Chapter 2

Rainpelt woke at the sun beating warmth upon her fur. She yawned and got up to stretch her legs. Tomorrow night would be the Gathering. She had never heard of a Gathering before, and found it rather interesting to hear about. WillowClan had never had them, considering they were the only Clan in the area.

She knew she wouldn't be going tonight, but a flicker of hope burned in her heart. She hoped someday she would be able to attend. Someday she would be a warrior of ThunderClan. She padded over to the fresh-kill pile. It had been quite a few days since she'd entered the camp, and she'd met some new cats.

Yellowfang had treated her warmly, taking care of her wounds from her last battle. Rainpelt had taken to the medicine cat quite nicely. She'd been mostly spending her time with Fireheart, Graystripe, and Sandstorm, who she'd met the day after she'd gotten there.

Rainpelt picked up a fat mouse and carried it over to her den. It was Greenleaf and the prey was plentiful. She sat down and took a large bite of her breakfast, the taste filling her mouth, and it's scent filling her nostrils. She chewed and swallowed, looking up to see Graystripe and Fireheart walking toward her. She let off a purr of greeting.

"Hi, Rainpelt! We're going to the Gathering tonight!" Graystripe mewed cheerfully. Her ears pricked forward.

"Really? I've been wondering what those are like…I've never attended one before," she said sadly, and then looked up at Fireheart. "When do you leave?"

"At night when Bluestar calls the cats that are going together. This is only the fourth one we've been to. I'm not sure it's going to be too interesting tonight," he replied.

"I see." Rainpelt looked up over their shoulder. "Bluestar!" she purred.

"Rainpelt, I'd like to see you in my den please," the leader told her in a hushed tone. Rainpelt nodded and followed her beneath the Highrock. "Rainpelt, you've held your weight here for the time being. I just wanted to thank you for hunting for us and not just yourselves and helping with the elders. I've never seen a prisoner do that before. Is there a reason why you have?"

"My old Clan was all about working together and keeping up your care, even if you were a prisoner. If they take the time to feed you and give you shelter, you should always give them something in return," Rainpelt meowed. Bluestar gave a slight nod.

"It made me curious, I suppose. Yellowfang told me she would like to see you." Rainpelt nodded and bowed her head before leaving the leader's den. She padded over to Yellowfang.

"Bluestar said you wanted to see me?" Rainpelt sat down with her tail neatly wrapped around her paws.

"Yes, I was wondering if you could find me some more poppeyseeds. I seem to be running low." Yellowfang frowned in confusion. Rainpelt guessed she didn't know what had happened to them.

"Okay. I'll be back in a little bit," she replied.

"Thank you, Rainpelt. They grow out by the sandy hollow." Rainpelt blinked gratefully and set out to find the needed herbs. Just as Yellowfang had said, they were by the sandy hollow. She picked a few while watching Longtail train his apprentice. She closed her eyes to think. Swiftpaw, she recalled, was his name.

Rainpelt took the herbs back to camp and padded over to the medicine cat's den. She entered the dark and musty place, barely seeing Yellowfang while her eyes adjusted to the light. She dropped the poppeyseeds at her paws.

"Thank you, Rainpelt," Yellowfang rasped.

"Anything else you need?" Rainpelt tilted her head to the side, examining the wall of herbs.

"No, I think I'm good for right now. Thank you for your help, though. Cinderpaw's leg has been acting up. She needed some painkillers." The medicine cat gave a nod over to the apprentice, who Rainpelt could see lying in her moss bed. She dipped her head in respect to both of them before leaving the den.

The sunlight made her squint. It was sunhigh, and she could see the morning patrol was returning to camp. Tigerclaw padded over to the fresh-kill pile and brought a water vole back to where Bluestar was eating.

"We sensed ShadowClan across the border. There was no sign of them hunting, but for sure they've been in our territory," Tigerclaw growled.

"They can explain tonight at the Gathering," Bluestar said quietly, giving Tigerclaw a hint to keep his voice down. They'd attracted the attention of Rainpelt, Fireheart, Graystripe, Sandstorm, and Dustpelt. Rainpelt frowned and padded over to greet her friends.

"Back from hunting patrol?" she mewed, looking at the fresh-kill they had clamped in their jaws. "I see you were successful in your catch."

"Furhert almos gut bit bu in adder," Graystripe said through his kill.

"Excuse me?" Rainpelt frowned. Graystripe spat out the mouse.

"Fireheart almost got bit by an adder," he repeated. Rainpelt let out a mrr-rrow of laughter. Her tail swung from side-to-side with amusement.

"You should watch out for those, you know," she warned Fireheart playfully. "Well, I'm going to go see Brindleface. I hear she had some new kits." She padded over to the nursery. "Hello, Frostfur," she purred.

"What do you want?" the queen asked coldly with ice in her blue eyes.

"I've come to see Brindleface's kits."

"No one outside of the ThunderClan is allowed to see them."

Rainpelt's ears went back. She hissed. "Back in the WillowClan, it was the mother's decision on who was allowed to see the kits."

"Well, WillowClan is dead. It no longer is a Clan, and when you're in our territory, I decide." Frostfur held her head high.

"I don't believe you," Rainpelt hissed. Frostfur gave a battle cry and leapt onto the prisoner. Rainpelt meowed in surprise and threw her off immediately, attaching herself to Frostfur's back. Her claw dug deep into her skin, making the white she-cat cry out and flip over. She stared into Rainpelt's cold amber eyes. She clawed at her target's eye, but Rainpelt held her head back, causing the queen to miss.

"What's going on here?" Bluestar's cry made Rainpelt jump off of Frostfur guiltily, but quickly. She held her stare at the leader.

"Rainpelt wanted to see the kits, and I told her to leave," Frostfur began. "Then she…"

"Why can't Rainpelt see the new kits? She hasn't shown any threat since she got here, Frostfur," Bluestar said sternly.

"Well, she can't be trusted. She just got here and-"

"I think that's up to Brindleface, don't you?" Rainpelt pricked her ears toward the leader. So the queen had lied. They did let the mother decide.

"Yes, Bluestar." Frostfur bent her head in shame. Bluestar gave Rainpelt a stern look.

"I don't want any fighting here in the ThunderClan camp. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Bluestar." Bluestar gave Rainpelt a nod and she entered the nursery. She could hear the cries of squealing kits. Her eyes softened when she saw them kneading their mother's stomach. "They're beautiful," she meowed softly to Brindleface.

"Thank you, Rainpelt." The queen gave her a warm and welcoming look as the prisoner stared down at the kits.

"I probably shouldn't be here…I'm a prisoner, and…well…I'll see you later." She dipped her head and left the nursery. The sun was setting and ThunderClan was sharing their meal like usual. Rainpelt padded over to the fresh-kill pile and chose a chaffinch. She began to trot over to her den, but was called over by Fireheart. Her ears pricked of happiness as she sat down next to her friends with the warriors.