Chapter 8

A moon later, as Maplepaw and Deerfoot were returning to camp, Bramblestar came to meet them and said, "Maplepaw, you and your littermates are going to the Gathering tonight, so make sure you have something to eat."

"Thank you!" Maplepaw cried. Then she turned to Deerfoot, "Can I tell my littermates?"

"Of course," Deerfoot purred.

Maplepaw could hardly contain her excitement as she charged into the apprentices' den. "Cloverpaw! Cloudpaw! We're going to the Gathering!" Maplepaw said excitedly.

"Yes!" Cloudpaw cheered, leaping into the air, nearly hitting his head on the cave ceiling.

Maplepaw and Cloverpaw let out mrrows of amusement as Cloudpaw shook out his pelt in an attempt to hide his embarrassment. "Bramblestar says we have to get something to eat," Maplepaw added.

"Then let's go!" Cloudpaw bounced, never turning down the opportunity to eat.

Maplepaw and Cloverpaw followed him out. Once they had chosen their pieces of fresh-kill, they settled down to eat. Bramblestar leaped onto Highboulder. "These are the cats who are coming to the Gathering! Lionblaze, Jayfeather, and Leafpool, of course, Sorrelstripe, Fernsong, Hollytuft, Maplepaw, Cloverpaw, Cloudpaw, and their mentors, along with Blossomfall, Thornclaw, and Graystripe!"

Maplepaw felt excitement pulse through her as she heard her name called. "I can't believe we're finally going!" Maplepaw whispered to Cloverpaw.

"All attending the Gathering meet by the entrance to camp!" called Lionblaze, who was standing in as temporary deputy while Squirrelflight nursed Sparkkit and Alderkit.

Maplepaw and her littermates went to stand beside their mentors. Finally, Bramblestar flicked his tail and lee the patrol into the forest. When they reached the tree bridge, Maplepaw couldn't help but gape. The tree bridge is bigger than Blossomfall had described to them as kits "Starclan, please don't let me fall into the lake!" Maplepaw silently pleaded.

Maplepaw made her way across the bridge unsteadily with Deerfoot behind her. "You can do it; one paw in front of the other," he murmured in her ear.

Maplepaw let out a sigh of relief once her paws touched the solid earth of the Gathering island. "Do you want me to introduce you to some of the older apprentices?" Fernsong asked Maplepaw and her littermates.

"Thanks, Fernsong," Maplepaw murmured.

Fernsong flicked her tail and lead Maplepaw and her littermates over to a throng of young cats that bore the scents of Windclan. "Here are some Windclan apprentices," Fernsong whispered to Maplepaw, then she said, "Everyone, I'd like to introduce to Maplepaw, Cloverpaw, and Cloudpaw."

"Nice to meet you!" a pale gray she-cat replied. She smelled of Windclan. "I'm Fernpaw!"

"Nice to meet you," Maplepaw and her littermates replied.

"Those Palepaw, Fogpaw, and Mistypaw," Fernpaw added, pointing with her tail at two white and gray toms and a misty gray she-cat.

As the three Windclan apprentices were about to make meow greetings, a yowl sounded at the top of the slope and Riverclan cats poured in. A broad-shouldered gray apprentice came over to them. Maplepaw noticed he had fierce yellow eyes. "This is Shellpaw," Fernpaw said, suddenly nervous.

"Who are the kits?" Shellpaw sneered.

"We aren't kits!" Maplepaw snarled, getting in his face, "We're apprentices, same as you!"

Shellpaw's expression suddenly changed, "You've got spirit," he growled. Then he stalked away.

"Wow! He's something else!" Cloverpaw exclaimed.

"Are there any other Riverclan apprentices?" Cloudpaw asked.

"Yes, but they might not be here, oh!" Fernpaw said, "Here they come!"

A brown tom was coming down the slope flanked by a tortoiseshell she-cat and a gray tom. "They're Owlpaw, Brackenpaw, and Jaypaw," Palepaw said.

"Are there any Shadowclan apprentices?" Maplepaw asked.

"No," Mistypaw replied, "They were all just made warriors and there are no kits that Rowanstar has mentioned."

"What are their names?" Maplepaw asked.

"Who's names?" Fogpaw asked.

"The Shadowclan apprentices who were made warriors?" Maplepaw replied.

Fernpaw thought a moment before replying, "Sleekpelt, Strikeclaw, Wasptail, and Stonetooth, I think," she said.

"Let the Gathering begin!" Bramblestar yowled.

"I'll go first," Rowanstar replied, "Pinenose is expecting kits with Spikefur!"

Maplepaw cranes her neck and saw a black Shadowclan she-cat sit up proudly.

"I'll go next," Onestar rasped, "Windclan has made new apprentices. Palepaw, Fogpaw, and Mistypaw!"

Maplepaw cheered their names while the apprentices blushed.

Mistystar went next. "Riverclan has also made new apprentices. Brackenpaw, Owlpaw, Jaypaw, and Shellpaw!"

Maplepaw was a little less enthusiastic when she cheered Shellpaw's name.

Mistystar stepped back and nodded to Bramblestar. "Thunderclan, too, had made apprentices. Maplepaw, Cloverpaw, and Cloudpaw!"

Maplepaw felt warmth spread through her pelt as the clans called her name. "Thunderclan has also made three new warriors! Sorrelstripe, Fernsong, and Hollytuft!" Bramblestar announced.

"Sorrelstripe! Fernsong! Hollytuft!" the clans called.

"Meeting dismissed!" Mistystar called.

As Maplepaw walked back to camp, Blossomfall fell in stride with her. "How was your first Gathering?" her mother murmured.

"Great!" Maplepaw exclaimed.