March Gathering 2020

Nightpaw sat down when he heard the news. He knew Torrentstar was dead. And now Thornstar was dead too? And Flintstar said he knew how the cats died. From Starclan's own paws. Nightpaw let out a small whimper. What if Finchstar, Oakstar and Spottedstar were next?

Strom had come into the clearing with Batbite, as was his new custom. Another moon passed, another gathering. He smiled to himself as he felt his paws slipping easily back into the routine, just like he'd never left. Moons of gatherings he'd missed may as well have not happened, for all it took for him to take it up again.

For a few moments, he simply looked around, watching his Clanmates interact with others from different Clans - cats he knew, some he didn't, and every one of them moving to the same rhythm his paws had since the day he was born, despite the spectre of doom looming over the Clans. A spectre that sent shadowy tendrils crawling up his spine as his eyes moved to the Great Rock.

Where's Torrentstar? Thornstar isn't there either. And both stand-ins had others beneath them, in the place the deputies held. Something wasn't right, a sense of wrongness that made its many-legged way up his back as he stood, and watched. Maybe the others, cats he knew in RiverClan, would know. After all, Dacedream was talking to a RiverClan she-cat - one he vaguely remembered as being one of Torrentstar's kits, born not long before he left. If anyone would know, she would. But reluctance tugged at his paws - that odd, lingering shame he still felt at having left RiverClan. Would she recognize me?

He hesitated long enough for the answer to yank him by the ears, anyway. Head whipping around, he stared in disbelief at the rock as Ivybrook - or Ivystar, since her name would have changed by now - declared the leader's fate.

"Dead?" His gaze flicked to Batbite, then back to the rock, and Oakstar. He hadn't been stripped of all his lives, despite that snake. But then, he hadn't committed treason, either. From what he'd heard of the gathering before last, Torrentstar had made the stupidest mistake he possibly could have, especially in light of StarClan's newfound wrath. Even now, Strom still had trouble wrapping his head around just why the strict leader had done what he did. He was as bad as Starlord. But death? Who would have killed him?

As before, the answer was practically dropped into his paws, the new ShadowClan leader stepping forward to announce the other half of the puzzle. And a snake, deep black and far colder than the one that had bitten Oakstar, coiled into the pit of his gut. Suddenly, the chilly new-leaf air grew spikes that stuck icy tendrils in his pelt, making the fur along his back rise in prickling waves.

StarClan killed both of them. Involuntarily, he felt his ears start to tighten against his head. StarClan murdered both of them. The clearing almost seemed to reel, and he shook his head, attempting to shove away the utter fear quickly crawling over his pelt.

Was this a sign? Some show of how powerful they were; that they could simply reach down and take the lives of whoever they wished? If that prophecy meant the same or similar for the cats it had specified, then he was on whatever list they were keeping - a mark burned into his pelt that he couldn't escape. You don't know that. After all, he hadn't done anything wrong; he'd done what StarClan asked him to. Mottledspark had asked him to choose who he was going to be loyal to, and he had. He hadn't dragged out a forbidden romance or anything. He'd left, and taken his code-breaking ways with him. He'd chosen his side and he'd stayed there, for StarClan's sake!

And yet, why did he feel as if they were looking down, watching him with malignant gazes? There was a cloud hanging above his head, the giant eye of the moon boring into his pelt. Son of Starlord - a rogue - half-Clan, code-breaking Clan-hopper. He sat, keeping his face as rigid as possible, his eyes as unreadable as they could be. But the mask couldn't keep away the hollow of dread lurking beneath the facade, nor hide the way his tail curled around his paws as his shoulders hunched. There was no escaping. I feel like I'm...

Condemned.

