You people are wonderful! This probably would've have been up so soon if it wasn't for you reviewers! Give yourselves a pat on the back! This is a longer chapter! Pretty interesting...but I can't tell ya anything! Just read and find out!
"Great news!" Said Grayfoot as happily as she could to her sour, well at least two were, clanmates. "Firestar wishes you to come to the Gathering seeing as you've never attended, it's a great honor!"
"In this tribe." Hissed Taurus Blue. "But I'll go and see what makes these Gatherings so special."
"We shall all attend." Growled Leo Ginger softly.
"Good, meet the others by the camp exit when Firestar calls." The gray female sighed as she dropped her happy look. Her face was mingled with looks of confusion, defeat and almost, disgust. "You could at least try and be more enthusiastic. Firestar wouldn't choose you if he didn't think you were loyal enough."
"That doesn't mean I'll reject the ancient Stars." Taurus Blue scowled. Her tai lashed back and forth. The gray/blue cat was not in a good mood. Grayfoot paid no attention to the female's apparent anger.
"Whatever." Grayfoot sighed and stalked off. Tail whipping back and forth with anger, head low and fur slightly bristled. She was heard to mutter. "Just trying to help the mouse brained fools." Before going off to the warriors den.
"Well, this ought to be interesting." Virgo Black yawned. He'd just eaten but was perked at the sound of a gathering. "What do you reckon it'll be like?"
"Disastrous." Taurus Blue said. "Do you know that these four clans are not aloud to step within each other's border. Despite following one belief, they still fight each other."
"It's their nature." Leo Ginger said, trying to defend them, but she too was started to get agitated. "This is Thunderclan's land, no one should trespass."
"So, can't they share?" Virgo Black suggested.
"Apparently not." Said Taurus Blue dryly. Then the call from Firestar was giving, it was time to go to the gathering. The three cats looked at each other before getting up and heading over to were some of the other cats assembled while others watched them get ready to leave.
"C'mon, I'll take you to meet of the cats." Mewed Mousefur to Virgo Black. The black and white tom shrugged and blinked at Leo Ginger and Taurus Blue before heading off with Mousefur. The two Star Signed cats bristled instinctively as they heard Mousefur whisper. "Remember, Darkclaw is what you will be called here."
"Why can't we just tell everyone our true names?" Taurus Blue muttered for the hundredth time.
"These cats would kill us, no doubt." Leo Ginger sighed. She was to call herself Gingerfur. "Just for tonight. I'll introduce you if you can't do it."
"Fine." Growled Taurus Blue. She couldn't help but look interested at the sight of warriors sitting around. The cat's angled their ears toward the cats and heard that they were telling tales of battles and victories. Leo Ginger and Taurus Blue frowned at each other. No one had ever openly talked of battles and things so much.
"God, listen to them." Whispered Taurus Blue. She still had one ear angled toward the warriors. "Their barbaric and don't care, even the females are boasting."
"I know." Leo Ginger answered mournfully. This made her miss home so much. Her eyes lingered until they settled onto a handsome dark brown tom with piercing blue eyes. She stepped forward, not sure what was moving her as she went toward the muscular tom.
She gasped as he turned at looked at her. He was large, obviously powerful and had sharp blue eyes that made the queen seem even smaller. She stepped back a little, but the frightening tom did not attack, he just looked at her before saying. "Who are you?"
"I'm, um, Gingerfur, I'm new." Leo Ginger lied nervously, he didn't seem to notice at all that the ginger and white feline was lying he simply stared at her before breaking into a slight smile.
"Hawkfrost, I'm new too." The warrior said in a smooth voice. "Thunderclan?"
"How? I mean yes, yes, Thunderclan." She muttered hastily. She felt like a blabbering queen who'd just found the tom of her dreams. "Oh, and you?"
"Riverclan." He said with the smile still in place. "I was born out of the clan, you?"
"Same, my old clan was..destroyed." She said weakly. "Um, I think the leader's are ready to speak."
