Sandclan's Destiny Book 3: Blackout

Chapter 4: Half-Moon Gathering Part 1

Sunspots gave Dustkit the thyme. "Bigstar." He spoke, "Tonight is the half-moon. If Dustkit needs more thyme, don't be afraid to get some for her yourself.. and remember, exercise is important after birth. Just.. don't overdo it, a-"

"I understand." She purred, flicking her tail for him to leave.

He obeyed, and although it was only noontime, he began gathering his thoughts about the appending Half-moon medicine cat meeting. Last half-moon, the first half-moon after the whole Venomclan affair where cats were held captive in their camp, has been quite an argumentative night. Cats fought for most of the time, and even when they were meant to speak to Starclan, they spent their time there arguing as well. Rockstar himself had mentioned, "If you cannot get along at a time of peace, then do not come. Only come if you promise to not argue!"

Sunspots was going despite the warning. Even when they were arguing, he was always the one trying to make peace with them. He supposed it counted as arguing, for he was joining in with the yelling as well. Again cats were teaming up on Sootleaf, or trying their hardest to defend him against the much louder and much angrier offense. He isn't like them. He's my friend.

Sootleaf had done an enormous favour for Sandclan yet it had been so unfairly ignored. He was the reason Berryclaw still lives today. Sandclan had of course remembered Violetflower's great act of heroism and that she was the reason for Cloudpaw and Juniperpaw's lives, but how could they have lived without Sootleaf's help?

Sootleaf was an unsung hero of great proportions. Sunspots felt sad about that and felt a strong inclination to defend him then. Sootleaf had never disappointed the needs of others, yet everyone accuses him of being a perpetrator, a carbon copy of all of his clanmates' sins.

"Sunspots. Are you alright?" Goldpaw approached. "Is this the time I finally earn my medicine cat name?" She asked quietly, then quickly, "S-Sorry. I just really wanted to know."

She was just as old as her littermates, Sunspots remembered. Despite her name ending with 'paw, an apprentice is the last you'd expect she'd be. She was tall and lean, slender, and her voice was deep and velvety. She was mature and polite, well mannered, yet she could also joke around and be as immature as a kit- at the right times of course.

"Yes. Tonight. I promise." He purred, flicking his tail near her flank playfully, "Finally."

"Great!" She purred and put her tail against his shoulder, "Thanks!" She left, her tail upright and twirling merrily.

He purred. She was a great healer and a kind cat. She had a gentle heart at first, but it had hardened when she was in Venomclan camp in the bitter cold, where the only warmth was the blood sticking hard to your pelt. He watched as the patrols left the camp, and the clearing soon emptied from a bustling busy to a quiet lonesome.

He got up and went to the fresh-kill pile, fully stocked with an array of different prey to choose from. He got a mouse and sat back down, chewing while he examined the camp. There's no place like home, huh.

*~*~*

The sun was sinking into the earth, as if being swallowed by the grass now lit aflame by its light, and even the stars of twilight seared their dazzling whiteness into the smooth lilac sky. The Half-moon was near, and Sunspots was preparing both mentally and physically for the occasion. He gathered Goldpaw from her spot napping and they left the camp and across the expanse of field, the grass appearing on fire the closer it got to the horizon. Soon it looked singed as the sun finally vanished and the rest of the stars came out to dance.

"Hello! W-Wait for me!" a small voice spoke. A white she-cat was darting up the field on slow, furry paws. Her amber eyes looked concerned as she ran up to them, "I wonder if we're going to argue again." She looked away, uttering the words with sadness as her eyes reflected the same emotion.

"Only if we want to. Keep your maw shut, I'll keep mine shut, Goldpaw'll keep hers shut, hopefully the others will do the same." He snapped, hoping the others would comply.

Snowybreeze stared at the ground and apologized.

As they reached the Venomclan border, they stepped onto soft sand. The sand near the border was pink, and the stones were stained red as well. Snowybreeze shuddered and Goldpaw's fur went up along her neck as their eyes settled on the intimidating scene. Venomclan had been coating their borders, yes, but with leftover pelts from the Dreaded Leaf-bare affair rather than the original they collected from the Blood-Bath.

Sootleaf trotted up, avoiding the stains in the sand, and approached the others with a slight shyness. "Fellas!"

Sunspots dipped his head, "Welcome, Sootleaf. If any cats try and shoot you dirty looks, try and ignore them.. and don't reply back." He suggested, his tail meeting his companion's shoulder.

"Well.. What if I smile?" He curled back his maw.

"They'll mistake it for a snarl." Goldpaw snorted. "You know Sunfall."

Sootleaf nodded, looking forlorn. "Sunspots, I have something to tell you. I won't be attending the Half-moon gathering this time, or any time hereafter. StarClan refuses to contact me, and I don't feel like I'm welcome by the other medicine cats or my ancestors. I'm sorry."

Sunspots blinked twice and felt his ears fall back, "Oh, all because of Sunfall?"
"Because of StarClan," Sootleaf corrected him. "Have a great time, Sunspots. I'll see you at the gathering. Oh, don't look at me like that..." and before Sunfall could approach, Sootleaf began to pad away from them, leaving behind two gawking SandClan medicine and one OakClan medicine cat, glaring at her paws.

"Ah, Sunspots, Snowybreeze, hello!" Sunfall called as he ran up, a small tom at his heels. "And Goldpaw, too! Wow you've grown!" He tried sounding joyful, but it was all in mock. His usual brilliant bronze pelt was ash in the darkness of nightfall. He lashed his white ringed tail and his green eyes were dark with spite towards the group. "This is Leopardpaw." He gestured a white foreleg to his apprentice.

The tom nodded, "Hello. This is my first time." He puffed out his dark tabby brown chest, his chestnut eyes beaming and his voice revealing his pride. He scanned all the bigger cats, trembling with excitement.

"Hello, Leopardpaw. I'm an apprentice, too." Goldpaw purred.

He stared up at her in awe, "You're telling me you're an apprentice?"

*~*~*

They had Juniperleaf now, plus Fastclaw, in their little party. Juniperleaf had her apprentice with her, Ashpaw. They were approaching the large expanse of rock stretching upwards, the Sliced Hill within.

"We have to climb all the way?" Leopardpaw questioned nervously.

"Yes." Ashpaw responded sourly, leaping up and scrambling the red rocks before gaining a pawhold. The rest followed, some leaping expertly and others finding some level of difficulty. Soon they were all in view of the Sliced Hill, and the sun had dipped below the rock, sending a cascade of light, red and orange against red and orange, a mountain on fire. The stars were out as well, behind them, as well as the ever-growing purple sky.

"Stop." Sunfall halted, the rest piling behind him. He crouched behind a rock, staring up into the blackness of the Sliced Hill, "Do you hear cats? I hear cats." He lashed his tail for the other medicine cats to follow. They all did, but reluctantly. All their ears were pricked and they searched around, trying to find the source of the noise they could not pick up. Some regarded Sunfall with suspicion, but as the silence drew on longer, small voices were heard murmuring from inside the dark mouth of the Sliced Hill. The words were muffled, and all the cats strained to listen, but failed in picking up legible sentences.

"Come. Closer." Sunfall crept out from behind the rock. His pelt blended nicely with the red landscape, but the rest were outcasted against the fiery world. It caused some of them to panic, and find their own rocks to hide behind. Goldpaw pressed up against Sunspots, shooting him a questioning glance. The voices progressively got louder.

"Alright? Wait until they come." A female voice echoed from inside the cavern.

"Fine. Then we can destroy their connection!" A male voice.

"And then perfection may live." A third voice rung.