I almost forgot about this story... :o Update time for me!
Pearlpaw nudged me on the shoulder. "That was unintentional," she said. I could sense the presence of several of her friends nearby. Creekpaw and someone else whose scent I couldn't pick out from the rest. It was late afternoon, and tonight was our first Gathering as apprentices.
Of course, someone was also prone to spoiling things for others.
"Sure," I muttered, glancing up towards where I hoped my mentor was. Over the last few moons, I had been making good use of my nose and ears; almost to the point where I couldn't imagine what it was like to be able to live without them.
He was up somewhere in the distance. Maybe up on one of those large rocks that littered the camp. His name was really Wave, as he used to be a loner- or so he says, but I always call him Father. My dad had been gone for a long time now. Died in a battle, the elders said. Brave until the end.
My mentor didn't really mind at first. "I know what it's like to lose someone close to you," he said, but I just shook my head. I didn't know him, no, I had said, opening my eyes as if I could actually see anything. It's just a feeling.
However, Flameheart the medicine cat or something, didn't exactly like that. I ignored him, and Embertail and the rest. Speaking of that- I loathed Embertail. Maybe it wasn't her fault, but she always reminded me that I was blind and that day when I was proclaimed practically useless.
Her flowery scent was just sickening, too. It was way too overwhelming and I sometimes wondered if she did that on purpose to annoy me. Maybe she rolled in a marigold patch every day.
"Well, I know I'm going to the Gathering," Pearlpaw said, swishing her tail and resting the very tip of it on my shoulders. "I've been a good apprentice all throughout this last moon! I deserve so, don't I, Grayshadow?"
Grayshadow seemed to stiffen. "Eh, yes, but you do need to work on your hunting. Your hunting crouch is perfect, but you need to pay attention or otherwise the prey will hear you long before you approach." Pausing, he turned around to me.
"Like your brother here. He's excellent at that. Perhaps me and Wave could consider teaching a session together. It would be a good lesson for both of us."
I almost beamed with pride. I couldn't see what expression Pearlpaw had just then, but I was sure that she was furious. She had never been disciplined like this, ever, even when she almost tore a new pathway in my back. Fur was flying, and all she got was a cuff to the ear. "I'll get you later!" she hissed.
Well, that's what it sounded like to me. Maybe she didn't say anything and I just imagined it all.
The sun was now setting, its comforting warm glow ruffling our backs. My mom had always said that it was just a spectacular sight, an array of rich colors settling in as night fell upon the camp. "You may not be able to see it, but you can always imagine it." That's literally my life in one sentence.
Just as it was beginning to get cold, I heard Sunstar yowl from the top of the Meeting Boulder. The location honestly switches every time, as our camp was literally just a wide array of random rocks that have fallen from the cliff tops of the Forever Mountain and, with a whole lot of coincidences, made the place residential. "Tonight is the monthly Gathering!"
Cats were beginning to stop what they were doing and turn around, watching as our leader continued. "It is a time where all four clans can come together in peace, and discuss in a civil matter about various things of importance. Coming to this Gathering would be..." he paused.
"From the warriors: all may go except for Rockslide and Skycloud, who have gone for six Gatherings in a row and will, this time, stay back and guard the camp from any misfortunes that may follow. From the apprentices; Creekpaw, Burnedpaw, and uh..." he hesitated, as if considering his moves. "Those two, and Wolfpaw may go."
Pearlpaw waited, as if expecting her name to pop up, too, but it never did. There was a murmuring among the crowd, and everyone's knew that the meeting was over. Cats hurried to get to their appropriate places, and my sister was fuming. "What? How did he choose you over me? Sunstar was just feeling sorry for you!"
I was pretty sure that he did, too, but I wasn't going to give Pearlpaw the pleasure of being right. Instead, I shrugged. "I'll tell you everything when I get home tomorrow."
"May all cats that are going to the Gathering: assemble!" Sunstar yelped. I limped away, following the thick stream of fellow clan mates, and as I filed in place behind one of the Warriors, I could feel Pearlpaw's eyes boring into my back.