How are you guys? Sorry I haven't updated in a bit, and I hope this chapter is to your satisfaction. I don't have a writing schedule, though I think I maybe should start arranging that. Are any of you guys reading my 100 one-shot challenge, or Bloom in the Storm? If you haven't, check them out, I would appreciate the feedback! If you have, do you have any suggestions on when I should update?
Samredlamb7: Of course! Do you think I should be putting cats personality out there more? And you were right… Here's your plushy, as promised. –hands Swanstar and Woodwings plushy. They're standing on the HighLedge, and when you push a button, they sing!-
Silverpelt9: I appreciate it! But it wasn't Shimmershine Flamestep likes… Sorry! Glad you like the Silverlight plushy… -hands Graywhisper plushy-
Erin Hunteress: Well… one of your answers is right. I'll give you the credit! But, well, Sparkpaw is a guy, and Flamestep, he's also a guy, so, uh, ya. –awkward silence- But it wasn't Shimmershine. :D Anyway, no, Snow and Woody are still in the nursery, kits of Dawn. I highly doubt that Dawn will be having more kits, considering, she's, err, gone insane. She doesn't trust Clan cats, she just wants a good home for her kits. Woodwings is Woodpaw, the gray and white tuxedo cat, and Snow-whisker is Snowpaw, son of Whitefrost and his siblings are Woodwings, Shimmershine, and Blazestrike. Does that help clear things up? I hope so. -Hands Woodpaw and Swanstar shoving catnip in their faces. When you push a button, it goes, "meeeeeoooooow."-
Swiftstar1: Yes! And I appreciate the random meow. -hands Swanstar and Woodpaw singing karaoke plushy-
Hecobiza: NO! :P And yes, lots of fluff. This chapter, there is none, and not yours! :D –hands Ravenflight plushy-
ShadowRide1313: Yes, yes I did. :3 –hands laughing Graywhisper plushy-
Maria: Happy really late birthday! And you were right, so you get the plushy you requested! –hands Swanstar plushy that says meeeeeeoooooooow when you squeeze the paw-
Runningfur: Yes! You got it right! And he was only in Sedgeflower's spot because it was quiet and abandoned. Sedgeflower's way too old for him. :P I'll think about the name, though I have already picked one out, that sounds really cool. I'll think about it.. –hands Swanstar and Woodwings passed out on the floor underneath the HighLegde plushy.-
SO Flamestep liked Graywhisper! Congrats to those who got it right! Hope you enjoy your plushies, and hope you enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 20
-Graywhisper's POV-
"Please, Lionfire!" I beg. "I know I'm a nursing queen, but I haven't been to a Gathering since my warrior ceremony!" Lionfire looks down at me, his odd eyes full of pity. I curse my smallness inwardly, but keep my gaze fixed on Lionfire's.
Lionfire sighs. "Fine, Graywhisper. It's not like Swanstar will care." He flicks his tail and turns, disappearing into Swanstar's den.
I sigh in relief, than suddenly realize I'm being watched. I turn, and see Whitefrost, concern in her eyes. She realizes I've turned and seen her, so she swiftly switches her blue gaze to Swanstar's den.
I pad over to her, wanting to know why she looked so concerned. Whitefrost had always been kind to me, I saw no reason to not return the favor.
Reaching Whitefrost, I sit down beside her and just remain silent for a moment, watching the goings-on of camp. Groups of warriors were clustered by the camp entrance, their heads pushed together in excited talk. The new warriors were even more excited; it was their first Gathering as warriors. Apprentices are rushing to and fro.
Applepaw is chasing Sparkpaw, their joyful cries splitting the night air. Maplepaw watches timidly, Snow-whisker's white tail draped over her shoulders. Snow-whisker, it seemed, never left Maplepaw's side. They were a package deal; I'd never seen them apart, save for ceremonies.
I hear a sudden exhalation of breath, and swivel my ears toward Whitefrost expectantly. I'd known she's wanted to be the first to speak.
"How is Swanstar, Graywhisper?" Whitefrost asks, her voice bleak. "I turn my head away.
"You know, Whitefrost, that she is not the great leader she used to shine so brightly as." I choose my words carefully, contemplating their impact on the middle-aged warrior.
