Chapter 24
Moonlight washed over the clearing, glinting off of the backs of the cats gathered in the hollow below. The baring branches of Fourtrees rustled in a light breeze, and the sky was clear with no signs of clouds.
Tinyclaw was glad for the clear sky, but at the same time he wished this Gathering would be short. Tigerstar stood at the edge of the slope leading down in the hollow, his sharp shoulders outlined in silver. He had said nothing about what he was going to report to the other Clans, to anyone. He hadn't even chosen cats to go to the Gathering.
Beside him, Graystripe shifted on his paws, looking down the slope with hungry, impatient eyes. Tinyclaw had left Graystripe off of the list of cats to go for the sake of keeping tensions at a minimal – but Graystripe had begged, and eventually Tigerstar decided he ought to go. There had been a disturbing amount of apathy in the old leader's voice.
This was the first Gathering since Tigerstar's mental state had been broadcasted to the entire Clan. Tinyclaw had offered to lead the party himself, to let Tigerstar rest – but Tigerstar had called him a traitor and refused the offer. Tinyclaw had no good feelings about this Gathering.
Tigerstar lifted his tail and ThunderClan streamed into the hollow.
Tinyclaw followed Sandstorm and Graystripe into the throng of cats. RiverClan and ShadowClan scents assaulted him – WindClan was present as well, but RiverClan and ShadowClan had taken up most of the clearing with their parties. It smelled almost as if they'd arrived together.
Leopardstar and Bluestar were sitting next to one another, heads together as they talked quietly. Before them, two ShadowClan apprentices scuffed and scrapped – claws sheathed. They were clearly showing off, their muscles gleaming in the moonlight beneath sleek fur.
A sick feeling rose in Tinyclaw's stomach. He didn't like the friendliness of Leopardstar and Bluestar's conversation, or the way Leopardstar's whiskers twitched in amusement at something Bluestar said into her ear. They were plotting something – but what?
Even Mousefur, who had been close to Leopardstar, skirted the spotted she-cat to sit with some WindClan cats. At least Tinyclaw wasn't the only cat to notice.
Faintly, Tinyclaw wondered if Leopardstar had really been trying to kill him during the battle at Sunningrocks. She had lunged for his throat and made no secret of it. Had that been at Bluestar's request? Tinyclaw could see it, and the thought made him dig his claws into the frosted earth.
"They're coming along well," Leopardstar meowed, her eyes passing over the two ShadowClan apprentices. They were batting at one another's ears now, competition sparking in their eyes.
Bluestar signaled with her tail for them to stop. The two dipped their heads to their leader befor melting back into the crowd, chittering excitedly at one another.
"You've done well," Leopardstar admitted. The admiration in her gaze was all for Bluestar. "ShadowClan is growing strong again, after seasons of wasting away under unsuitable leadership."
Bluestar blinked. "RiverClan grows strong as well, under your rule. You've done well."
Tinyclaw couldn't listen any more. He tuned them out, looking for Graystripe. He spotted the shaggy gray tom with Sandstorm Mosspelt, a RiverClan queen he'd befriended during his stay in RiverClan. Scanning the clearing, Tinyclaw couldn't see Silverstream or Featherkit or Stormkit.
Heading over, Tinyclaw caught their conversation, his ears twitching.
"How are they?" Graystripe was asking, his pelt ruffled. "Are they okay? Did Leopardstar hurt them?"
Mosspelt sighed, her eyes sympathetic. "They're fine, Graystripe," she insisted. "They're apprentices now – Featherpaw and Stormpaw. Brambleclaw and Tawnypelt are their mentors."
Tinyclaw shared a glance with Sandstorm, mirroring his mates' grimace at the thought. Leopardstar had unwittingly paired her half-Clan apprentices with her trusted half-Clan warriors. Tawnypelt and Brambleclaw had no doubt come away from the battle at Sunningrocks with little love for ThunderClan.
Graystripe had no idea of any of this, however. His body sagged with relief. "I'm glad they're okay," he breathed. "I was so worried…"
"Silverstream misses you," Mosspelt added.
Graystripe stiffened. "I'm so sorry. Does she know that I'm sorry?"
Mosspelt nodded. "She's not been the same since the patrol came back without you. Leopardstar told her you were dead to RiverClan. They fought… and they haven't spoken since."
"They used to be such good friends," Graystripe whimpered. He sank to his haunches. "I… I never meant to ruin that."
Mosspelt's tail flicked. "Graystripe… we all knew you'd go back to ThunderClan one day," she admitted. She glanced at Sandstorm and Tinyclaw, adding, "You might love Silverstream and the kits, but you were always meant to be ThunderClan."
"Are you sure Silverstream's alright?" Sandstorm wondered, her pale green eyes full of concern. "This whole situation…"
"It's stressful," Mosspelt agreed, "but we'll get through it. Leopardstar is angry, though… and she likes to cling to her grudges."
Graystripe swallowed, nodding. Sadness filled the gray tom's every limb, his movements slow as he turned away from Mosspelt. Not for the first time, Tinyclaw was glad that Sandstorm was a ThunderClan cat, same as himself. He couldn't have bared the thought of losing her.
"Thanks, Mosspelt," Sandstorm offered.
Mosspelt shrugged. "He was a good Clanmate," she admitted. "More than one RiverClan cat misses him."
