(This chapter is probably going to be short, so sorry. Didn't know how to make it longer)
Disclaimer: I am not Tuit.Sutherland/Erin Hunter
Author: Kunanyian
Chapter Seven: Sky Gathering
Thunderpaw's bones ached when he woke up, but excitement and mysterious strength washed them away. It was the Gathering tonight. He had to be good today, so Bramblestar would choose him. Though he had already promised them last Gathering when they were kits that they could go when they were apprentices.
Once he padded out of the den with Brackenpaw, Thunderpaw stared at the fresh-kill pile remorsefully. There was only a mouse and a scrawny chaffinch. And he hadn't even caught anything yesterday. A sneeze threatened to blow as he took in another breath of air. He would go see Jayfeather later, he couldn't arrive at the Gathering sick could he?
He shivered as he remembered the icy grip of the stream, pulling him under with frightening ease and power.
Bumblestripe, Ivypool and Bramblestar were waiting beneath the Highledge when the two apprentices left the fresh-kill pile.
"Where's Darkpaw?" Ivypool asked, although she probably already knew.
"He's still asleep", Thunderpaw answered, sharing a sheepish glance with Brackenpaw.
"Go get him then", Ivypool ordered exasperatedly, flicking an ear in annoyance as if she was trying to explain to a toad why they ate and slept. Thunderpaw dipped his head respectfully before padding back to the apprentice's den, nosing his way in.
"Darkpaw!" Thunderpaw hissed.
No answer.
"Darkpaw!" He tried again. He slid into the den and prodded him with a claw.
"Ouch! What?!" Darkpaw, asked grumpily. "I'm tired!", he protested, turning to face the other way.
"Ivypool, Bramblestar and Bumblestripe are waiting for us!" Thunderpaw hissed.
"Alright, alright, fine! Keep your fur on, I'm coming", Darkpaw agreed hastily, heaving himself to his paws and following his littermate out.
They were greeted by Ivypool's now familiar greeting; "Took you long enough".
"Oh give them a break for five seconds Ivypool, your more of a grump than Mousefur was", Bumblestripe snorted.
Out of the corner of his eye, Thunderpaw saw Bramblestar unsuccessfully suppress a smile.
"Alright, enough of that", Bramblestar said once they had settled down. "You three will be competing against each other in battle training. The loser gets to clean the elder's bedding for three days along with their ticks; and the winner get first pick of the fresh-kill pile"
Leafstar bowed to Hawthorn That Clings To Cliff, who had led them from the Tribe Of Rushing Water to the edge of the mountains.
"Thank you, Hawthorn. Give our gratitude to Stoneteller. StarClan grant we meet again once we have settled in somewhere", The SkyClan leader said, nodding to the distant expanse of water that bordered the horizon, the early dawn sky splashing bright colours of pink and dusky purple across the snowcapped mountain peaks.
Hawthorn hesitated, his mud-streaked pelt twitching.
"Stoneteller didn't tell you everything", he said, blue eyes flashing.
Leafstar cocked her head.
"What?" She asked, her dappled white and brown pelt rippling in the predawn light.
"There are more cats living around the lake", Hawthorn blurted out. Leafstar narrowed her eyes. That would've been useful to know before sending my Clan to live there, she thought acidly.
"What are they like?" Leafstar asked, concealing her anger masterfully beneath a mask of worry, which wasn't really hard to fake.
Hawthorn hesitated again.
"They're similar to you", he said slowly, turning his head to stare at the rising sun, "There were four groups of them, moons ago when I was a tiny kit".
Leafstar felt a nagging suspicion claw it's way into her mind.
"They was Shadow's Clan, Wind's Clan, River's Clan...and there was one more..."
"ThunderClan", Leafstar finished, eyes glowing with apprehension. Would they cast her Clan out again, like all those moons ago? No, Firestar wouldn't let them.
"You know these cats?" Hawthorn asked, surprised.
"I know their leader, Firestar. He saved my Clan", Leafstar admitted.
