Spiderpaw was disappointed that neither of his parents had been announced to go to the Gathering, having to stick with his mentor the whole way there. He glared at Sweetfang. Even after being her apprentice for a moon and a half, he still didn't like her. He didn't think that she was worthy of training him at all. Surely Bumblestar should have chosen a cat who had been a warrior for longer. Her sharp tongue didn't help matters either. She would scold him for every single mistake that he made.

"Remember to be careful what you tell any of the other cats," Sweetfang hissed at him softly as ThunderClan made their way to Fourtrees, keeping their patrol silent for the most part. Bumblestar had brought Ravenfeather, Thornberry, Snowpelt, Appletail, Mousetail, Whitefrost, Yellowflower, and Brownfoot. Sootpaw and Deerpaw stuck to their mentors. With RiverClan increasing the amount of patrols, they had to be careful. Spiderpaw could tell that Bumblestar was going to discuss the problem with Otterstar. Spiderpaw heard that the small white RiverClan leader was not usually one to start conflicts over nothing. But was something going on with her Clan? Could they solve whatever's bothering them without trespassing?

"I know. Never let them know our secrets," he sighed. "That's fine with me. I know that while the truce lasts for a night, I might have to battle with any cat I speak with. I don't need friends in another Clan."

"You should at least be polite if you can. I don't want the other Clans to think that all of our apprentices are disrespectful. You're also my first apprentice, so it'd look bad on me. Just be nice and smart."

"Fine," he rolled his eyes as Fourtrees loamed before him, the ancient oaks alive with cats as the other three Clans merged, cats going off from the big groups to speak with their friends on full moons. The amount of cats would have bothered any other new apprentice, but Spiderpaw could handle it. He could handle the camp just fine, even if these new faces could be his enemies tomorrow.

He noticed Yellowflower make her way over to a white RiverClan queen, the other cat's belly looking as though she would have her kits any day now. A brown tabby tom with black stripes walked beside her, pride in his eyes showing that he was the father. He recalled his mother telling his brother about a queen named Hazelpetal.

"I bet you and Duststorm are proud," Yellowflower let out a soft purr at the two. "You two must be excited about having a litter of kits to play with.

"Of course," Duststorm puffed out his chest. "New warriors for our Clan. I'm sure they'll have some competition when your kits become apprentices."

"Swiftfeather and I can't wait."

Not wanting to be spotted easedropping on their conversation, Spiderpaw glanced around at all of the different cats. He spotted Ravenfeather joining the other deputies with a quick nod as she entered a discussion with Frogleg. The light brown tabby of ShadowClan was keeping his voice low, his eyes wary. Next to him sat Robinfang, the whitefooted ginger she-cat glaring at ThunderClan, still upset about that spat at the border. He wish he could have been there in case there was a fight. He observed the last cat, a huge dark brown tabby tom. He was WindClan's deputy Toadleap. He had a scar right across his nose, and had the longest whiskers that he had ever seen. He made sure to study all of the deputies, as he hoped to join them eventually.

He glanced back at his siblings to see that they had ignored him and went on their own, Sootpaw sticking to Thornberry's side like a twig. That brother of his was so weird. Wanting to be medicine cat and not a warrior like him and Deerpaw?

Deerpaw had joined three apprentices, two from RiverClan and one from WindClan. They looked much bigger than her, almost overwhelming her. But they all had their tails in the air, so Spiderpaw knew she would be fine. He tried to find some of the other apprentices and caught the whiff of ShadowClan as he saw two of the small cats to speak with.

Both apprentice looked up as he approached, keeping their eyes focus on him, taking in his small frame. They both relaxed, looking around the same age as him. They must have been newly apprenticed like him. The tom was black and white with green eyes. The she-cat had all black fur and the softest amber eyes he had seen. For a couple of heartbeats he couldn't find anything to say as this ShadowClan cat stared at him with curiousity. Clearing his throat, and hoping they wouldn't notice how warm his ears felt, he spoke up.

