(Tigerclan, a week after the last appearance)
Thornstar leaped upon the tree to call the Gathering and nearly missed in his weakened state. He righted himself and called the cats together, "All cat old enough to catch their own prey to High Tree for a clan meeting!" The tabby waited for a bit and then settled down. "Tigerclan is blessed with so many great warriors! Tonight we welcome our new warriors, Mistyfur, Wolfbane, Leopardspot, Smallstorm, Rosepetal and Genlewind. I am sorry to report that Gentlewind has not been seen since the night of the ceremony. If anyone hears or scents anything, report it to Crowshadow." As everyone started to murmur he raised his voice louder, "I am proud to announce five new 'paws as well. Welcome Littlepaw, Saplingpaw, Mahoganypaw, Pinepaw and Treepaw!" Loud yowling enveloped the clan area.
When it quieted down he continued as he coughed with a heave, "Callabright has five beautiful kits, Darkkit, Firekit, Mysterykit, Faithkit, and Curiouskit. We grieve with Callabright for Blackkit who joined Littlekit in Starclan today. We welcome the five to Tigerclan."
Callabright let her head go down at teh name of her two kits were called. She missed the little ones dearly, but she'd make sure her other kits grew to become strong warriors. Thornstar continued with a glare slightly at the outsider, "Anything else to report?"
A russian blue she-cat stood forward. Shadowwater looked up at the clan leader, but it was Jayjewel who spoke, "Cats from a pack far away and two kingdom cats," she gestured to the 6 cats, "Came with news that they know where Sunpaw is. No knowledge of what we have decided to do on this has been presented."
Thornstar nodded, "Sunpaw may or may not belong here anymore, that depends on Sunpaw's allegiances, but it is good to know that he is alive and well."
Rage built up inside Moonpelt of course Sunpaw belonged here! Cliffrock looked at Moonpelt and whispered in his ear, "Whoa you look like you're about to pounce on Thornstar...take it easy he didn't say he wouldn't allow Sunpaw back if he wanted to come back. He just meant that he may feel out of place here...
Moonpelt looked at his paws and his claws where out and his fur was standing on end he made his fur lie flat again and sheathed his claws, "Thanks Cliffrock.."
Goldsoul stepped forward, "I can promise from what we saw, and heard from the young one... he's been nothing but loyal to this clan."
Crowshadow growled, "You saw him and let him go!?"
The golden tabby nodded, "Sunpaw left his homeland supposedly because Razor had promised he wouldn't harm his brother, mother, or his other family members in the clan. He begged of us to let him go so this clan would be safe!"
"How do we know that's true though?," Birdleaf growled at the outsider.
"Trust."
Sunspot growled, "I agree with Birdleaf."
"You set him out on a long journey alone and yet you all came? Why did you not come together? And, why is he not here?" Moondust growled at the golden tabby, ignoring the trust or agreement comments.
Shadowwater stepped forward this time, "He wanted to, don't you understand the West Kingdom would have killed him, and all of you at that. He had to go! He asked us to come here... to tell you he's alive, and he needs your help. Only way to get him back is to save him from the kingdoms... We came by the kid's request."
Jayjewel looked to Thornstar, "We need to have some of us go after him!"
"I wish we could, but there are not enough warriors in Tigerclan to battle all your kingdoms," Thornstar said with a monotone voice.
"Only the West Kingdom would have to be fought. They're the ones that have Sunpaw," Hawkwater said while he thought over something.
Icefur walked forward and met up with Newblood, but continued forward to face her clan, "Have you guys all gone mouse-brain!?" Silence followed at the she-cat's yelling outburst. "Sunpaw let himself get taken away to who knows where for us to be safe and have a chance to survive! Now we have some cats who know where he is, and who give us a message that he needs our help!" She looked desperately around her family with her ice-blue eyes, "Are we going to abandon our clanmate now after all these moons. I thought we were supposed to protect eachother, protect the clan even at the cost of our lives.... I will go by myself with these cats to rescue my clanmate, with our without you."
Jayjewel, Sunpaw's mother, stood forward, "So will I."
Moonlight meowed,"Count us in too! Me and my apprentice will help!"
Crowshadow stepped in and said sternly to Moonlight, "These apprentice have barely learned how to hunt. Sending even your apprentice Littlepaw out would be deadly. Even if she is the guy's daughter. NO apprentices."
"Ok" meowed Moonlight . "You're right! What was I thinking? Littlepaw has done so well in our apprenticeship so far, and I'm very proud of her. But I don't want any harm or danger to come to her!" Moonlight turns and says sternly, but kindly to Littlepaw: "I'm sorry, Littlepaw. That was a bad judgment call on my part. You need to stay close to home and stay safe, along with the other apprentices Maybe when you are a bit older and stronger, you can go on another mission with the bigger cats!"
Littlepaw nodded slightly, "I don't really wanna go back there anyways Master."
Thundercloud notices Littlepaw and realizes this is her second mentor, "Not to worry, Littlepaw, I'm well enough now to mentor you again while Moonlight is gone."
