Hi readers. Sorry that it's been a while since I've updated. I've been busy. Enjoy this chapter, and review when you're finished!

Lionpaw lounged idly beside Dovepaw, sunning himself on a rock just outside camp. Brackenfur and Brightheart had given the two apprentices the day off from training. They had told Lionpaw and Dovepaw that they should rest today. It was the night of the full moon, and the two apprentices would be attending their first Gathering along with Firestar, Brackenfur, Brightheart, Birchfall, Spiderleg, Mousepaw, Ashfur, and the other Lionpaw.

On the outside, Lionpaw was calm, but on the inside, he felt like his stomach was twisting into a knot. My first Gathering, he thought. I wonder what it will be like. What if the apprentices from the other Clans don't like me? What if I can't find the right things to say to any of them? Lionpaw sat up and stretched. I think I'll go talk to Brackenfur. He'll tell me exactly how to act at the Gathering.

Lionpaw trotted through the camp entrance, looking around for Brackenfur. Lionpaw didn't see him anywhere. He padded over to Jaypaw, who was heading for the medicine den with a rather large wad of herbs in his jaws.

"Hi Jaypaw!" Lionpaw mewed. Jaypaw flicked his tail in acknowledgement. "Is this a bad time? I just wanted to ask you if you know where Bracken is." Jaypaw set the herbs carefully on the ground and turned to face Lionpaw, a look of concentration on his face, as if he was trying to remember the answer to Lionpaw's question.

"I think he went out on the last hunting patrol." He finally replied. "But I thought he gave you the day off to rest for the gathering?"

"He did." Lionpaw meowed. "I'm just nervous. I don't know how to act at a Gathering, so I was going to ask Brackenfur, since he's been to so many." Jaypaw's whiskers twitched with amusement.

"I remember how nervous I was before my first Gathering." He meowed sagely. "Once you get used to them, though, they aren't so bad. Just be friendly and polite. Try to avoid talking to cats that aren't apprentices, and whoever you're talking to, try not to give anything away about any problems in ThunderClan. We don't want enemy Clans to know of any weaknesses."

"Thanks for the advice, Jaypaw." Mewed Lionpaw. "I'll remember that" Lionpaw felt better now that he had talked to a cat that had been to some Gatherings before this one. Lionpaw circled the edge of the camp, repeating everything that Jaypaw had said inside his mind. I mustn't do anything wrong at this Gathering. I have to prove myself worthy of going. I've heard of cats being punished for foolishness by not being able to go to Gatherings. I don't want that to be me.

Lionpaw's stomach growled. He padded out of the camp to the rock that he had been laying on earlier. He figured that Dovepaw would appreciate it if he woke her up to get some fresh-kill. When he arrived at the rock, he found Dovepaw just as he had left her. He prodded her side with his paw a few times to wake her. Soon enough, Dovepaw's eyes flickered open.

"Hey sleepy-paws." Lionpaw cooed sarcastically. "Want to get something to eat? I'm famished." Dovepaw nodded gratefully.

"It's a good thing that you woke me up. I might have starved in my sleep." The fluffy white apprentice stood up and stretched; first her front legs, then her back. Lionpaw padded back to camp at her side. Dovepaw looked like she was deep in thought. Momentarily, she stopped walking, and then began again. "Are you nervous about the Gathering?" She mewed quietly to Lionpaw. Embarrassment shone in her eyes.

"I was," Lionpaw replied, "but I talked to Jaypaw about it. He said to try to only talk to apprentices and to not reveal too much about ThunderClan. He was nervous about his first Gathering, too. I'm sure there's nothing to worry about." Dovepaw looked more confident now. Lionpaw silently thanked Jaypaw that his words had comforted Lionpaw's sister.

…………………………………

"Dovepaw, come on!" Yowled Lionpaw. "It's time to go to the Gathering." The two apprentices scampered out of the apprentices' den to join the group of cats that would be leaving soon for the Gathering.

