Ghosts of the Clans (COMPLETED)

Chapter 21

ShadowClan was going to the Gathering. It should have seemed normal, but Redwillow noticed Dawnpelt's expression, and immediately knew that it was going to be a dramatic one.

He sat in the clearing, exchanging a glance with Breezepelt. Everything went smoothly, and Redwillow opened his jaws in a huge yawn when Firestar announced, "Our warrior Hollyleaf has returned."

Immediately, there was an uproar. Redwillow sat straight up and called, "Where has she been?" Waves of outrage ran through him when Firestar ignored the question.

The WindClan she-cat Nightcloud rose and lashed her tail, raking Hollyleaf, who was sitting beside Lionblaze with shoulders tensed, with an icy glare. "Does she think she's welcome?" Nightcloud snarled.

Firestar said nothing, and Onestar took over, smoothly insulting ThunderClan. Redwillow could see the flame-coloured tom struggling to control himself, and felt a prick of confusion. What had caused the rift between the two usually friendly Clans?

Blackstar too looked puzzled when he stood up to speak, but shook it away and reported that everything was fine in ShadowClan. The Gathering was about to break up when a voice piped up, "Blackstar, may I speak?" It was Dawnpelt!

Her cream-coloured fur luminous in the moonlight, she stood up, sky-blue eyes glowing. When Blackstar dipped his head, she leapt onto the tree stump, bristling. "There is a murderer among us!"

Ah, this was the drama that Redwillow had predicted. And yet he couldn't help but bristle, looking around. Where?

But Dawnpelt raised a paw and pointed it at where the medicine cats' were. "Jayfeather killed Flametail!" The clearing exploded into noise, cats clamouring to be heard.

Upon hearing those dubious words, Redwillow heaved a sigh, rolling his eyes. All that for one silly accusation? Shrewfoot, sitting beside him, had amber eyes wide. "You believe her?" Redwillow inquired, skeptical. "You don't?" Shrewfoot retorted.

Brambleclaw, the ThunderClan deputy, rose to his paws. "We all know about Flametail's death, and we too grieve for him. But how is Jayfeather involved?" "And why speak up now?" A dark gray tom with yellow eyes chimed in.

Dawnpelt turned her gaze onto the ThunderClan cats, eyes filled with hatred. "Jayfeather was there when Flametail drowned. We all saw him struggling in the water beside him. Why should we believe his story that he was trying to save Flametail?" And why should we believe you?

"Why not believe him?" Brambleclaw challenged. "Since when has Jayfeather shown compassion for cats in other Clans? I believe that he deliberately drowned Flametail in front of all of us!" Dawnpelt snarled in reply.

The clearing descended into turmoil again, and Redwillow spotted Lionblaze, Hollyleaf and two younger she-cats that he recognised as Dovewing and Ivypool together, talking in hushed whispers.

Jayfeather had risen to his paws calmly, not even speaking until the noise died down. "Dawnpelt, I was there when your brother died. But I was trying to save him. That I failed is a tragedy for all of us. I had no reason to want him dead. And the water could have killed him on his own; it didn't need me as well." Reasonable...

More cats added their opinions, but Dawnpelt was beginning to look uncomfortable. Just when Redwillow was looking forward to getting back to camp, Tigerheart rose to his paws. "I believe what my sister says. Jayfeather murdered our littermate, and he must be punished." Tigerheart, seriously?

Finally, the cats seemed to want to 'remove' Jayfeather as the ThunderClan medicine cat when the small gray tabby tom's head jerked up. "But we walk alone now, don't we? I know you've all had visions from your ancestors, telling you that each Clan must look into its own future. You have no right to tell me what to do! I shall remain as ThunderClan's medicine cat!" Wait. StarClan was telling them this?  Redwillow's head spun. That sounded more like the Dark Forest than the O Wonderful StarClan.

Dawnpelt's jaws were open to protest, and she looked furious when without warning, lightning split the night. Clouds blotted the moon, and a cat wailed, "StarClan is angry!" Who cares? Redwillow thought huffily.

Evidently, every cat besides him did, for the moment rain pelted down, cats fled back, heading for the tree-bridge. Redwillow shook out his drenched fur, earning a glare from Mossyfoot from RiverClan, and slowly made his way to ShadowClan.

Cats were spitting at each other, but he had no enthusiasm to join. "Do you think Dawnpelt is telling the truth?" He muttered to Olivenose. His sister jerked her head to stare at him. "Of course she is! She wouldn't lie. And she's our Clanmate too- we must support her." Even if she misunderstood? Redwillow wasn't even sure which Clan he was siding with.

He wished he were in the Dark Forest, training with Ivypool.