Author's Note: Another rapid update dedicated to redwolf is in order, hm? I think so too XD Answer to the one review from redwolf that I got (Only 1 review? A little daunting, but still...I do enjoy reviews! Reviews are great, so if you have any friends who like warriors ask them to read Heart of Clover first if they haven't read it and then this story please!):
Redwolf: I hope you enjoy your vacation! Yes, Leafkit has a very...'fiery' personality as Lark's Song put it when she made up the kits. Honeysong, whom Lark's Song also made up, was quite mean but only because Leafkit destroyed some rare watermint. Hopefully, this update will please you, though it is slightly or quite a lot longer than the other chapters because I have...Quite a lot of inspiration for Cloverkit.
By the way, in case anyone hasn't noticed, I added in Racingkit for Brooksong's kits.
The full moon was rising and WillowClan warriors were getting ready for the gathering. Cloverkit peeped out of the nursery, reeling slightly in shock as the gust of ice cold wind blew in her face. She blinked her green eyes before sneaking out of the nursery and crouching down at a patch of ferns that hid her from view. Beside her, Sweetkit was pacing up and down, whiskers twitching as she pondered on what she should do for her next prank. Sweetkit suddenly stiffened, making Cloverkit glance at her in surprise.
"What's wrong Sweetkit? Have our Clanmates scented us?" Cloverkit mewed, worry in her voice while fear-scent came from her in rapid waves.
"Keep your fur on Cloverkit! No, I just thought of the most brilliant idea ever! Skip my earlier plan about heading to WillowClan and PineClan's border to splash in the stream...I've got an even better idea!" Sweetkit snapped.
Cloverkit quivered at the harsh tone of Sweetkit.
"But Sweetkit! I really wanted to go to the stream...Oh well. So, what's your new plan?" Cloverkit replied, annoyed that Sweetkit had so rapidly changed their adventure scheme.
Sweetkit's blue eyes sparkled as she answered, "We'll go to the gathering, jump onto the High-branch and announce that you are now Cloverwish, deputy of WillowClan, and that I'm Sweetstar, the new leader of WillowClan! Sounds good, right? Of course, we'll need to go now so that we will arrive before the rest of WillowClan, but if your too scared..." Sweetkit let her voice trail off so that it sounded like she was taunting Cloverkit.
"Great idea! I'm so lucky that you're my friend Sweetkit, and not Birdkits or Leafkits! I'm not scared, I am Cloverwish!" Cloverkit meowed, nodding determinedly.
Sweetkit let a sly smirk appear on her face whilst Cloverkit...Um, Cloverwish wasn't looking, but plastered a fake grin on herself instead as she turned to Cloverkit and signalled with her sweeping tail towards the bramble barrier, signifying that they should leave now. Together, they snuck past Brooksong's mate, Flickerfire, who was already looking sleepy. He wouldn't be at the gathering tonight. With that success, they raced through the undergrowth, Sweetkit confidently while Cloverkit was more hesitant since she had never explored the territory before whereas it certainly looked as if Sweetkit had! They reached the clearing in the middle of the Clan's shared forest in good timing since only PineClan and BirdClan had arrived. Two leaders were already crouched on the High-branch; one was a large ginger tom with flashing yellow eyes, the other a silver tabby she-cat with blue eyes. Cloverkit gazed up at them in amazement. She was so lucky to have come, since Birdkit, Leafkit would have to wait another two moons, and Windkit, Riverkit, Shadowkit and Racingkit, her younger siblings, would have to wait 4 moons! Sweetkit nudged her and whispered that she must go onto High-branch now, before WillowClan came. So, proudly walking out of the bushes, Cloverkit started to pad up to the High-branch with many confused gazes of cats fixed on her.
"Hey, what's the WillowClan she-cat doing here? She doesn't look old enough to be an apprentice!" Ravenshadow of PineClan muttered to Darkheart of BirdClan, and Darkheart nodded, puzzlement and annoyance on his face.