Hawkfrost turned from her and saw that Blackstar, the Shadowclan leader had called for silence. All noise stopped and everyone faced the rock where all leaders sat. Hawkfrost scooted back to sit next to Leo Ginger who felt a strange, comfortable prickle down her spine when the male's dark fur brushed hers ever so lightly.
"Cats of all clans! Thunderclan is well and thriving! Despite the current drought, our water supply is fine. We present seven new warriors, one could not be here on account of her kittens. Our new warriors; Redclaw, Grayfoot, Gingerfur, Darkclaw, Blueriver, Silvertail and Orangepelt." Firestar announced loud and clear. The seven cats stood slowly and then sat once Leopardstar approached.
"Riverclan is also doing well. One of our queens, Dawnflower, has given birth to another litter of kittens who, we are pleased to say, are well and healthy."
"Windclan's lands are dry." Started Tallstar, everyone could tell he would want something. "Our lands are parched from the sun and we have no water. Leopardstar, please, allow my clan to drink at the river."
"And you say the grass is completely parched? There is no where that you could travel for a drink?" Said Leopardstar testily. "None at all?"
"Yes, Leopardstar." Cried Tallstar. "A river runs through a deep, sheer-sided gorge for the whole length of our border, but it is impossible to get down there. Two of our warriors have tried and thank Starclan that they survived the almost fall. Our Elders and kits would surely die if they tried."
The golden tabby she-cat thought for a moment, flicking her tail slightly. She raised her chin and turned her eyes toward a cat that sat in the crowd. "Mistyfoot?"
"I say we should allow this." The beautiful blue eyed she-cat said loudly and clearly. "Remember the times that we have been helped by other clans. They might return the favor."
Leopardstar's eyes twinkled. She loved it when other clans were in debt to her and if Windclan was this weak that they were asking for help, she knew this would be to her advantage. She nodded and said to the Windclan leader. "You may drink from the river just below the two legged bridge. If my clan catches you anywhere else than there then we will attack and your rights to drink there will be taken away. If you even so attempt to steal prey your rights to drink there will be taken away."
"Thank you Leopardstar." Sighed Tallstar, relieved. The black and white tom relaxed and moved back to let Blackstar speak.
"Yes, there has not been rain for days, but my clan can still drink. All of our warriors are fit and today we present you with a new warrior. Talonstrike, Rowanclaw's apprentance. Also, Tallpoppy has given birth to kits." Blackstar glared around before stalking back to speak with the other leaders.
"Well that was interesting." Mewed Taurus Blue as the cats headed home to Thunderclan after the gathering. "Stupid, but interesting."
"Taurus Blue, you have got to stop that." Virgo Black padded up beside the blue/gray she-cat and Leo Ginger. "I thought it was very interesting."
"That what? They only meet in peace once a month and the rest of the time is spent fighting with each other." Growled Leo Ginger. "That leader, Tallstar was his name, he had to beg Leopardstar to just get a drink."
"It's the way of life here." Virgo Black shrugged. His eyes twinkled as he remembered something. "And I didn't see you complain when you were sitting with Hawkfrost."
"That was nothing, just mingling." Leo Ginger said quickly, speeding up a little to catch up with the rest of the tribe.
"Nah, you seemed pretty cozy to me." Grinned Virgo Black as he caught up.
"Just following your lead." Countered Leo Ginger. "After all, you and Mousefur didn't seem anything less than friendly."
"Maybe I like her, but at least she is in my clan." Virgo Black answered. "Its against their code of conduct to be mates with someone from another clan."
Leo Ginger stayed quiet as they entered the camp. All three cats went over to their den and got ready for sleep as the other clan cats spread the news of what happened at the gathering. Leo Ginger watched Redclaw and Grayfoot as they calmly sat among the other warriors and shared the news and shared tongues with the felines.
"Disgusting isn't it?" Whispered Taurus Blue as she looked at the felines.
"Yeah, revolting." Answered Leo Ginger quietly. She hadn't even really heard Taurus Blue as she looked at the clans cats. She did wonder if Taurus Blue was even looking at the same cats.They weren't so bad. She watched how they conversed and had a good time, she had seen how quickly these Thunderclan cats would help new comers and it made her forget her hate for a moment before she quickly settled down and fell asleep.
