Wildkit awoke to find Flowerkit's white and silver pelt missing from her side. She looked up and blinked at the bright light that filters through the leaves of the heather bush. She purred in comfort. From the bustling outside it was clear that the Moonclan cats were awaking around camp. Beside her, she felt something move. In fear, she leaped up and crashed into the top of the bush, causing it to rustle. Looking down again, she saw that it was only her littermate Weaselkit twitching in his sleep. Wildkit hissed in annoyance and sat down again. Weaselkit's brown pelt heaved a long sigh before it started to twitch again. Wildkit looked up at her mother Whiteheart, whose large white speckled head was staring intently at Weaselkit. Wildkit guessed that Whiteheart must thinking the same thing she was. He must be having a nightmare about Pebblenose.

"Whiteheart, can I go outside and find Flowerkit? I don't want to be hit by Weaselkit with his claws unsheathed next time," mewed Wildkit. Whiteheart's gaze flipped from Weaselkit to Wildkit and her tail twitched in amusement.

"You two look almost exactly alike. If it weren't for your eyes, I'm not sure I would be able to tell you apart." Whiteheart purred. Wildkit had already received this news from every cat in the clan, not that she had ever seen her own reflection. She and Weaselkit both had the same brown pelts, but Weaselkit had, their father, Redtalon's amber eyes as Wildkit had her mother's blue eyes. Outside the rustle of grass told Wildkit that the hunting party must be returning. From the noise Whiteheart seemed to remember what she had been asked. "Of course you can go find Flowerkit, but just don't let any cat trip over you. You've already upset Cloudfoot. Redtalon has already apologized to almost every cat in the clan." Wildkit got up and stretched her legs. Yesterday Redtalon had visited the Nursery and taught them hunting crouches. She and Weaselkit had been so excited to practice them that they had ruined most of the Fresh-kill pile by rolling dirt all over them. Cloudfoot was just an old grump. She shook at the memory of Redtalon scolded them in front of every clan cat.

A lowed snore came from Leopardtail in the back of the nursery and Wildkit jumped under Whiteheart's neck for cover. Soon she wouldn't have to sleep with Leopardtail's loud snores and squealing kits waking her up constantly. Whiteheart's ears pricked forward in shock before pushing Wildkit out from under her. She gave Wildkit a stern look before meowing, "and don't wake Leopardtail; she will need her sleep." Wildkit was about to leave the nursery, but Whiteheart continued, "And, Wildkit, you must get used to the idea of having new littermates that can't play-fight. They'll be here before next moon and they'll be much too small."

"I know," mewed Wildkit. She leaped with energy and darted out of the nursery. She made it a few fox-tails away before hearing Whiteheart's quick reminder.

"Remember to stay away from Eclipsestar! He's having a rough time with Pebblenose dying." Pebblenose was Eclipsestar's mate for as long as she could remember. Her death was the most tragic thing that she had, had to witness in her whole life!

Wildkit thought back to yesterday when Pebblenose had rushed into the camp bleeding from her side. The clan still didn't know what happened to her. The only word that she was able to choke out was, "Thunderclan," before she dropped to the ground. The clearing had stopped everything that they were doing to see what was happening. Eclipsestar had dropped from his tree den to lie next to his mate as if he had been injured alongside her. Greif had spotted her vision as Wildkit had tried to pry her way through the thick clump of cats. She had been very close to Pebblenose and still wasn't used to the idea of not ever seeing her again.

Our medicine cat, Blueleaf, had rushed out of her den to the sight of the bleeding warrior. With sad eyes she proclaimed that she had gone to join Starclan. Whiteheart had been crushed. She and Pebblenose had been littermates along with Leopardtail.

Other then the recent tragedy, Wildkit was excited for her kin to be born into the clan with Leopardtail as their mother. She would get to have new kin in the clan.

Outside, the nursery the warm Greenleaf sun lit up the clearing. The light flickered through the tall, ancient oak leaves. Each ray of sunlight seemed to glitter off the early morning dew. And she could see Eclipsestar staring out of his den with hollow eyes.

