Death came with leaf-bare. Every cat knew that. DarkClan had been lucky the past few seasons to only lose a few elders and warriors—they'd never lost a kit or apprentice, either. But as the snow came down and settled on the body of Swiftwhisker, Hollybark had a sinking suspicion that this leaf-bare would change that.
Swiftwhisker had been a senior warrior from the old clans; Icewillow's mate and the father of Silvershade and her littermates, he had been close to all of Heatherstar's family.
Rogues had killed him. He had died outnumbered and injured on what should have been an ordinary patrol, and he was far from the first cat to be injured by them, but he was the first in DarkClan to be killed.
And he was far from the first death, too. Rushsong had died of whitecough only a moon earlier, and the elder Rabbitclaw had gone to hunt with StarClan just before that. Now, with Swiftwhisker killed only a moon into leaf-bare, with prey running low in their borders, and with the looming threat of rogues, no cat was without worry.
Swiftwhisker's brothers Windtail and Fleetfoot would retire to the elders' den in the morning, when they had sat their brother's vigil. Hollybark had heard them speak with Nightstar earlier. They were the oldest warriors in the clan, and they deserved some rest.
The middle of the harshest leaf-bare of the new clan might not be the time to take it, Hollybark thought.
Silvershade howled from the nursery. She had gone into shock when she saw her father carried back to camp; Sagewhisker had stayed with her after treating the injured patrol members, and Silvershade, though her litter had not been expected for another quarter moon, had begun to kit.
Hollybark pressed her nose into her uncle's cold fur, trying to block out the painful cries. Fishpaw, who was paying his own respects, flinched; Hollybark wrapped her tail around him briefly.
Hollybark saw Sagewhisker's harrowed face emerge from the nursery as the cries subsided. The quiet whispers of the clan died down, too, as she looked around. There was blood on her paws.
Hollybark stood up. Around her, Heatherstar's other descendants followed suit.
"Is she alright?" Icewillow asked. Sagewhisker shook her head tiredly.
"By StarClan's will, she will live," she said. "She lost blood, but I was able to staunch the bleeding."
"And the kits?" Icewillow asked.
A shadow passed over Sagewhisker's face. "Silvershade gave birth to two, a tom and a she-kit. The tom lived; she's named him Pinekit, and he is healthy. The she-kit was stillborn. Silvershade named her Mosskit."
Featherwind and Stonetail immediately clamored to see their littermate, but Sagewhisker quieted them with a look.
"Silvershade is resting. StarClan willing, she will be fine when she wakes up. But not a cat in this clan is going in the nursery that doesn't belong there until I say so, and right now, you're going to let her rest. Go back to your vigil. Silvershade will still be here when her father is buried."
She brushed back through the curtain of leaves into the nursery. Her sandy pelt had barely disappeared before the clan burst into noise.
"This leaf-bare will either make our faith or destroy it," Larchtail murmured. Hollybark turned to her brother.
"I'm more worried about the rogues," she replied. "Two moons ago, it was RainClan. Now, we're under attack, too. We've lost a warrior, for StarClan's sake! Silvershade lost her father and a kit from her first litter in the same day, Larchtail. Our prey is running low. We'll have three elders, two queens, and three kits to feed, not to mention any injured cats that are taken off warrior duties. We're already about to starve. If Silvershade loses her other kit, a littermate, anyone, then we might lose her." She met her brother's dark amber eyes. "I don't want to lose another cat who shares my blood."
And still snow came down around them, softening the sounds of grief that flooded the camp.
Nightstar stood atop highledge, her amber eyes scanning every cat in DarkClan.
"Fireleap, Sagewhisker, you two will, of course, be coming to Fallentree. Birdflight, Darkstorm, Sweetroot, Bramblefur, Hollybark, Fishpaw, and Lynxpaw will accompany me to the Gathering. Clan dismissed; Gathering patrol, come with me."
She gracefully leapt from highledge and headed towards the hollow log. The rest of the followed, each cat nodding to Twigfur and Skyfire, who guarded the log that led to and from the camp.
DarkClan was the last clan to arrive, and the smallest; Nightstar wouldn't dare bring too many warriors, and she had sent several on hunting patrols before she had summoned a meeting for the Gathering group. The other leaders were waiting somewhat impatiently for DarkClan's arrival. Stripestar's tail lashed sharply, and Brightstar had begun to lick her paw. Nightstar jumped onto Fallentree to join them, and the gathering commenced.
