A/N: To my reviewers!

Hatakefire: Thank you! I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying it so far! ^-^ I can't wait to hear your thoughts as the story progresses~

Sierra: I'm glad you like Sorrelpaw! His personality isn't one I've really written before, so it's an adventure figuring him out xD Also if I pair Leopardfur with a cat it will probably either be Loudbelly, Rainclaw, or Falconheart. I haven't decided yet if I want her to be a queen, but I'd love to have more kits in RiverClan because right now they're preeetty small... Thanks again for the continued support! I love hearing from you!

Snowcrystal: xD it's all good, they may not be apprenticed until Stonepaw and the rest are warriors, so there's plenty of time for me to think on it. Thank you so much for the continued support! I hope you continue enjoying the story!

And without further ado, here's the latest chapter! For all those interested, I am starting to brain storm warrior names for Stonepaw, Mistypaw, Sorrelpaw, and Shiverpaw, so if you've got any suggestions, feel free to let me know!

Chapter 5

Mistypaw watched with mixed excitement and apprehension as the river water swirled past her paws. Only two days ago, Oakheart had led the patrol to reclaim Sunningrocks, and in the following storms the river had come to nearly swallow the gray stones, making it impossible for ThunderClan to reclaim them, even if they wanted to.

"It will be harder to fish," Loudbelly meowed quietly, his eyes trained on the flooded water. "But once the water level drops we'll have all of Sunningrocks to help us replenish our fresh-kill pile."

Mistypaw nodded. "I can't wait." Her claws worked in the damp pebbles. "But Loudbelly, what about the Gathering?"

It was the next night, but with thick gray clouds still obscuring the sun from view, Mistypaw had to wonder if they would bother Gathering if the full moon couldn't even be seen.

Loudbelly shrugged. "It will be up to Crookedstar," he growled. "But considering how heavy the rainfall has been, I'm more concerned with whether or not the other Clans will be able to make it to Fourtrees or not."

What happens if they can't…? Mistypaw forced the thought from her mind and focused her clear blue gaze on the water before her. It did take longer than usual, but with a flash of her paw, the blue apprentice snatched a silver fish out of the water.

"Well spotted!" Loudbelly purred. "I didn't see it, that's for sure."

Mistypaw felt her paws warm at the praise and determined to impress her mentor further, she kept completely still, longing for another fish to come her way.

When Loudbelly felt they had enough to suffice for the elders' midday meal, they headed back to camp.

Despite the ever-present rain, the Clan was bustling. Shiverpaw was ducking into the nursery with a mouthful of reeds and beech stems in the jaws, while Silverpaw sat outside, thoroughly reinforcing the nursery walls in case the camp flooded. Ravenkit, Stripedkit, and Maplekit were playing in the puddles along the edge of the water with Sedgenose and Graypool just tail-lengths away building a small border at the edge of the water to mark the flood's progress.

Mistypaw went straight to the elders' den, unsurprised to find Sorrelpaw within, weaving in extra reeds to keep the rain out.

"I've brought fresh-kill," she announced warmly, dropping her generous catch in the middle of the den.

"Thank StarClan," Ottersplash growled appreciatively. She picked out a fish for herself and a water vole for Timberfur. The former deputy let out a welcoming purr as he recognized Mistypaw's voice and scent.

"You're shaping into a fine hunter," Lilystem sighed, her eyes soft and warm. "Thank you, Mistypaw."

Sorrelpaw grunted as he weaved in the last reed. "There. Is any cat still getting dripped on?"

Rippleclaw shook his head. "No, that should do it." He stretched stiffly and took his own meal from the small pile of fresh-kill. "Now both of you shoo, I can feel the floodwater rising. The Clan needs you both to be working your paws off."

Sorrelpaw rolled his eyes, but ducked out of the den without objection. Mistypaw followed with twitching whiskers. "So what does Leopardfur have planned for you now that the leaks in the elders' den have been seen to?"

