"Are you ready?"
"If we wait any longer, I'm gonna vibrate right out of my fur."
Graypaw laughed, nudging him, "I can see that- you're dancing like there's bees in your pelt."
"It's just been a while since we've been to a Gathering," Firepaw said excitedly. "Plus, this is the first Gathering since we've lost WindClan."
"Make sure to pay attention to everything," Ravenpaw said firmly. "We want to ensure that we can tell Sandpaw and Dustpaw everything."
"It's a good thing Sandpaw isn't allowed to go," Graypaw said. "She looked like she was imagining clawing that RiverClan apprentice again."
Firepaw shuddered remembering the look on Sandpaw's face when Dustpaw had reminded her of why she wasn't allowed to go and silently agreed with Graypaw. Her eyes had been narrowed and the score marks in the ground made him grateful that was't Rushpaw.
He registered Bluestar's voice as the Gathering sprint started once more. This time, instead of running near the center, he pushed himself a little harder until he was in the front line. He paced himself and used the breathing strategies Bluestar taught him and kept stride with her. Everytime she leapt over a log, he slipped under it ensuring that he never outpaced her while still keeping up.
The run seemed shorter he remembered it being- before he knew it, they were on the ridge looking down at Fourtrees. The clearing was already milling with cats and he spotted a race being set up. He opened his mouth, tasting the air with a frown. No WindClan. It was all but confirmed but some part of him was still hoping, He wondered if Tumblepaw was alright- if Tallstar had managed to find somewhere safe outside of the clans for WindClan.
"Remember," Bluestar announced to her clan. "This will be an important Gathering. Stay polite but be on your guard- we have no idea what ShadowClan will be like and with WindClan gone, we stand alone."
She paused to ensure that her words had reached them. When she saw their determined expressions Bluestar smiled and led them into the clearing. Firepaw leapt onto the ridge side, sliding down and bounding from the bottom with only a miniscule stumble.
"That was cool," said Ravenpaw.
Firepaw nearly leapt out of his pelt.
"Where'd you come from?" Firepaw demanded.
"Graypaw and I were right behind you," Ravenpaw chuckled. "You were just in your own world."
Firepaw rolled his eyes scanning the clearing. After a moment, he looked at the Great Rock- then his jaw dropped.
"Guys," he said slowly. "That's Brokentail."
"What?" said Graypaw and followed his gaze. "The Souls?! Brokentail is the leader of ShadowClan? Then why are they trespassing!"
"Hush," came a voice from behind them.
Whitestorm slunk up to them, glaring in Brokentail's direction.
"Gather information from the ShadowClan warriors but don't share our knowledge of WindClan- don't start any fights."
"We won't," Firepaw said stiffly. "Right?"
They nodded as the older warriors slunk off. The energy was completely different from the first Gathering he'd attended. He'd been expecting more tension between ThunderClan and RiverClan but the ShadowClan warriors were the real problem. Most of them had cartoned themselves off from the other warriors. Their apprentices stuck their noses out, attempting to participate in a few of the games, looking nervous as they slunk away. From what Firepaw could see, ShadowClan had brought no elders with them- no queens either. He felt a twinge of disappointment and resolved to badger one of the RiverClan elders for a story.
"Hey! Firepaw right?"
He turned his head to a pretty silvery molly he recognized instantly as Silverpaw.
"Hi!" she said, looking between him and Graypaw. "Wanna race? I'm getting tired of winning against my clanmates"
"You're on!" Graypaw agreed for him.
"I'm going to find Larkwing," Ravenpaw told them. "Have fun!"
Firepaw and Graypaw followed Silverpaw over to a group of RiverClan apprentices as Ravenpaw bounded off. It took a moment of struggling before he managed to remember their names- Shadepaw and Heavypaw.
"Ah, more victims," said Heavypaw standing up. "Will your bloodlust know an end?"
"I'm sick of RiverClan blood now," Silverpaw said, smirking. "Now I will outrun a couple of ThunderClan cats."
"A ThunderClan cat," Firepaw goaded. "Maybe you can outpace Graypaw but I'll cheer you on from the finish line."
"Cocky are we?"
"Confident," Firepaw corrected as he joined the line up.
"Are you ready?" began a large cat from the side.
Firepaw crouched, narrowing his eyes with determination.
"Go!"
Firepaw shot off like a falcon. He zoned out the other cats quickly, focusing on himself and his breathing. Maybe if she'd challenged him to a race through the brush this would've been harder but after all these moons of running through the ThunderClan trees dodging logs, leaping rocks and sliding under roots, a straight race in an open area with just a few sticks was kit's play. He dodged the sticks and pressed harder. One final leap and he slid across the line drawn in the dirt rolling onto his side, panting for a moment.
