HeatherClan Book: Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Another Gathering

Silverstar woke up and padded over to the deputy den. "Wake up Goldenfur, we have to gather the warriors and apprentices that will come and then start towards the Island."

Goldenfur got up. Together they went to the fresh kill pile to share a vole. Silverstar then went over to quickly feed her kits.

Then, Silverstar jumped onto the Highrock and announced, "Spottedleaf, Jayfeather, Sandpelt, Honeypaw, Sunflare, Foxkit, Snowbird, Moonrain, Windflight, Moonflower, Fernleaf, Willowshine, Lemondrop, Leopardfire, Hazeldawn, Brook, Icepaw and Graynose will accompany Goldenfur and I to the Island."

Hazeldawn ran swiftly to Goldenfur.

"I can't come, with my kits so young, I must stay by them," said Hazeldawn tentatively. As a mother herself, Goldenfur allowed her to stay.

"Alright, lets go." she meowed. The eleven cats dashed off into the forest. The cats came to the Thunderpath. After they crossed, they trekked on.

They ran across the Waveclan shore line and assembled at the fallen tree, where Stormstar and Sparkstar were waiting.Lightningstar walked across the clearing, and leaped up on to the branch just above Silverstar.

Silverstar dipped her head to Lightningstar, which Lightningstar returned with a brisk nod.

Only NightClan was absent.

Spottedleaf and Silverstar thinking the same thing. What should we say about the Dark Forest cats?

"Where is NightClan?" complained Stormstar.

At that very moment, Darkstar appeared at the end of the clearing followed by a small patrol of cats.They were all sending hostile glares around the clearing.

Darkstar leaped up onto the lowest branch.

The Gathering had begun.

"What should we do about the Dark Forest cats?" Jaywing called into the silence.

"The Dark Forest cats are not coming back!" yowled Sootspirit.

"I disagree, all of us have dreamed it, and just because Nightclan's medicine cat doesn't believe in StarClan and doesn't receive dreams doesn't mean that they aren't coming back," meowed Dawnstar.

Sootspirit hissed and Darkstar's fur bristled at being accused of not believing in StarClan.

"Brave words," sneered Darkstar. Lighteningstar let out a warning growl.

"Well, back to discussing the Clans," meowed Stormstar hastily.

"Cats of all Clans, StormClan is stealing our prey." Outraged yowls from the Stormclan patrol rang throughout the clearing.

"What? How dare you accuse us of such lies." hissed Brightshadow. Lightningstar was staring at Darkstar in hatred.

"And I suppose you have evidence to back up your theory," meowed Lightningstar with a dangerous edge to his voice.

"We have scented Stormclan cats on the Waveclan border," hissed Darkstar.

"Thats a lie." Meowed Stormstar. "We haven't scented any StormClan cats on the shore line or the outside." Lightningstar flashed the gray tom a grateful glance.

"We still stand by our accusations." sneered Darkstar.

"Is this relevant?" asked Silverstar to no cat in particular. "If Stormstar denies any Stormclan scent on his border it would seem as though you are just trying to find a reason to attack Stormclan."

Lightningstar's anger got the best of him. "Thats exactly what he's doing. We've beaten him already in the last couple of moons!" Many cats in the clearing gasped at the StormClan leader's anger.

"Lightningstar, please," Dawnstar meowed calmly. "Darkstar, you seem to be doing this just to cause unnecessary bloodshed."

"It is not unnecessary if Stormclan is stealing our prey," growled Darkstar.

Lightningstar lashed his tail. "Lies!" he growled back.

"The evidence is all going against what you say." mewed Sparkstar.

"Don't ask me, ask those prey stealers over there."

At this point, Silverstar was sure Lightningstar was ready to tie him up in ivy and drag him under the black round paw of an angry Twoleg monster.

"There is nothing for Nightclan to report." Growled Darkstar. "We are leaving." Nightclan warriors made a protective circle around Darkstar as he leaped from his branch on the tree, shielding him from the hostile glares of rival Clan warriors.

As the last Nightclan warriors left the clearing, Silverstar spoke up to relieve the tension. "The prey is running well, but still effected by the rain in Heatherclan territory. We have two new litters of kits."

The HeatherClan, WaveClan, CloudClan and StormClan warriors cheered. Silverstar nodded to Dawnstar in approval for her to start.

"The prey is running worse than usual because of the rain, but still enough to feed us. We have one new warrior, Lionfang," she mewed.

"Lionfang! Lionfang!" cheered the cats in the clearing. The new warrior shrank back in embarrassment.

"And three new kits, Riverkit, Lakekit, and Brookkit."

