Robinstar's Courage

Chapter 7

The next morning Robinstar woke up at the crack of dawn and watched as Blacksun organized patrols. Swiftspots and Goldpaw had gone out early with Blacksun and Briarpaw for training. Tonight was the full moon gathering and Robinstar wondered which cats he should take. He would of course take the apprentices and their mentors. Desertwind would have to come since Robinstar will be announcing the tom's new warrior status. Cloudtail and Rockpelt should come since they are expecting kits. "May I have a word, Robinstar?" Beastfur's voice broke Robinstar from his thoughts.

"Yes of course, what is it Beastfur?" Robinstar prompted.

"I wish to stay in the camp tonight." The old tom meowed.

"You don't want to go to the gathering?" Robinstar asked.

"No, gatherings aren't the same without Rosethorn." Beastfur sighed.

"I understand." Robinstar rested his tail on the elder's shoulder.

"Thank you Robinstar." Beastfur blinked.

"I bet the kits will have a gathering with you in the elders den." Robinstar smiled.

"I'm sure they would. I'll ask them later." Beastfur chuckled.

Robinstar watched as the brown elder slowly made his way back to the elders' den. Robinstar had never noticed how old the elder was getting. Beastfur walked slowly, not haven't much energy for anything. Well, all cats grow old eventually, Robinstar sighed to himself.

The giggling of kits grabbed Robinstar's attention and he turned to look at the nursery. Desertkit and Dustkit were chasing Leopardkit and Cottonkit, pretending to be foxes. Snakekit sat in front of the nursery with Mintglare, watching intently. Leopardkit's usually yellow fur with tan spots was now coated in dirt. All of the kits except Snakekit seemed to be wearing a coat of dirt. Robinstar stifled a purr of amusement when he saw the annoyed look on his mate's face.

Robinstar sat with his mate, watching as the sun finally disappeared behind the tall pines of Tree Clan. The cats who were attending the gathering were crowding around the camp entrance. Blacksun stood at the front, making sure every cat was accounted for. Beastfur had invited the kits over to the elders' den for a story. They sat outside under star clan. Mintglare and Leafeyes sat outside the nursery, talking and occasionally glancing over at their kits. Robinstar bounded over to his clan mates, making his way to the front. "Ready?" Robinstar asked his deputy. Blacksun nodded and they headed out. Nightwatcher and Rosewater were on guard duty. The gatherings were always held on the night of the full moon and all of the clans around the lake attended, even Mountain clan climbed down from their secluded home for the gathering. The full moon gather was a night of peace between the clan, where cats could socialize with cats from the other clans. The leaders each took a turn speaking. They usually spoke about prey, kits, apprentices, warrior and on occasion if there is a problem. Robinstar was eager to see his fellow leaders again.

The clan around the lake met in a neutral piece of land what consisted of a flat, grassy plain with a tall, dead tree. The land rested between Tree Clan and Field Clan territory. The thunder tree had once been full of life but was once hit by lighting. It's leaves slowly fell off and the thunder tree had not grown any since. What also made the thunder tree special was that it had a branch for each clan leader, no more, no less.

Robinstar led his clan across their territory, going through the oak hollow. He could soon start to hear faint voices of the cats whom were already at Thunder Tree. Robinstar and his cats emerged from their forests to find most of the clans already there. His clan mates wandered off into the sea of cats. Robinstar, Blacksun and Pathwalker headed towards the Thunder tree which stood tall, a dark shadow rested on the ground behind it. The medicine cats sat on one side of the Thunder tree. while the deputies sat on the other. Pathwalker joined the medicine cats. Many of the medicine cats, Robinstar noticed, did not have apprentices despite their old ages. Creamfur of Moon clan seemed to be the only medicine cat with an apprentice. A small brown, tiger striped tabby sat beside the cream furred tom, looking overwhelmed and nervous. Blacksun took a seat next to Splashspirit and Hill clan's deputy, Splatterpelt.

Most of the leaders were seated on their assigned branch. The leader of Moonclan, Lavastar sat on the lowest branch, to the left which hung slightly over the deputies. Greystar sat on the branch to the right which was half a tail length above Lavastar. Greystar was a small, grey she-cat who was the leader of Forest clan. Grassstar, leader of Hill clan sat on the next branch which was another half a tail length above Greystar on the left side. Aquastar of Lake clan sat on his respected branch which was on the right side of the tree. Robinstar's branch was a tail length above Aquastar's and across from his branch on the left was Redstar's, of Field clan's branch. Mountain clan's leader whom had not yet arrived sat on the highest branch which was a tail length above Redstar's. Robinstar clawed his way up the tree with ease, He was stopped by Aquastar whom was complaining. "Mountain clan is always late!" He grumbled.

"It is sort of a long journey for them though." Robinstar meowed as he climbed onto his branch and sat down. Redstar bowed his head slightly in greeting and Robinstar returned it.

"Rockstar could still make an effort!" Aquastar flicked his tail.

Rockstar was the leader of Mountain clan and one of the most laid back of the leaders. Robinstar had never gotten close to the leader but the two of them didn't hate each other either. Robinstar looked up at Mountain clan's cave which you could barely see through the thin sheets of clouds surrounding it. A rustling of bushes caught Robinstar's attention and he watched as the dark grey pelt of Rockstar walked out of the ferns. His deputy and Medicine cat followed close behind him and the rest of Mountain clan emerged from the bushes, spreading out and greeting their friends from the various clans. Rockstar sprinted and jumped onto the tree, landing next to Aquastar whom looked surprised by the mountain clan leader's jumping abilities. Robinstar saw Rockstar smirk as he climbed past them and onto his branch.

Tree clan and Mountain clan cats were known for their jumping. Tree clan hunts in the tall oaks while Mountain clan hunts in the sky. Rockstar sat silently on his branch above Redstar. "Did Aquastar complain again?" Rockstar asked with a playful smirk.

"Doesn't he always?" Grassstar teased, looking up at them.

"Shut up! I just think it's good to on time." Aquastar lashed his tail.

Robinstar, Rockstar, Redstar and Grassstar all laughed at the Lake clan leader. "Can we start?" Greystar snapped. Greystar was known for her short temper and one single snap was all it took for the leaders to quiet down. "Thank you, you're first this time Lavastar." Greystar motioned to the Moon clan leader with her tail. Lavastar nodded and stood up on his branch. He called for silence with a loud yowl.