A yowl echoed through the clearing. Tinyclaw and Sandstorm flanked Graystripe as he settled down in the crowd. Tinyclaw twined his tail with his friend's, pressing his pelt against Graystripe's thick fur – not just for warmth. Sandstorm gave him a compassionate lick over his ear as the leaders took their places on the Great Rock. The Clans gathered in the clearing, looking up with anticipation in the chilly night.
Anxiety gripped Tinyclaw's heart as he watched Tigerstar's tail wind and lash behind him. He'd placed Tallstar and Leopardstar between himself and Bluestar, and Bluestar seemed to have no care for the fact. Would Tigerstar mention Shredpelt and Lostface? Would there be more reports of dog activity? What was Bluestar going to announce? Tinyclaw sank his claws into the earth to keep himself steady.
Tallstar began. He made no mention of the trouble with ThunderClan, no mention of dogs. He spoke of kits born and apprentices made and warriors named. Tinyclaw raised his voice where appropriate. Tallstar ended with talking about the oncoming cold, but that WindClan was prepared to face the lean season.
Leopardstar went next. Tinyclaw and Sandstorm joined their voices with Graystripe's when she announced Featherpaw and Stormpaw's apprenticeship. Leopardstar mentioned a warrior becoming an elder, but nothing more. Nothing about the battle at Sunningrocks – but when she mentioned RiverClan preparing for the lean season, Tinyclaw didn't miss the glare she gave Tigerstar.
Bluestar's report was much the same as the others – but Tinyclaw listened intently to her words, searching for a threat.
"… ShadowClan is now fully ready to rejoin life in the forest," Bluestar announced. "And thus, I have a favor to ask of ThunderClan."
Tinyclaw's pelt chilled. Bluestar turned her cold blue gaze to Tigerstar, who glared at the blue-gray she-cat through the side of his blazing eyes.
"And what might that be?" Tigerstar wondered, his tone tight.
Bluestar did not seem affected, her shoulders slack. "When I left ThunderClan, I had to leave my kits behind. They are of apprentice age now, and I would like them to live with me, in ShadowClan."
"Never." Tigerstar's reply was curt and sharp.
Bluestar's flicked her ear. "Why not?" she asked. "They're my kits; I've a right to them."
Murmurs of support rose from the Clans below. Only ThunderClan cats bristled at the idea. Tinyclaw swallowed. So she does intend on trying to get her kits back! He thought. Oakheart would lose his pelt if he were here. Tinyclaw was more than glad that he'd left the three of them behind now.
"Fox-heart," Sandstorm hissed. "If she really wanted her kits, she should have thought of that before betraying us!"
Tigerstar shook his broad head, still refusing to look at Bluestar. "I will not allow it," he growled. "And even if I did, Mosspaw is Brackenfur's apprentice."
"Mosspaw can learn just as well in ShadowClan," Bluestar stated simply. There was no heat in her voice. "ThunderClan ought to know by now that kits belong to their mother's Clan."
She's goading, Tinyclaw thought, grimacing. With the knowledge of just how mixed the Clans were now inside him, Tinyclaw knew that she was being intentionally pointed. She knows that there are half-Clan kits everywhere.
"Oakheart would die before letting her have those kits," Longtail hissed a tail-length away.
Bluestar's eyes narrowed. "Well?" she hissed.
Tigerstar lashed his tail. "This situation will be judged on its own," he growled. "I will think on it. Your answer will come at the next Gathering."
He gave no room for response – Tigerstar leaped off of the Great Rock, cutting the Gathering short as he gathered together his Clan. Tinyclaw tried to reach Tigerstar through the crowd, but the dark tabby tom seemed a million pawsteps away.
They arrived in camp well before dawn thanks to the Gathering having been cut short. Tigerstar went to his den immediately, lashing his tail at Tinyclaw when he tried to follow. Frustrated and anxious, Tinyclaw crossed the clearing to the warrior's den and called for Oakheart.
The bracken-colored tom raised his head, blinking away sleep. "Wuh… What is it?" he wondered. His eyes snapped open suddenly. "Did the Gathering go badly?"
"No, but it didn't go well, either," Tinyclaw hissed. He explained as quietly as he could about Bluestar's demands, aware that Oakheart's fur was bristling with indignation throughout. He saw the warrior's claws flexing in the bracken.
Oakheart flattened his ears, hostility in his eyes. "I would die nine times before letting her lay a whisker on those cats!" he snarled. "The kits were just an inconvenience to her! She never planned for them!"
Tinyclaw swallowed. "I know," he breathed.
"She just wants to use them!" Oakheart snapped.
Tinyclaw rested his tail-tip onto Oakheart's shoulder comfortingly. "It's all right, Oakheart. The kits are staying here. I'll make sure of it."
It didn't seem to settle the older warrior. Oakheart shrugged out of the den, claws flexing. "I need air," he hissed.
Tinyclaw nodded in understanding, sighing. Sandstorm slipped into the den and pressed her pelt against Tinyclaw's. "I can't imagine how upsetting this is for him," she breathed.
"They're ThunderClan cats, Sandstorm," Tinyclaw insisted. "I won't let Bluestar think she can bargain them away from us."
"None of us want them to go, either."
But as he and Sandstorm curled up in their nest, Tinyclaw wondered just how true that was. After all, he himself had once wished ill upon the kits – and Stonepaw had spoken before of cats judging he and his siblings. Clearly Tinyclaw hadn't been the only cat to see Bluestar when they looked at the young cats. Regardless of her intentions, Bluestar hadn't made the request just to hear the sound of her own voice – would ShadowClan be willing to go to war for the apprentices?
How many of his Clanmates would raise their claws to protect their enemy's children?