Warrior Cats: Into the Unknown.(1/3)

Chapter 7

Fernpaw woke up by someone prodding her in the ribs. She opened her eyes to see Acornpaw standing a mouse-length away from Fernpaw's face. "What is it?" Fernpaw mumbled through Swiftpaw's fur. "Bramblestar is naming the cats that will go to the gathering." The light ginger she-cat murmured. Fernpaw sprang to her paws, wincing at the stiffness in them, but her fur was dry. She brushed past Acornpaw and trotted into the clearing. Excitement ran from her ears to the tip of her tail. This was her first Gathering, her first chance to meet apprentices from rival Clans, to swap stories and compare training—knowing that the next time they met might be in battle, with claws outstretched and teeth bared. Squirrelflight, the elders and a few other cats were still crouched around Sandstorm. Fernpaw padded slowly over to them. She touched her nose to the she-cat's lifeless body. "Thank you for all the stories you told me, thank you for serving your clan so long, and may you find peace and love in Starclan." She murmured. When she lifted her head, her eyes met Squirrelflight's. The deputy's eyes were clouded with grief, but she dipped her head toward the grey apprentice, thanking her for the words. Fernpaw dipped her head toward her before turning around and padding over to her siblings, who were chattering excitedly together. Fernpaw opened her mouth and was about to ask what they were talking about when Bramblestar's yowl echoed through the clearing. "Lilyheart, Bumblestripe, Berrynose, Icefeather, Blossomfall, Rainsong, Ambermoon, Oakpaw, Timberpaw, Fernpaw and Cloverpaw will be coming to the gathering tonight." Bramblestar yowled. Fernpaw pricked her ears and exchanged a surprised glance with Cloverpaw. "Umm, Bramblestar, aren't those a bit many cats to go to the gathering?" Fernsong voiced Fernpaw's concern. Bramblestar simply shook his head. "No, Fernsong. Squirrelflight is staying behind, and coming to a gathering without a deputy might look weak to the other clans. We mustn't look weak." He mewed with a flick of his tail. With a sharp nod, he sprinted out of camp. The barrier rustled as the cats sped through it, paws pounding on the forest floor. The Thunderclan patrol charged up the slope toward the Windclan border. Fernpaw fell in step beside her siblings as they bolted after their clan leader. They bolted past the Sky Oak that towered above the rest of the trees, its roots spreading deep into the ground and its gnarled branches stretching into every direction, pinching other trees and crawling into their canopies. Pebbles clattered under their paws as they neared the Windclan border. Excitement surged through Fernpaw when the sharp stench of their rival clan hit her nose. They were going to cross it! Her paws tingled as she heard paws thrumming against the ground all around her. The moon was sailing high in the sky, casting its light down upon the cats and turning the forest silver. Fernpaw sprang out of the undergrowth and tore across the tough moorland grass with her paws as she ran beside her clanmates. Fernpaw glanced toward the island where the four clans would gather. It rose up from the lake, trees growing densely, while the leaves of the thick canopies rustled in the wind on the long branches that wove tightly together and thrashed around like whiskers. Bramblestar leaped over the stream, muscles rippling underneath his thick tabby pelt. Fernpaw sprang over the stream and felt the Windclan scent marks crash into her face. Her paws met the other side with a thump. She skidded to halt when Cloverpaw landed clumsily, but her sister quickly regained her balance and raced after her clanmates. Fernpaw turned her head when she saw movements before the corner of her eyes. Windclan warriors were silhouetted against the dark night sky. They were nearing the horseplace, and a weird, stinking scent hit the roof of her mouth. They raced past it, and soon she could smell the faintest of a fishy cat scent. "Is that Riverclan scent?" Oakpaw asked Rainsong who was sprinting beside the brown tom. "Yes." The she-cat answered just when they crossed the scent line. Riverclan territory! She breathed in deeply, taking in all of the scent to remember it. They were closing in on the island and in a distance she could see Riverclan padding toward it. Bramblestar let on a faster pace, and Fernpaw was panting hard already. She could feel exhaustion dragging at her limbs as she fought to keep up with the other warriors, her belly fur brushing against the tough moorland grass. She let out a squeak when she felt the earth change into swampy, spongy land. But she still raced after her clanmates, feeling uncomfortable as water splashed onto her fur. Bramblestar slowed into a trot in front of the tree bridge. Fernpaw could feel her excitement rising even more when she saw the last of the Riverclan warriors leap from the fallen tree bridge and pad after its clanmates. She'd never seen any cat of another clan up close, only from a distance. Bramblestar leaped up onto the fallen tree, and weaved around the branches that stuck out of it and jumped down on the other end. Bumblestripe followed him, and then Blossomfall, and then Ambermoon. Icefeather padded up to Fernpaw. "Your turn." She purred and nodded to the tree trunk. "And watch out, it's slippery." Lilyheart mewed, coming up behind them with Rainsong by her side. Fernpaw nodded nervously before springing off the ground. She fastened her claws in the smooth bark and scrambled