Skyclan returns

Chapter 10

The sun was sinking low on the horizon, its dying rays stretching out across the sky like reaching fingers, trying to grasp onto the bottom of clouds and spreading dark red, orange, and pink colors over the lake and forest. A cold wind ruffled Hollywing's pelt as she bounded through the familiar forest dyed with the failing light of the sun with Harepaw on her left and Mousewhisker on her right. Firestar led the small procession of cats going to the Gathering with Brambleclaw and Graystripe at his side. Leafpool, Jaysight, Squirrelflight, Ashfur, Hazeltail, Molepaw, Toadpaw, Rosepaw, Sandstorm, Honeyear, Berrynose, Birchfall, Whitewing, Lionclaw, Cinderoak, and Spiderleg made up the rest of the group, all of them eager for the Gathering, but for different reasons.

Hollywing caught a glimpse of Jaysight's gray tabby pelt up ahead and just from that one small look, she could tell that he was excited to get to the Gathering. Once they broke out of ThunderClan's forest, the assorted collection of cats started running flat out into WindClan's territory. The hills and fields flashed by and it seemed like they had just set paw inside of WindClan territory when they were out of it and waiting at the tree bridge.

"Wow," Harepaw murmured nervously and awestruck at Hollywing's side.

"Be careful when you cross; the bark is slippery," Hollywing murmured to her new apprentice. She had made a resolution before attending the Gathering; she would prove Firestar wrong and show that she could be a great mentor for Harepaw. "I'll be right behind you if you slip and Mousewhisker will be right in front of you."

"Okay," Harepaw replied, completely confident.

Soon it was their turn to cross. Mousewhisker jumped up onto the tree with easy grace and Harepaw scrambled up after him while Hollywing whispered encouragement to her. Once Harepaw was on the tree bridge and out of the way, Hollywing jumped up after her and carefully watched her as she crossed to the island.

Harepaw made it to the island without incident, although she did nearly slip off once when a branch caught her fur. Hollywing kneaded the ground with her paws, impatient to be in the clearing with the other Clans. She could already smell that RiverClan, WindClan, and SkyClan were waiting for the Gathering to begin. She vaguely wondered whether she'd get a chance to speak with Leafstar, when Firestar signaled for them to move into the clearing.

Hollywing pelted into the bustling clearing with Harepaw right behind her and looked around at the assembled Clans. Leafstar, Leopardstar, and Onestar were all speaking up in the branches of the large oak that spread its branches out like bristled fur, and Firestar jumped up to join in their conversation. The medicine cats were gathered near some tall ferns and brambles, and Hollywing could see Jaysight talking excitedly with Moonpaw. The deputies were weaving through the crowded cats, talking a little, and making their way to the roots of the oak tree where they always sat during a Gathering.

Hollywing was just about to look for a familiar face, when a SkyClan cat bounded up to her. "Hi Hollywing!" she greeted enthusiastically.

"Hi Tinyfeather!" Hollywing replied happily. "How are things in SkyClan's new territory?"

"Everything's great," Tinyfeather answered. "There's plenty of prey, and we've already marked and memorized all of the borders. Oh, and Robinwing just gave birth to three healthy kits!"

"That's wonderful!" Hollywing mewed excitedly. She was just about to ask about SkyClan's new camp when ShadowClan suddenly filed into the clearing. Blackstar immediately leaped up into the giant oak tree and called the Gathering to a start.

Hollywing was surprised by Blackstar's rush; he hadn't even greeted the leaders or anyone else. There was also a certain tension and unfriendliness in the air as ShadowClan glared at the other Clans and kept together in small clumps. Hollywing had a bad feeling even before Blackstar yowled, "SkyClan has been stealing our prey!"

Gasps of shock rose from all of the Clans, except ShadowClan, who sat looking smug, and SkyClan, who yowled in outrage at the accusation. "Blackstar, do you have any proof of this?" Firestar asked calmly.

"The prey is unusually low," Blackstar growled.

"Have you scented SkyClan at all on your territory?" Leafstar asked coolly, and Hollywing could see that she was having difficulty controlling her anger.

"We have," Blackstar hissed. "Right on our side of the border."

"Blackstar, SkyClan is still getting used to the borders," Firestar pointed out, trying to soothe ShadowClan's angry leader. "It was probably only an accident that someone crossed the border, and that can't prove that they stole prey, either."

"Of course ThunderClan would side with SkyClan," Blackstar spat. "After all, they were the ones to bring the Clan here."

"We came because StarClan sent us," Leafstar corrected him angrily.

"Can you prove that?" Blackstar retorted.

"How dare you accuse my Clan of lying," Leafstar hissed viciously, her ears pressed flat against her head.

Hisses, yowls, and accusations flew across the small clearing. Hollywing could sense a fight starting, and she looked around her for Mousewhisker. She couldn't find him, because at that moment, everything became dark. The Clans all looked up and yowled in terror as clouds covered the full moon.

"This meeting is over by StarClan's will!" Onestar declared.

"Yes," Leopardstar, Firestar, and Leafstar agreed.

"Don't think this is over," Blackstar growled, but he jumped down from the tree and gathered his Clan around him.

Hollywing rushed over to where Firestar landed below the tree, guiding Harepaw behind her with her tail. "Firestar, what's going to happen?" Hollywing gasped as she got near ThunderClan's leader.

"We're going back to camp," Firestar replied calmly. He walked past Hollywing to where Brambleclaw was waiting, swishing his tail anxiously behind him, with a few other ThunderClan cats.

Hollywing ran after him, fuming that he wouldn't answer her question directly. "Firestar, you know what I mean!" Hollywing mewed after him.

