Dear reader,
I have solved a few issues with my computer, which has been down for the past FOREVER. I'm back and I hop you remember much about the story. This is Chapter 23. Mind the gramatical errors. I'm ALMOST done! Just one last chapter, a surprise epilogue, and Book two: Forever Fire Forever Storm! You'd better be excited because I know I am!
Cara Lea
Chapter 23
Dogface led them down the last slope of which CityClan sprawled out below them. Sunstorm just couldn't believe where they were going and how long they were going to search through it. Dogface led them confidently down and into the outer edge. The first one was going to be hard. They were going to have to find one cat who could possibly know what was going on...
Though he hated to admit it, Sunstorm knew of one cat that could.
"Thornstar," he said. "We have to find Grayflank."
"Who," spat Dogface.
"Grayflank. He's a warrior that got lost one night and ended up wandering CityClan. He won't go back now; but I think he could help." They nodded, but Sunstorm stopped short. There was a scent on the air... lifting his nose, Sunstorm got it all right. There was familiar smell.
"What is it?" asked Thornstar quietly. Sunstorm didn't bother answering him. He was too busy scenting the air. It was a scent all right, a very familiar scent...
"This way!" he called, already running at full speed. Sure enough, the scent got stronger the further he went. He could hear the puffs of the others behind him but didn't slow. He needed to find the source.
He rounded a corner and sure enough there sat a cat. Her eyes were distant with thought. She was staring so intently that Sunstorm wondered if she even knew he was there. Thornstar and Dogface rounded the corner, huffing beside him and stared. The cat finally turned her head.
"Sunpaw!" cried Brownstripe. She launched herself at him before Sunstorm could think to correct her. He had found his first cat! Brownstripe was going to be the first StormClan cat to be sure to return home. "Sunpaw, I'm so glad to see you—and who's this?"
"I—have—been living—with—FireClan..." he coughed out. "...brought...someone...to help." She was sobbing.
"Sunpaw, I thought I wasn't going to ever see you again!" She stared at him so intently that he wanted to run away from her gaze at the same time relishing the fact that it was her! Then he thought about what she was saying.
"Brownstripe, I did it! I got my warrior name! I'm Sunstorm now." She stared at him proudly.
"I knew you could do it, you have great potential, even if you stink," she added jokingly. Sunstorm wondered what she meant; he though FireClan smelled great.
Though he hated to ruin his moment of glory, he had to ask, "Brownstripe, do you know where anyone else has been taken?"
To his great relief and astonishment, she nodded. "Tigerfang lives just up the Thunderpath and Walnutfur is hiding somewhere in the woods." Everyone stared at each other. Finally, Thornstar spoke.
"Dogface and I'll find Walnutfur if you go and get Tigerfang." Everyone nodded, agreeing, and the others swished away. Sunstorm, regretting instantly separating from his fellow warrior and leader turned and followed Brownstripe. They were soon standing outside a small Cityleg dwelling. Brownstripe called, "Tigerfang!" and stood back to let the tom come out of hiding. Sure enough, Tigerfang's form moved from the shadows to stand before them. He nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw Sunstorm.
"Sunstorm came to get us," explained Brownstripe in a hurry. Tigerfang's eyes widened and he mumbled Sunstorm's new name proudly. He didn't argue as he followed Brownstripe back to her place. Thornstar and Dogface were back with Walnutfur in tow. The next cats—Hollowtail, Hazelfoot(Sunstorm told her his new name proudly, and she nearly screamed her lungs out) Fishtail, Thornfang, and Shadefrost—were easier than the first, because every cat they found knew where at least one other cat was. It was past sunhigh, though, when the cat they had last found, Yellowpaw, led them to another dwelling that lacked a fence. The group stood in the trees on the far side of CityClan and watched as a slick, black and silver she-cat came out from within. Running down her spine was a distinct silver stripe that was earning her her name.
Sunstorm couldn't help himself a scream. He could barely move, and when he finally did, numbness was spreading. He stepped silently out and stared at the massive cat before speaking. "Silverpaw!"
...
The amber eyes looked him up and down before he was bowled over once again by this cat, but now it was more of a sizing issue.
