Warriors: Beetlestar's Path

Chapter Nineteen

     "And be sure to tell me all about the gathering," Troutpaw mewed with a shrill voice. His foggy yellow eyes latched onto Beetlestar and he blinked a bit of crust away. Beetlestar reached for him and gently licked his ears. 

     "I will. I promise." 

     Too long had passed since the battle, thirteen days in total, and the apprentice was still unwell. While his wounds had healed, he still showed signs of fever and occasional delusion, and it kept his loved ones terrified. Still, Beetlestar kept strong, and hoped that this lengthy bout of illness would pass on. With Troutpaw's wounds mostly healed, he hoped his body might manage to fight the rest of it off.  

     Badgerpelt curled tightly around her grandkit. "You'll do well," she assured the leader. "But don't take too long. I don't want Dustfoot gone all night." The worried cat had kept a tight grip on Dustfoot since the battle, no doubt worsening the medic's anxieties. It'll be good for Dust to get out and about for a while! 

     "It's not hard to take care of him for a little while yourself," Beetlestar countered. "It's just for tonight. He'll be okay, and so will you." You'll have to be, both of you. We won't be gone too long anyways. 

     "Beetlestar," a gentle voice mewed from outside the den, and his mother poked her head in to see him. "We should get going. We don't want to be late." 

     "Of course." Beetlestar nodded to Badgerpelt and Troutpaw and, with his heart tugging against him, he made his way out of the den. He hated to leave them alone without him to keep watch over them, and even worse, he feared this gathering. The last gathering had been uneventful with the typical news about prey and the added update by Fallenstar. DarkClan had apparently recovered fully from the fire—news that came as a great comfort for Beetlestar. Fire was a danger to all Clans, more dangerous than any other threat, for it attacked the body and the entire world around it. The woods would have to recover as well. It was unlikely that they would be lush, as growth and healing took time. But ash often acted as a fine fertilizer for the earth, and there would be less for new growths to compete with. 

     "Tragedy opens a path for a better beginning," was an old saying amongst old cats, sometimes uttered by Clamshell or Flutternose, and it held an uncomfortable grain of truth. 

     Beetlestar moved through the cluster of WaterClan cats by the reed tunnel and stepped up beside Swiftcreek. With a sharp call, the deputy announced the beginning of their journey, and WaterClan set off. Stars glittered above and the full moon provided copious light to guide their way, and they crossed the river with ease and began the march along the edge of DarkClan's territory. They ascended the hill that separated DarkClan and MarshClan and walked against the tree line, careful not to stray too far across the MarshClan border. 

     Upon reaching the valley in PlainClan territory, Beetlestar took in the sights and smells of the other Clans. WaterClan had arrived last. Someone touched him with their tail and he looked to see Sorrelclaw. "What will you say about the attack on our camp?" He asked, eyeing Beetlestar curiously. 

     "I'll honor those we've lost and take it from there," he answered, though it didn't feel like enough. Hailstar must be brought to justice. But this is my first gathering as a leader, I won't have the same credibility as the others. I'll have to be careful. 

     "And about Brookstar?" Sorrelclaw asked. 

     "I'll tell the truth." Beetlestar broke away from the ginger tom and began the descent into the valley. The other five Clans were spread about as cats mingled with one another. Some of WaterClan spread out as well. Dustfoot made her way for the other medicine cats, while Flutternose and Berryfrost settled with a group of elders from DarkClan and FireClan. Rising anxiousness turned Beetlestar's bones to jelly as he approached the leaders' perch. Kestrelstar, kind as ever, greeted him first.