**OLD** Valley Cats: Of Sky and Stone 1- Daughters and Darkness

Chapter Twenty-Eight

 "Cats of all Clans, please lend us your ears! The gathering has begun!" Sequoiastar yowled from her perch on the bench. Twisterpaw scrambled for a place to sit. She was passing by her GroveClan friend when Lemmingpaw caught her eye. The dark brown she-cat smiled and patted the grass beside her, urging her to sit down.

 Twisterpaw quickly took her place next to her friend and looked around. Adderpaw had wandered off to sit with Oriolepaw and her band. Only  her and Lemmingpaw remained in the open space between the two tallest bushes. Twisterpaw settled down into the long grass, hoping her punishment wasn't going to be the first priority.

 "I said, lend us your ears!" The reddish WoodClan leader snapped at Oriolepaw and Adderpaw, who were still fooling around. The rowdy apprentices eventually sat down, gazing up at the seven leaders who were waiting patiently, pretending not to see the young cats' mischief. Mostly. Sedgestar was glaring at everyone like he normally did, but he was focused more on the apprentices this time.

 "WoodClan has been welcoming the warmer weather. Our only news is a recent sighting of raccoons on our territory. They quickly moved on, but we advise cats near our territory to keep an eye out, especially around the twoleg dens where they scavenge." Sequoiastar reported.

 "Yes, yes. MireClan has also prospered. The recent storms have flooded a few of our hunting grounds, but the dried-up pond has been revived. We look forward to fishing in the shallows, if the greenleaf does not dry up the land like it did last time." Sedgestar said quickly. The old tom nodded at Claystar. "Has the flooding affected DeltaClan?" he prodded spontaneously.

 Claystar sat up suddenly, clearly at a loss for words. The leader wasn't skilled at speaking, and struggled for a moment to answer. "Uh... yes, Sedgestar. Unfortunately, our nursery flooded during a particularly terrible storm. Two of Dewdrop and Salmonscale's kits, Algaekit and Leechkit, were swept away. The oldest one, Tadpolekit, remains in critical condition." Claystar said nervously. He bowed his head humbly. "We mourn for our losses." he finished.

 "I'm sorry to hear that, Claystar." Ospreystar assured him, although his voice was emotionless as ever. "ConiferClan has not suffered any losses, although my deputy Kestrelspeckle was on a patrol during a storm when a cluster of pine needles fell and hit her in the face. Her eye was moderately injured. Some infection set in, presumably from the mud, and she has not been well enough to attend this gathering." the brown-and-white tom lashed his long tail at Owlfeather, who sat on the deputies' ledge.

 The long-furred, ginger-and-white tom was Oriolepaw's father and mentor. He was the oldest warrior in ConiferClan, too. Twisterpaw had learned from the two siblings' bragging that they were entitled to authority, since their mentors were the deputy and senior warrior of their Clan.

 Now, Barleystar interrupted the consideration of the ConiferClan deputy's injury. "Well, enough sad news. MeadowClan has been enjoying this rain! I mean, the grass nearly blocks out the sun! Anyways, on to the important part. As you recall, my deputy was expecting kits with yours truly. Flaxfur is standing in for her today because MeadowClan has four new kits!" he announced triumphantly. Only a few cats cheered, but Barleystar still grinned widely. "Their names are Rabbitkit, Foxkit, Hawkkit, and Coyotekit!" he finished dramatically.

 "New kits are always a cause for celebration." Sandystar began. "ForestClan has a few new apprentices: Amberpaw, Mosspaw, and Thornpaw. Aside from that, Dovetail has become a permanent queen and Sprucefall, Cedarspike, and Pinebristle have retired. Unfortunately, Ravenflight has drowned while visiting the Moonpond. We will mourn the loss of our beloved senior healer." she reported.

 She paused to let the reactions die down. "As you can see, I am the new leader. To clear up any rumors, Poppystar did not die from a falling tree branch, nor did she catch a case of frostcough. Twisterpaw may provide information as to her cause of death." the she-cat turned her head to peer down at the apprentice, who was cowering in the thick grass. All eyes turned to Twisterpaw as cats from seven Clans waited for her response.

 "Poppystar was slain by her brother, a kittypet called Mango. He tricked his way into the camp and murdered her  as revenge for an event that happened long ago." Twisterpaw said simply, sitting up tall. If she was going to admit her involvement in her leader's death, she shouldn't be hiding in the foliage.

 "Go on. Who led the former warrior into the camp?" Mothtail called from her perch beside the other deputies.

 "Um..." Twisterpaw felt the wight of the confession sinking in. She lowered her head under the stares of the crowd. "Well... That may have been me..."

 "It was me!" a voice rang out through the clearing. Many cats turned to stare at the fluffy ginger tabby who stood out from Oriolepaw, Adderpaw, Applepaw, and Wrenpaw. "It's all my fault!" Pumpkinpaw yowled. "Don't blame Twisterpaw! It was me!"

 The black-and-white she-cat stared in shock. Pumpkinpaw was taking the blame for her?!

 "Go on, Pumpkinpaw." Sandystar nodded at the young tabby.

 "Mango tried to get me to help him kill Poppystar. He wouldn't have done it otherwise. I felt bad for him because he was so angry. He wasn't going to do it if I wasn't going to back him up. I didn't think he was actually going to murder someone, and wanted me to be a part of it. But I trusted that shady cat. It is, truly, my fault." Pumpkinpaw's voice was genuine. She was telling the truth.

 Sandystar waved her tail to calm the violent whispering that followed. "Thank you, Pumpkinpaw, for clearing that up. I was not aware of... that side of the story." she turned to Pikastar beside her. "That is all of the news ForestClan has to offer. What about you, Pikastar?"

 The dark brown GroveClan leader said something about their healer's three new kits, but Twisterpaw was still in shock. Why had Pumpkinpaw pinned the blame on herself? Did Mango really try to get her help in the murder of Poppystar?

 But still, she had bigger questions. She wasn't even focusing on the leaders anymore, thinking deeply about the recent events. Surely all of this would make sense eventually. But until then, everything seemed very out of order.