Chapter 3 – Gathering

Please continue reading… I need more readers. Ehehe. Things are heating up and the plot is starting. Next chapter will be god… hopefully. Ahaha.

Here it goes…

A fresh green field lay under her paws as she inhaled deeply. Where was she? This was so…peaceful. But where exactly was she?

"Goldenpaw…," a voice whispered.

The golden-red she-cat pricked her ears as she swivelled around, searching for where the voice was coming from.

"Goldenpaw, hello," the voice mewed as a dark ginger she-cat appeared.

"Who are you?" Goldenpaw asked as she felt an unusual tingle going up her spine. This she-cat looked…. Familiar.

The she-cat's eyes softened. "I am Squirrelflight. Your ancestor."

"Squirrelflight! What – Why are you her?"

"To warn you.."

Goldenpaw gulped as she cautiously murmured, "Warn me about what exactly?"

Squirrelflight' eyes dimmed in worry. "A dangerous fate is coming to the forest… or rather is at the forest. It has been lurking now… But it is slowly appearing."

"What's been lurking?" the apprentice blurted, curiosity overwhelming her.

"The enemies of the Lion. Tigerclan is reappearing Goldenpaw. Only you and the chosen can save the clans. The kin of great will save the forest and the five clans."

Goldenpaw blinked and slowly took everything in. Her eyes were wide in shock. "Lion? Tigerclan? Me and the chosen? Who are they? Firestar's enemies?-- Tigerstar? Scourge?" she exclaimed.

"Shh... Meet them at Island after the Gathering. After tonight's full moon… spirits will rise and the forest will never be the same," Squirrelflight mewed as she and the scenery, began fading.

"No! Squirrelflight, don't leave me here!" Goldenpaw yowled. Her surroundings were black. Nothing could be seen. Goldenpaw shivered as she saw a pair of amber eyes burning. They sent shivers down her spine and tremendous fear came upon her. The eyes… so ominous… so terrifying… so familiar.

"Goldenpaw!"

Fangpaw poked the she-cat with his claw. The eyes were gone. Squirrelflight was gone.

"What is it?!" Goldenpaw snapped.

Fangpaw stepped backwards as he regained his balance. "Wolfstar is going to the Gathering now. You, Owlpaw, Snakepaw and I are going."

The apprentice jumped in excitement, forgetting her annoyance to the older apprentice. "We're going now?"

Fangpaw nodded as he touched his nose to her muzzle. "We better get going or they're going to leave without us," he meowed as the pair quickly went over to the cats that were going to the Gathering.

"I'll se you later," Goldenpaw murmured to Fangpaw as she padded off to join her sister.

"Goldenpaw… Did you notice Fangpaw lately?" Snakepaw immediately asked.

Goldenpaw tilted her head to one side in confusion.

"You snapped at him and he didn't even glare at you! If anyone else did that, Fangpaw would've bitted their tail off. He likes you," Snakepaw cried playfully.

"Whatever…"

"C'mon Goldenpaw…," Snakepaw complained. "He's not ugly… and he has such cool long fangs! He's one of the best apprentices and he might even be deputy!"

"Snakepaw. We're going to our very first Gathering! At least act excited and stop gushing over toms!" Goldenpaw replied. "All the great warriors are going to be there."

"Like Demoneyes, Flameshadow, Greenshade and Tigerfang!"

"And Rainstar and Lionstar," Goldenpaw added.

"How about Pantherstar, Riverclan leader?" Snakepaw asked.

Goldenpaw slightly winced and faltered but soon nodded. "Yeah, him too."

"Goldenpaw! What is with you right now?"

The apprentice looked at her sister, shaking her head. "It's nothing," Goldenpaw replied.

"Okay…-"

"Get ready you two and Owlpaw. Your first Gathering. Socialize and talk to other cats…. But be secretive," Brackentail warned.

The trio nodded anxiously as the Thunderclan cats entered the clearing. All the famous, great warriors were there and scents mixed together. Goldenpaw was full with excitement as she gazed at the cats.

"I see new apprentice," Skypaw mewed.

Goldenpaw growled as she spotted a white tom with grey patches. He had Shadowclan scent all over him. "What about it?" she replied.

"Skypaw! Don't taunt," a pale she-cat meowed as she padded up beside the tom.

"Whispersong…," Skypaw insisted.

In a sudden, two grey-blue apprentice padded over with friendly, glittering eyes.

"I'm Duskpaw. Windclan apprentice. This is my sister, Bluepaw." The larger one greeted.

