The Lost Prophecy: Book 3: Hidden Shadows

Chapter 2

That evening, happily full and more relaxed than he'd been all day, Ravenwing dreamt of Barley's farm.

Then Sandstorm nudged him awake. "It's time for the Gathering," she meowed. "Come on, we're about to leave."

"Thanks, Sandstorm," he mumbled, still half asleep. Slowly rising to his paws, Ravenwing yawned and stretched as the dream faded. He wished he could go back to Barley's farm; the time he'd spent there had been some of the calmest he had experienced since his kithood.

He followed Sandstorm out of the warriors' den, yawning as he went. Most of the cats had congregated under the Highrock, and a few cats who weren't attending the Gathering shared tongues a ways off. Cinderpaw twitched her ears from where she was sitting with Frostfur. Ravenwing flicked his tail in acknowledgement and was about to call out a greeting, when Bluestar began to lead the ThunderClan patrol out of the camp.

With another wave of his tail to Cinderpaw, Ravenwing headed into the group as it swiftly left the ThunderClan camp, and began to make their way to Fourtrees. He trotted alongside Sandstorm, shaking the last of the sleepiness from his limbs.

They walked in silence most of the way until Sandstorm spoke up. "Tonight's the night." Ravenwing tilted his head in confusion. "Our first Gathering as warriors," she meowed, as though it were obvious.

"Oh, yes." Ravenwing nodded vigorously, trying to appear excited. He supposed it should have been apparent. He had forgotten about it, but now a knot formed in his stomach. Bluestar would surely introduce him as a warrior and announce his new name to all four Clans.

Soon enough they had arrived at the edge of the ravine that led down to Fourtrees. The ThunderClan warriors lined up, waiting for their leader's signal.

Whitestorm slipped quietly to the front of the group. "Bluestar, what do you plan to say about Brokenstar's attack?" Ravenwing pricked his ears; he had been wondering the same thing, though he never would have dared ask.

"I will explain that we discovered the scent of trespassing rogues, and that Brokenstar attacked."

"Will you mention Darkstripe?"

"No." Bluestar turned to address the rest of the patrol. "Listen, all of you: Darkstripe is a former ThunderClan cat, and therefore he is ThunderClan's responsibility alone. No cat is to say anything about his involvement in the attack upon our camp; we will appear weak if the other Clans learn the extent of his betrayal." She swept her gaze across the ThunderClan cats. "And no cat is to say anything regarding how close we were to raiding ShadowClan either."

Ravenwing nodded as his Clanmates murmured their assent all around him. Bluestar was right; revealing the truth of Darkstripe's closeness with Brokenstar could cause issues between ThunderClan and the others. Being exiled for attempting to murder a Clanmate was one thing, but to lead the forest's most hated leader into one's former camp was an act of treachery that would strike fear into the heart of the whole forest.

At the sound of the ThunderClan cat's mews, Bluestar flicked her tail, and at her signal the group began to bound down the slope. Ravenwing fell into step beside Dustpelt. "Do you think we could-"

Ravenwing didn't get the chance to finish his question. As abruptly as he'd arrived, Dustpelt disappeared into the crowd. Ravenwing's tail twitched nervously. Although he didn't get along with his brother he had hoped he wouldn't have to face the other Clans alone. He glanced around again. Sandstorm was nowhere to be seen either.

A cat was looking in Ravenwing's direction, an expression of mistrust on his face.

Mudclaw! Ravenwing bristled; the mottled warrior had accused him of prey theft among other things last Gathering.