Chapter 9
"Let all cats old enough the run the moors of WindClan, gather beneath the High Ledge for a Clan meeting!" Stormstar's yowl cut off Hawktalon.
"I want the new warriors, apprentice, except you Wolfleap, Creekwater told me you need to rest you leg here, you will be welcome next gathering, the new mentors, Creekwater, Redheart, Goldenfur, Marigoldsong, Mosspool, Brightstream, Whitefrost, Bramblefire, Rainheart, Shadepelt, Lionnose, Pinetail, Streamlight, Sharprunner, Squirrelfall, Buzzardclaw," Stormstar mentioned a few more cats before heading off to the Gathering.
When al the Clans had arrived Talonstar stared down at the cats.
"Let the Gathering begin!" He yowled to the darkening sky.
"I will go first," The newly named Sedgestar's eyes scanned the cats before her.
"RiverClan has had some troubling times, Froststar, our medicine cat Jaystrike, Moonheart, Flameleap, Shrewpaw, and Snakepaw have all died from greencough, we have found the cause to this, Twolegs have jammed the river, and it is overflowing, covering all the important herbs that grow near the lake, we have a few other sick back at camp, Dapplesong has become my deputy, and we have three new apprentices, Goosepaw, Lizardpaw, Flintpaw, and Toadpaw has gone to join the medicine cat life with Bumblefang, the new medicine cat, other than that, prey is running fresh still in RiverClan," She stepped away.
Stormstar stepped out.
"Coldstar has died, slashed open by a Twoleg with a silver claw,: her voice quivered as she meowed those words. "We have five new apprentices, Sedgepaw, Longpaw, Larkpaw, Duskpaw, an Thistlepaw and we have three new warriors, Hawktalon, Wolfleap, and Lightningstrike, we haven't had much trouble with Twolegs, however, we have come across the Twolegs with big monsters carrying these brown pelt things and dead foxes, according to a kittypet named Shou-Shou these brown pelt things are called bears, and they are more powerful than badgers and they can kill a cat with one strike, she even told us that she saw a bear tear up a badger, my new deputy is Lionnose," She then dipped her head to the new Talonstar.
"The reason why Oakstar has died, Twolegs are building a metal fence that when any cat touches, it produces a bolt of lightning and shocks them to death, Oakstar, Dovefeather, Mallowpaw, and Goldenfang have all touched this fence and are now dead, my new deputy is Boulderwhisker, we have three new warriors, Elkleap, Leafbelly, and Larkstorm, and three new apprentice, Gorsepaw, Pondpaw, and Maplepaw, who has joined ranks with our medicine cat, Rowanheart, and also, Rowanheart has a message from StarClan," he meowed.
"StarClan has visited me in a dream, they gave me a prophecy, and told me that we had to leave the forest, with a stranger to find a new home, the prophecy was, 'When new energies arrive, rivalries must end, and Clans must unite, for the future of all cats,' and right now, I would like those who have heard of the prophecy to stand up," she meowed.
Hawktalon shakily stood up, and all the medicine cats and two warriors and an apprentice, named Stormpaw from ThunderClan, and Petalwind from ShadowClan and Shellfeather from RiverClan. All cats stared at them
"Four cats from all four Clan, that may mean one thing," Rowanheart look around the Gathering area.
"All Clan leaders, I believe StarClan wants us to unite and to find this stranger to help us find this new home, or else the Clans may be destroyed," She looked to Talonstar.
Talonstar bared his teeth.
"I would never journey with WindClan! Ever!" He snarled.
"It may be the only way," Bumblefang meowed.
"Besides! ShadowClan fears of not coming to the next Gathering due to the fence that the Twolegs have built! We think it may trap us inside our own territory!" A ShadowClan warrior yowled.
The whole Gathering was buzzing with voices.
"Silence!" Shiningstar rasped loudly.
The cats quieted down.
"The forests of ThunderClan are being torn down by Twolegs, we fear the prey may never scamper through the roots of the trees again, as you all may see, our warriors are starving, the prey has escaped our forest, we fear ourselves at we may have to change territories to find more prey, as it is becoming scarcer and scarcer for us to find," She meowed.
"Do you think this 'stranger' may be able to help us?" Yowled a warrior from RiverClan.
