Elsi: Ack, I'm so sorry! My laptop was stolen before I could upload :( but I finished!

Trek: Yup yup!

Elsi: So, here's chapter four. Thanks to everyone who reviewed, and...happy reading!

Chapter 4: Gathering

"All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather under the Highcliff for a Clan meeting!" At Bramblestar's call, Willowpaw jumped awake.

"Clan meeting!" she called out, and her voice echoed around their den. Brackenpaw perked up instantly, with Skypaw as a close second. It took the three of them a few moments to prod the others before they bolted outside.

"Has anyone seen Stealthpaw or Rustpaw?" asked Bluepaw lightly. Runningpaw purred proudly, but said nothing. Willowpaw flicked her tail from side to side gently, giving a small mrow of amusement.

Rustpaw and Stealthpaw, step forward." Willowpaw held her breath as she watched her two fellow apprentices pad forward as apprentices for the final time. "StarClan, you have watched over these two apprentices as they have trained, and today, guide them to serve their Clan. Birchfall, you are Rustpaw's mentor. Do you believe that Rustpaw is ready to become a warrior?"

"Yes, he is," said Birchfall simply, sitting tall beside Cloudtail, Stealthpaw's mentor.

"Rustpaw, do you promise to serve your Clan at all costs, even your life?"

"I do," meowed Rustpaw.

"Then from this day on you will be known as Rustfur. ThunderClan honors your modesty and courage." Rustfur touched his nose to Bramblestar's shoulder and backed away. Now Bramblestar's gaze rested on Cloudtail. "Cloudtail, you are Stealthpaw's mentor. Is Stealthpaw ready to become a warrior?"

"Yes," agreed Cloudtail. Willowpaw watched the pride on Stealthpaw's face and smiled even wider.

"Stealthpaw, do you promise to serve your Clan at all costs, even your life?"

"I do," promised Stealthpaw.

"Then from this day on you will be known as Stealthstep. ThunderClan honors your honesty and determination."

"Rustfur! Stealthstep! Rustfur! Stealthstep!" cried Runningpaw. Brackenpaw and Willowpaw joined in joyfully, starting the chant that echoed throughout the Clan. Bramblestar gave a mighty leap off of the tall cliff he had christened Highcliff.

"Come on," purred Brackenpaw. Willowpaw bounded alongside him, touching noses with each of the new warriors.

"Congratulations!" purred Willowpaw. Stealthstep gave a small nod, brushing past them proudly to the camp entrance to sit his vigil. Rustfur followed more slowly, twining his tail with Runningpaw's for a long moment before following his brother.

"Someday soon, you'll be up there," she purred to Brackenpaw.

"Someday soon," agreed Brackenpaw proudly. "I don't know what else Ivypool can teach me!" Willowpaw let out a long purr, happy for him. Brackenpaw touched his tail to her flank.

"And then it'll be your turn," he encouraged. Willowpaw gave a mew of amusement.

"Not for a while!" she answered. Brackenpaw shrugged.

"You started your apprenticeship early," he commented. Willowpaw's heart glowed. "And you're a brilliant hunter."

"I'm not as good as Mountainpaw," Willowpaw pointed out. Brackenpaw laughed.

"No one is as good as Mountainpaw," he responded. "You're wonderful, and not just at hunting." Brackenpaw's amber eyes glowed. "You're smart and loyal and a great friend and I…" Brackenpaw stopped short. Willowpaw tilted her head.

"You what?" she inquired. Brackenpaw flashed a small smile.

"And I think you're great," he finished, but there was a note of dissatisfaction in his meow. Willowpaw had a vague thought that it was not what he meant to say. But Willowpaw was happy all the same, and it showed on her face.

"Thanks, Brackenpaw," she meowed, touching her muzzle to his shoulder. "You're the best friend I could ever have." Brackenpaw smiled weakly.

"Thanks, Willowpaw," he answered. "It means a lot to hear you say that." He paused. "More than you'll ever know."