Coming out to meet the clan, Wildkit immediately felt the lingering anguish from last night's news. The elders, Brokenwhisker, Longtalon, and Scarleg, were carrying Pebblenose's limp body out of the Fourtrees clearing. Another wave of grief fell over her at the sight of the limp warrior. She, Weaselkit, and Flowerkit had only known her for a few moons and she was the first cat that they had seen when they opened their eyes. She felt like a part of her had died alongside Pebblenose. The proud white warrior had been the one to tell the three of them the story about the five clans.

With a pang of sadness Wildkit thought back to the cold Leafbare nights when she, Flowerkit, and Weaselkit would huddle up against Pebblenose's body for warmth. Her soothing voice would recite the age old story of Moonclan.

She would look up at the moon, through the heather leaves and start the story. "A long time ago when the clans were made, the leaders of each clan chose their territory. Shadowstar, the leader of Shadowclan, chose the Marsh. Riverstar, the leader of Riverclan, chose the river. Windstar, the leader of Winclan, chose the moors. Thunderstar, the leader of Thunderclan, chose the forest. Moonstar, the leader of Moonclan, chose to be in Fourtrees, surrounded by the other clans and their territory. Moonstar was always a generous leader and announced that each time the moon is full; Moonclan would be at peace and invite a patrol from each clan to gather in their camp for one night. They would be welcome to share news about their clans and any other news that they like.

"Starclan had given every clan's medicine cat a sign that they approved, and that they would have to be at the same peace that Moonclan had."

A loud shout jolted Wildkit out of her daydream.

"Watch out!" The warning came too late, and Wildkit fell to the ground with another cat falling on top of her.

"Sorry!" squeaked Wildkit, as she shook off the dirt from her pelt. Trying to balance herself on all four paws, she quickly realized a sharp pain radiating from front left paw. "Ouch!" meowed Wildkit. She looked up at who had tripped over her and her heart sank with embarrassment. It was their deputy Featherpelt. The long-haired gray warrior's dense fur was fluffed with anger. And her dark amber eyes glared down at Wildkit.

"Watch where you're going next time," she spat. With a huff of anger, she picked up her squirrel, which was now stained black from the mud and continued her way to the fresh-kill pile. Before setting it down, she shot Wildkit another disapproving look.

Wildkit dipped her head respectfully and ran to the medicine cat den to get the thorn, which was now embedded in her paw, removed.

At the other side of the clearing, the medicine cat den was out of sight and hidden under a root of one of the great four Oaks. Some Moonclan cats called it, Medicine Oak as a shorter name. Wildkit ducked under the root that acted as an entrance and sniffed carefully. She had never been in this den before and was afraid of what to expect. She knew that she couldn't let Flowerkit show her up, since she practically goes in the Medicine oak every day to visit Blueleaf, the medicine cat. I don't understand why she is so obsessive over this place; she thought to herself, it's just a dank old hole in the ground.

The root seemed to only be the entrance to the den. Wildkit stood back up and squared her shoulders.

"I was kitted first," she said to herself. "I am not going to let any cat younger them me be more brave." With her last words of confidence, she dove into the moist tunnel. Her worried breaths echoed off of the dirt walls, which added to the effect that this tunnel led on forever. She had to crouch down lower and lower. The further she went because it seemed to be getting smaller.

Wildkit stopped.

Quickly she realized that she was being paranoid. She had only gone a tail-length underground and was already scared. No, she had to be braver then this, so she took off and sprinted the last fox-length of the tunnel.

Blinding light greeted her as she jump out of the tunnel. She shut her eyes in fear. The smell of wood wafted around her. Was she inside the tree? Blinking, she forced herself to keep her eyes open. Yes, she was inside the heart of the Medicine Oak.

Inside, there was actually no middle part of the tree. The exterior of the trunk seemed to be all there was. The smell of fresh air caused her to look up. What she found astonished her. The circular wooden walls stretched higher then she imagined. Sunlight dripped through the opening at the top of the Oak and filled the hollow with reflective light.

