Chapter Five: The Gathering
The scent of fresh-kill made his mouth water as Winterpaw padded proudly into the ShadowClan camp. Three mice and a shrew were clutched in his jaws, and he still had much more to collect buried in the forest. He had just returned from his first solo hunting assignment: To catch prey for the elders. Winterpaw had done more than that, catching enough to practically feed the whole Clan! Winterpaw had only been an apprentice for one moon, but Copperstar was so impressed with the progress he'd made that he trusted him to hunt alone so soon.
The ShadowClan leader's eyes glowed with approval as Winterpaw dropped his catch on the fresh-kill pile. "I have a rabbit and two squirrels buried in the near the Twoleg nest." He told her, flicking his tail towards the camp entrance.
Copperstar nodded. "I'll have another apprentice collect those. You take those mice to the elders." She padded off to where Cracklepaw and Flyingpaw were sharing a thrush by the apprentice den.
Winterpaw picked up the again by their tails and made his way to the overgrown bush where the elders lived. As he approached, he heard the thin voice of Blusterstorm raised in complaint. "Where is that lazy white apprentice with our food? I'm so hungry I could eat a dog!"
"I'm here, Blusterstorm." Winterpaw mewed respectfully, pushing through the overhanging branches and entering the den. He dropped the three mice on the floor of the den and began to back out.
"Where are you going in such a hurry?" Sharpclaw snapped irritably. Winterpaw sighed and turned to face the touchy old she-cat. She was glaring at him with cold brown eyes. Somehow, Winterpaw couldn't find any resemblance between this elder and her daughter Foxmask. "I've got more ticks than a WindClan cat. Go get some mouse bile from Dreamstep-and don't lollygag this time!" Sharpclaw lashed her tail angrily.
Winterpaw muttered something obediently and raced across the camp to where the medicen cat's den was. Dreamstep was out of sight, probably in his nest. Redpaw was crouched over a leaf mashing bright purple berries into a pulp. He looked up as Winterpaw pushed through the bushes, a curious look in his eyes. "Hello, Winterpaw." The medicen cat apprentice mewed, standing. "You're not hurt, are you? Should I fetch Dreamstep?" His voice was gentle and concerned, a relief like cold water on a hot day after Sharpclaw's nasty tongue.
"No, I just need some mouse bile. Sharpclaw's complaining about ticks." Winterpaw sighed. He really hated caring for the elders, and he really hated working with the foul-smelling mouse bile. But Sharpclaw already didn't like him and neglecting this duty would only get him in trouble. Redpaw purred sympathetically and disappeared into the small cave where Dreamstep stored his herbs. A moment later he returned with the moss soaked in mouse bile. Winterpaw thanked him and hurried out.
The stench of the bile made his eyes water so Winterpaw had trouble seeing where he was going. Halfway across the clearing he ran headlong into another cat and fell on his rump with a grunt, dropping the soaked moss. The other cat hissed angrily and Winterpaw looked up into his father's furious blue eyes.
"B-Barkpelt!" Winterpaw gasped. The white tom never had much interaction with his father, as the dark ginger warrior preferred to stay away from his 'disgrace' of a son. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you there. I-"
Barkpelt flicked his tail dismissively, as if Winterpaw's explanation meant nothing to him. The fur on his chest was wet with mouse bile and he didn't look at all happy about it. "You're as blind as you are stupid." He snarled without looking his son in the eye. "Stay away from me, you little nuisance!" He thrust his nose into the air and stalked away to meet Gingerheart near the fresh-kill pile.
Winterpaw flattened his ears against his head sadly. Even though he understood why the Clan hated him so much, the fact that his father didn't even acknowledge him as his son came as a low blow. His sorrow turned to anger suddenly. Like it's my fault I didn't come out how you wanted? The young apprentice though mutinously. For a moment he understood how Whistlepaw felt whenever someone was treated unfairly. When he heard his name called from behind him, Winterpaw swung around and snapped, "What? What do you want?"
Whistlepaw stood in front of him, looking utterly bewildered. Winterpaw was usually able to control his temper and didn't often raise his voice-especially to his brother. "I-I was just going to ask how your first hunting assignment went." The dark ginger apprentice stammered uncertainly. "But if we're too busy we can talk later…"
"No! No, I'm so sorry, Whistlepaw…" Winterpaw insisted as his brother started to turn away. "It's just…Sharpclaw's making me get mouse bile for her ticks and on the way back to the elder's den…I ran into Barkpelt."
Whistlepaw's ears flicked and his eyes grew sympathetic. "I'm sorry." He mewed gently, giving his brother a lick between the ears. "You look exhausted. Why don't you go get some sleep before the Gathering and I'll deal with Sharpclaw?"
"Gathering?" Winterpaw seemed to perk up at the word. "Have I been chosen?" It would be Winterpaw's first Gathering, but he was surprised he would be chosen so soon.
