Warriors #1: Moondance of Fate ✓

Chapter 9

The chill in the air sent shivers down my spine as we walked along the lake shore towards the Gathering. I shot a displeased look at the blustery wind, seeking refuge between Brackenfur and Squirrelflight to shield myself from its biting cold. Squirrelflight, a ginger she-cat, purred in amusement at my discomfort and draped her fluffy tail over my shoulders, offering me a measure of warmth and comfort. She nudged me gently. "Don't worry, Moonfall, it'll be warmer on the island."

I managed a grateful smile, appreciating her small but kind gesture. As we continued our journey, Brambleclaw's impatient voice cut through the wind, demanding that we move faster and get off the shore. I watched with narrowed eyes as Berrynose, the unfortunate warrior, attempted to cross a log but ended up plunging into the water instead. Brambleclaw, though clearly frustrated, helped Berrynose back to the shore, his reprimand delivered in hushed tones.

I sighed, shaking my head. Berrynose could be quite the fool at times, I thought, as we pressed on toward the Gathering, where the other clans awaited us on the island.

Under Firestar's lead, we ventured past Horseplace, the ominous silhouettes of horses lurking beyond the fence. The unease in the pit of my stomach grew, stirred by the imposing equine figures. One of the horses stamped its foot close to the fence, causing Whitewing to yowl in surprise and leap to the side. She collided with Mousepaw, who tumbled onto the pebbly shore. I couldn't help but frown at the jumpy reactions, wondering why everyone seemed so on edge. Nevertheless, I pressed on beside Squirrelflight and Brackenfur.

As we continued, Lionpaw brushed against me, his scent mingling with my senses. "I wish I had stayed back with Jaypaw," he mewed, his tone filled with a hint of regret. I chuckled and nudged him gently with my shoulder. "But then you wouldn't have been here for my first Gathering as a warrior, or any Gathering, really." He smirked, his tongue darting out to lick my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. My pelt heated up, and I stammered, "True enough." Lionpaw gave a nonchalant response and padded ahead, leaving me to contend with the warmth he had ignited within me.

I couldn't help but notice Squirrelflight's green eyes, glinting with amusement. "What?" I asked sharply, feeling a bit defensive. The ginger she-cat scoffed before shaking her head. "Either you're a mouse-brain or you're blind. I mean, Lionpaw clearly likes you!"

I let out an exasperated sigh and rolled my blue eyes. "Impossible," I retorted. "I mean, he has Cinderpaw."

Squirrelflight just gave me an unsupportive sniff, and Brackenfur chortled in amusement. It seemed that they were both convinced of something I was hesitant to accept.

Dustpelt's sudden halt caught our attention, his ears pricked with alertness. "WindClan is approaching," he mewed, and I looked up to see a swarm of dark shapes moving through the heather, heading down towards the shore. My pelt bristled slightly as I watched them draw closer.

I turned to Brackenfur, my unease evident in my expression. "Do you think Firestar will mention the squirrel hunting?" I asked, my voice tinged with concern. The tabby tom shrugged, uncertainty in his gaze. "I don't know, perhaps," he replied.

I pursed my lips, my thoughts racing as the WindClan cats streamed onto the shore ahead of ThunderClan, moving onto the marshy grounds of RiverClan territory. I couldn't help but hiss in annoyance as the muddy water squelched between my claws. Firestar had brought us closer to the water, urging our clan to move ahead of WindClan, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of tension and unease settle over the Gathering.

As the murmurs of "squirrel-thieves" rippled through the ThunderClan cats at the Gathering, I couldn't help but hear Berrypaw echoing the sentiment more loudly. The insult spread like wildfire within our clan, riding on the gusty wind that whistled through the clearing. However, I chose not to join in, as I had always believed in keeping my more judgmental thoughts to myself to avoid trouble.

As WindClan passed by us, I noticed the sleek pelt of Breezepelt, his eyes flashing with intensity. Yet, he remained silent, holding back any potential confrontation. Onestar, the leader of WindClan, moved forward calmly, his gaze fixed on the fallen tree that served as a bridge. He reached it first, then signaled for his clanmates to step back. Firestar led us forward, bounding onto the tree-bridge. He glanced down at Onestar, his expression pensive as thoughts churned in his mind.

