Ah, here we go, another chapter.
I actually feel bad that Rabbitleap is still paying for his mistakes, but I guess he stands as the reason you shouldn't break the Code, huh? Bad things haunt you.
10. A Gathering of all four Clans is held at the full moon during a truce that lasts for the night. There shall be no fighting among Clans at this time.
Rabbitleap watched as a full moon was barely visible through the pines. He knew the Gathering was tonight. He didn't want to go, honestly. Ever since Softpaw, who he knew was now known as Softface, he would make up excuses not to go. Usually he would say he was unwell. But tonight, if Mottlestar announced his name, he would face his mistake of trusting her. That is, if she was there. Thinking about their confrontation filled him with both anger and a sickening feeling that how he use to be was what brought him where he was today. As cats gathered around hazel branch, Mottlestar made his announcement.
"Tonight's gathering, I will be accompanied by Willowshade, Longfur, Beepaw, Wildpelt, Rabbitleap, and Hollowstrike." His confident gaze swept through the crowd of cats. "We will be heading out soon enough, so get ready."
With that the meeting was over and a rock formed in Rabbitleap's belly. He wanted to run up to Mottlestar and say he was ill, but he knew he had to do this. Wildpelt bounded up next to Rabbitleap, his pale green eyes shining.
"We finally get to go to a Gathering together! Isn't that great?" The brown tabby purred.
"Yeah." Rabbitleap lied as he faked a purr. He wasn't looking forward to this.
"I'm going to tell Hazelear goodbye real quick, okay?"
"Okay..." With that his friend was gone. He took a deep breath as he waited for the group to leave fr the Gathering. Every heart-beat felt like seasons until Mottlestar finally gathering the selected warriors, apprentice, his deputy, and his medicine cat. Rabbitleap payed no attention to what Mottlestar was saying, or what anyone was saying, during the walk to the island. All he could hear was his heart thudding in his ears. He almost didn't notice Wildpelt was talking to him until the messy-furred tom nudged him, making the cream and brown warrior jump.
"Hey, are you okay?" His eyes flickered with concern. Rabbitleap gave a shaky nod.
"Y-yeah. Just taking in how odd it'll be to not see ThunderClan in battle." It wasn't the full truth, but he was sure it'd tame his friend's curiosity. Wildpelt gave an encouraging purr.
"They're not all annoying furballs. Flamefoot is a cool warrior. He doesn't agree with Yellowstar's way of leading and..." Rabbitleap started to zone Wildpelt out again as he realized Yellowstar would be there too. He almost wanted to start running back to camp, but he knew it was getting too late for that as the fallen log to the island came into view. He felt maggots squirm in his belly at the thought of facing both she-cats. As he slowly zoned back into the conversation, he realized Wildpelt had gone quiet and that it was Mottlestar who started talking.
"Now, things are very tense between us and ThunderClan. I don't want any of you bringing up Mumbletail or Echostar with the intentions of getting ShadowClan in trouble. Right now we have to keep our reputation strong in one of our weakest hours. I know well that the other Clans look down on us like code-breaking killers, and if the other two Clans found out Mumbletail's blood was on a ShadowClan warrior's paws, we would have them against us, and as of right now, our lack of warriors restricts us from getting into any more fighting."
He's worried... Rabbitleap didn't blame him. He was worried, too. So, as the group of ShadowClan cats padded to where RiverClan and WindClan were already waiting, silnce stood between the warriors who padded behind Mottlestar. Up on the branch where the leaders stood were Gorsestar and Ashstar, who didn't even bother looking at each other. The tension between the two leaders were more then obvious.
"What's going on between them?" Rabbitleap whispered to Wildpelt.
"Gorsestar thinks Ashstar and her warriors are prey-stealers. Strangely enough, the warriors are getting along better then their leaders. Neither side agrees with their leader, or if they do, they're not showing it."
"So we're not the only one fighting..."
"Well, as far as I know they're not fighting yet." Before Rabbitleap could say anything, a silver tom with gray points called Wildpelt over.
"Wildpelt! Come here! I want you to meet my apprentice." The tom purred.
"Sure thing, Grayear!" Without a goodbye, Rabbitleap's den-mate bounded off towards the RiverClan cats. That's when Rabbitleap realized how alone he was. He had no friends from other Clans to talk to, he had no kin, or Clanmates that wanted to stick around. He found a seat for the Gathering and stayed there, shuffling his paws awkwardly. Now he regretted all those times he didn't go as an apprentice.
