Hello my friends! Sorry for not updating lately, been busy with school (I have to write a two page summary on Ancient Greece! XP).
But I promise you, I will try to update quicker; it's almost the end of school (yay) and I have a busy summer, so everything is crazy.

Well enough about me, tell me what you think about this...

DISCLAIMER: I do not own warriors.

Chapter 9

RiverClan

Tinypaw gulped down the rest of her prey, looking up to the bright full moon above her head. It had been half a moon since she had become an apprentice, and she was excited to be going to her first Gathering.

But first, she had to stop by the medicine den. Ever since Riverpaw's accident with the horse, Tinypaw had been keeping the lonely WindClan apprentice company in the stuffy medicine den. Every day, Tinypaw saw the longing in Riverpaw's eyes as she stared out of the entrance to the den, wishing to be out in open air once more. Tinypaw knew that was to be expected of a WindClan apprentice, but she wondered also what she was waiting for; come to think of it, Tinypaw had seen Echopaw veering towards the medicine den every day as she did, and every day she saw that he left before she came. Riverpaw was hiding something.

Still, Tinypaw felt her own comfort in the company of her new friend. She still was wary as she patrolled the ShadowClan border where the Greenleaf Twolegplace lay not far beyond, and wondered where and why Napoleon and Skullpaw had gone.

Though excited, Tinypaw was scared that she would see Skullpaw at the Gathering tonight. She hoped that he hadn't been chosen by Duskstar.

Tinypaw brushed past the vines that covered the medicine den's entrance, and saw with a sinking heart that Riverpaw looked disappointed. "What's the matter?" Tinypaw asked, although she already knew the answer.

Riverpaw sighed. "I wish I could go to the Gathering; instead I'm stuck in some other Clan's medicine den." Tinypaw felt bad for her friend, but also relieved that Riverpaw wouldn't have to face her Clanmates as they saw her come with a RiverClan patrol; then both Clans would be under suspicion.

Tinypaw stayed a moment longer until Blazestar called for the cats to leave. Accompanying Tinypaw were Creekpaw, Swallowpaw, and the newly apprenticed Bluepaw, who wouldn't stop bouncing on his paws.

"Stop it!" Swallowpaw hissed to him, and he stood still. Tinypaw thought that Swallowpaw was being a bit hard on Bluepaw, but she didn't comment.

Tinypaw followed her patrol toward the island, shivering as a cool breeze slapped across her fur; the smell of the lake opened her senses, and she felt that she couldn't contain her excitement. Tinypaw stopped as the RiverClan patrol waited their turn to cross the tree bridge. WindClan went first, then ThunderClan followed soon after.

When Tinypaw was just about to follow Bluepaw onto the bridge, there was a screech and a splash as a ThunderClan she-cat plunged into the black water of the lake below. Tinypaw froze, her pelt bristling, but Bluepaw leapt into action before anyone could react. He jumped with a splash into the water, and for a moment neither cat could be seen. Tinypaw craned her neck over the side, and the tree trunk groaned while trying to hold the cats' weight.

Suddenly, there was a splash on the shore ahead, and Tinypaw saw with relief that both the ThunderClan apprentice and Bluepaw were safe on the shore.

As soon as Tinypaw reached the beach, she ran toward where Bluepaw and the apprentice lay gasping for air. The ThunderClan she-cat's black pelt was sleek with lakewater, and her ice blue eyes were slit in exhaustion.

Bluepaw looked less tired, yet still winded by the swim. "That was amazing, Bluepaw!" Tinypaw exclaimed, and Bluepaw looked at his paws shyly.

The ThunderClan she-cat stood and shook out her pelt. "Thanks," she panted, and raced to catch up to her patrol. Bluepaw stared after her for a moment, then followed Tinypaw as she headed for the Gathering.

Tinypaw emerged into a vast clearing, with a magnificent tree in the center. The leaders were sitting in the tangled branches of the tree, while the deputies took their places at the base. Tinypaw saw the medicine cats gathering at one side of the clearing, gossiping and laughing as if they were old friends.