Mothglow let herself lie down as Flintstar spoke, a soft sigh of relief escaping as she realized she wouldn't need to explain further. He could handle it, though she still disagreed with his methods. She shook her head at Eveningpaw's comment - it was more complicated than that, than just understanding that they were dead - and the only words that escaped her were soft. "We can't trust them," she murmured, though she kept her last thought - maybe we never should have, in the first place - to herself.
~
Batbite brushed against her mate's side as the leaders spoke of StarClan's actions. She had to say, she was certainly shocked - not necessarily that they would do such a thing, she couldn't ascribe any sort of anything to them anymore, but more that they could. They could walk among the clans like any other cat, with the power to maim and to kill. Stars, wasn't one life enough for them? "We'll be okay, I promise," she assured him, not entirely sure she believed it but determined to make it so. "We've been through worse," she added, which was arguable - the flood, the Twolegplace, they had been bad. But worse than StarClan themselves turning on the clans? That was hard to say. She hoped, however, that her unspoken message was clear - I won't let them hurt you.
~
Zinnia had followed the rest of WindClan, as she did with each passing moon, feeling less and less like an outsider with each one. The news the leaders had to share, however, only seemed to intensify that feeling of not quite belonging - their ancestors had come down from the sky to kill two of the clans' leaders, all in the name of their warrior's code? Such a thing was unheard of, to her understanding, and as she often did when things she didn't fully understand were discussed she looked to Finchstar for guidance, as well as the other WindClan cats around her.

This was now the second gathering Nettlefire had attended as her clan’s deputy. The surreal feeling of having her “new” role had finally started dissipating, and as she followed behind her father and alongside her clan she felt much more confident and...normal...than she had the moon before. She was much less in her own head this time, much more able to focus on the things going on around her, too.

So neither Thornstar or Torrenstar are here again…? She noticed as she surveyed the other cats And...there are others in the deputy’s spots...well. Well. I’m sure we’ll be hearing more about that soon...Life certainly has gotten...interesting, lately, hasn’t it?


Mulling over that thought with a heavy sigh, she moved to take her place as deputy. Her place…it was more normal now. But it was still...funny, almost. The thing she’d dreamed about as a kit. And here she was.

Here she was.  

She looked up as Ivybrook-- Well, Ivystar, now, began to speak.

So Torrentstar was attacked and killed…?


Then Flintshard began speaking. No, he was Flintstar too, now.


StarClan...killed them...both? And what if--


It felt like her body had been shot through with ice. And through that stinging cold sensation, one thing became clear to her. It was something she’d always felt, but it was sharper now. Much sharper. She didn’t know what to do, or what was going to happen next. But if anyone--anyone-- ever tried to lift a single claw against those she cared about-- she didn’t care who it was that did it. They’d have to answer to her.

--

Marshcloud was...tired.

His energy, which had once seemed so infinite...well, it just wasn’t.

What had been going on, lately? Everything seemed to be...falling apart. And it wasn’t like he’d never gone through periods of turbulence before. He’d grown up in one of those periods. But all this...maybe it was different. Or maybe it was just...the final straw. Who knew. But his overflowing optimism was starting to breakdown, and he felt like he’d been clinging to something that wasn’t really there anymore. And he was tired, mentally, emotionally, physically. He hadn’t slept much lately. Some nights he didn’t sleep at all. Because the thing was...the thing was, maybe it wasn’t that his energy was gone. It was just broken. Laced with some kind of new...fright. And he hadn’t slept. Because he had all this energy. And somehow he was still tired.

It was just one thing after another, wasn’t it?

Just one thing after another.

--

OOC: Addershade is staying at camp, watching his kits

At Oakstar's touch, Wolfcall glanced over, alarm flaring in his gaze. Did he look so nervous that it was obvious to everyone? Stars, that wouldn't do at all - he couldn't come here and represent SkyClan looking weak, or afraid. He let his eyes close, taking a deep breath as instructed, but didn't have time to verbally answer the ThunderClan leader's question. So he settled for a brief nod, hoping that would suffice.

It was a bit surprising how quickly the Gathering came to order once all the leaders had taken their places, but Wolfcall didn't complain. He sat back, trying to look confident in his father's place, and listened to Ivystar speaking. It was no surprise to him her news of Torrentstar's death, as any cat with two eyes in their head could see that she'd taken his place, since the new deputy sat below. But the fact that they had no idea who or what had done it both puzzled, and troubled him. He sat silently, tail tip twitching occasionally as he took in the information, eyes widening slightly at the blatant threat.

