The moon could be seen clearly, even through the dense tree tops. Not a cloud hung in the sky. The moon would be full. It had been a moon since Moonblaze and her brother had become a warrior.
As they walked near the lakeshore, Moonblaze smiled back at her other brother, Rowanpaw. Him and Cloudpaw would be retaking the warrior assessment tomorrow. She was certain he was going to become a warrior tomorrow. Honeypaw and Blossompaw would be taking there assessment in only a few days.
Moonblaze walked beside Maplepaw, who was going on and on about a mouse stealing her seeds in the Jay Garden.
So much had happened in the last moon. For one, the clan was grieving over Lightfur. The old queen had finally taken her last breath. Only Robinsong, out of all the elders, was coming to this gathering. No matter what, she made it a point to go to every gathering. "I may be old, but I still want to know everything that's going on." She had argued many times when Lightningstar tried to convince her to stay behind.
Just because he was clan leader, didn't mean Robinsong would listen to him. She was his mother after all. And if Moonblaze knew anything, it was that you always obey a queen.
They crossed the Windclan border and where getting closer.
Not only that, but Turtlefang was finally having kits! She wouldn't say who the father was, though. many believed it was Loudmorning. They two had always been close. Others believed it was Smokecloud, Loudmorning's brother.
Two warriors were talking about it in front of Moonblaze. It was Rabbitleg and Bluebelly.
"I think it's a rogue." Said Rabbitleg.
"Oh please." Bluebelly hissed. "Since when has Turtlefang ever wandered far enough away from camp alone to meet and mate with a rogue. That cat cares more about her fur then her clan."
"You never know."
Bluebelly rolled his hazel eyes skeptically. Rabbitleg scowled. "Fine then. Who do you think the father is?"
"I'd say Blackmoon or Sparkwhisker." Bluebelly said, his tail twitching.
Rabbitleg purred in amusment. "Blackmoon is too young for Turtlefang. And isn't Sparkwhisker that black tom from Riverclan?"
"Hey, it's Turtlefang. You never know."
Moonblaze, personally, thought that it was Smokecloud. The two would spend a lot of time talking quietly. She believed even Thornfur, the deputy, wanted them to be mates. If Smokecloud was on a patrol then so was Turtlefang. She stole a glance at the ginger deputy.
He walked side by side with Lightningstar silently, not saying a word.
"Are you listening..?" Maplepaw's voice broke through to Moonblaze. She snapped out of her thoughts and looked over at the bright colored apprentice.
"Sorry. I was just thinking about Turtlefang." Moonblaze apologized. "Can you start over please?"
Maplepaw flicked her tail, clearing irritated. But the slight jump in her step betrayed her excitement. "So, I've been talking with Rowanpaw lately, and, okay I know we are probably to young but the clan does need kits..."
Moonblaze stared at her friend ignorantly and very confused. "Not really. We have the most warriors of any clan and there are plenty of kits. Including Turtlefang's in a few moons."
"Do we even know if Turtlefang's kits are going to survive?" Maplepaw argued. "She's either going to have them in the middle or towards the end of leaf-bare. Birdclaw has been examining her. She's been carrying those kits for a while."
"Wait, seriously? How long is 'a while'?"
"They will be born in four or less moons."
Moonblaze's jaw dropped. "Dear Starclan..." Was all she could muster.
Maplepaw looked up at her with wide blue eyes. "So anyway, back what me and Rowanpaw were talking about." She began, as if the previous topic didn't matter. "We uh..." She leaned in closer, her fur brushing Moonblaze's. "We want to have kits."
Moonblaze jumped away from the apprentice in alarm, then looked back at her littermate.
Rowanpaw was walking a little ways behind them, listening intently to Redfoot's and Shrubdew's conversation. Nodding when they addressed him. Whispering a barely audible comment every so often.
"Did you talk about this with Rowanpaw?" Moonblaze questioned, still surprised. She never would have known they wanted to be mates.
The law that no medicine cat could mate had long been forgotten. Many things had changed since Firestar had walked the forest. Not much of the warrior code was still remembered. Some was deliberately forgotten because of the war. Each clan had their own warrior code now. Some laws were borrowed from the old code, while others were original.
Maplepaw nodded. "Yes. He agreed. I actually asked him about two moon ago, through. He only just got back to me on the subject a few sunrises ago when we had gone to the Jay Garden." She purred in amusement. "You should have seen his face when I asked him."
Moonblaze was off in her own little world again. She imagined her best friend and brother's kits. Moonblaze always did have a rather detailed imagination. She pictured two ginger kits running around Maplepaw's legs, chasing each other tails. "Sorry if I seem a little spaced out just...neither won of you have even been given your full names yet!" Moonblaze cried.