Whistlepaw purred. "Yeah, I forgot to tell you! Sunstreak just told me we're both going." His blue eyes glimmered happily in the afternoon sunshine. "So you'd better go rest up!" He picked up the mouse bile-soaked moss and hurried across the hollow to the elder's nest.
Feeling almost giddy for the first time he could remember, Winterpaw bounced over to the apprentice den and settled into his nest near the edge, next to Whistlepaw's. He fell into a deep sleep with his brother's scent in his nose, just like when they were in the nursery.
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Winterpaw was awakened much later by a sharp jab in the ribs. He grunted and glared up at his agitator. It was Darkpaw, Flickertail and Birdcall's daughter. She flicked her ears towards the main camp. "Come on, you lazy furball. Copperstar wants us to eat before we go." She lashed her tail across his muzzle as she turned and disappeared out of the den.
A little irritated by his slap across the face, Winterpaw stretched luxuriously and followed Darkpaw out of the den. A group of cats was gathered around the fresh-kill pile, Sunstreak and Whistlepaw included. Foxmask was not among them. Winterpaw rushed to join his brother before anyone could stop him. "Is this all that's coming?" He inquired of Sunstreak, who nodded but didn't speak, his mouth full of rabbit. A tad disappointed, Winterpaw chose a thrust for himself and dug in.
Soon enough Copperstar called her cats to her and raced out of camp. Winterpaw wondered if the ShadowClan leader ran everywhere. He stayed close to Sunstreak and his brother, not wanting to get jostled back to where Flickertail ran with Swampleg. A wiry cream colored she-cat called Wildpath bounded over to Sunstreak, her deep blue eyes curious. "Do you think Copperstar will mention the RiverClan scents I smelled near the Twoleg nest?" She meowed urgently. "If we shouldn't talk about it, we need to spread the word."
Sunstreak shook his head uncertainly. "I don't know what Copperstar is planning to say." He replied. "But to be safe, you shouldn't say anything that will anger RiverClan. We don't want to spread rumors." Winterpaw looked over at his uncle in surprise. It was the first time he'd ever heard Sunstreak issue a serious order or act at all like a deputy should.
The patrol slowed as they reached Twolegplace. They crept silently across the hard black surface, relieved when they reached the bushes in RiverClan territory. Copperstar kept her Clan close to the edge of the lake, as had been decided long ago when the territory around the lake was split up. Winterpaw squinted ahead. He could make out the Island silhouetted against the dark water, it's trees illuminated by the light of the full moon. The lithe shapes of cat slid in and out of the shadows, mingling while they waited for the Gathering to start.
Copperstar led the ShadowClan patrol to the roots of a very old fallen tree that spanned the gap between the mainland and the Island. She leapt lightly onto its trunk and padded confidently to the other side, where she dropped to the sandy beach and waited for the rest of her Clan. Winterpaw started to climb up first, but Swampleg shouldered his way in first. "Warriors and non-demons first." The mottled warrior hissed in Winterpaw's ear. The white apprentice waited for the rest of ShadowClan to cross before he carefully picked his way through the branched to the Island.
"This way, Winterpaw!" Whistlepaw called, heading into the trees. He led the way to a large clearing where a huge tree with low-hanging branches grew. Two noble figures were settled on the branches of the tree, gazing down at the gathered cats with eyes that reflected the moon. The first was a large ginger tom, who Winterpaw realized must be Cometstar, leader of ThunderClan. His left eye was blank and pink and his left ear torn and ragged. Like his mate, he had seen many a hard battle that left him with permanent scars. The second leader was A pretty silver tabby she-cat with almost no noticeable battle scars. This was Shimmerstar, the new leader of RiverClan. WindClan was yet to arrive.
Whistlepaw had bounded over to a group of apprentices. One was Ticklepaw, the tom Winterpaw had met at the ThunderClan border. "Winterpaw, this is Ticklepaw," Whistlepaw flicked his tail at the ThunderClan apprentice. "Strippedpaw," He gestured to a big brown cat with unusual white stripes. "Ripplepaw and Wanderpaw." The latter were two identical blue-gray RiverClan she-cats with green eyes.
"Hi everyone." Winterpaw mewed shyly, not meeting the curious eyes of the other apprentices. He knew that his red eyes would only frighten them. They all meowed greetings before continuing with their conversations.
"I wonder where WindClan is." Wanderpaw murmured absently, gazing up at the Great Tree. "They should be here by now, shouldn't they?"
Her sister snorted. "They're probably too busy chasing rabbits into our territory." Ripplepaw hissed. Winterpaw suspected there had been a recent conflict between WindClan and RiverClan.
"I heard Eaglestar is on his last life." Strippedpaw's voice sounded worried, as though the fate of another leader applied to him. "I hope he's okay."
"It seems the leaders are dropping like flies lately." Whistlepaw agreed, nodding his head wisely. "I'm sure glad Copperstar is just as strong as ever." The other apprentices exchanged glances, as though they knew Whistlepaw was trying to make ShadowClan sound all-powerful.
