Nightpaw swished his tail slowly, careful not to brush and leaves as he crept up on the toad. The scents told him that there were no other cats hunting his prey. It was just him and the toad. He blended in with the night as he crept forward, slowly, one paw in front of the other, silently, until finally it was time to leap. He soared through the air and unsheathed his claws as he landed on the toad. It squirmed, but a quick bite to the throat soon ended the creature's suffering.
"Okay, Nightpaw, I think that's enough for dusk hunting." Toadleap mewed as he padded up to his son. "Let's collect the rest of the prey and take it back to camp. Who do you plan on taking that toad to?"
Nightpaw fluffed up his fur, so it was sticking out all over, and he made a grumpy face. Toadleap laughed.
"Good." He mewed. On their way back to camp they picked up the rest of their prey. One other toad, a lizard, and a frog. "We'll check how the other hunting patrols did when we get back." Toadleap explained as the two cats began to walk back to camp. "And maybe I can teach you a few moves before we leave for the gathering tonight!"
The gathering? Nightpaw squirmed with excitement. I'd completely forgotten it was tonight! Oh, I can't believe that I finally get to go! And Marshkit doesn't! Nightpaw suddenly had a skip in his step. The night before, Toadleap had asked Shadestar if Nightpaw could go to the gathering, and he had been so excited. He and Sagepaw had asked the other apprentices about the gathering, and they had found a lot of information about the leaders of the other clans. Nightpaw looked at the ground. It's too bad Sagepaw can't go... It seems like her mentor is only obsessed in teaching her fighting moves...
Nightpaw shook the thoughts from his head as him and Toadleap walked into camp. Nightpaw proudly carried his toad to the elders den, where he gave it to Raggedpelt.
"Nice catch, as usual." Raggedpelt mewed simply as he smiled at Nightpaw, and wolfed down the toad in his usual fashion. Nightpaw managed to hold back his laugh, then left the den. He saw Toadleap waiting for him by the den entrance with Shadowclaw and Marshpaw. Oh no... Nightpaw thought as he began to feel sick.
"Nightpaw, Shadowclaw and Marshpaw will be joining us for battle practice today." Toadleap explained. "I thought we might be able to learn things from each other as well."
"Toadleap mentioned that he's been working on more defense techniques than fighting techniques, so me and Marshpaw can show you some offensive moves." Shadowclaw explained as he stepped forward. "On the contrary, we have been focusing on offensive moves, so you and Toadleap can demonstrate some defensive moves."
"Understood?" Toadleap asked. Nightpaw nodded to confirm that he understood. "Good, we'll start by demonstrating some of our defensive moves." Toadleap turned to face Nightpaw. "Attack me." He ordered.
Nightpaw nodded curtly before dashing forward. He wasn't focusing his eyes on the spot he would attack. That would give him away. His eyes were locked with Toadleap's. When Nightpaw was right in front of Toadleap, he raised his paw, claws sheathed. Toadleap raised his paw to block Nightpaw's paw from hitting him, then he swerved to the side. As he did so, Nightpaw tripped, landing on the ground with a soft thud that wasn't enough to knock the breath out of him. Toadleap stepped on Nightpaw's shoulder blades to pin him to the ground.
Toadleap got off Nightpaw, and helped him up. "You okay?" He asked, Nightpaw nodded. Why wouldn't I be? It's just practice, I know you would never hurt me. "Good, now I'll attack you."
Toadleap dashed toward Nightpaw. He kept his claws sheathed as he leaped into the air, and came crashing down, almost landing on Nightpaw, but the young apprentice rolled out of the way in time to avoid being squished. Toadleap landed on all fours, but Nightpaw wasn't pinned beneath him as he had planned. Nightpaw jumped to his feet and charged into Toadleap, sending him skidding across the ground.
