Hey hi hello it's me Arrayave and NO EXCUSES I'M BACK

So I know there's nothing I can say to make it right that I ABANDONED YALL but I'm back with a brand new chapter and more on the way.

So this chapter is gonna be a bit different from what I originally said in my last chapter but oh well. I still tried to make it as exciting as possible. I will be tryna upload more chapters MUCH more often but this time NO PROMISES cause I honestly have no idea.

And another apology is in order for going AFK from this story but again I am BACK and this time to FINISH THIS!

Please enjoy!

UPDATE I just now saw all the reviews and first THANK YALL FOR STICKING WITH ME sorry I was gone for so lonk. Here I am going to answer your questions and comments you left so sanks!

First, for FluffyPotatoCat, ikr I'm a terrible editor. I will try my best to make the dialogue more comprehensive in the future.

JuniperTheWarrior! Thanks for all your support! I will def add Diamondpool! I'm glad you ship Fletchleap and Starsong, I love them uwu. Also, I'm glad I'm fulfilling your Warriors story dreams and I will do my best to continue that in the future. I had names for Redpaw, Lightpaw, and Smokepaw but honestly yours are better XD so I'll use yours.

SO YES I'M BACK AND I'LL KEEP GOING THANKS AGAIN FOR THE SUPPORT!

Chapter 11

I wake up to a cold breeze and whistling noise coming through a small crack in the den. Looking up, I notice that Fletchleap is no longer beside me. Gone to organize patrols, probably. Getting up, I shake to ruffle up my fur and I exit the den. The morning is bright and clear, and the camp is busy with life. The chill air doesn't seem to be bothering anyone, but for some reason it's getting to me. Waterswift doesn't look too happy, either.

"It's a bit cold for my taste, but I don't want to be stuck in the den all day," she tells me.

"I agree. Plus, I still have to look for herbs. I'm running low on chervil," I respond.

"You should take a day off, especially after yesterday."

Suddenly, I think of our new guest. "Did Maverick leave?" I ask.

"No; he went on the dawn patrol with Fletchleap and Rushstorm. They should be getting back soon."

I find myself wishing that I had gotten up sooner. Maverick said he would leave in the morning; I wonder if he intends to leave while he's out.

It turns out I'm not correct with my assumption: when Fletchleap comes padding through the entrance, Maverick is close behind. He carries a fish in his jaws, and he drops it by the fresh-kill pile with the other catches. The apprentices are eager to eat his catch, and Maverick looks pleased.

"I was wondering if you were going to leave without saying goodbye," I tell him.

"Eh, no. I actually was thinking of sticking around a little bit longer," he says with a sweeping look over the camp. "I don't know for how long; but at least a few more days."

"You're welcome to stay as long as you like," says Cedarstar, who went hunting with the others. Maverick ducks his head in gratitude and pads over to a quiet corner near the nursery. We sit in silence for a moment, then Fletchleap leaves to organize patrols. Maverick takes great interest in how he does it, muttering frequent comments of amazement at his organization. When Fletchleap has finished, Maverick approaches him with all sorts of questions, some I've been wondering the answers to myself.

"Do you preplan the patrols?"

"Roughly," answers Fletchleap. "I have a basic idea of who I'm sending when based on their past schedules."

"Do you take their other tasks, like training into consideration, or do you force them to save those activities for a different time?"

"I try to make sure I'm not interfering with anything."

"Do you let them hunt and patrol on their own accord if they want, or do you try to have all the movements of the day planned out?"

"I trust my warriors to do what they think is best."

"Wow," breathes Maverick. "You certainly have faith in your Clan."

"We've bonded by now, and we trust each other with our lives," responds Fletchleap. "Have you ever had kin or a group you've traveled with that you trust this way?"

Maverick shakes his head. "I've always traveled alone."

"Even as a kit?"

"Some Twolegs looked after me until I was about the age of one of your apprentices," he says. "But then I left to live on my own."

"How far away did you live?" I cut in.

"Very, very far. I've spent many moons on my feet." He proceeds to lick a paw, and then he gets up. "Well, as long as I'm here, I should hunt to 'pay my rent', as the Twolegs say."

"The Clan would be grateful for that," says Fletchleap. "You know our boundaries well enough?"

"Yes; I won't go perusing into any enemy territory," he chuckles back. "I'll bring back enough to feed all the Elders!" With that, he bounds off out of the camp and away to find food.

"What do you have lined up for the day?" asks Fletchleap.

"I'm going to sort herbs, and then see is Cedarstar needs any help with anything," I tell him. "What about you?"

"Hunting, like Maverick. We could use all the food we can get."

"Alright." I lick his cheek. "Be careful."

"Always am," he purrs. With a wink, he leaves.

A warm feeling worms its way through my heart, and I purr as I walk back towards my den. I spend most of the day sorting through herbs, treating a few scratches, and helping Cedarstar plan for the Gathering tomorrow night. He seems worried about Maverick

"Should we take him or make him stay?" he asks me.

"As nice as he is, I don't think he should stay in our camp unguarded, or at least without the Leader and Deputy there," I tell him. "But if we take him with us, we send a message that he's joined our clan."

"I mean, we're all loners anyway, what difference would that make?" he asks.

"True, but if he truly doesn't want to stay with us, then maybe he shouldn't come."

"So do you have a decision?" he asks.

"I think we should let him decide," I respond.

