Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors. The books and characters belong to the Erins. As for the characters that were created for this fanfiction, they are mine. Please don't intentionally steal any of them.
Chapter 5
Rowanwind spun around to try and pinpoint where the yowling was coming from. He noticed Featherstar hissing at Rapidriver. The blue-gray tom disappeared through the entrance of RiverClan's camp.
"Rowanwind, will you come with us?" Featherstar asked.
"Of course, Featherstar," Rowanwind replied quickly. "Lead the way."
A few moments later, Rapidriver came running out of the camp with four toms that Rowanwind recognized. Boldstripe was a cream tom with brown stripes. Jaggedscar was a white, gray, and black tom who was missing his right eye. Splinterclaw was a gray tom with a white chest. The last tom, who was brown and dark brown, was Lionstorm.
"Gingerheart!" Lionstorm said in surprise.
"Lionstorm, there is no time!" Featherstar hissed. "Follow me!"
Featherstar led the way in the direction of the yowling. The closer they got, the more Rowanwind recognized the sound as fighting cats. They stumbled through the reeds before coming to a clearing full of cats.
Rowanwind glanced around at the RiverClan cats who were fighting. He recognized Torchfur, Daisyclaw, Woodpuddle, and Willowsky. Daisyclaw was pinned to the ground by a black DarkClan tom. Torchfur and Woodpuddle were forcing a she-cat to back up against a rock that jutted out of the ground. Willowsky was holding her own against three other DarkClan cats, two toms and a she-cat.
"Daisyclaw!" Lionstorm screeched, launching himself at the tom who was pinning the young warrior down.
Stormypelt gave a fierce yowl as she raced over to help Willowsky.
Rowanwind watched as the eyes of the she-cat backed up against the rock widened. She gave a yowl of retreat and raced away. The two toms that Willowsky had been fighting disappeared into the shadows. Stormypelt gave the she-cat she was fighting a good nip on the shoulder, which sent the she-cat racing away. The tom that had been pinning Daisyclaw down was still scuffling in the reeds against Lionstorm, who was knawing on the tom's foreleg.
"Willowsky, are you okay?" Stormypelt panted.
Willowsky laughed. "With you here? How could I be anything but okay?"
Stormypelt laughed breathlessly with her sister.
The last DarkClan tom finally got Lionstorm to let go. With a furious snarl, the tom disappeared into the shadows and was gone.
"Daisyclaw!" Lionstorm rushed over to the black she-cat, who was only just now getting to her paws. "Are you okay? Did Rascal hurt you badly?"
"Rascal?" Daisyclaw hissed. "How do you know his name?"
Lionstorm touched his nose to Daisyclaw's cheek and said, "I was kidnapped by them, remember? I learned a few of their names while I was their prisoner."
"Oh!" Daisyclaw's yellow eyes widened. "I'm sorry. I forgot."
"It's okay," Lionstorm meowed, twisting his tail around Daisyclaw's.
Rowanwind saw movement out of the corner of his eye and watched Gingerheart walking over to Lionstorm. Thunderstripe walked up on Rowanwind's other side, his eyes full of uncertainty as he watched Gingerheart. Rowanwind touched his friend's shoulder with his tail-tip, but Thunderstripe wouldn't look at him.
"I am sorry you had to be here for this," Featherstar said behind Rowanwind.
Rowanwind turned to face her. "We don't mind, really. It was a good experience for Stormypelt."
"Now, what was it you wanted to talk about?" Featherstar asked. "Unless it's something we must discuss in private?"
"No, here is fine," Rowanwind replied. He glanced quickly over his shoulder to see Lionstorm and Gingerheart talking, Daisyclaw looking at the two of them with surprise on her face. He turned back to RiverClan's leader and told her about the rogue who wanted to meet all of the leaders.
Featherstar's amber eyes filled with thought before she finally nodded. "I will be there tomorrow. RiverClan wish just as much that the rogue is here to help us."
