Thank you so much to everyone who follows/favorites this story and also for your OCs. I will try to include all of them, though some of them may die.
Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors, Erin Hunter does. Enjoy!
Everycat that Brownpaw had ever talked seemed to think that going to the gathering was a big deal. But as soon as he saw and heard all the other cats already milling about by the four great oaks, his only thought was 'Yeah, I hate this already.'
Stonepaw on the other paw seemed to be brimming with excitement and his sister, Wetpaw, was haughtily telling Brownpaw what he could and couldn't do, "Since this is your first gathering, i'm sure you're excited to mingle with the other apprentices."
'That's the last thing I want to do,' he snorted in his head.
"Don't leak clan secrets or get too close with a cat from another clan, but since it's you i'm sure you'll make some mouse-brained mistake…" Wetpaw continued to ramble on, but Brownpaw just tuned her out. Just how dumb did she think he was?
When Dawnstar gave the signal, the Thunderclan patrol raced down the hill. When they reached the hollow, Brownpaw purposely stuck to the edge. He had hoped to just blend into the background, but Sunpaw ruined his plan. She had been glued to his side since they left camp and was still following him around. Her bright golden pelt caught the attention of a noisy group of apprentices. By the time Brownpaw noticed that they were coming over, it was too late to escape.
"You must be Sunpaw. I had heard that you were beautiful, but the descriptions don't do you justice," a handsome white tom said with a sultry wink.
Sunpaw just smiled brightly, "Yes, i'm Sunpaw. Thank you for your compliment."
"Wow, you're so nice!" a shaggy brown she-cat squealed. "And such a cutie too." Brownpaw was pushed to the edge of the group as all the apprentices started clamouring for the golden apprentice's attention.
'Even cats from the other clans are enamoured with her,' Brownpaw sighed, 'At least I can get away now, thankfully no one noticed me.' He started to slink away when he noticed a silver tabby she-cat sitting away from the rest of the crowd. All the other cats seemed to be avoiding her, so Brownpaw decided to hide there. The she-cat's head snapped up when he approached, her amber eyes shining with hope.
"Hello! I'm Brightpaw, who are you?" she asked. Brownpaw had hoped to avoid any social situation, but couldn't ignore her when she looked so desperate to talk.
"I'm Brownpaw, who are you…" he trailed off as soon as he noticed his mistake.
'Foxdung, I look like an idiot. Maybe Wetpaw is right about me,' he cursed himself. Since he didn't have much social interaction, he often made blunders like this.
Brightpaw pretended not to notice, but the twitching of her whiskers told Brownpaw that she was amused. "You can sit by me if you like," she offered hopefully. He murmured a quiet thank you and sat down beside her.
"I'm from Shadowclan and judging by your scent you're from Thunderclan right?" the silver tabby asked. Brownpaw dipped his head in confirmation and she studied him before continuing, "So you're Brownpaw, I think that Dawnstar forgot to mention you at the last gathering. I only heard about you through those two other apprentices."
Brownpaw winced, 'Dawnstar didn't forget, she just hates me. But not announcing my apprenticeship at the gathering is a pretty petty move. What is she, a kit?'
Brightpaw continued to ramble on, "I'm glad that I met you, you're the only cat who has approached me the whole gathering. I have a bit of a quick temper and kinda got into a fight during the last gathering. I'm really surprised that they let me come this time, I think that Needlestar felt sorry for me-" She was cut off by a loud yowl from one of the leaders from the other clans.
Brownpaw looked up the great oak to see Dawnstar's regal figure seated next to a friendly looking, fluffy brown tom. On the branch just below them sat a lithe brown she-cat and a pretty, tortoiseshell one.
"All is well in Shadowclan, we recently have been blessed with a new litter of kits…" the fluffy tom started.
"That's Needlestar, he's the leader of Shadowclan," Brightpaw whispered into his ear.
'Wow, really? And here I thought he was the Windclan leader,' Brownpaw thought sarcastically. 'But I guess she's just trying to help, it is my first gathering after all.'
There was really nothing special in any of the reports, so Brownpaw didn't pay much attention. Suddenly, Sunpaw's sweet scent wafted into his nose and he quickly snapped his head to the side. The beautiful golden she-cat was standing there, her head bowed to the ground so that he couldn't see her eyes.
Brightpaw blinked in surprise at the newcomer and opened her mouth to say something, but Sunpaw beat her to it, "Who are you?" Her voice was soft, but Browpaw shivered. It sounded cold and completely void of emotion, like a bottomless pit.
"I'm Bright-"
"I don't care about your name," Sunpaw snapped. "What are you doing with Brownpaw?"
Brightpaw's fur bristled, "You don't have to be so rude!"
"Why should I be nice to a filthy leech," Sunpaw snarled.
"What did you say!" Brightpaw screeched and leaped to her paws, her eyes burning with fury. She lunged at Sunpaw, who gracefully dodged to the side. The Shadowclan apprentice was then bowled over and pinned to the ground by Sunpaw's dainty, white feet. She placed one paw on the struggling she-cat's neck, claws unsheathed. She started applying pressure and Brightpaw started to choke.
Brownpaw's eyes widened, "Sunpaw, what are you doing!"
"That's enough!" a commanding voice echoed throughout the clearing. Brownpaw looked up and saw every cat watching them.
'Brightpaw's screech must have interrupted the gathering,' Brownpaw thought. Dawnstar, Lionfang, Needlestar, and a white she-cat approached them. Sunpaw calmly stepped off of Brightpaw who struggled to her paws, gasping for air.
"You'll pay for that!" she wheezed, then broke into a fit of coughing. When she finally noticed her leader standing behind her, she cowered on the ground.
"Brightpaw! This is the second time that you've started a fight at the gathering," Needlestar glared down at the quivering apprentice, clearly embarrassed by her behavior.
"Needlestar I-" Brightpaw squeaked, but was cut off by the white Shadowclan warrior.
"I pleaded with Needlestar to allow you to go, because I knew how much you wanted to. Now you get into another fight and not only make me look bad, but our entire clan," she growled.
"I-it wasn't me who started it," Brightpaw stammered, pointing at Sunpaw with her tail, "It was her."
Dawnstar's fur bristled, "How dare you accuse Sunpaw of such a thing!" Beside her, Lionfang was seething with rage, his ears drawn back and tail lashing.
Needlestar turned to the Thunderclan leader and dipped his head, "I apologize for the words and actions of this apprentice. She will be harshly punished."
"Good, make sure you do so," Dawnstar said, letting her fur lay flat. She then turned to the cats gathered in the clearing and announced, "This gathering is over."
Brownpaw followed his clan back to their own territory. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Brightpaw being comforted by the brown apprentice who had called Sunpaw a "cutie" earlier. He couldn't see anymore as Sunpaw suddenly appeared behind him and blocked his view.
"Who was she?" she asked him and Brownpaw shivered again at her tone.
"She was just some cat who started talking to me because she was lonely," he answered truthfully. "Why did you provoke her? She wasn't doing anything wrong and now she's gotten in trouble."
The golden she-cat narrowed her beautiful blue eyes, "Why you ask? In my opinion, that piece of crowfood deserves so much worse. She was trying to steal you away from me and anyone who does that…" A wide, sadistic smile stretched across her face, "...must die."