Chapter 5

"A Questionable Interests."

7/31/16 - 8/1/16 - 8/2/16

Tonight was Stealthpaw's first Gathering. According to Seabreeze, the four different Clans gather on the island for one night of peace under the full moon.

The chosen cats were Skystorm, Gorseheart, Fernfoot, Leopardstrike, Crowtail, Blackcloud, Volefang and Badgerleap.

The apprentices going were Duckpaw, Flamepaw, Stealthpaw, Rainpaw, Squirrelpaw, Stoatpaw and Sweetpaw.

Stealthpaw realized this will be the first time she leaves the camp without Seabreeze.

She was suddenly overwhelmed by the large crowd of cats. Stealthpaw decided to fall in next to Duckpaw.

Duckpaw felt someone's presence next to her, she glance to her left and sees Stealthpaw. "Oh, you. We haven't talked since you came here."

"Did we?" Stealthpaw asks, half to herself and half to Duckpaw.

"Look, I wanted to let you know that you can always talk to me." Said the fluffy she cat. "And the other apprentices, too." Just then, Flamepaw shouldered Stealthpaw and caught up with Crowtail.

"Most of us, anyway…" Duckpaw said.

The ThunderClan cats stop in front of a huge, fallen tree trunk that connects to an island. Thornstar turns to his cats.

"Remember, be careful."

Stealthpaw watches the cats pad across the tree, she follows and stops in mid paw step to stare at the water below. The stream was lapping against the shore of the island and tree trunk. She crouched down and extends her paw to the waves as it kissed her paw.

She puts her paw in the water, but a bigger wave pulls her down in. Stealthpaw held her breath as she kicks her hind legs, frantically trying to get to the surface.

She saw a jet black shape dive in and swim behind her; the cat grabs her scruff and pulls her up to the surface, gasping for air.

Stealthpaw was pushed on the shore as Seabreeze ran to her.

"Stealthpaw! Are you okay?!" The silver she cat frantically sniffs her pelt.

Stealthpaw was trembling as her wet coat clung to her frame.

"I-I-I'm f-fine!" She says through chattering teeth.

A white tom was snickering as a huge, black tom shook his fur.

"You're lucky Darkwater was there to fish out your apprentice, Seabreeze!"

Seabreeze glared at the white tom as Stealthpaw shook her fur and dried herself off.

Stealthpaw remained near Seabreeze out of sheer embarrassment.

She saw groups of skinny, lean cats cross the bridge. Then another group arrived with the similar scent of the road - Thunderpath.

"WindClan and ShadowClan have arrived." Seabreeze said to her.

"Why don't you go and make some friends?"

Stealthpaw flattened her ears against her skull.

Friends? With cats who saw me nearly drown? No thank you!

Need I remind you that it was mostly your own fault for getting too close to the stream?

. You're not helping.

Who said that I was?

Stealthpaw snorted at the hidden voice.

"Stealthpaw!" The gold she cat sees Sweetpaw running towards her.

"You gotta meet some RiverClan apprentices!"

Stealthpaw felt Seabreeze nudging her toward Sweetpaw. Stealthpaw reluctantly follows Sweetpaw towards three, fish smelling apprentices. Squirrelpaw was comparing his super bushy tail to a light brown tom's fluffy tail, and Stoatpaw was looking at both tails.

"It's settled!" Stoatpaw said. "Squirrelpaw's tail is the bushiest."

"That's mouse dung!" The light brown tom spat, Stealthpaw instantly became wary.

Squirrelpaw snorted. "It's not. My tail is so bushy, it makes other apprentices sneeze every time it brushes their noses."

Stoatpaw piped up,

"It's true, Palewhisker almost made me stay in her den, she thought I had green cough!"

Sweetpaw rolled her eyes and says, "Hey guys."

"Hi, Sweetpaw." The light brown tom mewed. He notices Stealthpaw hiding behind Sweetpaw. "Who's that?"

"This is Stealthpaw." Sweetpaw said. Stealthpaw stood shoulder to shoulder with the tortoiseshell she cat. "She's our newest apprentice."

"I heard ThunderClan recruited a rogue," a black RiverClan tom said. His grey furred Clanmate elbowed the black tom.

Sweetpaw looks to Stealthpaw.

"The light brown tom is Mudpaw, the black tom is Nightpaw, and the grey one is Ashcloud, he just became a warrior."

