-[ Warriors: With The Fallen ]-

Part One: Chapter Ten~ Gathering

  So many cats filled up the valley. Small dots of light — Fireflies — were scattered throughout the cool Leaf-bare night. Then, in the center, sat Large Tree. The branches lower to the floor were larger, with the largest meant for the leaders.

  With a flick of his tail, Fog'star sent them down.

  Cloud'clan ran into the valley. Something about this filled her more so with excitement. So many new cats she had never met before!

  Scents lingered over with different groups of cats. Some Shore'clan; some Willow'clan. She sauntered down to the mingling apprentices. Unfortunately, in this group, sat Mist'paw as well.

  "Hello," greeted a small smoke-pelted tom, "I'm Smoke'paw,"

  'Fits him,' She laughed a little to herself.

  He continued, and glanced to Mist'paw, "Uh, you must be Double'paw?"

  What he said didn't register to her. Rose'paw rocked back and forth slowly. She hummed something, while taking in the other apprentices.

  There was a small calico she-cat sitting right next to Smoke'paw. She leaned on him. Maybe they were siblings or something.

  Beside Mist'paw, was a brown tortoiseshell she-cat with very large forest-green eyes. She appeared to be the only apprentice here of her clan. That was... strange. Maybe the others got in trouble or something.

  Then, there was another grey tom. He reminded her of Feather'paw in his appearance, except he had a bulkier build, and didn't have Feather'paw's tan pelt.

  She tilted her head at him, and he flashed a grin. 'I guess I can never really get away from him,'

  Night'paw came to sit next to her. She curled her tail over her paws, and examined the cats. She blinked at the tom who grinned at her, and looked to Rose'paw before widening her eyes. Night'paw inched away little farther back.

  "What is it?" She whispered to her.

  "I've seen him before," Night'paw replied, "he's a bit... off, I'll put it,"

  Rose'paw shrugged. "Oh,"

  Mist'paw laughed to that Smoke'paw cat; like she was just continuing some story. "Oh no, Smoke'paw, that's Rose'paw, not Double'paw,"

  "Oh, I'm so sorry, Rose'paw," He turned to her, "I guess I heard your name wrong when Mist'paw talked about you,"

  After that, Mist'paw came to sit beside her. She tried to place her tail on her back. Immediately, Rose'paw got up and sat on Night'paw's other side.

  She huffed, "Huh, what has Mist'paw been talking about there?"

  "Nothing re—" Mist'paw began quickly.

  "No," She interrupted her, "Smoke'paw, tell me."

  "I, uh," His gaze dropped down to his paws.

  The calico she-cat nudged him. Her muzzle pecked at a smile.

  She giggled, "Yeah, Smoke'paw, go on,"

  He finally spilled, "She just told me about how you two had been very good friends, and how she had trusted you with so much, and then how you broke that trust and blocked her out,"

  Mist'paw scowled. "Star'clan! What is wrong with you, Smoke'paw?"

  The brown tortoiseshell smirked, "Only Shore'clan can't keep a secret,"

  That was the first time she had heard her speak. Besides the constant glances at her, Rose'paw did not know much from the tortoiseshell.

  "Oh, shut it, Sapling'paw!" Smoke'paw's sister lolled her head over to her, "You can't be talking when half of your clan is in the Distance,"

  'The Distance?' She thought, but then snapped her attention back to Mist'paw.

  "I can't believe you." Rose'paw pushed herself to her paws.

  She sauntered right over in front of Mist'paw. Their noses almost touched. Everyone else stopped their bickering. They just watched with curious eyes.

  Mist'paw gulped, but Rose'paw continued, "I did not think you would ever have it in you to bash one of your friends, and then go to sit next to her and put your tail on her back. — If I can even call you a friend!"

  She looked down to her paws, "Rose'paw,"

  Rose'paw shook her head. "No, don't 'Rose'paw' me. You left Night'paw and I for that foxdunged Dusted'paw!"

  Mist'paw growled, "You cannot be talking when you were running around with Feather'paw, just earlier today, too,"

  "Feather'paw?" She started; so much anger rising up in her, that she was tempted to unsheath her claws.

  Night'paw cut her off before she could rant some more, "Please, just stop,"

  With one last glare thrown to her old friend, Rose'paw strode back to sit with Night'paw. She wouldn't mind if Mist'paw got that sickness that was going through her clan. Hopefully it would shut her up for a while.

  The leaders settled onto their positions on the wide, lowest branch of Large Tree. Cats silenced their chattering, and turned to them expectantly.