AN : Okay so this chapter takes place about... a moon or less after the last one. So yeah, a time skip. This chapter will feature a gathering, which is of course the one after the gathering White and Timber missed.

Chapter 8 – Whitepaw

"All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the TallRock for a clan meeting!" Lionstar called from his perch on the rock.

Whitepaw padded towards the rock and sat down by Timberpaw as the rest of her clanmates gathered.

"Greyfeather is expecting kits and will be going to the nursery soon. That will leave Whitepaw without a mentor so for the rest of her time as an apprentice, Birdwing will mentor her. Birdwing is a skilled hunter and I know her time in the nursery hasn't changed that" Lionstar announced.

Whitepaw glanced at her smiling mentor. Greyfeather had been looking plump for some time, but Whitepaw hadn't guessed she was expecting kits. Darkshadow sat beside her, their pelts touching. She guessed he was the father.

Timberpaw nudged her then glanced over to Snowpaw. Anger flickered in the older apprentices gaze.

"Greyfeather is Snowpaw and Breezepaw's mother" whispered Timberpaw "But their father... he's dead. I guess she's upset that her mother took another mate. Oh and bet she didn't know about the kits until now..."

Whitepaw shrugged and looked back up at Lionstar.

"The gathering is tonight and I will announce who is going" Lionstar mewed "Darkshadow, Squirrelfur, Icepool, Snowpaw, Timberpaw, Whitepaw and Frostpaw"

Whitepaw grinned when her name was mentioned, her first gathering!

Owlpaw looked disappointed to not be going, Leafpaw looked slightly upset for a moment but it passed and Timberpaw looked overjoyed. Snowpaw didn't seem to have been listening and Frostpaw looked proud to have been chosen.

"Meeting dismissed" called Lionstar and the powerful golden tom leaped down off the rock.

Around her cats began to continue with their duties and Timberpaw nudged her again "Let's go and talk to Snowpaw"

Whitepaw gave him a questioning look and the brown tom replied with "I just want to confirm my suspicions"

Whitepaw shrugged, Timberpaw often had odd reasons or a inner motive to why he did something, which he didn't always say.

Snowpaw narrowed her eyes at them when Timberpaw suggested they go on a walk and talk "What about your training?"

"Oh well Nettlefur took a patrol on his own and as for Greyfeather... she shouldn't mind" Timberpaw mewed "But of course we will be training later, before resting up then going to the gathering"

Snowpaw nodded and didn't give them the look of disapproval she usually gave them, which was odd.

Her mind's probably on her mother and her future half-siblings Whitepaw thought.

"Fine" Snowpaw replied, looking oddly defeated.

They headed out into the forest until Snowpaw stopped and sat down.

"So, what is it?" Snowpaw asked, not meeting their eyes but instead looking off into the distance.

"You seem.. you know..." Timberpaw mewed slowly.

"Well it's none of your business" Snowpaw muttered bitterly.

"It our job as your clanmates to look out for you and make sure you're happy, remember?" Timberpaw mewed flicking his tail at Whitepaw.

Whitepaw nodded, guessing that was what he wanted her to do.

Whitepaw sighed and looked at her paws, "She...betrayed him" she whispered.

Timberpaw stayed silent and Whitepaw decided she should too.

"He died with honour, protecting his clan. Then she forgets him and moves on... betrays him" Snowpaw murmured and sighed.

"I'm sure she-" Timberpaw began but was cut off by Snowpaw hissing.

"Of course she's forgotten! Why else does she find it so easy to be disloyal to him?"

Timberpaw remained silent and Whitepaw shrugged why are we even bothering with Snowpaw? She thought.

Snowpaw sighed "I've told you now, so there's no need to hang around"

The older apprentice stalked off and it was clear she did not want them to follow so they headed back to camp, quietly discussing their opinions about Snowpaw's situation.

When they got near camp Timberpaw changed the subject "I can't wait for the gathering!" he exclaimed, eyes gleaming with excitement.

Whitepaw flickered her tail and nodded. I wonder if something is going to happen tonight , she thought , Nightstar was hinting something...

"Hey! What made you suddenly look so serious?" Timberpaw teased as he caught her off guard and tackled her to the ground. A couple of warriors glanced in their direction before looking away, unimpressed by the two apprentices play fight.

Whitepaw had thrown Timberpaw off and the two of them were swiping at each other, claws sheathed of course. Whitepaw managed to pin Timberpaw to the ground "Looks like I can still beat you, some things never change" she whispered in his ear. Timberpaw's response was a grunt of annoyance which made Whitepaw purr with amusement.

She let her friend up and shook her white fur, which was not so white now after rolling around in the dirt. Timberpaw did the same once he got to his paws, however with his brown pelt the dirt wasn't that obvious.

Nettlefur approached them. He must have finished his patrol and now has come for Timberpaw, Whitepaw thought and she was proven correct when Nettlefur spoke.

"Since you've finished your little... fight..." the warrior mewed, looking quite amused "Timberpaw we will go on a small hunt. When you come back you will have time to rest before attending the gathering"

And that was it. Timberpaw's mentor led him away and Whitepaw was left behind. Greyfeather did not come to train so until the time of the gathering Whitepaw did nothing but rest. It was boring but she didn't bother to ask any cat to take her out. They didn't trust her to go out alone, partly becuase she was young but also because it was her. The troublemaker.

When Timberpaw got back it was getting dark. Her best friend had returned with two mice and Nettlefur had a raven. Unfortunately he wanted to rest so yet again Whitepaw had to face boredom. At least the gathering was soon.

Time passed and Whitepaw heard Lionstar's call. She nudged Timberpaw awake and they joined the gathering patrol. Whitepaw scowled at Frostpaw who had walked right up to Lionstar and started asking questions, the golden tom answered them all and for some reason was not bothered by Frostpaw or her questions.

Honestly, you'd think she wasn't annoying Whitepaw thought, frowning.

"What are you frowning about?" Timberpaw asked quietly.

"Frostpaw" Whitepaw word was enough to make Timberpaw understand.

When they arrived at the gathering place Whitepaw noticed all the other clans were already there. Lionstar joined a tom and two she cats (one that was Miststar) on a large slab of rock.

Whitepaw heard the unfamiliar she-cat leader speak coldly "You took your time.. Lionstar"

Whitepaw's leader said nothing which seemed to make her look even more.. hateful? Yes, the way that leader looked at Lionstar suggested she really hated him.

The gathering began and Lionstar began, announcing that prey was running well and that Greyfeather was expecting kits. Next was the Cragclan leader, whose name she remembered to be called Hawkstar. After Hawkstar was Miststar who spoke about how her clan was thriving.

Then Pebblestar of Streamclan.

The grey flecked she-cat scanned the clearing with her cold gaze.

"There are traitors among us. They disobeyed the warrior code" she growled "One..is someone .. you wouldn't expect to betray our code"

AN : Sorry this took so long! I was so close to just giving up! Now this chapter probably isn't well written but oh well, I hope to maybe get my inspiration back xD

Also this chapter was intended to drag on until the end of the gathering or even when they return to camp but I decided to leave it there...

Please review! It will really help with my writing/inspiration struggles! :D