A New Horizon Book 5: Darkest Dawn {COMPLETE}

Chapter 9

Nightheart looked up at the cloudy sky, clouds gathered overhead as dusk approached the forest. "I hope it doesn't rain during the gathering." She muttered, loud enough for Rabbitspring to hear. The she-cat was sitting beside her, gently eating a mouse that they shared.

"The clouds are pretty small." She pointed out, swallowing a piece of mouse. "Plus, it doesn't look like the moon will be covered."

Nightheart looked at the moon that was just barely visibly in the pale orange sky. It was beautiful and full, not a single cloud covered its beams. "You're right." Nightheart gave Rabbitspring a gentle nuzzle on the cheek. "Riverstar should be gathering the Clan here soon."

"Are you taking Sagepaw?" Rabbitspring questioned.

Nightheart shook her head. "I don't think so, Hailpaw isn't going either so it wouldn't be fair. Plus, they've only been apprentices for a few short days. If they keep up their good training then I'll happily take Sagepaw next moon."

"Being the harsh mentor I see." Rabbitspring nudged Nightheart playfully. "So stern." She wrinkled her small pink nose. Nightheart rolled her eyes and nudged Rabbitspring back.

"I have to be." Nightheart laughed. "I want Sagepaw to become an incredible warrior, sometimes that means not getting everything you want."

"Didn't Wheatwhisker take you to your first gathering?" Rabbitspring's green eyes sparked playfully.

"First of all, I became an apprentice two days after the gathering, so I had been in training for almost a whole moon then. Second, whose side are you on?"

Rabbitspring laughed and nuzzled Nightheart before rising to her paws. "There's Riverstar, we should gather with the rest of the Clan." Nightheart looked towards the leader's den where Riverstar was standing with Stormheart at her side. The other warriors noticed their leader getting ready and were joining their side. Lilyclaw and Leafdawn had been the two warriors who offered to stay behind.

Usually more would, but with how small AshClan was many cats would attend the gathering, not leaving much protection. Echoheart's battle isn't with any cats in the camp. Nightheart assured herself. She wants to hurt me, my brother and Dawnstar. She wouldn't attack the camp, not on a night like this. Nightheart knew that her mother would be waiting for the perfect chance to strike, and AshClan had to be prepared.

Nightheart and Rabbitspring joined up with Dustfall and Primroseheart along with the rest of the AshClan warriors who would be in attendance. Nightheart cast a quick glance at Blackstorm and Skyfeather. Skyfeather was having a conversation with Puddleclaw, who seemed to be eager to attend her first gathering since moving into the nursery eight moons ago.

"Are we ready?" Riverstar questioned, looking over her Clanmates. When the warriors nodded in agreement, Riverstar led her Clan out of the camp and towards the gathering hollow.

"I wonder what news the other Clans have." Rabbitspring questioned to Nightheart. "No one had anything to say last moon."

"Most Clans have just been busy trying to deal with all this rain." Dustfall pointed out. "Plus, none of the kits in MoonClan or LichenClan are quite ready to become apprentices."

"How old are Frostfire's kits?" Primroseheart asked.

"Only four moons, I think." Nightheart recalled, as they had been born during the journey. "Same with Cherryleaf's of SunClan."

"What about the two kits in LichenClan?" Rabbitspring inquired.

"Two or three." Dustfall shrugged. "So, I don't think any big announcements will be made."

AshClan reached the hollow just as the moon rose over the mountains, AshClan arrived just mere moments after LichenClan, making them the last two Clans to arrive as SunClan and MoonClan had already settled into the hollow and were making light conversation. Nightheart noticed Shadowstar talking with Dawnstar, the SunClan leader's eyes were brimming with pride, Nightheart wasn't sure why.

"Welcome, LichenClan and AshClan." Shadowstar announced once his conversation with Dawnstar. "Shall we get this gathering started before we get caught in the downpour."

"Please." Riverstar mewed, crossing the hollow quickly to the great stone in the center of the hollow while her warriors sat down at the AshClan tree.

"Why don't you get us started, Riverstar." Timberstar suggested.

"Gladly," Riverstar's blue eyes shimmered. "AshClan is happy to announce the apprenticeship of Sagepaw and Hailpaw, they are not in attendance tonight but they are working hard as apprentices." The Clans cheered the new apprentices. "Other than that, AshClan is coping despite the rain. We have full bellies and warm dens."

"Good to hear it," Timberstar nodded. "LichenClan doesn't have much to report, we had an encounter with a fox but chased it towards the mountains with minimal injury. It could possibly roam back down near SunClan or MoonClan territory, however, so keep your eyes and noses aware."

"Will do, thank you, Timberstar." Shadowstar nodded and as the LichenClan leader sat down, Shadowstar took his place. "MoonClan has been struggling with a lot of flooding in our camp due to the rain, but thanks to the generosity of Dawnstar and her Clan by letting us fish in the swollen river. MoonClan has enough prey, we are just struggling with constant wet pelts." Shadowstar purred.

Nightheart couldn't help but admire Shadowstar's openness at MoonClan's struggles, usually Clans wouldn't admit they were struggling. Then again, no Clan will want to try and swim through MoonClan territory.

"It's my honor, Shadowstar." Dawnstar dipped her head. "I have no problem helping out a Clan in need." So Dawnstar is letting MoonClan fish in their territory? Nightheart couldn't see Riverstar making the same decision, but as long as the two Clans were at peace with it, that was surely all that mattered. "As for news from SunClan," Dawnstar stood up. "Heatherflight has moved into the nursery expecting Flashtail's kits. We are incredibly eager to have a full nursery once again as Fawnheart will be having kits any day now."

Nightheart wished that AshClan had more expecting queens, Silvermoon was the only queen and no cats showed any signs of having kits any time soon. Still, Nightheart thought. Her kits will make fine warriors.

"With that," Dawnstar mewed. "I say we conclude the announcements and enjoy a little time before the rain begins."

The leaders jumped down and the conversations began. Nightheart immediately noticed Blackstorm standing beside Skyfeather and Roseheart as they had a conversation, but he looked like he would rather be anywhere else. His blue eyes were focused on something else, Nightheart quickly noticed it was Honeyfrost.

The golden and white she-cat was talking to Oneflight and Pebblestep, she didn't noticed Blackstorm watching her. Nightheart felt a twinge of annoyance at first until she saw the pure pain in his blue eyes. Blackstorm visibly forced his eyes off of her and looked back towards Roseheart who was asking him a question.

He really loves her. Nightheart felt pain in her chest. I should've been more sympathetic. She thought sadly, she glanced over at Rabbitspring who had started a conversation with Fogbreeze of MoonClan. I couldn't imagine not being able to be with her. Nightheart let out a quiet sigh. Oh, StarClan. How do I fix things with him?