Chapter 4: Tall Pine
Tall Pine cut his way through the churning sea of feline forms like a fish through water. Excitement hummed inside him despite the thick tension in the air and the ever-present knot of worry in his stomach. The full moon, high in a star-splashed sky, cast silvery light on the pelts of cats who clustered in groups or wove among them. Though there was some mingling, the cats mostly stayed near their Clan in one or another of the corners of the vast plateau, each marked by a towering stone pillar.
Tall Pine skirted a group of trainees from the Clan of the Dark Caves and the Clan of the High Peaks, and paused, scanning the crowd. His last few Clanmates on the Gathering patrol were climbing the final length of the winding trail and dispersing into the crowd. Mossy Moon had been the first one up, and she now stood at the foot of a thick pillar in the center of the plateau, deep in conversation with Hawk Moon. Falling Star, Red Maple, and Whispering Rain, who clung to her instructor's side like a burr, sat with the other regents and healers nearby. Fern Dapple and Jagged Path crested the top of the trail and plunged into the throng. Jagged Path murmured something to Fern Dapple, but she sniffed and turned away.
A flash of white fur dappled with black like the shadows cast by the full moon caught Tall Pine's eye. He turned to watch as Spotted Owl wove through the cats toward the front of the crowd, following in her instructor's wake. Her eyes danced like little flames as she gazed around herself at the other Clan cats, exchanging nods and greetings. A sandy brown tom jostled her shoulder as he pushed past her. Spotted Owl paused, baring her teeth in a brief grimace. The knot of worry twisted in Tall Pine's stomach.
A whiff of a familiar scent on a chilly breeze from among the overpowering plethora of cat scents and the watery smell of the raven-black lake far below them caught his attention. Tall Pine whirled around, excitement fizzling in his chest. His eyes alighted on the gray and white pelt of his instructor, Quick Clouds. With a grin, he began to shoulder his way toward him.
"...have made me concerned. There is a lot of tension between the Clans when we need to be united," Quick Clouds was saying as Tall Pine came into earshot. His tail tip twitched as he sat with his head bent toward the gray tabby tom beside him—Wind Fur, the regent of the Clan of the Flowing Waters.
"Yes, I agree," Wind Fur said, nodding solemnly. "Gray Moon—"
The pair cut off their conversation as the black and white tom approached. Quick Clouds looked up and gave his trainee a friendly smile. "Hi, Tall Pine."
"Hey, Quick Clouds," Tall Pine said before he switched his gaze to Wind Fur. "Sorry to interrupt, but I'm wondering if Frosted Leaf is here tonight."
"Yes, she is, but I haven't seen her recently." Wind Fur twitched his whiskers. "I haven't seen her since we arrived. But I imagine that she's probably with her brother and sister. You should check the groups of trainees."
"Thank you." Tall Pine turned away with a swish of his tail and plunged back into the crowd. He wove among the cats, scanning every face and searching every corner of the plateau, but he couldn't seem to find her. Where is she?
He was so absorbed with his search that he nearly walked into another cat. He jumped back at the last heartbeat, surprise and embarrassment flooding through him until he realized who it was. "Oh, hi. S-sorry—I mean, hey, Fern Dapple."
"Hey." Fern Dapple's face lit up as she saw him. Her ears pricked, and she smiled.
"Have you seen Frosted Leaf?" Tall Pine asked, his eyes shining hopefully.
"Oh." Fern Dapple's gaze fell to her paws. Her ears pulled back. "I think I saw her over by the center pillar."
"Really?" Tall Pine's face broke into a grin. He pushed past Fern Dapple, his heart thudding in his chest. "Thank you. I'll see you later." He quickened his steps as he hurried toward the round, squat stone pillar in the center of the plateau.
"Tall Pine!" A weight crashed down on his back, flattening him to the ground. He landed with a grunt, but tucked his paws underneath himself and rolled, dislodging his attacker. A giggle sounded behind him as he leaped to his feet and spun around to meet glimmering owl-like blue eyes.
