Chapter 2 Gathering
"Spottedpool, how are our cats doing? And who will be able to go to the gathering tonight?" Springstar asked the Stormclan medicine cat.
"Cats who did not go and fight the foxes can go, and you might want to take them because they will be sad they missed the fight. No taking Brightfur, and although Oceanpaws wounds are healing quickly, you should not take her or Coralheart. Ebonyflower, Lightwing, and Sunpaw shouldn't go either. But all other cats can go. I would like to go, and Featherpaw too. Although one of us should stay in camp in case of a further injured cat."
"Good idea. I'll take you (Spottedpool), Wolfflower, Wolffrost, Lilysong, Brairpath, Thunderpaw, Seapaw, Rainstorm, Lightningpaw, Icewing, Brackenpaw, and Finpaw. I would have liked to take Featherpaw, but you are right. I should leave at least one medicine cat here."
"But what about me? I could stay."
"If you stayed, Stormclan might appear weak. Featherpaw can come next moon, unless duty calls."
"Good point, but she really does need the experience."
"So you're going to the gathering tonight. I remember my first time, seeing all these famous cats from different clans. If you want I can show you to the other apprentices. Finpaw? Unless you don't want me too." Seapaw added, talking to Finpaw.
"That would be alright. You can allow me to meet Willowpaw, your friend from Shadowclan." Finpaw responded.
"Sure, that would be great! But I would have to warn you. Willowpaw is okay, but she hangs out with Diamondpaw. Diamondpaw's nice, but only to about a fifth of other clan cats. Maybe you can be a lucky one out of five, like me."
"Maybe," Finpaw murmured, wondering if Seapaw heard her. Finpaw and Brackenpaw would be coming to a gathering, where she could meet cats from different clans. The other apprentices were always hoping that they could see a certain friend, but for some reason Finpaw did not want to go to the gathering. What if she made a friend, but later met that cat in battle. In battles, you can't pick and chose which cats to fight, but you have to protect your clan the best you clan. Finpaw quickly finished her mouse, then ran to where Featherpaw was calling her.
"Make sure you tell me all about it, okay? I'm sure you'll have a great time," Featherpaw said to Finpaw. Finpaw nodded, but did not tell her sister about her concern. Just then an excited Brackenpaw ran up to Finpaw, "Come on! We have to go," before Finpaw could say anything, her brother rushed up to Thunderpaw, and they started to talk all about what might happen in the gathering. Finpaw did a last wave to her sister, then caught up to Lightning and Seapaw, who were arguing about who the better leader would be. When Finpaw came, they made room for her and asked her to answer their argument. Finpaw said Lightningpaw in a sarcastic voice, and the apprentices weren't sure who Finpaw really thought would make a better leader.
"Well, no matter what kind of voice she used, she did say my name. Bow down to me!" Lightningpaw joked.
"Oh yes, you'd make a great leader," Seapaw said, her voice full of sarcasm. They both laughed. Finpaw laughed too.
"So Finpaw, if you want Seapaw and I can introduce you to the other apprentice and young warriors of the other clans. This is only my second gathering, but I know a couple others pretty well." Lightningpaw meowed.
"I've already offered mousebrain. But we should leave it up to Finpaw. This is her first gathering after all. She might want to explore the island for herself," Seapaw turned around and looked at Finpaw, still moving.
"I'll go with you. Besides," Finpaw added, "I would like to meet some of the other apprentices." Finpaw looked at Lightningpaw, he had been a kit at the same time as her, and he was a brother of Thunderpaw. Although Lightningpaw was a kit one extra moon because he had serious greencough, so Thunderpaw was made an apprentice without him. He was still mad about that, and Thunderpaw had been to an additional gathering.
From there they walked through the snow, and left the Stormclan forest. On the way, they traveled through Thunderclan territory. Finpaw had often wondered what it was like going to the gathering and out of Thunderclan territory as a kit, but now as an apprentice she would find out. A worthy, Stormclan apprentice. It felt good to really know that she was an apprentice warrior, and she was glad that she got to go to the gathering on her first apprentice moon.
"Mothstar! Morningwhisker! Do you mind if we travel together?" Springstar asked two Thunderclan cats.