He sat up grinning at Silverpaw and Graypaw a full tail length behind. It was as if he'd predicted the match as Graypaw's foot got caught on a stick and he stumbled smacking into the ground as Silverpaw crossed in second place.
"Are you okay?" he called.
"Fine!" Graypaw quickly scampered across the finish line laughing. "You're really fast for a fish in cat skin."
Silverpaw shoved him, "Ha ha. What was that Firepaw? One minute you were next to us, the next you'd already finished the race!"
"We have to do sprints in ThunderClan," said Firepaw with a grimace as he sat down. "Rush through the forest from one side to the other with as little stumbling as possible."
"Sometimes he has to do one right after dawn patrol," Graypaw chimed in.
"That sounds awful."
"It's exhausting but really fun. No cat from anywhere but WindClan is going to outpace me!"
"Where is WindClan?" Silverpaw asked aloud. "ThunderClan came a bit late today but we still haven't seen even a whisker of those rabbit chasers."
"Neither have we," said Firepaw. "Maybe they're just really late and they'll come for the reporting part of the Gathering."
"That's never happened before…"
"All we can do is wait."
"True- well, I'm going to speak to my mentor- may The Souls guide your path Firepaw."
"May The Souls guide your path."
He watched Silverpaw meet with Heavypaw and Shadepaw and began padding away and Graypaw nudged him.
"Let's see if we can find Ravenpaw," he suggested.
Firepaw nodded his assent and they pulled away from the race spot. First they checked with Larkwing ("Sorry, Ravenpaw wandered off a bit ago") then they checked the Owl Tree to see if he was participating in a climbing contest. They finally found him surrounded by a few ShadowClan apprentices. His fur was bristled and his alight with delight as he waved his paws and theatrically stomped about. As Firepaw tuned in, he realized Ravenpaw was telling a story about the Sunningrocks battle.
"I looked up, barely conscious," Ravenpaw whispered. He dropped himself and reached at nothing, grasping in a blank direction. "I thought I was done for."
He rolled abruptly, pouncing and slamming his paws hard on the dirt making several apprentices flinch.
"Brushwhisker!" he snarled. "You better have a good reason for being so deep in ThunderClan territory- are you looking to have your muzzle shredded?"
Ravenpaw is a really good storyteller.
He shared a grin with Graypaw, electing to sit and listen to the story. Ravenpaw was so focused on his story, he didn't even notice, instead changing his voice to what Firepaw presumed was Brushwhisker.
"ThunderClan grows arrogant- we will regain Sunningrocks!" Ravenpaw changed his voice again. "Sunningrocks has never been for RiverClan!"
Ravenpaw stalking in front of the trembling ShadowClan apprentices, "Brushwhisker was probably going to attack but Goldenfin intervened- her ears were shredded and she was limping. Out of respect for his injured clanmate, Brushwhisker slunk off swearing he'd have his revenge- Redtail saved my life that day and Brushwhisker hasn't returned to a Gathering."
He straightened up, grinning as the apprentices broke into cheers.
"That was so cool!" a small murky brown tom said eagerly. "Redtail was so strong- I'm going to be strong like Redtail."
"Brushwhisker really left?" asked a little white apprentice.
"Yes," said Ravenpaw. "If he'd kept fighting, he risked his patrol getting found by other ThunderClan cats. So he retreated to protect his clanmate and prevent getting captured."
"Smart," the white cat mewed with a thoughtful expression. "...he shouldn't have gone in without backup."
"Redtail would've fought them all off anyway," dismissed the brown tom. "He was fighting with the fury of Bravesoul on his side!"
"He always did," Firepaw spoke up in agreement.
The group of cats turned to him in surprise having been so enthralled by Ravenpaw's story.
"You were there?!" one cat demanded eagerly.
"Not for the last part but I was part of the second wave with Ravenpaw," Firepaw purred. "I hope Rushpaw is better after I chucked her like a twig."
"I saw her try to use your collar against you," Ravenpaw laughed, turning to the ShadowClan apprentices. "He just tossed his head and it snapped open then he pummeled her."
"That comes off?" asked the white tom.
Firepaw reached up and hooked his paw under the fabric and simply tugged. The collar came undone with a small "snap!" He held it out to show them.
"Woah," said Graypaw leaning in. "I've never seen you without it. And it's not broken?"
"Nope," said Firepaw, placing it back around his neck with a soft click. "It's supposed to come out just in case some cat tries something like Rushpaw did."
