Spirits Above

Chapter 7: The Gathering and the Unexpected Friendship

"Wait, what?" Spiritpaw's shocked gaze was locked on Hailpath. "How did you know?"

Hailpath only smirked and started padding away. "Hey! Get back here!" Spiritpaw nearly yelled.

Spiritpaw continued to follow him, she was determined to not lose sight of him. Hailpath threw a smirk over his shoulder as he padded right into the middle of a throng of cats. Spiritpaw followed, shouldering cats apart which received her no kindness, only growls of displeasure. She glanced up to the spot where she last saw Hailpath only to find that he wasn't there. She wildly looked around, growling under her breath on how much she hated when cats did that, even though it never happened to her before. Spiritpaw sighed in defeat and looked around for a spot on the edge of the clearing.

A black she-cat, Blazestar, jumped onto one of the rocks, yowling to gather attention. "The gathering is about to start!"

Spiritpaw glanced up, happy that she was given a distraction. She settled into a more comfortable position and looked up to the six big rocks that all the leaders occupied.

"Who would like to start the gathering?" Blazestar's mew pierced the now silent clearing.

"I will." A confident voice replied, it belonged to Snowstar. He sat on his rock gazing at the cats beneath him with a confident smirk. "My clan is growing exponentially. With us tonight we have four new apprentices. Welcome, Birdpaw, Antpaw, Fernpaw and Duskpaw!"

Spiritpaw looked around as congratulatory mews filled the air, trying to spot the new apprentices, she couldn't, there were just too many cats.

"Our prey is running well. My clan is as strong as ever." And that's not really strong, Spiritpaw thought. Snowstar nodded to the other leaders whilst still smirking and sat down on his rock.

"Everything is good in our clan, our borders remain secure and our warrior strong." A new cat stood up, a black she-cat. Blazestar's indifferent voice filled the air around her. Even as indignant mews sprang up everywhere. I like her. Spiritpaw thought.

Another voice filled the clearing, one that Spiritpaw didn't recognize. So she guessed it was the leader of Gorgeclan. The leader explained that everything was going well and prey was plentiful. The others all said the same thing, the grey unknown to her, leader also commented on how there was a dog loose on the outskirts of their territory.

Spiritpaw briefly recalled a time when Haretail taught her what was outside the clans. She remembered that on the left of Gorgeclan, over a hill was a medium sized twoleg place. The twoleg dens were made out of wood and stone and the monsters drove around restlessly. On the right side of Darkclan, there was also a twoleg place. Though it was smaller than the other one. Apparently, both of the twoleg places brought twolegs up the mountain or something, she wasn't sure. Luckily the twoleg's never came into their secluded valley.

"Finally, we have five new apprentices with us today! Welcome, Goldenpaw, Spiritpaw, Ryepaw, Hazelpaw and Rabbitpaw!" Spiritpaw puffed her chest out at the mention of her name. She even saw Ryepaw wheat orange form do the same, just a bit more subdued. Spiritpaw couldn't see her sister or Hazelpaw and Rabbitpaw. The other clan's cheered for them, just like they did for the other apprentices. Spiritpaw smiled softly.

"Gathering dismissed." The grey leader, who Spiritpaw still didn't know the name of, called out and jumped off his rock gracefully.

Spiritpaw made her way to her clanmates, her eyes still searching for Hailpath subconsciously. Spiritpaw stayed near the edges of the throng of her clanmates, padding after them solemnly after her leaders call of: "Breezeclan, here!".