The Heart of a Lion

Chapter 21: The Gathering

My tail dragged in the dust as I trailed after my Clanmates. It was the full moon, time for the Gathering, and most of the Clan had assembled to assist Onestar to meet at the island for the ritual.

It had been three days since I agreed to let Lionblaze take care of my kits, and I was missing them terribly. Were they being looked after? Did they miss me? It felt like there was a hole missing that couldn't be filled. The Clan was taking the loss of my kits terribly. Of course, I had to lie to them. I told them that my kits just disappeared. It was the only thing I could come up with. I knew the warriors would scour the territory looking for them and probably find the trail the kits took out of camp. I went out in the middle of the night and planted evidence, and with a few well-placed clumps of badger fur and scent, I got them all to believe that they wandered out of the nursery and were killed by a malicious badger.

Lies. Just more lies. It was getting to the point that I was able to lie to all my Clanmates and feel nothing at all.

As I walked on through the moor where the island floated into sight, I flashed back to the looks on everyone's faces when I told them what happened. They were distraught and sympathetic that such a horrible, villainous act could happen to me. They were grief-stricken, shaken that a badger would prey on much small kits so new in the world. It brought down the morale of everyone in camp, but life went on. I faked most of my sadness, and my Clanmates did everything to try and make me feel better.

Not all my sadness was forged though. I was still a little nervous that the plan wouldn't work and somehow Onestar would find out that my kits weren't dead after all but right across the border being nurtured by some ThunderClan queen. I prayed to StarClan everyday that they were safe.

Now that it was time for the Geathering, I knew this was my chance to see Lionblaze. I wanted to sneak to the border and catch up to him before now, but with the other queens babying me around every second of the day, I couldn't find the chance to leave camp unnoticed. He just had to be here, I reassured myself. He promised he would be here.

Putting all my thoughts aside, we finally crossed over the island bridge and arrived at The Gathering. We must've been late because all the other Clans were already there. Firestar, Leopardstar, and Blackstar were already watching the activity below from the high branches of the Great Oak, their eyes glimmering in the dark. A flood of warriors swarmed below, intermingling and exchanging words about thwat happened in their lives since the last gathering. Tension was low, and everyone seemed to be getting along tonight.

I skimmed the crowd, looking desperately for Lionblaze. My gaze flicked along, stopping briefly at every golden-pelted warrior, only to move on when I realized it was Rowanclaw or that I was staring at Squirrelflight. Where was he?

"Heathertail," Lionblaze whispered. He weaved through the crowd to reach me.

I quickly looked around and saw that most of WindClan buried themselves in the crowd, leaving us some-what alone. Like a trapped mouse, I also looked around for Breezepelt before remembering he wasn't invited to attend the Gathering tonight. I could not be more relieved. It was like StarClan was on my side.

"The plan is working perfectly," I said to him. "My Clanmates don't suspect a thing. They believe my kits are dead. Please tell me they are okay. I know Silverkit probably misses me."

"They are safe. Don't worry. I talked to Firestar, and I persuaded him not to mention them tonight. That goes for all of ThunderClan. I convinced him that bringing up abandoned 'rogue' kits would only make the other Clans think that ThunderClan has taken in weak strays. ShadowClan would move in on our land for sure."

"Are you sure that's enough to persuade them?" I fretted.

"It will be fine." Lionblaze licked me on the ear quickly before turning away. "I have to go. We will meet later. I don't want anyone thinking something is up."

I nodded and sadly watched him leave, wishing we had more time together. Why did it have to be this way?

I sighed and sat near Whitetail and Gorsetail. They had been so nice and comforting to me since I lost my kits, and I wanted them to know how much I appreciated my friends. Firestar started the meeting, making me hold my breath and root my claws in the ground. I almost couldn't look as I listened to Firestar's report. He mentioned the usual: a few new warriors and how the weather would affect ThunderClan in the upcoming months. In fact, all the leaderly reports were about the same. Neither Onestar nor Firestar mentioned the recent battle. That was between them, and they didn't want to bring their territorial dispute into a night dedicated truce.

The Gathering was about to break up when a strange cat appeared on the highest branch of the Great Oak. I don't even know how he got there, but he was there nonetheless in all his magnificent glory.

"I have an announcement I would like to me," said Sol.