The Gathering

Hollyfrost had been on edge ever sense she received her ominous vision.

She had waited till a few moments ago to tell Sagestar, and she now felt guilty for settling this burden upon his shoulders.

Her paws pricked in nervous anticipation as she awaited the gathering.

Hollyfrost's apprentice regarded her with a nervous gaze.

"Are you sure you don't want me to go?" He questioned quietly.

"Yes Ravenpaw." She responded giving him a reassuring smile.

She hadn't actually told him about her dream, but he was a perceptive young cat and he had picked up on her uneasiness.

Ravenpaw didn't look like he believed her, but he respected her wishes and nodded.

"All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath Small Oak." Sagestar's clear voice rang out.

The cats stopped chatting and sharing tongues to listen to their leader.

"Dawnflight, Foxnose, Quickpaw, Hollyfrost, Silverstripe, Raggedear, Goldenvine, Littlepaw, and Leafwing will come to the gathering" he announced.

I can do this, Hollyfrost thought as she felt her pelt heat up as nervousness flowed through her system.

"Good luck, Hollyfrost" Ravenpaw mewed.

"Thank you, Ravenpaw" she replied.

~~~~~~A bit later~~~~~~~~~

Hollyfrost welcomed the cool Sundown breezes as she made her way to the Boulder Field, where the cats gathered.

She noticed her clanmates quicken their paces as the Boulder Field came into view.

She too found her paws carrying her faster as she spotted the reassuring faces of Shadespot and Violetheart.

As she rushed towards the welcoming faces she saw a bit of a wild look in their eyes, that she had seen in Thrushtalon's eyes too.

She continued to draw closer and sat down by them, they blinked at each other silently.

This continued for a while until Windtail and Speckpaw arrived.

"Hey Violetheart, hey Hollyfrost, hey Shadespot, hey Raven-" she cut off noticing the absence of her friend, "where's Ravenpaw?" She questioned.

Hollyfrost opened her mouth to answer, but Speckpaw continued to ramble on.

"Can you guess what I learned" she questioned jumping around as she did so.

"No idea." Purred Violetheart.

"I learned about Catmint," she squealed, "you use it to cure, ummmm, Redcough!"

"No, you use it to cure Greencough." Windtail corrected feigning an exasperated look.

"Oh," she looked downcast for a second, but quickly perked up again, "what do you use to cure Redcough, then?"

"You use badger dirt" Thrushtalon replied

"Eww" spat Speckpaw

"Finally you showed up" growled Shadespot as Violetheart glared at Thrushtalon.

"Attention!" Yowled Newtstar from the boulder he was perched on.

As the cats quieted down Newtstar began speaking, "Minnowclan has had a rewarding Greenleaf so far and we are thrilled to welcome a new warrior, Brambletail!"

"Brambletail!" The cats chanted

Then Sagestar began to speak, "Snowclan has also had a rewarding Greenleaf," he began "we are ecstatic to announce a new warrior Goldenvine and two new apprentices Littlepaw and Quickpaw."

"Goldenvine, Littlepaw, Quickpaw" the cats chanted again.

It was now Reedstar's turn to speak, "Flutteringclan has had more than a great Greenleaf and our streams are abundant with fish" he added shooting a look at Newtstar. "We have one new apprentice as well, Starlingpaw!"

"Starlingpaw!" The cats chanted.

Now Sorrelstar stepped forward, "Patchclan has hit a slight rough patch, due to the Pelt-Den-Twolegs, but we are rebounding quickly, and our new warrior Heartsong has been an amazing help"

Hollyfrost noticed a white she-cat puff out her chest as the cats began to chant her name.

Sandstar began her turn, "Mossclan, is doing well" Sandstar said curtly. The other leaders looked about ready to leave when Sandstar added, "should I say it, or will one of you"

The other leaders stayed silent.

Sandstar sighed, "Shadespot has reported a vision to me as well as Cloudpaw."

"By the looks of you I assume you have too." She mewed evenly while looking at the other leaders."

Faint murmuring broke out amongst the cats.

"Yes," Reedstar replied, "but it was just Violetheart"

Reedstar was about to say something more when Featherpelt interjected, "Actually, Starlingpaw says she had a vision"

Reedstar wore a questioning look on his face, as Sorrelstar spoke "Thrushtalon has reported a vision to me as well, but my other clanmates haven't mentioned anything."

She looked expectantly at her clanmates.

"I had a vision too." Heartsong meowed

"Really?" Sorrelstar muttered to herself disbelievingly

"I have too, been told of this by Hollyfrost, has anyone else in my clan received a vision?" He asked.

His sharp gaze swept the crowd of cats stopping when Goldenvine mewed.

"I received a vision as well" she admitted

"Okay, Newtstar?" Sandstar sighed as she looked expectantly at Newtstar.

"Windtail hasn't told me anything" he snapped.

"I didn't receive a vision" Windtail spat back.

"Me and Speckpaw got visions." Brambletail boldly announced.

"And you didn't think to tell me?" Newtstar snapped

"It didn't cross our minds" replied Brambletail evenly.

"Really?" Newtstar responded incredulously.

"Yes." finished Brambletail.

Hollyfrost watched as Thrushtalon padded up to Sorrelstar's boulder and leapt atop it.

Thrushtalon then whispered something in her ear and she nodded before announcing, "Thrushtalon wishes for the Medicine Cats to travel to the Moonstone, first thing tomorrow."

Sandstar nodded in agreement as the other leaders voiced their agreement.

"Its settled then, the Medicine Cats shall meet at the Moonstone tomorrow." Sorrelstar finished.

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