Chapter 7 Dappleheart's P.O.V

After Dappleheart got back from the border patrol, she walked over to the fresh-kill pile and picked up a plump vole that was still warm. Shadowfur was right behind her as he picked a mouse for himself. They walked over to the Hollow Trunk and climbed inside. They walked over to the end where Thunderwave usually is. When they got there and got settled, Shadowfur asked, "Who do you think will be Whitekit's mentor? His ceremony should be today I think."

"I heard from Snowtail that Thunderwave is going to train him."

"Really? I would have thought Moonswallow would take him on." Shadowfur mewed between bites.

"No Lightningstar said he didn't want to overwhelm him with the new responsibilities of being the deputy just put on his shoulders. He said that Moonswallow will mentor one of Windchaser's kits." Dappleheart replied then sent thanks up to StarClan for the prey, then started eating.

When they finished the two got up and went in the clearing. Dappleheart looked around, trying to find Moonswallow but he was nowhere in sight.

She turned to Shadowfur and mewed, "Have you seen Moonswallow?"

Shadowfur shook his head. "I haven't seen him since he organized the patrols. Why do you want him?"

"I wanted to know who was going to the Gathering."

She replied.

"Lightningstar will announce it." Shadowfur told her.

As if he had summoned him, Lightningstar came out of his den and started scrambling up the side of the Tall Cliff. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Tall Cliff for a Clan meeting!" He yowled.

When all the Clan gathered he went on. "I have two things to discuss. Whitekit has reached his sixth moon. It is time for him to become an apprentice. Whitekit! Whitekit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Whitepaw. Your mentor will be Thunderwave. I hope Thunderwave will pass down all he knows on to you.

Thunderwave, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You had received excellent training from Moonswallow, and you have shown yourself to be swift and brave. You will be the mentor of Whitepaw, and I expect you to pass on all you know to her." Thunderwave got up from where he was sitting and walked over to Whitepaw. They touched noses and then walked to sit with the other warriors and apprentices.

"I have something else to say. The cats I'm taking to the gathering are Tallfoot, Rippleshine, Shadowfur, Thunderwave and Whitepaw, Moonswallow and the Apprentices. That's all; we'll be leaving here in a few moments, once I talk with Moonswallow." He jumped down from Tall Cliff and went in his den. That's when Dappleheart saw Moonswallow just before he went into the den after Lightningstar.

Dappleheart was upset she didn't get to go to the Gathering. She hadn't been to one in a while and she missed her friend Skyfall from CloudClan.

Dappleheart watched as Lightningstar came out of his den with Moonswallow right behind him. He called the warriors he was taking and Dappleheart had to say goodbye to Shadowfur. "Say hi to Skyfall for me!" She called to Shadowfur as they left through the side of the cave.

Dappleheart headed towards the warriors den. When she got there she saw Feathershadow was there already. As Dappleheart looked closer she saw that Feathershadow's belly was big and more round than usual. Feathershadow is carrying kits! Dappleheart thought. StormClan was growing strong.

Dappleheart curled up in her nest and fell asleep.

Dappleheart woke in a moonlit clearing. There were starry cats all around. I'm in StarClan! What am I doing here again? Dappleheart thought.

Then a fiery orange tom with stars in his pelt stepped forward. "Hi, Dappleheart. I'm Firestar of ThunderClan. It's a Clan by a lake that is joined by ShadowClan, WindClan, and RiverClan. You need to find them and bring them to StormClan, CloudClan, DarkClan, and SandClan. ThunderClan should share your territory, WindClan with CloudClan, ShadowClan with DarkClan, and RiverClan with SandClan. Something very bad is going to happen to your Clans. The four Clans I know will be able to help you. They have dealt with something like this just not as bad. Darkstone is rising. He is going to be even worse than Tigerstar. Many cats will die and few will survive unless you find these four Clans. You need to take two cats from each Clan with you and one from your Clan. You need to take Skyfall and Whitestream from CloudClan, Mossclaw and Beetlefoot from DarkClan, Silverpebble and Lakeshine from SandClan, and Shadowfur from StormClan. You must not say this to the leaders. Only your leader. You can tell these warriors at the Gathering. Mossclaw and Beetlefoot are against their own Clan for what they are doing so they will come with you without much trouble. You are friends with the others cats so they will trust you. You have to go now. But we will meet again." Then the starry cats started to fade and Dappleheart jolted awake. She got up and ran to her leaders den. She knew he would be there because the Gathering was over and dawn was approaching. She burst in and told her story to her leader.