As soon as she was finished, his amber gaze flicked to Flintstar, hoping that he'd be the next to speak. The obvious replacement of a deputy below made it clear that he, too, had ascended to leadership, and he was terribly curious to know why. He was pleased when the dark tom did in fact step up, but his eyes narrowed in confusion at his declaration. StarClan had killed Thornstar? And Torrentstar? It couldn't be. He had to admit that he was no fan of the former leader, but her death still was an unfortunate one, so soon after kitting. What followed, though, unsettled him even further. Flintstar's closing statement sounded almost as much a threat as Ivystar's had. Was this Gathering going to end in wind and lightning, too?

Wolfcall let out a short breath as Oakstar moved away from him, the older tom taking his turn to speak, though the ThunderClan leader's sentiments were nearly the opposite of both those before him. Too soon, Oakstar was finished speaking, and though he had intended to wait until last, he let his paws carry himself forward before he lose his courage, avoiding the eyes of the leaders, and picking Foxfire's familiar red pelt out of the gathered cats below. He met his mentor's gaze, seeking strength there as he spoke. "SkyClan has nothing to fear from StarClan," he said, voice calm and unwavering. "We stand strong and united, and trust the warrior code, as we always have, to guide us into the future on safe paws." He finished there and stepped back, dipping his head in apology to Finchstar for speaking ahead of him.

Mossbloom had hesitated before attending this Gathering, still uneasy and uncertain about taking her place at the base of the rock after what had happened two moons before. Shuddering in the chilly air as news about the fate of the ShadowClan and RiverClan leaders was revealed, her tail wrapped around her paws in guilt and fear. Had her revealing the truth behind the prophecy led to their punishment from the stars? Why had StarClan been so harsh in their punishment? Why had they gone about it the way they did? The stars had no answer, hidden behind the wispy clouds traveling in bunched groups across the dark sky. She had hidden herself among the bushes along the edge of Fourtrees, content to remain out of sight and out of mind for the time being, but her green eyes flashed with worry. Who knew what this would mean for all of the clans, if StarClan had gone to such an extreme? 

Looking up to meet Oakstar's eyes, she flinched as he spoke about her, looking to the ground. She didn't feel like she was thriving, she felt like she was drowning, the flood waters of the previous newleaf tugging at her paws again. Everyone she had loved, everything she had thought would always be the same, had been ripped from her bit by bit over the moons until it had felt like she had nothing left, and even then she had forced herself to rise only to have the moss pulled from under her paws every time. She had failed to interpret the signs and prophecies until it was far too late, and StarClan's wrath had fallen upon the clans. While Oakstar finished and Wolfcall stepped forward, the medicine cat couldn't seem to stop shivering, finding herself looking over her shoulder anxiously. Hopefully they could go home soon, and nothing terrible would happen this time, and they could talk in the privacy and safety of their camp.... Or was that even safe anymore, she thought bitterly, recalling the snake that had stripped Oakstar of his life so suddenly.

The friendly conversations and introductions that were taking place were swiftly and certainly forgotten as Auntivystar's news sank into the surrounding Clan cats. Dacedream looked up to her kin on the Great Rock with a sorrowful expression, and a moment later ShadowClan's new leader edged forward. The ThunderClan cat remembered him from the last time she'd been here with Houndheart - the night that her grandparents' sins had been revealed. Flintshard was his name, and his expression was dull but for a spark of... grim knowledge. Dacedream felt a greater horror amount as Flintshard revealed that Torrentstar had not been the only leader to die...

Thornstar had as well. "No!" Dacedream squeaked, her eyes widening. Thornstar and Torrentstar had been killed, and they had been killed by StarClan themselves. Her grandparents, the code-breakers, had been dealt with by the ancestors personally. "No, th-they wouldn't do that, they couldn't," she argued pitifully, her eyes shooting aside to Duskrain and then to Honeytongue. She didn't doubt the newly named Flintstar, though... nor did she doubt the intensity in his words when he declared that StarClan was furious with the code-breakers. Dacedream felt herself deflate, and without thinking she shrank sideways, pressing her side into Duskrain's despite the cobwebs the she-cat wore. Flintstar's voice continued to ring over the clearing, declaring that he would do whatever it took to keep ShadowClan safe. "The Warrior Code exists for a reason and it is not our place to question the rules that govern us."

