Warriors: The Broken Heart (BOOK 1)

Chapter 3

     "Hey... Shellwhisker?" Applepaw mewed to his mentor who was sitting close by her brother, Timberfur. The pale calico she cat purred a greeting to her apprentice.

"Hello Applepaw. What's up?" Shellwhisker mewed. Shellwhisker was probably one of the nicest cats Applepaw had ever met. She was very understanding of Applepaw and always encouraged him to do more things around camp.

"Um.. may I go to the gathering tonight? P-please?" Applepaw hesitated. The she cat's eyes softened.

"I don't care if you go. But I'm not the one who decides on who gets to go to the gatherings." She mewed, eyes fixed on her apprentice. "You'll have to ask Waspstar. I'm sure he won't mind though."

Applepaw dipped his head. "Th-thank you.." He turned and made his way over to Waspstar's den. A broad shouldered figure stood in front of him.

"Where do you think you're going? This is Waspstar's den. You have no business in there."

"Oh- er um sorry, Eveningfoot.." Applepaw mewed. The deputy was probably even meaner than Viperclaw. At least he was willing to raise kits.

"Answer my question, apprentice." Eveningfoot growled.

"Eveningfoot!" Applepaw heard Waspstar's call from his den. "What in StarClan's name are you doing?!"

"Waspstar." The golden deputy dipped her head at her leader. "I was just getting this apprentice out of your fur."

Waspstar looked puzzled, his gray tabby fur puffed up a bit. "If Applepaw wishes to speak to me, he may. I am his leader after all." Eveningfoot cast a cold glance towards Applepaw.

Just before she could get out of range, Applepaw swore he heard the deputy whisper, "dirty blood kitten."

What in StarClan could that mean? Applepaw thought.

"I-I'm sorry about that, Applepaw. Eveningfoot has a temper, but she serves as a good deputy.." Waspstar apologized. Before Applepaw could respond, Waspstar meowed again, "what did you want to tell me, now?"

Applepaw shuffled his paws. "Er- um may I go to the gathering tonight? I know I haven't been going, but now I do really want to go.. and I would be very thankful if you would let me go.. please.." Applepaw knew that what he said sounded so desperate but it was worth the shot.

Waspstar smiled. "That's a funny coincidence.. I was just going to ask if you wanted to go. So, in that case, of course you can go."

Applepaw instantly forgot about the scuffle with Eveningfoot. "Oh.. O-oh! Th-thank you sir!"

Waspstar dipped his head. He turned around and yowled for who was going to the gathering. Ashpaw was staying behind with Leafstorm and Tansybreeze stayed back as well. Although not wanting to, Viperclaw had made her stay for their kits. The other cats staying back were Cranberryspots and Thornfrost, who insisted on staying back just in case there was a surprise attack so that he could protect his mate and kits. Strawberryfoot, Nightcloud, Mudtail, Cedarspeck, Petalstorm and the elders stayed back as well.

"Is every cat ready?" Waspstar called.

"We're ready, Waspstar!" Applepaw heard his sister call.

The cats treaded through the tall grass of WindClan territory until they reached the ancient four oaks where cats from all clans meet every moon. I never realized how big they were! Applepaw thought.

"Those trees are ginormous!" He heard Robinpaw gasp next to him.

"You haven't been to a gathering either?" Applepaw asked.