Mintpaw heard her name being called by Lionheart, Bluestar's deputy, as one of the cats to go to the Gathering.  Her paws tingled in excitement, she couldn't wait to go to the Gathering!  It was only her second one, and the thought of what could possibly happen thrilled her.  She looked up, the moon was beginning to rise.  Soon, her Clan would leave for the Gathering.  Gatherings occurred every full moon, which to Mintpaw, wasn't often enough.  During Gatherings, there was also supposed to be a truce between all four Clans, as declared by StarClan.

Mintpaw raced over to the ThunderClan apprentice den to seek out her friends that were going to the Gathering.  Fernpaw, her sister would be going alongside Redpaw, Acornpaw, and Spottedpaw.  Redpaw, Acornpaw, and Spottedpaw were all littermates too.  Normally at Gatherings, littermates either all went, or none of them did.  Also, the apprentices always went with their mentors.

"Come on, lazybones!  We have to gather up soon, so be ready!"  Mintpaw called out to them

Fernpaw bounced up to Mintpaw and meowed, "I'm always ready for a Gathering, I would never even get close to missing one I'm supposed to go to!"

Redpaw rolled his eyes at the sisters' excitement.  He and his littermates had been apprentices for several moons and had been to plenty of Gatherings as they had been the only apprentices in ThunderClan for a while.  Fortunately, a lot of queens started going into the nursery, expectant, after they had been apprenticed.  Acornpaw padded up to Redpaw and muttered something into his ear, his eyes glittering.  Fernpaw and Mintpaw however, took no notice at the two cat's frustration.  Hearing what he said, Spottedpaw padded over towards Fernpaw and Mintpaw.

"Sorry about my brothers' attitudes,"  she meowed sympathetically.

Mintpaw turned to her, "It's alright.  We must get very annoying sometimes.  Besides, every cat gets frustrated over small things at least once in their lifetime."

Fernpaw nodded and meowed, "And they are normally friendly to us too.  I remember all the times we used to play together as kits and the great times we've had out in the forest as apprentices.  Though Mintpaw and I are really grateful for your kindness."

Spottedpaw dipped her head in gratitude and meowed, "No prob-."  Her mew was cut short as a loud yowl sounded, telling all the cats to round up for the Gathering.

Mintpaw glanced at Spottedpaw and Fernpaw, then raced off with them towards the mostly formed patrol.  This is it!  Mintpaw thought.   My second Gathering.  Finally!  If we waited any longer I probably would've been so frustrated by my anticipation that I would go right up to Lionheart and ask him when we would be leaving.  Her thoughts were cut short as Bluestar started bounding off, in the direction of Fourtrees.  She ran along in her position in the patrol, managing to keep up.  

The group pelted through the forest, dodging brambles and skirting trees.  Mintpaw saw a glimpse of the leaves of Fourtrees and a new wave of excitement washed over her pelt.  She bounded along, looking around and nearly slammed into her mentor, Duskleap, who was right in front of her.  Mintpaw looked around, confused.  Why did we make such a sudden stop?  Normally, we gradually slow down near the ledge of the hollow, then run down. 

Duskleap grumbled, "Watch where you are going!  I thought I trained you better than that, you have to be more aware of your surroundings."

Mintpaw ducked her head in shame and meowed quiet apologies to her mentor.  She pawed the ground nervously and meowed, "I thought we slowed down when we stopped.  How come we made such a sudden, jerking stop?  I'm sorry for bumping into you, I didn't expect this at all."

Duskleap meowed, a little more sympathy in his voice, "It's alright, I didn't expect it either.  When I had gone to my first few Gatherings, I kept on bumping into cats like you did to me.  I don't know what's going on, I will try and see over the other cat's heads.  If I can, I will let you know what is happening, alright?"

Mintpaw nodded, feeling better and less ashamed.  Duskleap could often times be tough on her, though was full of wisdom and even kindness at times.  To her, Duskleap was a very good mentor as he was a senior warrior and full of wisdom.  Mintpaw decided to try and see what was going on too, for herself.  She bunched up her muscles preparing to leap up.  She leaped, trying to gain as much height as possible.  She managed to get her head above the other cats and for a split-second she saw bright lights and a twolegplace style building.