The reddish-brown apprentice shrugged. "Not sure. "She's on the sunhigh patrol, I'm answering to Oakheart right now."

Mistypaw's ears pricked curiously. She could see their father sitting beneath some of the trailing branches of the Great Willow with Loudbelly and Rainclaw. "Loudbelly's with him," she pointed out mildly.

"No, really?" Sorrelpaw gave his sister a playful nudge. "Come on, we must be doing our next assignment together."

Mistypaw fell easily in step beside her brother, padding at his shoulder as they joined the warriors beneath the Great Willow's branches. "I've seen to the elders, Loudbelly," Mistypaw reported, sitting before her mentor and curling her tail neatly over her paws.

"And I've patched all of the leaks in their den," Sorrelpaw added airily.

Oakheart dipped his head approvingly. "Good work, you two." He flicked his tail towards Loudbelly and Rainclaw. "Rainclaw is going to take out one last hunting patrol. I'd like you both to join it."

Rainclaw flicked his ears and started towards the sedge tunnel. Before Mistypaw and Sorrelpaw could follow, Oakheart raised his tail to catch their attention again. "Oh," he added. "By the way, I've had a word with Crookedstar and you will both be attending the Gathering tomorrow—granted you don't do something minnow-brained between now and then." His amber eyes sparked with amusement even as he dismissed them and turned away.

"Yes," Sorrelpaw's tail lashed eagerly as he loped alongside Mistypaw towards the sedge tunnel. "I haven't been to a Gathering in moons."

Mistypaw's whiskers twitched. "And this one should be good—I bet Sunstar has something to say about how soundly they lost Sunningrocks."

"No matter what Sunstar has to say," Rainclaw rumbled once they were in earshot. "Don't forget your manners. The Gathering is held under the truce of the full moon."

"We know, we know," Sorrelpaw rolled his eyes. "It's not like I planned on talking to those ThunderClan feather-faces anyway."

Loudbelly sighed. "Just don't cause any trouble. There's a reason the two of you haven't been to a Gathering together yet."

Sorrelpaw flashed Mistypaw a quick glance, full of mock-surprise and mischief. "Have we really never been to the same Gatherings?"

"Great StarClan," Rainclaw muttered, his ears flicking back. "Maybe I'll ask Crookedstar if I can guard the camp tomorrow night."

Despite his exasperation, Rainclaw was among the Gathering patrol the next evening. Mistypaw barely resisted the urge to badger the older warrior about it, instead staying at Loudbelly's side and contemplating quietly what the news might be. The floods had yet to die down, though the rain had eased to a complete stop, finally, and allowed the silver light of the moon to shine down on the waterlogged forest.

Crookedstar slipped through the patrol like a fish through water, sharing a few quick words with each warrior before coming the head of the group. He raised his tail, and without a word the patrol filed after him out of the camp. He immediately broke into a run, his warriors streaming out behind him. They had, Mistypaw realized idly, a large patrol that night. Oakheart ran at Crookedstar's haunches, Bluefur like a shadow at his side. Leopardfur was just behind them, followed closely by Sorrelpaw and Whiteclaw, who seemed to be talked amongst themselves as they ran. Sedgenose had joined them, leaving Shiverpaw to keep an eye on her kits and Loudbelly and Mistypaw fell in beside the queen. Rainclaw brought up the rear, his ears and eyes alert as he watched over the patrol's blind spots.

ThunderClan is in for a surprise if they think the floods have weakened us any!

Crookedstar didn't hesitate when they reached the lip of Fourtrees, charging straight down into the hollow with his head and tail high.

When Mistypaw made it into the clearing, she pricked her ears and inhaled deeply. ShadowClan and ThunderClan. She wrinkled her nose. I'm not particularly fond of either.

Sunstar narrowed his eyes from his spot beneath the Great Rock, but still dipped his head in a formal greeting when Crookedstar approached him. Loudbelly had gone almost immediately to join a pair of ShadowClan warriors, Whiteclaw at his side. Mistypaw considered following them, but a sharp yowl announced WindClan's arrival, and before long she'd lost her mentor in the blur of pelts.

