Chapter Twenty

Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Greatstone for a Clan meeting!"

Echoshine looked at Beetlewhisker, who was taking over as temporary leader during Oakstar's absence, and got to her feet, heading for the makeshift den that she, Ashpool, and Rainysky had built for Dusk. She ducked into the small space and found the grey rogue gently licking Bird and Dapple. The three of them looked up as she entered.

"What is it?" Dusk asked.

"Beetlewhisker is calling a meeting. You should join."

"Okay." Dusk stood up and picked Bird up by his scruff.

Bird squirmed and wriggled helplessly. "Stop, Dusk! I've got it!"

Dapple trotted dutifully alongside Dusk as the tom walked out of the den.

Echoshine followed.

The rest of the Clan was already gathered beneath the Greatstone. Echoshine brushed her tail across Dusk's shoulder before departing into the crowd, settling down with Rainysky, Ashpool, and Frostwing.

"I can taste rain coming," An elder meowed.

"Oh, don't be a mouse-brain, Adderstripe," the new voice belonged to an old she-cat. "It's perfectly sunny!"

The first voice spoke up, grizzled with age. "Oh hush, Goldenheart. Beetlewhisker's going to begin."

"It's you who's talking! Not me! Oh, for StarClan's sake, Mallownose, if you'd have gone mute instead of half-deaf, then the territories would be awfully silent! Maybe direct your yammering elsewhere."

"Eh?"

Echoshine smiled and tuned out the elders' constant bickering.

When every cat had gathered, Beetlewhisker began. "I'm sure that all of you are aware of the rogues in our midst."

Many cats glanced in Dusk's direction.

Echoshine saw Dusk wrap his tail protectively around Dapple and Bird.

"Well," Beetlewhisker continued, "even with Oakstar gone for longer than expected, Clan activity cannot remain on pause. Dusk, you have said that you have come to join ThunderClan, is that correct?"

Dusk held the deputy's gaze and nodded.

"Well, then," Echoshine's father went on, "I will pass a rule that while you are within the borders of this Clan, you shall not be harmed by any ThunderClan warrior."

Echoshine smiled. Her new friend was safe.

Dusk padded slowly up to the Greatstone. "Is it alright for me to ask when I can – if I can – join your Clan and hunt alongside these warriors?"

Beetlewhisker smiled. "I'm afraid that I cannot make that choice. Oakstar will return a day or two, and then he can decide."

"Okay." Dusk dipped his head respectfully and padded back to his kits.

"Clan dismissed," Beetlewhisker yowled. He sprang off of the Greatstone.

The cats of ThunderClan dispersed, some grabbing a piece of prey from the fresh-kill pile, some padding back into their dens, and some sorting into patrols at Beetlewhisker's command.

Suddenly, the warm sun clouded over. Lightning split the sky, a crash of thunder following with so much force that the ground trembled ever so slightly.

"I told you," it was Adderstripe. "I told you it was going to rain!"

"Oh, never mind that, get into the den. Your rear end is blocking the entrance!"

Echoshine could see the three elders huddled around their den - massive hollow log with comfy bedding. They were squabbling, again.

Even more powerful lightning struck a tree off in the distance. Echoshine jumped as the giant oak tree split in half. It was far off, so ThunderClan wouldn't be affected by the damage, but the storm made rain, and rain made floods, which could result in less prey in the Clan territories. She hurried to Willowleaf's den.

"Willowleaf?" She called through the ferns.

Echoshine frowned when do answer came, then looked up as she heard a she-cat's mew.

"What did you need?"

Echoshine's frown deepened. Willowleaf had sounded frightened.

She trotted over to the she-cat, who was standing, watching the storm nearby. "I was just…Well, I guess I just wanted to talk to some cat."

The medicine cat's fur was ruffled. "I must tell you something." She closed her eyes miserably. "Did you just see the lightning strike that oak tree?"

"Yes."

"It was an omen. And a terrible one. StarClan has just told me that Oakstar will not return to ThunderClan."

Echoshine gasped. "No!"

Willowleaf's claws sunk into the ground. "Yes. I shall go tell Beetlewhisker."

"Why did you tell me about such an important prophecy before you told Beetlewhisker?" Echoshine inquired.

Willowleaf looked up to the stars. "I have to tell some cat, and you've had a vision before, so you seemed like a good choice."

Echoshine nodded, thinking of all of the amazing memories that Oakstar had given her. But one memory in particular was nagging her. She tried to harness the thought. Then she remembered. Just after she had told him about the prophecy, Oakstar had told her that he had lived with the tribe cats. But Dusk had told her that when he was born, Redbud had ruled The Thorn Tribe. Who was telling the truth? Maybe Oakstar hadn't told her everything.

But that brought another query to mind.

"Willowleaf, are we ever going to tell any cat about the prophecy that Ashpool and I had?"

Willowleaf shook her head. "It would rouse even more suspicion, and with all of the tension already weaved into the Clan at the time, I think that that's a secret better left untold." She stood, shaking the water off of her pelt. "I have to tell Beetlewhisker. You may tell your siblings, but don't tell any other cat of Oakstar's death."