The night of the gathering was damp and humid. The air had a coolness about it, and stirred occasionally in an apathetic manor. Slick plant life waved lazily against the smothering air, and as ThunderClan made its way to the gathering many felt moisture gathering along their whiskers. The Elders gossiped about how this was a warmer greenleaf than those in the past, heeded not by the apprentices who were clamoring for glimpses of enemy Clans. Yet the overall mood of ThunderClan was muted and uneasy.
Hawkstar led the pack at a brisk pace, striding far ahead of his Deputy or Healer. His medium length coat shone in the silvery bath of the moon, glittering with dewdrops. Tonight he went without his signature orange bandanna, looking more the part of an expected Clan cat and dignified Leader than he had in past meetings. Yet many had remarked, much to his ire, that this was not chiefly what he was known for. He had snapped ruthlessly at these observations, until at least they’d ceased altogether. He could not say why, and indeed at times he found cats looking hurt at him with….no memory of what he might have done. He told himself it was stress. He’d been sleeping poorly, with frequent night trips alongside Juncostar. Was it any wonder he was missing time?
“Hurry up!” He snapped, turning back to face the party joining him. “It’s better if we get there first.” He growled, for a moment his left eye catching glancing light from the moon coloring it a deep ocean blue. A trick of the light, surely.
Crossing over the threshold of the neutral territories was the last thing he remembered.
Ospreyshadow shifted uncomfortably, glancing around himself with obvious unease. Why was he here? He had protested ardently when Hawkstar had suggested he be a part of the group heading to this moon’s gathering, and by the dirty looks ShadowClan cats were throwing him he was feeling only too right in his reluctance.
It’s very important that you be here tonight. All of you.
Hawkstar’s words were ominous. What had his grandfather meant by them?
Hawkstar had not been himself of late. He was fowl-tempered, harsh, and kept chiefly to himself where he had once been brash and sociable. Ospreyshadow was beginning to think there was more than maladjustment from the separation to Coldpaw’s panicked cries of ‘that is not my father!’ but his young uncle was noticeably absent among those selected, so he could not ask him now.
In lieu of any cat actually wanting to speak to him, Ospreyshadow took to people watching. ShadowClan was also behaving oddly. Of course any of them who met his eye gave him murderous looks, but those who did not seemed as nervous and uncomfortable as he was. Yet Hawkstar and Juncostar sat close together, away from the crowd, exchanging hushed whispers.
At long last, they moved to the news-sharing segment of the evening. The Clan Leaders, joined by their deputies and medicine cats, climbed atop the twisting branches of the overhead trees and jutting stones that overlooked the conclave. The moon above hovered in a cloudless sky, inscrutable in its stillness. The eyes of StarClan were upon the living…..but what did they see?
A series of gasps and murmurs arose as Hawkstar shouldered his way roughly past one of the other leaders, who had been readying themselves to speak. Though not completely outside his character, it was bold even for Hawkstar. Despite the mutterings, he did have their attention.
“Cats of the Clans!” His voice rang out over the crowd. There was something uncanny about how well it carried. Despite not being a shout, he as easily as audible as though he were standing among them. Yet even in this he wasn’t quite right. It was imperceptible. The quality of his tone simply screamed wrong to Ospreyshadow.
“I thank you for your time and your attention. What I have to say is brief, but of vital importance. Your very lives depend on it.” A hush as still as the morning snow befell the gathering.
“I have observed for countless moons the hypocrisy of the Clans. We all preached the Code the day we took our vows as Warriors, yet those are but words if they are not heeded. And the hypocrisy in the forest has become a disease. Warriors pay lip service to chivalry and honor, but in our dens we are no better than a common rogue.”
“I myself am not of this mind, so I shall say it now before the heavens themselves! I have laid with the tom beside me.” His tail-tip came to rest on Juncostar’s shoulder. More gasps, accompanied by a few choice expletives, went up around the hollow. Cats were turning their heads, hissing whispers and glaring at Hawkstar.
“Yet I am hardly unusual!” He turned once more to face the crowd. “Look down before you and behold the children of Wisteriastar……and Hornetstar.” He bared his teeth and fixed his amber gaze upon Waspsight, Fennelsting and Rowanshade of ShadowClan. From their reactions, many deduced what the truth was. Many of the voices in the clearing were turning into shouts and snarls.
“Corruption at the highest level! And where are they now, you may ask. It is no wonder that their disappearances coincided. The rules were chafing them, so they abandoned those they swore to protect.”
“And outliers they are not! Copperstar has fathered half-clan kits himself. Carrying on the legacy, hm?” He leered unpleasantly at the orange-and-white tom beside him. It was difficult to tell from his vantage point, but Ospreyshadow would confidently swear that one of his grandfather’s amber eyes was….blue.
