Hi! I finished that essay and decided to update because why not?! This chapter is kinda longer than the others, though you might like it and I didn't want to finish the chapter half way through a gathering. Anyway, please enjoy!
Racing through the entrance, Sootpaw sped into the forest, her paws kicking up dirt and leaves as she ran to the tree she had visited the day before.
She recognised the large trunk of the pine tree and the luscious green moss growing around its roots.
"Gotta work quick for the elders," she said to Beetlepaw as he caught up to her, his white chest rising and falling quickly as he tried to catch his breath.
She sat down beside the moss and sniffed it, the foresty scent flowing through her nose. It smelled so fresh and clean and had a soft coating of dew resting on top of it that tickled Sootpaw's muzzle. She shook her head, the dew drops flicking onto the forest floor.
Beetlepaw sat down beside the she-cat as she carved lines in the moss with her claws. He started scooping the moss out into messy squares.
After Beetlepaw had carved out a few squares, Sootpaw noticed a lot of the patches of moss he had collected were full of dirt and she had to switch jobs so she could do it right.
Their system helped and soon they were onto the last patch.
"Wow you two are eager to collect moss," Birdflight laughed as she arrived behind the two, her brown fur ruffled.
Sootpaw nodded, concentrating on the moss and her claws as she sliced through the soft strange plant.
It reminded her of when Blizzardsong taught her how to collect the moss when she was younger.
"Now, when you rake your claws under the moss you want to make sure you don't dig the dirt. Put your claw under that small part."
Sootpaw stuck her claw under a patch of moss.
"Feel how the tip of your claw rubs against the moss and the bottom of it sinks into the dirt?" he asked.
Sootpaw nodded.
"Tilt your paw so its facing you and rake down."
Sootpaw did as her father said and ripped the moss out. It hurt her claw but the piece she cut was neat and didn't have any dirt on it.
"Well done!" Blizzardsong mewed, "Apprentices are usually hopeless at this."
Sootpaw purred.
"That should be enough," Beetlepaw meowed as he piled the moss together, the neat squares forming a messy stack.
Sootpaw shook out her paw.
"It's a little damp, should we lay it out in the clearing to dry a bit?" she asked, licking the damp dirt off her white paws.
"Hmm. I guess so, the sun is nice today so hopefully it'll dry quickly so the elders don't get crabby."
The two quickly tucked moss under their chins and in their jaws, the way Birdflight taught them.
"I'll take the rest," Sootpaw's mentor said as the apprentices started walking back.
"Thanks," Sootpaw mumbled over the moss.
Sootpaw squeezed through the camp entrance. She padded into the clearing and started laying out her load of moss.
"Oh! Fresh moss, thank you, you two!" Sootpaw looked up as she patted the moss down. Her father stood before her, his fur clean and shiny.
"You look well groomed," she commented, moving over to help Beetlepaw spread out his moss.
"There is a gathering tonight, I have to look my best."
"Fair enough. Do medicine cats go every time?"
Beetlepaw moved Sootpaw's paws to her own moss as he fixed his.
"Yes," Blizzardsong replied.
Sootpaw nodded.
"That should be good, now we have to wait."
Beetlepaw sighed.
"Hopefully it doesn't take too long, I want to finish with the elders so we have time to relax before the gathering."
"Me too…" Sootpaw agreed.
"Would you mind bringing some to my den once you've finished?" Blizzardsong queried. Sootpaw looked back up at her father, her yellow eyes meeting his gentle blue ones.
"Of course, but it'll take a while."
Blizzardsong dipped his head and disappeared into his den across the clearing. Sootpaw looked at the newly weaved roof Blossomheart had created for her father.
"Hello, Sootpaw," a voice mewed behind the black she-cat.
"Oh, hi, Softfeather."
The silver she-cat sat beside the apprentice, sweeping her fluffy tail along the ground to rest delicately across her grey paws. Sootpaw stared at the deputy as she gazed around the buzzing camp.
"You've been quite helpful lately, I feel as though your promotion is nearing. How old are you?"
"11 moons."
"Yes, very soon," she meowed. "Anyway, keep it up, it's nice not having to deal with a troublesome apprentice."
Sootpaw beamed as the deputy moved on and started organising mid-day patrol.
"Tallscar, Splashtooth, Duskpelt, EarthClan border. Hunt on your way," she ordered.
"No way! You just got a compliment from the deputy?!" Beetlepaw's jaw had dropped as he ran up to his friends side, his green eyes wide with disbelief.
"Yep, it's because I'm perfect," she teased. Beetlepaw pounced on her, grabbing her ear in his teeth. Sootpaw pushed him off.