Rowanwind nodded. "I think it's time we left. We've been gone all day."
Featherstar nodded in understandment. "Thank you for your help."
"You're welcome," Rowanwind replied. He turned to see that Gingerheart was sitting beside Thunderstripe again. Stormypelt was still talking to her sister. Lionstorm and Daisyclaw were nowhere to be seen.
Rowanwind walked over to Thunderstripe and Gingerheart. Ignoring, for the moment, the heartbroken look on Gingerheart's face, Rowanwind whispered, "Let's go home."
Rowanwind and his friends returned to ThunderClan's camp to find it running like usual. Granitetail and Oakpelt were sitting by the fresh-kill pile, talking. Snowcloud and Poppyflower were watching Stormkit play with a ball of moss in front of the nursery. Barrenoak and Tenderclaw were lying in a patch of sunlight by the elders' den.
"Do you think we should tell the Clan about what we learned from the other Clans?" Thunderstripe whispered as they entered the camp.
Rowanwind nodded. "I was planning on it."
Thunderstripe nodded as well. He glanced at Gingerheart, who hadn't said a single word the entire trip home. Rowanwind wondered if his friend was planning on talking with Gingerheart about what had just happened between her and Lionstorm. Before Rowanwind could say anything to his best friend, Gingerheart touched Rowanwind's shoulder with her tail-tip.
"Can I talk to you, Rowanwind?" He saw the quick glance she gave Thunderstripe. "Privately, please?"
Rowanwind saw the disgruntled look on Thunderstripe's face. He turned to look at Stormypelt and was surprised to find her looking just as disgruntled as Thunderstripe. He slowly turned back to Gingerheart, his mind in a state of confusion. "Okay. Let's go for a quick walk."
Gingerheart led the way back out of the camp.
"I can't talk long, Gingerheart. I need to tell Clawstar and the rest of the Clan what we learned today," Rowanwind meowed.
"I understand," Gingerheart whispered. She stopped beside a tree and sat down. Rowanwind watched her fidget uncomfortably and waited for her to say something.
After a few minutes of silence, Rowanwind asked, "What is it you need to talk to me about?"
Gingerheart wrapped her tail arond her paws. "I found out today that Lionstorm and Daisyclaw are in love."
Rowanwind nodded. "I saw you talking to them."
Gingerheart stared at her paws. "I've been so confused lately, Rowanwind. I'm not sure what to do. My mind tells me one thing, and my heart tells me another."
Rowanwind didn't feel comfortable with where this conversation was heading. "What do you mean?"
"I'm confused because I'm in love with three different cats, Rowanwind." Gingerheart shook her head.
Rowanwind stared at her for a moment. "Who?"
"I fell for you during the time I was in ThunderClan before I was kidnapped," Gingerheart whispered. Her voice was thick with emotion. "But then Lionstorm and I were kidnapped. We were trapped together for so long. I fell in love with him. How could I not? He was the only sane thing I had in a world of chaos and darkness.
"But then, when I returned to ThunderClan, Thunderstripe started being so nice to me. I couldn't stop thinking about Lionstorm, until I realized that he and I couldn't be together...not if we wanted to remain loyal to our Clans. I wasn't even sure if Lionstorm felt the same way toward me.
"You and Thunderstripe have been the greatest friends I could have ever hoped for. I feel like I don't deserve to have friends like you. I've seen the differences in the two of you from before I was kidnapped. I fell for you first, but you're so different now. It took me the longest time to get to know you again. I'm quite certain I'm in love with Thunderstripe now, but I still feel the same about you, despite all the changes.
"I just don't know what to do. I've seen the way you and Stormypelt look at each other, and I think it would be cruel of me to ask you if you love me the way I love both you and Thunderstripe."
"Gingerheart..." Rowanwind paused and shook his head. "If you could see the expression in Thunderstripe's eyes when he talks about you...the way he looks at you when you aren't looking...I'm not the one you should be talking to. I do have...feelings for Stormypelt. And you...I love you as a sister, Gingerheart, not as a mate."