Oakstar, however, did not seem to agree. Dacedream wasn't comforted anymore by his certainty; she had been afraid of StarClan's first words - their promise to punish the blood-traitors if their leaders did not - and she was even more unnerved by the newest revelation. If StarClan was truly willing to strip leaders of every life they possessed because they failed to uphold the code, then... then they would be perfectly willing to eliminate the blood-traitors and code-breakers who had failed to listen in the first place. Wouldn't they...? They were StarClan. They could do anything... and... and it was their right to, wasn't it, since it was their forest? Their lives? Up above, Wolfcall of SkyClan had stepped forward to speak on Spottedstar's behalf. He swore to uphold the code as they always had, as StarClan had demanded. Dacedream simply looked to her paws, unable to take in the judgemental or even sympathetic glances in her direction. She just wanted to go back to camp.

---

The next tom to step up revealed the name of the first leader. Ivystar, Clovertwist noted, trying to commit her name and sharp, serious face to memory. What the ShadowClan tom had to say, however, drew gasps of shock from everyone, Clovertwist included. StarClan had killed Thornstar, and they had almost certainly killed Torrentstar, too. His head swam as his jaw gaped, and he stared up listening to the newly named Flintstar's words. At the altercation between Downpaw and Aspenheart, the elder medicine cat had at last brough to light StarClan's warning - the warning that had put a rift between him and Softpaw. To hear it coming true in such a grisly, undeniable fashion made Clovertwist's stomach knot. StarClan had given the leaders their lives, and it was... well, it was all just so bizarre. Surely they had never taken them away before? Not like this!

Flintstar warned the other leaders that he intended to obey StarClan's commands and that if any of them cared for their own Clans they should do the same. Clovertwist was unsurprised as Oakstar stepped forward, insisting that he would dissuade code-breakers but that ultimately he would continue to run ThunderClan the way he always had. What made him most sick, however, was knowing what was coming next: Wolfcall, SkyClan's deputy, announced that they had nothing to fear from StarClan, and then the tom nodded to Finchstar - Finchstar, the source of Clovertwist's fears. He knew exactly what his leader and former mentor was going to say. If he didn't deny StarClan's right to intervene and defend his actions as WindClan's leader, well, Clovertwist was a bunny rabbit. His pale amber eyes stared up in growing horror of what he knew was about to come.

Having been half paying attention to the leaders as they spoke, the fur on Sunflower's back shot up when some-cat's voice sounded behind him. Snapping his head down, his amber gaze fell upon a black and red she-cat who was looking up to him with a wide grin on her maw. "I-I'm Sunfl-flower," the lanky tom muttered softly, quickly turning his gaze down to the ground bellow. Great Silverpelt, why did she pick him of all cats to talk to? Didn't she have other friends or clanmates to chat with? After all, she certainly seemed friendly enough to become acquaintances with all the forest.

Settling down on to her belly, Rainstrike tucked her paws underneath herself and waited for the Gathering to start. It didn't take long, with RiverClan's new leader calling the meet to attention only moments after the last leader had taken their place. The warrior listened intently to what she had to say, curious to know the intimate details of Torrentstar's demise - but unfortunately, few were provided. It seemed that RiverClan's version of finding the killer was to just threaten everyone at the Gathering and hope they'd come clean. Rainstrike snorted, her pale eyes sliding to Flintstar as he took over.

And that was where it got interesting.

Thornstar was dead as well, and at the paws of StarClan no less. Rainstrike's ears perked up, hanging on to every word as he continued, warning the other clans against allowing their blood-muddling to continue. And then it was Oakstar's turn. Rainstrike held her breath.

Please, please agree, her eyes watched Oakstar with unbridled intensity, practically begging for her grandfather to take the loss of a life as the sign that he was doing something wrong. Flintstar had given him ample reason to fear StarClan's wrath... all he had to do was take the hint.

But he didn't.