Again, the cats cheered."Riverkit! Lakekit! Brookkit!"

Instead of listening to the other leaders, Silverstar sat thinking about what Darkstar had accused Lightningstar of.

Would he attack again just to prove his injured pride? It would be just like him, she thought, and left with her Clan.

HeatherClan Book: Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Even More Kits!

Leopardfire woke up and yawned. She padded past the nursery and heard low groans and deep breathing that she recognized. She paused for a moment before she realized that it must be Hazeldawn having her kits. She bounded into the medicine cat den and told Spottedpelt. It turned out, she was right! Hazeldawn's kits were coming! Spottedpelt lied her paw on Hazeldawn's belly when a heavy ripple passed through it.

"Everybody out!" she ordered. "I need some room." Leopardfire immediately obeyed. When she returned, she saw two kits laying on the floor drinking their mothers milk.

"They're beautiful," whispered Leopardfire softly.

Hazeldawn nodded. "This is Starkit," she purred, pointing to the brown kit. "And this is Oakkit." She pointed to the red kit.

"Starkit looks just like you, and Oakkit looks identical to Socks." meowed Lemondrop as she padded in. Just then, Goldenfur came in too.

"Who's Socks?" she asked.

"Hazeldawn's mate from one city we stayed in," Leopardire replied.

"Oh, well, they're beautiful kits," she meowed and padded out of the den to organize dawn patrol.

HeatherClan Book: Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Hunting

When Silverstar awoke, she could hear Goldenfur organizing the dawns patrols.

"I will lead the hunting patrol." Goldenfur was meowing as Silverstar padded out of her den. "Anyone up for hunting patrol?" she asked.

"I'll come," volunteered Silverstar.

"Okay," meowed Goldenfur. "Anybody else?"

"May I come?" asked Leopardfire.

"Sure." answered Goldenfur. "Willowshine, Brook, Angelflame, Snowbird, and Dovepaw, you too. Moonrain, Berrypaw, Windflight,

Crookedpaw, Moonflower, Mistypaw, Sandpelt, and Angelflame will go on dawn patrol. Sandpelt will lead." she thought for a moment. "That takes care of everything." Goldenfur meowed as she leaped from the tree and bounded to the fern tunnel.

"Where should we go?" asked Leopardfire. She had learned the new territory rather quickly, and was itching to go on a new adventure.

"Let's try around the Great Ash tree." suggested Silverstar.

She squeezed through the fern tunnel and bounded across the forest floor. She jerked to a halt next to the Great Ash and tasted the air. Squirrel, mouse, rabbit, vole...and pheasant!

Pheasants were rare in the forest. Little did they ever wander in from the moors, and even there, they were rare.

She tasted the air again. Good. No NightClan scent. Twenty sunrises had passed since the battle, and Silverstar wouldn't put it past them to launch another surprise attack.

"We should split up and look for prey. We'll meet here." decided Goldenfur.

The group of cats broke up, all heading in different directions. Silverstar followed the pheasant's scent trail.

Very fresh, she thought.

Silverstar padded across the ground, keeping her belly low and her tail straight, all the while making sure she didn't step on a twig or rustle any dead leaves with her fur.

She crept forward about ten tail-lengths and then saw it. The pheasant was by an oak tree, pecking at the ground a couple more tail lengths away. Silverstar made sure she was downwind, slithered forward as close as she could without alarming the bird, bunched her muscles in her hind legs, and pounced!

Silverstar dropped squarely on top of the pheasant. It tried to escape, but it was too late. Silverstar bent down and snapped it's neck with a swift bite.

She quickly buried it, and opened her mouth, tasting the air again.

Rabbit, my favorite! she thought. Silverstar headed toward the scent. The rabbit was easily spotted, standing and sniffing the ground for food. Silverstar crept behind it, easily leaping forward and tearing its throat, feeling it go limp in his paws.

She carried it back to the place she buried the pheasant and buried it as well.

Then, Silverstar scented the mouse, and the vole. She headed toward the vole's scent. It led her to a small shrub, in which she heard small scuffling noises. She crept around the shrub until she was downwind, where the vole couldn't smell her.

She dropped to a hunting crouch and slithered forward. She crept forward pawstep after pawstep. Crack! Silverstar stepped on a twig. The vole began to pelt off into the trees.

"Fox dung," muttered Silverstar. At that point, something flew down from above. Silverstar only caught a glance of flaming orange color-Fire! she thought- when it landed squarely on top of the vole, nipped it's neck, and started purring. "Leopardfire!" Silverstar gasped. "How did you do that?"

