The Clan was on edge after the attack, after Antclaw's betrayal was laid bare. Birdstar had done her best to hide her shaken foundation, but she had sat in the High Tree for the last few days, tail tip twitching and eyes never leaving the camp entrance.
"It's like she expects him to come back," Gorsepaw murmured to Breezepaw, startling her. She swatted at him as he joined her side. It had only been a few days and they had both started to heal well. Blackpaw had done exceptionally well under Featherberry's guidance. Still, she and her brother had deep wounds that took a little longer, and she managed to swat at one on his shoulder. He hissed in pain, swatting at her back until they both dissolved into a harmless swatting match, tumbling and rolling over each other.
It ended when he swatted her nose. She winced, the wound from Hawkpaw, stinging more than she liked.
"Alright," she declared, withdrawing, "that's enough." He chuckled and leaned against her as they both settled back down to wait for their mentors to call them.
"But like I said," he returned back to the topic from earlier, and she sighed, "Birdstar looks like she's expecting her traitorous brother to come back."
"If she hears you talking like that," Breezepaw glanced at him, "you won't get to go the next gathering."
"But it's true! If Antclaw wanted to still be deputy of ForestClan, all he had to do was not go to FirClan," he pointed out. Their two mentors slid out of the den, one right after the other, but did not beckon either of them. Breezepaw watched them still, waiting for an order.
"It doesn't make any sense, though," she countered. "His scent never crossed into FirClan territory—"
"So? Maybe he went into the rogue's territory and then crossed into FirClan from that side. He could cross the river and erase any FirClan from his pelt," Gorsepaw reasoned. She flicked her tail, still not convinced. The only evidence of Antclaw consorting with FirClan was the warrior's words. Antclaw hadn't denied it, but that didn't necessarily mean he had been talking with them. And Featherberry had mentioned a group, not a Clan. She knew FirClan by name. So, it seemed odd that she hadn't just accused him outright of talking to FirClan. Breezepaw glanced over to the medicine den as the gray she-cat came out with her shadow at her side.
Featherberry herself had acted as if nothing had changed, but Breezepaw had turned the situation over and over in her head. She'd refused to look at Antclaw. She had known about his betrayal. She had distinctly refused to help him when he'd come to her, but she knew. And yet she still hadn't told Birdstar. But why? Why hadn't she said anything? Wasn't loyalty to her leader more important than anything else? Breezepaw watched as Featherberry greeted Mousepool and Wolfleap at the fresh-kill pile. She touched noses with Wolfleap and then started chatting with Mousepool, as if she hadn't been harboring Antclaw's secret for moons.
"Are you listening to me?" Gorsepaw retorted, drawing her sharply back to reality. She scowled.
"No," she returned, "most of the time you say things that don't matter." He made some frustrated noises at her and got to his paws, flicking her nose as he padded to join Icetalon who had started to pad over.
"No one likes you," he called over his shoulder. She stuck her tongue out at his back as he turned away. The battle had shaken something loose in her. Her grief was still there, weighing in the bottom of her belly, but the days were a little brighter. The wind was a little warmer. She had seen the green budding on the trees. The sky was a warmer blue. Everything was bursting forth with life.
Her heart tugged as she watched Flamestorm pad out of the elder's den. Flamestorm had congratulated their bravery at the fight after Birdstar had named Badgerblaze her deputy. She had run her eyes up and down each of her kits, distant, but worried.
"I'm very proud of you," she'd murmured to them. She'd watched her mother hesitate as she scanned them before the orange she-cat had walked away with nothing left to say. She'd not stopped to talk to Stonefoot who paused to let her go into the den before him.
It had been nothing but silence between her parents since Maplekit died.
Wolfleap touched noses with Featherberry and brushed his cheek against Mousepool's and then turned to her. She sighed loudly and got to her paws before he could call out her name. She met him halfway. She held back the urge to question him about his friendships with the two she-cats. Gorsepaw was such a bad influence. Now she wanted to be nosey.
"Have you eaten?" He asked, a bit too sharp for her tastes. She flicked an ear.
"Of course," she returned coolly. "I'm ready for our battle training sessions, Wolfleap." He scowled at her.
"I don't like your tone," he commented, flicking his tail to indicate she follow. She resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at his back and followed him. Gorsepaw truly was such a terrible influence. Yellowpaw and Silverfur were on the other side of the entrance. Yellowpaw, too, had softened to her after the battle. Their argument from moons ago forgotten, or at least put off to the side.
