Chapter 11: A question of loyalty
"let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the high ledge for a clan meeting!" Dovewing heard Bramblestar's yowl and sprinted into the clearing. Her heart filled with dread, today's the day when it will decided whether Ivypool and the other outcasts can stay in the clan. The clan had gathered. However not all was calm. Berrynose was sitting with Dustpelt, Millie, Spiderleg, Hazeltail, Foxleap, Icecloud, Poppyfrost, Daisy, and Molepaw and Cherrypaw. The cats who wanted the dark forest apprentices to be exiled. However opposite sat, Squirrelflight, Greystripe, Brackenfur, Cloudtail, Leafpool, Whitewing, Cinderheart, Lionblaze, Toadstep, Rosepetal, Briarlight, and Bumblestripe. The cats who wanted them to stay had formed a protective circle around the cats on trial. Dovewing noticed Whitewing was hissing at Berrynose as she wrapped her tail protectively around Birchfall. Dovewing gasped, Berrynose and Birchfall were one time good friends, now they seemed like lifelong foes. The queens and Purdy along with the kits sat in silence at the nursery entrance. Jayfeather sat in the medicine den, with a serious glare.
Bumblestripe waved a tail at Dovewing and she sat next to him, grateful for his friendship. Ivypool padded over and sat next to Dovewing. She gulped with worried eyes at her sister. "Don't worry, it will be fine." Dovewing tried to sound light but it was hard in such a situation.
Bramblestar looked down on the clan, he looked shocked at the division in the cats. Dovewing pricked her ears as he started to speak. "cats of Thunderclan, I'm sure you have heard the gossip about the dilemma of these, dark forest apprentices." He waved a tail at Ivypool and the rest of the cats. "Well, the same situation is going on in all the clans. It seems that everyone doubts the dark forest apprentices loyalty."
"so the time has come to see if these cats are still loyal to thunderclan". Bramblestar looked at the cats in question. "come forward."
Ivypool led the cats to the base of the highledge, her light blue eyes challenging anyone to attack her. Berrynose hissed as they walked past. "Dark forest scum!" Spiderleg shouted.
"Enough!" growled Bramblestar. His thick tabby pelt, raised.
Ivypool stared up at Bramblestar, her intense glare seemed to intimidate the leader. Dovewing gulped. "Ivypool, Birchfall, Blossomfall, Mousewhisker, and Thornclaw. You trained in the dark forest, is that correct?" Bramblestar said.
"yes" the cats said in unison.
"SEE! They admit it! Lets kick them out now!" Millie shouted. Greystripe glared at his mate and hissed "you're talking about your own daughter!"
Millie glared at her mate "she threatened us, she made her choice when she joined them!"
Blossomfall blinked at her father, then turned to her mother. "I HATE YOU! You would want to see me be alone, a rouge! All you care about is Briarlight!" She turned to Bumblestripe. "She will abandon you too! One day!"
"SILENCE!" shouted Bramblestar. A eyrie quiet fell over the cats. "Ivypool" Dovewing shivered when he said her sister's name. "Firestar asked you to spy on the dark forest, you did your leader's will and you warned us of the dark forest attack. You are innocent. You may stay in thunderclan if that is your wish."
Dovewing breathed a sigh of relief, her sister's name was cleared. Ivypool looked up at Bramblestar. "Yes, it is. However, after being stuck in a smelly den for days, alone, afraid for the future when I did nothing wrong. It kind of makes me feel sick. That amount of betrayal from my clanmates! Firestar would have never done this!"
The entire clan gasped and arguments broke out.
"Traitor!"
"Fox dung!"
"Run away you fleabag!"
Dovewing felt like she was about to faint, her sister had been given the chance to stay, and she might have just ruined her chances...
OOOOHHH! Ivypool has got herself in a big mess, and thunderclan seems its about to break in half! I wonder what will happen next?
Till next time! Thanks for reading!
Neon
