It looks like the Gathering won! But I kind of want to do all three... So this chapter will be a mix of Stormpaw chewing out his brother and Rainpaw battle training. Hold onto your tails, folks, because shortly (as in a few minutes) I'll be posting the next chapter which will contain the Gathering!
And here are a bunch of cookies for getting me to 23 reviews! Yay! Thanks so much guys! My goal this time is 2-7 more reviews. I would love to get to 40 before school starts again!
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Just an apology: I wrote most of this when I had just woken up and was still half-asleep and the other bit when I was multitasking... So hopefully it's not too bad...
:)
Chapter 3
Stormpaw glared at his brother as Rainpaw left. "Did you have to be that mean?" Bramblepaw started at him in surprise.
"But she's from an enemy Clan! And she crossed the border!" He meowed. Stormpaw rolled his eyes and heaved a deep sigh.
"Ths stream might be the border, however, we put our marks on the banks." Stormpaw explained slowly, "That concludes that the river is no cat's territory. Anyone can drink from it. Or fall in it."
Bramblepaw snorted. "Why do you have to be so logical?! Whatever." He flicked his tail and stomped away. Mouse-brain. Stormpaw glanced back to where Rainpaw had disappeared, surprised to feel his heart tugging him across the border. He kept his paws fixated in place. Thoughts raced across his mind. So Rainkit is Rainpaw now. It was good to say hi again. Well, that wasn't a great way to say hello, but at least I saw her again. I hope we'll both be at the Gathering tomorrow. I wonder if she thinks this much about me as I do about her. Wait, what?!
"Stormpaw, hurry up!" Brampblepaw called. Stormpaw reluctantly turned away from the border and followed his brother.
"If she's at the Gathering, apologize to her."
Bramblepaw sighed. "Fine." He grunted, and quickened his pace. "Race you back to camp!" Stormpaw followed, picking up his speed until his was rushing over the grass as fast as the wind.
Battle Training (The Next Afternoon)
Rainpaw purred with amusement as Sunpaw tackled Lionpaw and pinned him to the ground. Who's the kit now, huh? Lionpaw gaped at her and thrust his hind paws on the ground, trying to get a good pawhold and flip himself over. But Sunpaw pressed him flat on the ground and held him steady. He was defeated.
"Great job, Sunpaw!" Ashwhisker meowed to his apprentice. "Now, Lionpaw, what could you have done differently?" Rainpaw swiveled her gaze to him.
Lionpaw stuck his nose in the air. "Sunpaw cheated." He meowed simply, unable to admit his own defeat. Rainpaw glared at him. Stuck-up mouse-brained arrogant furball! Sunpaw gasped and leaped on him. "I didn't cheat. You're just embarrassed you were beaten by a new apprentice!"
Go Sunpaw! Rainpaw silently cheered. Ashwhisker stared warningly at the golden tom. "Be careful what you say. I'm going to talk to Featherstar about your ridiculous behavior. For now, go back to camp and clean the elder's den."
Lionpaw, shocked, stared at him. "You're... You're not serious?" Ashwhisker narrowed his eyes and glared at the golden tom.
"Go." As soon as Lionpaw padded out of sight, he turned back to the large group of apprentices. "We're going to take part in a practice battle today, which I like to call "Defend the Camp." He meowed. Rainpaw glanced around at all the apprentices. Okay, so there are my siblings, me, Treepaw, Grasspaw, Larkpaw, Copperpaw, Coalpaw, Mossypaw and Sagepaw.
"This is how the game works. We split into two teams." He flicked his tail around the group. "Sunpaw, Thrushpaw, Treepaw, Grasspaw, and Coalpaw, you are on this team. Go stand over by that hazel bush."
Rainpaw whispered to Sunpaw, "Good luck." Sunpaw nodded and raced away.
"The rest of you stand over by that fern." Rainpaw raced over to the bush with her teammates, ready to begin.
Ashwhisker explained the rules. "The hazel bush is one team's camp, while the fern bush is the other team's camp. You each want to capture each other's camp." Rainpaw followed everything he said, letting each detail sink into her brain. "The first cat to reach the other's camp wins. You want to defend your camp. Understand?" All of the apprentices nodded. "There will be no unsheathed claws or biting." The apprentices nodded again, eager to get on to fighting.
"Begin."
Rainpaw whispered, only loud enough for her team to hear, "Mossypaw and Larkpaw, guard the ferns." The two cats nodded and moved into position. "Let's go." She crept forward, eyeing the opposing team. Maybe if I sneak around behind it I can reach the hazel bush... She quickly explained her plan to Copperpaw and Sagepaw, who agreed to cover her.
Copperpaw rushed forward at the bush, and her brother sprang to stop her. They fell into a yowling tussle, while Rainpaw snuck behind a tree overhanging the hazel. She silently clawed her way up the rough bark, and balanced on the tree branch. It was way more wobbly than she expected.
Okay, Rainpaw, kept it steady, go nice and slowly... The wind tossed the branch side-to-side and she slipped on the branch and let out a startled yowl. "Help!"
