Another elder: Coldheart-Gray seal tabby point with silver legs and banded tail.
The first time I went to a Gathering, Graystripe, Ravenpaw, and I were so daunted by the older warriors around us that we only talked to a few apprentices. Now that I'm a warrior and former deputy, I can talk to even clan leaders. It still feels strange to think that someone like me can talk to cats like Stonefur or Deadfoot.
The great oaks of Four Trees seemed to stretch up to Silverpelt as I padded into the clearing with the other WindClan cats. Tallstar leapt up to Great Rock where Leopardstar and Tigerstar sat making small talk.
"Where's Bluestar? We were late as it is." I glanced over at Pinefur as he spoke; Sandstorm's mew of ThunderClan's troubles came back into my mind.
Bluestar even did just what she promised. No deputy has been reappointed. She won't address the clan, she claims ThunderClan isn't participating in any more Gatherings... It's scary, Fireheart.
I sighed and glanced around to the cats around me. Loneliness crashed into me like a wave as I realized the cats who I'd most spoken with (WindClan and ThunderClan) were off doing their own things or weren't here at all. I was alone. Then, an all too familiar scent picked up on the breeze- the scent of ThunderClan. Whitestorm led Sandstorm and a few of my former clanmates into Four Trees; I felt a rush of confusion as I recognized Graystripe.
"Graystripe! Sandstorm!" I hissed. My friends gave me a small look and came hesitantly toward me.
"Make it quick," Graystripe quickly mewed, "or Whitestorm will skin us."
"What? Why?" I asked.
"What did you need?" Sandstorm interrupted. I opened my mouth but was silenced by a loud yowl from Whitestorm. My green gaze turned toward the white ThunderClan warrior.
"What are you doing up here, Whitestorm," wondered Tigerstar; he took a small step forward to speak. Whitestorm stepped in front of the ShadowClan leader.
"I will speak first." I've never seen such fury in Whitestorm's amber eyes. "WindClan have stolen ThunderClan's prey! We have detected your warriors for days, Tallstar! I hope for your clan's sake that you have a good explanation for this!"
"Did we not just discuss this, Whitestorm? Dogs have taken your prey. We have lost prey as well!"
"It wasn't just dogs! A ThunderClan rabbit was left on Sunningrocks with the scent of WindClan all over it!" I heard Dustpelt call out in anger. ThunderClan cats began wailing in their indignation; WindClan muttered in confusion.
"Whitestorm, I assure you that I have never sent a WindClan warrior to steal prey from ThunderClan. Why would I when we have plenty of prey?" Tallstar mewed.
"Then where has the WindClan scent come from? And what happened to our prey!" Goldenflower wondered.
"WindClan has done nothing," responded Cloudfire in fury. Goldenflower snarled at the WindClan queen; I saw Dustpelt unsheathe his claws.
"Enough of this!" Runningnose's agitated meow silenced the clearing, and at the same time a single cloud brushed over the moon. Every cat was deadly quiet as it passed over.
"Whitestorm," Tallstar spoke quietly, "I promise you that the prey was not taken by WindClan."
"Yet we found your scent in our territory," the ThunderClan cat repeated.
"I know," sighed Tallstar. "It was perhaps a rogue who stayed in our territory too long and gained WindClan scent or an exiled cat. All I know is that it was not us."
"So you say," muttered Whitestorm. "Leopardstar, I believe it is your turn to speak." The RiverClan leader began talking of a badger that was driven off of her territory by Blackclaw and Mistyfoot.
"Is that what you two were so nervous about?" I asked Graystripe and Sandstorm as the other two leaders reported.
"Yes," they replied in unison.
"Why you, Graystripe? What does it have to do with RiverClan?"
"Leopardstar exiled me. She tried to take Sunningrocks for RiverClan, and I refused to attack ThunderClan," explained Graystripe. I widened my eyes in surprise.
"Bluestar didn't care if he came back," Sandstorm added, "so he came back to ThunderClan."
"And what about-" I began. but a black tail poked me on the shoulder.
"Time to go, dear," Nightfur mewed with a small laugh in her voice.
"I have to go... See you later."
Graystripe raced away; he waved his tail as he went. Sandstorm gave me a longing look then followed her clanmate. I gave a small sigh and went with Nightfur toward my home.
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"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Tall Rock for a clan meeting!" Tallstar's mew roused the sleeping clan. "Today we were informed of a possible war with ThunderClan..." My leader gave a quick summary of the missing prey.
"Tallstar, you can't be serious!" The elder Grasswhisker called out. His gray/brown fur was ruffled in frustration. "You just had a talk with Bluestar about the prey issue!"
"Bluestar's a stubborn fool. She won't listen to any cat," replied Rushtail.
"Bluestar wasn't there. Whitestorm spoke for ThunderClan," Onewhisker informed the elders.
"Yes, and he was-" Icecloud began, but a loud yowl interrupted her. The entire clan spun to see Darkstripe leading a few ThunderClan cats into the WindClan camp. He gave another yowl, and the ThunderClan cats filed in and began fighting my new clan.
