AUGH. School (schol) started. My teachers are actually very nice. My devil choir teacher moved to a different district, so we got a really nice one. Sorry for not updating in a while. I've been creating new stories on my second account. Instead of me rambling, I'll start the chapter.
CHAPTER 6Nightpaw sank her claws into the damp soot. The sun was shining brighter than ever, and she could barely see a foxlength ahead of her. She smelled…shrew. She crouched in the undergrowth, waiting for the prey to scamper across her path. As if on cue, it did. Nightpaw leapt and landed squarely on the shrew. After clawing its belly, she bit into its throat.
She lifted her head, blood dripping down her chin from the shrew. A warm scent floated to her nostrils and her mouth watered. She quickly dug it up beneath a tree, and sat down to groom her paws. She hadn't only gotten battle training from Tigerstar and Hawkfrost; they'd taught her an easier way to hunt instead of stalking it. Stalking the prey gave you a better chance of stepping on a twig, or stumbling.
There were many things she would've rather been doing. She would've rather been battle training with Sorreltail and showing her how good of a fighter she was. She would've rather been sleeping, so she could visit Tigerstar and Hawkfrost and practice her running. Nightpaw didn't like hunting as much as fighting, because it was boring. Sure, cats had to eat, but hunting was the boring part, not the eating.
Yawning, Nightpaw smelled the air. More prey? She'd already caught more than any of her siblings! She had 6 pieces already, and it was only sunhigh! Oh, well. The more, the better.
--
"Almost time," Bluestar murmured.
Yellowfang sniffed. "Not exactly. Tonight is the Gathering. There's still about a quarter-moon left. Maybe we should change what time they meet…?"
Bluestar hesitated, and then meowed, "Perhaps we should. One night after the Gathering will be the time. Tonight, when they're sleeping, change it."
Spottedleaf, Yellowfang, and Cinderpelt all nodded.
"Tell the rest of the leaders and medicine cats." Bluestar licked her paw and drew it over her ear. "They'll have to be precise."
--
Nightpaw dipped her head in thanks. She'd far passed her assessment, and was able to go to the Gathering. Personally, she didn't care a mousetail about the Gathering. But Tigerstar had always said that she had to trick them into thinking she was totally loyal to StarClan, in order for her to become deputy. Nightpaw had just nodded wisely and listened to Tigerstar list some ideas. This idea, however, was her own.
"Go on, Nightpaw, and have a feast," Firestar meowed. "You deserve it, as well as your siblings. The fresh-kill pile is flooding with prey already. If the whole Clan feasts, we would still have enough prey to last through another leaf-bare!"
Nightpaw forced a chuckle. She turned and headed to the pile. It really was flooded with prey! Why hadn't Nightpaw noticed before when she was putting her prey into the pile? She grabbed a mouse; she didn't want to eat a lot, or else she'd be too full to train with Tigerstar and Hawkfrost. The sun was slowly setting, casting longer shadows of cats creeping along the camp, eating and sharing tongues, giddy and carefree.
When Nightpaw was leader, this was exactly how it would be. They wouldn't have a worry in the world, because she would train them so hard that they'd never be scared of another Clan attacking them.
"All cats old enough to catch their own prey, meet beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!" Firestar's meeting call sounded, so Nightpaw heaved herself to her paws and padded into the crowd of cats.
"It is time for me to announce who will go to the Gathering tonight," Firestar declared. "I will be taking Sandstorm, Graystripe, Squirrelflight, Sorreltail, Spiderleg, Stormfur, Brook, Birchfall, Ashfur, Honeywhisker, Mousefoot, Lionclaw, Hollytail, and all the apprentices, since they did so well on their assessments."
Phase one, complete.
Tigerstar.
Nightpaw quickly darted up the thorn tunnel, running faster than the other apprentices and even some warriors. She caught up to Honeywhisker and Birchfall, who were chatting ever so annoyingly about some cats in ShadowClan. Trying to avoid the young warriors, Nightpaw inched a bit closer to the side of the group.
"Hey, Nightpaw!"
No. It was Lightpaw. Groaning, Nightpaw turned and cringed. She was so loud and obnoxious! Couldn't she just stay quiet?
"Aren't you excited?" Lightpaw chirped. "This is our first Gathering! I can't wait!"
Nightpaw merely nodded and turned away. Lightpaw had always been the very loud one of the litter. Nightpaw rolled her eyes.
"Woah! Is that it?" Lightpaw exclaimed, narrowing her eyes over the lake. Sure enough, a tiny island rested upon the surface. Nightpaw inwardly snorted. It was so pathetic-looking, yet apparently so holy.
The cats soon approached the fallen log that led to the island. Nightpaw knew she could manage over quickly, so right after Brambleclaw jumped onto the tree, Nightpaw followed. She didn't have to dig her claws in at all. Her balance was so…perfect, that she was the first ThunderClan cat to set paw on the island that night.
The island was bigger than Nightpaw had seen as they first entered WindClan territory. The Clans' scents mingled and entwined with each other, creating a strange, misty smell. There was a huge oak tree with four large branches that hovered over the island. Four places among the roots were underneath the branches.
Nightpaw had never seen so many cats. All of them stared at her as she entered the sacred place floating atop the lake. She sniffed and holding her head high, strutted to the edge of the clearing.
"Ah! ThunderClan have arrived!" Onestar called. He jumped onto a branch of the oak tree, and his deputy Ashfoot took a place among the roots. All of the other leaders and deputies did the same. And the Gathering began.
GEH! X.X writers block! Sorry this was such a crappy chapter, but writers block got the best of me. Stupid writers block. So, yeah…bye.
xx-Starfall-xx
