Warrior Cats: Venom

1

The air was brittle with tension and chill.

The four clans had gathered together at the Flat Rocks. It was a full moon and every full moon came a Gathering. This Gathering though was not the same.

Four cats sat upon the rocks. None made a move to speak, and none in the audience did either. Their deputies sat at the bases of the rocks. Glaring at each other and daring the other to strike first. The medicine cats sat with them, keeping their eyes trained to stars for any sign that would show this Gathering to an end.

Roseripple watched from the back of the large group. Her leader, Featherstar, sat with his chest puffed out. It looked he was trying to make himself seem bigger then the Beckclan leader sitting across from him.

Lightstar didn't seem to notice the tom. They kept glancing at the Tundraclan deputy out of the corner of their eye. Beckclan was east of Tundraclan, and the two clans never seemed to get along. Lightstar almost caused a fight between Hailstar over the latter choice of deputy.

Lynxclaw was Tundraclan's deputy of one moon. She was fierce, and never had a true apprentice. It caused an uproar in not only the other clans, but Tundraclan as well. Yet she seemed to prove herself, or Hailstar had demanded quiet of it.

Hailstar himself was a sight to see. Once a young handsome tom, years of battle and hardship has turned him into the scarred harsh leader today. He was glaring at the Marshclan leader Rushstar. The only other cat known to have beaten him in battle.

Rushstar was not paying attention to any of the others. Instead her focus was on her medicine cat. The two were considered to be closer than siblings in their youth. Now it seemed that their paths have separated.

A tom next to Roseripple shifted.

"I wish they would just get this over." He murmured.

It was at that moment that Rushstar spoke up.

"Are we going to discuss this issue, or sit here like kits?"

"What is there to discuss?" Hissed Hailstar. "Featherstar and Lightstar decided to shelter the rouges that have tried to kill us."

Hisses from Tundraclan warriors rose through the crowd. Some howls of protest were heard before silenced. Roseripple watched as the leaders continued.

"These rouges have kits." Said Featherstar. "Are we to send them out to die? When they're innocent to what their fathers have done?"

Rushstar nodded, "And they will be raised with the Warrior Code. Something their kin was not."

"It doesn't matter how their kin were!" Snarled Hailstar. "They're rouges! They don't belong in the clans."

"You're one to talk, Hailstar." Sneered Lightstar. "Was it not you killing single born kits? Justifying it with saying that it was an omen from Starclan."

Gasps were heard, and Roseripple saw the unsheathing of claws. Yet Starclan kept to sky clear.

Hailstar's fur rose in anger, "Bad omens! Those kits would have grown to ruin the clans!"

"And where's your proof on that?" Rushstar demanded, "Do you even hear yourself? You're nothing more than a crazy old fool!"

Hailstar yowled in fury at the she-cat. His claws unsheathed and his teeth bared, yet still no covering of the moon.

"Stop it!" Hissed Blackfeet. "Getting into a fight over these...petty words, isn't worth it."

Shifting could be heard in group of Tundraclan cats. No one seemed to protest Rushstar's words. No one commented on the hesitation in Blackfeet's either. Roseripple wondered if even Tundraclan was starting to doubt their leader.

"Blackfeet is right." Said Featherstar. "Gatherings are for discussing significant events among our clans."

The other two leaders nodded while Hailstar snorted.

"You want to discuss clans? Fine. Tundraclan has been excellent this past moon. We have recovered nicely from those rouges, and all our apprentices will make great pure-blooded warriors." Hailstar said, "What about you, Rushstar?"

The brown she-cat glared, "Marshclan has done well. Prey has been plentiful and the river provides. Swiftflower has given birth to her kit last quarter moon, and Marshclan welcomes him."

The two leaders seethed silently at each other until Lightstar spoke, "Beckclan has also been doing well. Elmpaw will be getting his warrior name soon, and along with him, Shellpaw. New cats have been added into the clan, and while they are not clan cats, they are willing to learn our lifestyles. And for that I welcome them."

"Taigaclan has gotten better in the past moon. Aspenpelt's kits will be becoming apprentices soon, and once Stormripple is fully healed she will be retiring to the elders den." Featherstar took a deep breath, "We have also taken in many new cats to the forest, and will continue to take any cat that wishes a change."

The brittleness of the air seemed to slowly resolve after each leader spoke. It still wasn't a relaxed atmosphere, but the danger of a fight was no longer there. Roseripple sighed in relief at the change.

Each leader called for their clan after that. Hailstar pushing through his clan and whispering into the ear of Lynxclaw. She grimaced at whatever he said, but nodded anyway. Rushstar and her clan had left without saying goodbye. Lightstar and Featherstar didn't say anything, but nodded in a silent agreement anyway.

After that the clans dispersed back to their own territories.