Series 1-The New Beginnings, Book: 1-The Uninvited Guests

~ Chapter 3: The Gathering ~

Graypaw rushed through the bracken undergrowth, trying not to get distracted by the new sights and unfamiliar scents. Graypaw tried to keep up with her clan mates as they raced towards the fourtrees where they would meet with the other clans for a meeting they call gatherings. When Graypaw and her clanmates got there, another clan had arrived first. Graypaw couldn't yet tell what clan it was until Fennelfeather whispered to her, "CrowClan" as if he had read her mind. 

 Graypaw's eyes darted around the clearing, her eyes white with awe and excitement. She looked up and saw a big rock that looked like the one back at the camp. On top of the rock, a sleek black tomcat with a white tail, gazed down at his clan satisfied, that's when she noticed the tomcat's intense amber eyes on her, he narrowed his eyes curiously. Graypaw left his gaze abruptly. There was something strange about that leader that she didn't like one bit. 

She glanced around trying to find Skypaw's blue-gray coat. She immediately spotted it among a group of CrowClan apprentices. Graypaw decided to join her. She padded up beside Skypaw and sat down close to her. There were four other apprentices; the first one was a black and white tomcat with big yellow eyes, the second one, was a dark gray she with blue eyes. The third one was a sleek, light gray tomcat with amber eyes, lastly, the fourth one, was a beautiful black she-cat with light blue eyes. 

The third one gazed at her a bit, as if studying her a bit skeptically but then smiled. "Hello, let me introduce ourselves" he said quickly "I'm Ashpaw, this black and white cat next to me is Skunkpaw, the one next to him is Nightpaw, the one next to her is-'' he started, but the She cat beside Nightpaw interrupted "I can introduce myself!" she hissed. Ashpaw flinched then smiled sheepishly. Graypaw giggled and then gazed at the unknown she-cat. " I am Shadepaw '' the she-cat pronounced, giving Graypaw and her friends a friendly smile. 

Then a voice beside her spoke up, "since you guys like to introduce each other why don't we introduce ourselves as well." Skypaw meowed sarcastically. Minnowpaw, who was on the other side of Graypaw, nodded and simply said, "that sounds like a good idea" "I am Skypaw, obviously" Skypaw meowed as she turned her head to her brother, Hawkpaw expectantly, "Oh! Um i'm Hawkpaw" Hawkpaw said just realizing what was happening. The small circle of cats giggled. Hawkpaw smiled shyly. " 'name's  Minnowpaw." He mewed. Then Graypaw waited a second until she knew it was her turn. "Hello. My name is Graypaw." She meowed softly to the group with a smile. "Lovely names indeed. All of you." Skunkpaw said kindly to the FeatherClan cats. Each of the apprentices began to share tongues. 

Suddenly, a loud yowl sounded from the entrance of the fourtrees. Graypaw looked back and saw another clan of cats come. A beautiful ginger she-cat walked over to them. Her bright blue eyes filled with joy. Behind the dark ginger she-cat, was a handsome tortoiseshell, with a white chest. And a blue eye along with a green. A glare was on his face as he approached the cats. He was a young apprentice and seemed Very hostile as he narrowed his eyes at them. 

The ginger she, ignored the tomcat's cold stare and twitched her nose excitedly, "Guess what! Right after our last gathering I was made a warrior, and then given an apprentice a day later! Can you believe it?" Oh so the tomcat was her apprentice, she seemed awfully young to be a warrior but she guessed this clan is different... "Congratulations, Kestrelpaw." Nightpaw meowed quietly. "Kestrelwing" the ginger she snapped. 

I caught the tom-cat's eyes, his expression softened and then his expression quickly hardened, as he kneaded his paws against the dusty ground. She felt warm inside. What is this? She asked herself. Did she like this handsome tomcat? She couldn't! She would get in so much trouble! She rubbed off the affection, she felt for the tomcat and got back to reality. "And this is Opalpaw" Kestrelwing said. "Why would you ever tell another clan my name?!" he snarled "mouse-brain" he muttered. Kestrelwing rolled her eyes, "Opalpaw, they would know anyways you stupid furball."She told him as he huffed, then faced the group. "As you can see, he has such a wonderful personality" she replied sarcastically.