Warriors: In The Cold of Night [1]

Chapter 5

"What happened?" Lilypaw asked in a concerned tone. Featherheart stared at Thorntail, kind of ignoring Lilypaw, she was surprised that he actually returned. Sorry, Thorntail, I thought you abandoned us." Featherheart sighed. Thorntail looked surprised. "No, I was just going to get the medicine cats. Why would you think I'd abandon a vulnerable patrol?" He meowed in a confused tone. Featherheart drooped. "Sorry. . ."

Shadowstalk was still bleeding from all of the wounds. His sides raised and lowered almost soundlessly. "You gonna answer my question or no?" Lilypaw sighed. Blood dripped down Featherheart's nose. Featherheart wiped her nose. "Some foxes attacked us, that's all." Featherheart sighed.

"Follow us back to camp to get healed. The Gathering starts tonight." Mosstooth mewed. Lilypaw had some chervil in her mouth. "Here, some chervil to ease the pain while we walk to camp." Lilypaw offered. The small tortoiseshell she-cat placed the chervil down near Featherheart's paws.

Featherheart dipped her head down to the chervil and placed them on her wounds. Mosstooth grabbed Shadowstalk by the scruff of his neck and began to drag him through the forest and to the camp. Featherheart sat up, stood up, and began to walk towards Mosstooth. Thorntail limped after the group.

Featherheart helped Mosstooth by pushing Shadowstalk's back side. Mosstooth dipped her head in "Thanks". The old she-cat and Featherheart made their way back to camp with a fainted Shadowstalk.

Mosstooth grabbed some cobwebs and put them on Featherheart's worst wounds. Lilypaw was putting cobwebs onto Thorntail and Shadowstalk's wounds. Snowfoot padded into the Medicine cat den. The wounded patrol was being treated in Mosstooth's den.

Snowfoot quickly padded up to Thorntail. She began to frantically lick his ear in an attempt to comfort him. Thorntail smiled and nuzzled his mate, Snowfoot. Snowfoot smiled. "I hope you will be okay." Snowfoot mewed as she licked Thorntail's forehead.

"Of course I'll be okay!" Thorntail reassured. Snowfoot let out a sigh of relief. "I love you." She mewed. Thorntail smiled. "I love you too."

Mosstooth padded up to the two mates. "Sorry to ruin your moment, but how am I supposed to heal Thorntail if you are here?" Mosstooth meowed in a stubborn but playful tone. Snowfoot sighed. 

"I'll be on my way." Snowfoot mewed as she left the den and went over to the fresh-kill pile.

Lilypaw gave Thorntail more cobwebs for his wounds and Mosstooth returned to Featherheart. Featherheart glanced to the back of the den and saw the sleek, black cat, Shadowstalk. Shadowstalk was awake and done being treated, but he stayed in the den. 

Mosstooth padded over to Featherheart. Mosstooth looked like she had something important to tell Featherheart. Mosstooth sat down next to Featherheart. "I have gotten a warning from StarClan." Mosstooth stated. Featherheart's ears perked up.

"Beware of those you cannot trust." Mosstooth meowed in a cold tone. "If you don't beware of those you cannot trust, then a dark force will rule the forest." Mosstooth sat up. Featherheart stared at Mosstooth in confusion. "Who shouldn't I trust?" Featherheart meowed, worriedly.

"I do not know yet, but if we do not figure it out soon, blood will spill." Mosstooth meowed. Mosstooth stood up and began to walk to her herb shelf. Featherheart was very confused. Mosstooth came back to Featherheart and said: "You're free to go, but don't put pressure on your wounds."

Featherheart stood up and walked out of the den. She padded into the clearing and began to head for Redstar's den, but Shadowstalk came out of it with Redstar behind him. Featherheart smiled. Shadowstalk padded up to Featherheart. "Are you okay?" He mewed in a soft and gentle tone.

Featherheart nodded and touched her nose to his. Shadowstalk smiled. "But I should be asking you that." She mewed. Shadowstalk chuckled. "I'm doing fine, just a bit sore." Shadowstalk sat down and began to clean himself and his wounds. 

Redstar hopped up to the Highrock and called a meeting. "All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting." Redstar stated.

Most of the cats slipped out of the shadows and into the clearing. Featherheart saw Snowfoot, Thorntail, Orangeleaf, Sandydusk, Mightypaw, Lightfoot and Specklepaw, Rosepelt and Sparrowpaw, Copperburn, Sparkflight, and then Spottedfur.

Featherheart saw two of the ThunderClan queens, Mistytail and Fallentooth. Mistytail was a white she-cat with a light gray tail, and Fallentooth was a small, dark ginger she-cat with a missing canine tooth. Fernleaf stuck her head out of the nursery. Fernleaf was a blue-gray queen. Sunshine was sitting near the nettle patch, her kits, Honeykit and Sparkkit, were play-fighting each other.

Parsleykit and Cloverkit were play fighting each other while Fernleaf watched them. Mudkit, Cedarkit, Sunkit, and Bouncekit were by their mother, Fallentooth's side while she cleaned them one by one.

Featherheart could see that Cedarkit wanted to play with Parsleykit and Cloverkit. The little brownish-ginger tom snuck away from his mother and went to play with Fernleaf's kits. Soon, the three kits began to play fight. Featherheart smiled and turned back to Redstar.

Basically all of ThunderClan was watching the Clan meeting. Redstar sat on top of the Highrock with Sharpleaf sitting next to her. Sharpleaf still had that same look of envy and emptiness.

"As you all know, the Gathering is tonight at moonhigh. The cats who will come with me are Thorntail, Spottedfur, Snowfoot, Featherheart, Sandydusk, Shadowstalk, Copperburn, Lightfoot, Firepaw, Coldpaw, and Specklepaw." Redstar meowed. "The rest of you, stay here and guard camp."

Featherheart nods and walks over to the fresh-kill pile to get herself some food before they leave to go to the Gathering. Featherheart picked up a finch and started to gulp it down. Featherheart hoped that this Gathering won't go downhill.