"FlameClan is doing well," Stripestar said. "We are pleased to announce two new warriors, Wingfall and Frostear."
Two white cats, one with silver points and one with blue, ducked their heads as the clans cheered.
He paused to let the cheers die down before continuing, "We also have a new apprentice, Tulippaw. Our prey is running well, and we have had no deaths."
The clans cheered for a brown apprentice whose head was low with embarrassment, and Stripestar nodded to Brightstar.
"We have no new warriors, but Raincloud gave birth to four kits just two days ago: Windkit, Falconkit, Aspenkit, and Scorchkit. All four are healthy," Brightstar announced amidst cheers. "We have had no deaths. Our prey is running normally for leaf-bare. LightningClan is doing well. Shadowstar?"
Shadowstar straightened and began to speak.
"RainClan is not doing as well as FlameClan or LightningClan. Our prey has been a bit scarce, but we have managed. However, we have had rogue attacks on our borders, and many of our warriors have been injured, though none have died so far. We have a warrior in the medicine den right now under the care of Greenflower and Dappleleaf.
"In better news, we have two new apprentices: Hazelpaw, apprenticed to Hawkwing, and Slatepaw, apprenticed to Squirreltail."
Whispers rippled through the gathered cats as Shadowstar stepped back and flicked her tail at Nightstar. The new apprenticed were cheered, but the rest of Shadowstar's news had sobered the clans.
Rogues killed Swiftwhisker, Hollybark thought. There must be a connection.
"Why are there so many attacks?" Fishpaw asked quietly. His eyes were wide, and Hollybark made a note to introduce him to other clans' apprentices when the Gathering was over.
That might help his fear.
"I don't know, Fishpaw," she answered. "All I know is that it means more battle training for you."
He and Lynxpaw groaned, and the warriors around them chuckled. Some things never changed.
The moment of lightheartedness ended as soon as Nightstar stepped towards the front of Fallentree.
"I will speak the good news first," she intoned gravely. Silence fell.
"Our prey is flowing fine. Silvershade, a young queen, gave birth to two kits two days ago. One, Pinekit, is healthy. Her second kit was stillborn. The same day, Swiftwhisker, a senior warrior, was killed in a skirmish with rogues, and members of his patrol were injured. That is all," Nightstar finished, stepping back.
The clans broke out into whispers. Though quieter than usual, cats of all clans still began to speak with one another. The full moon overhead, the symbol of the truce of peace, cast the hill in silvery shadow as different groups broke off.
Hollybark introduced Fishpaw to Thistlepaw, a FlameClan apprentice soon to be made a warrior; a little later, Lynxpaw came to join the conversation, along with a tabby tom and honey-colored she-cat who Hollybark assumed were the FlameClan cat's littermates. As the apprentices began to talk, Hollybark went in search of her own friend.
She had just caught a glimpse of an orange pelt when a pair of blue eyes peered out from beneath a bristly bush.
"You're DarkClan, aren't you?" a male voice asked. Hollybark paused.
"Who's asking?"
"No one. Silvershade—she had the kits. Is she alright?" the voice questioned. Hollybark took a step closer, but the shadowy figure retreated farther into the bushes.
Hollybark stared at the now-shaded eyes.
"She's DarkClan. We're strong," she replied. The eyes blinked and vanished.
"Was there someone there?" Hollybark heard Fallenleaf ask. She jolted around to see him standing a few tail-lengths away, head tilted to the side.
She shook her head and padded over to join him.
"I thought I saw someone," she lied. "No one was there."
"How are you, then?" he asked. "Your clan is devastated; I'm sorry for your losses. Did you know Swiftwhisker well?"
Hollybark briefly twined her tail with his and nodded.
"And your injured cats? How are they?" she inquired.
"They're healing," he said. "Greenflower and Dappleleaf are more than capable. Icewhisker still hasn't gone back to her warrior duties, though. I worry for us all."
"We've already lost so much," Hollybark murmured. She never would have admitted it to anyone else outside of DarkClan, but the pain had gotten to her. "How much more will we have to go through before StarClan is satisfied?"
Fallenleaf shook his head mutely and padded away to join the rest of his clan. Hollybark followed suit.
A/N: First of all, thank you to everyone who reviewed this story and offered feedback. That means a lot to an author. Second, this might be the last update for a while; I will try to get another chapter in beforehand, but I leave for a week-long vacation soon, and I won't have a chance to write while on that. Thanks again, readers.