Sorry for the long delay!
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Flanked on both sides by his children, Tigerstar led his Clan to the Gathering. However Tigerstar's thoughts were far away as his body automatically took them to Fourtrees. The haunting visions of fleeing cat's still plagued his dreams, making him restless and irritated by their vague meaning.
"Tigerstar?" the quiet concerned voice of Tawnypelt made Tigerstar become aware that he had stopped at the top of the ridge that led into the clearing at Fourtress. And he hadn't even realized it.
Straightening up and hiding his embarrassment, Tigerstar flicked his tail and led his Clan down to mingle with the rest of the Clans that had already arrived.
Almost immediately, Tigerstar was greeted by his bushy tailed ThunderClan daughter, Squirrelflight. And trailing behind her was his youngest, Spottedpaw.
"Tigerstar, you'll never guess what!" Squirrelflight purred as she nudged and embarrassed Spottedpaw closer. "Spottedpaw finally became a warrior!"
Tigerstar was pleasantly surprised to hear this. Spottedpaw had always been the more skittish of his children and that complicated her warrior training. And he heard that it became even harder after her mentor's, Swifttail, death.
"Really now?" Tigerstar mussed, his amber eyes gazing at her with pride. "That's great to hear!"
"I'm Spottedfeather now!" the newly named Spottedfeather exclaimed, perking up at her father's praise. "And I plan to tell Tawnypelt and Hawkfrost."
"Their around here somewhere." Tigerstar meowed, turning his massive head to look around for his two ShadowClan children and spotted them sharing tongues with their other siblings, Brambleclaw and Leafpool, and two ThunderClan warriors that he realized were Cinderpelt and Thornclaw. "And their right over there." he gestured towards the pair and Squirrelflight and Spottedfeather happily scampered off to join them.
Glancing around once more and not seeing anymore of his children, and aware that Brambleclaw and Leafpool were busy speaking with their other siblings, Tigerstar decided to join the other leaders up on the Great Rock.
Tigerstar positioned himself besides Firestar, the sleek furred ginger she-cat, and his...former mate, looking beautiful underneath the full moon. "Firestar," Tigerstar greeted, and did the same with Leopardstar and Tallstar, the RiverClan and WindClan leaders. "I ran into Squirrelflight and the newly named Spottedfeather, it's good to see them."
"It's good to see Hawkfrost and Tawnypelt as well," Firestar agreed, turning her stunning jade green eyes towards Tigerstar, her voice sounding warm and welcoming. "Their both looking quite strong and fit."
"This Greenleaf has been good to ShadowClan." Tigerstar replied, pleased by Firestar's observations. But beneath that warm, motherly outsteriare, Tigerstar noticed the anxiousness and worry that hide underneath. "Though I wonder about ThunderClan, is all well?"
"Badger's have attacked one of our apprentices, but luckily Brambleclaw was able to chase it away before either Sorrelpaw, or Cinderpelt who tried to save her, were harmed." Firestar replied, quietly as to not let the others hear. Though that didn't seem to be what was bothering the she-cat, or not entirely.
Tigerstar decided not to comment, if Firestar did not wish to share it with him, then he would respect the she-cat's privacy. Instead the tom shot the ThunderClan leader a reassuring look, internally hoping that whatever it was that was bothering the she-cat would be easily fixed. Unlike his own problem.
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Once the Clan leaders have finished their announcements, Tigerstar turned to look down once more at the clearing, mainly to look down and see his children. However, what met his eyes were sleek starlit shapes who were weaving among the forest cats, close enough for their pelts to brush yet none of his Clanmates, nor any other Clan cat, seemed to realize they were even there.
Tigerstar hissed softly, his pale amber eyes widened in alarm, he flexed his talon like claws on the hard stone beneath him, and his tabby fur began to bristle in surprise. Staring back at him was the cat in his dreams; the gray-and-white tom he had seen throughout the haunting dreams and even in the waking world. Tigerstar watched as his jaws opened in a silent plea, but before Tigerstar could even think to do anything, Mudclaw of WindClan passe in front of him and the gray-and-white warrior vanished.
For a moment panic swept over him, this had never happened to him in the past besides his confrontation with Mapleshade and another cat that he barely could recall now. Then something else, something more terrifying occurred to him, Bluestar, the previous ThunderClan leader who had lost her mind in such a horrible manner. Was that happening to him as well?!
Fearing the worst Tigerstar needed confirmation, needed to know if perhaps someone, anyone, could see these cats as well. The leaders! Turning quickly to the side, Tigerstar found Firestar still sitting beside him, leaning over Tigerstar meowed the question softly; "Do you see them as well?"
Firestar's ear flickered as she heard him, and after a grueling heartbeat of silence, Firestar finally answered him. "Yes, I've been seeing them for a while now, though I don't know what they want."
"Neither do I." Tigerstar confessed, holding back a hiss of frustration. What could this mean? Now he has realized that both he and Firestar were seeing these cats.
"Tigerstar, I'm going to the moonstone...would you like to come with me?" Firestar hesitantly asked, though in his mind, Firestar didn't even need to ask for Tigerstar was thinking the same thing.
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Once again, sorry for the long delay!
