Light danced on the lake, glimmering to a different degree with each step. Jadestar took in the scenery, noting that she and her clanmates were far out of the territory. Jadestar looked up. The sky was streaked in pastel hues of orange, pink, blue, and purple. She was early. Jadestar took a seat on one of the four tree stumps on a large clearing. The two chosen cats took spots in front of her stump. The tall stumps were positioned in a half circle. Jadestar glanced down towards her deputy and twitched her tail. There were only two or three rays of light left in the sky. The others were going to be late if they did not arrive soon.
"Jadestar? Where are EmberClan and MountainClan?" a voice came from behind Jadestar. She turned to see a white cat with blue eyes, followed by three others. Just as Jadestar was about to reply, she was cut off.
"EmberClan is here, Brightstar," the she-cat said sharply, jumping onto the stump. The black cat had only brought her deputy with her. "Has MountainClan canceled?" she mewed impatiently.
Jadestar eyed the fellow leader. "No, Leapstar. They would have told us." Jadestar spoke quietly, barely heard.
"Perhaps they forgot to tell us? Or forgot the meeting?" a silver she-cat that had followed behind Brightstar suggested hopefully.
"No, Silverpool, Nectarclaw never forgets anything. It's honestly weird." the yellow cat next to Silverpool muttered.
"Look, everyone." Leapstar started, her fur bristling unhappily. "The moon is already up. Let us get on with the meeting. MountainClan isn't coming. Why-well, we'll hopefully figure that out later." the black she-cat's eyes swept over everyone, her eyes resting on Jadestar's deputy, daring the bold young cat to disagree. Ambertail's eyes flashed as she nodded. "I will go first," Leapstar offered. "Our clan is in wonderful shape. We have no leadership issues left to be resolved.
"Leafbare has been kind to us, if not everyone, this time around. We have recently found a few rouges in our territory, but we are settling it. These rouges are dangerous," Brightstar warned," and are challenging my deputy and me's leadership. I warn you- if you see any rouges older than about ten moons, do not be kind. Force them out. Rouges tried to take us. And Leapstar-" Brightstar paused, glancing at Leapstar. "We are not weaker. Do not try anything."
"Ahem." Jadestar hissed. "I would like to get through this meeting with no arguments. Brightstar, we are not threatening you. I am grateful for your warning. I am also glad you are settling it. As for us, we have a new cat as a deputy. This is Ambertail." She nodded towards Ambertail. Ambertail dipped her head, ignoring Leapstar's glares.
"I believe we are done," Cherryfall said softly. With that, and a respectful glance at everyone, The three leaders, and their clanmates, turned to go back to their own camps. Ambertail looked at Jadestar.
"Jadestar, have you heard anything recently from MountainClan? Anything? Shadestar hasn't said anything?" she asked softly.
"No, Ambertail. I haven't. Nor has Shadestar." Jadestar stopped in her steps, turning to Cherryfall. "Have you?"
Cherrytail paused, glancing from Jadestar to Ambertail. Suddenly, her large eyes narrowed, and she looked up past the duo.
"The rocks will tumble from above, shattering everything around them," Cherryfall spoke slowly and deeply, the medicine cat's eyes glinting. She shook her head, and her eyes and voice returned normal. "What?" she asked, noticing Jadestar and Ambertail's confused expressions.
"You just-" Ambertail started, gasping.
"N-nothing..." Jadestar said, passing a warning glance over to Ambertail. "Nothing- let's get back to camp. Come on."
