Chapter 3: Central Clan

Boxer paced back and forth by the edge of Ocean Clan. Where is she? He wondered. Boxer had been waiting for an hour, and dawn was approaching. Boxer stopped pacing when he smelled a familiar scent. A light brown she-cat came in to sight.

"Chapel!" Boxer meowed quietly, running up to her.

"Thank god you're here. I cannot stay long, I am sorry." Chapel meowed, giving Boxer a quick lick. She backed away from Boxer. "I am so sorry…." Chapel said trailing off. Chapel started to turn back and then trotted off.

"Chapel!" Boxer cried but she was gone.

Boxer woke up, shuddering from his bad dream.

"Are you okay?" he heard Jay meow. He stood up from his grass bed and stretched.

"I am fine." Boxer meowed, still shaken by his dream.

"Okay, if you say so." Jay said, starting to go outside to the clearing. Everyone was bustling about outside. It was almost noon.

"Why did you not wake me up earlier?" Boxer hissed.

Jay looked at him and then meowed, "Pearl said not to wake you."

"What? Why?" Boxer asked confused. Jay just shrugged and went to the fresh kill pile. Jay came back with a mouse.

"This is the only piece of prey left," Jay said, dropping the mouse by Boxer's feet. "I think Prince went out to get more food." Jay continued.

"That's my job!" Boxer said, looking mad. He ate his piece of prey then turned back to Jay "I am going to talk to Tech."

"I think he beat you to it," Jay meowed flicking his tail toward Tech walking towards them.

"Hey, you're up. Let's start training." Tech meowed. Boxer stared at Tech for a moment, but then nodded his head and started to trot to the entrance of camp with Tech following.

When they got out of the camp Tech caught up to Boxer. "Do you know why they let you sleep in?" Tech meowed.

"No idea." Boxer replied.

"Well, we are going to catch up with Prince." Tech meowed, walking a little faster. They headed toward the border between Ocean Clan and Central Clan. When they reached the edge they saw Rock.

Tech went up to Rock and asked "Have you seen Prince?"

"Yes I have. He went down this way," Rock meowed. Boxer and Tech followed Rock. As they were walking Boxer smelled the air and sensed a familiar scent. He let Rock and Tech move ahead. He looked around and saw Chapel. Boxer flicked his tail knowing Chapel would know what that meant. Tech finally started to say good bye to Rock.

"Come on Boxer, Prince is waiting," Tech meowed, moving toward Times Square. As they were dodging tourists, they saw Prince's brown tabby fur among the tourists. "Come on let's go, we are going to lose him," Tech and Boxer rushed off to meet Prince.

"BOXER, TECH!" Prince screeched. Tech looked around and so did Boxer. Boxer found him in an ally poking his head out of it.

"This way" Boxer said, running off to where prince was. Tech followed hoping boxer knew what he was doing.

"Thank god you're here, We need to get back to camp before the gathering. Come on," Prince meowed, trotting off. Boxer and Tech trailed him. Boxer looked at Tech, confused. Tech just kept following Prince. Am I the only person who does not know what's going on? Boxer thought when they got back to camp. Pearl was out of her den speaking to the cats gathered.

"I see, Boxer is back," Pearl meowed looking at Boxer. Everyone looked at him. He just stood there as his mentor pushed him forward closer to the group of cats. Pearl continued "I have chosen you to come with me to the gathering tonight." Pearl spun around and meowed "That is all."

Everyone broke off into groups to get prey and talk. Jay walked up to Boxer "That is so cool!"

Boxer looked at him so happy. "WOW, I was not expecting that! Oh no, Cha….." Before Jay could respond Boxer ran out of camp. He kept running until he got to the border of Ocean Clan. "Chapel!" Boxer meowed trying to keep his voice down as much as he could. Jay ran up behind Boxer. Boxer sank down on the pavement.

"Boxer, why are you calling Chapel's name. Do you like her?" Jay meowed a little frustrated. He sat down next to him.

"Jay, can I tell you a secret?" Boxer asked looking at Jay.

"Sure," Jay replied.

"Good, I am sort of seeing Chapel at night."

Edited by Zoe Milex