It was a clear, blue sky that stretched over the moorland, though the sun overhead provided little warmth against the icy chill of Leafbare. So much had happened recently, and Desertstar so dearly wished that the last few moons had been nothing more than a bad dream, but despite how badly she wanted that to be true, she had to pick up the pieces and get back to leading her clan as she always had. “Let all cats old enough to run the moor, gather beneath the nook for a clan meeting!” her voice rang out across camp.
Patiently, she waited until everyone had come out from their dens and settled down before starting. “This Leafbare has been especially difficult on all of us,” she began, “Many lives were lost to the black throat plague, and it is with a heavy heart that I mourn our fallen clanmates. With the crisis at end, however, we can now focus on regathering our strength and getting through these last few moons of Leafbare,” she told them, thankful that they no longer had to worry about a life threatening illness on top getting through hardest part of the year. “This is something we will get through together as a clan. We’ve faced Leafbares that were far worse than this, and we have many new warriors in training eager to help out with hunting and patrols,” the leader encouraged them, feeling confident in her own words, “Speaking of which, I would like to start by having the apprentices line the elder’s den with extra bedding, and have those of you that feel up to hunting to—“ her voice trailed off. In the crowd, there was a loud, humorless laugh.
“I hate to interrupt your little clan meeting,” came the voice of Sandadder as he shouldered past a few warriors. The large tom glared up at Desertstar with intense, amber eyes before turning around to address the rest of the clan, “But surely there are some of you that see a problem with how close Windclan has become with Thunderclan.”
At first, she felt surprised to see that it was her own father challenging her leadership. Out of everyone she expected to see, it certainly wasn’t him. The surprise she felt was quickly replaced by something resembling hurt, and then her expression hardened to mask those emotions. There would be plenty of time to deal with her personal feelings later. For now, she needed to address this as if he were any other warrior.
Sandadder moved to stand at the base of the nook, wanting everyone to be able to see him when he spoke. “I never was the biggest fan of Wolfstar, but as I recall, didn’t Wildstar kill Wolfstar?” he turned back around to look Desertstar in the eyes, his question more of an accusation than anything else.
Even though the thought of swatting him across the face for disrespecting her was tempting, she did her best to remain calm. If she were to avoid his questions and react with anger, her clanmates might start to question her leadership. It was important that she dispelled any potential doubt that this might cause with diligence. “That’s not what happened and you know it. Wildstar accidentally killed Wolfstar in self defense. She never meant to end his life,” she stated, trying to keep her voice steady because, like it or not, she was dealing with a very delicate matter.
“Oh?” he responded in a delightfully mocking tone, looking her over with a grin on his lips. “Did you see it for yourself or is that what your beloved Wildstar told you?” he continued to taunt her, sounding as self-satisfied as ever. By now he could hear whispers of uncertainty starting to get louder behind him. They were starting to doubt her, and that is exactly what he wanted.
A I R K I T
The little she-kit had been in the nursery with her sister, Wolfkit, and her foster mother, Peppernose, when the call for the Clan meeting was made. Oh! My first Clan meeting! The one moon old kitten thought excitedly. It was still early in the day as the sun had not yet started to descend and the sky was still a clear blue. Her father, Hailgaze, and her older brothers, Pinepaw and Daypaw, were attending to other Clan duties.
"Oh, can we go?" Airkit turned to her foster mother excitedly, awaiting her permission before she turned and made tiny little bounds out into the clearing. The cream kit paused for a moment to gather her surroundings. Gosh, everyone around her was so big. One day, she hoped that she wouldn't be smaller than everyone else, like the stories her father had told her about her mother, Tinyflame. Apparently, the fiery warrior was still the size of an apprentice, even though she was fully grown!
I'd rather be as big as my papa, or by brothers. Airkit thought to herself.
Oh!
Speaking of her papa, she spotted him sitting just beneath the nook at his rightful spot as Clan deputy. "Papa!" She called, her little legs carrying her as fast as they possibly could for her to reach the large grey tom. Coming to a halt, Airkit cuddled in close to his leg. Her head barely managed to reach his foreleg, but that didn't mean that would stop her from stretching up on her tipie toes to pretend like she was taller.
She was just happy to be here, settled at her father's paws as she listened to Desertstar speak of things that her kittish innocence had no real levels of understanding. However, the excitement she felt towards being at the Clan meeting dissipated when Sandadder interrupted her, his tone dark and heavy. She wasn't completely aware of what was going on or what they were talking about, but even a kit as young as herself could feel the tension hanging over the camp. No longer was she excited to be here. Unsettled, she cowered underneath Hailgaze, her tiny little body huddling underneath his belly.
"Papa?" She murmured, a whimper in her throat, "What's going on..?"