𝑺𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑭𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔: 𝑨 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒓 𝒄𝒂𝒕 𝑭𝒂𝒏𝒇𝒊𝒄

CHAPTER 26

"May all cats old enough to catch their own prey, please gather underneath the High-Ledge for a clan meeting!" Waspsting's cold voice declared, pride seeping through his indifferent facade.

Maplethorn lifted her face out of the rabbit she was eating, licking her lips as she watched Waspsting ascend the High-Ledge, golden pelt glowing underneath the slowly rising full-moon.

"It is the Gathering tonight and we will leave soon, therefore, I will choose some cats to represent our clan," her father meowed proudly, his stance wide and confident. "Shadepool, Briarwish, Glassflicker, Silentpaw, Ashpool, Hailstorm and...Maplethorn."

A surge of shock and suspicion shot through Maplethorn as she blinked twice, wondering if her hearing was impaired, if she had heard her father correctly. Without another word, Waspsting leapt off the High-Ledge, a subtle gesture for those selected to follow him.

A trickle of cats slowly seeped through the exit of MistClan's camp and made their way towards the Trees of Harmony, commonly known as the Trees, the place where the Gathering took place every moon, the only time where peace was, or should be, guaranteed amongst the four clans. It would also be the one of the only times where MistClan members would be seen by the rest of the clans.

Maplethorn watched the rest of the cats ahead of her and felt her sister's pelt leaning against hers and heard her panting slightly, pelt heaving subtly against her fur.

"Are you alright?" Maplethorn whispered quietly, having the hunch that it wouldn't serve either of them well if she spoke too loudly.

Silentpaw gave a weak nod and managed to force out,

"I'm fine, Maplethorn. Don't worry about me; I know what I'm doing."

Maplethorn turned her head to the other side, a small frown forming on her face as she felt a twinge in her heart, annoyed that she wasn't allowed to help Silentpaw, even though her sister had done so for her entire life.

They walked in silence for the rest of the journey, only Silentpaw's barely audible huffing and wheezing breaking the silence of MistClan's eerily still land.

As Maplethorn entered the Trees she stood completely still, astounded by the novelty of it all. She'd never seen such a wide variety of cats in the same place before; never encountered any of the other three clans. Maplethorn's nostrils flared as she took in 

StormClan members carried the scent of pride, almost arrogance, a scent that wasn't too different from what her brother and father emitted. Most of their members were strong, stocky, muscular cats that stood almost half a head taller than the average MistClan cat. They all talked in loud, jovial voices which could've been heard on the other side of the Trees.

WillowClan all radiated an aura of serenity and peace, all lying on their stomachs or backs, completely stretched out and whispering softly, slowly towards members of other clans or their own.

MarshClan smelled of fish, bogs, lakes and more fish. They were the most kittypet-like out of the rest of them. Twoleg scent could be discerned from the rest.

"That's Jaggedstar, the leader of StormClan," Silentpaw whispered, after she plonked herself next to Maplethorn, tail flicking at a grey-blue tom with a white chin and paws, whose pelt was raked with scars. He was missing an eye and the intact one was a scorching, smoking, amber.

"That's Fernstar, leader of WillowClan. All WillowClan leaders are females, as are all higher ranking roles, for WillowClan believes that males are too irrational and may not resort to the pacifist ways they have agreed to," she continued, tail now pointed at a brown she-cat with bengal marks. She was lithe, long-legged and slim. Her eyes were a soft yellow, as though StarClan had blessed her with two suns for eyes instead. A nagging feeling tugged at Maplethorn but she wasn't allowed to dwell on it before her sister continued to speak.