Hawkpaw slowed to a stop. Heronpaw turned to face his brother. The tabby apprentice was staring into the mid-distance. His gray eyes were screwed up in concentration, hiding a mind that was working furiously to make sense of what he had just heard.
Heronpaw glanced past his shoulder and watched as the trailing end of the gathering patrol disappeared over a rise. The full moon lit the forest in its pale light. It was almost like a dream.
Despite Hawkpaw's silence, Heronpaw couldn't help but feel an immense, all-consuming feeling of relief. The secrets he had been keeping for the past moon were finally freed into the winter air. They danced there like birds tasting the sky for the first time. Heronpaw's heart soared among them.
He had told Hawkpaw everything. Hawkpaw had listened silently for the most part, only interrupting for the occasional question. The explanation had taken most of the trip to the lake. The rest of the Clan would be there by now, but Heronpaw was hesitant to rush his confidant.
Hawkpaw's silence stretched out for several more heartbeats. Heronpaw's relief fluttered away with the chilly night breeze. New anxiety alighted on the empty perch within him. What would Hawkpaw say? What if Heronpaw had been wrong to trust him?
Hawkpaw blinked a few times. Heronpaw held his breath as Hawkpaw's gaze found his face.
"What do we do?"
Heronpaw's legs wavered beneath him. "We wait. And we watch."
Hawkpaw's eyes were serious. He nodded.
Heronpaw gestured with his tail that they should keep moving. Together they set out in silence.
"This explains so much." Hawkpaw said as they crested the last hill.
"Meaning?" Heronpaw ducked under a low hanging branch.
"Meaning you've been acting so strange lately." Hawkpaw snorted. "You can't pretend that you were subtle."
Heronpaw grunted. "I'm not the only one who isn't subtle."
Hawkpaw's face grew stony again. "Crowfrost."
The mention of the third brother sent Heronpaw's blood running cold in his veins.
"He was really angry that you disappeared." Hawkpaw paused to tug a burr from his shoulder fur. "I thought he would come around when you came home but after what I saw just now…" he trailed off.
"He's different." Heronpaw said quietly. There was silence between them as they hopped down the steep forest ledge that gave way to pebbly shore. The Great Rocks loomed in the near distance. Shadowy shapes flitted about on the shore ahead.
Now that he had confirmation that others had noticed the change in Crowfrost, Heronpaw's fears that his brother had been taken by the unknown darkness only intensified.
As they drew nearer to the great body of cats Hawkpaw slowed his stride again. "Could Snowfall's warning be about tonight?"
"Snowbreeze." Heronpaw corrected slowly as he considered Hawkpaw's words. He hadn't considered that. The night of a gathering was a time of peace for the Clans. The truce had to be obeyed. WillowClan's actions during the last full-moon made Heronpaw unsure of the truth of that anymore.
The brothers fell silent as they approached the gathered cats. Kestrelfeather caught sight of them and waved his tail. "There you are. We were just about to send someone to look for you."
"Thorn." Heronpaw replied. He lifted his right forepaw and gave it a shake.
Kestrelfeather nodded and turned back to a group of warriors. Heronpaw recognized only CedarClan and PineClan cats. The other Clans must not be here yet.
As he scanned the heads of the warriors in Kestrelfeather's group Heronpaw's gaze met a familiar pair of yellow eyes. His stomach lurched as if he had fallen from an unexpected height. It was Longshadow; one of the PineClan warriors who had caught him trespassing over a quarter-moon ago.
The warrior's eyes narrowed but he didn't say anything. Heronpaw wondered if the patrol had ever reported him to Griffonstar. How would they explain the unearthly sound that Snowbreeze had made to facilitate his escape? He shook his head. He couldn't worry about that now. Another scolding from Blizzardstar was the least of his worries.
Heronpaw ducked his head and wove his way between groups of chatting cats. Hawkpaw veered away, saying something about meeting Morningpaw. Heronpaw waved his brother off with his tail. There was something Heronpaw needed to do.
He made his way to the far side of the inlet and sat on the cold stones. From here he would be able to see AlderClan approach.
He had no proof, other than a feeling in his gut, that he would see Petalpaw tonight. As good as it was that he finally had another ally within the Clan, Heronpaw found himself longing for her wisdom and companionship. There was so much to tell her. So much to say. He shifted his paws on the pebbles impatiently.
He didn't have to wait long before a shadowy blob emerged from behind a curve in PineClan's shore-line. Heronpaw's heart leapt.
