Stars Without Borders

8

As soon as ThunderClan arrived, Softpaw shrunk back away from the crowd of cats suddenly uneasy about the whole gathering thing. Mousepaw had run off not too long after they arrived and Softpaw had a feeling Hollypaw didn't like her very much. Swishing her tail nervously, Softpaw prodded the ground intently as she tried to zone everyone else out.

"Teacup!!" Hearing her old name Softpaw squeaked in horror as the familiar tom crashed into her, pinning her down quickly. Prodding at the young tom's chest she tried getting him off, but it seemed useless.

"I thought you were a goner!!" He meowed enthusiastically as he jumped off her. Scrambling to her paws, the she-cat swatted at her littermate playfully while glaring at him for getting her dirty.

"I'm not Teacup anymore, Jupiter. It's Softpaw now." She stated proudly giving her chest a few brisk licks. The tom's eyes lit up as practically danced on his paws.

"So you've found yourself a clan too?? I'm guessing it's ThunderClan then?? The ones you arrived with?? Well I'm in WindClan and my name is Oakpaw now!! I saw Caesar and Comet earlier. They've got clans too!! Comet is now Hazepaw and he's in RiverClan and Caesar is in ShadowClan, they call him Splashpaw." Oakpaw meowed quickly, leaving Softpaw's head spinning.

"Still as energetic as ever I see.." She responded quietly in which he nodded in response.

"Fox-dung!" He suddenly hissed quietly as a cat began speaking from the tree. Softpaw guessed those were the leaders from the other Clans since her mentor, Firestar was up there among them. Oakpaw dashed off suddenly as Softpaw padded slowly towards her Clanmates as the brown tabby mentioned something about the new apprentices, Breezepaw and Oakpaw. Softpaw settled herself beside Mousepaw not really listening too much as another tom with black paws mentioned an Ivypaw and Splashpaw. Softpaw felt pride swell at her brothers new lives. ThunderClan seemed to murmur amongst themselves at the discussion between the leaders as Mousepaw scooted closer to Softpaw and leaned close to her ear.

"It seems like ShadowClan is trying to make ThunderClan look weak." He meowed quietly catching Softpaw's attention.

"Why would they want to do that?" She wondered earning a flick to the ear.

"Maybe to make the other clans want to attack." He mumbled causing Softpaw to gasp quietly.

"They would do that?" Her eyes were wide with worry at Mousepaw's words and he gave a small nod. If what he said was true then she would have to fight her brothers and she didn't want that. Firestar was still talking, but Softpaw could no longer hear him. Her thoughts were clouded and her heart dropped to her stomach making her nauseous. Of course there was the possibility of meeting her brothers in battle and there would be no way around it, her clan would expect her to fight without hesitation and that is something she didn't think she could do. Her thoughts swarmed so loudly she failed to hear the yowls of the warriors as something seemed to approach the group of cats. The only thing that got her attention was her leaders meow.

"Graystripe!"