Warrior Cats: Darkness Rising. (2/3)

Chapter 5

Timberheart looked up at the dark night sky. Silverpelt blazed above and the full moon shone like the brightest star. A cold, harsh wind blew through the forest, and the whistle echoed in Timberheart's ears. He felt excitement tugging at his paws. Spiderkit, Redkit and Silverkit were play-fighting outside the nursery, their father, Lionblaze, watching them. Fernsong padded out of the nursery, his tail held high in the air. Juniperpaw and Fernleaf were sharing a mouse beside the fresh-kill pile while Nightpaw, Goldenpaw and Redpaw padded into camp. They each held prey in their jaws, and Timberheart's mouth watered. Bounding to the fresh-kill pile, he snatched up a starling. He dropped it beside Oakshade who was eating outside the warriors' den, his eyes distant. "Can I eat with you?" He asked. Timberheart felt a surge of anger when his brother just shrugged. "I'll eat with someone else then." He muttered, grabbing the starling again and then bounded toward Juniperpaw and Fernleaf. "...I'm not sure. I've never fought in a battle like that." Fernleaf mewed, flicking an ear. "Battle like what?" Timberheart asked, dropping the starling. Fernleaf and Juniperpaw turned their gazes up at him. "Where two clans fight two clans." Juniperpaw mewed before turning to Fernleaf again. "But it has happened, right?" She asked. Timberheart felt his interest rising and he crouched beside Juniperpaw. "It has. I know about a few times it occurred in the old forest." He mewed. "First, it was when Brokenstar led Thunderclan. You've heard about him, haven't you?" He asked. Juiniperpaw nodded. "Of course." She mewed. "Okay, well one day Riverclan and Shadowclan allied and attacked Windclan, if I remember right. And when Windclan and Shadowclan attacked Thunderclan, but we got help from Riverclan." He mewed and then added. "And once Windclan and Riverclan attacked us here, but we got help from Shadowclan." He mewed. Juniperpaw looked worried. "What is it?" Timberheart asked, panic rising in his chest. "Have you heard anything?" He asked. Juniperpaw shook her head. "It's just that I have this feeling that something bad is about to happen." She explained and got to her paws when Bramblestar leaped down the tumble of rocks. Timberheart heaved himself to his paws, one eye on Juniperpaw. Her words had gotten him worried.

Pebbles clattered underneath the patrol's paws as they hurried along the shore. A harsh wind threatened to sweep them off their paws, and Timberheart shielded Hazelpaw's small body with his. Nightpaw did the same with Fernleaf, and Whitewing stayed close to her mate, Birchfall. Brackenfur and Brightheart had chosen to stay behind because of the wind. Juniperpaw and Sootpaw's pelts brushed as they stayed close together. They crossed into Riverclan territory, and Timberheart could smell Windclan. Their trail led before them, so they must've be at the island already. In a distance, he could see a patrol of Riverclan cats crossing the bridge. Finally, they reached the island. Bramblestar held his tail high, signaling his cats to wait. Finally, Treeleaf leaped off the bridge and the Riverclan cats headed into the trees. Bramblestar first leaped onto the trunk and Nightpaw, Sootpaw, Whitewing and Cloverpool followed him. The Thunderclan patrol hurried over the tree-bridge and Timberheart was the last to leap onto it. Digging his claws into the slippery trunk, he scrambled up before weaving his way through the branches, on which he smelled Windclan, Riverclan, Shadowclan and Thunderclan. Then he leaped down onto the shore. Bramblestar craned his neck to see over his cats before nodding and leading the patrol into the trees. Timberheart brushed past the snow-covered undergrowth, feeling the cold seep through his fur and chill him to the bone. Then, he finally stepped into the clearing. Cats from all clans clustered together in groups, sharing gossip and tongues. Timberheart felt someone press up against him and turned his head to look down on Fernleaf. "Come on." She purred before leading him further into the clearing. Ravenwing, Birchfall, Harespring, Whitewing, Treeleaf