mintpaw

~~~

ANOTHER WEEK PASSED, and one night, after Mintpaw awoke from another nightmare about Berryfern's crazed eyes and terrifying words, threatening her, she found herself pondering a question.

Each of her nightmares about Berryfern included the orange she-cat's warning words. "I have descendants in the living world who are more than happy to assist me in whatever I need."

And that got Mintpaw wondering. Who were Berryfern's descendants? She'd been panicking about them, worrying that the moment she turned around, she'd see a cat with orange fur and insane green eyes trying to kill her, but after thinking about it, there was nobody like that in ShadowClan.

Who in ShadowClan shared a bloodline with Berryfern? They were sleeping here right now, only dens away from Mintpaw. Would they really be willing to kill her at their dead ancestor's bidding?

The gray tabby couldn't fall asleep after this, her mind too caught up on the fact that a Clanmate may be the one to end her life if she did something that upset Berryfern. And whenever she closed her eyes, all she could see were imagines her Clanmates, charging at her with snapping jaws and sharp claws.

Finally, unable to take it, Mintpaw rolled out of her nest and padded over to the pool, lapping a few mouthfuls to help her parched throat. Then she sat, staring into the clear water, just thinking. She stayed like this until the sun came up and the dawn patrol had left camp, until Clearfrost yawned and rose from her nest.

The ragdoll didn't say good morning, she never did. She didn't even acknowledge Mintpaw's early consciousness with more than a twitch of her pelt. "Go clear out the back of the herb storage," was Clearfrost's greeting instead. "And when you're done, lay out the tansy we picked yesterday to dry a little."

It had rained the day previously, so whatever herbs the medicine cats had collected were wet and still glistening with droplets. 

Mintpaw nodded, doing what she was told despite still feeling quite tired. Even though she only slept half the night, it was time for work, just as it always was.

~~~

AS THE NIGHT APPROACHED, Mintpaw was reminded of an event that had completely slipped her mind with everything that was happening.

The Gathering.

This was her first ever Gathering, along with her brothers. It's technically supposed to be her second one, but the actual first one happened too close to RiverClan's attack, so Ivorystar had canceled it.

But now, after more than a moon with no sign of a RiverClan cat, the ShadowClan leader deemed it safe enough to go. It was all any of the apprentices could talk about, other than Mintpaw, of course, who cared about very little things in this world right now.

She didn't know why, she supposed it was upsetting that she couldn't hype herself up about the Gathering. She remembered being so excited to attend when she was a kit, but now everything just felt gloomy. 

She couldn't remember the last time she felt happy. Well, maybe when she met Dapplepaw, but she was a hundred percent sure being friends with the silver bengal was against all sorts of rules.

On the way to the Fourtrees, she couldn't help but notice thick tension among her Clanmates. RiverClan had stopped coming to Gatherings moons ago, after the war began, and now with WindClan allied with them, there's wonder as to whether or not the moor cats will show up as well, and how to behave toward them.

"The Gathering night is a night of truce beneath StarClan's eyes," Ivorystar had meowed firmly. "We must be polite and uphold StarClan's wishes. Even RiverClan wouldn't dare to attack us tonight."

When the ShadowClan patrol arrived to the Fourtrees, they saw that ThunderClan and WindClan were both already there. An awkward silence was what filled the air rather than chatter. Tigerstar and Swiftstar were perched on the Great Rock, clearly trying to talk to be polite but their conversation was falling short.

After all, how can you converse with a cat who will one day give orders to kill and harm your Clanmates?

Ivorystar soon hopped onto the Great Rock. "Shall we get started?"

"Ivorystar," Swiftstar greeted, an air of surprise in his voice. "I wasn't sure you'd make it."

The ShadowClan leader smiled, though any cat with eyes could see it was fake. "Is there a reason I wouldn't?"

Swiftstar ignored her question, twitching his brown-and-white pelt. "I think we should wait a little," he meowed. "You know, RiverClan hasn't arrived yet."

"RiverClan hasn't arrived in moons," Tigerstar replied, his voice a deep rumble. All three leaders' attention directed to the large oak tree RiverClan would typically approach from, barren from scent. "But, if you wish."

