It's been a while, I appreciate the patience of everyone who actually reads this story. During the time between chapters, I have graduated college! I have a Bachelor's degree in materials science and engineering now! Which also means, I need a job! (woo….) Furthermore, thank you to those of you who have reviewed! Reviews are completely voluntary so it's really appreciated when people do because it's something people do on their own free time and I'm honored that some of you think my story is worthy of having something to say about.
Some review responses:
"unknown" (guest): Thank you! 'Beautiful' isn't a term many people use for my writing and I'm glad you're enjoying it so far.
"Maplestar33" (guest): Darn, I will have to fix that some time. See, it's typos like that, which show up when you don't have beta reader/editor. I've literally been doing this whole thing on my own (because I don't even know how to get a beta reader to begin with,) and in my haste to fix everything or put down ideas, there are typos. Moral of the story is: get a beta reader/editor, people! And thank you so much for the appreciation on the emotional aspect! Emotion is what is driving the story and I want to portray it as much as I can. And I'm glad my writing has matured over the years, lol. Creative and fictional writing can be difficult to learn when all you do is technical/non-fiction/research writing.
Also, as this has come up A LOT over the years and the schedules have changed just about as many times as it's been asked about: there is no update schedule. Since chapters are 1500 words or more (not including authors notes, debriefs, review responses) and I want the writing to at least have some sort of quality, there is no set times or dates when chapters are released. Things just update whenever they get done. Nothing anyone says will change that, sorry. So if there are long dry spells and people are anxious for the next part, sorry. It's just how it is. Feel free to do fan works or drop by my favorite stories list on my profile (sort by Warriors stories, because there are non-Warriors stories there too) to tide you over or PM me and I'll give a suggestion for you to read in the meantime.
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Dawnflight hobbled through the marshy grass, Waterstar's fluffy, pale grey tail sweeping in front of her as the leader padded by and hopped onto the Gathering Island's tree bridge. Dawnflight let out a small sigh of relief and quiet pride as she took note of her leader's determined, yet stern expression. A part of her was glad that her friend was slowly starting to recover from Mossclaw's death. Another apart of Dawnflight missed seeing the brown, mottled tom's warm green gaze and his gentle encouragement of his mate, but she knew he was watching RiverClan from StarClan. At off times during the day, Dawnflight could swear she saw the former deputy's spotted form standing next to Waterstar. But the grey warrior wasn't so sure, since the vision usually melted away after a blink of her dark, amber eyes.
The grey and white queen wobbled over to the tree bridge and placed a tentative paw onto the roots. Her belly swayed a bit and her back legs shook as she shifted her weight towards her front end. Nervous, Dawnflight took her paw off and breathed outwards when Rainpelt, newly named deputy after Mossclaw's vigil, whisked up next to the silvery queen. Rainpelt's dark grey coat made her look nearly invisible under the night and her bright, green eyes started Dawnflight for a second, causing her to take a step back. The deputy blinked at her sympathetically.
"You can go back to camp, if you want." Rainpelt offered gently, trying her hardest not to insult the heavily pregnant queen next to her.
Dawnflight shook her head and flicked her white tipped tail.
"No, I want to go to tonight's Gathering." Dawnflight mewed, determined.
Rainpelt gave Dawnflight a look.
"Okay, just remember that you can go home whenever you like. You don't have to stay all night."
Rainpelt nimbly leapt atop the roots of the tree bridge and sped across to the Gathering Island, her muscles rippling beneath her tidy, glossy grey pelt. Dawnflight snorted when the deputy was out of hearing range.
She's a fantastic warrior and all, but she doesn't have to show off all the time.
Collecting her confidence, Dawnflight placed both paws onto the roots of the tree bridge. She felt a push at the back of her haunches as she lifted her back legs onto the bridge. Purring with amusement, the silver and white queen turned around to see Blackwing's bright azure eyes staring eagerly back at her.
