Chapter Eight

Greypaw padded into camp, followed by an exhausted Lionblaze. The clan swarmed around them, asking why there was blood on them and why they smelled of fox. Greypaw quickly explained the battle to the clan from the Highledge. Dovewing and Ivypool were sitting close to Lionblaze, worriedly.

"Relax. I can't be hurt, remember?"

"Yes, but you can still die of exhaustion!" Dovewing said.

Darkmoon shook her head. "Greypaw, you're lucky to have escaped with only a few scratches! Its good Lionblaze was there to help you… But, Lionblaze, how did you know?"

Lionblaze blinked uncertainly, but Dovewing jumped in. "I sensed something was wrong and then I saw a fox. I was about to leave when they returned."

This response seemed to satisfy the clan, but Greypaw was confused. But he pushed it to the back of his mind as the pretty medicine cat checked him for injuries. His brother and sister stood anxiously behind him, watching the medicine cat carefully.

"Ouch!" he winced as she poked his side.

"It looks like there'll be some bruising here and there, and you've got some bleeding scratches, but nothing serious…." Darkmoon said. "I'm glad you're okay," she added quietly, before applying some herbs and cobwebs to his cuts. Greypaw's ears burned slightly.

. . .

It was a month later, the fox nearly forgotten. Greypaw was bursting with excitement. They were to be attending the gathering tonight! Nightpaw was trying to make her fur look nice, and Sunpaw was sitting quietly, curiously commenting on how he thought it would be. What will the other cats think about Sunpaw? He's so….different and weird. I hope they'll be nice.

The cats set out for the gathering. It was a long trek through their territory and then Windclan's. Bramblestar paused before entering the moorland. Nightpaw and Sandyfur padded side by side, followed by Sunpaw and Cloudclaw. Cloudclaw still resented Sunpaw's slowness, but Greypaw noticed that she had become a bit warmer to his challenged brother. Darkmoon had sadly determined that Sunpaw suffered from an unknown defect from before birth, but she was sure that Starclan was guiding him.

The moorland was strange. It was so open that Greypaw found himself tensing, and he had to fight the instinct to run and hide. Sunpaw was very nervous with his tail fluffed up to twice it's size. Even Nighpaw's eyes were huge as she padded through the tall grasses and heather.

Thankfully, the Thunderclan cats were soon in sight of the island. As they approached the huge tree, Greypaw unsheathed his claws. He was glad they were long, because the bark was slippery and wet. The lake stretched beneath him, dark and deep. He shuddered and hurried off of the log, grateful to be on land once again.

Looking around, Greypaw wasn't sure where to go. Cats of all ages and Clans were milling around, so Greypaw decided to join a throng of apprentices.

"Hi. I'm Greypaw," he said. Nightpaw and Sunpaw appeared behind him. "And these are Nightpaw and Sunpaw, my littermates."

A silver tabby she-cat tilted her head. "Are you from Thunderclan? I'm Troutpaw of Riverclan. "

"Nice to meet you!" Nightpaw said. Sunpaw blinked.

"Who are you?" he asked the others. A black tom spoke first.

"I'm Nightpaw, and these others are Skypaw, Fluffypaw, Gingerpaw, and Sparrowpaw."

Greypaw nodded and sat down. "Have you been to a gathering yet? This is our first time."

Some of the cats nodded, but most shook their heads. "Isn't it cool here?" Silverpaw said. Nightpaw nodded.

"Would all cats of the clans look up here? The Gathering has begun!"

Blackstar stepped up first, the oldest of the leaders. "Shadowclan has had a good season so far, but we are sad to announce our elder Dustypelt has gone to join Starclan. He will be greatly missed."

The cats murmured sorrowfully as Bramblestar nodded. "Thunderclan is sorry to hear of your loss Blackstar. We too are thriving well and are proud to introduce our newest apprentices Greypaw, Nightpaw, and Sunpaw."

Greypaw puffed out his chest as his name was called, but his ears burned when the whole gathering turned to look.

"Greypaw, Nightpaw, Sunpaw!" the cats cheered.

Mistystar stepped forward. "Riverclan is happy to report the birth of Willownose's kits Flowerkit, Poolkit, Moonkit, and Windkit."

Now it was Onestar's turn. "Windclan recently chased a badger from our territory. We think it traveled into Thunderclan territory, so please watch out."

Greypaw shifted uneasily. "I hope it doesn't attack you!" Gingerpaw meowed, flicking her ears.

The leaders were finished, and now there was more time to talk to the others. The older apprentices showed the new ones around the island, and Greypaw was happy to have new friends.