Heartstar's rise : Book one

Ch. 41

Heartpaw woke up to the cats going to the Gathering. He grumbled under his breath and slipped out to see them. Honeypaw smiled at him and beckoned him over. 

           "Hey, we're leaving now," she told him. 

           "I know...," mumbled Heartpaw. 

            "You know you can come till the Thunderpath," said Honeypaw. Heartpaw thought about it then nodded. Pinestar padded over. 

           "You're not coming to the Gathering," he said sternly. Heartpaw suddenly felt a small rebellious flame in him. 

           "So that means I can't talk to Honeypaw?" shot back Heartpaw. Pinestar frowned and glared at Heartpaw but stalked away. Honeypaw smiled at Heartpaw and rubbed her cheek to his. 

          "Ugh. I hate him," muttered Heartpaw. 

          "I know. Why can't he let us talk," agreed Honeypaw. Why can't he just let me go to the stupid Gathering, thought Heartpaw.

           "We're leaving," Pinestar declared. The cats slunk through the camp entrance with Heartpaw and Honeypaw at their heels. They slipped through the forest quietly, running after their Clanmates. Heartpaw felt the exhilaration and the nice feeling of slipping through the shadows. Finally, they reached the Thunderpath. Pinestar motioned for Cindertail and the cats to go in first. Oakfall, Honeypaw's mentor, waited to let Honeypaw go in before him. She smiled at Heartpaw then disappeared into the tunnel. Pinestar beckoned Oakfall to go in next then turned to Heartpaw. 

            "I'm sorry if you think this punishment is harsh," Pinestar said finally. "But now you understand that you should not go into the Carrionplace." Heartpaw glared at him and didn't say anything. With a sigh and narrowed eyes, Pinestar slipped into the tunnel and disappeared. Heartpaw trotted away, along the Thunderclan border and towards the Windclan border. The scent of fresh air and warm scents blew to his nose. He breathed it in and crawled through some long grasses, peering past the Thunderpath at Windclan territory. The long grasses swayed in the wind and seemed to be hiding so many secrets. Suddenly, he heard some talking and the soft thumping of swift Windclan cats. Heartpaw crouched low. The Windlcan cats came into view, coming near the Shadowclan border. Fawnstar was talking to Marshtail. They were accompanied by the medicine cat, Addertail and a few more warriors and two apprentices. Then out of the long grasses, appeared another cat. Heartpaw's heart leaped. He recognised her. Ivypaw. He wanted to run to her and greet her and they could share jokes. But she was talking to another apprentice. He had light grey fur and soft yellow eyes. She whispered something to him and he burst out into giggles. A dark orange tabby apprentice turned to them and growled. Ivypaw and the grey cat just turned to each other, their eyes bright with amusement. Heartpaw felt a rush of jealousy. She joked with him not that grey cat. Then, when he thought about it, she probably joked with everyone, he wasn't special. Soon, Fawnstar swiftly disappeared and the rest of the warriors and apprentice slipped away. Only Ivypaw stayed, her whiskers twitching. Then she looked right through the Thunderpath and right through into Heartpaw's eyes. Nervously, he got up. He suddenly felt scared she would accuse him of spying or trying to get into Windclan territory. But her face lit up and she smiled. She approached the Thunderpath. 

             "Heartpaw, is that you?" She said. Heartpaw felt the joy of hearing her voice once more. 

            "Yeah, it's me," Heartpaw said. 

            "Are you going to the Gathering?" she asked. "I can't wait to tell you something that happened, it was soo funny." Heartpaw suddenly really wanted to hear the joke but he wasn't going to the Gathering. He sighed sadly. 

            "No, Pinestar said I couldn't go this time," muttered Heartpaw.

            "Aww," sighed Ivypaw. "But it was really funny. Maybe I'll tell you in another moon." 

            "No, I want to hear it before," Heartpaw begged, like a kit. She smiled and nodded. 

            "Meet here, at sunset tomorrow," she grinned at him mischievously. Heartpaw's heart was practically pounding out of his chest. He nodded quickly. 

            "Ivypaw!" came a sharp voice. She turned around. 

            "Coming," she yelled. Then she turned her pale eyes to Heartpaw. "See ya." Then she disappeared into the grasses.