Author's Note: Here's Chapter 8! And I also beat my previous score of one year! Only took me one day this time. ;) I hope you enjoy and continue to R&R, Favorite and follow. Thank you!
The next moon went by quickly and mostly uneventfully, too. Icecloud continued to teach Mintbreeze various skills of hunting and fighting, which Mintbreeze picked up on well.
Perhaps the most important thing Mintbreeze thought she had done was to better get to know her clanmates. She had more cats on her side, and most had begun to warm up to her. Every morning Mintbreeze would enjoy hunting with some of the cats she knew the best: Icecloud and Rosepetal. Most the cats seemed to be fond of Mintbreeze, all except for Blossomfall, who always seemed to be angry with her.
Life was going well around camp, until that glorious month past and the weight of the journey began to weigh on Mintbreeze's shoulders again. A full moon was coming, signaling the start of another Gathering. All the cats were excited, reveling in the idea of meeting the other cats once more. Mintbreeze couldn't help but worry, though. What if no one believes me? She thought, I'm supposed to bring all the clans with me. What will happen if they just say no? All Mintbreeze could do was push the bad thoughts down. They all returned when Brambleclaw began choosing the cats to go to the Gathering.
"Besides Firestar, Jayfeather, and myself, I would like Graystripe, Dustpelt, Sandstorm, Spiderleg, Blossomfall, Whitewing, Mintbreeze, Icecloud, and Dovepaw and Ivypaw."
The cats who were chosen to go assimilated by the exit, waiting for their leaders signal. Mintbreeze bounded over happily joining them, then gravitated to Jayfeather.
He sensed her approach, so he turned to face her. "Yes, Mintbreeze?"
Mintbreeze felt the fear and worry begin to rebuild itself once again inside her. "What do you think they're going to say at the Gathering tonight?" It sounded like small talk, but her paws were prickling with anticipation.
"Mintbreeze, the other leaders would be crazy to believe you." He said in a snarky tone of voice. Mintbreeze felt her heart sink, until he added, "But they would also be mousebrains to doubt StarClan."
Mintbreeze picked her head up and felt hope surge in her chest. She looked into Jayfeathers sightless eyes. "Has StarClan talked to them too?" She asked, wondering how often other cats received messages from the starry warriors. Maybe everyone did?
Jayfeather shook his head and began walking to Firestar's call in the background. When they both ducked outside of camp he continued. "That's what we'll find out. Wether or not they have or haven't, I'll vouch for you if any cat is disbelieving." Then he touched his nose to her ear in goodbye and bounded up to Firestar, leaving her alone. She felt her ears and face become hot, and had to duck her head as she walked to hide this.
Then Blossomfall fell in besides her. "I doubt anyone's going to believe the kittypet." She growled, running ahead before Mintbreeze could say anything.
"Don't mind my daughter, she doesn't pay attention to what she is saying sometimes." Graystripe said. Mintbreeze nodded, though she felt Blossomfall knew exactly what she said, and meant every word of it. The rest of the walk to the Gathering she chatted idly with Graystripe, glad she could get her mind off her dreams for a few minutes while they discussed Clan life. After a few minutes of this the Island came into view, causing her heart to sink.
From his branch of the tree, Firestar yowled at the cats below him. When they all fixated on him, he began to speak. "I would like if ThunderClan could start first at the Gathering tonight."
The other leaders bowed their heads in respect for the orange tabby, who returned their gestures. Mintbreeze held her breath as he spoke.
"Recently, one of our cats has received a dream from StarClan." He began, waiting for the reaction to set in. Mintbreeze hoped he wouldn't mention her name as he continued. "Our starry ancestors wish for us to journey back to our old territories, in search for our ancestors- more ancient then the first leaders themselves."
"Who's we?" A challenging she-cats voice sounded from a branch adjacent to Firestar. Mintbreeze recognized her as LeopardStar.
Firestar acknowledged her with a flick of his tail. "StarClan requested that we send cats from every Clan."
Onestar shook his head. "Oh? Now can you tell me who received this dream?" Firestar looked unsure, but he signaled Mintbreeze to walk forward. Her heart stopped as she walked up to face the crowd.
"Mintbreeze, please explain to these cats." Firestar sounded annoyed as he raked his eyes across the crowd.
Mintbreeze opened her mouth, but was cut off by the shouts of another cat, "Another kittypet? Why should we-"
"Silence!" Firestar called, flicking his tail for Mintbreeze to continue.
"Thank you." She took a deep breath. "Recently StarClan sent me a dream, saying that I needed to find the old colonies-before clan time, and-"
"Why would they say to do that?" An angry voice questioned.
"Well, I'm not exactly sure, but-"
"Really?" Another voice called, "how do we believe a kittypet?"
"Yeah, why would StarClan talk to a kittypet anyway?" Another cat joined in.
