"Hawkswoop, Whitebird, Thistlepaw, Cloudygaze, Patchpaw, Wolfpaw, Fallensky, Grazescar, Toadcroak, Olivenose, and Bloodpaw." Birdstar announced the cats names who would be attending the Gathering.
Bloodpaw winced when she heard her name because Birdstar spat it loudly. Birdstar glared down at Bloodpaw, her eyes lit with fire. The whole clan already knows you hate me. No need to make it any more clearer, Bloodpaw thought, her eyes becoming slits.
Birdstar glanced away and smiled as she scanned over the rest of the clan. "The rest will be staying and protecting the queens, kits, and elders. We will be leaving here soon, so be prepared."
Most of the clan cats heads moved in a nod as they padded off. Bloodpaw snorted and stood to her paws, Thistlepaw beside her.
"Your first Gathering. Aren't you happy," Thistlepaw asked her, tilting his head.
"I would be if Birdstar didn't hate me so much," Bloodpaw huffed.
Thistlepaw hesitated. "Why does she even hate you so much? Is it because you were born a kittypet?"
Bloodpaw shrugged, although she somewhat knew the reason why. "When was your first Gathering," She asked, urgent to change the topic.
"My first Gathering was the night before we found you," Thistlepaw answered with a purr,"Same with my brother, Wolfpaw."
Bloodpaw nodded, but before she could open her mouth to speak Cloudygaze called her name from inside the medicine cat den.
"I got to go, Cloudygaze needs me," She called over her shoulder as she padded away.
"See you later!"
Bloodpaw smiled as she turned her head away. At least I have Thistlepaw..
"Bloodpaw!" Cloudygaze snapped as she entered the medicine cat den. "Are you mooning over that apprentice."
Bloodpaw widened her eyes and shook her head swiftly,"No! No! Never!"
A slight blush crept onto Bloodpaws face and a shiver ran down her spine. It's against the medicine cat code..and that is what Birdstar made me. I can't be..
"Anyways, are you prepared for your first Gathering?" Cloudygaze questioned her, his tail lashing.
Bloodpaw nodded and meowed,"Of course!"
"I would've preceded you to stay here just in case. Your lucky Spottedbelly convinced Birdstar into letting you go," Cloudygaze muttered.
"Your lucky that I was even allowed in the clan. If I wasn't, you would have no apprentice and you would probably die without one to fulfill the medicine cat place. WindClan would be without a medicine cat or would force a Warrior to become one. Then, that cat would probably mix up deathberries with juniper berries!" Bloodpaw snapped back.
"Alright WindClan!"
Cloudygaze eyes widened, stunned at Bloodpaws snappy reply. She snorted and padded out, Cloudygaze slowly padding out after her. Hopefully that will leave him speechless.
Birdstar watched as the cats she chose gathered in front of her in one, large crowd. Birdstar dipped her head then whirled around, leading them out of camp with Hawkswoop at her side.
Bloodpaw purred when Thistlepaw padded to her side. He smiled,"On your way to your first Gathering!"
She smiled back vividly and glanced around. The cats were picking up their pace in front of her and she followed, almost tripping over an invisible root. "Ugh," Bloodpaw grumbled, trying to keep up.
"We must be almost late," Thistlepaw commented. He glanced up at the starry, night sky, Bloodpaw following his gaze. The full moon was planted in the middle of the sky, and was shining a bright light down at them.
"Hopefully the other clans aren't too impatient," Bloodpaw retorted, her ears twitching.
"ShadowClan might be, but I'm not sure about ThunderClan and RiverClan." Thistlepaw added.
Bloodpaw peeked around the cats in front of her to see a strip of land in front of them. The crowd of WindClan cats bundled up close together to cross the strip of land. Bloodpaw felt a blush on her visage as Thistlepaw brushed up against her.
They leaped over a large log, and the strip of land became wider. Soon enough, a immense crowd of many other cats appeared in front of them. Different scents made Bloodpaws nose twitch. WindClan padded to the far side of the island, and Birdstar and Hawkswoop padded up to the front. Birdstar climbed up the huge tree and placed herself on a lower branch. Hawkswoop sat beside the tree, a gray, tortishell she-cat beside him.
Suddenly, a brown and white tom on one of the highest branches lifted his tail. All of the clan cats went silent, and glanced up at him.
"Welcome to the Gathering, all clans!" He shouted. The clans cheered at his welcoming but silenced the moment he lifted his tail again.
"I am Thrushstar, leader of ShadowClan. In case you don't know and are new to a Gathering, the Gathering is a ceremonial meeting between all clans. This involves peace, and the moment it is interrupted, StarClan will let us know it's time to leave." Thushstar announced. He then dipped his head,"I will start first."
He first scanned the other three cats on the tree, who nodded. "ShadowClan has been doing well. Since leaf-fall has just hit, we have already began preparing for leafbare. Also, we have a new warrior: Tigerstripe!"
"Tigerstripe!" The clans cheered. Bloodpaw joined along, but more quietly.
"Also, I wish to inform ThunderClan that we have spotted a fox move onto your territory. Be careful," Thrushstar added, eyeing a light gray she-cat.
The she-cat dipped her head. "Thank you Thrushstar for informing us."
The quiet murmur echoing through the crowd was silenced by a tawny she-cat who lifted her head. "RiverClan wishes to speak next."
The rest of the leaders dipped their heads to the she-cat.
"RiverClan has been doing well. Plenty of fish have been thriving in our rivers so we are also preparing early for leafbare. Also, we would like to welcome a new apprentice to our clan: Stormpaw!"
"Stormpaw! Stormpaw!"
Bloodpaw scanned the crowd of RiverClan cats beside WindClan who cheered the apprentice name quite quietly. Wow..I'm surprised ThunderClan is cheering the loudest.
Her eyes lay upon Stormpaw, who was a gray, tabby tom. Stormpaw lifted his head slightly, but Bloodpaw could see the nervous, annoyed look in his eyes. But Bloodpaw also noticed something else. That cat looks familiar..
Bloodpaws heart thudded, loud enough to where she couldn't hear Birdstar silence the crowd and begin to speak.
"-Our new medicine cat apprentice: Bloodpaw!"
As her name was cheered loudly, Stormpaw glanced her way. Their gaze locked on each others, and her eyes widened.
Slate!