As it drew closer the blob separated out into individual shapes of cats. He could make out Eaglestar's proud silhouette at the head of the patrol. Riverwhisper's slim figure flanked him on one side. On the other side Heronpaw could make out two shapes. One was shorter than the other and walked with a graceful stride.
Heronpaw jumped to his paws. Within a few heartbeats the AlderClan delegation had drawn near enough for the light of the moon to illuminate individual pelts. Heronpaw's breath caught as Petalpaw's white chest and face framed by swirling tabby patterns were lit up by the soft glow.
She was talking to the AlderClan medicine cat, Finchfoot, with an easy familiarity. She looked quite at home among the rival Clan's members. A young warrior bounded up beside her and said something into her ear that made her nudge him playfully.
Heronpaw's heart sank. She looked so carefree.
"Petalpaw!"
A cry from behind Heronpaw made Petalpaw look around. Her green eyes grew wide and her pace quickened. A multicolored pelt flashed by where Heronpaw sat.
Morningpaw met her sister mid-stride. They collided a few tail-lengths in front of the AlderClan patrol. The mountain-dwelling cats overtook the reunited sisters. Many looked pleased as they passed. Finchfoot just rolled his eyes and left his temporary apprentice behind.
Heronpaw tried to quell the feeling of disappointment that had risen in his chest. Of course, Morningpaw should be the first to see Petalpaw. Heronpaw wasn't even in the top five cats that Petalpaw deserved to see first. His fantasy of their eyes meeting from across the shore melted away as hot shame burned at his ears.
Heronpaw hardly noticed as Hawkpaw padded up and took a seat beside his brother. They watched as Sweetsorrel pushed through the crowd of dispersing AlderClan warriors to get to her daughters. Even the largest warriors shied away from the queen's fiery determination.
The she-cats managed to make their way over to the gathering inlet in between licks and nuzzles. Plumleaf and Finchfoot stood waiting for them at the foot of the Great Rocks. Petalpaw's ears and tail drooped as she caught sight of her mentor.
Sweetsorrel stalked up to the medicine cat. A mother's challenge evident in her stiff posture. Plumleaf said something Heronpaw could not hear. Sweetsorrel's bravado diminished and she moved aside.
Morningpaw would not leave her sister's side so easily. She stood at Petalpaw's flank and did not move.
Heronpaw wished he could have calmed Petalpaw's nerves as she approached her mentor. He wanted to tell her what he knew; Plumleaf was not angry. The Clan was healthy. It was not meant to be, however, and Petalpaw bowed her head to her superior with flattened ears and a tucked in tail.
Heronpaw watched as Finchfoot and Plumleaf exchanged a few words. The AlderClan medicine cat moved away with a nod. Plumleaf turned her fierce gaze onto Morningpaw. To the apprentice's credit she held her ground for far longer than Heronpaw had ever seen any cat get away with. Eventually she too was thwarted and, with one last comforting lick to the top of her sister's head, she padded away.
"I think I love her." Hawkpaw blurted out.
Heronpaw blinked and wrenched his gaze off of Petalpaw. "What?"
Hawkpaw was getting to his feet as Morningpaw drew closer to them. She kept shooting worried looks over her shoulder.
"Morningpaw." Hawkpaw said, his voice shaking slightly. "I love her."
Heronpaw didn't know what to say. "Good?" He managed.
Hawkpaw tore his eyes away from the approaching calico. Their gray depths shone with a calm determination. "We're going to protect her. We're going to protect them all."
Heronpaw shook away his surprise and nodded firmly.
Hawkpaw nodded back then walked forward to meet Morningpaw. He touched her forehead with his muzzle in the softest gesture Heronpaw had ever seen come from the tabby. The two apprentices moved away. Hawkpaw muttering into Morningpaw's ear all the while.
Heronpaw watched them go. A warmth he did not expect flooded through him. He was happy for his brother.
Please, StarClan. Let him come out of this okay. He deserves it the most. Heronpaw thought to himself.
After Hawkpaw and Morningpaw had disappeared into the crowd, Heronpaw looked back to where Plumleaf and Petalpaw sat. He was surprised to see Petalpaw sitting there alone. Her happy posture was back and she was scanning the gathered cats with hopeful eyes.
Heronpaw stood up and raised his tail.
Their eyes met.
Petalpaw jumped to her feet and headed straight to him. She arrived in mere heartbeats. Her herb-laden scent carried the freshness of mountain air and the stony fragrance of AlderClan, but underneath was the warm perfume Heronpaw smelled in his dreams.