"Frosted Leaf!" Tall Pine's heart leaped like a cricket. Warmth flooded through him as the she-cat stepped forward to nuzzle his cheek. As she stepped back, he looked her up and down. Her gray and white pelt was sleek and thick like all Clan of the Flowing Waters cats, and her once-petite frame was hard-muscled and lithe. "You've grown a lot more in the last two moons since I saw you."
His fellow hunter trainee chuckled. "I suppose I have. But I'm still tiny next to you, you giant." Her head barely came to his shoulder as she circled him, shaking her head in mock astonishment. "Have you gotten even bigger?"
Tall Pine looked down at himself. "Um, I'm not sure. Maybe it just looks that way because I'm skinny from traveling."
"Oh my stars, that's right," Frosted Leaf exclaimed, her face lighting up like a firefly. "It must have been incredible to be trusted with such an important mission and to get to see the outside world. You have to tell me everything. What do twolegs look like? Are monsters really that scary? What cats did you meet? What were they like? I'm so jealous that you got to go. The last Gathering was lonely without you."
"I missed you too," Tall Pine purred, touching his nose to her ear. "It's good to see you again."
"It's good to see you too," Frosted Leaf breathed. She gazed up at him, her expression an affectionate smile and her round eyes shining like water in sunlight.
"How have you been?" Tall Pine asked softly.
"I've been okay," Frosted Leaf replied. She shrugged. "Wind Fur has kept me busy training hard in the past two moons. It's been lonely because Holly Blossom and Shadowed Fur became full members of the Clan, and the other trainees are very young. There's also a lot going on with my Clan. What about you?"
"I've mostly been on the patrol," Tall Pine said. "We only got home about a quarter moon ago. The mission was difficult, and a lot of horrible things happened to us, but also some good stuff as well. The outside world is scary but amazing. I got to meet my father."
"Oh, my stars." Frosted Leaf's eyes stretched wide. She nudged his side, knocking him off balance, so he almost fell over. "All right, come on, you have to tell me all about it now."
"Okay, okay," Tall Pine laughed as he steadied himself. "Let's find a place to sit first. The Gathering is going to start soon." He led the way through the crowd toward the back and chose a spot with clusters of Clan of the Morning Sun cats to their left and the majority of the Clan of the Flowing Waters cats to their right. He met Fern Dapple's gaze, who seemed to have been watching him. He furrowed his brow as a question, but she looked away. What was that about?
Tall Pine tore his eyes away and looked instead at Frosted Leaf, who was waiting expectantly. "So, to answer your earlier questions," he began, "yes, monsters are terrifying. Spotted Owl and I were almost flattened by one the first time we crossed a thunderpath. As for Twolegs, I think that they look a little like trees: tall and skinny. They're much noisier than trees, though, and they walk around two legs. They wear weird-smelling pelts and only have a little bit of fur on their head. We also met lots of cats on our mission, and they were all very different from one another. In our first few days of traveling, after we traveled down the mountainside and crossed that thunderpath, we found our way onto a farm where we met some farm cats…"
Frosted Leaf's eyes never left Tall Pine as he continued with the story. She listened silently, enraptured with what he had to say. Her attentiveness, support, and warm smile made the words tumble out of his mouth like an overflowing stream freed from a dam. He felt the weight on his shoulders ease as he was finally able to talk through everything that had happened to him and everything that he worried about.
"Wow," Frosted Leaf said once he had finished. "That's quite a story. So many things happened to you all. You almost died countless times."
Tall Pine twitched his ears. "I guess we did."
"But you didn't. You all were so brave. You rescued our Clanmates, stood up to the Bands, and came home with information to help us defeat them."
Tall Pine frowned as he stared at his paws. "I hope so. Although the council met a few days ago to hear the patrol's story and decide on a plan, they ended up fighting amongst themselves. But they're going to try again tonight."
"I hope so too," Frosted Leaf murmured. She touched her nose to his ear, lingering there for a heartbeat. "Gray Moon—"
"Let the Gathering begin." Hawk Moon's deep voice, like a rumble of thunder, rang out across the plateau. Conversations quieted as the cats turned their attention on the four chieftains who sat on a ledge that ringed the center of the pillar. The crowd shifted, and groups broke up as the Clan cats moved toward the central pillar like bees to their hive.
