Default Title - Write Your Own

Chapter Five

Ashfire nodded. "There's nothing wrong with love, but Talonstar values loyalty. I completely understand."

There was an unusual hint of sadness in Ashfire's voice. She usually wasn't very emotional - either happy, or grumpy. It was hard to predict how the muscular grey tabby would act, but it was never very extreme. Despite being a friend of Mistyheart's, she had never really stood out in terms of being very dramatic or having huge problems or anything like that, and there was nothing bad about that.

"RiverClan's arriving." Mistyheart changed the subject, turning her head around to watch the RiverClan cats come onto the island. She had always been surprised that Cloverstar had still let Minnowpelt attend Gatherings even though she had apparently murdered her Clanmate. I wonder how they treat Minnowpelt back at camp. So much could be going on behind our backs. StarClan, please let Minnowpelt be okay!

She could see Minnowpelt near the back of the cats. The tortoiseshell was padding alongside Snowspirit, and another cat, a brown speckled she cat.

Mistyheart froze.

Seedheart!

Mistyheart turned back towards Lizardclaw and Ashfire, but they clearly hadn't noticed the former ShadowClan warrior. What's she doing here? Is she with RiverClan now?

Finally, WindClan arrived, led by Moonstar. The black and white she cat was clearly a powerful leader. She bounded towards her place on the Great Oak, showing confidence. Mistyheart felt amused as she saw Goldenblaze staring at her.

Gorsepelt and Silverpaw padded over, a light brown she cat with white paws accompanying them.

Ashfire shrank back, and Lizardclaw and Mistyheart instinctively stepped in front of her. Have Silverpaw and Ashfire met since the incident?

"Hi!" Gorsepelt meowed cheerfully, giving the brown she cat a nudge. "I'd like to introduce you all to Softpaw. She's my apprentice."

"Hi," Softpaw mewed, smiling sweetly. "I'm... Softpaw, like she said! Who are they?" She asked Gorsepelt, turning back to her mentor.

Mistyheart felt bitterness rush through her. I lost my apprentice. I never should have had one in the first place. I hope Gorsepelt does better.

Gorsepelt nodded towards the cats. "This is Mistyheart, my best friend," she gave Mistyheart a smile. "And that's Ashfire, and the tom is called Lizardclaw."

Softpaw stepped back a little, wrinkling her nose slightly. "Oh, okay." Mistyheart wondered self consciously if they smelt weird to the young WindClan apprentice.

"Hi, Silverpaw." Ashfire whimpered from behind Lizardclaw and Mistyheart.

"Hey," Silverpaw answered cooly, looking in Gorsepelt's direction instead. "And I'm Silverflake now."

Mistyheart heard a yowl from Moonstar. "Is it time for the Gathering to start?" She mewed, heading over to settle down with the rest of the Clan cats, quickly glancing in the direction of Seedheart. The brown she cat wasn't with Minnowpelt and Snowspirit anymore, instead she was heading in Mistyheart's direction. The fluffy she cat tensed.

Seedheart stalked over to Mistyheart confidently, and simply hissed at her, "I'm not in your Clan anymore, you pile of foxdung."

"I know." Mistyheart answered bluntly, but Seedheart was already heading back over to Minnowpelt and Snowspirit.

"Seedheart?" Lizardclaw murmured. "What in the name of StarClan does she think she's doing here?"

"I don't know." Mistyheart answered, staring in the direction of her former friend.