Unexpected News
The sky stayed gray and cloudy over the next few days, but the showers didn't hamper the rebuilding of the camp. Nightfrost helped repairing the nursery. He had allowed Swiftpaw helped Whitestorm by joining Brightpaw. Sandstorm had taken her apprentice out hunting. The clan worked hard, only resting during meals.
As the sun set, the cats began to take fresh-kill from the meager pile they had collected. The Clan's bellies hadn't been full for days. The prey was returning, but slowly, and they knew they had to be careful about how much they caught. The forest must have a chance to replenish itself before they could eat their fill once more.
Once the cats had finished their paltry meal, Fireheart got to his paws and padded across the clearing. He made a single leap onto the Highrock and the cats looked up to him expectantly.
"Bluestar will not be coming to this Gathering," he announced. Mews of alarm ripped through the cats, and Nightfrost watched his friend, Whitestorm, weaving among them, calming and reassuring them.
"Does this mean Thunderclan won't attend?" Darkstripe mewed as the striped warrior shouldered his way to the front. "After all, what is a clan without a leader?"
"ThunderClan will go to Fourtrees tonight," Fireheart meowed with eyes narrowed on the dark tabby, addressing to the whole Clan. "We must show the other Clans that we are strong, despite the fire."
The cats made nods of agreement. The apprentices shuffled their paws and looked eagerly at one another, too young to understand the seriousness of attending a Gathering without a leader, and distracted by the hope that they might be chosen to go themselves.
"We mustn't betray any weakness, for Bluestar's sake and for the sake of the whole Clan," Fireheart went on. "Remember, we are ThunderClan!" He yowled the final words, surprised by the fiery conviction that welled up from his heart, and the Clan responded by straightening their backs, licking at their ash-covered fur, and smoothing their singed whiskers. Nightfrost however smiled, proud to see his brother as the deputy and as a kit he had watched as he grew up.
"I shall take Darkstripe, Mousefur, Sandstorm, Whitestorm, Nightfrost, Ashpaw, and Cloudpaw."
"Will the others be enough to protect the camp?" Darkstripe demanded.
"Tigerclaw will know there is a Gathering," added Longtail. "What if he uses the opportunity to attack?"
"We can't afford to leave more cats behind than usual. If we appear weak at the Gathering, we risk inviting attack from all the Clans," Fireheart insisted.
"He's right," agreed Mousefur. "We can't let the others see our weakness!"
"RiverClan already knows the fire destroyed our camp," added Willowpelt.
"We must show them we are as strong as ever."
"Then we are agreed?" asked Fireheart. "Longtail, Dustpelt, Frostfur, and Brindleface will guard the camp. Elders, queens, you will be safe with them, and we shall return as soon as we can."
The clan murmured a bit and nodded. Fireheart, noticing this, meowed, "Good," and leaped down from the rock.
The warriors and apprentices chosen to come were already circling at the camp entrance, impatiently flicking their tails.
"Longtail," Fireheart meowed, pausing briefly beside the brown warrior. "You will be senior warrior here. Guard the Clan well." Longtail dipped his head to Fireheart. "They'll be safe, I promise."
Fireheart nodded and flicked his tail to the cats going to the gathering. Nightfrost padded alongside Whitestorm.
"Did you manage to find Red, Nightfrost?" His friend asked with concern. The day after the clan return to their home, the black warrior had gone out alone with the hunting excuse. That day, Nightfrost went to the usual meeting spot, her den. But her scent had been stale and Nightfrost had looked for her with no results.
The tom shook his head. "No."
Whitestorm flatten his ears. "I'm sorry about that. I do hope she is alright."
Nightfrost only grunted, eyes full of worry.
As the cats padded to Fourtrees, Sandstorm reached Fireheart, panting, and meowing a conversation to Fireheart. Almost as soon as they reach a fallen tree, Darkstripe storm up to the pair and growled.
"So what are you going to tell the other Clans, then?"
The fallen tree was right in front of him then. Fireheart sprang into the air, but a branch caught his paw and he landed clumsily, stumbling. The other cats raced past him, but they slowed instinctively as Fireheart fell behind. Nightfrost snarled at Darkstripe. The black, striped tom glanced a knowing look at him and casted his eyes back to his brother.
"Are you okay?" Darkstripe asked as Fireheart caught up to him. The striped warrior's eyes glinted in the moonlight.
"Yes, fine," Fireheart answered curtly, and continued on.
Thunderclan padded to Fourtrees. Fireheart spoke with his friend, Onewhisker, and Windclan's leader. A stench of Shadowclan warned the cats away from them. Three Shadowclan cats charged into the clearing, Runningnose at the head. Other clan cats backed away from the ShadowClan warriors as they skidded to a halt in front of the Great Rock. News of their disease had obviously spread through the forest.
"It's all right," Runningnose meowed, panting, as if he could read their minds. "ShadowClan is free of the sickness. I have been sent ahead to tell you to wait before you begin the meeting. ShadowClan's leader is on his way."
