Warriors, The Next Chapter; Spiderpaw's Journey

Chapter 13

Spiderpaw padded after Pebblepaw, his paws aching from the long walk to the gathering. It's worth it, he told himself, I get to meet the other clans!

Finally, Clawstar dipped her head to a big, muscular tom with a musky brown pelt. The tom was followed by many other warriors, including a smaller light gray tom with bright green eyes which was right behind the brown tom.

"That's Sparrowstar, ThunderClan leader, and his deputy Windsnap," Pebblepaw whispered, "And look over there, it's Tumblepaw and Rockpaw." Spiderpaw followed his gaze, seeing a dust colored she-cat and a gray tom.

The ShadowClan cats streamed across a long log into a clearing. Spiderpaw followed Mousetail with Pebblepaw just behind him. When he hopped into the clearing, he spotted a silver she-cat with green eyes and a brown she-cat with golden eyes greet Clawstar and Sparrowstar near the base of a tall oak tree.

Clawstar signaled to Spiderpaw and he hurried over.

"Meet Creekstar," She pointed to the silver she-cat, "And Marshstar," She gestured to the brown she-cat, "I wonder where Poolstar and RiverClan are?"

A long-legged white tom was seated next to Marshstar, "Are you Spiderpaw? I am Windsweptfur, Marshstar's deputy."

A white tom with amber eyes was settled beside Creekstar, "Cloudthorn, I am deputy of SkyClan."

"So, Marshstar, are you leader of WindClan then?" He asked and the she-cat nodded.

An elderly gray she-cat leapt down gracefully from the fallen log and hurried over to the others with a brown tabby tom following her. Sparrowstar's deputy, Windsnap, turned to the brown tom, "Come on Riverbird, let's all head to the deputies rock."

Drifteye broke away from an old light brown she-cat to go join the other deputies on the rock.

"Sorry I'm late," Poolstar mewed, "Always behind schedule now since Rushingstream and Littlesplash are always too caught up fussing over my cough for me to focus."

"I understand, Oceanwinds and Whiskerpaw are far too concerned about the thorn in my paw," Sparrowstar laughed.

Creekstar smiled, "Hollowwood and Swiftfire are always pretty reasonable but they have their moments too."

"Twistedroot understand where I need to be when I need to be there," Marshstar mewed flatly.

Spiderpaw winced, scared by the WindClan leader.

"Well, shall we address the badger in the clearing?" Poolstar asked quietly, "Who is this stranger here?"

"My name is Spiderpaw, I am a MoonClan apprentice that has been seperated from my clan and now I feel I am set to do something here before I return home," He mewed.

Clawstar explained Spiderpaw's story for them briefly. Creekstar raised her head, "So Spiderpaw, you came to speak to us about what?"

Spiderpaw hesitated but spoke as bravely as possible, "I feel that MoonClan isn't meant to live alone anymore, our place is here, at the lake, among the other Clans."

Sparrowstar spat out laughter but Poolstar silenced him when she realized Spiderpaw wasn't joking. "Brave of you to say that, have you consulted your Clan leader yet?" The gray she-cat mewed.

"No- I was wondering if I could take a patrol, a few cats from each of your clans, to journey with me to discuss this with Dappledstar, she must know that I am not joking about this," Spiderpaw mewed.

The leaders seem to consider it for a moment.

Clawstar was the first to break the silence, "I wouldn't mind sending a few cats with you."