Leopardfire shrugged. "I just climbed a tree, calculated a bit, and jumped down onto that vole before it disappeared."

Silverstar gaped at her, then narrowed her eyes, thinking hard. "That could become a battle move!" she suddenly exclaimed. "We can climb a tree and leap down on our enemies while their unsuspecting! Leopardfire, that's perfect! I shall tell the Clan as soon as we get back. And you caught a nice, fat piece of prey too."

Leopardfire was surprised to be praised by the Clan leader, but she was still proud.

She left to collect her other fresh-kill, while Silverstar collected hers.

She found her catch and padded toward the rendezvous point, where all the other cats were waiting for her.

On the way, she snagged a mouse that almost ran right into her paws, and an unsuspecting squirrel.

They had a good catch. Altogether, the cats had five mice, four squirrels, three voles, three starlings, two magpies, two rabbits, and one pheasant.

In addition, Brook managed to catch a fairly large hawk that had been keeping an annoyingly close watch on the Clan for any kit that strayed to far from the nursery.

The eight cats headed back to camp with their jaws full, and chose a piece of well deserved prey for themselves to share with their friends.

Then, Silverstar bounded onto the Highledge and called, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey come and join me at the Highrock for a Clan meeting!" The other cats stopped sharing tongues and padded into the clearing. Silverstar meowed, "Today, Leopardfire showed me a new fighting and hunting technique. She cl..."

Silverstar's voice was covered as muttering broke out.

"A new fighting and hunting technique?" she heard Stonestream mew disbelievingly.

"That hasn't happened in a long time, and I don't think a loner could come up with one so good that Silverstar would announce in front of the whole Clan," Mousepelt agreed.

Silverstar waited until the noise died down, then began again. "Leopardfire climbed a tree, and while a vole was running towards a safe shelter, she jumped down onto it and nipped it's neck. Here, why doesn't she show you?"

Leopardfire climbed a tree silently. Then, Silverstar instructed Nightfall to creep under it, like he was an enemy cat that was invading. Suddenly, Leopardfire flung herself down onto him and landed on his shoulders. There was a piercing screech, and soon, Leopardfire had Nightfall pinned to the ground with her jaws at his throat.

There was a shocked silence, and then the watching cats began cheering. They hadn't imagined that a mere loner could come up with such a great technique. Even Silverstar was surprised at the show she put on.

Silverstar mewed, "We'll call it the Leopardfire Leap." Leopardfire purred until it seemed that the very ground was shaking.

Suddenly, Nightfall hissed, "Get off me, kittypet! You've torn my ear!" Leopardfire had been sitting on him, and now, she sprang off, shocked.

Silverstar was bemused. "Nightfall, you know that Leopardfire isn't a kittypet," she meowed.

He stared at her with eyes narrowed to slits, then turned to slink into the medicine cat's den.

Suddenly, the clearing erupted with meows, with all the apprentices begging their mentors to teach them how to do the Leopardfire Leap, and all the warriors asking Leopardfire to teach them.

Silverstar padded into her den, purring, and thinking, Well! Leopardfire is going to have quite a busy day!

Isabel's Journal: 1-1-17

January 1, 1917

Happy New Year!  It has been exactly one year since I have arrived in America! I have good news and bad news.  The good news is that I have much to report, and the bad news is that I am at the last page of my diary.  My business is going well, so I have enough money to send back to Ma, Annie, and Annette.  Abbey still keeps in touch.  The kittens are all grown up now, and they are all scurrying around Da and my apartment.  Ivy and Lillian both visit my shop regularly, and Da and I are doing well.  I have finally encountered Beatrice, something I have been trying to do ever since I started working at Janah Seams.  I was walking to the market when I ran into her.  “Watch where you’re going!” she yelled at me.  Then she realized who I was, and sneered, “Hey, Isabel," she spat. "Why don't you lick my feet!”  And I said, “You know, Beatrice?  You’re going to have to stop being mean and bossing people around.  Nobody likes you, not even Julia and Louisa.  They just do what you say because they’re afraid of you.  And that’s not a good thing.  Do you want to be hated for the rest of your life?  If not, back off!”  All the things I’ve been meaning to say for one year spilled out of my mouth.  I resisted the urge to put my hands up to my face and cover my mouth, and I waited for Beatrice’s reaction, expecting her to hit me.  My feet were poised, ready to run.  But to me great amazement, Beatrice didn’t do anything!  She just stared at me with her mouth open.  Finally, she sniffed, “Young girls don’t have any manners!”  She turned her back and stalked away, turning every now and then to glare at me.  Even I was shocked!  Well, back to other news.  Da has decided to go back to working at the farm, because he says that his old bones need to work.  I couldn’t stop him, so now he’s back at the farm.  A new shop called The European Bakery has just opened , and they sell many delicious things at very low prices.  I have met Mrs. Brooke and her children!  They stopped to shop at Janah Seams, and I saw them!  You cannot imagine how happy I am.  I have decided to show my diary to Abbey and Da, for they both deserve to know what I think about them.  Da is the best father anybody could ever have, and Abbey is my best friend and companion. I hope all of us shall live to have a nice, long life.