What in the world is going on?  What's a twoleg building doing right in the middle of the Fourtrees clearing?   Fernpaw nudged her, snapping Mintpaw out of her thoughts.

"What's going on?"  She whispered, clearly wanting to know and seeing that Mintpaw managed to see what she had failed to.

Mintpaw snapped, "First of all, you didn't need to prod me that hard.  Second, I don't really know.  There is a random twoleg building in the middle of Fourtrees with bright, shiny lights.  I will see if I can get a better glimpse."  

"Sorry!"  Fernpaw hissed and continued, "You are lucky that you have such good leaping skills.  I can't get nearly as high as you.  Though, I bet I can run faster," her eyes glinted mischievously.  She meowed, "Let me know what else you see as you try again."

Mintpaw nodded, bunching up her muscles yet again.  She focused on getting just the right position so she could get a better spring.  She burst upwards, remaining higher in the air for slightly longer.  She landed neatly and quietly on her paws.  Mintpaw had seen Fourtrees sticking right out of the middle of the building, with a sign at the front saying something called 'coffee' whatever that was.  Although, she was curious to explore.  She felt Fernpaw step out of position, probably trying to see.  Fernpaw then stepped back, her pelt brushing against Mintpaw's, and shook her head sadly.  She probably hadn't been able to see.

"So?"  Fernpaw asked excitedly.  "What did you see!"

Mintpaw replied quietly, a puzzled look showing on her face, "Fourtrees were sticking right out of the middle of the building, so the twolegs didn't destroy them.  The word 'coffee' was written across the front in bright lights.  I have no idea what coffee even means.  There were no twolegs insight, which was odd.  I couldn't smell them out either."

Fernpaw nodded, the same puzzled look spreading across her face too.  "I want to find out what that thing 'coffee' is, and I want to explore the twolegplace, too.  Do you have any idea if Bluestar will let us in?"

Mintpaw whispered in return, "I wish I could find out that like you.  And no, I don't have a clue."  She shook her head sadly.

Duskleap glanced back at her, "So you saw it too?" 

Mintpaw nodded and whispered, "Wasn't it weird?"

Duskleap nodded and shuffled his paws for an answer.  "Never in my life have I seen anything like this.  If Bluestar lets us in, stay close to me.  I don't want you being put in danger."

Mintpaw responded, "Yes, Duskleap."  With that, Duskleap turned around and started talking with the other warriors around him.  To fill her time that she stood waiting, Mintpaw mused to herself how she was able to read the lights.  After all it was twoleg language, not cat, and she had never seen a spelled out word before.  Her tail tip twitched in wonder.

The air was filled with the sounds of gossips and cats murmuring to each other.  Mintpaw's ears strained, picking up the murmurs of the other Clans, telling her they had arrived and were seeing the same thing her Clan was.  Mintpaw perked her ears at a sudden yowl sounding from across the clearing.  It belonged to Tallstar, the WindClan leader.  He was yowling loud enough for everyone to hear.  Mintpaw stopped straining her ears, though kept them perked to hear the sound better, as the source was coming from exactly the opposite side of the ledge they were on.

Tallstar called out, "I don't have a clue to why this twoleg building is here, though it is.  It is right at Fourtrees, with them unharmed, which may be a sign from StarClan."

The murmurs got louder at that moment and cats starting yowling out something, all at once, so it sounded like a very loud, noisy buzz.  Mintpaw couldn't pick out the different voices and sentences of the cats because it was that noisy.  A few of the senior warriors probably could, as they all had high level skills and part of those skills were listening. Mintpaw sighed, flattening her ears, attempting to block out the noise.  She looked next to her to see Fernpaw doing the same, her eyes gleaming with annoyance.    The two waited out the noise.

As it began to quiet down, Tallstar's voice rang out above all the others, silencing them.  He continued on what he was saying before, "There are no twolegs in sight, so I believe it would be safe to explore.  Just in case, leaders should go first and if we all agree it's safe, we will come back to send all the other cats in.  What do you say, Bluestar, Crookedstar, and Raggedstar?"