The group of ThunderClan cats loped noiselessly around the lake to where the Gathering was being held. To Lionpaw, the trip seemed to take a lifetime. By the time they reached the log that stretched across the water to the Gathering island, his sides heaved with cramped fatigue.

Ahead of him, Dovepaw walked nervously across the log. When it was Lionpaw's turn to cross, he leapt up to the tree trunk. He paused for a few heartbeats to catch his balance, and then began to pick his way carefully across the slippery wood, staring apprehensively down into the swirling black torrent of water that raged just a few tail-lengths below his paws.

After pausing a few times to catch his breath or his balance, Lionpaw hurdled onto the island at the end of the log, joining Dovepaw and the rest of the ThunderClan group that was there. Together they marched in a clearing filled with cats from other Clans. Brackenfur explained which scents belonged to certain Clans. The cats from RiverClan and WindClan were already there; Leopardstar and Onestar perched on a low branch, mewing quietly with Firestar.

Suddenly, a mean looking group of cats trekked into the clearing, lead by a huge white tomcat with black paws.

This must be ShadowClan. Lionpaw thought, which means that the white tom must be Blackstar. What a scary looking bunch of cats. The ShadowClan cats marched through the other Clans, casting glares around to random warriors and apprentices. Their scent was rank and musky in contrast to WindClan and RiverClan's. WindClan's scent was light and airy. RiverClan's filled the air a bit more heavily, but it smelt clean and fresh just the same.

Blackstar leapt up onto the branch with the other Clan leaders. Brambleclaw sat below the branch. The deputies of RiverClan, WindClan, and ShadowClan lined up beside him. Lionpaw had been told who the deputies were. The ginger she-cat, Russetfur was ShadowClan's deputy. RiverClan's was Mistyfoot, a gray she-cat, and WindClan's deputy was another gray she-cat named Ashfoot.

Firestar called out for silence. The Gathering had begun. Each leader began to speak of their Clan's affairs. Lionpaw didn't hear any yowling, so he tuned out what the leaders were saying and started looking around. Dovepaw, Brackenfur, and Brightheart were on his left, and to his right were two ShadowClan apprentices. He recognized them as Owlpaw and Ivypaw. Owlpaw was a fluffy gray tom, and Ivypaw was a light brown she-cat with dark patches throughout her pelt. Lionpaw had spoken to Ivypaw earlier. She seemed very kind, and there were friends almost immediately. She turned to look at Lionpaw and batted her dark green eyes at him affectionately. Lionpaw felt his fur bristle in embarrassment, and he quickly turned away. Maybe not all ShadowClan cats are mean. He thought. Then he silently cursed himself. It could never work; she's from a different Clan. Lionpaw turned his attention to what the leaders were saying, but it was too late.

"This Gathering is now over." Meowed Blackstar. One by one, the leaders hopped off of the branch and towards their territory. As Lionpaw made his way towards Firestar, He felt a tail sweep over his back, and turned to see Ivypaw walking away. What an extraordinary cat. He thought to himself. He rejoined Dovepaw at the edge of the stream, crossed the log, and began to amble back towards ThunderClan territory.

Once they were back on their own land, Lionpaw and Dovepaw slowed down to speak to each other.

"I don't feel like going back to camp right now." Complained Lionpaw, "I wish that we could stay out longer. I'm not sleepy enough to go back to the den yet." Dovepaw nodded in agreement, then paused to think.

"You know," she mewed quietly, looking around to be sure that the two of them weren't being overheard, "I heard Firestar say at the Gathering that a patrol had found a badger set at Sunhigh today. It was near the abandoned twoleg nest. We could go see if we could find the badgers. If we killed them, I bet we'd be made into warriors really soon." Lionpaw's ears pricked in excitement.

"That sounds great!" He yowled, but them quickly quieted down, "Everyone would be so proud. Let's go!"

…………………………………

"I smell it!" Dovepaw growled, "Stay really quiet, and low to the ground. I just smell younger badgers. Two of them. The full-grown badger isn't here right now. Her scent is stale."

