AN: This chapter is a lot longer than usual! I'm really proud of it, although I'm sorry that it came out a bit late. I'm really excited to write the next chapter, as we'll have different character's POVs!
Goldeneyes and One-Fang were created by Ponybird21, and Shadowclaw was made by PurpleFrenchFryAmy. See you at the end!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything from the original Warriors series.
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Cloudpaw and Splashpaw both stared at the river, utterly focused.
"Aha!" Splashpaw's gray-and-white paw darted out, quick as lightning, and scattered silver droplets all over Cloudpaw.
"Hey!" He protested, although a smile was on his face.
"Sorry!" Splashpaw apologized, turning her head to the side and quickly biting the throat of the flopping fish that she had scooped up with her paw. "But isn't this a good catch?"
"It's an excellent catch," Cloudpaw admitted. "I just don't like getting unevenly wet. I'm fine with swimming, but rain isn't my thing."
"I understand," Splashpaw sympathized. "I like swimming more than rain, too."
Goldeneyes slid through the reed's behind Cloudpaw, stopping when he saw Splashpaw's catch.
"Good job, Splashpaw," the brown RiverClan Warrior praised, padding closer towards her. "I'll ask Minnowstar if you can go to the Gathering tonight."
Splashpaw subtly tried to inch away from Goldeneyes. Cloudpaw knew that Splashpaw was disappointed with who her mentor was. Goldeneyes wasn't ready for an apprentice, and Splashpaw resented the Warrior's stubbornness.
Cloudpaw's own mentor emerged from the reeds. "Have you caught anything special, Cloudpaw?" Otterstorm asked. The pale brown tabby she-cat stopped and stared in disappointment at Cloudpaw's small pile of tiny silver fish. "Oh, well," she sighed, "I guess you won't be going to the Gathering."
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"All done!" Ravenpaw cried as she looked at Shadowpaw, who gave a small sigh of relief.
"Thanks. You two have been a big help," Robinwing meowed. The cream tabby she-cat stretched. "Those pesky ticks won't come near me now!"
Shadowpaw caught her friend's eye and suppressed a smile before following Ravenpaw out of the Elder's Den.
The two apprentices bounded across the clearing and erupted into fits of giggles.
"Great StarClan, I thought we were going to die in there!" Ravenpaw mewed.
"Yeah, I thought we'd be stuck there until our muzzles turned as gray as Robinwing's!" Shadowpaw added.
The two started laughing again. They were both fond of Robinwing - making sure that the Clan's only Elder was comfortable was a big job! - but her eccentricities still made them laugh.
Ravenpaw and Shadowpaw had been told in the morning that they would both be going to the Gathering, and the two had been obsessing over it since. They were so excited to meet cats from different Clans, although Ravenpaw made it very clear that she would not be talking to any ThunderClan cats.
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"I'll miss you!" Lizardpaw knew that she had told Flowerpaw the same thing a kajillion times, but she still couldn't get over the fact that Flowerpaw was going to the Gathering. Alone. Without her.
"Patrol, line up!" Stormfall called from ShadowClan's camp entrance, the same entrance that two ThunderClan Warriors had escorted Lizardpaw through just less than a moon ago.
I hope that Flowerpaw finds Darkpaw. She should; I told her what he looks like.
Flowerpaw licked Lizardpaw's cheek, then scampered off to join her mentor, Rowansquirrel, in line.
Lizardpaw noticed that both Snowpaw and Nightpaw were lined up, along with their mentors, Nightpaw's brother Shadowclaw and the Elder One-fang, who was the mother of Snowpaw's mentor, Moonclaw.
"Bye!" Lizardpaw called as Flowerpaw left.
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"Are you nervous?" Acornfoot asked from beside Darkpaw. Darkpaw just nodded, too breathless to say anything. Narrowstar had set the Clan's pace at a speed much higher than Darkpaw's liking, and it was a struggle to keep up.
"It's not far," Acornfoot reassured him. "Just across that tree over there." She pointed with her tail to a fallen log and Darkpaw's eyes widened.
"I'll have to cross that?" He wheezed incredulously. Acornfoot nodded.
I didn't realize that I would be crossing slippery tree-bridges!
"I'll go first," Acornfoot told him when they came to the bridge. Darkpaw waited for her to cross, nervously lashing his tail when she reached the end and beckoned for him to come across.
Darkpaw held his breath, his tail stick-straight as he crept along the log with his belly pressed against the damp wood. He gave a sigh of relief when he jumped down and onto the firm ground of the island.
Narrowstar led ThundeClan along a well-trodden path until they were standing at the edge of a dip.
"Let's go!"
Darkpaw rushed down the hill and into the throng of cats.
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Did you like it? I'm so excited for the next chapter!
Review!
- Girl with a Flower Crown xx