CHAPTER 1

"Joypaw, I will be your mentor." Joypaw purred happily. She was six moons old today and I had just become and apprentice. To make things even better her mentor was to be the clan leader, Pepperstar! Joypaw's ginger brother, Redpaw, was to have Pepperstar's Deputy and mate, Hoof pad, as his mentor.

"Joypaw, Redpaw!'' The clan chanted joyfully.

"Before we go and eat I have another announcement.'' Pepperstar called "The Gathering is tonight. The cats that shall come are, I, Hoofpad, Shinepool, Blackwind, Bluebrook, Skyheart, and our two newest apprentices, Joypaw, and Redpaw. Please join Hoofpad at the Willow after we've eaten.'' Pepperstar jumped down from the Wet Rock and came over to her new apprentice.

"Congratulations,'' the orange leader purred, "Stay with me at the gathering tonight. You will see many new things and may get confused. We don't want you leaving with another clan.'' Her eyes clouded with pain and Joypaw wondered why.

After she ate Joypaw wandered over to the towering Willow. She saw Hoofpad waiting for Redpaw.

"Why is Pepperstar so worried about some one leaving with another clan?'' She asked the blue-gray deputy.

"You will understand soon.'' was all he would reply.

Soon all the cats that were to go to the gathering were assembled. Pepperstar and Hoofpad led the cats to Rock Ravine.

There were no other clans in the Rock Ravine. Joypaw followed Pepperstar around the Ravine as her clan mates found comfortable places among the stones and moss. Pepperstar jumped up onto one of the four giant red rocks that stood side by side and surprised Joypaw by inviting her up onto the rock.

Suddenly cats streamed down one side of the ravine.

"That's Airclan." Pepperstar mewed. The leader craned her neck to catch a glimpse of some one in the other clan. She purred as Airclan's golden leader jumped up onto another one of the Red Rocks, her purr turned high and squeaky, and then into a low growl as a young cat, about Joypaw's age jumped up onto the Rock beside her leader.

"Bronzestar," She yowled. " What is Silverpaw doing here?"

"How does she know my name Bronzestar?" The silver apprentice asked her leader.

"Bronzestar ignored the silver cat. " I thought it was Airclan's gathering." He mewed simply.

" I clearly remember it being Oceanclan's turn!" Pepperstar growled and the fur on her neck began to bristle.

"No more fighting!"

Joypaw turned to see a gray cat on another Red Rock. She guessed this must be Honeystar. a blue-gray apprentice stood next to him.

"You're right." Pepperstar mewed. She let her fur lie flat on her back again. "Whatever happened and whichever clan's turn it was what's done is done and we cannot change it." (If you don't understand now you will in the next chapter)

A new clan of cats, which Joypaw guessed must be Skyclan, streamed down the rocks. Their snow-white leader, Snowstar, jumped up onto the remaining Red Rock with another silver apprentice. Snowstar sighed when he saw the other apprentices but did not complain. Joypaw was getting confused and was getting worried when he mewed, "They are all here now, we shall have to tell them soon. But let us have the gathering first."

No clan had any special news; Joypaw fidgeted nervously while she waited for the leaders to end the gathering and tell them what was going on. She and the other apprentices were surprised when the leaders asked their deputies to lead the clans back, saying that they and the apprentices were to stay at Rock Ravine for a while. She noticed Whitewind cast a longing look at the young apprentices before calling Skyclan together and leading them away.

The leaders looked at each other and jumped off the Red Rocks. The apprentices followed. Pepperstar looked at the four apprentices.

"Now," she mewed calmly, " We shall tell you everything."