TCL, Book Two

Chapter Five

-October 10th-
-Nightpaw is 8 moons old-
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Nightpaw followed the flow of the others as they made their way towards the island. He walked beside Mallowfang's tail near the front, though the deputy had her head together with Briarstar, conversing in a hushed tone. Nightpaw couldn't make out what they were saying, but he swore that he had heard them say something about RiverClan.

   Daisypaw had stayed behind, so Nightpaw found himself with no one to talk to like all the others. Tulippaw conversed with Cloudpaw and Softpelt on the other side of the crowd, while behind him Petalfern walked alongside Leopardfrost, Russetclaw, and Mintstorm, and if he strained to look over his shoulder at the back, Amberspark and Smalltalon could be seen bumping each other's shoulders and semi-racing one another as the group moved as one up to the lakes edge.

   I wish Daisypaw was around more. She and Pineheart usually train one on one, and even more so she likes to disappear sometimes. . . I wonder where she's off to? He knew why she hadn't wanted to come to the gathering. She hadn't told him so, but he could guess. If I see those pompous WindClan kits again, I'll tell them what for! he thought. I should have done that in the first place. . . .

   Passing ShadowClan territory was a breeze. No odd encounters, but as they entered RiverClan's territory, once again everyone fell silent and Nightpaw suddenly felt a strange sense of being watched.

   He looked out into the willows and shrubby marshland off to his right. In the distance he thought he saw the black shadows of RiverClan cats appear over a hill. They were nearly across when, through the potent scent of water plants and mud, cat scent reached his nose, and he widened his eyes when RiverClan's glowing eyes appeared.

   The ThunderClan group slowed and Briarstar acknowledged when Breamstar, at the lead of his gathering representatives, stepped out of the shadow of a willow and glared at them through narrowed golden eyes.

   “Just making sure you're obeying the gathering rule,” he mewed, flicking his fluffy tail dismissively. Nightpaw looked down at his paws and counted the fox-lengths towards the lake shore. Though he hadn't succeeded the limit, cautiously he sidestepped a few paces, just in case.

   Briarstar raised his tail in a silent signal for his cats to continue forward. Nightpaw kept an eye on the rival Clan as he walked. The fishy reek of them followed them all the way to the island crossing.

   SkyClan was just finishing crossing the tree bridge, Aspenstar's majestic form slipping across last. Briarstar backed away from the front to let his followers pass first. Nightpaw followed Mallowfang over, and they waited on the island's edge for the others to file acoss, Briarstar taking up the rear quickly as next in line, the RiverClan patrol began to grow impatient.

   A bad feeling sparked in Nightpaw's belly. They're planning a retaliation. I don't know when, but it'll come. He slipped into the undergrowth after his mentor. No matter, he thought as he peered out of the undergrowth, awaiting his leader's signal. I'll be ready.

   The Clan plunged into the clearing. Judging by the group of medicine cats, all the Clans had now arrived.

   Nightpaw scanned the clearing for where the apprentices had decided to congregate and spotted his new friends from ShadowClan alongside two dark ginger WindClan 'paws.

   He glanced back at the RiverClan cats, not seeing any sign of the two brutish apprentices from last time. Deciding that it was safe, he bounded over to his friends. “Hey, guys!” he called, raising his tail as he stopped at Goosepaw's side. The two ginger cats' fur spiked.