Warriors: A New Beginning #1: The Beginning

Chapter 35

"I still can't believe I've made it this far."

Silverpaw glanced up at Wavepelt— though he was now Silverfang. He had been made a warriorr a few sunrises ago.

ThunderClan was going to the Gathering. Wavepelt and Silverfang were both selected, along with some other cats.

"I could never thank you enough," Silverfang continued. "You brought me into this Clan— well, you told me about it, and I was persuaded to join. And, now..."

"Now what?" Wavepelt asked.

"Now I can truly be free," the young warrior mewed. "I can have a mate... and maybe kits."

"A mate? Why all the rush?" Wavepelt had been a warrior for seven moons now, and she wasn't even thinking of taking a mate. At least not right now.

"I love her," Silverfang murmured. "I really do."

"Who?" Wavepelt had her guesses.

Silverfang looked sheepish. "Wheatwing."

Wavepelt nodded slowly. I wonder why Wheatwing and Waterfall hate each other now. Well... at least they both have mates.

"She likes me, too." Silverfang smiled. "I'm glad that we both do."

They walked in silence to Fourtrees with ThunderClan.

"Will Reedstar announce me to the Clans?" Silverfang wondered.

"Of course he will!" Wavepelt exclaimed. "He announced it when Flamefur, Tussledstorm, Wheatwing, and I were made warriors. Why did you ask?"

"Just wondering," replied Silverfang.

ThunderClan bounded into the clearing, and Wavepelt noticed that WindClan and RiverClan were there. ShadowClan isn't here yet.

She seperated from her Clanmates and mixed in the crowd of cats. Where's Pinefoot?

She spotted the dark ginger tom sitting where he usualy did.

"Hello, Pinefoot." Wavepelt padded up to him. "Where's Orchidsong?"

"Hi, Wavepelt." Pinefoot's eyes were shining. "Guess what?"

"What?"

"Orchidsong's expecting my kits!"

Wavepelt almost blurted out, Already? What was all the rush about getting mates?

"That's great," she purred.

"They're due in a few moons," Pinefoot continued, "At the end of greenleaf."

Just then ShadowClan entered the clearing, led by Icestar. The ShadowClan leader looked frail. How many lives does he have left? Wavepelt wondered.

"Pinefoot!" a WindClan cat called. "You're wanted."

"Okay!" Pinefoot glanced at Wavepelt. "I guess I'll be back." He raced off to his Clanmate.

Wavepelt sat alone, watching icestar scrabble up the Great Rock to the other leaders.

She drifted away in her thoughts. I wonder what Pinefoot and Orchidsong's kits will be like... Then she remembered her dream. The third cat! Maybe I'll see him tonight.

"Wavepelt!" Ironstrike pushed through the crowd. "How are things in ThunderClan?"

"Fine, thank you," Wavepelt replied cooly.

"I haven't seen Berrytail since Bushstar exiled him..." Ironstrike meowed.

That reminded Wavepelt of something.