HhannAa: " It was only then, that he realised how volatile his heart was."
dot dot dot
Echopaw: "That's it?"
HhannAa: "What else am I supposed to say? Im blanking right now."
Splashpaw: "Shh! Dancing With the Stars is on!"
HhannAa: "Oh brother!"
Bluestar: "So...messing with prophecies are ya HhannAa?" *hisses*
HhannAa *lookes pointedly away* "Noooo...CHAPTEER!"
SPLASHPAW POV
Bramblestar gave a quick motion of his tail and led the designated cats out of camp. The moon shun full and bright, but something about its wavering contour made Splashpaw feel like it was inconsistent;
like it could vanish in a quick flutter of her eyes. Because she was so afraid it would disappear, Splashpaw forgot to look ahead and instead planted her eyes on the moon. Little after, she ran right
into Lionblaze's behind.
"I'm so sorry!" Splahspaw felt her fur grow hot immediately as the older warrior looked back at her.
"It's fine. Just watch where you're heading." the ginger cat mewed before hurrying ahead to speak with Cinderheart.
"We're going to a Gathering! Can you believe it!" her brother's voice drew Splahpaw back to the present.
"Yeah. You said the same thing about us becoming apprentices. Why won't you just believe it already and stop pestering me for once?" Splashpaw turned to throw and aggravated glance at Echopaw
but the pain in his eyes stopped her short.
"I'm sorry," she sighed, "I didn't mean that. It's just…."
"The moon." he finished her sentence with such comprehension that Splahspaw shivered.
"Exactly. It just feels like it'll disappear."
"It won't. But it might be hidden."
"What do you mean?" her brother could be so mysterious sometimes, it spooked her.
"Well…you remember how Cinderheart told us there was battle the day we were born? Well all four clans were involved in it. Do you really think the Gathering tonight will be peaceful at all?"
Splashpaw shook her head. "How do you know all that?"
Echopaw just shrugged."C'mon! I smell WindClan!" all the young sounds flashed back into Echopaw's voice and Splashpaw could not help but run after her brother.
IN STARCLAN
A pretty tortoiseshell sighed as she turned her back on the view through the clouds. The clans were all sending their best warriors to the Gathering, along with some apprentices as to not arouse any
suspicions.
"You cannot help what is to be destined." an older voice sounded and Spottedleaf turned to set her eyes on Yellowfang.
"Maybe so, but was it right to lie to them so many times?"
"We only lied to one Clan, and we had our reasons. The only reason you care so much is because you used to be in -"
"Don't say it." Spottedleaf snapped with such ferocity, Yellowfang flinched, "Sorry. But its still wrong."
"We didn't tell them a complete lie. The Three do exist. Thunderclan has just assumed about their identities."
"But how can we possible explain Doveflight, Lionblaze and Jayfeather's powers?"
"You know as well as I do that those powers don't really belong to them. They belong to-"
"But do you think they will truly accept to surrender their powers? It is wrong to tempt Jayfeather with full sight if he renders his powers."
"Are you suggesting…?"
"We have to leave the Three be the ones they are now."
"Lionblaze, Doveflight and Jayfeather?"
"Of course."
"What about-" Yellowfang was interrupted by Spottedleaf.
"Trust me. This one time."
"Fine. But Bluestar wont like it one bit."
ECHOPAW POV
Echopaw was the last one to jump onto the slippery bark of the fallen tree-bridge. Often his paws slipped and his claws failed to get a hold on the smooth bark, but he eventually made it to the firm
sandy ground of the island. A sigh of relief shook through his entire body, but the wave did not last long as some loud mewing reached his ears.
"Firestar was killed, yet you think that it was our fault?"
"Who's been messing with the borders? Not Shadowclan! It was Thunderclan; those cats think they're on top of the stars!" the white cat was hissing and with a jolt, Echopaw noticed that all clans
were present, designated cats were gathered around the four leaders. Claws were unsheathed.
"Blackstar- this is a Gathering, we shouldn't be fighting." Bramblestar mewed with a heavy sigh, trying to be passive, but he seemed on the verge of breaking into a howling fight.