"Sunpaw! Sunpaw!" she screamed in a wail of relief. "Sunpaw, I found you, you found me!"
"It's—Sun—storm..." he barely chocked out. She screeched even louder then.
"Sunstorm! You earned your name! You did it! You became a warrior! You...You...you smell!" She took a step back from him and stared. "What Clan?" He looked confused. Didn't she recognize the scent?
"FireClan." She stared at him sadly.
"Sorry, thank you; it's been so long I can't tell the scents apart. You wouldn't know how boring it is here." He glared at her, and she seemed to understand. "Sorry, I guess you would." He nodded in forgiveness, glad that someone thought of him as a true warrior, not a CityClan fool.
"Do you know where to find more warriors?" he asked.
To his reliving relief, her answer was, "Yes." And to his surprise, "Whitestar lives this way." She turned and darted across the Thunderpath, Sunstorm following. Thornstar tagged along, and only Sunstorm could even guess why, unless Whitestar told her.
They stood outside a narrow house and looked in. There was no one around. Finally, Silverpaw jumped down and stood silently by Sunstorm's side. Moments later, the great white she-cat came from around the backside.
"Silverpaw—" her sentence cut off when she spotted Sunstorm. "Oh, my, Heaven, Sunpaw—is is still Sunpaw?"
"No," said Thornstar's voice. "It's Sunstorm now." Whitestar smiled lovingly.
"That's good. That's excellent."
"Whitestar, do you know..." they began, but she already knew the question and had an answer.
"Moonshade and her kits live in this direction. Moonpaw's just inside. I'll get her and we'll go." Without waisting any time, the opposing leader disappeared for just a moment and returned with the yellow speckled she-cat. They gathered all of StormClan, so far only missing Moonshade, her kits, and Grizzlycoat. Stormpaw and Liontail were also missing, though they were hoping to find him soon. The sun was about to set. As well, Grizzlycoat is known to be dead, and not just by Sunstorm. So he was taken off the list.
It was a large, white building known to Citylegs as a barn. The smell of many cats, specifically queens, oozed around them. Only Whitestar was allowed in, so she disappeared. Moonshade returned a moment later, but was very frail. Sunstorm winced when he saw her, not sure if she would be able to make the return journey. She smiled when she saw him, and cried when she saw Moonpaw.
"So," she began. "I hear that you are now Sunstorm." The tom confirmed her hearing with a nod. She smiled. "Here to gather StormClan?" He nodded again. This time, she frowned. "Sunstorm, Moonpaw, and StormClan, as you can tell, this journey is one I can not complete. I'm too frail, too not ready. But, I give my kit, Flowerkit, as a gift to my ancestors." She returned in the building to come back with a tiny, tortoiseshell she-kit clamped in her jaws. "This is Flowerkit. My oldest kit, first born to the litter. I hope she makes it home; she'll make a fine apprentice to Moonpaw when she's ready." She put the small kit gently on the ground. Flowerkit was small, but looked to be about Stonekit and Dawnkit's age. Moonpaw, who was crying now, bent and picked the kit up. She held on gently, the look on her face showing how important this kit was to her. Moonshade stared at the ground and murmured, "I have one more gift, the gift of finding."
A large, gray tom appeared, his head held high, amber eyes glowing. His scent was familiar to Sunstorm, though it did not carry that StormClan twinge to it, so this cat could only be, "Grayflank!" The tom nodded.
"I can see that the other City-cats are right. Sunstorm is here. Well, I do have my own gift, mine and Moonshade's..." his eyes only betrayed a look of adoration. "I understand you are looking for a pair of wild-cats, and I will show them to you in Speckledstar's Clan." A bewildered look passed the faces and the traveling Clans followed the older, tom up a slope and far into CityClan. He moved into a dark spot between to buildings. Ahead, the smell of cats was thick.
There was a joyful screech and two cats, scared looking and think, came from the black shadows.
"Stormpaw!" cried Silverpaw in relief. "Liontail! You're okay." They rushed forward toward to two toms. They did not flinch, though they looked like they should've. Stormpaw was bigger that what Sunstorm remembered. He was huge, with amber eyes. He almost matched Grayflank. Liontail looked the same. It took a while to realize that they weren't alone. A tortoiseshell was following them. Whitestar gasped and whispered, "Speckledflower!"
