Clans of the Forest:1: Stone and Silver (COMPLETE)

Chapter 1

Frost glimmered overhead, making the trees sparkle with light. The golden sun shone on a fresh blanket of snow. Silverpaw huddled under a holly bush, trying not to snag his fur on one of the leaves. He sniffed the chilly air. Mouse. Silently, he stalked out of the bush and glanced around. A small, furry, mouse was crouched by a stalk of onion grass.

Silverpaw dropped into a hunting crouch. He slowly slid closer . . .

Screech!

A huge bundle of gray fur slammed into Silverpaw and the mouse, there was a scattering of fur and snow. Stonepaw appeared, the mouse dangling from her jaws.

"How did you even manage to get that, causing such a racket?" Silverpaw spat. Stonepaw grinned cheekily at him and dashed off.

"That was my prey!" Silverpaw yelped, dashing to keep up with her. He ran full speed at his cousin, eventually ramming into her and pinning her down.

"You ruin all of the fun." Stonepaw spat. She yanked herself up from under Silverpaw and stalked away, mouse and all. What happened to her? Thought Silverpaw. She's no fun anymore. 

Silverpaw padded back to the place where he had left his squirrel. He dug up the earth and clamped it in his jaws. Sighing mentally, he slumped back to the ForestClan camp.

The camp was in a place where a river used to flow. There were protective dens in bushes and rocks. Bluestar held clan meetings on a ledge on the cliff wall. Just this morning, she had used that ledge to appoint Silverpaw, Stonepaw, Barkpaw, Wishpaw, and Summerpaw as apprentices. 

Silverpaw dragged himself over to the fresh-kill pile and then dragged himself to the apprentice den. Almost immediately, his mentor, Firefly, poked her head into the den.

"What happened?" she asked. "Are you feeling all right?"

"Just having a bad day." sighed Silverpaw.

"Bad hunting? No, of course not. I watched you catch that squirrel. Amazing that you could catch it at all, with so little training. But don't worry! I'm sure you'll feel better tomorrow."

Silverpaw curled up in a tight ball. Everyone always said that you would feel better tomorrow, but Silverpaw wasn't sure that that was true. His first day as an apprentice was a disaster. 

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the Highstone for a clan meeting!" Came Bluestar's voice.

Silverpaw pricked his ears. A clan meeting! Then he remembered- tonight was the gathering! What if got to go? He doubted it, but, you never know. 

Still excited, he padded into the clearing. The sun was setting, casting a beautiful golden light n the leaves of the willow oaks and elms overhead. The frighteningly small clan was gathered. Moonbeam, his mother; Firefly, his aunt and mentor; Greenmoon, a warrior; the other apprentices, Waterfall, an elder; Powersnow, the medicine cat; and Rivereye, the deputy. Rainstorm and Icetail were also there, Icetail sitting with Icekit and Snowkit at her paws. 

Bluestar sat above them staring proudly at her small but thriving clan. Then, after a long pause she spoke. "Today I will select who I wish to bring to the gathering."

Silverpaw doubted being chosen, but no one said he couldn't hope. He sat tall and dignified, hoping Bluestar would notice him. 

"I shall bring Rivereye, Firefly, Greenmoon, Powersnow, Rainstorm, Barkpaw and Wishpaw." Silverpaw ducked his head in defeat. He was right.

Silverpaw walked back to the apprentice den. He walked over to his nest, hidden in a corner next to Stonepaw's. Curling up, he closed his eyes and wished for sleep.

. . .

Silverpaw was awakened by the sound of laughter. He drowsily opened one eye. Shifting in his nest, he glanced at the sky. It was around midnight. No one else was in the den. Sleepily, he got to his feet and padded outside. Stonepaw and Summerpaw were playing with Icetail's kits while Moonbeam, Icetail, and Waterfall watched affectionately. Silverpaw padded over to Moonbeam.

"How long have I been asleep?" he asked.

"A while," answered Moonbeam. She glanced up above her. "I'm surprised they haven't gotten back from the gathering yet."

As if summoned by her words, Bluestar burst into the camp with her cats behind her. Moonbeam leapt to her paws.

"What happened?" She asked her mother.

"I'll tell everyone in the morning." she raised her voice. "I just want to tell everyone to look out for an attack from BlizzardClan." she ran into her den.

Silverpaw ached to know what had happened. After all of the apprentices were back in the den, he slid over to Wishpaw.

"Why are we in danger?" he asked. Wishpaw, looked tense, but answered in his smooth and milky voice.

"While we were there-uh-Barkpaw accidentally-erm-uh-I'm not sure offended is the right word but-she did something to Wickedcone-he wasn't to upset, really-but his mate, Pinebreeze-she took it seriously. She told Wonderstar-she didn't care but-that Pinebreeze is a fierce one-never know when she might attack."

Wishpaw exchanged a worried glance with Silverpaw. He knew what it meant. 

If there was a battle-he would be part of it.