Chapter Four

"The cats going to the gathering are me, Fawnheart, Tinyleaf, Spottedpaw, Wildlily, Icepath, Cinderstream, Nightclaw, Falconflight, Mosspetal, Dawncloud, Twistedtail, Sorrelpaw, Pigeonpaw, Sandypaw and Redpaw!" Lionstar yowls from Highrock. Snowkit curls his tail angrily, why can't I be an apprentice? Why can't I go? I'm just as old as Redpaw! He watches as Redpaw crosses the clearing towards Snowkit. Snowkit snorts turning his back on his brother.

"Snowkit!" Redpaw calls, Snowkit pretends not to hear but his brothers voice is pleading and against his will Snowkit's paws turn to face his brother.

"Congragulations on getting to go to the gathering," Snowkit mumbles. Redpaw rests his tail tip on his brothers shoulder,

"You'll be able to go soon. Just be patient, I became an apprentice just ten sunrises ago so-" Redpaw starts. Snowkit cuts him off,

"You'd feel the same way if you were the one having to wait! If you were the weak one stuck in the medicine den for three moons!" he growls. With out waiting for his brothers answer he storms off, half willing Redpaw to run after him and beg for forgiveness. He doesn't. Instead the orange furred apprentice just pads over to where Sandypaw is sitting outside the apprentice den.

"Do you want to hear about the thrush I caught? It fed all the elders!" Redpaw boasts, Snowkit pricks his ears. He hasn't heard about his brothers catch, part of him wants to apologize for being a mouse-brain and listen to Redpaw's story about his catch. The other half of him wants Sandypaw to hiss at Redpaw and say something like. All you do is boast about your skills! Your so arrogant! But of course Sandypaw just purrs,

"Of course I do! I bet the catch was amazing!" she murmurs. Snowkit flicks his tail crossly unable to handle anymore of Redpaw's boasting and Sandypaw's sweetness he walks quickly into the nursery.

Upon entering the bramble den Snowkit's greeted by one of ThunderClan's elders, Cloudfoot. The old tom is padding slowly away from his daughter, Tansylight's nest. Must have been visiting her...Snowkit thinks his anger suddenly melting. Tansylight is Cloudfoot's only kit and he might not be alive to see his daughters kits born. Snowkit nods to the white tom, starting for his nest. Cloudfoot steps in his way,

"I heard you arguing with Redpaw." he rasps his voice almost a whisper, Snowkit meets the elders amber eyes. He doesn't say anything, Cloudfoot sighs.

"You must be jealous, since Redpaw's an apprentice before you and he's going to the gathering which is a huge honor and..." the elders voice drops even lower. "Sandypaw likes him," Snowkit's green eyes grow wide and his growls under his breath. Has my liking Sandypaw been obvious? He turns to look back up at Cloudfoot, his whiskers are twitching. Snowkit sighs,

"You got that all right." he mumbles, quickly adding. "Except for the last part!" Cloudfoot laughs, winking.

"Anyway Snowkit, why don't you go to the gathering?" he asks his eyes gleaming with mystery. Snowkit stares at Cloudfoot is dismay.

"Go? I'm only a kit! I'd get caught! Besides I couldn't walk that far!" he exclaims, Cloudfoot lays his tail gently across Snowkit's back.

"You've grown," he rasps his amber eyes gleaming with excitement. Snowkit cocks his head to one side staring in awe at the old tom. Aren't elders normally crabby cats who enforce rules? He wrinkles his nose unsure what to think, he glances down at his paws. There much bigger than they were ten days ago and his fluffy kit fur has grown making him seem bigger than he really is. He also barely wobbles any more when he walks, I have grown! He thinks triumphantly turning to look up at Cloudfoot Snowkit frowns. The old elder is gone, turning towards the entrance to the den Snowkit spots Cloudfoot joining Bramblesong and Twistedtail outside the elders den. A grin slowly spreads across Snowkit's face. I'm going to the gathering!

