"Alright Firepaw, try to dodge this!"
Firepaw grinned as Sandpaw sprinted towards him. Instead of dodging, he let her tackle him and rolled with her letting the momentum flip them. He slammed her down with a triumphant smirk. The ginger molly lashed out with her hind paws, kicking him in the stomach making him grunt and lose his grip. She launched herself at him again and this time he jumped back so her pounce fell short.
These last few sunrises had been fun and intense. Some mornings, Bluestar dragged him from his comfy, warm nest at the rump crack of dawn to trekk about the territory and keep an eye out for trespassers. Those days he'd be tired and grumpy, with mud all over his fur and starved by the time he came back. He'd grab prey, attend a lecture and then be free to clean his fur and finally slip back into a blissful sleep.
Other days, Bluestar let him sleep in like a normal cat and he'd wake, stretching languidly and slip from the den to bask in the morning sun for a moment. Then he'd take his time eating a larger prey like a rabbit and wait for Bluestar. She'd come by sunhigh and take him out for a hunting lesson or a hunting patrol to replace the prey he'd eaten and then start up with basic battle lessons.
Firepaw loved those days. This was one of those days.
Today Sandpaw was his partner and she was determined to get payback for their first meeting. They'd struck up a friendly rivalry regarding sparring. They were fairly evenly matched most days and many of their fights ended in draws. Occasionally, the other would come up with a move to surprise them and win the match for that day but then the score would become balanced again. Sandpaw was presently in the lead with four wins to Firepaw's three but he was determined to even out the scales again.
He feigned lashing out with his front paw and when she lunged to bite it, pulled it back in and pounced on her. He gripped her head, pummeling her with kicks while she struggled to squirm free and toss him off again.
"That's enough- Firepaw wins!"
He instantly climbed off, purring loudly as Sandpaw groaned.
"I could've taken him," she protested to Whitestorm.
"But if that was a real battle, his claws wouldn't have been sheathed- your stomach would've been shredded and continuing to fight in that condition would be dangerous," he explained. "Remember, these spars are to prepare you for a battle where claws will be out."
She groaned but accepted it and nodded at Firepaw, "Good move- it's not going to work next time though."
"I know," he said. "I'll have a new trick under my fur."
"And I'll kick your tail," she responded with a grin.
"That's enough you two," Bluestar laughed. "It's time to head back."
Firepaw trots up to dip in the Sandy Hollow they'd been training in. He squawked in protest when Sandpaw tripped him and sprinted ahead laughing. He scrambled to his paws chasing her as Whitestorm and Bluestar quickly broke into a sprint to keep up with them. He finally managed to get over her after scrambling up a higher hill and pounced. They rolled down the hill and thumped to a stop at the bottom. They wrestled until Bluestar and Whitestorm separated them. Firepaw yelped, he hadn't been grabbed by the scruff since he was four moons old and huffed as Bluestar set him down. He felt better when he realized Whitestorm had done the same to Sandpaw.
"Well, we were going to hunt," Whitestorm remarked. "But I'm sure your trampling has scared off everything from here to WindClan,"
"We can try further in," Bluestar said. "Behave you two."
"Yes Bluestar," they chorused before bursting into giggles.
They followed their mentors through the trees, Firepaw shook out his coat, dislodging any leaves and branches caught in it. He stayed close to Bluestar as he and Sandpaw made funny faces at each other in silence. He'd come a long way from struggling to get through the brambles and brush without his fur getting tugged. Hunting patrols and sunhigh patrols were quick to show him all of the hidden trails worn into the ground where a cat could seamlessly weave around thorns, branches and vines without slowing down.
Bluestar abruptly waved her tail and the whole party came to a halt. She nodded ahead so Firepaw started to move forward. She lightly batted his side and gave him a pointed look. He winced, Bluestar had been beating it into his head to always scent ahead when a patrol stopped. You never know if it's to catch something or if there was an intruder. So he sniffed the air, opening his mouth to take in everything he could. He filtered out most of the forest smell- the trees, the flowers and the dirt- and focused on the smell of cats first.
