The round full moon sent a sheen of silver light over the WindClan camp. Scorchstar stood near the entrance of the camp, doing a head count of the cats he had chosen to go to the Gathering. He glanced over at Hawkfire and Redmoon, who sat next to the elders' den, sulking. Nick was sitting with them, casting a sympathetic glance at them. Scorchstar sighed, knowing that they couldn't go to the Gathering. What they had done had been foolish and dangerous. It could've cost them their lives. He had to make sure they would never do it again, and if it took a moon of apprentice duties in addition to being prohibited from attending a Gathering, then that was what he would do.
Wildheart walked over to Scorchstar, brushing her tortoiseshell pelt against his. Love gleamed in her yellow eyes as she nuzzled his mate. "Are you ready?" she asked him.
"Yeah." Scorchstar gazed at his Gathering patrol. Blackdove's black fur was turned silver by the moonlight. Iceheart was with her apprentice, Turtlepaw. Brambledusk accompanied Seedpaw, while Skyheart, Cinderfall, and Lilystream crowded over Mintpaw. Scorchstar hoped that Mintpaw's first Gathering would go well. He had heard reports that Mintpaw had not been progressing far in his training, and it shook him to his core. Give him some more time, Scorchstar thought. He's just young. The lack of Russetstripe in the crowd made Scorchstar's heart twist, and it was the same with Sedgefall. Mallowleaf took Sedgefall's place, and although her blue eyes were shadowed with fear, she stood straight. Scorchstar sighed, disappointed that Hawkfire and Redmoon weren't coming, but they had to learn their lesson. Scorchstar flicked his tail, and with that, he raced out of the clearing.
With the speed his Clan was known for, Scorchstar raced from the camp. He pushed faster until the moorland sloped down to gradually change into the sandy beach of the lake. Scorchstar padded towards the shore and towards the fallen tree that created the bridge towards the island. He placed his paws on it, and then raced across it until he leaped onto the island. Wildheart was right behind him the entire time, and she landed right after him. Mallowleaf was at their heels.
Scorchstar turned to Mallowleaf. "I'm not sure if you'll see Sedgefall," he told her, "but remember, you're representing WindClan. And you'll do a great job at it." He touched Mallowleaf's nose with his own, having complete faith in his daughter. Mallowleaf purred loudly.
"I just wish Hawkfire and Redmoon were here," Mallowleaf sighed. "But I know why you did what you did."
Scorchstar swallowed the lump in his throat as Mallowleaf walked across the sandy island floor towards the corner where the medicine cats sat. He glanced over at Wildheart. "Was leaving Redmoon and Hawkfire behind the right thing to do?"
"I think so," Wildheart said. "As much as I love them, and want them here, what they did… if Brambledusk hadn't rescued them in time, I have no doubt that ShadowClan would've torn them to pieces, considering the state they're in thanks to RiverClan. They have to learn never to do it again."
Scorchstar nodded. Wildheart's reassurance made him feel better, that he did the right thing. Even if it hurt Hawkfire and Redmoon. Scorchstar walked away towards the Great Oak and looked up at it, memorizing every branch that stuck out from the oak and clawed their way up to the sky.
"Do you remember when we climbed the Great Oak?" Scorchstar asked Wildheart wistfully.
"How could I forget?" Wildheart butted Scorchstar playfully. "That was the first time you told me you loved me."
"And now I tell you every day." Scorchstar nuzzled Wildheart's cheek. "I'm so glad I have you as my mate, Wildheart. There's not a day that goes by that I don't thank the gods that we fell in love with each other, that day, on the tree."
"The day where you told me that I was more beautiful than all the stars put together," Wildheart breathed. "It never leaves my mind. I love you, Scorchstar." She licked Scorchstar's shoulder and purred as she brushed against him. Scorchstar's heart swelled with love for his mate before she reluctantly broke away from him. Scorchstar leaped on top of the Great Oak, surprised at how easy it was, compared to the first time he had climbed it. He sat on one of the low-hanging branches and watched as his Clan found their spots in the island. They were the first Clan there – they often were since their territory was so close to the island.
Blackdove settled her paws underneath her chest, her gaze focused on the island entrance. Scorchstar guessed she was waiting for Russetstripe to come with ThunderClan – and so was Scorchstar. Is she being treated well? he wondered. I miss her. He kicked himself for insulting her that day – it had been what pushed her over the edge and left to join Sedgefall. I want to apologize to her. I hope I can do it at today's Gathering. Maybe she'll come back. But the Clan that entered wasn't ThunderClan.
