Disclaimer: I do not own "Warriors" or any of the cats used in this story. I do not own the pairing either.
~Chapter 2~
The moon shimmered above the island as Ashfur walked with his clanmates to the gathering. His sister, Ferncloud, was beside him. Following Firestar closely was his deputy, Brambleclaw. Ashfur cringed as he saw Squrrielflight plastered to his side. Birchfall and Whitewing were murmuring in a hushed tone. Cinderpelt was calmly talking to Leafpool about stocking their herbs. Brackenfur was trotting along in front of Berrypaw, Hazelpaw, and Mousepaw. It was their first gathering as apprentices, and they were hoping with joy. Ashfur sighed and remembered his first gathering as an apprentice. It seemed so long ago now.
"I bet I'll get the most applause from the other clans." Berrypaw boasted. Mousepaw snickered and cuffed him around the ear.
Hazelpaw sighed. "I hope they'll accept us, I mean .. we're not clan born." She wasn't as happy as the two toms, she was a little scared, Ashfur could she she was bristling. He padded up to the young gray she-cat.
"Its ok, everyone will accept you. There's nothing to worry about. Look at your brothers!" Ashfur pointed his tail to the two wrestling toms. "They're as excited as ever. You should be too." He gave her ear a comforting lick.
"Yeah, I guess you're right." She sighed, trying the bring her spirits up.
"And you too-" He turned on Berrypaw and Mousepaw. "-Keep up please. This is a gathering, not a kit-fight in the nursery." He told the toms strictly, but with a glimmer of humor in his eyes. They dipped their heads and went to catch up with Hazelpaw. Although they had agreed, he could still hear Berrypaw whispering.
"He's not my mentor! Who does he think he is?" Berrypaw hissed to Hazelpaw and Mousepaw. Brambleclaw turned around and gave him a quick talk about respecting warriors and to be quiet and gatherings. But Ashfur didn't listen, he didn't want anything to do with the striped tabby.
Firestar turned around once they made it to the slippery tree that made a grateway to the island. "Here we are. Now, I want you all to cross quietly-" He flashed a warning glance at Berrypaw, who just rolled his eyes. "-And please, single file. I don't want anyone's pelt wet." He told the ThunderClan cats. One by one, they all crossed. Ashfur was the second to go, being very cautious and trying the show the three new cats how it was done. He gripped the bark with his claws and moved along behind Brakenfur.
Ashfur leaped off the tree-bridge gracefully and padded into the swarm of cats. It seemed they were the last to arrive. When Hazelpaw, Berrypaw, and Mousepaw crossed, he could see their eyes wide with alarm from all the new scents and mass of pelts. Berrypaw was the first to shake it off, and he strutted right in and started talking to a RiverClan tom.
Ashfur started to mingle as well, and padded into a group of WindClan cats. There were many there, mostly warriors and some apprentices. Something bumped into him from behind and he spun around bristling.
"Hey watch it!" He hissed. There was a black she-cat with amber eyes where he stood. Her eyes widened. "I'm sorry!" She sniffed the air.
"You're ThunderClan! My name's Nightpaw, whats yours?" She asked enthusiasticly. But by her size, Ashfur could tell it was probably only her second or thrid gathering.
"Ashfur." He said. She was about to chat a little more, but a yowl from Blackstar inturupted her.
"Let the gathering begin!" Leapordstar stepped forward and explained everything was well in RiverClan and the fish were running.
"Sadly, we have lost a wonderful elder named Icestream. He died of an adder bite, we still don't know how an adder found its way so close to the camp, but it will be examined closly." Leapordstar said quite uncomfortably, she was probaly wasn't very keen to reveal things about her clan. Yowls of shock and sadness rippled throughout the many cats at the gathering. Leapordstar backed off and dipped her head to Blackstar.
"We will mourn this loss greatly, I'm sure all the clans will." The large white tom said. Onestar and Firestar shook their heads in agreement.
"All's well in ShadowClan, we have two new apprentices. Ratpaw and Crowpaw recieved their names just five sunrises ago." The names of the two cats were called out in joy. Ashfur got a glimpse of Crowpaw, he was a tabby with blue eyes. He couldn't see Ratpaw, though. Not that he wanted too. Who would name their kit Ratkit?
Blackstar backed away and motioned for Onestar to step forward. The leader explained that rabbits were plentiful, but a twoleg and was walking a dog and it got loose, two of his warriors named Tornear and Crowfeather chased it off. Then it was Firestar's turn.
"Alike everyone, prey is well in ThunderClan. We also have new apprentices. They are Hazelpaw, Berrypaw, and Mousepaw." Some cats meowed their names happily, while others stayed silent. It was obvious not all warriors thought it was fit to have loners in a clan. Most of them had forgotten that Firestar was a kittypet at first, but now he was the greatest warrior their was. Ashfur snorted. He didn't have as much respect for the clan leader as he used to.
"You okay?" Nightpaw asked him. She must have noticed his irritation. He mewed a yes and said farewell. Firestar was calling ThunderClan over to the tree-bridge to leave. RiverClan was the first to leave, Ashfur was happy to be free of the suffocating fishy scent. Following was WindClan, and then ShadowClan. ThunderClan was the last to leave, and Ashfur was the last off the island. He could swear that he saw a figure moving in the bushes, but it was probably nothing. He hurried after his clanmates and headed home.
~Keep watch for Chapter 3!~
