A/N: Thanks to reviewers!
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Sunfire padded swiftly across the massive tree root, dutifully ignoring the fact that Icestorm was behind her. She had her tail tucked close against her hind legs; no telling what her–and his–reactions would be should her tail brush his face. With relief, she reached the Gathering island, and hurriedly stepped aside. She saw Icestorm watching her; it took all her willpower to turn away.
ThunderClan was last to arrive. The Clans were expecting Alexander to come tonight, though no one had an inkling on how late he would arrive. Craning her neck, Sunfire scanned the assembling cats, looking for no one in particular. The buzz of conversation was present, but one cat's voice caught her attention rapidly.
"How's life?"
Sunfire whipped around, nearly giving herself whiplash. "Pinefur!" she exclaimed, confused and happy to see her friend. "What–?"
She shrugged. "I knew it was full moon, and I miss Gatherings. I haven't been to one for moons, remember."
"But you've turned loner," protested Sunfire. "You're probably unwelcome."
Pinefur shrugged again. "I've lost RiverClan and Tribe scent," she meowed. "All I have to do is sit in the shadows quietly. Scents are so jumbled at Gatherings no cat'll notice me. You look well enough," she added. "Prey coming easy?"
"Getting harder, with the early frost." As she said it, Sunfire noticed Pinefur looked plumper than any Clan cat, and guessed that she found it easy to feed only herself. "Where're you living?" she asked quietly, not wanting any Clan cats to hear, though they were quite apart from the crowd.
"In a little swath of territory beyond RiverClan's old land. Nice place, really: streams, small field, some trees..." she trailed off. "How's ThunderClan? Any trouble?"
Sunfire shook her head. "We've got five apprentices training. I'm mentoring one of them," she added proudly. "Softpaw. She's not here--too early in her apprenticeship." It felt good to be able to speak to Pinefur as though nothing was wrong in the forest, as though the Tribe had never attacked. And like Icestorm never– Sunfire left her thought unfinished.
Over all the talk, rapidly pounding paws could be distinctly heard. As each cat heard it, they shushed their friends and turned towards the noise. Curious, Sunfire sat up on her haunches like a groundhog, trying to spot the approaching animal. Though many were fluffing up with alarm, Sunfire sensed somehow there was nothing to be feared from the newcomer. Instinctively, the warriors closest to the edge of the island formed a defensive line, shielding the elders and apprentices.
A dark gray shape hurtled out of the bushes and flung itself into the deep pool surrounding the Gathering island; frantically splashing, the cat clearly could not swim, but somehow managed to reach the island quickly. Gasping for air, it dragged itself out of the water. Though it was drenched, Sunfire recognized the cat.
"Alexander!" she exclaimed, and many cats calmed down; the loner was a friend. "Wh–"
He spoke over her. His breath came in heaves from his evident mad dash, and he was clearly frightened. "Lightning...star," he panted, as Lightningstar himself shouldered his way up. "Tribe–your land–many. Nearly all–RiverClan and new ones too." He sucked in air. "They're–smart. Knew–Gathering."
His fear-scent was carried to all the cats on a light breeze, and many began mewling loudly, his fear inducing theirs. One elder wailed, and others mimicked her. Lightningstar, standing on his hind legs, yowled shrilly, silencing the cats. Turning to Alexander, he meowed, "Catch your breath. What's happening?"
It took him a moment, but, giving himn a grateful glance, Alexander got his breath back. "Nearly all the Tribe have come to ThunderClan land. RiverClan is among them, as well as many rogues they have picked up. They knew that the Clans gather at the full moon. They are waiting for it to end–"
"And ambush us as we return!" growled Badgerclaw.
Alexander nodded. "They are not far from here. You must leave now to fight, before you get tired from the lateness."
As if we could get drowsy now, thought Sunfire. She was seething; the Tribe knew less than half of each Clan attended a Gathering, so they would have strength in numbers, and she was furious that they had been so clever. Apprentices were beginning to panic; Lightningstar reared up again.
"Silence!" he bellowed. When his wish was granted, he said calmly, "We leave now. But we must appear to expect nothing. If we act more cautious than would appear natural, they will suspect this warning." The instructions were simple, yet impossible. He looked at the other leaders. "You must not send a single cat to help us. ThunderClan have the strength to face this alone, but more importantly, help from other Clans will indicate this warning." A murmur of assent went through the gathered cats.
"I couldn't get away before tonight," Alexander said. "I must go now. I was sent here to 'observe the meeting's progress.'" With that, he turned and splashed back through the water, then fled through the forest.
ThunderClan began grouping towards Lightningstar; other Clans wished ThunderClan luck, knowing they could not possibly assist. Anticipation and hatred boiled in Sunfire's belly; she should've expected an attack, since ThunderClan had had a break from the Tribe. She squeezed past Darkcloud and Jaywing, and found herself more or less stuck between a boulder and Icestorm. Feeling sudden pressure against his flank, Icestorm turned and met her gaze. Heat rushed all over Sunfire's body; she blinked at him before pushing past, unwilling to identify her feelings.
She heard one last good-luck wish, then Lightningstar flicked his tail, signaling their leave. Even as she padded across the great tree root, Sunfire's heart was pounding; she refused to attribute it towards her close contact with Icestorm, but it was not due to fear of the imminent fight.
