Train. Train. Train.

That was all they ever did, that and yell at each other, which usually resulted in getting the elder's ticks all the time. Volepaw had gotten the elder's ticks so many times that he could just poke his head in and ask. They would say no ticks and he would leave.

One night when the moon shone at his fullest, the Gathering was upon them, and since Redstorm had insisted every other time that Volepaw shouldnt go, it was finally the time when Mintstar would let him. Along with Iceypaw for that matter.

His claws dug into the surface of the log that helped bridge the gap between land and the Gathering island. He bounded across uneasily, not used to using the tree bridge. When his paws hit soft grass, he breathed a sigh of relief and pushed through the bushes into the Gathering.

Many different scents of Shadowclan and Windclan filled his nose, he padded forward, the cat's leaders were already perched ont he tree, soon joined by his own leader, Mintstar of Riverclan. He looked around, suddenly realizing Iceypaw wasn't at his side, he spotted her talking to some other apprentice and went to join them before Redstorm called, "Hanging around cats from other clans inset good, get your littermate and join your clan mates!"

Volepaw sighed and went to retrieve Iceypaw, but before he could say her name the Gathering had begun.

"It seems Thunderclan thinks their to good to join us," Yowled Ebonystar, the Shadowclan leader.

"They'll turn up." Meowed Eaglestar, the Windclan leader.

Mintstar raised her paw, ears twitching, "Oakstar has never been late, he's always been the first to arrive,"

"Then something's going on with Thunderclan, I should send a patrol of Windclan warriors to enter their camp." Eaglestar nodded.

"Not without Shadowclan you won't." Ebonystar leaped to her gray paws.

"Fine then." Mintstar flattened her ears, "We might as wellspring end them now, I'll send my deputy Reedtail, warrior Troutcatch, medicine cat apprentice Splashpaw, and finally..."

She paused, gaze sweeping the Riverclan cats. Volepaw's dusty brown fur prickled as her eyes rested on him. Was that sympathy in her stare?

"...and Volepaw" she finished.

"That little rat doesn't derserves to" Redstorm leaped up, But was cut off by Reedtail, "You have no say in this."

The brown-red She-cat quieted down, her amber stare still glaring at Reedtail. Volepaw suddenly felt a burst of pride, he was going on a quest! Well not really, more of a information retrieval trip, but still. The thrill was almost unbearable!

"I'll just send Wingtaila nd Streamskimmer." Eaglestar yawned.

Ebonystar bristled, "I'll send my deputy Highvine, he's all you need."

"Then it is decided, they will return with news, and in the meantime we will stay and resume our report." Mintstar called, and so the very short journey that wasn't really a journey began.

Sorry for  how short it was.