"That's so cool!"
"What's your name?" Firepaw asked the white tom.
"Littlepaw," he introduced. "And that's Mudpaw and Wetpaw."
"Ah," Firepaw dismissed his question about the apprentice's age. With a name like 'Littlepaw' it only made sense he was so small. Besides, he reasoned, some kits that show promise can be warriors early- maybe that's all there was to it. He changed gears noticing Littlepaw's interest in his collar. "Wanna try it?"
"Really?" Littlepaw said, bouncing a little.
"Sure," Firepaw said, taking it back off. "It might be a bit big on you though."
Littlepaw accepted the collar and put it around his neck. He struggled to connect it for a bit so Firepaw moved closer and helped fasten it. As soon as it was on, Littlepaw sat up proudly. Firepaw was right and it was very loose around his neck- a whole other cat could probably wear it with him. But Littlepaw seemed very proud of himself all the same. He paraded about for a bit while laughing with his friends. Mudpaw abruptly shoved him.
"Hey-"
"Littlepaw take it off- I see Scorchwind."
The apprentice took on a frightened expression and quickly used the looseness of the collar to his advantage, shaking it off. Firepaw put his collar back on just as the vibrant grumpy tom stomped over.
"What are you three doing?" he hissed.
"R-ravenpaw was telling a story- about Sunningrocks," Mudpaw said boldly.
"And I suppose that means wearing a softbelly collar," Scorchwind sneered. "A ShadowClan warrior doesn't lower himself so low."
"They made you a warrior so maybe they do," Firepaw said flatly.
Scorchwind whipped around as the ShadowClan cats stared at him wide eyed in horror.
"Excuse me softbelly?"
"You're excused."
"You're lucky it's a full moon," Scorchwind hissed. "I'd claw your throat out!"
"With what?" Firepaw taunted, stepping in front of Littlepaw. "Your bad breath?"
The ShadowClan warrior flexed his claws, sinking them into the dirt glowering. He said nothing more, giving an angry snarl and stomping off back in the direction he came from towards a group of intimidating looking warriors.
"Crykitty," scoffed Firepaw. "Just came over to show off his muscles."
"Why'd you do that?" asked Littlepaw. "Won't you get in trouble? Aren't you scared he'll attack you?"
"If Firepaw got scared of everyone he sassed he'd be trembling in his coat all day in ThunderClan," Graypaw said, rolling his eyes. "Firepaw hates being talked down to about being a kingdom cat."
"It's stupid," Firepaw said. "I'm just as skilled as any other apprentice here- just cause he has a burr up his tail doesn't mean everyone else has to have a bad day."
Ravenpaw snickered at the startled looks from the ShadowClan apprentices, "Firepaw's not what you expected huh?"
"I always thought kingdom cats were… you know, scardypaws," confessed Wetpaw.
"Some of us are," Firepaw said. "But most of us aren't. Just like not all WindClan cats love rabbits, not all kingdom cats are the same."
"...that makes sense," Littlepaw said.
"As the moon is at its highest, the sky is at its clearest and it appears WindClan will not be coming, let us all sit together as if we were one clan for this moon's Gathering!"
Firepaw glanced up to see that Stormstar had made the call this moon, all of the deputies and medicine cats already together near the base.
"Well, that's the cue," Firepaw said. "Have a good night you lot."
"Goodnight Firepaw, Ravenpaw," the apprentices chorused and began trotting over to the section of ShadowClan cats.
"I'm going to sit with Larkwing," Ravenpaw informed. "He said I should get used to sitting with the other diplomats."
"Okay," said Graypaw, nuzzling him. "See you later Ravenpaw!"
They broke apart and Firepaw led Graypaw over to the right side. He wove through the ThunderClan cats finding a place beside Whitestorm to watch the leaders. Firepaw flicked his ear in vague agitation, he'd only been here for one other Gathering but he was already feeling uncomfortable starting without WindClan. Even one missing clan was making the clearing feel so… empty. The space where Tallstar was meant to sit was glaringly vacant and the leaders seemed to be looking suspiciously at each other. Despite the clear distrust, Bluestar began the opening speech.
"Many many seasons ago," began Bluestar. "On a moonlit night much like this one, a battle took place between the old founders of the clans. Kits fought their sitters, mates sank their teeth into each other's throats, littermates turned their claws on each other and blood stained this very grass as bodies littered the ground."
Stormstar continued, "Their leaders led them to this. Led to so many souls taken far sooner than they should've been. They lingered upon the battlefield, pain in their eyes watching their beloved clanmates continue to die in droves- falling like rain in newleaf."