"You don't approve?"
"Wa-no. No, I'm fine with it. Just not so early. Can you please wait a few moons before you go off mating behind the camp."
Maplepaw smiled and began purring. "You have a point. Look, I can see the island!" Maplepaw suddenly cried as they neared the log bridge. Moonblaze sniffed the air.
"I think everyone else is already here." Maplepaw nodded in agreement as they climbed the log one by one.
After they were across, the other clan's scents were much stronger. Maplepaw immidiantly left to join the other medicine cat apprentice, Hollypaw. Moonblaze went in a different direction. She made it a ritual to meet any new apprentices. She noticed two Riverclan apprentices sitting at the edge of the clearing who she'd never seen before. Moonblaze padded up to him.
"Greetings." She said, dipping her head. When she lifted it again, she noticed the apprentices had a look of fear and confusion in their eyes. Oh, right. I'm a warrior now. And these two are, like, six moons younger then me at least.
She awkwardly continued. "My name is Moonblaze. You two look young. Are you new apprentices?"
The calico tom was the first to speak up. "Yes. My name is Otterpaw. And this is Onepaw." He waved his tail at the other apprentice then tipped his head.
Onepaw copied Otterpaw's movement. "Greetings." Moonblaze noticed that Onepaw's voice was full of grief.
We are at war with each other. They were probably attacked. I hope it isn't anyone I know too well.
She was about to ask how Riverclan was doing when a yowl filled the clearing. it was Sandstar. The leaders had taken their positions. Moonblaze couldn't help but notice Otterpaw's sour gaze as he stared at the Windclan leader.
Lightningstar was the first to start. "Who would like to start?" No one spoke up. Lightningstar sighed and stood up, his voice raising above the quiet chatter of the warriors below. "Thunderclan has prospered this moon. I would like to welcome our two newest warriors. Moonblaze and Redfoot."
Yowls or approval and congratulations filled the gathering. Otterpaw and Onepaw looked at Moonblaze in surprise, who licked her chest fur, embarrassed. She forgot that her warriorship would be announced and hadn't groomed properly.
Lightningstar waited for the voices to die down before continuing. "I would also like to congratulate Turtlefang. She is now pregnant with her first litter. She would also like to share something with us." he waved his tail and Turtlefang moved to stand on one of the roots or the tree. Her belly bulged.
"The father is.." She paused, creating an air of suspense. "Loudmorning!"
Moonblaze rolled her eyes as more yowls filled the clearing. Leave it to Turtlefang to make a show about something so minor.
"Sadly, which each new life there must be death. Our dear elder, Lightfur, has passed on to starclan."
Now, meows of grief filled the clearing. "May her spirit live on in Starclan!" A few cats called.
Lightningstar sat down. it was Flamestar's turn. "Shadowclan would like to welcome three new apprentices. Soulpaw, Flowerpaw and Tallpaw."
More loud yowls of congratulations filled the clearing. Three apprentices sat at the front of the crowd, their heads high. That must be them.
Flamestar looked at Sandstar. The bulky leader stood, his muscles tensing. "Windclan has done swell."
"Only because you're a thief you pile of mouse-dung." Onepaw spoke. Moonblaze stared at the apprentice, her eyes wide. She had never heard anyone other than Ratbite talk bad about a leader.
"Rat!" Another Riverclan cat yowled. Sandstar glared at the cat who had spoken. It was a calico she-cat. Her amber eyes burned with hatred and anger. A warrior, who Moonblaze assumed was her mentor, hushed her. Were all Riverclan apprentices this disrespectful? Sandstar continued.
"Sadly, we must also announce death. Our warrior, Carrottooth and our elder, Coalfur, have both passed. But I must warn you, my friends, they did not die of natural causes. No, we have an entire clan or murderers in our presents. They died..because of Riverclan!"
Yowls or shock filled the clearing.
"How dare you! You are the one who marched into our camp and killed our cats. You killed five of us. Including a kit!" Lakestar cried, bitterness filled his voice.
More gasps filled the clearing. None of the cats spoke. This was between Sandstar and Lakestar now. "If you would have cooperated there would have been non need for blood shed."
"Oh really?" Lakestar narrowed his eyes. "Why don't you tell that to Pearlpaw and Bluepaw. The apprentices who died by the paws of your warriors while on a harmless patrol. And what about Shrewfur and Stonefoot?"
Sandstar was growing impacient. He almost looked nervous. The great tom opened his jaw to retort but was interuppted by a gray queen. She now stood where Turtlefang stood only heartbeats ago.