He smelled nothing but his patrol so he refocused on prey. His nose was instantly filled with the scent of mouse and he turned to Bluestar. It took him a second to remember the signal but eventually he wiggled his ears and crouched small. Bluestar smiled and nodded to him.
Firepaw readjusted his crouch to be a hunting crouch instead. He took care to make sure his crouch was balanced, waiting to be certain he wasn't wobbling. Mice, he remembered Lionheart saying, reacted faster to feeling you coming than seeing you coming. So he slid his paws across the ground slowly, only lifting his paws when he'd risk falling and poked his head out from behind the brush. Sure enough, a little brown mouse was sitting on its haunches nibbling a fallen seed. It stopped ever so often to glance around before returning to its meal. Firepaw made sure he stayed behind it, moving as quickly as he could without losing his crouch.
He tensed when the mouse looked up once and glanced around. The second it looked back down, he bunched up his hind legs and sprung. He almost overshot it, his front paws landing right next to the mouse and slid a bit. He managed to snap it up by the tail and dragged it back, quickly biting into its neck, killing it. He straightened up with pride to let them know he'd caught it.
"Well done Firepaw," Bluestar praised trotting over. "You need to learn to judge your distances better but your crouch was perfectly balanced."
"I could barely hear you," Sandpaw commented. "And I was listening for it!"
"Hunting will get harder in leaf-fall when the leaves litter the ground and crunch with every pawstep but you're off to a great start," Bluestar concluded.
Firepaw puffs out his chest strutting back to the patrol as they continue back to the camp. Right before they got there, Sandpaw made an epic hunt- catching a startled sparrow right out of the air, landing with barely a stumble. Firepaw was still very proud of his own catch but Sandpaw had been awesome back there.
"Eat and rest- the games are tomorrow and I want everyone well rested and alert," Bluestar instructed.
"No dawn patrol?" Firepaw said hopefully.
Bluestar chuckled, "I said well rested and alert didn't I?"
Firepaw cheered and did a quick spin ignoring Sandpaw and Whitestorm laughing at them. Their mentors parted away from them as Firepaw and Sandpaw veered for the fresh kill pile. They plopped down beside it and began thoroughly enjoying their hard-earned meals as Graypaw and Dustpaw (who'd been on dawn patrol that morning) scampered over to join them.
"Good spar?" Dustpaw asked.
"Yup," said Firepaw, purring loudly. "I won."
"Only because Whitestorm called the match," Sandpaw scoffed.
"I would've shredded you with my claws out," Firepaw reminded her.
"Nice," Graypaw snickered. "So what's the score now?"
"Four and four even," Dustpaw purred. "I hate to say it but you're good Firepaw. Sandpaw always beats me in sparring practice."
"Well she always beats me in hunting practice," Firepaw laughed. "She caught that sparrow right out of the air. It was flying and she just smacked it down!"
"It didn't even know I was coming," the molly purred.
"Where's Ravenpaw?" Firepaw asked, he swept the remains of his mouse aside and began to focus on grooming his fur. "I haven't seen him all day."
"Ravenpaw went to a trade," Graypaw explained. "He and Larkwing are trying to get more herbs while The Sun won't ask much for them."
"Oh, does he go to those often?" Firepaw asked.
"Yeah," Dustpaw agreed. "He's a diplomat apprentice- it's his job to talk to other creatures. Glad it's him and not me, I hear diplomats almost never get to fight in wartime so they don't get hurt."
"Ravenpaw's good for the job," Graypaw agreed. "He doesn't like to fight very much."
Firepaw stretched, "I think being a diplomat would be hard. You have to talk to dogs, foxes and crows and ravens a lot. And dogs are so big."
"I hope I have a lot more training before Havoc's pack returns," agreed Dustpaw.
"Will he be back in time for the Games?" Firepaw asked with concern.
"Of course," said Graypaw.
"Good, I hope he saw Ahasra."
"Your sister?"
