As stated earlier, only one chapter left, and then an epilogue. I can't believe it has finally come down to this. Well, tomorrow I will be in New York, and the rest of the week might be booked, due to Christmas. Anyways, if I don't get to it by then, happy holidays everyone, and Merry Christmas!
[ Chapter 37 ]
"Let all cats old enough gather around the Smoothrock for a Clan meeting!" Amberfire looked up at the sound of Cinderstar's voice. A moon had passed since the battle.
During that time, Poppyfrost's kits became apprentices. Aspenpaw was given to Firespirit as an apprentice. The young warriors' eyes gleamed every time he thought about his enthusiastic apprentice, who was now bouncing around. Midnightpaw had been given to Leopardblaze as a mentor. The older warrior was much more calm then Aspenpaw, which meant that Leopardblaze and Midnightpaw were a perfect match.
Amberfire, Blazeclaw and Goldenleaf all earned their warrior names a couple of suns after. Briarleaf's kits had also come in the time when they relaxed. They were named Toadkit, Fawnkit and Lionkit.
Over the last moon, the Clans had all formed a sign of peace, to ensure that they fully recovered from the battle with the Twolegs. The falcons promised Amberfire that they would leave the Clans alone as well, since they too had many injuries to deal with.
Now, tonight, there would be a full moon. Peace was coming at an end, with leafbare coming. The days were growing shorter, and prey, growing scarcer by the moments. It was as though they knew that cold times were ahead, and they wanted to get out of it while they could.
When the Clan gathered around the Smoothrock, Cinderstar looked down to address the Clan. "Now, I know you are all anxious about who will go to the Gathering," she began. "But I will only allow a few cats to come. The rest must stay here, in case the Twolegs decide to come back and attack us."
The warriors around Amberfire began to grumble with disagreement. Bumblestripe looked furious, while Rosefoot and Stripefur looked relieved. Rosefoot was helping Briarleaf in the nursery, while she waited for her kits to come. Her belly was plump with kits, and Amberfire knew it wouldn't be long before they came. It was a good thing for the Clan; more kits meant more apprentices. And apprentices was the one thing the Clan needed the most.
Squirrelflight had moved to the elders' den, sleeping with Brightheart. Mousewhisker had died from a wound that could not be healed by Rainshower, while Rainshower himself seemed to be loosing his mind every day. At one point, Amberfire was certain the medicine cat would slip and turn to the point of insanity. But luckily, he had not shown signs of changing since that dramatic moment.
As Cinderstar began to list the cats who would come with her, Amberfire looked at Blazeclaw. He was much stronger now, since she had first opened her eyes. His muscles were pulsing from his thick pelt, while his eyes had a deep and thoughtful look. Goldenleaf on the other hand, was a delicate figure. She seemed to grow closer to Stripefur everyday, and Amberfire couldn't blame her.
She still blinked in surprise every time she realized that he was an agent, sent down by StarClan to protect the cats of ThunderClan from those of the Dark Forest. Amberfire tried not to think about what had happened between Stripefur and Sapfur, as the two warriors battled it out.
The golden tabby flinched slightly when she felt someone nudge her playfully. Amberfire looked over her shoulder to see that it was Icestorm, her former mentor. Amberfire had almost forgotten how much Icestorm did for her. The white she-cat was almost like a second mother to Amberfire, and it was heartwarming to see that the warrior was going to the Gathering, along with her.
"This should be an interesting Gathering," she murmured as the meeting broke apart.
"I'm worried about what those ShadowClan warriors will do," Amberfire admitted with a guilty shake of her head. She shouldn't even have thought about it.
Most of the cats didn't even know that the majority of cats in ShadowClan were reincarnations of those who had been exiled to the Dark Forest. She believed they'd be terrified if they knew.
"Oh, I wouldn't worry about them," Blazeclaw chuckled darkly. His green eyes flashed with mischief as he looked at Amberfire. That old, competitive spark remained, and Amberfire dropped into an attackers' crouch. Blazeclaw rolled his eyes, and she lunged forward with her claws sheathed. He hardly had time to react as she knocked him over, ramming into his chest. "I was just kidding!" he gasped when she stood with one paw on his throat.
