"All cats old enough to catch their own prey, join here beneath the high rock for a clan meeting!" Falconstar yowled.
I was currently lying in the Apprentices' Den, trying to think over my 'brilliant plan'. My ear twitched at the sound of my father's voice, and reluctantly I got up from my spot, and walked into the clearing the whole clan was gathered around now.
"As you all know by now, the annual Gathering is now upon us. I will now choose cats to accompany the meeting." My father yowled. "Blackfur, our deputy, will of course go, and along with him, Brownwhisker, Redleaf, Pinewillow, Kestralwing, Creekfoot, Shiningbrook, Birdtail, Sparrowheart, Stormtail, Cherryfall, Sleekleaf, Flamepaw, Thornpaw, Icepaw, Eaglepaw, Fishpaw, and Smallpaw." He called out the names.
At first I ignored my name, when suddenly it clicked in my brain.
I was going to a Gathering!
I instantly got excited, and saw the other apprentices were as well, although they tried to hide it. The rest of the clan that wasn't chosen went back to their normal duties, while those who were, circled around Falconstar.
My paws bounded to my dad, full of excitement. The other apprentices were not far behind.
"I wonder what it's like?" I heard Fishpaw say to Thornpaw while we listened to the instructions our leader gave. "Me too." Thornpaw mewed back.
I could hear what we were supposed to do, but the words didn't stick to my brain. My insides jittered with the thought of all the cats that would be attending. I guess that was normal?
"So, with that said, we'll be leaving in just a short matter of time, so it be best to get ready." Falconstar meowed, and with that, the group disbanded.
With the sight of cats walking away, fear spilled into my mind. I hadn't heard a single word.
I looked around for Creekfoot; at least he'll tell me without making me feel bad.
I finally spotted him grooming himself, and I padded up to him, his ears twitching at the sound of my paw steps. "What is it, Smallpaw?" he questioned.
"I was uh…Um…I was wondering…w-what did Falconstar sa-" I started, only to be interrupted with his mrrooww of laughter. "Haha! Your ears clogged huh? Nah, that's ok. Happened to my first Gathering as well. He basically said, 'don't reveal anything to anyone outside the clan, and don't pick fights. Starclan sent this day as a truce.' Understand?" I nodded. "Good. Now run along." He said, continuing his grooming.
I padded away and over to the freshkill pile. Scanning it, I quickly chose a plump mouse from the top. As I reached my head to grab it, a shadow fell over me. I realized with the slightest amount of fear and newly found annoyance, that I had chosen the same mouse Thornpaw wanted.
"I wanted that." He growled. I simply ignored him and walked away. He watched me go with confusion. I smirked to myself; why hadn't I thought of doing that ages ago?
Ignoring again his growl of annoyance, I quickly ate the mouse, refreshing my hunger. Swiping my tongue across my jaw, I scanned the camp, and found my father talking to Hawkclaw, his brother and my uncle. My ears instinctively reached out to them, overhearing some of their conversation.
"What will the other clans think of him?" Hawkclaw said. "What is that supposed to mean? He is loyal and cunning; two things that'll make a great warrior. Even the other clans respect that." Falconstar said, even though his voice filled with doubt. "I just mean that he might show a sign of obvious weakness." His brother replied. My father's ears folded back. "He will not show obvious weakness! He is coming to the gathering, and that is that." With that, my father padded away.
A dreadful feeling filled my stomach; I had a feeling they were talking about me.
"Alright, you all will be civil, polite, and will not share anything with any one, understand?" Flaconstar meowed to the gathered group just outside of camp.
We all nodded our response, then set off on the trail to the island, which wasn't too far away. I immediately fell behind because of my foot, but I didn't care as much as I thought I would have.
'I was going to show obvious weakness' was what my uncle had said. Why was everyone so rough on cats like me? We're all the same inside! That's what should matter! Instead I'm going to look like a weakness to my own clan because of a natural born disadvantage.
A thought entered my brain. I can't let the other clans think like that. I'm going to be the best warrior I can be, and they're going to accept that.
At this thought, I walked faster, catching up to the group who was now almost to the island.
The tree was wobbly.
The other cats had crossed it already, and I was just now trying to figure out how to make it across without falling into the freezing waters below.
I stretched my claws out in fear as I wobbled along the bark. My claws sunk deep into its side, and I slowly stumbled forward. Oh great Starclan help me…! I prayed in my head.
"Hurry up!" A voice shouted from behind me, and I looked back to see that Windclan had caught up with us, and very impatient warriors were waiting for me to cross.
Fear hurried into my heart, and I attempted to scamper away, only to have my footing misjudged.
"NO!" I shouted, just before I slipped. I fell off the side of the log, my claws scrapping the side desperately trying to hang on.
My weight pulled me into the water, that was now heightened from the melting ice of spring, and my head went under. I tried to swim above the surface, but the weight of my foot pulled me down.
The air in my lungs escaped me, and my eyes started to close. Just as my mind started to drift to unconsciousness, I saw a shadow form above me and I felt a splash echo through the water.
I felt something pull the scruff of my neck, and I was dragged upwards near air. My body was thrown onto the ground on the other side of the fallen tree, and I coughed and spluttered for air, water pouring from my mouth.
My eyes a bit blurred, I looked up at my rescuer.
