Dawnstar's Trouble {COMPLETE}

Chapter 19

 The cats of the forest were no longer cold, the forest was wet with the thaw of leaf-bare and cats welcomed new-leaf. Dawnfire especially loved the warmer weather, it was much easier to hunt and everything in the forest was new. The moon was high in the sky and SunClan was on it's way to the gathering. This was the first gathering since Dawnfire's warrior ceremony and a lot had happened. SunClan was recovering, the weakest cats were Icepetal and Flowerstar but she still led her Clan to the Gathering Hollow.

SunClan was the second Clan to arrive after LichenClan, Flowerstar nodded a greeting to Jaggedstar as MoonClan entered the Hollow. Dawnfire noticed that Crowstar was not leading the Clan, instead Shadowpelt was, he had Tawnytail by his side.

"Flowerstar. Jaggedstar." He greeted the two leaders, dipping his head.

"Where is Crowstar?" Jaggedstar questioned, eyes filled with concern.

"In StarClan I'm afraid." Shadowpelt, or Shadowstar Dawnfire assumed, replied. "We lost him early this moon."

"It saddens me to hear that." Flowerstar dipped her head respectfully. "He was a wonderful leader."

"He was," Shadowstar mewed, then turned his head when AshClan entered. Riverstorm was at the lead. Did Lionstar die too? Unease pricked Dawnfire's pelt.

"We should get this gathering started." Thornpelt said. "Now that AshClan is finally here." Dawnfire noticed how small the AshClan patrol was, only a few cats were here. Dawnfire caught Echoheart's gaze, the she-cat had scars across her face, they must've been from Lionclaw.

"If it's alright," Riverstorm mewed once the leaders settled in. "I would like to go first." The other leaders nodded and the blue-gray she-cat stood up. "You may be wondering why Lionstar isn't here, he's not dead, just too weak to travel. We had an outbreak of greencough in AshClan and lost Hawkpaw, Larkpaw and Leafwind." The Clans, even SunClan, shared a moment of silence for the three lost cats. "However," Riverstorm's voice sharpened. "AshClan remains strong and we are recovering well from the loss."

"Clearly, if Lionstar couldn't show up." Dawnfire heard Rockfur mutter to Rustpelt who shared a small laugh. Bramblepelt hissed at them to be quiet.

"That is all, AshClan has to report." Riverstorm dipped her head and sat down.

"If the other Clans don't mind, I would like to go next." Flowerstar mewed, standing up when she got their approval. "SunClan also had an outbreak of greencough, but fortunately we lost no cats to the sickness." Dawnfire realized she has hiding the fact that she lost a life, probably something she wouldn't want to reveal. "We had no herbs to begin with, but thanks to our medicine cat apprentice, Pebblepaw, we found an abundance."

"Pebblepaw! Pebblepaw!" SunClan shouted loudly, the small she-cat licked her chest shyly.

"We also recently named two more warriors, Yarrowtail and Cinderflame!" The Clans cheered once again, Dawnfire felt her unease be replaced with pride. SunClan was stronger than ever, with warriors and apprentices filling the Clan. "That is all that SunClan has to report." Flowerstar nodded to Shadowstar.

The new MoonClan leader stood up. "As you may know, Crowstar has joined StarClan and we lost our deputy earlier this moon. I am proud to take on the role as MoonClan's leader. My deputy is Tawnytail." The Clans mourned the loss of Crowstar but welcomed Shadowstar and Tawnytail. "We also have two new warriors, Bonefur and Icepool!" The Clans cheered yet again.

After Shadowstar sat down, Jaggedstar rose. "LichenClan had a harsh leaf-bare, but we did not lose any cats. In fact, we welcome new life as Flamewhisker recently kitted Foxkit and Rosekit." His voice purred as he mentioned new kits. New kits were always a good sign for Clan life.

"I believe that concludes this Gathering." Riverstorm mewed, the three leaders nodded and jumped down.

