Here we go. In this chappie, we will meet several cats who will be very important later on in the story, pay attention to how our main characters react to them. In this chappie we also say hello to the Littlewhisker character. For those of you who are too busy to read the authors notes at the end of the chappies please take the time to read the notice at the end of chapter five. Anyway, on with the story!

Special thanks to xNymphadoraxTonksx and my awesome beta Queen Annie-Ferny Cullen. Check out their stories!!

Disclaimer: I don't own warriors; however I share ownership of the plot and characters with Leafdrop and Snowstorm25 so watch it! (Tehe… I forgot the disclaimer thingy in the last few chappies. Don't hurt me!!)

Chapter 6: The Gathering

Snowpaw's POV

The apprentices walked over to the Medicine Den to find Leafpaw sitting close to the entrance, trying to eavesdrop.

"What's going on?" asked Snowpaw.

"Sshh!" snapped Leafpaw, "I'm trying to hear what they're saying! Ravenpelt, Eaglestar, Windfur, and Rainpaw are all talking about something!"

Snowpaw pricked her ears trying to make out what the cats where saying.

"…are you sure that's what you saw Rainpaw?" said Eaglestar in a rather fearful voice.

"Yes. I-I think it meant that he is free to take over if the chosen cats can't stop him," replied the timid voice of Rainpaw.

"Did StarClan say anything about who these cats might be?" asked Ravenpelt.

There was silence for a moment. Snowpaw felt uncomfortable. Rainpaw have visions of some cat taking over? What had the world come to?

Rainpaw broke the silence. "I saw my sisters and me looking back at him, as if to challenge him. I have no idea if StarClan meant that it's us or if we are 

just going to be affected by him," she said in a voice barely above a whisper, Snowpaw was straining her ears.

"What do we do, Windfur?" sighed Eaglestar.

"There's only one thing we can do," said Windfur, her voice filled with stress and confusion, "wait for a clearer sign and try to stay as alert as possible. I would say its best not to worry the Clan, or the apprentices for that matter."

"Then there is no more to discuss. We will wait for a clearer sign."

Ravenpelt was out of the den before Snowpaw could move a paw-length. The black she-cat gave the three apprentices a long look before specking.

"Rainpaw will be along in a moment. You three had best be getting some food. You're going to tonight's gathering."

Leafpaw's POV

Leafpaw could only stare, dumb-struck, at the Clan deputy. She was going to the gathering? But how? She and her sisters had only been apprenticed a few days ago! Most apprentices didn't get to go to gatherings for at least a moon. Leafpaw sighed; it was obvious they had only been invited because of their little eavesdropping session. Ravenpelt most likely thought that the excitement of a gathering would keep their minds off of what they had heard. Leafpaw smirked as she laid eyes on Snowpaw, who was jumping up and down like a maniac. Ravenpelt's plan had obviously worked on Snowpaw.

"Can you believe it?" cried Snowpaw excitedly, jumping up and down like a kit. "WE'RE GOING TO THE GATHERING!"

The white apprentice continued running around like a manic.

Leafpaw waited for Snowpaw's show to be done. She was equally excited, but didn't go overboard. She could also see the jealous eyes of the other apprentices looking at Snowpaw.

"Snowpaw, can't you be quieter about this?" Leafpaw scolded Snowpaw.

"But, but, this is great news!" Snowpaw shouted.

"Yes, I know," Leafpaw sighed, "just be quieter…"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Snowpaw mewed.

They continued to pad to the apprentice den. 'What the heck was Rainpaw talking about?' Leafpaw thought, suddenly remembering what she had overheard, 'Could it be something to do with a prophecy? That's what it sounded like. What if Rainpaw has an ability like I did? What if Snowpaw has one, too?' Leafpaw furiously shook her head, as if saying no. 'That's impossible, what I did was just a fluke. Wasn't it? You're being stupid, Leafpaw.'

"-Paw, are you okay?" Snowpaw asked.

"What?" Leafpaw said finally snapping to attention.

"Are you okay, you seem a little dazed," Snowpaw repeated.

"Yea, I'm fine," Leafpaw smiled.

They padded when Leafpaw's stomach rumbled. "Oops, sorry," Leafpaw mewed in embarrassment.

"It's fine," Snowpaw chuckled, "let's get some food and wait for Rainpaw. Besides you look really tired from today."

They padded over to the pile of fresh-kill. Snowpaw picked a rabbit, and took to where they usually ate. Rainpaw was taking a very long time to come out. The sweet aroma of the fresh-kill overtook Leafpaw. Before she knew it, she started to take her first bite of the fresh-kill, Snowpaw started right after her.

