CHAPTER 3

Solstroke padded through the marsh with her clan, it was moonhigh and everyone was headed to the gathering. Rabbitpaw and her siblings decided to stay at camp while she rested from her minor wound. Rosethorn had been correct; StarClan had cleared the sky right before the gathering. As she pushed through the wet marsh she spotted Rainstorm trying to catch up with her.
"Hey," he mewed breathlessly. Solstroke turned to her clanmate and let out a purr.
"Hey you," she replied, slowing her pace for the blue-gray tom. Rainstorm looked up expectantly but looked away as Solstroke saw him glance into her eyes.
"Thanks again for saving my life," Solstroke said, nudging the tom and he stumbled. Rainstorm just shrugged. Solstroke was getting irritated at how he was acting and raced ahead away from him.
Toms! Who needs them? She thought angrily.

As the soaking cats made their way to the Sacred rock Solstroke ran into Rainstorm again.
"Sorry," he meowed and Solstroke rolled her eyes at him and followed her Clanmates to stand around the sacred rock. She watched as Brackenstar leaped onto the great stone and Lionclaw took his place beneath his leader.
Where was SunClan?
"SunClan is late," Rainstorm murmured.
Took you that long? She thought angrily.
"I've noticed," Solstroke replied dryly and she heard Rainstorm let out a sigh.

Finally the SunClan cats made their way through the tall grass up to the rock. Solstroke watched as the SunClan cats gave RainClan suspicious glares and stayed on their side of the rock. Ever since Silentsong had left SunClan for RainClan, SunClan had nothing to do with RainClan anymore. That didn't bother Solstroke. She spotted old Graystar land squarely on the rock and let out a yowl to signal the gathering starting. He didn't even ask Brackenstar who was to speak first.
"SunClan is thriving this Green-leaf, we are in perfect health and perfectly capable of defending our borders if need be." Graystar's voice cracked with age but his mew was strong. Brackenstar stepped up closer to Graystar, as if to comfort the old leader.

"RainClan has thrived from green-leaf as well. We scented badgers in our territory and it crossed over to SunClan border." Brackenstar turned to Graystar who was staring at him angrily.
"We wanted to warn you that badgers might be trying to create a few nests. Nothing a thriving Clan can't handle," Brackenstar said, dipping his head to Graystar who was still glaring. Solstroke was surprised when Graystar spoke again.
"WE can handle anything." Brackenstar shrugged and continued on.
"We have three new apprentices who sadly could not make it tonight. Rabbitpaw, Beetlepaw and Birchpaw have started their training today." As Brackenstar gave his announcement Solstroke noticed the hostility in Graystar's eyes, and how his fur was standing on end.
He really didn't like Silentsong leaving. She thought.

As the gathering ended Solstroke padded up to Rainstorm, worried for him.
"Can we talk, again?" she asked him; and he looked up at her, his eyes were dull and he seemed utterly depressed. Solstroke led the blue-gray tom from the other cats who were padding towards the river. As the moonlight shone through the canopy of leaves as the two cats walked side by side, fur almost touching. Solstroke looked at Rainstorm, his eyes were glowing and Solstroke took a deep breath.
"Rainstorm, this is something I have to tell you," she whispered as the moonlight dappled his blue fur. Rainstorm began to purr and nodded his head for her to continue.
"Well, it's been bugging me lately and I want to tell you," she began.
"I love you, too," Rainstorm purred and Solstroke stopped in her tracks.

"You what me too?" she yowled, starting to feel sorry for the tom who froze as soon as he realized what he had said.
"I –I said I dove you too, as in that dove up in the tree is pretty…" he stammered, glancing around and shuffling his paws. Solstroke wanted to rip his fur off.
"What did you think I was going to say?! Wait, don't answer that. What I wanted to say was to stop acting to weird around me but now I know why you're so weird," Solstroke rambled on as the tom looked so hurt she thought he would turn and run away right there and then. Solstroke let out a hiss and spun around to catch up with her Clan, hopefully they hadn't reached the river yet.