Isabel's Journal: 8-14-16 to 1-1-17

October 14, 1916

The kittens have grown up and they can all walk now!  Hollykit was the first one to go to the bathroom outside, but Leafkit and Flowerkit are both improving.  Today, Lillian and Ivy came to shop at my store!  Ivy bought the most beautiful dress I sold, and Lillian bought a new parasol, commenting that it was much prettier than the last one she bought.  You can’t imagine how happy I am!  Oh, I see more customers already!  I must stop now.

December 19, 1916

I’ve been so busy, there wasn’t time to write!  I’ve made enough money for an automobile, and I shall buy one for Da on his birthday in ten days!  I shall buy a blue one, for that is his favorite color.


December 29, 1916

Da is simply delighted!  He promises to take me to the movie theater and watch the movie Intolerance.  He insists that we leave right away.  I must leave now, before he gets mad.  I wouldn’t want that to happen on his birthday!

Isabel's Journal: 8-1-16 to 8-14-16

August 1, 1916

Today, Ivyheart came back!  And guess who she had with her?  Three adorable kittens!  I will name them Hollykit, Leafkit, and Flowerkit.  Now, I shall have many more things to worry about and take care of!

August 5, 1916

The kittens are getting along well.  They’ve already opened their eyes, and Leafkit has also tottered a few steps.  And guess what?  There are only ten more days until my birthday!

August 15, 1916

Today is my birthday, so now, I’m eleven!  Da bought a cake and a dress for me.  I have included a photo of both of them in my photo album.  Abbey and her family came over to celebrate, and we had a fine feast.  I only wish every day could be like today!

September 31, 1916

Today, Abbey visited my shop!  She bought a hat and a dress.  And even though she does not know, I gave her the half price.  Then I invited her to my house and showed her the new kittens.  Abbey taught me how to train them to go to the bathroom outside, because if she didn’t, Da and I would have to get used to repeatedly cleaning up after them!  Abbey invited us to eat at her tenement, and that chicken soup was good!  I was sad to see her leave, but I know that she will visit me again!

Isabel's Journal: 5-31-16 to 8-1-16

May 31, 1916

I have graduated from school!  Now, it shall be much easier for me to get any new job.  I have decided to start my own sewing company, for I have earned enough money from working at Janah Seams.  I also have more experience from working there.  First, I shall buy a tenement.  I shall fix the rooms upstairs so that Da and I shall be able to sleep there.  Abbey and her family shall have more room then.  Even though I will miss them, I shall be glad to have our own tenement.  Of course, I shall still be able to visit them.  Also, I shall use the downstairs rooms as my shop.  We shall be able to earn much more money this way.  I shall name my shop Isabel’s Dresses, for I shall be selling dresses and other clothes.  I hope I will succeed in creating my shop!

June 15, 1916

I finally have my own shop!  I had to sign many papers, but now, business is good.  Da and I have enough money for him to retire, but he still insists on working.  Oh well.  I guess there’s no arguing with him.  And one more thing.  Abbey visited today, and I was so glad to see her!  Her job is going well, and I hope that she will open her own business one day too.

July 4, 1916

Ivyheart has disappeared!  Da and I are so worried.  We have already searched for a hour, but we have not found her.  I can only hope for the best now.

Isabel's Journal: 4-20-16 to 5-31-16

April 20, 1916

Today is Abbey’s birthday!  She is turning twelve.  Abbey’s Ma is baking her a cake, and Abbey’s Da has gotten her a cat he found at the dock! She was trying to steal the fish he was catching.  Abbey named her Graypaw, for she is a light gray with gray stripes down her tail.  Abbey’s Ma says that we may be able to keep her, if her Da will sneak home a fish for her to eat, and if we can provide a cup of milk and cream that she can drink each day.  We all adore her, and Abbey and I shall keep her and clean up her messes. Ma is making a mess spot, and curling a blanket on my bed as a nest for her at night.  He mews, and meows, and purrs, and he is the most darling thing I shall ever see!  I believe Ivyheart is starting to feel jealous of all the attention that is being given to Graypaw.