"We aren't," Wolfleap's eyes cut to hers, "battle training today. Instead, you and Yellowpaw will be walking every inch of the FirClan border, looking for weak scents. Silverfur and I will be near Fallen Trees, looking for signs of FirClan." Her heart sped up and she glanced at her brother.
"We're going to be patrolling alone?" She tried to hold in a squeak but failed miserably. Yellowpaw snorted, but he looked vaguely nervous, too. This was a large task for the two of them, especially after the battle. FirClan would be more aggressive, trying to reclaim lost pride.
"Just checking the scents. If you see anything or hear anything, you do not stand your ground," Silverfur warned, sharing a glance with Wolfleap, "you come straight to us. Once you meet up in the middle, head to Fallen Trees and we'll patrol the rogue border to BayClan and from the BayClan border to the Tree of Passings." Breezepaw groaned internally. There would be so much walking today. Her injuries were healing, but excessive movement ached and caused her to wake up stiff, like it had the day after the battle.
"Besides, today is the gathering, FirClan would be stupid to enact StarClan's wrath," Wolfleap added, and Breezepaw's ears pricked in excitement, drawing her out of her inner grumblings.
"Will I—we get to go?" She had missed the last few gatherings. In fact, she hadn't been to one yet. For some reason, Wolfleap had never allowed her to go. Well, except for that one time she snapped at Shadestar. She understood why'd he kept her behind then. But the others? She was never sure. Gorsepaw and Yellowpaw had both gone to one each. It had been after Maplekit had died, so neither of them had been eager with information or any stories. In truth, she had never asked.
Wolfleap studied her for a moment, and she was afraid he was going to tell her no, again. But instead, he looked away to hide the faint gleam of amusement in his eye.
"Yes, you will both be going," he chuckled. "Including Gorsepaw. After our little patrol, we will rest for the evening. Silverfur and I both trust you to show up where you're supposed to," he called to them over his shoulder as he and Silvefur slipped through the budding foliage towards Fallen Trees.
She watched them pad off and then she and Yellowpaw were left in the silence that was not quite silence. The forest had slowly come to life. Birds were singing. Bugs chirping.
"Want to see who can get it done the fastest?" She challenged. Yellowpaw barked out a laugh and leaped in the direction of the BayClan/FirClan border.
"You're so going to lose," he called over his shoulder, nimbly navigating the bushes. His decision to go to right gave her no other choice than to start bounding towards the junction of the rogue border and FirClan. She skidded through the training hollow, throwing up sand in her wake and she couldn't help the joyous laughter that bubbled up and out of her mouth. The air was so fresh. The wind was warm. Her Clan had won. She was going to a gathering!
She trotted over to edge of the border and started her trek along, heading in the direction of the BayClan border. Fallen Trees was just a short stretch of land between the edge of the border and the dry riverbed. ForestClan scent was strong here. She glanced over her shoulder. A FirClan patrol had run through here, with Antclaw leading them. She looked away and started her trek down the border to meet up with Yellowpaw.
The further she walked along the border, though, the scents became mixed, not crossing over into one another's territory but just enough that she noticed it.
"We are not the true enemy."
She paused, eyes widening as she glanced around. That voice. She recognized it from her dream, moons ago. This silvery form that was more spirit than cat had whispered it to her. The words whispered to her on the rustle of leaves. She scowled up at them, lashing her tail.
"What do you want! Why can't you just tell me directly! I'm not a medicine cat!" She yowled to the winds above her. Frustratingly, they remained silent.
"Talking to the forest, a ForestClan thing?" Some cat purred. She leaped three fox-lengths in the air with a yelp, spinning to face a very real, very not spirit-like cat. The white tom sat on his side of the border, tail tip twitching in amusement. She turned on him, hackles raised.
"And who do you think you are, sneaking up like that?" She retorted.
"I rather think that as an enemy warrior," he started with a purr, "it is my job to sneak up on unsuspecting, pretty she-cats like you." She flattened her ears, relaxing a fraction, but not completely letting her guard down. He was FirClan, but he appeared to be alone. She vaguely recognized him. White fur, green eyes, a flash of white standing next to an arrogant leader. It had been moons ago, so long she barely remembered him.
"Stormpaw," she blurted out. He stared at her, vaguely surprised. "That's your name."
"Ah, so you do remember me. I didn't think you would," he said with a laugh. She still glared at him. She should've walked off by now, Yellowpaw was certainly going to beat her now. But this was his border. She would make sure he didn't cross it. "What's your name? Your mentor didn't have the kindness to tell us."