"You did it." Petalpaw said. Her green eyes searched his face. "You saved them."
Heronpaw shook his head. "Dawnheart found the catmint."
Petalpaw narrowed her eyes and huffed loudly. "Don't give me that. Your help was just as important as his."
Heronpaw purred. "Does that mean you'll accept all the praise and thanks from the Clan when we get home?"
Petalpaw faked a scowl. "I'd rather leave that to you."
Heronpaw's light heartedness faded slightly. "I'm sorry." He said in a lower voice.
Petalpaw tilted her head. "For what?"
"For what I said before I left."
Petalpaw shook her head. "Don't be. You were just trying to help the Clan."
Heronpaw swallowed his guilt. That wasn't entirely true. He had wanted Petalpaw to leave an injured apprentice to die so that he wouldn't have to go home without her.
"How is he?" He said. He cringed as the image of the apprentice's horrific belly wound came to mind. He had no idea how any cat could survive such a terrible injury.
"Hornedpaw?" Petalpaw's face fell a little. "He could be better. His wound has barely closed and he's going to be nest-bound for moons."
"He lived?" Heronpaw couldn't keep the shock out of his voice.
Petalpaw eyed him. "Of course." She sniffed.
Heronpaw cocked his head and stared at her. Her confidence fled.
"I'll admit that things didn't look great when you left..."
Heronpaw snorted. "His inside was on the outside."
Petalpaw shoved him. Her touch lingered on his flank as she pressed into him. The moment was fleeting, but it filled Heronpaw with new strength and an admittedly pleasant tingling sensation in his belly.
Petalpaw looked past his head. "It looks like the leaders want to start. I'd better find Plumleaf." She looked up at him. Their eyes met for a heartbeat. Heronpaw had to restrain himself from asking her not to go.
"Find me after. I have a lot to tell you." He breathed instead.
She nodded and turned away. In a blink she was swallowed up by the growing crowd.
Heronpaw stood rooted to the spot for a few more heartbeats. He shook himself. He needed to find a good vantage point to watch the gathering from. He studied the tree-line behind him. If he lay at the foot of the drop-off among the dangling roots, would he remain unnoticed? He glanced around as casually as he could muster, but he needn't worry. All eyes were turning to the Great Rocks in anticipation for the gathering to begin.
Heronpaw slipped away from the bulk of the crowd and headed to his hiding place. He was a few tail-lengths away when a voice stopped him in his tracks.
"What are you doing?" The deep mew made his belly clench. Of all the cats to see him, why did it have to be his father?
Heronpaw turned to face Falconstorm. The warrior was standing halfway between Heronpaw and the rest of the Clan cats. His tail was swishing and his eyes were narrowed in suspicion.
Heronpaw's mouth went dry. His newfound ability to lie dried up in his throat as Falconstorm fixed him with a hardened look.
"I was…" Heronpaw trailed off. Looking into Falconstorm's eyes made him feel sick. "Nothing." He finished lamely.
Falconstorm didn't react. He stepped aside and gestured for Heronpaw to head back to the gathering.
Heronpaw obeyed without question. He scurried past his father and made to disappear into the crowd.
Falconstorm blocked his way. "Stay here. You'll cause a disturbance."
Heronpaw dropped to his haunches. He noticed that the gathering had already begun despite WillowClan's continued absence. Eaglestar was addressing the Clans first.
Falconstorm settled down slightly behind his son.
Heronpaw could feel the warrior's eyes on his back. He tried to ignore the feeling by focusing on what Eaglestar was saying.
"…extend our thanks to Petalpaw of CedarClan for assisting Finchfoot in Hornedpaw's recovery." The great golden tabby was saying. He dipped his large head to Blizzardstar and then to a spot at the foot of the Greatrocks where Heronpaw assumed Petalpaw was sitting with Plumleaf.
"AlderClan has three new apprentices as Larkflight and Nighthawk's kits have come of age. We also welcome a new warrior, Mothbreeze."
Heronpaw cheered for Petalpaw and the new warrior along with the other Clans, but his heart wasn't in it. Usually, Falconstorm avoided and ignored Heronpaw. He had never gone out of his way to speak to him, reprimand or not. His presence now was unnerving Heronpaw to his core.
Heronpaw's wandering thoughts made him miss the end of Eaglestar's speech. Blizzardstar was now the one at the edge of the Great Rocks. Heronpaw stiffened and made himself pay attention this time.
