Chapter Twenty

The next Gathering was a quarter moon after the flood. Hawkstar had gathered Blackear, Molenose, Thrushtail, Gorsepelt, Birchface, Rockclaw, Redfoot, Yellowbird, Longwhisker, and herself. Also coming were Owlpaw, Firepaw, and Petalpaw.

As soon as the sun set in the sea they left. It wasn't a long trek to FourRivers. After a short walk through their territory they individually crossed over on the log to the island. Feathertail wondered how it could've stayed there through the wave. Surely it must be jammed in the rocks quite snugly.

She could already scent that both OceanClan and BreezeClan had made their way over there. MarshClan would probably be there already too.

Getting to the center of the island was a little harder. Fallen trees and other debris had washed up over the past moon. But the other clans had since forged the path to the clearing.

Seeing as they were the last to arrive Hawkstar immediately jumped up onto a low hanging branch. The first thing Feathertail noticed was that Ambereyes was sitting upon a branch where Goldenstar should've been. It was even more of a surprise to the rest of her clanmates, who all though Branchstar was still alive.

Troutstar, the leader of OceanClan, began, "OceanClan has done well this past moon. The recent flooding has caused us to move our camp, but it has brought in more prey. Other than that, we have no more news."

The other three clan leaders nodded their heads. Robinstar reported that they had three new apprentices and that they had been able to move their camp back down to the land below the cliffs, but the islands were still inaccessible.

Next was Hawkstar, "Our clan has suffered a great loss only a quarter moon ago. When the ice-block melted, one of our queens, Silverswirl, was caught in the wave. She was swallowed by the waters. But with great loss comes hope. We have one new apprentice, Ivypaw."

Several cats began to murmur at the end of Hawkstar's speech. Most of them were wondering how Silverswirl could've been swept away if the camp was in the heart of the forest as they all seemed to know.

Ambereyes went last, "I know you've all been expecting Branchstar, but that won't happen. A little less than a moon ago, he lost his last life. Goldenpelt received her nine lives and became Goldenstar. But, she too lost all of her lives when a boulder fell on her. I've now become leader of BreezeClan and have received my nine lives as well." She paused to take a breath, "We have two new apprentices; Dovepaw and Thornpaw. And finally, if you see Olivetuft, chase him from your lands. His is banished from the clans and should be treated as an invading cat."

At the last of her words she leapt down off of her branch and led her clan out of the clearing. Cats from the other three clans burst into shouts. Feathertail just stared in awe at Amberstar.

Then, remembering her clanmate, she turned to catch a glimpse of Longwhisker. He was paralyzed. Surprise was frozen on his face as he stared at his former love. There was nothing he could do now. His affair was officially over.

Hawkstar then gathered the SunClan warriors and left. They walked slower on the way back; there was no hurry to get anywhere. As she crossed the log she glanced quickly up at the moon. Dark clouds gathered at the tip of the moon. Slowly, its silvery-blue light was blocked out.

The next few days passed without incident. Patrols came and went, and the rest of the snow melted leaving slushy mud and lush green plants.

Lilystream and Thrushtail were busy all day, every day, gathering the vast amounts of herbs they needed. Unfortunately, the leaf-bare had destroyed nearly all of their storage of medicinal plants.

About a half-moon after the Gathering, Feathertail was told to go on a patrol.

Along with her was her apprentice, Brownpaw, Birchface and Ivypaw, Reedfur, and Aspentail. Molenose led the patrol.

It should've been a simple route from the still-overflowing stream to their forest border to the north. Yet, Feathertail's gut told her that something crazy was bound to happen. Weird things happened frequently around her.

They had just reached the center of the forest border side when several strange scents washed over her. They were undoubtedly cats, but definitely not from any clans. Aspentail tensed and ran quicker. Molenose paused for a moment before quickening his pace too.

