The wisps of silver clouds in the night blue sky lingered just outside of the orb of the moon. Scorchpaw let out a deep breath, thankful that the clouds hadn't covered the moon like they had the past moon. It had prevented the last Gathering from taking place, and every cat was keeping their eyes on the sky in hopes it wouldn't happen again. The WindClan cats let out collective sighs of relief.
Scorchpaw had only been to one Gathering before with Russetpaw, and it was the Gathering that took place after Reedstar's death. There had been another after that, which Scorchpaw hadn't gone to, but Wildpaw, Gorsepaw, and Blackpaw had. After that, Swiftstar had not allowed any apprentices to go to the next one, citing 'tensions between the Clans.' The previous Gathering had been stopped thanks to the clouds covering the moon, and now, just as the snows of leaf-bare threatened to fall, Scorchpaw was able to finally go.
Swiftstar gazed at the sky, triumph in his amber eyes. He padded into the center of the camp, raising his tail, but not leaping onto the Tall Branch to address his Clanmates. "WindClan! Tonight, we will finally be able to attend the Gathering. Petalspring, Oakcloud, Rabbitfur, Grayflight, Driftberry, Hollyfrost, Adderstripe, Brambledusk, Scorchpaw, Russetpaw, Gorsepaw, and Tinybird. You all will be coming with me tonight!"
Yes! Excitement flooded through Scorchpaw's veins, but a scowl from behind him made it evaporate instantly. He turned to see Wildpaw, her dark ears flattened as she glared at Russetpaw. Scorchpaw huffed. He was tired of this rivalry between the two she-cats. He had always thought that someday, he would have to step in. But not now. The only thing he could do was comfort Wildpaw.
Scorchpaw padded over to Wildpaw and draped his tail over her shoulder. "You'll come to the next one," he reassured her.
"Yeah, but how come Russetpaw gets to go?" Wildpaw glowered. "Because Swiftstar favors her?"
The ginger-and-white apprentice tried not to heave a sigh. He didn't want to be forced to choose between his sister and one of his closest friends. Plus, he didn't want to remind her that Swiftstar was much harder on Russetpaw than the other apprentices, constantly expecting more of her. Instead, Scorchpaw meowed out, "No, that's not true. Sometimes not every cat gets to go, and that's okay. I'll tell you everything about it."
"Promise?" Wildpaw asked.
"Promise." Scorchpaw touched his nose to Wildpaw's, and the purr that rumbled from her body made his heart sing. Just as the tortoiseshell she-cat turned away, Scorchpaw broke away from her and started to pad towards the clearing. He looked over his shoulder as Gorsepaw caught up with him.
"Do I sense a little bit of a crush, there?" Gorsepaw teased Scorchpaw.
"Hey!" Scorchpaw felt his tail lash crossly. "We're just friends."
"Oh?" Gorsepaw looked over his shoulder, and the tinge of longingness in it made the back of Scorchpaw's fur prick, but when he glanced back to address his friend it was gone. What was that? "Doesn't seem like it to me."
Scorchpaw butted Gorsepaw against his side. "Come on now." The teasing from his friend was making Scorchpaw's ears burn. His mottled gray friend nodded, a smile on his face. He had been worried that Gorsepaw would tell other cats about Habu, but Gorsepaw had promised Scorchpaw that he wouldn't speak a word of it. So far, Gorsepaw had kept his word. Word of Habu hadn't spread at all – Adderstripe had kept quiet, and so had Russetpaw. Swiftstar hadn't found out yet, and Scorchpaw silently sent thanks to the gods.
"All right, all right," the tom conceded. "Let's get going before Swiftstar decides to leave us behind." Gorsepaw's walk turned into a sprint, and Scorchpaw followed suit. The travel to the island from WindClan was not nearly as long as it was for the other Clans – after all, the beach was not far. Swiftstar stopped at the entrance of the camp, looking over his shoulder and examining his Clanmates. With a nod, he scaled the hollow and disappeared into the moorland.
The WindClan patrol was immediately behind him. Scorchpaw allowed the older warriors to go first, frowning at the venomous glare Adderstripe shot him before he joined Brambledusk in exiting the camp. What's wrong with him? He had remembered Adderstripe's visible devastation at Swiftstar's decision the other day, and the memory caused Scorchpaw to unsheathe his claws.
