Chapter Text
Chapter Text
》 SCENE 1. SUNSPOT. DAY, SUMMER.
Breadheart, Blankspots, and Loyalstar search the cliff and come up empty. Put emphasis on Loyalstar's overdramatic and corny personality through exaggerated movements.
LOYALSTAR
Sharpstar said we'd meet here, but I don't even smell him.
BLANKSPOTS
You'd think that NastyClan stink would've tainted the cliff by now.
LOYALSTAR
I was hoping he would actually want to negotiate, but it seems we'll need to prepare for an ambush.
BREADHEART
An awfully delayed ambush. Do you think his warriors fell asleep?
BLANKSPOTS
Maybe-
Furpelt attacks. She leaps onto Loyalstar.
LOYALSTAR
And there it is! I should've known not to expect anything better-!
FURPELT
Shut it, mangepelt! The Sunspot is the rightful territory of NastyClan!
Blankspots shoves Furpelt off of Loyalstar. Breadheart leaps beside Loyalstar as Quickspring emerges from the surrounding bushes.
LOYALSTAR
When the earth shifted and the cliff fell, StarClan decreed the Sunspot ours!
SHARPSTAR
What do you know of StarClan's will?
Loyalstar and Breadheart turn to Sharpstar, who walks through the bushes calmly. Nearby, Blankspots releases Furpelt.
LOYALSTAR
You.
SHARPSTAR
Loyalstar.
Sharpstar turns to each cat he addresses as he continues to speak.
SHARPSTAR
Breadheart, and Blankspots. A large party for a negotiation, don't you think?
LOYALSTAR
What about yours?
Sharpstar tilts his head.
SHARPSTAR
What about them? This is NastyClan territory. My clanmates go wherever they like.
BLANKSPOTS
So, you just happened to have two other cats around waiting to attack us?
Sharpstar flicks his ear and blinks. He grins-not evilly or smugly, just casually. There's no need for him to be intimidating with his enemy surrounded.
SHARPSTAR
Maybe. You ShiningClan cats are so quick to judge. The moment I shift my weight or misspeak, you'll accuse me of anything.
To prove his point, he unsheaths his claws and shifts his weight slightly. The ShiningClan cats tense, fur bristling. Breadheart is the first to calm down.
BREADHEART
So, are we able to talk?
SHARPSTAR
If you'll listen.
He turns toward the bushes.
SHARPSTAR
Darkfang, you can come out now.
Darkfang emerges from the bushes. Put some emphasis on his eyes, but avoid making them the focus of the shot. He walks carefully, testing the ground before he puts his paws down. He sits beside Sharpstar. Sharpstar puts his tail along Darkfang's back.
Loyalstar, seeing this, relaxes and sits.
LOYALSTAR
Maybe this is a negotiation after all.
Blankspots comes up from behind him.
LOYALSTAR
Blankspots, you know what to do.
Sharpstar is puzzled. Blankspots launches himself at Darkfang. With a yowl, Sharpstar leaps at Blankspots. Chaos breaks out among the cats at the cliff.
Breadheart is tackled by Furpelt.
FURPELT
You crowfood-munching cowards! How dare you?
Strongclaw pushes Furpelt off of Breadheart. She hisses at Furpelt and strikes her with her paws.
STRONGCLAW
We're only carrying out StarClan's will!
Furpelt flees.
STRONGCLAW
(out of breath)
Cowards... foxhearts... mange-pelts...
BREADHEART
Strongclaw! Weren't you on a hunting patrol?
STRONGCLAW
I came when I heard the fighting. I knew you'd need help. Where's Sharpstar? I've always wanted to see how a two-legged cat would walk-
She's cut off by a yowl. Sharpstar stands at the edge of the cliff. Blankspots is on the ground a short distance away. Loyalstar is nowhere to be seen.
The fighting stops. Strongclaw and Breadheart stare at Sharpstar. Sharpstar stares back.
SHARPSTAR
(quietly)
He fell.
Breadheart gasps. He immediately turns and runs down the side of the cliff, tripping on the way. Then, he leaps into the water.
Beneath the water, he swims with great effort. Quickly, he finds Loyalstar, who is unconscious and sinking. He grabs Loyalstar by the scruff and pulls him to the surface.
Cut to Breadheart dragging Loyalstar onto the shore. Loyalstar is completely still. Breadheart stares at Sharpstar, who spares him a glance before turning away from the edge of the cliff.
Breadheart stares a moment longer.
Loyalstar stirs. Immediately, Breadheart whips in his direction. Loyalstar pushes himself up, pausing to cough up water as Breadheart comes to his side to support him.
After another moment, it seems that Loyalstar is finished coughing up water. All that's left is gasping breaths.
BREADHEART
(quiet, nervous)
That was one of your lives, wasn't it?
Loyalstar's face shifts. Something about it is different-colder, less corny.
LOYALSTAR
Yes. It was.
》 SCENE 2. SHININGCLAN CAMP. DAY, SUMMER.