We crossed the fallen tree, and as I set foot onto the clearing, I felt the cool, silvery light of the moon seeping into my pelt, a comforting embrace. The moonlight bathed the cats assembled, casting an otherworldly glow upon their gray, tortoiseshell, and brown pelts. Some gathered in tight-knit groups, exchanging hushed words, while others lay at the periphery, their eyes scanning the surroundings with a sense of caution. Tiny apprentices wove through the throng, so small and nimble that it was almost hard to believe they were indeed apprentices.

But, to my disappointment, I noticed the absence of my father and his Clan. I sighed, my heart heavy with the longing for his presence, especially when it would be announced that I was now a warrior. Despite the vibrant Gathering, his absence left an ache in my heart.

Lionpaw and Hollypaw approached me, concern evident in their eyes. I sighed and explained, "I'm okay, just... I really wanted Blackstar to be here tonight, but I guess it's not a big deal."

Hollypaw's eyes flashed with sympathy, and she pressed her nose to mine, offering reassurance. "Don't worry, he'll come," she purred, and I huffed but gave her a grateful look. "I sure hope so."

The three of us settled at the fringes of our clan, patiently waiting for the Gathering to commence. Soon enough, ShadowClan arrived. Firestar leaped onto the lowest branch of the oak, Leopardstar following, with Blackstar and Onestar climbing up beside him. Below, the clans jostled for space, finding their spots within the gathering area. The anticipation in the air was palpable as the Gathering was set to begin.

Leopardstar's voice rose above the gathering, and I leaned in to listen closely to her words. "We have a small problem on RiverClan territory," she began, her tone carrying a hint of concern. "We've had to leave our camp, but only for a short time. We're working to resolve the issue. In the meantime, we'll be staying on the island."

A hushed silence descended upon the gathering as her words sunk in. I exchanged a surprised look with Lionpaw, both of us feeling the weight of this unexpected revelation. My father, Blackstar, his eyes glittering with curiosity, spoke up, "Interesting. What kind of problem is this?"

Leopardstar, the spotted she-cat, remained calm and collected as she replied, "That is for us to know." Her response left many questions unanswered, and an air of mystery settled over the gathering, leaving the other clan leaders and warriors pondering what had transpired in RiverClan territory.

I blinked slowly as the tension hung in the air. What could be the issue in RiverClan territory that they weren't sharing with the other clans? As the other leaders reported, I couldn't help but contemplate whether I should ask a RiverClan cat about it when we returned home.

Blackstar's announcement caught my attention, and his gaze met mine. "All is well in ShadowClan," he declared, his golden eyes sparkling. But then he added, "There have been a few crossings on our territories."

A shiver ran down my spine. Hadn't Blackstar told me that he would let such things slide, especially since I was his daughter? My claws worked restlessly into the ground beneath me. Lionpaw, beside me, let out a low growl, suspecting that I might be the culprit. Hollypaw, however, fixed her gaze on me and asked quickly, "Did you cross over at the border?"

I gave her a guilty look, and her green eyes narrowed. "You did," she hissed, clearly not pleased with my actions.

I sighed, realizing that trying to explain my actions to Hollypaw might not be worth the effort. "Okay, so what if I... I didn't know I had, and..." I began, but I shook my head, trailing off. "Just forget it, Hollypaw. It's in the past."

Hollypaw didn't appear entirely convinced, but she dipped her head in acknowledgment, and the Gathering continued with the tense atmosphere of accusations and unresolved issues.

When we finally headed home, I walked behind Leafpool, following her tail as we made our way through the forest back to the tree bridge. As we reached the bridge, a strange sensation crept over me. I whipped my head up and saw Breezepelt's yellow eyes fixed on me, accompanied by a smirk. He and his clan moved on, leaving me puzzled and frowning. What could that look possibly mean, I wondered, my thoughts filled with uncertainty.