"Us medicine cats have to agree, for this one cat may be our only chance of finding somewhere not occupied by twolegs," Creekwater meowed.
"I want all warriors and apprentices who have heard of this prophecy to join the medicine cats under Fourtrees!" Loudflight, ThunderClan's medicine cat yowled.
"All cats may share tongues until we have debated on what to do," Creekwater flicked her tail and padded under the Fourtrees.
"We want leaders to join also!" Bumblefang called.
All requested cats gathered underneath Fourtrees.
"Who do you think this stranger is?" Talonstar asked.
"I think it is the kittypet who told us what bears were, her name was Shou-Shou," Hawktalon looked at the cats.
"A cat came to me when I was hunting, his name was Quailscream," Shellfeather meowed.
Shiningstar hissed.
"Not that ThunderClan traitor! He took a mate with RiverClan and therefore we have banished him," she hissed. "And there has never been a strong bond between him and StarClan!"
"I guess we can forget about him finding our way to a better future," Bumblefang meowed.
"What about Shou-Shou? She told us about bears, we may be able to trust her," Stormstar meowed.
"Are you talking about me?" A grey face peeked through the bushes.
"Shou-shou!" Stormstar cried.
"Yes, it is me hello," She had a red bow on her head.
"Yes, we were talking about you, kittypet," Talonstar growled.
"Whoa! This one likes fire!" She flicked her tail towards him excitedly.
Talonstar stared at her for a moment before licking his chest fur.
"Hee hee! This one is as harsh as fire and when he gets embarrassed, he turns blue," She laughed.
"Umm… we were wondering if we can find a way out of the forest," Stormpaw looked to her.
"Why would you want to leave this place? It has amazing smells, I had never been able to scent these kinds of smells when I was living with my housefolk," she twitched her whiskers.
"Twolegs are destroying this place, we need an escape, very soon," Sedgestar circled the kittypet.
"Hmmm… what would I get in return for helping you?" She licked her paws.
The leader looked at each other.
"Well, if you want you could come with us," Shiningstar suggested.
"No, that wouldn't do, the place I come from is where I would be taking you," She rounded her eyes.
"What do you want?" Petalwind asked.
"Well, I never knew my family if you could find them, I would help you," She smiled.
"We can't do that," Redheart frowned.
"Then, I'm afraid our deal is off," She walked away back to the bushes.
Talonstar snarled and leaped onto her.
"You had better help us, you plump worm!" He bared his teeth.
"No, I'm afraid violence won't do anything either," She said cooly, even though claws were digging through her pelt.
"What else could you request of us?" Sedgestar asked desperately.
"You all are as dumb as turtles!" Shou-shou laughed.
"Erm… we don't know what those are," Stormpaw searched her gaze.
"That's kind of what I expected from you wild cats," she groomed her fur again.
"Would you like a place among us?" Hawktalon asked.
"Finally! A cat who isn't as dumb as the rest! It's probably because of those eyes, do they frighten enemies away when they gaze upon you? Does prey burst into flames when you spot them hiding in the grass?" her eyes shined as she looked at him.
"No… they are just eyes," Hawktalon looked awkwardly at his paws.
"They say eyes are the gateway to the soul, or as maybe you cats may know as spirits," She flicked her tail and looked to the rest of them.
"If I could join your Clans, I would be grateful enough to help you," she smiled.
"Very well, you are free to join RiverClan ranks," Sedgestar smiled.
"Or WindClan," Stormstar quickly mewed.
"ShadowClan does not allow kittypets like you," Talonstar narrowed his eyes.
"We have had far to many bad experiences with kittypets, we are deeply sorry," Shiningstar looked at her paws.
"How wouldn't be able to trust me when I would be helping you?" Shou-Shou rested her eyes on Loudflight and Shiningstar.
"We can't know if you are willing to help us, or destroy us," Shiningstar meowed softly.
"Well… I like the breeze of the forests, so I will join WindClan," She looked to the night sky.
"Very well, we will have to change your name, but later when we get to camp," Stormstar dipped her head to her respectfully, "We are very grateful that you are willing to help us,"
"Okay, that settles one question of the night," Rowanheart blinked. "Now, when can all Clans leave?"
"I think we should discuss this with our cats," Talonstar suggested.
