Hawkstar's Clan

Chapter 4

The Gathering never felt more silent than it usually does. There was only the sound of the waves that gently crashed in the sand. Hawkpaw listened on the commotion of LilacClan after Twistedwish's statement.

"Huh?"

"What does he even mean?"

"What did WinterClan do?"

Nothing, Hawkpaw thought. They did nothing.

"What did we even do?!" a WinterClan warrior shouted, one Hawkpaw didn't recognize.

The silver tabby tom flicked his tail. "You can threaten us all you like, but you're only setting yourselves up for destruction," he growled at the unknown warrior.

Hawkpaw lowered his head in shame. For the first time in his life, he felt embarrassed of his brother. All this because of them meeting their father while he was exploring and learning more about the Clan's borders. Why was he lying about their encounter with Icefog's patrol? It wasn't that bad! He could now hear WinterClan drowning out LilacClan, shouting and hissing their anger, especially the ones who were with Icefog.

"Liar! We didn't threaten you!" Drizzlewing. "You threatened us you fox-heart!"

"ThistleClan is nothing but a bunch of liars and aggressors!" Rimeface.

"They always have been." Hollywhisper.

"Alright enough!" Lampreystar turned to Badgerstar. "You said you wanted this Gathering to be peaceful. What is this accusation you're throwing at us, Badgerstar? What is your deputy talking about?"

The gray and white she-cat hesitated, paws shuffling. For a brief moment, she turned to Twistedwish. He narrowed his eyes and nodded at her. She looked back at the WinterClan leader and composed herself. "He told me how your deputy Icefog and his patrol threatened Twistedwish and Hawkpaw while Twistedwish was taking Hawkpaw out to explore the borders," Badgerstar explained.

No please don't mention me, he thought, flattening his ears to block out what more Badgerstar had to say to Lampreystar. He glanced at the few WinterClan cats who looked at him. He even saw Swanpaw and Bearpaw staring at him. He could feel their confusion and anger burning his pelt. He looked away from them to hide his shame.

"Hawkpaw, what is your brother going on about accusing us?" Swanpaw said with aggression in her tone.

"It's not true! He's lying!" he said, quickly glancing at him to see if he was too loud. His brother was focused on Lampreystar and didn't twitch an ear to him. He was in the safe. "You have to believe me. You guys didn't do anything. Drizzlewing just asked what we were doing on WinterClan territory--"

"On? You guys were on our territory??"

Hawkpaw's heart began to quicken in pace. The brown tabby tom knew the white she-cat had a bit of a tough personality, but he had never seen her this furious. "No, no. We were not on your territory specifically. I meant. Just at the border but on our land. Drizzlewing was...just asking what we were...doing there--"

"This is a bold accusation!" Lampreystar said abruptly, interrupting Hawkpaw unknowingly. "My warriors would never threaten your Clan without warning. You know that we're at a time of peace, Badgerstar."

"I know we are." There was a certain tone in Badgerstar's voice that made it sound like she too didn't like what Twistedwish was saying. "But I can't take any chances. If what my deputy says it's true, I do advise you watch your warriors carefully."

Hawkpaw felt his chest tighten. He wanted to go home already. He was already wishing he hadn't gone to this Gathering.

Bearpaw pressed his ears to his head. "That's what you really think of us?" the chocolate mackerel tabby tom asked. "I thought we were friends..."

"Of course," Swanpaw said, walking up to Hawkpaw and shoving her face close to his. "All ThistleClan cats think badly of us. Just as our history shows. They steal and kidnap and start unnecessary problems." She turned to Bearpaw. "Don't feel bad for them, Bearpaw. We're still friends!"

Bearpaw sighed. "I guess you're right."

Hawkpaw wanted to shrivel up within his own pelt. The brown tabby tom couldn't believe Badgerstar was agreeing with Twistedwish's lies. WinterClan spat at Badgerstar and Twistedwish, cursing them and ThistleClan. Why was Twistedwish lying? Why does he hate WinterClan so much? It didn't make sense.

Mistlepaw and Orchidpaw were shifting their paws in embarrassment, turning their heads away to avoid the confrontation that was happening. Hawkpaw couldn't blame them; LilacClan was one of the most peaceful Clans ever. They never got themselves into conflict. Berrypaw rested her tail on his back, nosing his ear. He returned her affection, nuzzling her neck. He was really glad she was here to feel her comfort.

"I would end this Gathering," Lampreystar said, "but Cormorantstar has yet to speak. When she is finished, my Clan will go." He nodded to the chocolate spotted tabby she-cat. She looked at him and Badgerstar with confusion and straightened herself up.

Hawkpaw buried himself in Berrypaw's shoulder, tuning out the LilacClan leader.

Now he won't get a chance to speak with Icefog.

***

"Oh hi there Hawkpaw. How was the Gathering, sonny?"

Hawkpaw headed straight to the elder's den right after, not being with his brother or looking to his brother or anything. He felt so ashamed of what had went down. Just as Lampreystar said, his Clan went on their way without staying back once the Gathering was over. Swanpaw and Bearpaw stared at him and the others with narrowed eyes and didn't bother to say goodbye to them. They did have a burning gaze on him specifically because of his relationship with his brother, suggesting they had a more stronger grudge against him. They only said goodbyes to the LilacClan apprentices and bounded off.

He needed someone to speak to. Someone old and wise. He obviously turned to the elders. Emberpelt was busy grooming Whitepatch. The black she-cat purred at him, nudging him. He sat in front of them, feeling awkward for interrupting their time together.

"Twistedwish made things worse," he said.

"The warning about WinterClan?" Whitepatch asked.

The brown tabby tom nodded. "He said that we will declare war if WinterClan doesn't keep themselves in check."

"Sounds like him," Emberpelt commented in between his licks.

He's done this before? Hawkpaw wondered to himself. He shook his head. "I just want to understand why my brother is so cold towards WinterClan." After sitting on his statement, he swiftly added, "No pun intended."

"He's always been an interesting cat since kithood," Whitepatch said. "Problematic. Aggressive. Probably got it from your grandfather."

Hawkpaw lifted his ears up. "Hornetheart-"

"Careful saying that name," the elder she-cat warned. "It strikes fear in every cat's hearts, not just ThistleClan. Don't you remember the stories I've told?"

"Oh. Sorry, Whitepatch," Hawkpaw said, bowing his head. He twitched an ear and looked back up at the two elders. "If I can ask though something."

"Of course."

Hawkpaw firmly planted his paws on the ground.

"What can you tell me about Twistedwish when he was a kit?"