Golden Suns, Purple Skys

Chapter IV

It was the night of the gathering and sitting in wait, Goldenpaw cleaned his golden pelt making sure not a flick was up. This was his second gathering and he was looking forward to it. Glancing around he spotted the cats who were going to the gathering waiting around at the entrance to camp. So the apprentice jumped up and ran up to the cats and waited for Waterpaw and Coalpelt who were having a quick mouse before they left. Finally they finished eating and everyone set off through the forest to the Stonesteps. Once they arrived Fawnleap hopped onto her stepping stone and sat down they were the only ones there yet. Goldenpaw watched his father jump onto the lower stepping stone, he admired his father's confident look even though earlier Springtail had been looking as worried as a hunted rabbit. As soon as he smelt Heartclans scent he turned to see Thornstar the muscular ginger tom give Fawnleap a curious look then himself and Wolfmist his deputy sat themselves down on the stepping stones beside Fawnleap and Springtail. Soon after Jayclan made there way through the trees and again Russetstar and his deputy Springfall stared at Fawnleap less concerned looking than Thornstar. They took their seats on the stones and after another few heartbeats Fernclan arrived. Jaggedstar looked at Fawnleap and lead Leaftail to the stepping stones. Goldenpaw soon picked out Purplepaw the she cat who told them about the invading rogues half a moon ago sat by on her own under a bush. Feeling lonely himself he padded up to Purplepaw,
"Can I sit beside you?" He asked.
Surprisingly Purplepaw let out a mrrow of laughter, "You don't need to ask birdbrain," She told him beckoning him over with her fluffy black tail. Feeling his fur heat up Goldenpaw nodded and ducked under the bush his head close to going up into the bush. Before they could chat much Thornstar yowled for the gathering to start.
"Well I think Fawnleap you should explain why you are here," Russetstar said before anyone else could speak.
"Well Shortstar won't be attending gatherings for a while she's expecting kits," Fawnleap announced her voice quiet and awkward.
Shocked gasps, muttering and hissing started getting louder and Goldenpaw shook his head.
"And I will be taking her place," Fawnleap quickly said, "With Springtail as my temporary deputy until Shortstar is fit to be leader again,"
"And who is the father of these kits?" Russetstar questioned.
"That's none of his business!" Goldenpaw exclaimed slightly to loudly as he got stares from many cats.
"What does an apprentice know," Russetstar commented.
"Well this apprentice knows what he should ask and what he shouldn't it really isn't any of your business," Fawnleap hissed.
"I think it's everyone's business cats should know which two cats committed this crime," Russetstar yelled out to the crowd as if he were expecting everyone to yowl applause but just awkward glances happened.
Fawnleap forced her fur to lay flat,
"Apart from that all has been the same in Cloverclan we thank Starclan for the prey we have been gifted and the fine weather," She quickly said flicking her tail to Thornstar who still looked awkward in between Fawnleap and Russetstar.
"Heartclan has also been blessed by plentiful fish a half moon ago we were attacked by rogues however Cloverclan helped us and the rogues were defeated," Thornstar told the gathering and after the yowls of victory he flicked his tail to Russetstar,
"Jayclan is as strong as ever and we have 4 new apprentices, Crystalpaw, Dreampaw, Thunderpaw and Lightningpaw!" He meowed.
"Crystalpaw, Dreampaw!" Many cats yowled,
"Thunderpaw, Lightningpaw!"
Goldenpaw saw the four apprentices huddled together all holding their heads up high.
Not even flicking his tail to Jaggedstar, Russetstar kept admiring his clan.
"Well Fernclan has had a brief dog attack but our warriors drove them off and we have two new warriors, Rosefrost and Suncloud!" Jaggedstar mewed.
"Rosefrost!, Suncloud!" Again Goldenpaw yowled along with the other cats.
As soon as everyone had stopped yowling Fawnleap quickly jumped off of the stone,
"The gathering is over," She meowed. The weird emotion in her voice weirded Goldenpaw out but also made him feel sorry for the she cat.
Quickly having a chat with Purplepaw had taught him more about her he had no idea that any Heartclan cat didn't like fish maybe that was why she was smaller and thinner than most apprentices her age. Goldenpaw touched his nose to Purplepaws ear then bounded up to Springtail who called his name.
"How was being the deputy at a gathering?" Goldenpaw asked as they walked back through the forest.
"Strange I wished I had groomed my pelt more I looked a mess," Springtail replied giving his shoulder a few licks.
"No you looked cool up there," Goldenpaw told his father looking around to see if he could see Fawnleap. After a while of looking he decided Fawnleap was leading at the front. Immediately though Goldenpaw caught Fawnleaps scent turning into a different way into the forest. Lagging back he waited until he was far enough away then he sprinted into the forest tracking her scent past the Ancient oak. When he did finally find Fawnleap she was sat by the tree looking at her paws an annoyed, stressed look on her face.
"Fawnleap what are you doing here?" Goldenpaw asked the she cat walking up to her.
Fawnleap jumped up, "Oh nothing nothing I'm fine let's head back to camp before someone misses us," She ran past Goldenpaw not even letting him catch up at all. As fast as he could Golden raced after her a worried look on his fluffy golden face.