Chapter 10
Vixenstar was pacing anxiously around her den, constantly making turns in the short space to avoid walking into the walls.
"You'll be fine." Gooseholly assured her for the fourth or fifth time. "Really, Vixenstar. The whole clan has your back – no-one more than me, Oddpaw and Oatfreckle."
She looked up at her mentor, distressed. "But they're not going to be happy about this! What if the Gathering ends in a big argument or fight because of me? What if they attack us?"
"I can promise you, I won't let that happen. They wouldn't dare break the truce. Sure, they may get a little angry and argue, but they won't attack." He gazed at her sternly. "Now quit panicking and just let everything run its course, yeah? I'll be right by your side the entire time."
She nodded, and banished her nervous thoughts. "Okay, okay, I'm fine. Lets gather the clan."
The duo left her den, and headed into the clearing to call a clan meeting – not that it was really necessary, considering most of their clanmates were anticipating the meeting. As Vixenstar passed, she was reassured by her clanmates' loyal words.
"If any of those mangy clans start anything, I'll tear them apart and line the moorland with their fur." Boldheart scoffed, washing the fur around the 'x' scar on his chest.
Spiderspring, sat opposite him, nodded in agreement. "You and me both. I'll admit, I never imagined a situation like this could occur when I first joined WindClan, but that won't stop me defending our Queen."
Warmed by their faith and devotion, Vixenstar smiled slightly and leaped up onto Tallrock. Gooseholly sat below her as she called out, "All cats swift enough to chase the rabbits and hares, gather beneath Tallrock for a clan meeting!"
She watched as a couple stragglers trotted over and sat with the crowd, a few cats leaving their nests to listen in. Flutterflower led Spiderkit, Willowkit and Apricotkit over with Ravensoar, and sat outside the nursery.
"As you know, I have already chosen who to take to the Gathering," she begun, referencing the previous clan meeting, "so we should be ready to leave now." Vixenstar glanced up at the sky, checking she hadn't lost track of time, and was relieved to see the sun was still not quite diminished. "Does anyone have any questions?"
There was a brief, awkward silence, and Boldheart broke it. "Yeah, I'll ask what we're all thinking then. What if the other clans get mad and attack?"
Vixenstar swallowed, remembering Gooseholly's advice from the day before. "Well, we're going to arrive a little later so the Gathering will start immediately, and get the other clans to speak first so our news doesn't disrupt the meeting. I don't think they'd dare break the truce by actually attacking us, but no doubt they'll speak their minds about what we should have done."
"And?" Boldheart asked impatiently.
"And," she emphasised, "if things look rough, we'll leave the Gathering early. Make sure the more vulnerable are surrounded protectively as we leave, just to be safe, and be ready to defend yourselves in the unlikely event that we're attacked." She paused, before adding, "And, for StarClan's sake, don't start the fights. We want to show that WindClan is well-organised and put-together, not a bunch of chaotic rogues."
When Boldheart nodded, satisfied, and no-one else spoke, she stood up and leaped from the rock. "Everyone joining the Gathering, me and Gooseholly will lead the way."
So, with her tail held high, Vixenstar led the group out of camp with Gooseholly at her side.
Every now and then, she glanced behind to check everyone was doing alright. Through the knotted crowd, she caught flashes of the other apprentices, and felt a twinge of loneliness. Still, they – with the exception of Oddpaw and Twitchpaw – avoided her religiously, casting her nasty looks whenever they caught her eye.
I mean, it's ridiculous! She thought furiously, trotting through the long, breezy grass. They act like I'm enjoying all this attention, awkward situations, anxiety and bossing around warriors three times my age!
With a sigh, Vixenstar forced herself not to look back again and focused on the task ahead. She'd already planned multiple responses for each possible question, threat and accusation which could be thrown at her – was this what all normal leaders did when they made controversial decisions? Though, to be fair to her, this hadn't exactly been her choice.
With little delay, they reached Fourtrees just as the moon begun rising. Unfortunately, due to her nerves, she'd set the pace to be rather quick and they'd arrived with quite a bit of time to spare milling around with the other clans.
That wouldn't be awkward at all.
"Fox-dung, we're early." She muttered to Gooseholly, pausing on a slight rise in the earth not too far from the Gathering spot. She could smell that the rest of the clans had already arrived. "We can't really wait around here, can we?"
Gooseholly shook his head. "That'd suggest fear."
"I am scared."
"Hush now." He murmured, though not unkindly. "You have nothing to fear-"
"Except three angry clans."
"-because," he rose his voice over her, "you have your own clan right behind you, waiting to loyally attack the others at your word. Not that you'll need to." He smiled. "Now, lets show the others how to make a proper entrance?"
