"I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, than alone in the light."
-Helen Keller

1 moon later

"Our first Gathering! Oakpaw, it's going to be our first Gathering!"

Blossompaw nudged me as I attempted to get some more sleep even though she wouldn't allow it. She was that excited it seemed.

And, I realized that I'd be meeting the other apprentices for the journey I was supposed to go on. Well, StarClan did tell me they picked the best apprentices. It couldn't be that horrible.

"Yes, very perceptive." I mumbled, still tired.

"The day's not going to go by fast enough!" Blossompaw gasped. "Ugh! How am I going to make the day go by faster?!"

"Hunt and patrol a lot...and then sleep it off for a while?" I suggested. Blossompaw's eyes brightened as she thought about it.

"That's a great idea!" Blossompaw purred, then she ran out of the apprentice's den. "Dawnwhisper? Dawnwhisper?"

I realized that I was the only apprentice still sitting in the den and I got up and left, looking for my mentor Emberstem. Even though I was a little worried I would end up seeing her cold glare again.

I noticed she was waking up in the warrior's den, still looking unhappy but peaceful from a good sleep. I sighed with relief, maybe she'd be less tense like she usually was after a long sleep.

"Morning Oakpaw." Emberstem growled. "Ready for hunting patrol?"

I nodded without hesitation and we left the camp.

Emberstem put aside little praise for me despite the fact that I got a fat squirrel that would help feed the others in this greenleaf. As I picked it up ready to take it to the elder's den, I saw her glaring at Sedgestep as he was eating fresh-kill with Rainpaw.

"Um...everything alright there Emberstem?" I asked carefully.

"I'm fine, back off." Emberstem hissed.

I flinched and ran quickly to the elder's den and dropped off the squirrel, noticing the sunset. Gathering wouldn't be too long now.

I had pondered for the millionth time that day what these cats would be like. If StarClan picked the best, did they mean the best hunters? Or the best fighters? Or did they mean cats that were the best saints?

And I had heard countless stories about cats in different Clans falling in love, and I couldn't help but think...could that happen in our group when we go off on our journey?

After a while pondering, Blossompaw leaped into the apprentice's den even more excited. I realized that the moon was rising in the sky and felt nervousness tickle my pelt.

"I wish I could go to the Gathering!" Owlkit pouted to her mother as we waited for our leader. "I know so much about the code, the apprentices would be so impressed!"

"They would be." Mothleap purred. "At least when you become an apprentice yourself you can tell them your mother's the deputy."

I smiled, Owlkit was the smartest kit in the Nursery and she'd definitely impress.

"You got a dumbstruck look there buddy." Blossompaw teased me. "Thinking of tasty fish?"

"What?" I muttered. "No, just thinking about the Gathering."

"Attention RiverClan." Stonestar meowed. "I will be taking Antpad, Morningpool, Rowanpelt, Brownpelt, Spidermoon, Flyfur, Sedgestep, Dawnwhisper, Darkpuddle, Willowtail, Oakpaw, Blossompaw, Rainpaw, and Spottedpaw."

I was curious as to why my mentor wasn't chosen to go to my first Gathering, and she looked quite angry. Emberstem looked ready to yell at Stonestar as he dismissed Antpad to lead the Clan and turned to her.

"You know very well why." Stonestar growled. "You won't be allowed to any future gatherings if you don't resolve this."

Emberstem turned around and lashed her tail and that's all I saw before Blossompaw insist we catch up to the cats going to the Gathering.

Blossompaw was extremely eager for the first Gathering and leaped and sprinted throughout the whole way there till she bumped into Flyfur. Flyfur...he was always quiet and kept to himself a lot, except sometimes he was with our parents or his sister and her mate.

The white tom with black patches looked back at my sister with dull amber eyes and I suddenly remembered that he was the Crimson Heroine's mate. And even though I sensed it, I never quite acknowledged that well...that's why he was so lonely.

Please Oakpaw, for my dear son...he misses her with all his heart. I heard Amberfern whisper.

I sighed, of course I had to do it. I was too kind to let cats like Flyfur suffer not knowing there was something that could be done.

We climbed the tree-bridge and I warned Blossompaw to stop moving so fast on the tree. Of course, she didn't listen and fell into the water.

I extended a paw but before she could look at it, but a blur of white leaped into the water. I looked at the white tom with black and orange patches saving my sister and I felt my pelt burn with realization.

This is one of the apprentices for the journey.

The tom swam backwards holding Blossompaw by the scruff in his mouth. He eventually made it to the tree-bridge and him and Blossompaw got on the tree-bridge.

"Wow...thank you." Blossompaw panted, looking up at the tom.

"No problem, my name is Sagepaw." The tom purred, he turned around and followed his Clanmates to the island.

It seemed like he was from WindClan, seeing that those cats he walked alongside with had mostly skinny bodies and sleek pelts.

I assumed that ThunderClan and ShadowClan were already on the island, and that I had to find two more apprentices.

I would have to remember his name: Sagepaw. And then if I found the other two cats, then what was I supposed to do? Bring them all together?

My pelt burned with realization the second time this full moon, and I realized that that was exactly what I was supposed to do.