"Yeah, I wanna know how she is and how far she's gotten in her training."
"Training? Is she an apprentice too?" asked Graypaw.
"Yes in the kingdom," Firepaw agreed. "She said she was gonna be the best guardian ever and I wanna see if she made it."
"What is she learning?" Sandpaw asked. "Is she like Ravenpaw?"
"I don't know," Firepaw admitted. "Little Fangs don't usually decide until a few sunrises after being assigned a tutor."
"Oh," said Dustpaw, looking curious. "That seems.. late."
"When do you guys decide?"
"Four or five moons old," Graypaw informed. "When you get apprenticed, you're assigned to a warrior of the class you asked for."
"Oh," Firepaw blinked. "Wait, what are you guys?"
"Redtail is a hunter," Dustpaw purred. "I'm going to be a cool hunter like him."
"And Lionheart is a guard cat," informed Graypaw. "When I'm done with my training, all the clans will be shaking in their skin. Sandpaw is a hunter in training too."
"I'm going to hunt a boar like Fleetfoot one day," Sandpaw grinned. "I'll drag it to camp and be the greatest hunter ever."
"Bluestar was a guard cat," added Graypaw. "So you'll be pretty fierce too."
"Huh," said Firepaw. It felt a bit strange to be the only apprentice who didn't choose their path. But he supposed that was the price to pay for being an outsider- he came in older than the average cat does to choose their path and so, he was assigned based on the skills he showed. Firepaw was already a good fighter- something his clanmates still commented on- and so, he was placed in a position where being a good fighter was useful.
"Hey don't worry about it," Graypaw said, taking his silence for upset. "Some older warriors have re-pathed before."
"Really?"
"Yeah, my dad was a guard at first but he decided that he enjoyed hunting more," Sandpaw informed.
"Your dad?"
"Redtail."
"Oh, cool- so I can become something else if I want later on?"
"Yeah, you'll just have to ask Bluestar and she'll re-apprentice you," confirmed Graypaw.
"I think you'll make a good guard," Dustpaw said. "You're a real threat with your claws."
Firepaw grinned, "No one will dare come after us."
"I sure try to pass sparring with you."
"Cause you're a mouse in cat fur," purred Sandpaw. "You're just like Ravenpaw."
"I am not! I can fight!"
"But you're bad at it."
"I'll get better!"
Firepaw rolled his eyes fondly. They had this argument every other sunrise at this point. He leaned to his left and gently prodded Graypaw to get his attention.
"I'm going to lay down," he whispered. "See you tomorrow."
"Alright, sleep well Firepaw," Graypaw said, nuzzling his cheek.
Firepaw got to his paws and trotted beside his arguing friends excited for his nap.
"Firepaw? Come on Firepaw!"
He lifted his head with a yawn and stretched- he extended his claws and then extended his hindlegs. He gave himself a firm shake and glanced into the excited yellow eyes of Ravenpaw.
"Come on, it's sunhigh and you really won't like it if you go to The Games without eating at least a little."
Firepaw yawned again and nodded trotting after him, "Alright let's go."
The other apprentices were already gathered near the fresh kill file. Sandpaw and Dustpaw were bickering again sharing a large hare, shoving each other back and forth. Graypaw purred seeing them approaching as he polished off the vole he was eating.
"Hey guys!" he called energetically. "Hurry up and eat Firepaw- Bluestar's already made some rounds so she'll be calling us to go soon."
"Okay, okay," Firepaw laughed and swiped a sparrow from the top of the pile. He set out to eat it as quickly as he could, keeping an eye on everyone. He'd just finished his snack when Bluestar walked to the peak of the Highrock allowing them to stand on the edge, drawing attention from the cats already sitting out in the clearing. Like he'd seen before, Bluestar waited, watching cats already in the clearing go around gathering others from the side or were tucked away. After a moment she called out, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the highrock for a clan meeting!"
The remaining cats gathered in the clearing and they settled in to listen, several cats wiggling about excitedly.
