(A/N: This is probably one of my favorite chapters so far, this one and the next one. Yes, I know I made the Gathering's timing too convenient, but I wanted all four Clans introduced to the issue sooner rather than later. Whether WindClan and RiverClan like it or not, they are going to be involved.)
Chapter 7
Swallowflight leaped off of the wide log that was used as a bridge to reach the Gathering island. Stormpelt followed closely behind her, and after landing on the soft, dewy grass hurried to walk alongside the black she-cat.
"It'll be okay," the gray tom mewed quietly. "I'm sure Rowanstar isn't going to turn away to perfectly strong and healthy kits just because a ThunderClan cat's their mother."
"He's probably already guess the truth," Swallowflight meowed weakly. "I should never have sent Frogkit and Breezekit to live with him. I know Rowanstar is wise and knows the kits aren't at fault, but what do you think he'll do to Newtclaw? What if he brings it up tonight? Ivystar doesn't even know what I did."
Stormpelt licked her ear gently. "Hey, both leaders are fair and kind. Ivystar already knew that you were never going to stop loving Newtclaw. She's probably already guessed what happened. She and Rowanstar may not be happy with what you and Newtclaw did, but there's nothing they can do to change it. You gave our Clans wonderful kits, so they have nothing to be mad about."
A wave of ShadowClan scent hit Swallowflight as she followed her pretend mate toward the center of the island. The cats of the pine forest were mingling with WindClan and RiverClan cats, but there was only one Clan scent that Swallowflight was paying attention to. Was Newtclaw even here? What if he had been banned from Gatherings?
"Hey, Fernblossom," Stormpelt mewed politely to a dark ginger she-cat with RiverClan scent. "How's your apprentice?"
"Oh, he's great," the she-cat purred. "Thornpaw thinks he's a warrior already, and can't wait until the day Reedstar realizes that he should have been made one ages ago."
The tom chuckled lightly. "Oh, apprentices," he sighed. "What would we do without them?"
Fernblossom glanced behind Stormpelt, seeing Swallowflight for the first time. "Hi!" she mewed. "You must be Stormpelt's mate! He told me about you at the last Gathering!"
"You talk about me when I'm not around?" Swallowflight meowed, eyeing Stormpelt. She tried to keep her tone light, as if she were joking, but she wondered if the other two cats could hear that it was forced.
A brown-striped tom that smelled of wind and heather padded over to the small group. "Stormpelt has mentioned you tons of times. You're a lucky she-cat to have a tom who loves you like that. It reminds me that I should probably talk about my Petaltail more often."
"Hey, a tom's got to be proud of his mate, doesn't he?" Stormpelt meowed, brushing his thick gray tail against Swallowflight's side. "After all, they have to put up with us all the time!"
The brown tom laughed. "You sure got that right! I don't know why Petaltail puts up with me."
Fernblossom flicked her tail. "For some reason she-cats think they can fix toms. It gives us a challenge."
"We aren't a challenge!" Stormpelt mewed indignantly.
The ginger she-cat rolled her eyes. "Come on, Swallowflight. Tell us what a challenge Stormpelt is!"
"If everyone could please turn toward the Great Oak, we'd like to start the Gathering!" Harestar called from a high branch of the giant tree that towered over the island.
Swallowflight turned to face the brown-and-white tom and the other leaders, still worried over what Rowanstar might say about the kits.
The WindClan leader continued speaking almost immediately. "We've had a great moon," he meowed. "Two of our apprentices passed their assessments and were made warriors. Hawkflight and Icepool are here as warriors tonight."
"Hawkflight! Icepool!" Swallowflight joined in with everyone as they cheered for the new warriors. Peering through the crowd, she could see a thin brown tom glancing around nonchalantly with a white she-cat hanging her head in embarrassment next to him.
Icepool doesn't like attention called to her, Swallowflight thought. I was ready to burst with pride with Bramblestar announced me at a Gathering.
The RiverClan leader, a plump tom named Reedstar, stood up to speak. "We've also had a nice moon. Greenleaf is always a season of good hunting for the Clans and this seems no different. Fish almost seem to leaping into our paws!"
"ThunderClan has been enjoying excellent hunting," Ivystar added. "We haven't had the best moon, however. Just yesterday two of our kits went missing. We tracked their trail to the ShadowClan border, and we hoped that tonight Rowanstar might be able to tell us if he's found our missing kits.
There was a slight edge to her voice as she spoke. Swallowflight felt her claws dig into the ground nervously. How would Rowanstar respond to the silver-and-white she-cat?
The tom blinked slowly, nodding as Ivystar spoke. "Oh, I certainly can tell you. I realized fairly quickly why you didn't send out a patrol to fetch them back, and I wonder if you've told your Clanmates why you didn't send a patrol to fetch them right away.
"With the Gathering only one day away and them in a Clan, I assumed they would be safe until tonight," Ivystar meowed icily.
"I assume that is not the real reason, but whatever," Rowanstar meowed. "I know who the kits are and I assure you they will be most welcome in my Clan. Their father, however, has been banned from Gatherings in order to maybe prevent this unfortunate occurrence from happening again. Can I assumed you have punished the mother?"
By now Harestar and Reedstar had their eyes locked on the ThunderClan and ShadowClan leaders. Judging by their shocked looks, Swallowflight realized they had thought nothing interesting would happen tonight.
Ivystar flicked her tail. "How I deal with the mother is none of your concern, Rowanstar. She had four kits. If she and their father made the decision to split them up so each Clan got two, then that was their choice. Both Clans have a claim to these kits and both Clans shall get to claim these kits."
"As I said, the two brought to me are most welcome," Rowanstar meowed. "I was just wondering what we should do about their parents. Whether we like it or not, they are in this together and they drag our Clans into their mess with them. Your Clan loses two kits and my Clan gains two. Every cat here deserves to know what these parents think they're doing, and since I can see the mother sitting down there, I think it would be best if she'd enlighten the Clans with her mate's mouse-brained ideas since I've only had to listen to them every day for the past seven moons. Yes, I knew she had kits long before yesterday."
"Um…is it necessary for all four Clans to be involved in this?" Reedstar mewed. "Or can we go? I'm not sure I want RiverClan messed up in whatever's going on between ThunderClan and ShadowClan!"
Harestar shook his head, his amber eyes gleaming. "Are you kidding? This is the most excitement I've seen in moons! WindClan's staying for this!"
Ivystar sighed. "Oh, alright. I can see no good coming out of this, but I can see that my Clanmates look very interested in hearing what Swallowflight has to say."
Swallowflight hung her head, not wanting to speak in front of all four Clans. Stormpelt pressed up against her comfortingly.
"She doesn't have to say anything!" the tom meowed. "It's a queen's right to remain silent about the father of her kits!"
"It's so cute how he wants to protect her," Rowanstar laughed. "Tom, you know she doesn't love you. You aren't the father of her kits. Don't stand up for her. Let her answer for her actions."
The black she-cat sighed, sending a nervous glance to Stormpelt. The tom's blue eyes narrowed worriedly, but he didn't say anything. Closing her eyes, Swallowflight stood up to speak.
"Newtclaw of ShadowClan is the father of my kits," she meowed.
