Chapter 24: The Gathering Part 1

Chapter 24:  The Gathering
Part 1

     Petalsplash padded after the crowd of cats following Streamstar.  Occasionally she would stop and look around her, memorizing the beautiful colors and pleasant smells of the new section of the forest.  It was so different than the marsh by the river!  She must have been standing around, because her former mentor, Pondlily yelled, "For the last time, Petalsplash, stop standing around like a mousebrain!  We have places to go!" 
"Sorry!"  Petalsplash yelled back.  "It's just this part of the forest is so different than the marsh-" 
"Honestly, Petalsplash!  Act like a warrior!  If you don't, you'll ruin CreekClan's name!"  Petalsplash's tail drooped and she hung her head.  I might as well enjoy the long walk to the gathering spot!  And I'm not an apprentice anymore!  If Pondlily doesn't shut up and stop ordering me around, I might actually be able to do my warrior duties!  I mean, I've been a warrior for about a moon now!  This is my first gathering as a warrior!  Petalsplash changed her grudging thoughts against Pondlily to happier ones.  Maybe Streamstar will announce it to all the clans!  That would be such an honor!  Anyways, Pondlily was just trying to make sure I don't make a fool of myself.  I've been so rude thinking she was yelling at me just for the fun of it!  Petalsplash's thoughts drifted toward a neat looking tree.  Must not sniff... can not sniff... MUST SNIFF!  Petalsplash found her feet lead her to the tree.  It was so cool and tall!  All the branches were so high...  Petalsplash stood admiring the tree.  She shook herself.  What am I thinking!?  I need to listen to Pondlily and control myself!  Say, where'd they go?  Petalsplash looked around.  The CreekClan crowd was no where in sight.  Uh oh!  Petalsplash hurried in the direction they had gone.  Not a single trace.  Panic surged through Petalsplash.  What if I never find them?  What if i die out here, and one day someone finds my bones, years from now?"  Petalsplash had no idea where the last thought came from, but was soon distracted by a voice.  "Petalsplash?"  Pondlily's voice rang out.  "Coming!"  Petalsplash yelled and raced after Pondlily.  "Honestly, Petalsplash, you'd think you were still Petalpaw the was you act!"  Pondlily talked on and on, but Petalsplash wasn't listening.  She was too happy she'd been found. 
     Awhile later, CreekClan came upon the gathering.  Petalsplash couldn't help but gasp.  All 8 clans were present, from Nothern to Southern.  Petalsplash counted all the groups.  She reconised a few of the leaders:  Featherstar of OwlClan, Foxstar of whatever her clan was, Duskstar of NightClan, Wolfstar of DeathClan, the short gray-green cat that led StormClan, whatever her name was, and Flowstar of BrookClan, Petalsplash's favorite clan besides her own.  Wait... where's FireClan?  Flamestar wasn't there.  But Petalsplash reconised their deputy, Sharpfang.  What the...  Sharpfang jumped up to FireClan's boulder.  There were eight of them, side by side, that faced the eight group of cats.  Each clan was only allowed to bring a small group, since eight groups of cats really added up.  As Petalsplash glumly took a spot in the back, a result of her lagging behind, she couldn't help but stare as a fire-colored tom jumped up and sat next to Sharpfang, and glared at him.  As Petalsplash looked around, she noticed that she wasn't the only one staring at the two.  Just about every other cat was, accept a few young apprentices whispering loudly to each other.  Why would Flamestar and Sharpfang both be on FireClan's boulder?