Diverging Paths (Warrior Cats Fanfiction)

Chapter 29

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

Scatterstar's words rang out through the early morning times, with the sun only beginning its climb in the sky, and so many members drowsy and laid-back, Highwings especially. Her mind was reeling about so many things regarding the strange experiences she had had last night. Every time she even thought of Tiltpaw, it felt like her heart was physically in pain from all of the guilt, shame, and regret she felt. She could imagine the apprentice now, stalking around camp, trying to hide the wound from his Clanmates, and trying to puzzle out why the cat who he had trusted for so long had hurt him that way.

And every time she thought of Hollowfortune, her stomach churned as she thought of everything that could be happening to him right now. While she contentedly spent her time free and, more or less, happy in ShadowClan camp, what was he doing at this time? Was he being harassed by WindClan? Forced to stay in his nest so that he would starve? Being beaten by Battlestar or one of his lackeys? It was unbearable for her to think of. To think he had that happening to him because of her. To think Tiltpaw had been hurt because of her, as well.

No. No, stop. Highwings glared ahead as she sat down in front of the ShadeRock to attend Scatterstar's meeting. Remember what Hollowfortune told you? The more you blame yourself, the more you hurt others. Stop it, Highwings. Stop it. Though she still had the guilt running through her veins, she was at least able to cool some of it by telling herself that too much would mean harm to herself or to innocent cats.

She saw a large amount of the cats giving her dirty looks, most notably from Crywail and her siblings. Bounceback, meanwhile, was constantly giving her pained glances like a kicked puppy, staying away from her and looking visibly put down. Though the aggressive gazes didn't really bother her much, as she had dealt with that treatment before, seeing Bounceback so obviously hurt in the heart made Highwings' heart ache too, despite how much she was repulsed by the tom.

However, before she could walk up to him or say a word to him, Scatterstar was speaking, and she stayed stationary. It was rude to draw attention away from the leader during a meeting. "Today we have two new warriors joining our Clan's ranks. Moorpaw, Mixedpaw, step forward."

Moorpaw and Mixedpaw made their appearances at the base of the rock, but Highwings was able to notice that the relationship between the reddish-brown she-cat and her gray, black-faced brother had soured. Every time Mixedpaw looked at Moorpaw, it seemed to be an indescribable combination of haughty judgment and grief-driven rage. Moorpaw, by contrast, did not at all look at Mixedpaw, for reasons unknown. He was, by all accounts, invisible to her.

Moorpaw had hefty herbs wrapping around her underbelly and stuffed into the huge scratch, and it seemed difficult for her to stand. However, from the way she looked so determined, she was the one who had insisted on coming out for her warrior  ceremony. As long as she's okay with it, I suppose, Highwings mused, though she admitted to herself she'd rather have Moorpaw earn her warrior name in the comfort of her medicine den nest than have her stand outside with a large, still-healing wound.

"First, Moorpaw." The empty-hearted reddish-brown she-cat raised a deadpanning gaze to the leader. Her amber eyes seemed all but emotionally drained, as though she had spent all night crying and now had nothing more left to give. "I call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn."

Moorpaw furrowed her eyebrows, and Highwings realized that Scatterstar had neglected to mention what had happened to Sprintquick. She had ignored it completely and went on to the ceremony. Not that most of the Clan didn't already know, but perhaps Moorpaw could take the willful ignorance as an insult to her mate.