"I didn't need any help." Dawnflight meowed playfully. Blackwing hopped up the tree bridge beside her friend, brusher her flank to Dawnflight's. Timberclaw approached between some other RiverClan warriors not far behind Blackwing. The lanky, brown tom leapt onto the tree and padded up to Dawnflight's other flank. Dawnflight gave a mock hiss at her two companions.
"You're going to give birth any day now. You need all the help you can get." Blackwing chided. Timberclaw nodded, agreeing with her.
"We're escorting you because we care," Timberclaw meowed, "I'm surprised you were allowed to come tonight."
Dawnflight gave a huff and slowly made her way across the bridge, finally letting out the breath she didn't realize she held. Her paws made a loud "thud" as she landed on the grass next to Timberclaw and Blackwing. She nudged them away as she made her way through the already large throng of cats in the clearing between the pines.
"Go find Wolfheart and send her my regards." Dawnflight told her mate. Timberclaw nodded and licked her cheek.
"I will. I'll see you at home. Say hello to Breezepaw for me."
Dawnflight watched her mate disappear into the sea of pelts. Blackwing took a step ahead of her, concern swirling in her icy blue eyes.
"Are you sure you're not too tired or in pain?" Blackwing meowed. Dawnflight purred.
"I'm fine, Blackwing."
Blackwing blinked slowly and let out a breath.
"Alright. But come to my den when we get back." Blackwing padded off towards the base of the Great Tree. Dawnflight turned away and searched for an empty space. She sat down in a patch of grass not far from the center of the clear and lamented on how the breeze on her fur felt cooler.
Leaf fall and leaf bare aren't far away. I'd rather my kits not be born in the middle of the snowy season.
A paw prodded Dawnflight's white tipped tail, making her flinch in surprise. The scowl on the queen's face faded into a smile as she noticed a silver tabby approaching her.
"Breezepaw!" Dawnflight called to her friend. Breezepaw gave a smirk back and settled down next to her friend.
"It's Breezestorm now. I finally had my warrior ceremony!" The striped she cat said with joy. The two friends purred together.
"Congratulations!"
Breezestorm eyed over Dawnflight and let out a half chuckle.
"I thought for sure you'd have had your kits by now. Did you think of any names?"
The silvery and white queen pondered for a moment. She hadn't thought of any names. Neither had Timberclaw, for that matter. Dawnflight shrugged.
"No, Timberclaw and I haven't thought of it. I guess naming at the last minute runs in my family. After all, my parents took a whole day after I was born to even think about giving me a name. And even then, they picked the first thing that popped in their heads." Dawnflight mewed with an amused purr. Breezestorm laughed heartily, but turned and stopped when a tom sat down next to her.
"Emberheart!" the tabby she cat gasped. The cream colored warrior meowed his greetings.
"Dawnflight! Breezepaw! It's so good to see you guys. How are you, Dawnflight? I haven't seen you at a Gathering in a while." Emberheart turned his attention to his two friends, purple blue eyes shimmering happily. Breezestorm piped up first, excited.
"I got my warrior name, Emberheart. I'm Breezestorm now!"
"Congratulations!" Emberheart meowed joyfully. Dawnflight shifted her gaze around the group.
"Where's Applestem?" Dawnflight asked. Emberheart pointed his tail towards the base of the Great Tree.
"She has to sit with the medicine cats today. She'll sit with us next time," The ginger pawed tom ensured, "hey, have any of you thought about the prophecy at all?"
Breezestorm looked away for a moment, her face scrunched up as she pondered. Dawnflight quieted herself, then shook her head and admitted that she hadn't remembered to figure anything out. Emberheart flicked his tail and sighed.
"I've been thinking about it for the past half of a moon. There's a part of it that stuck out to me," Emberheart mewed, "the last part. Where it says: 'drowns in its own life.' I thought about ThunderClan and its diseased prey. The prey gives life, right? The clan was suffering from its own life giving prey!"
The group stared at Emberheart for a few heartbeats. Breezestorm grinned.
"Emberheart, you're a genius!" The silver striped she cat nearly yowled, garnering a few glares from surrounding cats. But in all her excitement, Breezestorm didn't seem to notice. Dawnflight nodded.