"Good job." Toadleap mewed as he straightened up, and began to lick the mud off of his paws. You can do that after training! Nightpaw thought, narrowing his eyes. Toadleap stopped washing and looked over at Shadowclaw and Marshpaw. "Your turn for a demonstration on-"
"Toadleap, it's time for the gathering!" Nightpaw turned his head to see Shadestar standing impatiently by the entrance to the training hollow. Nightpaw turned to look at Marshpaw's envious gaze. He smirked.
"Already? I must have lost track of time." Toadleap looked at Nightpaw. "You ready for the gathering?" Nightpaw nodded vigorously. I've been ready for six moons! "Okay, then let's go! We don't want to be late for another gathering."
"For StarClan's sake, Toadleap, you're the reason we're always late!" Shadestar laughed as he turned and walked out of the training hollow. Toadleap followed, and Nightpaw bounded forward. He was more excited than the day he became an apprentice as he joined the other warriors, and apprentices on their way to the gathering. He looked around until he spotted Lizardpaw, and he walked over.
"I can't believe I get to go to my first gathering! And as a medicine cat apprentice!" Lizardpaw mewed enthusiastically. "Are you excited too, Nightpaw?"
Nightpaw nodded. You better believe I am! Especially with all that Sandpaw told us about the other leaders! Nightpaw recalled her telling him, Sagepaw, and Lizardpaw about the other leaders. Cloverstar; A young, arrogant she-cat with a sharp tongue and the attitude of a stubborn fox. Lilystar; Older than the other leaders, wise, and knowing. Won't take any mouse dung from the other clans. Lionstar; Muscular, strong, and thinks he's the leader of the leaders.
Nightpaw's thoughts drifted farther as he walked along. What will the other clans think of my silence? He didn't have much time to wonder because soon the tree circle was in sight. When the clan entered the clearing, Nightpaw stared around in shock at the beauty. FloodClan cats lounged on rocks in a small stream of flowing water. LightningClan cats, several perched on low branches, others among the ferns and brambles. But where was TornadoClan?
"Shadestar?" A muscular golden tom, who Nightpaw assumed was Lionstar, looked down from a mushroom growing out of the tree. "You actually managed not to be last... for once."
Shadestar narrowed his eyes, but didn't reply. He climbed up the tree and sat upon the mushroom. Nightpaw pricked his ears as Adderstrike bounded over to the tree. Toadleap blocked her. "And what do you think you're doing?" He asked.
"Taking my position as deputy!" Adderstrike hissed quietly.
"What?" Toadleap's eyes widened. "Acornnose... he's dead?"
"Yes." Adderstrike's words were barely a whisper as her gaze flickered to the ground, and sadness clouded her eyes.
"I... I'm sorry." Toadleap murmured. "I know he was your father. He would be-"
"Shut up, and get out of my way!" Adderstrike deliberately cut him off. She didn't need an EclipseClan cat to tell her about grief. She shouldered past him and leaped up the tree, and onto one of the mushrooms meant to hold deputy. Toadleap climbed up the tree and sat on a mushroom at the opposite side. He looked sort of distraught.
"Nightpaw, I have to go sit at the roots of the Mushroom Tree, with the other medicine cats." Lizardpaw mewed to his brother, and he bounded off to sit beside Sorrelwhisker. Nightpaw looked around and noticed that the cats of different clans weren't really talking to one another at all. They were all sticking to themselves, as if talking to a cat from another clan was the last thing they wanted to do. Nightpaw sighed. This isn't right. This is a gathering. The cats from different clans are supposed to meet in peace...
"You feel the same way I do, don't you?" A voice behind Nightpaw made him jump, and he whipped around to come face to face with a LightningClan apprentice. A pretty white she-cat with ginger spots covering her pelt. He tilted his head, confused by what she had said. "The clans. This is a gathering. They should be meeting in peace, but they seem so separate."
Nightpaw nodded. How did she know? It's as if she read my mind! He couldn't help but wonder. Can she understand me? Can she understand my thoughts?
