said Soup and Salad want you to visit them.
Deadheart nods. She turns back to Strongclaw.
STRONGCLAW
Bye.
Deadheart and Loyalstar head out, leaving Gourdstar and Strongclaw alone together.
Gourdstar turns toward the sun.
GOURDSTAR
Let's go watch the sunset.
He walks away. Strongclaw hesitates before following him.
SUNSPOT. SUNSET, SUMMER.
Gourdstar and Strongclaw loaf at the edge of the cliff, staring at the sun.
GOURDSTAR
There was no sun in the Dark Forest.
STRONGCLAW
Are you glad it's destroyed?
Gourdstar stares at the sun, frowning as he contemplates.
GOURDSTAR
I don't know.
Strongclaw sighs.
STRONGCLAW
StarClan is gone. Is a starless Clan even a Clan?
GOURDSTAR
You place all of your value in faith. How much time did you spend trying to please StarClan rather than living for yourself?
Strongclaw looks at the water below the cliff.
GOURDSTAR
Was any of this because you wanted to do it?
Strongclaw doesn't respond.
They stare at the sun again. Gourdstar looks back and forth from Strongclaw to the sun, unsure of what to say.
GOURDSTAR
The Dark Forest was empty for decades. It was nothing but me and the endless forest. No wind, no stars or moon. I gave up on keeping track of time. I saw no point in hoping that I'd make it out. Sometimes, I feel like I'm still there.
Strongclaw looks down toward the water again, ashamed.
GOURDSTAR
I think you're there with me.
STRONGCLAW
What?
GOURDSTAR
We're both lost. I was hopeless until Deadheart gave me a goal. Now that it's accomplished, I'm here—one sunset at a time.
STRONGCLAW
One sunset at a time. I think I can do that.
End the scene with a wide shot of them sitting in front of the sun.
SCENE 2. SOUP'S HOUSE. NIGHT, SUMMER.
Deadheart and Tailfur are in front of the door. Deadheart puts her nose to the cat door and it doesn't budge. She stares at it, confused. It beeps and she jumps backward.
Salad sticks his face out the door. When he sees the others, he smiles.
SALAD
Hey, Deadheart! And Tailfur. Our person installed a new door, so it only opens when I or Soup are near it. If I stand next to it, you guys should be able to come through.
He steps out of the way. Deadheart and Tailfur enter.
DEADHEART
Why did you want us here?
SALAD
We've got some news.
Salad leads them into another room. In it, Soup wrestles with a small kitten (Crouton). Crouton hears them approach and turns around, stopping the play fight.
SALAD
This is Crouton.
Croutons blinks at them.
CROUTON
(quietly)
Hi.
DEADHEART
Hello.
CROUTON
Are you here to wrestle, too?
Deadheart stares at him. Tailfur glances at her and steps forward.
TAILFUR
I'll wrestle.
Crouton smiles.
CROUTON
Great!
He launches himself at Tailfur. The others watch them for a little bit. Then, Deadheart turns to Soup.
DEADHEART
Crouton looks just like...
SOUP
Mhm. Spitting image.
DEADHEART
I miss him.
SOUP
I do, too. But looking at Crouton makes me wonder if Buster's theory is right.
DEADHEART
That we get recycled?
SOUP
Yeah. If it is, then he's here with us right now.
DEADHEART
That would be nice.
Fade out with a shot of Tailfur and Crouton playing.
》 SCENE 3. ENDING MONTAGE.
Images should scroll like a pop-up book with slideshow transitions. If the theme song is long enough, it might be ideal to play here. Otherwise, either get something custom or find slower-paced happy music. This section isn't necessary and can be cut or modified as preferred.
Tailfur and Deadheart stand near a Quickspring who has just given birth to a litter of kits. Her mate, Furpelt, embraces her.
Crouton meets Loyalstar (who, reminder, is in Breadheart's original body) and is confused by the resemblance.
Fuzz nurses pups while Tailfur shows Deadheart with uncontrollable joy.
Salad gives Deadheart a neck kerchief patterned with the aroace flag.
Wormbite and Spinethorn flirt awkwardly while Deadheart and Thornspine watch, embarrassed.
Deadheart sleeping in her nest with the neck kerchief Salad gave her.
Deadheart and Gourdstar watching the sunset at the Sunspot.