Warriors: Heronpaw's Secret (Complete)

Chapter 11

 As the moon was floating carelessly on the dark blue sky, Heronpaw was following his Clanmates towards the Fourtrees. A cold breeze was rustling his fur, and he shivered. Leaf-fall was here, and that meant the wind was going to be chillier and prey was going to be scarcer.

 Heronpaw silently looked to his right as he saw the Twoleg bridge, which was the border with RiverClan. There were no sign of the rival Clan yet, but he could see the river that led to the gorge when he squinted his eyes. He then stopped and froze as he caught the smell of cats. A lot of cats.

 ''Don't worry, Heronpaw.'' Frostbreeze, one of his Clanmates, purred and approached him. ''We're getting close to the Fourtrees, and soon you'll see cats from all the Clans. But, when there's a Gathering, there's a truce that lasts the whole night, and there are usually no fights.'' Then, she raised her tail, calling the other apprentices to her.

 ''What is it?'' Needlepaw snorted, approaching her with her siblings.

 Cougarpaw approached them as well and walked alongside Heronpaw, looking at Frostbreeze.

 ''Even if there's a truce, always remember: be careful what you tell the other cats.'' Frostbreeze warned, flicking her fluffy gray-and-white tail. ''Some cats might try and get informations about our Clan from you, so they can use it against us. You can talk with anyone, but please, be careful.''

 ''Pfft! As if anyone would get anything from me!'' Needlepaw said, flexing her claws. ''I'd like to see them try!''

 ''Can you stop?" Cougarpaw suddenly growled, fixing her eyes on the younger apprentice. ''We don't need to hear you boast for the whole night!''

 Needlepaw stopped, rage blazing in her eyes. ''Well, it's true. But I bet you revealed all of WindClan's secrets on your first Gathering!''

 Cougarpaw lashed her tail, unsheathing her claws. ''I would never! But I bet you would!''

 Needlepaw snarled and crouched, looking like she was about to jump on the other apprentice. Heronpaw's eyes grew wide with fear, but before he could move, Frostbreeze quickly stepped between them. ''Needlepaw! That's just unnecessary!'' She snarled.

 ''She started it!'' Needlepaw growled.

 ''Oh, please!'' Cougarpaw bared her teeth.

 ''Stop it!''

 Heronpaw froze as he heard a deep voice. Hawkgrowl, the Clan deputy, approached them and looked at both of the apprentices with cold, harsh eyes. ''Needlepaw, Cougarpaw, I'm disappointed in both of you. You're representing WindClan's future, and I expected you to be more mature than this.''

 ''But-'' Needlepaw began to protest.

 Hawkgrowl shot the silver tabby she-cat another harsh glare. ''Do you have anything to say, Needlepaw? If you do, I can just send you back home.''

 The apprentice growled, lashing her tail and lowering her head. ''No, Hawkgrowl.''

 ''Good. Now, if I see you two about to jump at each other's throats again, I'll make sure Rosestar knows about this.'' Hawkgrowl bared his teeth as a warning, then turned and padded after the rest of the Clan.

 Needlepaw lashed her tail and followed. Cougarpaw rolled her eyes at the other apprentice, but followed quietly. Heronpaw just stood there, frozen. He didn't know what to think. Did.. Needlepaw really almost attack Cougarpaw?

 ''Come on, Heronpaw!'' Foggypaw meowed, although she also looked shocked. ''We're almost there!''

 ''Just be careful.'' Frostbreeze sighed and rushed after her Clanmates. Heronpaw quickly followed.