Four nights have passed since Nettlepaw has died and all the trust I have earned has lost in one heartbeat. As everyone thinks I'm a killer, even when I woke up, had his blood on my paws, but, still did not know why my our clan mates think I told part of the death of Nettlepaw, but the worst thing is that I may believe them as I did black out. Only one who saw it was Willowshine, but any cat who has asked her if I killed Nettlepaw she just starts crying like something happened, and she may think I did it too I make me feel horrible like I was impure like the clan says all kits are pure at birth and blessed by StarClan. Riverclaw told me I'm a bad omen, and now I may believe him for once.

"Wildpaw, please come out the more you stay in here, the more they think it was you..." It was Silvertail and the small kit which was with me when we mourned for him. Her fur was very curly and white like the clouds her eyes were beautiful almost like they were almost changing color from blue to a purple in the sunset she was very lucky to look this amazing at such a young age. "Wildpaw come out now... I don't want to pull you out myself just draw closer to the light at least that is all you need to go..." Silvertail lied on the dry, dusty ground her gray fur was now painted with dust from the sand and light reeds in the camp. I walked a bit more in the light my hair was matted and look horrid like I was not taking care of it which I really wasn't. "Okay now to that rock that's all I want from you then you can breathe and eat." I walked out the damp den into the New Leaf sun. Its warm rays warmed my fur it felt nice, but I was still in a bad mood. With the wobble in my walk, I was on the rock near the fresh kill pile next to three cats all she-cats, and I was told to eat which I have not eaten in since the tragedy.

"Oh uh, I hear my kit calling me I need to go!" Her voice was rash and shaky, but I knew why she had to leave. Also, her kit was with me it was the curly kit right next to me like she just used this kit for an excuse, but the others could not leave as they were not queens and just padded away from me.

"Can I have some? I mean the fish you are eating..." It was the kit I looked at her and nodded worried I tore it into two parts the tail and the head I took the head and gave her the part with fewer bones as her teeth were not all grown in yet. "Thank you... I have not told you my name yet have I? I'm Cottonkit..." Cotton I heard that word I forgot where heard it I think it was when some warriors were talking about a large animal.

"Good to see you are eating again maybe we should talk as the gathering is coming up." Silvertail mewed with her hushed voice.

"Well, I do have a few questions... Has Nettlepaw forgiven me from Starclan?" I looked down at my paws and curled my tail around them with my voice low and quiet.

"Starclan has been quiet, but I do believe he has already forgiven you for anything that happened." Silvertail looked up at the burning sun, and she looked back at my eyes with as they had great sorrow.

"I hope." I tried to meet her eyes of the color of dead herbs they were so clear and beautiful." I have meant to ask Riverclaw this, but he still is mad at me but who is Troutkit? He does not even have a mate, and he's just a kit why does he sleep in the apprentice den?" I looked at Silvertail she looked down and back at me but yet have not answered me.

"Troutkit's mother was friends with Riverclaw they were almost inseparable since apprenticeship. She did have a mate, but he died in a battle with some rogues, she was heartbroken, and Riverclaw supported her the whole way as she was with his kits and they will come soon. One moon later the kits came, and she asked for Riverclaw we don't know why but she was through a lot, so we did as she said and left them to talk when we came back Riverclaw was crying and had her at his paws. She died of bleeding out he was heartbroken. And we let him take care of Troutkit with another queen we have been yet to tell Troutkit as he would be heartbroken. Even this haunts me to this day as I still feel like I can see her over him watching him in the night." She looked down and backed up faking a smile. "I thought it would be impossible to make me cry again about her but look at me now just thinking of the past when the future will be brighter."

Hearing the sad tale, I looked at Riverclaw, as he has been through the dark forest and back he even looked unfazed at any glance. "Will I ever get to go to the gathering now that you mentioned it... Mistystar is not happy with any actions I have done." I saw Mistystar with her deputy Reedwhisker they worked so well together to keep the clan in a state of calm and all I have done is messed it up they are amazing I don't think I can ever do anything like that.

"I know she will let you I bet Starclan have already told her why Nettlepaw died maybe from a fox or badger and not from you. Here I'll ask her the gathering is next moon rise so she must know who she is talking with her." Silvertail padded to Mistystar, and I waited beside her hearing only bits and pieces.

After much waiting and mumbling away from me even tho I was right beside her, she finally got up to the high rock and said the words I was waiting for, " all cats old enough to catch their prey please gather. It will soon be the full moon, and we will gather around the other clans under our ancestors before us, and we will pick the cats who will travel with us to the gathering. First, our warriors are Riverclaw, Icewing..." My mind wandered off as she stated the warriors are coming. "Next to our apprentices Troutpaw who will be mentored by Riverclaw for this is his sixth moon, Foxpaw, Shadepaw, and Wildpaw."

My heart beating with joy a smile grew on my face I was jolly with the idea of going to my first gathering and meeting new cats on a new paw. Hopping into my den as it was soon to be sundown I jumped in my moss and dreamed of the gathering and who I would meet there as I let sleep engulf me I heard whispers which lingered in my sleep which in what calmed me and let my sleep overwhelmed my body slowly.