She nodded nervously, and launching into a bounding gait. She could hear her clanmates following easily beside her, and felt calmed by both their presence and Gooseholly's by her side. Far too soon for Vixenstar's liking, they arrived at the mouth of the clearing and streamed in, though WindClan seemed reluctant to leave her side – earning them a few funny looks from the pre-gathered cats.
"Go, mingle." She muttered to the nearest few cats, who spread the message and left. Then it was just her, Gooseholly, Oddpaw and Oatfreckle.
"Weird to think last time I was here, I was still an apprentice." She joked nervously, earning Gooseholly's grey tail in her mouth.
"Can't spoil the surprise too soon." He returned. "Now, lets go awkwardly sit beside the other leaders, deputies and medicine cats, hm?"
This time he took the lead, and the dark russet she-cat followed close behind. Oddpaw and Oatfreckle split off to speak with the medicine cats, and Vixenstar cringed as Sleetstar, Sweetheart, Cottonstar, Pearspirit and the entire Twilight Conclave stared at her.
"Ahem, do you need something, Vixenpaw?" Sleetstar asked impatiently, his conversation with Flickerleaf – from the Twilight Conclave – having been cut off at her arrival.
Vixenstar breathed deeply, quelling her fear, and shook her head. "No. I just, uh.. well, I'll be explaining when the Gathering begins."
This merely piqued the older cats' interests, but sensing she would share no more, they simply each gave her one last doubtful look before returning to their own conversations.
Except Badgerswoop.
She was a black and white splashed member of the Twilight Conclave – only joining them just before the previous Gathering, Vixenstar remembered – with short, course fur, broad shoulders and cold but shimmering blue eyes.
Vixenstar felt a little inferior in the impressive she-cat's presence, and was dearly reminded of her mother.
"Are your parents quite alright, little heiress?" Badgerswoop asked, her gruff voice gentle and kind. "I don't believe I've spotted those social butterflies in the crowds." Vixenstar thought her voice sounded rather strange, almost accented.
Gooseholly took over, clearly protective in the face of the powerful ShadowClanner. "As Vixen..paw said, we shall be explaining everything once the Gathering beings. If you don't mind." He added the last part as more of a nicety, but his tone suggested he didn't much care if she did mind.
Badgerswoop narrowed her elegant eyes slightly, and shrugged. "I suppose that is fair. Well, nice to see you both." She bowed slightly, and stalked off towards a rowdy group of young RiverClan and ThunderClan warriors.
A few minutes later, which Vixenstar spent too busy worrying to notice passing, Cottonstar stretched her limbs out and glanced towards the other higher ranks. "I think we should begin now, no?"
They agreed, and glanced toward Vixenstar and Gooseholly. "Erm, are you two coming?" Pearspirit asked, clearly confused.
Vixenstar nodded firmly. "Yes."
The Queen, general, leader and ShadowClan representative – which happened to be Badgerswoop – all made their way towards the large rock, and leaped to the top. The advisor, lieutenant, deputy and rest of the Twilight Conclave all gathered beneath the rock; drawing the attention of the clans.
Badgerswoop, having the loudest voice, summoned the four clans below. They walked over leisurely, and begun to notice Vixenstar sat among the other older warriors, and she could hear them gossiping among each other about why she was up there.
Luckily, they didn't get long to theorise, as Sleetstar broke into the conversation. "I'll go first, shall I?"
When no-one opposed this decision, he begun his long speech about ThunderClan – but Vixenstar hardly heard a single word he said. Most of it was just boring updates about prey, weather and trivial things. The same went for ShadowClan and then RiverClan.
Then it was WindClan's turn.
Cottonstar glanced towards Vixenstar, after finishing her own speech. "Now, Vixenpaw, I'm sure all of us here would like to know where your parents are, and why you're up here instead of them." Her tone was curt, but not outright hostile. "After all, only leaders are really permitted to speak – Gooseholly should be representing WindClan in your parents' place!"
"Um." She cleared her throat, "That's right. But I- I have some grave news to share. Hawkstar and Dreamstar passed away shortly after last moon's Gathering-"
Cries of shock and horror exploded from the gathered cats, and even the three clan representatives looked completely stunned.
"What happened?" Someone cried.
Vixenstar exhaled shakily, shouting over the chaos. "Please, listen! Hawkstar fell into the river, and Dreamstar went after her. They.." she choked on her grief, "they fell down into the gorge. We found Dreamstar had hit his head on a rock on the way down, while Hawkstar drowned."
A collective groan of sorrow drifted through the crowd, and Vixenstar blinked back tears. Sleetstar looked more puzzled than anything. "But, who has been leading WindClan? Gooseholly?"
"No." Here goes... "I have."
