Lucky

I'm so, so, so sorry that this took so long! I kind of took a break and started drawing pictures, but now I'm back in the writing business! Again, sorry that this took so long. This chapter is super late ^^"

Thank you A Castle of Glass and Leafsplash for reviewing the last chapter!

Castle: I just think they're rushed for some reason. I'm not sure if they actually are or if they're not. But I know I have to work on description a bit more so that's why I always assume they're rushed.

Leafy: It's okay ^^ Thank you!

Chapter Six

"All of the cats coming to the Gathering, come to the exit!" Bramblestar's yowl echoed around camp and Firepaw got to her paws, excitement coursing through her. She still couldn't believe that she was going to the Gathering. It was a big honor!

Beside her, Dewpaw looked at her, his eyes glittering. "Are you excited?" he asked, his meow calm but holding a low spark of excitement in it.

"Yes," Firepaw replied, her paws tingling. Now I can finally meet the other Clan cats! Shaking her pelt, she bounded towards her father.

The ginger tabby turned her head to see Dewpaw heading towards the group with Amberpaw and Snowpaw trailing behind. Firepaw narrowed her eyes at Snowpaw, and he flinched, turning his dark amber gaze away.

Amberpaw noticed this and looked at Firepaw with a questioning gaze, but didn't say anything. The ginger tabby apprentice turned away from the trio and stared back at Bramblestar, watching his brown tabby pelt ripple in the moonlight as he paced around the exit of camp.

Her father then lifted his head, his eyes glittering in the starlight. "Let us leave. All warriors who aren't going, guard the camp!"

Cherryfeather slid out of the warriors den, her ginger pelt glowing in the light of the moon. "We'll do our best, Bramblestar," she meowed, dipping her head.

Bramblestar nodded to her and then flicked his tail, padding out of the camp. "Follow me, warriors!"

The rest of the ThunderClan cats streamed after him. Firepaw had trouble catching up to them, but seeing Snowpaw and his littermates trailing after her gave her an extra boost of speed. When she felt she was a bit more ahead, Firepaw turned her head to look back at them. Amberpaw was looking at her quizzically while Dewpaw was talking to Snowpaw, who was looking back at him with troubled eyes.

Firepaw snorted. Snowpaw was way too worried about everything. He should just be like other apprentices and only care about training!

The grass beneath her paws grew moist as the group continued on, and a flicker of unease flashed through her. Firepaw paused for a moment, shaking her head to clear it. There was nothing to be afraid of. They were only going to the Gathering.

She continued on, her paws getting matted with water more with every step. Firepaw flicked some drops of the water off her paw, wrinkling her nose in disgust. She hated getting wet.

Finally, the group arrived at a long flowing river. The moon's glow made the river shine like a star and the ripples glittered beautifully.

"We have to cross that?" Dewpaw's distressed voice snapped Firepaw out of her staring. She looked back and saw the dark gray tom pressing against Amberpaw, his eyes wide with fear. Silently, Firepaw shared his fear. She didn't like water, and that river looked really deep.

"No, you mouse-brain!" Jayfeather's voice came from farther down the river. "There's a tree trunk in the middle of the river!"

A small "oh" came from Dewpaw, and Firepaw's pelt flowed with relief. At least they didn't have to cross through the river and get their paws wet.

She followed the rest of the Clan downstream until they came across a big brown trunk, lying right in the middle of the river. Just like Jayfeather said, Firepaw thought, casting a glance towards the gray tabby medicine cat before returning her gaze to the tree trunk.

"Firepaw."

With a start, the ginger tabby she-cat looked up and saw Bramblestar sitting in front of the tree trunk, his amber gaze on her. He nodded slowly, and then meowed, "This is how we get to the Gathering island. But be careful—cats have fallen off before."

Firepaw gulped silently, then nodded at her father. The big brown tabby flicked his tail and then he padded across the smooth, glowing trunk, already halfway across. The rest of the patrol streamed after him, swiftly gliding across the brown bark like they'd been doing it their whole entire lives.

When it was finally her turn, Firepaw's paws started trembling slightly. She shakily touched the bark, and found out that it was smooth, yet wet. She shivered inwardly but pulled herself unto the tree regardless.

After a few minutes, she made it halfway across. Firepaw swallowed, her tail fluffing up noticeably. Her paws felt drenched and it seemed like the bark was making her lose her balance. Either that, or she was so nervous that she was slipping.

Hesitantly, Firepaw took another step forward, but suddenly, her hind paws slipped. She squeaked in terror, flailing into the deep water below the tree trunk. Bubbles flew around her and she was literally panicking in the water. She was losing her breath fast.

Suddenly, something grabbed her scruff. Firepaw felt light-headed, but continued flailing, trying to kick her hind legs out to hit the thing grabbing unto her. But when she was lifted out of the water, she abruptly stopped moving around so quickly.

The thing that had grabbed her placed her unto smooth sand. Firepaw blinked open her golden eyes, looking around. When she found what had saved her, her fur immediately started bristling.

"Snowpaw!" she hissed.

The white apprentice didn't seem to hear her. He looked at her, as if analyzing her, and then his dark amber gaze met her golden one shyly. "Are you okay?" he asked quietly.

Firepaw puffed at him, her gold gaze angry. "Yes," she muttered. But at her next statement, her voice rose. "Why did you save me?"

"Um, you were drowning?" Snowpaw flicked one of his front paws for emphasis. "Listen, I know you're mad at me, but—"

"Yeah, I am mad at you!" Firepaw interrupted him. "And there's nothing you can do about that. Unless you can prove that you don't care."

For the first time ever, Firepaw swore she saw bitter anger flash in Snowpaw's eyes before disappearing. The ginger tabby blinked, suddenly confused.

Snowpaw stayed silent before hissing, "Look, if you would have rather drowned, that's fine with me." With a huff, the white apprentice stormed off.

Firepaw stared after him, her expression blank. Why was he so mad all of a sudden? He was acting differently than normal, that's for sure. But… why?

It couldn't be her fault, could it?

Firepaw shook her head, clearing her thoughts. There was no way this could be her fault!

"Hey, you!"

Firepaw lifted her head, looking around. She spotted a gray tabby and white tom seated next to a gray she-cat with white splotches. Their eyes were narrowed, and they didn't look friendly at all.

Wait… Squinting, Firepaw stared at the gray tabby and white tom. He looked awfully familiar…

"What are you staring at me for? Come over here!" the gray tabby and white tom snapped, his green eyes flashing dangerously.

Firepaw flinched at his tone, and then hesitantly padded over to the two gray-furred cats, wondering what they wanted from her.

"What were you doing?" the she-cat hissed. Her pelt was bristling, and her tail was fluffed up.

"U-Um…" Firepaw stammered, looking down at her paws. This was getting bad.

The gray tabby and white tom and the gray she-cat glared at her, and she saw their claws unsheathe slightly.

Uh-oh…

So what did you guys think? I don't think this was rushed at all, and I did good on the description I think ^^ Anyways…

Firepaw's in trouble! :0 Or… is she? Dun dun dun…

And why do you guys think Snowpaw was suddenly mean? He's a calm and collected character, but suddenly he took a turn for the worst.

Well, that's it for now c: I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Don't forget to review!

~Orangeflight of ShadowClan