Shimmerpaw pushed through the camp entrance, her head down low as she looked up towards the sky. The sun gleamed from between the claws of two dark clouds that hung overhead; the looks of them brought an ominous feeling to Shimmerpaw's gut. And she ducked her head back down as she approached the medicine cat den. She was still too small to hit her head on the roof, but she still kept her head low to the ground.
Berryleaf was disappearing into one of their storages with a mouthful of herbs, to remerge to enter yet the opposite storage across the den. His tail whisking behind him as his eyes stared outwards wide and unnerved, mumbling under his breath as his fur stood on end. Shimmerpaw entered the herbs storage, to find the earthly shelves stocked with plentiful herbs; she had to make some room for the catmint she had.
Berryleaf entered behind her, and setting in some marrow leaves. Shimmerpaw could hear his frantic breathing as their fur brushed, he sat down and started counting everything he got. As his breathing steadied he turned to Shimmerpaw at last. "The Gathering is tonight, and as your rank as my apprentice you will be attending without a doubt… however I will remain this time." he meowed, his gaze turning up to the roof of the den. "Something is in the air… and it is unsettling. I must remain in case something happens, an attack… an illness… whatever."
"I… understand." Shimmerpaw meowed.
Berryleaf then relaxed his shoulders, as he sat back on his haunches. "StarClan knows that with Leaf-bare approaching quickly, keeping our supplies stocked is far better for our clan than waiting anyway."
Shimmerpaw nodded slowly as she looked down at the ground, her fur bushing as a whispering cold wind came rushing into the den.
…
"I'm fine; it's Shortsight that needs all the help."
Shimmerpaw stuck beside Shatteredlake as the elder brushed off the warriors who tried to help her move, the fading black and white she-cat flicked her tail as the two joined the rest of the assembled warriors beneath the great oak; her strength and speed were still rather young for her age. Maplestar was on a lower branch overlooking the gathering party that was still being dragged out of the dens.
All the way in the back, Moonpaw was sitting closed off with his tail wrapped around his paws. Shimmerpaw looked over her shoulder at the young tom, he kept his gaze low to the ground and Shimmerpaw suppressed a giggle at his uncomfortable look.
Shimmerpaw felt a nudge from her side, as she turned to see Shatteredlake. The elderly she-cat had a warm smile. "I think Moonpaw could use some company for this journey, care to invite him over to join us on the path?"
Shimmerpaw turned her head, as her fur bushed a little as the tom was being hidden. "Go on, just be careful of how close you get."
Shimmerpaw nodded, before she weaved through the cats to arrive at the silvery gray tom that nearly jumped when she came close to touching noses with him.
"Hey I…" suddenly Shimmerpaw forgot what she was going to say, before she recomposed herself. "Shatteredlake was wondering if you'd like to walk beside us, you seem a little lonely."
Moonpaw stared wide eyed at her, as he looked over his shoulder. "Well, I…"
"Oh come on." Shimmerpaw meowed, wrapping her tail around his neck and leading him through the crowd as Maplestar was counting everyone off.
Shimmerpaw and Moonpaw arrived at the side of Shatteredlake; the elderly she-cat smiled and welcomed Moonpaw as the two apprentices took their spots.
"Shatteredlake, Shortsight, oh and there is Shimmerpaw and Moonpaw." Maplestar meowed, her tail flicking. "Alright, everyone else you better get a good night sleep, we will return after the gathering is over… everyone head out!"
The clan leader dropped down from the great oak, and led the rest of her clan out of the camp. Shimmerpaw followed Shatteredlake as she could not see over the heads of the older warriors, but the cats walked side by side with eachother. Warm bodies pressing closely in defense of the cold night creeping up on the forest; they went over the hills and through the nooks that separated many, the party stopped at the leaning tree on the edge of the territory. Looking down into no clan's land, a large piece of territory that was made off limits to the clans by starclan… to be used only for gatherings; it took a rather jagged edge and in the center the clans' gathering spot sat waiting… basking in the moonlight.
Shimmerpaw felt the cats moving, and they headed down the slope to the thick dense pine forest down below. Shatteredlake kept close to Shimmerpaw, and Moonpaw was forced to stay close as well. The poor silvery gray tom seemed so awkward and never spoke on the whole journey, though he was very warm bodied when Shimmerpaw pressed closer as they weaved through a denser forest.
Shimmerpaw couldn't help but let her eyes search the shadows; it nagged at her and seemed so new… yet familiar in a way that she couldn't describe.
As the slopes began to descend, a deep crater that pulled the cats in. Where there was already an assembly of cats waiting for them, they all bore the scent of MoorClan… signaling that the other two clans were still yet to arrive.
As they arrived in the crater, the assembly began to dissipate. And Shimmerpaw could see much better, the crater was large and spacious. With a magnificent maple oak in the center that reached for the stars, Maplestar leaped up the branches to stand beside what looked like the MoorClan leader.
Shimmerpaw and Moonpaw remained beside Shatteredlake, as the elderly she-cat lead them over to what seemed like the other elders that came from the opposite clan.
"Ah Shatteredlake, still going strong I see?"
"Never felt better Flamepetal, I am however troubled by the cold nip… it has been getting strangely colder than I could ever recall for mid-Leaf-fall." The fading black and white she-cat answered. "Oh, I'd like for you all to meet Shimmerpaw and Moonpaw, this is both of their first gathering. Shimmerpaw, this is Flamepetal and Leafnose… oh how I remember meeting both of you when you were attending your first gathering."
Flamepetal nodded at the two apprentices. "Welcome, I hope you get the best experience you can."