"What were you saying?" Tall Pine asked, bending his head close to hers.
Frosted Leaf shook her head. "Not now. I'll tell you later."
The black and white tom nodded and turned his attention on the chieftains as Mossy Moon leaped onto the top of the pillar to give her report. As the oldest chieftain now, she went first.
"The Clan of the Morning Sun is doing well," she began. "We welcome our Clanmates who were on the patrol home, and we are glad that they returned safely." She inclined her head in the direction of where the former patrol members from the Clan of the Morning Sun sat, including Tall Pine as well as Yellow Sky and Spotted Owl, who sat nearby. "We look forward to using the information they risked their lives to obtain to make a plan tonight to confront the threat of the Bands." She sent a glance in Gray Moon's direction. "But, in happier news, I would like to welcome two new trainees; Amber Mist, who is training as a hunter, and Whispering Rain, who will train under Red Maple to become the next healer of the Clan of the Morning Sun."
"Amber Mist! Whispering Rain!" The Clans cheered, though Tall Pine could tell it dampened by the issue hanging over all of their heads. He joined in, smiling as he remembered the night exactly four moons ago when the Clans shouted his sisters' and his names to the full moon. He snorted in amusement as he caught sight of Amber Mist bouncing up and down beside Dawn Sky while the pale gray she-cat unsuccessfully tried to get her to settle down.
Mossy Moon returned to her place on the ledge, signaling that she was done. With a swish of her tail, Grass Moon took her spot on the top. As she took a seat and wrapped her tail around her paws, Tall Pine was struck by how the moonlight highlighted the gray on her muzzle.
"The Clan of the High Peaks is well despite the recent events. We mourn the losses of Sheer Ledge, who died fighting to free our Clanmates from the Bands, and Fallen Cinder, Soft Dusk's kit, who was taken from us too soon." Grass Moon bowed her head for a long heartbeat. "But like the weathered mountain stone, we still stand strong. I am proud to announce our two new trainees, Bubbling Creek and Fluttering Wing."
The Clans cheered for the new trainees as Grass Moon jumped down, and Hawk Moon took her place. Like the other chieftains, he affirmed his Clans' strength and also brought more good news in his announcement of a new full hunter, Dapple Feather.
Gray Moon was the last to go. He bounded onto the top of the pillar, his narrowed eyes sweeping the crowd. "The Clan of the Flowing Waters is thriving," he began, his firm voice reverberating across the plateau. "The Blue River is teeming with fish, and my hunters are agile and swift enough to catch more than plenty. My fighters are strong and have been training hard. We have recovered entirely from the Bands' attacks, and we are stronger than ever with the addition of a new hunter and fighter as well as three young trainees who are already excelling in their training. Please welcome new hunter and fighter, Shadowed Fur and Holly Blossom, and new trainees, Light Feather, Patch Tail, and Stream Song."
"Shadowed Fur! Holly Blossom!" Tall Pine shouted. He glanced at Frosted Leaf, who was cheering for her Clanmates, especially her adopted siblings. Should I ask her what she thinks about what Gray Moon said? He bit his tongue. No, she didn't seem to notice.
"So," Mossy Moon said as Gray Moon returned to his place. She looked from Hawk Moon to Grass Moon to Gray Moon. "We've finished our regular reports, but I think that there is another matter we need to discuss before we end the Gathering."
Hawk Moon tilted his head. "I thought we were going to wait until the next council meeting."
"We don't have time," Grass Moon said. Her tail flicked back and forth like a blade of grass caught in a fierce wind as she sent a meaningful look in Gray Moon's direction. "The Bands could come any day now. We have to be ready."
"I agree," Mossy Moon said. She exchanged a glance with Grass Moon and gave her fellow chieftain a nod. "We've already wasted enough time. We have to make a plan to protect our Clans."
Hawk Moon dipped his head. "Very well. So now that we've taken time to rest and recover, as well as speak to our Clans, where does everyone stand on our current plan?"
Grass Moon raised her chin. "My decision remains the same. The Clan of the High Peaks will seize this opportunity to attack the Bands. We will fight, and we will win to protect our Clans and our home."