Crookedstar sounded from their left, meowing his approval loudly.  Bluestar did so quickly after him, followed by the deep voice of Raggedstar meowing his consent.  Bluestar's voice was the highest of the four, as she was the only female.  Crookedstar's voice was slightly odd and slurred at some parts, due to his crooked jaw that his name formed from.

At that, the four leaders plunged down the hollow into the clearing.  They gathered together, and entered into the twoleg building.  Mintpaw felt Spottedpaw shuddering beside her.  Acornpaw looked back at her, his eyes showing sympathy and concern.  He turned around completely, and nuzzled his sister gently, laying his tail on her back for comfort.  Mintpaw smelled Spottedpaw's sharp fear scent on the breeze.  She looked to her friend, hoping she would be less fearful soon.  Mintpaw somehow knew within herself, that everything would b all right in the end.

Little by little, the ThunderClan cats all sat down, gossiping and murmuring, filling up the time in which they were in absence of their leaders.  Mintpaw and Fernpaw were chatting quietly to themselves about how strange this whole thing was and what they thought their leaders were up to, when the four leaders peacefully padded out of the building.  Each one then ran up to their Clans, almost as if they were in sync.  

Bluestar went straight to Lionheart and the two began to talk quietly.  Lionheart then rounded up the gossiping cats, and got them to sit quietly around Bluestar so that each one could hear and see her clearly without the need to raise her voice a lot.  

I wonder how he ever manages to keep all of us in control and how he keeps us quiet when we all want to be noisy...  Mintpaw thought.  Bluestar then began speaking.

"I have journeyed with the other buildings into the twolegplace building.  As we can tell, it is perfectly safe.  There is something called 'coffee' waiting for us there.  Crookedstar, Tallstar, Raggedstar, and I all tried some.  It actually tastes good, and livens you up.  Don't worry, it is perfectly safe.  All the Clans are free to go there and enjoy some coffee."

Mintpaw was very surprised by those sentences.  At the same time, she was very curious and she was pleased that her wish to explore and try coffee was fulfilled.  I wonder what coffee tastes like.  Are there different types of it?  Is it an animal like prey?  Is it some sort of plant?  Is it a liquid like water?  Her thoughts drifted off, spiraling and spiraling around the subject of coffee.  She snapped out of her thoughts as Fernpaw nudged her.

She turned to her as Fernpaw meowed impatiently, "Come on, don't you want to go explore and try whatever this 'coffee' thing is?"

With a playful shove, Mintpaw replied, "Of course I do!  That's exactly what I was thinking of when I was daydreaming."  She let out a small laugh.

Together, Fernpaw and Mintpaw raced down the hollow, heading for the middle of the clearing.  They slowed down when they were adjacent to the twoleg style building.  Cautiously, Mintpaw looked up at Fourtrees looming over their heads, sticking right out of the middle of the coffee shop.  Many cats surrounded them, some staring, some entering and exiting the building, others padding around chatting with their coffee.  

There was a sudden yowl, "Watch out!  I can't slow down."  The yowl belonged to Spottedpaw.

Fernpaw jumped out of the way, though Mintpaw didn't dodge in time, and Spottedpaw crashed right into her.  The two of them tumbled, and came to a stop near the entrance of the coffee shop.  Mintpaw looked up to see a huge, muscular cat looming over them.  She had glittering green eyes that seared with anger.  Mintpaw soon realized this was Foxheart, the deputy of ShadowClan.  Spottedpaw realized this too, as she quickly untangled herself from Mintpaw and took a quick step back.  Mintpaw dipped her head to the ginger she-cat, quivering slightly.

Why am I so afraid of her?  Mintpaw asked herself.  After all, she can't  attack me due to the truce of the Gathering.  Well I guess I have good reason to be afraid of her anyway...  First of all, she is a high rank ShadowClan cat, and most of them are up to no good.  Second, she is powerful and angry.  I think every creature would be afraid of something big and powerful when its angry at them...  Her whiskers quivered, and her pelt gave off a fear-scent.  As hard as she tried, Mintpaw couldn't push back her fear.  For a split-second, Foxheart seemed amused by the two apprentices' reactions, though quickly her smooth fur bristled again in irritation.

