Chapter 6
A day had passed since Nettlesplash had given birth. Willowcloud had gone in to visit with Mistybird and Sparrowpaw, only to see what the kits looked like. Nettlesplash had named them Goldenkit and Foxkit after debating over a long list of names. Goldenkit had an unusual ginger tail, that seemed similar to the appearance of a cat that Willowcloud couldn't remember. Foxkit had dark ginger fur and a white chest when Nettlesplash had turned her over.
After that nothing exciting had really happened. Willowcloud found herself bored stiff when she waited to hear who would be going to the Gathering. She knew that Thornstar wouldn't likely choose her. What bothered her was that Ghostwind would likely go.
Fear had wormed it's way into Willowcloud's belly after his first warning had gone unnoticed. Her own brother had threatened to kill her if she leaked out any of his secrets. She wasn't sure whether or not he was bluffing, but after witnessing Graystar's death, she knew what he was capable of. Death followed Ghostwind where he went. She was certain that if he wanted to, he would kill every cat in the Clan who didn't trust him.
"What are you so worried about?" Willowcloud stiffened when she heard Spiderfur speak. The dark brown tabby was sitting near the fresh-kill pile, eying her curiously. "You look like you've seen a cat from StarClan."
You're just one of Ghostwind's followers, Willowcloud snarled silently. She knew that Spiderfur and Ghostwind were close. They acted like brothers rather than best friends. She wondered if Spiderfur knew what his 'friend' had done to Graystar. Maybe that would change Spiderfur's view on the younger tom.
"Willowcloud, can I speak with you?" Willowcloud whirled around when she heard Thornstar speak. Her eyes widened when she saw that he was standing near the Oaktree. His yellow eyes were dark with something other than confidence as he padded into the hollowed area. She quickly followed him, unsure of how to react to his question. Worry edged it's way into her when she saw him sitting in the back of his den. Had she done something wrong? "I wanted to let you know that you're going to the Gathering tonight," Thornstar meowed once she was settled in. Her eyes widened once more in disbelief. "I know that I was considering taking Ghostwind but…after everything that has happened, I'd rather not take chances."
"Why do you expect me to believe you?" Willowcloud demanded bitterly. All of her fear was beginning to show, and she wasn't too fond of it. Thornstar would see through it and know that something was wrong. "All you have ever done was put me in my place…and treat Ghostwind like he's the savior of our Clan."
"Only because I know what I have seen," Thornstar rasped. "Above the willow tree is a wave of destruction…I know that this has something to do with you. You are to destroy the Clans." His yellow eyes gleamed with anger when he glared at her.
Willowcloud took a step back, startled by the ferocity in his voice. "A vision?" she gasped. "And what makes you think I'm the reason behind the destruction? I…." She broke off when she realized where this was going. If another cat heard her they would likely tell Ghostwind, and she knew that wouldn't end well.
Thornstar was staring at her challengingly, as if daring her to question his authority. When she was an apprentice she would have been more than happy to snap at him. Now she knew that it would only get her in more trouble. The LeafClan leader was determined to prove her wrong. He continued glaring at her when she backed out of the den. His taunting look made her hackles stand on end as she found herself standing back in the clearing.
What in StarClan's name just happened? she wondered when she stood by the fresh-kill pile. She glared at the ground, suddenly wishing all of her hate for Thornstar could erupt at once. If she could she would throw that hate at Ghostwind.
She ignored the stares of her Clanmates as she padded towards the medicine cat's den. Her thoughts were still churning when she nearly ran into Sparrowpaw. The dark gray apprentice's eyes widened in fear when she locked gazes with Willowcloud. Sympathy coursed through Willowcloud as she held her sister's gaze. None of that fear would have showed had Ghostwind kept his mouth shut.
"I'm scared," Sparrowpaw whimpered. "Ghostwind wants me to make more false signs."
"False signs?" Willowcloud gaped at Sparrowpaw for a few heartbeats until she understood what that meant. "He's trying to manipulate the Clan!" She forced her voice to remain quiet, though it was hard. Keen ears would have picked up what they were talking about had any cats been around at the time.
"I did it when he first told me to become a medicine cat," Sparrowpaw explained once they were out of ear-shot. Willowcloud had dragged her away from the clearing so that they could talk more openly. Less ears would be listening near the dirtplace. "Ghostwind promised me that I would feel important somehow. That's what Mistybird wanted for us. I…I didn't know any better!"