"As you know, today is the day of The Great Games! I have spoken with Redtail and Larkwing and we now have the cats who will be going."
She paused, allowing everyone to quiet down from their excited murmurs before continuing, "Mousefur, Lionheart, Longtail, Thrushpelt, Willowpelt, Sandpaw, Dustpaw, Graypaw, Ravenpaw and Speckletail. Everyone gather by the gorse tunnel and prepare to leave. Whitestorm will remain as a temporary deputy." Bluestar leapt from the highrock and strolled down back to the ground.
The cats not picked groaned but Firepaw wiggled with delight grinning at his fellow apprentices.
"You won't all always be going," said Willowpelt. She licked Graypaw's cheek, earning a whine as he pushed her away. "You're all new apprentices so you need to be announced."
"Are all apprentices announced?" Firepaw asked.
"At the Gathering closest to them, yes." agreed Willowpelt. "It's mostly tradition now but we used to do it so the rest of the clans know to treat the apprentices more carefully."
"Like in battle?" Firepaw asked following her to the group of cats sitting by the gorse tunnel.
"Yes," agreed Willowpelt.
Firepaw watched her vanish into the crowd of cats with anticipation prickling under his pelt. He couldn't wait to meet the other clans- especially WindClan. His father had talked on and on about how amazing Talltail was and ThunderClan seemed friendlier towards them than any other clan.
Finally, all the cats had gathered together and trekked through the gorse tunnel. It started out as a calm, jaunty strut with most cats talking between each other. All too soon their slow walk became a quick trot which then morphed into an unbridled sprint. Firepaw had first thought their original sprint through the woods when he joined had been merely a test of endurance- a way of seeing how much training he'd need to be an effective member of ThunderClan. Now he knew better, when traveling as a group, ThunderClan liked to move fast, swift and seamless. As if they were short, clawed deer leaping through the brush.
All chatter had died off as he and the others focused on their pace. The grass tickled his paws with every step and the sun continued to warm his muscles beneath his skin. In just a few days he'd come a long way from being stopped by every rock, log and stream. Now he sprung from rocks as if the ground was flat, sprinted along logs like they were merely sloped ramps and leaped over smaller streams in a single bound.
Finally the silent sprint came to a close as they came upon a ridge. Firepaw looked up in awe at the four enormous trees that made up Fourtrees. It was like they stretched into the sky, as if Rayushu himself could step from the sun and sit upon their leaves. He panted looking around at his clanmates, all of whom were recovering their breath or licking down ruffled pelts to maintain appearances.
"Is everyone ready?" Bluestar asked after a moment. When all of the cats meowed or nodded their agreement she continued, "Then let us grace the others with our presence."
With that head held high, Bluestar led a confident group of ThunderClan cats into the clearing. He looked around in amazement at the sheer number of cats and differing smells surrounding him. Sleek furred, large and bulky cats that reeked of fish, long legged and thin cats chattering in the background. He felt a nudge on his shoulder and turned to a grinning Graypaw and Ravenpaw.
"Look!"
Firepaw followed the pointed tail over to a group of apprentices talking eagerly with each other as a large, brown tom dragged his paw through the dirt making a visible line. Firepaw tilted his head as the apprentices all moved behind it.
A race.
Firepaw darted to the edge of the track purring with excitement, settling down on the edge with other cats gathering around them. As he took his place as close as he could get without being in the way, he counted seven apprentices taking part in the race, all of them sending grins at each other.
"Are you ready?" began the tom who'd drawn the line. "Set!"
The apprentices all tensed.
"Go!"
The seven apprentices shot off like rabbits pursued by a fox. Paws thudded on the ground and he shook his head as a bit of dirt was kicked up near his face, coughing a little he refocused as the cats around him promptly began cheering them on. As soon as he could see, Firepaw realized quickly that this race wasn't just about speed, otherwise the WindClan apprentice may have won- said apprentice wasn't paying close enough attention to the ground, toes caught in a stick and went tumbling head over tail into the dirt. Another apprentice couldn't adjust his stride on the slick grass portion of their track and went skidding, falling over and slamming onto his side.
