BambooClan: A Story of Survival

Chapter 3

Hazelpaw eagerly ran over the fallen tree trunk, bounding onto the island beside her littermates. The familiar scent of ThunderClan cats was nearby, and she wondered when she would see Tansypaw and Barkpaw, a couple of ThunderClan apprentices that were actually friendly in this time of year, and who she'd talked to last Gathering. 

"Tensions are running high throughout the Clans now, being leaf-bare with prey running short," Sagegrass commented, trotting beside her apprentice as if she had read Hazelpaw's thoughts. Her face was sad, reflecting the mood she'd been in for the past few days. I wonder what's with her? Hazelpaw wondered. Flinteyes has been worrying too. I'll have to ask her after this Gathering. 

As the WindClan cats streamed into the clearing, Ravenstar hurried ahead to the oak tree to sit with the other leaders as they addressed the clans. Sagegrass, before following him, turned to Hazelpaw. "Go sit with your littermates." She then wove around the WindClan cats, telling Aspenpelt and Hazelpaw's father Eagleflight to keep the WindClan cats together. "I mean it," she hissed when Beetlepaw complained about wanting to see his friends from other Clans. 

Talk about acting weird. Hazelpaw narrowed her eyes briefly at Sagegrass as she bounded up to join the deputies of the other clans, who seemed to be fairly agitated as well. Then her mind wandered to other things: tasting the air, she could smell the distinctive smells of all three Clans. There were quite a few apprentices today here, as could be seen by the active chatter and gossip. 

"There aren't any medicine cats here today." Pinepaw pressed her flank against Hazelpaw's fur, trembling slightly. "So far I've only seen Birchpaw from ThunderClan, but he's a new apprentice, and shouldn't be here without Blackwing... or Cloudfoot. ThunderClan doesn't usually send one medicine cat, let alone an apprentice." Her anxious eyes met Hazelpaw's, and Hazelpaw trembled at the deep anxiety within them. "I'm sure something's wrong. I just don't know what." 

Hazelpaw shifted uncomfortably: the facts seemed to pile up on themselves within her, and her mind milled about, confused. Sagegrass's mood. Flinteyes not coming. No medicine cats; only apprentices. No senior warriors... Her head swung about the clearing. Sure enough, WindClan had mostly sent young warriors, and almost all of their apprentices. No elders. 

"Cats of all Clans!" There was a yowl from the branches of the oak tree. Reedstar, the leader of RiverClan, was towering, proud and cold. All the other leaders crouched as if beneath him, uncertain. Beneath, the deputies looked fearful, and Sagegrass was pacing frantically. 

Reedstar continued. "You all know that leaf-bare is happening soon. Prey will run short. More cats will starve." He raised his muzzle to the clear night sky, where a wisp of a cloud danced across the light of the full moon. "Every leaf-bare that I can remember, our cats have struggled to find prey, to feed the Clan. We have too many cats. StarClan has blessed us too much." Amid gasps from the assembled cats at the contempt in his voice towards StarClan, his gaze now swept the clearing, cold as ice. "Something must be done. This is not how the Clans were made to be.

"You may have noticed that the leaders were choosing cats to come to this Gathering. That was no coincidence." Reedstar paused as waves of murmurs spread throughout all four Clans. Hazelpaw fidgeted, Pinepaw glanced at her, then up at the full moon. It was beginning to be covered by clouds, ever so slowly. Hazelpaw saw Reedstar looking at the full moon too. Surely the Gathering will be called off now. StarClan must not be pleased with what Reedstar wants to say. 

And why were the other three leaders crouching like timid mice? 

The clearing grew quieter and quieter as more cats turned their attention to the oak tree. Beside Hazelpaw, Beetlepaw remarked to Whitebelly, "Then why didn't Ravenstar let Pinknose come?" The words rang out throughout the now-silent clearing, and every cat's attention was fixed on Reedstar.