Thanks for helping me reach 30 guys! Starting it off:
Pengirl: Thank you so much for saying I am your favorite author! You don't know how much that means to me! I am ready to post your story but I am a little confused on what the title of the story is? Please tell me and I will post it right away, keep an eye out for it!
Starbomb: Haha, isn't that the truth? Those words of the last one were a little future seeing!
zestia240: Yeah, kind of boring right? This one is more exciting though, and the next one is very exciting. Enjoy!
All right! Here we are with Chapter 12; we finally got some action in! Well more suspense building here, but the next one it action… and sadness… and… many emotions! But for now, enjoy this one!
Chapter 12: The Gathering
Rosepaw padded into camp with a shrew and a mouse in her jaws. Her tail wavered in the chilled air; she was followed by Hailwhisker, whose jaws were stuffed with prey as well. Rosepaw daintily trotted through the snow to the fresh-kill pile where she dropped off her prey.
"Good job hunting there Rosepaw." Hailwhisker's mew of praise cheered Rosepaw up. She was already having a good day today, and it just kept getting better. She didn't think anything could ruin it at all. "Thanks!" Rosepaw mewed, turning around to face her gray and white mentor. "You too!"
Hailwhisker nodded a warm smile on her face. Rosepaw watched her trot over to Rockheart who awaited her near the warrior's den with a thrush. Rosepaw glanced around; she caught the eye of Stonepaw who was sharing tongues with Dawnpaw.
Rosepaw trotted over to the littermates. "Hi!" she mewed. Dawnpaw cast a glance at her. "Someone's cheerful today," she commented. Rosepaw nodded eagerly, wrapping her tail around her paws as she sat down.
"I sure wonder who." She joked in response. "What's got you so upbeat?" Stonepaw asked. Rosepaw shrugged. "Just having a good day today, plus there is a Gathering tonight, I sure hope Oakstar will let me go!" Stonepaw looked at Rosepaw sympathetically. He knew her fears that Oakstar didn't like her.
"Don't get your hopes up too high Rosepaw," he meowed quietly. Rosepaw nodded with a sigh. "I know, I'm having my doubts about it." Dawnpaw rose to her paws. "Don't worry," she meowed. "Maybe going on a border patrol will get your mind off of it?" "Okay," Rosepaw mewed. She felt a twinge in her heart as she would much rather go battle-training, but her leg was still lacking her from doing it. She had to stick to gentle hunting and border patrols, but she still tried to get out whenever she could.
"Okay, good," Dawnpaw meowed, swiping her tongue across her muzzle. "I'll go see if I can get some warriors to come with us." With that, the cream and ginger apprentice bounded off. "Are you going to come?" Rosepaw asked Stonepaw. The gray apprentice nodded. "Sure," he mewed, rising to his paws.
Rosepaw gasped when she saw him fully. His eyes were dull, his coat tangled and matted. Worst of all, Rosepaw could easily count his ribs, and more bones on him if need be. He was unbearably thin. "Stonepaw!" Rosepaw cried.
Stonepaw looked at her, startled. "What is it?" he asked. "Have you seen yourself?" Rosepaw asked, rushing over to his side to try and groom his tangled fur. "Not for awhile." Stonepaw meowed. "You look terrible! You are awfully thin, you might be sick!"
Stonepaw shook his head in denial. "I'm not sick." He meowed solidly. "I just haven't had much to eat lately." Rosepaw snorted. "Whatever." She mewed. "You aren't coming with us on the patrol." She meowed, feeling protective over her friend.
Stonepaw rolled his eyes in amusement. Rosepaw twitched her whiskers irritably. Why did he think this was funny! He was obviously sick! "Rosepaw, I'm coming with you." He meowed. "No you're not!" Rosepaw mewed. She flicked her tail to the medicine cat den. "You are going there." Stonepaw shook his head. "What are you my mother?"
"You want me to go get her?" Rosepaw challenged. She felt surprised at Stonepaw sudden silence. "No, no that's okay, I'm going." Rosepaw purred in amusement. "Be careful out there though Rosepaw, you know you're leg isn't completely better yet." "Whatever Stonepaw, get going." Stonepaw sighed and trotted into the medicine cat den.
