Striking Storms

Chapter 10

Thundersong rushed through the forest. The undergrowth scraped at her pelt, but she didn't care. She has to get to Lightningpaw. And she new exactly where she was. She slowed her pace as she approached the clearing. Flowerpool's mound. She pushed her way through the bushes and she saw her sister crouching in front of Flowerpool's mound with he head dipped.
Lightningpaw turned her head to look upon her sister. "Oh hi, Thundersong." she growled.
"Lightningpaw there's no need to be angry." Thundersong mewed softly.
"There's plenty of reasons to be angry!" Lightningpaw screeched. "First the prey, then your a warrior, and now, you get the tom!"
"What are you talking about?" Thundersong questioned.
"You know perfectly well of what I'm talking about Thundersong." Lightningpaw growled. She turned and looked at Flowerpool's mound. "You were always her favorite." She turned and dashed out of the clearing and back to camp.

Thundersong padded back slowly to the camp. Where did I go wrong. Why does she hate me now? All these thoughts were streaming through her mind when she was jolted back to her senses when she heard Fallenstar yowl from the Long Branch.
"Tonight is the gathering!" he yowled. "The cats that will be going are Heronflight, Thundersong, Olivedust, Lightningpaw, Windpaw, Wildgaze, Rosehawk, Honeyhope, Iceshiver, Flydust, Otterwhisper, Fennelsplash, Rushdust, Jayeye, Wolleystream, Clearmist, and myself. We leave at the dusk!"

Thundersong trotted excitedly behind Fallenstar. I can't believe I'm going to my first gathering! As a warrior! The clan moved through the barrier to the gathering place and all of the cats took their places. Wow! That must be the High Stone! Thundersong thought as she gazed curiously at the tall boulder overlooking the clearing.
There were three cats standing upon the stone. Fallenstar, and two cats she has never seen before. One of them was a large black tom with only 3/4 of his tail. And the other was a black and yellow she cat. Thundersong leaned over to Heronflight. "Who are those other two cats?" she whispered.
"The she-cat is Beestar. She's the leader of Breezeclan. And the tom is Ashstar. He's the leader of Wonderclan."
Thundersong gazed up at the boulder again and noticed another cat standing by the other leaders. Riverstar. Thundersong lashed her tail angrily and saw Heronflight and the rest of Willowclan was doing the same.
Fallenstar turned his head to Beestar and dipped his head. "Would you like to start?" he asked.
"Gladly. Thank you Fallenstar." Beestar me owed as she stepped forward. "Green-leaf has been good to Breezeclan. Prey has been plentiful and the Twolegs have kept their distance. But sadly, one of our elders Dewnose died. She will rest peacefully in Starclan." She dipped her head and beconed towards Ashstar.
Ashstar stepped forward and began speaking. "Green-leaf has also been good to Wonderclan. We recently defeated a pack of dogs that had settled on our territory and we are marking our borders regularly." the large tom meowed then turned and glared at Beestar.
I wonder if their clans had been fighting too. Thundersong thought.
Fallenstar stepped forward. "Willowclan is doing well. We have two new warriors, Heronflight, and Thundersong!" He paused to let the clans cheer.
Thundersong rose to her paws, her tail held high as the clans cheered her name. Heronflight glanced at her smiling, his eyes full of happiness. Thundersong grinned and looked around at all the assembled cats. She noticed Lightningpaw sitting next to a strange tom. He was a brown tabby and was very muscular, but he didn't look old enough to be a warrior. But then again, I bet Heronflight and I don't look old enough to be warriors either...

Fallenstar began speaking again when the cheering had died down. "We are marking our borders regularly, and an cat that is spotted trespassing, I have given permission to attack." he growled glaring at Riverstar, his tail lashing angrily.

Riverstar sorted angrily and shoved his way forward. "Green-leaf has not been well to Amberclan. The Two-legs from upstream have moved down to our territory and have started taking all the fish from the river. Because of this, we have been forced to hunt on the small portion of land. Now I must ask you, we need more territory, and we need it now. The land portion of territory he have isn't enough to sustain my clan. So you must give us some of your territory. Beestar has already agreed to this transaction."

Yowls of rage were spat from the cats of Willowclan and Wonderclan.

"Enough!" Fallenstar meowed. "Let Riverstar and I speak in private." He turned and padded to the other end of the boulder and began whispering.

Thundersong stood bristling at the foot of the boulder. How dare Riverstar ask for our territory! Thundersong shook out her pelt and looked around for Lightningpaw. She wasn't where she last was, and the tom was gone too. She swiveled her head around looking for them, but they were nowhere to be seen. She darted over to Heronflight. "I can't find Lightningpaw!" she meowed frantically.

"Don't worry, she probably went off to talk to some cats from the other clans." he meowed comfortingly.

"Oh." Thundersong whispered. Probably off with that tom. Thundersong thought angrily. Her attention was drawn back to the boulder as Fallenstar and Riverstar padded back up to the front.

"Willowclan! Lets go!" Fallenstar yowled. He kept down from the boulder and trotted to the exit, his clan following behind him. Thundersong trotted after Heronflight as they left the gathering place.

Thundersong collapsed on her nest when they returned back to camp. Heronflight poked his head inside the apprentices den. "What are you doing Thundersong, we sleep in the warriors den now." he laughed.

Thundersong scrambled to her feet embarrassingly and padded over to him.

"Don't worry, nobody saw but me." He whispered.

Thundersong grinned and padded over to the warriors den with Heronflight, heir tails intertwined. They picked a two nests at the back of the den and settled down. Once they were settled, Heronflight lifted his head. "Thundersong? I....I need ask you something." he meowed nervously.

"Yes?" Thundersong meowed. She lifted her head from her paws and turned toward Heronflight, her eyes sparkling.

"Thundersong," Heronflight began. "I love you so much, and I was wondering, if you wanted to be my mate."

"Oh Heronflight! Of corse I would!" Thundersong exclaimed and licked her mate's cheek, her eyes gleaming. "I love you so much." she purred. She curled up with him and dosed off into sleep. And the last thing she saw, was Herionflight's tail, wrapped around her.