Shouts of support rose from the crowd, mainly from where the Clan of the High Peaks cats sat.
"I have discussed this at length with my Clan," Mossy Moon said after she waited for the cheers to die down. "The Clan of the Morning Sun stands with the Clan of the High Peaks. Now is the time to attack while we're strong, and we have the advantage."
Murmurs of assent rippled through the Clan of the Morning Sun cats around Tall Pine. The hunter trainee nodded along with his Clanmates. Memories from his journey flashed before his eyes. We're strong. We have the information and the advantage. A brief smile flicked across his face. We have allies. He unsheathed his claws, wishing he could drive them into the damp stone. We have to end this.
Hawk Moon was silent for a long heartbeat. At last, he nodded. "I've spoken with my Clanmates and spent a lot of time mulling over the decision. The Clan of the Dark Caves is with you both."
Together, all three chieftains turned to look at Gray Moon. The Gathering was so quiet Tall Pine could hear the thudding of his heart as if every single cat was holding their breath.
Gray Moon lifted his chin, his piercing blue eyes flashing in the moonlight. "I have also taken this past quarter moon to think and talk with my Clan—"
Tall Pine's heart lifted. With time to think, did he change his mind?
"—and it only reinforced my resolve that we should wait for the Bands to come to us. I will not lead my Clan into a slaughter."
Angry caterwauls erupted from the crowd. Cats from the Clans of the High Peaks, Dark Caves, and Morning Sun shouted their objections, while Clan of the Flowing Waters cats pushed back in support of their chieftain. In the midst of the fray, Tall Pine turned to Frosted Leaf, cold shock running through his veins.
"Your Clan won't fight with the rest of us?" He searched her gaze, begging her to say it wasn't true.
Frosted Leaf met his gaze, her eyes solemn. "That's what Gray Moon and my Clanmates think is best for our Clan."
"But what do you think?" Tall Pine whispered.
The Clan of the Flowing Waters trainee shook her head. "I'm not sure what to think. There are so many uncertainties with both decisions. It's all so frightening."
"I know it's frightening," Tall Pine said. He rose to his paws, staring into her eyes. "But you haven't seen what I saw. The Bands have large numbers, and they are strong, but we shook them when we fought back to free the prisoners. We weakened them. We have the advantage if we strike now. We are strong. We have allies who are ready to help us again. We have to be brave and take a stand."
Frosted Leaf stared at her paws. "I'm sorry, Tall Pine." She glanced up, meeting his eyes. "I want to, but my Clan disagrees. I have to follow Gray Moon's orders. He's my chieftain."
Tall Pine sighed. He opened his mouth to respond, but a call cut through the clamor like a claw through thick mud.
"Silence," Mossy Moon commanded. She swept the crowd with her calm but stern gaze, daring anyone to make another sound. "We will solve nothing if we shout over one another instead of listening to each other." She took a step back and dipped her head to Hawk Moon. "Please, continue."
The Clan of the Dark Caves chieftain nodded and turned back to Gray Moon. "I know you think our plan should be to wait and let the Bands come to us, but the rest of us believe the right choice is to attack." He leaned forward, fixing the other chieftain with his forceful gaze. "I have talked this over with my Clan, and I do not make such a crucial decision lightly. We all agreed that when we sent out the spy patrol to gather information, it was to use the information to attack the Bands. I trust the patrol when they say that our victory shook the Bands. They are weak, but we are strong. We have allies. We have the information we need. We can win, but we need your Clan to fight with us."
Gray Moon twitched his whiskers. "I agree; the Clan are stronger together. But we are also stronger in our territory. The Bands will have the advantage in theirs, and they will have had plenty of time to recover from their loss. We would be unprepared, outnumbered, and overpowered if we decided to follow this plan. I will not go along with it. There are too many uncertainties."
"There are unknowns with either plan," Grass Moon argued, narrowing her eyes. "But we all believe that we stand a better chance if we attack. We must take a stand against the Bands to protect our Clans."
"If you believe that, you all are fools," Gray Moon hissed. He began to pace back and forth on his part of the ledge. "Your plan is fish-brained. The Clan of the Flowing Waters will not take part in it. I will not lead my Clan into a massacre. I will not lose any more of my Clanmates."