Paw steps sounded from the other side of the den. Wildkit spun around on her three good paws to see who was there. Relief flooded over her. It was only Blueleaf. Wildkit saw Blueleaf's eyes before she saw the rest of her body.

"Hello, Wildkit." Blueleaf greeted. The medicine cat was emerging from another tunnel which seemed to go down even further. Her green eyes seemed to glow within the dark tunnel that she had come out of. Her black pelt reflected a blue shine when the morning sun hit her. If she was a warrior, she would have been best at hunting during the night.

Behind her Flowerkit came out, carrying a mouthful of Borage leaves. Wildkit recognized those leaves from when her mother had eaten them. They were given to queens who had recently had kits, to help get the milk flowing. These must be for Leopardtail, thought Wildkit. She was told that the kits would be borne by next claw-moon.

Flowerkit dropped the bundle of leaves and walked over to sit next to her sister. Blueleaf stretched out and settled down in a patch of sun on the sandy ground. She looked up at Wildkit.

"What can I do for you?" Blueleaf asked.

"I stepped on a thorn," Wildkit replied.

"Oh, how did that happen?" asked Blueleaf. Her green eyes glinted with curiousness. She let out a purr of amusement. "I didn't even think that there's a thorn bush anywhere near the camp."

"Oh, umm…" Wildkit stammered. "I think that Featherpelt had gotten some in her pelt when she was hunting."

"How on earth did it end up stuck in your paw?"

She probably thinks that I left the camp and got it, Wildkit thought to herself. I'm not that untrustworthy, am I? Wildkit shrugged off the idea.

"I was walking and she tripped over me when she was bringing her squirrel to the fresh-kill pile. I guess that I should have been more careful of where I'm walking," Wildkit confessed.

"Oh, that's alright then. I thought you were going to tell me that you went out of camp," apologized Blueleaf. She got up and walked over to Wildkit. "Now let me see the damage." Wildkit lifted her paw high enough for Blueleaf to look at it. Blueleaf took it gently in her paw and turned it over. Her face turned grim and her eyes lowered. "Oh this doesn't look very good," Blueleaf whispered. Without looking up she flicked her tail in Flowerkit's direction, "Flowerkit go down into storage and get some Burdock." Wildkit felt Flowerkit stiffen beside her. What she had to be worried about? It wasn't like this was her paw or anything. Flowerkit remained unmoved from her spot, but just kept her eyes locked on her sister's injured paw. Blueleaf looked up at Flowerkit and insisted, "You do remember what it looks like don't you?" Flowerkit nodded quickly and ran, disappearing into the tunnel that they had emerged from.

"Is it really that bad?" asked Wildkit. Is it broken? If it's broken then I can never be a warrior! Wildkit thought scared the fur off of her.

"It looks like it yes." Blueleaf glanced back up at Wildkit scared eyes. "It will heal, but if you look right here…" She nodded to where the thorn had punctured. It had begun to swell around the area. "The thorn went into your claw."

"What does that mean?"

"Well, it could mean that either the claw will grow awkwardly around the area, or that the claw might never be able to be used again. I suppose that it's not as serious as I led you to believe. I'm sorry."

"So you mean I can still be an apprentice?" asked Wildkit. "I just can't use this one claw?"

"Yes, that's exactly what I mean," mewed Blueleaf. Flowerkit burst out from the tunnel carrying the burdock. Blueleaf motioned Wildkit closer before whispering, "Although, I'm not so sure your sister wants to become a warrioe apprentice." Wildkit's ears twitched at the thought of her sister being a medicine cat. Blueleaf must be joking. "Flowerkit, what do you think that Wildkit must do with the paw?" asked Blueleaf.

Flowerkit's eyes were shining as she mewed, "I think that she should stay off of it." Blueleaf's tail stroked Flowerkit's ears in admiration, but stopped when Flowerkit added, "And stay in the nursery along with Leopardtail's kits!" Blueleaf's tail dropped to the ground and she let out a mrrow of laughter. Wildkit immediately felt hot embarrassment rolling up inside her.

