A/N: New Chapter! Yay! This one took me a little while because its a bit longer then most. Also, I noticed I made a mistake in the ThunderClan chapters. I got Aldershine and Nectarlight mixed up! The mix up has now been fixed. Aldershine is the one who Aspenflight saves when he first comes to the Clan. And Aldershine has Rootpaw as an apprentice. I mistakenly put that it was Nectarlight and therefore mixed up the two cats. To put it simply: Aspenflight saved Aldershine and she is the cat he has been spending a lot of time with. Nectarlight is Aldershine's sister who.. well you'll get to meet her in this chapter!
Aspenflight purred softly to himself as a small brown form launched itself at his pelt. Small paws assaulted his thick coat and they felt like nothing more then a tickle to him. Another kit landed on his belly, this time a gray tom.
Today was Aspenflight's first day of watching the clan's kits, Wolfkit and Bearkit. He understood Willowstar's reluctance in giving him the duty. Kits were the future of the clan and if anything happened to them ThunderClan would suffer.
He enjoyed kits. Back at home he'd always visit the nursery when his clannmates gave birth. He had to see the young ones who would become fearless warriors of ThunderClan. Aspenflight had always spent a long time watching each kit as they grew, taking notes on their personality and deciding on which mentor he thought would be best for them. His leader had never disagreed with him.
"We got you big, scary rogue!" Bearkit growled taking a bit of his fur in her mouth.
"Surrender now or face the wrath of our claws!" Her brother, Wolfkit, chimed in.
"Oh no!" Aspenflight gasped. "I give up! I'm no match for ThunderClan warriors!" A shadow suddenly crested in front of his gaze and he saw golden eyes looking over him.
"Having fun?" Aldershine laughed before she looked at the kits. "Run along to the medicine cat den, now. Stormpaw is going to watch you two." The young cats squealed with delight and ran off across camp.
Aspenflight rolled onto his paws. "I thought I was watching them until the Gathering," he said, confused. They still had a bit of time before they needed to leave.
"Willowstar wants to talk to the warriors before we go," the she-cat explained and then motioned towards the leader's den on the other side of camp. "Come on."
When the two cats reached the leader's den Aspenflight found that they were the last to arrive, the other warriors already sitting around Willowstar. The leader nodded to them as they entered.
"Now that we are all here we can begin," the ThunderClan leader began to speak. "This fox has been a nuscience to ThunderClan. It doesn't seem to learn its lesson because it keeps coming back. Shrewmask's patrols for it haven't turned up anything except stale scent. The fox is smart. It's been leaving our territory long enough for us to let our guard down and then it comes back when we aren't expecting it.
"Until we kill it or chase it off for good no cat may leave camp by themselves. Apprentices must remain with a warrior and Wolfkit and Bearkit are not permitted outside the camp's walls until this passes. I have already spoken to Mintflower. Should she or Stormpaw need to collect herbs they will be escorted by a warrior as well. Is that understood?"
The warriors nodded and meowed approvals. Aspenflight himself thought it was smart. This fox was looking for easy prey to pick off, not a pair of capable warriors. Even the presence of two threatening cats should be enough to deter the fox.
"Good," Willowstar said. "Now, about the Gathering. I doubt that the fox will venture anywhere near to our camp but we can't take any chances. ThunderClan's camp cannot be left undefended. Only Shrewmask, Mintflower, Aldershine, Aspenflight, Lilypaw and myself will attend the gathering."
Aspenflight couldn't help but notice Hollowfoot's brow narrow. The orange tom hadn't been expecting to get left behind from the gathering. Willowstar seemed to notice his reaction.
"Hollowfoot," she said to the warrior. "I'm leaving you in charge of the camp tonight. Make sure your clanmates remain safe. We will be back from the gathering as soon as possible." The tom nodded, his mood somewhat improved by knowing he was trusted to keep the Clan safe. "The Gathering party will leave soon." With that Willowstar flicked her tail to signal the end of the meeting and the warriors left her den.
