I get up to see Snowpaw, Spottedpaw, and Shadowpaw hopping up and down in front of the thorn tunnel. "Come on, people!" they yowled impatiently.
"We're comin'! Keep your fur on!"
It was Brambleclaw's voice.
I remember that it's the night of the Gathering. It's moonhigh, and Brambleclaw is rounding everybody up with Firestar beside him. He calls my name and I run to my kits and tell them to hush.
"This is gonna be awesome!" Snowpaw says, bouncing with excitement. "Our first Gathering, and we get to go TOGETHER!!!!!!!!!"
I smile and tell her to settle down.
Firestar gives the signal to go, and soon I'm racing through the trees with my kits alongside me. I love the feeling of the wind in my fur, and so do my kits, apparently. I have to keep them in line; otherwise, they'd be in Twolegplace by now.
Leafpool catches up to me and says,"Your kits sure seem excited about their first Gathering."
"Yup," I mew.
"I remember my first Gathering. Make sure they don't slip off the log. That's what almost happened to me the first time I came here!"
"Thanks."
Leafpool slows her pace and goes back to Jaypaw to say something to him. I catch up with my kits, and Icenose pads up to me.
"Kits' first Gathering, huh?"
"Yup."
"I hope they get along with the other apprentices. Hang on, a sec," Icenose stops abrubtly.
Uh-oh. She noticed. I think to myself.
"Your pregnant!"