and Juniperleaf were talking together in a tight circle. Fernleaf led him past them until they came to a group of much younger cats. Dawnfeather, Brightsky, Robinheart, Snowstorm, Whitepaw, Fuzzypaw, Honeypaw and Juniperpaw were clustered together in a tight circle. Snowstorm was telling them a story. "...And there I was, facing that ferocious fox. I unsheathed my claws before rearing up and slashing at its nose with my sharp claws!" He mewed. Robinheart let out a purr of amusement. "And after that you squealed like a little kit." Snowstorm glared at him. "I didn't squeal! He almost bit my head off." He mewed. Timberheart felt his heart skip a beat when he caught Whitepaw watching him, and he quickly looked away, embarrassed from his nose to the tip of his tail. "Hey, what's wrong with you?" Fernleaf asked, nudging him lightly in the shoulder. "Nothing." He mewed, raising his head again. He saw Emberfoot of Windclan gaze longingly at Nightpool as she slipped away into the trees. Timberheart pricked his ears when Emberfoot gazed innocently around himself before hurrying away and plunging into the undergrowth. Timberheart watched as Bramblestar, Reedstar and the other two leaders climbed the tree and settled on the lowest branches. "Let's gather underneath Silverpelt!" Larkstar yowled out, her gaze raking over the cats beneath her. Foxflight bounded to the roots of the Great Oak with Icefeather, Swanfeather and Crowfrost at his heels. Timberheart sat down beside Fernleaf and Juniperpaw and gazed up at the oak. He flinched when someone touched his shoulder. He turned to see Whitepaw sitting beside him. His breath got caught in his throat when she mewed. "Mind if I sit here?" He forced himself to shake his head. "No, not at all." He choked out. His heart thudded so loudly in his chest that he was sure Whitepaw heard it. Bramblestar rose to his paws. "Thunderclan is dealing with greencough, and our apprentice, Flailpaw, has died." He began. A murmur of sadness rippled through the Thunderclan cats, but Goldengrass of Shadowclan sprang to his paws and yowled out. "It's Starclan's sign that you shouldn't be inviting all those rogues into your clan!" Timberheart sprang to his paws and Fernpaw let out a yowl of fury. But Bramblestar quieted them down with a loud, commanding yowl. "Silence!" Timberheart glared up at his leader before reluctantly sitting down again. With a voice more prideful, he mewed. "We also have four new warriors. Timberheart, Fernleaf, Cloverpool and Oakshade." Fernleaf raised her head proudly while Cloverpool ducked her head in embarrassment. Timberheart lifted his chin as the clans yowled out. "Timberheart! Fernleaf! Cloverpool! Oakshade! Timberheart! Fernleaf! Cloverpool! Oakshade!" Timberheart felt his heart swell with happiness. "You're a warrior already?" Whitepaw whispered when he sat down again. He nodded slightly and tried to ignore the hurt he saw in Whitepaw's eyes. "I'm not dangerous, you know." She muttered. Timberheart glanced briefly at her before continuing to gaze up at the four leaders. "Cherryfall has moved to the nursery, carrying Fernsong's kits." Bramblestar added before nodding to Reedstar, giving him the word. The Riverclan leader rose to his paws and sighed. "Riverclan has lost Shadetail, Mallownose, Mintfur and Lightpaw to greencough, but Willowshine has taken care of it, and Riverclan are as strong as ever." He mewed. They lost four cats to greencough? Timberheart's eyes widened as a murmur of grief rippled through the clans. "We've also been seeing a lot of rogues inside and outside our borders recently, but my warriors have taken care of it." He mewed before adding. "I have given three of my cats their warrior names. Flowerpetal, Mudstripe and Dawnfeather." Timberheart joined in the yowls that followed Reedstar's words. "Flowerpetal! Mudstripe! Dawnfeather!" He yowled. Larkstar then rose to her paws when the black Riverclan leader sat down. "Windclan have a new litter of kits. Lithestep has kitted Skyheart's kits, Blizzardkit, Seedkit and Ivykit." Larkstar began. "But we've also been fighting greencough, but the vicious sickness