Chapter 18

                Crazypaw led Stonepaw, who was quite unsteady on his feet, to the secret tunnel behind the rosebush. He liked the place from the start, commenting on the beautiful view of water, the way it reminded him of the tunnels back home, and the privacy.

                So it started a pattern. They would sleep during the day and then head down at night to talk with no one except the two of them.

                Neither of them realized how much time was passing. It just seemed so…normal and right to spend their time together talking to each other. And it flew by too quickly.

                So it was a complete surprise to both of them when Leafwhisker entered the den carrying a bundle of herbs and meowed, “Troutstar says you can come to the Gathering tonight if you’re ready to go home. But you should go outside soon because it’s nearly sundown.”

                They were both instantly awake even though they’d only just been woken up. The Gathering already? It’s been that long? NO!!!!!!!!!

                It wasn’t that Crazypaw didn’t miss her home, with its lush green forests and stone hollow. And they could’ve left a half-moon ago. It was just she’d grown so accustomed to this life, just sitting there under the water, telling Stonepaw about her life. Hey, she’d even gotten used to even the bitter, slimy fish from the nearby stream.

                She’d loved listening to him paint the picture of his life in WindClan.

                He had two brothers, named Ashpaw and Rainpaw. Ashpaw’s fur was an even darker gray than his father’s. He had emerald green eyes and a long scar down his right cheek from the tunnel-battle. Rainpaw was a bluish-gray tom with a few white stripes across his back. He had amber eyes.

                His mother, Whiteflame, died when he was only two moons old in a battle with ThunderClan and ShadowClan, so he couldn’t remember her at all. He had the faintest memory of Smokewhisker, his father, carefree and laughing and playing with his kits. But since her death, Smokewhisker had been grumpy and moody. And one thing was for sure, he’d been harboring a grudge against ThunderClan and ShadowClan ever since. He’d had many long debates with his father about the other Clans.

                It took a while, but Stonepaw finally trusted her enough to share his darkest secret. He hated his father. And to reveal his father’s plans despite the penalty he threatened. His father planned to take over ThunderClan and ShadowClan behind Rabbitstar’s back, one bit of territory at a time. Smokewhisker believed it was the only way to truly avenge the death of Whiteflame and forced Stonepaw to help him with the attack. Because if he didn’t, Smokewhisker would have Rabbitstar exile him from the Clan.

                His mentor, Heatherstorm, was a light brown she-cat who pushed Stonepaw to achieve the best training results as possible. She was a great fighter, and many cats considered the possibility that she’d be the next deputy.

                Oh, how could she give up the opportunity to see him every night?

***

                The two of them made their way towards the tree-bridge. Crazypaw’s feet had never felt heavier, not even when she was drowning in the lake.

                Most of the grass on the island was gone, replaced by black dust. Where mighty trees once stood were black tree stumps. In the clearing where the Gathering met, the Great Oak’s leaves were all gone. Instead of a tree with a thick trunk and branches, the trunk was thin and supported only one thick branch. All the other branches were gone.

                The leaders all climbed onto that branch. All except for Troutstar had difficulty climbing onto it and were coughing a lot.

                Most cats weren’t talking to anyone other than cats of their own Clan. “How will we meet again?” Crazypaw whispered.

                Stonepaw looked at her, a fierce light in his eyes. “Love is stronger than any rules or boundaries,” he answered. “I will find a way to send a message to you once I find a place.”

                Crazypaw sat in stunned silence. He loves me!

                Just then, Troutstar yowled for the Gathering to start. “RiverClan only lost one warrior,” she announced. “We mourn the loss of Wavestorm, but are grateful to have not lost any others.”

                Cloudstar spoke next. “ThunderClan was not as fortunate,” he meowed in a hoarse voice. “We have lost a great number of valuable Clanmates. Redshine, Leopardstorm, Flowerpetal, Berrysplash, Stormpool, and Crazypaw are all…”

                “Crazypaw is not dead!” she blurted out loudly.

                Cloudstar stopped speaking. All heads turned to look at her. The next thing she knew, Swiftstorm was rushing through the crowd. “I thought you were dead!” she wailed, covering her daughter in frantic licks.

                Flamefoot was there next. “We’re so worried!” he exclaimed. “Morningpaw, Streampaw, your mother, and I all wanted to search for you, but Cloudstar wouldn’t let us. You should’ve seen how angry Swiftstorm was!”

                The WindClan apprentice spoke up. “Hey, Stonepaw’s alive too!” he shouted loudly.

                The poor young tom didn’t get such a warm embrace. “Where in StarClan’s name have you been?” Smokewhisker demanded crossly. “You missed so much training!”

                Rabbitstar looked exasperated. “Smokewhisker, would you prefer he’s dead?” he hissed.

                Shadestar stepped forward. “Enough family reunions!” he spat. “Any other missing cats going to appear?”

                No one said anything. “So blah, blah, blah, yay, they’re all safe!” the ShadowClan leader meowed sarcastically. “Any other useful, I emphasize the word, useful news to be discussed before this Gathering ends?”

                “Yes,” Cloudstar replied. “I think we should change the name of the Great Oak as a reminder not to displease StarClan, SHADESTAR.”

                Shadestar pretended not to have noticed that Cloudstar’s comment was directed at him. “Yes,” he responded. “Maybe it should be named after the one who started it all by accusing Rabbitstar.”

                “I wonder which cat was the first to attack and joined in when I CORRECTLY accused Rabbitstar of trespassing, which by the way, hasn’t stopped yet,” Cloudstar meowed.

                Rabbitstar stiffened on the branch beside him. “That’s because you were too scared to attack first yourself!” Shadestar snarled.

                Cloudstar tensed his muscles. Then clouds briefly passed over the moon, and all cats backed nervously away from the Great Oak. “Not again!” Honeywhisker shouted. “Stop it!”

                Cloudstar forced himself to relax. “This matter will be resolved at another time,” he warned Shadestar. “Now any suggestions for names?”

                “I think the Burnt Oak might be a good name,” Leafstorm suggested.

                “Describes it pretty well, but doesn’t have the same ring to it,” Cloudstar meowed. “We’ll keep it in mind though.”

                “How about the Dead Oak?” Troutstar offered.

                Cloudstar nodded. “I think it’s a decent name,” the white furred tom stated his opinion. “What about the rest of you?”

                Rabbitstar still looked annoyed with Cloudstar. “Fine, whatever,” he snorted.

                “Well, obviously I like it!” Troutstar declared.

                Everyone looked to Shadestar. “Why should I agree with you?” he asked disagreeably.

                “Because you could maybe not be a total mouse-brain for, like, five heartbeats?” Cloudstar sighed.

                Shadestar glared at him for a long moment. “Do what you want,” he meowed finally. “It’s just the name of a dumb tree.”

                The Gathering was dismissed and as Stonepaw walked away to follow his Clan home, Crazypaw had never felt so alone or abandoned.

                Then, Swiftstorm walked over and guided her over to where the Clan was waiting.

                I should be excited. I’m going home.

                But instead, she felt dread for the upcoming days without Stonepaw.