The Gathering - a time for sharing news with the other clans and coming together under an oath of peace.
It was tradition, honored by generations of cats before her. As leader of SeedClan, Kestrelstar took great pride in the Order of the Flowers.
She led her clan to Rainbow Fields, gentle with the golden plant in her mouth. She dare not let it wilt, something she always worried about despite its fresh picking. Still, under the eyes of the full moon, knowing this was when StarClan was closest, she couldn't help but always feel a twinge of dutiful anxiety.
As her clan began to settle in, Kestrelstar took her place next to a familiar gray tom. His hazel eyes gleaned with interest, already eyeing her offering.
"Guh evenun, Kestrasta. Wha flowa ha yo brough?"
Watching as his own flower flopped about only made Kestrelstar's nose scrunch up. Amber eyes looked away, giving Chivestar only a flick of her ear in acknowledgement. With this movement, the clans lulled into a hushed murmur before falling silent, eyes fixed upon the four leaders before them.
Kestrelstar took a step forward. Gently, she placed the golden plant down, and looked out amongst the crowd of cats. "Under the honor of the full moon, I have the blessing of going first this moon-lit gathering. Today I have brought with me Goldenrod. Representing prosperity and good fortune, that is what I believe SeedClan has had this past moon. Softpaw has been continuing his training and completed the Trial of Training. Young Howlkit has also been growing stronger every day, and will be beginning his apprenticeship very soon."
Her gray paw rested atop the stem of the goldenrod, always worried the soft breeze might just blow it away. Amber eyes would give a firm nod as she completed her words, turning to the smiling Chivestar as if to say, finally you can speak.
Placing the purple plant down, the fellow clan leader could only chuckle softly before speaking up. "Today I have brought Borage," he announced, his voice stronger now that it wasn't muffled by leaves. "Borage is used to reawaken the heart, and grant courage. I will first say that we have a new warrior in our presence. Having completed the Trial of Herbs, we are proud to welcome Icywish as a full warrior of SorrelClan."
The clan cats erupted into cheers, chanting Icywish's name, others murmuring congratulations to the proud brown she-cat.
Chivestar continued. "Bumblepaw continues to work hard, and completed the Trial of Borders. SorrelClan continues to grow stronger, and I believe our hearts only continue to awaken and grow stronger with it." As he finished his words, Chivestar cast a lasting a glance at Kestrelstar, a knowing smile on his face before flicking his tail, turning away to look at the elderly gray tom who would be next.
"Ryestar," Chivestar murmured with a dip of his head.
The CoyoteClan leader sighed calmly under his breath, adjusting his aching bones as he gently placed his flower down before him. He had to clear his throat, voice raspy as he spoke up. "I have brought with me Violet today. It represents humility, peace even. That is what CoyoteClan has been. Rainpaw has completed her Trial of Training, and Havenbramble has made great strides in his visits recently to the other clans. I understand SorrelClan welcomed him as a guest for a few sunrises this moon, to great success." Ryestar turned to look at Chivestar expectantly.
"Certainly. Havenbramble is a welcomed cat in my clan, and myself and my clanmates were honored to have him," Chivestar replied, dipping his head.
A small scoff could be heard, causing Ryestar's ear to twitch. Dark blue eyes shifted to the small white she-cat next to him, the final leader to speak. Clearing his throat, Ryestar cast a gentle look upon her.
"Whisperstar, would you care to go next?"
"As the stars decree, yes?" the white she-cat snarled back. The other leaders would look to her with wide eyes, surprised by such an openly hostile tone at the sacred gathering. Whisperstar practically flung her flower to the ground, the sharp inhale of breath from Kestrelstar unable to be missed.
"This evening I have brought the Petunia. With it I bring anger, because one of my own was murdered," Whisperstar hissed.
Murdered?! Kestrelstar's eyes widened, staring in shock as hushed murmurs echoed through the gathering. Some CherryClan cats looked down with sorrow, while others bristled and carried the same anger their leader did.
"CherryClan had welcomed Bushclaw as a full warrior of their ranks, however... in the dead of night, something..." Whisperstar paused, bristling as she raised her head and her voice in turn. "Someone killed him. The claw marks along his throat are unmistakably from a cat. So I'm going to ask you all right now, who was it?!"
"You dare accuse us of such a thing?!" Ochreclaw shouted. The SorrelClan deputy's tail lashed.
Fireleopard would snarl as he sat amongst his fellow medicine cats. "Don't look at SorrelClan. Perhaps instead look at SeedClan. Perhaps they seek vengeance for their fallen mediator."
Fallendapple's eyes widened in shock, immediately backing away from the SorrelClan medicine cat. "Fireleopard?! You dare say such things? To instigate fighting under the light of the full moon is blasphemy!"
"Don't think just because you're a medicine cat that I won't claw your ears off, you old sack of bones!" Quillbeak had stepped forward, protectively standing in front of Fallendapple and forcing Firelopard to back up.
Kestrelstar began to feel the hair on her pelt rise. Her amber eyes saw the clouds beginning to gather overhead. The winds pushed old air into her ears, and the petals of her goldenrod would waver with their touch. She knew that this had to stop!
"It is unfair to accuse SeedClan and use our grief against us," Honeyeagle called out. He gently pushed Quillbeak back, looking to his clanmate with a sympathetic gaze.
Kestrelstar felt a sense of calm rush over her, thankful for her kindhearted deputy.
"Besides-" Honeyeagle raised his head with a narrowed gaze. "You didn't even talk about CoyoteClan."
Honeyeagle!!
That was not helpful. Yowls of fury echoed from Ryestar's cats, the elderly leader frowning as he cast an unapproving gaze at Kestrelstar. Her ears burned with embarrassment. Kestrelstar knew she'd have some stern words for Honeyeagle later.
A soft tail brushed against her back, causing the she-cat to look up. Chivestar smiled at her with those same gleaming eyes. "No hard feelings, Kestrelstar. I will be having words with my cats as well. I assure you that we are allies in this troublesome time."
While she hated to admit, she was grateful for Chivestar's patience and kind words. "Thank you," she murmured back, softly so that no cat heard.
Clouds rolled over the full moon, the peace having been broken. Kestrelstar knew they should take their leave before blood should dare be spilled. With a quick dip of her head, she said her goodbyes to Chivestar, only giving a quick glance to Ryestar and Whisperstar.
Amber eyes fell down upon the goldenrod she had brought. Prosperity. Growth. So much for that... Quickly, Kestrelstar shook her head. She mustn't forget the traditions of their ancestors. Before she took her leave, the dark gray tabby tenderly picked up her plant before any other leader could do the same to theirs, placing it softly within the Rainbow Bend. Soon the seeds will fall and spread through this field to create the array of so many colorful flowers. That beauty would never fade, not if Kestrelstar had anything to say about it.
"SeedClan, we are leaving," Kestrelstar called.
With but a flick of her tail, her clan went silent, eyes following her as she padded through the crowd of cats. Mixed expressions greeted her, but one by one the clan followed their leader.
The moon remained clouded, the stars unreadable in the night sky.