"Alright Rosepaw, all set!" Rosepaw turned to Dawnpaw, seeing Stormwhisper, Firestripe, Darkfoot and Leafsparrow following behind her. "Let's go!"
The patrol seemed to lag on forever for Rosepaw, she really just wanted it to be the Gathering already. She wanted to see Minnowbreath again; she had been friendly when Rosepaw had met her before. Maybe Flutterfur's kits would be there too. They had to be apprentices by this time.
She hoped Stonepaw was okay, maybe he would be able to go to the Gathering. "Rosepaw, watch where you're going!" Rosepaw caught herself just in time before tripping over a log at her paws. "Sorry," she murmured. Leafsparrow rolled her eyes. "Apprentices these days." Darkfoot padded over to his mate. "Oh, we're not that old are we?"
Rosepaw purred in amusement as she watched the couple pad away. Would she ever have a mate? Dawnpaw nudged her. "Come on Rosepaw, get going, you've been half-asleep since we left ShadowClan border."
"I know; sorry." Rosepaw murmured, lowering her ears in embarrassment. "It's okay," Dawnpaw mewed. "Know just pay attention, let's get going." Rosepaw nodded, padding after her friend as they reached the WindClan border. Rosepaw opened her jaws as she neared and froze. "They've been crossing our border!"
Stormwhisper looked at her, trotting up to the apprentices and tasting the air for herself. Stormwhisper nodded. "They have," she meowed. "Rosepaw, why don't you go look for some more evidence if you know what I mean."Rosepaw nodded, bounding away, following the scent.
She followed it, investigating every paw step. Then she noticed some feathers and blood along with a flurry of paw steps. They've been hunting on our territory! The creamy brown and red apprentice raced back to the WindClan border. Stormwhisper padded up to her. "Anything?" she asked. Rosepaw nodded. "Yeah, there were bird feathers and blood with their scent. Stormwhisper nodded. "I'll tell Oakstar to bring it up with Adderstar tonight." She meowed. "Now let's back."
"I will be taking Thornbird, Hailwhisker, Grayblaze, Lilyfrost, Forestclaw, Firestripe, Bluedove, Featherfoot, Rosepaw, Shinepaw, Lionpaw, and Dawnpaw to the Gathering." Oakstar meowed as Rosepaw's patrol entered the camp.
Rosepaw felt disappointment strike her heart when she didn't hear Stonepaw's name with them. I wonder how he is. She started to head to the medicine cat den when she felt her father's tail on her flank. "Rosepaw, we are leaving now, there is no time to stop by for a visit." He meowed. Rosepaw nodded.
"Follow me," Grayblaze meowed. Rosepaw frowned. She wanted to walk with her friends. "Actually Grayblaze." She meowed. "I'm going to go with Shinepaw and Lionpaw, okay?" Grayblaze purred in amusement. "Of course Rosepaw." Rosepaw trotted ahead to them.
The ThunderClan cats reached the WindClan border quickly. Rosepaw noticed Stormwhisper murmuring something in Oakstar's ear. The leader of ThunderClan nodded as if in agreement before he sped up the pace of the patrol again.
Rosepaw shuddered when she looked across WindClan territory. The open moor only reminded her of the brutality and pain that the Clan had put her through. She felt a sadness stab her heart when she thought of Leopardheart and the terrible name Adderstar had given her formerly; Turtleblood.
Soon enough, however, they were past WindClan territory. Rosepaw felt excitement tingle her whiskers when she saw the island in the distance. "Are you excited?" Shinepaw whispered. Rosepaw nodded to her sister. "Of course! It's too bad Stonepaw couldn't come though." "Yeah," Shinepaw agreed. "He would have liked it."
Hailwhisker padded up to Rosepaw as Oakstar and Stormwhisper headed across the log. "Be careful." She mewed. The log is very slippery in leaf-bare. Rosepaw nodded, looking into the churning black waters below. It would be freezing to end up in one.
Rosepaw climbed onto the log. She extracted her claws and gripped them to either side of the log, her hind paws flailed uselessly, but her claws hung on strong. She slowly made her way across the log to join her littermates.
"Wow," Dawnpaw breathed as she looked around. "The island is amazing!"She mewed. Rosepaw nodded in agreement. She looked up at the full moon shining in the sky. There were no clouds in view. Hopefully tonight would go well.