"Hey, I've never seen you two before. I'm only been an apprentice for about a moon. My name's Spiderpaw. What about you two?"

"We've been apprentices for about three days," the tom licked a paw and nodded to the she-cat. "She's Mistpaw and I'm Stonepaw."

"Our brother, Patchpaw, is going to be the next medicine cat," Mistpaw pointed to an apprentice with Stonepaw's coloring sitting with the other medicine cats. The young cat was nodding at something Sootpaw was telling him.

"Sootpaw over there is going to be a medicine cat, too," he nudged towards his brother before making them look towards Deerpaw. "And my sister Deerpaw is over there."

"So who is your mentor?" Mistpaw asked.

Spiderpaw frowned as he answered, "Bumblestar stuck me with Sweetfang. I don't really like her that much so far."

"I got Cloudfur. She's that white she-cat over there," Stonepaw continued. "I like my mentor. She's nice and patient with me, even if I make mistakes."

"I have Nightfang," Mistpaw nodded, "He's that black tom sitting next to my mother, Honeyfang. He isn't the softest cat, but I think he'll do. I just want someone who know what they are doing. But I trust in my Clanmates."

"My mother didn't come tonight," Spiderpaw snuck a peak at their mentors, the ShadowClan cats looking at their leaders, not bothering to speak to any other cat.

"That's a bummer," Mistpaw gave him a look of pity. "I'm glad my mother is here, it makes me feel a little bit better and not too crowded."

"The leaders are starting," a ginger tom twisted around to hiss at them.

"Sorry, Tigertooth," Stonepaw ducked his ears at the older warrior's commands. "We'll stop talking."

"You do that, Stonepaw."

"He's my father," Mistpaw whispered into his ear, her warm breath making him tingle a little as she leaned in close. She had such a calming smell, almost like honey.

Foxstar was the first to speak, the ginger she-cat's voice full of pride as she announced her news, "ShadowClan is thriving in this greenleaf. Featherfoot has become a queen and we have three new apprentices. Stonepaw, Mistpaw, and Patchpaw."

"Stonepaw! Mistpaw! Patchpaw!"

As the Clans cheered on the new apprentices, WindClan's leader, Oakstar took Foxstar's place, his brown fur smooth as he spoke up with words of his own.

"We are also doing well in this nice weather. Petalfall has received her medicine cat name and Daisytail has two healthy kits."

Spiderpaw glanced around while the Clan applauded the new queen, and noticed Honeyfang glaring at her, giving a death stare at the brown tabby clinging to her side. What was Mistpaw's mother upset about? Was there trouble over their borders as well?

He had been distracted and didn't notice the rest of WindClan's announcements as Otterstar struted forwards, giving Bumblestar a glare of her own.

"Besides a certain Clan pushing on our borders, we have also been successful in our hunts. I'm sad to annouce the death of our medicine cat, Ivyfoot. He hunts in StarClan now. Fernleaf has taken his place."

The RiverClan medicine cat was a black tom with a gray chest. He had his head down in sadness, Thornberry's tail on his shoulder. Despite their Clan's arguing, the medicine cats almost never faught with each other. It was like a bond. One he'd never be apart of. At least his brother would be safe.

Bumblestar made his way to the front, shooting a malicious look at Otterstar as he shared their news as well. He could see the tension as neither leader back down from the other.

"This has been a plentiful greenleaf for ThunderClan. And as our land thrives, so does our cats. Deerpaw, Spiderpaw, and Sootpaw are now apprentices and Yellowflower has joined the nursery."

"Deerpaw! Spiderpaw! Sootpaw!"

Spiderpaw felt a flash of confidence as the others cheered him and his siblings on. The RiverClan cats were a lot less entusiastic, but it didn't matter. He would prove himself to be better than most of these cats. He planned on being leader one day. They'd be cheering his new name.

Spiderstar! Spiderstar!