...
Sunstorm heard the story on the way back. Speckledflower was still with them as they traveled to the edge of the city. She had just been a warrior when she was kidnapped by the Citylegs. They hadn't been able to hold her hostage though, for she ran away to live with Grayflank and the actual cat Clan in CityClan. She had grown and raised other cats of her own. As they moved, a small brown she-cat with a white underbelly passed. With her was a white tom and a light gray she-cat with very blue eyes. Dogface stopped.
"Trunkpaw!" he cried. The she-cat stopped instantly.
"My name," she spat, "Is Mushpaw! I've given up that rancid HillClan name!" The cats beside her muttered their agreement.
"Mushpaw," corrected Dogface. "You're from HillClan. They're looking for you." She glared at him.
"Why would they do that?"
"They miss you. Shrewpaw's torn. Cricketpaw and Blazepaw miss you too!" She stared at him. "They want you back."
The she-cat could not suppress and excited look that only one of her companions shared. "Crystal, Diamond, I'm going home!"
"Well," said the she-cat. "I knew they would come to their senses." She looked at the tom. "Let's go with her and meet this 'HillClan'."
The tom stared at her coldly. Mushpaw asked, "You really want to?" By now, Dogface was beginning to lag in the group.
"Of course, that's what friends do!"
"No," the tom spoke for the first time. The she-cats stared at him. "Crystal, Mushpaw, I'm not going, I can't leave the place I grew up." Crystal and Mushpaw stared at him sadly and tried o persuade him, but even Dogface understood the ties that a real home had to it's tenants.
The she-cats followed Dogface as he caught up with the others and soon CityClan was behind them. They were almost home!
They were on HillClan territory when Mushpaw and Crystal broke away and ran for their camp, but there was something else on Sunstorm's mind.
"Sunstorm," Whitestar began awkwardly. "I know you must know this already, but I want to say it myself. I understand FireClan has been caring for you in our absence, but we must know where your loyalties truly lie. You have to the next Gathering to decide where you will stay..." But Sunstorm wasn't listening anymore, and Whitestar was silent. A new sound was on the air. There were cats. Fighting.
Thornstar and Dogface found the front of the crowd, who were now listening silently to the war in front of them.
"The Clique!" cried Thornstar in disbelief and quickly said, "They must've attacked while I was gone!"
Whitestar threw him a look of confusion, but Thornstar was already rushing up the rest of the hill to see from the top. Certainly, at the bottom, where StormClan's and FireClan's territories met, there was a huge battle going on. Thornstar didn't need to see anymore to run with a battle call and charge to help his Clan. Sunstorm was hot on his heals, tired as he was, but was ready to defend his Clan, even with his life, as he had promised during the ceremony. He was vaguely aware of Whitestar giving a battle call and leading her Clan for the first time in forever. They rushed and descended into the battle.
There were fighting cats everywhere, but as the FireClan leader, the FireClan warriors, and the entire of StormClan charged onto the Rock Path, the Clique was thoroughly surprised. Sunstorm heard Nightflower gasp as she saw her Clan return. The shock was evident, because most of the cats left behind and Reed stopped fighting. Reed was staring at the Clan in horror. He hadn't seen all of StormClan together like this, so it was weird and new for him.
Sharpfang looked relieved to see his leader and warriors, the burden of leadership taken from him. Sunstorm knew that this battle would be the decider for his Clan loyalty. Whoever he chose to stay with in the end would be his Clan,b because this is where Heaven Sent would lead him to his home. Of course, Sunstorm wasn't ready for this choice, but didn't care, because he had made a promise he was going to keep.
Sunstorm fought with the Clans against the Clique, but thankfully, Thornstar, Whitestar, and Star Spirit called a retreat, and it wasn't until he stood, panting and huffing in the FireClan camp that Sunstorm knew he had made his choice.
...
As the warriors stood panting the the clearing, Thornstar jumped onto his spot to call a meeting. As he did so, Foxtail rushed up to him.
"Sunstorm, Sunstorm, come with me!" He looked at her, then up at Thornstar. "I will tell Thornstar what has happened later; you already know what he's going to talk about anyway. But Darkpelt requested to see you." At the mention of her name, Sunstorm stood and followed Foxtail, who gave a short nod to Thornstar from below.