Suddenly a yowl echoed from somewhere among the trees and WindClan cats flooded the clearing. Their leader Eaglestar, A jet black cat with brown patches and piercing yellow eyes dashed across the clearing and leaped into the Great Tree between Shimmerstar and Copperstar. He did, Winterpaw noted, look rather frail. Cometstar nodded to Copperstar, who stood up and addressed the assembled cats.
"Greetings, cats of all Clans!" The golden she-cat's voice rang clearing about the clearing. "All is well in ShadowClan. We have a new apprentice with us today: Winterpaw!"
Winterpaw froze as all eyes turned to him. He fixed his gaze on his paws and tried not to listen to the anxious mutterings that went on around him. Even if he didn't look at anyone, his unnerving red stare was apparent.
Copperstar continued when the murmurs ceased, "A ShadowClan patrol recently scented RiverClan cats on our territory, near the Twoleg house deep into ShadowClan land." She turned her yellow gaze on Shimmerstar. "What is the meaning of this, Shimmerstar?"
The RiverClan leader stared right back at Copperstar, her face blank of any emotion save for polite surprise. She seemed utterly bewildered to be addressed by another leader at the Gathering. Finally, Shimmerstar spoke: "I don't know, Copperstar." She meowed simply, shrugging. The fur on Copperstar's shoulders began to rise.
"Wait!" A cat called from the back of the clearing. Winterpaw craned his neck and saw a white tom pushing his way to the front of the group. It was Skysong, RiverClan's medicen cat. "That was my apprentice and I, Copperstar. We were collecting cat nip, as our stores were low. I'm sorry we didn't ask your permission first."
Copperstar narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Why didn't you come to our camp and ask Dreamstep if he had any to spare?"
Skysong flicked his ears nervously. "I preferred to take matters into my own paws." Was the only answer he gave.
The ShadowClan leader held his gaze for a moment longer before dipping her head. "Very well. ShadowClan has nothing else to report." She sat down and looked expectantly at Shimmerstar.
The silver she-cat rose to her paws slowly and stretched. Flashfire, seated nearby the group of apprentices, hissed softly in disgust. Winterpaw noticed most of the other she-cats in the clearing looked exasperated as well. Shimmerstar looked lovingly down into the clearing. "RiverClan," She began dramatically, "Is proud to announce the birth of three healthy kits, born to Icepool." Yowls of approval went up from the assembled cats. Icepool was a popular cat with all the Clans. Shimmerstar continued when the cries died down, "They will be valuable warriors to RiverClan in the future. Other than that, RiverClan has no new news." She giggled girlishly at her own joke and sat down.
"She didn't say anything about the WindClan trespassers!" Ripplepaw muttered in outrage to Wanderpaw. Winterpaw couldn't help but think Shimmerstar's report sounded rehearsed. She must have forgotten about the conflict with WindClan.
Cometstar stood next. "Cats of all Clans, I am deeply aggrieved to announce the death of our medicen cat, Crumblestone." He bowed his head sadly as anguished whispers flew around the clearing. Dreamstep was shaking his head in sorrow and Redpaw's eyes were wide with shock. Finally raised his head and announced proudly, "Whisperheart is the new medicen cat of ThunderClan." His eyes fell on a small, dark gray she-cat who was looking embarrassed amid a group of ThunderClan cats. Congratulatory yowls were heard, then Cometstar stepped back again.
Eaglestar stood shakily and rasped, "WindClan has nothing to report. The rabbits are running and our Clan thrives." He coughed painfully and sat down again.
"Then this Gathering is over." Cometstar bellowed. He jumped down from the tree and gathered his cats around him. The ThunderClan cats dissepeared into the trees and were already off the Island by the time Copperstar had rounded up her warriors. They crossed to the opposite shore and began the long trek home.
It took a long moment for Winterpaw to notice that Sunstreak was not padding along at his leader's side. They were still in RiverClan territory, so he could not have raced ahead to the camp. Winterpaw looked around, but the goofy brown tom was not bringing up the rear either. And as he looked, Winterpaw saw that Flickertail and Swampleg were also missing.
"Whistlepaw, do you know where Sunstreak is?" Winterpaw asked his brother quietly. Whistlepaw gave him a puzzled look and shook his head. "I'm going to go look for him. Don't wait up." Winterpaw doubled back and picked up Sunstreak's scent a bit behind the ShadowClan patrol, as well as the scents of Flickertail and Swampleg. The white apprentice tracked them through the undergrowth until he heard the sounds of a struggle up ahead. Creeping forward silently, Winterpaw gasped at what he saw.
Sunstreak was caught in a tangled thorn bush, his eyes wild with fear and his mouth open in a silent wail. A thick vine was wrapped around his throat, constricting the deputy's airway and making it impossible for him to scream. Flickertail and Swampleg stood over him, smirking in triumph as they watched Sunstreak's fruitless struggles.
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HOOOOOOly crap. We're in trouble now.
This chapter goes well with Cheez-its.
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