Thrushpaw watched his sister land with a thump on the ground and cry out, "Ow!"
He raced over to Rainpaw's side, worry written all over his face. "Are you okay?"
Rainpaw nodded, looking more annoyed than in pain. "Mouse-brained thorn." She mumbled and licked her paw. Ashwhisker padded over and glanced at Rainpaw with concern.
"Rainpaw, go straight to the medicine cat's den and get that treated." He ordered.
Rainpaw glared at him. "Didn't you hear me say I'm fine?! Okay, I'll go." She added when Ashwhisker began to look hurt. He sighed and turned back to the apprentices.
Rainpaw limped into the medicine cat's den. "I got another thorn." She announced, and held out her paw once Littlelight padded over.
The medicine cat snorted and muttered, "How many thorns have you picked up?"
"All the thorns in the forest!" Rainpaw joked, trying to lighten up the other cat. She flinched as Littlelight plucked out the thorn with expert teeth, and began to lick her paw. "Thanks." She meowed, and limped back out of the den.
The training group was already back, choosing their share of prey. Rainpaw stalked up to almost empty pile and sniffed the remains. "Wanna share a squirrel with me?" A voice behind her purred. She spun around and spotted Ashwhisker uncertainly patting a juicy squirrel with his paw. Rainpaw's mouth watered at the sight of it laying on the forest floor.
"Sure!" She exclaimed, and they settled down on either side of it. Rainpaw took a huge bite and mumbled, "How'd the rest of training go?"
Ashwhisker twitched his whiskers with amuesment. "Sagepaw launched herself over Thrushpaw and reached the hazel bush. Your team won."
Rainpaw gave a jubilant leap in the air. "We won! Yes!" And settled down almost as quickly to bite off the last piece of squirrel. "Thanks Ashwhisker!" She meowed, and raced across the clearing.
Where is Fernshade? I've got something to ask her. She stopped beside Sunpaw, who was waltzing into the apprentices den. "Have you seen Fernshade anywhere?"
She panted. Sunpaw shook her head, then meowed, "If you're wondering whether or not we're going to the gathering, we are." That answers my question. Yes!
Rainpaw sped down the shoreline of the lake, paws thrumming against the ground. "Race you to the island!" She called to Copperpaw. The she-cat purred and chased after her. The night sky opened up its magnificence while numerous stars sparkled, winking at the excited apprentice and reminding her of her dream.
She thrust her paws forwards, willing them to move faster on the ground. Soon she was racing the wind, her paws barely skimming the pebbly shore. She glanced back at her competitor, when suddenly she tripped over something soft and was flung to the ground in a flurry of whiskers and tails.
"Watch it!" A gruff meow warned. Rainpaw glanced up and seethed with embarrassment when she saw the deputy watching her sternly.
"Sorry, Boulderfur." She mewed and backed away. the deputy shook his head and continued walking.
Soon they reached the tree-bridge. Rainpaw felt nervousness bubble up inside her as she watched the cats climb up the log and make their way over to the island. How will I ever get over?
"Climb up and over." A voice murmured. "I'll be right behind you." She glanced beside her and found her mother looking at her lovingly.
"Thanks, Flowerstem." Her mother nodded and nosed her up the tree trunk. Rainpaw unsheathed her claws and gripped the slippery log. All the bark had been rubbed off after years of using it, and water from the lake was lapping hungrily at the bottom of the trunk. The deep, dark water quivered and the waves reached up to grab the tree. Rainpaw shivered and sprang over the log, relieved when she made it to the other side. She turned to Flowerstem. "What do I do now?"
Flowerstem purred. "Go into the island and meet the other apprentices." Rainpaw squeaked with joy and raced through the bushes to the center of the island. What she saw took her breath away. So. Many. Cats. Different cat scent wafted in and out of her nose. The felines wove around in the crowd, mingling with each other and talking. The ThunderClanners broke up and scattered about in the huge crowd.
"We're t-tagging along with you, if you d-don't mind." A nervous voice stuttered. Rainpaw cast a look behind her to find Sunpaw and Thrushpaw chasing after her. Thrushpaw looked overwhelmed, while Sunpaw stared at the cats around her with wonder.
"Alright, follow me." Rainpaw meowed, and kept walking towards the center.
"Where are we going?" Sunpaw called.
"I'm finding apprentices." Rainpaw answered without looking back. Is Stormpaw here? Please please please please let him be at the Gathering! She scanned the clearing for a gray tabby pelt. There! A gray tabby apprentice was crouching with a group of other apprentices Rainpaw had never seen before. She padded up, forgetting about her siblings.
"-and then the badger lumbered away and we were safe!" A ginger she cat was meowing as Rainpaw crept up. She sat down in between a silver she cat and gray tom. The she cat looked at her in surprise.
"You're new, aren't you." She meowed. Rainpaw felt self-conscious as all the apprentices turned to look at her. Stormpaw looked up from his conversation with the ginger she cat and flicked his tail.
