Well, you may be surprised I'm updating now... the reviews I got last night warmed me up (and it's getting cold out) so I felt like I should post this next chapter. Enjoy it!


Smallpaw started to pad out into camp. The air was cold and crisp. The sky was dark and stars dotted Silverpelt. The floor of camp was hard and frozen. He scrabbled at a spot he knew there were a couple of fish stashed for later. He came out with sore paws and no luck.

The river was almost frozen over. As their main source of prey, RiverClan cats were now forced to hunt mice and river voles. Clumsy on land, there wasn't much success.

"RiverClan!" Shellstar yowled. "Gather here for a Clan meeting!" He was perched on a low branch of an old maple tree located between the apprentice's and elder's den near the back of camp.

Soon everyone was beneath the tree. Smallpaw reluctantly scoot in beside his brother.

Beetlepaw said nothing. Shellstar spoke up once more.

"As you all know, tonight is the Gathering. I have asked one of ThunderClan's respected warriors to teach us in catching mice—"

"When fish learn to fly!" Pikepelt said.

He earned a cuff of the ear from Troutfur. Shellstar, with a clearing of his raspy voice, continued. "—and they have yet to agree. I also have some bad news." He hung his dappled head.

"Like we don't have enough," Beetlepaw muttered.

"I am down to my last life. So I regret to inform you that I am retiring to the elder's den. Minnowleap will go to the Moonstone tomorrow at moonhigh and I know she will lead you well." The once-bold leader dipped his head without looking at the Clan below and started to back up on the branch.

"Wait!" Lightsplash called. "Please, Shellstar. I mean no offense to Minnowleap, but…" She flattened her tortoiseshell ears. "I-I just think that since ThunderClan has threatened Sunningrocks and all you'd want to defend the Clan you've led for so long."

Shellstar lifted his broad gray head and stared at the warrior. His ears perked. "Thank you, Lightsplash. I have made a decision."

Beetlepaw shifted. "I can't wait to use my claws," he whispered.

"Yeah." Smallpaw lifted a paw and flexed his own. They were white and small, hardly sharp.

Shellstar seemed brighter. "We will go to the Gathering tonight. I am taking Smallpaw, Hawkfeather, Cloudheart, Daisybelly, Dovefeather, Troutfur, Pikepelt, Hawkpaw, Falconpaw, and Slatenose."

Beetlepaw sighed. "I won't get to go."

"Yeah," Smallpaw said again, but his tone changed softer. "It's okay. I'll tell you what happened. Besides, we've been to plenty of them before."

"I know." Beetlepaw shook out his thick fur and started to pad towards the apprentice's den.

Smallpaw shrugged. He didn't like to pry. So instead took a deep sniff of the air, exhaling through his mouth. He was just about to sit by the river's edge again when a light paw slammed on his tail.

"Ouch." Smallpaw leaped up and whipped around, ready to face his attacker.

Minnowleap's blue eyes shone. "Sorry if I hurt you, dear. We better get going, huh?"

Smallpaw shrugged again—he learned that this was the best way to say nothing. "All right." He stood up and started to pad after his mentor.

The journey to Fourtrees was one he knew well. It was easy, too. All one had to do was leap—or swim— over the river and then walk through the field. Then Fourtrees was just a little ways into ThunderClan's territory.

Minnowleap fell back to match Smallpaw's steps just as they both finished crossing the river by the stepping-stones. "Do you think I'd be a good leader?"

Smallpaw, surprised at the serious question, flicked an ear. "I suppose. But you're sort of… young, right?"

"Yeah." The gray she-cat rolled her broad shoulders. "I mean, being Shellstar's daughter and all, you'd expect me to have all of his qualities"—she huffed—"but the stereotypes around here are not right."

"I suppose," Smallpaw mewed. "I think you're a wonderful mentor, though."

"Thanks." Minnowleap sighed. "I hope you find someone that understands your… condition," she murmured softly.

Smallpaw looked at her in surprise. "Well, you understand."

She chuckled. "Yes, Smallpaw. But I'm…not for you. You get that, right?"