"Flowerkit, you're going to get it," squealed Wildkit. Flowerkit's eyes opened in shock before running into one of the main tunnels that led to the camp, laughing. Wildkit sprinted after her as fast as her injured paw would allow. The dirt walls started to blur at the speed she was going. When she reached the end of the tunnel the sun blinded her. She ran into the open, but was still unable to see where she was. The next thing she knew, she tripped over a root and fell straight into another cat. Wildkit looked up and quickly backed away when she saw who she fell into. She had fallen into Hailpaw one of the apprentice's. He and Ashpaw were standing in front of the Apprentice tree. Hailpaw looked as stubborn as ever while Ashpaw looked down at her kindly. Hailpaw had always thought that he was the best cat ever just because he was Eclipsestar's only son; which made him Wildkit's kin. She decided to give him some pity because his mother had been killed just the other day, but she still felt disgraced to be his kin.

Wildkit supposed that the two apprentices' were annoyed about Flowerkit disturbing them. "Hello, Hailpaw." Wildkit voice was barely a whisper. Her eyes looked at the ground, afraid to meet his icy blue stare. She felt so weak standing next to Hailpaw with his thick white shoulders, bulging with muscle. He's has to be made a Warrior before next moon, thought Wildkit.

"Hello, Wildkit," replied Ashpaw. The gray apprentice's amber eyes flicked from Wildkit to Halepaw. Wildkit felt relieved that Ashpaw had spoken first. Ashpaw and Eaglepaw had been their den mates less than a moon ago, before they were named apprentices and sent to the apprentice den.

"Missing something?" Hailpaw asked. He pushed Flowerkit out from behind him with his gray tipped tail. Looking back down on her he continued, "Next time you feel like playing, stay out of the apprentice tree. Maybe next time I won't carry your sister back down, and she'll have to jump from our den." Hailpaw got to his paws and stalked away. Under his breath Wildkit heard him whisper, "I'll be lucky enough to have been move out of there by the time those kits move in." Then he was out of view, leaving his den mate with the two kits.

"Don't mind Hailpaw, he's just anxious about becoming a warrior. I don't even think that he likes me very much either," mewed Ashpaw, looking solemnly at her paws.

Flowerkit hissed in outrage. "Don't be mouse-brained! Every cat likes you; you are the nicest cat in the clan! Hailpaw is just a fox-heart."

"Well I'm not sure that Hailpaw thinks I'm the best cat in the clan." Ashpaw glanced longingly in Hailpaw's direction. "I've been mooning over him for ages! Even Eaglepaw's noticed. Great Starclan, I think everyone has noticed; everyone but Hailpaw, that is."

"Even I've noticed," confessed Wildkit. Every time that she left the nursery she would see Ashpaw next to his side. Hailpaw always seemed to love her too, but just seemed too proud to even glance her way for more than a couple heartbeats. His ignoring seemed to be getting worse ever since he realized that he was going to be a warrior.

"How about we change the subject," offered Flowerkit.

Ashpaw's face brightened. "Did you know that tonight is the gathering?"

"I can't wait, it's going to be the first gathering since we've been allowed to leave the nursery!" exclaimed Flowerkit. "I'm just afraid of what the other clans will think of me. Wildkit says that it's going to be no fun for either of us because the other clans don't bring their kits."

"Well they don't!" meowed Wildkit. "Eaglepaw told me himself. He said that when he was a kit, he fell asleep in the nursery every moon because there was no one to play with. It must be too far a journey to carry them."

The sound rustling leaves caused Wildkit to look up and see Leafeyes leaping out from an old owl hollow in the leader's tree. He must be coming from Eclipsetail's den.

Leafeyes jumped from branch to branch till he made it to the ground next to the fresh-kill pile. He signaled Barktail to join him and he grabbed a chaffinch for both of them to share. They settled down under the leaves of the warrior's den and began to chat. Wildkit wondered what senior warriors like them discuss.

Featherpelt walked over to the two of them. From what Wildkit could see, it looked like she spoke to them quickly. Leafeyes nodded to Featherpelt and turned to look over to Ashpaw; his eyes gleamed with pride. "Ashpaw, get Eaglepaw and tell him that it's time for your first assessment." Ashpaw's eyes widened and she looked like she could leap up to the top of the apprentice tree.