Snowkit peeks around a holly bush. Redpaw is walking beside Pigeonpaw and Sandypaw, while Sorrelpaw pads a little ways behind her denmates. Eyes darting around as though shes afraid something will leap out of the bushes and attack the ThunderClan patrol. Despite being the leader Lionstar is padding beside his mate and deputy, Fawnheart near the back of the patrol. Snowkit strains his eyes to see who's leading the patrol, no one really is. Icepath and Cinderstream are at the head of the patrol but there just whispering to each other. Snowkit frowns, shouldn't someone be leading the patrol? He thinks slightly confused, then a thought hits him and he puffs out his chest. When I'm leader I'll make sure to lead ThunderClan everywhere! Snowstar what a great name! So absorbed in his thoughts Snowkit doesn't realize the ThunderClan patrol has disappeared from view.

"Mouse-dung!" he curses aloud racing as fast as his weak legs will carry him towards the large elm trees ahead.

"Greeting cats of all Clans!" an unfamiliar voice booms from ahead, there already starting! ThunderClan must be late! Snowkit pushes his legs to go faster, pricking his ears to try and hear the voices from the clearing ahead of him.

"Wow!" Snowkit gasps as he stares down into the hallow, tons of cats are sitting in the clearing. Their eyes turned towards four cats on a large boulder. Snowkit recognizes Lionstar, the other three must be WindClan, ShadowClan and RiverClan's leaders! For a few moments Snowkit just stares at the leaders in awe before remembering he's not supposed to be at the gathering and should find somewhere to hide. Glancing quickly around the clearing Snowkit spots a nice spot of undergrowth just a bit into the clearing. He's sure he'd still be able to see out of the undergrowth at the leaders. The only problem is getting there and not getting caught. Taking a deep breath Snowkit pads slowly towards his destination pretending to be going nowhere in particular. Once the undergrowth is a few tail lengths away he dashes towards it.

"Hey! Watch where your going kit!" a voice growls, Snowkit's blood freezes and slowly turns his head. Sighing with relief when he realizes its just a rude warrior who doesn't really know he's an actual kit.

"Sorry!" Snowkit chirps before continuing on his way. Glad no ThunderClan cats spotted him, breathing a sigh of relief Snowkit collapses on a sandy section of the clearing sheltered by the undergrowth. "Thank StarClan!" he breaths, getting to his paws he shakes out his white coat which is now covered in dust.

"Watch out!" a voice behind him makes Snowkit spin around, a small white cat is racing towards him. Snowkit blinks in confusion realizing to late he's in her way. She barrels into him and they both land hard on the ground. "I said watch out!" the cat grumbles getting to her paws. Snowkit ducks his head,

"Sorry!" he whispers. The cat cocks her head to one side,

"That's okay! I'm Frostkit!" she exclaims. Snowkit gasps,

"Your only a kit!" he exclaims. Frostkit ducks her head in obvious embarrassment,

"Mouse-dung! I wasn't supposed to say that!" she curses before shaking her head. "Sorry I miss spoke, I'm Frostpaw." Snowkit can detect the lie in her voice and he shrugs,

"Its alright. I'm a kit to, my names Snowkit." he chirps, Frostkit sparkling blue eyes glitter with happiness and Snowkit finds himself draw towards them. He shakes his head,

"So what Clan are you from?" he asks.

"RiverClan! You?" Frostkit questions, so that's what RiverClan cats smell like! I'll remember that! He wrinkles his nose as he tastes the air, a fishy smell is rolling from Frostkit.

"ThunderClan." Snowkit finally meows. Frostkit's eyes widen,

"Really what's it like?" she wonders her eyes bright with interest. Snowkit fluffs out his fur, I shouldn't tell her! She's an enemy warrior! But he shakes his head at the thought, shes just a kit like me! Besides she's nice I think we could be friends.

Likey? I don't have much to say! Review and I don't own warriors!

~Petalwish