Firepaw found himself thoroughly invested in the race, calling out encouragement for all of them and eagerly yelling for fallen apprentices to get back up. Towards the end of the race, a lithe and fast silver molly broke ahead of the group and jumped. She didn't even try to gain traction on impact, merely allowing her momentum to send her flying over the finish line a tail ahead of a smokey tom.
The other apprentices rushed across the line, panting but congratulating the winner all the same. The tom who'd started the match yelled out a proud, "And the winner is Silverpaw of RiverClan!"
The cats around him cheered even louder as Firepaw turned to Graypaw and Ravenpaw.
"How many other games are there?"
"Let's find out."
The games were easily the most fun Firepaw had had in moons. He managed to get third in another apprentice race that had started after Silverpaw's win then quickly moved onto a sparring tournament that he got second place in, defeated by Pinepaw of ShadowClan. Then he'd cheered on a spar between a pair of warriors from RiverClan and ShadowClan- Tidestorm and Frogleap respectively. Graypaw landed second place himself in a tree climbing competition and Ravenpaw had defeated them both in a leaping challenge, easily snagging the leaf that had been left in the tree.
He'd even seen Sandpaw being declared the winner of her own sparring match, Dustpaw having nicked second place.
As the apprentices began to settle down, resting and regaining energy lost in competitions, Firepaw watched the older warriors begin to work on more official actions. Larkwing spoke with the WindClan diplomat named Grasswhisker and the few monarchs who'd been allowed to join, sat speaking of kits, their behavior and how to handle things like nipping while nursing and kitten cough.
The medics were trading herbs and several of the hunters began trading prey. Thrushpelt and Willowpelt exchanged a raccoon and a few shrews with a pair of RiverClan warriors for crayfish and duck. Firepaw would leave the duck for the rest of ThunderClan but he was determined to get at least one crayfish when they returned to camp- he'd never had one of those before.
Graypaw nudged him over to where the elders were reciting more stories of clan history and myths. Just as he had the story of Fleetfoot, Firepaw found himself entranced by the story of Sunpelt and his desire to avenge the many lives taken by the bear sized adder, Mouthfang.
"Sunpelt thought to himself and then turned to Mouthfang," recited the ShadowClan elder Nightpelt. "I want you to become no larger than a cat's tail. Do this and I will let you live. Mouthfang nodded, 'as you wish' she said. And then turned into one thousand snakes no longer than a cat's tail."
Firepaw gasped, "Oh no!"
He ignored the amused looks from his fellow apprentice while the elders seemed pleased with his investment in the story. Nightpelt straightened up proudly as he finished the story.
"Sunpelt tried his hardest- he killed many of the small snakes but there were just too many. Sunpelt sat in his small pile of dead snakes, stunned and horrified. He picked up a mouthful and trudged back to LionClan. Goldenstar was furious but in three days he returned to Sunpelt. 'Feel no more guilt Sunpelt. You are not the first to be fooled by a snake- and you'll likely not be the last.' And that's where all the adders of the forest came from."
Firepaw purred loudly and started to ask for another story when a yowl came from the entrance of the edge of the clearing.
"That'll be The Buckers returning," commented Nightpelt.
"Buckers?" Firepaw asked.
"The best hunters in all four clans," said Sandpaw, watching the entrance intently. "They team up and hunt a deer and drag it all the way back to share with everyone here."
"Wow," said Firepaw.
"I'm gonna be a Bucker," Sandpaw said with determination. "And I'll lead the hunt myself."
"I believe you," said Tumblepaw of WindClan. "You were fierce in all your challenges."
Sandpaw puffed out her chest a bit more, looking a tad smug.
Sure enough, the Buckers returned with large pouches hanging from their mouths. The cats closest to them backed out of the way looking amazed. Firepaw could understand- the cat bringing up the rear was proudly dragging part of an antler.
"The rest," proclaimed one of the hunters. "Is on the edge of WindClan territory."