April 25, 1916

The days are getting warmer, and our tenement is steamy and humid because of the warm in between weather.  Abbey’s Da says that during the summer, the farmers crops will be plentiful so there will be so much produce, no one could possibly buy it all!  Abbey’s Grandpapa needs all of the nutrition he can get to keep him alive and healthy.  Over the winter, there was a long, five day blizzard, and her Ma had to get a wheat grinder to make sure we had enough bread for all of us.  Someone had to constantly turn the little handle to make enough wheat for a loaf of bread.  I got tired of being cooped in our small tenement.  Da insists that in a couple weeks Mattias will sell newspapers to earn a little more money, for we will all need new summer clothes. I am also earning more money, so I have already bought a necklace, a little treasure box, where I hid a new pair of earrings, a black shawl, and a new book: The People Handbook Series.

May 4, 1916

There is less and less time to write in my journal, for school has began in earnest.  I spend most of my days working and doing homework.  I work very hard at school, and even my teacher has to admit that I am the best in the class.  It is already 9:00, so I must get to bed now.

Isabel's Journal: 1-21-16 to 4-20-16

January 21, 1916

I feel cold .  I have caught a fever.  I hope I get better soon.  I cannot write m...

January 23, 1916

My fever has passed.  I am grateful.  Abbey has visited me, but I can only vaguely remember.  I must rest now.  Da will not let me write more.

January 30, 1916

Today was the first day of school!  The teacher walks up and down the aisles with a ruler, and if a child is fidgety, talking, or not paying attention, she slaps the ruler on your hand to make you pay attention.

I don’t think this is right, but I do not want to argue with the teacher.
February 2, 1916

Nothing worthy of writing has happened in our tenement.  Abbey has made a few more trips to Janah Seams for material to make a new hat for  Mattias, her brother, and I.  Issac, her other brother, went and bought a hat with his newspaper money.  Abbey is also buying material to make a pair of dresses for us. She will use the excess material as ribbons to tie our hair up.  ‘Tis very cold, and our lousy tenement shows the bad state ‘tis in.  Abbey’s Ma is trying to keep us children warm at night, but ‘tis very hard.  I hope we shall not freeze to death!  I shall write a letter to Ma.

April 15, 1916

I know it has been almost three months from when I last wrote in my journal, and this is it’s sad story:  Janah Seams has many customers, as I have mentioned before.  Lillian, Ivy, the other weavers, and I have served customer after customer.  Lillian plopped a huge pile of work right on top of my diary, and I did not notice.  It was not until I finished all of the work did I find my poor journal.  Even then, Lillian put some more work on my journal, but I noticed that time.  I have truly spent a lot of time looking for my journal, but I never found it.  I must write more in my journal now, to fill in for the lost days.

Isabel's Journal: 1-8-16 to 1-21-16

January 8, 1916

Abbey is starting to teach me how to read and write better.  She commented that I am a fast learner.  She says that I might be a book writer soon.  I am very happy to have her praise.  Abbey has lent me her reader to go over. She has also shown my father and I where to get the best produce, meat and bread for the littlest amount of money.  Before I leave, I put a shilling on the table, and hope that she will find it.  Abbey wants to come to my tenement.  She wants to help us tidy up our apartment, for when she cleaned up hers, there were six people helping, but for us, alas, there are only two! Abbey says that I am lucky there are only two people in our tenement though, for I get my own bed!

January 13, 1916

There has been horrid news.  Abbey has lost her job!  She is eleven, but only children above fourteen years of age can work.  I reassure Abbey and tell her that, because of her talent, she would find a new job soon.  Still, Abbey is so sad.  I, myself, fear that her family will suffer, for Abbey’s job was the highest-paying job her family had.  I tell Abbey that I heard about some elderly ladies discussing the fact that about ten more Canadian families will be moving in, and that some people will have to share rooms.

January 17, 1916

Today Da and I are moving in with Abbey!  We get to keep one of our mattresses, and I’ll be sleeping with Abbey!  Now we’ll be able to spend much more time with her.  I hear that Abbey’s mother knows many fancy and delicious Nova Scotian recipes.

January 20, 1916

Today Abbey got a new job!  I am so happy for her!  Also, she taught me a new song- Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor by Emma Lazarus.  Here are the words:

Give me your tired, your poor
Your huddling masses yearning to breathe free
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore
Send these, the homeless tempest-tossed to me
I lift my golden lamp besides the golden door.

I think that ‘tis a very beautiful song.  Abbey tells me that the words are even on Lady Liberty!