She finally looked up from her paws. Her light brown eyes were shining with tears. "I was really hoping you wouldn't be mad at me."
"Mad? Gingerheart, why would I be mad? I think you and Thunderstripe are meant to be together," Rowanwind replied. "You need to tell him everything you just told me."
"Now?" she squeaked.
"Only if you're ready," Rowanwind whispered.
Gingerheart took a deep breath. "I think I'm ready."
"Okay. I'll go tell him you want to speak with him," Rowanwind said, standing up.
"Thank you for being so understanding. I really don't deserve to be your friend," Gingerheart mewed.
"What are friends for?" Rowanwind said with a flick of his tail. He padded away to go tell Thunderstripe that Gingerheart wanted to see him. He knew that, very soon, his two best friend would be mates.
After telling Thunderstripe that Gingerheart wanted to speak to him, Rowanwind went to Frostflower's den to talk to Clawstar. He found the leader sitting up in his nest, talking to Frostflower about how well Maggotpaw's training was going.
"Hello, Rowanwind!" Clawstar said with a happy glint in his light green eyes. "How was your trip to see the other leaders?"
"Quite eventful," Rowanwind replied. "We learned that Stonebreeze of ShadowClan is dead."
Clawstar and Frostflower looked taken aback.
"Was it a DarkClan attack?" Clawstar wondered, his eyes clouded with disbelief.
"No," Rowanwind said. "He died from a mysterious hole in his shoulder. He didn't go back to camp last night. One of their apprentices said she heard a strange noise last night, and Cracklefur suspects whatever made the noise is what killed Stonebreeze. A ShadowClan dawn patrol found him this morning."
"That's horrible," Frostflower meowed.
"Did Crimsonstar agree to meet with the rogue after what happened?" Clawstar wondered.
"I don't know. We asked a ShadowClan border patrol to give her the message," Rowanwind said.
"What about Angelstar and Featherstar?" Clawstar asked.
"Both of them agreed to go," Rowanwind answered. "While we were on RiverClan territory, they were attacked by DarkClan."
"Was anyone badly injured?" Frostflower wanted to know.
Rowanwind shook his head. "No. We helped to chase them off RiverClan's territory."
Clawstar nodded. "We have som good news for you in light of all this. Frostflower says that I may move around the camp tomorrow."
"But he must continue to sleep in my den," Frostflower added. "I don't want him climbing up onto the Highledge, or up to his den."
Rowanwind nodded. "That is good news."
"Are you going to tell the Clan about what you witnessed and heard today?" Clawstar asked.
"Yes, but I felt it was better to come and tell you first," Rowanwind said in response.
Clawstar nodded solemnly. "Ashfang chose you well as my deputy, young Rowanwind."
Rowanwind purred. "I am very glad to hear that."
"You may go now," Clawstar said.
Rowanwind gave a final nod before heading out of the den. He glanced around the camp. Oakpelt was now sitting with Snowcloud, watching their son. With a jolt, Rowanwind realized that Stormkit was old enough to be made an apprentice. He needed to discuss Stormkit's apprentice ceremony with Clawstar after the meeting.
Rowanwind padded toward the Highledge but was intercepted by Stormypelt. She still looked very agitated.
"So, what did you and Gingerheart talk privately about?" Stormypelt asked, an edge to her voice.
Rowanwind couldn't make himself look her in the eyes. "It was a private conversation for a reason, Stormypelt. If you really must know, then ask Gingerheart when she is done talking to Thunderstripe."
"Oh!" Stormypelt's fur flattened. "It's okay. I wasn't that interested."
"If you say so," Rowanwind said, giving her a curious glance.
"Don't you have a meeting to hold? Don't let me hold you up," Stormypelt said hurriedly before quickly walking away.
With a shake of his head, Rowanwind headed for the Highledge again. He scrambled up and looked down at the camp.
"All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather here beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!" Rowanwind yowled.
