Chapter 15
The cats Rainstar called assembled beneath Mossrock. Shadepaw padded up to us. She said, "Bye guys. You have to tell me about it when you get back. Promise?"
I nodded, "Of course, Shadepaw!" Fernpaw and I gave her a nudge before running to catch up with the clan. They had already left the camp.
Fourtrees was so crowded! There were far more cats here than last time. I looked around the clearing, hoping to spot my friends. I saw Oakstorm with Rosedrop, talking to a pair of black toms. Shinewhisker was with Smallfower, talking to the deputies. I guessed that Shinewhisker was telling them about Fishcreek. There! I saw Gorsepaw, Lillypaw, and Blackpaw over by one of the oaks. "Those are my friends over there." I meowed to Fernpaw. "Come on, I'll take you to meet them." She nodded.
"Lillypaw!" I called. She turned to see who spoke, and broke into a smile when she saw me. She and Gorsepaw and Blackpaw ran up to me and the four of us brushed muzzles. Then I said, "This is my sister Fernpaw." They meowed hellos. I asked, "Are Shortpaw and Flowerpaw ok?"
Blackpaw told us that Flowerpaw had been too tired to come. "She's been training really hard."
Lillypaw said, "Shortpaw couldn't come because he keeps talking back to Skyleaf too much." I guessed Skyleaf was her mentor.
"Tonight we meet under the full moon as commanded by Starclan." Mudstar yowled. We all glanced up at the Great Rock. "Will you speak first, Honeystar?" She nodded and stepped forward.
The leader of Thunderclan said, "We have thrived this moon. Sweetbriar had a litter of kits, one tom and one she-cat." Congratulations broke out. "We have discover a new tracking tactic for squirrels. Shadowfur was bitten by an adder, but Bluedrop says he will be fine." She paused as though there was something more she wanted to say. But Heatherstar stepped forward before she could say anything more.
"Windclan had an outbreak of whitecough, but we have all recovered. Gorsepaw is doing wonderful in his training. He caught a hawk a quarter moon ago." The clans cheered Gorsepaw's accomplishment. He lowered his head in embarrassment. As his closet friends we cheered the loudest. He smiled tentatively at Fernpaw and she returned it. "We lost Greeneye to a monster. She watches over us from Starclan." The clans quieted down, thinking of the fallen warrior. I bowed my head in respect, noticing that my friends did the same.
When Mudstar took Heatherstar's place, he was solemn. "We too have lost a clanmate. Bluefoot is with Starclan now." Wow this was a sad Gathering! "Our territory has gotten marshier over the course of the moon, causing some of our prey to disappear, but we aren't having any problems feeding ourselves. We had to chase a badger out of our land and it hasn't come back."
Rainstar gave Mudstar a comforting lick on the ears before he spoke, "Riverclan has two new warriors, Rosedrop and Oakstorm." Meows of congratulations arose from the cats, the loudest from Riverclan. "But we lost Fishcreek to a fox, so Smallflower has taken over the deputy position. And we thought the fox had killed Silverpaw but she made a miraculous recovery."
A clamor arose from the watching clans in the clearing. Rainstar narrowed his eyes and glared at Honeystar, continuing with his report. "Thunderclan was found on our land about a quarter moon ago. What were your warriors doing there, Honeystar?" I have never seen my leader so mad.
I couldn't help glancing at Lillypaw. She was looking at Fernpaw and me ruefully. I mouthed, I'm sorry. She nodded. I had missed Honeystar's reply but it made Rainstar angrier, I could tell. He snarled, "You stay off our land or there will be a war! We deal with trespassers seriously, and don't tolerate any invasions."
Agreement rose from my clanmates. Lillypaw huddled close to the ground, as though she was scared of being swept into my clan's fury. I licked her ear, trying to comfort her. Fernpaw, on her other side, nudged her. I was about to say something, but I was interrupted by loud growls. The whole clearing seemed filled with anger. Cats were tuning on each other, hissing and growling. Fights were breaking out, spreading like wildfires. I looked at Silverpelt, and saw heavy storm clouds covering the moon.
The medicine cats and leaders were yowling, trying to get control of their clans, but no cat was listening. I swept my eyes across the clearing, the anger filling my mind till I couldn't think clearly. I head a sharp yowl from Mudstar. He leaped on Heatherstar, screeching. Rainstar and Honeystar squared up to each other, preparing to do battle.
A calico tom jumped on me from behind. I struggled under his grip, but I really wasn't fighting him. I fought the anger deep inside me. I exploded, throwing him off into the Great Rock. I let loose a holler that raised the fur on my neck. The screeching and caterwauls stopped. The cats broke apart.
"Stop fighting! This isn't Starclan's will. Gatherings are a night of peace. Who are we to go against their will?" Bluedrop meowed. The clans still looked angry. She added, "We must respect Starclan" Runningfire, Leopardshadow and Watersong, the other medicine cats supported him.
Runningfire said, "We should all return to our territories now." The leaders regained their composure and called their clans together. Shadowclan left first then Thunderclan. Riverclan and Windclan were last.
On the way home, Sandclaw caught up to me and said, "I'm proud you managed to stop the clans from fighting. That was incredible." I nodded and thanked her. A thought struck me. The clans hadn't listened to the leaders only their medicine cats.
When we returned, everything was quiet. I sneaked a look into the medicine cat den, and saw Shadepaw fast asleep in her nest. I would tell her what happened at the Gathering tomorrow. I clumsily padded across the clearing to my den. I settled into my nest. My sister came in a minute later. "Goodnight Fernpaw." I murmured. I was out before she could reply.
During the night I woke to a strange smell. I coughed as a puff of gray stuff entered my throat. Heat seemed to fill the whole den. There was an orange flickering light thing at the back of the den. And that's when I knew we were in big trouble. Because that orange thing was a killer.