up. She balanced delicately before padding onwards, weaving around the branches that stuck out of the trunk. She leaped off the tree and landed beside Bumblestripe. "Good job." He mewed, nodding. Fernpaw felt a surge of pride for herself at the warrior's praise. "Thank you." She purred and dipped her head. They waited in silence while the other Thunderclan cats padded over the tree trunk. "Has everyone crossed?" Bramblestar asked. Icefeather craned her neck before nodding. "Yes, Bramblestar." Bramblestar nodded before padding toward the center of the island. Fernpaw waited for her siblings to catch up with her. Her heart raced in her chest, pounding against her ribs. They padded after Bramblestar in a single file. Shadowclan and Riverclan scents hit her nose. They were the third to arrive. She gaped with astonishment. More cats than she had ever seen in all her life were talking to each other in the clearing. A lithe, black tom was speaking toward a large dark ginger tom beneath a huge tree that stood in the middle. That must be Reedstar and Rowanstar! She thought in astonishment. Berrynose padded up to them. "Don't tell the other clans about our weakness, even though we don't have one at the moment. If you've heard of anything about battles or attacks, don't talk about them. You can try to get information from the other clans, but you won't tell anyone anything. Is that understood?" The cream warrior mewed. Fernpaw listened intently before nodding. "Of course, Berrynose." Cloverpaw mewed and Timberpaw, Oakpaw and Fernpaw all murmured their agreement. Berrynose nodded before moving off to talk to a large Riverclan warrior. "Hello, Mintfur. How are you?" He asked the tom. Fernpaw's eyes scanned the clearing, but she didn't find the she-cat she was looking for. Ambermoon had already slipped away. Timberpaw and Oakpaw were talking with their heads close together, glancing at three apprentices from Shadowclan. Then Oakpaw nodded and padded toward them, Timberpaw following. Cloverpaw exchanged a glance with Fernpaw before bounding off after her brothers. Suddenly, Fernpaw heard rustling in the undergrowth behind her. A pale brown tabby she-cat with blazing yellow eyes padded from the undergrowth, followed by a large patrol of Windclan warriors. Fernpaw stared at the powerful she-cat. It must be Larkstar, the new Windclan leader. Stormcloud had told Fernpaw and her siblings that Larkstar had been given the nine lives of a leader a few days before the last gathering. A small white she-cat trotted after her leader, while the other Windclan cats filed out to share tongues with the other clans. She flicked an ear when she saw two Windclan apprentices, not much older than herself, came padding up to her. "Hello." A white tom mewed to her, his large blue eyes glittering. "Hi." Fernpaw mewed uncertainly. "Is this your first gathering?" He asked, while the other cat, a russet tom with amber eyes stayed silent. Fernpaw nodded. "Yes, it is." She answered. The white apprentice nudged his companion. "Robinpaw's too." He purred. Robinpaw dipped his head slightly. How can a cat be so shy? Fernpaw wondered, twitching her whiskers. "What's your name?" Fernpaw asked the white tom. "Snowpaw." He answered, stepping away from Robinpaw. "What's yours?" He asked, cocking his chin up. "Fernpaw." She mewed. Snowpaw nodded and opened his mouth to say something, but whatever he said was drowned out by a yowl. Fernpaw and the two Windclan apprentices turned to the great oak. The clan leaders had settled themselves along the branches. Larkstar began speaking. "Windclan has a new litter of kits, born to Firestripe, fathered by Duststorm. They have named their kits Greykit, Thistlekit and Thrushkit." Her yowl was returned by a dozen of yowls of congratulations from all the clans. "We have a couple of new apprentices, Robinpaw and Pinepaw." She continued. Fernpaw and Snowpaw let out yowls of congratulations, and Robinpaw scuffled the ground with his paws. "Heathertail has moved to the nursery, carrying Breezepelt's kits. Windclan is thriving, and we are as strong as ever." She finished and stepped back. A ripple of mews and purrs ran through the clans. Fernpaw felt a surge of happiness that the clans weren't at war. She flinched when Ambermoon came to sit by her. Her mentor nodded toward her before turning her face up toward the Great Oak. Rowanstar stepped forward. "We welcome three new warriors tonight. Goldengrass, Mouseclaw, Heronflight and Leaftail." He yowled, but the last of his words were drowned out by yowls and screeches from the cats below him. "Goldengrass! Mouseclaw! Heronflight! Leaftail!" Fernpaw saw four warriors raise themselves, chins high. "Silkfeather has moved into the nursery, carrying Yarrowfern's kits." He added and Fernpaw's eyes landed on a light grey and white she-cat leaning into a light ginger tom. "Shadowclan is strong and we carry out our duties as normal." He finished and Bramblestar stepped forward. A wave of anxiety washed over her. "We have four new apprentices. Fernpaw, Oakpaw, Cloverpaw and Timberpaw." He yowled. Fernpaw fought the urge to spin around and race back to camp. She puffed out her chest and lifted her chin as the clans yowled her and her siblings' names. "Cinderheart has moved into the nursery, carrying Lionblaze's kits." Bramblestar mewed, then with a sadded tone he told them of Sandstorm's death, and yowls from cats who had known her for a long time rose all around her. She closed her eyes, but opened them again when she heard