"Come with me, Willowpaw, please?" Willowpaw nodded and followed her brother out of camp.

"Where are you going?" asked Icecloud as they passed through the entrance. She was on guard duty with Rustfur.

"For a walk," answered Littlepaw.

"Do you need someone to come with you?" asked Rustfur wistfully.

"That's alright," Littlepaw told him curtly. "We'll be back in just a moment."

"We will?" asked Willowpaw. "Littlepaw, where exactly are we going?" Littlepaw flicked his tail.

"You saw the camp and the territory in your dream," commented Littlepaw. "Well, I saw something, too." Willowpaw's ears perked up.

"You had a dream? What was it about?" she demanded. Littlepaw explained about the island he had seen, and the story about Cedarstar, Gingerflower, and Cedarstar's son. Willowpaw listened in silence.

"And it just occurred to me that it was a Gathering I was watching," Littlepaw finished. "Which means that I was supposed to see where it was."

"And where was it?" prompted Willowpaw.

"An island. Not the kind like back at the lake," he added. "But an island connected to some territory – ShadowClan, maybe? – that was in the middle of a river. Easy wading distance."

"Well," started Willowpaw uncertainly. "We can head towards the WindClan border. There's a river over there. Your island might be there."

"Excellent," purred Littlepaw. They set off in that direction in silence, taking in the scenery of their new home, just like they always did. When they reached the border, the bubbling creek, Willowpaw stopped, extending her tail to stop her brother. Littlepaw's eyes scanned the banks.

"I don't see anything," he admitted, sounding slightly disappointed. "Let's head upstream a little ways. Maybe the island is over there." They started down the side of the river, Littlepaw staying closer to the bank. Finally, he stopped.

"Do you see something?" asked Willowpaw. Littlepaw shook his head, not taking his eyes off the dark water below him.

"No…I just want to try something." Carefully, he slipped one dark blue-grey paw into the water; Willowpaw hissed in concern. A gasp escaped her brother, and a huge wave of water came crashing down the river, splashing up onto the shore into their fur coats.

"Littlepaw!" cried Willowpaw, for her brother had been swept into the water. She raced down the side of the creek, desperately praying that he would be alright.

"I'm okay!" called Littlepaw suddenly, and he swam towards the bank calmly and confidently, his head above the water. All around him, the rushing water seemed to still, until he pushed himself onto the bank.

"Don't…" panted Willowpaw, "Ever…do that…again." Littlepaw grinned at her, shaking out his golden pelt and splattering her with her own personal rain shower.

"Come on," he commented once she had glared at him for long enough. "We're finding an island, remember?"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"The cats going to the Gathering are: Lionblaze, Rustfur, Stealthstep, Cloudtail, Poppyfrost, Thornclaw, Ivypool, Windfeather, Mouseclaw, Brackenpaw, Willowpaw, Littlepaw, and Mountainpaw," announced Bramblestar. Willowpaw felt a surge of joy in her heart.

"Your first Gathering," remarked Brackenpaw. He touched his nose to her ear. "It's exciting, isn't it?"

"Very exciting!" answered Willowpaw. She met Bramblestar's amber eyes and wondered exactly what he was thinking.

"Any idea where it's going to be?" asked Brackenpaw. Willowpaw thought back to Littlepaw's island discovery, and the exciting announcement to Bramblestar that followed.

"I'm sure we'll find out," she purred. Bramblestar had sent a patrol of cats to each territory the night before, only for the leaders and Lionblaze to talk about the Gathering Island they had found.

"You know something, don't you?" asked Brackenpaw skeptically. "You always know something."

"It's a family thing," teased Willowpaw.

"I didn't notice," Brackenpaw said dryly. Willowpaw laughed. "Come on, we want to get in as much training as we can before we rest for the Gathering. I'd say there's still time for some hunting."

