"RiverClan's last," Cinderpaw whispered.

Foxpaw scoffed. "Even Robinstar's ahead of them." A nearby SkyClan apprentice turned to glare at the dark ginger tom.

Foxpaw stared back innocently until she turned away, then added loudly, "But I'm right."

The gray SkyClan apprentice hissed.

"RiverClan's coming," Slatestar drawled. Foxpaw rolled his eyes.

"Finally."

As Flashstar took his place next to Silverstar, Slatestar's voice rang through the clearing.

"Now that RiverClan has so kindly decided to show up, let the Gathering begin!"

Flashstar glared at Slatestar and stepped forward. "I'll go first. Mistpoppy has delivered two beautiful, healthy kits, Applekit and Birdkit."

Foxpaw looked around and noticed a RiverClan tom, Rainfur, looking very proud. He's probably the father.

Flashstar continued. "We also have two new apprentices, Spotpaw and Brightpaw. Their mentors are Stormclaw and Ivynose."

The cats in the clearing cheered for the RiverClan apprentices. "Spotpaw! Brightpaw!"

Foxpaw narrowed his eyes as he remembered the annoying tortoiseshell and white she-cat. She doesn't deserve cheers. Flashstar's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Thistlepaw became Thistlestripe about a half moon ago."

"Thistlestripe! Thistlestripe!"

Foxpaw saw a handsome, fawn colored tom soaking up the attention. He hissed under his breath. What a big-headed fish-face.

Flashstar continued, "Although the river froze, some of the smaller streams are still providing us fish. We have, however, moved most hunting patrols to our part of the forest."

Cinderpaw snickered. "Poor wittle WiverClan, they lost their fishies!"

The same SkyClan apprentice who had glared at them earlier turned around. "Will you guys shut up? I'm trying to focus!"

Cinderpaw smiled cheekily at her. "Whatever you want, Bossystar."

Duskstar interrupted their bickering with his report. "WindClan also has new warriors, Smokepatch, Stoneclaw, and Fernheart."

After the cats called out the new warriors' names, Duskstar ended on, "And we have been having great success with keeping the prey pile full."

Slatestar stepped forward as the black leader retreated to the back. "We have one new apprentice, Foxpaw." Without waiting for the cats to congratulate him, she barreled on. "We have also welcomed Squirrelstep and Bristlefern to the elders' den." The gray she-cat stepped back.

Foxpaw's pelt was burning with embarrassment. Why didn't she pause to let the other cats yowl my name?"

Cinderpaw stroked the dark ginger tom's flank with her tail. "Maybe she didn't want to waste time. I'm sorry," she meowed sympathetically.

Shaking his head, Foxpaw listened to Robinstar talk about four new kits born to Blossombreeze, and Silverstar complained about WindClan overstepping boundaries. After the Gathering ended, Foxpaw followed Slatestar to the exit and was surprised when a familiar tortoiseshell and white she-cat beckoned to him. He stopped.

"What?" Spotpaw looked down.

"I… I just wanted to congratulate you on becoming an apprentice."

Foxpaw blinked in astonishment.

He opened his mouth to reply when she turned and fled into the crowd of RiverClan cats.

Foxpaw stared for a second, until Cinderpaw's calling jerked him out of it.

Hmm. She really is a two-faced mouse-brain.