The nursery smelled warm and of milk. The milky scents made him miss Flashstreak, the bright she-cat he now knew to be his mother. She had been kidnapped, heavily pregnant with him, and birthed him in CityClan. These scents were meeting him with a loving grab. He looked up and gasped.
Darkpelt was staring at him with her sightless eyes. Her stomach, that had once been swollen with unborn kits now lie flat. At her stomach, suckling lightly, was a bald, blind, and deaf male kit. The color of his skin indicated that he was going to be a dark tabby, like his mother. The smell implied that it was male, so that is what Sunstorm assumed.
"His name's Badgerkit," Darkpelt murmured softly before Sunstorm could speak. "After the great Badgerflight. That was the great warrior who now walks the sky with Brightsong." Brightsong was the male leader of the whole SoulClan and the seven steps.
Badgerkit, this was his son, his kit, and hopefully his first apprentice. Darkpelt had waited a long time for this kit. Badgerkit was suckling his mother, and Darkpelt was keeping him close under her great protection. Sunstorm didn't have a doubt that Badgerkit would be the most protected kit in the nursery.
...
The next day, the smell of StormClan was thick in the air. As Sunstorm left the warrior's den, he passed the nighttime guards and posts as they were going to their den. Among them was Sandclaw, Dustflight, Blizzardfoot, and Breezedapple. Sunstorm was surprised to see her happy again. She was smiling as he passed her. Sunstorm had not talked to Breezedapple since she had joined the Clan.
"Hey, Breezedapple," he murmured to her as she passed. She stopped, and not to Sunstorm's surprise, so did Blizzardfoot. "Why is there the smell of StormClan so thick in the air?" She opened her mouth, but Blizzardfoot beat her to it.
"Well, think about it young one," he spoke wisely. "Last night, the Clan returned to it's territory from a far off place that was apparently horrible to them. With this lost feeling, they must feel homesick and the need to patrol and defend what they had. StormClan is back, that is why." His wisdom left Sunstorm without question. Sunstorm wondered when Blizzardfoot was going to retire, for he seemed like a nice elder; but then again, he was still young for an elder.
The white warrior and the dappled warrior disappeared into the warrior's den, and was replaced by Softfur. Sunstorm smiled as Softfur asked softly, "Would you like to go on patrol with Gerbilpaw and me? We could take Riversong." Sunstorm nodded, and the two warriors ran to collect the others. Of course, Sunstorm wanted to fetch Riversong, but Softfur had already disappeared into the warrior's den, so Sunstorm started to the apprentice's den.
The den was less crowded than when Sunstorm had been an apprentice. He, Riversong, Dustflight, Snowfoot, and Littlewhisker had all been apprentices at the same time. Snowfoot and Littlewhisker had been named warriors, but Gerbilpaw had moved in. To Sunstorm, though it was impossible, the apprentice's den seemed smaller than when he had been an apprentice.
Most of them were sleeping. Gerbilpaw and Flamepaw were curled in the nest next to each other, while Wasppaw was curled next to his sister on the other side. Jetpaw had taken refuge on the other side of the den completely. Briarkit, who was almost old enough for his Three moons. He had been three moons since the Gathering just two nights before, and one of his favorite things to do was to flaunt his new age.
Sunstorm moved over to the apprentice and shook him somewhat. Gerbilpaw turned and stared at him coldly.
"Softfur wants you on dawn patrol," Sunstorm informed him. The apprentice stirred and sat up.
"You could've just said this in the beginning!" he snapped rudely. Sunstorm was surprised. When Gerbilpaw and Sunstorm had shared the apprentice's den, he had not been this grumpy. Then again, Sunstorm hadn't spoken to Gerbilpaw in a while, and he was probably still feeling the sting of Sunstorm's becoming a warrior. For more than half the time Sunstorm had been Sunpaw, Gerbilpaw had trained with him. It hurt Gerbilpaw the most by the looks of it.