Aspenflight wondered if he had time to grab a piece of fresh-kill before they left. He hadn't eaten since the morning. But a golden tabby she-cat stood in his way, her green eyes narrowed at him.
"Lucky you get to go to the Gathering," she seemed to snear. Aspenflight had learned that this cat was Aldershine's temperamental sister, Nectarlight.
"Willowstar wants me to experience all aspects of Clan life," the tom explained. After he had received his name he talked to the ThunderClan leader in her den. She had told him then he would be going to next Gathering so tonight's announcement hadn't been a surprise to him.
"Don't take for granted Willowstar's generosity," Nectarlight warned. "The second you step out of line she'll cast you aside."
The brown tabby tom cocked his head. "Is that what happened to you?" He asked and watched the fur on Nectarlight's pelt raise. Aspenflight was good at observing others. In the time he had been in this ThunderClan he had scarcely seen Willowstar pay a moment's attention to the tabby she-cat. It was easy to tell that something was amiss with their relationship. Besides the fact that the ThunderClan leader had appointed Hollowfoot to be in charge of the camp when Nectarlight was a more senior warrior.
Nectarlight scoffed at him and started to turn away. "Watch yourself, Aspenflight. Wouldn't want anything happening to that pretty pelt of yours."
"I'll take my chances, but thanks," he retorted back causing the she-cat to growl and stalk away. Aspenflight wasn't one to back down from a fight and that included cats who came at him for no good reason.
"What on earth did you say to her?" A voice sent a chill up Aspenflight's thick coat in surprise. It was Aldershine!
"Nothing," the warrior to her. He hated how easy it was becoming to tell a lie. "She's just mad she isn't going to the gathering." At least that part was the truth.
"Oh yeah, Nectarlight does get a little temperamental about being left out," Aldershine agreed about her sister. "I should go talk to her but-" her tail flicked as Willowstar walked out of the den behind them. It was time to go to the gathering.
ThunderClan descended into the gathering space at Fourtrees. Aspenflight was used to the feeling of adrenaline, showing up and showing the strength of your Clan. However, tonight it felt lackluster. This time's ThunderClan was just too small, never mind the fact that half of them had stayed back at camp. And seeing the rest of the Clans in the clearing Aspenflight could tell that the other Clans were tiny too.
The ThunderClan warrior's green eyes gazed the small crowed in front of him. It didn't take him long to spot out Fawnpaw sitting with the rest of the medicine cats. She smiled politely as Mintflower joined them. Aspenflight noticed Goosepaw bounce past with a gaggle of apprentices taking Lilypaw with them as they went. He didn't notice Jaggedscar and began to wonder if she hadn't been chosen to come but then he realized he didn't smell any ShadowClan scent. The clan had yet to arrive.
Aspenflight hadn't noticed Aldershine leave his side. She was now talking to a couple warriors from WindClan. He supposed he could go over there, but-
"Willowstar?" A somewhat timid voice spoke near him. He realized that the leader and Shrewmask were still behind him and a couple RiverClan warriors had approached. One of them was Dapplestream! And the other was the other warrior that had saved Mintflower from the fox. She was the one who had spoken to the ThunderClan leader.
"Yes, young one?" Willowstar purred softly.
"I want to thank you for telling Brookstar about my bravery," the she-cat said. "I'm Shallowstep now! Without you I don't think she would have seen that I was ready for my name."
"I don't know about that, Shallowstep. I think your leader may have just been waiting for the perfect opportunity," the ThunderClan leader told her. "Excuse me, I'm going to join the other leaders." She dipped her head and padded off. Shrewmask had followed after her as well to join the deputies. This left Aspenflight, Dapplestream and Shallowstep together.
"I'm Aspenflight," he introduced himself to the two cats. He found it odd considering Dapplestream already knew his name but he had to keep up the facade. "I'm sure Willowstar expressed ThunderClan's gratitude enough, but thank you for saving Mintflower and Stormpaw."