Bluepaw dipped her head as two more apprentices went to join the group.

"Hey. I'm Snowpaw of Riverclan," a tom mewed.

Goldenpaw blinked as she stared at, not Snowpaw, but the tom that came with him… he looked quite familiar…

"I'm Snakepaw! This is my sister, Goldenpaw." Snakepaw nudged Goldenpaw as she shook her head quickly.

"Yeah. Hi," Goldenpaw murmured.

Goldenpaw strained her neck as she tried to catch the tom's eye. He looked like… Who was he? And why did she feel like she remembered him?

"I'm Blizzardpaw of Riverclan," he meowed as he glanced at Whispersong but he refused to look at Goldenpaw.

"Whispersong. You became medicine cat?" Blizzardpaw asked.

The beautiful she-cat nodded in agreement. "Yup. Smallflower took me to Moonpool and I now officially earned my name," she meowed proudly.

"That's great—" Goldenpaw mewed sarcastically but she immediately regretted it. Why did she just say that?...

Skypaw stared at Goldenpaw, narrowing his eyes.

"Hey.. Um—" Bluepaw began but was cut off by Rainstar's yowl.

Everyone stared up at the great tree, seeing the leaders sit majestically. It was like looking up into Starclan. Wolfstar, Pantherstar, Rainstar and Lionstar all looked at the cats below them.

"I will begin. Cats of all clans. Windclan is going excellently. But lately we smelled… Shadowclan on our territory. We found a dead rabbit on our territory and it was infested with Shadowclan scent. Later on… we smelled Shadowclan cats all over our territory. So… What is your explanation Lionstar?" the silver tabby growled.

Lionstar, a heavy-set brown tabby, glared at Rainstar. "Hear me out Rainstar. First of all, no one in Shadowclan step a paw in your territory. We are not like Blackstar from the Firestar time. I certainly didn't give any orders to invade your space."

Rainstar hissed as her fur bristled. Goldenpaw quickly looked at Duskpaw and Bluepaw and than at Whispersong and Skypaw. Duskpaw narrowed his eyes at the two Shadowclan cats as Skypaw unsheathed his claws.

"Well if you are done Rainstar, Shadowclan is doing prosperously. Whispersong has just earned her medicine cat name. In addition to Rainstar's new, coincidentally, we scented Riverclan on our territory. Whispersong, Smallflower and Pebblerain were out looking for poppy seeds. They knew the exact place of where they were and instead, they found Riverclan scents everywhere. How do you explain yourself, Pantherstar?" Lionstar mewed, his eyes giving off a hint of his temper rising.

The huge, black tom swivelled around his eyes flaring in rage. "What? Riverclan has honour so I wouldn't lie to you. I did not give any orders to any Riverclan cat to go through your territory."

Whispersong and Skypaw both glanced at Blizzardpaw and Snowpaw. Blizzardpaw's ears flattened on to his head as he met Whispersong's gaze.

"And to continue this matter, Lionstar, Rainstar… Thunderclan have been scented all over our territory as well."

Wolfstar bristled as his muscles clenched. He stood in silence as he glanced over to Windclan. "Windclan is not so innocent. The scent of your clan has been caught a while ago and just yesterday, they seemed fresher."

"What?! Don't lie to me Wolfstar," Rainstar spat.

"Lie? I have more dignity then that."

As all leaders bristled there was a moment of deadly silence. Clan cats glared at each other. Who were lying? Who weren't lying? Goldenpaw noticed that the group she was sitting with, were now more apart, hissing at each other once in awhile.

The wind whistled through t he air until Pantherstar finally spoke. "Well, I have proof. Wolfstar, do you not recall the time when a kit of yours crossed the border and tried to attack a kit of ours? Specifically, this kit was even your own daughter and that little runt of yours, tried to attack my son. Who knows.. after a moon or two that you would try to steal our territory."

Goldenpaw's eyes widened in shock as she trembled. That time… she meant that kit. What was his name?... The apprentice panted as she felt that she was responsible for Wolfstar's weakness here and now. The she-cat strained her neck as she tried to catch Blizzardpaw's eye but he too was alarmed… she could just see it. Why was Blizzardpaw alarmed? Blizzardpaw… Blizzard… he was that kit she met!

"Quiet! That was an accident. And do not dare to call my daughter a runt. She has a name."

"… Goldenpaw?" Snakepaw whispered faintly as her eyes were brimmed in confusion.

