Warriors: Crazystar's Greatest Challenge(Sequel to Crazystar's Battle)

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

                ThunderClan were the first ones to arrive on the island.

                The full moon cast a bright glow on the clearing as Crazystar leapt onto a thin branch of the Dead Oak. The ThunderClan leader remembered her first Gathering that she’d attended with Stonestream, where StarClan had shown its anger by lighting the Great Oak ablaze. Her memories were interrupted when Liontail, who stood at the base of the tree, noticed RiverClan’s appearance.

                The Clan was led by a familiar red-furred she-cat. It was Crazystar’s old friend Salmonstorm, who’d replaced Mosspool as deputy three moons ago. The RiverClan she-cat sprang onto the branch beside her and meowed with her characteristic cheerfulness, “Hi, Crazystar!”

                “Hi, Salmon…uh, is Troutstar just ill or something or is she dead?” the ThunderClan leader asked nervously.

                The red-furred she-cat stared sadly at the ground. “She’s dead,” Salmonstar confirmed, speaking in a normal tone of voice. “I received my nine lives from StarClan yesterday night.”

                “I’m sorry to hear about Troutstar,” Crazystar commented. “But congratulations!”

                The new RiverClan leader quickly decided to change the topic of conversation to a happier subject. “So I hear you and Stonestream have two little furballs,” Salmonstar mentioned the kits curiously. “What are their names?”    

                Crazystar hadn’t realized how much she’d missed the RiverClan she-cat until now. For a moment, she could imagine they were still carefree apprentices sitting in the secret tunnel inside the RiverClan camp, without the difficult responsibilities of a leader. “Flamekit and Blazekit,” she replied.

                “I bet they’re a lot of trouble, but also adorable,” Salmonstar purred. “I might have to make an excuse to visit ThunderClan sometime, so maybe just mention to your warriors not to tear me to shreds please?”

                “I’ll think about it,” the gray-furred she-cat teased. “It’s rather tempting to allow them to but…”

                “Well, the favor will be returned if you want to see my kits if Hailcloud and I ever have any!” Salmonstar interrupted, and then they both laughed.

                Crazystar started to speak but then stopped abruptly. “Oh, great StarClan, no,” she muttered to the RiverClan leader. “Shadestar is here.”

                Salmonstar stifled a laugh as Shadestar joined them, glaring at the cats down below. He turned his head towards them. “Your Clan is chattering too much,” he growled to Crazystar before looking at Salmonstar. “And your Clan smells terrible, even more of that pungent fishy odor that usual…”

                “Oh, well,” the RiverClan leader sighed. “At least we don’t stink as much as you do.”

                Crazystar held her breath, waiting for the ShadowClan tom’s reaction. Shadestar was unpredictable and known for causing trouble at Gatherings. “You just wait until the Gathering starts,” the tom snarled.

                WindClan finally showed up. Heatherstar raced over to the Dead Oak and looked apologetically at Salmonstar and Crazystar, wisely ignoring Shadestar. “Sorry that we’re late, but our medicine cat, Longsplash, had to treat one of Kestrelfeather’s kits,” she panted.  

                Crazystar was once afraid, but now she yowled to start the Gathering with confidence. The friendly conversations died down. “ThunderClan is well,” she meowed. “We drove a badger out of our territory and Morningblaze should be kitting soon.”

                She gently nudged Salmonstorm, who was shifting nervously on her paws. “Um, RiverClan has a river that is filled with fish now that greenleaf has finally arrived,” the RiverClan leader announced. “We have two new apprentices who are both here: Sunpaw and Ripplepaw.”

                After the Clans finished chanting the names, she continued. “We mourn the loss of Troutstar, but we are still as strong as ever. I am now leader and Hailcloud is my deputy.”

                Heatherstar started to speak, but was rudely interrupted by Shadestar. “ThunderClan and RiverClan have formed an alliance against ShadowClan!” he yowled, looking pointedly over at Salmonstar and Crazystar.

                Yowls of protests came from both Clans and both leaders glowered at him. “You and your lies, Shadestar,” Crazystar meowed with disgust. “No one believes you because you don’t even believe yourself! You’re just trying to stir up trouble once again.”

                “Prove I’m wrong, you bird-brains and fish-faces,” he growled.

                “At least I’m not an ugly-face and Crazystar’s not a no-brain like you are!” Salmonstar retorted, unsheathing her claws.

                Shadestar tensed his muscles and clouds passed over the moon. “Stop it!” Crazystar ordered. “StarClan is angry! I think you might remember what happened the last time, Shadestar, so I’d highly advise you not to attack Salmonstar. This Gathering is dismissed, by the will of StarClan!”

                Salmonstar and Crazystar both ignored the hostile looks the ShadowClan leader was continuing to send in their direction and leapt down from the tree, with Heatherstar quickly following. “Shadestar is such a worthless mouse-brain,” the ThunderClan leader whispered furiously, and both Heatherstar and Salmonstar nodded in agreement.