Silentsong's Cry

Chapter 7

"I'll introduce you to the other apprentices. They'll love you." Echopaw reassured me. I only nodded.

"Alright. So we will jump across some stones to the gathering island." Oakleap slowed his pace to walk next to me and my sister. I nod. "Echopaw will help you."

"You bet!" Echopaw smiled and nudged my head. I smile and look around to who else was in the Gathering patrol.

There was Creampond, Oakleap, Tulipwhisker, Piketuft, Echopaw and me. Also Miststar. It was a small patrol, but it didn't matter. It was my firat gathering! It was important.

In front of us was a big river. Stepping stones made a path to a island across the river. Another Clan appeared to cross as well.

"Stonestar." Miststar dipped her head in greeting.

Stonestar was a big gray tabby tim. He had wise brown eyes. From stories with the elders, he was the oldest leader, and over two hundred moons old. He was the leader of RockClan.

Stonestar was followed by ten cats. All of which I didn't know. I figured the one standing next to him was the deputy Branchclaw. He wad a brown tom with hazel eyes.

"Hello Miststar. Go ahead and cross first." Stonestar dipped his head.

"Thank you." Miststar twitched her tail and we started to hop across. Tulipwhisker helped me across, my paws were still hurt.

"Go mingle." Oakleap dismissed and walked over to a boulder.

I looked around the island. There were four pillers, each at one corner of the island. Miststar hsd once told me that those were called thr Great Pillers, each representing a clan. FeatherClan, RockClan, ForestClan and SwirlClan.

I looked to where Oakleap, Miststar, and Creampond were heading. There was a boulder. At the bottom were six cats already there. I figured they were the medicine cats and deputy. On top of the boulder were two regal looking cats.

There was a young brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes. I figured she was Twigstar, leader of ForestClan. A white she-cat was next to her, talking. She had deep teal eyes. I figured she was Windstar.

Oakleap and Creampond took their places at the bottom of the boulder. Miststar leapt onto the boulder with the other leaders. Stonestar scrambled up the boulder shortly after, and Miststar pulled him up.

"Stop staring, come on! The apprentices are over here!" Echopaw nudged me and we walked over to where a group of young cats were sitting and talking.

"Echopaw! Wassup?" A small blue-gray tabby tom with abeautiful forest green eye and a charming yellow eye asked. "And who is this beauty?"

He nodded his small head to me. I felt my pelt get hot. *I-I'm a beauty?*

"Yeah!" A silver she-cat nodded, who was sitting next to him. She had hazel eyes.

"Alright. This is Seedpaw dront RockClan. Silverpaw from SwirlClan and Logoaw from ForestClan." Echopaw introduced. I noticed a brown tom on the other side of Seedpaw.

Me and Echopaw sat down across from the other apprentices.

"What's your name?" Logpaw asked me. I lowered my head, looking at the ground.

"Oops! Sorry. This is Silentpaw." Echopaw introduced me. "She's umm.. Mute."

"Oh." Logpaw realised. I figured they all thought that. "Sorry."

I lifted my head and smiled.

"You have beautiful eyes." I looked to Seedpaw. *My eyes? I've never seen them. And he thought they were b-beautiful?*

"Seedpaw! Stop being such a flirt!" Silverpaw slapped him with her paw. Everyone laughed and my smile grew.

"They are pretty aren't they?" Logpaw looked at my eyes.

"Have you ever seen your eyes?" Silverpaw tilted her head. I shook my head.

"There hasn't been many puddles since we were born. Last time it did, Silentpaw was in the medicine cat den." Echopaw explained.

"What happened?" All three cats chorused.

"She broke her back paw and sprained her front paw." Echopaw told them.

"You poor thing!" Silverpaw sympathized.

"Back to your eyes. Theres a puddle over there." Seedpaw led mw over to a puddle so I could look at myself.

I knew I was a silver tabby, with orange hues and yellow eyes, but I never full on saw myself. I always thought Echopaw was the pretty one. I looked like a completely different cat then I thought I would look like. My coat was sleek but fluffy. Striped patterns ran up from my paw and tail, going from small to big.

I smile. I look at my eyes. They were bright yellow, with little bits a gold. They look like mini suns.

"See? Your pretty!" Seedpaw complimented.

We walked back to the other apprentices, I leaning against Echopaw when I reached her. I singled with my tail and paws. I thought you were the pretty one. Echopaw laughed hard when she understood.

"What'd she say?" Silverpaw asked, looking at the exchange between us.

"She said, "I thought you were the pretty one"." Echopaw giggled. Silverpaw burst out laughing.

"Let's begin!" Miststar's mew broke out through the island. Everyone's voices died down, and we all turnes to face the boulder.

"Who'd like to begin?" Twigstar asked the other leaders.

"I will." Windstar stepped foward and addressed the crowd. "All is well is SwirlClan. Tonight we are joined by a new warrior! Shineclaw!"

"Shineclaw! Shineclaw! Shineclaw!" Cats cheered for the new warrior. I spotted a sleek silver she-cat puffing out her chest and embrancing the mews.

"Everything is well in ForestClan. Blackpelt gave birth to two healthy kits." Twigstar stepped forward and shared the happy news. Then stepped back with Windstar.

"Prey is running in FeatherClan. We are joined by Silentpaw, who was not able to come last Gathering." Miststar stepped forward and then stepped back, she smiled with pride.

Wow. I was mentioned! Eee! Echopaw nudged me.

"Everything is okay with StoneClan. Barkleap has retired to the elders. That is all." Stonestar's croaky mew then rang throughout the island. Even though he was old, Stonestar was still a strong and wise tom.

"Let's put the Gathering to a close then." Windstar dismissed. "Please return to you clan to leave."

"See you guys!" Silentpaw rsn off to her clan. Same with Logpaw.

"Meet me at thw border at Moonhigh in two sunrises." Seedpaw told me and disappeared with his clan.

I turned to see if Echopaw had heard. She looked at me with her eyes wide. "You should go."

I looked at her and tilted my head. "He's cute and might join our clan!" Echopaw nudged me and we started to walk over to our clan.

As our group of cats left the island, my mind was still swarming with Seedpaw's offer, ifs that what I should call it. *Should I go? Or stay in camp.* My answer popped into my mind as I curled up into my nest next to the kind Weaselpaw.

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-Nyx cat out!