Foxheart snarled, "Watch where you are going, the two of you nearly bumped into me!  And now, you both are blocking the entrance and exit.  Get out of the way, and be more respectful next time."

Spottedpaw quickly nodded, and Mintpaw ducked her head in shame.  The two of them cast a glance towards eachother, then quickly scrambled out of the way.  After trying to pad calmly, they burst into a run, heading for Fernpaw.  Though, this time they made sure that they didn't bump into any cat or anything.

Behind them, Foxheart muttered, "Hmph!  ThunderClan ought to train their apprentices better."  Her tail lashing, Foxheart exited, and padded over to a group of ShadowClan cats.  Her ears flicked, and she told the cats there of the two disrespectful apprentices.

Fernpaw glanced over towards Foxheart and meowed curiously, "What's that all about?"

Mintpaw replied, "When this beebrain here..."  She glanced directly at Spottedpaw before continuing, "bumped into me, we tumbled over towards the entrance and got in the way of Foxheart while we were leaving."

Fernpaw gave a look saying Oh no... while Spottedpaw protested, "Hey, it's not my fault Acornpaw pushed me down the hollow when I was trying to get him and Redpaw to leave.  I also warned you to get out of the way, as I was out of control, though you didn't!"

Fernpaw sighed and meowed in annoyance, "Are we going to try coffee or not?"

Mintpaw quickly mewed in agreement, and Spottedpaw gave a small bounce of excitement.  The three of them raced into the entrance, this time aware of their surroundings.  They looked around at the highly decorated place, with the lights flashing everywhere, almost making them dizzy.  They spotted weird silver poles where cats were standing in a line waiting.  Mintpaw raced forward to it, followed by Fernpaw then Spottedpaw.  The threesome looked up to see signs of what they could get.  They all picked out something that looked good and waited to be at the front.

Mintpaw, exasperated, gave a sigh of relief as she stepped up to the front of the line.  I'm finally going to get coffee!  Here I go, I'm going to try an 'expresso,' whatever that is.  She stepped up, and ordered at a weird screen with colorful buttons.  First, Mintpaw tapped her name into a box saying to do so.  Next, she tapped the icon saying expresso with her paw, and she waited for one to appear at the counter in front of her.  She glanced around, and realized she was supposed to move down to some other weird looking machines, containing what looked like a kittypet bowl, just less wide with the rims taller.  Mintpaw looked around, and saw her name on yet another one of those weird glowing screens.  She headed over, and watched as it was made.  Then, when the container was full, it got pushed out of the machine onto the counter.  Mintpaw carefully grabbed it with her jaws, making sure not to spill.

Mintpaw stepped out of the way as another cat took her place.  She looked down the row of the machines to see Fernpaw finishing up, and Spottedpaw ordering.  She stood aside a wall, waiting.  When Fernpaw stepped out and glanced around, Mintpaw stuck her tail high into the air and waved it around towards Fernpaw's direction.  Spotting her, Fernpaw headed over, her coffee in her jaws.  The two then waited for Spottedpaw to get her drink, and she then headed over too.  Mintpaw turned, and stuck her muzzle towards the door, not able to speak around her container.  Knowing what she meant, Spottedpaw and Fernpaw followed after her as they exited.

Mintpaw watched as Spottedpaw looked around, and saw something.  She raced away, Mintpaw and Fernpaw on her tail.  Mintpaw slowed down, and Fernpaw nearly bumped into her.  Oh what's with us today and nearly bumping into eachother?  Fernpaw gave her an irritated glance before looked back and realizing why.  Mintpaw had stopped because Acornpaw and Redpaw were there.  Although they were playful, they were easily angered, especially by the two sisters.  Mintpaw shook her pelt, then padded forward calmly to where Spottedpaw was sitting with her brothers.  They were gathered under a tree that swooped down over the rim of the hollow, providing a comforting, semi-secluded area.  Mintpaw sat down, between Fernpaw and Spottedpaw.

Redpaw and Acornpaw glanced at each other, and Mintpaw realized they hadn't tried their coffee yet, as the weird rounded container was still full.  Perhaps they were waiting for Spottedpaw to try it with them?  After all they are littermates.  Or maybe they were waiting for all of us...  Mintpaw was pretty sure the first one was true, though hoped that the second option was true, too.