"Yes!" hissed Tumblepaw. "Deer instead of rabbit!"
"You don't like rabbit?" asked Firepaw.
"It's all we've had for sunrises- I'm glad to have variety."
Firepaw nodded his acknowledgement as Thruspelt- one of ThunderClan's best hunters- proudly marched over carrying his satchel of deer, his chest fur smeared with blood. Thrushpelt came directly toward the apprentices and set it down in front of them.
"Take a piece," he said. "There's enough for each of us."
Firepaw eagerly grabbed a piece and stepped back so Graypaw could get his next. As he began to eat, he watched the other hunters walk about sharing their pieces with the rest of their own clans. He was partially done when a loud yowl rang through the clearing.
"As the moon is now at its highest and the sky at its clearest, may we all sit together as if we were one for this moon's Gathering!"
Firepaw turned his attention instantly to the four massive trees in the center of the clearing where each of the clan leaders sat upon the large rock at the base of its roots with their deputies sitting in front of them on the ground near the rock. The diplomats- for he saw Larkwing joining the group- all gathered on the right side of the rock and the medics to the left. Firepaw watched as the cats wordlessly began to sort themselves back into their original clans.
He tilted his head. Wasn't the idea that they behave as one clan? Why separate? He shrugged it off, there were still many traditions and silent rules to clan life that he didn't know yet.
"Many many seasons ago," began Bluestar. "On a moonlit night much like this one, a battle took place between the old founders of the clans. Kits fought their sitters, mates sank their teeth into each other's throats, littermates turned their claws on each other and blood stained this very grass as bodies littered the ground."
Stormstar, a massive brown tabby who's jaw seemed unaligned took over, "Their leaders led them to this. Led to so many souls taken far sooner than they should've been. They lingered upon the battlefield, pain in their eyes watching their beloved clanmates continue to die in droves- falling like rain in new-leaf."
A broad shouldered, messy furred tom with a clawed ear ("Raggedstar," whispered Sandpaw) continued the tale, "The four leaders were exhausted and their hearts were heavy but they continued their fight, determined to make the lives lost mean something. Convinced if they didn't win, if the others didn't die, it'd all be for naught."
"They lunged to clash one last time when the moon's light died in the sky. It fell and between the leaders was Moonsoul, staring angrily at them. 'Do you not see the pain you've caused? The lives you've taken over them ceaseless violence?' she demanded. The leaders looked around and for the first time, the haze faded," lectured Tallstar.
"'Fight no more' she commanded," Bluestar continued. "Let this night, the night of the full moon be a night where grievances are put aside, where wounds will be allowed to heal, where you remember that you are all one clan. Then she gathered the spirits of the dead and placed them in the sky one by one, filling it with stars."
"May we all be reminded that we are just cats in StarClan."
The clearing was dead-silent, Firepaw was holding his breath. His claws sank into the soft earth, meal mostly forgotten. He glanced about, to see solemn expressions on the faces of elders and those closest to other clans nudged each other gently. Apprentices shuffled closer to their present mentors and each other. Even the leaders seemed… warmer, more open. The clearing remained silent for a moment more before Stormstar spoke, "Which clan would like to speak first?"
"We," announced Raggedstar.
"Then ShadowClan may have the moon," Stormstar said.
Raggestar climbed to the center of the rock that had been left alone (intentionally Firepaw now realized) and stood in the brightest pool of moonlight on the rock.
"ShadowClan has been prosperous," he announced. "We have two new apprentices- Wetpaw and Mudpaw."
Firepaw flinched in alarm and then listened in awe as all four clans promptly began cheering for the two apprentices as if they were their own. He managed to spot them as the ShadowClan cats moved so the apprentices were near the front and therefore, visible to all the clans. Wetpaw- a long furred brown tom- raised his head proudly as Mudpaw a mottled molly smirked. When the cheers died down, Raggedstar continued.
"We also have three new warriors- Nettlewhisker, Beestripe and Lilypelt."
This time, Firepaw cheered alongside his clanmates for the new warriors.