a new voice speak. Reedstar stepped forward. "We have a new litter of kits, born to Troutfin, fathered by Breezefoot. Their names are Mallowkit, Milkkit, Minnowkit and Mottlekit." He mewed, and a black and white tom dipped his head toward the other clans and his leader when they yowled and mewed their congratulations. "Lizardtail, Icewing and Nightpool chased a badger out of our territory a couple of nights ago, and it hasn't shown itself since." He added. Bramblestar nodded and was about to leap down from the tree when an agonized shreek sounded from one side of the island. Fernpaw felt Ambermoon stiffen and sprang to her paws, and spun around when another painful yowl sounded from the undergrowth. She pressed upto Robinpaw in fear when a couple of other screeches sounded from two other ends. Terrified yowls and shreeks rose up from the cats in the clearing. Ambermoon pushed her, Robinpaw and Snowpaw into the center, while the other warriors pushed their elders and apprentices into the center with them and clustered together around the Great Oak. Bramblestar and the other leaders leaped down from the tree. Fernpaw felt the overwhelming fear scents all around her, and the fur along every cat's spine had risen. "Everybody stay calm!" Larkstar yowled while Bramblestar tried to calm down a wailing apprentice. Rowanstar and Reedstar exchanged terrified, surprised glances. "Let's each take 4 warriors and go check what's going on." Rowanstar murmured in a low voice to the other leaders. Bramblestar nodded and flicked his tail. "Bumblestripe, Icefeather, Ambermoon, come here." He mewed to the warriors. "I'm going to take on apprentice too." He murmured to the other leaders. "Fernpaw." He raised his voice as he tried to find her. Fernpaw's heart leaped. "What?" She gasped, standing shakily to her paws. Ambermoon gave her a harsh glare. "Yes, I'll take an apprentice too." Larkstar mewed and beckoned a black she-cat toward her. Reedstar told a white she-cat to come, while Rowanstar signaled to a light grey she-cat. Fernpaw staggered toward her leader. "Be brave." Ambermoon breathed in her ear, but Fernpaw didn't feel comforted at all. "We'll go there." Bramblestar flicked his tail toward a large boulder on the edge of the clearing. Rowanstar nodded and bounded off toward the other edge, Larkstar led her patrol toward where another screech had come from while Reedstar padded to another edge. Bramblestar led his cats silently through the undergrowth, and Fernpaw pressed herself up to Ambermoon. Her heart filled with dread and fear when the scent of blood and death hit her nose. Bramblestar halted in front of her and Icefeather took in a gasp. "No." Bumblestripe breathed. Fernpaw craned her neck and saw the dead body of Blossomfall lying limp on the ground. Bramblestar whipped around, his eyes wide with fear. Fernpaw was panting in shock and fear and she backed away to the edge again and her legs buckled from underneath her. The cats that clustered around the tree gasped. Fernpaw rolled onto her back and let out a yowl of fear and she began writhing on the ground. Images flew through her mind, and suddenly she heard the crashing of waves. She sprang to her paws and saw a giant wave that towered above all the trees that surrounded the clearing. She let out a screech of fear when it crashed to the ground and over all the cats around the tree. The river of blood hit her harder than anything she'd ever experienced. Darkness will enfold the forest. Blood will bring death, and death will bring the end. A cat screeched, louder than the loudest thunder, and more terrifying than the sharpest claws or the greatest fires. She felt wet fur brush hers and she let out a silent yowl as she thrashed around, but her mouth only filled with more blood. She felt the bodies of other cats hit her as they tried to save their own lives. Then suddenly she opened her eyes and she was lying still on the ground. Jayfeather and Alderleaf stood over her. Jayfeather's blind, blue gaze was resting on her. "You'll tell me about it when we get back to camp." He murmured as he nudged her back to her paws. She staggered to her paws and saw Larkstar and her cats drag out a limp, beige body. A screech of grief sounded from the cats around the tree and a yellow she-cat pushed herself through the throng and raced to his side while wailing. Three other, smaller cats bounded after her. Fernpaw felt a wave of sympathy for the cats, who must've been the dead cat's family. Bramblestar was dragging out Blossomfall's body while Icefeather was whispering something in Bumblestripe's ear as she lent him her shoulder for him to lean on. Ambermoon padded out after them with a grim look on her face. Fernpaw staggered to her paws, her mind felt dizzy and she swayed on her paws. "Keep your chin up." Ambermoon growled in her ear as she lent her her shoulder for the apprentice to lean on. How could Ambermoon be so calm? "What's going on?" She croaked. Reedstar was dragging a grey bundle of fur out of the undergrowth. A wail of dismay sounded from the cats, but no cat sprang forward. Then Rowanstar stalked out of the bushes while his warriors dragged a dark brown tabby after them, while a small black she-cat padded after them, her ears flat to the back of her head and her tail drooping behind her. Terrified, dismayed mews and wails rippled through the clans when the leaders stopped in front of the cluster of cats. Ambermoon pushed Fernpaw into the throng, and Bumblestripe and Icefeather padded silently after them.