"Quick up!" Came a loud voice. All three of the felines woke with a start and glared around camp. They were surprised to see that it was all in a flurry. What was happening? Leo Ginger looked around for the cat that had woke her, but he or she had disappeared into the many cats racing around camp.
Leo Ginger raced over to Redclaw who was speaking urgently with Dustpelt when Leo Ginger hurried over. Redclaw looked at her and said urgently. "Riverclan...Mousefur and Brackenfur saw a group of them - not just a patrol - but a group about to cross the river it seemed, we're prepared for Riverclan too attack -."
No more needed to be said. Riverclan cats charged through the tunnel into camp, not hesitating as they leapt onto any cat they could. A smoky black tom and a tortoiseshell she-cat charged toward the three cats. Leo Ginger was unprepared as Blackclaw, the smoky gray tom barreled into her, knocking her off her feet. She glanced, seeing Redclaw and Dustpelt busy with the she-cat before going back to her battle.
She hissed and launched herself at him. Clawing as shehit hisflank. He used his body weight to try and force her too the ground, claws diggung into her ginger and white pelt. She twisted in his grasp her claws flying everywhere. Suddenly she felt the weight knocked off her as white blur knocked the tom off of her. She gasped as she saw the elder, Frostfur, was the one to save her. Blue eyes caught her's for a second before she darted off into the battle again.
She growled as she saw a light gray she-cat, Feathertail, and a young black and white tom. Thickpaw, trying to force themselves into the nursery. She could see Goldenflower and Orangepelt trying to fend them off, but the old queen and young mother were being overpowered by the Riverclan cats. She ran over and leaped onto Feathertail, yowling with rage.
They rolled in the dust, hissing and spitting, clawing and biting at each other. Leo Ginger felt a harsh pain as Feathertail bit her hind leg fiercely. She turned and bit Feathertail's shoulder with force, driving her sharp claws into the light gray pelt. Feathertail yowled as Leo Ginger scored her claws across her face before turning and fleeing.
Thickpaw was busy with a determined Squirrlepaw who seemed well enough to handle the tom herself. Leo Ginger turned, happy to see that some of the Riverclan cats had retreated. Her eyes narrowed on Firestar who was fighting against Leopardstar and wondered if warriors were supposed to interrupt leaders fighting. She decided to take a chance and bunched up her muscles. Bounding quickly across the clearing and maze of fighting cats she hurled herself into Leopardstar who stumbled and fell into a slight slump before jumping up.
Leo Ginger hissed at the golden spotted she cat and she felt Firestar's relieved and grateful eyes on her as she advanced. Firestar came up beside her, both cats making there way stealthily toward the wounded leader. Leopardstar did not want to admit defeat but she backed away and yowled quickly. "Riverclan retreat! Retreat!"
The golden dappled she-cat glared at the ginger and white queen and the orange tom before fleeing after her clan back to Riverclan territory. Leo Ginger sighed, dropping into a woozy sitting position. Her wounds were getting the better of her now that she was out of the fight. She looked around as cats were being tended for by Cinderpelt and Leafpaw. A mournful cry was admitted from near the elders den.
"Dappletail, Frostfur and Longtail are dead!" Called Squirrlepaw sadly from were she sat next to the dead cats bodies'. Thunderclan gathered around, going toward the elders sadly. Firestar pushed his way through the crowd, sighing mournfully. His loyal mate, Sandstorm brushed up against him and the tom contented himself as he leaned against her.
Leo Ginger saw Virgo Black and Taurus Blue staring at her from near their usual resting place. She gave them a look, as though she was about to go join then. She gazed at the Thunderclan cats again and turned, going to join their group. Soon Virgo Black had gotten up and followed Leo Ginger, Taurus Blue was the only one who remained defiant away from the clan cats, but Leo Ginger didn't really care.
Littleclaw - I can't tell you how to write things. It comes from your heart, you have to have an idea and an inspiration to write or else it will be shallow and meaningless. My inspiration comes from my love of warriors and my reviewers.