AN: You may notice that this chapter has 'Part One' in the title. That's because while I was writing, I wrote the same length as I normally do in two out of the eight POVs that I wanted to write. I realised that if I wrote all eight, it would take me another week to write all of them, and the chapter would be way too long in comparison to the other chapters. I have decided to make the Gathering two chapters long, both chapters still longer than regular chapters.

On a completely different note, Guest submitted Hollypaw, Jaypaw and Moonpaw, so thanks, Guest!

I want to add that we're at over 1,000 views. That's crazy! If you have supported me and left a nice, encouraging review, or helped me out through a PM, thanks so much! I'm sending you a huge virtual hug right now. Can you feel it? I love you all so much.

DISCLAIMER: I'm not sure the Erins were ever this happy about a book, even if over 1,000 people bought it!

oOo

Gatherings always made Snowpaw nervous. Maybe it was the closeness of the cats all packed into the relatively big clearing, or maybe it was the knowledge that any she-cat could be her mother.

Snowpaw had never been wanted by her biological mother, nor did she want to be. Nightpaw's mother had taken her in and that's all she'd ever need in terms of family. She just wanted to know who her real parents were, possibly so that she could claw them until they were screaming for mercy. Snowpaw was usually a very gentle cat, but thinking about being abandoned by a mother who knew perfectly well what she was doing made her angry.

Please, StarClan, let me know who they are.

Snowpaw knew that she was very lucky that Nightpaw was just a few days older than her and therefore both get adoptive sister and best friend, but Snowpaw wondered if her real mother had anything to do with the words spinning around in her head...

In Snowpaw's dream, she had come across a group of cats with stars at their paws muttering something in low voices - Snowpaw caught the word 'odd' - before they lifted their heads to the sky and started chanting:

"Accompanied by those with unusual eyes,

Snow disguises a web full of dark lies,

Night argues against cold, cold stars,

Helping to Splash away cold hearts."

For a brief moment, Snowpaw could've sworn that another cat, hiding in bushes across from Snowpaw, had looked over at her with moss-green eyes, but then Snowpaw woke up because of Nightpaw sleep-kicking her in the back a few times (thanks, Nightpaw).

"Smowpaw! There you are!" Snowpaw turned around and almost bonked noses with a pure black she-cat. "I've been looking for you all over!" Hollypaw cried.

Snowpaw had known the RiverClan apprentice since their shared first gathering, when she and Nightpaw had discovered a trio of newly-made RiverClan apprentices and instantly became friends.

Hollypaw wasn't exactly the nicest at first, but she became sweeter and sweeter the more Snowpaw got to know her.

"I'd like you to meet someone!" Hollypaw gushed, moving to the side and revealing a small gray-and-white tabby she-cat. "This is Splashpaw!"

Snowpaw's eyes widened. It was the same cat as from her dream.

oOo

"Darkpaw!" Flower paw called out to the Gathering at large. "Darkpaw, where are you?" Darkpaw didn't step forward, but a few Elders that were sharing tongues gave her a dirty look.

Oops. I guess I'm not supposed to yell at a Gathering.

Lizardpaw had given her clear instructions: Find Darkpaw - I already told you what he looks like - and tell him that I said hi.

It seemed easy enough at the time, but now Flowerpaw was stuck between crowds of cats and awed by the sheer vastness of the clearing.

She decided that she would try to find the Medicine Cats. Lizardpaw didn't know whether Darkpaw had become a Medicine. At apprentice - she said that he seemed pretty confused at the time - but Flowerpaw figured that it was worth a shot.

She was lost in the crowd when a black tom tapped her on the shoulder with his tail.

"Umm... By any chance, do you know if Lizardpaw is at the Gathering today?" He mumbled.

"Are you... Darkpaw?" Flowerpaw responded uncertainly.

The tom nodded. And I know that you're not Lizardpaw, although you look an awful lot like her. But then how did you know who I am?"

"I'm Lizardpaw's sister," Flowerpaw explained. "My name is Flowerpaw. Lizardpaw told me to find you."

Darkpaw's cheeks reddened and his ears flattened against his head. "She did?" He muttered unbelievingly.

"Yup!" Flowerpaw meowed with a small smirk.

"Darkpaw, stop flirting and get your butt over here!" A light ginger she-cat hollered.

"I gotta go," Darkpaw mewed, ducking his head in embarrassment. "See you later."

Flowerpaw just stood there as he ran toward the cat who had called him.

oOo

Splashpaw was confused. She wasn't special - Cloudpaw was the special one - but the night before, she had heard something that sound awfully like a prophecy. And now the cat she'd seen in her dream was standing right in front of her. Snowpaw, she remembered Hollypaw calling her.

It was clear that Snowpaw recognised her, as well. The gray she-cat stood looking at Splashpaw with her jaw hanging and a mildly horrified expression on her face.

"Snow disguises a web full of dark lies..." A small voice in Splashpaw's head said in a low voice.

Shut up, Splashpaw thought back.

"Splashpaw, this is Snowpaw. She's really nice!" Hollypaw meowed.

Snowpaw ducked her head and Splashpaw gave her a warm smile. The she-cat may have been 'disguising a web full of dark lies', but that was no excuse not to be friendly. Who knows what those lines could mean, anyway!

oOo

"Come on, Ravenpaw!" Shadowpaw meowed in exasperation. "We don't have all night! I want to meet the cats from other Clans!"

Ravenpaw had stopped to watch two cats - a RiverClan Tom and a ShadowClan she-cat - greet each other. She wanted to reassure herself that other cats said 'hello' the same way as her, so she wouldn't embarrass herself.

"Goldeneyes! It's been too long!" The she-cat declared, touching his nose with her own.

"I was just about to say the same thing to you, Moonclaw!" Goldeneyes purred.

"Let's go, Ravenpaw! It's not just Shadowpaw who wants to meet other cats!" Snowpaw, Ravenpaw's sister cried, nipping playfully at Ravenpaw as she bounced along.

"I'm coming! I was just watching Goldeneyes and Moonclaw!" Ravenpaw protested.

Snowpaw tipped her head to one side, her bright blue eyes - so different from Ravenpaw's golden ones - sparkling. "Who?" She asked.

"Nothing," Ravenpaw replied quickly. "Where are we going?"

Snowpaw gestured with her tail to a group of apprentices a couple fox-lengths away from them.

"Shadowpaw went over there," the white-furred she-cat explained. "So I assumed that we'd follow."

"Lead the way," Ravenpaw mewed.

oOo

Did you like it? This chapter is so long, and there's still more to come!

See you next time with more POVs!

Review!

- Girl with a Flower Crown xx