Warriors: Burnttail's Regret (Complete)

Chapter 13

 Burnttail followed his Clanmates towards the Gathering as the cold Leaf-bare breeze bristled his fur. It was the first day of Leaf-bare, and also a Gathering night. It didn't snow yet, but Burnttail was sure that it would soon.

 Bumblestar led his cats out of the tunnel that was leading to the other side of the Thunderpath. Burnttail twitched his ears as he soon heard the voices of the other cats waiting at Fourtrees. They were almost there. Soon, Bumblestar stopped and looked around. Then, he raised his tail and the ShadowClan cats split up and they padded towards the other Clans. Burnttail quickly followed and looked around.

 ''Hello, Burntpaw!'' Dawnpaw meowed, padding towards him, followed by Falconpaw. Burnttail turned and nodded towards his two WindClan friends. ''Hello! But I'm Burnttail now. I became a warrior two days ago.'' Burnttail corrected her.

 ''Good job!'' Falconpaw meowed. ''That name suits you- and I didn't mean it in a disrespectul way. We also got our warrior names! I'm Falconclaw now, and she's Dawnpath.''

 ''Well, good job to you too then!'' Burnttail meowed, then shivered. ''I hope the Gathering will start soon, it's very cold here.''

 ''I agree.'' Dawnpath meowed, then looked around. ''By the way, where's Snakepaw?''

 ''What?'' Burnttail blinked, then rolled his eyes and looked around. He soon spotted the tortoiseshell she-cat speaking with a few RiverClan cats, and he pointed his gray tail towards her. ''She's over there. And she also got her warrior name, Snakesong.''

 ''I see.'' Falconclaw blinked. ''But you two are usually together at Gatherings. What happened?''

 ''Nothing.'' Burnttail hissed, annoyed. This is the first time I really want the Gathering to start already!

 Falconclaw opened his jaws to say something, but before he could, Fernstar's meow rang through the clearing. ''Let the Gathering begin!''

 Burnttail sighed, relieved, and then he sat down and looked towards the leaders. Bumblestar got up and dipped his head towards the other leaders. ''I'll start.'' He meowed, then he looked at the other cats. ''Prey has been running well in ShadowClan, and thankfully the cold weather hasn't harmed us yet. We also have two new warriors. Burnttail and Snakesong.''

 Burnttail raised his head high, proud, then he lowered it again. He sneaked at glance at Snakesong, and he saw that the tortoiseshell she-cat looked proud too, but she seemed a bit hesitant. He rolled his eyes and looked back at the leaders. Bumblestar sat back down, and then Fernstar got up. ''I'll continue. Prey has been scarce lately in WindClan, but it's nothing serious. We also have two new warriors that joined us at the Gathering. Falconclaw and Dawnpath!''

 Burnttail looked at his friends, and he saw that they looked happy and proud. He smiled, then looked back at the leaders. Fernstar sat down and Frecklestar got up, although the RiverClan she-cat looked hesitant. ''We, like ShadowClan and WindClan, also have new warriors. Dogspot, Spiderfrost and Spottedfur.''

 Frecklestar hesitated, then sighed. ''A few days ago, we were attacked by rogues. Our medicine cat, Lilacheart, and one of our elders, Aspenfeather, were killed. Thankfully though, nobody else was injured too badly. We still mourn our fallen Clanmates.''

 Burnttail dipped his head in respect for the deceased cats, along with a few others, and then Frecklestar sat down, looking at her paws. Then, Snailstar got up, flicking his tail. ''I'm sorry to hear about what happened to RiverClan, but we must move on and be strong. ThunderClan has three new apprentices. Eaglepaw, Emberpaw, and Toadpaw, with Eaglepaw training to become our next medicine cat.''

 Snailstar looked at the three apprentices, then he continued. ''One of our warriors, Rosemeadow, has retired to the elders' den. That is all I had to say.'' He meowed, then sat back down.

 Fernstar nodded. ''Then, this Gathering is over! WindClan, let's go back to our camp.''

 Burnttail got up and dipped his head towards Falconclaw and Dawnpath. ''I have to go now. Congratulations again for your warrior names!''

 ''Thank you!'' Dawnpath smiled. ''Congratulations for yours, too. We'll see you at the next Gathering!''

 ''Alright, see you!'' Burnttail meowed, then turned and ran towards Bumblestar, who was already calling his cats. After a while, Smokedream looked at his leader. ''Bumblestar, everyone is here. We can go back.''

 Bumblestar nodded and started leading his cats back to camp. Burnttail followed, yawning. I'm pretty tired, I can't wait to get back in the warriors' den!

 The ShadowClan cats padded in the tunnel that was underneath the Thunderpath. Burnttail froze as it suddenly started vibrating and a monster ran right above them, but when the noise stopped, he ran after his Clanmates, who were already leaving the tunnel. When he get out, he looked around his territory. The forest was silent, with the moon floating peacefully above them, ready to set. The pine trees stood tall, and the only thing that was moving their leaves was the wind. Burnttail shivered, but he soon saw the camp. He sighed in relief as he padded inside and stretched.

 Suddenly, Snakesong ran past Burnttail right out of camp. The tom turned and tilted his head. Where in StarClan's name is she going? Isn't she tired? For a second, Burnttail wanted to follow her, but then he shook his head. We're not friends anymore. It's her problem. I don't care where she goes, she's probably just leaving to hunt or take a walk or something like that.

 ''Aren't you going to follow her?'' 

 Burnttail blinked and turned as Prickleshadow approached him. He rolled his eyes. ''Why should I?''

 ''Because she's your friend?'' Prickleshadow tilted his head.

 Burnttail hissed. ''Not anymore, and you know that very well!''

 Prickleshadow huffed. ''You're a weird cat, Burnttail, but have it your way. Although I would follow Stormfleck if he suddenly bursted out of camp in the middle of the night after the Gathering.''

 ''I'm sure Snakesong is fine, she probably just wanted to hunt or take a walk.'' Burnttail shrugged, then rolled his eyes and padded towards the warriors' den. Can't he just leave me alone? I'm sick of cats trying to make me be friends with Snakesong again! It's not like I'm the one who broke our friendship. What are they expecting for me to tell her, anyway? That I'm sorry that Jaggedriver clawed me for no reason and now I dislike him?

 Burnttail snorted, but he just layed down in his nest. He rested his head on his paws and yawned as more cats entered the warriors' den. He soon closed his eyes and fell asleep.