They looked to Brokentail- or well, Brokenstar expectantly. The brown tabby stared back with a glint in his eye. The longer the silence stretched, the more the clans began to mutter their disbelief.
"He's not saying the Address," Graypaw hissed, his jaw falling open.
"What kind of leader doesn't continue the Address?" demanded Whitestorm.
Bluestar bared her teeth at Brokenstar and Stormstar drew his ears back in disgust as Bluestar picked up where Brokenstar should've spoken.
"The four leaders were exhausted and their hearts were heavy but they continued their fight, determined to make the lives lost mean something. Convinced if they didn't win, if the others didn't die, it'd all be for naught. They lunged to clash one last time when the moon's light died in the sky. It fell and between the leaders was Moonsoul, staring angrily at them. 'Do you not see the pain you've caused? The lives you've taken over them ceaseless violence?' she demanded. The leaders looked around and for the first time, the haze faded."
Stormstar finished, "'Fight no more' she commanded. Let this night, the night of the full moon be a night where grievances are put aside, where wounds will be allowed to heal, where you remember that you are all one clan. Then she gathered the spirits of the dead and placed them in the sky one by one, filling it with stars. May we all be reminded that we are just cats in StarClan."
"If we're done with that," Brokenstar said the second he was finished.
The dissent among the clans rose even more and both Bluestar and Stormstar for once seemed to be leaves of the same branch.
"If you're so eager to speak Brokenstar," Bluestar growled. "The Moonlight is yours."
"As it should be," he claimed, climbing to the tallest rock. "Cats of every clan- you've noticed by now that WindClan is gone. I am here to inform you that they will never return!"
"And how would you know that," snarled Tigerclaw, supported by murmurs from the cats around him. "You speak as if you've a direct paw in WindClan affairs."
"I know because ShadowClan is prosperous and strong," he said, speaking over the scoffs of the masses. "The Souls understand that we need more territory for our kits, for our queens- when WindClan failed to understand this, they were by our side and we pushed them out."
"What?!" demanded a riverclan warrior.
"How dare youI!" snarled Larkwing.
Though it had been suspected and assumed that ShadowClan was involved, there wasn't a world where Firepaw had thought even for a heartbeat that ShadowClan would publicly admit to it. And saying it was under the blessing of the Souls as well?!
"Blasphemy!" called Whitestorm. "The Souls would never support the driving out of a clan who is honest and just!"
"Then WindClan was not and you will share your territories or suffer the same fate," Brokenstar scoffed. He seemed to revel in the chaos, the rage and upset he caused, puffing out his chest as he continued. "RiverClan has already agreed to release a section of territory for ShadowClan's use."
RiverClan broke into outrage.
"What?" said Graypaw in disbelief. "How could Stormstar possibly-"
"It's because of Sunningrocks," Firepaw realized grimly. "With the relationship between ThunderClan and RiverClan sour at best and WindClan gone, RiverClan can't afford to antagonize ShadowClan who's willing to raid a camp."
"Good assessment," Whitestorm said with grit teeth.
Graypaw sputtered, "But their camp is surrounded by water! What could ShadowClan do with that?"
"Isn't ShadowClan territory wet too?" Firepaw asked aloud, remembering Brightflower's rare stories. "ShadowClan isn't meant for rabbit chasing so they must not be getting much from the plains."
Graypaw bristled, "So they're robbing RiverClan to make up for their mistakes."
"Bluestar by the moon, tell me you're not part of this badgerdung!"
Firepaw zeroed back in on the conversation at the enraged call from Tigerclaw. Bluestar laughed coldly, "I assure you- this is the first I've heard of this nonsense."
"Nonsense?" Brokenstar challenged. "If The Souls disagreed, they'd have seen ShadowClan lose- our success says that The Souls look down on us with favor. May ThunderClan suffer their wrath if you choose to deny such a clear blessing of the stars."
"If ShadowClan cannot make do with their own territory, that is the mismanagement of their leader," Bluestar said, flicking her ear. "And we should not have to pay simply because ShadowClan struggles to catch dying shrews."
ShadowClan snarled up at Bluestar as ThunderClan burst into cackling. Firepaw grinned himself but managed to swallow down his laughter as Graypaw fell over beside him.
"So be it," Brokenstar snarled. "May ThunderClan suffer for their ignorance."
With that, Brokenstar leapt from the rock and began stalking away. His warriors quickly scrambled to their paws, clearly not expecting their leader to leave so abruptly. Their medicine cat and diplomat went sprinting after the group. ShadowClan was gone in seconds.
