Chapter Eight

Dreampaw panted furiously. She looked over her shoulder at Miststar, who had a small smirk on her face. It had been four moons since they went to the MoonCave, and she had excelled in her training. Dreampaw lowered her head. Thinking of a comeback. She had to hurry, cause she knew Miststar was probably about to attack her, or snap at her for taking to long. Then, Dreampaw spun around and threw herself into the air. She yowled a mock battle cry, and landed right in front of Miststar, and shot her frost paw out to catch Miststar's face, sending Miststar's head into the ground. A deadly move, if full power and claws were used. Dreampaw didn't hesitate to use this to her advantage. She reared up on her hind legs, and quickly came down onto Miststar, right as Miststar was getting up to fight back.

Dreampaw ran after Miststar as they walked into camp. She was really tired, and right now she just wanted a nice juicy piece of prey. Dreampaw saw Cloudpaw bringing some moss back into the Elder's Den. Dreampaw smiled to herself. Cloudpaw has just stared training again, He had missed four moons of training, and is still at the same level as Dreampaw. His siblings would be receiving their warrior names very soon, while Cloudpaw had to wait a long time still. Dreampaw padded over to the fresh-kill pile, and took a mouse. She looked up into the sky. Leaf-bare was vicious this year. It would be her first. She was born shortly after the last snows of Leaf-bare came, and she was glad. It was freezing now. She sighed, no more rain, from what she heard about Leaf-bare, snow would be coming.

Dreampaw took a bite of her mouse, and fluffed up her fur to keep away the cold. She looked around the clearing. She saw Honeystripe huddling in the entrance to the nursery. She had joined the queens three moons ago. She was heavily expecting kits, and Sparrowleaf believed that she would have her kits earlier then she should. Dreampaw continued to look around. She spotted Skypaw, but he was listening to the elders. Dreampaw closed her eyes, then her eyes snapped open. The Gathering! She had forgotten all about it! She looked back up at the sky, and sighed in frustration. The clouds have been covering the sky for several Sun-Rises now, so she had completely forgotten about the Gathering. It was tonight! Maybe she would be able to go. Dreampaw finished off her mouse, and jumped to her feet and ran Skypaw. She pulled him away and spoke quickly.

"The gathering's tonight! Do you think I might be invited? You have! Even Soaringpaw and Hollowpaw have, and they're a moon younger then me!"

Skypaw's eyes turned soft.

"You might. Why don't you ask Mist-"

Skypaw was caught off by Miststar's loud yowl. She was calling the clan together to say who would be going to the Gathering. Dreampaw perked her ears, and waited for her name to be called.

"The final cat who shall be going is...Dreampaw"

Dreampaw almost yowled in joy, but contained her happiness. Miststar jumped down from the LakeRock, and signaled for her patrol to follow. Dreampaw bounded after the patrol, and looked to her side to see Skypaw beside her, going for his third time. She almost scowled, but smiled.Then her eyes brightened as she saw Cloudpaw padding beside his mentor. This would be his first Gathering also, but he had to wait eight moons to get it, and he didn't seem to care. Suddenly Dreampaw felt selfish, and felt like she shouldn't go on. Her steps faltered a bit, and she fell behind, then she realized that if she wasn't meant to go, Miststar would have never said yes. Then with a smile, Dreampaw caught up with Skypaw again.

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Dreampaw stood in awe. They were on the rise to the large clearing where the clans gathered. There was a huge rock standing in the middle.

"Wow...."

Skypaw purred.

"I know! it's magnificent! I couldn't believe it either!"

Skypaw flicked Dreampaw with his tail. Dreampaw smiled at Skypaw. She saw Miststar flick her tail slightly, then the patrol ran down the slope. Dreamstar reacted a little too slowly, and she was pushed slightly by a cat. But soon she caught up and ran down with her clan. She stopped at the bottom and looked around. Skypaw had seen a gathering friend and had ran off. Dreampaw sighed. She would have to find her way around by her-

"Hey? Need some help. I was abandoned by my siblings also."

Dreampaw spun around to face the voice she had heard. It was Cloudpaw. His eyes were twinkling with laughter.

"S-sure. Why not. I guess we both don't know anyone here....

Dreampaw smiled. Cloudpaw rolled his eyes and smiled. Dreampaw purred.

"Should we try to find other clan apprentices?"

Cloudpaw shrugged.

"Whatever you want."

Dreampaw smiled.

"Okay, let's go!"

Dreampaw bounded up beside Cloudpaw,  and looked around for apprentices. Cloudpaw tapped Dreampaw. She looked to where Cloudpaw was looking and smiled.

"Come on! Let's go meet them!"

Dreampaw was about to take a step when a yowl was heard fro, the Great Rock. Dreampaw sighed angrily, and sat down beside Cloudpaw. She looked up to see Miststar standing on the rock, she was obviously going to speak first.

"Welcome clans from the Forest of Clans! LakeClan is doing fine. We have a new queen and warriors! Honeystripe is expecting Dust-tail's kits, and Leaf-fall and Freezecloud are warriors!"

The clans chanted Leaffall's anf Freezecloud's new names. Dreampaw looked through the crowd were everyone was looking. Leaf-fall and Freezecloud were sitting tall. Dreampaw smiled slightly. She heard Miststar continue on as the chanting died down.

"Prey has been plentiful for the first moon of Leaf-bare, but it is slowing! We recently chased a badger from our territory. The patrol reported that it ran into DuskClan territory. I hope you can handle it well. It still seemed young, but be on the lookout!"

Miststar nodded and stepped back, allowing another leader to step forward.

Dreampaw listened to the rest of the Gathering, and yawned as the Gathering was dismissed. She turned to Cloudpaw.

"That was my first Gathering, and it was super long! Wow... I never realized how many clans or cats there are out there!"

Cloudpaw purred agreement.

"I think we're leaving now! We better hurry!"

Dreampaw turned her gaze to the LakeClan cats re-grouping. She nodded and hurried over.

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*Dreampaw stumbled into the apprentices den, her paws wary from the journey she had made. She curled into her nest, only to be woken a few moments later by Smokepaw and Rainpaw.

"So!? How was it? Did anything interesting happen? How was your first Gathering?"

Dreampaw groaned.

"So.... Fine.... No.... Great...."

Dreampaw sighed and fell into a deep sleep.

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Dreampaw woke to the sounds of life outside her den. Skypaw wasn't in the den, only her and Cloudpaw. Dreampaw got up and stretched, then realized that it was past Sun-high! What would Miststar think?! Dreampaw nudged Cloudpaw awake.

"Cloudpaw! It's past Sun-high!"

Cloudpaw grumbled, then his eyes flew open and he jumped up.

"What!?"

Dreampaw nodded and raced out of the den with Cloudpaw hot on her heels.

She saw Miststar sitting underneath the LakeRock, she ran over panting.

"Sorry!"

Miststar purred and nodded.

"It's okay. It was your first Gathering, so of course you would be tired. Want to go on a hunting patrol? One is about to leave."

Dreampaw sighed in relief.

"Sure! Can I eat first? I didn't get to eat last night."

Dreampaw smiled and ran off when Miststar nodded. She saw the hunting patrol gathering, and she quickly ate the mouse she took in hungry bites. She jumped up and ran to the patrol.

"Miststar said I could join this patrol."

Robinstep, who was leading the patrol, nodded.

"Okay, good. We were just about to head out."

Dreampaw nodded and looked to see who else was in the patrol. There was Nightshadow, Duskleaf, Feathercloud, Hawkclaw, and Rainpaw. Dreampaw nodded to Rainpaw, and followed Nightshadow out the camp entrance.