"Hey Goldenpaw…," Owlpaw hissed as he stared at her in disbelief.

Goldenpaw dipped her head down, trying not to meet anyone's eyes… especially her father's.

"Hey Blizzardpaw… is what dad…," Snowpaw began until Blizzardpaw hissed abruptly.

"Lying mouse-dung," Pantherstar meowed defiantly.

"Why do you call Wolfstar mouse-dung Pantherstar? You are far worse then him. I knew Wolfstar long… he is honourable," Lionstar cried.

Wolfstar blinked and flicked his tail to Lionstar's direction in thanks. The Thunderclan leader needed as much help as he could get.

"Rush to the enemies' side, eh Lionstar? Why? Everyone knows you crossed on to Windclan territory," Rainstar taunted.

Lionstar bared his fangs as he seemed like he was about to pounce on to Rainstar. The clan cats too were glanced at each other, their fur pricked and white teeth bared.

"Rainstar. Do not act innocent," Wolfstar finally replied.

"How dare you speak to our leader like that," Flameshadow hissed.

Violetpelt, Thunderclan deputy, turned to face Flameshadow. "Wolfstar is only telling the truth," she meowed.

Goldenpaw looked around her… this wasn't right. Were the Gatherings always like this? Something was terribly wrong! Thunder clasped with the sound of all the Starclan cats yowling but no rain fell. Goldenpaw looked up at Wolfstar, the two meeting each other's eyes.

"Stop! Violetpelt, Brackentail, Owlpaw, Snakepaw, Goldenpaw, Aircloud, Foreststorm, Lightheart, Fangpaw, Adderscale and Darkmoon. Back to Thunderclan camp immediately. Starclan is angry with us! Back to our territory," Wolfstar's voice roared.

The leaders stopped bickering as they all parted, the cats following their leaders. Goldenpaw, Whispersong, Bluepaw, Duskpaw and Blizzardpaw all mewed their goodbyes either quietly or tauntingly. Goldenpaw sighed heavily as she attempted to talk to Blizzardpaw, but halted, deciding not to. The she-cat turned her back quickly. She thought she just saw… eyes.

"C'mon Goldenpaw," Fangpaw mewed as he rushed to her side.

Goldenpaw blinked thoughtfully as she nodded. Soon, she was walking with the rest of the cats, going back home.

"Goldenpaw… did you really fight Pantherstar's son when you were a kit?" Fangpaw asked.

Goldenpaw's whiskers twitched as she looked down at her paws. "Well… not really—"

"That was really brave," Fangpaw suddenly meowed.

Goldenpaw purred slightly but stopped purring when she felt him touch her shoulder with his tail.

' Meet them at Island after the Gathering. After tonight's full moon… spirits will rise and the forest will never be the same'

Goldenpaw froze as she remembered those words. After the Gathering… She panicked, not knowing of how to escape the group of cats, without being noticed. How would she escape Fangpaw?

"Fangpaw! Get over here. We have to discuss about tomorrow's training," Darkmoon called.

Fangpaw hissed. "Ughh. Fine!" he spat as he unwillingly left Goldenpaw's side.

"That was easy..," Goldenpaw chuckled to herself. (A/N: I know that cats can't laugh… please bare with me.)

As soon as she was sure that no cat was glancing at here, she slipped away into some bushes. "Back to the Island…," she whispered. "Back to the island.." She steps were light and quick. She felt like she had no more strength… yet Squirrelflight's strength was inside her.

Goldenpaw bent down into a prowling position. She didn't want to be seen. Squirrelflight had told her she would meet the others here… who were the others? She shivered as a cool breeze past by. She padded into the clearing cautiously staring around her, bracing herself for any contact. It was so dark… and only the moon gave off the light.

"What are you doing here?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing."

Goldenpaw's ears pointed into the air as she heard voices. Seemed to be voices of around three-four apprentices… she wasn't sure. Who were they? Did Squirrelflight visit them too? The she-cat walked more swiftly, and soon she found herself in a clearing and the cats whose voices she heard earlier, appeared. Goldenpaw froze as her eyes widened.

"It's you!" she cried.

End

I hope this is long enough! Sorry for the long wait of update! So… who do you think the cats are?

Goldenpaw: Obvious…

Blizzardpaw: Shush!

Goldenpaw: -sticks tongue out-

Let me continue. The next chapter… should I continue Goldenpaw's POV or should I start Blizzardpaw's?

Blizzardpaw: Me… because I'm so handsome!

Goldenpaw: Pshh..