She turned back to the two kits, as if remembering that they were still there. "Sorry, I have to go. Wish me luck!" With a flick of her tail, she jumped up into the nearest tree where she disappeared into its branches. A few moments later she appeared again with Eaglepaw's skinny golden body trailing close behind her. Before Wildkit could even blink, the two apprentices and their mentors had exited through the shrub thicket that surrounded the camp.

Wildkit turned back to the apprentice tree. "Great Starclan, I can't wait till I'm an apprentice! I'll be able to climb all the way up there and sleep in a tree!" exclaimed Wildkit. She had always wondered what it looked like, but Halepaw never let them look. "Eaglepaw told me that when you're named an apprentice, you get to carry your own moss up and find a spot where two branches come together. When we become apprentices you need to find a spot next to me that's not unsteady. If you pick an unsteady spot then you could fall out of the tree in your sleep!" exclaimed Wildkit. She looked over at Flowerkit excitedly, but Flowerkit only looked over at her and her ears drooped. "Flowerkit, what's wrong?"

"Well, if I tell you then you can't tell Whiteheart okay?" meowed Flowerkit. "At least not until I say you can.

"Flowerkit, you have to tell me first, or else I can't promise anything," urged Wildkit.

"I'm not so sure that I want to be a warrior's apprentice," confessed Flowerkit. Wildkit's heart sank. This is exactly what Blueleaf had mentioned to her in the medicine tree. Had they already discussed this? She thought. She had always dreamed of sleeping in the apprentice den next to Weaselkit and Flowerkit. Would that dream never happen?

"Then what would you be if you not a warrior apprentice."

"Well, I was talking to Blueleaf today and she agreed to take me on as her medicine cat apprentice! Isn't this exciting?" Flowerkit's eyes sparkled with delight and Wildkit didn't have the heart to tell her how hollow she felt inside. Wildkit just pricked her ears with excitement, like she would want any other cat to do to her if this were her news. Flowerkit continued, "Just think; if you become leader of Moonclan then Whiteheart would be so proud to have her kits be the most powerful cats in the clan! Remember when you were a kit and you would stand on top of Whiteheart's head and say, 'I Wildstar, hold this kit in front of Starclan for them to except her as a Moonclan apprentice. From this day on you will be known as Whitepaw and you shall be known as Flowerpaw?"

Wildkit's ears twitched at the wonderful memory. "And then Whiteheart would drop me to the ground and say 'you want me to go back to being an apprentice?'" A thought suddenly appeared to Wildkit. "If I'm leader then do you think that I could actually do those things?"

Flowerkit's blue eyes met Wildkit's. "I think that when you're leader, you can do anything." Flowerkit brushed Wildkit's muzzle affectionately, and walked back to Medicine Oak.

Once Wildkit saw that her sister had gone she looked up to the apprentice den and meowed, "How can this be happening." I'm going to go through my entire warrior life without my sister sharing the same things. Wildkit's tail dropped to the ground and she began to walk slowly back over to the Nursery.

When she came through the entrance Wildkit saw that Whiteheart had gotten her a mouse to share with Weaselkit and Flowerkit. But she didn't fell like eating anything. Instead, she dragged herself over to where Whiteheart was waiting and sat down.

"Is everything already Wildkit?" asked Whiteheart. Wildkit detected a strong wave of concern in her mother's voice.

"Yes, I'm alright." She rapped her tail over her nose and let Whiteheart's soft heartbeats carry her to sleep.

Wildkit's eyes opened up to darkness, and strange smell lingered in the air.

"Is it the gathering already?" she asked Whiteheart. Wildkit didn't hear an answer, and turned around quickly to find that she was alone. Not even Weaselkit's anxious pelt was next to her. "Hello? Is anyone here?" She called out. Wildkit's voice echoed into the black nothingness. Her muscles felt stiff and cold. How long had she been in this place? Was it a part of the forest outside of camp? Wildkit stood up and peered around her, hoping that Whiteheart would suddenly appear from behind.

