Warriors: Project Star

Chapter 10 | Adderthroat | We Met at the Gathering

The full moon had risen. Adderthroat stared at the leaders who sat near the cold dark sea as the waves barely missed them. Meanwhile, Adderthroat and everyone else were seated on the beach, silent as they were welcomed.

A large ginger tabby tom stood up first. His blue eyes commanded silence. Duskstar was easily the most feared leader. "I welcome you to this Gathering. Now, before we share our news, go forth and share tongues. We will stop you when it's time to commence." He sat down and the four leaders began to have a short conversation before they approached the Clans to mingle. Adderthroat stayed where he was as cats of all Clans began to talk around him. It was loud and annoying, and he wished he would have refused Brightstar's request for him to come.

"...And that's the weirdo cat I was talking about!" An apprentice's voice whispered loudly, catching his attention.  "He's always so aggressive." He recognised it as Nightpaw. The white-specked black tom's mouth revealed his sharp teeth as he talked badly.

"Yeah, that's Adderthroat for you." Silverpaw snorted, his green eyes enjoying his tease. Adderthroat could sense some WaveClan and AuroraClan apprentices with them. "Doesn't like us, or anyone, I guess," Adderthroat watched out of the corner of his eyes.

"...I see why he doesn't like you," A dark grey apprentice from WaveClan hissed. "I don't either. Seriously? You're acting like a kit."

"Jaypaw... I'm sure it's harmless banter." A black and orange tortoiseshell from WaveClan butted in. "We don't have enough info."

"Don't take Adderthroat's side!" Nightpaw complained. "He's yelled at me before for interrupting him for his solo hunts!"

"He does sound like a mousebrain." Yarrowpaw sassily yawned.

"...Ferretpaw! Back me up here." Jaypaw hissed, and the small brown tom whose pelt was flecked with small white spots stayed completely silent as if he was in a different world.

Having enough, Adderthroat lashed his tail in their direction. "Try shutting up now. Nightpaw, I'm sure Whitenose would love to hear about this." He harshly snapped. The two WaveClan apprentices who spoke left, dragging Ferretpaw behind them.

"He is a piece of crowfood, isn't he?" Yarrowpaw smirked, her eyes meeting Adderthroat's.

"That goes for you too, Yarrowpaw." A cat hissed from behind. "Flinttail would also love to know," He recognised the white she-cat with the swirly light grey striped cat as Daisysoar. "Leave." The remaining apprentices scattered, and Adderthroat got to his paws to walk towards her.

"Thanks." Adderthroat mewed.

"Wow, you don't have to deal with this daily, do you?" Daisysoar shockingly asked. "Oh, you're welcome as well, I guess."

"More or less," Adderthroat grunted. "They're apprentices, they'll probably mature. Don't ask me why the warriors haven't."

"Why don't you leave?" Upon hearing how it sounded, Daisysoar quickly attempted to amend her statement. "Uh, I mean-"

"Don't worry." Adderthroat interrupted her spluttering. "I can't leave anyway. Where would I go?" He half wondered that part to himself.

"Cats of all Clans,  let us begin the Gathering." Duskstar boomed, reappearing at the beach.

"Ah, it's starting! I'll see you... maybe next time?" Daisysoar suggested.

"Yeah, I'd like that!" Adderthroat suggested as Daisysoar began to navigate back to her Clan.

"I will go first." A beautiful grey tabby she-cat announced. "WaveClan is doing great. The prey runs well, and we have had three new kittens. Also, Batflight and Blossomripple are having a second litter of kits." Her sparkly blue eyes shined constantly as she shared her Clan news.

"All is well in PrairieClan as well." Brightstar quickly meowed, before flicking her tail to Duskstar.

"Unfortunately for CliffClan, we can not share the same happy news," The ginger tabby tom looked wrecked with grief for a second before he fixed himself. "Cindercloud was hurt by an eagle. We do not know if he will recover and be able to be a warrior again... Or even if he will survive."

Gasps rang out across the Gathering, masking a choked sob by a small light brown-flecked apprentice. She had teary green eyes and brown fur which made Adderthroat think Cindercloud was her mentor.

A small brown tom tapped his tail on her shoulder and led her away from the Gathering.

Wait, I recognise that tom. That was... Ferretpaw, I think.

He snapped back to attention when a familiar voice dismissed the Gathering.

"We will see you next moon." Brightstar nodded her head in respect, before calling out to her Clan. "PrairieClan, let's go." PrairieClan trailed after their strong leader, leaping over the small gap in the river that created an easy way across to their territory.

Gatherings are so tiring. Adderthroat thought to himself as he snoozily navigated the territory. When they reached the camp, he beelined for the den, curling himself up in his isolated nest. Nobody bothered to move close to him, the den was large enough anyways.

Well, that's what he thought. Spidertail and his mate Poppypelt had moved slightly closer to him, their flanks slowly rising and falling as they slept in a warm embrace of each other. It had been a couple of days ago since they had shared their prey after that fateful patrol. Since then, they had incorporated it into their lives, incorporating it every day when Poppypelt wasn't out with her apprentice. Beeflight and Sootstorm seemed a lot happier that Adderthroat - although slowly - had been integrating more into the Clan community since... the accident.

He shuddered every time he thought about it.

The distrust. Back then, and still going on now. Their endless amount of doubt fueled his angry and distant personality.

He didn't mean to.

It was an accident.

The accident.

Adderthroat drifted off to a disturbed and restless night of sleep.