Beetlepaw pounced on her, grabbing her black ear in his teeth. Sootpaw pushed him off.
"We should bring the moss to the elders now," she said as she grabbed a wad in her jaws.
Working quickly, the pair managed to replace the old nests and give the rest to Blizzardsong. Sootpaw helped clean Adderear's dirty fur as Beetlepaw helped with Blackfang's sore joints.
"All cats old enough to climb a tree, gather beneath High Tree for a clan meeting!"
Sootpaw glanced up at her friend. His green eyes glowed.
"Gathering!" he shouted as he raced out of the den, kicking grass into Sootpaw's face.
"Sorry, I'll finish your fur tomorrow," Sootpaw said, her tongue aching.
"Its alright youngster, I can do it myself," Adderear rasped. "Thank you for your help, go on now."
Sootpaw raced out to meet Beetlepaw. He was sitting beside his mother, Mistblaze, and Splashtooth. Splashtooth smiled at her as she nodded to him. Swanstar was standing at the base of the tree.
"I apologise for being down here so its hard to hear but Blizzardsong recommends I don't jump on the tree while I'm expecting."
For the first time ever Sootpaw saw her leader blush and turn her head away, as if she was embarrassed.
"Tonight our deputy, Softfeather, will lead and represent SkyClan for the gathering. The cats attending are Hazelfeather, Birdflight, Beestripe, Petalstripe, Windleap, Adderear, Blackfang, Beetlepaw, Sootpaw and Pinepaw. Have a good night," she called before turning around and crawling into her den.
Sootpaw looked up at the darkening sky and shining Silverpelt.
"Are you excited?" Pinepaw asked, sitting beside her, her dark blue eyes curious.
"I guess, I've been almost every time since we have barely any cats at the moment." Sootpaw saddened as she thought of the harsh leaf-bare her clan had gone through. They lost three elders, Pinepaw and Beetlepaw's father and over 5 warriors. Swanstar even lost three of her lives. Mistblaze's son, Crowpaw, also died, leaving Blizzardsong without an apprentice, all due to greencough.
"Well, same, but it's still awesome to go," Pinepaw commented. She batted Sootpaws ears with her paws. "Hey, cheer up, I know you're thinking about last leaf-bare, you gotta stop. They're all happy and living in StarClan now."
Sootpaw sighed.
"You're right, sorry." Sootpaw shook her head as her mentor walked past. The she-cats brown fur looked well groomed, her amber eyes were bright and her ears were pricked. The apprentice raced quickly towards her, flicking her tail as she left Pinepaw's side.
"Hey, Birdflight, could we work on my fighting moves again tomorrow? I really think I need a lot more improvement, I really suck."
Birdflight purred as she turned around to face the young apprentice.
"Of course! And you don't suck, you just have to get better with practise. We should also work on your hunting skills, the last time we went hunting you were pretty sloppy at climbing Old Oak."
Sootpaw winced as she remembered how sore she was after she fell out of the ancient tree.
"Please don't bring those memories back," she pleaded.
Birdflight shook her head.
"You're a good apprentice, you just need to work on your skills."
Sootpaw sighed.
"So hunting and battle practice?"
"Definitely, if you're not too tired after tonight. I think you should work some more with Pinepaw, let her show you how she hunts and fights, she's very skilled." Birdflight flicked her tail as she padded away. Sootpaw felt a pang of jealousy and sadness.
I wish Birdflight could talk that way about me, I just have to get better at everything.
"Cats attending the gathering, come here now!" Softfeather's voice called from the camp entrance. Sootpaw sped off, her paws leaping off the soft grass. She stood beside Beetlepaw as the group began their walk to Gathering Mountain.
Sootpaw shivered as she sat down in front of the mountain. SkyClan was the first clan to arrive and sat waiting before Gathering Mountain. Most cats eyes were turned to Silverpelt above them, admiring the bright stars and the shining full moon.
"Great StarClan its cold!" Beetlepaw exclaimed, pressing up against Sootpaw. This time she didn't push him away and pressed closer to him, shivering.
"Finally, WaterClan are here!" Beestripe meowed, moving closer to his own clanmates as the cats came pouring into the clearing.
"Hey! Sootpaw!" Sootpaw looked up as a pinkish cat came bounding towards her. His fur was slicked back with water and his blue eyes were bright.
"Hi, Salmonpaw!" Sootpaw purred, head-butting the apprentice. She had known Salmonpaw for moons and had been there for him since he was a new apprentice.
"Um hi, Salmonpaw-" Beetlepaw started, his green eyes showing hesitation.