"Thanks Thundercloud! I will miss Littlepaw while we go on this rescue mission, but I totally appreciate you taking her under your wing. Littlepaw is a wonderful and very intelligent young one and you will enjoy having her by your side until I return!"
Icefur looked at the cats who stood beside her and watched as her calico brother, Flametail stepped forward, "I'm coming with you too sis." The siblings looked with pride from Jayjewel, to Moonpelt, Riverfall, and Cliffrock. This wouldn't be even half of the amount they would need though for a journey to fight off maybe a whole kingdom. Even with Shadowwater, Goldsoul, Salmon, Shark, Damon, and Damian. And Shadowwater looked too pregnant to probably make the full journey.
"Shadow stay here dear," Jayjewel said as Twistheart, Newblood, and even Birdleaf walked forward to join the group traveling to the kingdoms.
The russian blue she-cat gasped, "Why?!" The past queen gave an are you kidding me look and Shadowater sighed, "Fine..."
Cliffrock nodded he walked over to Shadowwater and put his tail tip on her shoulder, "If you want to come no-one can stop you but I really don't think you should put yourself at risk like this."
"I guess that's true..." Shadow said sadly.
Crowshadow jumped to Birdleaf, "Why are you going with those two?"
"My brother the three of us know the West kingdom like the back of our paws. Plus I have a score to settle with Fang."
"And I'll go," Rosemoon step forward.
Moonpelt had fire in his eyes 'I'll get Sunpaw back or die trying!'his claws went in and out.
Thornstar walked up to his deputy, "Crowshadow, I will leave it in your paws to choose the cats to go on this mission and you may want to take the med cat apprentice, Bloodstone. At this moment, I fear I may lose a life." The dark tabby managed to make it to the medicine cats den. He turned to his clan "The meeting's done, I want Crowshadow to handle this.
Flowerpetal rushed to him with catmint, ready, "You need to stay in here with me for a day or two Thornstar. Here, eat this catmint. "
Crowshadow nodded to his leader and friend. The he turned to the clan, "Okay everyone listen up! Cat's who want to go on this mission may do so, as long as we still have enough cats to protect ourselves here. No apprentices, queens, elders, or kits may go. So far who do we have going and who's staying?"
Flametail looked around, "It looks like... Icefur, Jayjewel, Moonpelt, Riverfall, Cliffrock... oh yeah and of course the cats that came here to give us the message... sooo um" He did another over-check, "Rosemoon, Moonlight, Birdleaf, Twistheart, and Newblood."
"If we stop by the RoyalPack camp, the whole pack will fight alongside you," Damon said to Flametail.
Damion, Damon's brother, agreed, "We fight as a whole."
Nightwind nodded to her sister who looked away 'Really she's still upset...?' Whitefeather looked at Nightwind then at Rosemoon. She walked over to Rosemoon and licked her head, "Be safe."
Rosemoon gave her a look, "Come-on I've been a warrior for moons now you don't have to treat me like a kit!"
Whitefeather looked at her, "But you're still my kit... I don't want anything to happen to you....neither dose Nightwind...." The white she-cat leaned down and whispered into her daughter's ear, "I don't know what she did....but you could at least say bye." Rosemoon looked away and the mother sighed.
Flametail ran to Nightwind, "Stay safe here my love. I'll miss you and look forward to my return when I can see you again."
"I'll miss you too...Sweetie please be careful," And the black-furred she-cat gave the tom a hug.
the calico tom nodded, "I'll come back in one piece." The calico tom hugged back gave her a small lick on the ear and padded over to the rest of the group by the door-way. Whitefeather put her tail on her daughter's shoulder, and Nightwind just looked ahead at her love worriedly.
Crowfeather walked up to his brother, "You will return right?"
"Of course, it's my duty to protect you Crow."
"I lost you once, thanks to me, once before. I don't wanna lose you again."
Birdleaf looked sternly into Crow's eyes, "I promise to come back. I thought you were dead once, and now that you're here... this is home." With that he gave a cat hug to his older brother and walked closer to the exit to stand next to Twistheart and Jayjewel.
Littlepaw ran to her brother, "Stay safe brother, and don't let Daddy hurt you."
Newblood had a small tear come to his eyes, "I promise when it's safe there we will return. And I'll come back to get you... you're my only and most beautiful sister."
"I don't wanna go back though, this is home..."
The brother cringed, "Then I might have to stay... after this i will have to take place being king. I can't let our brothers become king." He glanced at Icefur, "And I must take a queen... I'll miss you Little."
Littlepaw started to cry, "I'll miss you too. I'll make you proud if you ever to come and visit! I'll be a loyal warrior by then!"
"Goodbye sis." With that Newblood walked out of camp, followed by Twistheart, Birdleaf, Jayjewel, Flametail, Moonpelt, Damon, Damian, Goldsoul, Shark, Salmon, Falconclaw, Bloodstone, Moonshine, Riverfall, Cliffrock, Rosemoon, Moonlight, and Icefur. All the clan cats looked back at their home and then followed the West Kingdom prince to Royalpack for the next stop on the list.