Rising Tides - 1#Broken code (Warriors Fanfiction)

Chapter 6

Sagepaw was flanking Scorchtail as the patrol neared the island where gatherings were held. She was looking forward to see  all the medicine cats, especially Brightmoon and Swiftpaw. Lionstar and Tideclaw were in the lead, heading toward the tree bridge that connected to the island. Shadowclan was already crossing, Hollowstar waiting at the end and Icestep herding the cats who already passed. Lionstar greeted with Hollowstar and waited as the old tom crossed onto the island. Tideclaw signalled for Riverclan to gather and slowly, one by one, they crossed the brigde. Lionstar was the last to come. He took the lead again and vanished into the brambles, his cats following him. Sagepaw quickened her pace when she saw her friend Swiftpaw. 'Sagepaw! I thought you wouldn't come!' Swiftpaw sqeaked and greeted with Sagepaw. As Swiftpaw led Sagepaw to the other medicine cats, a yowl raked the night sky. Sagepaw's eyes widened as she turned. Lionstar and Breezestar! She thought, her fur rising. Lionstar's fur stood on end and Breezestar bristled. The two leaders let their fur lie flat and joined the others on the Great Oak. Brackenstar stood up on his branch, tail drooping toward the ground. 'Skyclan has good news.' He began, 'One of our queens, Dandelionfur, has given birth to three healthy kits, Russetkit, Specklekit and Breezekit.' Murmurs of congratulation sounded from the crowd. Fernstar of Thunderclan now stepped forward. 'There bad been fewer problems on our territory. My warriors had found Windclan scents on our side of the border. We think it is just a misunderstanding and I hope for no fights.' She flashed a look at Breezestar who ignored it. 'That's no misunderstanding, Fernstar.' Breezestar spun around to see Lionstar bristling on his branch.
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Fernstar casted Lionstar a questioning glance. 'What do you mean, Lionstar?' Fernstar muttered, waving her tail. Lionstar rose to his paws. 'Today, Tideclaw's border patrol was attacked by Windclan's on our side of the border!' Windclan cats shrieked in anger and separated from the other clans. 'Are you saying that we are invading?!' Breezestar growled, her tail fluffed up. 'I do not know. I just suspect that, thanks to Fernstar's information of your scents on their territory!' Lionstar hissed. Sagepaw looked at Smokestripe, Windclan's medicine cat, who looked at Breezestar and Lionstar. Then, he turned his head toward Brightmoon. 'I know nothing about this, and so doesn't Breezestar.' He rose to his paws and stepped forward. 'Who was seen in the patrol of Windclan cats?!' She called. 'Let's get this settled.' Breezestar muttered from above Smokestripe's head. Jackalfoot stepped forward from the crowd of cats. 'I was leading the patrol, Breezestar.' He spoke. Breezestar narrowed her eyes. 'You didn't say there was a fight when you refered to me. What's all this, Jackalfoot?!'
Jackalfoot bristled. 'Riverclan should be punished! Every cat here knows that I am half-clan, thanks to Swallowfur!' He growled, unsheating his claws. Breezestar rose to her paws and jumped down. 'You should have known better than to seek revenge, Jackalfoot! It is past, and you can do nothing to erase it.' Jackalfoot sank his claws into the earth. 'You know nothing! You have got no idea how hard it's been!' He hissed, launching at Breezestar. Before he reached her, sharp claws raked his flank and thrown him away. When he got up, he saw Lionstar flanking Breezestar. 'If you think Riverclan doesn't have sharp claws, I'll be pleased to teach you a lesson!' Lionstar growled, lashing his tail. Jackalfoot shrieked and launched at Lionstar.
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Sagepaw was looking wide-eyed at the flailing paws and fur. Clouds began to cover the moon, and Smokestripe signalled to Breezestar. She turned and raked her claws over Jackalfoot's ear, which made him lose his balance and Lionstar pinned him to the ground. Jackalfoot was skreeching, trying to get away from Lionstar, but his grip was firm. 'Enough!' Breezestar yowled as thunder cracked and parted the sky. Lionstar let go of Jackalfoot and padded over to Breezestar. She was glancing at Jackalfoot through narrowed eyes. 'I never thought I had a traitor in my clan.' She spoke, tail waving. 'Leave now, Jackalfoot. A traitor like you has no place in the clans. Leave now or face all the clans!' She growled. Jackalfoot's eyes widened in dismay. Then, he shut them tight, letting his claws rake the ground below him. 'I will. But I won't leave without vengeance!' He shrieked and raked his claws on Breezestar's throat. Her eyes wide, she fell to the ground. A large gash on her throat was scarlet with blood pouring from it. She layed limply on the ground, her mouth opened and blood oozing slowly. 'Breezestar!' Cats shrieked with terror, bristling. Jackalfoot smirked, satisfied. A pearcing yowl raked the sky. A cat covered in shadows tore Jackalfoot's flanks and as the teeth of the cat met his neck, the last sound was a crack of a bone. The cat let go of Jackalfoot and he fell limply on the ground. Clouds vanished from the moon and revealed the cat's sleek, sandy-gray fur. 'Hawkfeather?' Smokestripe mewed, wide-eyed. 'But Jackalfoot was your son!' Hawkfeather sheated her claws. 'Why should a murderer live among us? He killed his own leader. Thank Starclan Breezestar has more than one life.' Hawkfeather croaked, padding toward the body of Breezestar. Smokestripe examined her, licking her gash to clean it. 'I need cobwebs!' He called to the medicine cats. Sagepaw rushed to the bushes and soon reappeared with a bunch of cobwebs. She passed them to Smokestripe and waited. Smokestripe put the cobwebs into ths gash to stop the bleeding. Sagepaw knew she would survive, because this was her first life and she had eight left. A croak escaped Breezestar's throat and she started breathing again. When she saw the limp body of Jackalfoot and the blood on Hawkfeather's paws, she shivered. Hollowstar's mew suddenly sounded from above. 'Go to your camps now. Tonight, more than enough happened here. May Starclan light your path. The Gathering is over.'
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