This is Chapter 13! I got 5 reviews since the last update, which was entertaining…In the case of Sparrowpaw's killer, none of you are right!!! You'll have to keep guessing (but even if you get the correct answer I'll just say no!).
Laughing Rain: Well, if that's the case, then Sol has not yet met Midnight (nor, I don't think he will in my story…)
Nianque: I will not answer any of those types of questions because it would ruin everything!!
Avatar: It was neither Ashstar nor Hawkfrost! :P But it was definitely a cat. Thanks, I feel bad for leaving you on a cliffie for so long!
~Jill~: yes, Stonewhisker has found happiness (for the moment). I like evil cliffies! I am almost as bad as Vicky Holmes!! Lol!
Goldenclaw: awww, thank you!
This is from Crowstar's POV!
Happy Reading, from Leopardstorm!
Chapter 13 – Gatherings and All-out War!
The shocking murder of Sparrowpaw and the loss of Tawnypelt's kit had rocked the whole of the Clan. Life was silent for a long time, and for some strange reason, many people would avoid the medicine den if Cinderpelt wasn't around.
I had taken a walk and sat down on the Wind Moors, where I felt most at home. I felt the breeze run through my fur, but not like it did normally, when it felt like I was carefree, but it was rubbing it the wrong way, and made me aggravated and anxious.
When I had visions of EarthClan's future, I had not expected such a feared Clan to rival us, and hide in the shadows. We still didn't know where they're territory was; they always seemed to be first at Gatherings, and always the last to leave. If that was their tactic, to scare cats by being very secretive about their whereabouts, it was certainly working! Cats jumped at a mouse scurrying around, or a cracking twig. It was claw to kill!
Sitting on these moors had also engaged my brain in thinking who killed a young apprentice, nearly killed a queen and took three mewling kits, while a new warrior was on vigil? They must have been very brave, but they picked just the right moment; when a queen had left her kits momentarily, and next, they were gone. It was made so much easier for the attacker that Tawnypelt left them at night.
However, we scented no DarkClan scent, either that or it was covered up by the overpowering smell of EarthClan camp. And if it wasn't a DarkClan camp - and it didn't seem likely that it would be ForestClan – their camp was along way from here – then it must have been a cat from EarthClan. We accepted a traitor into our Clan! I thought in horror.
I must return and talk to my senior warriors about this. I trudged on through the Greenleaf rain, splashing through puddles and splattering my pelt with sticky mud. But this was much more important than a dirty pelt. I carried on regardless as I reached the thorn barrier. What I saw inside had shocked me.
Every pair of eyes in the Clan was staring mutinously at a little black cat by the small opening of a cave. I follow the direction of their stares and see Nightpaw, the new medicine cat apprentice, looking at his paws miserably. Are they blaming him?! That wasn't fair – ok, I think that the traitor is in EarthClan, but we haven't found a shred of evidence that it was him!
"Let-" I was about to call the gathering call, but all the cats were already gathered around the GorgeRock.
I cleared my throat, "why are you staring at Nightpaw so mutinously?" I demanded hotly.
"Well it's obvious," Ferncloud retorted tartly. "He did all this, you saw him. Muddy pelt, water everywhere, late for the gathering we had last night, it has to be him!"
"And what actual, physical proof do you have of this happening?"
"Er…um…" Ferncloud was at a loss as she stared at her paws, her eyes conceding.
"Excatly," I yowled. "We have no proof that Nightpaw, or any cat in the Clan killed Sparrowpaw and took the kits. So while Nightpaw is innocent until proven guilty, you must treat him normally. Is that understood?" I glared at my Clan, even my closest friends. They nodded weakly, bemused by my outburst.
"Good," I turned my back on the band of cats. "I would like to talk to my senior warriors now."
As I walked into the den, a noticed that a rabbit was on the floor, and the moss had been changed. I turned back, and Brambleclaw, Squirrelflight, Stormfur and Leafpool had sat down, Squirrelflight nosing the rabbit.
"You can have it Squirrelflight," I said dully. "But I think I that a cat from this Clan was definitely behind this."
The rest of the congregation nodded gravely.
"It's the Gathering tonight," Brambleclaw commented, then asked, "are you going to say anything to the other leaders?"
"I've got to really, even if they didn't have anything to do with this…"
While the five cats talked, little did they know, that in the forest behind them, two cats were also meeting in the forest.
It was too dark to tell the fur colour, and they were in the shadows, concealed from any cat passing by.
"You have done well…" the first cat, a tom, mewed to his accomplice.
"It was so easy. The stupid tortoiseshell leaving her kits alone, even more stupid leaving them in the dark." The second cat had a higher tone, she was a most probably a she-cat.
"Now, you know what you must do next…" the tom continued.
"Yes, yes, I must start befriending the rest of the Clan, and make sure it looks like that I certainly didn't do it. That won't be so hard, I already have many friends…" the she-cat trailed off.
"Really?" the tom mewed. "Cos at the last Gathering, I remember you seeing you all on your own at the Gathering. If I was to judge it on that, you're gonna have a lot of work to do, sunshine!"
The she-cat couldn't answer, just looked at the floor.
"Just remember our aim; gain total control of all Clans. Remember who's side you're on." The tom mewed as he started to walk away, leaving the she-cat feeling utterly alone.
-x-
The island was full as we finally got onto the tree-bridge. ForestClan and DarkClan were looking at us expectantly, waiting for the Gathering to start. The Clan started to file out as I jumped onto the calling branch.
Firestar cleared his throat, "welcome cats of all Clans to tonight's Gathering. Ashstar how about we start with you?"
Ashstar nodded as he walked out further to address the audience, "DarkClan has prospered over the last moon. Greenleaf has been kind to us, as the prey is running all over our territory. That is all." He stood back to let Firestar speak.
"The last moon has also been good to us. Twolegs have moved in their greenpelts again, and are taking up some prey-less space around the lake. They are no threat to us today." He nodded and let me talk.
"We have been hit hard by recent events," I started. The Clan's looked at me more intently as I continued. "Sparrowpaw was killed a few nights ago, while guarding the camp and the nursery. As she was killed, the attacker also took Tawnypelt's three kits, and they are nowhere to be found. If I have found that a different Clan has been behind this attack, we swear by StarClan that they will find out what happens when they mess with us."
"Well it wasn't us," Ashstar said sheepishly, like a naughty kit.
"You know that we wouldn't do anything like that, Crowstar," Firestar dipped his head. "But if somebody from my Clan has been involved in this attack, you'll be the first to know."
I nodded in acceptance. "Are you willing to say the same, Ashstar?" I asked hotly.
"Yeah, maybe," he shrugged nonchalantly. This comment made my ears burn.
"Do you not care that an apprentice has been killed, and three kits are missing?!" I yowled in sheer terror.
"Well it's nothing to do with me…" he shrugged again.
I jumped down from my branch in frustration and anger. "If I've found out that you are behind this, you'll wish that DarkClan never even existed!"
There was a silence. I flicked my tail, "Come on EarthClan, we're going home!"
My cats filed out silently as the other cats looked on in shock. I meant what I had said. This must reach an end before it goes out of our control.
So that's the end of Chapter 13. Now that you know that neither Ashstar nor Hawkfrost killed Sparrowpaw, please tell me who you think it is…
From Leopardstorm!