Rising From The Ashes

Chapter Two

 The ThunderClan cats trudged through the forest that made up their territory and down the Old Thunderpath that led to their camp. The moon was three quarters of its way through its path up in the sky, casting an eerie silver light slanting through the trees as they approached the thorn tunnel that was the entrance to their camp. A light gray and white form sitting just outside the tunnel sat up at attention, his storm gray eyes gleaming as his Clanmates approached.

"How did it go?" Arroweye asked as he rose to his feet, his gaze flicking over the individuals in the group that approached and noting their solemn and somber looks. A look of confusion crossed his face as he brought his gaze back to Flowstar as his leader neared him.

"Get inside, I'm calling a meeting," Flowstar growled sharply as he padded past the young warrior and through the tunnel. The thorns tugged at his pelt before they gave way and opened up into a stone hollow that was ThunderClan's camp. The red pelted tom didn't hesitate before swiftly trotting across the clearing and leaping onto the Highledge, letting out a yowl that echoed through the stone walls of the camp. It was abnormal to call a Clan meeting so late in the night and directly after a Gathering, but the ThunderClan leader felt he had to share the news with his Clanmates, and he had to do so now. He inhaled deeply and called out the ceremoniously words to summon his Clan, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here below the Highledge for a Clan meeting!"

Flowstar watched as a sleek pelted dark brown tom pulled himself out of the apprentice den almost immediately, yawning as he stumbled over to Hazelpaw. Flowstar guessed the young apprentice must have been trying to stay awake for his sibling's return, but dozed off as his movements were tired and slow. He groggily demanded to know who was present at the Gathering and the news that was shared from his sister, and she quickly and quietly tried to fill him in with Coalpaw interjecting a few words or two. The only surviving elder in ThunderClan, Acorncloud, gave an annoyed growl as she lumbered out of the elders den and settled down under the Highledge with a disgruntled and tired huff.

"This better be good!" The elder snapped, eyes half blind with age glared up at him where he sat above her and the rest of his gathering Clan. Glidingstorm took her place below him as Arroweye went to sit beside Appleblossom, who was quietly shushing Hazelpaw and the other apprentices. Flowstar waited until everyone was settled down and quiet, heaving a sigh as he looked at what was left of his diminished Clan.

Including himself, he had seven able bodied and trained cats, who he knew were all willing and ready to fight. But, he had no medicine cat or even a medicine cat apprentice within his ranks. He had Appleblossom, who knew enough of the basic herbs to treat minor wounds and possibly a sore throat or bellyache. Flowstar himself had a little of that basic knowledge, but not enough to help with full blown battle wounds or deadly illnesses. If ShadowClan did fight, even though he had numbers on his side, he was at a great disadvantage without a medicine cat to help keep his clan healthy. HIs thoughts raced and he realized he had all eyes on him, waiting for him to speak. Flowstar took a steadying breath and tried to shake his fears and doubts from his mind.

"Adderstar spoke with me tonight after the Gathering had come to a close," Flowstar began, trying to keep his voice even and calm as he looked at his Clan below as he scrambled to figure out how to word what he had to say. "He mentioned how it will be difficult for the Clans to grow, seeing as mostly everyone in the individual Clans are related. He suggested that we look beyond our borders to help us grow."

"What do you mean 'beyond our borders'?" Acorncloud echoes with a disapproving snort, seemingly unconcerned. "Take in loners and rouges? ThunderClan has been doing that for ages. Three of our warriors in the Great War were loners we took in. My own mother wasn't born of this Clan."