"I don't mind. How is your clan?" Mothstar replied to the Stormclan leader. And they chatted with each other as they traveled.
"Hey Fawnpaw. Want to join us?" Seapaw asked, signaling to a Thunderclan apprentice. Fawnpaw came over and looked at Finpaw. "Who is this?" she asked kindly. "This is Finpaw. She was made an apprentice this moon. Where's your sister?" Seapaw said. "Fernpaw wasn't invited to come, hello Finpaw. Nice meeting you. I take it that this is your first gathering."
"Yes," Finpaw answered, surprised at the apprentices kindness.
"Here's some advice, which you probably wouldn't do in the first place, but just to make sure. Don't tell any other cats about troubles/weaknesses in your clan, no matter how much they ask, or no matter how much you trust them. Also, if you want to be invited back, stop talking to others when the gathering starts."
"Thanks, is that why Fernpaw didn't come? Did she keep talking, or had she just no been able to go."
"Maybe a little of both," Fawnpaw smiled.
The island was filled with cats! Finpaw had been expecting a lot of cats, but surely not this much. She could only see a couple that she could recognize that was not Lightningpaw, Seapaw, Fawnpaw, Brackenpaw, or Thunderpaw. She saw Thunderpaw leading her brother towards a dark red Windclan apprentice.
"Finpaw. Come and meet Diamondpaw, Willowpaw, and Frostpaw. " Seapaw offered. Finpaw walked over to see two Shadowclan cats and a white she-cat with bluish streaks.
Seapaw meowed, "Willowpaw, did Shadepaw or Rainpaw come? Or did Shadepaw come and did you see Rainpaw?"
"Shadepaw couldn't come, and I didn't see Rainpaw. Who is this?" Willowpaw said to Lightningpaw, but looked at Finpaw.
"I'm Finpaw, a new apprentice," Finpaw meowed, surprised to be face to face with a Shadowclan cat.
"Nice to meet you Finpaw. Join our group. We know a lot of these cats, but we always try to meet certain cats each gathering. If you can be there.'' Then Willowpaw turned to the dark red Windclan apprentice, "Foxpaw! Did Rainpaw come?"
"No she couldn't make it," Foxpaw responded, then turned back to talking with Thunderpaw and Brackenpaw. When Diamondpaw turned back, Finpaw nodded at her with kind eyes, then turned hard when Wolfflower (Stormclan deputy), walked towards them.
"The gathering is about to start. So sit down and listen," she said, then walked over t o the base of a huge tree.
"Cats of the clans, the gathering will now start. In Windclan, it has started leaf-bare, leaving us hungry, but we now have three new apprentices to train. Splotchpaw, Runningpaw, and Icepaw. Only Icepaw is here tonight. Mothstar?" a tortishell she-cat said, her sapphire eyes blazing. She must be Sapphirestar of Windclan, she thought.
Then Mothstar of Thunderclan spoke, "All is well in Thunderclan, and we to have new apprentices. Lynxpaw and Nightpaw are both hear tonight, at the gathering. Leaf-bare is hard every year, but we are doing well. Would you like to speak now Shellstar?"
"Sure. Riverclan is doing well. And has nothing to report," a gold and black she-cat with sea-green eyes, said a little too quickly. Was something worrying Riverclan? Finpaw looked over at Frostpaw, but the apprentices' eyes said nothing.
Then Springstar announced her news, "We have three new apprentices. Featherpaw training as a medicine cat, and Finpaw and Brackenpaw as warriors. Finpaw and Brackenpaw are hear today, but Featherpaw had to say. We wish to also thank Thunderclan for warning us about five foxes on out territory, which we drove out." She nodded at Mothstar. Mutters arose from the crowd.
"Five foxes? Is everyone okay?" A Riverclan cat named Silentstep asked worried.
"A warrior and a apprentice are severely hurt, but we are healing. Thank Starclan nobody was killed. Ravenstar? Do you have anything to say?"
A jet black cat with golden eyes said to the clans, "We also have new apprentices. Robinpaw and Flamepaw are training to become warriors. And both are hear today. If there is nothing else to report, then this gathering is over."