"Well," said Bluestar. "I say we end this Gathering early so we may all return to our clanmates. May the Souls guide your path."
"May the Souls guide your path," repeated the clans half heartedly.
Stormstar and Bluestar climbed down from the rocks as their respective clans quickly grouped next to the exits waiting for their leaders. Firepaw couldn't wait for the rest of the clan to hear about this skunkwaste.
"You're kidding!"
ThunderClan was in an uproar. Bluestar had called a meeting the second she'd set paw back in camp. Just as he'd expected, the entire clan was practically foaming at the mouth at the idea of ceding territory to ShadowClan.
"I suspect RiverClan was strong-clawed into the agreement," Bluestar continued. "As such, ThunderClan stands alone against Brokenstar."
"You haven't agreed to any secret deals with that beetle-brained moron have you?" demanded Mousefur.
Bluestar scoffed, "As I told Tigerclaw, I've never agreed to such nonsense. All clans go through tough times and lean seasons- it is pressing on and thriving that makes us who we are."
ThunderClan yowled their agreement as Bluestar grinned an unfriendly smile.
"If ShadowClan wants our territory, they'll have to fight for every blade of grass and fallen leaf! We will not be cowed by the angry mewling of a failed leader!"
This time, Firepaw joined in on the cheer- his blood was already pumping. Let ShadowClan come- he and the others would shred them and send them running back to their dames.
"I will be making a journey to the Moonstone," Bluestar added. "I must see if Moonsoul or StarClan is willing to explain why Brokenstar was granted the title of leader- Lionheart, join me in my den. This meeting is over."
WIth that, she bounded brown from the highrock and disappeared into her den, Lionheart quickly crossing the clearing to join her.
As Firepaw began walking with Graypaw and Ravenpaw towards the apprentice's den he asked, "What's the Moonstone?"
"A tooth from Moonsoul that landed on earth and allows us to speak to StarClan and occasionally to Moonsoul themself," Ravenpaw informed. "The leaders go there to get their nine lives."
"Nine lives?" Firepaw said a hint of skepticism entering his voice.
"You have to see it for yourself," Graypaw laughed. "But yeah- leaders are given nine lives by StarClan under Moonsoul's blessing and their name changes to 'star' at the end."
"I'll wait until I see it," Firepaw conceded as they entered the apprentice's den.
Ravenpaw trotted over to Dustpaw who was laying in his nest. Instead of telling him to move, he just climbed in with his brother who jolted awake with a yawn. Dustpaw stared blankly at Ravenpaw for a moment then started licking between his ears. Firepaw felt a twang of homesickness that he pushed away, remembering doing the same for Ahasra on days when their mother was particularly smothering her.
Sandpaw sat up greeting them quietly as Firepaw climbed into his own nest, smiling when Graypaw draped his tail over him. Sandpaw prompted them about the Gathering to which Graypaw started with a play by play- he told her about the race, the speech, Brokenstar admitting to chasing out WindClan and Bluestar shutting him down.
"ShadowClan is really doomed," Sandpaw yawned. "With Brokenstar as their leader, even with RiverClan territory they're not going to get anywhere."
Dustpaw nodded, then laid back down, "If Brokenstar doesn't drive his clan into the ruins, then the Souls will strike him down themselves for saying his beetle-brained ideas were their will."
"It was a foolish statement indeed."
Firepaw rolled over to face Lionheart who'd poked his head into the apprentice's den. The older warrior chuckled at the tired faces that met him.
"Ravenpaw, Firepaw and Graypaw will be accompanying Bluestar to the Moonstone tomorrow so rest well- Sandpaw and Dustpaw will be going the next time and to the next Gathering."
Sandpaw and Dustpaw who'd initially looked disappointed at being left behind, perked up, pleased at the promise and settled back down to sleep. Lionheart gave them a nod, wished them goodnight and withdrew from the apprentice's den. Firepaw snuggled back into his nest himself. He ran over the long day's events through his mind, smiling a bit as he remembered Ravenpaw's legendary storytelling skills. He's going to be a great lecturer when he retires to the elder's den.
Firepaw blinked as something occurred to him. If Redtail saved Ravenpaw's life and was still alive at the end of the story, where did Tigerclaw come in? Was there another ambush after Brushwhisker? And Ravenpaw was conscious for that entire fight- Tigerclaw had said that Ravenpaw had passed out from his injuries. Firepaw yawned and dismissed the problem. He was probably just tired and his sleep deprived brain was forgetting some details. Firepaw finally directed himself to count ducks falling asleep at sixteen.