"It's none of your business," she spat, hackles raised. "You better get out of here before Wolfleap gets back—"
"I'm not on your territory," he countered, indicating with a tilt of his head to the distinct scent line between them. She flattened her ears. This conversation had gone on long enough. "So your mentor really can't scare me away." She loathed him. At this moment, this arrogance, she loathed him more than anything. She just wanted him gone.
"Your Clan attacked mine. You don't deserve to be anywhere near this border. Birdstar is keeping it patrolled—"
"Then why is there only you here?" She fell silent and put as much heat into the glare as she could.
"Just go away, Stormpaw," she said, stalking along the length of the border, in the direction of her brother. Unfortunately, he stood up and followed her, on his side of the border. "I'm sure Shadestar has some poor squirrel he needs you to trap and then recall all his greatest stories to."
"I'm so very hurt," Stormpaw said, letting out a dramatic sigh. She continued walking along, ignoring him and checking scent markers. Despite Stormpaw being there, the FirClan scent remained on his side of the border and did not venture over except in smell.
"Get lost, Stormpaw! I'm not going to be friends!" She spun on him, causing him to stumble a step as he paused to face her. "We are enemies. I'm sorry you're so lonely you're bothering other apprentices at the border, but you have Antclaw now! He's off rolling around with your squirrels. So go away!" He tilted his head to the side, ears pricked.
"Antclaw? What do you mean?" He inquired, bemused. "He's not—"
"Breezepaw!" Her head snapped in the direction of her brother's voice. He had beaten her to halfway point and walked the rest of the way to her, not bothering to wait. "What is he doing here!" She rolled her eyes at the accusation in his tone, as if she had continued to permit his presence.
"He won't leave me alone! He's been pestering me," she growled with a glare at the other apprentice, "and caused me to lose."
"Lose?" Stormpaw cut in. "What game were you playing? Aren't you both too old to be playing kit games—"
"No one asked you," Yellowpaw retorted hotly. "Go run back to Shadestar and tell him that whatever animals he had you talk to say his stories were amazing. Or I dunno, do something like be an apprentice? Where is your mentor anyway?" Yellowpaw scanned the surrounding area and then pointedly looked at Stormpaw.
"Where are your mentors?" Stormpaw countered. Breezepaw let out a deep sigh, ready to tell him off, again, but Silverfur's voice from behind her stopped her.
"What are you doing without Shadestar? And alone on the border?" The silver tabby meowed coolly.. Finally, Stormpaw seemed to lose his bravado. He rose and took a step back, ears flattening.
"They were alone on the border—"
"They have each other. You're just a wayward apprentice. I don't think Shadestar will be pleased to know you can't follow orders," Silverfur returned sharply and Stormpaw scowled, but dipped his head and padded out across the pine needles and deep into FirClan territory. Breezepaw watched him pad away, anger and distrust rolling around in the pit of her belly, pushing away any good feelings she'd had previously. He'd been incessant and annoying and entirely terrible.
"Why'd you come look for us? Weren't we supposed to meet at Fallen Trees and go down BayClan border?" Yellowpaw asked. "Now it's going to take us even longer to get back to camp." Silverfur flicked his nose with a snort.
"You'll survive," she chided, conveniently forgetting to answer his question. Breezepaw and her brother both scowled at the elder warrior, but she ignored them. "Let's go."
They, of course, took the long way and followed the edge of FirClan border, strengthening their scent as they went, and then followed the rogue border that turned into the river at Fallen Trees and continued along the river as it separated BayClan from ForestClan. The river was wide, fast, and deep, Wolfleap had murmured to them. They had next to no issues with BayClan because there was no point in crossing the river to fight for territory on either side.
"We'll teach you how to fish soon," Silverfur had chimed as they paused near the Tree of Passings, far enough to pretend it wasn't there, but close enough that they knew their journey was almost over. "It'll be cold, but there is something unique about pulling a fish out of the river with your Clanmates." She had paused then, flicking her tail thoughtfully as she gazed at the river before leading the patrol back in the direction of camp.
The rest of the trek was uneventful, and they arrived at camp with an order to eat something and then rest. She and Yellowpaw padded to the fresh-kill pile. The pile was full, fuller than she'd ever seen it.
"Prey runs well when the weather starts to get better, even if it still is a little cold," Wolfleap commented as he scooped up a squirrel. "You'll start hunting big prey like this soon. And it's most successful when you do it in pairs. Catching prey larger than a young squirrel isn't easy." Breezepaw stared at the squirrel. It was larger than any of the mice and stray birds she'd managed to catch. Would she even be able to do it? She would if she had someone to help. She watched her mentor pad away and join Mousepool in the shade of the trees.
