(Hey guys! I plan on making Hollypaw have a disability. A lot of people I see making Hollykit headcannons make Hollykit seem really cool and awesome, and I don't doubt that she isn't. But I want this story to be unique. So I'll add a twist! Also, expect more chapters, its Winter Break! And I'll be writing another story as well. I'm not going to say to go and read it, but this is more of a reminder to myself!)
Dark clouds lingered heavily over camp. Flamepaw was snoozing in her den, curled up next to her sisters, well, her foster sisters.
"Flamepaw! Fernpaw! Sorrelpaw! All of you!" Brightheart poked her head into the den, her fur ruffled against the cold. "Bramblestar is about to announce the cats for the gathering."
Flamepaw lifted her head groggily, feeling her surrounding heat vanish as Fernpaw and Sorrelpaw bolted out of the den, excited for the gathering. Hollypaw didn't say anything, but rather gingerly poked Flamepaw on the shoulder then bounded out.
"Fine, I'm coming." Flamepaw groaned, lumbering out of the den. Riverpaw was already out there, and her sisters were gathered around Bramblestar, their eyes eager.
"... And Sunpaw, Riverpaw, Flamepaw, Hollypaw, Sorrelpaw, and Fernpaw will be attending the gathering." Bramblestar finished up the announcement, already beginning to set out of camp, Squirrelflight by his flank.
"Finally! You sleep like that's the only thing you do!" Flamepaw heard her mentor snort. Brightheart appeared next to her, still in the process of rolling her eyes. "Are you excited for your first gathering?"
Flamepaw's eyes widened, her claws sinking into the ground as she got a rush of excitement. "You bet I am!"
Brightheart smiled warmly, and looked ahead, her muscles rippling under her pelt.
Flamepaw felt a pelt brush up against her's. She turned her head, happy to see her sister, Fernpaw, by her side. Fernpaw's eyes were gleaming, full of excitement.
"I wonder what the other clans are like! I wonder if they're big! And if they're nice!" She bounced lightly on her paws.
Flampaw rolled her eyes. "Well, I don't know if they're nice. I think that Shadowclan might be mean though."
"Well duh!" Fernpaw laughed slightly, eyes lighting up even more as the island came into view. She bounded ahead, leaving Flamepaw behind.
Once the reached the bridge, Flamepaw glanced nervously at Brightheart. The dark water was swirling undernesth, making the apprentice sick to the stomach.
"Brightheart? I don't think I can make it..." Flamepaw's voice worried, and Brightheart noddednin understanding.
"Here, go in front of me. I'll catch you if you fall." Brightheart stepped to the side, allowing Flamepaw to cross. Flamepaw heaved herself onto the tree, her claws clinging desperately to the bark. Her fur ruffled, she slowly and stiffly made her way to the other side.
"Good. A bit slow, but you did it!" Brightheart meowed proudly. "Go on, I'm sure Sunpaw or Riverpaw will show you the others."
Flamepaw gasped as soon as she saw the other clans. There were so many cats! Some smelled fishy, which she guessed was Riverclan. Some smelled like heather and were skinny, which she knew were Windclan, she had met them on a border patrol before. And then there were the cats that seemed like they were always ticked off. She knew that was Shadowclan.
Flamepaw nodded enthusiastically. She bounded ahead, coming up to Hollypaw, who glanced around nervously. She didn't say anything, and went to sit at the edge of the clearing. Flamepaw watched her sadly, but was distracted when she felt a tap on her shoulder.
"Come on! Sunpaw is going to show us the other apprentices!" Sorrelpaw was at her shoulder, and lead her over to where Sunpaw, Riverpaw, and Fernpaw were sitting, chatting with apprentices.
Sunpaw waved his tail once he caught sight of Flamepaw and Sorrelpaw. "There you are!"
Flamepaw sat next to Fernpaw, and Sorrelpaw next to Sunpaw. There were three other apprentices, a pretty red she-cat, a scrawny black tom, and an average sized gray tom.
"I'm Thornpaw!" The scrawny apprentice piped up. "I'm from Shadowclan! The strongest clan!" He puffed out his chest, but he didn't look to intimidating.
The pretty she-cat rolled her eyes. "I'll have you know, Windclan is the strongest." She snorted. "I'm Eaglepaw, of Windclan."
The gray tom just blinked calmly. "I'm Stonepaw. Nice to meet you."
Fernpaw flicked her ear happily, the next to speak. "I'm Fernpaw, and this is my sister," she waved her tail at Flamepaw, who gave a light smile. "Flamepaw, and my other sister, Sorrelpaw."
Sorrelpaw smirked, and flicked her tail in greeting.
Riverpaw opened his jaws to speak, but he was cut off as Rowanstar began the gathering.
"Shadowclan has been doing just fine this moon, and prey has been running well." He announced proudly, sweeping his gaze across the clans, especially his.
Mistystar spoke next. "Riverclan has been doing good as well, and hasn't suffered the affects of sudden Leaf-bare." She nodded her head, signalling for Onestar to speak next.
"Windclan is well, but we lost an elder." Onestar called, and a mutter of mourning arroused from the clans.
Bramblestar spoke proudly, happy about his news. "Thunderclan is doing great, prey is running well, and we have four new apprentices. Sorrelpaw, Fernpaw, Flamepaw, and Hollypaw." His voice was warm as he looked down at the apprentices, but as flash of confusion crossed his face when he did not see Hollypaw.
"Sorrelpaw! Fernpaw! Flamepaw! Hollypaw!" The clans announced, the most loud being Thunderclan.
Flamepaw puffed out her chest, but Onestar glared suspiciously at Bramblestar.
"I do not remember there being a Flamekit." There was an edge to his voice, glancing at Thunderclan. Flamepaw flattened her ears, how come Onestar didn't know? Was she not announced?
"She is a kit of Cinderheart. Do you doubt our words? Do you not remember?" Bramblestar retorted cooly, and Flamepaw felt a bit better.
Onestar simply lashed his tail, and leaped down from the tree. "The gathering is over."
"Bye!" Eaglepaw meowed quickly and bounded away, off to join her clan.
Stonepaw nodded, and padded away, and Thornpaw gave a glance back before quickly returning to his clan.
Flamepaw turned and the group of apprentices began to head back to Bramblestar, and right as they were leaving, Flamepaw felt a prickling feeling, like someone was watching her. She glanced back, watching as a dark tom just looked away and pad back to the Windclan group, which was waiting to cross the bridge. Flamepaw narrowed her eyes, wondering what had happened.
"Flamepaw! Come on!" Brightheart called from the fallen tree. "We can't hold up the other clans!"
"Sorry!" Flamepaw called quickly, and scampered over. Brightheart helped her onto the bridge, and once she landed onto the other side, she turned around to look back at Windclan.
And there the tom was, glaring at her once again. A shiver went down her spine, and she worryingly scrambled back to Brightheart.
And once she caught up with her one-eyed mentor, she quickly muttered something under her breath. "What is with that tom?"
(Me again! If you haven't guessed yet, Hollypaw is mute. Its a new experiment, and it'll become vital later in the story. Until next time!)