The other cats of PondClan followed Dewstar in preparing for Sunpebble's vigil. Blossompool was just settling in beside Dewstar when the last hunting patrol padded into camp, followed by gasps of shock. Frostwing and Aldertail, who had been cured of her greencough a few days earlier walked up to Sunpebble's body and sat down next to Rivershine and Mouseclaw. Mouseclaw quickly whispered the story of how Sunpebble had died, and Frostwing and Aldertail seemed to take the news well. They both nodded slowly and settled in for the vigil.
Mothshine, the last cat of the patrol was still standing at the entrance to the camp. She slowly padded up the Sunpebble's body, sitting down on Dewstar's other side and staring silently down at Sunpebble. Dewstar explained how Sunpebble had died, but Mothshine showed no sign that she had heard her. Mothshine began quietly whispering to herself, and Dewstar had to strain to make out what she was saying. She only caught one sentence.
"I didn't even get to tell him that I'm expecting his kits..."
Dewstar tried to pretend she hadn't heard that. It was making losing Sunpebble harder than she could bear. Sunpebble should have lived to see his kits grow up. It wasn't enough that he would be watching them from StarClan. He needed to be there for them, to guide them through Clan life. But now he would never get the chance. Trying only to think of good memories of Sunpebble and not the cats who would suffer because of his death, Dewstar slipped into sleep.
* * *
The full moon bathed PondClan's camp in a silvery light as Dewstar waited for the other Clans to arrive. It was a half moon after Sunpebble's death and the Clan was started to run normally again with Palefur as deputy. Mothshine had moved into the nursery and seemed to have gotten over the worst of her grief.
StoneClan was the first to arrive. Silverstar dipped her head to Dewstar respectfully before leaping onto the small overhang where the leaders sat for gatherings. Dewstar could see that there was a fresh scar running down her face and made a mental note to ask about it later. RainClan arrived next and while Lightningstar seemed like her usual self, some of her clanmates were casting the PondClan cats suspicious looks. As Lightningstar took her place next to Silverstar FlowerClan padded into the clearing.
Icestar had clearly settled into her role as leader. She walked confidently up to the overhang and looked proudly down at her warriors as they talked with the other clan cats. Dewstar let out a yowl to call the clans together for the meeting then climbed up to sit between Icestar and Silverstar. The two she-cats had fought ferociously at the last gathering, so Dewstar didn't quite trust them to sit beside each other. Dewstar nodded to Silverstar, signaling her to report for her Clan.
"The warriors of StoneClan fought against the rogues in the attack on RainClan, and I was the only one seriously injured. Lightningstar allowed me to stay at there camp for a while so her medicine cats could treat me. Thank you." The moonlight lit up Silverstar's face so that Dewstar could see the scar more clearly. It started from her left eye and ran up her face until it ended with a small nick at the base of the silver she-cat's ear. Dewstar scanned the group of RainClan cats below her, but none of them seemed to have any serious injuries.
"Well, RainClan should be thanking you for coming to help us! We couldn't have possibly defeated the rogues alone." Lightningstar dipped her head to Silverstar in thanks before continuing her report. "RainClan also only had one serious injury in response to the battle. We hope that Petalshine will be able to join us for the next gathering as soon as she has healed." Dewstar looked towards her left to look at the deputies. She hadn't noticed that Petalshine had been missing. She looked back up as Icestar began her speech.
"Bluewing has had a vision from StarClan that proclaims that PondClan is going to do something horrible." Dewstar's eyes widened and she began running through lines she could use to defend her Clan in her head. Silverstar looked equally as shocked, but Lightningstar looked calm and unsurprised, which was very unlike her.
"Why do you say that? What was the vision about?" Dewstar was shocked when Silverstar started talking first, even though StoneClan wasn't the one being accused. Silverstar's tone was more curious than threatening though, so Dewstar prepared to argue with both Silverstar and Icestar.
"Wait...who is Bluewing?" It had just struck Dewstar that FlowerClan had no medicine cat and no one to interpret the signs StarClan sent. Why would a random warrior be receiving signs?
"Bluewing is our new medicine cat." Silverstar and Dewstar looked over at the medicine cats while Lightningstar still looked unconcerned with what was happening around her. She sat washing one of her front paws, looking uncharacteristically careless about what was going on.
"But what was the vision like?" Silverstar mewed loudly, very interested in what Icestar had to say. Dewstar was itching to defend her Clan, to screech and yowl about how absurd Icestar's claims were. She held back her anger though, just long enough to give Icestar a chance to explain her reasoning behind her accusations.
"Why do you cats always ask such dumb questions?! Bluewing's dreams from StarClan are private! Icestar and Bluewing have figured out that a certain Clan doesn't have such good intentions..." A gray and white she-cat hissed from below Dewstar. Icestar silenced the cat it's a glare and continued speaking.
"What Frostflight says is true, even if she needs to work on her tone of voice when she is addressing a leader." Icestar gritted her teeth and shot another glare at the gray cat. "The details of this vision should not be revealed while all of our Clans are watching. This vision came to FlowerClan so it is our choice if we choose to share them or not."
"Can you at least tell me if she fell into a pond? I had a vision like that." Silverstar said, leaning closer to Icestar.
"No, I don't think she did." Icestar looked down at a blue-gray she-cat for help. The cat shook her head and Icestar looked back up at Silverstar.
"My vision was about how FlowerClan was going to do something bad. I'm sure of it." Silverstar mewed. Dewstar was at a loss for words. She hadn't spoken much during the gathering, even though the main discussion was about her own Clan.
"We would never! PondClan is the evil Clan! You must be making that up!" Icestar hissed. "You're probably just trying to form an alliance with PondClan to drive the other Clans out!"
"None of our Clans have ever had alliances! Our warrior code forbids it!" Dewstar hissed in outrage. There were many differences between the other Clans' warrior code and the new one, but one of the major differences was the no alliances rule.
"If there's a chance that I'm making my vision up then there is also a chance that Bluewing never had her vision either." Silverstar curled her tail over her paws, clearly trying to contain her anger. Icestar opened her mouth to speak, but she was interrupted by Lightningstar.
"Look!" A light brown tabby tom had padded into PondClan's camp. He looked around as if searching for someone, then looked up at the leaders. His eyes widened.
"Ice!"
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Warriors: FlowerClan's War #1 - A Clan's Choice
Fanfiction**BOOK 1** On the other side of Highstones, three new clans have begun. StoneClan, RainClan, and PondClan have been peaceful for many moons. A new Clan has come to live with them, but their introduction isn't going as well as the cats had hoped. Can...