The moment the ThunderClan leader began speaking, she knew the warning had gone in one ear, and out the other. Her gaze dropped away from him, maw wrinkling in undisguised disgust, and it was all she could do to suppress a hiss of fury. He hadn't heeded the warning. He'd never listen. Oakstar was going to bring about StarClan's wrath, and drag the rest of ThunderClan down with him. Rainstrike shook her head, disinterestedly glancing towards the young black tom beside her grandfather as he took a turn at speaking. His words barely registered to her though. She'd heard what she needed to hear already.

Finchstar could only stand and watch as the newly named Ivystar and Flintstar stated their cases. So his assumption was correct - not that the forest would catch the look of shock on his face, Finchstar knew he could hide it deeper down. Oakstar seemed just as shocked, and it was a relief to see Spottedstar hadn't suffered the same fate. In the chaos, Finchstar would miss his coy friend from across the border. But there was no time for cheekiness, he had a game to play. One by one, each leader laid out the fate of their clans. Flintstar confirmed for the forest that he had seen with his own eyes Thornstar's death. A pang shot through Finchstar's heart, struck with empathy. Him and Thornstar had shared similar motives and goals, but went about them differently. While Finchstar was light with an impulsive streak of bluffs and optimisms, Thornstar was a no-nonsense kind of leader, the one that demanded respect silently.

The leader dug his claws into the stone and wondered if StarClan pondered these things before taking her life. Did they ever stop to consider that Thornstar was a cat, with personality, with family? Or was their focus on her sins alone? Wolfcall went on to speak for SKyClan, ducking his head to Finchstar afterward as an apology. The nervousness in the dark deputy's eyes made Finchstar's whiskers twitch, and his heart grew warm. Nothing but compassion was felt for the tom, as Finchstar had once been in a similar place before his moons of leadership taught him more confidence than warriorhood ever could. He would wield it well tonight, smiting StarClan with words alone. Another streak of recklessness perhaps, or maybe, this time, he'd spare the stars their fate. As the clearing grew quiet, Finchstar stepped forward, a faint grin on his maw. Beneath, it hid the deep sadness he felt for Torrentstar and Thornstar's death. It hid the anger, the fear, the everything. He was only an aloof tom, with blazing yellow eyes and a smile that would kill the world. Anything was possible.

"It has occured to me that..." Finchstar began, voice cutting like sharp claws, yet warm like the sun. "Some of our ancestors care not to respect the living. Thornstar - killed by StarClan - will not be forgotten. Her maw spit fire, and her claws paved the ways of many. May she rest with Sootstrike now. Torrentstar no doubt suffered the same fate. Mauled by the border, with no traces to be found. Tell me, clans, when a leader dies, there is a change in the atmosphere. The deputy takes his or her place, gaining new lives, and the fate of the clan now rests with a new cat. But let us dip into the metaphorical, shall we?" Finchstar took a step forward, yellow eyes glowing like tiny blazes in the night. "This coming newleaf marks a change in time. In leadership if you will. StarClan has shown that they will cross the boundaries of life and death to kill those whom are living. There was a time, when I too, wished to cross that boundry, so that I might see my mate once more. However the moons have taught me otherwise. Only love is strong enough to pass through StarClan. My body is not with Brookclover now, but my adoration for her is. There was a time when StarClan would send down love and hope to the clans, a blessing from those who had gone before. But now they have breached protocol, breaking the rules of nature to kill and ravage. Our ancestors, our once source of hope, have now stated their case, and drew a line between us. Figuratively, as a new time comes upon us, a new deputy must rise up in place of StarClan. Her name is love. Taking the place of what once was. I ask you now, clans of the forest. Do you support her? Or do you sit vigil on the grave of StarClan? I do not call accusations here, I simply ask your stance. How will we move forward? As a group? If there was ever a time to unite, let it be now."