A whole moon seemed to pass before she got enough courage to haul herself up and walk on. All around her, she couldn't see anything but black. The further she walked the darker it got. With a last flash of hope, she looked up to where the sky would be, but found no stars lighting her path. Had Starclan abandon her? "Is anybody here? Can you help me?" asked Wildkit. The last of her hope disappeared and she sat back down onto the black icy ground.

"Hello Wildkit." The gentle voice made Wildkit spin around to find its source. Then she realized the voice hadn't come from a single spot, but had echoed from all directions. Immediately she turned back around and started to run again.

Up ahead, Wildkit could see a patch of green light and she shot out into a sprint. The more she ran; the more the darkness seemed to disappear. Tree after tree swooped past her, so she started slowed her long strides to a steady trot. She must be back in the forest! Wildkit spun her entire body around in all directions, but she had no idea where she was. The only thing that was clear to her was that she smelt Thunderclan scent. She looked behind her and found that she was surrounded by even more foliage. Maple trees, a Spruce, and a few Hazel bushes.

From the corner of her eyes, a cat emerged from behind a small bush. Her white pelt seemed was glittered with starlight. And then her scent surrounded Wildkit.

"Pebblenose!" Wildkit squealed with delight. She leaped forward and touched her nose to the white warrior's gray spotted nose. "I knew you weren't dead," meowed Wildkit.

Pebblenose's tail drooped and she walked back over the bush that she had come out of. The bush glittered with mysterious black berries. She glanced back at Wildkit. "I am sorry Wildkit, but I am really dead. I am now a member of Starclan." Pebblenose's tail hit one of the berries and it fell to the ground near Wildkit. Immediate interest burned in Wildkit's pelt. She leaned over and sniffed the berries. They didn't smell like much to her, but they triggered a very recent memory. Wildkit just couldn't remember where the memory had come from. Reaching out with her tongue down, she lapped one up.

Pebblenose quickly jumped forward. "Wildkit don't eat that! These are death berries. Just one berry could kill the most senior warrior." Wildkit quickly spit the berry out, and looked back up to Pebblenose.

"Why does it smell like Thunderclan? I thought that I could smell our scent marker all the way over there."

"It is our territory, but Thunderclan is coming and going as they please. They are taking these death berries, killing prey, and stuffing them inside for our warriors to take back to our camp to eat." Pebblenose stopped and lay down on the ground. She signaled with her tail for Wildkit to lie down next to her. It was almost like when she was just a newborn kit and Pebblenose would come into the nursery to tell them a nursery story. The difference now was that this was a horrible tale.

"But that would mean some of our most respected warriors could die for no reason at all." Pebblenose nodded. Wildkit started to wonder if this was how Pebblenose had died.

"You see, I was friends with Blueleaf when we were 'paws and she taught me the basics of medicine. I was trained to recognize the smell of death berries from a few fox-length away. A couple of days ago I was out here hunting and found this batch of the deadly berries being picked by Thunderclan warriors. I even saw them stuffing it into a squirrel. I jumped out on them and they attacked me." Pebblenose looked in the direction of Moonclan Territory territory. "I wish that I could have said more before I died. If I could have said something like, 'Death Berries', then maybe that would get Blueleaf to look for them." Wildkit looked back up at Pebblenose who was already starting to fade. What if she never saw her again? Fear started to rise inside Wildkit. She shot to her paws and looked franticly around for Pebblenose who had already disappeared.

"Wait, Pebblenose! Why tell this to me? Why not Eclipsestar?" begged Wildkit. Instead of Pebblenose's voice answering, she heard whispers from multiple cat's saying the same thing.

"It's too late for Eclipsestar."

The words hung in the air for a moment when Wildkit opened her eyes to find the forest gone and her back in her nest. Why is it too late for Eclipsestar?

Moonlight slipped into the heather bush and Wildkit heaved a sigh of relief. She was safe back in her nest with her kin. Turning around, she discovered that everyone had emptied out of the nursery. Wildkit felt a pang of sadness. Why didn't they wake me up? The fowl stench that seemed to float into the nursery answered her question. It was time for The Gathering!