Rowanwind watched the cats gather beneath him. He saw Oakpelt lead Snowcloud and Stormkit over and was glad to see his half-brother finally putting his affair with Maplerose, a RiverClan she-cat, behind him. Granitetail came over with Reedclaw and Crookedfern. Quickpelt and Twigleaf came padding over from where they had been sharing tongues near the nursery. Sootpaw walked over from the elders' den, where he had been cleaning out the moss. When he sat next to Wetpelt and Lightdew, the two she-cats got up and moved away. Rowanwind recognized the hurt expression on Sootpaw's face when the only cat to sit next to him was his mother, Rainfur.
Come to think of it, Rowanwind remembered that Sootpaw had gradually begun to become less popular with the other ThunderClan cats. Did it have anything to do with the fact that Sootpaw look much his traitorous father, Icefur?
Rowanwind began to feel suspicion crawl through his belly. Had someone caught Sootpaw doing something questionable and were waiting for the moment to tell him or Clawstar about it? Why were Sootpaw's own sisters, Webpaw and Nimblepaw, not sitting with their brother and mother?
"What's going on, Rowanwind?" Crookedfern called, gently reminding Rowanwind that he was supposed to be speaking.
Rowanwind cleared his throat before he began.
"As I'm sure many of you have heard, this morning's dawn patrol met a rogue who said that he has encountered DarkClan before. He wants to meet the leaders of all the Clans. Oakpelt, who was on the dawn patrol, told the rogue that our leader would not be able to make it. I will go instead. Oakpelt, I would like you and Stormypelt to come with me to the island tomorrow. Just in case this is a trick by DarkClan, I would like Crookedfern, Blackcloud, and Cedarspirit to come with us. The rest of you can stay behind in the camp, in case of an attack here.
"Thunderstripe, Gingerheart, Stormypelt, and I went and traveled to the other three territories around the lake to talk with the other leaders. We went to ShadowClan first and left a message to Crimsonstar with one of her border patrols. The patrol told us that one of their warriors, Stonebreeze, died from a mysterious injury last night. He was found this morning by ShadowClan's dawn patrol. One of ShadowClan's apprentices heard a strange noise last night, while Stonebreeze was away from camp. We need to be extra careful while we are all out of camp, just in case whatever killed Stonebreeze comes to our territory.
"While we were on RiverClan's territory, we learned that they had been attacked by DarkClan early this morning. We were there for only a few moments when they were attacked a second time by DarkClan. The four of us helped to chase the DarkClan cats away.
"Both Angelstar and Featherstar have agreed to meet the rogue tomorrow on the island. We aren't sure of Crimsonstar's answer because we only sent her a message through her warriors."
"What sort of injury was it that killed Stonebreeze?" Darkeye called out curiously.
"We were told that he had a hole in his shoulder, which had oozed blood everywhere," Rowanwind replied hoarsely.
The cats turned and whispered to each other. He could feel the tension coming off of them and could smell their fear scent.
"As long as we are extra careful, we shouldn't be in any trouble from this new threat," Rowanwind said, trying to sound confident. "As long as all border and hunting patrols keep a look out for anything suspicious, we should be perfectly fine."
"What made the hole, Rowanwind?" Thornfur asked.
Rowanwind shook his head. "The patrol told us it was like nothing any of them had seen before. They'd fetched Cracklefur, but it was already too late."
The cats eyes widened and the whispers grew more frantic.
"Calm down. We need to focus on the meeting with the rogue for now," Rowanwind told the Clan. "Everyone be extra careful, and do not leave the camp alone for any reason. We will get through this if we act rationally and don't panic."
The whisperings died down and their fur began to lie flat. With a sigh, Rowanwind flicked his tail to indicate he was finished and scrambled down from the Highledge.
Stormypelt walked over to him. "That was a good meeting. I don't think you convinced the Clan much about us being out of danger, though."
Rowanwind sighed. "I know, Stormypelt. But what more could I have done?"
End of Chapter Five
