Redpaw

"Wolfpaw," Grasstail called. Wolfpaw got up, stretched and walked out of the den. She looked excited about something.

"Probably training," I thought sleepily.

"Redpaw, if you don't wake up, we'll miss the Gathering," Ravenclaw shouted impatiently.

"The Gathering!" Redpaw jumped out of his nest, gave his chest a few licks and headed to the opening in the side of the log.

"Good luck," Birdpaw called.

"Tell us what happens when you get back," Sunpaw said, as I rushed past.

"I will," I called over my shoulder.

Redpaw rushed out of the den and saw Grasstail, Wolfpaw and Ravenclaw all talking beside the bramble barrier. There were also some other cats going.

"They haven't left yet," Redpaw thought, with a sigh of relief.

"Come on Redpaw," Graystar called from the front of the cats.

"I'm here," I shouted back.

"Let's go," Graystar ordered.

The cats followed Graystar out the bramble barrier. I was walking behind a big gray and black tom.

"That's Thunderstorm," Ravenclaw whispered in my ear.

I nodded.

"Our first Gathering," Wolfpaw mewed excitedly.

"Is there anything we should watch out for?" I asked Ravenclaw.

"What do you mean?" Ravenclaw asked.

"At the Gathering, do we stay with our Clan or talk to other Clans?" I said.

"You can talk to other cats if you'd like, but I don't think the warriors would be too happy answering questions from hyper apprentices," Ravenclaw told us.

"What about Skypaw?" Wolfpaw asked.

"He will be sitting with the other medicine cats," Ravenclaw replied.

"I remember at my first Gathering, me and my littermates talked to Elders from the other Clans," Grasstail started. "They know different stories and they always like chatting to apprentices."

I noticed Wolfpaw staring at Grasstail. I flicked her with my tail. She turned her head and glared at me.

It was nice walking through the forest at night. I could hear birds settling into their nests, running water and the breeze rustling the leaves. It was a clear night. I could see the stars of StarPelt through the trees.

"Where is the Gathering held?" I asked.

"At FourStones," Ravenclaw replied.

"Why is it called FourStones?" Wolfpaw questioned.

"You'll see," Grasstail replied. "We're almost there."

I stifled a sigh of relief. My paws were so tired; I thought they were going to fall off.

Graystar raised his tail, signalling for us to stop. He talked to Branchfur and Frostpelt for a while before he continued on his way to FourStones.

We walked through a bush and entered a clearing. The clearing was covered with four giant smooth rocks. In the middle, where the rocks met, grew a tree. The tree was huge!

"We're first here," Thunderstorm exclaimed.

"Oh you beat us," a small black cat said, climbing up the rock on the opposite side. I had not smelt her scent before.

"DarknessClan," Wolfkit hissed in my ear.

"We did this moon, Shadowstar," Graystar said.

"Every full moon all the Clans have a race to see who reaches FourStones first," Grasstail explained.

"What do we win," I asked.

"Nothing," Ravenclaw laughed.

"Then why do it?" Wolfpaw asked.

"For fun," Grasstail said.

Two DarknessClan tom cats came up to us. "So, who are you?" they asked

"I am Redpaw and this is my mentor Ravenclaw," I said.

"I am Wolfpaw and this is my mentor Grasstail," Wolfpaw introduced.

"I'm Midnightpelt," the big brown and black cat said.

"I'm Nightshade," the jet black cat said.

"Shadowstar is our sister," Midnightpelt said.

"Graystar is my father," I said.

"Hey why don't you two go talk to the other apprentices," Grasstail said.

"Ok," I said.

Wolfpaw and I left Grasstail and Ravenclaw to chat to Nightshade and Midnightpelt.

"What do we do now?" Wolfpaw asked. "I don't see any apprentices."

I looked around. Wolfpaw was right, there weren't any apprentices. "Let's talk to the DarknessClan Elders," I suggested.

"Yeah, we'll see if they tell us anymore about LionClan," Wolfpaw agreed.

We made our way across the rocks to where Berryfur and Mapleleaf sat with some other cats.

"Well, hello there," one of the DarknessClan Elders said.

"Hi," I murmured.

"I am Darkfur," Darkfur said.

"Can you tell us a story?" Wolfpaw asked bravely.

Berryfur laughed. "I told them about LionClan and how they left the forest. They want to know more," she explained.

"That's young cats for you," Mapleleaf agreed.

"So, not many cats know this, but before LionClan left the forest, this is where they used to live," Darkfur began. "They used the rocks to sharpen their claws. See how there are claw marks everywhere?"

