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Another Great Gathering without LaurelClan. Larkpaw stared with a gnawing feeling in her stomach at the empty spot where the cats of LaurelClan were normally supposed to settle.
"It feels like we're only three Clans now," Beechfall sighed gloomily.
Goldenshadow lashed his tail. "At some point, LaurelClan has to come to their senses. Which is not to say that their deeds should be forgiven. Invading the MoonClan camp for no reason - what were they thinking?"
Mottletail approached, her amber eyes gleaming. "And that's why Reedclaw had to die," the young, dark reddish-brown warrior added bitterly. "I won't forget it for the rest of my life."
It was still well remembered by Larkpaw that Mottletail and Reedclaw had been best friends when the latter was still alive. So far, Mottletail had mourned in silence most of the time, but her despair over Reedclaw's death had just become clearer again.
On stiff paws, Larkpaw trotted on. She herself had soon stopped thinking about the light brown tabby she-cat. Sometimes it felt as if she had never existed, although what she had done to Larkpaw remained in her memory.
No matter how annoying and obnoxious Reedclaw was, she never deserved to die in such a way. Suddenly, Larkpaw felt as if she was turning to ice as images of Reedclaw's death involuntarily flashed through her mind. Clearly, as if she had to witness the battle again, she saw before her how Reedclaw disappeared between the attackers without a chance to escape being torn apart by them.
Shivering, Larkpaw hunched her shoulders. She mustn't think about that. Reedclaw was dead and that could not be undone.
By chance, she caught a glimpse of a familiar light ginger pelt at that moment. Leafpaw! The prospect of finally being able to talk to her foster brother again cheered her up.
As she made her way through the gathered cats, she remembered that she and Leafpaw hadn't met face-to-face once since she and Amberpaw had gone back to RoseClan. For this reason, she was relieved to finally see him again.
Then she stopped abruptly. But what if he doesn't want to talk to me? After all, Dashpaw had been quite distant the last few times. I'd rather not cause any problems.
Larkpaw turned round and wanted to slip away again quietly and secretly. But when she suddenly heard Leafpaw's voice, her sense of guilt kicked in and she trotted back.
"You're here too," Leafpaw remarked with a happy purr. "We haven't seen each other for moons."
Inside, Larkpaw felt as if a great weight had been lifted from her. Now she could be sure that she didn't have to worry about whether Leafpaw wanted nothing more to do with her.