Nightfrost flicked his ear. Nightpaw had helped two Shadowclan warriors, Littlecloud and Whitethoat, with the disease. Somehow, the apprentice had known what herbs to use, and taught them, saying that a rogue had passed by and taught her the herbs. A quarter-moon passed until they were well enough to return to their home.
"What makes Nightstar so late?" called Tallstar from Fireheart's side.
"Nightstar is dead," answered Runningnose bluntly.
A stunned ripple spread through the other cats like a breeze through trees, and Nightfrost blinked. How could the Shadowclan leader be dead? He had only recently received his nine lives. What a terrible sickness! No wonder Littlecloud and Whitethroat had been so afraid to return to their camp.
"Is Cinderfur coming instead?" Whitestorm called, referring to the ShadowClan deputy.
Runningnose looked at his paws. "Cinderfur was one of the first to die of the sickness."
"Then who is your new leader?" demanded Crookedstar, emerging from the shadows on the other side of the Great Rock.
Runningnose glanced at the RiverClan leader. "You'll see for yourselves soon enough," he promised. "He'll be here shortly."
Who?
The rest of the cats were beginning to weave anxiously around one another, their mews growing louder. "We can't wait any longer!" A Riverclan warrior mutter to his neighbor. "The moon will be setting soon.
"If this new leader is going to be late, that's his problem," Mousefur agreed.
A flash of white fur at the center of the clearing as Tallstar leaped onto the Great Rock. He had obviously decided to start the meeting without Shadowclan's leader. Crookedstar started toward the rock. Fireheart braced himself, ready for his first Gathering at the head of his Clan, hesitant.
Sandstorm mewed to him and he headed to the Highrock when a yowled called. "He's here!"
Cats started peering and rearing up on their hind legs to get a look at ShadowClan's new leader as he passed through the crowd. Nightfrost growled in annoyance of his short structure, even attempting to leap up and down with no avail, only to see tabby, brown fur.
A large figure jumped on the Highrock as Nightfrost widen his eyes in shock and growled. The Shadowclan leader's broad head and powerful shoulders were easily recognizable. He watched as the cat swung his massive head from side to side. Muscles rippled under his gleaming pelt and his amber eyes seemed to glow with triumph.
"Tigerclaw!" Fireheart spat. Darkstripe stood nearby, eyes glittering with excitement.
Sandstorm weaved her way toward Fireheart. "What's going on?" the pale ginger she-cat hissed as she came into earshot. "Tigerclaw can't lead ShadowClan. He's a traitor!"
"But ShadowClan don't know about all that," Fireheart reminded Sandstorm now, keeping his voice low. "None of the other Clans know."
"Then you should tell them!"
Yet, once again, the orange tabby paused there.
"Fireheart!" He turned to see Cloudpaw, his long-furred white apprentice, padding quickly toward him with the wiry brown warrior Mousefur just behind. "Fireheart, are you just going to stand there and let that piece of fox dung take over?"
"I agree," Nightfrost mewed loudly, nearby cats from other clans to hear him. "Tigerclaw was banished from Thunderclan for his traitorous actions. If this happened, than perhaps Bluestar should have told the clans beforehand how he kill the deputy, Redtail, and tried to take Bluestar's lives to become leader."
Tigerclaw, or Tigerstar, whatever, glared at the small, black tom. Nightfrost held his stare, making the Shadowclan leader turn away and started addressing the clans.
"I am pleased to be here with you at the Gathering this night." The huge tabby spoke with quiet authority. "I stand here before you as the new leader of ShadowClan. Nightstar died of the sickness that took so many of my Clan, and StarClan have named me as his successor."
Tallstar, the black-and-white leader of WindClan, turned to him. "Welcome, Tigerstar," he meowed, nodding respectfully. "May StarClan walk with you."
Crookedstar meowed agreement as the new ShadowClan leader dipped his head in acknowledgment.
"I thank you for your greetings," Tigerstar replied. "It's an honor to stand here with you, although I wish the circumstances could have been different."
"Wait a moment," Tallstar interrupted him. "There should be four of us here." He peered down at the crowd of cats below. "Where's the leader of ThunderClan?"
Nightfrost nudged his brother. "Go on, Fireheart. You're not alone. Plus, you're taking Bluestar's place today, remember?"
Fireheart nodded and mouthed a thank you. He scrambled up the Great Rock.
"Fireheart?" He looked up as Tallstar spoke. "Why are you here? Has something happened to Bluestar?"
Fireheart dipped his head respectfully. "Our leader breathed smoke in the fire, and she's not yet well enough to travel. But she'll recover," he added hastily. "It's nothing serious."
Tallstar nodded, and Crookedstar broke in testily, "Are we ever going to start? We're wasting moonlight."
Without waiting for a reply, the pale tabby RiverClan leader gave the yowl that signaled the beginning of the meeting. When the murmuring of the cats below had died away, he meowed, "Cats of all Clans, welcome to the Gathering. Tonight we are joined by a new leader, Tigerstar." He beckoned to the massive warrior with a flick of his tail. "Tigerstar, are you ready to speak now?"