"So, how's SkyClan?" Salmonpaw asked, taking no notice of Beetlepaw.
Sootpaw looked at her friend.
"Oh, its good, prey is good, clans good, all good. We have news you'll hear about soon," she smiled. Salmonpaw sat down beside her, opposite Beetlepaw.
"Oh, hi by the way," Salmonpaw smiled at Beetlepaw, his blue eyes kind.
Sootpaw felt her friend relax against her.
"Hi!" Beetlepaw meowed, happy Salmonpaw wasn't ignoring him.
"Where's EarthClan?" Sootpaw mewed.
Salmonpaw shrugged.
She watched as WaterClans deputy, a dark cream she-cat, padded past the three, walking towards the base of the mountain where the leader, Newtstar, a bright ginger tom, was waiting.
Sootpaw glanced at her WaterClan friend as he watched his parents touch noses before Newtstar jumped onto the large mound of earth. Rainstrike, Salmonpaw's mother, was Newtstars mate and deputy.
"Oh, here they are," Salmonpaw mewed, bringing Sootpaw's attention back to her friend.
She looked up at the EarthClan cats as they ran into the clearing and began mingling with the other cats.
"Are we allowed to move up closer?" Beetlepaw asked, moving his muzzle close to Sootpaw's ear. "I want to see the leaders up close!"
Sootpaw sighed. Her friend always wanted to be as close to the leaders as possible.
"Sure, lets go quickly."
She swiftly bounded closer towards the mountain, closer to her father and EarthClans deputy. Salmonpaw and Beetlepaw sat beside her, on her left. The trio looked up at the powerful leaders, and deputy, as they sat together, whispering.
"Hello,"
Sootpaw looked to her right at the cat who was talking to her. He was a brown tabby tom with grey eyes. She looked down at his strong fore legs and the muscles poking out of his shiny fur at his shoulders.
I guess his fore legs are so muscly due to the all the digging the EarthClan cats do.
"Hi," she mewed.
"You're Thrushwing, right?" Beetlepaw, meowed, pushing past his friend. Thrushwing laid his tail across his paws.
"I am indeed, and you are?" he asked, looking at Beetlepaw intently.
"I'm Beetlepaw, these are my friends, Sootpaw and Salmonpaw."
Sootpaw dipped her head. She looked back to Beetlepaw and moved a little away from the tom.
"Thrushwing? I thought he was from EarthClan, why the name?" she whispered to her friends.
Beetlepaws eyes glowed.
"I heard Adderear and Blackfang gossiping about his mother or father being from our clan," he glanced over at the deputy and raised his voice so it was no longer a whisper. "But thats just a rumour, I doubt it's true. Plus, birds are awesome, who wouldn't name their kit after one?"
Sootpaw looked back at the deputy.
"So, what's it like, living underground?" Beetlepaw asked him, moving closer.
He looked down at the apprentice, amusement in his soft grey eyes.
"It is quite nice, apart from the beetles and worms that like to share your nest."
Sootpaw laughed.
"I'm glad I live above ground," she meowed.
The deputy shook his head.
"No, you should try it one day. The dirt is soft and warm but can be cool some days."
"But aren't you ever scared of the dirt falling in? Or the tunnels getting flooded?" Sootpaw asked, her head tilted.
"The dirt doesn't fall in if you secure it with-" the deputy paused as Beetlepaw poked Sootpaw and pointed to the leaders above them.
Ashenstar was staring at his deputy, a quizzical look in his eyes. Sootpaw bent her head as Softfeather gave her a stern look.
"Are you finished with your discussion?" Ashenstar asked.
Thrushwing dipped his head in embarrassment.
"Yes, sorry, Ashenstar," he apologised, his brown fur bristling slightly.
"Nice one!" Sootpaw heard a cat call across the clearing.
"As I was saying, I will go first," Newtstar meowed, his voice booming. "Prey is running very well in WaterClan, we have two new she-kits and two toms, all very healthy and well. Our medicine cat apprentice has finally gotten her name, Dewlegs." The leader paused as the clans cheered for the kind medicine cat.
I remember Dewlegs, she is super sweet.
"That is all WaterClan has to say," Newtstar meowed as he stepped back.
Softfeather stepped forward, causing chatter to erupt from the cats below.
Sootpaw glanced up at the sky, worried StarClan was covering the moon with clouds, showing anger with Softfeather being on the Gathering Mountain.
She sighed with relief when she saw the full moon shining brighter than before, as if StarClan were more than happy with the deputy representing her leader.
