Thanks to all those who reviewed! Here are the comments:
Wolfheart911: I know I love leaving cliffhangers!
iceflower of ThunderClan: Thanks! And can you give me some ideas for her warrior name? I'm kinda stuck lol.
CheyRaye: I know….I hate Crowstar too and I made him up! :D LOL and (hint) there is gonna be a twist later in the story involving Blackpaw…heehee…
VitaniXKopa: lol no problem and Crowstar is bleh. Hey, can you come up with some warrior names for Echopaw for me? I'm kinda at a standstill with that.
Mistyflower68: thanks! And I read it and it's really good. I like how Dustpaw (ahem) noticed Rain. :P interesting my friend…..very interesting. Lol and can you come up with some other ideas for names please? I need help.
Now….let us continue with the story!
Silence hung on the limbs of the trees like moss as every cat held its breath for what seemed like moons. Finally, after what could have been only a few moments, wails of outrage and confusion arose from cats of all three Clans.
"What did he mean by that?"
"Does this mean we can't trust any cat?"
"What about our Clanmates?"
"Why should we trust what he says?"
"We have never been accused like this before!"
"SILENCE!" Hawkstar's sharp command shushed every cat in the clearing, even though some were still muttering. "No cat should trust what Crowstar said. For all we know he could be telling the ultimate lie!"
"He probably is lying. I wouldn't put it past that good-for-nothing piece of fox-dung," Pinepaw hissed, sheathing and unsheathing his claws.
"How dare he accuse us of treachery?" Echopaw growled, lashing her tail back and forth. Familiar hatred for the RiverClan leader rose up. "What could he have possibly meant by that? There are no traitors in ThunderClan."
"Nor in ShadowClan," Blackpaw spat furiously.
Swallowstar rose to his paws. "My Clan must talk about this together. This Gathering is over." He slid down the Oak and gathered his Clan together. WindClan exited the clearing.
Shadestar, too, rose to his paws. "I have no idea what that mangy leader meant, but for all we know, he could have been telling the truth. I must return with my Clan to our territory." He jumped down the large tree, landing easily. "ShadowClan, come!"
"I have to go," Blackpaw muttered. "Nice meeting you."
Echopaw nodded. "Same to you."
Pinepaw growled low in his throat. "I just wish that stupid cat hadn't ruined it." Blackpaw grunted and followed his Clanmates out of the area. Echopaw noticed Tinypaw's gaze lingering on the ShadowClan cat for a few moments before turning back.
"Hawkstar!" Featherpool called from below. "We need to return back to camp."
Hawkstar nodded and hurriedly jumped from the tree. "ThunderClan, we are leaving." Echopaw could see how his tail twitched back and forth and the anger that lit his amber eyes. She walked quickly to her Clanmates and as soon as they all were in a group they set off for home. Talk of Crowstar's accusation spread throughout the small cluster of ThunderClan cats as they made their way across the island.
"Well, I certainly don't believe a word that comes out of that mouse-brained cat!" Mouseclaw scoffed from his usual place beside Goldenmist.
"But it still doesn't answer the question of why he would've told us all like that," Whitepelt murmured quietly.
"He's probably just spreading lies around to make himself look better," Windfur said dismissively.
"Maybe he did it for his own gain," Ivypetal mewed thoughtfully.
Echopaw pricked her ears. She had been thinking that same thing. What if Crowstar was trying to drive the Clans apart with his words? But surely not all cats are dim witted enough to believe every word he says! Still, the cold uncertainty flooded through her and even the warm, humid air couldn't remove it.
"What would he have to gain though?" Pinepaw asked into the silence that settled. No cat answered him.
They traveled like that, each in their own thoughts, until they came to the edge of ThunderClan territory. Hawkstar halted at the front of the group so quickly the others hardly had time to stop.
"What's going on?" Petalstream meowed, stopping beside the leader.
Echopaw padded up next to her father, sniffing. ShadowClan scent hit her at full force. She gagged. "ShadowClan!"
"ShadowClan?" Ivypetal snarled from behind. "What is their scent doing on our territory?"
"I was wondering the same thing," Hawkstar spat. "Spread out and try to find anything." The cats did as they were told, going from one tree to the next, sniffing every bush and looking about every fern. Echopaw was padding around a beech tree when she saw them, fluttering in the wind.
The feathers of a thrush, along with a small pile of discarded bones, reeking of ShadowClan scent.
"Hawkstar!" she shouted, racing back to her Clanmates.
The brown tom looked up, his sharp gaze positioned on her. "What is it?"
"I found something," she explained hurriedly.
"Show me."
She led him and Petalstream to the evidence underneath the beech tree. "Right there." She pointed to the feathers and bones of the bird.
Petalstream sniffed the pile and recoiled. "They're drenched in ShadowClan scent," she spat in disgust. "They've been hunting on our territory!"
Echopaw glanced worriedly at her father. "Should we confront them and attack?"