I wandered over to a nearby claw mark. I put my paw in it. LionClan's claws must have been huge! My paws would never be that big.

"They're huge," I reported, returning to Darkfur.

"Anyway, when LionClan left the forest they headed towards the setting sun," Darkfur continued.

"It is believed they were captured by Twolegs," Mapleleaf added.

"Really?" Darkfur asked.

Mapleleaf nodded. Suddenly a loud yowl stopped all voices in the hollow. While we were talking the other two Clans had arrived.

"Go sit with your Clan," Berryfur whispered.

I nodded and followed Wolfpaw back to where we left Grasstail and Ravenclaw. They were still sitting there. They were looking around wildly, probably looking for us. We snuck over and sat between them.

"The Gathering is about to start," Grasstail said quietly.

There were four cats sitting in the tree, which was in the middle of the rocks.

"See that small silver cat, that is WaterClan's leader, Fishstar," Ravenclaw began. "The bigger sand brown cat is BreezeClan's leader, Owlstar. You met Shadowstar earlier."

"I will start the Gathering," Graystar said, stepping forward. "Leafbare has been kind to us in FlameClan. Grasstail has recently been made a warrior," Graystar reported.

"Grasstail! Grasstail!" all the Clans shouted out. I noticed that none of the BreezeClan cats were cheering.

"We have also made three new apprentices, Wolfpaw, Redpaw and Skypaw," Graystar continued.

"Wolfpaw! Redpaw! Skypaw!" all the Clans congratulated, even BreezeClan.

My pelt grew hot with embarrassment. I lifted my head high. Out the corner of my eye, I saw Wolfpaw do the same.

"Skypaw has chosen the path of a medicine cat," Graystar continued, once he could be heard over the noise. The noise in the clearing rose once more. Graystar stepped back, signalling with his tail that he was done.

"Now, in WaterClan one of our warriors, Pebblestream, has moved to the nursery and is expecting Ripplefur's kits," Fishstar reported. "Leafbare has been alright for WaterClan. We had a few problems with the fish hiding because it has been so cold. But we are still strong." Fishstar stepped back.

Shadowstar stepped forward, out of the shadows. "Well, Leafbare has been hard for DarknessClan," she admitted. "All the prey must have run away because the only prey we found was hiding and small. That is all."

Owlstar stepped forward and nearly lost her balance on the branch she was on. She recovered her balance and glared at the assembled cats.

"BreezeClan is strong and healthy," Owlstar began. "We had an argument with a FlameClan warrior and his apprentice. I apologize to them for that."

I felt Wolfpaw bristle beside me.

"We also have a litter of kits on the way," she said looking down at her stomach. "My deputy Crowflight will be taking over for me."

The clearing was quiet. "Congratulations," Wolfpaw called out, breaking the silence. Everyone turned to look at her. Grasstail groaned.

Owlstar looked at her. "Thanks," she said.

Wolfpaw ducked her head in embarrassment.

"The Clans need young cats like young Wolfpaw here," Owlstar said. "Loyal but ready to speak their mind."

Wolfpaw purred.

"I have nothing else to report," Owlstar said, leaping out of the tree.

"Wolfpaw," Grasstail scolded. "Don't speak out at Gatherings."

"It's fine," Owlstar said, coming up behind Grasstail.

"No really," he muttered.

"Congratulations on becoming a warrior," Owlstar said.

"Thanks," Grasstail said, embarrassed.

"FlameClan," Graystar called. "Time to go."

"Bye Owlstar, I hope to talk to you again," Wolfpaw said.

"Bye Wolfpaw. Grasstail you have an amazing apprentice," Owlstar acknowledged.

Once all of FlameClan was gathered around Graystar, we left.

"Wolfpaw, Redpaw can I talk to you?" Frostpelt asked.

"Sure," I said, dropping back.

"Wolfpaw you can't do that at Gatherings. What made you do that?" Frostpelt asked.

"But Frostpelt, if it was me sitting in that tree with all those cats staring at me, I would like one of them to say something," Wolfpaw murmured.

"Wolfpaw, the way you're going, you might be sitting in that tree one day," Frostpelt sighed.

We chatted to Frostpelt on the way back to camp. Skypaw and Splodgepelt joined us. Skypaw was excited about something. Maybe meeting the other medicine cats.

Once we reached the camp, I was so tired. I stumbled into the apprentices log. I collapsed into my nest, explained to Birdpaw and Sunpaw what happened at the Gathering, and fell asleep.

Hawktalon here,

This chapter was a bit long . . .

Do you like the longer chapters? Please Review and tell me