Omen of the Sun Book Three: Dusk

Chapter Twenty-Five

Sunpool

Sunpool and Cinderstorm had been back to warrior duties for a half moon when it came time for the next Gathering. They, along with Lightningfeather, and the new apprentices, were picked to go. Sunpool had mixed feelings on it- Cinderstorm had been distant and irritable lately, and Yellowheart would be there. But she hadn't been to a Gathering since before the Yellowheart fiasco, so she was looking forward to seeing the other Clans. Anyway, she had to talk to Yellowheart, even if she was mad, about Oakfrost, because he hadn't come along. Yellowheart hadn't mentioned it, and Sunpool half wanted to forget about it, but she also wanted to see Oakfrost. She hadn't forgotten about him, and what they had had back when they were apprentices. She hadn't forgotten the fight in the Dark Forest, or how she had left him on the ground, neck bloody and torn.

Was that what had caused the insanity?

It was approaching midnight, so Applestar began to lead the procession to the Gathering, her tail held high in the air.

Rainpaw, Briarpaw, and Fernpaw came running up to Sunpool. Rainpaw was practically running up the trees, her excitement was so great, and even calm Briarpaw and quiet Fernpaw looked excited. "Hi, Sunpool," Rainpaw meowed.

"Hi," Sunpool replied. "Are you excited?"

"Yes!" All three burst out. Sunpool purred and thought back to when she was an apprentice. "I remember my first Gathering," she meowed. "It was amazing. So hard to believe."

"Was there any Clan you didn't like?" Briarpaw asked eagerly.

"HollyClan," Sunpool meowed. "You know how I used to be a loner? When I came to the Clans, they attacked me when I was on their territory accidentally. Also, they have attacked CloudClan for no reason and killed Goldleaf's father."

"Who was Goldleaf's father?" Rainpaw asked.

"His name was Raintail," Sunpool meowed, her voice catching a little when she remembered how he had died: saving Goldleaf. "He was a great cat."

"I wish I could have met him," Fernpaw meowed quietly. "Is he in StarClan?"

"I- he- maybe," Sunpool lied. It would be too complicated to explain to them, and they thought that Goldleaf was their father, which meant that they thought Raintail was their kin. It'd probably upset them to say that he wasn't. "I've never seen him." That was another lie.

"Oh," Rainpaw said, obviously unimpressed. But the apprentices ran ahead of her.

Sunpool looked around for Cinderstorm, who had melted away into the group a while back. Finally, she spotted her, and moved over to her. Cinderstorm was walking alone, gray fur blending into the night.

"Hey," Sunpool meowed, nudging her friend. "Are you okay? I feel like we haven't talked for a while. I get there's a lot of... stuff going on, but it's almost like you've been avoiding me."

Cinderstorm looked up at her, and Sunpool was surprised to see a glint of anger in her usually-peaceful friend's eyes. "I've been avoiding you?" She hissed. "What about missing that meeting with StarClan? What was that?"

"What?" Sunpool asked. What was she talking about? Then she remembered. "Oh... oh no..."

"Yeah, it's an "oh no"," Cinderstorm snapped. "I can't believe you. Goldleaf was really upset when you weren't there. He didn't say anything, but his eyes were so dark... and there was important stuff there. Incredibly important stuff."

"Like... like what?" Sunpool asked tentatively. Like she was afraid to ask. Which she was.

"Why should I tell you?" Cinderstorm growled. "You obviously didn't care enough to come to the meeting."

"I... you're right," Sunpool whispered. A sudden wave of shame overcame her, so strong she nearly collapsed. "I've messed up so many times lately," she murmured to herself, almost forgetting Cinderstorm was there as she slowed her pace unconsciously. "I... everything in the Clan has been messed up because of me."

"Sunpool, that's not true," Cinderstorm meowed, a little bit of guilt creeping into her voice, but Sunpool didn't hear her.

"Maybe... maybe it would be best if I just left the Clan."

"No, Sunpool, don't," Cinderstorm interjected, now sounding fully sorry and completely panicked. "No, Sunpool, don't don't don't!"

Sunpool moved on ahead, thoughts swirling, leaving Cinderstorm staring after her.

-=-

The Gathering was going well, Sunpool thought, but it wouldn't be when she was done.

It had been a rash decision, a fast one, a stupid one.

But she was going to do it.

The Gathering was starting, and Sunpool had hidden herself in the back, atop the highest branch she could  get to in a tree. She could see Cinderstorm wandering around, asking cats something, maybe where she was. She didn't care. She didn't want to talk to Cinderstorm right now.

First, Leafstar stepped forward. "The Gathering will now begin!" He meowed. "HollyClan has been doing well. Prey has slowly started to return, although we lost one elder, Patchleaf, to the snow."

"Patchleaf! Patchleaf! Patchleaf!" The Clans cheered, to send him to StarClan maybe.

"However, we are stronger than ever, and now that it is newleaf, our borders will be protected, and trespassers will be attacked."

Leafstar finished by sending the entire group of Clans a stern glare, then returned back to his place. Sunpool was too preoccupied to even roll her eyes.

Next, Russetstar stepped forward. "BreezeClan has been well," he meowed. "We have not lost any cats, although we had a nasty bought of greencough. That is over, and we survived. The prey is returning and we are hoping for a peaceful newleaf."

He stepped back, and Cheetahstar moved forward. "Greetings, Clans," he boomed. "We have had an... exciting leafbare, with one death, if a cat we prefer not to mention."

Sunpool suddenly remembered about Oakfrost. That was another thing she had failed at.

"Nevertheless," Cheetahstar continued, "we are strong and ready for newleaf." He stepped back.

Then, Applestar stepped forward, and Sunpool tensed. Now was the time.

"Cats of the Clans," Applestar began, "we have had a rough leaf are. As you know, we lost one warrior, and two kits. Goldleaf, Sorrelkit, and Bluekit. However, we have made two new warriors and four new apprentices. You know the warriors, but the apprentices are Rainpaw, Briarpaw, Fernpaw, and Emberpaw."

"Rainpaw! Briarpaw! Fernpaw! Emberpaw!" The Clans cheered.

"And now-" Applestar began, but Sunpool stepped forward. "Wait!"

-=-

Cliffhanger yasss

Sorry for the ridiculous lack of updates!!!!! I have been 1. In England and France; 2. Seriously jet-lagged; 3. Trying to stay in contact with my friends that I met on the trip; 4. Going to camp; 5. I LOST MY BABY CLOUDBERRY WAHHHHHHHHHH

But I'm having another sleepover, this week, at Misty's so I can just update then probably at one in the morning :)

Byeeee

~✨🐱✨ Rainfeather ✨🐱✨