Chapter 2
The next day seemed to pass by swiftly. She had resolved to not think about her dream. Russetpaw could recall hunting, catching two mice and a water vole, exploring the abandoned Twoleg nest, and searching the elders for ticks. She wrinkled her nose as she recalled the bitter smell of the mouse bile she had used on Whitepelt. Ugh! But she would not be daunted. She was on her way to the Island to the Gathering!
Russetpaw hurried forward to pad along with her sisters. They reached the Treebridge. They all crossed in a different manner, Cloverpaw tentatively putting one paw in front of the other until she finally reached the other side, Frostpaw padding calmly across, and Russetpaw, bounding forwards so quickly she fell off and had to swim the rest of the way. When she reached the shore, the water ran off her in streams as her glossy, sleek pelt repelled the water. She shook herself, spraying Cloverpaw with water as she did so. Cloverpaw squealed, and pounced on Russetpaw. The two tussled together until Frostpaw intervened, saying that they'd scare all the prey on the Island. That gave Russetpaw an idea. "Come on, let's hunt," she mewed to her sisters. Together they caught two mice, which they shared.
Russetpaw wandered off into the bracken, looking for Dawnpaw. She had come, but Russetpaw hadn't seen her at all. She spotted a light brown pelt moving through the undergrowth. Dawnpaw! She dropped into the hunters' crouch and padded up to her Clanmate silently, then pounced. Russetpaw landed square on the brown cat's back and they rolled around for a minute before Russetpaw scrambled away, looking mortified. It wasn't Dawnpaw at all, but a Riverclan apprentice! She flattened her ears in embarrassment. Russetpaw explained to the confused apprentice her accident. "I am so sorry! I thought you were one of my Clanmates. I'm a new apprentice, so I don't know that many cats."
The tawny cat replied, "That's all right. I did the same thing when I went to my first Gathering. My name is Tawnypaw." Because of your tawny-golden pelt… Russetpaw thought.
She jerked herself out of the older cat's almost hypnotic gaze. "I'm Russetpaw. Sit with me?" she offered.
"Sure! Come on, let me introduce you to a few of my Clanmates" Tawnypaw replied. Russetpaw was grateful for his friendliness towards her. She had been afraid of the other cats not liking her. A yowl rippled through the island.
"That must be Redstar starting the meeting! Come on, we'll need to be there." Tawnypaw tugged her towards the voice. Russetpaw stumbled after him, not knowing what else to do.
They hurried towards the clearing to hear the announcements. Russetpaw gasped when she saw the roiling mass of cats below her. She jumped down into the clearing and sat up tall. The ginger tabby licked her chest fur, knowing Graystar would tell the other Clans she was a new apprentice. Russetpaw spotted Frostpaw chatting with a Shadowclan apprentice. She bounded over, leaving Tawnypaw to socialize with some other apprentices. But she wasn't able to reach her sister before a second yowl emanated from Graystar.
"Thunderclan will speak first." She stared around, daring the other leaders to contradict her. " Thunderclan has found a new source of prey. Despite our aversion to water, an apprentice has shown extreme skill in catching a large fish. She has proved to be adept at catching fish, and we are glad to announce that Thunderclan will be training other apprentices in this way, to be able to catch fish as well. But we have noticed a strange scent in the border to the Moonpool. Twolegs in the river dumped some shiny, black, sticky substance. It will not be safe to go to the Moonpool for at least three moons. Other than that, all in well in Thunderclan."
Yowls of protest rose from the listening cats. Graystar continued. "We are lucky to have made three new apprentices this moon. Russetpaw, Frostpaw, and Cloverpaw are here tonight."
Russetpaw's eyes shone. Now all the other clans could know she was an apprentice!
The rest of the meeting passed. Russetpaw was exhausted, so stumbled right back to the Thunderclan camp as soon as the meeting was over. When she encountered her nest, she collapsed, very pooped. Before she fell asleep, she wondered unconsciously what dreams would plague her tonight.
Hey! Sorry, I haven't updated in like, 3 days! Ha, finally! Review! Submit cats into story by reviewing if you like, I'll weave them in sometime.
Be sure to read my awesome editor/critic's fic, Goldenpaw, by applesandpants.
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