"I don't really like a lot of the cats from other Clans." A she-cat's voice caught his attention. He looked around to see a golden tabby tom sitting with a cream she-cat. He looked away quickly as anger surged through him as well as mixed emotions of regret and pain.
"Look, I know you think WindClan is the best, but it's not all the time that you can talk with cats from other Clans, Softface." Waspwing sighed. Quickly, Rabbitleap shut them out, digging his claws into the soft earth underneath him. He hated his choice to come here. He wanted to leave now and never return. As he looked towards the entrance, in hopes he could sneak back to camp, a golden pelt slipped into view, followed by the strong scent of other ThunderClan cats. ThunderClan had arrived and cats were gathering around where he was sitting. There was no way to escape now.
"Now that Yellowstar has arrived, let the Gathering begin." Ashstar announced as Yellowstar made her way to the branch. The ThunderClan leader shot the RiverClan cat a nasty look for starting before she was up with them, but said nothing. "RiverClan has been doing well. We've been enjoying our plentiful fish from the rivers." The last part was accompanied by a sharp glare at Gorsestar. Mottlestar was quick to go next.
"ShadowClan has been doing well. I was named deputy after we lost Wolfspirit, and Echostar passed away six suns ago to illness. But this doesn't mean ShadowClan isn't still strong. We are thriving. We have a new warrior with us, Rabbitleap."
"Rabbitleap! Rabbitleap!" Rabbitleap felt his pelt burned as ShadowClan and a few other cats cheered his name. He had completely forgotten that he was a recent warrior. His warrior ceremony felt like moons ago.
"That is all." Mottlestar dipped his head, and Gorsestar was next to make an announcement.
"Skypelt was blessed with two kits, Ashkit and Tinykit. There was a third, but she had been stillborn..." There was a quick moment of silence for the lost of a life that never had a chance. "Other then that, WindClan is doing fine." Rabbitleap's heart quickened as Yellowstar took her turn to speak.
"As you know, Mottlestar," Mottlestar's new name was hissed with malice, "we too have lost a great deputy. Mumbletail was murdered." The announced the last three words loudly and the warriors and apprentices watched in absolute silence. "Yes, you heard me, murdered. And by who? Those fox-hearted ShadowClan cats. They ambushed a patrol and struck him down with no mercy! Even after we called a truce-"
"That isn't true!" Rabbitleap found himself bristling as he objected to the golden leader's statement of a truce. Yellowstar's dark eyes narrowed on Rabbitleap. "Mumbletail was no hero either! He... He murdered a young apprentice in cold blood!"
"Why should anyone believe your lies? Every cat knows ShadowClan is known for making up stories to keep themselves out of trouble.
"I know he did!" Squeaked the small form of Beepaw. Anger laced his tone as the little tortoiseshell stepped into a clearing so he could be seen. "Mottlestar killed my brother, Shadepaw!"
"There's no way!" Bluewillow objected. "He would never have intentionally killed an apprentice!" The queen had her back arched and was ready for a fight. Soon the voices of ShadowClan cats and ThunderClan cats rose into yowls of protests against each other. In the blink of an eye, the bodies of cats were brawling, scratching, biting, kicking. Even a few RiverClan and WindClan cats joined in. Rabbitleap found himself in a tough fight against Quickfoot and Swallowpaw. Before Rabbitleap could lay a strike on Quickfoor, Swallowpaw bit his back leg hard and yanking it out from under him. He collapsed just to be pinned by Quickfoot. The tom looked like he was out for blood and just the anger in his eyes alone frightened Rabbitleap.
"Stop!" Right as Gorsestar and Ashstar's voices rang out the clouds that were covering the moon let out a ear-splitting rumble of thunder. The wind too had picked up as the rain started to fall from the darkened clouds. In the darkness StarClan created, white pelts looked almost gray.
"This Gathering is over." Ashstar spat, glaring at Yellowstar and Mottlestar before jumping down. "Let's go, RiverClan."
"Come on, WindClan."
"Let's get out of here." Yellowstar hissed. Waiting until ThunderClan left, Mottlestar finally announced their departure. Right as they passed into ShadowClan territory, Rabbitleap felt dizzy and like his pelt was on fire. He didn't notice he was lagging behind from the group. He could barely see Wildpelt's fuzzy outline before he collapsed onto the muddy ground.
Whelp, that seems like a nice place to end it.
So here's my question, do you think Rabbitleap speaking out against Yellowstar at the Gathering was justified? Tell me what you think and why.