The Darkest Moons (Warrior Cats)

33. Happenings

Never had a gathering been so tense.

Palepaw kept close beside his mentor as DarkClan entered the field. Five days ago, a battle had waged there. Now, Beetlestar sneered as DarkClan padded forth. WaterClan hardly looked at them. FireClan bristled at Beetlestar's cats, Briarstar glaring angrily at him. There was no talk amongst the three Clans, leaving PlainClan, MarshClan, and TreeClan clueless and awkward. The full moon meant little to Palepaw, as he yearned to lunge at the nearest WaterClan warrior.

He sat in the back with Froststrike, as Shadowclaw had moved to the front to be near Blackstar. The tabby warrior was still awkward, still hiding from the eyes of others. None shamed him; his isolation and embarrassment was created entirely by himself.

Scorchpaw sat in the middle of the group, beside Helen, who had been allowed to come. Apparently, a rogue had come to the camp while Palepaw was holding vigil for Tinypetal. Scorchpaw And Helen had escorted her in, showing her to Blackstar, who led the outsider go.

Nothing is right anymore. Palepaw shifted anxiously, watching the leaders. Hailstar stepped forward. "TreeClan is well. We have had no border disputes. We chased away a dog, and it had not returned since."

Next, Waspstar of PlainClan spoke. "Hunting is improving with the arrival of Newleaf. Our warriors are growing strong, as are our apprentices. A Queen is expecting kits soon. PlainClan is well."

MarshClan's Kestrelstar came next. "MarshClan is recovering from a last-moment bout of greencough. We lost no cat other than our deputy, Swiftcreek." Cats bowed their heads in respect until the leader spoke again. "Sleektail is now my deputy. Prey is returning, and all is well."

Palepaw couldn't help but search for Sleektail, whom he found sitting nervously near his leader. He was a white cat, ginger patches covering him.

Briarstar was next. She looked to Beetlestar with a scrutinizing expression. "We've heard that you have sided with the rogues."

"That is none of your business," Beetlestar snapped defensively. "It is between us and DarkClan."

"Those rogues are threatening my Clan as well," growled the she-cat. "That makes you an enemy."

"What they do in their free time does not concern me." Beetlestar turned away. "Now, I will report-"

"You are trying to run out my Clan," Blackstar snarled.

Cats of the three neutral Clans gasped. Beetlestar bared his teeth at Blackstar. "Nonsense! You've been trespassing on my territory!"

"Lies!" Shadowclaw yowled.

"DarkClan tried to kill one of my apprentices!" Beetlestar insisted.

Froststrike was bristling with rage, and he shoved through the crowd of DarkClan cats and glowered up at the WaterClan leader. "It was an accident, you foxhearted coward! Now only that, but I tried to hold him up! He would have been pulled up if it weren't for one of your own warriors!"

"One of our apprentices, untrained in swimming, risked his life to save yours!" Shadowclaw spat. "Back off!"

WaterClan cats began to hiss and argue, DarkClan cats insulting them. Palepaw backed away, bumping against someone. He jumped and whirled around, ready to strike whoever was behind him, when he saw Spottedpaw. "Follow me," she ordered, twisting and running to the brush. Startled, Palepaw trailed after her, blocking out the noise of the quarreling cats. When he slipped under a knot of bushes, he was surprised to see Claypaw crouching in the dirt.