And so we do. When he returns from hunting, loaded with fresh-kill as he promised, he says he'll go. "As long as I'm here, I'd like to see all the different parts of clan life that I can," he reasons." All of us are pleased with his decision, and he settles into his nest as if he we're living here. The next day, he hunts and patrols with the clan like a warrior. And when Applesplash asks him about his "urgent mission to the moorland", he seems to not remember it.

"I mean, it wasn't that important. I was just on the move. I really don't have to go too soon," he reasons, seemingly arguing with himself.

Soon, it's time to go to the Gathering. Maverick joins us, Emberbright, Ashfrost, Royalpaw, Smokeburr, Mapleheart, Glowpaw, Applesplash, and Willowlight. Rushstorm stays behind with Waterswift, and Dewpelt says she'll take charge while we're gone.

Maverick asks us frequent questions on our way there, and he seems intrigued by the ordered rules of the clans. Particularly our boundary rules and the truce. He pauses in awe when we reach the clearing, admiring the clans.

"So many cats! And so well organized!" he murmurs.

"We do our best," says Cedarstar with a bit of a chuckle. "Now, let's go join them, shall we?"

We do just that. Breaking from the treeline, a few of the other clans immediately greet us. It takes a little while for the other warriors to notice Maverick, and they seem friendly enough to him when he introduces himself.

"How long have you been with CedarClan?" asks Berryhawk, a warrior of FirClan.

"Not too long," he responds. "But they've been very hospitable.

"Are you going to stay for a while?" asks Creekfrost of CypressClan.

"I dunno, we'll see," he says.

"As long as you don't cross any borders," growls Addersnow, from PineClan. His apprentice, Burnpaw, nods an agreement.

"I don't think you have to worry about that," Maverick laughs softly, either not hearing or ignoring the menacing tone of the enemy warriors.

I head over to the other medicine cats, and they seem very chatty tonight. The conversation stays mostly about herbs, which I contribute to, but then Mistypetal looks at me and asks me a question that makes my blood run cold.

"You look well-fed, Starsong. Has CedarClan been blessed with much prey?" she says.

I knew my kits would start to show soon. But that's not a topic I'm willing to discuss at the moment. So I play it off. "Yes, we're doing very well. How's prey running in your clans?"

"We've had enough," she responds.

"SpruceClan has also been doing well with prey," says Shadefire. "I'm glad to hear you're getting enough."

I breathe a silent sigh of relief, muttering a thanks to StarClan.

"Let the Gathering begin," says Firstar. The other leaders jump up on the rock and the clans circle around. Maverick looks up at them, curious.

"FirClan is thriving, and since leaf-bare is coming to a close I think we'll continue to see good weather and plenty of prey," she reports. "One of our queens, Hazelhawk, has just had her litter. She is in good health."

"SpruceClan also thrives," says Sprucestar. "Though we have scented cats within our boundary near twolegplace." He throws a look at Pinestar, who raises an eyebrow.

"Are you accusing us of crossing your scent line?" he growls.

"I'm not accusing anyone yet. Just sharing information," responds Sprucestar, letting the argument blow over.

"Well we have also scented cats near our borders," says Cypresstar. "And if they are identified to be members of a clan, we will retaliate." The CypressClan warriors yowl their agreement.

"CedarClan brings with it a new friend," breaks in Cedarstar, to change the subject. "Maverick, a loner, defended some of our queens from a wolf attack. He has stayed with us for only a few days, and we will continue to offer him hospitality until he decides to leave."

Most of the cats have already met him earlier, but everyone looks at him now. He seems nervous but holds his head up high, nodding respectfully to Cedarstar.

"Friendly cats are always good news," comments Cypresstar. "As long as they are trustworthy. Do you feel safe with him in your camp?"

"He has protected our queens, hunted for our elders, and assisted our apprentices," says Cedarstar. "He has given us no reason to distrust him."

"Then I see no reason for him to leave. Welcome Maverick," she calls. "If there is nothing else to report, then the Gathering is at an end." She leaps off the rock and beckons her warriors to follow her, and the other leaders do the same. Cedarstar rounds us up, and after saying goodbye to the other medicine cats I leave with them.

"That was wild!" says Maverick as we trek back. "Will there be a fight?"

"A fight?" asks Fletchleap.

"Between PineClan and SpruceClan. They seemed pretty tense," he responds.

"Maybe," sighs Fletchleap. "We'll have to wait and see."

When we arrive, I go straight to the nursery and tell Waterswift what happened. Cedarstar is reporting to the rest of the clan, but she seems too tired to get up.

"Are you feeling alright?" I ask her.

"Yes," she nods. "I could just sleep for a moon."

I lick her head gently and then curl up in my own nest. "Then get some rest." I close my eyes, and sometime before I fall asleep I feel Fletchleap settle down beside me. As soon as I feel his fur press against me, my mind wanders and I fall asleep.

ITS SHORT I KNOW BUT I TRIED

So after some research I realized that timeline-wise Waterswift should have had her kits AGES ago so I think you can tell what's in order for next chapter ;D

Also we're getting closer and closer to our ending BUT I have a sequel series planned in the traditional 6-book format so when this story finishes it won't be the end. Stay tuned!

And as I said in the intro I have OFFICIALLY RETURNED to this story so I will be uploading another chapter soon, but this time I'm not gonna promise when. But yes, soon.

Thanks yall for the continued support, sorry I let you down. See ya next time!

- Arrayave :D