Chapter Fifteen

Gathering

Gathering Island

Heart of the Forest

The CloudClan patrol arrives on Gathering Island first. Pollenfur is fretting about her missing Kits. "I should have brought Bouncekit with me."

"Don't worry, Spottedleaf, Thundershock, Miscellaneous, Silvermist, Shorttail, and Sparkynight will keep him safe, I am sure of it," soothed the Medicine Cat

"Don't worry; we will get Sunkit and Milkkit back tonight," added Nightstar.

"Thank you," said the black and white Queen. The WaterfallClan patrol arrives next and begins talking to their friends from CloudClan.

"Tigerpaw, it is so good to see you again!" said Cloverheart happily.

"Actually, I'm Tigerheart now."

"So Topazshine joined the Elders."

"No, she joined the Warriors so she can have at least one litter of Kits before she does join the Elders."

"Oh, I see," said Cloverheart sadly. Kinkpaw is talking to Nightwing and Moonpool.

"Nightpaw, Moonpaw, long time no see."

"Um, Kinkpaw, we're Warriors now." Kinkpaw's eyes begin to shine brightly.

"Really? What are your names?"

"I am Nightwing now."

"And I am Moonpool."

"I can't wait to receive my Warrior name; I want to be called Kinkclaw." Kinkpaw unsheathes her claws and shows the dangerously long curved claws. Shadowstar pads up behind Kinkpaw.

"You know, Kinkpaw, your Leader chooses your Warrior name for you," said Shadowstar. But maybe "Kinkclaw" will work for her since she has unusually long claws. Kinkpaw looks down sadly.

"Oh, right…" The SkyClan cats arrive next.

"Nightstar, Shadowstar, good to see you both in good health."

"Likewise," replied the CloudClan Leader.

"Agreed," the WaterfallClan Leader replied.

"Two of CloudClan's Kits were stolen five nights ago."

"Do you know who stole them and from which Clan?" asked Rainstar.

"It was Whiplash of SunClan."

"This is bad…" said Shadowstar. The SunClan Warriors arrive next.

"You will wait until the Gathering begins before you give those Kits back to Pollenfur," said Rollingstar.

"Are you trying to embarrass me?"

"Yes!" hissed the black Warrior's Leader. Rollingstar, Nightstar, Shadowstar, and Rainstar bound to the SkyRocks to await the arrival of LightClan and LeafClan. A few minutes pass and LightClan bounds onto the island closely followed by LeafClan.

"Are we late?" Whiskerstar bounds up to the SkyRocks.

"I don't think so," Redstar follows Whiskerstar.

"Nightstar would you like to go first?" asked the WaterfallClan Leader. Nightstar dips her head and pads a few pawsteps.

"We have a few new Warriors; two of which are here tonight, Nightwing, and Moonpool." The gathered cats cheer for Nightwing and Moonpool. Nightstar waves her tail for silence. Silence falls on the island instantly. "We have new Apprentices as well; some are here tonight, Rowanpaw, Darkpaw, and Runningpaw." The gathered cats cheer for three new CloudClan Apprentices. "Prey is plentiful and we are doing fine now that new Kits have been born in the camp, but unfortunately two of the newest Kits have been stolen five nights ago."

"This is an outrage!" hissed Whiskerstar. Whiplash pads forward with Milkkit and Sunkit stumbling behind him.

"I have Sunkit and Milkkit with me, which one of you is Pollenfur?" Pollenfur bounds over to Whiplash.

"Oh, thank you, Whiplash!" Pollenfur licks Whiplash's muzzle gratefully and then she licks both of her Kits' foreheads.

"We also have a new Medicine Cat; Tigerheart took over for Topazshine, and she joined the Warriors," continued Nightstar. There are a few scattered cheers from the gathered cats. Nightstar steps back and sits down. Rollingstar steps forward to give his report.

"Prey is running well in our territory. We have a new Warrior, Whitetail, and a few new Apprentices, Lilypaw, Phoenixpaw, and Featherpaw. In addition, we have recently had a new litter of Kits." The gathered cats cheer loudly. Rollingstar steps back and sits next to Nightstar. Shadowstar steps forward to give his report.

"Prey is fine in the Clan. We have a new litter of Kits and new Apprentices. Other than that, there is nothing to report." There are scattered cheers from the gathered Clancats. Shadowstar steps back and sits next to the first two Leaders. Whiskerstar steps forward to give her report.

"There is a she-badger roaming throughout the forest, and she had the scent of milk on her, so be most careful when you approach her if you come across her. Other than that, we've had no trouble at all. We do not have any new Warriors, but we have three new Apprentices, Gorsepaw, Rockpaw, and Ripplepaw," Whiskerstar started. The gathered cats cheer loudly. "And Ferncloud recently had a healthy litter of Kits."

"Pollenfur had a litter of Kits, so did Crystalheart and Nightstar," added Tigerheart. Shadowstar looks at Nightstar sharply.

"You had Kits. What are their names? What are Pollenfur's Kits' names? In addition, what are Crystalheart's Kits' names?" asked Shadowstar enthusiastically.

"I named my Kits Crowkit and Heatherkit, a tom and a she-cat."

"Did they die?" asked Cloverheart.

"No."

"Then why are you not with them?" asked Rollingstar curiously.

"Shorttail is watching them for me until they become Apprentices."

"That sounds reasonable," said Whiskerstar while nodding her head.

"This is Sunkit and Milkkit, and Bouncekit is back at camp."

"And Crystalheart's Kits are Hazelkit, Berrykit, Leafkit, and Minnowkit," added Tigerheart.

"That is wonderful news!" said Stormwind.

"I heard that there were four foxes running around some time ago, and I saw them terrorizing a litter of Kits before a patrol came to protect them. Whatever happened to those Kits?" asked Sorrelclaw.

"CloudClan chose to take them in," Lightwing answered.

"How did you know that they didn't belong to another Clan?" asked Mousetrap.

"The single names and they smelled of Humans…" said Lightwing slowly.

"You took a Human's HouseKits?" asked Sunflower.

"No, I think they lived in an abandoned house with their parents, the mother must have died, and the father was most likely killed by the foxes," said Lightwing.

"Did you ever find a body of either of the parents?" asked Featherwind.

"No, we did not, because we set up patrols for the safety of the Clan in case the foxes returned," answered Tigerheart. Whiskerstar steps back and sits next to the Leaders that have already spoken. Rainstar pads forward to give his report.

"My Clan is doing fine. Though I disagree with you, Nightstar you should not have taken in Rogues, because they always just lead to trouble."

"But they are only Kits! Are you telling me that I should leave helpless Kits in the forest to be prey to another animal?" retorted Nightstar.

"That's like asking a Queen to leave her blind Kits behind and get herself to safety!" Whiskerstar said shocked.

"I would die to protect my Kits!" said Pollenfur.

"I would not know the feeling because I am not a she-cat," Rainstar said nonchalantly.

"That does not mean anything!" the CloudClan Medicine Cat said.

"I have told you everything that I needed to tell you," said Rainstar in an uncaring tone. Rainstar steps back but does not join the other Leaders. Redstar steps forward to give his report.

"Everything is running well in LeafClan. We have a new Warrior, who is not here at the moment and two new Apprentices, who are here, Rainpaw and Heartpaw. Moreover, Coppertail has recently had a litter of four Kits." The gathered cats cheer loudly, not including Rainstar. The Gathering is adjourned and the Clans return to their own territories. Pollenfur picks up Milkkit by her scruff. Lightwing picks up Sunkit by his scruff.