Welcome back! Not much to say about this chapter, but we learn more about Goldenstar's feelings towards a certain she-cat!
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Warriors belongs to Erin Hunter.
Cats belong to me.
Goldenstar raised his tail for his cats to halt. He scented the air and scrutinized the area for any sign of dogs. Luckily, he didn't find any scents and only found the scents of ThistleClan and RowanClan. With a wave of his tail, he led his cats towards the Gathering Place.
A moon after the cats originally settled in their new homes, the Clan leaders met and decided that the large oak tree that lay in the center of the territories would be the best choice for a Gathering spot. The large oak towered over the other trees and could be easily picked out by any apprentice.
"Is that the Great Oak?" Fallspaw asked.
"That's right," Privetdrop explained. "Remember; don't pick any fights with any other apprentices."
"That goes for you, too, Springpaw," Cliffjumper growled.
"I'll behave," Springpaw muttered as his mentor nosed him forward.
Goldenstar turned back to gaze at his cats. Moonshadow was at his side with Mintshard on his other. Leapingriver followed not far with Meltingice next to her. Pineheart and Otterwhisker gently brushed pelts as they followed and Mousethorn and Ryeleaf exchanged words. Reedleg and Splashheart bounced on their paws as their first Gathering as warriors as Tallstalk rolled his eyes at their matureness. Stalkshine gently shouldered him in affection.
"Will you mention the dogs?" Mousethorn asked his brother.
"Of course; the other Clans might need the warning," Goldenstar explained.
Goldenstar led his cats through the crowd of RowanClan and ThistleClan warriors and made his way towards the roots of the tree. There, Sloestar, the leader of ThistleClan, and Rumblestar, the leader of RowanClan, were quietly conversing.
"Ah, Goldenstar, it's a pleasure to see you again," the ThistleClan leader greeted. Her black pelt blended in with the shadows of the night and only her bright blue eyes could be seen clearly.
The dark brown tabby tom merely grunted, his dark green eyes avoiding Goldenstar's gaze.
"Thanks, Sloestar," Goldenstar replied and glanced at Rumblestar. "And it's a pleasure to see you as well, Rumblestar."
Rivalries between RowanClan and WaterfallClan have been present since they were still PineClan and CreekClan. WaterfallClan's former leaders, Redstar and Blackfrost, never really got along with the stubborn RowanClan leader. Rumor has it that the dark brown tabby tom was on his last life and soon his deputy, Prattlecreek, would take over.
The cats around the Clan leaders began to talk loudly as more cats mingled into the crowd.
"Sorry we're late!" Froststar happily explained as she bounded towards the other leaders. "There was a little trouble with a few apprentices."
"Hope it wasn't too much trouble," Goldenstar commented.
"Nothing I couldn't handle," Froststar purred.
"Then shall we get started?" Rumblestar impatiently suggested.
"Of course," Sloestar agreed as the dark brown tabby tom leapt up the tree. The other Clan leaders followed him and Goldenstar took his place next to Sloestar.
"Cats of the Clans, the Gathering has begun!" Rumblestar yowled, gaining everyone's attention. The chattering died down as the warrior cats gazed up at the Clan leaders. The Clan deputies, comprising of Moonshadow, Prattlecreek, a pale ginger tabby she-cat, Flintstrike, the MeadowClan deputy and a gray tabby tom, and Batwing, a brown and black tom and the ThistleClan deputy, sat below the tree. The medicine cats, comprising of Mintshard, Chervilpad, a tortoiseshell she-cat, and Crowpaw, a black tom with a paler strike down his paw, were of RowanClan, Icewind, a white tom, and Frozenwhisker, also a white tom, were of MeadowClan, and Shatterpelt, a dark gray she-cat with darker patches, was of ThistleClan, sat not far from the deputies.
Rumblestar went on after he had everyone's attention.
"RowanClan is thriving now that new-leaf as arrived and we have two new warriors, Yewclaw and Gingerflower!"
"Yewclaw! Gingerflower! Yewclaw! Gingerflower!"
Goldenstar gazed out over the mass of warriors and saw two cats, one a pale gray tom and the other a dappled ginger she-cat, raise their heads high as their Clanmates shouted their names the loudest.
Once the cheering died down, Rumblestar continued. "We have detected the scent of dog along our borders and we shall be keeping a close eye on our territory."
Sloestar went next.
