Bloodpaw gripped the rotted bark hard beneath her claws, hoping not to slip off and make a fool of herself at her first gathering. She felt warm breath behind her as Redpaw bumped into her.

"Sorry, Bloodpaw. It's just that I'm so excited, it's like I can't concentrate!" Redpaw's teeth chattered together so hard it seemed to Bloodpaw that her sister's teeth would crack and fall out.

"It's okay, Redpaw; I'm nervous, too."

Bloodpaw grunted as she landed amongst the weeds at the end of the bridge. She grinned. "How's that for an entrance?" she mewed to no one in particular.

Redpaw felt her claws slip on the damp wood and leapt high into the air, "Bloodpaw, help!"

Bloodpaw shrieked as Redpaw crashed into her and the two collapsed in giggles. "You mouse-brain, Redpaw! That ruined our great entrance." She untangled herself from her sister.

The russet apprentice just sniffed and shook out her pelt. "At least my head isn't so big it's in different territories!"

Bloodpaw turned her head to Redpaw. "I'll forget that." She flashed her fangs, "At least for a while!"

The two padded forward in the midst of their clanmates as they entered the Gathering place.

Bloodpaw wrinkled her nose. "I'm glad I'm not ShadowClan! Their stink is the same as crowfood!"

Redpaw just nodded her head as her eyes roamed through the ranks of different cats.

Ivytail nudged Bloodpaw and flicked her tail over Redpaw's head. "There's a group of apprentices over there. Go and talk to them… Just remember, no sharing any ThunderClan secrets!"

As the two apprentices padded curiously toward the small not of cats, a dark brown, almost black, tabby with ice blue eyes bumped into Bloodpaw.

She crashed to her paws and hissed angrily at the tabby. "Watch where you're going! Didn't anyone ever tell you to look before you walk?" Her amber eyes were wide and her tail flicked irritably.

"S-sorry," the tabby felt his pelt grow warm under the stairs of the two identical she-cats. "It's just that this is my first Gathering, and, well, I'm just so excited!"

Redpaw cocked her head, "What's your name? I'm Redpaw." She flicked her tail towards Bloodpaw. "She's Bloodpaw, my sister."

The tabby smiled warmly at Redpaw's friendliness. "My name's Frostpaw. Tigerheart's my father. Is this your first Gathering, too?"

Redpaw began to answer but Bloodpaw shoved her aside. "Yes. It is." She sniffed, "And I don't see why you think your father's so great! He's Tigerstar's kin." Bloodpaw stepped forward, forcing Frostpaw backwards. "My father is Lionblaze. He was one of the four cats to stop the Dark Forest cats!"

Frostpaw stared at her. "That battle ended before we were born! It's not like Lionblaze, Dovewing, Jayfeather and Firestar were the only ones to fight those cats." He blinked his blue eyes.

Redpaw twisted her head, giving Bloodpaw a glare, "She didn't me to offend you, Frostpaw. I think she was merely trying to make sure no one told any secrets." She nudged Bloodpaw.

"Yeah. I didn't mean to offend you. I was just trying to make sure we knew which clans we were in." Her voice was suddenly sullen.

Frostpaw opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by a loud yowl coming from the branches of an old oak tree.

Instantly, every cat turned to the tree, breaking off from their conversations.

A pale grey she-cat stepped forward; her blue eyes glinted eerily in the moonlight. "RiverClan is well. We have one new apprentice, Fishpaw."

Enthusiastic yowls came from the RiverClan group, and Bloodpaw spotted a silver tom staring around at the gathered cats.

Frostpaw's breath whistled in her ear. "Is that Mistystar?"

Bloodpaw glared at Frostpaw, her mew low, "Well, duh. Mistystar's the leader of RiverClan and only leaders can sit up there." She indicated the oak tree with a jerk of her head.

Frostpaw's whiskers twitched in amusement at the she-cat's words. He glanced up as Mistystar stepped back.

Onestar stood up from his perch in the fork of two branches. "WindClan detected the scent of foxes in our territory." His gleaming eyes surveyed the cats below. "That is all."

Bramblestar shifted as Blackstar climbed unsteadily to his paws, swaying in the night breeze. "We've had two new apprentices, Frostpaw and Dewpaw. Dewpaw has chosen the path of a medicine cat." He almost slipped as he made to sit down again.

Frostpaw flattened his ears as he felt cats of all clans turn to look at him and his brother, who was sitting with the elderly Littlecloud. He heard Bloodpaw snort.

Bramblestar made no move to stand, instead choosing to smile down at the gathered cats below. "ThunderClan also has two new apprentices, Redpaw and Bloodpaw." Muttering broke out among the clans at the mention of her name.

Bloodpaw puffed out her chest fur and stared arrogantly at the cats that had bothered to turn to see who she was. She felt Redpaw press against her.

Bramblestar continued, "ThunderClan, too, has scented foxes. That is all."

Bloodpaw flicked her good ear as Frostpaw leaned down to speak to her again, "So I take it Jayfeather's your kin?"

She swatted Frostpaw on the nose, "Stop talking in my ear; I can hear you just fine, without you doing it." She changed the subject, "And yes, Jayfeather is my kin. I take it Dewpaw is your littermate?"

Frostpaw nodded absently, staring at Bloodpaw's ear, "You're sure you can hear fine?"

Bloodpaw growled. "I'm sure. Jayfeather told me I can hear well out of it." She smirked, "It's good to see that Littlecloud has finally chosen an apprentice, after all, it's not like he can live forever."

The tabby blinked in surprise. "There's no need to be nasty."

Just as Bloodpaw was about to reply, Squirrelflight padded up and swiped gently at her. "Come on, Bloodpaw. The clan's waiting for you."

With a backwards glance, Bloodpaw trotted after the deputy, but Frostpaw detected the challenge in her swishing tail and gleaming amber eyes.

So then. After so long I have finally reappeared… Yet again. XD

iSnoBall – Well, I've continued. Let's hope I can hold a steady update line from now on.

YamixHakura Lover – Thank you.

Spottedmask12 – I give you my word, Bloodpaw won't be a leader in her life… Well, that's the plan so far. XD But Redpaw probably won't be leader, either. She's just going to be Bloodpaw's little follower.

See you guys! :3