has taken the lives of Brindlefoot and Nightcloud." She mewed before adding. "Snowstorm, Robinheart, Rainfur, Duststorm and Smokeflight chased a fox out of our territory a couple of days ago, and their clan honors them." She finished and nodded to Rowanstar. The dark ginger tom rose to his paws. "Shadowclan have little to report. We have a new litter, born to Lotusfall, and Burrfur is a proud father of Hopkit, Waterkit and Larchkit." He mewed and a ripple of congratulation rippled through the clans. "Has everyone finished?" Larkstar asked, and the three other leaders nodded. "Then let the gathering end." She mewed and leaped from the tree. Timberheart rose to his paws as Fernleaf and Juniperpaw bounded away to Oakshade and Cloverpool who were talking to Stormheart, Brightsky and Crystalwhisker. "Thunderclan, we're leaving!" Bramblestar yowled. Timberheart turned to Whitepaw and dipped his head. "Nice meeting you, Whitepaw." He mewed before turning to pad towards his clan. "Wait, Timberheart." She mewed, bounding after him. The dark brown tom stopped abruptly. "Instead of waiting for the next gathering, why don't we meet up before?" She asked. Timberheart's eyes widened and his heart skipped a beat. "Be-before?" He stammered. Whitepaw flicked his ears with her tail. "I know you want to, mousebrain." She purred. "Meet me in the twoleg Greenleaf clearing." She mewed. Timberheart opened his mouth to protest but Whitepaw mewed before him. "Oh, come on! It'll be fun, and it isn't like we're hurting anyone." She mewed. "Timberheart!" Timberheart snapped his head around when Oakshade called him. Unsheathing his claws he turned back to Whitepaw. "Okay, when?" He asked, making up his mind. "Tomorrow night." She mewed before bounding away. Timberheart blinked before turning and sprinting to Bramblestar.

Timberheart blinked open his eyes. Rain was battering the den roof, finding its way through the thick foliage of the branches and dripping into the nests. Timberheart grumbled and shivered before snuggling deeper into the moss. He had gone twice on a hunting patrol that day and a border patrol. He heaved himself to his paws and stretched his legs before climbing out of his nest. The den was dotted with Timberheart's sleeping clanmates. Shivering, Timberheart padded out of the warriors' den. It was the day after the gathering. The sky was covered with thick, dark clouds and rain pounded on the clearing, forming deep, muddy puddles. Bumblestripe, Leafheart and Smokepaw were carrying the fresh-kill to a small cave in the stonewall. Bramblestar and Icefeather sat underneath the highledge, talking in low voices with their heads close together. Then Bramblestar nodded and bounded away to the apprentices' den. He disappeared inside it and appeared a moment later with Nightpaw, Redpaw and Goldenpaw on his heels. "Timberheart!" Timberheart turned when Icefeather called his name. "Yes?" He mewed, trotting towards her. "I want you, Acornfall, Swifstrike, Willowfern and Pigeonwing to take Firepaw, Coalpaw, Juniperpaw, Flashpaw and Sootpaw to the training hollow." She mewed. Timberheart pricked his ears. "Sure, but why?" He asked. Icefeather flicked her tail. "Bramblestar thinks they're ready to become warriors, but we want to check their fighting skills." She pointed at Bramblestar as he led the older apprentices away and out of the hollow. "He's taking them hunting, but I want you to assess them and you're going to fight like real warriors, no mercy, but with sheathed claws." She told him. Timberheart flicked an ear. "Then we're not really fighting like real warriors." He murmured. Icefeather rolled her eyes in amusement and rose to her paws. "You'll use all your strength and skills, and if they can defeat you then they're ready to become warriors." She mewed and headed for the warriors' den. Timberheart bounded after her, splashing through the water. "But is Firepaw alright?" He asked. Icefeather stopped. "Jayfeather says so, and I believe him." Then she added. "He only had whitecough anyway." Timberheart dipped his head slightly before heading off to find the cats the Thunderclan deputy had mentioned.