"Hmmm, I see you were hungry," Rainpaw giggled.

"Rainpaw," Leafpaw and Snowpaw simultaneously shouted.

She padded over by them and started eating the rabbit, too. 'I really want to ask her about what she was talking about," Leafpaw thought, ' But I can see the worried look in her eyes, even if she's trying to hide it. What should I do? I can't tell them about our father. That would just bring even more shock onto Rainpaw and Snowpaw. I'll tell them when they can handle it.'

Leafpaw sat up, her stomach full. She looked at Snowpaw who looked at the food, still hungry. It seemed that Snowpaw still didn't notice Rainpaw. Ravenpelt padded to over where they were.

"You guys get ready, we're leaving for the gathering soon," Ravenpelt mewed.

'Could that be another reason Stormheart tried to keep me away from the camp?' Leafpaw thought.

They padded to the edge of the camp, prepared to go to Fourtrees.

"Hi, Snowpaw," a voice called out.

Eaglepaw slowly padded up to Snowpaw with a smile. Leafpaw and Rainpaw shared a knowing grin. This was first time seeing Snowpaw so shy; Snowpaw was showing a slight blush on her cheeks beneath the fur.

"I think I'd better go see Windfur. I think I may have a thorn in my pad from earlier," Leafpaw made an excuse.

"I'll help you," Rainpaw replied.

"Wait, what," Snowpaw mewed.

Before Snowpaw could say anymore, they left.

They chuckled slightly to each other.

"Cats of WindClan!" yowled Eaglestar from the Tallrock, "Let the cats that have been chosen leave for tonight's gathering!"

Rainpaw and Leafpaw slowly padded along with the other cats. They watched Snowpaw try to converse with Eaglepaw.

"Do you think they'll end up together," Rainpaw asked with a twinkle in her eye.

"I hope so, they seem happy," Leafpaw replied.

"I wish, but I hope the prophecy isn't about us," Rainpaw whispered, thinking no one could hear her.

"I knew it," Leafpaw sighed.

"What?" Rainpaw asked.

"You had some kind of prophecy and you won't tell us," Leafpaw mewed.

"I'm sorry, Leafpaw. Eaglestar doesn't want me to tell you or Snowpaw. Even if he did let me, I don't think I'm ready," Rainpaw sighed.

"Fine," Leafpaw surrendered and then thought, 'It's not like I can't tell you something, too. Why must we be all secrets?'

"I knew you'd be the one to notice," Rainpaw sighed, "Sometimes I wish you weren't aware of things like this."

"You're lucky Snowpaw hasn't noticed, she'd be bugging you non-stop!" Leafpaw chuckled.

Snowpaw's POV

"Are you excited for the Gathering or what?" Eaglepaw said as he and Snowpaw padded along with the group, oblivious to the others.

"Yes! I can't wait! I wonder if we'll meet any other cats and toms from other clans!" Snowpaw said, realizing her mistake when she said 'meet toms from other clans'.

"Oh. Eaglepaw, I meant to be friends! Nothing else!" Snowpaw said desperately, hoping he'd forgive her.

Eaglepaw chuckled at an unknown joke, and then said, "I was joking, Snowpaw, calm down! I knew you'd fall for it"

They laughed all the way to Fourtrees, Eaglepaw supplying the jokes, and Snowpaw laughing so hard she was oblivious to Eaglepaw staring at her intensely.

Leafpaw's POV

Before they knew it, they had arrived to Fourtrees. Leafpaw looked in awe of it, the four trees spread evenly under the starry sky. Leafpaw looked at Rainpaw, but she was not there. Rainpaw was by Windfur over by the other Medicine Cats. Snowpaw was still talking to Eaglepaw so Leafpaw decided to wander around. It looked like, besides WindClan, two other Clans were here. Meaning the one clan had not arrived yet.

"Hello," a voice said behind her.

She swung back to see a tom talking to her. His size made it obvious that he was an apprentice, too.

"I'm Russetpaw, from RiverClan," he said.

Leafpaw blushed a little and mewed, "Hi, I'm Leafpaw from WindClan."

"Russetpaw, hurry over here," another apprentice called and walked over to them.

"Come on! ShadowClan haven't even arrived yet," Russetpaw whined.

"Who's this?" the tom wondered.

"This is Leafpaw, she's from WindClan," Russetpaw introduced.

"Hi, I'm Timberpaw, another RiverClan apprentice," he introduced.

That's when another group of cats came in; Leafpaw knew that was ShadowClan from when Russetpaw said earlier.