"The prey runs well in our territory and we haven't seen fur nor claw of Havoc's pack in sunrises so ShadowClan has nothing else to report."
With that, Raggedstar leapt back down onto the rock beside Tallstar who took the opportunity to climb up.
"WindClan also has a new apprentice- Barkpaw! Alongside our latest warriors, Misttail and Mintfang!"
Firepaw cheered, seeking out the cats mentioned as Tallstar went on to say that they'd been suspiciously Havoc free as well but warned the others of a hawk that had been spotted circling near the edge of the trees. Stormstar took up the next report announcing the new warriors Carpfin and Blackear alongside the apprentices Shadepaw and Heavypaw. Looking at the round bellies and strong builds of the RiverClan cats, he wasn't surprised to hear that the fish were plentiful and that no one had smelled hide or fur of any of the packs- even the ones of Courage and Valiance.
Firepaw felt his pelt prickle with discomfort and concern. The lack of the packs made him nervous- he made a mental note to tell anyone he saw on the stretch to keep an eye out. If they weren't near the clans, then they must be roaming closer to The Sun or The Skulks.
Finally Bluestar stepped forward.
"Wishsoul is at ThunderClan's side as well," Bluestar announced. "Since the last moon, Longtail is our latest warrior!"
Firepaw decided not to cheer for the lanky tom who took the chants of his name with a proud grin and smug expression. It was petty, but until Longtail apologized, Firepaw wouldn't have anything to do with him. He waited patiently as the cheers died down and Bluestar continued.
"We've also been blessed with many new apprentices- Sandpaw, Graypaw, Dustpaw, Ravenpaw and Firepaw!"
Firepaw smiled as their names were chanted. He noted the slight discomfort on the faces of the older cats at the number of ThunderClan apprentices. Remembering his lessons with Xibo, he wasn't surprised- ThunderClan showing off so many apprentices was a massive display of power. Of course, he'd also noticed that many of the other clans spoke of apprentices back home- something ThunderClan didn't have.
"It was on purpose," Ravenpaw whispered to him. "Larkwing says that we have to show strength to discourage poachers."
Firepaw hummed his acknowledgement. It made sense- especially with how large and powerful RiverClan seemed. With all of them being new apprentices, ThunderClan didn't quite have the power they needed to defend Sunningrocks. Then Bluestar proved his concern about the packs to be valid.
"Recently," Bluestar continued. "Larkwing reported that The Balo have seen an increase in ambushes from Havoc's pack and recently they've started targeting fox kits."
"What?!" snapped Tallstar in horror.
Cries of horror arose from the gathered cats as apprentices were pulled further into the center of the cats.
"Yes," Bluestar said grimly. "As of the last three sunrises, The Balo have reported a total of seven missing kits- four of which have been found. Or at least, what was left of them. I urge you all to keep your young apprentices close and your kits closer."
"How could they target kits?" an elder protested.
"Adult foxes are harder to fool," said Stormstar. "They must be luring them away from their parents. Bluestar is right: we should keep all kits confined."
"And report any and all scenting of Havoc's pack within any section of our territories," said Raggedstar firmly. "We won't let them hunt us willingly.
"That is all we have to report," Bluestar concluded. "Does anyone else have something they'd like to share with the other clans?"
When no one spoke up, she nodded, "In that case, this Gathering is over. Let's all return to our clanmates and may the Souls guide your paths."
"May The Souls guide your path," all of the clan cats echoed to each other and with that, the leaders scrambled down from the rocks and walked towards their clans. The diplomats touched noses and separated, the medics bid each other goodbye.
"Diplomats are kind of like a clan of their own," Sandpaw said, noticing his stare. "They all want their own clans to be great- without being at the expense of another."
"Sometimes medics hold grudges against the other clans because they have to heal their clanmates' injuries," added Graypaw. "So diplomats are closer than they are."
Firepaw stretched his tired muscles as Bluestar began to lead them away.
He couldn't wait to sleep for a moon.