"Hollywing, not now," Firestar replied sternly.

"Yes, Firestar," Hollywing grumbled rebelliously.

"Hollywing…" Harepaw started to say behind Hollywing, her mew questioning.

"I don't know what's happening," Hollywing mewed before Harepaw could finish her question.

"Oh, okay," Harepaw replied quietly. The journey back to the ThunderClan camp was quiet and tense. No one knew what to make of ShadowClan's and SkyClan's argument. Despite the questions that everyone wanted answers to, no questions were asked.

When the group of cats finally arrived back in camp, the mood was decidedly gloomy. The cats that had not gone to the Gathering came and asked what had happened, and why they were back so early. Firestar jumped up onto the Highledge and called a Clan meeting. Most of the Clan was already assembled when he called, but a few other cats stumbled out of the dens.

"ShadowClan has accused SkyClan of stealing prey," Firestar started right away. Gasps of shock ran through the assembled cats, but Firestar continued. "However, this isn't our business, it's theirs. They can resolve it between themselves, and we won't interfere unless we're asked to help. That is all."

Firestar went into the leader's den, and the cats dispersed into small groups that whispered and speculated about what would happen. Hollywing turned to Harepaw, whose eyes were shining bright with excitement. "Harepaw, get some rest," Hollywing instructed. "Tomorrow we're going to go to the training hollow so that you can learn to fight. After that, we're going to hunt."

"Okay, Hollywing," Harepaw replied. She padded away to the apprentices' den and disappeared inside. Hollywing walked over to the warriors' den, even though she didn't really think she would get much sleep, and was met by Mousewhisker halfway there.

"What do you make of everything?" Mousewhisker asked.

"I think ShadowClan is overreacting," Hollywing answered. "SkyClan is still new to the other Clans' borders, so they might have crossed without even realizing it. I guess I can't blame ShadowClan though, since prey is getting harder to find."

"I think you're right," Mousewhisker agreed thoughtfully.

Hollywing and Mousewhisker entered the warriors' den, where a few cats were already sleeping. "Good night," Mousewhisker whispered.

"Good night," Hollywing replied. She settled down, not expecting to be able to sleep after the day's exciting events, but as soon as she set her head down on her paws, she was consumed by the all powerful darkness of sleep.

The next morning dawned bright and early, with the sun's light piercing through the warriors' den and waking Hollywing up. She blinked sleepily and shook her head before she stood up and padded out of the warriors' den.

A few cats were already up and about, stretching or eating fresh-kill. Brambleclaw, Squirrelflight, and Honeyear had just come back from the dawn patrol, and were reporting to Brambleclaw. Cloudtail, Brightheart, Rosepaw, and Dustpelt were about to leave for a hunting patrol, but Firestar called Dustpelt over and they had to wait.

Hollywing went over to the diminishing fresh-kill pile and chose a mouse to eat. She hadn't realized she was so hungry until she took a bite from the mouse, and she ravenously finished it in two more mouthfuls. Hollywing licked her lips and looked up, wondering if Harepaw was awake yet.

Hollywing saw Toadpaw come out of the apprentices' den, and she bounded over to him. "Toadpaw, is Harepaw awake yet?" she asked.

"Not yet," Toadpaw replied. "I can get her if you want."

"Yes please," Hollywing mewed. Toadpaw disappeared into the apprentices' den and came back out a few moments later with Harepaw right behind him. "Thank you," Hollywing told Toadpaw, who nodded his head, and left. "Are you reading for training today?"

"Yes!" Harepaw replied excitedly, kneading her paws on the ground.

"Let's go to the training hollow first, then," Hollywing suggested. She led the way out of camp with Harepaw at her side until they reached the training hollow. She turned around and faced Harepaw. "Okay, now try to attack me."

Harepaw immediately dropped into a low crouch, tensing her muscles to spring. She looked at Hollywing's shoulder and pounced, but Hollywing neatly rolled onto her back and threw her paws up to throw Harepaw off of her. "Your eyes gave away your attack," Hollywing told Harepaw, who was standing back up. "Don't look at your target."

This time Harepaw looked at Hollywing's paws, but aimed for her flanks. She ran forward, then sidestepped before swatting a paw at Hollywing's side. Hollywing was ready, and jumped out of the way before charging right into Harepaw and knocking her onto her side. "Better, but you have to be faster," Hollywing instructed her apprentice. "Try again."

The morning passed quickly in this manner, and soon it was noon. Hollywing and Harepaw were both tired, so Hollywing decided it was time to go back to camp. "You did well," Hollywing praised Harepaw. "You'll become a great warrior." Harepaw smiled and twitched her ears in appreciation.

"Go ahead and get some fresh-kill to eat," Hollywing mewed to Harepaw when they entered camp. "You deserve a rest. Later, when it gets a little cooler, we'll go out and I'll show you how to hunt."

Harepaw nodded, and ran to the fresh-kill pile, which had grown considerably larger since this morning. Hollywing walked over to the half rock and lay down in its shadow, tiredly watching the camp.

"How was your first training practice with Harepaw?" Jaysight asked from on top of the half rock. Hollywing looked up, surprised; she hadn't known Jaysight was up there. He sounded slightly happier, but not so much that anyone who didn't know him well would notice.

"I think it went really well," Hollywing replied enthusiastically. "What did you do today?"

However, before Jaysight could reply, a cat burst through the thorn tunnel. Hollywing was surprised, not because of the sudden and urgent entrance, but because the cat was SkyClan and smelled of blood. Hollywing peered closely at the gasping, tired cat and recognized that it was Mintfur. "ShadowClan and RiverClan are attacking SkyClan's camp!" Mintfur exclaimed as soon as she had caught a breath.