Bearheart's Shame

Chapter 5

Sparrowstar leapt into the clearing, and as Bearpaw followed, she could feel her heart beating in her throat.

"Sparrowstar! You're here!" Deadstar welcomed.

Sparrowstar hissed something under his breath, and crawled up the Star Tree.

"Deadstar. Have you any idea where the other clans are?" Sparrowstar asked.

Bearpaw stood rigid in the clearing, waiting for Deadstar's reply.

"Ah! Well, Earthclan moved up the river, and Lightclan down the thunderpath." Deadstar replied, his eyes shining with malice.

Bearpaw's fur fluffed up, and she shot the Shadeclan leader a look of pure fury, which he returned with a smirk.

"Very funny. The current clans?" Sparrowstar's voice was full of impatience.

"Not so much as a thought. Maybe they decided to go steal some other cat's prey."

Sparrowstar shook his head.

Suddenly, the bracken to the left of Bearpaw shook.

"Thornclan! Shadeclan! Good to see you!" Streamstar yowled at the other cats.

Moonclan cats began pouring into the clearing, and Bearpaw found herself looking for Riverscar.

Please be here! She prayed.

Soon she saw his glowing, silver pelt in the swarm of Moonclan cats.

"Looks like he brought the whole clan." Lionpaw muttered as he passed to go join a group of Shadeclan apprentices.

Bearpaw slithered through the crowd, trying not to step on any cat's tail.

Soon she saw Riverscar with Stormfall and Pouncefire.

"Then she turned and said ' These kits are killing me!' Her expression was the best thing I've ever seen!" Stormfall was saying.

"Hawkfern has never been tolerant of anything." Pouncefire confirmed.

Riverscar laughed, then turned, nose to nose with Bearpaw.

Stormfall and Pouncefire stalked off, leaving Riverscar and Bearpaw alone.

"Hey Bearpaw." He meowed warmly.

"Riverscar! Are we still meeting?" She lowered her voice so the cats around them wouldn't hear.

"Yeah. For sure." Riverscar lead her toward the edge of the clearing, where cats of all clans were sharing tongues and chatting.

Bearpaw tucked her paws under her chest.

As Riverscar sat down with her, Fernclan stomped into the shadow of the towering tree in the middle of the clearing.

"Breezestar! Finally! It's past moon high!" Deadstar called irritably.

Breezestar just slowed her pace, and leapt onto the lowest branch on the tree.

As the Fernclan cats settled in, Sparrowstar yowled, the signal that the gathering was to start.

Bearpaw and Riverscar began to share tongues as cats all around them quieted.

"I'll begin." Breezestar announced. "Prey has been good. Most rabbits are still out and about. We have two new apprentices. Foxpaw and Applepaw!"

Most cats cheered.

"Foxpaw! Applepaw! Foxpaw! Applepaw!"

Breezestar nodded to Streamstar, who took over, talking about prey being good and two new kits named Questkit and Flykit.

"My clan has been very well. We have a new apprentice, named Molepaw!" Deadstar began.

Cats all around cheered.

Bearpaw sat up. She needed to listen to the words that would confirm a battle.

"I know. I know. Prey has been perfect. Frogs haven't gone into hibernation yet. Squirrels are plentiful." The Shadeclan leader continued.

"That's because you have been stealing Thornclan prey!" Sparrowstar interrupted.

Bearpaw's breath caught in her throat.

What would Deadstar say?

"You're insane! My warriors would never do such a thing!" Deadstar argued.

Each and every Thornclan cat's fur bushed up, and their claws unsheathed.

There was to be a battle at sundown tomorrow.

"We have found Shadeclan scent far inside our borders. Your scent on prey. Inside our borders!" Sparrowstar drew his lips back in a snarl, his neck fur rising.

Deadstar turned to face Thornclan's leader, his anger clear through small, beady eyes.

Brackenflame's gaze swept across the Thornclan cats as he raced up to the Star Tree.

"Calm down! Sparrowstar, finish your report, and we can all go." Brackenflame meowed, his voice ringing around the clearing.

Sparrowstar nodded, and began speaking of the prey, shooting a vicious look at Deadstar and he spoke.

When he was done, Bearpaw realized that she would have to leave Riverscar.

"Goodbye." He whispered, brushing his muzzle against hers as he padded softly away.

"Bye!" She waved her tail in farewell.

As Bearpaw followed her clan up the slope, Pineclaw fell into step next to her.

"Who was the cat you were with?" He asked, his voice sharp.

"A friend." Bearpaw shot back.

"He clearly wasn't just that! I have a right to know." Pineclaw looked at Bearpaw, his eyes betraying everything.

"I don't have to tell you!" Bearpaw snapped.

She raced forward to walk with her friend, Stormfall.

"What's up with you?" Stormfall asked, swiveling her ears as Bearpaw arrived.

"Pineclaw." Bearpaw answered simply.

"Tomcats. They always think that they have a right to everything." Stormfall answered.

"Are you excited for the battle?" Bearpaw asked, changing the subject.

"Yeah." Stormfall replied as they entered the camp.

"Thornclan! I will claim Willowtail, Dustpaw and Lilyflower to go into battle with me. If there are any complications, tell me now. Get your rest, and prepare yourself for the battle tomorrow!" Sparrowstar yowled from Shadow Stone.

Bearpaw turned toward the apprentices den, only stopping to shoot a look of bitter resentment at Pineclaw.