Ferretpaw was sticking close to his Clan this gathering, and he found himself seated near Clovertwist. Fine by him, as surviving a goose attack together seemed like the sort of thing that sealed a friendship. Of course, friendship was easily handed out by the apprentice. His eyes focused on the leaders, not missing the change in faces. His pelt prickled with unease that only increased as the news started to be delivered. StarClan had done such a thing? But they were meant to be their guardians, weren't they? To protect and guide them, not to murder them. The fear that had been building in his chest since his first gathering felt like it was breaking free, flooding him. His eyes widened as he watched Finchstar take his turn speaking. He couldn't help but feel this declaration was dangerous...But surely Finchstar knew what he was doing?

ooc; Poppypaw is in camp with her father, Addershade, and younger siblings.

Flintstar huffed as Oakstar took the stage, revealing that he wasn't going to bend so...Easily to StarClan's will. The ShadowClan leader was, however, a bit...Impressed. The threat they faced was so clear - it had taken the lives of two leaders already. They knew what they were risking and it was not something that Flintstar was willing to test the waters on. He had to keep ShadowClan safe, that was in. But at least Oakstar seemed...Wise to doing his best to support it while also protecting those who it called into question. Hm. Honorable, he supposed. Flintstar simply nodded his head in acknowledgment to the ThunderClan leader at his choice - he wasn't to stand in his way. StarClan themselves would do so if they truly had...Issues with what Oakstar wanted to do.

Wolfcall's reaction to the situation wasn't surprising, it wasn't his call to make in such a time. Something that would have to be talked with Spottedstar no doubt. But Finchstar... Flintstar's gazes hardened as the tom brought up his mother, at how StarClan no longer cared for the living. That much was clear, but that was only the reason to tread lightly - he had a feeling that StarClan would do anything to make the Clans fall in line. He watched in silenced as the WindClan leader went on, a rallying cry for...Something. Honestly, Flintstar didn't quite understand most of what the tom was going on about. Did StarClan have a leader and deputy structure? And why would their deputy be named Love? What kind of warrior name was that? But he did think he got the...Idea of it. The ShadowClan leader watched with a careful eye as the WindClan leader finished...

And a silence fell upon the forest.

The sudden silence caused Flintstar's fur to prickle, ears twitching as it was like everything had stopped. His tail curled at his side, shifting on his paws at the sudden uncomfortableness as he sought for something to fill the void of nothing. Then there was a flicker of light and the roar of thunder, causing the ShadowClan leader to wince before the silence was truly filled by the sudden downpour of rain on the Gathering. The large tom sighed as he spared a glance toward the sky. "...Finchstar, with all due respect...What were you expecting?" he questioned, raising his voice slightly to be heard by the other leaders over the pounding sound of the rain bouncing from the stone beneath them. "A leader's word is law. If...There is a leader for StarClan that is making these choices, the deputy has little say in what happens. StarClan is not what they once were - if they ever truly was that way. I'm taking the choices that will protect my Clanmates from their wraith. I do hope that you all do the same," he added as he got to his paws. He spared a look over at the other leaders, wondering if any would have anything to say, to add.

If not, he was about ready to call this Gathering over and escape the downpour.

Flintstar's words caught Ivystar by surprise, her ears pinned to the back of her skull.

She wanted to yell at the skies, the unleash her anger upon the stars above them. Instead, she sat in simple silence. There was no trace of emotion on the she-cat's face as each of the leaders gave their own reports, Finchstar especially. She didn't care for the tom's silly metaphors or his daring, rebellious tone, and she would never understand why he couldn't just say what he meant. But she didn't care; her mind was still reeling from what Flintstar had revealed to her- to everyone. Her gaze briefly moved upwards when silence filled the air around them, the atmosphere sticky with the sound of absolutely... nothing.

And then, the rain came. Ivystar narrowed her gaze at Finchstar, whiskers twitching in annoyance at what he'd caused. "See what you've done now, Finchstar?" The silver leader's otherwise fluffy coat clung to her lithe frame, and she watched as Flintstar spoke about StarClan's proclaimed leader and possible deputy, citing the warrior code. Shaking her head, she rose to her paws and approached Flintstar before he left the rock. "I'd like to meet with you here at moonhigh, three sunrises from now, to discuss our alliance." Without giving the ShadowClan leader an opportunity to respond, she looked out to her Clanmates and the rain that was falling harder and harder with each passing second."RiverClan, we are taking our leave." Leaping down from the rock, Ivystar made a beeline for the exit, letting her Clan trail behind her.