Hawthorn's face took on a sorrowful look.
"He was a great leader. Bramble's Star lead's Thunder's Clan now", Hawthorn said
"He's dead?!"
"Right, now you may begin!" Bramblestar called as Thunderpaw and Darkpaw circled each other warily, tails high in the air as Brackenpaw, Bumblestripe, Ivypool and Bramblestar sat around the sandy hollow with gleaming eyes.
Thunderpaw feinted a paw, and watched with amused satisfaction as Darkpaw hastily leaped back.
Then, as quick as a snake, Darkpaw slithered forward and tried to swipe Thunderpaw's forepaws from under him in attempt to trip him. But with eased grace, Thunderpaw leaped off the ground and twisted mid-air so he landed on Darkpaw's back. Before his littermate could retaliate, Thunderpaw hooked his hind legs over Darkpaw's, then yanked them so Darkpaw landed on his belly with a oof!
With his brother dazed, Thunderpaw held him down so he couldn't move before clamping his teeth around his scruff and bearing him down, and in a flash, it was over.
"Nice, Thunderpaw. And Darkpaw, maybe next time you can think before you move and anticipate what your opponent will do, but for now, just watch Brackenpaw and Thunderpaw", Bramblestar said, indicating for Brackenpaw to come forward with his tail.
Thunderpaw fought back a grin.
"Three, two, one, begin!"
Thunderpaw stalked Brackenpaw in a circle while his brother matches his movements. Brackenpaw getting his right forepaw towards Thunderpaw, but Thunderpaw, already seeing no real power behind the attack took advantage of it and leaped at his brother low enough so when he twisted midair he was able to smash both forepaws down on Brackenpaw's head.
Brackenpaw grunted before sharply pushing his rump up and making Thunderpaw fly across the clearing to land with a thump on the sand. Brackenpaw, still slightly dazed from Thunderpaw's attack, stumbled across to where his brother was getting up. Recovering, Brackenpaw's pace steadied. Thunderpaw made it seem as if he was going to leap over Brackenpaw and at the last moment he tucked his head forward and rolled over, then he hooked his forepaws around Brackenpaw's and yanked as hard as he could do his brother stumbled into his waiting hind legs where Thunderpaw kicked as hard as he could at Brackenpaw's chest so his fellow apprentice hit the ground with a grunt of pain.
"Thunderpaw has won again".
Leafstar glanced at the island before calling to her Clan.
"I've made up my mind, we go to greet them".
Thunderpaw bubble with excitement, his belly was pleasantly full from the fat rabbit he had decided to share with his brothers and he was about to go to his first Gathering!
"Elder's bedding stinks", Darkpaw grumbled, as he came up next to him. Thunderpaw smirked, "You better get training then", he said.
"Oh shut up", Darkpaw replied playfully.
"Shhhh, it's time to go", Brackenpaw whispered, giving himself one last lick to make his golden pelt shine.
As they left the camp, they saw Cinderheart give them a warm smile.
Thunderpaw felt stronger than ever as they raced towards the island.
Time seemed to slow down as they waited for ShadowClan to cross the tree-bridge. But as Thunderpaw felt pebbles beneath his feet, time returned to a normal pace. As he separated from his brothers, he felt two cats come up to him. They were obviously RiverClan judging by their sleek pelts. One was a brown tom and the other was a she-cat.
"Hello, are you one of the new ThunderClan apprentices?" The brown tom asked, his voice warm and friendly.
Before Thunderpaw got a chance to reply, they heard a yowl come from the clearing.
"Intruders!" They heard some shout. Thunderpaw and the two RiverClan looked at each other before reaching of towards the noise.
They burst into the clearing to see cats from all the Clans surrounding another group of cats who looked exhausted and hungry.
"Stop!" Bramblestar's voice commanded, and at once all the insults and jibes stopped. Thunderpaw's leader stepped forward and sniffed the group's leader, who was a dappled white she-cat.
Bramblestar looked up, "Leafstar?" He whispered.