Warriors: Winged Hopes

~{Chapter 11}~

Some time had passed since Beepaw first came to DarkClan. She and Duskpaw had met up a few days ago at Four Rocks, the place they, though they never communicated it, both decided to meet up at. Beepaw had told him about DarkClan and about the nightmare she had. But she decided to leave out the part about him dying. She finally had help with this prophecy, she didn't want to scare him away by saying things that might not even happen.

Now, it was full moon. The gathering would be held tonight... a gathering that she would not attend, at least, not in the way you'd think.

"I'll tell you all about the gathering!" Mousepaw meowed, before turning around to join the rest of the Clan.

"Okay, thanks, cya!" Beepaw replied, watching the cats leave the camp. The few remaining cats slipped away into their dens, deciding to get some sleep before the cats returned. But, Beepaw stayed where she was, waiting a few minutes before she stood up and slipped out the camp entrance, following the scents of the other cats. She was going to spy on the gathering. She knew things would be tense between WaterClan and WingedClan, especially with the fault of their leader's death belonging to WingedClan. If there was anyway she could begin to bring peace to the clans, it would be by getting more information from the enemy clan... WaterClan.

After some time, she managed to catch up to the rest of the DarkClan cats, who were standing before Four Rocks. She quickly slipped off to the side, using the undergrowth as cover. Then she waited by the very edge, peering down at the cats in the clearing. LightningClan and WingedClan was already there, with DarkClan now heading down the hillside and into the clearing. She wondered where WaterClan was.

While Beepaw waited for the gathering to start, she attempted to search for Duskpaw, but had no luck. Sighing, she noticed out of the corner of her eye WaterClan heading down into the valley... with a new cat at the head of the patrol. It was a red tom, with green eyes. She figured it was Crabheart, or, she supposed, Crabstar. She wondered who the deputy was. She could see a cat walking at his side, but she couldn't tell who it was.

Finally, the gathering started. Beepaw perked her ears, in order to hear.

"Featherstar, you may start," Hollowstar meowed.

"Thank you, Hollowstar. Firstly, I would like to apologize for our fault in taking the life of Brookstar. We never meant any harm. We would also like the apologize for the actions of our apprentice, Beepaw. We are all sure that she meant no harm, but we are still disappointed in what she's done," Featherstar paused for a moment, looking for her clan to give nods of approval, even though most were halfhearted. Beepaw flinched. Of course her leader was embarrassing her in front of everyone, "Unfortunately, one of our apprentices has gone missing, Beepaw. She was last seen running out of the camp entrance, and we haven't found her since. If you see her, please return her back to our Clan."

Beepaw heaved a sigh of relief. Featherstar hadn't revealed her appearance. If she had done so, she probably would've been found out and returned to WingedClan.

"Well, I'd like you to know that we don't accept your apology, Featherstar. Brookstar has been leader far before you ever were even born. To think we accept your measly apology? Hah! You wish. And if we see that foxhearted apprentice ever again, we'll kill her!" Crabstar hissed, his clan roaring in agreement. Suddenly, Beepaw felt threatened. She was wanted... dead.

"You will not go about killing our apprentices!" Featherstar raised her voice, "What happened was by no means right, but it seems to me that it was more of Brookstar's fault to go barreling at an apprentice than Beepaw's. If she's returned, she will most certainly be punished, but she does not deserve to be killed."

"I will have none of your nonsense! It's a life for a life, that's how this should work! It-"

"Enough! The gathering is meant to be a moment of peace between our clans, not arguing about whether a simple apprentice should die or not," Hollowstar hissed, cutting Crabstar off. Both DarkClan and LightningClan yowled in agreement.

"Peace? Peace?!" Crabstar suddenly burst out laughing, "You want peace when our leader has just been murdered?"

"I'm not saying we should all be all happy and jolly about how your leader died, what I'm saying is that fighting will not resolve this," Hollowstar said.

"Well if fighting won't, then nothing will," Crabstar leaped down from a rock, and his clan followed. Suddenly, one of them, seemingly the deputy, paused and sniffed the air. Then, she began to head in the direction of Beepaw. Her eyes widened, and she quickly pressed herself against a tree. Oh, SpiritClan, please let me not be found!

Suddenly, a brown tom jumped out at her. Cedarroot!

    Beepaw leaped out of her hiding spot, fur fluffed to twice its size. In moments, five cats were surrounding her.

    "Well, that was easier than I thought," Crabstar purred. Beepaw closed her eyes. This was it. She was going to die before she even made any progress on bring peace to the clans.

    "Wait!" Beepaw opened her eyes, and noticed Duskpaw standing behind the WaterClan cats. They turned around. Now! Beepaw sprinted away, running in a zigzag pattern as if to confuse her pursuers. Then she darted back towards DarkClan camp and into the apprentices' den.

    An apprentice woke up, staring at Beepaw, bewildered, "What is up with you WingedClan cats? You look like you were just running for your life!"

    I was...