Warriors Sky Of Dreams
Chapter 5
"Redfeather was a great father, friend and deputy, he will be remembered until the day I die" Brindlestar called from the highcliff, Splashheart had been one of the first to arrive back in camp with Brindlestar, everyone had begun to settle around the clearing and a few had come to sit vigil for Redfeather.
"What about the gathering, we need a new deputy or the other clans will think we are weak," Splashheart turned her head to the voice, it was Shredflame.
"I have made a decision for the new deputy, I thought about this long and hard while we were on our way back, Birchthorn would you please step forward," Brindlestar advised the tom.
"Me?" Birchthorn gasped, he slowly padded forward and stood in the middle of the clearing.
"Yes you, you have been very helpful with the clean-up of our camp and your strength is nothing anyone can match," Brindlestar praised.
"I am very grateful for this role," Birchthorn nodded at Brindlestar and faced his clan with deep admiration in his eyes.
"Birchthorn, I need you to pick four cats to go the gathering, I will pick the other five," Brindlestar ordered.
That's only nine? Splashheart wondered.
"I was told to come, so that's one spot taken," Dapplecoat appeared behind Splashheart, startling her.
"Oh that makes more sense, I'm glad one of my friends is coming," Splashheart gave her friend a lick on the forehead before padding to the entrance and sitting down to wait for the other cats to be chosen. Eventually there were ten cats sitting at the entrance with Splashheart. Birchthorn had chosen Ashclaw, Shredflame, Toadleap and Tumblefoot and Brindlestar had asked Larchclaw, Honeypelt, Appleskip, Jaypelt and Screechclaw, Splashheart noticed that neither of them had picked anyone related to Redfeather.
"The rest of you stay behind and begin repairing the dens, start with the nursery," Brindlestar meowed, before squeezing through the entrance and began to make her way to the clans' camp. She muttered a few things to Birchthorn who simply nodded his head.
"Splashheart, Dapplecoat wait up!" Honeypelt's meow called from the back of the group, to the two she-cats. They waited for Honeypelt to arrive beside them and started their conversation.
"Do you think Brindlestar will mention the storm?" Honeypelt queried.
"Well she talked about the fire at the last gathering so probably," Splashheart told her two friends.
"She definitely won't make Roarclan seem weak," Dapplecoat added.
"I don't think she'll mention it all," Jaypelt interrupted sternly.
"Look at your fur!" Honeypelt fretted. Jaypelt's fur was matted and bits were flying out everywhere.
"It's fine really," He gave himself a few swift licks and padded forward. Honeypelt followed him and stayed in time with him so she could clean his pelt.
"That'll be you someday," Screechclaw meowed giving Appleskip's ear a swift lick.
"We both know I'm not ready for that" Appleskip replied, she rubbed her cheek against his chest fur.
"When will you be ready?" Screechclaw whined
"When I am, give me time," Appleskip cuffed his ear with her tail, the two obviously weren't quarrelling.
"Young love," Dapplecoat joked.
"That was you and Swiftleap you know, I swear you two couldn't part," Splashheart remarked. Dapplecoat simply smiled at Splashheart in reply.
"We're here!" Brindlestar shouted before climbing through Roarclan's entrance to the clans' camp, the rest of the cats followed. When they were all in Splashheart went to her spot with the other medicine cats and Birchthorn and Brindlestar proceeded to their spots.
"Splashheart, it's nice to see you," Mapledawn, the medicine cat of Duskclan meowed.
"Mapledawn!" Splashheart sprinted to the she-cat and gave her swift lick on the ear, Mapledawn did the same too Splashheart.
"I've been stuck with these two toms for quite some time now," Mapledawn chuckled.
"How's Duskclan?" Splashheart asked the she-cat.
"You'll find out," she replied gleefully, Splashheart nodded at Flintstorm, the medicine cat of Breezeclan and Molefoot, the medicine cat of Streamclan. Splashheart saw Flintstar stand up to speak and noticed that most of the cats had gone quiet.
"Breezeclan is doing well, Iceblossom has given birth to three beautiful kits and the fresh-kill pile is well-stocked," Flintstar called. A few cheers rang around the clearing for Iceblossom but then went silent when Nightstar stood up.
"Duskclan is doing well also; we have a new warrior with us tonight, Badgerfang step forward and allow everyone to see you," Nightstar advised, meows of congratulations pulsed around the clearing until they were silenced by Brindlestar.
"Roarclan has dealt with a great tragedy, we have lost one of our most loved warriors, Moonblaze died in a great storm and just recently, my deputy Redfeather has passed away," Brindlestar grieved, a few cats lowered their heads in respect.
"But…" Nightstar pressed Brindlestar.
"But we have two new warriors and Birchthorn has become the new deputy, Pip and Daisyheart step forward please" Brindlestar ordered, celebratory meows echoed around the clearing until they finally died down and allowed Stormstar to speak.
"Streamclan is thriving, there are two new queens in the nursery and Fawnpaw has become Fawngaze," Stormstar praised the young she-cat. Splashheart faced Dapplecoat and saw jump with glee and race towards her friend, all four leaders jumped down from the great log and signalled their clans to follow them.
"Fawngaze!" Dapplecoat called to her friend over all the murmurs around the clearing. Fawngaze turned around and saw Dapplecoat pelting toward her; she broke from her group and met her friend in the centre of the clearing. They gave each other a respectful lick and started talking. Splashheart jumped down from her spot and went to meet the two.
"So you're Dapplecoat now?" Fawngaze asked.
"Yeah and you're Fawngaze, what a pretty name," Dapplecoat purred, the two talked for a little until they were told to return home.
"I should go too, nice to see you," Fawngaze gave her friend one last lick before trotting over to her clan. Splashheart and Dapplecoat quickly joined their clan as well and followed them out of the clearing.