Maybe his growing attitude had something to do with his appearance. Gerbilpaw wasn't growing anymore. He was smaller than Littlewhisker in body, but his paws (both hind and fore) were still growing, and his whiskers were longer than ever before. His ears were growing too. His tail was long still. It wasn't a wonder why he was so grumpy; he was a deformed tom now, so he probably got a lot of jibes.
Good thing he's an apprentice, thought Sunstorm. Because when he's a warrior, he'll get a lot of apprentice jibes.
The grumpy apprentice pushed his way out after Sunstorm and they found that Riversong and Softfur were already sitting near the entrance.
"Took you long enough," muttered the cats as they prepared to go out.
"Sorry," said Sunstorm and Gerbilpaw, but Gerbilpaw didn't sound as if he really meant it.
Softfur tensed his shoulders, but didn't say anything. His amber eyes narrowed and he glared an icy thing glare at his apprentice. "Let's go," he grumbled. Sunstorm shared a shocked look at Riversong and followed the warrior.
"Where to?" he asked Softfur. The warrior shrugged.
"Pick your choice: WaterClan or StormClan." It then occurred to Sunstorm that they now had more than one border to watch. With StormClan back, they would have to patrol the StormClan border every day.
"Doesn't matter," he said. "How about StormClan. I've never border patroled them." They shared a brief nod and continued down the path that Sunstorm had used three times before: once to sneak a visit to his remaining Clanmates, once to spy on their enemy the Clique, and one last time to retrieve their missing kits. He had also been that way to go get the missing StormClan, but Sunstorm was not one to gloat.
They stopped at the edge of the Thunderpath, looking in two directions. StormClan scent was thick here, not like it ever had before. Sunstorm wasn't the only cat that hadn't lived in FireClan long enough to know StormClan scent from FireClan's border, but he certainly felt like it. Jetpaw, Flamepaw, and Wasppaw had been born after the Clan had disappeared, and Gerbilpaw hadn't left the camp. Now, the apprentice took a big whiff of the air.
"It smells funny here," he admitted. "It didn't smell like that when you showed it to me," Gerbilpaw now accused his Mentor. Softfur snarled,
"That's because StormClan returned last night. Now, let's patrol..." he cut off as a group of cats appeared on the other side of the border. They were heading in the same direction as the FireClan cats were. The patrol consisted of a dark gray tabby named Darkclaw, a black pelted green eyed tom named Thornfang, Goldenpaw, and the Liontail, the deputy himself.
"Sunstorm!" cried Liontail, rushing forward to meet the FireClan patrol. Sunstorm heard Softfur hiss under his breath. Sunstorm himself winced when he saw the look on Goldenpaw's face. Darkclaw smirked, and Thornfang just threw them an indiscernible unblinking stare.
Of course, the FireClan patrol wanted to leave, but the StormClan cats did not. Darkclaw's icy made Sunstorm feel uneasy, but he did not mention this.
"There you are, thank you!" The deputy seemed utterly unaware of the anxious look of the apprentice, the calm, unblinking green stare, and the cold, also unblinking stare of the black warriors. He was too thankful and happy to care anyway.
"Um..."
"No, you don't need to say anything, we understand, you know, about going with the FireClan warriors. You were raised in FireClan, it's understandable. We'll live until next moon, right?"
"Liontail..."
"Yes." His excitement was too great for Sunstorm to ruin. The deputy was happy at this moment, and Sunstorm wasn't prepared yet to deal with StormClan ushering him back. He just shared and awkward gaze with Softfur and received the look of horror from Riversong. He barely twitched his whiskers to show her unwelcome StormClan were at this moment.
"How...how're things going?"
Liontail smiled. "Great. We've been up all night working. The smell of those loners won't leave."
"The Clique stayed in your camp. They even kidnapped some of our kits. We had to fight to get them back." Sunstorm did not mention that only he and Dogface actually fought. Liontail winced. Sunstorm regretted say anything.
"So... how's everyone? Silverpaw, Whitestar, Moonpaw, you, and...Reed?" He added the last name cautiously, and felt a little worse when Liontail's gaze darkened.