She moved up beside Lightningstar. "We have no apprentice here to carry a message for help if we need it," she whispered.
"If we need more cats, I'll send–" A sharp yowl cut him off.
A flood of Tribe cats rushed out of the shadows. No cat had scented them; the air was completely still. Startled by the sudden wave of tooth and claw surrounding her, a jolt of pure adrenalin bolted through Sunfire. Driven by that and fury at the cats who had trespassed, Sunfire lashed out at the dark shape that flew towards her.
The night air, which had previously been completely silent, was now filled with snarls. As cats rushed past her, Sunfire saw a great black shape standing at the edge of the fight like a sentinel. With a lick of flame rising inside her, Sunfire recognized Nero, and began fighting the wave of cats to reach the fox. A gray shape rose in front of her; Sunfire recognized her own father, and knew he had to fight to keep the impression he fought for Nero. Sunfire gave him a blow to the head that would normally just unbalance him, but Alexander pretended to be knocked unconscious. Satisfied that this problem was solved, Sunfire moved on.
A tawny Tribe she-cat struck Sunfire's nose with claws like blackthorns. Spitting, Sunfire crouched low, faking a submissive position: the she-cat reared over Sunfire, falling for the trick. When the Tribe fighter exposed her belly, Sunfire launched herself, winding her enemy and probably causing injury as well. Looking around, Sunfire spat when she couldn't locate Nero.
A silver glimmer caught her eye; Icestorm was striking repeatedly at Shadowfur, whom Sunfire had failed to notice until then. Moonlight shining in his thick pelt, Icestorm rammed Shadowfur in the ribs with his head, then began clawing the Tribe leader. StarClan, let his heart be in it, let him really be fighting for the forest--
An immense weight dropped on Sunfire, squeezing her lungs. Trying to flip over, Sunfire yowled as a great paw connected with her skull, sending a sharp pain shooting through her head and bringing winking gray stars into her vision. Adrenalin giving her strength, Sunfire heaved, bucking her spine, and threw her assailant aside. Gasping, Sunfire scrambled to her feet.
Nero was getting her own footing back a tail-length away. Sunfire felt a brief flash of satisfaction when she saw one of Nero's eyes was clouded and sightless, remembering the last time she'd fought the fox and slashed her eye.
"You're losing," snarled Nero. "Both this battle and the ultimate one. The Clans cannot win this." She jumped at Sunfire, who ducked; the vixen soared past her, only to turn on a dime and smack Sunfire from behind with a heavy paw. Humiliated that she'd been outdone, Sunfire faced Nero, who had triumph gleaming in her good eye.
"I see you've received battle training since last we met," said Sunfire. "You certainly weren't this skilled then." But you've a long way to go, she thought grimly, jumping at Nero, clinging to the midnight-black neck. Nero twisted, found Sunfire's foreleg, and bit down. Fire and lightning shot through Sunfire's leg up to her shoulder, but she refused to let go of the vixen; she would not give in.
Gritting her teeth, Sunfire drew back her head to give Nero a bite to consider when high yowls sounded, not from the battle. Sunfire glimpsed dark figures pelting towards the fight; as she looked, she unconsciously relaxed her grip, and Nero shook her off, sending her thudding to the ground.
The reset of ThunderClan had arrived; surprised by the sudden backup, the Tribe cats tore themselves away and flocked towards Nero. Silence fell. Wincing, humiliated that Nero had more or less achieved the upper paw over her, Sunfire picked herself up, stumbled, and felt a nudge at her shoulder. Looking down, she saw Softpaw helping her up, and despite her pain, she felt a rush of warmth for her apprentice.
The cats who'd been at the Gathering were noticeably worse for the wear, though the Tribe had their share of wounds. Supported by Softpaw, Sunfire felt weak with relief as she saw all ThunderClan cats were on their feet, though Icestorm had a forepaw tucked against his chest. Her skull throbbing, ribs aching, Sunfire watched the Tribe cats, Shadowfur included, form a tight circle around Nero, protecting their leader from the mass of ThunderClan cats.
"Leave, Nero. I'm growing weary of saying it," said Lightningstar, who had clumps of bloody fur hanging from his flanks.
Nero gave one of her laugh-barks and shouldered aside the ring of her cats. "Do you know what my name means in fox-tongue, Lightningstar?" She didn't wait for an answer. "It means 'fang.' And I assure you..." she bared her teeth. "I can do excellent damage with them if I do not get what I want."
"You can't intimidate us," said Lightningstar evenly.
Nero stared at him with her working eye. "Do you not see what has happened?" Sunfire felt an odd sense of anticipation. "Three things have come together: Shadowfur, the mountains--a world of ice--and myself. Shadow, ice, and fang, Lightningstar."
Sunfire felt lightheaded. The world around her swirled into a grayish haze; the earth tilted beneath her paws. Nero had revealed the elements of the prophecy, and Sunfire knew she was right. The world of ice was the Tribe and their forever-winter environment.
Icestorm had nothing to do with the prophecy.
Having apparently said her piece, Nero turned and slunk away into the night.
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Three things cannot long be hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth. –Buddha