HeatherClan Book- Chapter 3

Chapter 3: The Island 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 stretched and then got up. Together they went to the fresh kill pile to share a rabbit.

After their first meal, Silverstar jumped onto the Highrock and announced, "Spottedleaf, Jayfeather, Nightfall, Cougarblaze, Snowbird, Moonrain, Windflight, Moonflower, Fernpaw, Willowpaw, Dovepaw and Graypaw will accompany Goldenfur and I to the Island."

The chosen cats started off on their walk to the Island.

After walking for a while they came to the Thunderpath. Silverstar and Goldenfur instructed the cats to cross in small groups, so that they wouldn't get hit by the passing monsters.

After they crossed, they continued on their journey.

"There it is!" cried Dovepaw staring at the small lake with the sacred Island and the old shrine to StarClan, the Skyrock.

Spottedleaf, Goldenfur and Silverstar were all thinking the same thing. What should we do with the old shrine to Starclan now that they have abandoned us?

When all of the cats had crossed the large oak tree leading to the Island they heard loud arguing.

"We have to keep it," meowed Stormstar (leader of WaveClan) , struggling to keep his temper under control.

"Yes, we have to," agreed Dawnstar.

"But they ABANDONED us!" yowled Darkstar(leader of NightClan).

Suddenly, they noticed HeatherClan's appearance. Then, StormClan appeared from the other side of the island.

"Are we late?" asked Lighteningstar(leader of Stormclan) and Brightshadow.

"Not late, but the last," replied Darkstar testily.

"Nothing surprising there," added Lostface. Pepperpaw sneered.

"Oh, be quiet!" hissed Dawnstar.

"Please, we have to act as one!" meowed Silverstar after witnessing Brightshadow launching himself at Lostface but being stopped by Goldenfur.

"I agree, we have much more important things to discuss," stated Spottedleaf.

"For example," hissed Crookedclaw, "I think that we can all agree that the fact that Starclan has left us and we now have too decide what to do with the Starrock."

At this, Stormstar and Dawnstar started arguing with Darkstar again.

"STOP!" yowled Silverstar. "Yes, StarClan may have abandoned us, but don't you see? Maybe they were forced to leave. And just because StarClan is not with us doesn't mean that we can argue like kits over a feather! We shall have to help each other to survive!"

"Brave words," sneered Darkstar. "But what will you do if not everybody agrees? NightClan has always stood alone and we will always stand alone!"

Lighteningstar let out a warning growl and Dawnstar hissed.

"Well, back to discussing the Skyrock," meowed Stormstar hastily. "All who want to keep the rock raise your right paw, all who want to toss it in the lake raise your left paw, and last of all all who want to hide it or bury it perhaps, wave your tail." At once, the air was filled with waving tails.

"It seems that for now we shall hide it," decided Silverstar.

She turned to look at Willowpaw and Fernpaw, who were whispering together.

"Care to share your thoughts?" asked Nightfall.

"Yes, do tell," agreed Bumblestripe. Adderpaw and Berrypaw snickered.

"We have a plan," mewed Fernpaw timidly.

"When we first came here two moons ago we noticed a small cave," added Willowpaw.

"It could hide the Starrock!" they meowed together.

"Well then, we have a hiding spot!" meowed Lighteningstar.

"Why don't the kittypet Clan leader and deputy take the rock over?" hissed Goldenear.

"As I said before, do be quiet, and things would be much more peaceful" hissed Dawnstar. Goldenear hissed back.

"For the last time, Goldenear, they're not kittypets, they were loners," meowed Silverstar. "Okay, Lightningstar, would you like to go first?" she asked.

"Yes, thank you." Lightningstar bounded onto the tree branch and meowed, "StormClan has good news to report. We have a new apprentice named Sparrowpaw, and two new warriors; Fernstorm and Dustcloud."

"Fernstorm! Dustcloud!" cheered the StormClan cats.

Next, Silverstar leaped gracefully onto the branch. "HeatherClan also has good news." she meowed in a loud, clear voice. "We have two new kits. Harekit and Mousekit!"

"Harekit! Mousekit!" chanted the HeatherClan cats, along with some StormClan cats.

Then, Dawnstar effortlessly scaled up the tree to the branch.

"Prey has been plentiful in Cloudclan, but we have recently had some minor quarrels with WaveClan that caused injuries," Dawnstar turned to reveal the claw marks on her back and the bite marks on her neck. She leaped down from the branch.

"NightClan has something to say," meowed Darkstar. "We have scented HeatherClan cats on your side of the boundary, Lightningstar." StormClan erupted with outraged hisses. "Maybe you should watch your boundaries more carefully," he suggested, raising his voice above the clamor.

"Mind your own boundaries, fox-face!" hissed Lightningstar.

"Okay, your turn, Stormstar," meowed Brightshadow quickly.

Darkstar slipped off the branch with a scowl as Stormstar climbed onto it. "Hunting has been good," he meowed. "There are plenty of fish, which is useful since we have four new kits; Plumkit, Mousekit, Pinekit and Eaglekit."

"This ends our Island Gathering," stated Lightningstar.

The cats all filed home through the tree-bridge, and the island was quiet once more.