"That makes a lot of sense," she mewed, "ShadowClan has night hunting and battles. Falconstar ran your clan to the ground with battle and now that he's gone, their problems have stopped."
Emberheart looked out into the distance for a moment, then back his friends.
"WindClan has the moors and rabbits. So obviously they're still in the process of 'drowning.'" The ginger pawed warrior stated. Breezestorm cocked her head quizzically.
"So that's three out of the four clans. I wonder what's up with RiverClan? And Dawnflight has been involved with all of these things. I wonder if she's-"
Breezestorm's thought was cut off by shrill yowl from the branches of the Great Tree. Dawnflight sighed and turned her attention to the center of the Gathering Island.
I wish the leaders didn't have to make their addresses.
Dawnflight ran her dark amber eyes across the leaders standing tall on the limbs of the Great Tree. She noticed how Goldenstar had perched herself at the highest branch. The golden she cat earned a short glare from Torrentstar, who normally held the higher branch. But the black tabby made no move to protest, despite how much her face gave off the air that she wanted to push Goldenstar off the branch and onto the grassy ground. Dawnflight almost purred.
That's Torrentstar, I guess. Some things never change.
Waterstar stood on the branch below Goldenstar. Her long, pale grey pelt looked glossy in the moonlight and she stood tall and regal. Dawnflight remarked to herself at how much Waterstar looked like the warrior she remembered as a kit. She silently wished Waterstar would remain like that forever, but the silvery and white she cat knew that her leader would wilt into her den the moment she stepped back into RiverClan's Camp. Waterstar quietly smoldered below Goldenstar. Spiderstar stood stoically on the bottom branch. Compared to the other leaders adjacent to him, he seemed calm and stress free. Dawnstar envied him quietly.
Another yowl, this time from Torrentstar, rang across the clearing. The whole island quieted and turned their attention to the Great Tree. Torrentstar began the addresses before any of the other leaders could speak.
"ShadowClan has been doing well this moon. We have three new apprentices here with us tonight: Poppypaw, Oatpaw and Adderpaw."
"Poppypaw! Oatpaw! Adderpaw!" Cats of all the clans chanted. Torrentstar stopped her address to let the warriors below her congratulate ShadowClan's newest apprentices. After the chants died down and the clearing resumed its usual silence, Torrentstar let her meow echo through the pines.
"We also regret to inform you all that Leopardwind has passed on to StarClan."
A few warriors from all the clans bowed their heads in respect to the fallen warrior. Torrenstar lowered herself into a crouch atop her branch and let Spider take the next address. Goldenstar looked on, slightly annoyed. The golden she cat stood tall, her lanky form made her appear long and spider like. Dawnflight narrowed her eyes. Spiderstar ignored the she cat above him and parted his jaws to take his turn.
"ThunderClan is recovering nicely," Spiderstar yowled, his black pelt made him almost look invisible against the night darkened bark of the Great Tree (save for his dark green eyes), "The last few plague victims have full abolished the sickness and ThunderClan is resuming its normal duties. We also have managed to maintain our borders with strength."
Goldenstar curled her lip at Spiderstar, but the black furred ThunderClan warrior made no notice of her. In her fury, Goldenstar hissed and let out a bold accusation.
"ThunderClan is thriving because you have passed the plague onto my clan! Nearly all the rabbits on the moors are infected."
Spiderstar's eyes widened at Goldestar's remark. He scowled in response and merely snickered at the slim, golden she cat.
"The plague must have been spread by the wind. It is not ThunderClan's fault that WindClan cannot take care of itself in times of hardship."
Huffing and turning her back towards Spiderstar, Goldenstar continued her rant.
"Also, RiverClan has refused to aid Windclan, even when threatened with force."
Torrentstar let out a bellowing laugh below Goldenstar. The golden she cat continued to fume.
"You," Torrenstar began with her bright amber eyes gleaming, "you had the guts to attack a clan in their prime? While your clan was weakened by the plague? How stupid could you be, Goldenstar? And here I thought you and Waterstar were friends."