"ThistleClan has been doing well now that we have plenty of prey. I made two new apprentices yesterday and they are doing well in their warrior training. We, too, have detected dog scent, and yesterday a patrol was attacked. Luckily, no one was serious injured or killed."
Murmurs appeared among the gathering cats.
Froststar went next and raised her tail for silence.
"MeadowClan is also doing well in this warm weather," Froststar meowed. "A skirmish with two of our apprentices resulted in us being late, but they are being taken care of. A group of dogs also attacked a patrol, but like ThistleClan, there were no serious injuries."
Goldenstar went next.
"Earlier this moon, I made two new warriors, Reedleg and Splashheart!"
"Reedleg! Splashheart! Reedleg! Splashheart!"
The two littermates held their heads high and waved their tails at their praise.
"I also made three apprentices yesterday," Goldenstar meowed. "Also, a pack of dogs attacked our cats a few sunrises ago, including me. My daughter and one of our warriors were seriously injured and they're luckily in our medicine cat's paws."
Sloestar gently rested her tail on Goldenstar's shoulder in comfort. Goldenstar nodded in thanks for her gratitude.
"We hope to find the dogs and figure out a way to get rid of them," he went on and waved his tail to signal that the Gathering was over.
"I wish you and your wounded lucky, Goldenstar," Sloestar meowed.
"Thanks, Sloestar," Goldenstar meowed. Sloestar had been the most supportive out of the other leaders of his leadership. Most cats in other Clans didn't think Goldenstar deserved to become leader since he wasn't appointed deputy by Blackfrost nor did he ever have an apprentice. Some cats thought that Stripedwhisker deserved leadership since Blackfrost appointed him deputy when he became leader, but the tabby tom was in no shape to lead a Clan. Besides, his Clanmates were supportive of his leadership and he had no right to dwell on the other Clan's opinions.
Goldenstar leapt down from the Great Oak and spotted a cat he never thought he would meet again.
"Secretfaith?" Goldenstar squawked and the pale ginger she-cat. "Is that really you?"
The RowanClan queen's pale green eyes lit up when she heard the WaterfallClan leader's voice. "Goldenstar, it's so good to see you after all of these moons!" The two touched noses for a brief heartbeat.
"How have you been?" Goldenstar asked.
"Well, my two older kits are now apprentices!" Secretfaith awkwardly pointed out.
"Ah, yes, Tinypaw and Mistypaw, right? They were announced a few Gathering," Goldenstar meowed. "Who's the father?"
"Dewdapple," Secretfaith replied. "Remember him?"
"Of course," Goldenstar meowed. How could the WaterfallClan leader forget the smug tom that he used to play with after Gatherings before they journeyed to their new home? "How is he?"
"Dewdapple's a fine mate and he's great with the kits," Secretfaith meowed and flicked her tail towards the dappled gray tom next to their two kits, Tinypaw, a ginger and gray tom, and Mistypaw, a pale gray tabby and white she-cat. "We have a new litter of kits and it won't be long until they become apprentices."
"Congratulations," Goldenstar purred, followed by a pregnant pause.
"I heard about what happened to Whiskerkit," Secretfaith meowed. "I hope she'll be alright."
"Thanks, but right now she's in StarClan's paws," Goldenstar somberly meowed. "At least my other kits are distracted by their training."
Secretfaith nodded thoughtfully. "Their mother is Leapingriver, right?"
Goldenstar nodded.
"I assume she's a great mother?"
Goldenstar nodded again. "She's a fantastic one."
"That's what I assume," Secretfaith murmured and avoided his gaze for a few heartbeats. "Goldenstar…don't you wish things could've been the way they were?"
"What do you mean?" Goldenstar asked, but of course he knew what she meant.
"Like how things were back in the old territories, when we used to play during the night," Secretfaith explained. "Our friendship could've grown stronger and more beautiful if you hadn't broken you paw or those disaster hadn't occurred…we could've become more than friends."
Goldenstar's ears grew hot and he quickly glanced around to make sure no one was eavesdropping on them.
Of course! If none of those things hadn't happened…then we could've become mates and maybe even have kits! But…I'm loyal to Leapingriver.