Soon more yowls of contempt broke out. "You see, I-" Mintbreeze tried, but was once again drowned out by angry calls of 'Liar!', 'Kittypet!' and 'Mangepelt'.
This was a mistake! Mintbreeze thought miserably. She put her head down. Firestar and the other leaders attempted to calm the cats, but they still raged. "Please! Listen to me, we need-" Mintbreeze once again tried to talk, but was once again interrupted. No one believed her.
Then every sound quieted. When Mintbreeze opened her eyes, she saw the horrified look on every cats face as they stared into the sky. The bright full moon was now shrouded in dark, thick clouds.
"StarClan is angry!" Firestar announced, looking contemptuously at the now-silent cluster of felines.
Blackstar stepped forward. "As much as it pains me to say so, I believe Mintbreeze's story is true. StarClan has apparently entrusted this kittypet." He spat the last words out like they were poison.
Mintbreeze spoke again. "StarClan has told me that I need to find out what happened to these colonies that came before the clans. I am a descendant of all the colonies, and have their powers within me. I have already requested two of my own clan to accompany me: Icecloud and Jayfeather." Murmurs broke out at Jayfeather's name, but no one said anything out loud. Icecloud and Jayfeather sat besides Mintbreeze. MIntbreeze continued, "Now I know each clan must be represented in this journey."
Firestar took over. "I ask you three leaders if you would in turn offer up some of your warriors for this journey. In the name of StarClan."
Mintbreeze felt doubtful as the leaders sat in silence. Leopardstar looked annoyed, Onestar gazed at Firestar like he was insane, and Blackstar simply sat unnerved. Then Blackstar stepped forward. "Through my time as leader and as a ShadowClan member, I know StarClan only acts for the best. I would ask Tigerheart to go, as well as Tawnypelt; Tawnypelt knows the path that will be traveled."
Onestar stepped up next. "Breezepelt, I would like you to go as well." Mintbreeze fumed when she saw Breezepelt again. He looked just as angry. "and Swallowtail." A pretty dark gray she cat stepped forward, bathed in moonlight. She looked excited, and looked over at Mintbreeze with a positive look in her eyes. She doesn't hate me? Mintbreeze thought, bewildered.
Leopardstar was last and looked doubtful still. She scanned the crowd, resting her eyes angrily on the cats below. "If StarClan so wishes," she spoke between her teeth. "I will send Reedwhisker." The clans were silent for a moment as Firestar requested attention.
He began to lower himself from his branch as he spoke. "The cats chosen for the journey may sleep here tonight, and head out at sunrise tomorrow. May Greenleaf treat all the Clans well," He said as he departed, other cats in tow. The other leaders whispered among themselves, occasionally shooting Mintbreeze looks. She felt small under the weight of their gazes.
When their group dispersed, Leopardstar padded over to Mintebreeze. She did her best to look tall and strong, but couldn't help but shrivel when the leaders burning eyes gazed upon her. "If any cats die on this journey, I will personally take it upon myself to send you to Starclan, or wherever you kitty pets go." She spat, then bounded after her departing clan.
Mintbreeze felt a shiver run down her spine at the leaders ice-cold words. All she could do was shake them off as the clearing emptied, leaving only eight cats remaining.
"Hello, I'm Mintbreeze." Mintbreeze introduced herself.
"Jayfeather." The blind medicine cat said.
"Icecloud." Mintbreeze's white-furred friend responded.
"I'm Tawnypelt." a green eyed, tortoiseshell she-cat said levelly.
"Tigerheart." A large, dark brown tabby tom said. Mintbreeze could instantly see the mother- son resemblance.
"Breezepelt, which I'm sure you already know." Breezepelt muttered. Mintbreeze could only think back to their fight earlier.
"Oh, ignore the grumpy cat. Hi! I'm Swallowtail!" The dark gray she-cat enthusiastically introduced herself, a friendly tone in her voice.
"I'm Reedwhisker." The last cat answered. He was black with long fur, like most RiverClan cats.
Mintbreeze spent the next couple minutes detailing her dreams. Most seemed convinced, though Breezepelt seemed annoyed.
Tawnypelt nodded. "I know from experience the mountain passage is best, the Tribe might-"
"Tribe? There's more cats?" Mintbreeze said.
"Yes," Tawnypelt explained, "The Tribe of Rushing Water has similar yet different customs than us. We've run into them before, and they could hopefully take us in and give us a place to rest." Mintbreeze nodded. "So, if we take the mountain passage, the Tribe might take us in, then we can continue on our way back to the old territories. I just wonder how they've changed…" Mintbreeze felt confused, and urged Tawnypelt to elaborate. "We came to the lake when the Twolegs began to rip up the old forest. I just wonder what's left of it."
Mintbreeze felt troubled; the troubling feeling stayed with her as the eight cats curled up for sleep. How would she find out what happened if the territories were gone?
