Two worlds collide

Chapter 3 gatherings

Two days had passed since Bramblestar and the others discovered the pridelands, when they had got back to camp Bramblestar had told the other cats in the group to remain quiet about it until the gathering so he could think of how he could tell the other leaders.

It was the day of the gathering, Squirrelflight went to Bramblestar's den and saw him facing away from the entrance starring at the wall.

"Is everything okay Bramblestar?" asked Squirrelflight stepping inside.

Bramblestar turned his head around and saw his mate.

"Yeah," he said. "I've just been thinking about what to tell the others at the gathering about the Pridelands and the lions. I'm just worried they won't believe us."

"Don't worry," said Squirrelflight kindly, nuzzling her mate. "Whatever happens we'll persuade them, just like we have lots of times."

Bramblestar felt more confident, and the two cats went out to gather the cats around for the gathering.

Bramblestar, Squirrelflight, Leafpool, Lionblaze, Twigbranch and some other cats of Thunderclan went to the island on the lake where the gathering took place.

He saw Harestar the leader of Windclan and Leafstar the leader of Skyclan were there already on the high branch. Bramblestar took a deep breath and went to go join them.

After a few minutes, Tigerstar and the Shadowclan cats showed up, including Bramblestar's sister and Tigerstar's mother Tawnypelt. The younger tabby looked like him with the same dark brown fur and amber eyes.

Not long after Mistystar and the Riverclan cats arrived.

As the gathering went on Bramblestar listened to the other leaders talking one by one about usual stuff going on with the clans, hunting, apprentices and new warriors. Finally, it was his turn to report.

"I have something to report," he announced. He paused for a moment wondering what to say. "A couple days ago some warriors and I on a patrol found a strange cave on Thunderclan territory."

The other leaders all looked at each other in surprise and astonishment. Murmers of surprise went around the island including Thunderclan warriors who hadn't been on the patrol.

Squirrelflight, Leafpool, Lionblaze and Twigbranch all stood up to confirm what Bramblestar said was true.

"We have never seen this cave before," Bramblestar went on. "I'd like to invite the other leaders and medicine cats to come and see the cave for themselves."

"Why do you want us to see this cave?" asked Leafstar crooking an eyebrow.

"It's hard to explain," admitted Bramblestar. "And you'd have to see it to believe it, come by tomorrow and we'll show you."

The other four leaders gathered around and whispered something. They then turned to face the Thunderclan leader.

"We'll come and see" announced Harestar.

"So will I" agreed Mistystar.

"I'll also come and see this cave" added Leafstar.

"Shadowclan will also come," said Tigerstar. "The gathering is over."

The cats all began to leave the island, Bramblestar, Squirrelflight and the other cats who had discovered the tunnel stayed back for a moment.

"I think you did well," said Squirrelflight. "They seem to believe it."

"I wonder what they'll think of the pridelands" said Twigbranch thoughtfully.

The next day Bramblestar, Squirrelflight, Lionblaze, Jayfeather, Alderheart, Twigbranch and Graystripe came to the cave. Tigerstar came along with his mother and Bramblestar's sister Tawnypelt and the Shadowclan medicine cat Puddleshine. Mistystar and Mothwing came, so did Harestar and Kestralflight, and Leafstar and Frecklewish and Twigbranch's sister Violetshine.

"Well," said Harestar. "Where is this cave?"

"It's over here" said Lionblaze. He and Bramblestar showed the other leaders and their medicine cats the cave.

"I want to show you all where it goes," said Bramblestar.

"What's inside?" asked Tawnypelt.

"You'll see" replied Bramblestar.

"It'd better be good" sighed Leafstar.

Bramblestar went in first and one by one the other cats followed.

Kion and the lion guard walked to the entrance to the cave in the Pridelands waiting for the cats.

"Are you sure they'll come today?" asked Bunga unsurely.

"Of course," said Kion. "Bramblestar said before they left that the gathering was in two days and that he'd try to bring them the next day. I'm sure they'll come."

"Yeah Bunga," agreed Beshte. "They're probably on their way."

Just then they heard a familiar voice.

"Come on we're almost there."

It was Bramblestar's voice.

The dark brown tabby walked out of the cave and saw the lion guard waiting for them.

"Nice to see you again Kion, lion guard," said Bramblestar.

Squirrelflight and the other Thunderclan cats came out, then the cats from the other clans too. They stared in amazement to be in a different land, but they were even more surprised to see the different animals.

"A lion?" exclaimed Mistystar in surprise.

"Cats of all clans," said Bramblestar. "This is Kion, Kion these are the leaders of the other clans. Mistystar, leader of Riverclan and their medicine cat Mothwing, Harestar of Windclan and their medicine cat Kestralflight, Leafstar of Skyclan and their medicine cat Frecklewish and Tigerstar of Shadowclan and their medicine cat Puddleshine. And these are Thunderclan's other medicine cats Jayfeather and my son Alderheart."

Tawnypelt looked over and saw Bunga.

"Badger!" she cried, she crouched down and hissed. Tigerstar bent down in copy of his mother.

"Guys! Guys! It's okay!" cried Bramblestar. "He's friendly."

He turned over to face Bunga. "Sorry about that Bunga," he said kindly. "Badgers aren't exactly friends with cats, they get into our camps and eat kits."

"Don't worry," Bunga assured all the cats. "I prefer insects and honey over kits anyway."

The other cats eyes widened in surprise.

"He talks!" exclaimed Tawnypelt. She hadn't heard a badger talk since Midnight.