"Secretfaith…" Goldenstar began. "I am Clan leader and I have a lot of responsibilities to everyone in my Clan. I can't dwell on the past or previous relationships anymore. Besides…I have Leapingriver and my kits, and I wouldn't trade them away for anything. Perhaps in a different timeline or reality we could've had a relationship or even a future…but I don't want what happened to my mother and her brothers happen to me or my family."
Secretfaith nodded slowly and starred at her paws.
Goldenstar glanced around one more time and leaned closer to her. "But sometimes…I do think about it, and a small part of my heart wishes for that reality," he whispered into her ear.
Secretfaith let out a purr as Goldenstar leaned away.
Goldenstar looked around and noticed that MeadowClan and ThistleClan have left. "I must lead my Clan home, now. I hope we can meet again."
Secretfaith purred and waved her tail. "I'll see you around, then, Goldenstar." With that, she left with her tail high in pride towards her family.
Goldenstar watched her go until Leapingriver gently shouldered his flank.
"Ready to go, minnow-brain?" Leapingriver purred.
"Of course; we don't want WaterfallClan to be known as the chatty ones," Goldenstar purred and raised his tail for his Clanmates to follow him out of the Gathering place.
"We don't want that to happen; that title belongs to RowanClan!" Leapingriver joked and brushed her flank against his.
Of course, Goldenstar loved his mate and was grateful for everything she did, from supporting his leadership to giving him four beautiful kits, but a small part of his heart will forever belong to Secretfaith.
Tap. Tap. Scratch. Tap.
Tap. Scratch. Tap. Tap. Tap.
Scratch. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Scratch.
Goldenstar sleepily raised his head from his next. Next to him, Leapingriver was fast asleep, curled up against his side.
He paused for a moment, listening, and then lowered his head to sleep once more.
Scratch! Tap. Tap.
The sound was much louder than before. And closer.
Goldenstar let out a sigh and got to his paws. He let out a yawn and stretched his back. He slowly padded towards the entrance of his den and peered outside. He expected to see a cat padding towards the dirt tunnel, but instead he saw eight large blobs scrounging the camp. One blob went towards the apprentices' den and the scent of the blobs suddenly hit Goldenstar's nose.
Dogs!
Goldenstar didn't need to shout a warning, because a scream was heard from the apprentices' den and a gray and white mutt with a curly tail had Quailpaw by the scruff.
"Quailpaw!" Goldenstar yowled, alerting the entire camp and the dogs. Warriors poured out of their dens, wide-eyed at their leader's yowl and by the strong scent of dog in their camp. "Dogs! Defend the nursery!"
Goldenstar leapt down into the clearing and, before he could get to the mutt holding his son, a familiar mottled golden-brown mutt reared in his face. Goldenstar hissed and quickly slashed across the mutt's muzzle. It reared back and let out a growl. Pineheart quickly tackled the dog from the side and it fell to the ground.
Goldenstar used his chance to leap unto Stonecleft and survey the camp. A small white dog was surrounded by Fallspaw, Springpaw, Shadowpaw and Splashheart.
The black and silver mutt had Nightstrike and Moonshine digging their claws into its back with Cliffjumper dashing around and nipping its legs.
A light brown female was being attacked by Otterwhisker and Ryeleaf. The black female shoved the two cats to the side to stand by her fellow dog friend. Ryeleaf and Otterwhisker quickly got to their paws with Feathershade, Mousethorn, and Splashheart next to them.
A russet male and a ginger female were slowly backing away from the angry Privetdrop, Leapingriver, Meltingice, and Tallstalk. The four cats hissed and spat at the orange mutts.
The mottled brown male was being taken care of by Pineheart, Stalkshine, Reedleg, and Auburnwhisker. Pineheart leapt forward and slashed his claws against the mutt's already wounded face. Stalkshine and Reedleg hissed while Auburnwhisker raked his claws against the mutt's legs.
The gray and white male with Quailpaw in its jaws was standing in the clearing. Cloudedsky and Moonshadow were slowly stalking it when the black and silver mutt let out a bark. The gray and white male nodded and dashed out of the camp with the young apprentice in its jaws. The other dogs began to back away and retreat after their companion.
"Moonshadow, organize a patrol to follow them!" Goldenstar ordered.
The Clan deputy nodded and turned towards the cats. He quickly scanned the ones who were barely injured and fast on their paws. "Auburnwhisker, Reedleg, Tallstalk, and Moonshine, go!"
The four cats nodded and took off after the retreating mutts.
It was time to get to the bottom of this.