Shimmerpaw smiled, when her gaze turned to see another silvery gray tom approaching. But Shatteredlake greeted him with warmth. "Oh my stars, is that Jaypaw? How long again was it ago since I last seen him."
"Three moons, still a she-cat killer." Flamepetal joked.
The tom, Jaypaw, shuffled a little as he glared at the she-cat. Shatteredlake flicked her tail as the tom took a seat with the elders and two other apprentices.
"A she-cat killer, and who is the lucky she-cat to win your affection?" Shatteredlake meowed.
The young Jaypaw looked down at his paws, his fur bushing as he flicked his tail. Shimmerpaw looked to see a pretty golden tabby she-cat sitting a few tail lengths away.
"Ooh, and has she…"
"I think I want to leave this conversation." Moonpaw whispered under his breath, making Shimmerpaw jump out of her skin.
"Yeah you got a point." Shimmerpaw responded, and they slipped away from the elders as they gossiped. Jaypaw was watching them leave, and he too followed them away from the trio.
Shimmerpaw could see Shortsight lying down on the ground, as a warrior had small talk. Shimmerpaw could now detect a new scent in the air; MoutainClan has joined the gathering and were mingling with the warriors as well. Moonpaw fell back to being silent and a little uncomfortable as Jaypaw caught up with the two.
"I see that you both were getting uncomfortable there too, what's your names.
"I- I am Shimmerpaw, and this is Moonpaw." Shimmerpaw introduced herself.
"Nice to meet you, I never got to chit chat with HillClan apprentices before, the only one that came before… I think her name was Splatteredpaw; was not very talkative."
Shimmerpaw popped a slight smile at the tom's remark. "Well, she doesn't talk to anyone in camp either; guess that's just how she is."
Jaypaw raised his brow, as he almost towered over the two other apprentices. "Well, it is in stark contrast to how your clan is described, that's all."
All three of them sat in a solitary part of the crater, under a small ledge where the other cats could barely see them. Moonpaw lay down as silently as he was when standing; Jaypaw and Shimmerpaw were continuing to talk back and forth with eachother. Then ValleyClan finally arrived, and the gathering started.
"Let StarClan know what will be discussed here today, down below the moon so full." One of the leaders yowled across the crater.
"That's Shadowstar, my clan leader." Jaypaw whispered to Shimmerpaw.
Shimmerpaw could see the tom now, looming over the clans on the great maple tree. Opposite of him was Maplestar who sat with her tail wrapped around her paws. Above her head was what could only be the MoutainClan leader. Her large and burly build was what gave it away, with a long skinny tail flicked just above Maplestar's ear tips.
Opposite of the she-cat could only be described as the exact opposite, a lightly limbed gray and white tom who seemed almost ready to retire to the Elders den if he wasn't with the other leaders.
Two shapes darted into the nearly hidden corner of the crater with the other three, and Shimmerpaw noticed a deep dark black she-cat settling down beside a raggedy solid gray tom. The two seemed oddly close, while being a little older than the others in there. The she-cat turned to them. "Oh… sorry, we didn't think anyone else would be in here." The she-cat meowed.
Shimmerpaw could see the she-cat was clearly of MountainClan blood; she was strong built and had broad shoulders. While the tom was a little skinnier, but still rather powerful looking; both looked right at Jaypaw. "Oh, look at this… mister big mouth."
Jaypaw glared at the two, but didn't say a word. Shimmerpaw's attention was drawn to the maple tree when she realized that Shadowstar had finished speaking, and now it was Maplestar's turn.
"HillClan is thriving well, and we have three new apprentices with us… although one is here; sadly her mentor had to stay behind; but we welcome the new medicine cat apprentice Shimmerpaw!"
The clearing let out cries of her name, mainly from her own clan. And Shimmerpaw felt her fur burn red hot. Jaypaw turned his head to look at her, but bit back any words he would've said.
"We have on the other paw, been smelling ValleyClan warriors hunting on our territory; not straying too far from the border however… but we will not hesitate to deliver a message if it happens again." Maplestar meowed, glaring at the slim gray and white tom.
Maplestar fell silent, and then it was the MountainClan leader's turn. The dark brown tabby she-cat raised her head and meowed for all to hear below them. "MoutainClan has had plentiful hunting recently, and we are proud to announce two new warriors; Eldersbark and Furzesight."
The warrior's names were called out, and then the MoutainClan leader turned to the gray and white tom. "I too however, have scented trespassing ValleyClan warriors… and I would love to hear the reason behind this."
Finally, the ValleyClan leader was allowed to speak. "ValleyClan is thriving well, and we have been blessed with a few new kits… and as I have been silent for the accusations of breaking the code, I will announce…"
The tom was interrupted as yowls of rage echoed across the clearing, cats were rising up onto their paws and bickering amongst eachother.
Suddenly above all the voices, Shimmerpaw could hear Shatteredlake loudly snarl. "Enough!"
The clearing fell silent, and Shimmerpaw could see the normally chill elder was standing up on all fours. Her hackles raised and every cat hung their heads low.
"The gathering is a place of peace and serenity between clans, once every full moon our ancestors ask this of us… look to the sky! The moon is covered, this gathering is over!" the she-cat rasped out the snarl, before she glared up at the leaders who too were rather ashamed.
Maplestar looked up, and Shimmerpaw did too. The moon was covered by a dark cloud, and the stars were vanished.
"Shatteredlake is right, this gathering is over." The HillClan leader meowed, before she dropped down into the crater and started to head out.
Shimmerpaw rose to her paws, and Moonpaw followed. She said goodbye to the other apprentices who were gathering themselves, before heading out as well.