Lionclaw and Dawnfire were approached by a tom that Dawnfire remembered as Swiftpaw, or Swiftheart now.

"Hey," Lionclaw laughed. "Haven't seen you in a while." He stood up to greet his old friend. "This is Dawnfire, I don't know if you've met." Lionclaw introduced, his voice growing soft. Dawnfire's pelt heated up.

"We met once when you both were apprentices. " Dawnfire mewed politely. She was glad to see that Lionclaw still had a friend in Swiftheart.

"I think you know my cousin," Swiftheart said, motioning his head towards a cat Dawnfire remembered to be Violetfur.

Dawnfire nodded. "I've spoken with her a few times." She replied, Violetfur was conversing with Shadowstar and Tawnytail.

"She wants to be leader someday, and she will, I can see it her eyes." Swiftheart purred, giving a gentle look to his sister.

"What about you?" Lionclaw asked curiously. "Do you wanna be leader?"

Swiftheart shook his head. "Not really, I did as a kit but I'm perfectly fine remaining a warrior. Violetfur would make a much better leader than me anyway."

"Same here," Lionclaw yawned. "When my father was deputy, I thought I wanted to be a leader but as time went on I realized I just like being a warrior. Sleeping in the warrior den and hunting with my Clanmates."

Dawnfire was slightly surprised, Lionclaw was a fierce, brave cat; he would make a wonderful leader.

"What about you, Dawnfire?" Swiftheart's ears twitched. "Do you wanna be leader some day?" The question was a hard one for her, when she was kit she always wanted to be by her sister's side. as deputy to Willowkit being leader. After Willowkit died, that became a muddied thought, she didn't want to lead without Willowkit and as she grew up, the only focus was becoming a warrior. Dawnfire recalled Poppyfur's prophecy. When the forest is in danger, a new dawn will blaze brighter than the sun. She hadn't thought about it much, was it actually a prophecy? About her?

"Hey, you in there?" Dawnfire felt something flick over her ears, Swiftheart looked at her with a confused look in his eyes. "Well?"

"Uh, sorry." Dawnfire's ears burned with embarrassment, she didn't realized she was staring into space. "I guess, I wouldn't argue if the chance came up."

Swiftheart shrugged. "Nothing wrong with that." His ears perked as Violetfur called his name, the gathering was at an end, the Clans were leaving. "I gotta go." Swiftheart mewed. "I'll see you next moon!" He said and bounded off to join his Clan.

"We should get going to." Lionclaw said, his pelt brushing against Dawnfire's as they walked. They fell in behind their Clan and Lionclaw looked at her with an interesting glint in his eyes.

"What?" She asked, fighting down amusement. She loved the look in his eyes, it made her heart feel like a ball of down.

"I didn't know you wanted to be leader." He mewed gently.

"Oh, " Dawnfire slowed slightly. "Well, I'm not sure exactly." She said, looking at her paws as she walked. "When I was kit I really wanted to be Willowkit's deputy, it's what we always planned, but when she died she made me promise that I would become a warrior for her. I've done that, and now I don't know what to do. I wouldn't object to being leader but I don't know if I would be any good at it." Dawnfire stopped when she realized she'd been rambling. "Sorry." She flattened her ears.

"Don't be." Lionclaw purred softly. "Frankly, I think you would make a great leader." He said, eyes sparkling.

"Really? Why do you say that?" Dawnfire's pelt pricked slightly.

"You're brave, you're kind, you're loyal. You're good at taking charge and helping other cats and you're very caring about each and every cat in SunClan." Lionclaw's eyes were as soft as honey, his voice lifted Dawnfire's spirits.

"You really think so?" Dawnfire's pelt felt like it was on fire, she looked at her paws.

"I know so." Lionclaw touched his nose to her ear. Energy radiated through Dawnfire's paws, for the first time in a long time she felt like a kit again. Maybe she really could be leader someday.