As they rounded a small bend three cats came into sight. One was a small orange tabby tom, another was a calico she-cat, and the last was a grey tabby tom. At the sight of the clan cats they all turned to face them, as if they were their equals.

"Invaders!" called Molenose, "What do you want?"

"Wait!" It was Aspentail, "This is Pêches, Fleur, and Simone."

"Pêches? Fleur? As in the cats from the catmint patrol?" Feathertail asked. She had only heard about them from Rockclaw and a few others. They had given them shelter while they were gone.

"Yes." Aspentail replied.

"Well, what are they doing here?" asked Birchface.

Molenose turned his head and waited for a response.

Pêches looked at Aspentail then back at them, "He hasn't told you?" pointing his tail at Aspentail.

"Told us what exactly?" Reedfur inquired.

"I had hoped it wouldn't have happened like this." Aspentail said.

The patrols' faces became puzzled, "What happened like what?" Feathertail asked.

Aspentail only shook his head, "I'll tell you when we get back to camp. They're coming with us too." Indicating the twoleg-place cats.

Molenose nodded his head and began leading the patrol back to camp. It was silent; no one talked or said a word. As soon as they arrived back at camp, Aspentail went straight into Hawkstar's den.

Moments later a shocked looking Hawkstar jumped up on top of the Highstump. "All cats old enough to catch prey will gather here beneath the Highstump for a clan meeting!"

Confused cats poured out of their dens. They all stared at the twoleg-place cats with wonder and suspicion.

"What's this all about Hawkstar?" asked Deerswift. She had seen her mate standing among the strange cats and looked worried.

Hawkstar shifted his eyes. He looked uneasy. "Aspentail has informed me of…well…"

"What?!" Deerswift shouted, she was agitated now.

"He wishes to leave the clan to live with the kittypets and loners of the twoleg-place."

Surprise, shock, amazement; these were all the feelings that overwhelmed the clearing. Deerswift's face went blank and she stiffly turned to her mate.

"Why?" her voice was so quiet it was if she wasn't even talking.

"I'm tired of fighting all the time. With other clans, with ourselves, with death. Do you know how easy these guys have it," pointing his tail at the three cats around him; "They've barely had to work a day in their lives. They have a better chance in this forsaken world."

"But-"began his mate.

"No. No 'buts'. Look at all the lives the Greencough took. And now Silverswirl. She didn't need to die. She was so young…"

"Please don't leave Aspentail. Where will you go?"

He took a breath, looking at the ground, "I found good housefolk. I know they'll take me in." he padded up to Deerswift. Turning her head to look at his with his tail he continued, "I can bring the kits. They'll have a better life. They will live, rather than have a higher chance of dying out here."

Her face grew hard. She stood up, "No. I won't let you take my kits anywhere. Go. Go if you want! Good riddance!" and turned her back to him.

"If that's what you really want." Aspentail turned to Hawkstar, "If I may, I'll be leaving now."

Hawkstar nodded his head, "Aspentail. I don't want to do this, but according to the code, I must." He raised his head and surveyed his clan, "From now on, Aspentail is no longer a warrior of SunClan. He will be treated as an invading cat and chased from our territory if he enters it without our permission. Go now," more quietly he added, "and may the stars watch over your path." Hawkstar had always liked the lanky tom.

"And yours too. Thank you for how kind you've been to me, but this life isn't for me." Turning to look at his former clan he added, "Goodbye." His eyes lingered on Deerswift and he only hung his head for a moment.

Hawkstar said a few words to Blackear. The deputy and two other cats surrounded the now-four loner cats to escort them back out of the territory. From inside the nursery Feathertail could hear Ripplekit and Bluekit asking where their father was going.

Cinderfur, who was watching over them, just hushed them and told them to look away. The rest of the clan was doing just that. Glancing off at a curious twig or studying the dirt. Aspentail though just held his head high and left through the tunnel with pride.

That was the last time Feathertail, or anyone, ever saw him.