Mua-ha-ha-ha-ha! I am catching up to you, Amberleaf! I'm so sorry it's been forever since I've updated! I've had so much homework, it's unbelievable. And also, this chapter might have some mistakes. It's been forever since I read TNP. I added a few things in, too, like a fight at the Gathering and such.

CAN YOU HEAR ME?

Leafpaw sighed as she nudged a few juniper berries into a pile with her paw. She was supposed to be sorting herbs for Cinderpelt, but ever since her sister Squirrelpaw had disappeared along with Brambleclaw, that was all she could think about. Even Cinderpelt was getting fed up with how unfocused her apprentice was. Leafpaw and Squirrelpaw had a special bond, it seemed. They could sometimes contact each other through their minds. Leafpaw had been trying ever since Squirrelpaw had vanished, but all she could see was a misty fog.

Cinderpelt limped into the den. "You're not finished yet?"

Leafpaw stared guiltily at the herbs in front of her and shook her head.

Cinderpelt gave an exasperated sigh. "I know you're worried about Squirrelpaw. I would be too. But you must focus on your medicine duties. Mourning her isn't going to bring her back."

Leafpaw nodded determinedly. She had to get her mind off her sister. "Sorry, Cinderpelt. Now what do you want me to do?"

"Well, the Gathering is tonight, and I don't want to wear you out too much…so just finish sorting these herbs, and you're free to go." Cinderpelt flicked her fluffy gray tail at the herbs that were scattered along the ground.

"I…I'm going?" Leafpaw's mood immediately brightened. She was definitely surprised. She hadn't been working very hard at all the past quarter moon.

Cinderpelt nodded. "As long as you promise me that you'll work harder and stop thinking about Squirrelpaw."

"Of course!" Leafpaw didn't want to let her mentor down. She turned back to the herbs and quickly began to sort them. Borage in this pile. Yarrow in that pile. Leafpaw was thrilled. This was her first Gathering! She would get to see all the magnificent leaders and deputies from the other Clans. Sorrelpaw had told her all about the Gathering, but now, she would be able to see it with her own eyes! She just couldn't wait!

Night quickly fell over the forest. Leafpaw ruffled her fur against a chilly breeze and longed for Squirrelpaw's warm, comforting ginger pelt beside her. Leafpaw felt a tail-tip brush her flank. Sandstorm was standing next to her. "Come on, dear. It's time to go."

Excitement flared through her veins as the group of ThunderClan cats began to trek up the ravine. In the distance, Leafpaw could hear the loud noise of the monsters. Even though they always went to sleep before moonhigh, she was still nervous about going into the forest. Monsters could be lurking anywhere. Leafpaw inched closer to her mother and followed her Clanmates into the trees.

Leafpaw gasped. Four towering oak trees stood before her; looming over her Clanmates, as though ready to topple over any second and crush them. But no, they looked too mighty and strong to fall. The brush of Sandstorm's tail over her shoulders brought her out of her thoughts and into the large clearing of cats. She tasted the air; RiverClan and ShadowClan were there, milling about and chatting with other cats. WindClan had yet to arrive.

"Look!" Shrewpaw hissed to her from beside her. "There's Blackstar!" He pointed his muzzle to a large white tom with even larger black paws. Leafpaw gaped at him. "Wow! He's the leader of ShadowClan, right?"

Shrewpaw nodded. "That's the deputy, Russetfur." He motioned with his tail to a fierce-looking dark ginger she-cat.

"Where's Leopardstar?" Leafpaw wondered aloud.

"Over there, talking to Firestar," Shrewpaw meowed. Leafpaw followed his gaze to a large boulder where Firestar and two other cats sat, chatting.

"The gray she-cat is Mistyfoot, the RiverClan deputy," Shrewpaw explained. "Look how muscular Leopardstar's shoulders are! I sure wouldn't want to meet her in battle."

Leafpaw nodded in agreement, and glanced around towards WindClan territory. "Where's WindClan?"

Shrewpaw shrugged. "I dunno. They're supposed to be the fastest Clan. I suppose they've been eating too many rabbits lately, eh?"

Leafpaw chuckled, but she knew that something was wrong.

"Oh!" Shrewpaw glanced up. "There's WindClan!"

Only about 7 cats are in the group, Leafpaw noticed. They all look so scrawny and weak! What's wrong with them? It's only leaf-fall. Prey shouldn't be getting scarce just yet.

"Ah, WindClan!" Blackstar leapt swiftly onto the boulder. Leopardstar and Firestar followed suit. "Let's begin, shall we?"

A frail-looking black-and-white tom stumbled to the boulder and scrabbled ungracefully onto it. Firestar glanced at him, a concerned expression on his face.

"Cats of all Clans," Leopardstar announced, getting all the cats' attentions, "welcome to the Gathering." She turned to Tallstar. "Would you like to go first?"

The black-and-white tom nodded weakly and padded forward. "WindClan is well…we are going through a minor prey scarcity, is all. But don't think that we are too weak to be able to fight." He shot a glare at Blackstar, who sniffed indignantly. Tallstar stepped back and nodded to Firestar to go next.

The flame-colored leader stepped forward. "All is well in ThunderClan. We have two new apprentices-Squirrelpaw and Leafpaw, who is our new medicine cat apprentice."

Leafpaw rose to her paws and felt grief crash over her. Squirrelpaw would be right next to her, her chin held high and her tail waving back and forth, gently brushing along Leafpaw's flank. The crowd of cats cheered and congratulated her. Warmth spread from her ears to her tail-tip.

Leopardstar padded forward and gazed over the crowd of cats. "Cats of the Clans, two of my warriors have gone missing-Stormfur and Feathertail!"

Gasps rippled throughout the clearing and Leafpaw felt her blood run cold. Two cats from RiverClan and two cats from ThunderClan. She glanced at Firestar, wondering what he was thinking.

Leopardstar spun around, facing the other three leaders. "I don't know which one of you planned this, but this has to be against the warrior code!" She lunged at Blackstar, the leader closest to her.

Suddenly, the entire clearing erupted in fighting. Leafpaw backed into the trees and huddled there, fear and panic prickling the fur on her spine.

Squirrelpaw, Leafpaw thought, straining her mind, squeezing her eyes shut. Where are you? Can you hear me?

Umm…yeah.

xx-Starfall-xx