Smallpaw nodded. "Sure."

"Ah, I knew you would." Minnowleap flicked her tail behind his ears. "Look, there's Fourtrees. Let's get going, huh?"

Smallpaw gazed at the four oaks in awe. Each time they amazed him with their size and power. The moon above shone down on each leaf.

He took a seat near the back towards the edge. Ironically, there was a puddle in front of him. Never soaked up from the weak sun, it had stayed since the last rain. He looked at his reflection for the second time.

His one clouded eye reflected the moon. The scar going from the top of his head to the bridge of his nose was fading into a white line. The orange tabby patches on his face were ruffled. His ears were nicked. His crooked jaw was unsightly.

Smallpaw sighed. Suddenly his ears perked as his eyes widened with a pressing question. Just how had he gotten these scars? Was he born with a blind eye? Did everyone see him this way?

Quickfoot must know, he concluded. Something very important had happened in his early kithood. Whatever it was, he was determined to find out.

WindClan arrived. Smallpaw wrinkled his nose as their light and heathery scent filled the air. To his surprise, a brown tabby apprentice met him and sat on his side.

"Hi," Smallpaw approached first. "What's your name?"

"Adderpaw." The WindClan apprentice flicked his cream-tipped tail. "You looked pretty lonely so I figured someone should be nice to you."

Smallpaw frowned. "Gee, thanks," he mewed flatly.

Adderpaw shrugged and stared in the direction of Hawkpaw and Falconpaw. There was another brown she-cat with them, obviously from WindClan. Smallpaw glanced over to see the tabby tom gazing with a sort of a want towards them.

The two apprentices sat side-by-side for a few heartbeats longer—just enough to see ThunderClan arrive.

Smallpaw lifted his head and perked his ears. I wonder if Lightpaw's here. Maybe she can tell me why ThunderClan is planning to attack for Sunningrocks.

Just as his eye caught her, she was touching noses with Hawkpaw.

Finding his footing, Smallpaw rose to his paws and trotted towards them. He had to weave around other moving cats but eventually got into sight of them. Just as he was about to speak up, Lightpaw flicked her ears and bounded towards the Great Rock. Realizing neither Hawkpaw nor the WindClan apprentice had seen him, Smallpaw backed up uneasily and went to sit by Adderpaw again. But the brown tabby was nowhere to be found.

Smallpaw sighed. ShadowClan arrived, and Gingerstar leaped up on the Great Rock. Without hesitating she gave a sharp yowl of silence.

Smallpaw spotted the bright yellow pelt of Lightpaw. She was by the WindClan apprentice again, just with Hawkpaw and Falconpaw. But she was too far away, and her back was to the white RiverClan apprentice. Reluctantly Smallpaw drew up his gaze to Gingerstar, who had started to speak.

But he didn't hear any words. He was downfallen. The lack of knowledge bothered him so much his ears only perked when Shellstar's familiar voice sounded in his ears.

"A young ThunderClan apprentice approached me during this Gathering and pleaded that I share this running prey." His claws were flexing. "However, I can kindly but sadly say that it would be impossible to share fish with mouse-eating cats."

The cats around Smallpaw gasped. He cocked his head, trying to understand what had happened.

Shellstar spoke again. "In saying this, I ask WindClan to consider sharing their prey, for even though we are rivals, no Clan can starve."

Smallpaw understood now. ThunderClan was hungry. They were going to attack Shellstar if he didn't share his prey. Smallpaw looked down at his own belly and felt guilty. When he had encountered Lightpaw, her golden thick fur must have hidden her appearance.

"Oh no," he whispered.


Uh oh, Smallpaw's found himself in the middle of a predicament. Whose side will he be on when the Sunningrocks battle comes? Will Minnowleap have a change of heart? Why did Beetlepaw want to go to the Gathering so badly?

ALSO: Guys, check out my other story, Mousestar's Choice! It's got no reviews and was up before this was...justsayin

Find out soon! Let me get to 13 reviews before I post the next chap...and I mean it this time! c:

woof