"These are Kion's friends," said Squirrelflight. "Bunga, Fuli, Beshte and Ono. The bird's a friend too so he's not for eating." She added firmly.

The other leaders were surprised how a lion could be friends with different species, even prey.

"Come on," said Kion. "Bramblestar and I want you all to meet my parents."

The other leaders looked at each other unsurely, but the medicine cats immediately followed the lion guard and they followed too.

As Jayfeather walked past Ono, he noticed the gray cat's blue eyes.

"He's blind" he whispered to Bunga.

Jayfeather then cleared his throat and the two friends looked at him in surprise.

"Blind," he said. "Not deaf."

"Sorry" said Ono with a sheepish smile.

Jayfeather just walked on without saying a word.

"Sorry about my brother," said Lionblaze humorously stepping next to them. "He may be grumpy, but deep down he cares."

"I can't blame him," sighed Ono. "Being blind's certainly enough to make anyone grumpy, I'd hate the idea of being blind."

Bramblestar and the lion guard led the others to pride rock, the other leaders were surprised by the rock structure, it was kind of like the mountains.

When they climbed up, they saw Simba, Nala, Kiara and Kovu waiting.

"Welcome back Bramblestar," said Simba kindly, bowing down at the leader and Bramblestar returned the bow.

"Everyone," said Bramblestar. "This is Simba and his mate Nala, the king and queen of the Pridelands. Their daughter Kiara and her mate Kovu."

The other leaders and warriors looked confused at the mention of king and queen.

"A king and queen is what lions call their leaders" explained Squirrelflight.

The other leaders introduced themselves and all bowed respectfully at the royal family.

"This is my sister Tawnypelt," said Bramblestar as Tawnypelt stood next to Bramblestar. "And Tigerstar's mother."

Simba looked at Bramblestar and Tigerstar, they did look alike their dark fur and amber eyes. The only difference was Bramblestar had a scar on his shoulder that went to across his chest.

"How are you in different clans if you're family?" asked Fuli in confusion.

Bramblestar and Tawnypelt exchanged a glance. The other cats all looked away quietly.

"It's kind of a long story" sighed Tawnypelt.

"We were born in the same clan," said Bramblestar. "Shadowclan had another leader whose name was also Tigerstar. He was our father. He was once a Thunderclan cat named Tigerclaw, he had the qualities a good leader had. He was strong and intelligent, but there was another side to him, a dark side."

The royal family and the lion guard all looked at each other worriedly, they could see the graved looks on the faces of the cats.

"He felt it was his destiny to rule the forest," explained Bramblestar. "He was exiled from Thunderclan when Tawnypelt and I were kits, Shadowclan needed a leader at the time as they were recovering from an illness that had taken the lives of both their leader and deputy, so Tigerstar took over. But he planned to destroy the clans and take over the whole forest."

"All would've been lost if it weren't the efforts of my father Firestar," added Squirrelflight stepping up. "He discovered the original Tigerstar's treachery and led the clans against him. He ended up sacrificing himself to defeat Tigerstar for good" she added solemnly.

The lion guard and the royal family all looked at Squirrelflight sympathetically.

"I left Thunderclan to join Shadowclan when I was an apprentice," added Tawnypelt. "I felt like I didn't belong in Thunderclan and I stayed after my father was killed. I named my son after him. Though his warrior name was Tigerheart."

"Bramblestar and I have worked hard to shake off the legacy of the old Tigerstar," added Tigerstar. "And we've earned the acceptance of our clanmates and became fairer leaders."

"Hey," Bunga spoke up. "That's kind of similar to something that happened here."

"What does he mean?" asked Leafstar.

Simba looked at Nala and she nodded at him to tell them.

"My father Mufasa was the king of the pridelands," explained Simba. "He was a kind and wise ruler, but his younger brother Scar was jealous of him. He killed Mufasa and covered it up as an unfortunate accident. He tricked me into thinking it was my fault and I ran away. While I was gone, his tyranny turned the pridelands into a wasteland. Years later Nala found me and convinced me to return. I was able to overthrow Scar and regain leadership."

The cats all stared horrific at the king, Scar really reminded them of Tigerstar.

"I can really see Scar and Tigerstar being best friends if they ever met" muttered Kovu.

"I am sorry about your father Simba," said Bramblestar. "I can only hope that my father never knew what a king was, otherwise he'd want to be one instead of just a leader."

"I still can't get over that we're talking to lions," Mistystar spoke up. "I always thought they were ancient myths, Lionclan was the name of ancient clan. along with Tigerclan and Leopardclan."

"Are tigers and leopards real too?" asked Harestar.

Simba nodded in confirmation.

"Wait," said Fuli. "Wasn't there a cheetahclan?"

The other leader shook they're heads.

"I've never heard of a cheetah" said Harestar.

"From what she looks like they must look like leopards" muttered Alderheart.

Fuli sighed.

"Anyway," said Tigerstar. "It's been nice to meet you all, but we should be getting back to the forest."

"We'll come back again soon" added Mistystar.

The cats all got up and left.

"What should we tell our clans?" asked Harestar as they walked back to the tunnel.

"I think we should all tell them the truth," said Bramblestar. "Starclan probably wants all the clans to know about the tunnel that leads from our forest to the pridelands."

"He might be right" Mothwing spoke up. Mistystar nodded in agreement.

"No one's ever gonna believe we met talking badgers and birds" grumbled Jayfeather.

Author's note; the warriors and the pridelanders have all met and exchanged stories of their past. What do you think will happen when they find out more about their history of Tigerstar?