Chapter 5

I groan drowsily as a poke awakens me from my nap.

"Hey, Fallowpaw, get up! We're going to the gathering." I look up, and surprisingly, Owlpaw is in front of me. "Dawnpaw told me to wake you up, they're about to leave." Since when did Dawnpaw tell him what to do? I sigh, stretching.

"I'll be out in a second. Go tell Dawnpaw I'm up." Owlpaw snorts, as if he hates to take instructions from me instead of my brother, but pads away to do so. I yawn, walking slowly out of the apprentice's den to meet my brothers at the entrance.

"Okay, good, you're here, sleepyhead." Dawnpaw flicks his tail. "The rest of the Clan left a few moments ago, we've got to hurry!" I hiss in annoyance at myself for sleeping in, but we bound along.

When we reach the gathering clearing, Thrushpaw makes a b-line for this 'Vinepaw' cat. Mouse-brain. I groan, padding after him. I need to stop this before too much happens.

I spot them chatting next to eachother. They seem close. Too close. Fur-touching close. I squeeze between them, glaring at my brother for a moment.

"So, Thrushpaw, who's your new friend?" I mew, throwing a fake smile at the shecat next to myself.

"Her name is Vinepaw. Vinepaw, this is Fallowpaw, my sister." His teeth are gritted, an apologetic look going towards Vinepaw. Mouse-brained shecat from ShroomClan stealing my mouse-brained brother from me..

"Hi, Fallowpaw.. Uhm. I'm assuming this is your second gathering too? It's my first." So that's why I've never met her before!

"Correct. How's it going so far?" She is surprisingly pleasant conversation. Not that I'll ever forgive my brother, though.

"Good, I guess... Redpaw's about to leave the apprentice den, so I'll be left alone with the chores, but it's fine. I like the elder, anyways. We don't have any queens right now, so I at least don't have to deal with that." She chuckles quietly. It's like a soft step on fresh snow. I have to admit, Thrushpaw made a good choice. Still, she's not in our Clan. I'd prefer if that was at least checked off the list.

"Well, that sounds really rough, Vinepaw." I try to show sympathy, but my voice comes out sharper than intended. "Hey, my throat's pretty sore right now. I'll leave you with Thrushpaw here." I excuse myself, swallowing hard.

Trotting away, I notice Thrushpaw shuffling slightly towards her. Vinepaw slides away in return, and I snort to myself. Good luck with that, Mr. Lovebird.

Finally finding a seat next to my Clanmates, I settle down just in time for the leader to start their schpiel. My father, Wrenstar, steps forwards and raise his tail for silence. The gathered Clans oblige, and the main attraction begins.

"I shall begin this Gathering." He meows, his blue eyes flickering back to Petalstar, Lilacstar, and Heronstar in turn. "CedarClan's hunting is good, and we have a new Warrior; Rainear!"

I smirk as Rainear's pelt about glows bright death berry red.

"Rainear!" I happily join in with the chanting.

"Rainear!" Lousesong is swishing her tail happily. I think he's her only surviving kit, from her litter with Tinywhisker.

"Rainear!"

Wrenstar waits for them to silence, and then continues his speech. "CedarClan is thriving. That is all I have for this moon." He steps back, allowing Petalstar to take his place.

"LilyClan has been doing well." Her eyes glanced over to Heronstar for a brief moment, and then returns to the cats gathered beneath the leaders. "And apart from a small intrustion by the doings of a JuniperClan patrol," Her gaze returned to the leader of JuniperClan, no clearly designed to be a glare. "We've been perfectly healthy as well. Lilacstar, you may go next."

Surprisingly, the entirety of JuniperClan ha managed to stay quiet after Petalstar insulted them. Impressive, but not unusual for the wise Clan. Lilacstar of ShroomClan stepped forwards, to the front of the moss-covered rock.

"Hunting has been well in ShroomClan. We almost have two new warriors, and a new apprentice, Vinepaw, has joined our ranks."

I helped in the loud calling of Vinepaw's name, her cowering into Thrushpaw's fur after everyone's eyes were on her. I think her brothers, Redpaw and Stagpaw, cheered the most though. The crowd eventually settled down enough for Lilacstar to end her speech.

"We are thriving in the swamps. Heronstar, you may finish the gathering." She nods to the brown tom, allowing him to finally commence his lecture for the four Clans.

"JuniperClan has had good hunting so far this Greenleaf. Minnow is expecting Willowheart's kits, so our apprentice's den will soon be repopulated. That is all I have to say, this gathering is dismissed."

Petalstar throws one last glare in Heronstar's direction, and then calls her Clan to order. "LilyClan! Let us return to camp." She flicks her tail, and they stand to begin a short journey from the gathering.

Once LilyClan has left, I roll my eyes at Vinepaw and Thrushpaw. She barely contains a laugh, and Thrushpaw ignores me. I sigh as my father interrupts. "CedarClan, let us start towards the camp." Lousesong stops fawning over Rainear, giving him one last nuzzle before padding to Wrenstar with the rest of the warriors.

I toss and turn in my nest, relishing what sleep I can get. It's riddled with dreams, but not th usual ones. Ah, the one time I actually want to talk to them, they ignore me. Of course. Questions bounce around in my mind, mainly consisting of 'what does the prophecy even say?' and 'those mouse-brains couldn't even be bothered to give me any information, could they,' but that was mostly rhetorical.

I groan as sunlight greets me in the morning. At least it's not a paw stomping on my tail, I guess..

As I step out, Truestep nods to me from in front of the FeatherStone. Just in time for patrols, I see. Snowbreeze flicks her tail to the side.

"Leaf-Fall is fast approaching, Fallowpaw. Are you ready?" Tinywhisker smiles at me as I settle myself between him and Truestep.

"I guess so. I don't like the sticky leaves on my pelt during Leaf-Fall, but I can't really control that." I return the gesture to the tom, and then refocus my gaze on Snowbreeze.

"Lousesong. Take Truestep and Fallowpaw out for a border patrol. Tinywhisker, take Owlpaw and Dawnpaw hunting. Thrushpaw, you're with me and Doeshine for another hunting mission. Prey is going to become more and more scarce, so we must prepare!" She grins at us, and I nod to keep back a grown.

Another day of boring old patrols..

Author's Note:

Thank you to Flowrvii for voting on the first poll for my story! Fallowpaw's love interest is still technically up for debate, but at the moment, I'm planning their meeting. Happy reading, everyone!!

-Jay