"Good idea," Sedgestar and all cats padded to the branches of Fourtrees.
"All cats!" Stormstar yowled.
All the cats from all Clans froze.
"We have found our stranger, her name is Shou-Shou, she agrees to help us find a way out of this madness as long as she gets to join the ranks of WindClan," Stormstar called to the cats.
Shou-Shou stepped from the shadows and dipped her head.
"But shes a kittypet!" Called a cat.
"She know a way from here, we believe she is part of the prophecy," Talonstar meowed.
A murmur rose upon the cats.
"Now! We leaders are going to discuss plans for leaving in front of all you so that any cat may object to a plan and so that we can change it," Shiningstar yowled.
"Now when is a good time?" Rowanheart asked.
"For ThunderClan, it is anytime, for our warriors are starving, and we need prey as soon as possible," Shiningstar looked at her warriors, whose ribs were showing through their pelts.
"Same with ShadowClan, we don't want to get trapped in our territory," Talonstar mewed.
"RiverClan also, to many cats are sick, we need catmint and herbs as soon as possible," Sedgestar flicked her tail to her warriors.
"I suppose WindClan could leave at anytime also, however nothing is wrong at the moment, but-" A yowl cut Stormstar off.
"Blackmoon?" She narrowed her eyes at the queen.
"You were supposed to stay!"
"We… need help… now," she rasped. All the cats at the Gathering were gaping at her.
"What happened in WindClan?" Lionnose demanded.
"Twolegs, they… brought monsters… and those silver claws, and booming things, you need to hurry! There isn't much time before the kits and warriors are slaughtered!" She panted.
Stormstar glanced at the Clan leaders who were narrow eyed.
"We need all four Clans to help us," Stormstar looked to the leaders pleadingly.
"Our Clans are already to damaged, we are sorry," Sedgestar dipped her head.
"Very well, ShadowClan will help," Talonstar growled.
Lionnose looked at the ShadowClan leader in dismay.
Stormstar nodded and raced off with her Clan and ShadowClan streaming behind her.
"Gathering is dismissed! However I want the Clans to meet here again in a quarter moon!" Shiningstar yowled.
When the group of ShadowClan and WindClan reached the camp, blood was sprayed everywhere. A Twoleg was aimlessly walking around the camp.
"Heatherbreeze!" Hawktalon and Goldenfur bounded to the nursery.
Wolfleap laid there, sprawled against the bloody floor, his belly was slit open by a Twoleg.
"No!" Lightningstrike stared in horror at their brother.
Wolfleap's eyes flickered.
"He's alive! Some cat get Creekwater!" Hawktalon gasped.
Longpaw, who was the closest cat near them, nodded and raced off.
"Did I do it?" Wolfleap's eyes flickered open. "Heather…breeze is.. alive?" His voice sounded strangled, a gaping hole was at his neck also.
Hawktalon and Lightningstrike saw their mother with her kits and Blackmoon's kits, curled up in a ball in the corner.
"Yes, you did well, now hold on, Creekwater is coming, she'll heal you in no time," Lightningstrike reassured him.
"No… I'm happy to have known… that at least, I wouldn't have died for nothing, take care of Heatherbreeze and the kits, the Twolegs… Have more than just those silver claws… Boomsticks," his voice shook and he coughed up a wave of blood, "Take care of the Clan," Wolfleap rasped and then sighed.
"Brother you can't go!" Hawktalon pawed at him desperately.
"It was my time…" He looked to Goldenfur and smiled before he closed his eyes, a small gasp escaped him.
"No… no no no no!" Lightningstrike shrieked.
"Where is Creekwater get her now!" He bared his teeth.
"I'm tending to Snowfang! His leg was slashed open!" A yowled came back.
"Then get Redheart!" Goldenfur yowled.
"I'm helping also!" she called back to them.
"Wolfleap, please stay with us… please… think of your future, wake up!" Hawktalon prodded him with a paw, nothing.
"Wolfleap!... Please… Come back…" Tears streamed down Lightningstrike's face as he buried his nose in Wolfleap's body, blood covering his muzzle
Aww... I actually kind of feel bad for these characters, when I was reading this, my own chapter brought tears in my eyes ;,( But poor Wolfleap and Heatherbreeze, Wolfleap was just turning good when he was killed -Darkwing