Stormpaw growled as Sharpclaw pushed him forward, but his mentor gave him a smile.
"You don't want to be late for your first gathering, do you?" he asked, eyeing Stormpaw.
The little tom looked up in surprise. He had a kind tone to his voice... That shove mustn't have been his usual mean ones...
"Y-Yeah. I hope the other clans accept me," he murmured, staring ahead to where they were padding.
Seedpaw bounced forward, and mewed, "It's amazing! Redstar will for sure announce your name, and the clans will cheer your name! Unless they're mad about something... But they have no reason to be!"
Stormpaw let the she cat's rambling slip past his mind, and his thoughts drifted to Nova. Is it possible she found a home in one of the clans? If so, would she be here? No, probably not... He listened to Seedpaw once more.
"... And at the end you get to talk to everyone!"
The apprentices continued talking as they headed to the Gathering island. Scarrednose joined them, his eyes twinkling.
"I remember my first Gathering! My sister, who walks with StarClan now, was the chattiest cat there. She probably said hello to every cat there! Back then, there were many cats... She even told everyone the time that I fell into a bramble bush! I never felt so hot before," he chuckled.
Stormpaw meowed, "I bet that was embarrassing! Good thing I don't have siblings to embarrass me."
He looked down, sad for a moment, before cheering up.
"You have me, furball," Seedpaw joked.
They quieted down as they arrived, and climbed onto the fallen log. Stormpaw almost fell into the black looking water, but Sharpclaw helped him steady himself. Inch by inch, he pulled himself across, and jumped onto the other end.
All the clans were already there, chatting in friendly ways.
"During a Gathering, the clans are held under a truce. If a fight breaks out, and clouds cover the moon, StarClan has signaled the ending of the Gathering. So, don't get into any squabbles," Sharpclaw explained, amusement hinting his voice.
Stormpaw nodded, but stayed with his clanmates. He squeezed himself between Seedpaw and Rosefawn, watching as Whitetooth and Redstar headed for the large tree. Whitetooth sat with three other cats, while Redstar leapt into the tree.
Hazelstar, Birdstar, and Thrushstar nodded at Redstar.
Thrushstar called the Gathering to a beginning.
"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," he announced.
Redstar said when the cheering quieted, "RiverClan wishes to speak next. Hunting has been 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 lifted up his head, meeting Redstar's gaze with pride. She smiled slightly, and he looked around. A black she cat was staring at him, and when he looked closer, his heart skipped a beat.
He froze, and recognized that she cat.
Nova! I need to get to her...
He went to stand, but Sharpclaw nudged his flank with a paw, and Stormpaw sat back down.
After the Gathering...
Thrushstar purred, "We have three new kits! Berrykit, Honeykit, and Dewkit! Hunting is also great. ShadowClan is thriving with each coming season."
Hazelstar mewed, "We have had the same luck with hunting as the rest of you say. No new kits, apprentices, or warriors."
Redstar went to chat with Thrushstar, and Stormpaw looked for Nova.
He thought that he spotted her near Birdstar, but lost her as some elders passed in front. When they were out of the way, she was gone. Stormpaw looked around wildly, and began to pad around the Gathering island.
"Nova?" he hissed as he pushed past cats who grumbled in response.
"Nova!"
He kept looking, but had no look.
Oh StarClan, let us meet...
"Come on, Stormpaw. We're leaving," Seedpaw mewed, herding him away.
At the last moment before they left the island, Stormpaw saw his sister weaving through cats. Her gaze locked with his, and their was a questioning look. He looked away, forcing himself to think of something else.
(A/N: Sorry it's short. I didn't know what all to put in, and really wanted to end it there. Lol. Btw, I changed my username from ToxicBeatz / ToxicSilence to -Sinful_Desire- so now you guys know. Hopefully there won't be any confusion about that lol.)
