Returning to the Forest - Book 1: Building Back Up

Chapter 1

Fuck the Prologue, we're getting right into this! XD

A small, stubby-legged tom raced across the moor, top speed, as a rabbit was racing away a few feet in front of him. The rabbit made a sharp turn as it spotted some tall grass. Soon, the chase came to a stop as the rabbit dove into the heather and the tom skidded to a halt. He wheezed horribly and wished he could rest here and there, but he heard paw steps sounding behind him.

"What was that!" Roared his mentor, Flintheart.
"I ... I meant to catch it but ..." He trailed off.
"No buts! Get your fat ass back to camp before somebody finds your dead body!" Flintheart hissed.

The stubby-legged tom hesitated, taken back by his mentor's words.

"Now, Birchpaw!"

The tom raced away, slowing down as he wheezed again. He walked as quick as he could through the moor, deciding to think. WindClan had been cruel, so far. Birchpaw was only six moons, although the correct age for an apprentice, he had been made a 'paw' since he was four moons. The leader, Cloudstar, had decided that since the Clan needed to depend on their Warriors, the Warriors should be able to fend for themselves, so the night before you were to be made an apprentice, you were sent out into the moor to survive, if you returned, you lived. Birchpaw had basically just hid near camp in the thick heather. Apprentices trained until they were 8 moons old, then became Warriors. Queens, Medicine Cats, and Elders were excepted to hunt and battle. In the new WindClan camp, a Warriors and Apprentices den were added, and a new rank was introduced: Prisoners, which basically explains itself. Birchpaw stopped, his paws about to fall off into camp. He stared at the camp, which was empty other than some cats lounging around and talking silently. He sighed, hopping down into the sand below, looking up as Cloudstar climbed onto the Tall Rock.

"Let all cats old enough to handle themselves, join here under the Tall a Rock for a Clan meeting." Cloudstar called just as Flintheart entered into camp with a rabbit in his jaws.

Birchpaw shivered, for two reasons. The first was because if you couldn't handle yourself, you weren't supposed to join with the meeting and listen, and you'd be punished and moved into the Prisoners rank, just like the captured rogues and kittypets, and two was the fact that when he was a Warrior, he wouldn't be able to return to camp without prey in his jaws. He sighed, trying to ignore the fact that he would be 7 moons soon, and almost a Warrior.

"Tomorrow night is the Gathering, and I would expect all of you to be fed, who are going of course. Those who aren't will guard camp! I will only be bringing a few, since there only a few of us, now I would like those staying to ..." Cloudstar's voice snapped him out if thinking, but he ignored her words as he climbed closer.
"Now, onto those who are coming. Obviously me, Silvertail, and Flintheart. Milkdrop, Brokenheart, and Birchpaw. I expect the rest of you to ..." Cloudstar said.

Birchpaw's eyes widened and he let out a small gasp. He was finally going to a Gathering! He snapped back into reality when Cloudstar leapt down from the Tall Rock and moved into her own den. He then realized how late it was and how it was nearly past dusk. He started towards the Apprentice den, tail high in excitement.

"Birchpaw." Flintheart said, forcing Birch to stop.
"Y ... yes?" Birchpaw said, turning around to his mentor.

He was always skittish speaking with Flintheart.

"I must inform you since this is your first Gathering, that you are assigned to Tallpaw as mates when you are Warriors." Flintheart said, very uninterested in the conversation.
"I know ..." Birchpaw trailed off.
"Here's my point: Don't get interested in any others while your there. Alright?" Flintheart growled, turning away.
"Aye." Birchpaw said, turning away.

He sighed as he entered the Apprentice den, thankfully alone. Tallpaw must have been out catching voles, or rabbits. He let his eyes drift shut, happy that he was to attend the Gathering.