A scent tinged with pine needles and sap, drifted through the island, and Scorchstar spotted the big dark tabby pelt of Talonstar as he led his Clan into the island. The tom's amber expression was dark, and he walked over to the Great Oak with Shrewfur behind him. Without greeting Scorchstar, he leaped on top of the branches and sat down. Scorchstar was taken aback by his standoffishness. I wonder if he ever figured out about Hawkfire and Redmoon, he thought. Talonstar looked down to meet Scorchstar's gaze, and Scorchstar gave him a nod. Talonstar looked back up as a fishy scent penetrated Scorchstar's nostrils.
Dapplestar was at the head of her patrol, and Scorchstar scoffed as she wore the same arrogant, self-serving expression she always did. Shimmerwing was behind her, lifting her chin proudly and puffing out her chest. Next to Shimmerwing was Rippleheart, who tensed his muscles, and on his other side was Shellfall. Behind them was… Runningflame. Scorchstar unsheathed his claws and sank them into the oak. He had been the cause of the fight. Is my sister really meeting him? He focused his gaze on the ginger-and-white tabby tom. Is she really risking everything for you? I hope not. I hope Wildheart is just mistaken.
Wolfheart, a RiverClan she-cat known for the drawl in her speech and wearing an often-bored expression on her face, separated from her Clan and walked over to Iceheart. Scorchstar winced, knowing that WindClan and RiverClan often didn't speak, but Iceheart was kind when she spoke to her. Hm… maybe the relationship with our Clans is getting better? However, when Shimmerwing sat down at the foot of the Great Oak and Harewhisker shot her a glare, his hopes immediately died.
The roots of the Great Oak shook, and Scorchstar looked to see Dapplestar leaping on top of the lower branch of the Great Oak. Scorchstar thought she would sit, but the tortoiseshell she-cat continued to scale the branches until she was at the top. Scorchstar held back a snarl. She's so self-conceited! He met Dapplestar's confident, piercing gaze as he looked up to see her. I've had just about enough of that. He turned his gaze downwards to examine the cats in the clearing.
Just as Scorchstar was scanning the clearing, he could see a silver tabby pelt emerge at the entrance of the island. Huh…? As he peered closer, he could recognize Winterfall's silver tabby fur as the tom entered the clearing, looking around with narrowed blue eyes. Behind him was a small contingent of cats, and Scorchstar's heart pounded as he recognized the long, single stripe on Russetstripe's back that stretched from her head to her tail. I would know that pelt anywhere. But… why in all the hells is Winterfall leading the patrol?
Winterfall flicked his tail to his Clanmates, and they began to disperse. Russetstripe glanced at Winterfall, and then padded into the clearing, immediately meeting Blackdove. Winterfall watched her go before approaching the Great Oak. With a massive leap, he landed on the branch just above Scorchstar.
Dapplestar wasted no time in speaking the question every cat was thinking. "What in all of the hells are you doing here, Winterfall?" she asked, looking down at Winterfall from the high branch she was sitting on.
"Rootstar is away on a journey, and Sunfire couldn't make it today," Winterfall replied, his voice assertive and commanding, but Scorchstar could detect a hint of fear and uneasiness behind it.
"Oho. Is that so." Dapplestar's bushy tail flicked. "Then we will just have to see what you are made of, will we not?" She lifted her head, clearly not interested in Winterfall's problems. Talonstar didn't look as if he cared, either. But he and Rootstar are bitter enemies. Shouldn't he care? Scorchstar was puzzled. Why was he the only cat who seemed to care?
"I hear Rootstar went on a journey," Scorchstar growled to Winterfall under his breath. "But I didn't hear anything about Sunfire."
"He just has a cold," Winterfall replied. "He didn't want it to spread to other Clans at the Gathering."
A cold… Scorchstar narrowed his eyes at Winterfall when Dapplestar yowled out, "The Gathering is at a start! I will speak first!"
Of course you'd say that. Scorchstar rolled his eyes as the cats in the clearing stopped their chatter, and Dapplestar spoke. "RiverClan is thriving. Silverpaw and Lightningpaw are excelling in their training and will be warriors soon. Driftheart has given birth to two kits, Amberkit and Ryekit. We also made four new warriors, Quickbreeze, Mistsong, Blossomwing, and Sparkfire." Her haughtiness was evident in her voice as she puffed out her chest.
That's a lot of cats, Scorchstar thought, feeling nervous that they had no kits in the nursery, and one of their apprentices was deaf. No, why am I thinking like this? All of our warriors are strong and loyal. We have just about the same strength as RiverClan does, I don't care how many kits or apprentices they have.
