Chapter 23
Leopardheart walked nervously at the front of the Thunderclan cats going to the gathering. Spottedstar had been too sick to go; he was constantly coughing and seemed almost mad. He rarely let anyone into his den, and when he did he was usually screeching by the time the conversation was over.
So Spottedstar had told Leopardheart to take his place at the gathering. Leopardheart was very scared. How would the other clans react when a kittypet spoke at the gathering?
Thunderclan fanned out amongst the other clans as the entered Fourtrees. Leopardheart scanned the hollow for her littermates; they were the only cats Leopardheart had any intention to speak to.
She found Stripedfur and Snowclaw chatting absently near one of the Great Oaks. She sat down next to them and said, "Long time, no see huh?"
"I guess", Stripedfur said shrugging, "How's Thunderclan?"
"Good", Leopardheart said curtly, "You'll hear more later, I'm speaking tonight"
"Really?" Snowclaw asked, "That's great!"
"How are things with Shadowclan?" Leopardheart asked. Stripedfur sighed, "Sadly uneventful"
"What about Riverclan?" Leopardheart asked.
"Umm…" Snowclaw shouted.
But he didn't get to finish, someone was calling her name. She turned to see Nightstorm calling her, "It's time for the leader to speak"
"Um… alright, I'll be right there", Leopardheart promised. Nightstorm licked her cheek affectionately, "You'll be fine"
"I hope so", Leopardheart muttered. She saw Cloverstar standing on the Great Rock, obviously ready to start talking about her clan.
Leopardheart stood behind Cloverstar, so she could speak next. Cloverstar yowled and said, "The gathering has begun!"
She begin by saying, "Shadowclan is well. We have four new warriors; Mapleleaf, Sageleaf, Ashface, and Frogfur. We also have two new apprentices; Thunderpaw and Flowerpaw. Sadly we lost two of warriors; Badgerclaw and Darkstorm and we also lost our medicine cat Lightsky, leaving Cinderfrost as Shadowclan's only medicine cat"
Cloverstar stepped back to let Leopardheart through, hesitantly she stepped forth and said, "Thunderclan has been going through a flood. Spottedstar consumed a lot of water trying to help cats surrounded by the flood and was unable to attend, but Thunderclan is still strong. Sadly we lost our medicine cat as well; Blueclaw has gone to Starclan, leaving Whitefur in his place. We also lost two of or elders; Brambleleaf and Briarsplash", Leopardheart stopped momentarily; thinking about the two elders; they had found side by side at Sunningrocks.
"But we have six new apprentices; Hawkpaw, Fadingpaw, Quickpaw, Tawnypaw, Ruepaw, and Brackenpaw", Leopardheart said taking a deep breath and stepping back.
A large cat pushed past Leopardheart knocking her of balance and landing un-gracefully beside the Great Rock. Leopardheart made her way over to Nightstorm; who was sitting in near the front. He had a shocked expression on his face as he looked up at the next leader.
Leopardheart followed his gaze and gasped. Standing there, amongst the leaders, was Lionclaw. Many Thunderclan cats gave outraged cries of protest and the other clans looked around confused, probably wondering why the old deputy of Thunderclan was on the Great Rock.
"Greetings", Lionclaw started, "I'm here as the new leader of Riverclan. Riverclan was also affected by the flood. We sadly lost Swirlstar and our elder Jayflight. Starclan has given me nine lives and the name Lionstar. Darkheart is my new deputy. We have five new warriors; Firefur, Streamfang, Tansyleaf, Snowflower, and Lilypetal. We also have two new apprentices named Mintpaw and Reedpaw"
As Lionstar stepped back, cats from all clans chatted nervously, Snowclaw had been the deputy of Riverclan. When Swirlstar died, Snowclaw should have become leader. But why didn't he?
When Lionstar stepped back, another cat stepped forth. But it wasn't Shortstar; the leader of Windclan. It was Leopardheart's sister and the deputy of Windclan; Silverstripe.
Silverstripe stepped forth, "Shortstar has passed on. I have retrieved my nine lives and am now known as Silverstar. We have four new warriors; Hollyshade, Thistlestorm, Heathersplash, and Rabbitleg. We also lost Rainsplash on the Thunderpath. Other than that, Windclan is well"
As cats broke back apart into little groups, Leopardheart ran up to Stripedfur and Snowclaw, who were talking to Silverstar. She turned to Silverstar and asked, "Why didn't you tell us you where leader?"