"See you," Russetpaw rushed away with Timberpaw.

The blush that burned Leafpaw's face slowly faded away.

"Come on, over here!" Snowpaw called out, "The Gathering is starting."

Leafpaw hurried over to Snowpaw and Rainpaw, but her mind was still on Russetpaw. 'Idiot, you are not thinking about someone from another Clan. Snap out of it.'

Rainpaw's POV

Rainpaw followed her mentor into the clearing of the Fourtrees. The young apprentice marveled at the four massive oak trees that sounded the clearing and gave it its name. The clearing was filled with cats, more cats than Rainpaw had ever seen in one place in her entire life. So many different scents! She recognized ThunderClan scent and one other cat scent that reminded her of water, she guessed that must be RiverClan. ShadowClan were nowhere to be seen. Despite feeling extremely paranoid, Rainpaw couldn't help feeling a wave of excitement as her Clan entered the Gathering. Snowpaw and Eaglepaw had gone off to talk to some ThunderClan apprentices and Leafpaw was talking to a tom apprentice, also of RiverClan.

"Come along, Rainpaw!" called Windfur cheerfully, "I want you to meet some of the other Medicine Cats before ShadowClan arrive!"

"Yes, Windfur," replied Rainpaw.

Windfur lead Rainpaw over to a group five of cats sitting near a large boulder-- the Great Rock.

"Greetings, Windfur," said a small dusky brown she-cat, "is all well in WindClan?"

"Good evening. Littlewhisker, I would like you to meet my new apprentice, Rainpaw," replied Windfur. "Rainpaw, this is Littlewhisker, she's the ThunderClan Medicine Cat. The tabby cat is Heatherfur, Deputy of ThunderClan, and the brown tom is Shortstripe Medicine Cat of RiverClan.

"It is good to finally meet you at last Rainpaw, StarClan has had much to say about you and Windfur does like to brag about how her little niece is going to be such a fine Medicine Cat," said Littlewhisker.

Rainpaw blushed at this.

"Am I correct that you have just started your training?" asked Shortstripe.

"Yes. Ravenpelt somehow got Eaglestar to take us to the gathering."

Shortstripe chuckled, "That Ravenpelt, she never breaks the rules, although she does tend to bend them a lot these days. When I was a young cat like yourself we had to wait at least a moon into our training before we could come to a gathering... Unless we were exceptionally talented, then our mentors liked to show off," the old tom finished, flicking his tail at Windfur, a teasing sparkle in his eyes.

"She is very talented, highly advanced for her age. She knows half the herbs already!" bragged Windfur.

"Wow, that's something," said Littlewhisker, "As an apprentice I had quite a bit of trouble remembering all those names… I lost count of how many times I gave a cat marigold and called it yarrow!"

"Say Rainpaw," said Shortstripe, "my apprentice, Cloverpaw is talking to some ThunderClan apprentices over there, why don't you go join her?"

"Ok." Rainpaw padded over to the group of cats- two toms and a she-cat that Shortstripe had indicated and sat down.

"Hi. I'm Rainpaw," she introduced.

"Hi, nice to meet you, Rainpaw," said the she-cat, "I'm Cloverpaw of RiverClan and this is Streampaw, also of RiverClan, and Honeypaw of ThunderClan."

"Hi!" said Streampaw.

Rainpaw couldn't help noticing Streampaw's eyes; they were like big amber pools. She looked deep into them and found wisdom and kindness, something she really needed at the moment. Rainpaw longed to blurt out all of her problems with the strange dreams and prophecies to the RiverClan tom, but the rational part of her brain stopped her; after all she just met the cat and they were standing in the middle of a crowded gathering.

"Are you two done staring at each other yet?" huffed Honeypaw, sounding rather annoyed; there was also a hint of jealously in his voice.

"Sorry," muttered Rainpaw and Streampaw.

"Oh, lighten up, Honeypaw!" said Cloverpaw, the gathering is about to start, ShadowClan have just arrived."

Rainpaw snapped in attention. Her worries about Darkfur had returned this time accompanied by curiosity; after all, her father might be among them. The apprentice wondered what her father would be like…

Just then, Rainpaw laid eyes on the new group of cats that had entered the clearing. ShadowClan raced into the clearing, but the cat who jumped up on to the Great Rock to stand with the other leaders wasn't Brownstar- ShadowClan's elderly leader. In fact, it wasn't even Hawkfur.

It was Darkfur.

DUN DUN DUN DUN!! CLIFFY! More coming soon, but reviews will make it come faster! A nice long lengthy chappie is currently in the works.

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