Mintpaw had just set down her coffee as Redpaw meowed, startling her.  She had nearly spilled her expresso and thankfully had set it down before.  Redpaw cleared his throat and said, "We were waiting to try our coffee all together."  He then added, "This Gathering is the weirdest one I have ever been to.  Perhaps Tallstar is right, it could be a sign from StarClan, after all they send them in the weirdest ways."  He shuffled his paws shyly, which was very unusual for the proud apprentice.

Mintpaw was glad, she was right.  And the beebrain had finally swallowed down some of his pride!  Her heart fell as Redpaw continued.

"Acornpaw and I wish to try it all together just be on the safe side," he mewed quickly, casting an embarrassed glance in Acornpaw's direction.

Oh well...  At least he did manage to swallow some of his pride, even if it was only a little.  She smiled slightly as the next thought came, The scaredy-cat was frightened of trying it alone!  That's why he waited for us.  Mintpaw kept the thought, waiting for the right time to tease him, which wouldn't be today.

Spottedpaw meowed, breaking off her taunting thoughts, "Alright we will try it in... 3... 2... 1... Drink!"

Mintpaw quickly dipped her head down to lap at the drink.  She took a sudden step back at the surprising taste.  Turns out coffee was a liquid, though it was unlike any other she had seen or tried before.  A squeal sounded from beside her, and it was Fernpaw letting out her shock out loud.  Meanwhile, Acornpaw across her shook his head, obviously displeased by the taste.  She looked over to see Redpaw, who had jumped back a few paces.  He then crept forward, as if his coffee would attack him.  Mintpaw let out a mrrow of amusement, and following her gaze, Fernpaw did the same.

Acornpaw then pushed his coffee over to Spottedpaw, who was clearly enjoying herself.  She was lapping quickly at the coffee, and her cup was almost out.  She had a smile spread across her face, and her tail twitched in hyperness.  Her eyes gave off supreme happiness, alongside a sudden burst of energy.  Mintpaw watched in amazement of how quickly Spottedpaw was eating hers.  She must be really enjoying it.  I hope I enjoy it that much.  Well... Maybe not quite that much.  It was eerie how energetic Spottedpaw was after her coffee.

Mintpaw bent back to drink it, this time savoring the taste rather than being surprised by it.  She too, was soon gulping it down.  Mintpaw relished the feeling of new energy flowing through her, filling her with happiness, and awaking her tired limbs.  Mintpaw drank and drank, alongside with Fernpaw.  She finally finished, disappointed that there was no more for her, though filled with glee due to the sensation it gave her.  She sat up, and pushed her empty container away towards Fernpaw's.  She looked around, and saw Warriors burying the slightly woody textured container in the dirt and leaves.  

Mintpaw padded a little way away from the group of cats, heading towards an area with more leaves and dirt.  She quickly dug a hole, and put her cup into it.  She didn't bury it yet, as she was going to offer to bury the others' containers for them.  She quickly gathered up all their finished cups, and held them stacked in her jaws.  She wondered in amazement how they fit right into each other so easily.  Twolegs can actually be very clever, Mintpaw thought.   Though, she quickly shook them away, scolding herself that soon she would wish to become a kittypet.  She shiverered, No, I will never become a soft, weak kittypet, that has all its needs taken care of by the Twolegs for them.

Mintpaw placed the objects into the hole, and covered it with leaves, dead leaves, and dirt.  She found a few worms, and placed them in.  She had figured out that worms could decompose things such as leaves and dead bark that had laid around on the ground for a while.  So why not a substance similar to the inside of wood?  Feeling satisfied, Mintpaw bounced over to her friends, and leaped on Redpaw, starting a play fight.  The only cat who didn't participate was Acornpaw, who wasn't nearly as excited as most of the rest of the cats in the clearing.

Warriors and Senior Warriors were playing around with one another, like kits, which was very surprising compared to their normal behavior.  Even the Elders were moving their limbs as if they were slightly younger than they were.  The Gathering that night was a very unusual sight, and nothing like it had ever happened before.  Cats bounded around the clearing, very playful, and others drank from twoleg containers, eating something known to Twolegs as coffee.