"Cats of all Clans," Blizzardstar began in his booming voice, "The sickness brought upon CedarClan this last moon has been banished by our talented medicine cat, Plumleaf. However, it grieves me to say that despite her expertise Beepelt was taken to StarClan."
A soft murmur of grief passed through the crowd.
Heronpaw wasn't surprised that Blizzardstar didn't mention Heronpaw, Dawnheart, or the kittypets. It would reveal Heronpaw's foray into other Clan territory and be perceived as a weakness by some of the less understanding in the crowd.
Blizzardstar let the mutters go on for a time. He turned his head slightly as if he was looking for something. He nodded once, satisfied. He turned back to the gathering and continued.
"Beepelt was not the only casualty CedarClan experienced this moon." The white tom's command of the crowd cracked as cats began turning to see what Blizzardstar had noticed. Heronpaw craned his neck over the heads of the sitting cats and saw that WillowClan had finally arrived.
Blizzardstar paused as the WillowClan cats gathered at the edge of the inlet. They stayed in a tight knot and took their seats quickly. Cougarstar launched herself up the Great Rocks in two mighty leaps. Blizzardstar nodded at her politely as she joined the other leaders. She did not acknowledge the gesture. Instead, she dropped onto her haunches and surveyed the Clans with narrowed pale green eyes.
No deputy followed her.
Blizzardstar waited for the mutters to die down before continuing.
"As I was saying, Beepelt was not the only casualty CedarClan suffered. Both Spottedfur and Blackmoth fell to WillowClan claws."
There was a moment where the gathered cats digested what was just said. A warrior was killed in battle, that was normal, but Spottedfur? Heronpaw could see the looks of comprehension dawn on Eaglestar and Griffonstar's faces. Gasps ran through the crowd as other cats began to realize as well.
Blizzardstar raised his voice over the noise. It died down as he spoke.
"Blackmoth's death was justified. She was killed in battle, a fate any true warrior would gladly meet." Blizzardstar rounded on Cougarstar. Cold fury fueled his next words. "Spottedfur was not a warrior."
Eaglestar leapt to his paws. "Is this true?" He demanded of Cougarstar.
Griffonstar said nothing, but her yellow eyes were locked on Cougarstar.
The WillowClan leader raised her head high. "She was a trespasser and prey stealer."
Blizzardstar spat. "She was an elder queen. She posed no threat to you."
"Any trespasser is a threat to my Clan." Cougarstar snarled. "She paid the penalty for her crime."
Eaglestar shook his head, incredulous. "You sanction death as a punishment for trespassing?"
"And prey stealing." Cougarstar shot back.
"She let that mouse go once she realized she had crossed the border." Blizzardstar's voice was low and dangerous.
"Why wait for a full moon before exposing me?" Cougarstar changed the subject with a toss of her brown head. "Clearly you are using her death as a piece to play in your game."
"I came to the border that night. Your warriors refused me." Blizzardstar hissed. "If you had taken responsibility then I would not be forced to 'expose' you now."
Cougarstar seemed to have nothing to say. She glared at Blizzardstar with a half-sneer frozen on her face.
In the momentary silence, Griffonstar spoke up.
"Might I suggest further deliberation on our part?" She curled her tail around her paws. Her narrowed eyes flicked from Blizzardstar to Cougarstar.
"What is there to discuss?" Eaglestar said. He took a step so he was between the CedarClan and WillowClan leaders. "It is a simple matter."
"Perhaps as it stands," responded Griffonstar, "but we might not know the whole story." The PineClan leader turned to Cougarstar and gave her a curt nod. "Is there anything else we should know?"
Cougarstar looked for a moment as though she might comply. The momentary reason disappeared from her face and her lips drew back in an ugly snarl.
"Why should I defend myself to you?" she spat. "You, who can't even defend her own territory from a pack of mangy rogues."
Griffonstar gaped, clearly taken aback.
Beartooth, the PineClan deputy, leapt to his paws on the rocky ledge below.
"How do you know of PineClan's business?" he demanded in a hoarse yowl.
Cougarstar ignored him and continued, rounding on Eaglestar next. "And you. You can't even drive away a single fox. It just keeps coming back, doesn't it?"
Eaglestar blinked, startled. He opened his mouth but nothing came out.
Cougarstar sneered at the golden tom and turned on her last adversary. Blizzardstar held his ground and fixed her with a withering stare. The WillowClan leader flashed her long teeth at him.
