First, sorry this chapter is so short~ The second part I started writing didn't feel write so I decided to post as-is (which is this). The next chapters should be longer. I'll definitely try for them to be ^^
Second, I've changed my pen name. It's Sky Stormsong now~
Third, I'd like to thank those who have reviewed so far. Your input has been interesting and fun to read ^^ And despite the short chapters, you've continued to follow the story! That deserves at least a virtual cookie, no?
~Enjoy, Sky.
Chapter 11 - Without the Hollow
Dust settled around ThunderClan and over the lake. Leafpaw sat in the sand close to the water looking at the makeshift camp her Clan had been living in for nearly a moon. Unknowing to her clanmates during the battle, their hollow was destroyed by a fire the crashed monster had created. Repairs were underway, but the gray she-cat knew despite all her Clan's efforts, the hollow will not be the same anytime soon. Tensions were high among everyone. Without a proper camp, ThunderClan was vulnerable to other attacks from other Clans, not only ShadowClan. Not only that, but if ShadowClan and WindClan found out, they would probably take advantage of the Clan and steal prey.
She sighed. In a few days it would be a full moon and the Gathering would take place. After that all the Clans will know and ThunderClan will be in mousedung. A lot of mousedung.
Lionpaw ran by her carrying a huge rabbit in his jaws to lay on the fresh-kill pile. He avoided looking at her and went immediately to the apprentices' den that was under a small overhang of branches from two trees that interlocked. This made her pur in amusement. Since the battle against ShadowClan, the calico tom went out of his way to avoid the gray she-cat. During the battle, Lionpaw had saved her sister Berrypaw from three warriors. In the process he had admitted his love for Leafpaw while attacking the ShadowClan warriors. When Berrypaw could, she had went straight to her and told her all about it. Leafpaw found it amusing that he loved her. Actually, she kind of had feelings for him as well. She had already decided she wasn't going to tell him; the tom was a little crazy sometimes. Besides, he denied to everyone who asked him about his love. She didn't want to risk the chances of him not really loving her and Berrypaw mistaking what she heard.
Her mentor padded up to her and sat beside her. "You're to go with the group to the Gathering in a few days. I know it's early for the decision, but the leader is preparing for what's to come."
"It's not going to be good, is it?" she asked. "ThunderClan has no camp; we're living in the forest. We're vulnerable to attacks. The other Clans will hear of this and-"
"It's not going to happen, Leafpaw," Stormpelt mewed, cutting off his apprentice's sentence. "ThunderClan is strong and Oakstar knows what to do. All that is left is finishing the hollow and showing that despite whatever has happened, we're still strong."
She nodded slowly. Leafpaw knew her mentor was right, but it still worried her about what could happen and with the tension in the Clan as it is didn't help.
"You should go and sleep now," her mentor advised getting up. "There's a lot to do tomorrow. The leader thinks the queens and elders may be able to return to the hollow tomorrow."
"Okay."
Stormpelt nodded and walked off to join a small group of warriors. Leafpaw got to her paws and padded over to the apprentices' makeshift den. Inside Lionpaw was already fast asleep, tail slightly twitching. She shook her head purring slightly before going to her nest. Once she was curled up with her tail tip over her nose, she found sleep easy to come.