"Hey, Mistypaw," Sorrelpaw appeared beside her, giving her a nudge. "Let me introduce you to the apprentices I met last time."

"Sure," Mistypaw agreed easily, allowing her brother to lead the way through the clearing to the place where a couple of apprentices were exchanging news with twitching whiskers.

"Well, well," a dark tortoiseshell tom with rich amber eyes and a fluffy red tail jumped to his paws. "I wasn't sure I'd see you at two Gatherings in a row, Sorrelpaw."

Sorrelpaw scoffed playfully. "That's my line." He flicked his tail towards Mistypaw. "This is my littermate, Mistypaw. Mistypaw," he angled his ears towards the mottled tortoiseshell, "This is Redpaw," next was the pale gray she-cat sitting next to him, "and Willowpaw."

Mistypaw easily recognized their ThunderClan scent, and fought the urge to wrinkle her nose. "It's nice to meet you," she lied loftily. "I don't think I've ever seen you at a Gathering."

Willowpaw nodded thoughtfully. "I've only met your other littermates," she agreed. "Stonepaw and Shiverpaw."

Mistypaw decided quite quickly that she liked the gray ThunderClan apprentice. "When did you start training?"

The dark tortoiseshell tom puffed his chest out a little. "Two moons before you."

"We have a lot of apprentices," Willowpaw sighed. "It's hard to get to go to Gatherings with so much competition."

Sorrelpaw and Mistypaw exchanged a furtive glance. Are they challenging us?

Before either of them could comment on RiverClan's strength, Sunstar called for the Gathering to start with a sharp yowl.

"Raggedstar, would you like to speak first?"

The dark tabby bowed his head appreciatively. "The heavy rain has kept the rats away," he announced. "And prey is running well through our territory." His voice was low and concise, leaving no room for uncertainty. If ShadowClan is struggling, he certainly won't give us any sign of it…!

Heatherstar came forward next. "WindClan is well. Despite the floods we've welcomed a new litter of kits."

Cheers and congratulations rippled through Fourtrees; Sedgenose, Mistypaw realized, looked especially thrilled.

"I think White-eye knew that queen."

Mistypaw started and whipped her head to the side, surprised to see that when the Gathering had begun, Redpaw had come to sit beside her.

"Sedgenose, too," she agreed absent-mindedly, angling her ears towards the pale tabby queen. "She can't wait to get back to her warrior duties."

"Do you blame her?" Redpaw snorted.

Mistypaw's whiskers twitched, and she forced herself to focus when Crookedstar stepped forward. "As always, the floods bring both good and bad news for RiverClan," his green eyes swept across the Gathered cats. "More water, and less fish. Still, the prey is running, and RiverClan remains strong." He caught Sunstar's eye as he stepped back, as if willing the other leader to challenge their strength right then and there.

If he realized, Sunstar didn't acknowledge it. He took his turn at the front of the rock calmly. "ThunderClan is well. The floods have made it difficult for us to get to Fourtrees with dry paws, but we remain unaffected otherwise." His eyes grew cold, "And while some of our territory has become inaccessible due to the high waters, ThunderClan will be prepared to defend all of its hunting grounds as soon as the levels return to normal."

Sorrelpaw bristled on Mistypaw's other side. "I'd like to see you try…!" He hissed under his breath. Mistypaw cast a glance at Redpaw, who was watching her through amused amber eyes as Raggedstar called for the Gathering to end.

"If I don't see you at the next Gathering," the ThunderClan apprentice mewed lightly. "Maybe I'll see you at Sunningrocks."

Mistypaw curled her lip. "Only if you're looking to lose your fur." With a toss of her head, she trotted to the patrol of RiverClan warriors, aware of Sorrelpaw muttering curses as he followed.

Go ahead and try to take Sunningrocks back, she thought forcefully, her shoulders squared and eyes narrowed. We'll be waiting.