Amidst the Shadows: Roaring Thunder

◌•~Prologue~•◌

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The cats gathered around the Great Oak shifted nervously as the leaders of the 5 Clans stalked up to the tree and jumped onto the branches. Tension filled the air, making it feel uncomfortable. A yowl echoed through the clearing as the leaders prepared to start the Gathering.

"Ivystar, you may start."

"Thank you, Pebblestar. Prey has been running good,"she announced, "and Fernstripe has two new kits, Dapplekit and Tansykit. This has been a good leaf-bare so far, and I hope the rest of you are also doing well." She nodded to Hawkstar.

"Well, we also have an abundant amount of prey, and we have a new warrior, Petalfoot. Beewhisker is expecting kits, and we are expecting some new SkyClan members by the next Gathering."

Cats called out the new warrior's name as she sat shyly in a corner, licking her chest fur.

"Petalfoot! Petalfoot!"

"We have had a small bout of whitecough,"Pebblestar meowed, glaring at Pouncestar, "but it is over. We have more important things to discuss... like how our patrols have scented ShadowClan on our territory!"

Pouncestar's eyes flashed in surprise and stood up. "How dare you accuse ShadowClan of doing such a thing! We may have had many bad things happen to us, but that doesn't change our loyalty to the warrior code! In fact, I believe it makes us stronger."

Pebblestar met her gaze coolly. "Well, a little bit ago, you did have some... apprentices turn away from the warrior code,"

Yowls broke out across the clearing.

"That's just like ShadowClan to do that!"

"Those rotten crow-food eaters!"

"I bet some of them are still loyal to Darktail, even after death!"

"Silence!,"Ivypool yowled, eyes flashing in anger. "Does StarClan really want us to fight about a cat who died a generation ago?!"

The cats quieted at once, some looking ashamed while some still had an angry glint in their eyes.

Pouncestar looked at Pebblestar evenly. "I can explain the border crossing. You see, I sent some warriors on a border patrol, but apparently, they met some kittypets, had a little skirmish, and accidentally crossed into RiverClan territory. I speak for all of ShadowClan when I say we are sorry."

Pebblestar snorted. "Kittypets?! ShadowClan lost to kittypets?! Wow, sure, they were definitely fighting some kittypets." Her voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Well then, if you don't want to believe what I say, and decide to take out any anger on me, maybe this Gathering is at an end."

"Well, I believe so!," Pebblestar spat. "I don't want to be around you or your deceptive ShadowClan warriors."

Pouncestar seemed to be inclined to lash out at her, but held back. "I'll take that as a compliment. ShadowClan, let's go."

As the cats gathered themselves together to go, a cry echoed from the bushes at the edge of the clearing.

"It's Yarrowleaf! She's not breathing!!"

The medicine cats, who were only a fox-length away, ran over and inspected the dying she-cat, pushing her chest to get her breathing.

"She must have eaten meadow saffron,"a medicine cat called out. "I don't know how... but she's dying so fast... it must've taken hold at once!"

Cries of sorrow filled the air as Hopwhisker, a ShadowClan warrior, ran over.

"No, I lost Flaxfoot a moon ago! I can't lose you too!"

Yarrowleaf weakly lifted her head. "It's okay... I'll watch over you with... Flaxfoot now... I'm sorry..."Her eyes glazed over and her body seemed to lose all the air and spirit it once had.

A wail pierced the air as cats tried to seperate the mourning daughter from her mother so both could be taken back to their camp.

"Come on Hopwhisker... we can sit vigil for her back in camp..."

A cat watched from the shadows, his eyes narrowing.

"This... wasn't supposed to happen... "He turned away from the clearing and padded towards the water at the edge of the island. The starlight reflected off the silvery lake, and he seemed to read the stars as easily as he could walk.

"I see..."

The stars glimmered even more fiercely.

"Only when the stars align will the spirits lay in peace."