"Well spoken, Brackenpaw." Willowpaw met Mouseclaw's eyes, finding them warm and deep. Willowpaw paused, watching him. He had been a good and kind mentor since they came to the new camp…yet he was still nothing like before. Sighing, Willowpaw felt a twinge of regret. She knew their feud would have lasting effects. It just hurt her too much to think about that.

"Would you fetch Rustfur?" asked Mouseclaw. "If we are going hunting, why not take a warrior on his first warrior patrol?" Brackenpaw gave a purr of amusement and scampered off. Willowpaw sat down, watching him go and refusing to look at her mentor. She was just too confused.

"Are you still upset with me?" demanded Mouseclaw. Willowpaw didn't respond. "Look, Willowpaw, I'm sorry I shouted. That was at least a moon ago. Can't we get past that?" Willowpaw turned to look at him, wondering where his sudden apology had come from. "I was just upset because I thought you were over-reacting."

"I was over-reacting," Willowpaw said before she could stop herself. "I'm sorry, too, Mouseclaw. I should have known you wouldn't do anything like I thought you would."

"Thanks," replied Mouseclaw. "Are we okay?" Willowpaw let the question hang in mid-air for a moment before nodding.

"I think we're okay," she agreed. Mouseclaw smiled. That smile is just infectious, she thought, finding herself with a grin on her face as well.

"I'm so excited!" Rustfur called, scampering up to them with Brackenpaw by his side. "My first hunting expedition as a warrior!"

"I'm sure you'll do fine," Willowpaw purred, happy that her friend was so energized.

"Let's go," Mouseclaw suggested, and they headed out of camp.

"So, what was sitting vigil like?" Brackenpaw wanted to know.

"It got really boring after a while," Rustfur responded. "You just sat there and watched. Not a whole lot of excitement."

"So is guard duty," commented Mouseclaw, his whiskers twitching. "Sit and watch. Make sure no one decides to sneak in. Fail to notice the mischievous kits that sneak by anyways." Willowpaw purred, twitching her tail from side to side.

"So that's why no one wants to do it," meowed Brackenpaw in fake awe. "I always wondered."

"I smell mouse!" gasped Willowpaw suddenly. She crouched down, taking the stance Mouseclaw had taught her. Narrowing her eyes, she scanned the undergrowth. There! A tiny scuttling close to the ground told her where her target was.

Steadily placing one foot in front of the other, Willowpaw snuck up on her prey. She could feel the tense silence in the air around her. Her paws brushed the smallest of leaves and the mouse pricked up. Cursing herself silently, Willowpaw froze. But it was too late.

With a soft growl, Willowpaw pounced, hoping to make up for her mistake. But the mouse scurried off, disappearing without a trace.

"Mouse-dung!" cried Willowpaw, sitting back. "What did I do wrong?"

"Your crouch was a little unbalanced," explained Mouseclaw. He crouched down beside her. "You favor your left side too much, and it hinders you. Focus on evenly distributing your weight between your paws; that way, you won't trip or get unbalanced as easily."

"Like this?" Willowpaw tried to imitate him, crouching down and finding her balance.

"Tail down," guided Mouseclaw, and Willowpaw obeyed. "There. Now when you move, set your paws down lightly. It might even be a good idea, especially in leaf-fall, to feel with your paws to make sure there aren't any obstacles in your way. But your eyes are on your target. Always."

"Always," echoed Willowpaw. She sat back up again. "I think I understand now. Where are we going?"

"Towards the caves," answered Rustfur. "Near the ShadowClan border."

"Fun," murmured Brackenpaw, coming to Willowpaw's side. "I don't like it there. There's something wrong with them."

"Yes, yes there is," agreed Willowpaw. "It always feels like there's someone watching me."

"It's just your imagination," Rustfur meowed, puffing his chest out. "Warriors can't get scared of nothing." Willowpaw and Brackenpaw exchanged amused glances.

"Let's hurry," continued Mouseclaw. "We need our rest so we can stay up for the Gathering tonight."