He remembered the pitiful screams of pain from Finchwing, and he didn't want to imagine what Swiftstar had done to him to enact the piercing screeches from him. The haunted expression on Sunleaf and Berrysplash's faces, the color void from Petalspring's, the fury on Adderstripe's, and the surprise that twisted on Russetpaw's face when Blackpaw told her. He wasn't sure that Finchwing should have been killed for what happened – why shouldn't he be brought to justice in ThunderClan? After all, he hadn't acted on anything. It was just the winds of gossip. Finchwing didn't deserve to die.
No. Scorchpaw shook his head. My father knows what's best. I'm his son, I need to stick up for him. He's supported by StarClan and the gods. He knows what's right. Even though there was a twinge of worry, a voice in his ears that urged him to turn away, to step back, he ignored it and bounded out of camp, following his fellow Clanmates. It's a pity Finchwing died, but he's an enemy. I can't grieve over an enemy, never mind someone I didn't even know.
Numerous pelts stuck out against the frost-tipped stalks of grass in the moorland. Scorchpaw stayed by Gorsepaw's side, and he looked around to search for Russetpaw's dark ginger fur. His sister was running next to Rabbitfur, and the gray tom was speaking to her in in a hushed tone. What's he saying? he thought as he examined Russetpaw's conflicted face. But the she-cat turned away from Rabbitfur and continued to run, and so Scorchpaw shrugged it off.
As the cats ran, Scorchpaw noticed the moorland thinning out and slowly melting into the flaxen sand on the lake shore, and right as the shore met water, the massive oak tree that served as the passage from the sand to the island laid steadily in the water. When his Clan stopped in front of the lake, Scorchpaw took a deep breath, tasting the crisp coolness of the late leaf-fall air. He focused his gaze on the fallen tree and watched with admiration as his father leaped from the shore onto the roots of the branch. Swiftstar steadied himself on the branch, looking down into the rippling waves, and then hastened towards the island shore.
Berrysplash was right after him, and Violetheart was on her heels. Just as the two cats crossed the tree, the rest of the Clan began to follow. Petalspring, Oakcloud, Grayflight, and Rabbitfur were on Berrysplash's heels, and once they disappeared into the island foliage, the younger warriors got to their paws. Driftberry, Hollyfrost, Adderstripe, and Brambledusk darted over the tree, their paws skimming the oak, landing on the island shore and plunging into the greenery. That left Scorchpaw, Russetpaw, and Gorsepaw at the lake shore.
"Well?" Gorsepaw asked, encouragement glowing in his pale blue eyes. "What are you two slowpokes waiting for?" He nudged Scorchpaw, pushing him towards the branch. "You first."
Scorchpaw leaped onto the fallen tree, sinking his claws into the oak. When it did not falter underneath him, he quickened his pace as he sprinted over the tree and towards the island. The luscious trees and the rocky shore came closer into view as Scorchpaw skidded to a halt right where the branches met the shore. He scaled the rocks that littered the shore, landing on the sandy ground. He turned on his heel and watched Russetpaw and Gorsepaw finishing their run on the branch and joining him on the sand.
The scents of the other Clan were fresh, making Scorchpaw's nostrils wrinkle. The fishiness of RiverClan, the mouse and birch ridden scent of ThunderClan, and the cool pines of ShadowClan. It had been a while since Scorchpaw had attended his first Gathering, and he hoped that he would remember how to act. As Swiftstar's son, it was his duty to show that he was worthy of being the royal son, and to prove himself a great warrior like his father.
Russetpaw sniffed the air. "Scorchpaw, are you moving any time soon?"
"Right," Scorchpaw meowed. He poked his head through the bushes, and his breath was taken away by the number of cats in the wide clearing. All cats from different Clans mingled, and even though the atmosphere was nowhere near friendly between the Clans that shared borders, it was clear that the cats were at least tolerating each other. But the WindClan cats were kind to the ShadowClan cats, and the ThunderClan cats were considerate towards the RiverClan cats. They don't share any borders, so they don't have any fights to start.
I'm ready. Scorchpaw leaped through the greenery and landed on the other side, coming face-to-face with cats from other Clans. He swept his gaze around the throng of cats, recognizing cats from other Clans immediately. Talonclaw from ShadowClan gave Scorchpaw a small nod, and Snakenose, who sat behind him, flicked his tail in greeting. Ripplepaw and Rowanpaw from RiverClan studied Scorchpaw with narrowed eyes, and Scorchpaw couldn't help but notice the smallest trace of venom in them.
But there was one Clan Scorchpaw wanted to see the most. He picked out the forest cats from the crowd thanks to the scent of the trees and ferns still sticking to their sleek pelts and wide shoulders. The ThunderClan cats were shooting rancorous glares at the WindClan cats, and Scorchpaw inhaled sharply. He glanced over his shoulder to see Russetpaw about to approach one.
