Light Fading
Chapter 5
By Snakepaw
Clawpaw woke up with a faint sting in his paw and every bone in his body aching. His mentor had told him he had the morning off, but he needed to search the elders for ticks after sunhigh. And now it was well past sunhigh.
He stretched his muscles, then exited the den, heading towards the elders den.
With every step towards the old cats' den, sharp pangs of soreness flashed through his muscles from yesterday's battle. He was sore, but at least he had had fun.
He squeezed through the tight opening of ferns and thorns and wondered why it was so tiny. The thorns and spikes scratched his pelt as he made his way. It was secure for the cats inside, but it was a hazard if they needed to escape quickly.
"Hey, young Clawpaw. Nice to know you dropped by." A voice meowed on the right side of Clawpaw. He turned to see Redfern.
"Hi, Redfern." He dipped his head to the tom, and then to Whitewhisker. "I came to check you two for ticks."
"That won't be necessary. Reedpaw and Hazelpaw came this morning. Speaking of those two, they said they were going to the Gathering tonight. Are you?" Whitewhisker meowed, tilting her white head.
Clawpaw silently gave a prepare, relieved that he didn't have to do boring work. He did enjoy listening to the elders, but not so much pulling off gross ticks.
"I haven't heard anything about it, so I don't know." Clawpaw shrugged, trying not to let in on his anticipation for wanting to go to the Gathering. There was silence, then Clawpaw turned to move and said goodbye. He didn't feel like stories today, and he was unsure why.
Hawkfeather padded up to him when he tightly came out of the comfy-underfoot elders' den. Clawpaw nodded slightly. He was about to meet be on, thinking he had more free time, when Hawkfeather turned and mewed.
"Clawpaw, I want you and Ripplepaw to attend the Gathering tonight. You, Ripplepaw, Reedpaw, and Hazelpaw get to go. Along with some warriors. Get ready, because we leave at dusk."
Clawpaw nearly jumped out of his fur. He was just talking to Whitewhisker about that! Wa every cat in Riverclan thinking the same thing!
As Hawkfeather started walking away after Clawpaw's signal of agreement, Clawpaw started to bounce and jitter with excitement. I'm going to the gathering!
Later in the afternoon, the four apprentices shared a fish and water vole. The juicy sweet flavor of fish soaked into Clawpaw's mouth and his belly was content when he finished. A few moments after they finished the plump, warm prey, and the fish, Featherflight made an announcement. All four turned to the roots of the Great Willow, along with other warriors who were now gathering.
"All those who are going to the Gathering, come to the camp entrance. We are about to leave." The deputy meowed commandingly.
Clawpaw padded to the others, who were all gathering together by the camp entrance. Along with the apprentices, Hollowbranch, Hawkfeather, Frostspots, Leafheart, Junipershine, Graybreeze and Featherflight were there.
As soon as everyone was there and ready, they left for the island. Ripplepaw trotted happily next to him and continually mewed something about being excited. Very, very excited, for the Gathering. Clawpaw only bounced joyfully in agreement as they padded on through the reeds.
"Clawpaw!" Ripplepaw nearly yowled as they neared the tree-bridge. The brown tabby tom jolted out of his day-dreaming. Ripplepaw rolled her eyes. "I asked, aren't you excited? Bouncing isn't a reply..."
"Of course!" Clawpaw exclaimed, surprised. Why would his sister think he wasn't? "I'm just anticipating whether or not meeting most of the other cats from the Clans will be nerve-racking, you know?" Ripplepaw nodded. Clawpaw looked at her and saw a shape move at the corner of his eye. He saw Reedpaw's gaze flicker away from Ripplepaw, and the tom moved away slightly, catching Clawpaw's eye.
Something about Reedpaw made Clawpaw...well, he wasn't sure how to explain it. Uncomfortable, and petty and protective of his sister? Clawpaw thought he was right.
It was pretty obvious Reedpaw had a huge crush on his beautiful, and yet strong, sister. Clawpaw could understand, his sister seemed so perfect.
The looming brown tree arrived in front of him, snapping his attention away from Reedpaw.
Clawpaw easily padded across the wobbly bridge and onto the island. He had expected that part to be hard.
No one was there, on the island, and dark clouds were gathering across the horizon, coming towards them. When it got darker, more cats started flooding onto the Gathering island. The rest of the Clans had arrived.
Duskstar and ShadowClan seemed weaker than normal. Especially Duskstar. He was so skinny and frail you could see his bones and muscles stretched along his body. The ShadowClan leader had trouble even getting up the tree where the leaders sat. Shadowclan was usually strong and proud, but today they seemed the opposite.
Adderstar of Windclan and Beetlestar of Thunderclan looked much more ready and normal.
Talonstar started the Gathering. Duskstar sat, looking tired and tense at 'such a height'. The other two leaders seemed to stare at him.
"RiverClan has been growing, with four new apprentices. Two of of them are here tonight. Clawpaw, Ripplepaw are here. Mudpaw, and Frozenpaw are the others."
The cats called out their names. This must be what new warriors feel like.
"Prey is running well, and all of our warriors are strong." Talonstar sat down and it started pouring. Thunder and lightning struck close by, and Duskstar went next. The sky darkened even more, and shadows seemed to fill the clearing.
"ShadowClan-" he coughed, "is not the best- right now. Greencough has been killing our elders and kits, and most of us fear- we won't make it." His words were often cut off by a violent fit of coughing. The ShadowClan leader coughed one last time, and wheezed, but then lost his balance and fell with a thud to the ground with a heart-wrenching crack. Everything was a blur and cats were screaming and crying as rain dripped down from the sky.
Lightning and thunder rumbled and struck deafeningly and all of the cats gasped. Almost all were looking at Duskstar's body.
Suddenly, clouds covered the moon.
Adderstar was furious. "StarClan has spoken has spoken it's words! This Gathering is over! May Shadowclan grow a little stronger, and take their time to grieve for Duskstar. I hope you will be fine with Firefall as your leader." The Tom didn't even seem to care, and nonchalantly shuffled his clan back off the island.
Many other cats lingered behind to stay with Duskstar, including Clawpaw and most of the RiverClan.
Duskstar's eyes were glazed over and his neck was twisted. He died without any blood or goriness, but Clawpaw was positive he would never get the scene out of his head of when he had fallen from the tree. It had looked so painful.
Soon after moonhigh, all of the cats had gone back to their camps, so RiverClan did the same. They all said their sympathies to the grief-stricken Shadowclan, then made their way back.
When they got back to the reed-filled, fresh-smelling camp, Clawpaw went straight to his nest. He still had goosebumps all the way down his back and legs. He shivered and curled up tighter into his nest, feeling Rippleplaw curl up beside him, feeling cold. He didn't even bother looking at Mudpaw and Frozenpaw who were probably staring, shocked.
He fell asleep, replaying the death scene in his head over and over until he drifted into nightmares that seemed to never end.