"A lot of you are probably wondering why I am up here and I apologise if I am offending any of you with my presence on the Gathering Mountain," Softfeather paused as the talking died down. "SkyClan is very happy to announce Swanstar has momentarily given up her role as leader to move to the nursery. She will return to look after her clan once her kits are born," she smiled as the clans cheered for the pregnant leader.
"Wow, she's expecting?" Salmonpaw bent over, looking at Sootpaw and Beetlepaw, his voice raised over the calls of congratulations.
They nodded.
"I'm so excited to meet them when they come," Sootpaw squealed as Softfeather continued with her report.
"Although we are without a leader, SkyClan is as strong as ever. That is all."
"Thank you, Softfeather. Give Swanstar my congratulations, we will be missing her during the gatherings. She is a truly peaceful and kind leader, I hope StarClan assists her during her pregnancy," Ashenstar purred. "EarthClan has been thriving this New-Leaf. We had a few tunnel collapses but no cats have been injured. We have a new warrior, Beechspring."
"Beechspring! Beechspring! Beechspring!" Sootpaw called. She had met Beechspring while the she-cat was an apprentice, they had gotten along well.
"That is all the news. Since it has gotten warmer since we began this gathering, let us share tongues beneath our ancestors before we part ways," Newtstar meowed as he backed away to discuss clan matters with Softfeather.
Sootpaw turned to Thrushwing.
"Sorry about that," she meowed.
The deputy glanced at her.
"It's fine, I just hope Ashenstar won't-"
"Thrushwing!"
Sootpaw looked up as the EarthClan leader approached them. He nodded to Sootpaw and her friends.
She looked the strong leader up and down. His muzzle was white with age and his legs weren't as bulky as his deputy's and seemed frail. His grey pelt was also very thin and his claws were overgrown.
"Didn't you two hear the call to settle down?" he asked Sootpaw and the deputy, interrupting her thoughts. Although the tom seemed elderly, his olive eyes glowed with strength.
Although the tom seemed elderly, his olive eyes glowed with strength.
Sootpaw shook her head, her ears flat.
"I apologise, Ashenstar, I should have told her to be quiet." Blizzardsong stood beside his daughter, laying his tail on her back. Ashenstar shook his head.
Ashenstar shook his head.
"No need to apologise, I just don't want it to happen again, especially not with you, Thrushwing, you're the deputy, a lot of cats look up to you." Thrushwing nodded his head.
Thrushwing nodded.
"I understand, I'm sorry."
Beetlepaw nudged Sootpaw as the leader continued to talk to the tom.
"Hey, lets wander around for a bit," he mewed as they left the EarthClan cats. Salmonpaw caught up to them, his blue eyes bright with enthusiasm. Sootpaw kept walking, not looking in front of her. She jumped back in alarm as she crashed into a large white tom.
Sootpaw kept walking, not looking in front of her, following Beetlepaws paws. She jumped back in alarm as she crashed into a large white tom, her muzzle slamming hard into his back.
"Oh, sorry!" she apologised quickly, backing away. The tom turned around and looked her up and down. He was from WaterClan, judging by the fishy smell and the oily fur.
The tom turned around and looked her up and down. He was from WaterClan, judging by the fishy smell and the oily fur.
"Just be careful next time," he said. He turned his gaze upon Salmonpaw. "Its good to see you've found some other apprentices to talk to," he said, "just make sure you don't get too close." He looked at Salmonpaw who in turn nodded his head.
"I know, Gooseflight."
"SkyClan, to me!" Softfeathers call made Sootpaw jump. She looked at Salmonpaw and nuzzled the young toms cheek.
"Seeya next time!" she mewed as she left his side.
Salmonpaw raised a paw.
"Bye!"
Sootpaw raced towards the deputy, her tail streaming out behind her. She caught Thrushwing's eye as she ran past him.
"Goodbye," she called. Beetlepaw waved his tail.
"Bye Thrushwing!"
"Jeez, you apprentices can't help but make friends with every cat here." Birdflight appeared beside Sootpaw.
Pinepaw raced to catch up to her clan, grinning from ear to ear. Her paws danced with excitement as she pressed up against Sootpaw.
"They're all so nice though!" she protested, looking up at her friends mentor.
Birdflight nodded her head slightly, her amber eyes thoughtful.
"I understand, I've made a couple friends too, but I will always stay loyal to my clan and you will too, understand?"
Sootpaw sighed and nodded, her paws pricking with a sudden rush of unease.
"We understand."
Thank you for reading, if there's anything you want me to know, feel free to DM or review :)
Do you have a favourite character at the moment?
Happy Hunting!
~Fernsky