[Note: Use Deadkit's newborn design for this episode.]
Strongclaw enters the camp, carrying Blankspots on her back. His paws drag on the ground. Behind her, Breadheart and Loyalstar enter. They walk together, with Breadheart supporting Loyalstar.
The group stops in the center of camp. Everything is silent.
Then, a kitten mewls.
Breadheart and Loyalstar exchange glances. Loyalstar detangles himself from Breadheart and walks ahead slowly. The two approach the nursery and enter.
Inside, Clevertail is curled around Deadkit. She picks her head up at the sound of Breadheart's and Loyalstar's pawsteps.
CLEVERTAIL
What happened?
LOYALSTAR
Ambush-
BREADHEART
Where's Palefur?
Clevertail's ears lower. Her expression turns from concern to sorrow.
CLEVERTAIL
She kitted early. Nothing I did helped. I'm sorry.
LOYALSTAR
And this...?
CLEVERTAIL
The only surviving kit. She's a she-cat.
Breadheart looks at Loyalstar. Loyalstar stares at Deadkit blankly.
LOYALSTAR
Kill her.
BREADHEART
What?
LOYALSTAR
I can't look at her. Kill her now.
CLEVERTAIL
You can't be se-
LOYALSTAR
Kill her, or let her die. It doesn't matter. I never want to see her again.
He turns away and is about to head out of the nursery when Breadheart speaks.
BREADHEART
I'll take care of her, if you won't.
LOYALSTAR
With what milk? She'll just starve to death in your paws.
BREADHEART
Grasstuft will help me!
LOYALSTAR
Her kits are nearly weaned! She won't have enough!
Breadheart shrinks away.
BREADHEART
There are herbs queens take when they can't make enough milk.
Loyalstar turns away again.
LOYALSTAR
Fine. I'll let you try to save her. Don't cry to me when she starves.
BREADHEART
She won't.
Loyalstar is nearly out of the entrance when Clevertail speaks.
CLEVERTAIL
You can't leave her without a name.
Loyalstar stares into the camp.
LOYALSTAR
Deadkit.
He leaves.
》 SCENE 3. NURSERY.
Breadheart is curled around Deadkit. Deadkit mewls. He shushes her.
BREADHEART
Grasstuft will be back soon. She took Spinekit and Thornkit out to play.
Deadkit mews again.
BREADHEART
(quietly)
You're so small...
He licks her head and closes his eyes. The palette of the background changes as the world shifts from reality to the dream realm.
Lambpaw puts a paw on Breadheart's head. Breadheart wakes suddenly and looks up.
BREADHEART
Huh?
Lambpaw is surrounded by other StarClan cats (excluding Blankspots, who technically isn't dead yet, and Palefur).
BREADHEART
You came to visit. Where's Palefur?
Lambpaw shakes their head.
BREADHEART
She's not here? Why?
Lambpaw shakes their head again. They step closer and put a paw on Deadkit's body with unsheathed claws. Deadkit squeaks and wakes up.
BREADHEART
What are you doing?
Lambpaw raises his other paw and drags his claws across his neck.
BREADHEART
No! She's just a kit!
Lambpaw's eyes glow. The scene shifts as Breadheart is transported into a vision.
STARCLAN.
StarClan's realm is falling apart, with massive empty holes dotting it. Breadheart walks along it with Lambpaw, and nearly falls into a hole at least once.
They stop in front of StarClan's center, which resembles Fourtrees from the original series. At the base of it stands an adult Deadheart. Her muzzle is covered in blood. Below her lays Star's mutilated body.
Lambpaw points to Deadheart. Breadheart looks between Deadheart and Lambpaw, hesitating, before he approaches.
DEADHEART
I did it! They're all free!
BREADHEART
What did you do?
DEADHEART
(yelling)
I destroyed StarClan!
Her yell echoes as Breadheart wakes up in the dreamscape. Lambpaw stares at him expectantly. He looks at Deadkit, who is sleeping, then back at Lambpaw.
Linger on the moment.
BREADHEART
No.
Lambpaw bristles.
BREADHEART
The warrior code—which StarClan endorsed—states to save a kit in danger. That's what I'm doing.
Lambpaw paces around him.
BREADHEART
If I care for her well enough, maybe that won't happen at all.
Lambpaw stops pacing. They stare at Breadheart, then take a step forward so they're nearly forehead to forehead, all while looking him in the eye. Breadheart doesn't falter.
Lambpaw leaves. The background StarClan cats fade.
The background transitions to its regular colors abruptly as Breadheart wakes up for real this time. He curls tighter around Deadkit and goes back to sleep.
》 SCENE 4. NURSERY.
Integrate this scene with the credits if possible. It's intended to be a short stinger.
Breadheart sleeps, curled protectively around Deadheart. A shadow falls over them. It's Loyalstar.
He takes a step closer. Then, another. He stops in front of them and raises his paw, claws unsheathed and teeth bared.
He stops, flinching. He turns away.