Thornheart's Acceptance

Chapter 18

There were many cats sitting in the clearing by the time the meeting was supposed to start. Many cats had tried to see how Brackenstar was doing, but Shrewtail had insisted that no one come in. At some point, Doestep had left camp and no one knew where she had gone. Some tried to ask questions about their leader and their medicine cat but were told they would find out at the meeting tonight. Even Berrystripe, the one cat that had been in the medicine cat's den, didn't talk about it. As a result, some of the younger cats were talking in a shush whisper while the more senior warriors just waited with solem expressions as the moo slowly rose up over the trees. When Frostfur finally appeared, Thornpaw could see she had an uncertain expression on her face but she quickly schooled it into the stoic expression she normally had. Some of the other cats must have noticed too because a dead silence covered

Frostfur looked around the clearing and with a small sight she began to speak, " As most of you should know already, the confrontation with WindClan this morning did not go as planned and as a result the two patrol present had to chase off two foxes." She paused, "And because of that many cats were hurt, including Brackenstar who has not woken up yet." A mummer started at the news of the tabby leader,

"What does she mean Brackenstar hasn't woken up yet?" Timberpaw asked next to her to no one in particular.

"Did he lose a life?" a sharp voice rang out above the mummering, it was Ravenwing. The she-cat stood near the back of the crowd of cats making every cat in front of her turn back to face her.

"We don't know." Frostfur admitted as cats looked to for answers.

"Was that his last life?" A gentle voice asked. Thornpaw looked to see that it was Lilyheart. She was sitting next to Berrystripe, there was concern in her eyes as she waited for Frostfur to answer her question.

"It couldn't have been." Someone, Iceleaf, hissed. He glared at the green eyed she-cat as if she had ask the most idiotic question inexistence.

"And how do you know?" Berrystripe challenged, coming to the defense of his mate. Even injured, he was still one of the most imposing warriors in the clan.

"If it was, then why would he take an apprentice?" Thornpaw felt eyes on her at the mention of her, "Preparing for the future was always something he stood by. Him taking an apprentice makes no sense if he was on his last life." The eyes didn't leave once the cat was done talking. Thronpaw looked around at the cats staring at her, some looked at her with pity, others with sympathy, and some glared at her. Thornpaw wanted nothing more than to retreat back to her nest.

"Even if Brackenstar did lose a life, he still wasn't on his last life." A new stern voice called out pulling the attention away for her. Every cat looked to see Echosong. She stared back at the crowd of cats without flinching. No cat dare challenge her knowledge until,

"How do you know that?" Darkclaw asked the grey elder quilty.

Echosong looked at the dappled black, brown, and orange tom with sad eyes, "I have lived for a long time and when you get to my age you can see the enter working of your clan."

"But then what's wrong with him?" Darkclaw asked.

Echosong looked to Frostfur, whose fur had bristled at the bombardment of questions, "We need to let Frostfur finish." she said with sad teary eyes, "Until Brackenstar is awake, or whatever is going to happen happens, she is our leader and has worked alongside Brackenstar for many moons. She knows what to do." Everyone turned back to the white she-cat.

Frostfur nodded to Echosong, "Just as Echosong said, Brackenstar was not on his last life. However we do not know what is blocking him from coming back. That is what Doestep went to regular out."