Stealthpaw's eyes were staring at the floor when she said,

"Nice to meet you…"

Mudpaw tilts his head.

"Why are you not looking at us?"

Stealthpaw looks at him and shrugs.

"That's just what I do."

"And why do you sound like a tom?" Nightpaw commented.

Stealthpaw feels her fur become hot with embarrassment.

"I… I just do. I hear Seabreeze calling me."

With a flick of her tail, Stealthpaw turned around and left.

"She's so weird."

"Was she dropped on her head as a kit?"

Stealthpaw paused when she heard those insults. She heard girls laughing in her head and jeers in her ears.

"Retard! Retard! Retard!"

"Why don't you say something if you don't like it? Oh wait, I forgot - you're too stupid!"

"I bet you were dropped on your head as a baby!"

"No way - her mom was popping pills when she was pregnant with this moron!"

Stealthpaw sank her claws in the ground as her chest tightened up…

"Excuse me." Stealthpaw jumped when she heard a deep voice. A long legged, black tom was looking at her with his blue eyes.

"You seem upset about something."

"It's nothing, really." Although Stealthpaw was hurting on the inside after hearing those voices. "Who are you?" She asks.

"I'm Crowstar, I'm leader of ShadowClan."

Stealthpaw blinked in shock. A leader was talking to her!

"I'm guessing that your Stealthpaw." Crowstar said. "Cats were talking about a young rogue that joined ThunderClan a few moons ago."

"Are rogues really that taboo?"

"Cats born outside of the Clans are considered unworthy and filthy." Crowstar replied.

"That's why when Firestar joined, every cat was against the idea that a kittypet could be a warrior. And prejudice cats like Tigerstar take it too far."

"Stealthpaw!"

The golden she cat was surprised by Seabreeze's voice so close behind her; the pale she cat was giving Crowstar a hard glare.

"The Gathering is about to start, you should go." She said testily.

Crowstar lashed his tail.

"I know my duties. Maybe you should focus on yours for once."

Crowstar padded toward the Leader's Tree. Stealthpaw failed to notice Seabreeze's angered and hurt expression. Seabreeze taps her tail on Stealthpaw's spine, grabbing her attention.

"Let's go."

Seabreeze leads Stealthpaw back to the apprentices; Duckpaw, Stoatpaw and Foxpaw were there. Foxpaw was about to fall asleep until Stoatpaw nudged him.

"Stay alive. Mousepatch is watching you!"

Foxpaw shot up and saw the dark grey tom staring at him, he grumbles and shifts in his spot uncomfortably.

Duckpaw whispered in Stealthpaw's ear. "See that grey and white tabby?" She points to the she cat sitting next to Crowstar.

"That's Ivystar, she's the leader of RiverClan. And the tall, brown tabby tom next to Thornstar is WindClan's leader, Branchstar."

Stealthpaw nodded. Ivystar calls out, "The Gathering is about to begin! RiverClan will give their report: Cherrystem has given birth to three healthy kits. Twolegs have been seen in our river, but none have strayed too close. And we have a new warrior, Ashcloud."

Stealthpaw saw the grey tom bowing his head humbly as cats chanted his name.

"Ashcloud! Ashcloud! Ashcloud!"

Stealthpaw sees Sweetpaw cheering the loudest. Her mentor, Leopardstrike, nudged her and stared at her with a warning look.

"That is all we have to say." Ivystar nods to Crowstar. The tall tom padded in Ivystar's place.

"ShadowClan is strong as always-."

"Great StarClan," Duckpaw muttered to Stealthpaw. "He's so humble."

"And I wish to continue a discussion with Thornstar-."

"You're not getting our forest!" Leopardstrike yowled. ThunderClan cats started crying in agreement, it surprised Stealthpaw as she flattened her ears and leaned on Duckpaw's shoulder. The fluffy grey she cat looked surprised, but didn't move.

A Gathering is overwhelming when it's your first time…

Thornstar waved his tail, and his cats fell silent.

"We've had this discussion before, and the answer is no. The forest belongs to ThunderClan and that's how it will stay."

"It was ShadowClan's territory when Blackstar was leader," Crowstar growled.

"Yes, and he lost that territory and a deputy at the same time." A ThunderClan cat called out. Several ShadowClan cats hissed and stalked forward until a dark blue tom hissed, "Stay where you are! Don't sink to their level!"

