Lost Hope: The Story of Icehope
Based on an RPG site
Chapter 9
Freeheart left Icehope at the back of the crowd, and plunged right behind Spottedstar, beside Gingerpelt.
He pushed through the undergrowth that surrounded the hollow. He spotted Deathblow, new leader of RebelClan and Sapstar, leader of FireClan, having a conversation at the foot of one of the smaller rocks. FrostClan weren't here yet. Sapstar turned and greeted Spottedstar, who padded up to them.
"Welcome." She dipped her head to Spottedstar formally. Then Spottedstar greeted Deathblow. He peered over at Freeheart with narrowed eyes. Freeheart padded away quickly. Glancing around, he saw Bluemoon talking with Foxfur, his sister. He was about to join her to say hi when suddenly, a white, black-patched cat bounded over to him.
"Lashpaw!" Freeheart called joyfully.
"Deadheart!" the cat mewed back, his purr echoing through his small body.
"I'm Freeheart since I joined StormClan." Freeheart meowed. "Since, you know, what happened with RebelClan."
"I wasn't here last time because I was sitting vigil! I'm Lashface now!" the cat mewed, pressing against his former Clanmate.
"Great!" Freeheart purred.
"The gathering is for warriors, not crow-food eating rogues that kill their own fathers for fun!" Freeheart whirled around and flinched when he saw his sister, Silverfang standing there, her fur bristling.
"Oh? You'll leave then?" Freeheart retorted. "Good." He had never been in good terms with his siblings, besides Foxfur.
Suddenly, a loud yowl sounded from the tallest rock. The three leaders were seated on it. Deathblow had been the one who called. "We gather around Rock-Circle for a meeting of the Clans, ruled by the full moon truce!"
The deputies, Gingerpelt, Silverfang, with a last glance at Freeheart, strode away and sat with and Firedrake of FireClan seated at the foot of the rock.
"FrostClan are…" Sapstar started to say. A loud screech sounded, and Froststar, leader of FrostClan tore into the clearing and leaped onto the rock. The rest of her clan pelted behind her. Shineheart, the deputy sat down with the others.
"Sorry we're late." She panted.
Deathblow flashed a reproachful glare at her, then announced. "I will speak first." He stepped forward to the edge of the rock. "I am now-"
"Where's Bloodstar?" called some cat. "He was a young cat."
Deathblow's fur bristled. "I'm getting to that. I am now Deathstar. Deadheart, one of our warriors, killed Bloodstar, his own father and fled the Clan. But where is he now? Rotting in the forest? No. He's here. He's at this Gathering. And he is a member of StormClan!"
Shocked yowls and gasps echooed through the cats, and Spottedstar waved her tail for silence. "I think StormClan's business is StormClans. Freeheart is loyal to us now, and he is not your concern, Deathstar." She dipped her head and sat back down.
Deathstar curled his lip, and then described how a group of rats had moved onto the moor, and Stoneclaw and Bloodfang led patrols and chased them off. Freeheart saw his grey tabby friend Stoneclaw look at the ground and shuffle his paws. The almost blood-red warrior Bloodfang stared proudly around the clearing.
"Our apprentice Lashpaw, is now a warrior. He will be known as Lashface." Deathstar finished and stepped back with a reproachful glare at Spottedstar.
Spottedstar stepped forward, ignoring him. "Nothing much has happened, there has been peace. The only real news is Icehope will be having kits." She stepped back again. Some cats congratulated Icehope. Freeheart let out a purr.
Froststar took Spottedstar's place. "FrostClan have had to deal with a badger. Luckily, Snowface and a patrol chased it off. You may want to check it out, Deathstar, it headed for the moor."
"We've already scented it and are keeping an eye out, thanks." Knowing Deathstar, Freeheart doubted it.
"A fox also had pups near our camp." Froststar continued. "We haven't dealt with it yet, but we can handle it." She glared around the clearing, challenging any cat to say she couldn't, and then continued, "We have two new apprentices, Moonpaw and Birchpaw. Their proud mentors are Snowface and Ashclaw. That is all." She swiveled he gaze to Sapstar, willing her to go forward.
"Well," Sapstar started, "One of our elders died. We mourned for Roughfur two dawns ago. The kittypet Sandyfur's kits are now apprentices, with the names Littlepaw, my apprentice, and Mintpaw, Firedrake's." Freeheart saw Firedrake smile. He had made friends with him at gatherings while he was still in RebelClan. "Neither of them is here." Sapstar finished, drawing the gathering to a close.
Freeheart was surprised. It wasn't often that the Gathering went so smoothly, with no squabbles or pleads, besides Deathstar's rant about him.
"Well, RebelClan will be leaving." Deathstar leaped down from the rock and began to gather his Clan to leave. Lashface got up to follow his clanmates.
"See you, Lashface." Freeheart murmured.
"Bye, see you next gathering!" Lashface called behind his shoulder. "I'll say hi to Foxfur for you." The other leaders jumped down as well. FrostClan was the next clan to leave, then FireClan. At last StormClan left on the short but tiring journey home around the lake and back to Mosswoods. Freeheart traveled wearily home with Icehope right next to him.
"I'm so tired; I could sleep for a moon!" Freeheart exclaimed.
"I wouldn't let you." Icehope purred.
"Who's to say I could sleep through your waking-me-up techniques?"
"You never do!"Freeheart believed he could sleep for a moon, because when he lay in his nest in the warriors' den, he fell asleep instantly.