Chapter Seven
"Hollypaw! Darkpaw! Hollypaw! Darkpaw!" Hollypaw let out a yowl of triumph as her and her littermate, formerly Darkkit, got called their apprentice names. Hollypaw bounded towards Thistleflake, his light gray fur spiked out messily, but for the first time for Hollypaw, she found it rather attractive. Thistleflake's yellow eyes gleamed with excitement as Hollypaw pressed her nose against Thistleflake's pink one. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Darkpaw nuzzling against Copperleaf. Hey, the two would be a good combination.
"Come on! Let's go explorer the territory! I promise I'll have you ready for the next quarter moon's gathering!" Thistleflake waved his tail accordingly. Hollypaw's eyes blinked with joy. Thistleflake angled his ears towards the edge of camp. "Come on, Hollypaw. I'll show you around" His voice was low, but not as low as Elkheart's. Elkheart gave a nod of approval when the gray cat glanced his way. Hollypaw dipped her head, before trailing after Thistleflake.
"So, this is the last half of our territory, the marsh. You can remember it by the muddy ground. It's a habitat for frogs, which are relatively easy to catch if you know how" Thistleflake nodded towards a marsh, no longer than a few fox-lengths away. Hollypaw committed it to memory. The reeds protruded out of the mud-like surface underneath, and flies swarmed the area, buzzing annoyingly with their business. Hollypaw felt the ache in her paws. There was so much territory to explorer.
"Got it" Her eyes flickered over to Thistleflake. Thistleflake nodded.
"Good, let's get back to camp to rest.
A quarter moon did see Hollypaw going to the gathering, just as Thistleflake predicted. Her brother, however, hadn't been selected. She was giddy with excitement, and was bounding with her Clan anxiously as they made their way to the fourtrees.
Entering the fourtrees was overwhelming to Hollypaw. The fishy smell of RiverClan, the forest smell of Hollypaw wrinkle her nose in disgust. She watched as Pebbleheart and Redpaw mewed their goodbye's, and leaped over to where another group of cats sat. Her heart jumped into her throat.
The golden pelt. The amber eyes. Her curious, amber eyes watching her scuffle her paws below. Beside her, a dark-russet she-cat with emerald green eyes purred.
Those faces. Those cats are oddly, and eerily familiar …
Hollypaw's heart was fluttering with anxiety like a giant butterfly was trapped in her rib cage.
Goldenpaw and Scarletpetal! They're here at the gathering!