Heatherpaw and Lionpaw stayed side by side, chatting quietly the whole time on the way there. They didn't know where they were, for they had never been out of Thunderclan territory. "It's so cold! How do Windclan cats stand this?" Heatherpaw complained and went closer to Lionpaw for warmth.
Lionpaw was about to answer, but he was cut short when Willowstar yowled, "We are about to cross the log. Everyone, be very careful. Make sure you dig your claws into the wood to keep balance." Lionpaw eyed Heatherpaw nervously.
"It'll be okay. Nobody has fallen off this log in ages!" she exclaimed. They waited for their turns, slightly nervous but also very excited. With one last look at Lionpaw, she carefully lifted herself up on to the log and dug her claws in to it quickly. She walked slowly and cautiously. About halfway through the log, she slipped and let out a yelp. Lionpaw, who was now on the log too, froze in fear. But, Heatherpaw regained her balance and sighed in relief.
Heatherpaw had finally reached the end of the log and Lionpaw joined her in a moment. "Only Windclan is here right now. It's a relief we weren't the last clan here!" he exclaimed. They both looked around, excited, and saw a few Windclan apprentices and Frostpaw chatting. Lionpaw flicked his tail for her to follow, and together they walked over to the apprentices.
"Hey, Heatherpaw, Lionpaw," Frostpaw mewed shyly in greeting. "This is your first gathering, right? That tom right there is Runningpaw," she mewed and pointed at a black and white cat. He nodded and smiled slightly. "And that she-cat right there is Brightpaw," she pointed at a bright orange tabby cat.
"Hi," Brightpaw mewed simply and began gossiping with Runningpaw about some other cats in other clans that Heatherpaw didn't know. Frostpaw rolled her eyes and smiled.
"Let's go find a place to sit," she suggested and they left the two Windclan apprentices. They sat by Whisperpaw and Ashpool.
"Hi, Whisperpaw! How's training going?" Lionpaw asked in a friendly manner.
"Great, just great," she mewed sarcastically and turned and looked up at the big oak tree. Whisperpaw was always grumpy. She never really wanted to be a medicine cat, but Ashpool had a vision that she was supposed to.
Lionpaw sighed softly and gave Brightpaw a grumpy look. Heatherpaw looked around and saw the sleek figures of cats swimming in the water. "Lionpaw, Riverclan is here!" she exclaimed and pointed at the water. He turned his head to the water and saw the cats just as they stepped up onto the shore and shook their pelts, causing some other cats to hiss and jump up, not wanting to get sprayed by water.
"Now we have to wait for Shadowclan," he mewed and looked at the log, trying to see if they were crossing, and he saw what he thought was the Shadowclan leader as he stepped off the log and onto the ground. Darkstar immediatly went up to sit in his spot on the giant oak tree and Goldenstar, the Riverclan leader, slowly made her way to her spot. The Windclan leader and Willowstar were already sitting there waiting and watching their cats with pride.
"It looks like everyone is here, so the gathering begins now," Darkstar growled and waited for the cats to stop talking. "I will start with my news. Shadowclan has two new warriors, Foxtail and Acornpelt. I sadly announce that one of our elders, Stone, has died. We will greatly miss him, but we will not be too caught up in grief to fight and defend our territory," he narrowed his eyes.
"Thank you, Darkstar," Goldenstar mewed with a small growl that wasn't noticable. "Our hunting is still great, even though leaf-bare is approaching rapidly. Tigerleap is the new deputy," she mewed and grief was clear in her voice. "T-that is all."
Willowstar looked at Goldenstar with gentle eyes. She knew how it felt to loose a great deputy. But she faced the crowd again quickly, not wanting to hold up the gathering. "Thunderclan is having great hunting this season. Hopefully it will last until after leaf-bare..."
"We don't anything interesting happening right now," Lionpaw mewed and a warrior behind him told him to be quiet. Slightly embaressed, he focused back on the leaders, waiting for Windclan to share their news.
"We are also having good hunting, thank Starclan. Lilynose is the new medicine cat..." he trailed off, but quickly continued. "I know she will do all she can for Windclan. May Starclan guide your path," Hawkstar glanced at Lilynose and he could tell she was griefing for her mentor. "Meeting dismissed."
All the leaders jumped off the tree and headed towards where their clan was sitting. "Let's go, Thunderclan. It's too cold for us to stay and socialize," Willowstar mewed and started crossing the log. Heatherpaw and Lionpaw exchanged looks of disappointment; they wanted to talk to the other apprentices. Heatherpaw gave one last look at the island before getting on the log, following closely behind her brother.
Constructive criticism is encouraged! The more reviews I get, the faster I'll make the chapters. Criticism will hopefully help me improve the story, or my writing skills. ^^