Dawnstar's Trouble {COMPLETE}

Chapter 7

Dawnpaw suppressed a shiver as she entered the Gathering Hollow with her Clanmates, she looked into the hollow and it appeared that LichenClan and AshClan had shown up, but MoonClan had yet to arrive. Flicking rain droplets from her whiskers, Dawnpaw continued into the hollow. The past two days had been non-stop rain, it was pouring rain but it was enough to keep the cats of SunClan constantly wet. Dawnpaw hated the rain, she hated being in it and she hated hunting in it. Just another reason for her to mess up and get scolded by Thornpelt.

As of now, her mentor was near the front of the Clan by Flowerstar and Tigertail and Dawnpaw stuck towards the back with Lionpaw, her brother just a few pawsteps ahead of her. As they moved into the hollow, Dawnpaw felt the tension between SunClan and AshClan spark through the air like lightning, none of the AshClan cats made eye contact with the SunClan cats with the exception of a few who just glared. Dawnpaw snorted, probably some friends of Echoheart's.

She looked around the SunClan cats but there was no sign of Echoheart's gray pelt. Good riddance. Dawnpaw couldn't help but think that, the fox-heart was a murderer. She twitched her ears in annoyance.

"Keep your claws in." Dawnpaw jumped slightly as she heard the semi-playful mew of Lionpaw. She met his gaze, which was sparking with amusement. "I know AshClan are a bunch of mouse-hearts but there is a truth."

Dawnpaw turned her head away, sticking her nose up. "I know that, doesn't mean I can't think about how rude they are."

Lionpaw laughed and the two of them sat down together, waiting for the gathering to start. Dawnpaw looked over at the LichenClan cats, they were known for their thick, heavy fur and they all looked miserable with their fur clogged with water. She held herself back from laughing. Behind her, Dawnpaw heard voices and turned to see Crowstar and MoonClan entering the hollow.

Crowstar quickly took his place on his tree. "I apologise for being late," He dipped his head to the other leaders. "The river is a bit dangerous to cross when it's been raining like this."

"It's fine, Crowstar." Flowerstar dipped her head, then looked at the black leader with amusement in her eyes. "You know the rules though, you show up late and you get to start."

Crowstar flicked his whiskers playfully then turn to address the Clans. "MoonClan brings a new warrior to this gathering, please welcome Violetfur!"

"Violetfur! Violetfur!" Dawnpaw looked towards the dark gray she-cat, her strange blue eyes sparkling in the moonlight.

"MoonClan has been struggling slightly with the rain, but we're coping and we're still catching plenty of prey. That is all." With a dip of his head, he sat down.

"I'd like to go next." Jaggedstar spoke up, and the other leaders let him go. "It's sad to announce that LichenClan lost one of our elders a few days ago, Fieldfoot is now in StarClan." The Clans lowered their head in silence, sending respect to the fallen elder. Dawnpaw's heart ached slightly, is this what they did for Willowkit? Is this what they were going to do for Sunstream?

"Fieldfoot was a good cat." Crowstar mewed. "He will be missed by all the Clans." The other two leaders nodded.

"Thank you," Jaggedstar purred. "We are sad by his loss, but LichenClan remains strong and prey is running well."

"I'll go next." Flowerstar spoke when Jaggedstar stepped back. "SunClan is sad to announce that we too lost a cat, Sunstream died during an AshClan invasion." Sunstream got the same silent respect that Fieldfoot did, but Dawnpaw couldn't help but feel a certain awkwardness in the air. She could feel Lionpaw tense beside her, she placed her tail on his shoulder trying to relax him, and it seemed to work. "However, despite Sunstream's death we are coping well. Tonight, we also have three new apprentices. Please welcome, Cinderpaw, Yarrowpaw and our new medicine cat apprentice, Pebblepaw."