"I'm glad I'm not the only one." The strange she-cat mewed. "I told my brother Jaypaw, but he said I was nuts, and started talking about how StarClan is so naive to think that we could all meet in peace. Sometimes he makes me so mad!" She lashed her tail as her claws started to work on the ground.
StarClan made this place just so we could meet in peace, and now... Nightpaw looked around. We're supposed to be united... United, yet separate, together, yet apart.
"You don't say much, do you?" She asked. Nightpaw shook his head. I would if I could... I wish I could tell you my name. What's your name? He thought, even though he know he couldn't ask, and even though he wished he could ask. "Oh, pardon me, I forgot to introduce myself! I'm Brightpaw! What's your name?" Nightpaw flicked his tail toward the night sky. "Skypaw?" He shook his head. She looked up. "Moonpaw?" He shook his head again, He flicked his tail at the sky again. "Nightpaw?"
Nightpaw nodded, and smiled. I hope I don't have to do that with everyone... He thought as he flattened his ears. He looked at Brightpaw, who was looking at him, and her eyes widened.
"Oh... You... You can't talk at all, can you?" She looked distraught. "I'm sorry if I offended you by asking..."
Nightpaw shook his head. No problem at all! He flashed her a smile, and she flashed it back. Nightpaw could feel his fur growing hot. Is... Is it hot out here, or is it just me? He wondered. He looked at Brightpaw again. She pricked her ears and scented the air. Nightpaw did so as well, and a new scent hit him. Rabbits. Heather, Gorse, the moor. TornadoClan!
Just as he thought that, a white she-cat with black paws walked into the clearing. Her ears were flat, her tail was lashing, and her fur was a mess. She also seemed a bit pudgy compared to the other leaders. Too many rabbits, Cloverstar?
"Cloverstar, you seemed to have gained some weight... Anything you wish to tell us?" Lionstar narrowed his eyes at Cloverstar, who turned her head defiantly.
"The prey is running well this Green Leaf. StarClan has blessed us." Cloverstar growled to Lionstar. Nightpaw looked at the other TornadoClan warriors. They were all as skinny as Rosetail had described them.
"Very well..." Nightpaw was surprised that Lionstar didn't question further. Cloverstar began to trot forward confidently, and she stopped at the roots of the tree. She leaped up, clawing at the bark, trying to pull her extra weight up the tree. Soon her claws started to slip, and she landed on the ground with a thud. Her eyes widened in pain.
What's going on? Nightpaw wondered as he watched the scene unfold. Cloverstar started to shake uncontrollably, and she screeched with pain. A white tom with barley spots dashed forward, and crouched over Cloverstar. His eyes went wide, and he looked up. He cleared his throat, then addressed the cats of the gathering.
"I need a stick! Sticks and borage!" He called out over the clearing. "Cloverstar is going to have her kits right here in front of the Great Mushroom Tree!" The tom looked at the other medicine cats. Sorrelwhisker ran over to the circle of trees, looking for a stick, Mintdapple and Gingerpaw began to search frantically for borage, the FloodClan medicine cat sat beside the barley and white tom.
"Thanks." Sorrelwhisker carried a stick in her jaws, the tom took it and put it by Cloverstar's jaws. "Bite down on that when you feel pain!" Almost instantly, she bit down, closing her eyes against the pain, as a small pool of blood was starting to form around Cloverstar.
"She's losing too much blood!" A brown tabby-tom yowled as he fought his way to the front of the crowd. One side of his face was white, and he crouched over Cloverstar. "Don't leave me! You can't go to StarClan yet, please stay..."
"Hawksoul! I can't work with all that noise! Please, stand over there." The barley and white tom ordered him.
"No! I will stay with Cloverstar!" He hissed. The medicine cat opened his mouth to reply, when an earsplitting yowl interrupted them. Cloverstar convulsed again, and a small, wet bundle slid onto the ground beneath her. The medicine cats began to wash the kit. Cloverstar convulsed again, another kit came into the world. She convulsed again, screeched, then all was still. Deathly still. "C-cloverstar?!" Hawksoul's eyes widened in terror as he looked at Cloverstar's still body. "Cloverstar!" His yowl split the silent night in two as he screamed for his lost mate.