"Cats of all clans!" She yowled.
"Ashtail...silence." Sandstar said through gritted teeth.
Ashtail looked up at her leader, sorrow in her green eyes. "It must be done." She turned back to the group of cats, who were now chatting among themselves. Fear and confusion in their tones. "Please, listen and hear me. Sandstar speaks the truth! But Riverclan is not the murderers. The real murderer is Sandstar himself! He killed my son, Thunderkit!"
"Don't listen to her! She is delusional." Cried Sandstar frantically. But the other cats didn't listen. All cats turned their heads to the nearest Windclan cat, who looked just as stunned as them. "Don't listen to her! Just ask the father. She has always had three kits! Stonefoot."
A skinny gray tom stepped forward, then turned to address the other cats. "My mate speaks the truth! Sandstar drowned our kit and the Riverclan kit. I saw it with my own eyes! He took them to the lake and drowned them." Stonefoot turned back apologetically to look at Sandstar.
"traitor!" Sandstar screeched and launched himself at the thin tom. He slashed out, his claws unshealthed and struck Stonefoot's head, knocking him aside. Stonefoot scrambled to his paws, blood trickled down the side of his face.
Two angry hisses cut through the clammer. Lightningstar and Lakestar had jumped down between Stonefoot and Sandstar. "That is enough, Sandstar!" Lightningstar growled.
Moonblaze stared, admiring her brave father. Lightningstar snarled at Sandstar. The Windclan leader snarled back. Neither tom refused to back away. The warriors and other cats had shank away. This was leader business.
Flamestar finally came to stand next to Lakestar. He swished his ginger tail and his deputy stepped forward. Lakestar caught on and beckoned Lightfang and Yellowtail to come forward. Yellowtail stood at the Riverclan leader, torn on whether to side with his leader or join the others. Sandstar shot him and savage look and he quickly crept forward, low to the ground, then stood up beside Sandstar.
Thornfur was beside Lightningstar in an instant. No other cat moved as the leaders began to talk quietly. The deputies stepped back. They seemed to by providing moral support. Eventually, Sandstar yowled loudly in protest. Yellowtail's blue eyes widened. Moonblaze couldn't decide if he was happy, scared or both.
"You can't do that! I am a clan leader!" Sandstar protested. Murmuring filled the clearly.
"We can and we will. We are also clan leaders. We don't do this for your clan, but for ours. You are violent and irrational." Lakestar retorted.
"Windclan's Tigerstar." Flamestar commented. Gasped now filled the clearly. Moonblaze found her own gasp escaping her jaws. In stories, Tigerstar was told to be a cruel leader with huge claws and a den made of his fallen warrior's bones. Nowadays, a cruel leader such as Tigerstar or Sandstar was referred to as a Tiger Leader.
Lightningstar jumped back onto the leader's tree. Sandstar was about to lunged towards him but Lakestar, Flamestar and Thornfur were able to jump and hold him down in time. "Cat's of all clans!" Lightningstar yowled. "Me, Flamestar and Lakestar have come at an agreement. Sandstar will be banished for his crimes against other clans and his own."
No cat spoke. This had been forseen since the deputies had stepped forward. Beside Moonblaze, Onepaw laughed triumphantly. "Serves that crow food eating piece of mouse dung right." He whispered just loud enough for anyone around him to hear.
"Windclan." Lightingstar no addressed the whole of clan. "Windclan, do you except the banishment of your leader and the rise of a new one?"
For a very long moment, not a single cat spoke. "Yes." Ashtail and Stonefoot said together.
"Yes." Came another mew, this time from an apprentice.
More agreements came from all around the clearing. Some loud, some barely audible. Yellowtail was the last to speak.
Sandstar growled at his deputy. Although fear clouded his hazel eyes. Yellowtail gulped. "Y-yes."
"How dare you!" Sandstar screeched, throwing of Flamestar, who had been holding down his front paws. He lashed out towards his deputy, who flinched back. "I practically raised you like I would my own kits! You were only four moons younger and I put everything I had into making sure you stayed alive."
Yellowtail didn't respond.
Finally, Sandstar was allowed to stand. He growled menacingly. The began to pad away. The cats scrambled to get out of his way. Pleasure showed on his features. He was enjoying the fear coming from the other cats. He stopped at the entrance to the island. At the log bridge. "Good luck, Yellowstar. Don't think you can keep me away. I'll come back. I'll stripe away all your nine lives. If you can make it to the Moonpool, that is."
School sucks! I know I'm taking a long time between each update. I'm sorry. Just bare with me. Only like, seven more month of hell and torture then I'm free.