Chapter 8: The Gathering
Hi peoples, sorry for the wait. ... Darn it! Still can't think of anything else to say... This is getting annoying...
Twilightwing: Cloudtail has always known too much for his own good... I still have no idea how he found out though. Kinda creepy...
Mossmoon: I'm still debating whether to change Ashfur's and Berrynose's names to what they were during the WOW era. I might rename a few other cats this time too.
TheHiddenAssassin: (AKA: That monkey that my parents claim is my brother.) I swear that if you give away any of the plot, I will rip out your spine and use it to beat you to a pulp. Thanks for reviewing :D
... Anyway...
Disclaimer: If I owned Warriors, why the heck would I be writing on fanfiction? If I were this would be an actual book!
...
...On with the story!
Bloodstar led his clan through Windclan territory, heading toward the island for the gathering. This would be a mile stone. It his very first gathering, and he would see how the other clans would react. He had opted to keep the group relatively small. It consisted of Shadowstep, Jayclaw, Leafpool, Lionclaw, Cinderheart, Icefang, Poppypaw, Mousewhisker, five Bloodclan warriors, and -much to her protest- Spottedleaf. The rest had been decided untrustworthy, and left at the camp to be guarded by Nightshade, Foxtail, and the rest of Bloodclan. Bloodstar had dragged Poppypaw and Mousewhisker along, just to show that he wasn't discriminating the original Thunderclanners that weren't his allies. He had brought Spottedleaf mainly to show off and see the other clan's reactions. They were the last ones to reach the island, just as Bloodstar had planned. With adrenaline rushing him, Bloodstar led his clan over the tree bridge to the island.
The other clans didn't really notice them until they caught the mingled sent of Bloodclan and Thunderclan, then turned to stare. All of their expressions were pretty much the same: O.o Bloodstar ignored the other clan cats, and marched to giant tree in the center of the island and took his rightful spot. The three other leaders paused in mid-conversation, and stared at the very young tom.
"Hello." Bloodstar greeted them coolly.
"Um, hi?" Leopardstar said in confusion.
"Who are you?" Blackstar demanded.
"Oh, I'm Thunderclan's new leader, Bloodstar."
"Bloodstar? Hey aren't you, oh, I don't know, a little young to be a warrior let alone leader. Besides, we've never heard of you." Onestar pointed out.
"Do you recall several moons ago when Firestar announced that Daisy had had a litter of kits?"
"Yeah, but..."
"Well, that was me and my siblings."
Leopardstar gasped. "But, you're just an apprentice!"
"No, I'm Bloodstar, leader of Bloodclan and Thunderclan."
The three leaders gaped in horror.
"BLOODCLAN!"
"Well, let's just say that Firestar needed a little bit of 'persuasion' to resign from leadership."
"What have you done with Firestar and Brambleclaw?" Onestar demanded.
"Oh, they're back at camp."
"You can't lead Thunderclan, not to mention Bloodclan too. You're just an apprentice!" Blackstar growled.
"You wanna go? I can kick you're butt all the way to Starclan and back."
"Yeah right! I've seen mice that are bigger than you!" Blackstar continued to argue.
Bloodstar frowned. You are next on my list Blacky, next on my list.
"Now Blackstar, I'm sure that you don't want to get on my bad side, do you?" Bloodstar asked, using his deadly calm voice, and slowly unsheathed his dogtooth reinforced claws.
"You can't hurt me, I'm the Shadowclan leader." Blackstar said, though his voice was uncertain.
"How about you take a look down at the gathered cats, all of you. Do you see the tortoiseshell in my clan? Who does she remind you of, think back to before Firestar, excuse me, his name is Firefart now, came to the forest."
The leaders stared at her for several minutes, the Leopardstar gasped.
"S-Spottedleaf?"
"THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!" Blackstar shook his head, his voice edging toward hysteria.
"Let's just say that Starclan needed some convincing before they gave me my nine lives."
Onestar fainted and fell off of the tree branch, landing with a small thud.
"Now," Bloodstar said, ignoring the other leaders as they looked down at the Windclan leader in concern, "Let's start the gathering."