Silverstar shrugged, "I have to be loyal to my clan, and my clan alone. "Which meant I couldn't just go into your territories just to tell you I was leader"
Leopardheart turned to Snowclaw next, "Why didn't you become leader when Swirlstar died. And why did Lionstar make Darkheart deputy instead of you"
Snowclaw momentarily bared his fangs, "Lionstar said that kittypets don't deserve to be deputy"
"But that's not true", Leopardheart protested, "I'm sure you're the best warrior in Riverclan!"
"Maybe", Snowclaw said shrugging, "But it doesn't matter. I can't change anything now. Lionstar is leader and after she is gone, Darkheart will be leader"
"Maybe", Leopardheart mumbled.
"The gathering has ended", Cloverstar shouted, leaping down into a large group of Shadowclan cats.
Leopardheart turned away from her littermates, "I'll see you at the next gathering"
"Alright", Silverstar said, turning towards the Windclan cats. Neither Snowclaw nor Stripedfur said anything. They simply walked off towards their clans.
Leopardheart walked over to the Thunderclan cats and said, "We're going home"
Nightstorm came up to her as she led Thunderclan back to camp. He twined tails with her and whispered, "You were perfect"
She shrugged and licked his cheek, "I'm not so true"
Thunderclan:
Leader: Spottedstar- Cream colored tom with brown and ginger patches and amber eyes
Deputy: Leopardheart- Golden she-cat with brown spots and pale green eyes (Formerly a kittypet)
Apprentice- Brackenpaw
Medicine Cat: Whitefur- White tom with yellow eyes and a missing back leg
Warriors: Blackstorm- Black tom
Echomist- Grey she-cat with ginger splotches, half of her face is dark grey; the other half is ginger, and one blue eye and one green eye
Eagleheart- Grey and white tom
Robinflight- Ginger tom with a black underbelly and amber eyes
Sleekpelt- Golden tabby tom with smooth fur and blue eyes
Apprentice- Oakpaw
Thornstripe- Tan tom with brown tabby stripes
Sharpeye- Dark brown tabby tom with sharp claws and dark blue eyes
Ashshard- Light brown tom with amber eyes
Leafpelt- Tortoiseshell she-cat with blue eyes
Antfoot- Black and dark grey tom with one ginger paw and blue eyes
Hazelthorn- Lithe, dusty brown she-cat with one black paw and dark green eyes
Kestrelstrike- Small, skinny light brown tom with a splash of white on his chest and pale yellow-green eyes
Wolfheart- Dark grey she-cat with white patches, a silver striped tail and blue eyes
Leafbreeze- Grey tabby she-cat with green eyes
Apprentice- Stormpaw
Nightstorm- Black tom with one white paw, a white leg, white tail tip, and white patch over his eye with icy blue eyes
Apprentice- Fadingpaw
Blacksplash- Brown she-cat with black spots, black muzzle, and black underbelly
Goldenstripe- Very pale golden tabby she-cat with yellow eyes
Apprentice- Hawkpaw
Sunstripe- Golden she-cat with blue eyes
Iceshard- Long haired, white she-cat with blue eyes
Cloverfur- Cream colored she-cat
Apprentice- Tawnypaw
Bramblepelt- Dusty brown tom with brown tabby stripes and dark blue eyes
Apprentice- Quickpaw
Sunheart- Golden tabby tom with blue eyes
Apprentice- Ruepaw
Silverheart- Silver tabby she-cat with green eyes
Rainsplash- Grey she-cat with white splashes
Greyfoot- Cream colored tom with grey paws
Appleleaf- Light brown tabby she-cat with blue eyes
Apprentices: Stormpaw- Light brown tabby she-cat with grey eyes
Oakpaw- Brown tabby tom
Brackenpaw- Ginger tabby tom with green eyes
Hawkpaw- Brown she-cat with a white underbelly and white patch over her eye, and green eyes
Fadingpaw- Brown and grey tom with green eyes
Quickpaw- Pale grey tabby tom with blue eyes
Tawnypaw- Light brown and brown she-cat with blue eyes
Ruepaw- White she-cat with grey and dark grey spots and green eyes
Elders: Twistedfoot- Brown tabby tom with a twisted paw (Retired early due to twisted paw)
Windclan:
Leader: Silverstar- Skinny, pale silver tabby she-cat with pale green eyes (Formerly a kittypet)
Deputy: Littlefoot- Short grey tom
Medicine Cat: Frostwind- Fluffy white she-cat with icy-blue eyes
