Warriors: In The Cold of Night [1]

Chapter 6

Redstar stood at the top of the slope that led to the Fourtrees. Sharpleaf was right next to her and the rest of the cats that were going to the Gathering were behind the two cats. Featherheart gazed down at the hollow with four huge oak trees. Sandydusk was at Featherheart's side. Featherheart flicked her eyes over to her friend. Sandydusk dipped her head and licked Featherheart's ear for comfort.

Redstar flicked her dark ginger spotted tail and began to pad towards the Fourtrees. Sharpleaf shook his bristling pelt until it smoothened. He then put on a serious face and followed Redstar. Featherheart padded after the two while Sandydusk and the other followed behind.

When the ThunderClan cats reached the hollow, there were only RiverClan cats. WindClan and ShadowClan didn't arrive yet. At the bottom of the Great Rock, the RiverClan leader, Talonstar sat down talking to his deputy, Rainpelt. Talonstar fixed his eyes onto Redstar. He dipped his head in greeting. Redstar dipped her head in greeting as well.

The group of ThunderClan cats scattered around the hollow. Sharpleaf sat near one of the huge oak trees, the brown, striped tabby was just watching the cats chatter. Featherheart saw a gray RiverClan cat padding over to Sharpleaf. Featherheart couldn't make out the gender or identity of the cat from afar. Featherheart snuck behind the gray cat to see what was going to happen. Featherheart realized that the gray cat was Dovefur.

Sharpleaf was sitting the opposite way from the rest of the cats. Dovefur walked into Sharpleaf's sight. Sharpleaf was so spooked that his fur bristled and his claws unsheathed. Dovefur twitched her whiskers in amusement and chuckled. Sharpleaf calmed down and licked his chest fur.

"Are you okay?" Dovefur mewed in a concerned and soft tone. Sharpleaf exhaled and turned away. "I'm fine, I certainly don't need a RiverClan cat to check on me." Sharpleaf meowed in a slightly aggressive tone.

Dovefur brushed her tail on Sharpleaf's back as she sat down next to him. Sharpleaf's muscles relaxed. Dovefur constantly licked Sharpleaf's ear, and Sharpleaf didn't move away. He allowed a cat from another clan to lick him. Featherheart clenched her claws in anger. 

"What's wrong? I can see that you're upset about something." Dovefur mewed. Sharpleaf sighed. "I wish I had a mate, a cat who will stand by my side until death." Sharpleaf meowed somberly. "And I'm sure that no cat in ThunderClan would want to be my mate."

Dovefur rubbed against Sharpleaf. "What if your lover could be in a different Clan?" Dovefur suggested. Sharpleaf locked his eyes with hers. "I don't think I should get a mate from another Clan. It would be against the warrior code and I would be betraying my Clan. And besides, I don't see myself breaking the warrior code by having a mate from another Clan." Sharpleaf sighed.

Dovefur curled her tail around Sharpleaf's. Sharpleaf smiled. Featherheart narrowed her eyes at the two cats. Featherheart left the cats and walked to sit down somewhere to wait for the Gathering to start.

Featherheart glanced across the hollow to see WindClan arriving. The gray leader, Swiftstar, padded over to the Great Rock with his head held up. His deputy, Birchnose, was walking alongside his leader.

Redstar and Talonstar dipped their heads in a greeting. Swiftstar dipped his head and hopped onto the Great Rock. Redstar and Talonstar hopped up onto the rock as well. Suddenly, ShadowClan appeared from the bushes. The black, spotted leader, Crowstar, padded over to the Great Rock and leapt on top. Redstar cave Crowstar a suspicious look.

The ShadowClan leader didn't have her deputy, Graytail, with her. Crowstar's scarred eyes were full of sorrow, but her face was covered in dignity. Crowstar walked near the tip of the Great Rock and yowled: "Let this Gathering begin."