"It was our pleasure! RiverClan helps out any cat in need," Shallowstep exclaimed. "Are you new to ThunderClan? I haven't seen you at a gathering before."
"Yes," Aspenflight answered. "Willowstar accepted me into ThunderClan this last moon."
"Like Dapplestream here then!" The new warrior exclaimed. "She just joined RiverClan. It's so wonderful that all the Clans are recovering-"
A sudden yowl sounded nearly scared Aspenflight out of his pelt. He wasn't a cat to scare easily either. He even noticed the fur on Dapplestream's sleek pelt rise.
Shallowstep started laughing. "That's just ShadowClan. Owlstar seems to feel the need to do that every time his Clan arrives." Aspenflight felt his heart rate settle down as she scanned the ranks of ShadowClan cats descending into the gathering space. Sure enough, he spotted the familiar calico coat of Jaggedscar...or was it Vixenheart?
ShadowClan's leader, Owlstar, jumped up to where the other leaders were. One of them that Aspenflight didn't recognize yowled to get the cats at Fourtrees's attention. The loud meows died down leaving a clearing of cats staring up at five leaders in the full moon light.
"Another moon has come and gone," the leader that had called for attention mused. She was a golden tabby she-cat with a notch in one of her ears. "I am happy to report that WindClan is thriving. Our kits are growing and should be apprentices within moons. Beyond that, StarClan has graced us with a miracle! They delivered young Fawnpaw to us where she has been accepted as WindClan's medicine cat."
Aspenflight found Fawnpaw in the crowd and noticed her looking sheepish as the whole crowd's eyes were on her. He suddenly wondered if the other leaders would single out their new cats. If every clan realized they had a new cat join their ranks at the same time would they get suspicious?
WindClan's leader finished her speech and stepped back for a tall white tom to take her place. "Truly wonderful that StarClan has blessed your Clan, Honeystar," the leader said with no emotion. "SkyClan has no news to report." He stepped away quickly leaving Aspenflight to wonder why he was so disinterested in the first place.
"ShadowClan is growing strong," a brown tabby leader said. It was Owlstar, the ShadowClan leader who had made the terrifying call. "Our queen, Jaybreeze, is due to have her kits any day now which will bring new blood to the Clan. However, we have seen the rogue, Rune, on our territory again. Two of my clanmates chased him off. I give this warning to the other Clans that he is dangerous."
The next leader took his spot and Aspenflight recognized her as Brookstar, RiverClan's leader. He had seen her on a border patrol. "RiverClan is doing well. Prey and fish are plentiful this greenleaf, may we give thanks to StarClan for that. One of our apprentices has also earned her warrior name. Join me in welcoming Shallowstep!"
Aspenflight noticed the new RiverClan warrior next to him beaming at the praise from her leader. A purr rumbled in his throat remembering his first gathering after he had earned his name many moons ago. He had been boisterous, announcing to every cat he met he was a full-fledged warrior.
It was finally time for Willowstar to speak. The gray and white warrior stepped up and stared down at all the cats in the clearing. "Greenleaf has been prosperous for ThunderClan as well. Our territory is bountiful with prey. Although, this has brought its own trouble with it. There's a fox that has been seen multiple times on our territory. We have chased it from ThunderClan territory, for now, so I warn the other clans for it may appear in your land."
All five leaders had their chance to speak and now the gathering was over. The clans would be heading back to their respective territories. Aspenflight scanned the crowd of cats looking at each of his comrades. What if their mission was impossible? If this gathering showed anything it was that the Clans were too friendly with one another for any conflict to occur.
He caught sight of Dapplestream and Shallowstep leaving together, the former laughing at something her friend had said. The tom noticed Jaggedscar – of all cats – trailing after an apprentice from her clan, looking at her fondly.
"Don't just stand there, Aspenflight." Aldershine was suddenly in front of him. "I want to get some sleep tonight!" He couldn't help but purr and run after her. At least if they had to hang around this time for a while they had good company.