Clearfrost started toward a group of medicine cats at the back, and Mintpaw hurried after her. It seemed only the medicine cats had gathered together; everyone else stuck strictly to their Clans, even though ShadowClan and ThunderClan's relationship was good.

This wasn't what she'd imagined her first Gathering would be like. There was no sense of community, unity, and fun that had always been described. Surely, this wasn't what StarClan wanted.

But for Spirit's sake, what do I care about what StarClan wants? Mintpaw found herself thinking bitterly. They've done nothing but cause trouble for me.

As soon as the thought passed through her mind, she wished she could erase it, looking around anxiously. What if Berryfern could read her mind somehow?

Even with the medicine cats, everything was tense. Clearfrost and Rosepool made conversation whereas Mintpaw simply wasn't interested in speaking to Cloverpaw, and Whiteberry stared off into the distance blankly, muscles taunt.

"We should begin," Tigerstar meowed after a while. "I don't think RiverClan's coming."

Just as he spoke, a scent of fish bathed Mintpaw's tongue. Her ears stood up on her head at the smell, head snapping in the direction of the unused oak tree. To her surprise, a patrol of cats were padding through, in its lead a gray she-cat with a lame hind leg.

Every cat seemed shocked.

"Rainstar," Swiftstar mewed, looking relieved. "You're here, welcome."

"Thank you," the RiverClan leader responded. Her deputy, a cream-colored tom, helped her up the Great Rock, earning himself a soft, "Thanks, Splashfoot."

Murmurs filled the clearing as this happened. It had been years since RiverClan appeared at the Gatherings, and the first time many ShadowClan and ThunderClan cats saw Rainstar.

"Poolmist!" Whiteberry's tail lifted in greeting at the sight of an old dark gray cat. She looked like she was older than both Frostlight and Tigerstrike, ShadowClan's elders. He quickly pushed himself to his paws and padded over, escorting her, almost, to where Clearfrost and Rosepool sat.

"Poolmist." Rosepool was the first to break the awkward silence, giving RiverClan's medicine cat a kind smile. "This is my apprentice, Cloverpaw. I don't think the two of you have ever met."

"No, we haven't," Poolmist mewed, her voice gruff, as she eyed the tortoiseshell. From Rosepool's nudge, Cloverpaw quickly dipped her head in respect.

Clearfrost cleared her throat. "And this is my apprentice, Mintpaw," she introduced.

"Ah, yes, Mintpaw." Poolmist's blue eyes were unsettling as they fixed into the gray tabby. "I've heard all about you."

Mintpaw ruffled her pelt with unease. What does that mean?

"Where's your apprentice, Poolmist?" Rosepool asked, craning her neck to look around.

"Haven't got one," Poolmist replied simply.

"Oh." The orange she-cat twitched her ears with embarrassment. "My apologies, I assumed."

"No worries." Poolmist waved it off. "A cat as old as me should be getting an apprentice. Just such a shame no kit in RiverClan wants to learn. But don't worry, I've still got plenty of years left to serve my Clan."

A clear warning: RiverClan is still strong.

A yowl from Tigerstar soon broke the murmurs, gathering the attention to the leaders.

Rainstar stepped up, being the first to speak. "It's been so long since RiverClan's attended a Gathering," she mewed, voice booming, "but it only felt fitting after the recent developments to this war. Now, I'd firstly like to introduce our new apprentices, Dapplepaw, Leafpaw, and Ravenpaw."

From what Mintpaw was told, now would be the time all four Clans joined together to call the new apprentices' names, but nothing happened other than weak cheering. She made sure to catch Dapplepaw's eye, though, and give the silver bengal an eager wave, which Dapplepaw returned.

"With that said, I'd like to now talk more about the war."

"Rainstar," Ivorystar interrupted, voice stiff. "Now would not be appropriate. This should be discussed in private."

"Ah, but Ivorystar, these cats are risking their lives to fight," Rainstar replied. "Don't you think they deserve to be part of this conversation? Now, I've allowed the last moon as breathing time, no fighting, just to collect ourselves. But be warned, be careful about what you're saying at this Gathering, because after this night is over, RiverClan will not stop until we get what we want."

Mintpaw's breath shallowed with fear. She knew what RiverClan wanted. 

Stupid prophecy.