"Don't you think Wofleap and Mousepool spend a lot of time together?" She asked Yellowpaw. He wasn't really paying attention as he scanned the pile.
"I don't really care," he said distractedly. She scowled at him. Gorsepaw would've answered her. He would've whispered with her about it. The two warriors settled in the shade together, chatting and pulling apart the squirrel. Mousepool's tail draped over Wolfleap's back. "You want to split this rabbit with me?"
"Rabbit?" She turned, putting her mentor out of her mind as she turned to look at her brother. The rabbit was large compared to anything she'd hunted before.
"It's too big for me, and I don't want to waste it," he explained.
"Sure, it'll be a treat!" she said with a purr. Yellowpaw shook his head, but she could tell he was silently pleased. They picked up the rabbit together and carried it over to the shade near the apprentice den. They settled down next to each other and ate in relative silence until Gorsepaw burst through the entrance and trotted towards them.
"Hello, lesser apprentices," he called by way of greeting. Yellowpaw rolled his eyes. "Can I share?" He asked just as he took a bite of the rabbit, plopping down in front of them.
"Why, hello, yes, good afternoon," Breezepaw said, not amused, "please steal our meal."
"I will gladly," Gorsepaw purred and dragged the rabbit closer. Yellowpaw let out a gasp of protest and tugged it back. "Oh, Breezepaw," he turned to her, blue eyes bright, "have you seen Mousepool and Wolfleap together?"
"I have!" She exclaimed. She heard Yellowpaw let out a quiet 'yes, please, let's gossip like elders' before ignoring him. "They've been all over each other!"
"Well, all over each other for Wolfleap's standards," Gorsepaw corrected. She huffed and rolled her eyes.
"Do you think that they're going to have kits?" She pondered, glancing over to where the two warriors were eating. They had finished their squirrel and were lounging in the shade together, Mousepool pressed to Wolfleap's side.
"Why are you wondering? Just ask them!" Yellowpaw retorted. "Wolfleap wouldn't like you talking about him behind his back."
"Well," Breezepaw said, "it's not like he and I talk about anything other than training. He's not like that. So all I have to do is guess."
"You're terrible," Yellowpaw groaned, but he did not move. Instead, they all sat there together, as siblings, throughout the rest of the afternoon, chattering about anything remotely interesting. By the end of the day, they had drifted off together, laying against one another.
She had drifted off into sleep and fallen straight into the forest. The trees here were suffocating, blocking out any and every light from above. It was almost impossible to see what was right in front of her. She stalked along, missing the light from the stars or the moon. It was impossible to hunt in this kind of light, but she trusted her senses. The rabbit was not too far ahead of her, based on the sound of it scuffling in the undergrowth. There was no wind, but she caught the scent of it as it moved back and forth as if it had laid a trail for her.
She inhaled deeply. There. She paused, tail tip twitching. The crisp scent of FirClan, off to her left. She bit back a growl of frustration. Again. But the cat seemed to be stalking the rabbit as well, not being too loud or trying to disguise their scent from her.
It was almost as if they were hunting together.
She opened her eyes as she was jostled awake by her brothers getting to their paws. The sun had gone down, and the moon was starting to rise in the sky. The Clan was starting to gather at the entrance. All of their mentors, her leader and deputy, Dewfeather and Embercreek, three other warriors, and the elders were standing, chatting quietly. Breezepaw noted that neither of her parents were going and wilted a little bit. She'd wanted to share the experience with them. But it was okay. She was still going to a gathering with her brothers.
"Let's go!" Birdstar's voice echoed through the camp and Breezepaw leaped after them, not wanting to be left behind. Breezepaw followed behind the Clan as they trotted through the moonlit forest. She couldn't help but stare. It was as if the forest had been coated in the stars of Silverpelt itself. She could see so clearly it was like it was day. The stars twinkled down at her from between the budding leaves and she fought back the joy threatening to escape her. The forest at night never failed to amaze her. Maplekit would've enjoyed it. Her heart warmed a fraction at the thought. Now Maplekit was in a place where the stars were always shining, and the forest glittered like this often.
She must've been very happy where she was.