"Russetpaw!" Scorchpaw hissed through clenched teeth, hoping that his tone would be enough to keep her put. "I don't think you should try to talk to them. They must be mad because of Finchwing!"
"Hm?" Russetpaw's green gaze traveled to Adderstripe, who was talking to the new ThunderClan warriors, Hailstep and Ravenfeather, in hushed tones. "Adderstripe's doing fine. Why can't I?"
"Because—" Scorchpaw's words were left hanging in thin air as Russetpaw trekked over to a silver tabby cat. He crouched down, ears flattened, not liking the eventual end of this exchange. As Russetpaw spoke to the tom in a couple of words, the silver tabby tom bared his teeth at her and hissed. Fury burned in Scorchpaw's veins. He couldn't sit here and let his sister be berated by some stuck-up ThunderClan cat!
Scorchpaw bounded over to the ThunderClan cat, his tail lashing and his claws unsheathed. "Leave my sister alone!" he snapped at him. The silver tabby swung his head at Scorchpaw and curled his lip. He was larger than both him and Russetpaw, but he didn't intimidate Scorchpaw in the slightest. If any cat threatened his sister, he'd teach them a lesson.
"Your sister?" the silver tabby snarled, leaning his head in closer, his blue eyes burning. "Great. If she's your sister, then that means you're a WindClan cat. So maybe you can answer the question she won't. Where is Finchwing?"
Oh, no! Scorchpaw felt his heart race in his chest. Swiftstar hadn't prepped them on what to say about Finchwing. He cast a frenzied glance at Russetpaw, who just shook her head, her green eyes sharing the same mystification he felt. Scorchpaw turned back to the ThunderClan cat. He'd have to come up with an answer, and fast.
"We don't know!" Scorchpaw blurted out. "Why should we?"
"Because his scent was last found on your territory," the silver tabby snapped in response. "And when we found it, it was mixed with a bunch of WindClan scents. Tell me how that doesn't mean Finchwing got ambushed by a WindClan patrol?"
"Well, if he was on our territory, then it only makes sense that there were WindClan scents around him!" Scorchpaw snapped, unaware that he was gathering an audience around him. "So leave my sister alone! She doesn't know, and neither do I!"
The ThunderClan warrior hissed at Scorchpaw before turning to address Russetpaw again. "I thought we were friends."
"Well, so did I," Russetpaw growled. Fury blazed in her forest green eyes, but behind it was a trace of sorrow. "But not anymore."
"I should've known never to trust a WindClan cat." With those words, full of abhorrence and loathing hanging in the air, the tabby turned away and disappeared into the crowd. Russetpaw watched him go, her shoulders stiff and her ears flattened. Scorchpaw touched her back with his tail, and finally was able to look around him. He stepped back as he realized that several Clan cats were staring at him.
The name "Finchwing" began to spread through the crowd, and Scorchpaw backed up, knowing that if he stayed in the center much longer, he'd have to deal with an abundant number of questions. Russetpaw followed him as the two siblings bounded towards the edge of the island, breathing heavily when they realized that no cat was in pursuit of them.
"Who was that?" Scorchpaw finally asked.
"Winterfall of ThunderClan," Russetpaw replied, her head hanging. "He's Flintstar's son. I thought I knew him."
"Why did he think you were friends?" Scorchpaw asked, bewildered. Why had she approached a ThunderClan cat of her own?
"I met him when I just got into a fight with Wildpaw," Russetpaw explained. "I guess we were arguing so loudly that he heard it, from where he was patrolling his border. I just found myself talking to him, and I found out that he was the son of Flintstar, and he felt the same as I did. That we were trying too hard to please a cat we would never reach. I wanted to talk to him again, today, but the first question he asked me was about Finchwing."
"Oh, Russetpaw," Scorchpaw breathed. "You can't make friends in other Clans. It'll just hurt you, and I don't want to see this happen to you again." The despondent shadow in Russetpaw's eyes stuck through Scorchpaw's heart like piercing claws.
"Don't worry, Scorchpaw," Russetpaw murmured, lifting her head to meet Scorchpaw's gaze. Scorchpaw was taken away by the swimming emotions of sorrow and betrayal in her green eyes. "I've learned my lesson. I won't do it again."
