Brambleberry's Path

Chapter 29:

Brambleberry looked at Hawkwing as she gasped with shock. In the middle of the camp, Pondfrost's body lay crumpled and broken. His blue eyes were wide and his mouth was open, as if he was going to say something. Icewing stood before his uncle and closed his eyes, swallowing painfully. Birdsong was sitting by him, staring down at her mentor with sad amber eyes.

"What happened to him?" She asked Brightface as the silver tabby padded over to them to see to her daughter. She turned to Hawkwing and her sapphire eyes were sad.

"He was hit by a monster." She mewed. Hawkwing gasped and looked over to the medicine cat. She wasn't close to him particularly, but she still felt grief. The whole clan did.

"He is with Starclan now." Birdsong mewed, raising her head to look at her clanmates. Wetstar sighed sadly and leapt onto HighBranch.

"All cats of Waterclan! Tonight there is a gathering! The elders shall stay behind to bury Pondfrost's body, and everyone else who is going to the gathering shall be coming. Icewing, Swiftbreeze, Frogleap, and all the others who are not going will stay behind to guard the camp and to grieve for Pondfrost. All the others will grieve when they come back." He called. Hawkwing stared at Icewing and Brightface as they both nudged each other gently to say goodbye.

"I'll be right back." Brightface promised him. He nodded and craned his head to lick her cheek gently.

Brambleberry looked over at Hawkwing as she turned away and padded after Birdsong. Soon most of the cats were out of the camp and padding to the gathering. Brambleberry was behind Hawkwing when Leopardpaw bounced up to him.

"What will the gathering be like?" He asked excitedly. Brambleberry looked down at him with dull amber eyes.

"Busy. Very busy and full with our enemies." He mewed. Leopardpaw fluffed up and he looked at his mentor with wide eyes.

"Isn't that dangerous?!" He squeaked. Brambleberry opted to say nothing and glanced up ahead again. He saw Hawkwing glare at him over her shoulder. He inwardly sighed and turned to his apprentice.

"No. We have a truce for this one night. We can't fight in gatherings." He mewed, glancing back at Hawkwing to see that she nodded in satisfaction and was turning away. He felt his heart soar and stifled a purr of happiness. He had done something good for her for once.

They stopped at the edge of the gathering and waited for Wetstar to give the signal. He waved his tail and all the cats scattered, finding little groups to be part of. Brambleberry saw Hawkwing take a step towards Darkheart but stopped when she saw him talking with a dark grey she-cat with one green eye and one blue eye. She tilted her head before she turned around and padded towards Birdsong. He started to follow her, but saw his father beckoning him and sighed, turning around to go talk to him.

Hawkwing sat beside Birdsong, scanning the gathered cats. She saw a black tom with white specks padding off towards the edge of the clearing. When he turned around to sit down, she could see he had ice blue eyes. He was angry. Her curiosity got the best of her and she got up to go over to him. He didn't seem to notice her until she spoke. He jumped at the sound of her voice and turned to look at her with wide ice blue eyes.

"Can I sit with you?" She asked. He nodded and she sat down beside him.

"My name is Hawkwing, from Waterclan." She introduced herself. The tom stared at her for a bit, seeming to want to say something, but he opted out of it.

"I'm Fernfeather, from Treeclan." He mewed. Hawkwing purred and stared at the cats bustling around the clearing.

"Mind if I ask you something?" She asked, not looking at him. His ears pricked up and he looked at her with confusion before nodding his head for her to go on.