Tinypaw scanned the clearing, but relaxed when she saw that ShadowClan hadn't arrived yet. The other mingled scents of RiverClan, ThunderClan, and WindClan were making her dizzy.

A gray tom with darker stripes approached her, and he brushed his tail over Tinypaw's ear; Tinypaw was startled out of her dizzy spell.

"You seem overwhelmed," The gray tom asked, amusement in his voice. "You must be new. I'm Finchpaw, of WindClan. I'm Riverpaw's friend." Tinypaw relaxed, enchanted by the tom's friendly green eyes.

She shook her head, clearing it. "Um, yeah. My name's Tinypaw." Tinypaw paused, tongue-tied. "So…how's the prey running in WindClan?"

Finchpaw laughed, and Tinypaw thought she said the wrong thing; her ears grew hot with embarrassment. "Actually, it's running alright. Every thing's plentiful this season." Creekpaw approached Finchpaw and Tinypaw, followed by the black ThunderClan she-cat that had fallen in the lake.

"Hi, Tinypaw. This is Moonpaw, the cat that Bluepaw saved." Creekpaw flicked her tail toward the black she-cat, who dipped her head in greeting. Bluepaw was following close behind, and soon the apprentices were chatting and laughing as if no boundaries had ever separated them.

Finchpaw and Creekpaw took the time in telling the new apprentices who the other leaders were. " The ThunderClan leader was Sunstar, but he…passed away, shortly after my brother Seedpaw and I became apprentices." Creekpaw began, "The new ThunderClan leader is Oakstar, formerly Oakstripe." She turned to glance at a dark tom on the topmost tree branch. "The past leader, Flyingstar, was so wise with the others, he seemed to never get angry."

Finchpaw continued, "The WindClan leader is Tawnystar, the big golden tom next to Oakstar. And next to your leader is Duskstar—"

"Duskstar!" Tinypaw squeaked, and looked around frantically. She hadn't noticed, but ShadowClan had arrived, and suddenly their familiar scent washed over her. Two white apprentices with yellow eyes trotted towards the group, and Tinypaw recognized the scent of Skullpaw.

"Hello," Skullpaw mewed coolly. "I'm Skullpaw, and this is my brother Deathpaw." Tinypaw gulped and lowered her head.

"You two look exactly alike," Moonpaw commented, and Deathpaw snorted as if that was the most obvious thing in the world. Tinypaw's throat tightened as Skullpaw's gaze rested on her.

"Well, I'm Moonpaw, this is Finchpaw, and here are Creekpaw, Bluepaw, and Ti—"

A yowl interrupted her, and every cat looked up at the tree. Duskstar stepped back, while Blazestar stepped forward.

"Fish has been plentiful in RiverClan. There have been no troubles with borders," Blazestar glanced at the WindClan leader, Tawnystar, "and we have two new apprentices, Tinypaw and Bluepaw." Tinypaw looked down, afraid Skullpaw would be one of the many cats that turned her way; a silver tabby she-cat next to her murmured congratulations.

Duskstar was next, announcing his new apprentices Deathpaw and Skullpaw. He seemed tense, as if he was afraid that the cats around him weren't trusted friends. Tawnystar was careful to avoid the truth about RiverClan taking care of his apprentice, who he announced as Riverpaw. Oakstar announced that the great leader Flyingstar of ThunderClan had passed over the moon, and all cats bowed their heads in silence. Then, abruptly, each cat started to cheer Oakstar's name.

"Oakstar, Oakstar!" They chanted, and Tinypaw's ears were blasting. He made the announcements of Moonpaw and Seedpaw as new apprentices, then the Gathering split up to head for home.

As Tinypaw exited the moonlit clearing, a big white tom with glowing green eyes watched from the edges of the clearing. He continued to watch until all of the apprentices of every Clan were gone, then padded quietly back into the shadows.