CHAPTER EIGHT:
A Disrupted Gathering
Rainpaw heard Mysticleaf's call and figured it was time for the Gathering. She walked out of the medicine cat's den to see Mysticleaf and the rest of the cats going to the Gathering waiting for her to come.
"Sorry." Rainpaw mewed following the group who started walking as soon as Rainpaw had come out of the den. They walked through the territory very quickly and were at the Mulchpile very quickly.
The Mulchpile was the place where the Clans met every full moon to share news. They came under peace so if there was any dispute they could solve it without any conflict.
BrambleClan were the first Clan there. They waited for a while and eventually the other Clans got there. Rainpaw and Mysticleaf met up with the other medicine cats, Poppyseed, Stareyes, Thrushleaf, Pinetail, and Nettlepaw.
"Hi, I'm Rainpaw, the medicine cat apprentice from BrambleClan." Rainpaw introduced herself to Nettlepaw.
"Hey, Rainpaw." he greeted. "I'm Nettlepaw."
They talked until Brackenstar called for the Gathering to begin. "Let's start the Gathering!" he called out. He cleared his throat, preparing to talk. "SkyClan has suffered no losses from Shroudclaw's group and are sad for the other cats that have died from him."
"Thank you, Skystar." the other leaders thanked.
Brackenstar continued. "I am proud to have my Clan part of the patrol to stop Shroudclaw and can't wait for the day they come back with news of his death."
A voice from the crowd called out, "Isn't that a bit extreme?" he asked. Rainpaw agreed with the warrior. The warrior code said that you don't have to kill to win a battle.
"Yes," Brackenstar admitted. "But if we don't kill him he will continue to murder and threaten us." Rainpaw wondered why Brackenstar was so passionate about this when he had never been threathened by Shroudclaw. Rainpaw then wondered why Shroudclaw had attacked BrambleClan several times but never SkyClan.
Tomstar spoke up. "I agree with Brackenstar." he mewed. "I think Shroudclaw should be stopped by any means necessary."
All was silent for a second and then Skystar spoke. "I will speak on behalf of StrayClan now." He waited until he had the attention of every cat, including the other leaders then he began. "We lost Minepaw to Shroudclaw but have two new apprentices. Hollowpaw and Windpaw, who are here right now, have been apprentices for a few days."
"Hollowpaw! Windpaw!" the Clans rejoiced the new apprentices. Rainpaw was glad that even in these times of darkness that the Clans could share nice moments every once and a while.
"Also, my deputy Russettail decided to retire today and Highwing is my new deputy." Skystar mewed. Highwing stood up, the least bit embarassed. He sat back down and the Gathering went on.
"I will speak next." Tomstar mewed. "We lost Foxpaw to Shroudclaw and, like StrayClan, have gained three new apprentices, one of which a medicine cat apprentice. Rainpaw, Emeraldpaw, and Sparrow, please stand up!"
Rainpaw stood up, very embarrassed. She saw Emeraldpaw and Sparrowpaw standing up, equally embarrased. They sat down and Tomstar continued talking. "Two days ago we were attacked by Shroudclaw and his followers and with the help of StrayClan we fought them off. We don't know where they ran off to of course but none of our warriors or StrayClan's warriors were killed in the fight."
"I'm glad to here that, Tomstar." Sandstar mewed. "Now it is my turn." She paused. Then continued. "We have lost many cats to Shroudclaw, not through death but because they joined him."
The clearing was silent.
"That's all I have to say." Sandstar mewed. "I guess this Gathering is-"
She was interrupted by a rough voice. "Not yet!"
Rainpaw turned her head to see Shroudclaw and his group walking toward the Mulchpile.
"Shroudclaw!" growled Sandstar. "You have no reason to be here."
"Of course I do, you old fool! I am Shroudstar, leader of ShroudClan and have a duty to come to every Gathering as StarClan commends me." Shroudclaw mewed.
"Are you telling me StarClan actually granted you nine lives?" asked Brackenstar. "If I believed that I'd believe anything!"
"I am now Shroudstar and I will speak at this Gathering." Shroudstar mewed. "As for my Clan we will continue to live and hunt freely. You will let us pass throughout your territory without any agression or we will kill kits, apprentices, leaders, medicine cats, whatever it takes to tell you we're in charge and we will not tolerate such behavior."
Rainpaw could barely comprehend the threat that Shroudstar had just made.
"We will leave now." Shroudstar mewed to his warriors. Shroudstar walked away without any Clan cats challenging him.
"Should we track him?" asked Skystar.
"There's no point." Brackenstar replied. "We might as well tell the patrol that the should go back to camp."
Rainpaw didn't know what the patrol was for a second but then she got it. The patrol hunting for Shroudstar.
"I agree." Tomstar mewed.
"I as well." Sandstar mewed.
"Alright then." Skystar mewed. "Then the Gathering is over."
The other leaders nodded and led their Clans back to their camps.
Rainpaw wondered why Shroudstar had come. Maybe to make sure we knew he was prepared to kill, she thought darkly.
