Destiny

CHAPTER NINE

This chapter is dedicated to Moonbringer. Happy Birthday!

Silverpaw jumped in alarm, and turned around slowly to face the displeased medicine cat. She tried to think of a million excuses to defend her actions just then, but none came to her mind. She tried not to level with Lilyheart's gaze and kept her ears flat, waiting for a scolding. Is this what being in trouble feels like? She wondered. Silent and miserable?

Lilyheart gave a huge sigh, and made herself comfortable on the grass besides Silverpaw. “None of us medicine cats are perfect you know. We all make some kind of mistakes that shame ourselves in front of our clans once in a life-time.”

“You mean you've done something like this before?” Silverpaw was suddenly very very curious. She expected Lilyheart to be the perfect medicine cat; no one in the clan has ever mentioned anything bad about her.

“Not necessarily...” Lilyheart meowed carefully. “However, I used to get into lots of trouble, before and after I became a medicine cat apprentice. Those were the days....” There was a dreamy and wistful look in her eyes.

It was a cool and breezy evening during newleaf(spring). The river along RiverClan's territory ran smoothly and Ivypaw raced across it on stepping stones with Lilypaw tailing behind. Lush trees disappeared as they started padding on marshy ground. The reeds tickled Lilypaw's ginger pelt which made her more and more excited as she remembered why she left the camp with her best friend. No one will notice us gone, she assured herself. They carefully balanced themselves as they bounded across a long tree trunk that led them straight to a small island that all four clans use as their only place to meet in peace, known as a Gathering. Two cats were already there waiting in the shadows. A silver she-cat came out, her ears flicking in greeting. Her dark blue eyes shone bright against the pale moon and she sighed with relief.

“Sorry we're late, Crescentlight.” Lilypaw panted. “I was helping Willowshine with a sick kit, and Ivypaw had to clean the bedding in the elder's den. Redwing insisted on telling us the story about her catching the biggest fish in the river.”

“Yeah, and you know how long that takes.” Ivypaw added.

“Well, next time, make sure you go on a border patrol instead. That was my excuse for staying behind while the others went back.” The second she-cat came out, her light brown fur blending in with the brambles she hid behind.

“I'm glad you think that we're just as important as ThunderClan, Wildpaw.” Lilypaw purred, touching her nose with her's.

“Maybe I do, but only when hedgehogs fly.” Wildpaw growled playfully as she cuffed Lilypaw's ear lightly.

To start their fun, Ivypaw climbed up an oak tree at the center in the wide circle of grass. It's thick roots and branches casts more shadows and Ivypaw, who sat on one of its low branches, looked down at them, her tail beckoning to follow. Wildpaw was next, she clawed at the trunk and jumped on a higher branch, but near Ivypaw. Crescentlight went up too, while Lilypaw stayed by the tree roots, the exact place a medicine cat would sit.

“I will go first.” Wildpaw declared. She puffed up her chest and cleared her throat. “I am Wildstar, leader of ThunderClan. Right now my clan is stronger than ever, and we are pleased that newleaf is here to give more prey for us to hunt. We will fight off any intruder we see.” She stepped back a little and gave room for Crescentlight to report.

“As leader of ShadowClan, I Crescentstar, am proud to announce the birth of four new kits: Russetkit, Burrkit, Thornkit, and Stingkit. Their mother is Lightfur. Also, we have a new warrior in the Clan, Runningfire.”

“Runningfire! Runningfire!” They all shouted happily. Crescentlight looked pleased as she nodded for Ivypaw's turn.

“RiverClan is doing great, and we always have leftover fish. And we gained a medicine cat, Lilyheart!”

Wildpaw and Crescentlight yowled in approval. Lilypaw, looking embarrassed, but happy, nodded to her pretend leader. “I will do my best, Ivystar.” she promised.

Ivypaw shifted back to her normal spot and waited for the fourth Clan leader. No one came up.

“Sunpaw isn't here.” Lilypaw mewed sadly. “She should be with us now, reporting for WindClan.”

“But she isn't.” Wildpaw meowed back flatly.

“Traitor!” Ivypaw's blue eyes flashed in anger.

“And it's Sunlight now.” Crescentlight reminded her gently. “She received her warrior name two sunrises after she decided that her loyalties does not lie with us, but with her Clan.”

“But our loyalties are to our clan, so it's not like we're breaking the warrior code, right?” Ivypaw meowed.

“We're not.” Wildpaw assured her. “My mentor said I'm very loyal to my clanmates and that I'm ready to do my warrior assessment soon.”

“If we keep telling Sunlight about all the fun times we had when she was an apprentice, she'll listen and play with us again.” Lilypaw meowed hopefully.

“When hedgehogs fly.” Wildpaw snorted and jumped out of the branch gracefully.

“We should be getting home now.” Crescentpaw meowed. “Since the Gathering will be in a few sunrises, we don't have to discuss when we'll meet next time until then.”

“You bet you don't. And none of you will be going to any Gatherings for a long while.” A deep voice growled, coming from nowhere.

“Hedgehog!” Wildpaw yowled in surprise as she pointed her paw at the shadows on the other side of the wide circle of grass. A large, and brown cat leaped out of the shadows, his fat pelt sticking up like the needles on a hedgehog, probably from the thorns in a thicket. It was a tom, and Lilypaw shockingly realized that it was the RiverClan deputy, Pikepelt. Ivypaw gulped and Wildpaw and Crescentpaw looked at the ground.

“The next time anyone meets secretly again, you will all see each other only after I've seen hedgehogs really fly.” The menacing rumble coming from Pikepelt's throat made Lilypaw take his warning seriously. And with that, she silently followed her deputy and Ivypaw back to the camp, her ears flattened and tail drooping, realizing that Sunlight had made the right choice.

“ I don't understand.” Silverpaw meowed. “What does this have to do with giving Mouseear catmint?”

“What I'm trying to say is,” Lilyheart sighed, exasperated. “Getting too close to a cat from another clan might not be the best idea, especially when it comes to asking for supplies. If a clan needs help, they need to go meet the clan leader or medicine cat, not taking advantage of a new, soft-hearted apprentice.”

“Dewpaw has greencough.” Silverpaw argued.

“No exceptions.” Lilyheart snapped. Then in a warmer voice, she meowed, “I know you're trying to help. But I'm trying to prevent you from worse consequences than I had.”

“I'm sorry.” Silverpaw dipped her head in apology. “I'll make sure this doesn't happen again.”