Spiritpaw bounced beside me, unable to contain her excitement. "I can't believe I am going to my first gathering," I looked at her and a purr rose from my chest. Her eyes shone, reflecting the light of the stars above us. "Do you think Shadowclan will be hostile?"

"I doubt it," I assured her. "It is early greenleaf and prey is running in all the territories," The Clans, full fed for the first time in moons, were content to leave each other alone.

"I smell Windclan!" Spiritpaw meowed, weaving through her clanmates as she dashed ahead.

"Spiritpaw!" I called after her, but she didn't hear me. I understood her excitement, but she didn't need to behave like a kit on its first time out of the nursery. I saw her come to a sudden halt and fall on the pebbly shore. I shouldered my way through my Clan to the front where Squirrelflight and Bramblestar stood. The first thing I saw was Squirrelflight's white paw clamping Spiritpaw's tail to the ground.

"You need to listen to your mentor, Spiritpaw." She mewed sternly, but her green eyes shone with amusement. Squirrelflight understood the apprentice's excitement.

Spiritpaw leapt to her paws, shaking grit and sand from her pelt. "Sorry Squirrelflight." She mewed, but her eyes were still shining. I nudged her teasingly.

"It is alright, Spiritpaw. Even Squirrelflight had a first gathering and was excited." I flashed a look of laughter at my deputy, who flicked her ears in silent agreement. Spiritpaw gave me a look of doubt, which caused Bramblestar to purr.

"Squirrelflight was known for not listening to her mentor or superiors and sometimes even her leader." Bramblestar's eyes shone with laughter.

"I was an apprentice," Squirrelflight snapped good-naturedly.

"You misbehaved?" Spiritpaw asked, tilting her head.

Squirrelflight licked my apprentice's ear, "I used to get into so much trouble."

"But you're our deputy," Spiritpaw objected, as if she thought a former troublemaker couldn't become Clan deputy or leader.

"It is the duty of the Clan leader to appoint the deputy and he or she chooses which cat they think will serve their Clan the best." I told her. "Squirrelflight was one of the six cats that journeyed to the sun-drown-place to hear what Midnight said and helped bring the Clans to the lake,"

"And it is the duty of a Clan to attend the gathering," Cloudtail growled. The white elder was growing more and more irritable with each passing season.

"Come on," I nudged Spiritpaw aside so Bramblestar and Squirrelflight could pass. "We'll finish this discussion later."

She nodded, the familiar glaze of thought falling over her eyes.

"Riverclan isn't here yet," Stormcloud meowed, sniffing the air.

I scanned the clearing, spotting Tigerheart I motioned for Spiritpaw to follow me. Together we weaved through the crowd. "Tigerheart!" I called. The dark brown tabby turned his head, his amber gaze lit up when he spotted me. "How are things in Shadowclan?"

"Hi Foxspirit," he greeted. "Things are going great. Prey is running well."

"That is good to hear. How is Cloudedkit?" I asked eagerly.

"She is good. She and Flamekit are practically inseperable now." Tigerheart purred then his gaze rested on Spiritpaw. "Who is this?"

"Oh," I mewed. "Sorry this is my apprentice, Spiritpaw." I felt bad for forgetting to introduce my apprentice to the Shadowclan warrior. I was eager for news about my daughter.

"Hello Spiritpaw," Tigerheart dipped his head in greeting.

"Hello," Spiritpaw mewed shyly. "Is it true that you helped Foxspirit escape from your camp?"

Tigerheart stiffened; his amber gaze met mine over my apprentice's head. "Yes," he whispered. "But you should never talk about that."

"Why?" Spiritpaw tilted her head.

"It could get me into a lot of trouble since I technically broke the warrior code." He muttered.

I noticed a yellow tabby from Shadowclan watching us, her eyes glittering. Wasptail! I realized stiffening. "Come on, Spiritpaw. Let's go meet some of the other warriors before the meeting starts." Spiritpaw's tail shot up in excitement. Before leaving, I leaned in close to Tigerheart. "Watch yourself with Wasptail," I muttered. "I think she just heard what was said,"

Concern flashed in Tigerheart's gaze, but he merely nodded. "I'll tell Cloudedkit you said hi," he mewed loudly.

I led Spiritpaw across the clearing, anxiety wriggling in my belly. I prayed to Starclan that Wasptail wouldn't cause trouble for Tigerheart.