The night sky was filled with their warrior ancestors, the beautiful Silverpelt looking down on them. The moon was full, illuminating every cat in the clearing with a sliver glow. All they could do was look up.
Grasswing bounded up to them.
"Go and talk to some of the other Clan apprentices," the deputy ordered. "And don't give anything away to any cat."
"Yes, Grasswing." Gorsepaw dipped his head before meowing to the others.
"Let's go over there. Those apprentices seem nice," suggested Bramblepaw. "Maybe they can tell us about StarClan."
As they padded closer, Gorsepaw heard an apprentice speaking.
"And Firestar killed Tigerstar, saving all the Clans, but he gave up his last life and went to join StarClan. He saved everyone, I wish I could be like him" the pretty golden she-cat was mewing.
"Oh my StarClan, it's her, the apprentice I met," Gorsepaw whispered. His mouth was open as he stared at her.
She noticed the new attention and paused.
"Hello. I've seen you before, but we never got to exchange names," she meowed, nodding to Gorsepaw. "I'm Emberpaw. My father was Bumblestripe, son of Greystripe, and my mother is Dovewing, great-granddaughter of Firestar. They are sitting over there. My parents joined the elders' den when I was apprenticed. My brothers and I were just telling these RiverClan cats about Firestar.
"Hey. I'm Gorsepaw. These cats are Ashpaw, Bramblepaw, and Greypaw," he replied, flicking his tail at each apprentice in turn. "Ashpaw is also my sister. Bramblepaw and Greypaw are our friends. Harepaw could not come tonight, but he is Greypaw's brother."
"Poor Harepaw. At least I can meet your sister though," she answered excitedly, turning to Ashpaw. "It's an honour to meet the kits of a Clan leader!"
"Thanks for that," Ashpaw muttered.
Emberpaw looked deflated, but Ashpaw piped up and said, "Just kidding, it's nice to meet you too."
"Thanks, I don't feel rejected anymore," she growled. "Ha! It's fine, it's fine. Let's go talk to Redpaw and his friends over there," she suggested, pointing to a group of piney-smelling, skinny cats.
"ShadowClan," Greypaw muttered, as they bounded over, leaving the RiverClan apprentices behind.
"Hi there. I'm Bramblepaw from WindClan, nice to meet you." Judging by Bramblepaw's tense figure and unsheathed claws he was clearly not pleased to see them at all. The apprentices didn't pick up on it and introduced themselves as Redpaw, Birdpaw and Flamepaw. They were friendlier than they looked.
Halfway through a ridiculous discussion about the best way to shut up complaining elders, there was a commanding yowl from the huge oak tree-"We gather here under Silverpelt for a Gathering, under StarClan's truce"- and a brown tabby leapt up onto a branch, raking the cats in the clearing with a stern glare.
"Mouse-dung, Gathering's about to start. And I thought putting chewed-up herbs on their mouths would be a good point to continue on," snarled Redpaw.