Warrior Cats: Sky of Storms

Chapter 20

Echostar let out a long sigh of relief. Finally, she was doing something that helped the Clan. She looked down at Fatekit, his eyes as big as the moon. "Fatekit, you are ready to become an apprentice. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Fatepaw. I will mentor you."

The Clan gave mews of worries, and Echostar herself questioned this decision. She already had enough going on with the prophecy and StarClan. Did she really need another thing to handle?

Echostar looked down at Fatepaw's hopeful face. I see something in him. She thought. I think he will make a great warrior. Something about him gives me hope. 

She looked over at her own kits. Tidalpaw and Thunderpaw were play fighting, and Hopepaw and Wishpaw were gazing at the sky, there tails intertwined. Echostar smiled, thinking of the next generation of cats that would fight for RiverClan. 

"Tonight will be my first Gathering as the official leader of RiverClan." She said. "I know RiverClan is going through tough times, but we must be strong when facing the other Clans. Keep your conversations brief, and do not reveal anything about our weakness."

Skypaw raised her tail. "Will you mention anything about it at the Gathering?" Echostar pricked her ears as Stormfur said at the same time, "ThunderClan knows our weakness!"

She raised her tail for silence. "Only Moonwhisker and Sunfur know about what has happened and the phorchey, but they will tell no one." She saw Rockheart look away, and she pushed down her anger at him. 

"Cats going to the Gathering, meet by the exit." She said, thinking quickly. "Bluetail, Rockheart, Tidalpaw, Mosspelt, Sunpaw, Pebblewing, Twigpaw, and Blackclaw. Stormfur, you're in charge of camp while we're away."

She hopped down from the rock and padded over to Wavefire, catching Skypaw's and Thunderpaw's disappointed expression. Wavefire's face was contorted in worries when she reached the medicine den. 

"You really think you can handle an apprentice?" She asked. Echostar once again, had to push down her anger. 

"Of course I can!" She snapped. Wavefire twitched her whiskers, but didn't retreat. "RiverClan needs warriors more than ever, and I can handle StarClan, the black water, and the storms same as always."

Wavefire brushed her tail across Echostar's flank. "You are tired, my friend. You think you can handle everything by yourself, but StarClan has not abandoned us." She nodded up at the grey clouds, but the only part of blue was where the moon started to shine. 

"See?" She meowed softly. "StarClan wants this Gathering to happen." Echostar looked up at the rising moon, growling harshly, "If they can control where the clouds are, why don't they get rid of the not-rain clouds and give us water? The grass is becoming colorless!"

She stormed out of the den. Seeing the group of cats waiting for her. She fell in beside Bluetail, leading them through the pokey grass and across the Twoleg bridge. She could smell the cats before she saw them. ShadowClan, ThunderClan, and WindClan were already there.

She raised her tail to stop the group, watching the cats for a moment. Everything seemed normal, but WindClan seemed worried. Tallstar was pacing on top of the Great Rock.

She lowered her tail and RiverClan plunged into the clearing. Cats turned their head toward each other, and Echostar jumped up onto the Highrock. She avoided Tallstar, even though the WindClan leader looked worried. 

It suddenly came to her attention what she would say. She couldn't let the Clans know that StarClan had made a mistake and Waterstorm didn't receive his nine lives. 

Tallstar yowled loudly, and the cats below them settled down. Echostar noticed that most cats stayed away from WindClan, and WindClan themselves stayed in a group. Almost every cat was staring at Echostar in confusion.

She lifted her head, staring defiantly at Tallstar. "WindClan has a new apprentice, Thistlepaw, mentored by Robinwing. WindClan becomes stronger every day. But, even though Leaf-bare is past, our territory is still dangerous. I understand that some cats were not able to make it to Highstones, but that is because a sinkhole has been formed between our territory and ShadowClan's." 

He glanced sideways at Echostar, and she felt her fur lie flat. Wavefire looked heartbroken, but Echostar wasn't sure why. Blackstar stepped forward, nodding respectfully.

"Prey is running well in ShadowClan." He said. "Twolegs have camped in our territory, but we are keeping an eye on them." He stared at Firestar as he stepped forward as if to say, "That'll be your problem soon."

Firestar didn't respond though. "Prey is full in ThunderClan." He said. "It is important that I say my apologies to RiverClan. A ThunderClan warrior wrongfully killed one of their Clanmates. ThunderClan is in their debt."

Cats murmured in shock, but it quieted quickly as Echostar stepped forward. She tried to calm her twitching whiskers, and let her fur lie flat.

"Thank you Firestar." She nodded to him. "RiverClan's grieves for Dawnflower." She turned to the questioning looks on the Clan's faces. "Waterstar has gone to join StarClan. His death is the loss of much. He was young, and only leader for a short time. He did not deserve to die." She took a deep breath. 

"He was stripped of his nine lives quickly by a dog. RiverClan grieves the loss of him and Dawnflower, but we grow stronger. We have seven new apprentices that will make this Clan strong."

Tallstar flicked his tail. "Let us give a moment of silence for the loss of RiverClan's young leader." He bowed his head, and Echostar did too. She could hear the whispers drifting through her head. Mudfur was speaking. 

Do not grieve, Echostar. You must be strong for your Clan.