Mossy Moon took a step toward him. "Gray Moon, I know you want to do what is right for your Clan. We all want to. The Clan of the Flowing Water has suffered greatly under the paws of the Bands. All of us have."
"Yes," Grass Moon murmured.
Mossy Moon flashed a glance at the other chieftain before she continued. "As a young leader, it is easy to doubt yourself and hard to make decisions that affect your Clan, especially ones as critical as this. I know you must be feeling an immense weight on your shoulders and desperation to do anything to protect your Clan. We understand. But, please, try to clear your head and reconsider. All four Clans need to work together if we want to have any hope of defeating the Bands. We need the Clan of the Flowing Waters. Please."
Gray Moon stiffened, his gray fur bristling as if it was sparking with lighting. "How dare you." A growl rumbled in his throat. "You have no right to tell me how to lead. You have no right to meddle in my Clan. I will say this for the last time; the Clan of the Flowing Waters will not partake in this fish-brained plan to attack the Bands. I will not lead my Clan into a slaughter. The rest of you are welcome to do as you wish, but the Clan of the Flowing Waters will have no part in this now—or ever. I rescind our alliance with the Clan of the Morning Sun." He glared at Mossy Moon, and then scanned the crowd, his voice as cold as the morning frost in Time of Frozen Earth. "From now on, we stand alone."
Tall Pine's eyes widened. His stomach lurched as if he was standing at the edge of a very high precipice. What in the stars has Gray Moon done?
Mossy Moon took a step forward, her mouth hanging ajar. "Gray Moon—"
The sleek gray tom ignored her. "Clan of the Flowing Waters, to me." He glanced over his shoulder at the other chieftains; his eyes narrowed into slits. "This Gathering is over."
"Gray Moon, wait," Grass Moon called as he leaped down from his perch on the pillar and vanished among the cats. The crowd shifted as the Clan of the Flowing Waters cats rose, streaming toward their leader. Everyone else sat in shocked silence.
Frosted Leaf rose as well, making Tall Pine spring to his paws. Urgency flared inside his chest. He had so much he wanted to tell her, but all he was, "you're leaving?"
Frosted Leaf met his gaze for a heartbeat, and then looked away. "Yes. I have to. I'm sorry, Tall Pine."
Tall Pine's tail drooped. "Goodbye," he whispered.
The gray and white she-cat began to walk away but froze mid-step. After a few heartbeats, she turned around again and ran back to Tall Pine, pressing her muzzle to his. A smile crept across his face.
"Tall Pine," Frosted Leaf said, her breath warm on his ear. "I missed you so much in the time we were apart, it hurt. I can't bear the thought of not seeing you again for another moon." She stepped back and gazed up at him, her blue eyes round. "Will...will you meet me at the border in three days?"
Tall Pine's mouth dropped open. What in the stars? Is she really asking me to meet her with her in secret? But—but isn't that breaking the Clan's code? A part of him demanded. No, not really. As long as we stayed on our sides of the border, we wouldn't be breaking any rules, another part answered. I can't. I can't betray my Clan, my friends, and my family like that. But...it would be nice to see her.
All of the problems and worries on his mind and everything around him faded away as he gazed into Frosted Leaf's eyes. His heart fluttered as delicate as a butterfly's wing in his chest. He opened his mouth, nervousness tingling inside him like a fragile leaf. "Yes," he replied.
WOW what a cliffhanger. I would say sorry, but I'm really not. *Wink* I guess you're going to have to stick around until the next chapter! Sorry this one took me so long to post. I spent like a week and a half struggling with writer's block. It's really not fun. So, Gray Moon has caused more drama! And Tall Pine is going to meet with Frosted Leaf! Quite a lot has happened, and there's a lot more to look forward to!
Fun Fact: Frosted Leaf was adopted by Crow Tail and Lily Pool, and she grew up alongside their kits, Shadowed Fur and Holly Blossom. Her adopted siblings care for her a lot, and would do anything for her. They wanted to hold back their hunter and fighter ceremonies until Frosted Leaf was ready, but Gray Moon gave them their full status without their permission.
- A Warrior At Heart