"Ah yes, the great Blizzardstar." Her words dripped with malice. "So incompetent that you had to rely on kitty-pets to save you from greencough. Tell me, how long are those three mange-pelt frog-brains staying in your camp? Or are you so impressed by their strength and skill that you're begging them to stay?"
To Heronpaw's horror, Blizzardstar actually seemed shocked by the extent of Cougarstar's knowledge. He faltered in the face of her accusation. The WillowClan leader took her opportunity and shoved her way to the edge of the leader's rock.
She gripped the edge of the gray stone with her long claws and stared down at the stunned crowd.
"Cats of all Clans. Now you see the failings of the leaders you put your trust in." Cougarstar waved her thick tail at the three leaders behind her. "How can they keep you safe if they cannot conceal their weaknesses from your enemies?"
The WillowClan leader lashed her tail. "These moons of peace have done nothing but make you soft. Would your ancestors abide trespassing? Would they stoop so low as to accept help from rival Clans and," she bared her teeth in a deadly display, "kitty-pets?"
"The Clans of old fought for their lives here. They bled and died to preserve the warrior code. Never should it be broken, challenged, or changed, lest we be guilty of pissing on their graves."
The words struck Heronpaw like a blow to the belly.
He believed that the code was never to be broken, challenged, or changed.
A chill skittered across Heronpaw's spine. He stared up at Cougarstar's face. A horrible blackness was curling out from behind her like smoke. It caressed her form with gnarled tendrils. Heronpaw froze and forced himself to blink. As quickly as the blackness had appeared it vanished.
Heronpaw felt another chill pass over him. Someone was watching him. He tore his eyes away from the WillowClan leader and scanned the crowd in front of him. Every head was turned towards Cougarstar. Every eye was on her.
All but those two.
Two poisonous green eyes stared at him from the face of a silver she-cat several tree-lengths away. Heronpaw felt his entire body seize up. The sensation was horribly familiar.
Buzzing filled Heronpaw's ears, drowning out every sound other than his own heartbeat. A terrible nausea overcame him as he was drawn deeper into her gaze. He couldn't move, couldn't breathe. Panic hovered at the back of his mind like a dully humming hornet.
The she-cat held him hostage with her stare until Heronpaw's chest ached from lack of air. With a subtle sneer the silver cat turned away and was gone.
Heronpaw gasped and sucked in a fresh breath of air. He buckled forward and hacked out several painful coughs. The cats around him barely reacted. Heronpaw looked up at the Great Rocks through watering eyes.
Cougarstar was still standing there. She glared a challenge at the other leaders. "Some of us are guilty already."
Confused, Heronpaw wondered how long he had been bound by the silver cat. It had felt like hours, but the evidence suggested that it had been only heartbeats.
"I am ready to lead WillowClan into a new era of strength and prosperity." Cougarstar addressed the gathering as a whole again. "Obedience to the warrior code is the only way we can truly live as warriors. If any of you feel that your leader is denying you your StarClan-gifted right to live as the warrior code commands, I extend an invitation to you now. Come to WillowClan. We will show you what it is to not only survive, but to thrive."
The crowd was shocked out of its silence.
Warriors everywhere were leaping to their feet and yowling. No one cat could be heard over the explosion of noise. Heronpaw found that he couldn't take his eyes off of Cougarstar.
Heronpaw felt movement behind him and turned to see Falconstorm getting to his paws. The warrior lifted his head.
"Enough!" He roared.
The effect was like a pebble dropped in water. The cats closest to Falconstorm fell silent first. The reaction spread in waves until the shore was quiet once more.
Heronpaw stared at his father in awe.
Cougarstar fixed her eyes on the CedarClan warrior.
Falconstorm met her gaze. A raging storm could have ripped the trees up by their roots and carried the lake away and the two cats would still be standing strong.
"What kind of cat would let those in need die due to pride?" Falconstorm called. His voice carried no anger or mockery. "What kind of warrior would abandon their Clan to join another?"
Cougarstar's sneer returned. Before she could respond, however, a new, lilting voice rang out.
"I'm so glad you asked."
Every head turned to look as a slim black and gray tom padded forward from the middle of the WillowClan cats. He wasted no time in leaping up the Great Rocks to stand next to Cougarstar. The tom turned and swept the crowd with uninterested yellow eyes.
Heronpaw's mouth went dry.
Falconstorm froze beside him.
The newcomer found Falconstorm and narrowed his eyes.
"Why would any cat leave his Clan, brother?"