SandClan's Destiny Book 1: A Flame is Lit

Chapter 8: Gathering Time; Oakclan's Embarrassment and Resent

The Clan filed out, Rockpaw near the back. He liked being in the back of patrols. He felt freer, and he could look behind him without staring a warrior in the chest.

He saw Firepaw ahead, talking with Bigstar. Why was she so close to her? She was so distant to himself. He'd rather know who his father was than be with Bigstar. Who was the father? If it was a kittypet, Rockpaw would deny all relations to Bigstar immediately.
What if it's the kittypet tom from the twoleg place!? But Rockpaw didn't think even Bigstar would mate with a kittypet.

SandClan reached the VenomClan border, and passed across. They were at a strip of land that was used specially for SandClan and OakClan to get to the gathering site.
Soon Rockpaw could see large canyon mountains in the distance. RockClan territory.

"Heya Rockpaw." Stormpaw trotted up next to him.
"Hey. How many gatherings have you been to?" Rockpaw asked curiously.
He thought for a moment. "Umm. How old am I? I... four gatherings. I'm eleven moons old I think, and as a kit of course I couldn't go, so..."
Rockpaw nodded. "I'm seven moons old. I've been to two."
"Makes sense. Made any friends there?"
"No." He mumbled.

"I have! Her name is Icepaw. She's from GreenClan... but she's nice." He purred and his eyes drifted off ahead of him and at the sunset. "Dear StarClan, I love gatherings."

*~*~*

Rockpaw scrambled up, back claws kicking and trying to grip some sort of surface. He grunted as he tried heaving himself, then falling half-way on and half-way off the ledge. At least he was on it more than before he tried... Stormpaw below him lashed his tail and leaped up besides him, and easily scrambled over.

Rockpaw's eyes widened, then went normal again. He pulled himself up and fell on his side, panting. Finally. Why's the gathering place gotta be so high anyway?

He scrambled to his paws and checked out the area. There they were-- the four Clans: RockClan, VenomClan, GreenClan, and now SandClan. Only BirdClan and OakClan needed to arrive.

Bigstar took her seat, and Rockpaw took his, besides some strangers. He had hoped to make friends... but he had a feeling that wouldn't happen. He was besides RockClanners, and a few VenomClanners.

He saw an apprentice. "H-Hello." The apprentice sort of looked like himself.
"Hey."
"What Clan are you in?"
"VenomClan, you?"
"SandClan."
"Nice. What's your name?"
"Rockpaw."
"Cool, I'm Shadowpaw."

"Shadowpaw!" A voice called, a tom's. "Come back here!"
"Why!?" Shadowpaw stood and protested.
The tom gave a frightening look, and Shadowpaw left, tail dragging.

Rockpaw snorted, lashing his tail. "Good talk, good talk." he murmured.

More cats piled in, making the entire area packed with cats both chattering away and struggling to find a place to sit. OakClan and BirdClan have both arrived. BirdClanners settled between the other Clans, and OakClanners kept to themselves.

They were obviously expecting Bigstar to share the news.

A yowl sounded, from Wolfstar's mouth, and cats immediately hushed. Only a few straggling voices were heard, and they were soon silenced by stray hissing.
Wolfstar's eyes swept the crowd of cats before he began. "VenomClan is growing stronger because of new-leaf. We are constantly patrolling and making sure every cat stays out of our sands."

A BirdClanner snorted near Rockpaw. "Every cat knows it's the VenomClanners who trespass..."
Rockpaw snorted in agreement.

Featherstar shared bountiful prey, and a safe territory, which got some proud looks from BirdClanners nearby who were wallowing in their prosperity.

Blizzardstar shared bountiful prey as well, and the birth of a new kit, Squirrelkit, which gained some hearty cheers that echoed loudly in the hollowed out scoop-like shape in the plateau.

Bigstar was next. Rockpaw's belly churned in excitement, and his amber eyes glared into Birchstar's eyes, hoping for any sign of nervousness. He found a small bit of it. The part Rockpaw couldn't wait for, was when Bigstar shared the news.

Bigstar glanced over quickly at Birchstar with a mischievous flash. She began: "SandClan is doing well. New-leaf brings new prey.."

Cats had murmurs of happy agreement.

"We have gained back Rockpaw and Firepaw, who you have all heard of, who are my kits. OakClan found them, do not worry..."

Cats eyes widened and one even glanced at Rockpaw's pelt. He felt their gaze burn into his back, and he got hot with embarrassment, and slouched. He wasn't her kit, and never will be...

Birchstar's bristled from his spot above the cats. Mutters and murmurs rose, but Bigstar's small yowl made them hush again.

"However, OakClan found it necessary to capture two of my clan's cats. They were both apprentices, and we had to battle them to bring them back. We gave them a warning, but they did not heed it. Also, it appeared Birchstar had no denial of his actions, and no regret."

Cats were hissing, and some stood and gave dirty glares at Birchstar, and some cats looked worried.

Featherstar hissed. "Birchstar, is this true?"

"Yes."

Blizzardstar's tail lashed. "Maybe it's better for your clan to not attend the gathering next time! This news is despicable!"

"No. He must attend." Blackstar of GreenClan stated in a rushed tone. "StarClan will get angry if we don't."

"StarClan probably got angry when he captured those cats!" Blizzardstar protested.

"No, she's right... We can just not let him share though?"

Bigstar lashed her tail. "This arguing must stop."

Birchstar growled. "Fine. I won't share. Blackstar, your turn." He sat down and began grooming his paws vigorously and angrily.

"Fine. All is well, prey is plenty, we are strong."

"That's all!?" Birchstar growled.

"Gathering is over!" Featherstar chimed cheerily. "Let's go, I see clouds approaching the moon..." She leaped down and began gathering her clan quickly. The other leaders, seeing Featherstar already leaving, went down too.

Bigstar padded up to Cougarfang.

Rockpaw's ears leaned forward, and moved past the cats who were streaming out after their clans.

"Let's go. I'm glad I shared..."

"Me too."

Rockpaw found a flash of red, and padded up to his littermate. Her eyes were gleaming with joy.

"Well that was fun." She purred.

"Yea! Did you see Birchstar?" Rockpaw purred, too.

Firepaw's tail flicked upwards at the Leader's Ledge. Rockpaw noticed Birchstar, still sitting there, his clan below him, and his pelt spiky and bristling. His eyes blazed like a miniature sun.

Bigstar lashed her tail. "Let's go." She turned and headed out, her warriors padding after her with backward glances at Birchstar.

He stared back at them.