Medicine Cat Apprentice: Feathershine- Light brown tabby she-cat
Warriors: Pebbleshock- Small, mottled golden tom with yellow eyes, tufted ears, and a fluffy tail
Gorsepath- Creamy-brown tom with white paws and dark green eyes
Breezylight- Dark calico she-cat with pale amber eye
Mousetail- Tan tom with a long thin tail
Orangestripe- Ginger tom with golden stripes and amber eyes
Badgertail- Black tom with a white stripe on his back and blue eyes
Rosethorn- Blue-grey she-cat with a silver muzzle and green eyes
Foxwhisker- Ginger she-cat with black ear tips and paws, a long pluming tail with a white tail tip, and green eyes
Rabbitleg- Long legged grey tom with green eyes
Hollyshade- Black she-cat with a grey tail tip and white ear tips
Thistlestorm- Black tom with grey stripes, white ear tips, and green eyes
Heathersplash- Black she-cat with a white patch around her eyes
Elders: One-eye- Young ginger she-cat with a milky white eye (Retired due to failing eye sight)
Cliffecho- Long haired black she-cat with blue eyes
Riverclan:
Leader: Lionstar- Golden tabby she-cat with green eyes (formerly of Thunderclan)
Deputy: Darkheart- Dark brown tabby tom with dark blue eyes (Formerly of Windclan)
Medicine Cat: Fallowfern- Mottled ginger she-cat with pale white splashes and pale green eyes
Medicine Cat Apprentice: Honeywhisker- Golden tabby she-cat with black paws and pale blue eyes
Warriors: Snowclaw- Large white tom with pale green eyes (Formerly a kittypet)
Stonestream- Grey tabby tom
Sootfall- Light grey tom with white splashes and dark green eyes
Murkystream- Dark brown tom with a brown underbelly and pale amber eyes
Watertail- Silvery-blue she-cat with dark blue eyes and a blue-grey tail
Darkstream- Black tom with a white underbelly and amber eyes
Lunarstreak- White she-cat with Light and dark grey patches and one ginger paw
Stoneclaw- White tom with grey paws
Fallensnow- Black tom with white paws, chest, tail tip, ear tips, splashes with blue eyes
Apprentice- Reedpaw
Frozenfang- Black tom with a white paw, white tabby markings, and white tail tip with amber eyes
Apprentice- Mintpaw
Lightflower- Silvery-blue she-cat with white stripes and underbelly with pale green eyes
Firefur- Ginger tom
Streamfang- Light grey tom with white paws
Tansyleaf- Pale ginger she-cat
Snowflower- White she-cat with blue eyes
Lilypetal- Silver tabby she-cat with dark green eyes
Apprentices: Mintpaw- Tortoiseshell she-cat with white paws and green eyes
Reedpaw- Grey tabby tom with green eyes
Queens: Berryfur- White she-cat with a very pink nose
Flowerheart- Brown tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes (Expecting Darkstream's kits)
Shadowclan:
Leader: Cloverstar- Grey and ginger she-cat
Deputy: Twilightfur- Dark blue-grey she-cat with pale blue-grey stripes and icy blue eyes
Medicine Cat: Cinderfrost- White she-cat with blue-green eyes, light grey ear tips and tail tip, and has a splash of brown on her chest
Warriors: Embershade- Ginger tom with black stripes and a short tail
Tigershay- Black she-cat with purple-blue eyes
Nightshard- Black she-cat with a white crescent shape on her side
Cindersplash- Dark grey tom with light grey flecks and blue eyes
Scorchflame- Golden and brown tom with orange eyes
Grasstail- Golden tom with green eyes
Raccontail- Grey she-cat with black rings around her tail
Apprentice- Thunderpaw
Specklefrost- Black she-cat with white speckles and green eyes
Smokeshade- White tom with grey ears
Apprentice- Flowerpaw
Stripedfur- Brown tabby she-cat with a white underbelly and pale green eyes (Formerly a kittypet)
Dawntail- Dark grey she-cat with amber eyes
Sageleaf- Golden tabby she-cat with orange eyes
Mapleleaf- Brown she-cat with black rings around her tail
Ashface- Grey tom with a dark grey face and green eyes
Frogfur- Black tom with a white underbelly
Lizardsong- Light brown she-cat with ginger patches and blue eyes
Apprentices: Flowerpaw- Ginger tabby she-cat with black paws and blue eyes
Thunderpaw- Light brown tabby tom with blue eyes
Elders: Oaktail- Brown tabby tom