Scorchpaw lifted his head to study the leaders on the Great Oak. Swiftstar was sitting beneath Otterstar, his piercing eyes focused on the spot where Scorchpaw had argued with Winterfall. Did he hear? Scorchpaw wondered. He looked back to search for Flintstar, who was balancing precariously on a branch across from Swiftstar. The silver-and-black tabby tom's fur was bristling, and his claws dug out splinters from the branch. Lionstar from ShadowClan watched Flintstar's reaction, his face unreadable.
Sootfall, ThunderClan's deputy, bared his teeth at Berrysplash. Berrysplash looked away, guilt swarming in her pale blue eyes. Foxfire studied the two deputies curiously, and Toadstep wore the same indistinct expression that his leader, Lionstar, did. The tension seemed to spread to the medicine cats, as Ashenhawk from ThunderClan sat as far away from Violetheart as she could. Pale-eye and Stormbrook exchanged uncomfortable glances.
The senior warriors from ThunderClan, Coalshadow, Vinestep, and Foxstorm let out sharp hisses at Grayflight, Oakcloud, and Rabbitfur. Rabbitfur's bobtail twitched from side to side, and Grayflight raised his hackles. Oakcloud glared at the ThunderClan warriors, baring his teeth. Adderstripe stared at a young gray tom, and the gray tom returned Adderstripe's gaze, shaking his head sorrowfully. Brambledusk was watching their exchange, his lips pressed in a straight line. Even Rootberry, whose name was known across the Clans thanks to his justice and kindness, gave Petalspring a sharp glare from icy amber eyes. Peartuft, Rootberry's polar opposite, unsheathed his claws, the lust for a fight burning in his gaze.
The RiverClan and ShadowClan warriors watched the tension boil in the island but did not contribute to it. Otterstar's ears were flattened from where he sat on the Great Oak, while his senior warriors, Mintfeather, Flamestripe, and Rainbreeze exchanged hushed words, all the while their gazes focused on the ThunderClan and WindClan cats. ShadowClan's senior warriors, Sparrowflight, Cloudsong, and Featherheart wore amused smirks, and Scorchpaw realized that they were ThunderClan's other enemy. So, if ThunderClan is occupied with WindClan tension, then ShadowClan can swoop in and do as they please. Scorchpaw focused his gaze on the RiverClan cats. Are they thinking the same?
"The Gathering is at a start!" Lionstar's powerful, mighty yowl could command the trees to bow to him, and Scorchpaw was sure they would. The cats immediately fell silent as the golden tabby addressed them, but the tension crackled in the clearing, and Scorchpaw waited for one of the leaders to address it.
Lionstar's amber gaze swept from the three leaders, and he cleared his throat. "I will begin," he said. "We have new warriors – Talonclaw and Shrewfur. They were made warriors after hunting a rabbit successfully and evading dogs." Pride glimmered in the golden tabby's eyes.
"Talonclaw! Shrewfur!" the crowd cheered. Scorchpaw tried to catch a glimpse of the two warriors, and he could only assume that it was the pair of brown toms that sat in the center of the ShadowClan cats that they cheered loudly for.
Lionstar stepped back and nodded to Otterstar. Otterstar gave him a curt dip of his head, but tension sparked between the two leaders, and Scorchpaw was reminded that the two cats were rivals just as Otterstar and Swiftstar were.
Otterstar looked down upon the gathering cats. "RiverClan is doing well," he reported. "We will have new warriors soon – Runningpaw and Ripplepaw are here, and I am incredibly proud in their endeavors. Our other apprentices, Crookedpaw, Marshpaw, and Rowanpaw fought off a fox the other day, on their own. Dapplewing and Shimmerwing are faring well as new warriors. Our new generation of warriors is ready to bring honor to their Clan."
"Is that a threat?" a voice murmured in the crowd. Scorchpaw couldn't tell who it belonged to, but whoever it did, they must be an enemy of RiverClan. Us or ShadowClan.
Swiftstar stretched out his front limbs. "I'll go." Despite the hisses that broke out from the ThunderClan cats, the WindClan leader continued on nonchalantly. "I have new warriors. Adderpaw and Bramblepaw are now Adderstripe and Brambledusk."
Adderstripe straightened his posture, his amber eyes glowing with pride. Brambledusk was much more reserved, but even the shy tom couldn't help the delight that shone in his yellow gaze. Scorchpaw met Adderstripe's gaze and nodded to him. Adderstripe's eyes widened, but he returned Scorchpaw's nod.
"Adderstripe! Brambledusk!" The cheers were apathetic from RiverClan, non-existent from ThunderClan, generous from ShadowClan, and the loudest from WindClan. Brambledusk bowed his head, while Adderstripe basked in the praise, even though most of it came from his own Clan.