"Let's go meet some more apprentices." Lionpaw suggested. Only ThunderClan and RiverClan had arrived so far. Dawnpaw nodded in agreement. "Sure," she meowed, following Lionpaw and Shinepaw. Rosepaw stayed behind. "I'll join you in a bit." She mewed, excusing herself from their group.
She padded over to where the medicine cats sat, discussing things quietly. Minnowbreath sat next to Iceblossom. "Hey Minnowbreath!" Rosepaw meowed. The sleek tabby she-cat looked up at Rosepaw. "Hello Rosekit! Well, I suppose it must be Rosepaw now." Rosepaw nodded, smiling at her friend.
"How have you been? Haven't been swimming anymore have you?" "No," Rosepaw lied, feeling her fur stick to her sides. "But I've been good! My mentor is Hailwhisker." She meowed. Minnowbreath nodded. "Very good." She purred. "I'd better go see my friends, bye Minnowbreath." Rosepaw mewed. "Goodbye Rosepaw."
Rosepaw padded away to where her friends were talking to a ginger tabby she-cat, a gold she-cat and a black tom. Lionpaw was just introducing himself. "I am Lionpaw," he meowed, raising his golden head a little higher as if he were in charge. "That's my sister Shinepaw and our friend Dawnpaw." He cast a glance over at Rosepaw. "Oh, and Rosepaw is my other sister."
The black tom looked over at Rosepaw. "Hey I remember you." He meowed. "You're Flutterfur's kits aren't you?" Rosepaw asked. The ginger she-cat nodded. "Yeah, we are." She meowed. "I'm Twistpaw, that is my sister Larchpaw." She flicked her tail to the golden she-cat. "And our brother Rockpaw."
Lionpaw nodded. "Nice to meet you." He meowed. Rosepaw noticed as ShadowClan entered, keeping to themselves in one area of the island. And then finally WindClan arrived. Rockpaw looked after WindClan. "Wow," he meowed. "You'd think they'd brought their whole Clan." He scoffed. Rosepaw looked at WindClan skeptically. "You'd be surprised." She found herself nearly growling. Not at Rockpaw, but at rage for these WindClan cats.
She knew that they hadn't brought their whole Clan. Not even close. WindClan was a huge Clan. Rosepaw wondered how they had managed to grow so big. Adderstar must be taking in rogues and loners. She guessed.
Adderstar leapt onto the branch, yowling out loudly. Rosepaw sat down, watching him. "WindClan will began." He hissed. "We have three new warriors." He growled. Rosepaw was surprised at how low and deep him voice was. "Fallowclaw, Burningheart, and Rushtail."
"But they were never apprentices!" Some cat called out opposing. Adderstar snarled at the speaker. "Of course they were!" he yowled. "You dare judge my authority?" They should judge his authority. He just welcomed in some rogues and made them warriors.
"That is all the news WindClan has." Adderstar nodded to Oakstar. The old ThunderClan leader stepped forward. "ThunderClan has been running well." He meowed. "We have a few new apprentices: Welcome Rosepaw, Lionpaw, Shinepaw, Dawnpaw, and Stonepaw!" Rosepaw smiled as the Clans called out their names. Too bad Stonepaw wasn't here to see this. Her heart faltered. Or Brightpaw.
"Things have been running well in ThunderClan." He meowed. "Except, we have found that WindClan has been hunting on our territory." Hisses and yowls of protest erupted from the WindClan cats. "We have done no such thing!" Adderstar growled, his hackles rising in anger.
"Relax Adderstar." Oakstar meowed calmly. "It was only a warning; if we find you on our territory again, we will attack." Adderstar glared at him for a few heartbeats before nodding and sitting back down to give his paws a lick and swiftly run it over his ears. "Very well Oakstar, suit yourself."
Rosepaw gasped. She had just realized something.
Something very terrible.
"Get Oakstar to send his warriors back and quick." Rosepaw hissed in Shinepaw's ear.
She didn't wait for Shinepaw's response; she just raced off the island, heading back towards camp, the screeches of cats in her ears.
Oh another cliffhanger. Hope you like this chapter. If you read, PLEASE review! Until next time!