"Sparrowpaw, why didn't you tell me?" Willowcloud demanded. She felt more anger rush over her as she thought of ways to punish the brother that could have cared less about his siblings.
"I was scared," Sparrowpaw admitted. "I…I didn't want you or Mistybird dragged into it. So I was forced to make a false sign for him. He told me to make it look like he would lead the Clan into greatness, or whatever that means."
So that's why Thornstar reveres him so much, Willowcloud thought with a lash of her tail. Ghostwind was plotting from the day he was a newborn kit. No wonder the rest of the Clan looks up to him. Thornstar is nothing more than a toy to Ghostwind.
"Willowcloud, there's something else you should know," Sparrowpaw added when her sister was about to leave. Willowcloud turned to face her, eyes narrowed into tiny slits. "Ghostwind wanted me to make a false sign that made you look bad. He told me that you were competition, since you are also Boulderstar's daughter."
Shock made Willowcloud's limbs feel numb. She stared at Sparrowpaw in disbelief until a yowl sounded from nearby. Sparrowpaw flinched at the noise and quickly raced over towards the source of it. Willowcloud watched as she greeted Ruststripe, whose eyes were narrowed when she whispered something to him. Ruststripe gave a quick nod before disappearing back into his den.
Willowcloud was surprised that Ruststripe had not been able to figure it out. The medicine cat's keen eye normally caught on with what was happening. Now he seemed oblivious to Sparrowpaw's dilemma. She shook her head and tried to push the thoughts away. If she showed fear now Ghostwind would use it against her. It was likely that he would use just about anything to his advantage.
The Clan was getting ready for the Gathering by the time she recovered from the shock. Ghostwind had lingered near the warriors' den, looking agitated as he glared at his siblings who stood side-by-side. Willowcloud found herself smirking at him before Thornstar decided when to leave. The LeafClan leader glanced at Ghostwind sympathetically before returning his cold stare at Willowcloud. She didn't bother returning his gaze. She knew that everything he'd been told was a lie.
The group quickly made it's way through the forest, eager to get started with the full moon Gathering that always took place. The Gathering place itself was far from sacred. A large clearing where the Clans spoke to one another was located in the center of all three territories. Some had used it as shelter, while others avoided it for fear of angering StarClan.
She recalled the stories that the elders told while she was cleaning out their dens. Owlfeather, Icefeather's mother and Mistybird's grandmother had once told her that the founders of LeafClan, PebbleClan and DuskClan had been siblings. The three had fought over territory for so long that they forgot about the blood they shared. Eventually they grew bitter towards one another and had formed the Clans that were now in existence today.
Suddenly the scents of PebbleClan and DuskClan mingled in the air as they approached the clearing. Willowcloud's hackles rose when she saw that there were only a couple of PebbleClan warriors around the clearing. They cast anxious looks around their shoulders when they heard the approaching LeafClan cats. Amongst them were most of the DuskClan warriors. Willowcloud recognized the slim shape of Mothpaw as the apprentice weaved through the crowd. Rosefang was there as well, though she seemed to hide herself from prying eyes. Willowcloud wondered if she'd been punished for revealing such information that would have her Clan in trouble tonight.
The Clan suddenly flooded the clearing, engulfing the DuskClan warriors in their own scents as they merged with the crowd. Willowcloud found herself pushing aside a DuskClan warrior who spat at her crossly. Her ears flattened when she recognized Kestrelclaw, a fierce looking opponent.
"Watch your tail," Kestrelclaw snapped when he sped by to join another Clanmate.
Willowcloud blinked when she found herself alone once more. Mistybird had set off with Tawnywing and another friend to share tongues with some of the elders from DuskClan. Willowcloud glanced around, hoping some cat would offer some news about what was happening.
"Well, well, looks like the little apprentice managed to get here just fine." Rosefang's sneering voice made Willowcloud turn around to face her. "I was wondering when I would get the chance to show my gratitude for the new look." Her teeth bared as she revealed her badly scarred side. Willowcloud flinched at the sight. "That's right, I'm not so pretty now am I? It's all your fault!"
