Goosefeather's Judgment--Ch.13

Branchstar called the Clan with the customary call, and they came swiftly out of their dens and in from the forest, sensing the tension in the air. He stood tall on top of the Highrock, a stiff breeze ruffling his tabby fur. His oddly colored eyes flashed. Goosepaw watched him from the base of the rock, sitting beside Gingerpelt, and admired him. They were lucky to have such a powerful leader. As soon as Gingerpelt had explained to him the dream she had had, the battle it foretold, he had leaped into action.

"Cats of ThunderClan," he said loudly, letting his voice ring out over the gathered warriors, "ShadowClan is preparing to invade!"

Shocked murmurs and cries of alarm raced through the clearing. Eyes widened and claws unsheathed. Branchstar waved for silence, and then continued, "Gingerpelt and Goosepaw have returned this morning from the Moonstone, and they have both been warned of ShadowClan's murderous intentions. They will attack, today, and they will try to attack the camp."

More murmurs of shock and worry and anger. Goosepaw looked from Branchstar to the rest of the Clan. Silverheart was looking worriedly at Rockpelt, who looked unusually somber. Mumblefoot was flexing his claws eagerly, muttering something to Hawkstorm. The big dark tabby nodded as if he agreed. Larksong was by the nursery, talking quietly to Threestep, who looked out with wide eyes.

"StarClan has warned us of their attack, however, so we can prepare." Branchstar said.

Goosepaw shifted his gaze back to him, pondering that this was the most he had ever heard Branchstar say at one time. The leader was usually a cat of few words.

"I want a patrol to circle the camp, more cats near the entrance and places where the barrier is weak like at the dirtplace. Then I want warriors to come with me to try to head off the invasion party so that the attack doesn't come as far as the camp. We'll spread out and set up stations throughout the forest, on the likely points where ShadowClan might try to enter our territory, and as soon as they come we'll make sure they fight where we want them too." He looked at his deputy, who was standing near the front. "Lightfur, you head the guard patrol back at camp." He looked up again, his eyes narrowing. "To come with me, I want Yarrowtail, Bigtail, Hawkstorm, Rockpelt, Sweetbriar, Thornfur, Ashstripe, Weedwhisker, Pinepaw, Poppypaw and Adderpaw. I'll call you all when it's time to move out. All others will guard the camp with Lightfur."

The young tom heaved a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding—Moonpaw wasn't going into battle. He had been worrying about that. Rockpelt was, and that worried him, but he was a warrior. He'd be able to take care of himself. He saw Silverheart look at Rockpelt, and he nudged her head comfortingly. She'd be staying behind with Moonpaw to guard the camp.

As the orders were given, the cats drifted off to their duties. Branchstar leaped down from the Highrock and blinked at Gingerpelt. "What time, do you think, they'll attack?" He asked. Lightfur had come over to join them. Goosepaw suddenly felt out of place, amongst such older and more important cats, but Gingerpelt hadn't dismissed him. So he stayed put.

Lightfur frowned. The wind tugged at her white fur. "It's ShadowClan. They're night ambush attackers—they've proved that again and again. They're strongest at dusk and nightfall. Attacks they've tried in the past, in the daylight, have always been disastrous to them."

Gingerpelt nodded. "It looked like it was around nightfall in my dream. Goosepaw?" She looked at him. "What about in your dream?"

He went rigid, startled at being put on the spot. Finally he stammered, "I-It looked dark in my dream, too. And ShadowClan is…you know… ShadowClan."

Branchstar blinked. A small smile played around his mouth. "Well put, young apprentice." He fluffed up his fur and nodded firmly. "Then we will put out the guards at sun-high, just to be safe. The battle patrol and I will set out at sun-fall and wait for them. StarClan willing, we'll turn their ambush against them." Then he turned, padding off to eat, speak with his senior warriors and prepare for the battle.

Lightfur went off as well, and soon Gingerpelt and Goosepaw were alone beneath the Highrock. He looked off, distantly, caught up in his thoughts about his family and the upcoming battle. Then Gingerpelt flicked his shoulder, and he jumped.

Her green eyes looked intently at him. "Are you alright?" She asked him gently.

He hesitated, then shook his head. "No. I feel sick to my stomach. What if cats get wounded? Or killed?"

"Then that is what we are here for. Warriors live to prove their honor in battle, Goosepaw, and so we shall support our leader and serve our Clan. Everything will be fine."

He nodded slowly, a small smile growing on his face. She straightened, getting to her paws. "We'll need to get ready soon—I'll run you through the battle-wound cures and remedies. But for now, you can go."

She padded off towards Honeypelt and Littlestream. Honeypelt nodded to Gingerpelt, and her small pale-furred denmate nodded too. Goosepaw got to his paws, not sure where to go.

