I am back! And I am trying to write more yayaya
yeah. The second part of the gathering doneeeee.
Chapter 7 : The Gathering and the Unexpected Friendship
"Wait, what?" Spiritpaw's shocked gaze was locked on Hailpath. "How did you know?"
Hailpath only smirked and started padding away. "Hey! Get back here!" Spiritpaw nearly yelled.
Spiritpaw continued to follow him, she was determined to not lose sight of him. Hailpath threw a smirk over his shoulder as he padded right into the middle of a throng of cats. Spiritpaw followed, shouldering cats apart which received her no kindness, only growls of displeasure. She glanced up to the spot where she last saw Hailpath only to find that he wasn't there. She wildly looked around, growling under her breath on how much she hated when cats did that, even though it never happened to her before. Spiritpaw sighed in defeat and looked around for a spot on the edge of the clearing.
A black she-cat, Blazestar, jumped onto one of the rocks, yowling to gather attention. "The gathering is about to start!"
Spiritpaw glanced up, happy that she was given a distraction. She settled into a more comfortable position and looked up to the six big rocks that all the leaders occupied.
"Who would like to start the gathering?" Blazestar's mew pierced the now silent clearing.
"I will." A confident voice replied, it belonged to Snowstar. He sat on his rock gazing at the cats beneath him with a confident smirk. "My clan is growing exponentially. With us tonight we have four new apprentices. Welcome, Birdpaw, Antpaw, Fernpaw and Duskpaw!"
Spiritpaw looked around as congratulatory mews filled the air, trying to spot the new apprentices, she couldn't, there were just too many cats.
"Our prey is running well. My clan is as strong as ever." And that's not really strong, Spiritpaw thought. Snowstar nodded to the other leaders whilst still smirking and sat down on his rock.
"Everything is good in our clan, our borders remain secure and our warrior strong." A new cat stood up, a black she-cat. Blazestar's indifferent voice filled the air around her. Even as indignant mews sprang up everywhere. I like her. Spiritpaw thought.
Another voice filled the clearing, one that Spiritpaw didn't recognize. So she guessed it was the leader of Gorgeclan. The leader explained that everything was going well and prey was plentiful. The others all said the same thing, the grey unknown to her, leader also commented on how there was a dog loose on the outskirts of their territory.
Spiritpaw briefly recalled a time when Haretail taught her what was outside the clans. She remembered that on the left of Gorgeclan, over a hill was a medium sized twoleg place. The twoleg dens were made out of wood and stone and the monsters drove around restlessly. On the right side of Darkclan, there was also a twoleg place. Though it was smaller than the other one. Apparently, both of the twoleg places brought twolegs up the mountain or something, she wasn't sure. Luckily the twoleg's never came into their secluded valley.
"Finally, we have five new apprentices with us today! Welcome, Goldenpaw, Spiritpaw, Ryepaw, Hazelpaw and Rabbitpaw!" Spiritpaw puffed her chest out at the mention of her name. She even saw Ryepaw wheat orange form do the same, just a bit more subdued. Spiritpaw couldn't see her sister or Hazelpaw and Rabbitpaw. The other clan's cheered for them, just like they did for the other apprentices. Spiritpaw smiled softly.
"Gathering dismissed." The grey leader, who Spiritpaw still didn't know the name of, called out and jumped off his rock gracefully.
Spiritpaw made her way to her clanmates, her eyes still searching for Hailpath subconsciously. Spiritpaw stayed near the edges of the throng of her clanmates, padding after them solemnly after her leaders call of: "Breezeclan, here!".
Her clan was the first to cross the tree bridge, with Spiritpaw being nearly the last to go. She crossed the tree bridge, only wobbling slightly. She padded after her clanmates, her paws barely making a sound. She was lost in thought for most of the way, her paws guiding her forwards. She was broken out of her trance by a voice calling her name. Spiritpaw looked up, it was Ryepaw; Ryepaw looked nervous.
"Can I talk to you, please?" Ryepaw's hesitant voice broke their awkward silence. Spiritpaw nodded.
Ryepaw led them away from their clanmates, she sat down when their clanmates were out of sight. Spiritpaw also settled down herself, steeling her heart for the harsh words she was sure she would receive. Spiritpaw just thought the worst would happen, even when all the signs pointed to the good outcome.