"How is it Willowcloud's fault?" Rosefang's eyes widened when another cat spoke up. Willowcloud was just as shocked to hear Sootclaw speak up. The dark gray tom approached them cautiously, tail curled with annoyance when he glared at Rosefang. "You're the one who decided to trespass on our territory," he snapped. "You should be thankful we had the guts to let you live." Rosefang flinched at his tone and turned away. Willowcloud felt a bubble of laughter rising in her chest. This was the first time she'd seen Rosefang's defensive posture deteriorate. Sootclaw glanced at his Clanmate and grinned. "No cat can harm my Clanmate," he meowed.
When she said nothing he merely flicked his tail and padded away. She was left alone once more, but this time she saw that Mothpaw was alone. By now Mothpaw could have received her warrior name. The ginger apprentice had once been her friend. She wondered if Mothpaw would remember that, or consider her an enemy.
"Mothpaw!" Willowcloud tried not to make a scene as she bounded over to the apprentice.
"What do you want?" Mothpaw demanded. "Are you gonna scar my face for life too?"
"No. I just…wanted to know if you received your warrior name yet," Willowcloud admitted. She ducked her head in embarrassment when Mothpaw glared at her.
"Of course I did," Mothpaw spat. "I'm Mothfire now. And that means I shouldn't associate with cats who I consider my enemy."
"Moth…Mothfire, I'm sorry about what happened to Rosefang." Guilt weighed down on Willowcloud's shoulder when she revealed the scars stretched across it. Mothfire's eyes widened in shock when she saw the scars. "She would have killed me if my Clanmates didn't stop her in time. She…deserved the punishment."
"I-I didn't realize it was that bad!" Mothfire squeaked. Her ears flattened in embarrassment when she shook her head. "Rosefang told me that you pinned her down at the border. You didn't give her a chance to explain herself."
"It seems we both need something to talk about," Willowcloud murmured.
Of course Rosefang would lie to her Clanmates, she thought angrily. She doesn't want her status to go down. If the Clan knew what she almost did to me, would that change things?
"I say it's time we got this Gathering started!" Rainstar's yowl made both Willowcloud and Mothfire look up in surprise. Disbelief swept over Willowcloud when she saw that no cat from PebbleClan stood on top of the hill. Rainstar's eyes glowed with satisfaction when silence followed her words. "I have more news than you do, Thornstar, so why don't you begin?" Rainstar suggested when Thornstar gaped at her.
"R-Right," Thornstar stammered. "All is well in LeafClan," he exclaimed. "We have two new warriors, Ghostwind could not make it, but Willowcloud is here." Yowls of congratulations rose among the LeafClan warriors, but only a few murmurs came from DuskClan. Willowcloud's ears flattened when Mothfire gave her a nudge. "Nettlesplash has given birth to her kits, and we have two new apprentices as well. That is all I have to share."
Rainstar dipped her head respectfully as she turned to face the waiting cats. "DuskClan is thriving under the new life that newleaf gives us. In fact, we have had too many mouths to feed, and too little territory. We have, under Swanfeather's orders, been given access to hunting in PebbleClan territory." Yowls of outrage quickly followed her words. Willowcloud winced when she heard several coming from LeafClan and PebbleClan. Only the DuskClan warriors remained silent. "Our Clans have chosen to combine under my leadership, seeing as no leader could be found after Graystar's sudden death. I would like to suggest that you do the same, Thornstar." Rainstar's eyes glittered when she watched the LeafClan leader stiffen under her gaze.
"I refuse to do such a thing," Thornstar snarled. The venom in his voice rose when Rainstar's tail waved for silence. "My Clan may be small in numbers, but our hearts are strong. When it comes to defending territory given to us by our ancestors, we will defend it with our lives."
"Than it is your lives that will pay the price," Rainstar meowed. Despite her calm composure, Willowcloud could tell that she was worried. If they were given the simplest of hopes, PebbleClan warriors might change their minds and side with LeafClan. "Of course, why don't you ask your Clanmates if they are willing to join me? I'm sure some of them are more than willing to give up their lives to join a Clan that will spare them."
"StarClan are angry!" The wail of an elder rose above the clamor. For once Willowcloud was thankful for their interference. She knew they would not want to combine the Clans, not when their lives were so different.
"This Gathering is over," Thornstar hissed when silence fell upon the clearing. He glared at Rainstar before pushing his way through the crowd. Willowcloud felt a chill run down her spine when she saw the look Rainstar gave her leader. She knew that this was far from over. This was only the beginning of the end.