Warriors: Beetlestar's Path

Chapter Three

     "I can't believe it- this is my first gathering as a warrior! Oh- oh I think I'm gonna be sick."

Beetlewing moved quickly through the tall moorland grass, his own stomach doing flips as he listened to Kinkedtail, who leaned against a chuckling Yellowfoot. The full moon hung high and bathed the meadows in palid silver light. WaterClan had finally passed into PlainClan territory, where cats ran free amongst the fields. How can I feel so cramped but so open all at once?

"Ugh, I hate this!" Berryfrost huffed. "I'll never get used to marching through PlainClan, and DarkClan too! I miss the old gathering island."

Beetlewing touched her shoulder with his tail and glanced back at his mother. She's only been an elder for a few seasons and she's already a grouch. But I don't blame her. This is a long trek. But the gathering island has been lost for a year now. We just have to accept it. "I miss it too," he said. "Maybe one day we'll get it back."

"It belongs to the twolegs now. We'll never get it back." Berryfrost's ears fell back.

"Well, now we know how the other Clans felt at least, trying to cross to the island," Yellowfoot chimed in. Coldwings nudged him with one paw.

"Why do you care what the other Clans felt? If they couldn't make it there once a moon, maybe they shouldn't have been there in the first place."

Yellowfoot rolled his eyes. "All I'm saying is that is sort of sucks that anyone has to travel so far. The valley makes it easier for all the Clans. This is a time of peace after all."

"I just think yer soft," teased Shatteredstone, who bounded up closer to them. "You've always been soft for the other Clans. Makes ya look weak."

Yellowfoot isn't wrong, but neither is Shatteredstone. We can't be too friendly. Beetlewing paused and lifted his tail, and others did the same. The gathering site sat in the valley just over the knoll. I have to represent WaterClan, and do it well. The other Clans can't see any weakness. He turned to face his Clanmates, who looked to him with wide eyes, barely visible in the shadows grass.

"Everyone, don't let any cat outside of DarkClan know about Brookstar's condition. She will recover, but for now we cannot let the other Clans know too much. If anyone asks, she had a case of whitecough and didn't want to spread it."

"Yes!"

"Of course."

"Sure thing!"

Beetlewing continued. "Secondly, don't mention the fighting with TreeClan. It's no one's business but our own. And third, keep away from TreeClan. Try not to act hostile, but remember: they're not our friends."

The WaterClan cats replied with agreements and assurances, and Dustfoot nodded to Beetlewing. It was time to enter the valley, to mix with the other Clans and share news, and to show that WaterClan was as strong as ever. He took a deep breath and made his way up the knoll, guiding his Clan down into the valley. Two scents filled the air, PlainClan and DarkClan, the only ones to have arrived thus far. Beetlewing couldn't help but sigh, relieved.

He felt someone brush against him and heard his mother purring. "You can do this. You don't have to go to the Great Rock immediately. Take some time to unwind."

Beetlewing returned her purr and touched her shoulder with his nose. "Thank you. I'll be okay."

WaterClan joined the other two Clans in the clearing. They didn't share a border with PlainClan, having to cut through DarkClan or MarshClan to reach their territory, and so they never had an issue with one another, making it easy for them to get along. DarkClan however...