Alright, third chappie! I'd like some more reviews for this next one, though... But I'm really bored, so I wrote a new one anyway. Oh well. Enjoy!
Goldentail trotted into the center of camp, waiting for the young ThunderClan deputy to step out of Smallstar's den and announce who was going to the Gathering. It would be an important one- RiverClan had recently attacked, and it would be interesting to see if it was brought up. Finally Sunclaw slipped out of Smallstar's den and sat in the center of the clearing. Soon he was listing names.
"All right," he began. "Ivytail, I hope you will be able to watch the camp and organize the evening patrols?" he paused as the senior warrior nodded her head. "Cats coming to the gathering will be Thistlepaw, Tawnypaw, Moonflower, Littleleaf, Goldentail..."
Goldentail tuned out Sunclaw's boring drawl as soon as she heard her name. Of course, her silblings were going- Littleleaf's name had already been called, and Twigtail was the medicine cat, so they were coming for sure. Goldentail purred at the thought of going to another Gathering with them. It made her think of when they were small, nieve little apprentices. She closed her eyes, and suddenly she was Goldenpaw, her brother and sister by her side. Tinypaw was, of course, the smallest one, and Twigpaw was so loving he couldn't hurt a mouse! Goldenpaw stayed in front of them the whole Gathering, constantly feeling the need to protect her siblings, her best friends...
"Goldentail!" Twigtail's voice broke her trance. "We are leaving soon. I swear, sometimes you act so out of it."
Goldentail narrowed her eyes into slits and gave him a fake cuff on the ear. "I'm not stupid, Twigtail. I was just remembering our first Gathering. That was fun, wasn't it?" She narrowed her eyes happily.
"Yes, it was great," Twigtail grumbled impatiently. "Just hurry up."
Goldentail rolled her eyes. Twigtail could be such a stick in the mud, no pun intended. She took her place between her siblings, just a pawstep forward, like always. She glanced back at them. They seemed just as excited for the Gathering as she was. Littleleaf stayed patient and still, but she had a certain glint of joy in her eyes. Twigtail had settled himelf in the dirt, wrapping his thin bony tail over his paws, working thier way into the ground, claws flexing in and out impatiently. Goldentail loved this about her siblings- both so different on the inside than on the out. Littleleaf always seemed so loving and kind, but in battle she was ferocious- the best fighter in the Clan! Twigtail seemed so edgey and spiteful, but he couldn't even kill a mouse, and he was so careful not to hurt any cat while treating wounds. Goldentail was grateful she was the same, stubborn, bratty self on the inside as on the out.
Well, nearly grateful.
Finally Smallstar was out of his den. The old gray-and-white patched cat pushed his way to the front of the crowd of cats, and led his Clan up the ravine without even stopping to check if they were all there. As he walked, he whispered to his deputy. Sunclaw kept pace, but he seemed worried about something. Goldentail purred to herself. Probably just the stress of the job. Sunclaw had been young when he was chosen for deputy, but no cat could doubt his loyalty- he was an eager warrior, fit all the qualifications, and was Smallstar's only son! No cat could have a fuller heart and better leading spirit except Smallstar himself.
Goldentail followed her leader faithfully, trailed by her brother and sister who were eyeing her edgily. She couldn't blame them either, with RiverClan to be looking forward to seeing. Goldentail narrowed her eyes into slits. RiverClan. They were the ones who had forced the former ThunderClan deputy, Shadowcloud retire early due to injuries. He hadn't put up a fuss about it, but though the spirit remained in his voice, his eyes were clouded with loss and burning guilt. As if it had been his fault! Those mangy RiverClan warriors with thier unruly fish-stink!
The walk was slow going, but ThunderClan arrived third. Just like always. It was comforting to know that through and through, nothing at all had changed in generations. Or at least almost nothing.
By the smell of it, WindClan had arrived first, and RiverClan second. Perched atop the Great Rock were the two proud Clan leaders, Fishstar and Runningstar. Smallstar held back a moment before signaling his Clan with a flick of his tail, and the ThunderClan cats poured around him as he sat back, licking a forepaw contentedly. His deputy was at his side, purring at the site and flexing his claws. Goldentail knew trouble awaited this Gathering.