"That loner's okay. He wants to stay in the Clan; I think he feels he owes Nightflower and the others something for letting him stay. Whitestar doesn't know what to do. She has decided that the current apprentices will remain that way for a few moons, half a moon at the least, so that they get used to the forest again. Whitestar's confused, but getting better. Moonpaw's very upset, and she won't leave her sister, not even for Soddenfoot. I'm fine. And Silverpaw's okay. She wants to see you."
The look on Darkclaw's face suggested that he didn't trust Reed, Nightflower and the others. He turned to Goldenpaw and actually spoke,
"I got my first apprentice. Goldenpaw looks to be a promising warrior." Even under his Mentor's fine compliments, Goldenpaw didn't seem to want to think anything more than what he was. Sunstorm winced. It looked like Goldenpaw did not either forgive him or want to apologize for ratting them out to th Clique. He appeared to want to ignore Sunstorm for the rest of his life.
"That's great news," Softfur said softly. "It's good to know that StormClan is recovering."
"We couldn't be more happy to get back," Liontail said. There was a proud glimmer in his eyes. "We're just so thankful that Thornstar, Dogface and Sunstorm came. We would have died in CityClan camp for one more day."
Softfur nodded, but Riversong spoke. "I would've already."
"Right," Darkclaw looked angry. "Well, we really should finish our dawn patrol. It's best if we reestablish our border with HillClan. FireClan seem welcoming enough but we know better than to trust HillClan."
Liontail laughed and led the patrol away. Sunstorm realized with utter revulsion that he was more than happy to watch them go.
...
One moon came and went so fast that Sunstorm had trouble keeping up. Nothing significant really happened. Sunstorm felt more awkward than ever when Thornstar told him he'd be going to the Gathering. This would be his first Gathering with StormClan around.
When Thornstar gave the signal, the patrol drew themselves up and stampeded into the Circle Quad. HillClan was there, as they always were. StormClan had not arrived yet, but WaterClan sat patiently. There were cats crowded around sitting side by side or facing each other to talk.
Sunstorm and Riversong headed to a group of WaterClan cats, recognized Snowpelt, Larchwing, Rockheart, Frosttooth, and the HillClan tom and she-cat Shrewpaw and Rosepaw. Where was Fogbreath?
"Hello, Sunpaw," greeted Larchwing.
"Sunstorm," corrected Sunstorm automatically.
Frosttooth and the others seemed surprised. Rockheart said, "Congratulations, Sunstorm." He smiled. It was going well. He was embarrassed, but said,
"This is Riversong." They congratulated her, and then the blind Darkpelt came stalking up. She was upset to be away from Badgerkit, but Sandclaw, who just found out her pregnancy, had agreed to watch over him. Of course, Darkpelt trusted Sandclaw not, for the two loathed each other, so it wasn't a surprise she was worried.
"Where's Fogbreath?" asked Sunstorm casually. Riversong's eyes widened and she looked thoroughly embarrassed. "What?"
Frosttooth nudged the she-cat. "You didn't tell her?"
Riversong murmured, "It just slipped my mind."
Frosttooth nodded in understanding. "Well, her kits are about two moons now. Shorekit and Creekkit show great potential."
As Frosttooth told him the great news, the scent of StormClan thickened and the ferns quivered at their approach signified the arrival of StormClan. Silence filled the Gathering as the ferns quivered and Whitestar appeared. Suddenly, the Clan was filled with screaming and cheers. Whitestar was surprised for only a second before she led her warriors to the Circle Quad. There was the sound of an approach, and Sunstorm's nostrils filled with the smell of Silverstripe.
He turned and saw her standing next to him. Her amber eyes glowed with triumph and she smiled. Before she could talk, Mistystar, Thistlestar, Thornstar, and Whitestar had leapt up onto the Flat Rock to begin the meeting.
"Whitestar," greeted the other leaders, and the other Clans cheered. StormClan sat up proud, but Sunstorm saw a glimmer of embarrassment in the eyes of some warriors. Bile rose in his throat as he spotted Goldenpaw at the Gathering sitting with Gerbilpaw. Next to them was a WaterClan apprentice that Sunstorm didn't know.
"So," said Mistystar calmly. "Whitestar, since you are back, would you like to go first?"
She smiled, but shook her head. "I want to go last." There was a pause as the leaders looked at each other. Thistlestar stepped forward.