The Clan followed a steady path in the direction of the junction between the three Clans. Breezepaw had seen the Gathering Place from patrols before. It was a grassy clearing bordered by the river on one side and the plains of the edges of FirClan and ForestClan territory on the others. In the clearing, there was an old oak tree that stood as a beckon in the middle of the plain. They stepped out of the tree line into the grass. She took a deep breath as the large oak came into view. All different scents hit her nose. The musky, river scent of BayClan and the crisp, cedar scent of FirClan. She couldn't contain her excitement as she weaved through the Clan to come pad behind Birdstar and Badgerblaze. She could hear the chattering of cats and then her leader pushed through the grass and into the clearing.
FirClan and BayClan had already arrived, but neither of their leaders sat under the oak. The Clans, instead, were mingling. Gorsepaw nudged her side and directed her towards a group of apprentices with Yellowpaw hot on their heels. From their scent, they were BayClan. She'd never had the opportunity to meet any BayClan cats because the river made access to them difficult.
"Morningpaw!" Gorsepaw cried out as he padded forward to bump heads with a pale orange she-cat. "This is my sister," he turned to Breezepaw and Breezepaw dipped her head in greeting. Morningpaw gave her a quick glance, assessing her.
"I'm sorry your sister died," she said as way of greeting. Breezepaw blinked rapidly and shot a confused and hurt glance at her brother. Gorsepaw flattened his ears and turned a glare on the apprentice.
"Come on, Morningpaw," he warned, "that wasn't very cool."
"What?" She protested, lashing her tail, "I was offering my sympathy."
"You don't just start off with that," Gorsepaw hissed. The reminder was not kind to either of them, but it hadn't hurt as much as before.
"Fine, should I say instead, 'nice to meet you, Breezepaw—"
"Yes," Gorsepaw stressed.
"I'm sorry your—"
"That's enough," an older golden-brown tom cut in. Morningpaw scowled at him and then Gorsepaw as he swatted at her. "Don't listen to her. She has no respect for personal boundaries," the older apprentice suggested. "I'm Talonpaw. It's nice to finally see you. The few times I had the opportunity to talk to either one of your brothers, they both said good things. Apparently, you're one of the better apprentices?" She heated and glanced over at her two brothers.
"I said no such thing," Gorsepaw denied hotly, "I am a much better—"
"But you said last gathering that Breezepaw was your best friend and that she caught this really cool bird that you had missed—" Morningpaw stated insistenly. Gorsepaw flattened his ears and swatted at her muzzle to shut her up. Breezepaw blinked. She had completely forgotten about that particular hunting event. It had happened a half moon after Maplekit had died. So she had only been going through the motions.
"Anyways," Talonpaw continued, "I'm glad you could finally make it. It's nice to meet you. And it looks like our leaders have gathered under the tree. The gathering is about to start." He stood up and Breezepaw followed him and sat next to him as the Clans settled down to listen. BayClan and ForestClan had intermingled, she noticed, but FirClan sat nearby, separate but present. She scanned the warriors recognizing Ivypaw and Stormpaw. The two sat next to each other. Her eyes just happened to land on Stormpaw when he turned to face her. His eyes lit up with amusement and he tipped his head to her. She flattened her ears and scowled, turning her shoulder to him.
She returned her eyes to the three leaders in front of her. Birdstar sat in between the two dark gray leaders. She recognized Shadestar immediately, his broad shoulders and arrogance hard to miss. That left only Cinderstar, a beautiful dark gray she-cat. Her green eyes were kind compared to Shadestar's.
"I can begin," Cinderstar said, her voice light and soft, like the wind over grass. "BayClan has been doing well with the arrival of warmer winds. We can finally fish in the river without risk of sickness. Of course, the twolegs have started to appear at the far end of our territory near the river, but they have not caused a problem." Talonpaw shifted next to her, and Breezepaw glanced at him. His green eyes were slightly concerned, but he said nothing. "We have new warrior Acornwhisker," the leader called out and Breezepaw spotted the tabby tom between Dewfeather and Embercreek. "And we have a queen expecting kits. BayClan is doing well." She finished with a dip of her head to let the next leader come forward. There was tense silence as Birdstar and Shadestar looked at each other, but Shadestar flicked an ear and took a step forward.
"FirClan is also doing well. We have named new two warriors, Willowfrost and Lizardfur." Breezepaw could not see the warriors from where she was sitting, but she figured they had been at the battle just like Dewfeather and Embercreek had been. "Prey is running well, as it always does at the beginning of new leaf. We also have a queen expecting kits, which is always good for the Clans. FirClan is thriving—"
"Is it really running well, Shadestar," Birdstar drawled. The dark leader tilted his head to the side. "Because you did try to take ForestClan territory from us, just a few days before this gathering." Whispers broke out between the BayClan and ForestClan warriors at her words. "In fact, where is my traitorous, banished deputy, Shadestar? Did you not think it wise to bring him to the gathering as FirClan warrior?"
