3rd Moon of Green-Leaf; 1st Quarter Moon; 1st Day

Dawn


The return home from the Gathering was awful. Why are all the Gatherings I go to get shortened by StarClan? Well, I'm guessin' it's because the Clans are on the brink of war. I don't know who's causing the scuffle between ShadowClan and WindClan, but I sure do know who's givin' fleas to Barkstar and Foamstar. Silverpaw.

As we walked back home, the sky was still covered in them thunderclouds. Soft thunder rolled from above, and it was so soft we went crazy because it scared us and yet we could barely hear it. Does that make sense? The smell of hot rain was in the air too, but it was like the dampness suspended every little plop an' drop of water from fallin' out of the sky. ALso, our pelts felt musty and our heads began to swim. I sure hope Bluepelt has somethin' for everyone's headaches.

When we got back to camp, everyone began asking for the details. Mousefeather of course tried to talk as loud as she could to explain the Gathering from her point of view. What a mouse-brain. Barkstar gloomily reported that all the Clans were turning on each other. Yes, even noble ol' Wolfstar lashed his tail at ThunderClan.

There was one thing I could have done to prevent the destruction of the Clans: tattle on my dear ol' friend Silverpaw. But I didn't. Nope. Why? Well, I promised her I wouldn't. I'm a cat made up of honesty, love, an' that good red, hot stuff flowing in my veins.

I escaped to the apprentices' den while Barkstar told the rest of ThunderClan what happened. Berrystripe followed me.

"Whatta Gathering, huh?" He laughed lightly as I plopped down in my nest which, may I add?, is too small for me.

"If the Clans don't stop fighting, well, I oughtta go right up to Mudstar and Wolfstar and sneeze right in their fuzzy faces," I said, tucking my paws underneath my fur.

"You can hardly walk to Fourtrees and back. I doubt that you would even..." Berrystripe trailed off when he caught my glare.

"I get it! I'm fat! Will y'all just shut up?" I hissed. "Redflower's dead and Applepaw doesn't give a mousetail. Get outta here. Go back to Mousefeather."

Berrystripe was dumbfounded. "Sorry, I didn't mean to-"

I hopped right up and clawed his nose with a swift swipe. I barely nicked it, so a small droplet of blood swelled from the scratch. The yella tom scurried away leaving me alone in the apprentices den feeling surly and sad.

Through the yew bush's branches I saw him cross our moonlit camp. Mousefeather greeted him with purrs and giggles of joy, but he payed no mind to her and joined the already asleep warriors.

Then a new face poked its head into my den. "Firepaw, would you like to share some prey with me?" It was Featherfur, my little siblings' father.

Maybe having a bite to eat would help me feel better. Besides, I know this old tomcat would have dragged me out anyway because he promised to take care of all her kits includin' me.

I followed him to the prey pile and we shared a late-night pigeon together. Cedarfall came over too. He looked ragged and drained much unlike before the Gathering.

"You okay?" I asked him.

"He is fine, I assure you," Featherfur laughed and Cedarfall shrugged bashfully before tearing into a squirrel. "Hungry, eh?"

Cedarfall laughed lightly and finished his squirrel quietly. Hazelclaw padded past as he made his way to the warriors' den.

"You're eating again?" He scoffed at us.

Featherfur sat up straight and looked him in the eye. Blue to blue. "Do you have a problem, Hazelclaw?"

"Naw, I don't have a problem," he shook his head slowly. "You two're just gettin' an extra dinner. Can't you wait until mornin' to have breakfast?"

"What is wrong with eating while you are hungry?" Featherfur growled. "I will be sure to catch extra prey tomorrow."

Hazelclaw got up in his face. "You better," then he startled me by gettin' up in my face. "Ya better watch youself, Firepaw. You're gettin' fat like Redflower."

I was taken aback by that. He called me fat! He called my mother fat!

"How dare ya say that!" I stood up and butt head with him.

The other cats stopped and stared.

"You can't say nothin' about Redflower!" I yowled. "You have no right to insult her!"

Hazelclaw didn't know what to say. Even in the moonlight his eyes were dark as he glared his worst at me.

"You can't talk that way to your father," he growled.

"You aren't my father," I hissed. "You didn't love Redflower."

"Who could love a lazy queen?" He snarled.

I just about had it. "She was twice the warrior you'll ever be!"

"That's enough!" Featherfur said as he got in between us.

I spat down at the ground while keepin' my eyes trained on that fox-heart. I saw Barkstar watchin' too. He didn't do anything.

"Go to your nest," Featherfur looked at me softly.

"I'm not a kit anymore," I mumbled before padding away.

I trudged into the den and threw myself at my nest. Silverpaw looked as glum as a plum in leaf-bare. Everything's her fault!

"You better stop seein' that RiverClan tom," I hissed. "Next time I'll be sure to let the Clans know."

"Sorry," she mewed.

StarClan, bless this camp!

"Better stop making scenes like that," I heard Applepaw say.

"Shut up, rat-tongue," I snarled.

Redflower would've cuffed my ear for saying that, but she ain't here is she?