Swiftstar went on. "Our warrior, Spottedwing, has moved into the nursery and is expecting Oakcloud's kits. Her apprentice, Wildpaw, will have her training shared by the senior warriors. That is all." The ginger-and-white tabby tom sat on his haunches and licked his paw, drawing it over his head.
"That's all?" The cool, sharp voice, slicing through the air like the keenest claw, made Scorchpaw's muscles stiffen. It came from Flintstar, who emerged from the shadows of the Great Oak, his blue gaze focused on Swiftstar, bearing into his fur and past his skin.
"Do you have something to say to me, Flintstar?" Swiftstar asked, his orange eyes narrowed.
"For a matter of fact, I do." Every inch of Flintstar radiated calm and composure, and the only thing that betrayed his palpable anger was the slight flaring of his nostrils. "What did you do with my warrior?"
"Your warrior?" Swiftstar tilted his head. "I'm afraid you'll have to be a bit more specific."
"Fine with me." Flintstar's tail-tip twitched slightly. "Finchwing. Where is he?"
"I've never heard of that cat," Swiftstar replied, his amber eyes flat and unwavering. Scorchpaw's spine pricked at the lie. He knew his father had killed him. That was a fact. It was also definitely impossible for Swiftstar to confess it in the middle of the Gathering, as it was sure to lead to a war with ThunderClan. So, technically, wasn't Swiftstar doing the right thing by avoiding confessing to the powerful ThunderClan leader? What choice does he have?
"You have never heard of him," Flintstar echoed. "So, you don't know?"
Swiftstar shook his broad head.
"Explain his scent on your border, then." The tip of Flintstar's claws teased at the branch that he stood on.
"If his scent was on my border, then that means he was trespassing," Swiftstar growled.
"And we all know what you do to trespassers." Flintstar stepped closer and closer to Swiftstar. "You have them tortured."
"What?" Swiftstar's pupils narrowed into slits.
"You heard me." Flintstar's growl was low in his throat. "How'd you kill Finchwing this time? Tell me, Swiftstar. Was it the venomous snake you unleashed on the last rogue that trespassed on your territory? Or was it the slow execution you gave one of Brindlestar's warriors? Or, perhaps, maybe you've concocted some sort of new, twisted method to end a life for a minor misdeed?"
What? Scorchpaw felt his eyes widen as he stared at his father. Was Flintstar accusing his father of doing those acts? No! Swiftstar may be a tough leader, but he would never torture another cat in cold blood! He studied his father's face for any sign of denial, but the WindClan leader was stone-faced.
"Careful accusing me of acts you have no proof of, Flintstar," Swiftstar snarled, his shoulders tense. From the unsheathing of his claws and the flaring of his nostrils, it was evident that it was taking every ounce of self-control for the WindClan leader to stop himself from leaping at Flintstar.
"You dropped the body on our border so many moons ago," Flintstar hissed. "It was a rogue who you had killed by a snake. Ashenhawk examined the wounds and determined the cause of death. The rogues he lived with came after us because they thought we killed him. You led the rogues into our camp rather than fussing up to the mistake that you made! Oh, wait. It wasn't a mistake, was it?"
"I did what I had to in order to protect my Clan," Swiftstar said. "Those rogues were powerful, and I had several kits, queens, and elders in my camp at that time. Those rogues attacking us would result in the death of the innocent immediately."
"So it's okay that they killed our innocent?" Flintstar's voice raised to a furious howl, radiating through the island and bouncing off the foliage of the Great Oak.
"Control yourself, Flintstar!" Lionstar hissed at the silver tabby tom.
"I refuse, Lionstar!" Flintstar snapped at the ShadowClan leader. "Swiftstar, I know that you had something to do with Finchwing's disappearance, and I will not rest until I have proof. Consider this a warning. We are coming after you, and we will avenge the death of our warrior." With a lash of his tabby striped tail, the ThunderClan leader bunched his muscles and leaped off the branch of the Great Oak, landing on the ground and kicking up sand with his paws. He signaled to his Clan with his tail, and his deputy, Sootfall, scampered after his heels. The ThunderClan cats followed their leader as the crowd parted to grant them an exit. Swiftstar watched Flintstar go, his eyes chips of amber ice.
Wow. Scorchpaw was barely breathing by the time Flintstar was gone from view. The poison that had dripped from every word the silver tabby hissed out sent shudders through Scorchpaw's spine, and he knew that the ThunderClan tabby was not bluffing. War was coming on the horizon, and ThunderClan was ready for it.
The question was… was WindClan prepared for it as well?