Shadpaw bounced impatiently as she watched the sun sink lower and lower. "Come on, come on," she muttered under her breath as more ShadowClan cats started to gather around the camp exit.
It was a full moon, and Shadepaw was going to be able to go to the gathering this time! It would be her first time, and her pelt was prickling in excitement. And the best part, the leaders of all Clans had decided to let Shadepaw and her other friends all go this time, so they could all experience their first gathering together!
"Hey, I'm glad you're coming," Brackenpaw's voice came from beside her. Shadepaw turned to face him, curious.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"Well, it being your first time and all," he said. "I can show you around!" Shadepaw wasn't sure that she liked the expression on Brackenpaw's muzzle. . . he seemed kind of too enthusiastic.
"Um, sorry," she said. "My friends will be there, so we're gonna explore together."
Brackenpaw's eyes flashed with anger before he smoothed his fur back down. "Silly me, of course you will," he crooned, stepping around her. She watched him warily, still not sure of what was going on. "May I join you?" He said.
Shadepaw blinked. "Um," she said, uncomfortable. "I'll have to ask them. . "
"Brilliant!" Brackenpaw smirked. "I'll see you there!" He darted off, waving his tail at his mentor, Blackstripe.
Shadepaw shook her head irritably, brushing the thoughts for her head. She looked up again and saw the moon getting ready to rise. Then Frondstar was beside her, calling out the cats that were chosen to go to the gathering. Shadepaw bounced on her paws. Finally, she thought, as they exited the camp.
The ShadowClan cats raced through the pine forest, heading towards the RiverClan border. Shadepaw was right at Frondstar's side, her paws churning faster and faster in order to keep up. They ran for a short while, before Shadepaw smelt RiverClan.
She wrinkled her nose, but kept going. She'd never tell Lilypaw - or any of the others, really - how disgusting her Clan's scent was, but. . .
Her paws sank into marsh, getting wetter and wetter as the Clan crossed the border, carefully keeping two fox-lengths to the lake along the shore. ShadowClan may have been the most aggressive Clan, but Shadepaw would like to think that they wouldn't provoke unnecessarily.
She scented the RiverClan patrol up ahead, and could almost smell Lilypaw's singular scent winding through it. She waved her tail excitedly.
The moon had risen by the time they reached the gathering island, and Shadepaw's fur was bristling in excitement. As ShadowClan made it to the tree-bridge, she breathed in deeply, trying not to look at the dark water beneath her as she clambered onto it, following Frondstar.
The tree seemed to rock precariously and she dug her claws into the bark, feeling her muscles tense as she continued on, slower than before.
"Move it, slow-slug," Marshclaw, a tabby-striped senior Warrior, gave her a small push from behind, and she hissed at him. Did he want her to fall?
"I'm going as fast as I can," she said, just barely managing to not snap at the older Warrior. "Not everyone has done it already. . " She added under her breath. Thankfully she made it across the tree-bridge safely, and her eyes widened as she struggled to take in the glory of the island. "This place is awesome!" Shadepaw exclaimed.
"It sure is!" Lilypaw suddenly materialized beside her. "It's good to see you," the tortoiseshell cat said affectionately before flicking her tail and leading Shadepaw into a clump of ferns. "The others are over here."
The ferns emerged into a small, sandy clearing where moonlight shone through the gaps of trees. Shadepaw's tail curled up when she saw her friends waiting for her.
"Shadepaw!" Leopardpaw stood and bounded forward to touch noses with her. "It's great to see you! Isn't this place the best?"
"It is," Shadepaw readily agreed, twining her tail with Hawkpaw's and giving Sharppaw a friendly nod. He nodded back, warmth flickering in his gaze.
"So, aren't you gonna introduce me to your friends, Shadepaw?" The warmth of the air suddenly turned cold as Brackenpaw padded out of the same fern clump, his amber eyes glinting. "I'd love to know them."
Shadepaw's pelt flooded with embarrassment, though she wasn't sure why. "Sure," she agreed weakly, catching Sharppaw and Leopardpaw exchanging wary glances. "Brackenpaw, these are my friends, Lilypaw, Hawkpaw, Sharppaw, and Leopardpaw. Guys, this is Brackenpaw."
Brackenpaw nodded stiffly to the others, as if he thought he was above them. He probably did, Shadepaw thought crossly. Hawkpaw, Leopardpaw, and Sharppaw merely nodded back, but Lilypaw strode right up to the golden tabby ShadowClan cat. She stopped inches from him and looked him up and down before shaking her head.
"Nope!" She said, directing her voice towards Shadepaw. "Not good enough for you!"
"Lilypaw!" Shadepaw hissed immediately, her ears burning. "Sorry," she added to Brackenpaw awkwardly. He just scoffed and stalked away, tail high in the air. To be honest, Shadepaw wasn't all that sad to see him go.
"Really?" She said at Lilypaw, mostly to try and hide her relief.
"What?" Lilypaw's face was the picture of innocence. "He's not!" However, she flicked her tail quite triumphantly when the ferns stopped rustling from Brackenpaw's exit.
"When do you think the gathering will start?" Hawkpaw asked, stretching his jaws open in a yawn.
"Probably soon," Sharppaw said. He looked up. "It must be nearly moonhigh by now."
Suddenly Shadepaw scented another cat coming- a RiverClan cat. She opened her mouth to warn her friends but the cat bounded into their little clearing before she could do so.
"Graystorm!" Lilypaw's tail curled up in delight as Shadepaw scrutinized the newcomer. He was blueish-gray, with darker tabby stripes and bright blue eyes and a strong frame. Shadepaw didn't think he was much older than herself.
"Hey Lilypaw!" Graystorm greeted his Clanmate. He turned and dipped his head to the Shadepaw and the others. "Greetings," he said respectively.
"Hello," Sharppaw said, dipping his head in return. Shadepaw murmured a greeting and heard Hawkpaw and Leopardpaw do the same.
"Graystorm is one of my friends," Lilypaw said happily, sitting down and flicking her ears. "He helped me after. . " She swallowed and met Shadepaw's eyes. ". . After the whole Moonpool thing."
Ah, so Lilypaw at least hadn't told Graystorm what the problem had been. That was comforting, Shadepaw thought. Beside her, Sharppaw opened his jaws to say something but was cut off.
"Let the gathering begin!" Frondstar's voice echoed from somewhere right of them. Graystorm stood immediately, blinking affectionately at Lilypaw.
"I'm gonna go sit with my littermates," he said, dipping his head at the others. "It was nice to meet you."
Hawkpaw purred. "Likewise," the big tabby said. Graystorm disappeared into the bushes where the call had come from. Shadepaw stood up, seeing Sharppaw do the same.
"Come on," the tom said, nudging Leopardpaw onto her feet. "Lets go find somewhere to sit."
