@Moon_WingWcue, here is chapter 3!

Treading across the wooded camp clearing, the she was in goodspirits. Things had been going well with hunting, and she was lookingforward to her fighting lessons, which her mentor had said would besoon.

Cats could be seen darting from one place to another, seemingpreoccupied with their own matters, so Patchpaw decided to head tothe apprentice's den for a brief nap. Burrowing into her moss nest,decorated with minute twigs and feathers she'd found during a patrol,she closed her eyes... just to be woken by a latter tom.

"Ugh, what do you want, Larkflight?" she meowed drowsily, a hintof annoyance in her tone, "Don't you have medicine duties to attendto?"

"Don't speak to me with that tone, I am your medicine cat afterall," he paused, before continuing, "I'd simply like to say thatFreezestar has invited you to join the gathering tonight."

Panic rose in the she. She hadn't planned for this. She'd onlyrecently been apprenticed, was it really so soon she'd be allowed toattend? What would others think of her? Would the latter apprenticesbe jealous she could come so early? Would they tease her for beingyounger? She brought her gaze back up to Larkflight's, who wasflicking their tail in impatience. Patchpaw quickly replied, "I-I'llthink about it, 'k?"

"Whatever, it's getting late, so you better make up your mindsoon," with that, the tom strutted off, visibly annoyed at theyouthful apprentice's irritability in her introduction. Heaving asigh, Patchpaw slothfully made her way to her paws, deciding to headout on a stroll to clear her mind and ponder about whether or not tojoin the gathering. Hopefully no one would notice her disappearance.

The forest was alive, sundown's light shining through the gaps ofshade, crickets singing in the undergrowth. It made her feel almostat ease. Certainly the gathering couldn't be too bad, could it? Itwasn't likely she'd be made fun of or anything as such. Yet, therewere so many other factors to ponder about. Would she have the issueevery time she were to attend? And if so, how could she expect to bea warrior if she couldn't even come to a peaceful gathering?

Looking to the horizon, she took a deep breath. She wouldattend. She wouldn't cower behind at camp when she had the perfectopportunity to become acquainted with the latter clans. Turningaround, she headed back to camp.

...

"Larkflight," she meowedabruptly.

Flinching, the tom spun around,"Where did you come from?"

"I wasn't even trying to scareyou- ugh whatever, I'd just like to announce that I will beattending tonight's gathering," she lifted her crown proudly, as ifshe'd just succeeded in completing a difficult task.

"Wow, good for you. M'kay, dowhatever while you wait for us to leave," the tom turned backaround, continuing to organize his herbs like he had been before.

Nodding, the she bounded away.