“The Clans even went to war over this mixing of blood! ShadowClan and RiverClan are the worst offenders by far. But no cat is free of flouting the code when it pleases them. Shiveringleaf and Windystar, where is Windystar now hm? Was it worth it? You clearly weren’t. But I suppose a cat of half-rogue heritage wouldn’t be. A wonder how ShadowClan can even trust you now.”
"And we cannot forget Sleekfeather, another half-clan brat. Your sin isn't even original. You cling to Auroraskies for relevance, she should choose her friends with more discretion."
He stopped, appearing to take pause to allow the full effect of his words to engulf all who were present. But from the gleam in his eyes, it was clear that he clutched yet more secrets to his breast. And before the night was over, he would relinquish them all.
Despite the overwhelming backlash, Hawkstar’s face was curled into a poor caricature of a smile. The mirth did not reach his eyes, rather it seemed his lips were tugged up by invisible strings. If anything, the expression held an underlying pleading. Yet even that was a fleeting shadow. He had no ears for his deputy’s cries, swiping a clawed paw at Briarstep’s muzzle as a clear warning of what the tom could expect if he opened it again.
“What I am,” He leered at Waspsight openly, though his movements were still erratic. “Is the reckoning this forest has brought upon itself. I am vengeance. I am justice. And I will have my dues!”
His body tensed, as if preparing to leap at the young healer. But Firestar stepped forward, and something about the SkyClan Leader’s proximity halted Hawkstar. His eyes widened for a moment, the amber-and-blue pools swallowing his pupils until they were only pinpricks. Was it fear etched into his face?
Amid the crowd, Oceanstorm felt a fire surge through her veins such as she had never known. Never before in her life had she been the kind of cat who was struck dumb, and indeed even now anger rose quickly within. That he was her father didn’t matter how dare he say such things about any cat! She watched as Firestar approached him, a small shiver traveling down her spine at the memory of his jaws around her nape whilst the roaring ocean for which she had been named churned miles beneath her paws and open air.
‘It’s not him….Coldpaw was right.’
Her ghost was practically purring. It was probably enjoying the chaos and anger quite amicably, but she held its leash as tight as ever. Though her heart yearned to tear, to rip, to shred those causing this discourse, she was in control. It was no small miracle, given the provocation.
With a tremendously shallow thud, Hawkstars body hit the dusty earth just below the highstone. Oceanstorm’s gaze traveled back up to where Firestar stood, like a magnificent lion with his golden mane set aflame by the full moon. There were a few cheers and shouts as many conveyed their appreciation that someone had finally stepped into put an end to the awful speech. The seconds that followed were silent and still, as those directly before the crumpled form of the ThunderClan Leader appeared frozen, unsure of what to do. Others, further back, craned to get a better look.
Those down in front scrambled back as Hawkstar finally regained his composure, lurching awkwardly to his feet as he spun about to snarl up at Firestar.
“Your son's bones cry out for justice from the dirt! Have you begat so many kittens that you forgot your firstborns? It is you who have no right to stand there.” He spat, and flicked his eyes to Copperstar.
“He cannot protect you, fishbreath. We will come for you.”
Whatever he might have said next was interrupted by the return of ShadowClan’s Deputy, Mercuryrose. Not a single cat lifted a claw in his defense as he was slammed bodily into the rock. Oceanstorm herself did wince slightly. It looked like it hurt. Though dwarfed by the larger Warrior, Hawkstar still grinned just as madly as ever. A thin trickle of blood rolled between his eyes from where the skin on his head had split open.
When she finally relented– and it was probably good that she had, for he was on the losing side strength-wise, he staggered back to his paws.
“I’ll put the whore’s name wherever I please, least of all my mouth.” He spat, a truly deranged gleam in his two-toned eyes. A few gasps could be heard from the onlookers. Is he crazy? He’s taunting a mad dog by speaking to her like that! Oceanstorm thought in disbelief.
“And I’m afraid that decision is not your call. Betray your Clan if you wish, but we suffer no traitors.”
He turned back to those who remained.
“ThunderClan! Those still with loyal hearts, follow me. Traitors may remain if they wish, but you only delay your fates.” His hoarse voice carried far and wide throughout the shell-shocked hollow, as his sunken form departed at long last, followed by a small fraction of his Clan. Many it seemed, felt unable to follow him even back to their nests. Oceanstorm supposed that for some, their kits and kin remained still at camp. They could not simply pull up stakes on the spot. Or so she hoped. In the case of some, she knew them not to be tied to anyone not currently present, and the thought chilled her heart. The idea that there were still supporters…
“C’mon Lily,” She pressed close to her sister and their friend Honeydrop. “Let’s go with SkyClan. We’ll get you some calming herbs, and some rest.” She mumbled.
Looking after her kin was something she could hold onto. Take the next right step. It was all she could muster at the moment.