Silverpaw sat huddeled underneath the Calling Willow, it was the day of the Gathering and she couldn't wait to see who would go. Hopefully it was her and Frostpaw. This would be her first time out at night in two moons!

''Cats of MarshClan, as you all know, tonight is the night of the gathering, so, the cats who are going are:

Voletooth, Leopardflower, Thistleface, Owlclaw, Mothfur, Riverpath, Autmnfall, Ashpelt, Brightfang, Willowheart, Shine-eyes, Splitface, Silverstripe, Silverpaw, Greypaw and Cherrypaw.''' He mewed as he jumped off of the Calling Willow.

Silverpaw's body was a mixture of different emotions. At the soung of her name she was happy and exited, then at the soung of Greypaw's name, she felt angry, Then when she heard Frostpaw wasn't going, she felt sad. She sighed and padded off to the fresh kill pile, choosing a plump vole before settling down and eating it. Her sister came over to her and Silverpaw started blurting out words.

'''I'msosorrythatyoucouldn'tcomeipromiseIwilltellyoueverythingthathappens,Iwishyoucouldcomeitwon' ,itisnotfairandihavenofriends.''

''Silverpaw, Silverpaw. Slowdown. Its ok. Its not your fault I'm not coming. Anyway, you should make more friends without staying with me all the time.'' She said, licking Silverpaws ear.

''I guess you're right. Well, I should get going. Wish me luck!'' She mewed as she bounded off towards the group.

''Remember, stay as a group. We cant afford anymore deaths. Now, we must be off. Twilight is coming.'' And with that, the group were off.

Silverpaw gazed at the moonlit forest. It was beautiful. The moons rays turned the bushes a silvery-green and shadows were etched even on the faintest claw marks on trees, the world seemed so still, so peacefull, yet so alive, with the scufflinmg of small creatues and the hootingb of owls. So peaceful. But then she thought of the creature. A big black shadow that could come out at them at any moment, its jaws clamped over one of their necks, blood staining its muzzle. Silverpaw shivered at the thought, trying to push it out of her head. A branch snapped and a split second later, a mouse came out, running from something... THE MONSTER! Silverpaw arched her back and hissed, awaiting whatever beast came out, prepearing for her possible death...

Then, out of the bushes came a slice of moonlight, white as a feather. Seemingly glowing in the moonlight, but as it stepped into the shadows, it became clear that it was a cat.

''A kittypet!'' Mewed a very confused greypaw. ''Surely this isn't the monster that we fear!''

Silverpaw now saw a bright pink collar with a bell on it.

''And lets be glad its not.'' Growled Duskstar. ''What is your name?''

''My name? Oh, i'm Sheen! Nice to meet you!'' The she-cat seemed totally unaware that these cats could tear her to shreds in an instant. Duskstar looked at his warriors. Silverpaw, Mothfur, escort this kittypet back to her nest.'' Silverpaw and Mothfur nodded and led the white cat home.

''Sheen, don't come into the forest at night ever again.'' Silverpaw mewed.

''Why?''

''Because there is a monster, a creature, that kills any cat that wanders at night.''

''Oh!'' Sheen exlaimed. ''Thats terrible! Why don't you come live with me?'' she asked.

Silverpaw froze, living the soft, comorfatable life of a kittypet? Living in a cooped up space? Only poking her nose out whenever she pleased? That was no life!

''I am sorry, but i must say no. I have lived in the wild all my life. I wold never be happy as a twoleg pet.''

''Oh, ok, come back if you re-think my offer!'' She yowled before jumping over a fence and into a twoleg garden.

''Well done, young Silverpaw. No true warrior would have taken up that offer. Now come, lets get back to the group.''

The group trecked on for a bit longer before reaching Three Rocks-the Gathering place. It was in a deep hollow with three slopes and three rocks angled towards each territory.. In the centre there was a mighty tree that the leaders stood on, with lower branches for the deputies.

Duskstar gave the signal for all of them to go down the slope, and so, all the cats streamed like a river down below. once they reached the bottom, she dispersed from the group and looked for any cats that she could make friends with. though she had already been to three gatherings, she had only really stayed with her sister. She walked around determinedly, this was her chance to make new friends!

As she carried on her search, however, it bacame clear that most cats already had a group of friends. So, she crept towards the edge of the hollow, she walked alongside it, her mind flying to a different place.

She thought of the kittypet-Sheen. Of how her coat gleemed like a mighty StarClan warrior. Then of her offer. How could Silverpaw live the soft life of a kittypet!

Suddenly, she felt her chest slam into something and her hind paws lift into the air. Then in a heartbeat, she was face down in the dust. She got up to see a small ginger tom looking at her wide eyes and then running off into the crowd. She tried to run after him but she was too dazed to really take in the situation in its fullest. She sighed and lay down, hearing the leaders' caterwaul.

''Welcome to this moons Gathering! We have some sad news to adress; Whitefoot is dead. He was struck down by the night-prowler. But, on a happier paw, prey is pleniful and we are stronger then ever. Foxstar?''

The MarrowClan leader nodded and held his head high. ''Prey is in abundance and we have driven out a fox and badger.'' He scuffled his paws and tried to look humble, but his eyes betrayed sadness in his gaze. ''Windstar? What does your clan have to say?''

''Well,'' the black-and-white tom started ''Prey is plentiful. We are healthy and no dangers have been found, I am sorry for your loss of Whitefoot.''

The leaders were now talking and together and all the other cats were talking and sharing tounges. Silverpaw turned and curled up in a ball and started licking a paw and drawing it over her face, little did she know, a pair of eyes were watching her from a small cave behing one of the rocks. Slowly a shadow creeped a short way to pouncing distance. It pounced and dragged her back to the cave... A darkness consuming her.

''Why did you do this! Cloverpaw!'

''She needed it.''

Silverpaw's eyes shot open and she lept up, back arched and pupils slits. She saw green eyes floating in the shadows. This was it. She was dead. Hang on. The shadow has amber eyes. Has it had shadow kits!? Her breathing quickened as she wracked her brain for possible answers.

''Woah, woah, easy. We're no threat.'' Mewed the shadow with green eyes.

''Yes. I dont want any harm.'' Mewed another voice, quieter with a hint of fear.

''i am sorry, but you kit-napped me!'' silverpaw hissed.

As Silverpaws eyes adjusted to the dim light she saw the outline of a black she with white paws, and the other cat, now she could see. It was a she. A dark tabby with a white muzzle, underbelly and paws.

''I am Cloverpaw. Thats Snowpaw.'' Mewed the black she-cat.

''Welcome.'' Mewed the tabby cat.

Silverpaw still didn't trust the black cat.

''Sorry for kit-napping you. But we didn't have any other choice.''

''YES YOU DID! I HAD SO MANY OPTIONS!'' Hissed Snowpaw. Her tail lashing.

''As i was saying before I was so rudely interuppted, we saw you were lonely and so, i helped.''Cloverpaw mewed.

''Thanks. Anyway. I'm Silverpaw.'' she said.

''Silverpaw, we must be off now.'' mewed Snowpaw. ''Bye.''

''See you soon!'' Cloverpaw yowled behind her shoulder.

Silverpaw smiled and raced off to her Clan, smiling at the thought of new friends.