Goldstar's past

Chapter 3: "The gathering"

             It's been a moon since Darkkit told her she wanted to be a medicine cat. Goldkit laid inside the nursery, bored as ever. But, she kept silent. She knew she had to be civil, unlike her brother. Graykit was restless as ever. Stupid furball! She thought as he squirmed in the moss bedding. It was a full moon tonight, and their mother had gone to the Gathering. They were both excited to hear about it. Especially Graykit, who couldn't keep still.

 "Graykit, go to sleep! And stop squirming!" Goldkit hissed, then yelped, "Ow! You sat on my tail!" She pulled her tail close to her when he got off of it.

"Sorry, it's just I really want to go to that Gathering!" Graykit had a thoughtful look. "How about we go there ourselves?"

"What? Do you know how much trouble you too would be in?" Darkkit mewed quietly.

"Eavesdrop much?" Graykit growled.

"I agree with Darkkit, it's too risky."  Goldkit meowed. What was her brother thinking? Their only kits. They will get to go when they are apprentices, which was about 5 moons away.

"Come on! Think how fun it would be. We won't be caught, as long as we are quiet. We will pretend we have to make dirt, then slip out of the entrance and follow the scent trail!" Graykit explained. It did sound fun, but Goldkit kept thinking of her mother and how mad she would be. "Please, Goldkit?"

"Well... Ok..." She gave in.

"Stupid furball!" Darkkit hissed. "I'm coming with you to keep you all out of trouble." Graykit sniffed and stalked toward Dawnflower.

"I have to make dirt, really badly!" He kind of did some dance, that made him look funny.

"Make it quick, alright? Do you want me to come?" Dawnflower mewed sleepily.

"I'll go!" Goldkit mewed, "You know, I kind of have to go too... I'll look after Graykit."

"Me too." Darkkit meowed, but Goldkit knew she hated lying. Especially to her mother.  Dawnflower nodded and went back to sleep.

The three kits padded casually out of the nursery and headed toward the dirt place. Its reek filled up Goldkit's nose, making her screw up her face.

"Yuck!" Graykit whispered as they approached the entrance. They all slipped inside and looked for a place in the barrier to escape.

"Look!" Darkkit hissed. There was a small hole in the barrier, big enough for all of them to squeeze through. Although Graykit might have a problem, considering he was bigger than Goldkit and Darkkit.

Darkkit squeezed through first. She tasted the air.

"Coast is clear. Come on Goldkit." Darkkit whispered. Goldkit crouched and started crawling through. She panicked as a thorn caught her fur, but relaxed as she push forward and was out of the hole. All of the scents surprised her. She was confused with all of the scents jumbling in her nose. She sneezed.

"Ack!" Graykit spat. Goldkit looked at him and laughed. He was stuck in the hole. He looked funny because his forepaws were flailing around as he tried to get himself free.

"Oh, Graykit" Darkkit chuckled. She sniffed some leaves, "Yes! Dock leaves." She started chewing the leaves, screwing her face up at the taste, and spread the chewed up leaves on Graykit's fur. He managed to pull himself free, although leaving some small clumps of fur.

"Mom is really going to notice that!" Goldkit hissed.

"Whatever!" Graykit snapped, clearly embarrassed. He trotted on, sniffing every bramble, twig, and tree. Goldkit tasted the air. A sweet scent filled her nose, and she started think of the nursery and the warmth of it. Then it hit her.

"I found Saphirestar's scent!" Goldkit mewed. Darkkit and Graykit looked at her.

"How? I can only smell... Oh now I smell her." Graykit meowed. Darkkit nodded and flicked her tail for Goldkit to lead.  She hesitated, then padded forward. She followed the sweet scent of her mother. A sudden breeze made her tumbled backwards and slam right into her brother.

"Hey! Watch it!" Graykit growled.

"Sorry, it's windy." Goldkit apologized. She couldn't help that she was small! She pushed on, shivering against the cold wind. She still had soft, thin fur.

Then she smelled many cats. They had different scents than others. Some of the scents were just plain disgusting, while others were weird. Goldkit trotted toward the scents, and began to hear voices.

"We're here." Goldkit breathed. She crept forward, hiding in some brambles. She looked through them and froze. There were hundreds of cats in the clearing. Graykit and Darkkit joined her, gasping. Goldkit couldn't believe how many cats there were. The wind suddenly changed direction, almost pushing her into the clearing. She dug her claws into the ground to hold her steady. A sudden yowl made the three kits jump. They looked up and saw their mother, looking down at the cats. Other cats were standing around her. Goldkit guessed that they were other clan leaders.

"B-Bloodheart?" Saphirestar gasped as a black she-cat with gray stripes and blood red eyes jumped up onto the Great Rock. "Where is Tigerstar?"

"She..." Bloodheart struggled for the right words. Her eyes seemed clouded with grief, but Goldkit couldn't tell from where she was. "She's dead."  Bloodheart's voice shook as she talked. Yowls full of pain and gasps filled the clearing. Who was Tigerstar?

"What?" Saphirestar's eyes widened. "Oh my dear Starclan, Bloodheart, I'm so sorry." Bloodheart just nodded slowly. "Who is the next leader?"

Bloodheart held her head high, the moonlight reflecting on her beautiful pelt. "I am."

"What? But you..." Lost for words, Saphirestar hesitated. "Just tell every cat what is going on."

Bloodheart sighed. "My mother, Tigerstar, died mysteriously. No one knew how she died. I was recently named a warrior. I know, I don't have an apprentice. But... The clan needs a leader. And I am going to take my mother's place. To serve my clan like she did."

Every cat was silent. Then, a black tom with one blue eye, and one red eye yowled his approval. He was from Shadowclan. Everyone joined in. Goldkit almost joined in, but Darkkit flicked her tail over her mouth to silence her. She almost given them away! Bloodheart stepped back and let Saphirestar speak.

"Everything is well in our clan. I have had two kits. I named them Graykit and Goldkit." Saphirestar mewed. "Come out Graykit and Goldkit. And..." She sniffed the air. "Darkkit."

The three kits tensed. They slowly crept out of the brambles. Goldkit's ears burned with shame. She knew that she shouldn't have come!

"If you try to hide, you should at least stay where your scent isn't carried to me." Saphirestar meowed. "And you should keep your tail down, Graykit."  Goldkit looked at Graykit, and he was blushing. Poor Graykit! She thought.

"I'm disappointed in all of you." Saphirestar continued. "Especially you, Goldkit. You're suppose to look after your brother." Goldkit scuffled her paws. "Now, sit by Blacktail while I finish speaking."

Saphirestar continued as the three kits scrambled up to Blacktail, who gave no indication that they were there. Goldkit felt everyone's gazes burn her pelt. Darkkit and Graykit looked at their paws, clearly feeling the same thing. Blacktail looked at them. He looked at all of the cats who were staring at them. He hid them with his black tail. Some cats looked at him, and he flicked his ear to get them to pay attention to the Gathering. Grateful of Blacktail, she pressed her flank closer to Blacktail. She would have to sit here until the Gathering. Then she would have to face her consequences.