Chapter6: Blazepaw
Blazepaw was excited to go to his first gathering. He had been apprenticed for nearly a quarter moon. His dreams had gotten more vivid, which scared him, but he still met Smokekit – now Smokepaw – in the field.
"Aw, no fair! How come we can't go?"
The voice of Featherkit snapped him out of his thoughts. Featherkit and Stormkit was a moon younger than Blazepaw and Stonepaw, so they were still kits.
"Because you still over a half moon to go until you're apprenticed." Stonepaw answered.
"It's not fair. We are just as good as you. And it was my idea to sneak out of camp!" Stormkit complained, rather loudly.
"Shhh! Do want us to get into trouble? Remember we are still kits, so we can get into trouble for being out of camp." Featherkit hushed her brother.
Blazepaw purred. "Don't worry; I'll make sure that you're the first to know of what happened once we come home!"
Featherkit seemed to brighten at this and wished the brothers luck as the patrol left for the gathering.
There was no trouble crossing WindClan and RiverClan territory, and before long the full moon was making the island glow.
"Now, the log can be quiet slippery, so take your time crossing it." Toadstep said.
Stonepaw had been apprenticed to Toadstep, while Blazepaw had been apprenticed to Ivypool. Both got along fine with their apprentices.
"But don't take too long," Seedpaw, an older apprentice, hissed.
Blazepaw rolled his eyes. "Don't worry; we don't want to miss our first gathering."
Seedpaw glared at Blazepaw, and quickly crossed the fallen tree without incident.
Once on the island, Blazepaw look around. There were so many cats! The scents were overwhelming. RiverClan and WindClan had already arrived, but ShadowClan was on their way. Blazepaw soon found his targets; a black RiverClan apprentice with black eyes – which kind of troubled Blazepaw – and a WindClan apprentice with light brown fur, a short white tail, and golden eyes. Next to the two was another black RiverClan apprentice with yellow eyes, he guessed that was the first apprentice's brother. Yellowfang had told him in a dream last night to find the two; he also guessed he was supposed to find Smokepaw, as well.
Blazepaw walked over to them. "Hello," he dipped his head in greeting.
They WindClan tom nodded. "I am Harepaw. Barkface told me to find the golden ThunderClan apprentice with the flaming streak. It is plenty obvious who he meant."
Blazepaw blinked. So these were the cats Yellowfang had told him to find! He glanced nervously and the second RiverClan apprentice.
"Don't worry," the black eyed RiverClan apprentice said, "I am Beetlepaw, and this is my brother, Nightpaw. I've told him about the dreams."
Blazepaw nodded, just then ShadowClan arrived at the island. "Is Smokepaw here?" He asked himself.
"Who's Smokepaw?" Harepaw wondered.
"She's the one from ShadowClan, I've met her before." Blazepaw replied.
Harepaw nodded, he and Beetlepaw had also met before so it was no surprise.
"There she is!" Blazepaw called and beckoned a silver ShadowClan apprentice with blue eyes over.
"Blazepaw! It's so good to finally see you face to face." Smokepaw said as she bounded over.
Harepaw gave him a confused look. "We've met in the dreams. We've both had those of the cats coming to the lake." He quickly said.
It was Beetlepaw who spoke next. "Great, now that we are all here, have the dreams been any different?"
"Yes," Blazepaw and Smokepaw both replied. The looked at each other, and Smokepaw gestured for Blazepaw to speak.
Blazepaw cleared his throat. "They have gotten more vivid. The cats are coming closer."
"And there is another group of cats coming." Smokepaw cut in.
Beetlepaw nodded. "That second group is on our side."
Just then, Bramblestar yowled for the gathering to begin.
"ThunderClan is doing great! The prey is certainly running this newleaf, and we have two new apprentices; Stonepaw and Blazepaw." The ThunderClan leader briefly shouted.
Blazepaw puffed out his chest with pride, glad his new friends were chanting his name along with the other clans.
Onestar stepped up to speak next. "WindClan is also well on its paws. We also have two new apprentices, who are excellent in everything they do; Eaglepaw and Harepaw!"
Blazepaw chanted as loud as he could for his friend.
Blackstar purred. "All is well in ShadowClan. We also have a new apprentice – Smokepaw."
Blazepaw chanted at he did with Harepaw.
Mistystar was the last to speak. "The rivers are swarming with fish. RiverClan has three new apprentices; Nightpaw, Fernpaw, and Beetlepaw."
Blazepaw cheered for the young RiverClan apprentice. The four leaders stepped down from the tree and let their clans share tongues.
There was snickering from behind Blazepaw. "Well, well. Looks like you actually managed to find some friends, huh, Beetlepaw?" Blazepaw turned around to see a cream RiverClan apprentice with silver patches.
Beetlepaw rolled his eyes. "Oh yes, where is you simply large group of followers, Fernpaw?"
"They are off to gossip, they didn't want to come anywhere near you, not even for me." Fernpaw scoffed.
Harepaw interrupted. "Yes, and I'm sure that if they were real they would do anything for you."
Fernpaw gasped. "Are you insulting me? How dare you! RiverClan is by far the best Clan, and you should be begging that we take pity on your weak and defenseless Clan."
"Defenseless? Weak? Says you! I bet you haven't even caught the smallest trout, you're big mouth always scares them away.
Nightpaw snorted. It was the first time Blazepaw heard him speak. "You've got that right, Harepaw. She's barely toured the territory, she's so far behind! Not to mention her extreme fear of the water."
"Well, the water just keeps on flowing; it wants to sweep me away!" Fernpaw retorted.
Smokepaw rolled her eyes. "Yes, and I'm sure that you just expect it to produce all the fish to you, and slow for you."
Fernpaw smirked, "Yes, indeed that's what's supposed to happen. But Beetlepaw has been in it, he's certainly contaminated that river. Yuck."
"You sure it wasn't you who contaminated the river?" Harepaw replied.
"Oh, how rude!" Fernpaw spat before storming off.
The apprentices snickered. "She's probably the most hated in the Clan, though she thinks everyone should worship her." Nightpaw laughed.
"Oh, I hadn't noticed." Harepaw mewed sarcastically.
"Well, it looks as if it's time to go." Blazepaw commented. "Smokepaw, meet by the border at moonhigh tomorrow?" He asked.
"Sure, sounds great! Considering how long it has been since I've last seen you." She replied.
"Yea, same with us, Beetlepaw?" That was Harepaw who asked. "Same place with Nightpaw, same night?"
"Sure, sound great." Beetlepaw answered.
"Maybe we could catch up with each other on a border patrol sometime?" Blazepaw asked the other apprentices.
"Sure, I'll try and get on a patrol for the ThunderClan border." Said Harepaw, as they all walked away to their own Clan.
Once, they were back at camp, Featherkit ran out of the nursery.
"How was it?" She asked.
Smokepaw purred. "I'll tell them about the gathering, Blazepaw. You look like you are going to fall asleep at any moment."
"Thanks." Blazepaw replied. He was very tired after discussing the dreams with the other apprentices. Blazepaw went and collapsed in his nest. He was glad the dreams spared him that night.