Warrior Cats: Rising Smoke

Chapter 10

"What's that in your pelt?" Marshwhisker asked as he padded up to her and Fawnpaw.

"Brightmist found it in the forest and thought it was pretty. So she gave it to me to remind me of home." Cloverdusk smiled at the memory of Brightmist brining him the little red feather and how she had cried because she didn't want him to forget her or Moonclan.

"Why would a feather help you remember the forest?" Fawnpaw asked with a confused look his his face. Cloverdusk looked over at the small apprentice but decided not to waste his breath explaining. He looked back at Marshwhisker and tired to hide the smile that was forcing its way across his face. His stomach was in knots and his face felt hot as he looked at her. 

"After the Gathering I'm leaving to go in search of some more cats to join the new clan." he explained in a low tone. "Dawnstar is going to manipulate Falconstar into having you come with me."

"Leave the forest?" Marshwhisker looked uneasy and her hesitation shot fear through Cloverdusk. He has just assumed she would come with him on his quest without question. If she loved him she shouldn't want to be away from him right? 

"Not forever. Just to find some more cats to help get the new clan on their paws. Then we can come back."

"I don't know about that." She muttered, looking around as if for an answer within the Gathering of clans. "I've never left the forest before."

"I haven't either." Cloverdusk felt his heart beating so hard he was sure every cat could hear it. "But we will be together."

"Meadowclan Medicine Cat Windwhisker has had a vision from Starclan." Featherstar called out. All the chatter from the cats stopped as they looked up at the three leaders standing above them. Cloverdusk felt sick to his stomach and surprisingly angry towards Marshwhiskers lack of enthusiasm. He wasn't really listening as the leaders announced the volunteers from each clan who would be leaving for the old Treeclan territory. He gave the volunteers a quick glance as they each stood up and got a cheer from their clan, but he wasn't really interested. Instead he watched Marshwhisker out of the corner of his eye and waited for Dawnstar to announce that the two of them would be leaving the forest together. When it was finally brought up he was pained to see Marshwhisker flinch but she hid her fear as any warrior would and stood proudly as her clan cheered for her.

As the Gathering finished and the cats left for the old Treeclan territory he waited for Dawnstar and Patchpelt to say goodbye before leaving.

"You will be missed." Dawnstar said, touching her nose to the top of his head. "But we are proud of you and the journey Starclan has laid out for you."

"Tell Brightmist and Eveningmist that I'll miss them both." Cloverdusk whispered to his step-father. 

"I'll tell them," Patchpelt purred. He gave Ivybranch a nod and the medicine cat nodded in return and then he turned around to see Marshwhisker who was getting some kind of talk from her leader Falconstar. He waited patiently for the leader to finish and then he approached.

"Are you ready?" he asked. 

"Of course she is." Falconstar answered for Marshwhisker. The pale ginger she-cat looked nervous next to her leader.

"Let's get going." Cloverdusk said uneasily as Falconstar's eyes bore into him. The leader made him very uncomfortable and he hoped never to have to fight him. Marshwhisker said nothing but the two followed the crowd of cats as they started to leave. Lots of cats wished them luck and said goodbye as they passed with only a few giving them nasty glances. Once they were out of the ravine Marshwhisker finally spoke up.

"Where are we going exactly?"

"Well I was thinking if we go by the big oak tree that's full of squirrels, we will slip out between Mountainclan and Meadowclan territory and I've heard from other Meadowclan cats that there are twoleg dens up that way."