Tonight was the night of the gathering. the Shadow Clan was just as lifeless as always. Since the war started Shadow Clan had actually grown quite small and they hadn't been attacking as much as expected. For the time being they were laying low. A young apprentice sat talking infront of the nursery with a kit. The apprentice was brown tabby tom with glowing amber eyes. The kit he was talking to was gray and ginger tom with curious blue eyes. He listened to the apprentice thoughtfully.
"So, you ready to get the nursery all to yourself, Soulkit?" The apprenticed asked. Soulkit nodded. The two other kits he shared the nursery with would be moving out to become apprentices soon. He was looking forward to having the nursery all to himself. "I'm gonna turn Tallkit and Flowerkit's nest into a play nest. You could come in and play with me sometime, Deapaw!" Soulkit bounced happily.
Deadpaw smiled at his younger brother. "If I ever have time."
Just then, a she-cat came out from the nursery. She had a gray pelt and red ears. She shared Soulkit's bright blue shade of eyes. Soulkit jumped around his mother's legs. "Guess what, mom? Deadpaw is gonna play with me."
"Not right now, Soulkit. You need to go to bed. The others will be leaving for the gathering soon." The she-cat, named Crabclaw, looked up at the moon. It was shining brightly overhead.
Soulkit sighed and obiediantly walked into the nursery. "yes, mom."
Crabclaw watched him go before turning to her eldest son. Deapaw had originally been born with two other kits but they had both died soon after birth. Soulkit was born alone. She nudged Deapaw's shoulder. "Go one, now. Look everyone is beginning to leave." She pointed with her tail to a large group of warriors and apprentices by the opening of the camp. The leader Flamestar, a light red tom with fur sticking up at odd angles and dark hazel eyes, stood infront of the group. Deadpaw nodded and rushed to join the other apprentices. Blizzardpaw, a black and white tom with blue eyes. And Weedpaw, a black tabby tom with amber eyes. The two were brothers and would be warriors soon. Blizzardpaw flexed his claws impatiently. Weedpaw touched his shoulder reassuringly. "We're leaving soon."
Deadpaw padded up to them. "hey guys."
"Hello, Deadpaw." Weedpaw greeted. The group of cats began moving out of the camp. The three apprentices followed. Blizzardpaw bounded to the front to stand beside his mentor. Deadpaw and Weedpaw stayed behind to chat quietly. "How's apprentice life so far?" Weedpaw asked. "I've been an apprentice as long as you. How do you think it's going?" The younger apprentice answered. Weedpaw laughed nervously. "Right, right. How's Crabclaw?" Deadpaw shrugged. "I don't think she ever thinks about it anymore. I don't even think Dad cares."
Deadpaw glanced over at his father. A brown and ginger tom with green eyes named Mudwing. Deadpaw sighed. He loved his father a lot. but Mudwing barely ever noticed him.
Soon enough, the Shadowclan cats reached the lake and began walking around it towards the island. The two apprentices remained silent as they crossed into Riverclan territory. Deadpaw didn't like the twoleg place they always crossed through. He was afraid a twoleg would jump out of one of the nests and attack them. When he first became an apprentice the older apprentices told him stories about the twolegs. How they'd lock cats in small silver nests and feed them to their monsters. He shivered at the thought. he'd only ever seen a monster once while on a patrol. Luckily it was sleeping.
The mighty pine trees of the island barely came into few over the dark horizon. They were getting close. Scents filled the air. Deadpaw could smell Riverclan and Windclan. Thunderclan wasn't quite as strong as the other's but was still recognizable. The bridge came into few and Deadpaw say a group of cats crossing it. The cats smelled of fish and water plants. he noticed a very small and shaky gray she-cat crossing the bridge.
Somehow Weedpaw was able to say what he was thinking. "That old weasel is still a leader?"
Weedpaw was answered by a cuff around the ears. His mentor Crowfoot, a black tom with large paws and deep amber eyes, had appearantly been behind them the entire time. "Don't be rude, Weedpaw. Smallstar is a very experienced and wise cat. Even if she is a little nuts she is still much higher up in the rankings than you. Show some respect." The young warrior scolded his apprentice. "Yes Crowfoot." Weedpaw dipped his head apologetically.