Talonstar curled his lip. "Well, isn't that nice for you," he growled. Dapplestar twitched her ears, acknowledging she had heard his comment but seeming to choose not to reply. "Rowanflame and Brackencloud defeated a fox earlier today and killed it before it could get to our camp." Nothing else. Not even a 'our Clan is prospering and is safe.' Just that statement, delivered flippantly. Scorchstar sighed.
Cheers for the named cats rang through the clearing, and Scorchstar examined Talonstar's face as the tom nodded at him, a signal for him to speak. Thank the gods he doesn't seem to know about Hawkfire or Redmoon. Did he not smell the WindClan scent in his border? Scorchstar cleared his throat. "WindClan is prosperous," he meowed, looking up to face Dapplestar, challenging her with his own news. "We have three new apprentices, Mintpaw, Turtlepaw, and Seedpaw. They are here with their mentors." Scorchstar swiveled his head to look at the three apprentices.
Seedpaw and Turtlepaw were looking around with their eyes glowing, but Mintpaw seemed to have no idea what was going on as he nestled near Lilystream and Wildheart. Iceheart nudged Turtlepaw with pride, and Wildheart ruffled Seedpaw's head affectionately. The Clan cats cheered their names, and once it died down, Scorchstar looked at Winterfall. The tom's voice was strangely calm as he spoke.
"It's my turn, now," Winterfall meowed. "Yes, before any of you say something, Rootstar and Sunfire are not here. I am representing ThunderClan tonight. Rootstar has been called on a journey by StarClan, but he should return any day now. Sunfire could not make it today. But before you think we are weak, think again. We have new kits – Aspenkit, Snowkit, and Mountainkit to Mintsplash and Peartuft. Our warriors are united and strong."
Scorchstar fixed his burning gaze on Winterfall. He's lying, Scorchstar thought. Even though his voice was confident and strong, the fur on the back of his spine was pricking, and there were shadows clouding his eyes. Something's wrong… and he doesn't want any cat to know.
"Are they." Rippleheart snorted the words.
"Half your Clan isn't even here!" Snakenose from ShadowClan growled. "How can we believe you when you say you are strong?" His yellow eyes were daggers at Winterfall.
Winterfall let out a low grumble in his throat. "Would you like an example of just how strong ThunderClan is?"
"Winterfall…" Russetstripe was murmuring. Wait a second, why is Russetstripe of all cats trying to comfort Winterfall? Confusion made Scorchstar dizzy. Snakenose opened his jaws to flash something back, but a piercing cry of triumph echoed through the clearing and made all cat skid to a halt. Who was that?
Winterfall leaped down from the Great Oak, clearly recognizing the cry, and whoever it was, it was making him ready to attack – or flee. "ThunderClan!" he yowled. "Let's go!" With that order, the broad-shouldered ThunderClan cats shot after him, including Russetstripe. Scorchstar exchanged a glance with Wildheart and Blackdove, and the two she-cats raced after him as the WindClan leader ordered reinforcements for Winterfall. Scorchstar could hear Talonstar ordering his Clan to stay behind, but to his surprise, he noticed Shimmerwing and Shellfall running behind.
Scorchstar raced across the fallen tree to see numerous ThunderClan cats running from the forest and across the shoreland, heading towards the moor. Winterfall tackled down Peartuft from ThunderClan, slamming him into the ground. The ThunderClan cats threw themselves onto the cats who were at Peartuft's heels. Blossomfawn clawed a golden tabby tom with vicious talons, and Russetstripe rolled with a spotted dark brown tabby tom until they nearly crashed into the waves of the lake.
Russetstripe launched herself at Houndheart, her green eyes blazing. "How did you escape?"
Scorchstar was ready to go help Russetstripe, but Wildheart pushed him back, a quiet pleading in her eyes. Scorchstar stared at his sister, horrified as Houndheart spat at her, "Shut up! You have no right to know! Lording over the Clan, acting like you're the most important warrior!"
Fury burned in Russetstripe's emerald eyes as Houndheart lunged for her throat, but Russetstripe was faster. She dodged to the side and sliced at his face with her claws, splitting open the tom's muzzle. Houndheart howled like the animal he was named for, and just as Russetstripe was ready to deal the killing blow, a lithe black she-cat slammed into her from behind. Russetstripe whirled to face the black she-cat, but she was already running after Houndheart as the two cats pelted away.
Winterfall pushed Peartuft off him, who turned and glared at him with bared teeth and furious yellow eyes.
"Well, it looks like you have eyes," the tabby was snarling. "Good for you! The only flaw in your observation was that I deserved to be leader! Not Rootstar. Rootstar has failed you time and time again! And he isn't here tonight to save you." The ThunderClan tom stepped back, a sinister grin climbing up his lips. "You'll see I left a lovely surprise back at camp. Just to say goodbye." With a last shove at Winterfall, Peartuft turned and raced towards the hills, the rest of his refugees behind them.