By sun-high the four had returned, each with their prey. Willowpaw had caught a mouse by herself on her third try, while Mouseclaw had gotten a finch and a mouse of his own. Rustfur seemed quite proud of the tough catch he had made up in the trees, catching a bird and later cornering a vole. Brackenpaw had missed a squirrel but snagged it as he fell, emerging on the ground with a very plump looking squirrel in his jaws and dirt on his golden pelt.

"Now get some rest," Mouseclaw told Brackenpaw and Willowpaw. "I'll take something to the elders. Enjoy that mouse and sleep." Willowpaw did as she was told, eating quickly.

"Well, happy napping," meowed Brackenpaw.

"Happy napping," purred Willowpaw. She curled up next to him and tucked her tail over her nose. Soon she was fast asleep.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"The island really is beautiful," Willowpaw said to Mouseclaw and Brackenpaw.

"It sure is," sighed Mouseclaw. Willowpaw glanced up at him and saw the glimmer in his dark blue eyes. "Won't it be great to see all our friends again?"

"I remember sticking to my own Clan most of the time," Brackenpaw muttered under his breath, just so Willowpaw could catch it. His fears were reflected more strongly in her, however. Was Mouseclaw thinking of Swallowleaf? Or was he just making a general comment?

"Can we talk to anyone?" asked Willowpaw in surprise, looking around the large island.

"Sure can," answered Brackenpaw. "You just have to make sure that they aren't getting any information from you."

"That's easy," muttered Willowpaw, but she wasn't as positive as she tried to sound.

"Come with me and talk," continued Brackenpaw. "I'll introduce you to some other apprentices I've met once or twice." Willowpaw nodded with excitement.

"See you later, Mouseclaw," she meowed, but her friend was already gone, gliding across the island to meet the beautiful tabby and white she-cat that she hated so much. Swallowleaf.

Hatred for the young and pretty she-cat flared up inside of Willowpaw. She could feel the air around her cooling, but Willowpaw didn't care.

"Willowpaw!" hissed a voice, and suddenly, Littlepaw was shoving her into the bushes on the edge of the island. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I'm not doing anything!" protested Willowpaw. Her brother's amber-blue eyes swirled with anger.

"Oh, so the warm air is suddenly freezing?" accused Littlepaw. "Cool it, Willowpaw. Or…heat it up, whatever makes you happy. Calm down." Willowpaw took a deep breath, focusing on her brother's face and trying not to think of Swallowleaf. She gently released the hold on the air she didn't know she was keeping, letting the warmth flood through her veins. It wasn't something she liked to do, but she supposed it wasn't her opinion that mattered.

The two siblings padded side-by-side back into the main island.

"There you are," purred Brackenpaw, arriving at her side. "I wondered where you went."

"I had to talk something over with my brother," Willowpaw replied. "Can you introduce us to those apprentices now?"

"Sure," purred Brackenpaw. He led them over to a group of apprentices. Willowpaw identified a few of them.

"Hey, Lightpaw," commented Willowpaw, dipping her head to the familiar white and ginger she-cat. "How's WindClan doing?"

"Excellent!" purred Lightpaw. Willowpaw dipped her head to a quiet Sandpaw, who flicked her tail, and glanced over at Violetpaw. The older apprentice met Willowpaw's eyes, evidently not forgetting that Willowpaw had saved her instructor with some unusual ability of hers.

"Willowpaw," muttered Violetpaw at last.

"Hi, Brackenpaw," said the apprentice at her side. "How's Bluepaw?" Willowpaw then remembered who this was: Heatpaw.

"She's doing fine," mewed Brackenpaw coolly. Willowpaw lay her tail on his shoulder as a warning. "Have you met Littlepaw?"

"I'm Skypaw and Willowpaw's brother," Littlepaw mewed in greeting.

"You look nothing like them!" exclaimed Lightpaw. "But I suppose you look a bit like your father." Littlepaw nodded.

"Littlepaw! Willowpaw!" Suddenly, Littlepaw vanished with an oof. Willowpaw purred in amusement when she saw that he had been shoved down by a familiar red-pelted she-cat.

