Here's chapter four! If you read it, please review! Also, check out my poll on my profile. Thanks!
Hailpaw sat with the rest of her Clan beside the tree-bridge on the island, waiting for Firestar's command to enter the clearing where the meeting would take place. The full moon shone brightly in a clear sky, the wind was still. She could hear the murmur of voices, and knew that just beyond the bushes and trees were tons of cats from the other Clans. She suddenly felt very small.
The whole journey to the island her mind was buzzing in worry. Would the cats make fun of her? What would they say when they saw her face? Would she be shunned, forced to sit by herself while many, many cats enjoyed each others company? It didn't matter, whatever happened, because she was there. She couldn't just leave. She had to face them.
Firestar's order rang through the still air, and at once the ThunderClan cats emerged into the clearing. Scents from ShadowClan, RiverClan and WindClan surrounded her, and she was a bit confused. Hailpaw stuck with her siblings, her icy blue eyes gazing warily around.
She gave Fogpaw a questioning look, and he shrugged. She felt so awkward, but wasn't about to go and meet other cats. It's not like she could say 'hello' or anything.
"Come on you guys, I want you to meet Mallowpaw and Sneezepaw," mewed Foxpaw, guiding Hailpaw and her siblings towards a group of apprentices. Hailpaw could scent RiverClan and ShadowClan, and flicked her tail uncomfortably as she sat down.
All of the apprentices had different reactions when they saw her. One of the cats from ShadowClan, a tabby tom with large, powerful shoulders looked at her as if he were gazing at a piece of foxdung. The other was whispering to him, avoiding her eyes. The two RiverClan cats greeted her with friendly mews, although they didn't try start conversation. Hailpaw's eyes never left the ground. Soon it will be all over.
Hailpaw listened to the apprentices chatter away, almost smirking when she heard one of the ShadowClan toms mention a badger attack had left a few of their warriors injured. At least that was one good thing about not being able to talk. She'd never be able to accidentally say something she'd regret.
It wasn't long before Blackstar's impatient yowl hushed the chatter in the clearing. Almost immediately, the cats began to find seats in front of the large pine tree where the leaders sat, their heads raised and ears pricked. The ShadowClan leader began talking.
"ShadowClan has little too report. Our prey is running well and all of our warriors are in great shape," he spoke proudly, as if his Clan had won some type of award. Hailpaw snorted, trying not to laugh. "We have three new apprentices, who are with us today. Dawnpaw, Flamepaw, and Tigerpaw!"
Mews of congratulations could be heard as all heads turned to the ShadowClan apprentices. Hailpaw recognized the cats she had met earlier. Her eyes narrowed.
Onestar was next to speak. "WindClan has nothing to say, except that we've been experiencing problems with two-legs, but we are dealing with it well." His tone explained that if anyone tried to think they had an advantage over WindClan or thought it was a good time to attack, they were wrong.
"RiverClan is doing fine. We have recovered well since moving back to our camp, and one of our elders, Swallowtail, has died from a poisoned rabbit." The Clans shocked mews were silenced by a wave of Leopardstar's tail. "It was sickly, and the apprentice shouldn't have caught it. Our elder will be recieved in StarClan with honour."
Hailpaw's heart started to race. Firestar was next to speak. That meant that everyone would be looking at her. She knew all of their eyes would hover on the deformed side of her face, she just knew it.
"ThunderClan is happy to say that we have five new apprentices, three of which are here today. We welcome Adderpaw, Maplepaw, Flowerpaw, Fogpaw, and Hailpaw as apprentices."
It happened. Her prediction was true. The glare of their eyes seemed like those of a monster. Soft whispers and murmurs rippled through the crowd of cats, but she met their gazes with her head held high, her eyes staring defiantly back at them. She distantly heard one cat exclaim, 'What a freak!' and another, 'What's wrong with her?' but forced herself to ignore it.
After what seemed like six moons, a leader called the end of the Gathering and the cats started to leave the clearing. Hailpaw's paws fell beside Fogpaws as they walked side-by-side, Flowerpaw chatting to Icepaw on her way back.
It hadn't been that bad, she tried telling herself, but it was a lie. It had been just how she imagined it, but worse. She couldn't get the image, the sound, the whole scene out of her head. They thought she was a freak.
Right then, the only thing she wanted in the entire world was to not have been picked for the Gathering. To be in the apprentice's den with Maplepaw, listening to him as he wondered aloud about what news would be shared. To fall asleep with his reassuring warmth on one side of her. She needed him to tell her that no matter what, she wasn't a freak. That there were things worth living for. That he needed her to stay with him. Because he's the only one that matters.
Hope everyone liked it, but before people start saying that Hailpaw and Maplepaw are in love or something, think about this: He's the only apprentice who actually talks to her, other than her own siblings. Adderpaw is extrememly rude, and Foxpaw and Icepaw just try to ignore her, and stay out of her way. Hailpaw and Maplepaw have been best friends since birth. Wouldn't you want your best friend to tell you that you should live? But that doesn't mean they might not like each other later... Heh...