"Says the puny new leader." Mistystar sneered and Bramblestar growled at her.
"Back off fish-breath!" Squirrelflight came growling, Flamepaw not far behind her. Bramblestar lashed his tail as a sign for his mate and kit to calm down. Echopaw thought he was right. Thunderclan
should wait until the other clans lashed out first- they couldn't afford getting accused of yet more wrong.
"Really, Bramblestar is right-" the quiet mew came from Littlecloud.
"Hush you!" Blackstar growled so firecly, Echopaw shrunk back behind his sister.
"What if they start fighting?" he whimpered. He knew as many fighting moves as the un-born kits in Ivytail's belly. Sorreltail hadn't had the time to teach him anything yet!
"I don't know! You were the one with all the answers!" Splashpaw shot back and scrambled closer to him.
"I guess there is no need for a Gathering tonight." Onestar started.
"Of course Windclan would want to dodge a fight. Those cats are all so skinny they could not hold up in a fight against a kit!" Mistystar snarled at the Windclan leader.
The latter gathered his hauches and in a lightning move, struck a blow at Mistystar, lashing powerful claws at her muzzle. Blood poured out, staining the sand at her paws.
"Oh dear Starclan help us." Echopaw heard Jayfeather mutter, and wondered how the blind medicine cat had realised what had transpired.
Suddenly Echopaw felt a sharp jab in his side.
"What?" he hissed at Splashpaw.
"The moon! It's gone!" she nearly wailed.
Echopaw opened his mouth to speak but another mew came first.
"Don't worry. It'll come back. Just stay calm and don't get into any trouble." Cinderheart wrapped her tail around her kits briefly before padding away to stand beside Bramblestar.
"Is that….Berrynose?" Echopaw whispered as he notcied a familiar pair of amber eyes creeping their way to Cinderheart's back. His claws glinted in the complete darkness.
"Cinderheart!" Echopaw sprung to his paws and pelted his way to Berrynose.
In mid-stride, he leaped into the air and unsheathed his claws, having no clue what he was doing. Taking advantage of the surprise, Echopaw landed on Berrynose's back and sunk his teeth into the
pale cat's scruff while raking his claws down his back.
"Get off of my back you mouse brained kit!" Berrynose exclaimed as he expertly threw Echopaw off in half a move, sending him flying off to land roughly on the hard ground.
"You fox-heart, that's my kit you just threw to the floor!" Lionblaze snarled and threw himself at Berrynose.
The two older cats started fighting with tooth and claw. Bramblestar attempted to stop them, but Blackstar started attacking him. Then all the cats threw themselves into a battle. This time there was
no alliance with any cat. In complete darkness, it would have been impossible to tell which cat was whom anyway.
"Splashpaw! Help me!" Echopaw yelled, his virtually blind eyes leaving him only whiskers to help guide him.
"Ouf! Watch it!" a mew sounded as Echopaw felt a soft body beneath his paws.
"W-who are you?" he stuttered, afraid that he had trudged over another clan cat's tail.
"Jitterpaw." the she-cat mewed fearfully, "please help me. Blackstar-"
"Leave me alone!" at this point, Echopaw could have been scared of a mouse.
He pelted away, his mind whirling. How could he help a Shadowclan cat? Apprentice or not- that cat was part of a clan Thunderclan could never forgive. Despite himself, Echopaw glanced back at
Jitterpaw. She was so small, she looked like she belonged in the nursery still. His heart heavy, Echopaw veered off his track and ran back to the she-cat.
"What's wrong?" he asked hurriedly.
Jitterpaw's eyes were huge and afraid, Echopaw was almost glad he had come back for her- how else would she have survived in the mist of fighting bodies? Even he could not tell which cats were
Thunderclan anymore.
"Not here. But please, help me!" Jitterpaw wailed.
"Alright. I know place- but be quiet." he signalled with his tail for Jitterpaw to follow him as he snuck out, running to the tree-bridge. He could hear Jittperpaw following closely.
"Oh dear, what am I doing bringing a Shadowclan cat into my territory, leaving my kin and clanmates to fight with one less set of claws?" Echopaw muttered and ran faster.