"Ivykit!" purred Littlepaw. "But it's Ivypaw now, isn't it?"

"Yup!" answered Ivypaw proudly, scrambling off her friend. "Just two sunrises ago. My mentor is Whiskerclaw."

"Is he a good mentor?" asked Littlepaw, licking his chest fur to smooth it down.

"Oh, yes!" answered Ivypaw. "He took me on a border patrol yesterday. WindClan territory is so beautiful here!"

"That's Ivypaw," Willowpaw explained to a confused Brackenpaw. "Littlepaw got lost one day and met her and her brother and sister, Thrushpaw and Lizardpaw."

"They seem very close," breathed Brackenpaw in Willowpaw's ear.

"They are," Willowpaw replied. "But I'm not worried about them."

"You're worried about Mouseclaw and Swallowleaf," commented Brackenpaw, and there was a hint of a negative emotion in his voice, one that she found quite similar to what she had been feeling earlier. "Why not them?"

"Mouseclaw's old enough to know what's wrong about it," she explained, but she knew that it was just an excuse.

"Hmm," was Brackenpaw's reply.

"Let the Gathering begin!" called a voice. Willowpaw stuck to Brackenpaw's side as he led her back to her Clan. The four leaders were perched on the limbs of a dead tree: Mistystar on a low branch, Blackstar a few branches higher up, Onestar near the very top of the tree, and Bramblestar somewhere in the middle.

Onestar had spoken, now he stood up and faced the gathering cats below him.

"WindClan is settling in well," he meowed. "We have three new apprentices: Thrushpaw, Lizardpaw, and Ivypaw." Willowpaw yowled in excitement for her brother's friends. "There have been no sign of invaders in our territory, and the prey is running well." He settled down again, and Bramblestar stood up.

"ThunderClan has good news," purred Bramblestar loudly. "Blossomfall has had her kits: Honeykit and Snowkit. We have two new warriors, Rustfur and Stealthstep." Joyful cheers erupted from the cats at the Gathering.

"Everyone's in good spirits," commented Brackenpaw happily. Willowpaw gave a mew of amusement.

"Our apprentices are well on their way to becoming warriors, and our kits are growing older and stronger," finished Bramblestar. Mistystar took up her place next.

"RiverClan would like to warn Blackstar of a badger one of our patrols chased off," commented. "Also, we have one new apprentice, Rushpaw."

"Lots of good news today!" she meowed over the noise. Brackenpaw grinned.

"ShadowClan is also in good spirits," said Blackstar once the cheering had died down. "Our warriors are strong in our territory, and our borders are well-protected against any invaders."

"That sounds like a threat," whispered Brackenpaw. Willowpaw narrowed her eyes, trying to identify any hostility the ShadowClan leader may be showing in his face.

"We hope you don't have to," Mistystar meowed coolly. Brackenpaw chuckled softly, making Willowpaw smile.

"This Gathering has ended," Bramblestar cut in before Blackstar could make a snappy reply. "Come, ThunderClan." He bounded down from the dead tree, meeting Lionblaze at the bottom. Following Brackenpaw, Willowpaw pushed through the other cats to her Clan.

"How was your first Gathering?" asked Mouseclaw. Willowpaw could feel Brackenpaw stiffen.

"Great," purred Willowpaw. "Blackstar made his announcement sound like a threat. What did it mean?"

"It shouldn't mean anything," soothed Mouseclaw. "It just means that ShadowClan is strong." He sighed. "At least, that's what I hope." Willowpaw took note of the sigh in his voice and resisted the urge to press up against him, asking him to protect her until the danger had passed. Even though their friendship had been repaired, it was only just so. They had a lot to make up for.

And the first step is to get him away from Swallowleaf!

Elsi: So...how was that? A Willowpaw way to start the story, eh? Next chapter is in Birdpaw's POV: "Prophetic." Huh. Maybe everything will finally start to come together?

Trek: Knowing you...

Elsi: Hush. See you soon! I promise!