Shadows in the Night

Chapter Two

"It's time we get going," Featherstar meowed as she gathered her clan with a flick of her tail. The cats chosen to go to the gathering, including Webfoot, padded out of the den through the thick gorse tunnel. Duskpaw, Silverpaw and Pinepaw bounced along at the front of the patrol, excitedly chatting like a group of starlings about what they guessed would happen.

"I bet we'll see the greatest warriors, like Lionflight!" Pinepaw exclaimed, his thick dark red fur bouncing up and down as the apprentice galloped alongside the clan leader, at the head of the patrol.

"I wonder what Oakstar looks like," Silverpaw mewed thoughtfully. "What will we say to the other apprentices? Will they like us?"

"Of course they will, LightningClan is the best!" Sunpaw meowed as he padded up to join the group of apprentices. His littermates, Firepaw and Spiderpaw lengthened their strides to catch up.

Webfoot let out a mmrow of amusement. He remembered how excited he felt at his first gathering as an apprentice: but he just couldn't imagine why Featherstar decided to bring all of the paws with them! The younger apprentices had only been out of the nursery for a quarter moon. 

He padded into the clearing at fourtrees, and the LightningClan cats spilt apart as cats wandered away to share tongues and gossip with their friends in other clans.

Webfoot stared up at Nettlestar, waiting for the gathering to begin.

"Watch Sunpaw, please, Webfoot," Mistypool meowed as she slipped into the crowd. Webfoot settled himself down just in front of Sunpaw, and next to Ravenclaw, a StalkClan warrior.

Shootingstar let out a yowl to tell every cat that the gathering was about to begin. Nettlestar of StalkClan stepped forwards first.

"Today two warriors have joined our clan, to fight for justice and revenge," Nettlestar dramatically meowed. 

Webfoot rolled his eyes. Nettlestar is a way over dramatic cat. He looked over at the two new warriors, Lilyecho and Nightstripe.

"It's amazing how well those two rouges have settled in," Ravenclaw commented. Webfoot just dipped his head. "They've been in StalkClan ever since they were found as kits, so they seem clanborn."

"Trespassers!" Nettlestar hissed at Shootingstar. The black tom's golden eyes were blazing with fury. The golden she-cat stepped towards him, until their muzzles were almost touching. 

"My clan is loyal, unlike some of your frog-breath warriors!" She hissed, hackles rising. The SwiftClan cats in the crowd bristled. Webfoot tensed. Starclan would not like the clans arguing at the truce of a gathering. To his surprise, the StalkClan cats were staring at their paws, even their deputy, Birchheart. Ravenclaw, the black and white StalkClan warrior sitting next to Webfoot, was shuffling his paws. Webfoot gave him a sympathetic glance. However old and confused Featherstar was becoming, Nettlestar was much, much worse. They were both growing old, and every cat knew that they were on their last lives. Birchheart and Stormpelt were both getting ready to lead their clans. 

"I smelled your disgusting scent in our territory across the border at edge of the moors!" Nettlestar hissed. 

"That's SwiftClan territory!" Lionflight, the SwiftClan deputy hissed.

Birchheart urgently spoke a few hushed words to the frail black tom. Finally Nettlestar stepped back, and Shootingstar continued her report.

"Prey is running well, and everything is peaceful," She meowed, casting a glance at Nettlestar.

Webfoot was daydreaming about sunshine and mice when Mosspelt nudged him.

"Featherstar's speaking!" She mewed.