Thanking him with a courteous nod, Tigerstar stepped forward to address the assembled cats. "I stand here before you by the will of StarClan. Nightstar was a noble warrior, but he was old, and he did not have the strength to fight the sickness when it came. His deputy, Cinderfur, died too."
What happened to Nightstar? What about his nine lives?
"StarClan brought me to ShadowClan when its need was greatest," Tigerstar continued from on top of the Great Rock. "Not enough cats survived the sickness to hunt for the nursing queens and the elders, or to defend their clan, and no warrior was ready to take on the leadership. Then StarClan sent an omen to Runningnose that another great leader would arise. I swear by all our warrior ancestors that I will become that leader."
And what of Starclan? Did they made this decision?
"Thanks to StarClan," Tigerstar went on, "I had other cats to bring with me who have proven themselves willing to hunt and fight for their new Clan."
Those band of rogues? A sliver, gray tabby sat there. Is that Boulder? If he remember correctly, Boulder left Bloodclan. The once-rogue tom turned to him and stared at him in shock.
The two turned back to the gathering just as Tallstar stepped forward, a doubtful look in his eyes. "Brokentail's allies were cruel and bloodthirsty, just as he was. Is it really wise to let them back into the Clan?"
"Brokentail's warriors obeyed him," Tigerstar replied calmly. "Which of you wouldn't do the same for your own leader? The warrior code says that a leader's word is law." He swiped his tongue around his muzzle before continuing. "These cats were loyal to Brokentail. They will be loyal to me now. Blackfoot, who was Brokentail's deputy, is my deputy now."
Tallstar still looked suspicious, but Tigerstar met his gaze steadily. "Tallstar, you are right to hate Brokentail. He did great harm to your Clan. But let me remind you that it was not my decision to take him into ThunderClan and care for him. I spoke against that from the first, but when Bluestar insisted on giving him sanctuary, loyalty to my leader meant that I had to support her."
The WindClan leader hesitated and then bowed his head. "That's true," he meowed.
"Then all I ask is that you trust me, and give my warriors a chance to show that they can honor the warrior code, and prove their loyalty to ShadowClan once more. With the help of StarClan, my first task is to make ShadowClan well and strong again," Tigerstar vowed.
Windclan's leader turned to Thunderclan's deputy. "Fireheart?" Tallstar meowed. "Do you want to speak now?"
"A few dawns ago," Fireheart reported, "fire started in the Treecut place and swept through our camp. Halftail and Patchpelt died, and the Clan honors them." He bowed his head and continued.
"Bluestar suffered from breathing in smoke, but she is recovering. None of our kits were harmed. We are rebuilding our camp." He did not mention the shortage of prey in the burned stretch of forest, or the way that the camp was still open to attack in spite of their efforts to rebuild the walls. "We must thank RiverClan," he added, with a respectful glance at Crookedstar. "They gave us shelter in their camp during the fire. Without their help, more of our cats might have died."
Pausing to take a deep breath, Fireheart turned to Tigerstar. "ThunderClan accepts that StarClan has approved your leadership," he meowed. "As rogues, your followers stole from all four Clans while they roamed the forest, so it is good that they have their own Clan again. We trust that they will be bound by the warrior code and will keep to their own territory." A gleam of surprise flickered in Tigerstar's eyes, and Fireheart continued firmly, "But we will not tolerate any invasions into ThunderClan territory. In spite of the fire, we are strong enough to drive out any cat who sets a paw over our borders. We have no fear of ShadowClan."
One or two yowls of agreement rose from his own warriors below. Tigerstar gave a slight dip of his head, and spoke in a low rumble that carried no farther than the other cats on top of the Great Rock. "Brave words, Fireheart. You have nothing to fear from ShadowClan."
Bowing his head in acknowledgment, Fireheart stepped back again, his fur flattening in relief that his turn to speak was over. The cats listened while Tallstar and Crookedstar gave the news from their own Clans—word of new apprentices and warriors, and a warning of extra Twolegs by the river.
When the formal part of the meeting was over, Fireheart sprang down to the group of ThunderClan warriors at the base of the rock.
"You spoke well," meowed Whitestorm. Sandstorm's eyes shone as she looked at Fireheart, and she pressed her muzzle against his neck. The deputy padded away to Mistyfoot. Nightfrost watched as he spoke with her when a cat whispered out his former name.
"Scourge?"
He turned to Boulder, who stared at him in shock. He twitched his ears.
"Boulder, long time no see. How has life been in the forest?"
"It-it has been well, full of prey and no Twolegs to worry about...Why are you here, Scourge?" Boulder asked, his voice trembling.
Nightfrost flicked his tail. "I am a Thunderclan warrior now, Boulder, not a leader of Bloodclan. My name is Nightfrost now."
Boulder's eyes widen in shock. "S-so is Bloodclan gone?"
"I disbanded it. Though there appear to be cats that want to bring it back."
Boulder flattened his ears and nodded, padding away to his clan, his home.
Just started on A Dangerous Path.