Silence. Complete, dead silence. Badgerswoop looked stunned. "Aren't you.. what, eight or nine moons old?"
"Roughly nine now." She clarified, feeling horrendous at how young it sounded. "I-"
"Surely StarClan wouldn't want an apprentice leading WindClan?" A ThunderClan she-cat called out angrily. "You're not even half way through your training!"
Snowberry glared at her, standing up. "Let our Queen explain before you begin making harsh judgements, Cougarpelt!"
Vixenstar nodded gratefully to the young she-cat, and explained the whole situation again. Oatfreckle visiting StarClan, her following what they wished, becoming Vixenhowl, going to receive her lives and become Vixenstar, continuing her training even more intensely, and so on.
"And you're sure StarClan wanted things this way?" Badgerswoop asked seriously, staring into Vixenstar's darker eyes.
"Yes." Her mew trembled. "Oatfreckle can vouch for me."
The Twilight Conclave member glanced down at her fellows, before shrugging casually. "Well, then, I think that settles things. If StarClan have ordered things to be this way, then this way it shall be."
Multiple ShadowClan cats called their agreements, earning nasty looks from both RiverClan and ThunderClan. Both Cottonstar and Sleetstar looked shocked at Badgerswoop's easy concord.
"You can't be serious!" Sleetstar argued. "Either StarClan are mistaken, or you are. I suggest – no, demand – that you revoke your promotion to Queen and allow a proper leader to take your place. Gooseholly, for example!"
Cottonstar nodded sternly. "I am most inclined to agree. Our oldest traditions have been for the second in command to success the first, no matter what ridiculous changes your ancestors have made to your methods of ruling." She spoke with a hint of disgust.
Blackbreeze hissed at her from the crowd. "And you dare to disrespect WindClan's traditions? Our code orders that the eldest child of the current rulers must take over upon one or both of their deaths. Yes, this situation was unprecedented, but we are following StarClan's rules in how we deal with it." He smiled sweetly. "Unless you choose to oppose your ancestors? After all, our 'ridiculous' changes were also approved by StarClan – that's a double opposition."
Cottonstar, with no response, snorted angrily and sat down once more. Sleetstar, however, was undeterred.
"Please, StarClan have made countless mistakes over the generations!" He argued. "They are normal cats, just like us, only with more influence and power than the living. Does that mean we have to just do what they say without question?" He turned to the uncertain crowd. "If StarClan demanded that you jump into the gorge without explanation, would you?" He didn't wait for a response. "No, of course not! You would question such an outrageous request."
"Are you questioning StarClan?" Badgerswoop asked dangerously, taking a threatening step forward.
Sleetstar shook his head imploringly. "Not exactly. I'm just saying that we mustn't follow them blindly. They can make mistakes too – you all remember the countless stories of misinterpreted signs, omens and prophecies? The wrong cats being chosen and approved for leadership?" He stared at Vixenstar pitifully. "I know you must have worked extremely hard to give a good impression tonight, but you are simply too young and inexperienced. Let Gooseholly take over from you for a couple moons, then rise to the challenge once you've matured and learned more about life and leadership. Trust me."
Vixenstar was beginning to feel almost completely convinced by the tom's words. He had lots of very good points – and would it be so bad to let Gooseholly take over more while she became a warrior according to the code?
Just as she was about to agree to the reasonable suggestions, Gooseholly sprung onto the rock and landed between her and Sleetstar, his eyes alight with fury.
"Are you trying to take over WindClan, Sleetstar?" He hissed. "In case you weren't aware, my clanmates will not submit to another clan's ruler."
This was met with a raucous amount of cheers from WindClan, and a few approving nods from various cats from the other clans – though least from ThunderClan, who seemed to agree with Sleetstar.
"I wasn't suggesting they submit to me." Sleetstar growled through gritted fangs. "But I must really insist you take heed of my suggestions." His tone lowered with hostility. "Otherwise I might just have to sort you bunch of renegades out myself."
The clearing erupted into angry shouts, half agreeing, half disagreeing. However, Vixenstar saw Cottonstar nodding in agreement – her heart sank.
Gooseholly turned to the quiet, broad-shouldered ShadowClan representative desperately. "Badgerswoop, you have not spoken much more?"
"Hm." She sighed tiredly. "Does everyone remember why the Clans decided their ancient ruling method was flawed and unreasonable?"
"Obviously." Cottonstar responded, miffed.
"Because it always resulted in corrupt leaders or deputies, and the clan eventually falling apart. So ThunderClan decided-"
"We don't need the history lesson, Badgerswoop." Sleetstar snapped. "Get to your point."
