Diverging Paths (Warrior Cats Fanfiction)

Chapter 8

"May all cats old enough to lurk in the shadows gather under the ShadeRock for a Clan meeting!"

The call rang out clearly through the camp. As of now, close to sundown, no patrols were out, and this was by design. The normally-crowded camp found itself even more clogged up as every single cat in ShadowClan swarmed beneath Scatterstar on the ShadeRock, the black she-cat barely visible as a dark pine tree obscured the fading daylight. The only exceptions to the crowding were the queens and their kits, as Peckingjay and Thicketburn kept them in the nursery for fear of being crushed by the swarm of cats. However, both she-cats could hear the leader well from where they were, so there was even less reason to drag their kits out.

"As you all know, the Gathering is tonight," Scatterstar boldly spoke, her voice capturing the attention of everyone in the Clan. "And I must pick the cats who will be going tonight."

Highwings gazed up eagerly, a happy light shining in her eyes. This was her first Gathering as a warrior, and thus, she would not have to worry about not being chosen to come along. All apprentices and new warriors would come, especially new warriors whose warriorship had not been announced yet. So there was no worry or straining hope in her eyes like there was in most older warriors in camp.

However, she would be able to guess those who wouldn't come. Jumpstump had not ever been able to attend a Gathering after her injury; she would need to be hauled there by multiple cats due to the fact that her legs could not move, and it would just slow down the whole Clan. So there was an absolute certain chance that this Gathering would not be any different for the elder.

And Moorpaw, Deerpaw, and Lilacpaw had indirectly caused the death of one of the medicine cats. Highwings wondered if they would be brought along. For one thing, it would be a punishment in itself to ground them in camp, but for another, if Scatterstar wanted to, she could bring them along and then announce that their sneaking out of camp was what led to Heronbeak's death, so that the social pressure would bring them down. It was all up to how the leader felt, how severe she wanted the punishment to be.

Scatterstar began listing off every cat to come. Even though Highwings knew ahead of time that she was practically guaranteed to attend, she still listened eagerly for her name. "Sliverslice, Sickbreath, Slicepaw, Bigpaw, Cricketpaw, Mixedpaw, Offpaw, Sprintpaw, Jumbledpaw, Archpounce, Highwings, Hollowfortune, Stoppedflow, Doublepelt, Bounceback, Teasemouth, Dangerzone, Sleekmove, Starefrown, Mellowsigh, Popbubble, Crywail, Riftrim, Murmuringsoil, and Nimblereach."

Highwings celebrated her going by laughing and nuzzling her brother, who sat by her side. Archpounce did the same, chattering excitedly with Dangerzone.

Of course, not all were fortunate. Beargrowl and Sunroar made Dangerzone and Teasemouth promise to tell them all about it. Mellowsigh told Trudgestep and Trenchfall that she would describe it in so much detail, it would be like they were there. Deepeyes complained to Sleekmove and Starefrown that just because he had kits didn't mean he couldn't go. Highwings watched all the clamor, before turning her eyes to Scatterstar and Murmuringsoil chat about what they should and shouldn't announce.

She frowned. Shouldn't announce? Why not share everything with the Clans? What's wrong with them knowing certain things about us?

Hollowfortune came up beside her to her left and immediately noticed her staring at the leader and deputy with disdain. "What's wrong?" he inquired.

"It seems kind of weird," she murmured, though she had to repeat herself in a louder voice because of all the noise around the both of them. "It seems kind of weird when they talk about things they shouldn't announce at the Gathering. I mean, it reminds me of WindClan when they do that."