So I found Chapter 1 and part of Chapter 2 last night! Haha it was on my desk above my computer… :) My room is pretty disorganized, but that was really bad. But now I can update it! I typed up Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 today on the plane, and I'm working on Chapter 3 right now. Hopefully I'll get it up by Sunday.
But now, please enjoy Chapter 1! And don't forget to review afterwards! Thanks!
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a meeting!"
The familiar summonings awoke Squirrelflight. As she got up, shaking moss from her pelt, she was about to call out to Brambleclaw when she stopped. He won't want to talk to me, she thought miserably. Ever since the horrible Gathering a few nights ago when Hollyleaf revealed that Squirrelflight and Leafpool had lied, he wouldn't even look at Squirrelflight. She padded out of the warriors den by herself, noticing that almost everyone was avoiding her.
As she entered the clearing, she looked around the cats gathered to see where Brambleclaw was. He was sitting next to Sorreltail and Brackenfur, only a couple fox lengths away from her. Suddenly he turned, as if he knew someone was staring at him. As he looked at Squirrelflight, his eyes hardened, then filled with sorrow. Before she could speak, he turned away from her.
Sighing, she went to sit next to Poppyfrost and Cinderheart, who were looking around with puzzled glances. They looked up as Squirrelflight approached, and called out a greeting.
"Squirrelflight, do you know why Firestar called a meeting?" Poppyfrost looked again at the Highledge, her green eyes questioning.
Squirrelflight shook her head. "I have no idea. Could today be Toadkit and Rosekit's apprentice ceremonies? They're about 6 moons old now."
No, I don't think so," Cinderheart replied. The grey she-cat continued to stare up at the Highledge, where Firestar was standing. "it's probably too early for Foxpaw and Icepaw to get their warrior names today, too." She glanced at Squirrelflight, then mewed quietly, "Could it possibly be about Leafpool and the Gathering?"
Poppyfrost looked at Cinderheart and replied "But why now? It happened a couple of days ago…" she trailed off when they saw Leafpool emerge from the medicine cat's den and cross the clearing to join Firestar on the Highledge. As she walked through the crowd of cats, most moved away, giving the brown tabby a path. Spiderleg hissed menacingly at Leafpool as she passed, but was cuffed over the ear by Dustpelt.
"Oh no," Squirrelflight murmured. She knew what was coming, and from Cinderheart's and Poppyfrost's shocked mews, they knew too.
"Cats of ThunderClan, Leafpool would like to make an announcement." Firestar had a look of dull pain in his normally bright green eyes. For the past couple of days, his eyes had been empty and dull.
Squirrelflight looked in horror at her father. She had heard stories about what had happened to Bluestar after she found out about Tigerstar's betrayal, and it looked as if this secret was having the same effect on him.
As Firestar stepped back from the ledge, Leafpool stepped forward to speak. "As you know, Hollyleaf, Jayfeather, and Lionblaze are my kits, not Squirrelflight's." she paused for a moment, and while she did, Squirrelflight glanced at Lionblaze and Jayfeather. Both toms were looking at their mother, but each had a different expression. Lionblaze had a look of fury in his eyes, while Jayfeather only had a look of sorrow. He must be thinking of Hollyleaf, she thought. She couldn't resist the temptation of looking at Brambleclaw, but he was staring up at Leafpool, his face expressionless.
She turned back to Leafpool as she began speaking again. " You also know that Crowfeather was my mate." She paused again before she continued. "I know I broke the warrior code, so I must be punished. So I have decided to step down as ThunderClan's medicine cat. Jayfeather will now be your medicine cat, not me." As Leafpool finished speaking, she leapt down from the Highledge.
"But Leafpool, where will you go now?" Mousefur called out. Squirrelflight looked on in surprise. The cranky brown elder seemed concerned about Leafpool, and it was unlike her to ask about that.
"Since when did Mousefur care about Leafpool being our medicine cat?" Cinderheart muttered under her breath. Squirrelflight looked at Cinderheart, and was surprised to see anger in the grey she-cat's eyes. Why is Cinderheart so upset? Squirrelflight thought. Maybe it's because they're good friends.
While Squirrelflight had been thinking to herself, she realized Leafpool was speaking, and almost missed her sister's reply. "I plan to leave ThunderClan and possibly-"
"No! Leafpool! Please stay!" Sandstorm begged, coming out of the crowd to stand beside her daughter. "This is your home."
Leafpool looked at her mother, her eyes full of sadness. "ThunderClan is no longer a home for me. I do not belong here anymore. So I will leave and live as a loner somewhere." She placed her muzzle on Sandstorm's shoulder. Then, turning and addressing ThunderClan as a whole, she mewed. "Please don't blame Jayfeather for my mistakes. Good-bye, and may StarClan light your paths."
And with those words she turned and headed through the camp's entrance.
So that's Chapter 1. Hopefully it isn't too long! :)