Diverging Paths (Warrior Cats Fanfiction)

Chapter 18

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

Highwings already anticipated what this was. With the sun well on its way to setting, no sunset patrols out and about, and an antsy leader, one could guess what was happening even if they had just come into existence today.

ShadowClan herded under their leader, crowding the ShadeRock as so many attended. Glancing over her shoulder and looking past many faces, Highwings could see Spotkit and Mumblekit's disappointed faces as they sat at the entrance of the nursery, so close to apprenticeship and yet not quite there. This was their last Gathering that they would have to sit out. Turning around, Highwings angled her ears up towards Scatterstar as the leader watched everyone sitting down.

"As you all know, tonight is a Gathering night," she mewed boldly. "And I will choose the cats to go."

Panic flushed Highwings' stomach as maybe Scatterstar would not choose her for this. Maybe she still remembered what had happened a moon and a half ago, and would confine her to camp on guard duty every Gathering from here on out. It was not practical, but it was doable on the leader's part. So she sat up straighter, trying to contain her own anxiety as she strained to hear her name.

"Whirlpaw, Slicepaw, Bigpaw, Cricketpaw, Mixedpaw, Offpaw, Moorpaw, Sprintquick, Jumbledworld, Lilacbloom, Deerspots, Highwings-" Oh, thank Silverpelt! I'm going! Thank goodness Scatterstar is forgiving. "-Hollowfortune, Doublepelt, Teasemouth, Sunroar, Beargrowl, Thicketburn, Sleekmove, Starefrown, Deepeyes, Trudgestep, Trenchfall, Sliverslice, Sickbreath, Nimblereach, and Murmuringsoil!" Scatterstar painfully went through each name, one by one. Apprentices, warriors, elders, medicine cat, and deputy. Highwings wondered how she could handle having to remember so many names. How is it possible? Will I ever be able to do that as leader? "You all will be attending. Those who did not hear their names are confined to camp."

A groan of exasperation close by her scared Highwings a bit, and it turned out to be Archpounce. Highwings realized that she had not heard her sister's name. Ohh. Poor cat. Even if she and Archpounce's relationship might not be perfect, that didn't mean she had to be cold to her sister. As the leader dismissed them and the crowd began to grow more sparse, Highwings found the space to shuffle by Archpounce.

"I can't believe it," Archpounce hissed as soon as she noticed Highwings coming nearer to talk to her. "You go, and I don't?"

Hollowfortune appeared by Archpounce's other side a second later. "Yeah," Highwings sighed, "I guess it's because you're pregnant."

"I could manage," Archpounce grunted.

"Look on the bright side. You're alone in camp with your mate. Dangerzone wasn't called," Hollowfortune added, trying to cheer her up.

"Oh, great, and I'm still missing all the fun stuff you two will hear," she growled. "Tell me every detail," she insisted strongly, putting her face up to Highwings'.

"We will. You don't need to get your fur in a tangle," Highwings huffed. Thinking a few moments, she then decided to go ahead and say as well, "You ought to get used to this anyway. You won't be attending Gatherings for six whole moons after those kits are born."

"Well, then this could've been my last one before-! Oh, what's the use?" Archpounce seemed absolutely miserable, shaking her head. Highwings was surprised she was so torn up about such a small detail.

"We'll let you know what's happening. It'll be like you're there. We promise!" assured Hollowfortune in a soft voice.

"You better," she grunted.

Hollowfortune frowned a little, which actually was off-putting to Highwings before she remembered the training of the Dark Forest. It still scared her a little, though, that he was not reeling back from a comment like this. However, the attitude was lost when he dropped the frown and looked back to Highwings across from Archpounce. "So when are we going?"