"Hi Rainpaw." His gaze was unreadable.
Rainpaw felt butterflies tickle her stomach. "Hi Stormpaw." She whispered. What's wrong with me? This is so unlike my usual self! She forced the nervous feeling down and lifted her head. "Nice to see you again." She meowed more clearly.
She felt a tail tap her head, and turned to see Sunpaw staring at her. "You know him?" She meowed questioningly.
Rainpaw felt embarrassed. Oh yeah, that's right. I didn't tell her about the tunnels... "I... I saw him on a patrol..."
Sunpaw rolled her eyes and gave Rainpaw a look that said, "Whatever." And pranced away to Stormpaw. Rainpaw followed, then checked to make sure Thrushpaw was with them.
He was looking wide-eyed at a pretty gray she cat. "Hey.. I'm new. I mean, my name isn't new, it's Thrushpaw, but..." He trailed off, looking embarrassed. The apprentice purred. "I'm Lilypaw, a new ShadowClan apprentice. Nice to meet you." He continued to chat with her, so Rainpaw abandoned him to talk and padded over to Stormpaw, thinking, Toms!
"-And I caught a really big squirrel on my first day out as an apprentice." Sunpaw boasted as Rainpaw sat down beside her and Stormpaw. "And I sneaked out of camp once as a kit. And I was attacked by a fox. And I..." Rainpaw drowned out her sister's repetitive talking and focused on Stormpaw. He was watching Sunpaw with an almost impatient look. He shuffled his paws and glanced at Rainpaw with an expression the begged, help me!
Stormpaw was saved as a call rung out, "Let the Gathering begin!" A silver she cat crouched on a branch of an oak tree, staring out over the Clan cats. "I will go first!" She yowled.
"Who's that?" Rainpaw hissed to Stormpaw.
"That's Silverstar, my leader." He answered. "And Reedstar, the RiverClan leader, is that brown tom. Marshstar of ShadowClan is that she cat." Rainpaw nodded And focused on what the WindClan leader was saying.
"We drove out a fox a few sunrises ago. It headed for your territory, Featherstar." I wonder if it was the same one that chased me?
Featherstar squeezed his mouth into a straight line. "We'll keep an eye out for it." He replied curtly.
Silverstar nodded her head and looked out over the cats. "We have two new apprentices. Stormpaw and Bramblepaw are now training as loyal WindClan warriors."
Rainpaw cheered as loudly as she could for Stormpaw, and gave him a friendly flick of her tail. He ducked his head, clearly pleased.
Marshstar paced forward next. "All is well with ShadowClan. We have a new apprentice, Lilypaw!" The Clan cats cheered and called out her name. Rainpaw glanced around and spotted the she cat with her head lifted high. As the cheers died down, Marshstar meowed, "ShadowClan has nothing more to report."
Reedstar puffed out his chest. "We have a new warrior! Rainpool has completed her training." The cats yowled, "Rainpool, Rainpool, Rainpool!" Rainpaw twitched her whiskers. We have a similar name! Cool!
Featherstar glanced around the island, then meowed, "We have three new apprentices. Sunpaw, Thrushpaw, and Rainpaw are now training to be ThunderClan warriors."
Rainpaw felt embarrassment seep up in her, but determined not to show it she lifted her head proudly. "Great job." Stormpaw whispered in her ear. She glanced at him, surprised to see an emotion flash in his eyes. Happiness? Excitement? Affection?! It was gone before she could be sure.
"Other than that, we have nothing else to report." Featherstar, followed by the other leaders, leaped down from the branch. The cats began to mix again, and Rainpaw heard an embarrassed voice mew, "Hey, Rainpaw." She turned around, and spotted Bramblepaw.
The fur lifted on her spine, and she growled. "What do you want." She spat, then suddenly remember the truce. With great effort, she forced the fur to lay flat on her spine and sat down, wrapping her tail around her paws.
Bramblepaw averted his gaze. "I... I just wanted to say..." Suddenly he sat up striaght and looked Rainpaw directly in the eyes. "I apologize for my behavior at the border." He meowed clearly. "It was wrong of me and I ask for your forgiveness."
Rainpaw blinked, surprised. She hadn't expected him to say that. Warmth crept up in her, and she dipped her head. "Well then, Bramblepaw, I forgive you."
Bramblepaw looked relieved. "Thank you. I'll look forward to when we meet again."
Rainpaw twitched her whiskers. "As will I."
"ThunderClan, we are leaving!" Featherstar's cry echoed across the clearing. Rainpaw tossed Bramblepaw a regretful glance. "I've got to go." She meowed. "Bye!"
Bramblepaw flicked his tail. "Bye!"
Rainpaw whipped around and chased after her already leaving Clanmates. Suddenly she was aware of someone beside her. "Tomorrow. Moonhigh. The border." Stormpaw hissed, then abruptly stopped. Rainpaw nodded and flexed her muscles, racing out of the clearing.
For some reason, that took a long time to write. I have a poll on my profile about what you want to see next. Please check it out!