Hawkstar was silent for a moment, staring at the remains of the prey. "Why would ShadowClan be hunting on our territory though?" he murmured, almost to himself. "It doesn't seem like they would have the need to…"
Echopaw thought back to the Gathering. All the ShadowClan cats looked well-fed, plump even. Blackpaw hadn't been showing any ribs or bones through his pelt and nor had Shadestar. "I don't think they're in desperate need for food. They looked fat as kittypets earlier tonight."
Petalstream nodded. "What should we do Hawkstar?"
Hawkstar narrowed his eyes in thought. "Nothing drastic, yet. I'll bring it up at the next Gathering but if it continues, I'll personally make a visit to Shadestar."
Echopaw shivered at the threat in her father's voice. I hope it doesn't come to that, she thought as the made their way back to where the others were waiting. Tinypaw had her fur fluffed out and her nose wrinkled in disgust.
"I hate ShadowClan scent," she whispered as Echopaw came up to her. "It's disgusting." Echopaw nodded her agreement.
"So what was there?" Featherpool asked.
Hawkstar flicked his tail. "I'll explain when we get back. The whole Clan needs to hear this." He started forward again, this time at a much quicker pace than before. Echopaw and Tinypaw struggled to keep up while Pinepaw jogged easily beside them, his long limbs eating up the ground. No one spoke as they passed the training clearing and entered the familiar brambles that guarded the entrance. As soon as he was inside, Hawkstar sprinted to his place on the Highledge.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather under the Highledge for a Clan meeting!"
Sleepy cats emerged from their dens at their leader's words. Sandfur padded out with Jaypath behind him, blinking her blue eyes drowsily. Rowanpaw stumbled out of the apprentice den, confusedly looking around.
"What's goin' on?" he slurred, still half asleep.
Echopaw raced over to him and caught him on her shoulder as he leaned over to far to the left. His weight almost crushed her and she grunted as she supported him. "Wake up, you sleepy fur-ball!"
Hollyfrost came out with Sunwhisper and Stormstripe gently persuaded Dawnfeather to join them. The light brown she-cat had not been the same ever since the death of Lionflame. She was quiet and was always distant no matter how hard anyone tried to bring her back. She didn't blame Echopaw for her dead kit, but the creamy she-cat couldn't help feeling responsible. She and a still half-asleep Rowanpaw sat down beside Adderflight and Forestfur.
"What's this all about?" Forestfur questioned wearily.
"It better be good! I was having a really good dream," Adderflight grumbled. Echopaw rolled her eyes at the tortoiseshell tom and directed her attention to Hawkstar who had started speaking.
"…a beech and Echopaw found the remains of a thrush," he meowed, glancing at his daughter. Echopaw straightened, causing Rowanpaw to slump slightly. "The thrush was completely covered with ShadowClan scent."
Yowls of outrage came from every cat. Rowanpaw jolted awake, looking wildly around. "What? Where am I?"
Echopaw let a mrrow of laughter escape her and shoved against him. He looked at her and took the hint. Her aching shoulder cried out in relief as he adjusted his position so that he was no longer leaning on her. "Sorry," he mumbled, embarrassed to be caught asleep. She just flicked him with her tail and returned to listening to the meeting.
"Why would they be hunting on our territory? It's not leaf-bare or even leaf-fall yet!" this came from Dustclaw.
"We should teach them a lesson!" Adderflight snarled, leaping to his paws.
"We are not going to attack them," Hawkstar snapped at his warrior. "This was just once. If they do it again then, yes, I will confront Shadestar but until then I will not initiate a fight."
"Then what are we going to do?" Fishleap called.
Hawkstar flicked his tail irritably. "We will do the obvious thing and step up patrols. Petalstream," he turned to the white deputy. "I want extra patrols dawn and dusk. I want to make sure this doesn't happen again."
Petalstream nodded. "Will do, Hawkstar."
"Good," he said curtly. "Now, we all need our sleep, so everyone go back to their nests. Dawn will be here soon." He headed to his den and disappeared inside. The Clan broke up, muttering. Some went into their dens but others stayed out talking about the news they had just received.
Echopaw let out a huge yawn as a wave of exhaustion hit her. She fought to keep her eyes open. Rowanpaw took one look at her and understood. "You're probably exhausted. Let's get you to your nest" This time, he supported her as they walked.
Echopaw opened her mouth to protest, to say that she could handle it, but she was too tired to do anything but just go with it. When they entered the den, she stumbled into her nest and flopped down. She curled up and Rowanpaw settled down beside her.
As he started to lick her fur with soft, soothing licks, she felt her worries drift away. All she wanted at the moment was sleep. "Thanks," she tried to say but it sounded more like mmph. Rowanpaw just continued to groom her and she sighed contentedly. The blackness of sleep pressed down on her and she didn't try to fight it.
She closed her eyes and within moments she was gone.
So, what'd ya think? Good? Bad? Eh? Well, review and tell me! Lol and also, please, please, please send in some names for Echopaw. There are so many possible ones and I just can't choose! DX I will love you forever!
Thanks!