"Nothing too special for my Clan. First, Robinfrost, our Medicine Healer is happy to accept Crystalpaw as her apprentice." Sunstorm spotted the she-cat, Crystal, who he had spotted with Mushpaw earlier. "Pointyclaw is our new warrior. Frostsmoke, Waterecho, Rainwater and Cloudfall have all had kits. Vineheart plans to retire as soon as Twinekit and Russelkit are apprenticed." There was silence that greeted her words, then Mistystar spoke.
"We have Rockheart, Treeheart, Stripedawn, and Roottail all are happy to except Windpaw, Deeppaw, Leafpaw and Beechpaw as their apprentices. Icefall has had five kits. Cheetahpelt, and Hardtail wish to retire as elders. Blacktooth has given Cherryfoot her new name." There was more silence and Thornstar began.
"We have three new warriors. Dustflight, Riversong and Sunstorm. Darkpelt has had one kit, Badgerkit. Silverfrost has just found out that she is carrying, and so is Dappleclaw—"
"Didn't she just have a kit?" Sunstorm murmured to Riversong, but she shrugged and murmured something back about being a she-cat.
"—Ashecho also is carrying kits. Our dear Skyspots's kits are almost old enough to be apprentices. I would like to formally thank Sunstorm and Dogface for helping me collect StormClan." All eyes were on him for a moment and then back on Whitestar.
"We have a new apprentice. Darkclaw was willing to take Goldenpaw on as an apprentice." Her wording made it sound bad on Goldenpaw, and cats around the Circle began to edge away from him, but he kept his head down. "We would also like to welcome Speckledflower and Reedtail into our Clan. We have three new warriors: Moonpelt, Stormclaw, and Silverstripe." The Gathering began to close, but Sunstorm couldn't help call out Silverstripe's new name.
"Silverstripe, Moonpelt, Stormclaw!" They turned to him in embarrassment.
"Don't," muttered Silverstripe. "D'ya want me to scream 'Sunstorm' at the top of my lungs?" He stopped at her threat.
"No ma'am!" She smiled at his expression.
"So," she asked. "Are you coming back with us...or?"
Sunstorm froze. He literally did not know how to tell her that he wasn't going back with her. She stared at him with a tilt to her head that was oh so tempting, but when Sunstorm saw Darkpelt and thought of Badgerkit at home, when he thought of Softfur and Gerbilpaw, and of Dogface and his kits, he knew that he couldn't leave them. He wordlessly tried to explain it to her, but she just seemed to get worse and worse.
"Darkclaw's right, isn't he?" He stared at the ground. "You're not coming back, are you?" This time, he knew he had to answer. The entire of all four Clans watched as he alleged himself to FireClan with a shake of his head. She almost laughed, but it was more of a chocking sound. "That's okay. Really, I knew this would happen. You have friends, a promise to keep. You promised to defend your Clan, and you are. FireClan has grown on you, hasn't it?"
Finally, he had to speak. "FireClan is the Clan I belong in, Silverstripe. We run, there is no undergrowth-" He hated the fact that she winced. Though he wanted to stop, Sunstorm knew he had to keep going. "-I can hunt easier, I have a mate-" Here, she really winced, then grimaced as though that idea was too much for her. "-I have a kit, a home. I was born to FireClan, by a FireClan mother. This is where I'm meant to be."
Silverstripe couldn't get one word out. There were sudden arguments. StormClan and FireClan were sizing each other up, though Whitestar and Thornstar didn't look in the mood for a fight. HillClan was watching with an amused expression; WaterClan looked concerned if not furious.
Not only that, but they were arguing. Some were saying that he belonged in the lush undergrowth of StormClan; others were saying that he had chosen FireClan for reasons no other Clan could understand. It seemed that no one wanted to believe him when he said that he was born by a FireClan mother.
"No way!" shouted a StormClan warrior. "I was there when he told his story, I know that he was a kittypet-loner before joining StormClan. Who says that he's to join FireClan because he lived with them for a few moons?"
Finally, there was a shout, "I believe him." All eyes turned, and there were gasps from the FireClan cats.
Sunstorm looked and at once recognized this cat. He saw the sickeningly yellow pelt and he gasped. It was Flashstreak, his mother.