The meeting ended with a flick of Mistystar's tail. I watch as Firestar leaps down from his branch and pads into the crowd of cats with Brambleclaw. I see his tail lift above the bodies of the cats around him, signaling us back to him. Hollowflight sits up next to me. "Looks like it's time t go. It was nice meeting you." He says with a smile and whirls around to go and join his Clanmates
Ivypool twitches her ears. "Come on. Firestar's waiting."
I roll my eyes. "I'm coming. Can't a cat enjoy their first gathering without getting harassed?
She snorts. "You'd be surprised." She grumbles, starting off toward the ThunderClan cats. I follow a few paces back. My eyes dart everywhere, taking in the scenery and the sea of fading cat eyes, until I bump into a tree. I didn't notice I had lost Ivypool.
"Ivypool?" I cry nervously. Even of the cats had been friendly during the gathering, there was nothing holding them back now that the meeting was over. "Ivypool..?" My paws itch and I take off in the direction it seemed like most of the cats were going. She had to be here somewhere.
As I break through the trees, I could see the pelts of my Clanmates ahead of me. I breath a sigh of relief as the familiar scent of ThunderClan hits my nostrils. I was so relieved that I let my guard down. Stupid me...
My paws flew out from underneath me.
"GAAAH!" A scream rips out of my throat as I slam down on the wet bark of the tree bridge. My hindquarters slip down and off before I could dig into the wood with my claws. I scramble with my front paws, trying to find a hold with my claws. No use... I was slipping and I couldn't stop it. "Help!"
There was a pain in my neck as I felt myself plummet toward the water. The world jerks to a stop mid fall. My hind leg splashes into the water, but that was all. What the..?
Confusion floods me as I was slowly raised up until I could climb my way back to the top of the bridge. Someone saved me? Still panting from the slight scare, I lift my gaze to see the cat who had grabbed me.
It was the cat I had run into when I first set foot on the Island. His blue gaze glows warmly as he looks down at me. "You know, it would be nice to meet eachother without having some sort of accident."
I blink. Was he trying to joke with me? The heat of embarassment courses through me from nose to tail tip. My lip curls back into a snarl. I wasn't going to let this stranger make a fool of me any more than I have already done myself. "Well maybe if you just minded your own business you wouldn't have to worry about it!"
One of his ears flicks to the side. He takes a step back and closes his eyes. A deep throaty sound reaches my ears. He was laughing! "You didn't think that remark out very well. If it weren't for me not minding my own business, you'd be up to your ears in the lake."
"So what?" I snarl. "I know how to swim.
"You didn't sound like it when you were calling for help." He chuckles. "So you just didn't want to get your paws wet?"
My ears burn. "Well what about you? Did ShadowClan cats suddenly turn into fish because they live next to RiverClan?"
He smile fell and his gaze darkens. "I know water better than any RiverClan cat..." His voice was almost menacing. "That does not mean I have to like it."
That threw me for a loop. I mean.. What the heck was that supposed to mean? "Well, then you understand what I'm talking about." I snap.
He nods, voice going from menacing to grave. "Yes I do. That is why you should thank me." His words caught me off guard once again. Thank him? He had to be joking. What a pain in the tail, being so high and mighty like that.
"Shut up Stormpatch." Someone growls behind him. "You're blocking the tree bridge. If you wanted to talk you should have done it when the gathering was still ongoing."
The comment makes me realize we were still on the tree The tom's, Stormpatch's, eyes softened. "Fine, Crowfrost." He says nodding toward the shore. "Looks like your Clanmates are waiting for you too."
I turn to see Firestar watching me from the other end of the tree. Annoyance sparks in his eyes. "You're right." I growl, not willing to let go of my temper just yet. I sped across the tree bridge towards the shore, careful to catch my claws against the bark with each step. I could hear Stormpatch's breathing behind me as we move. Annoying furball.
I spring off the trunk and land beside Jayfeather. "Can't you do something without getting into trouble for once?" He grumbles.
"That would take all the fun out of it." I retort. Firestar slid down beside us and signals his cats to leave with a flick of his tail. Before leaving, I turn to give one last hiss to that tom.
The ground shakes a little as Stormpatch leaps down. He was followed by dozens of ShadowClan cats milling about on the shore until Blackstar could get down. I could still see his glowing blue eyes staring at me from the edge of the crowd. Stormpatch, huh? What was his problem?
"Iceshadow." Brambleclaw calls. I turn to see my Clanmates already walking past the marsh. They weren't slowing down for me.
"Coming..." I answer. I bound forward after them. My fur burns where the tom's blue eyes kept watching me. I could feel them as I caught up to Cinderheart, and I could still feel them when we round the bend of reeds and out of ShadowClan's sight...