"Look at that kit! Why is she here while the rest of her Clan aren't? Isn't it against the Warrior Code to let kits out of their Clan's camp until they're six full moons?" Lightfeather, muttered to a bunch of BirdClan warriors; Lillysnow, Nightfrost, Thunderpaw, Runningshade and Wolfspirit, who all either nodded or looked freaked out or worried.
Jumping up onto the High-branch, Cloverkit stood up in between the two leaders who quite frankly, looked amused, furious and slightly worried at the same time.
"Hello, little one, what are you doing here and what is your name?" The silver tabby she-cat asked softly, gazing down at the tiny kit.
The tom growled slightly before fixing his gaze on the cats below that were staring up, listening. The tom obviously was trying to ignore the conversation.
"I'm Cloverwish, the new deputy of WillowClan! Right beside you, is WillowClan's new leader, Sweetstar!" Cloverkit squeaked, thrusting out her chest proudly.
Surprised, and very annoyed, the slender she-cat turned around to look at...Thin air. Hissing inwardly, she turned back to 'Cloverwish'.
"You say that Sweetstar is there, but I only see thin air. Do you have a slight mouse-brained problem, kit?" The tom hissed.
Before Cloverkit could answer, the WillowClan cats that were chosen for the gathering, sprinted in. Brooksong was right behind Flameheart, the deputy. Oakstar, the leader, was too stiff to attend the gathering, so Flameheart, the flame ginger she-cat with green eyes was taking his place.
"Cloverkit! There you are! We've been worried sick, looking for you! You should be sleeping in the nursery right now!" Brooksong yowled, looking harassed.
"Apparently, Cloverkit thinks that she is 'Cloverwish', deputy of WillowClan. Cloverkit has also made up a cat by the name of 'Sweetstar', stating that she is WillowClan's new leader." The silver she-cat snarled angrily at Flameheart, who had carefully placed Cloverkit down beside Brooksong and had taken her place beside the she-cat leader.
"Well, Cloverstar, you obviously don't know a lot about kits. However, this isn't very surprising is it? Since your own kits, Willowkit, Twistedkit and Dawnkit all died of an illness. Well, please let me inform you that kits usually sneak off and like to make up cats and call themselves leaders and deputies of Clans." Flameheart replied icily, making Cloverstar wince at the topic of her dead kits that had only been alive for five sun-rises.
"Enough. As leader of BirdClan, I announce that this gathering has started." The large ginger tom, Birdstar meowed coldly yet loudly.
Down by the shadows of a tall oak tree, Brooksong was licking of the dust in Cloverkit's fur.
"I can't believe, that you, quiet little Cloverkit could do such a thing! I would have been surprised if you had enough courage to even put a paw out of camp! Now, if it was your brothers, Leafkit or Birdkit it would be extremely easy to believe, but really Cloverkit!" Brooksong meowed sounding exceedingly surprised, between licking Cloverkit's shiny silver fur.
The words stung Cloverkit.
I can prove that I'm just as brave as my littermates! I don't need to be quiet, little, usually nervous Cloverkit, mother! Cloverkit thought angrily, her ears twitching as Brooksong's rough tongue glided over them.
"As for your punishment, Cloverkit...You are not allowed to leave the nursery for two sunrises! Hopefully, this will be enough to teach you that you aren't allowed to sneak out of camp!" Brooksong declared as soon as she had finished cleaning Cloverkit's fur.
Shooting her best death glare at Sweetkit, Cloverkit gave a bitter sigh. It was so unfair that Sweetkit, who was sitting right beside Brooksong, didn't get punished too! It was all Sweetkit's idea! When the gathering ended, all the Clans headed back to their own territories, to their own camps, Cloverkit being carried by Brooksong. The clearing was empty but a strange mew declared the following words.
While The Doors remain Closed, and Unknown Friends are still wrapped in Mystery, The Crushed Clover will stand Alone...