Chapter 8

"Remember, don't go causing problems," Silentstorm reminded our apprentices as we approached Tall Tree. "This is your first Gathering and we certain don't need you going and making us look bad."

"If anything'll make us look bad, it'll be the kittypet," Meadowpaw muttered.

"Better than if that kit-killer was here," Darkpaw whispered back.

I chose to ignore them, knowing there was no silencing their remarks. It's not like the words of two mouse-brained apprentices meant anything. Though some of the other cats saying it did have importance. I sighed, deciding to better my time finding a friend in the crowd of gathered cats. I caught a bit of gossip while walking past.

"Imagine going a breaking the medicine cat code for a cheating fox-heart!"

"I feel sorry for the other tom though. Poor thing got taken advantage of."

Judging by the scent they were a SnowClan and RainClan cat. Which one of their medicine cats ended up in some love drama? It's not my business. Besides, everyone knows you can never trust gossip.

"Hey Silkshade!" Snakeheart greeted.

"Hi!" I responded.

"Those your apprentices?" she asked.

"Unfortunately," Darkpaw grumbled.

"They are," Silentstorm sighed.

"Me and Murderscar got apprentices too! This is Mosspaw, my apprentice," Snakeheart told us. "And this is Brightpaw, Murderscar's apprentice."

"Oh! Those were two of the kits that were born while I was kidnapped, weren't they?" I asked. "That feels like forever ago."

"Thank goodness it was moons ago. Lightstar was an utter dung-face," she said. "Anyway, who are these two?"

"I'm Meadowpaw and this is Darkpaw," Meadowpaw answered. "We're the daughters of the NightClan deputy."

"And future leader," Darkpaw added.

"Why don't you four get to know each other?" Snakeheart suggested. She then whispered to me, "Those two seem like nightmares, I'm so sorry."

I sighed. "They are, but Flurrytail's the real problem. After all, she is the deputy now."

"For your own as well as the Clans' sake, I hope she doesn't become leader."

"Are you two sure this is a conversation to be having in front of Murderscar?" Silentstorm asked.

"Since when did Murderscar get here?" I asked.

"She's been here the whole time," Silentstorm responded.

"She really has," Snakeheart agreed.

"If it makes it any better, I always make sure to hide my scent well so I don't get followed," Murderscar stated.

"Who would be following you?" Silentstorm asked.

"I have a lot of enemies. Surely you'd know about enemies," Murderscar responded. "After all, you were just talking about one."

"Since when do you have a lot of enemies?" Snakeheart asked.

"I'm a literal murderer, Snakeheart," Murderscar responded. "You don't know my life."

"Silkshade? You got a second?"

I turned to face another cat. "Moonblossom, right?" I asked.

"Yeah," she responded. "Look, I just want some confirmation about something because right now I'm a little mad and if I get the answer I expect, I'll be even madder."

"Okay," I said.

"So have you heard the rumor going around?" she asked.

"Vaguely," I answered.

"Do you even know who it's about?" she asked.

"Well, some medicine cat, a supposed cheater, and some tom."

"This gist is there's this she-cat who's secretly mating with two toms, one of which being a medicine cat, without either's knowledge of the other, so cheating. Supposedly the one tom is getting taken advantage of due to his recent loss of a mate." Recent loss of mate? Oh no.

"And why are you asking me to confirm or deny?"

"Because two of the cats aren't here, including the one I know, and I really don't want to disturb the medicine cats. So since you'd probably at least have a clue, I thought I'd ask you. And I really doubt it's true, she just seems to have a couple close friends who are toms. Cats can't assume a she-cat and tom who are friends are immediately in a relationship."

"You still haven't told me who the cats are." I had my suspicions, but I really hoped otherwise.

"You seriously haven't put it together? Because I really don't want to put those names into the scenario, I already feel almost bad for asking, but would rather fact check."

"I'm really sorry, I'm lost. I really don't know any she-cats who someone could even think that about."

"Obviously you do." Moonblossom sighed. "A she-cat who has two close friends that are toms, one of which is a medicine cat."

"Okay, so maybe I have an idea, but I really hope you're not talking about who I think you're talking about. Are the toms brothers?"

"Yeah. So is it false then?"

"Completely. Tallblaze and Deathfire are basically littermates in all ways except blood. There is no way they'd be in that sort of relationship. Plus there's no way Boulderfang would move on that fast after losing Songheart, he loved her a lot. Not to mention Deathfire is a mouse-brained mess undeniably with good intentions, not a seductive fox-heart."

"I doubted it, but why would someone say something like that?"

"Deathfire has her share of enemies." I sighed. Why always her anymore?

"True. I'll leave you alone now," she told me.

"Yeah, I need to talk to Tallblaze anyway. I'll see you around!" I walked off the find the medicine cats. I quickly located them.

"Hi Silkshade!" Violetnose exclaimed.

"Hey," I responded.

"What're you doing over here?" Tallblaze asked.

"I need to talk to you for a moment," I told him.

"Okay," he agreed. We walked a little away from everyone. "What do ya need?"

"Have you heard the rumor going around?"

"No, I haven't." He paused for a moment. "Wait, is it about Shorty?"

"Don't worry, it has nothing to do with any of her, er, sleeping problems. It's not even anything remotely true or at least I don't think so as it would be so out of character for her. But, um, it doesn't just involve her as the rumor itself is that she's mating with a couple toms secretly and cheating on them both."

"What toms would they even be talking about?" he asked. I laughed nervously. "Wait a minute, they're talking about me and Boulderfang, aren't they?" I nodded slowly. "For StarClan's sake, what is wrong with some of the mouse-brains in these Clans? I mean, I guess I did notice a couple odd glances toward me, but this? Fox-dung, just let toms and she-cats be friends. Fox-dung, just let Shorty live her life without thing after thing thrown at her!"

"Maybe we can ask Wingstar to sort this out a bit."

He snorted. "No way she'd actually do anything. After all, it's about Shorty. Besides, it's not like anyone can do anything but talk."

"Deathfire's got so much going on already. Even the littlest thing could push her over the edge."

"I know. All we can do is trust Shorty is strong enough."

It's just a bunch of boring mouse-brains telling tales. I shouldn't let it bother me that much. After all, it's best to ignore rumors.

The Gathering passed boringly after that. Nothing was really happening in any of the Clans, or at least that they let on. We went back to camp. When we reached camp, there was one question. Where was Boulderfang? He had been on guard.

"This isn't like Boulderfang," Tallblaze said. "He takes his role as a warrior seriously."

The two of us rushed to the nursery. "She— she isn't here," I murmured.

Author's Note: Welp, enjoy the cliffhanger! Also rumors? What is this, high school? I guess Flurrytail really is the classic blonde cheerleader mean girl. Does that mean Wingstar is the awful principal that literally does nothing to benefit the students unless they're the sports kids and then would cover up a murder for them? Yeah, sounds about right. SunClan would probably be the thespians and I have no evidence for this, but I'm right. Man, this reminds me of all the warrior high AUs that I definitely didn't read. Anyway, review if you'd like, I appreciate every one. They make my week. But like, no pressure. Anyway, see y'all next week!

-Rowan W.