"Anything we had in the past is gone! My clan was desperate for relief from the sickness. Don't tell me you wouldn't have done the same." Goldenstar growled. Her emerald eyes blazed. Waterstar scowled at Goldenstar as she sat above Spiderstar. Hurt lined her features for a brief heartbeat before being erased by rage and frustration. Dawnflight pondered amidst the leaders' bickering.
Waterstar and Goldenstar were once friends? I'm not the only one keeping secrets in RiverClan, it seems.
Waterstar's meow jerked Dawnflight out of her wandering mind. Anger flashed across the pale grey she cat's spotted face.
"We would have given you something if you hadn't attacked us in our own camp. Your medicine cat could have asked our medicine cats for raspberry leaves peacefully."
Unable to reply with meaningful words, Goldenstar just hissed at the other clan leaders. Dawnflight blinked her eyes as a sudden darkness washed over the clearing of cats flinching at their leaders' sudden hostility towards each other. The grey and white she cat looked up towards the starry sky. She beaconed her friends towards a view of cloud cover floating over the moon. Emberheart gasped beside Dawnflight. His purple-blue eyes laced with alarm. Breezestorm fidgeted, sighed and cursing Spiderstar under her breath for his attitude towards Goldenstar. Dawnflight wanted to laugh with her friend, but found that she couldn't. The RiverClan queen was too upset at the results of the night's failed Gathering to be in a humorous mood. Dawnflight stood up and bid goodbye to her friends.
"I'd better go and find Timberclaw. The clans will be leaving in a few heartbeats anyway." Dawnflight meowed. Breezestorm nodded.
"Alright, safe travels, Dawnflight. Decide on some names for your kits." Breezestorm said as she turned and bounded off to follow Spiderstar, who leapt silently from the Great Tree. Emberheart turned away.
"Let me know if you or your kits need anything, Dawnflight. I'm only one border away."
With his last mew, Emberheart stalked off into the shadows. Dawnflight sighed and turned her attention back to the center of the clearing. Cats streamed off the Gathering Island, leaving spaces in the grass where they stood. Waterstar stood at the base of the Great Tree. The elegant grey she cat stood atop a root with Torrenstar. For the first time in what Dawnflight felt was nine lifetimes, Torrentstar looked sympathetic.
The pregnant queen flicked her ears forward, hoping to catch a few snippets of conversation between the two leaders. Much to Dawnflight's elation, her ears detected the last few hushed meows.
"If Goldenstar tries to push her luck again, know that you have an ally in ShadowClan, Waterstar." Torrenstar meowed calmly. Waterstar looked visibly relieved.
"Thank you, Torrenstar. RiverClan will never forget your kindness."
Torrenstars dipped her head.
"ShadowClan will never forget yours, for getting rid of Falconstar."
With her last word, Torrenstar leapt off the roots of the great tree and bounded through the pines. Her dark, tabby and white pelt melted into the shadows of the night between the trees. Waterstar did a graceful hop off the roots and padded out from the clearing. Calmed by the sight, Dawnflight turned and slipped away, heaving her large belly with her as she dodged the cats remaining on the Gathering Island. She quietly hissed at how quickly her energy drained from carrying kits. Settling herself down not far from the tree bridge, Dawnflight whipped her head around, scanning the shrinking sea of cat pelts for Timberclaw.
"Timberclaw!" Dawnflight yowled.
As fast as lightning, a familiar brown tabby pelt materialized next to Dawnflight. Timberclaw's emerald green eyes glittered with worry. He purred and licked his mate on the cheek.
"Are you okay? I just said goodbye to Wolfheart." Timberclaw asked, almost frantic.
Dawnflight nodded and nuzzled the tom's chest fur.
"I'm alright, I'm just tired and could use some help across the tree bridge. But, hey, I made it through the whole Gathering!"
Timberclaw purred and let out a small chuckle.
"Of course you would, Dawnflight. Wolfheart would like to meet the kits sometime after they're born, by the way." He meowed. Dawnflight let out a huff.
"One thing at a time. First, we need to think of potential names."