A brush of fur against his own caught Strom's attention, and he glanced over as Batbite's scent touched his nose, the cold, crawling feeling dimming slightly. A wan smile eventually broke out on his maw at her words, and he straightened slightly, drawing comfort from the feeling of her pelt against his as he took in a deep breath. "You're right," He murmured back, half attempting to convince himself, and mostly failing. The message underneath, one of comfort and protection, helped with that, somewhat. But even Bat couldn't fight the whole of StarClan herself, and win. Not against that. "We'll be all right."

Dread still swirled under the surface, though, a feeling of dark, hostile eyes gazing blackly down upon him. Is Littlestream part of this? Is Princess? The troubling thought rose to the surface, and he shook his head slightly, eyes automatically coming up again as the WindClan leader stepped forward, an odd almost-electricity seeming to radiate from the ginger and white tom's pelt.

Strom's eyes narrowed. The whimsical tom always had something... interesting... to say. For some reason, his ginger patches and the way he held himself brought a fleeting memory of Starlord to mind. The old tom had held that same reckless determination right at the end, before his life was snapped in two by a dog. I hope that doesn't happen here. He wouldn't be surprised if it did, though. StarClan's ranks apparently held enough pent-up anger to fill a whole pack, at the moment.

Sure enough, the first few words out of the tom's mouth drew a claw in the sand. But his message wasn't exactly what Strom had been expecting. The way he said them held more power than he could remember the other ever wielding - more charisma, more assurance, more conviction. A tremble of something went down his spine and right to his paws at the other's declaration, a warning whisper hissing at the back of his mind even as he found himself wondering over Finchstar's words.

What if... he has a point?

There was no love in StarClan, not in the way it was suddenly turning against anyone but a select few. Glancing at Batbite beside him, he uncomfortably flicked an ear. There was no love in the way it was asking him to leave his new-found love in his new home. But would he support love, something intangible, something so far removed from what he'd believe in his whole life, over StarClan?

He closed his eyes, the conflict warring in his heart. All his life, he'd viewed them as a reflection of his Clanmates when he was growing up; Torrentstar's disapproval, Mottledspark's thinly veiled disgust - at first, anyway -, Jaystar's refusal to interact with him or his littermates, even his own mother's sadness, and, of course, the looks from others when they thought he wasn't watching - the suspicion. He'd always half-believed StarClan hated him because of his origins. Now he had proof, in a way.

Why should he, of all cats, stand by them?

But his voice never rose to break the silence that fell in the wake of Finchstar's question, the quiet so still that even the shifting of fur would be heard if anyone moved. No, instead, a faint crackling, an electric tingle, ran up the hair of his spine, vibrating unpleasantly in his whiskers. Something's coming. He opened his eyes, half-expecting to see the whole of StarClan coming down to smite them, a monster bent on vengeance. But thick darkness was all that greeted him, and he flicked his eyes up to the sky to see the moon covered over. Oh, frog-dung. That can't be goo-

A blinding flash bathed the clearing in blood-red. With a thunderous roar that split the heavens apart, white tinged with a red like that of a fresh wound tore through the sky. It burned into his eyes, leaving a throbbing, jagged line behind, like a claw-scratch in the night.

Involuntarily, his ears flattened against his head, his eyes blinking shut far too late to block it out. An instant later, it was like he'd suddenly been thrown into the river, wetness pouring down against his pelt and slicking it down, though for the most part it resisted it at first, even without the benefit of a fishy diet. Blinking away the purple splodge in his eyes, and the water running down his forehead, he gave his pelt a shake, the turmoil of emotions under his pelt suddenly overshadowed by a strange relief, considering the circumstances. Not this time. They hadn't come down themselves. But on the other paw... He shivered in the cold rain, shaking his head as he turned to Batbite. They're still angry.

"Bat?" He asked, checking her over with his eyes, and ignoring the sounds of the other Clans moving out. The gathering was over; yet another rift broken open between StarClan and those below.