Skyclan returns

Chapter 7

Hollywing waited impatiently next to the thorn tunnel with Jaysight at her side, every few seconds glancing at the full moon hovering high above in a cloudless sky. Firestar had his cats ready and waiting and all of those who weren't going to the Gathering were disappointedly watching the cats prepare to leave. Leafstar had only the best of her warriors and most experienced of her apprentices come with her, Echosong, and Sharpclaw.

When everyone was finally ready, Firestar waved his tail and the two Clans ran off through the dark forest, the only light the occasional filter of moonlight through the thick tree canopy above. Hollywing felt a tremor of excitement at the thought of her first Gathering as a warrior. She looked sideways at Jaysight to see if he was as excited as her, but his face showed no emotions whatsoever.

They didn't run into any other Clans on the way there, and Hollywing assumed they were the last Clan to join the Gathering. Firestar jumped onto the slick tree bridge first, followed closely by Brambleclaw and Sandstorm. Soon Hollywing found it was her turn to cross the bridge, right behind Brightheart and in front of Jaysight.

Hollywing carefully climbed up onto the tree bridge and put her tail on Jaysight's shoulder to help guide him. The way there was fairly easy because of past experience and they made it to the other side without incident. Hollywing and Jaysight waited while the rest of ThunderClan and all of SkyClan crossed to the island, then Firestar gave the signal to go.

Hollywing raced into the bushes with the rest of her Clanmates, heading to where Willowberry would be sitting with the other medicine cats once she broke into the clearing. "Hi Willowberry!" Hollywing called.

"Hi Hollypaw!" Willowberry greeted.

"I'm Hollywing now," Hollywing told her proudly, puffing out her chest. "Jaypaw's Jaysight now; he received his medicine cat name." Jaysight, still by Hollywing's side, twitched his ears in greeting to Willowberry, but said nothing.

Willowberry was just about to speak when Blackstar yowled for the Gathering to begin. That was fast, Hollywing thought, and glanced around the small clearing. She realized that every cat was watching the SkyClan cats, who were dispersed among the ThunderClan groups.

Firestar, Leopardstar, Blackstar, Onestar, and Leafstar were sitting in the branches of a large tree in front of them, their deputies sitting on the roots below them. Hollywing noticed that Leafstar was sitting near Firestar, as if unsure whether or not she should really be up there.

"Firestar, I think you should begin," Leopardstar mewed coldly.

"Thank you Leopardstar," Firestar replied, then turned to face all of the cats below the tree. "Many seasons ago, when we were still living in the forest, I was called away from ThunderClan by StarClan to rebuild a lost Clan, SkyClan. SkyClan once lived in the forest with the other four Clans, but Twolegs destroyed their territory and they were chased out by the other Clans, who would not give up their territory."

Uneasy murmurings broke out in the clearing, and Firestar waited until it was quiet again before continuing. "SkyClan came a few days ago, saying StarClan had sent them to where the four Clans were living, but they didn't know why. I sent Leafpool and Jaysight to the Moonpool, along with SkyClan's medicine cats, Echosong and Moonpaw, to find out why they were sent here and the news was not good. StarClan said that SkyClan's old territory was about to be destroyed, and that they should come and live here with the other four Clans."

Yowls of protest broke out from the other three Clans, and the leaders, too, were furious. "You expect us to give up our territory to another Clan?" Blackstar hissed.

"I'm not asking any Clan to give up a single pawstep of their territory," Firestar called, loud enough for everyone to hear. The Clans became quiet, drinking in what he had just said and wondering where the new clan would live. "There is a large area behind ShadowClan's and RiverClan's territory that neither want, and it is large enough for SkyClan to live in, and ideal to how they hunt. This is what StarClan had told Jaysight, but they said it was our decision on whether or not to allow them to stay. My Clan and I think that SkyClan should stay."

"I see no problem with SkyClan staying there," Onestar agreed. "They will not take any of the Clans' territory, or their prey, and it sounds as if this is what StarClan wants." WindClan yowled their approval with their leader to back him up.

"Well I don't want them anywhere near ShadowClan territory," Blackstar growled. "It's easy for you two to say it's okay for SkyClan to stay because they aren't near your territory and can't cross your border."

"I agree with Blackstar," Leopardstar mewed.

"It's a tie," Squirrelflight called out nervously. "How will we decide fairly if SkyClan can stay or not?"

Nervous mews swept through the assembled Clans like wildfire. Hollywing stood up, and addressed Firestar. "May I speak?" Firestar nodded his head and she continued. "Neither ShadowClan nor RiverClan want the territory, so it would only go to waste with no one using it. SkyClan might cross the border, but every Clan does that once in awhile; it's only natural. Not to mention, SkyClan is a small Clan compared to the others and won't need so much prey, so they won't take any more land than they're given. They won't try to take more land when they're still trying to get used to the lot they've been given, either."

Loud mews sounded in agreement all over the clearing, even from ShadowClan and RiverClan cats. Leopardstar and Blackstar were forced to agree to let SkyClan stay, though only grudgingly. "Fine," Leopardstar ground out between her teeth. "Just make sure you stay in your own territory. Mistyfoot will show you the border of RiverClan and ShadowClan tomorrow morning." Blackstar didn't speak, but he nodded his head just slightly.

