Book 1 - Warriors: The Shadow Outcast

Chapter Thirty-One

Rainfur walked quickly beside Nightstar, his eyes and ears alert as they crossed the RiverClan border. Though it was a warm night, and everything seemed quiet, there was something that told Rainfur that he needed to be careful. Plus, they were going onto another Clan's territory, and that might have been a trick.

Behind him, anxious squeals of kits and young apprentices were heard. Even Stormpaw looked happy to be going to the quarter moon alliance gathering. It was, of course, the first time anyone had done anything like this, so the elder Warriors were still cautious of how StarClan would react.

Rainfur wasn't afraid. StarClan would respect the decision, and with both Sharpstar and Rosestar combined, why couldn't Bravestar and Nightstar do the same? Aside from that, there was the fact that they needed to begin a war, and fighting separately would be stupid.

"Hey, Rainfur," said Stormpaw, prancing up to him. "Is anything weird going to happen? I heard from the other apprentices that something always happens when you go to gatherings." Rainfur smiled, happy that Stormpaw was finally learning about him instead of just whining.

"I'm not quite sure," said Rainfur. "This gathering isn't something I've seen before. Judging by everyone's excitement, they haven't either."

"Really?" asked Stormpaw. "That's so cool! Do you think Jactur's going to like it?" Rainfur shrugged.

"He doesn't like anything I do," said Rainfur, smirking as Jactur hissed lowly to him.

"Do you think I'll have someone like Jactur someday?" asked Stormpaw, looking quite curious.

"Most likely," Rainfur replied. "We have a long way before then, though." Stormpaw smiled, but before he could ask another question, they reached the gathering place.

It was all very interesting, the way the sky was lit up by the moon, and something else just made the air feel softer. Rainfur also noticed the kindness in the air as he crossed the log, as if they were no longer separate Clans, but just another family joining the ceremony.

The kits took off as soon as they reached the ground. They went over to where the elders were gathered, along with the RiverClan kits. The apprentices all tried to compete with each other while the medicine cats greeted each other once again. Bravestar and Nightstar watched from a corner while the Warriors just spread out.

Rainfur found himself following Mudkit, Cloverkit, and Tigerkit toward the elders, curious as to what kind of stories the elder cats were telling the young kits.

"Come join us, Rainfur," called the raspy voice of Greypelt, one of ShadowClan's elders. "We were just about to tell the youngsters a story. You may join us if you wish." Rainfur smiled before sitting by a familiar fluffy she-kit, who looked at him with wide-eyes.

"Hey, I know you!" declared a small ginger kit. "You're Rainfur, aren't you?" Rainfur nodded in response, though he didn't know who the kit is.

"I'm Foxkit!" the kit replied, looking quite excited. "My sister is Mosskit over there." A small grey she-cat blushed softly as he looked to her, knowing she was Mosskit. Now Rainfur knew them. They were the kits of Reedfeather, the one who nursed Snowkit, Duskkit, and Nightkit.

That would mean the fluffy cottonball next to him was Snowkit, and Rainfur suddenly realised how pretty she'd gotten. They must have been close to becoming apprentices, for they were nearly as big as Stormpaw.

Nightkit sat furthest away from him, looking quite amazed as he saw Rainfur. He was taller and longer than Snowkit, and he looked quite powerful.

Duskkit, who looked very frightened, sat in the middle of the line of kits, looking up to Rainfur with fear in his eyes. Like last time, he didn't blame the golden kit. After all, Duskkit was the youngest cat to know his secrets, which were very frightening to a kit his age.