Whitefrost sighs, shaking her head slowly. "The whole Clan knows it."
I nod, once, detecting my own sense of wariness.
"How long will it be until Lionfire becomes Lionstar, Graywhisper?"
"I have no way to know. Featherwish and Silverlight do not share the specifics of Swanstar. I suspect it is bad." My words are harsh and heavy on my tongue. They make Whitefrost's ears flatten in defeat.
"I do not want to watch a Clan managed by her." Whitefrost says helplessly.
"None of us do." I say. "But there is nothing we can do, save hope and pray to StarClan that ThunderClan will survive."
Whitefrost does not reply, I assume she is contemplating my words carefully.
"You have grown fast, young warrior." Whitefrost says unexpectedly. I turn back towards her, my ears pricked in surprise.
"It seems only one sunrise ago you were a frail and scared kit, more afraid of WindClan than the Dark Forest itself." I wince at the harsh reminder.
"Why do you want to go to the Gathering so badly, young one? You know as well as I queens carrying kits should not go." Whitefrost comments, letting the obvious curiosity in her voice be known.
I turn my face up towards the sky. They twinkle reassuringly, their soft glow letting me know StarClan was watching, no matter how far away they seem.
"Last moon, I was unable to participate in the Gathering." I say carefully. "I'm absolutely sure Swanstar did not call my name."
Whitefrost waits patiently, her tail slowly pounding the dying grass.
"I have some friends in ShadowClan I'd like to check up on." I mew cautiously. Whitefrost remains the same, still patiently waiting for the real reason.
After a long moment of silence, I decide to ask Whitefrost something.
"Can you keep a secret, Whitefrost?" I ask quietly, so only she can hear me. I keep my eyes fixed on the sky.
"Of course, Graywhisper."
I take a deep breath and plunge into my story.
"About three moons ago, when I was an apprentice, Swanstar called the battle on ShadowClan." I mew, flicking my eyes briefly to Whitefrost, to check her reaction. She remained the same. "In that battle, two ShadowClan toms wanted a word with me. First was Shadypaw, an apprentice about my age. He wanted to warn me."
Whitefrost's blue eyes narrow, barely perceptible.
"His sister, Goldenpaw, has a huge crush on Hawktalon." Whitefrost nodded to show she understood, but still said nothing.
"He told me Hawktalon acted as if he didn't even know Goldenpaw existed, yet Goldenpaw persisted. He told me Hawktalon was going to find specifically me and ask me to meet him at the border. He asked me not to go. I said, of course, Shadypaw. He was grateful, and disappeared into the battle."
Whitefrost's ears were pricked, and she seems fascinated by my story. I close my eyes and continue.
"Sure enough, later in the battle, Hawktalon found me and asked me to meet him at the border, than turned and vanished into the crowd. I was all for not going, as you know, I had a horribly big crush on Tallpine." I say wryly. "But curiosity got the better of me, or as Pine says, 'curiosity killed the cat.' I went that night to the ShadowClan border, and there he was, waiting. He tried to step over the border, for reasons I'd rather not ponder over, but I stopped him with a hiss. He was confused. I asked him what he wanted. He said, your heart." I pause and shake my head with disgust, still unable to believe a ShadowClan warrior, six moons older than me could be so stupid.
"I was defensive, I snapped at him and told him off. Long story short, he was angry. He promised to destroy me, and ThunderClan with it." I stop looking at the sky, and look at my gray paws, so small compared to others. "I want to go to the Gathering, and make sure he is not deputy, or worse, leader."
Whitefrost seemed to absorb the story without a word. She blinked and nodded.
"I understand." She said simply.
Before I could respond, Lionfire's load yowl boomed around the dark clearing.
"All cats participating in the Gathering, we are leaving now!" He mews, voice full of stress. Swanstar is no where to be seen.
I let my tail drag on the floor as I get to my paws and shuffle to camp entrance. It was one of those Gatherings, where Lionfire would take over as leader and announce news of ThunderClan. The other Clans didn't even ask questions now. The whole lake knew that our leader was weak. But ThunderClan must remain strong. I pull up my tail in determination and walk a little faster to catch up with the group. I feel slow and heavy, and jog up to Applepaw to convince myself I'm not so slow.
