Disclaimer: I only own the characters and plot. The Idea of warriors belongs to Erin Hunter.
Picking at the emaciated finch that sat before me, I sighed. Despite the hunger that gnawed at my stomach, I couldn't bring myself to sink my teeth into the flesh of the bird, and, a huffing exhalation of breath rising in my throat, I pushed the lump of feathers away from me and rested my head on my paws, weariness dragging at my muscles. The old claw-mark scars across my cheek ached, and I closed my eyes, attempting to drift into sleep.
No such luck. A paw collided with my side, and I skidded to the side, eyes flying open as I was flipped onto my back. Fawntail stood over me, smirking wickedly. She raised a paw and slid out a claw, studying me as if I was a piece of prey.
"I wonder," She mused, tilting her head slightly to one side in mocking curiosity, "If anyone would care if I just gave you one more scar…" At that word, she swiped forwards, her claw raking down my face, slicing a groove into the flesh just above my eye.
"It's an improvement." She hissed, before stalking away, tail lashing, sadistic smile still plastered onto her face. Frowning, I pulled myself back into a sitting position, the pain meaning nothing to me as I trained a glare upon the brown she-cat's back, wondering whether anyone would notice if I ran over and slit her throat.
Don't think like that… I warned myself, a shudder passing through me. Remember… Rivertail's name passed my mind, and a sob rose in my throat. Forcing it down, I locked my eyes shut, trying to block out the world.
"Let all cats old enough to hunt gather and hear my words!" Head jolting upwards and eyes flickering open, I groaned inwardly at the sound of Ashstar's voice, but stretched, jaws opened in a yawn, and padded over, settling near the back of the rapidly assembling crowd. The instant I sat down, all the cats within a tail-length of me scooted away, not even bothering to be inconspicuous about it, shooting looks of scorn and wariness towards me. Head bowed, confidence wavering, I studied my paws, taking in the rawness of the pads and the place where I had torn out one of my claws during training.
"The gathering is tonight." Ashstar announced, and I looked upwards, seeing the tom staring down over the clan, eyes blue and cold as frost. "The cats going will be:" He paused to sweep the crowd again. "Fawntail, Lightfur, Crookedpine, Sweethoney, Oliveheart, Ferretfur, Silvertail, Mosspaw, Poppypaw and," He stopped, and diverted his gaze onto me. "Whitepaw." Shock rushed through me.
I'm going and Stormpaw isn't?! Disbelieving jubilation filled me, and I forced my paws to stay planted on the ground, although I felt that if I made a single jump, I would go floating away. I barely noticed Ashstar dismiss the meeting, and only snapped back to my senses at the outraged cry from Stormpaw.
"It's not fair! How come she gets to go to the gathering and I don't?!" Ashstar's voice was level and betrayed no emotion as he replied.
"Son, follow me." Curious, I swiftly padded after the two toms, pawsteps light on the ground, small form crouching behind bushes and trees. She followed her brother and father out of the camp and a little way into the forest, before ducking in behind a tree and listening closely, ears straining to catch their voices.
"Son, do you remember what I told you?" Ashstar's words snaked ominously into the air, and a knot of anticipation twisted inside of me.
"Yeah, but-"
"Tonight, Stormpaw." Ashstar cut in, the sound of his tail swishing against the leaves prominent. Leaning around the tree trunk, I saw Stormpaw, eyes shining with anxiatey.
"T-tonight?" the leader nodded, and Stormpaw echoed the movement, a nervous sense of excitement flickering over his gaze.
"I won't fail you, dad." He promised, before getting to his paws and walking in my direction. Panicking, I bolted to the side, slamming into a bush and falling inside of it, tangled inside of the branches. My brother snapped his head around and, eyes narrowed, glared at my hiding place. He stalked towards it, and I felt my heart begin to pound in my chest, the beat thundering in my ears.
"Son, it'll just be a squirrel. Leave it alone." Suspicion still hinted in his eyes, Stormpaw turned around and walked away, casting a glance over his shoulder before disappearing out of sight. A heavy sigh of relief bubbled in my throat, and I detached myself from the bush, sitting down to pull leaves out of my pelt. Then, insides twisted with anxiety, I headed back to camp, head spinning with theories for the conversation I had just witnessed.
"You're making us late." Ashstar's scorning voice greeted me as I entered the camp again, and I froze under his gaze, heart beating rapidly. "Where were you?" He demanded, and the thrumming of my heart intensified, making me feel dizzy.
"I-I-I was a-at the dirt place." I lied, stammering slightly. The leader looked unconvinced, and studied me carefully, silent.
"Back of the patrol." He ordered, and when I stood, unmoving, he swiped a paw at my head. Even though it was only a light blow, stars exploded in my vision and I crashed to the ground; skidding sideways, legs splayed out. Snorts of laughter sounded behind me, and I picked myself up, head lowered shamefully, standing awkwardly at the back of the patrol as requested.
"Have fun! I'll see you when we get back!" I cringed inside at the sound of Mosspaw's sickly sweet voice, and glanced up to see her lick my brother affectionately on the cheek. I gagged and looked away, eyes forced shut.
"We're leaving, Filthpaw." I looked up to see Poppypaw standing over me, eyes filled with malice. The scars on her head reminded me of the time that I went out of control and almost… The thought made me shudder, and I looked away, pushing past the she-cat and out into the forest, breaking into a run.
Racing over the barren landscape of Swiftclan territory, the land around the gathering rock already hummed with voices, scents mingling into the air, the moon hanging, orb-like in the sky, watching downwards like an unblinking silver eye. Swerving into the clearing, the intense volume startled me, and I stood still for a few heartbeats, allowing myself to adjust, waiting for my brain to filter out the background noise. Once I was no longer overwhelmed, I scanned the crowd for any sight of Olivepaw or Waterpaw, the two hyperactive Reedclan apprentices she had met at her first and only gathering. Eventually, she spotted the she-cats' brown and silver pelts, and raced down to meet them.
"Hi, Waterpaw, Olivepaw!" She exclaimed. The two older apprentices took a single look at each other, and I noticed the guarded look to their expressions, faces set stony and emotionless.
"Hello?" I darted in front of their eyes, trying to catch their attention. "Remember me? Whitepaw? Your friend?" I reached out a paw and prodded Olivepaw in the side. Shock exploded in her hazel eyes, and she scrambled away hastily, expression wild and fearful. Hurt welled up inside of me, and I remembered Ashstar's words from my last gathering.
Whitepaw is a danger to us all… I could feel my breath beginning to rasp in my throat, and my ears swung flat against my head as Waterpaw stepped forwards, regret and fear in her eyes.
"Please, just keep away from us."
A/N: Hope you enjoyed! I'm so mean to poor Whitepaw… anyway, review!