Thornstar's tail tip twitched with irritation. Crowstar was always pushy and arrogant.

The previous leader Whitestar was kind and cooperative, she went against the stereotypes about all ShadowClan cats.

Why she chose Crowstar as a deputy before her passing, Thornstar will never understand.

"ThunderClan will not give up their territory for anyone. It's my final answer."

Crowstar lashed his tail, but he said nothing and moved for Thornstar to take his place. Duckpaw brushed her tail on Stealthpaw's head.

"It's over." She said. Stealthpaw removes her head from Duckpaw's shoulder and perked her ears again.

"ThunderClan has a new apprentice with us tonight. Stealthpaw, who is trained under Seabreeze."

Stealthpaw feels the stares on her pelt as the three Clans - excluding ShadowClan - chanted her name.

"Stealthpaw! Stealthpaw! Stealthpaw!"

Branchstar took Thornstar's place and cleared his throat.

"Our deputy was killed by a fox two moons ago. Deerheart will be missed by WindClan."

Every cat fell silent in respect, Stealthpaw wondered who Deerheart was.

"Lionfur has taken her place as deputy of WindClan!" Branchstar nodded to a tawny golden tom who was next to Eaglecry.

"Lionfur! Lionfur! Lionfur!"

The WindClan deputy's gaze sweeps over the crowd, and stares at one cat: Stealthpaw. Stealthpaw held her breath. Lionfur's amber gaze was so intense, her paws trembled…

"The Gathering is over!"

Stealthpaw sees her Clanmates getting up to leave. She pads next to Duckpaw as they cross the tree.

"No swimming, rogue!" Flamepaw called, running past them. Duckpaw glared at his retreating form and licked Stealthpaw's ears.

"Flamepaw's not usually so obnoxious. Just give him some time."


The next day, Stealthpaw was assigned to hunt for a squirrel, alone. She came up with an idea to leave a pile of acorns near a tree, and will wait for the squirrel to go for the bait and trap it. She hides behind a tree stump and waits.

Seconds became minutes when she saw the bushes move, and the smell of mud and swamp filled her nose.

ShadowClan! Her heart raced as she waits for the hidden ShadowClan cat to come out. A tall, black tom came out.

"Crowstar?" She whispered. Stealthpaw poked her head from her hiding spot.

"Ah, Stealthpaw, I was hoping to see a friendly face." He said, padding toward her.

"You're on ThunderClan territory," she said climbing on the stump.

"You need to leave before I get Eaglecry or Thornstar."

Crowstar flicked his ear.

"Actually, I was hoping you'd be more compassionate. My territory is small, and sometimes prey doesn't like to cooperate. So you can understand why I'm persistent to get the forest back."

Stealthpaw lowered her ears.

"I guess… But it still doesn't mean you should be here!"

Crowstar flicked his tail.

"Then meet me on the island tonight. You know where it is, right?"

Stealthpaw's fur stood up.

"Whatever for?"

"Just to talk, after all, we're friends, right?"

Stealthpaw blinks at him. Does he really mean it? Stealthpaw's tail stood up straight when she said, "Okay. I'll see you!"

Crowstar smiled and nodded.

"Very well. Oh, and here's a little gift." Crowstar went into the bush and brought out a squirrel and dropped it near the tree stump. Crowstar padded back in the bush at the same time Stealthpaw picked up the squirrel and left.


Stealthpaw places the squirrel near Seabreeze's paws that sun down.

"Excellent work." She said. Seabreeze noticed that Stealthpaw's eyes were misty and distracted.

"Is there something wrong? You look...distant."

"No, I'm fine."

Stealthpaw padded toward the fresh kill pile. Seabreeze bend down to pick up the squirrel when she smells something on it. She smells a faint scent of ShadowClan, but something more.

Crowstar. Seabreeze sank her claws in the soil. That fox heart, what did he want with Stealthpaw?

StarClan, please don't let Stealthpaw stray from her path… Like I did.

Okay, I'm in a bit of a dilemma. I'm thinking of rewriting my first, original fanfic I made in high school. It's a three way crossover of Fairly Oddparents, Jimmy Neutron and Sonic the Hedgehog, and it's called "Fairly Odd Adventure".

I plan on renaming it, of course. But I wanna know how you would feel about it.

I MIGHT do it if so, but it's been so long that I've forgotten a little bit of the plot, but I'll try my best to do it.

Until then, I hope you a good day ~.