"Maybe she's out hunting." Suggested Lionpaw. "I guess we came at just the right time. Let's go get them." The two apprentices scampered into the abandoned twoleg nest silently. When the got there, the moonlight shone down on to rank smelling black-and-white creatures. Lionpaw was trembling next to Dovepaw. He had no idea that young badgers would be this big. Suddenly, a hoarse voice filled the Moonhigh air.

"Moonlight, I smell something." Rasped one of the badgers. "It is the smell of cat, is it not?"

"I believe so, Sunbeam." Replied the other. "Come out, cats. Our mother has not yet returned from hunting, and we are so very hungry."

"Yes," Murmured Sunbeam, "hungry enough to eat a cat. And there are two of them. Come Moonlight, let's find the little kitties." The two badgers lunged forward swiftly towards Lionpaw and Dovepaw, making them stumble back into a shaft of moonlight beaming through the rafters of the abandoned twoleg nest.

"There they are!" Screeched Moonlight. Running towards the apprentices. Before he knew it, Lionpaw was backed up into a corner, quivering next to Dovepaw, who lashed out a paw and scored a mark onto Moonlight's ugly face. Lionpaw growled fiercely and lashed out in the same manner at Sunbeam, who reared his head, knocking Lionpaw back.

"Now, now, kitties." Whispered Sunbeam, "Be polite. After all, you are our guests here."

"Get off of our territory you stupid, slobbering, mangy things!" Yowled Dovepaw. The badgers glared at the two apprentices menacingly, and began to sing:

Moonlight:

He called us slobbering!

Sunbeam:

Said we were mangy!

Moonlight:

Did I hear stupid?

Moonlight, Sunbeam:

Tell us again - gee

It's so incredible

Sunbeam:

That you're so rude

Moonlight:

When you're so edible

Moonlight, Sunbeam:

When you are food!

Sunbeam:

It's time to chow down

Sunbeam, Moonlight:

Chow down!

Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-chow down

Moonlight:

I'm chomping' at the bit, baby

Sunbeam:

My stomach's on a growl, son

Sunbeam, Moonlight:

Chow down!

Chow down!

You both been invited here on a date

Two courses handed to us on a plate

We'll have you raw, won't be long to wait

Seeing you're already toasty and round

Chow down!

Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-chow down!

Moonlight:

Your ribs are looking so tasty

Sunbeam:

Such chewy little chops, chums

Sunbeam, Moonlight:

Eat up!
We've never had a snack of such renown

Chow down!

Lionpaw and Dovepaw realized that the badgers were distracting themselves by singing, so they ran. Lionpaw had never run so fast in his life. Dovepaw seemed just as fast keeping his pace all the way to a nearby bush. Suddenly, they heard a voice calling out into the night.

"Lionpaw! Dovepaw! Where are you?" Lionpaw instantly recognized the distressed voice as that of his father, Firestar. Dovepaw must have figured it out, too, because she instantly burst out of the bush that the two of them were hiding in, Lionpaw at her heels.

"We're here Firestar!" Yowled Lionpaw. Pinpointing Firestar's location by smell, Lionpaw practically rammed into his father, who quickly proceeded to bat Lionpaw and Dovepaw over the head with his paw.

"Where have you two been?" Firestar yowled. The worry in his voice had turned to anger. "There are two patrols out looking for you, and we were all worried sick about you! Never sneak off like that again." Lionpaw tried to say something in their defense.

"But-"

"No buts" Growled Firestar. "We are going back to camp right now. You can explain yourselves in the morning, and I'll decide you punishment then. Come along, now."

So the group trekked silently back to camp. The patrols had returned, and all the cats that were still awake were making a fuss over Lionpaw and his sister, but Firestar insisted that they go to their dens immediately. Lionpaw lay down in his nest, but he couldn't fall asleep. He felt so ashamed. Why did I think that we could take on two badgers? He thought. Now I'll never be a warrior.