"Antclaw?" Shadestar asked, confused. "I have no idea what you're talking about. He has never been and will never be allowed sanctuary in FirClan."
"Your warrior told us that he led your battle patrol right into our territory!" Birdstar spat, raising to her paws. "He has been consorting with you! —"
"Careful, Birdstar," Shadestar warned, bristling, "you start throwing accusations like that around and StarClan will call an end to this gathering and bring darkness on your Clan." Breezepaw inhaled deeply, tense as she glanced over to FirClan. They shifted, uneasy. She saw Talonpaw glance at her out of the corner of her eye, but she ignored him.
"You threaten me, Shadestar—" Birdstar started, turning to him with a hiss. But Cinderstar took a step between them.
"I think that is enough, possibly we can discuss this separately, without the accusations thrown around and not in front of our Clanmates?" She suggested with a tilt of her head to the gathered cats. Birdstar turned away, ears flattened to her head. Shadestar drew back, sighing as if annoyed.
"Of course, Cinderstar," he conceded. "I believe it is Birdstar's turn to talk?"
"It is," the BayClan leader nodded. "Birdstar?" Breezepaw watched as Birdstar took a deep breath to calm herself and faced the Clans. She looked considerably less angry than before.
"Of course," she nodded curtly, "ForestClan is doing well. Prey is running very well, and we have had no losses. I have appointed Badgerblaze as my deputy after Antclaw betrayed us a few days ago. If he is not in FirClan, he is wandering the territories. I would not trust him. If you are harboring him," she said pointedly to Shadestar, "I would suggest against it. We have named two warriors Dewfeather and Embercreek," her chest puffed with pride and the two warriors lifted their chins, "and while we do not have any queens expecting kits, the season is still young. ForestClan is strong and will continue to be so." Effectively, this ended the gathering, but the leaders gathered down at the bottom of the oak with their deputies and their medicine cats.
"What happened with Antclaw?" Talonpaw asked. Breezepaw flicked an ear, ignoring the question. It was really none of his business, but Gorsepaw slid in next to them with Morningpaw on his heels.
"Antclaw betrayed Birdstar. He led the battle patrol to ForestClan territory, and we had to fight them. He's been acting suspicious for several moons—"
"Gorsepaw!" Breezepaw snapped. Gorsepaw glanced at her as if to say, 'what's the problem?'
"Antclaw really did all that?" Talonpaw murmured, sharing a glance with another BayClan apprentice.
"Isn't he Birdstar's brother?" Morningpaw added unhelpfully.
"Don't stand around and gossip," a large russet tom said, tone clipped. "It is does none of you any good to spread information that isn't true—"
"But Cedarfrost," Morningpaw chimed, once again, unhelpfully, "Antclaw is Birdstar's brother."
"I know that," he said stiffly, "but talking about what actually happened to him and speculation just causes trouble. Let's go, Talonpaw, Morningpaw. Hollowleg told us to gather so we could leave easier." Morningpaw opened her mouth to protest, but Talonpaw cast her a silencing glance and she stayed quiet.
"It was nice to meet you, Breezepaw," Talonpaw said with a dip of his head. "Hopefully we won't see you until the next gathering." He teased gently.
"I'm sorry about your—"
"Morningpaw!" Gorsepaw snapped. The light orange she-cat sighed loudly. "Goodbye," she said instead and followed her Clanmates. Breezepaw released a breath that released the tension in her shoulders.
"I didn't know you had such interesting friends," she commented to her brother. Gorsepaw groaned.
"I didn't realize she'd bring up…" he trailed off and then shook himself, "I didn't realize she was so straightforward."
"It's fine, Gorsepaw," Breezepaw promised, brushing up against his side as they joined Yellowpaw who had said his goodbyes to a black and white apprentice. "It was fun to meet some new apprentices. You are both so tiring," she added just as Yellowpaw joined them. He wrinkled his nose at her.
"You're the ones gossiping like elders," he said haughtily, "if anything, you're the tiring ones." Gorsepaw and Breezepaw chuckled to herself as the Clan formed around them. Wolfleap gave her a tip of his head and she beamed at him. Despite what had happened during the gathering, she felt much better.
No matter what FirClan did and no matter where Antclaw was, she had her brothers, and she had her Clan.