Deadpaw snickered and put a paw on the log bridge. "Come on. I think the other clans are already here." Deadpaw walked across the log carefully. he didn't dare look down at the pitch black water. Once on the other side he gracefully jumped off and waited for Weedpaw. As soon as Weedpaw was over to the nodded and went separate ways. Deadpaw was looking forward to talking to a certain apprentice he had met a few moons ago. It didn't take long to spot her. Across the clearing sat a pale gray she-cat with blue eyes. She was talking with another she-cat that looked almost just like her.
Deadpaw padded over to them. "Pearlpaw!" He called. Pearlpaw looked up and smiled. "Hi there Deadpaw. This is my sister, Clampaw. She swished her tail towards the other she-cat. Clampaw nodded at Deadpaw without saying a word and padded away. Deadpaw watched her awkwardly.
"Sorry. She isn't a very social cat." pearlpaw laughed awkwardly. Deadpaw nodded in understanding. "I know a few cats she'd get along with." Blizzardpaw crossed his mind. The black and white tom never really was the type who enjoyed a friendly conversation. the two broke out into laughter.
sadly, there laughing was cut short by a loud and mighty meow coming from the edge of the clearing. The leaders were situated on their tree. Every head in the clearing turned to look at the four clan leaders. On the lowest branch was the leader of Riverclan, Smallstar. A very frail and old she-cat. Pearlpaw sighed. "She won't last much longer." On the other side of the tree sat Sandstar, the leader of Windclan. he had a dark yellow pelt and hazel eyes. His musclular shoulders sat relaxed yet powerful. Above Sandstar was Shadowclan's leader. And on the highest branch was Thunderclan's leader, Lightningstar. A light yellow tabby tom with friendly blue eyes.
Deadpaw rolled his eyes. "Of course Thunderclan's leader would be at the top." Pearlpaw nodded in agreement. "From what I've heard they used to make up fake procephies about themselves and say they were from Starclan to seem important. At least that's what Hallowtail says." Deadpaw gasped in disbelief. "How dare they use Starclan's name in vain! That's awful." They fell silent as the leaders began their announcements.
Lightningstar went first. "Starclan has blessed Thunderclan with much prey and many new herbs." He glared at Flamestar for a moment. Deadpaw remembered the raid they had done to Thunderclan a few moons back. He hadn't gone but he remembered the warriors talking about destroying the herb supply. No-leaf was coming soon. With no herbs the clan would get very weak.
Flamestar was next. "Starclan has also blessed us with much prey. Shadowclan is in wonderful shape and we hope to continued like this for many moons." Deadpaw recognized this as a lie. prey was scarce nowadays. Twolegs had chased all the prey away with their loud boomsticks. And the clan definitely wasn't in good shape. many lives were lost in the raid on Thunderclan. Including the old deputy, Deathfang.
Next was Sandstar. "Windclan was been going very well since our last gathering. I'm happy to say that my mate, Obsidianeye, has given birth to our very first litter of kits." Calls of congratulations broke out among all the clans. Sandstar held his head high.
The last one was Smallstar. her deputy, a orange and gray tom with blue eyes named lakebreeze, sat beside her. What Smallstar said was quiet and impossible to hear. Lakebreeze repeated for her. "Riverclan was been very lucky with how much prey we have caught." Pearlpaw nodded at this so Deadpaw was sure they weren't lying like Flamestar.
Lakebreeze continued. "We would like to introduce you to our new warrior. Shrewfur." Once again, shouts of congratulations broke out among the cats. They chanted Shrewfur's name.
Once the chanting died down Smallstar smiled. She shouted in a very raspy voice. "May Starclan light your path!" And with that, she collapsed. Just like that the entire island sprang to life with horror. Lakebreeze had got her by the scruff just in time before she plummeted off the branch. pearlpaw tensed beside Deadpaw. "I knew she shouldn't have come." She murmured and sprang forward to help her clanmates. Deadpaw stepped forward. Seeing the leader of an enemy clan fall should have filled him with joy and triumph. But it only formed a rock in his chest and made his heart sink. Deadpaw realized that the other clans were gathering into groups. It was probably time to go. he bounded over to join the other Shadowclan cats.
All gatherings usually ended in dread of knowing that he might want day have to fight those other cats in battle. But this time he felt even worse than usual. Smallstar reminded them all that any cat can die in the blink of an eye. He suddenly didn't like the idea of Soulkit being a warrior.