My father stared down at me, frustration, anger, and embarrassment flowing through his eyes. Shame prickled through my pelt. I couldn't meet his eyes.
"Come on, we can't stand here all day." Falconstar meowed, and Riverclan walked away, leaving me to recover on the ground. I sighed and closed my eyes, tears making their way to my eyes. I felt a nudge, and I looked up to see a golden furred she-cat, not much older than me. Not much being the key words.
"You ok? What happened?" her eyes were blue, like Flamepaw's, but they were lighter and more curious. I got to my feet, with her trying to help, but I shook her off. "I don't need help." I muttered. She shrugged, than ran up ahead to the clearing. She smelled of Thunderclan; at this my ears went slightly back.
I limped ahead, trying to catch up to her. "So who are you?" I asked. "My name's Goldenpaw, apprentice to the fiercest Clan, Thunderclan!" she made a hunting pose. I rolled my eyes. "My name's Smallpaw." I said. He ear flicked at my unusual name. So at that, I started walking towards my clanmates.
"Did you hear?"
"About that apprentice?"
"A Riverclan cat couldn't swim?"
"Falconstar must be so embarrassed!"
The rumors rang through the clearing of the clans fats. I hid myself behind a bus, incapable of seeing anyone at the moment. My first Gathering just happened to be my worst.
Onestar, leader of Windclan, yowled for silence. Once everyone went quiet, he spoke. "Thank you. Windclan has little news to tell. Two of our apprentices became warriors; Ravenclaw and Finchheart."
The clans cheered.
I cheered too, not wanting to disrupt the bright round moon in the sky, but I did it quietly, so no one could detect me. Unfortunately, it did.
"What are you doing back here?" a familiar voice called.
"Go away, Goldenpaw."
"Well someone's grumpy, aren't they?"
"Someone can be grumpy when all the clans are spreading rumors about you."
"So that was you, wasn't it? The one who can't swim?"
I got up out of my hiding place, and hobbled over to an area where I could sit in peace. "So is that why you can't swim?" she asked, detecting my limp. "Will you two be quiet? Onestar is trying to talk!" Someone hissed at us. I mimicked him, then locked my eyes on the leader of Windclan. Goldenpaw sat next to me, and said, "If that's why you can't swim, I don't blame you." My ears jerked up in shock. She looked away, shame going through her pelt. "I know, I know; doesn't sound very Thunderclan like. My mother said I was born with a soft heart."
"I was going to say thank you." I said finally. A nod was all her response.
"That is all." Onestar concluding, making me realize I had drowned out all of his speech. I heard a snicker somewhere nearby, and saw Thornpaw sitting next to Flamepaw, who was trying to talk to her with no prevail. "I'm telling you!" I heard him whisper. "It wasn't my fault! The sun was in my eyes!" I rolled my own pair of eyes.
I looked over at Flamepaw, who was determinedly ignoring him. Her yellowish coat shown in the moonlight, and her blue eyes sparkled in determination as she looked up at the currently speaking leader, her tail wrapped neatly around her paws.
Goldenpaw caught on.
She snickered. "Who's that?" she half whispered half sang. I flicked my ear annoyance and turned to listen to the leaders.
I made my way across the bridge more carefully this time.
I had said goodbye to Goldenpaw before we left, but she didn't reply. I didn't want to have to say anything either, but Starclan whole truce thing took its toll on me.
"Did you learn anything today?" Falconstar said to me, a bit stiffly, when we were walking back. I shook my head slowly. He turned stiffer and walked away. I growled.
We made it back to camp Not too much time later. Everyone padded off to their dens, some grabbing some newly caught freshkill they hadn't eaten yet.
I grabbed a small sparrow but knowing the limits for the freshkill pile, and I already had my share, I hid it behind a bush and pretended to go to my bedding.
I watched from inside as everyone started to leave to go to sleep, and once they did, I quietly snuck out, grabbed the sparrow, and made my way out of camp.
"Toothless?" I whispered.
I was at the cove again. I carried the robin in my mouth, the moon's bright light reflecting on its black feathers. "Toothless!" I whispered again, seeing how he did not answer.
"I heard you the first time." A voice said from behind me.
I hissed and jerked around to find him laughing, he being almost completely invisible in the dark night, even with the moon shining.
"Well, I did bring you a sparrow, but I guess you're having too much fun scaring me, so I guess I'll have it." I said, placing it on the ground. He swept it up with his paw before I could do anything, and said, "You're a good cat, you know that? I haven't many any other cats like you, really." I took that as a completment.
"So what was this whole plan you have?" he said, eating the bird. I shook my head. "Still trying to figure it out. I need to make some more adjustments." He nodded in understanding. I looked up at the moon, and saw its light was growing dimmer; I needed to get back to camp. "I have to go." I said, before trotting away.
"Thank you, again!" he called out as I made my way up the side of the cliff like wall. I smiled; it felt good to have someone say that instead of shouting at you about something you did wrong.
I just hope I'm doing the right thing now.
A/N: Hey everyone! I went a little off track of the story with this, but what a Warriors included story without a Gathering? :D
BTW, Goldenpaw is my OC I made a long time ago, and I thought this was the perfect time to put her into action. She will-
oops. Almost gave away a spoiler!
Anyway, I hope you liked the chapter, and that you have a great rest of your day, viewers!
-catz4eva101