"I just wanted to apologize for everything that I ever did to you." Ryepaw began before a long pause; at these words, Spiritpaws eyes widened in surprise, she wasn't expecting that. "I know I was horrible to you for the most of your life. I know I was one of the cats that caused your unhappiness, just because I didn't want to be ridiculed and made fun of. I know that you might never forgive me. I will forever be sorry for following Goldenpaw and just acting how she wanted us to act. I know there is no excuse for my actions because they were my choices, the choices that I went through. I just wish I was smart enough at the time to realise that what I was doing was wrong, that I was wrong to treat you the way I did."
"Even though I was young then, I remember you being a happy kit. I remember you wanting to amount to greatness. I remember you being so excited by everything. But then, slowly but slowly you became secluded and your eyes, they just started to have this emotionless look. And then I realised that I was partly to blame because of that. And I felt so so bad-" Ryepaw's voice broke off then, her chest heaving, repressed sobs wracking her small figure. " I felt so so bad for m-making you hurt, for making you bleed! I wasn't thinking at those many times when my siblings and I hurt you, I was just simply following along and I am so sorry for that. I wish I would've spoken out and did something because I had the power to convince my siblings to stop, but I didn't! I didn't even try, I just went through with what she wanted! I am such a horrible c-cat, I never wanted to cause anyone pain but I did. I am truly a t-terrible being! Oh, Starclan."
Ryepaw sniffed, trying to conceal her sobs from Spiritpaw. Spiritpaw felt a strange wetness in her eyes, her body held a feeling that she never experienced; it was like she ran a thousand tree-lengths.
"What I am trying to say is that, can you give me another chance? A chance to amend my mistakes?" Ryepaw's shaky plea rang out in the night, her head hung low, but her watery eves staring at Spiritpaw.
"I-I do not forgive you fully, yet. It seems like you are genuinely sorry for your mistakes, if that is a case then, I give you a second chance. Please, don't mess it up-" Spiritpaw was tackled by a sobbing mass of orange fur, falling flat on her back. Ryepaw, who was on top of her, was chanting whispered thank you's, her form deprived of all energy. Spiritpaw's shoulder was becoming wet, but she didn't care. She was so surprised by the outcome of this interaction that she just simply let the grip of her emotions go. Spiritpaw felt herself tear up, her eyes prickling with tears. She let them come out this, sobbing quietly into Ryepaw's fur. After staying like that for a couple of minutes, Spiritpaw's tears subsided. Ryepaw felt her becoming uncomfortable so she delicately sprang of off Spiritpaw and offered her a soft smile.
"I am so happy that you even took my words into consideration, truly." Ryepaw's kind eyes locked onto Spiritpaw's and Spiritpaw smiled, something that was so unnatural to do in the waking world. Ryepaw's smile became even brighter.
ix.
When they arrived back to the camp, they were greeted with silence. The only cat that wasn't awake was Dotpelt, an average sized calico she-cat whos only interesting feature was a bright left green eye. Dotpelt only nodded at them, not batting an eye. They made their way towards their den in unison, not looking at each other but still remaining in comfortable silence. When they got their den, Spiritpaw made her way to her nest in the back corner, glancing at Ryepaw she was surprised to find her tugging her nest towards Spiritpaw. Spiritpaw looked at the smaller she-cat in mild confusion.
"'S gettin' cold." Was the reply Spiritpaw received, albeit slightly muffled.
She sighed and settled down in her nest, pulling her tail over her body; she felt Ryepaw settle down next to her. Please let this be real, please don't make this a sick joke that they are pulling on me, please. Spiritpaw's thoughts circled around that pattern, still mulling over the encounter that happened prior. Then, after minutes or maybe even hours, Spiritpaw fell asleep with a warm body pressed next to hers.
Okie Dokie
This is a bit shorter than I usually write but I didn't want to fill it up with useless junk. Also, I wanted it to end on a better not and not stretch it out and write about things not concerning my outline.
ALSO!
HUGE THANKYOU FOR WARRIORS ERIN FOR SUPPORTING ME FOR SUCH A LONG TIME! 3 3 3
Don't worry, next chapter will be longer!
(25.11.2018)