Cats always run to the Gathering, and until we break the cover of the woods, I lag behind horribly. Flushing, I wish Tallpine were with me, but he had to say behind. Thinking on it, he probably didn't even know I was going. I sigh and try to catch up with the group.
We break the cover of the trees, and I run until I am inside the Clan, panting heavily.
"Graywhisper, are you ok?" Snow-whisker asked me.
"Just fine." I snap in his direction.
He flinches, and I feel a slight twinge of guilt. I dismiss it and ignore the white tom, choosing instead stare at the still surface of the lake. It looks like a perfect white circle, reflecting the bright moonlight, only disturbed by the distant Gathering island.
To my surprise, we join WindClan as we walk along their beach. The Clan cats mix, talking amiably. I steer clear of the other Clan, and stay as close to the water as possible, disgruntled.
I do not like Meadowstar, and I do not like WindClan. I feel like a spoiled apprentice, but ignore the scrawny cats anyway. This Gathering night was turning out just lovely. I flick my tail irritably and narrow my eyes as we pad to RiverClan territory.
Soon we reach the tree-bridge, and wait behind WindClan, courtesy of Lionfire. I don't know why it irritates me, but it does.
ThunderClan is up. I feel prickles of anxiety raising my neck fur. I'd never tried to navigate the slippery trunk pregnant before, and I had an awful feeling about trying. I wait in the back, my tail waving.
A few cats insist I head up first. I ignore them and hop up onto the bridge, my tail stuck straight out for balance. The pawful of warriors who had waited behind me murmured anxiously as I regained my balance.
Carefully, I began to pad forward, my paws deftly weaving around the branches. I begin to feel confident, and move faster. I'm about halfway when I lean too far to the side, and tumble into the water. I say nothing, and narrow my eyes even farther, soundlessly kicking my paws and swimming onto the island. The ThunderClan warriors look at me, shocked, but I just climb up onto the banks and shake out my fur. I walk into the cover of the trees and stay there, barely able to see the leaders (and Lionfire) and the deputies. Tuftyfur sits in the ThunderClan deputy spot.
I look up at the leaders and assure myself, no Hawktalon isn't there. I turn my head and begin to groom myself as the Gathering begins. A loud yowl begins the meeting.
"Welcome to the Gathering." The voice is form Meadowstar, which makes me snap my head up. That's not right. The oldest leader is Fogstar! I check the RiverClan spot and find Aquastar instead. RiverClan cats had their heads bent and didn't meet the eyes of the WindClan cats. I listen attentively to his news.
"WindClan is doing excellent!" Meadowstar boasts. "Prey is running plentifully, and we have new litters of kits!" He puffs out his chest proudly, making me want to box his ears. "We have two new apprentices, Meadowpaw and Orangepaw!" My mouth drops open. Meadowpaw? Now they're naming their kits after him! I shake my head disgustedly.
"That is all." Meadowstar steps back, his long tail twitching happily.
Lionfire steps forward next, taking the place of Swanstar. "ThunderClan is doing well. Swanstar could not make it tonight, so I go in her place. We have four new warriors: Woodwings, Shimmershine, Snow-whisker, and Blazestrike." Lionfire stepped back as the Clans cheered for the new warriors.
Shadowstar stepped up as the cheering died down. "ShadowClan is well. Prey is running and there has been peace between RiverClan and ThunderClan. We hope things stay this way." Shadowstar promptly stepped back to allow Aquastar a chance to speak.
"Fogstar died this moon." She said and waited as cats let out their sympathies. "He was struck down in a WindClan border skirmish. Though our leader has passed onto StarClan, RiverClan remains strong. Wavefur is the new deputy."
Shadowstar steps forward, her head held tall and proud. "Ivoryclaw has been murdered in cold blood. We don not know who did it, but scents suggest it was another Clan." Shadowstar's eyes narrow, hard and cold as ice. "ShadowClan is ready for an attack at any time, and we remain strong. Our new deputy is Hawktalon."
My jaw drops open and my blood runs cold. Hawktalon is the new deputy of ShadowClan.
Well what do you think? I did not like this chapter at all… Writer's block, I think. After all, this story does have like 20 chapters now, doesn't it? Anyway, keep your eyes peeled for the next chapter. It's RavenflightxShimmershine fluff! ;)
-Graywhisper