Runningfoot's Backstory

Chapter 10

I'm so excited!" Mewed Dreampaw to Briarpaw. "Me too!" Tonight was the Gathering. The full moon was beginning to rise overhead as Clearstar named all the cats who would go. "Toadhop, Emberspots, Darkfeather, Lilystream, Cloverfrost, Dreampaw, Bluepaw, Briarpaw, Owlpaw, Gingerpaw, Elkpaw, Rainpelt, Heatherflight, Otterfang, Blizzardfoot, Loonsong, Sunglow, Moondust, Adderstrike, Thunderpaw, Daisypaw, Leafpaw, Cinderclaw, Swansong, Ravencall, Badgerflame, Springflower, and Spiritleap." He called. "The rest of you keep watch over the queens and elders. Violetdream, Pebblepaw, you're also coming."

Dreampaw was thankful that Bluepaw's paw had healed. She was still going to make sure to keep on eye on it as Violetdream requested.

The thick glossy pelt of Rainpelt shone in the moonlight as he walked in front of her, Elkpaw chattering excitedly with him at his side. I wonder what's going on between those two, she thought curiously.

They walked through the forest now turning to mostly pine trees. She turned her head to see Otterfang and Heatherflight slowly walking side by side, their tails twined. Dreampaw sighed. Bluepaw looked to where she was looking and pretended to gag. Heatherflight turned her head startled at the sudden sound. Momentarily distracted she slipped and gasped as Otterfang caught her. "That was close," she sighed, "thank you Otterfang."

Bluepaw pretended to gag even more. "You know that you'll eventually fall for a pretty face soon enough," Otterfang commented directly looking at Dreampaw. "You know your father did," he turned his head to look at Blizzardfoot, "remember that Blizzardfoot?" "Hehe, well um..." Blizzardfoot shyly looked at his paws and shrugged, embarrassed. Bluepaw looked up wide eyed at Blizzardfoot in surprise. "Yep, Loonsong..." Blizzardfoot trailed off lost in thought. "You know what I'm talking about, Spiritleap." "Huh," Spiritleap looked up, "um, oh uh right. Um uh yeah," he looked back at Sunglow. Otterfang purred in amusement, "You know I'm just teasing you," he shouldered his friend. "Whoops..." "But I see you do know what I'm talking about huh." He said deviously. "Oh Otterfang, Otterfang, Otterfang," purred Heatherflight. "What?"

"We're almost there!" Someone called. Thunderpaw and Gingerpaw broke into a run, Bluepaw following. "You be careful on that paw!" called Dreampaw. He flicked his ears, thankfully hearing her.

"What are you going to say?" Whispered Emberspots. "Well I'll tell them about our newest apprentices," Clearstar said looking at Dreampaw, "and well, the regular news. I mean nothing has really happened since the massasauga. Though, I should probably warn them about that. We saw another snake or two on a patrol recently, they seem to like the warming weather." "Good idea," Emberspots nodded his agreement, "we wouldn't want any other cats to get hurt without warning them."

Dreampaw looked into the vast valley. Four Rivers was huge. In the center of the valley was a large lake, with four rivers flowing outwards to each of the Clan's territories.

She could see Sedgestar standing on a large root from a pine tree on the other side of the lake. Dreampaw marveled at Sedgestar's beauty. She was tall and slender. Her dark dappled brown pelt shone in the beams of light, and her pale green eyes sparkled in greeting when Clearstar leaped up beside her on a nearby root. Beside her was Mothstar, the leader of RockClan. She knew from stories the elders told about his courage in battle. He was a pale brown tabby and he had light amber eyes. Emberspots took his spot on the ground in front of the roots, Beechtail beside him.

A cat that Dreampaw assumed was the RockClan deputy sat a little ways away. She couldn't suppress a shiver as she looked at his eyes. Ambition swam in every bit of them.

"Who's that?" She looked to see Briarpaw. "I don't know, I think he's the RockClan deputy." "Whoever he is, he looks kinda creepy." "Who are you talking about?" They jumped back startled. A dark gray tom stood beside them. "Who are you?" Briarpaw asked. "I'm Thickpelt. That cat you're talking about is Shadowfur. Don't get him angry." "Oh, ok." A dark colored apprentice walked to them, "Hello, I'm Dimpaw. I've never seen you here before." "I'm Dreampaw," she mewed. "And I'm Briarpaw." "It's nice to meet you," Dimpaw said.