Bloodpaw paced anxiously around camp. Tonight was the gathering.
Bramblestar had chosen her and Amberpaw as the only apprentices to go; even Snowpaw wasn't allowed to go.
Amberpaw nudged her. "Bramblestar's going now. Let's not get left behind."
Bloodpaw threw a grateful glance at Amberpaw as they merged into the rest of the clan.
The cats moved faster than usual, and Jayfeather had to let Squirrelflight guide him. Bramblestar bounded a good fox-length ahead of the rest of the clan.
Bloodpaw fought past a wave of nausea as the slice on her belly sent a jolt of pain through her body.
Amberpaw's breath rasped beside her. She caught parts of conversations as the wind whipped past her fur.
"I wonder what ShadowClan will do at the gathering."
"Do you think Bramblestar'll mention Seedpaw?"
"If ShadowClan's dares to show their faces I'll make sure they don't have any faces left!"
Bramblestar slowed as they reached the tree bridge. Bloodpaw couldn't scent any other clan other than her own. They were the first ones there.
ThunderClan crossed the bridge quickly; Bramblestar, Squirrelflight and Jayfeather each took their places. Amberpaw and Bloodpaw pressed closer to the warriors that had been selected.
After a short while, WindClan, followed closely by RiverClan appeared. The two clans immediately sensed this was going to be a difficult gathering. The ThunderClan cats hardly acknowledged them, instead choosing to glare at the tree-bridge.
ShadowClan was late. Rowanstar offered no reason as he leapt up to the leaders' tree.
Bramblestar stalked out to the centre of the tree. All the clans became silent. Squirrelflight shifted uncomfortably as Tigerheart, the newly appointed ShadowClan deputy, settled next to her.
Rowanstar made a move to speak first, but was thrust back by Bramblestar. "Sit down and shut up before I rip your throat out."
The ThunderClan cats bunched closer together, hissing quietly at any ShadowClan cat that came close.
The leader of ThunderClan glared down at the cats gathered below. "ThunderClan regrets to report the death of Seedpaw. She died in an unjust attack that ShadowClan," he cast a hate-filled glance at Rowanstar. "Many more cats were injured. That is all."
The rest of the gathering was uneasy between the four clans. ThunderClan and ShadowClan kept shooting each other daggers, and WindClan and RiverClan were prepared to hold the other clans apart.
XxX
When the ThunderClan cats returned to camp, Cloudtail, who was guarding camp, padded up to them. "Well? What happened?" He inspected them. "None of you have got any injuries."
"Of course we don't, Cloudtail. It's a gathering." Squirrelflight butted his shoulder affectionately.
"Yeah, well," the white warrior shifted uncomfortably under the gaze of the cats waiting to enter camp. He opened his mouth to speak but a rush of air escaped him as Jayfeather barged past.
"We haven't got all night, Cloudtail." As if on cue the patrol flooded into camp, ready for their nests.
Bloodpaw brushed past the senior warriors, Amberpaw in tow. The two were looking forward to sleep.
Bloodpaw padded into her den and noticed the gleam of Lilypaw's green eyes. "Hey, Lilypaw, you still up?"
"I couldn't sleep." The oldest apprentice's voice was hardly more than a whisper.
"Bad dreams?"
"Yeah." The den lapsed into a stiff silence.
"I'd better get to sleep. You should, too. We'll both be needing it for tomorrow's lessons." Bloodpaw curled up in her nest.
"'Night, Bloodpaw, Amberpaw."
XxX
A terrible screech rang out about the hollow. Bloodpaw started and leapt out of her nest. She saw Amberpaw and Lilypaw heave themselves out of their nests, joining her by the entrance.
Dewpaw lifted his head where he lay beside a startled Redpaw. "What was that?"
Lilypaw gaped at Bloodpaw as the screech came again. "Maybe ShadowClan's attacking again." Her tail trembled.
"Or a fox," Amberpaw's shoulder fur lifted.
"For StarClan's sake," Bloodpaw exclaimed. "Isn't it obvious?"
Redpaw stared at her, her eyes lighting up for a second. "Is it Hazeltail kitting?"
"I'll bet seven mouse-tails it is!" Bloodpaw streaked out of the den and into the clearing.
Rain was pelting down into the open space and her fur was flattened to her body in a second. She caught a glimpse of a dripping wet tail whisking into the medicine den.
"Snowpaw!" Bloodpaw skidded into the den. "What's happening? Is Hazeltail kitting?"
The medicine cat apprentice turned and blinked at Bloodpaw in surprise. "I didn't know you were awake."
"All the apprentices are awake. That screech woke us."
"Oh. Go back to sleep, Bloodpaw, and tell the others to do so, too. It's only Hazeltail kitting."
Small chapter. Sorry about the delay: I've had writer's block. I think my writing skills have died. My mum also messed up internet explorer and Google chrome is too slow to go on. I'll try to put this on a memory stick or use chrome.
Hope you guys had a nice Christmas and new year. :3
Reader1 – I suggest that if you find my fanfiction offensive you simply shut up and don't swear in my reviews.
Tigerstar767 – Thank you for your great reviews. :3
Guest – Perhaps she is. But, after all, life isn't fair.
Germany 100 Percent – Thank you… And here's the update!
If you guys have any ideas for Dewpaw, Frostpaw, Amberpaw, Hollypaw and Snowpaw's warrior/ medicine names please leave them in your reviews. Thanks! :3