"What are you screaming for, I still got eight lives, flea-brain!" Cloverstar hissed as she struggled to her feet. She walked over to the three kits and curled around them as she began to lick them clean. Nightpaw looked up towards the Mushroom Tree. Shadestar's fur was on end, and his claws raked the mushroom beneath him as his envious eyes burned through Cloverstar's fur.
"This gathering is over." Shadestar hissed as he leaped down from the tree. The hate in his eyes was enough to overwhelm any cat who looked straight into them. He started to stride toward the exit.
"You didn't make your report, Shadestar." Lionstar pointed out.
"All is well in EclipseClan." He snarled without breaking stride, without looking back.
The cats made their way home from the interesting gathering. By the time they arrived back at camp, the sun was starting to rise. Shadestar made straight for his den. Nightpaw watched him. What's his problem? He wondered.
"Nightpaw?" Nightpaw turned around and looked up at Toadleap. "Do you want me to tell you why Shadestar left the gathering so early?" Nightpaw nodded. Why his eyes were so full of hate?
"Shadestar's mate died giving birth to Silverflight and Shadowclaw." Toadleap explained. "So when Cloverstar lost a life giving birth to those three kits... It brought back bad memories for Shadestar." Toadleap sighed and looked at the ground. "Tomorrow we're going to the Moonlit Springs. Every apprentice has to go there once before he- or she- is made into a warrior. Sagepaw and Molefang are coming with us."
Sagepaw? Nightpaw smiled happily. Great!
"Are we leaving soon?" Sagepaw asked Molefang excitedly. Nightpaw laughed at her impatience as he waited for Toadleap to finish talking with Shadestar. Wonder what they wanted to discuss... It seemed urgent. Nightpaw scented the air. Toadleap's coming. He thought, and his father walked out of the leaders den. Toadleap walked over.
"We can leave now, but we're going to have to be careful. LightningClan is starting to become more aggressive with their borders." Toadleap flicked his tail, annoyed. He lead the patrol out of camp, and in the direction of the Tree Circle. Soon Toadleap stopped, pricked his ears, and scented the air.
Suddenly Tigerblaze crashed through the foliage, barreling into Toadleap. He shook his head, then looked up. "Sorry Toadleap, but-" He broke off and began to gasp for breath. He looked like he had been running for quite some time. "Trouble... at the border!" He managed to get it out. Toadleap's eyes widened, and he looked back at Molefang.
"Take them back to camp, and bring a patrol to the border." He ordered, he turned back to Tigerblaze. "Where?"
"By the Charred Oak." Tigerblaze growled, as fire returned to his eyes. Toadleap nodded curtly and dashed in the direction of the Charred Oak. Molefang growled to himself.
"The sooner I get you back to camp, the sooner I can join the fight, so hurry up!" He barked the commands, then hurried off. Nightpaw and Sagepaw had to run just to keep up with him. They arrived back at camp, and Molefang hurried over to Shadestar's den. Shadestar stomped out of the leaders den.
"You and your brothers stay here, guard camp." He ordered as he went to the warriors den and ordered almost everyone to follow him. Nightpaw and Sagepaw glanced at each other nervously.
"Let's go get Rosetail to tell us a story..." Sagepaw whispered. Nightpaw nodded, but something inside him knew that even the most heroic story couldn't erase the sense of foreboding that had taken hold of his entire being. That night in the elders den was the longest night of Nightpaw's life, but even the sad stories Rosetail told couldn't prepare Nightpaw for Tigerblaze's news as he burst into camp at Sunrise.
Nightpaw and Sagepaw rushed out of camp. A bleeding, limping Tigerblaze heaved, breathing in gasps, trying to say something to the two apprentices.
"What is it?" Sagepaw asked her father, eyes wide with fear.
"Toadleap... Toadleap is dead." Tigerblaze muttered before he collapsed.