"You have the thanks from all of SkyClan," Leafstar mewed, relieved. "We promise to honor and uphold the warrior code. I also thank you for your guide; tomorrow Sharpclaw, Echosong, and I will come to the edge of your territory, down by the lake, to meet Mistyfoot. I do have one favor to ask, however; may I bring a cat from ThunderClan with us?" Leopardstar nodded her approval.

"ThunderClan also has new warriors and apprentices," Firestar announced. "Toadpaw and Rosepaw are now apprentices, and Honeyear, Lionclaw, and Hollywing are full warriors." Hollywing felt all eyes on her for a brief moment, all of them congratulatory, but then it was over. "The prey has been running plentifully," Firestar concluded.

"The prey has been running nicely in ShadowClan, as well," Blackstar mewed shortly.

"We have a new warrior, Reedwhisker, and two new apprentices, Rainpaw and Streampaw," Leopardstar mewed proudly. "The fish might as well leap out of the streams and into our paws, because they have no chance against our warriors and apprentices."

"Shroudtail gave birth to three healthy kits," Onestar meowed. "We are growing larger and stronger by the day."

With that, the Gathering dispersed, the five leaders leaping down from the tree and gathering their warriors about them for the return to their own territory. Mousewhisker raced up to Hollywing through the larger than normal crowd of cats. "Hollywing, you were awesome!" Mousewhisker purred. "You were able to convince RiverClan and ShadowClan to allow SkyClan to stay. Now there'll be five Clans in the forest again!"

"I'm glad I could help SkyClan," Hollywing replied. "They wouldn't have anywhere else to go otherwise."

The walk back to ThunderClan territory was loud and joyous. Many SkyClan cats came up to Hollywing and thanked her at least twice for her help. Each time Hollywing would blush up to her ear tips and say it was nothing. She was relieved when they finally got back to the ThunderClan camp and everyone left for their nests.

All of the cats who weren't at the Gathering crowded around the returning cats, asking how it went. Hollywing looked at Firestar expectantly, knowing he would call a Clan meeting. Firestar caught her gaze and seemed to be remembering something from the past, but he shook his head as if to clear it and went to the center of the clearing and called for the Clan to gather.

Hollywing was just about to join her Clanmates, when Leafstar stopped her by gently tapping her shoulder with her tail. "Hollywing, SkyClan cannot thank you enough for what you said," Leafstar thanked her.

"I think they already did," Hollywing protested, turning red under her fur.

"I wanted you to come with us tomorrow when we explore or new territory," Leafstar continued.

Hollywing was lost for words; what an honor! "It'd be a great honor, Leafstar," Hollywing finally managed to get out, putting her thoughts into a sentence.

"I'm glad you think so, Hollywing," Leafstar mewed, beaming with pleasure. "I'll meet you by the tunnel entrance at dawn tomorrow."

"Thank you, Leafstar," Hollywing murmured.

Leafstar walked past Hollywing to Firestar, and Hollywing realized that the meeting had broken up. That was quick, she thought, before heading to where she had been sleeping for the past few nights. She settled down and closed her eyes, listening for the sound of approaching pawsteps that would announce Mousewhisker's arrival. Someone did come, but it wasn't Mousewhisker.

Hollywing slowly opened one eye and saw Harekit standing in front of her. "When will I become an apprentice?" Harekit asked before Hollywing could even say hello.

"When you're six moons old," Hollywing replied. She remembered asking her mother the same question when she was a kit, and receiving the same answer.

"Is that soon?" Harekit persisted.

Hollywing sighed and sat up. "Harekit, why do you want to become an apprentice so badly now?" Hollywing asked. "Only a few days ago you couldn't remember that you were going to be an apprentice soon."

"I want to go to the Gatherings, and protect and help my Clan," Harekit told her. "I heard Toadpaw and Rosepaw talking about the Gathering, and what it was like to be an apprentice, and now I want to become one, too."

Hollywing considered what Mousewhisker had told her a few days ago before replying. "Harekit, do you ever talk to anyone besides me and your denmates?" Hollywing asked.

"I-I talk to Toadpaw and Rosepaw," Harekit mumbled. "Daisy and Millie, too."

"Anyone besides them?" Hollywing persisted. Harekit shook her head reluctantly. "Harekit, you need to be more open with your Clan, talk to them more, and get to know them. That's who you'll be fighting for when you're an apprentice and a warrior."

"Alright," Harekit replied.

"You can still talk to Rosepaw, Toadpaw, me, and all of the others, just…talk to others besides us sometimes," Hollywing told her.

"Will that make me a strong warrior one day?" Harekit asked hopefully.

"The strongest," Hollywing assured her. "Now go back to the nursery and let me some sleep," she added playfully, flicking her tail over Harekit's ear.

Harekit smiled and ran off to the nursery, where Millie was shepherding Molekit in. Hollywing smiled to herself and settled down once more, but she felt eyes watching her. She opened her eyes slightly so that no one would notice, but so that she could still see, and looked around the clearing, finally resting on the Highledge. Firestar was standing there with Leafstar, and he was watching Hollywing intently. It made Hollywing nervous, and she closed her eyes again.

Hollywing had trouble getting to sleep after that, and she when she finally managed, it was only a light one. When Mousewhisker laid down next to her, she jumped up awake. Mousewhisker's tail slowly stroked her fur, and she settled down again, falling asleep to the soothing strokes of his tail.