Streamtail's Desicion

Chapter 16: Gathering

The moon was almost at its full peak by the time Flowerfur and Streampaw had finished tending to Birdstar. The old leader was very weak and she had nearly lost her sixth life. Streampaw had been collecting cat-mint all night and Flowerfur had been collecting wet moss and giving Birdstar every herb that could give her strength. Everyone in camp knew that there was no way she could attend a Gathering tonight. Flowerfur had had to tell Lionclaw that he would fill in for Birdstar at the Gathering.

It was almost time to go by the time Birdstar could breath properly again. Streampaw followed Flowerfur outside of the den. "I'm going to stay here in case Birdstar has another coughing fit." Flowerfur mewed. "But who's coming with me to the Gathering then!?" Streampaw gasped. The old medicine cat's eyes lit up with amusement for a moment before turning dim again. "You'll have to go with the other apprentices; but don't worry, the other medicine cats will be there."

Streampaw nodded. Lionclaw had begun calling the cats together to leave. "Should I get going then?" Streampaw asked. Flowerfur nodded and waved her tail in farewell. Streampaw did the same and bounded after her clan-mates. She couldn't believe it! Her first gathering! As much as she wished her mentor would be there, she was determined to have a good time.

Soon the WindClan cats reaches Fourtrees and Lionclaw raised his tail for them to stop. Streampaw couldn't wait to meet the cats-- or at least the medicine cats. She was worried about meeting any ThunderClan cats. Even though her encounter with them was minor, it still had Streampaw spooked. It'll be fine. I'm with my Clan-mates, she thought happily. At that moment, Lionclaw flicked his tail, signaling the WindClan cats to go down into the hollow. Streampaw gasped as she saw the four great oaks towering over her. Great StarClan this place is amazing!

The pale moonlight seemed to make the snow-covered ground glow, and it made the snow and ice-covered branches of the oaks sparkle. "The leaders were waiting." mewed Lightningpaw, as she padded besides Streampaw. As she turned her head, Streampaw saw that the light ginger apprentice was right. She saw three cats sitting on top of a massive gray boulder. One was a well-built, blue-gray tom-- Rainstar, to be exact. Streampaw already knew he was the ThunderClan leader.

Beside him were two other cats. One was a brown tabby with blazing green eyes; the other was a black and white tom with light blue eyes and a long feathery tail. Lionclaw-- who was hurriedly clambering up the rock, had just joined them. "Maybe now the Gathering'll start!" hissed a Clan elder.

After a few moments Rainstar stepped forward and said, "Now that WindClan has showed up, the Gathering may begin. Mothstar? Would you like to go first?" The brown tabby nodded and stepped forward. "That's the ShadowClan leader."

Streampaw turned to see Suncloud-- the ShadowClan medicine cat, padding towards her with his apprentice, Redpaw. "Hi Suncloud!" Streampaw whispered. The golden tom flicked his tail saying hello. Redpaw did the same. Streampaw turned to listen to the ShadowClan leader speak. "All is well in ShadowClan. Leaf-bare has the prey hiding in their burrows, but that hasn't made ShadowClan any less strong!" he growled. "That is all I have to report." Next, the black and white tom stepped forward. "That's Cloudstar. He's the RiverClan leader." Redpaw whispered. "Yeah and he's the best leader ever!" mewed a white she-cat. Streampaw purred in amusement at the apprentice.

"You must be in RiverClan." she purred. The she-cat nodded. "Yep! I'm Snowpaw!" she said happily. Suddenly, one of the elders there hissed and said, "Listen!"

Cloudstar finished up by saying that RiverClan would be increasing border patrols because they had seen other Clans hunting near there. He aimed the accusation at WindClan; but, Lionclaw said nothing. Rainstar had nothing to say except that prey was running well. Soon it was Lionclaw's turn to present.

"I will be speaking for Birdstar, since she isn't feeling well," he meowed. "As for RiverClan's claims of prey-stealing, WindClan will be increasing our patrols due to an attack on one of our warriors." Cloudstar growled and lashed his tail. "That is all." Lionclaw hissed. "Then this Gathering is over." Mothstar said and the cats bellow dispersed. Streampaw turned to Suncloud, Redpaw, and Snowpaw. "I'll see you all later then." she said sadly. "Don't worry there's always next Gathering!" Snowpaw mewed. They all purred in amusement. "And me and Redpaw will see you next half moon at Moonstone." said Suncloud. Snowpaw turned her head and said, "Yeah I have to go now," she said sadly. "Bye Streampaw! See you next Gathering!" she said as she bounded away.

Streampaw nodded and mewed goodbye to her friends and joined her Clan-mates. I can't wait to tell Flowerfur how much fun I had!