Rockpelt and Silverheart were sharing tongues over by the warrior's den—but he didn't want to intrude on his parents. He could see Branchstar's pelt glinting in the nursery, no doubt assuring his mate and their little kits of their sure victory. Only a few days old, and their father is heading into battle. He thought, his ears drooping. But their father has many lives. Branchstar will return. But what if someone else doesn't?

He shook the thoughts away. He needed to have faith. StarClan had warned them of this battle—of course they would win! They were on the side of right. They would all be fine!

He padded over to the fresh-kill pile. Sweetbriar, Pinepaw and Poppypaw were there. Pinepaw was looking at a shrew at his paws. He looked ill. He looked up at his mother and shook his head. "I'm not hungry, Sweetbriar."

She frowned, nudging it towards him. "Eat it anyway. You need your strength for the battle."

Poppypaw was reluctantly eating a small mouse. Pinepaw made a face, but nodded. Sweetbriar purred, walking off to the elder's den to her mate Leafclaw.

Pinepaw looked down at the shrew. Goosepaw thought he looked like he was about to throw up. He looked over his shoulder at his mother, blinked his leaf-colored eyes, and scooped up the shrew. He ran over to a bush and shoved the shrew under the branches, running back over as fast as he dared without looking suspicious. Poppypaw frowned at him, but said nothing.

Goosepaw walked over and sat down. He didn't feel like eating, either. "Hi, Pinepaw. Hi, Poppypaw." He mewed.

They nodded to him. Poppypaw swallowed a bite of mouse and stared down at the rest in distaste. She pushed it away with a sigh, sitting up. She gave her dark ginger fur a few licks, then sighed again. "I still can't believe we're going to our first battle." She murmured. "I hope we've learned enough."

"You have." Goosepaw found himself saying. "Moonpaw and I would watch you guys practice your battle moves and everything. You'll show those ShadowClan cats that ThunderClan isn't to be messed with."

She smiled at him gratefully. Pinepaw smiled too. "I'm sure we'll be fine." He said to his sister. "But if I eat anything, I'll just lose it before the battle anyway."

Goosepaw laughed. Poppypaw blinked at him in surprise. "You seem awfully cheerful."

He shrugged. He was worried, but he was also assured of the fact they would win. "StarClan wants us to win." He said. "So everything will be fine."

Sweetbriar padded over again, a strange look on her face. She looked at Pinepaw, glancing at his paws. "So, did you eat your shrew?"

He tried hard not to fidget, and nodded, smiling a little too widely. "Yeah, it was delicious."

Suddenly the said shrew thumped into the ground in front of him, looking dirtier and slightly squashed. Sweetbriar looked stern, but there was a twinkle in her eye. "Oh, really? Then I guess it just crawled out of your mouth when you weren't looking, and hid under the warrior's den where Hawkstorm stepped on it?"

Pinepaw's ears flattened and he shrank. "Sorry, Sweetbriar." He mumbled.

She licked his head gently. "I'm just looking out for you. Eat it." She waited for him to start chewing miserably on it, before she walked off again with a flick of her dappled tail. Poppypaw smiled.

Goosepaw saw Moonpaw coming in from doing a quick patrol of the camp with Lightfur. He bounded over to her. She looked nervous. "Hey." He meowed.

She jumped slightly, startled, and then relaxed. Lightfur nodded to her, and padded off towards the Highrock. Moonpaw watched her go, then turned to her brother. "Are you okay?" She asked, sounding just like Gingerpelt.

"Yeah." He said. "At least, kind of. I know we'll win."

"I wish I were fighting with the others." She said, frowning. She looked over at Poppypaw and Pinepaw—Adderpaw had run over, and was demonstrating his battle moves for them, making sure he had them right. Hawkstorm was watching him and occasionally correcting him. Ashstripe and Thornfur were watching too from where they lay, sharing tongues. Moonpaw sighed heavily. "I know that guarding the camp is important and all, but I wish I were out there actually fighting!"

Goosepaw shuffled his paws awkwardly, then licked her ear. "I'm glad you're not fighting. There'll be other battles."

"But look at Pinepaw and Poppypaw!" She complained. "They're practically old enough to be warriors, and they've never had a battle before now. I bet Branchstar makes them warriors after this battle, if they fight well. I don't want to wait until I'm nearly a warrior to fight."

"You won't go running after them to help fight, will you?"

She stared at him, then laughed softly. "I'm not that stupid, Goosepaw." She nudged his head affectionately. "Don't worry, I'll listen to my leader and mentor. I'll guard the camp."

"Good."

He licked her ear again and she licked his shoulder, then Goosepaw went to check with Gingerpelt and go over battle herbs again.