Chapter 8: Disowned
Orangepaw sank her claws into the log-bridge as she slowly made her way to the gathering island. Sweetpaw was right behind her, and Thornpaw right in front of her. A wave of relief crashed over Orangepaw to see that she wasn't the only one struggling to keep her balance on the log. Paw step by paw step Orangepaw finally reached the shore. Sunpaw squeezed through the clearing full of cats. "Orangepaw!" Sunpaw meowed, brushing his muzzle along Orangepaw's flank. "I've missed you." Sunpaw mewed quietly. Orangepaw wanted to say the same back, but before she could answer Swiftstar of ShadowClan announced that the gathering had began. "Alright, before we share what's been happening in our clans let's talk about you." Swiftstar curtly meowed, turning her cold gaze towards Wildstar. Wildstar glared at Swiftstar before speaking. "We were facing great famine back in the mountains, so after losing both Fawnkit and Orangepaw," Orangepaw wanted to cry. Her own father considered her dead. Unable to stop herself, Orangepaw yowled at the top of her lungs. "Wildstar!" Wildstar turned his cold and unforgiving gaze towards Orangepaw. The cats around her slunk away in fear, leaving Orangepaw out in the spotlight. Wildstar bared his fangs, "You are dead to me Orangepaw! You chose to introduce MY clan to ThunderClan for me, so now you're stuck living with them, you're as good as crow-food to me." Wildstar snarled. Orangepaw wanted to wail like a lost kit, but rage built up inside of her exploded. "I was only trying to stop a fight! But NO! The almighty Wildstar must fight in every situation no matter what!" Orangepaw spat, "and you know what? ThunderClan has been so kind to me that I don't want to come back to StormClan!" Orangepaw snapped. All of StormClan gasped in horror and disbelief. Wildstar's gaze turned merciless. Orangepaw knew she had pushed him to the extreme. "Good. Be with those cowards who depend on trees to keep them safe. You never deserved to have the blessing of being born to a clan leader, or to even have had the chance to live in the mountains. Next time we meet in battle, you're as good as mine." Wildstar snarled quietly, clearly trying to control his flaring temper. Orangepaw met his threatening gaze with her own challenging stare. "I look forward to ripping your scrawny, flea bitten throat out." Orangepaw replied, baring her teeth at her father. That had done it, Wildstar leapt off the huge oak right at Orangepaw. Orangepaw sprang back in the nick of time, Wildstar landing right where she had been sitting. Wildstar raked Orangepaw's ears, drawing blood. But the pain, both physical and mental fueled her fighting spirit. Orangepaw slid right under Wildstar before rolling into Wildstar's legs, throwing the powerful tom off balance. Then before the fight could get more intense, Rosestar grabbed Wildstar's scruff and heaved him away from Orangepaw. Stormeye grabbed Orangepaw's scruff just to make sure she wouldn't lunge at Wildstar again. Orangepaw and Wildstar continued to swing at each other, determined to get the last attack in. "Stormeye," Rosestar called. Stormeye continued to hold Orangepaw but looked up at his sister. "Take Orangepaw home. I personally was hoping they would smooth things over and she would be able to go back to StormClan, but they've made it clear that it's not happening." Rosestar hissed, keeping Wildstar pinned with the help of Troutstar, RiverClan's leader. Stormeye nodded, releasing Orangepaw and leading her back across the bridge.
The walk back to ThunderClan camp was disappointing to Orangepaw. She felt like Wildstar won. "I know it was you're first gathering Orangepaw but you should know that the gathering is a place of peace." Stormeye growled, not looking at Orangepaw. Orangepaw stared at Stomeye in disbelief. "He disowned me in front of all the other clans! What was I supposed to do? Shrug it off as if I had just lost a mouse in the high light of Green-leaf?" Orangepaw hissed. Stormeye looked at Orangepaw with sympathy in his eyes. "I'm sorry, I know he meant a lot to you but-" "Meant a lot, why Wildstar was the whole reason I decided to leave the mountains!" Orangepaw interrupted. "He gave me my name." Orangepaw mewed quietly. "My father was why I tried so hard in the mountains, it's why I didn't listen to Foxmist." Orangepaw whimpered. "Foxmist? Who's Foxmist?" Stormeye meowed, his gaze full of confusion. "Foxmist is just this she-cat who visits me in my dreams sometimes telling me that I'm not supposed to be a warrior, but ever since I came to ThunderClan, she hasn't spoken to me. I think me leaving the mountains freed me of my unwanted destiny." Orangepaw explained, not meeting Stormeye's gaze. Stormeye's eyes softened. "Well now you can follow what you want."
So that's that :) I don't have too much to say this time.