Cinders to Flames

Chapter 5

Blackpaw woke Cinderpaw around moonhigh for the Gathering.

"Come on, we need to see if we are going to the Gathering!" he meowed with excitement.

Cinderpaw followed Blackpaw to the Highrock, watching as Blizzardstar listed the cats who were lucky enough to go to the Gathering.

"Mudsplash, Cinderpaw, Appleheart, Featherpaw, Yellowleaf, Blackpaw, Twistfoot, Vinespring and of course our medicine cats; Goldenstripe and Aspenpaw, and our deputy, Ravenwing" Blizzardstar meowed.

"Yes! I can't wait to see all the leaders at the Gathering!" Cinderpaw cheered. She trotted over to Wolfpaw and Heronpaw.

"Have a nice time sleeping," she told them. The older apprentices hissed and spat angrily. She watched with satisfaction as they complained to their mentors about not being chosen to go to the Gathering.

"Come on, we're leaving!" Mudsplash called to Cinderpaw, and she quickly joined the group of cats preparing to leave.

"What does the Gathering place look like?" Cinderpaw asked her mentor as they trekked through the forest.

"You'll see when we get there" Mudsplash told her.

Cinderpaw rolled her eyes and turned to Blackpaw, who walked beside her. "What do you think the Gathering place looks like?"

"Hmmm, I heard from one of the elders that it's a huge tree. That's all I remember. I think I fell asleep sometime in the middle," Blackpaw meowed.

Cinderpaw laughed, "of course you fell asleep! You sleep even more than Featherpaw!" Cinderpaw paused at her sister's name.

"As long as I am aware, Featherpaw is no longer my sister."

Cinderpaw had said, the night she had gone into the Twolegplace and met Pixie. Blackpaw seemed to notice her silence.

"Hey, I know Featherpaw is being a jerk right now, but I'm sure she doesn't mean it. It must be Sootslash influencing her. Maybe you should talk to her tomorrow?" he suggested.

"I don't know," she sighed, "I feel like no one is on my side right now."

"Hey, what about me, I'm always on your side!" Blackpaw meowed, giving Cinderpaw a good-natured shove. Cinderpaw smiled, shoving him back. The two cats happily wrestled around, laughing, and batting each other's ears playfully.

"Stop horsing around you two, we're here." Mudsplash meowed sternly.

"We're here?" Cinderpaw gasped, shoving Blackpaw off of her. She stared up at a huge oak tree, black against the bright night sky filled with glittering stars. She sniffed deeply. "I can't smell any other cats," she meowed, puzzled.

"That's because the Gathering is underground," Mudsplash told her.

"Underground?" Blackpaw and Cinderpaw gasped in unison.

"Come and see for yourselves." Blizzardstar meowed. The FrostClan leader led the cats underneath the huge tree and to a large hold lodged between its roots. Cinderpaw watched in wonder as her leader disappeared into the hole, Ravenwing following behind.

"Come on!" Vinespring called, disappearing along with Twistfoot.

"You're not scared, are you?" Featherpaw asked, following Appleheart down.

"Let's go, we don't want to leave the other Clans waiting," meowed Yellowleaf, Blackpaw's mentor, dipping her head and walking through with Mudsplash.

"Race you there!" Cinderpaw called to Blackpaw, running into the tunnel. She blinked, adjusting her eyes to the dark. She slowed down, letting Blackpaw catch up, taking in the scent of soil and many, many, cats. The path through the tunnel was well-worn, the sides packed together tightly. She and Blackpaw finally emerged from the tunnel into a dimly lit underground cave. She stared in wonder around the cavern, watching as countless cats milled around, sharing stories and tales of good times and bad. This was a meeting of the old and young, cats from all four Clans. Cinderpaw and Blackpaw joined the FrostClan group, looking around wide-eyed.