Wildheart gasped. "Are they going into the moor?" she inquired.
Blackdove's green eyes were round. "They're not that stupid to go into WindClan territory," she said.
Winterfall was breathing heavily from scratches on his pelt, seeming to be completely unaware of the WindClan cats' presence. "Don't follow them," he ordered his Clanmates, who seemed ready to pelt after Peartuft at any moment. "It's not worth it. Let's just get back to camp and deal with whatever we see there."
"How did they escape?" Russetstripe demanded. "Houndheart was a prisoner!"
Scorchstar stared at his sister. What? He had been astonished to see her fight so fiercely for ThunderClan, but now she was privy to ThunderClan's internal affairs? What happened? Why was Houndheart prisoner? He stepped towards her, wanting more information, but her green eyes were focused on Winterfall.
"Prisoner?" Shellfall was asking. Scorchstar looked over at the spotted tom. "What for?"
"Do I have an audience, now?" Winterfall lashed his tail. "Get out, all of you!"
Shimmerwing's blue eyes narrowed, while Shellfall simply lowered his head and walked away, urging Shimmerwing to follow him. The two RiverClan cats disappeared along the tree and into the island. When they were gone, Scorchstar approached Winterfall, and Winterfall narrowed his eyes.
"I said you too," he growled.
"My sister is with you. I'm not leaving until I get to talk to her." Scorchstar looked at the fleeing cats. "Was that Peartuft and Houndheart?"
"Yes." Winterfall stared at where the cats had disappeared, over the rise and into the moorland. He let out an irritable sigh. "Yes, that was Peartuft and Houndheart. Are you happy now? Now you know that ThunderClan's warriors betrayed their Clan. But it doesn't matter anymore. We're going." The silver tabby tom turned to address his Clanmates, clearly not caring about Scorchstar. He flicked his tail and led the Clan cats away. Russetstripe was about to follow them until Scorchstar tugged her back by her tail. Russetstripe looked over at Scorchstar.
"Are you well?" Those were the only words Scorchstar could force himself to ask. He dared himself to touch his nose to Russetstripe's shoulder, and a wave of grief and longing for his sister swamped him. I never realized how much I loved her until she was gone. Now she was here in front of him, and all he wanted was her back into his Clan, into their family.
"Fine," Russetstripe replied, twitching her tail. "I… I need to help them."
"But… we need you too." Scorchstar gazed into Russetstripe's dark ginger fur. Russetstripe shifted her paws until a voice echoed overhead.
"Russetstripe." Winterfall was looking over his shoulder. "Coming?"
"Yes." Russetstripe nodded to Winterfall before giving one last long look at her brother. With that, she bounded away into the forest… as if that was where she had always been meant to live in. Scorchstar swallowed as claws scratched at his heart. Are they your new family? he wondered as he saw just how quickly Russetstripe obeyed Winterfall, and how fiercely she had fought for the ThunderClan cats. Are you going to come back to us?
"Let her go." Wildheart's tail was light as it draped over his shoulders.
Scorchstar drooped his head, unable to find the strength to be angry at Wildheart. He wondered if what Wildheart was saying came from her general distaste of Russetstripe or was just a way to try to make him feel better. Whatever it was, he couldn't obey. "She's my sister, Wildheart. I can't ever let her go. I won't stop fighting until she comes home."
"She seems happier with them than she ever was with us," Wildheart pointed out mildly. "Maybe it's time to accept she's gone." The words that came from his mate made the claws in his heart grow and expand as she brushed her fur against his.
"She's not gone," Scorchstar rasped. "She can't be."
Blackdove stepped in front of Wildheart, and sparks flew between the two cats as the black she-cat growled, "She's not gone. She would never betray the cats she love. I know her, she's my best friend."
"Then you can be the one to convince her to come home," Wildheart growled.
"Stop this." Scorchstar forced his head up and gave the two she-cats a glare. "That's enough. She's my sister and I'll deal with this." Turning on his heel, he walked away from the beach shore and crossed the tree back into the island. Wildheart and Blackdove's argument raced through his mind. Both she-cats had a point. Russetstripe had looked determined and fierce when she fought for ThunderClan, and every step was true and bold. I can't remember the last time she looked like that in WindClan, Scorchstar thought desperately. But he knew that Russetstripe would never betray the cats she loved, just like Blackdove had said. The question hung in his mind as he approached his own Clan.
Will Russetstripe ever come back to WindClan?