Bloodstar patiently let the other clans go first, for he knew that his announcements would take the longest. As each leader took their turn, it was obvious that their minds were somewhere else, because their eyes kept darting to Bloodstar. Bloodstar didn't mind. He wasn't really paying attention anyway, he was basking in the wonderful, powerful feeling that had returned as he looked down at the clan cats, who looked so small from where he sat.
Finally, it was Bloodstar's turn. He walked to the edge of the branch and looked down at the clan cats with a cruel smile on his face.
"Cat's of all clans, as you may have noticed, Firestar and Brambleclaw are absent. That is because Thunderclan has changed greatly over this past moon. Firestar is no longer fit to be leader, and neither is Brambleclaw. Therefore, I Bloodstar, have taken over Thunderclan!"
A great silence fell over the clans, as they stared up at Bloodstar in shock.
"You may have noticed that some unfamiliar cats are among Thunderclan tonight, that is because I have brought back the legendary Bloodclan, who have merged with us to form one big clan. We are Bloodclan."
The gathered cats broke out in outraged gasps.
"What!" Blackstar yowled.
"Together, we now make up the strongest clan in the forest. I offer you now, a chance to join us. With one single clan in the forest, there would be no war, and we could live in peace, together."
"You sound like Tigerstar!" Leopard star gasped.
"Tigerstar was a fool. He was blinded by power. All that I seek in peace." There was a brief silence, then Bloodstar could make out the low sound of Spottedleaf.
"-cough- Bull shit! -cough-" All of the cats turned to look at the Starclan reject.
"we'll never join you!" Blackstar spat.
"Very well, I shall not press the matter. That is your choice, however foolish it may be."
The other leaders seemed shocked by his indifference.
"O-Oh, well, is there anymore news then?" Onestar asked, generally shocked.
"Yes actually. We have several new warriors in Bloodclan: Shadowstep -who is also our new deputy- Nightshade, Lionclaw, Foxtail, Icefang, and Cinderheart. Spottedleaf has rejoined us from Starclan. Also, Jayclaw is now a full medicine cat."
The cat's expressions once again turned to: O.o
The gathering had run late, so the Bloodclan cats didn't arrive home until dawn. Nightshade was pacing outside the warriors den and clearly brightened up when she saw her brothers walk through the thorn barrier.
"What took so long?" She asked, running up to them.
"The clans were, well, less then enthusiastic about the idea, as is expected. We spent longer than usual explaining what happened this moon. Anything happen while I was gone?"
"Well, I got bored, so I decided to bother Berrynose."
"What did you do?"
"I told him that you wanted to speak to him when you got back. I told him that it had something to do with Starclan."
Bloodstar smiled. "How did he react?"
"He tried to commit suicide by jumping off of the high side of the gorge."
"Did it work?"
"No, he landed on Ashfur. They're both in the medicine cat den with Brightheart. She had to sedate them using her tranquilizer."
"Great, that's two less idiots to deal with for a while. It's going to be a long week Nightshade. I have plans for the other clans, and Shadowclan is first on my list."
"But Bloodstar, you said that you wouldn't push the matter."
Icefang said, confused.
"Yes, and for a good reason. One of Tigerstar's greatest mistakes was the way he went about trying to take over the clans. He threatened them, and that made them more prepared for a fight. I first tried logically reasoning with the clans, putting the idea in their heads, but not forcing it upon them. Now, while the clans will be suspicious, they won't necessarily be expecting an invasion, which is just what they'll be faced with."
"You have and evil mind brother, I'm so proud!" Nightshade smiled.
"Hey, where is Shadowstep..." Icefang was cut off as they watched Shadowstep running around the clearing like a mad cat, a crazed look in the eye.
"He's been drinking coffee again." Nightshade sighed.
"Nightshade, while Shadowstep is, erm, occupied, I want you to start preparing the warriors. Prepare them for the attack on Shadowclan."
This chapter was mostly filler. Sorry it didn't have as much humor in it. Oh well -shrugs- plenty more to come. Please R&R. That's right, go review. Do people actually read these end Author notes? Go one, press that little review button. Are you still reading this? Dang, you really have no life do you? Come on! What's freakin' wrong with you peoples, review!