Summary: Thicketpaw's different than most apprentices. For example, his mentor's an elder. That's strange... Leafpaw, his best friend, wants to help him. But how? Things are worse in LakeClan. Muddypaw feels as if something bad is going to happen. And an enemy still lurks half hidden in shadow… waiting for their chance to strike.
Disclaimer: I don't even want to say it. It just makes me upset. Humphrey. ((Sulks)) I wish my parents had given me Warriors for Hannukka. Grrr them.
Prologue
The forest was unusually still, silence draping everything like a thick velvety black veil. The only thing that penetrated the total darkness was the full moon, its light dancing in the sky, reaching out to gently caress the rolling grassy hills.
In the very heart of the forest was an area cleared of all trees and all other plants. A bubbling, gurgling stream wound its way through the center of the clearing, splashing and flowing over boulders that were shining silver in the moonlight. The large, glossy leaves of a stout bush rustled. A shadowy figure emerged slowly, almost warily. It looked both ways, listening intently to the whisper of the towering trees. Once making sure the coast was clear, the figure flicked its tail twice and led six other shadows out farther into the opening.
The first cat settled himself down next to the winding stream. His fur was etched with silver as he began to wash with slow, steady licks. Once he was done, he wrapped his tail neatly around his paws. Sighing, he called softly for one of his clanmates. They stood up and padded slowly and painfully over to her leader. The leader bent over and whispered something urgently in the she-cat's ear. The second one nodded slowly, scanning the clearing as though looking for something, ears flicking back and forth, trying to hear every sound that the forest made.
The leaves of the bushes on the opposite bank trembled as another cat led her party of ten strong, lean warriors across the grassy slope. The one in the lead pause for a mere second before leaping onto the first of eight rocks that poked out of the foaming water. The others followed her, a little more cautiously than their leader, however.
The tired tom stood up slowly, and, wincing, made his way over to the bank, dragging his paws as if they were made of lead. "Lakestar," called the tortoise-shell she-cat. She had reached the last stone and leapt gracefully onto the muddy bank, impatiently shaking mud from her white forepaws.
"Yes, Foreststar?" croaked the grey tom. His fur was speckled here and there with black spots as mysterious as the bottom of the river. "Let's start the Gathering." The ForestClan leader leapt onto the largest boulder. She sat down, watching with amusement and satisfaction as the LakeClan leader struggled up the large slippery surface, but showed no sign of wanting to help him.
"Lakestar, what has happened? You once grew fat from the fish you dined on. What's wrong now?" jeered a muscular brown and black tabby tom, amber eyes flashing. Lakestar chose to ignore the question. Instead, he settled himself down on the massive rock. I'm beginning, I believe," meowed Foreststar, rising to her paws.
"Cats of all clans; we join here tonight under the full moon to discuss the comings and goings of our different clans. First, I want to welcome a new cat here. Two nights ago, Birchpelt earned his warrior name." Birchpelt, a white tom with grey spots, puffed out his chest proudly as he looked around at the gathered cats. "We also welcome a new apprentice by the name of Robinpaw." A light brown she-cat nudged a white tom with ginger and brown splotches. Robinpaw looked up at Fernpaw (AN: Fernpaw was the one who nudged him) before gazing shyly but proudly around at the crowd. Foreststar continued, "Brambleface chased a badger and her cubs out of our territory. I don't thing we're going to see them again anytime soon." Murmurs of admiration filled the air. Brambleface smiled widely and purred with pleasure.
"Lakestar, do you have any news?" Foreststar turned to gaze curiously at the LakeClan leader. "Yes, I do have news." Lakestar rose slowly to his paws, a grimace on his face. "We too have a new warrior; Swampwhisker stands vigil at the camp entrance tonight." His voice was hoarse but determined. Murmurs of congratulations wept the crowd. When the noise died down, Lakestar said in the same flat, tired voice, " The Twolegs have been poisoning the water. Last week, we lost an elder to poisoned fish. Without fish, we are constantly hungry." Mutters of surprise traveled through the listening cats like ripples on a calm pool. A few yowled in outrage, "What have we done to them to deserve this?!" Lakestar flicked his tail for silence. The cats hushed, still clearly agitated. "Unless Foreststar has anything more to say, this Gathering has ended."
Lakestar half fell, half slid down the boulder. Foreststar followed after. As the clans separated, a she-cat ran over to a tom and they conversed shortly before breaking apart once more. The she-cat ran back to her clan. Lakestar looked over his shoulder one more time as they disappeared into the long shadows cast by the trees enclosing the clearing.