"Sure you were," Amberfire purred.
She missed the old times, when she and Blazeclaw would constantly bicker over something. Goldenleaf had always acted like their second mother, stopping them from arguing. But even she had her fair share of arguments, and even now, it made Amberfire bark with laughter.
"Are you two kits or warriors?" She whirled around at the sound of Birchfall's snort. His amber eyes were brimming with annoyance, but Amberfire could sense a feeling of family within him.
"We were just testing out how powerful we were," Blazeclaw put in as he struggled to his paws. Amberfire let go and watched as he stood up. He glared at her before looking back at Birchfall. "Besides, can't even warriors have a good time?"
The older cat just shrugged and padded away, lashing his tail as he did so. Amberfire exchanged a look with Blazeclaw before padding over to Goldenleaf, who was speaking quietly to Stripefur. The pale ginger she-cat looked quiet at home, rubbing her muzzle against his. Amberfire couldn't help but roll her eyes. She was annoyed with the fact that Goldenleaf had already found her true love, and she was barely a full moon-old warrior.
"Aren't you going to the Gathering Stripefur?" Amberfire asked when he didn't move from his spot.
His blue eyes were glittering with something Amberfire couldn't make sense of. She shrugged it off as he began to speak. "Cinderstar told me to keep watch," he replied. "She said that she has something planned for you three tomorrow," he added with a wide-toothed grin.
Amberfire's eyes widened a little when he stalked away. What ever plan Cinderstar held for them, Amberfire knew it wouldn't good.
Soon, the cats began to leave as Cinderstar led them towards the Gathering. A full moon hovered in the night sky, shedding a silver light over the forest. Amberfire could have sworn she saw several cats with stars in their fur, running alongside the Clan as they reached FourRocks. Shadows of cats descended upon the Clan as they approached.
"Hey Amberfire, how's it going?" She blinked in surprise at the friendliness of Snowbird's voice as she approached the pure white she-cat. Snowbird had been one of the many captured cats in the Clans. The warrior had always been quiet, and a lessor known cat. But Amberfire liked Snowbird, and hoped they could be good friends in times to come.
"It's going," Amberfire replied with a respectful dip of her head. Snowbird nodded and turned to a light brown she-cat with a white underbelly. Seeing as she wouldn't get any more words from Snowbird, she padded along the path to where several apprentices were clustered.
"Wow, you saw all of that?" Aspenpaw was mewling. His blue eyes were wide as he listened to Berrypaw--a tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat--tell her story.
"Yep, those Twolegs didn't stand a chance though," she purred.
"Let all those gather around to listen to the Gathering!" Amberfire recognized Weaselstar's yowl and turned to watch him. "Who would like to begin?" He looked at the other leaders who were around. Dawnstar narrowed her eyes slightly, while Reedstar just shook his head. With a sigh, Cinderstar stood to address the rest of the Clans.
"I will begin," she announced. "All is well in ThunderClan," she began, "We have two new apprentices: Aspenpaw and Midnightpaw." She paused to let the Clans congratulate their promotion. "We also have three new warriors: Amberfire, Blazeclaw and Goldenleaf." The Clans cheered for them as well, but there were a few disgruntled murmurs coming from ShadowClan.
Amberfire whirled around and saw that Sapfur was sneering at her with a malicious look. She glared at him before looking back at the leaders. Not much happened in ShadowClan either. Dawnstar announced that Kinkfur retired to the elders' den just yesterday. Weaselstar and Reedstar had little to report as well. Suddenly, whispers fell upon the cats as the Gathering began to break up.
Some cats were glaring at each other, while others just ignored them and went over to their own Clanmates. Amberfire suddenly realized that the time of peace had come to an end. The time to fight the shadows that approached, was coming near. And she, along with her siblings, would have to fight it. Whether they wanted to or not.
So, I rewarded you guys with an extra long chapter. Now, it's time for the epilogue. Do you guys think you can handle it? Well, you may have no choice someday. Anyways, please review!