The stubborn feline ignored him. "ThunderClan decided to elect their new leader and deputy every couple of moons, so cats wouldn't be left too long in a position of power, everycat was granted a chance to rule, and cats had a choice in who would lead them. WindClan realised the reason their leaderships failed was a lack of emotional connection to their clanmates and each other, so they made the role of leading hereditary – excluding the role of advisor." She nodded to Vixenstar and Gooseholly. "RiverClan were stubborn, and merely decided to put their leaders and deputies on rotation depending on the season. This is because they were too attached to tradition, and to be fair, had the least corrupt rulers – they struggled more with seasonal difficulties. Thus, they can't really expect to understand how important each of our new traditions are to us."
Cottonstar ground her teeth noisily, scowling, but remained silent.s
"And ShadowClan," Badgerswoop continued, "had suffered the most over the many generations. There are a many historical atrocities which have occurred in our clan – perhaps it was a lack of ideal role models? Who knows? – but we believed, and still believe, that our connection with StarClan had been severed badly by one of the first corrupt leaders in our history. Her crimes are far too great to name aloud, so I shan't. We formed the Twilight Conclave in an attempt to mend the broken bond with our heavenly ancestors, and so no single cat was in control. We each have the power to banish a cat from our group if we see the need, and share equally the leading and deputy roles and responsibilities."
The ShadowClan she-cat paused to catch her breath, as she'd been getting a little worked up. Vixenstar was surprised how deep the reasoning for each leadership adaptation went, and the explanation she gave Gooseholly that day beside the gorge sounded weak in comparison.
"We all have our new traditions, and each for our own reasons." Badgerswoop continued. "And ShadowClan's was to mend the bond with StarClan. For far too long, our clan has ignored the wisdom of our ancestors and their deep wishes for our well-being. It is for that reason, I choose to stand beside Vixenstar, Gooseholly and the rest of WindClan with their initial decisions.
"In short, if StarClan have wished it to be this way, then this is how things shall stand." Her cold gaze swept over the four clans, narrowing on the two other leaders, before resting more kindly on Vixenstar. "StarClan are far wiser than you may realise or give them credit for – yes, they are just like us but dead and in the sky – but they have countless more moons of life experience than us, just from watching our feeble lives pass by as they grant advice and learn more and more. We must accept their decision, and that is my final opinion."
"Hear hear!" Featherfoot and Stormberry, felines part of the Twilight Conclave, chorused.
Icedancer nodded slowly. "I must agree with Badgerswoop's magnificent speech. Her words ring with heavy truths."
Most of ShadowClan seemed to agree with their conclave's words. A couple RiverClan and ThunderClan cats looked either doubtful, half-agreeing or seemed to agree with Cottonstar and Sleetstar.
"Is is absolutely disgraceful!" The RiverClan leader burst out suddenly, her eyes shards of sharpened bark. "I cannot believe you're agreeing with- with those delusional half-wits!"
Badgerswoop glared at her coldly. "Hm, and you're so much more intelligent for deciding to argue against StarClan – the entire reason we needed to change our ways so drastically? Disappointing."
Vixenstar gazed from cat to cat, completely at a loss for what to say – this seemed to please Sleetstar.
"Look, she can hardly defend herself!" He crowed. "How can she support her clan if she's utterly incapable of participating in a debate?"
Gooseholly spat in his face. "That was no more a debate than I'm a StarClan-damned flying hedgehog! You were completely attacking her over something she had no control of."
Vixenstar felt embarrassed to have so many cats speaking for her, and clenched her jaw tensely, putting on her best poker-face. "I do not appreciate being talked to so horrifically. Now, if you're all quite finished, I am taking my clan home – when you have realised that you shan't be making WindClan's decisions, I'd be delighted to meet up again before next moon for a genuine apology. If not, I'm afraid we shan't be turning up." Her tone dripped with cold, controlled anger – Vixenstar felt quite proud of herself for managing to do it without completely falling apart – and all four cats in front of her looked rather taken-aback.
Gooseholly stepped away respectfully, his eyes shining with pride, allowing Vixenstar room to nod respectfully to the black and white ShadowClan she-cat. "Thank you, Badgerswoop, for your honest support. I hope to see you again soon." Ignoring Cottonstar and Sleetstar, feeling pleased to notice their outraged expressions in the corner of her eye, she jumped down from the meeting rock and sauntered past the silent clans impressively.
She was immediately surrounded protectively by her clanmates, who growled at both ThunderClan and RiverClan. Even the apprentices side-eyed them pointedly. Boldheart lashed his tail crossly, warding off two intrigued nearby bystanders; Moonfin pointedly ignored every cat she passed from another clan; Oceanpaw hissed at the gathered apprentices, her former friendliness from just a short while ago having completely vanished.
WindClan left Fourtrees in otherwise dead silence, and Vixenstar was just about ready to collapse into terrific sobs.
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