Five days later, Darkstar was surprised by Ashfoot walking into Leafclan's camp with five unfamiliar cats; a mottled gray tom, a small white she-cat, a dark gray tom, a brown tom with one black ear, and a tortoiseshell she-cat with a white mark on her forehead.
"We came to offer you an escort to the Island for the Gathering tonight." Ashfoot announced, somewhat formally.
"Um, thanks."
"Onestar sent me to ask that you come to Windclan's camp so that you can follow our group there."
"Very well." Darkstar lifted his tail to summon his clan and they followed Ashfoot and her patrol through the hills to a dip well sheltered by gorse and heather. Before they entered, the mottled gray tomcat ran ahead through a small tunnel, the rest of the crowd following more slowly.
The camp was surprisingly open after the tightness of the tunnel that led to it. Onestar and the mottled tom were standing in the center of camp and four full-grown cats were seated in a cluster to the right. Whiskerpaw was watching from the other side of camp, right next to what seemed to be an old badger set. At least one pair of eyes looked out through the shadows inside. There was also a large boulder on the opposite side of camp but it seemed unoccupied.
"Welcome to Windclan's camp." Onestar greeted Darkstar in a friendly voice. Then he saw Cloudpaw and Pebblepaw.
"Foxes!" He yowled in alarm, his fur bristling. Leafclan converged until both fox kits were safe, wrapped in layers of cats.
"They are my clanmates." Darkstar snarled, his fur bristling in turn.
"You keep company with foxes?"
"Yes." Onestar swallowed and visibly collected himself.
"Can you promise that my cats will be safe from them? Our kittens?"
"Easily. These foxes have never tasted cat, they eat the same prey as all of us."
"Okay." Onestar said with a nod. "Then I'll do my best to accept them as clan warriors."
"Good."
"Until sun-down, Leafclan can share our camp. The hunting patrols should be back soon with prey."
"With your permission, we could catch our own."
"I'm sure my hunting patrols will be able to catch enough." Darkstar understood that to mean that Onestar didn't want unfamiliar cats hunting his land.
"Alright, thank you."
"Our nursery is over there if your queens want a place to rest." Onestar gestured to what looked to Darkstar like just another section of the gorse barrier. Onestar must have noticed his confusion because he continued to explain. "There's a good-sized den inside that gorse bush, padded with moss."
Darkstar turned to look at Tornadoclaw where she was standing between Embershade and Moonleap, each of them holding a kit, and Silverfire behind her holding the last. Tornadoclaw set Cliffkit down to answer.
"I'd like that. Thank you." She and the three holding her kits found and entered the den and only Embershade came back out.
"Their elders can share our den." A dark gray tabby tom rasped, padding out of the badger set. Another tabby tom with a ripped ear stood behind him but didn't say anything. Hazelwood and Frostpelt each thanked him as they followed the two Windclan elders into their den.
"And I wouldn't mind the chance to talk with your medicine cat." The mottled tom spoke up. Snaketail stepped forward, gesturing with her tail for Nightpaw to follow her. "My name is Kestrelflight, medicine cat of Windclan." The tomcat continued, turning to lead Leafclan's medicine cats to the boulder.
"I'm afraid we have no dens for the warriors or apprentices but feel free to relax wherever there's room."
"Thanks for the hospitality" Darkstar responded, sitting down with Brighttalon beside him. Slowly the rest of Leafclan also relaxed.
At sunset, Darkstar retrieved his clanmates and Onestar and his patrol led them out of camp and to the lake. From there they followed the beach until they came to a fallen tree. Windclan crossed to the Island first, closely followed by Leafclan. The clearing in the center of the island was already fairly crowded and three cats stood in the branches of an oak tree.
"You're late, Onestar." A large white tom with black paws growled.
"I'm here now, Blackstar." Onestar responded in kind as he climbed to a branch just below a blue-gray she-cat that Darkstar recognized from his leadership ceremony as Mistystar
"Who are your guests, Onestar?" The final leader, Firestar, asked, looking down at Leafclan. Onestar flicked his ears at Darkstar to suggest he answer.
"I am Darkstar of Leafclan. I've come to ask for a home for me and my clanmates."
"We need to discuss this among ourselves and our medicine cats." Mistystar decided. The other leaders nodded in agreement and leapt from the tree to speak with a group of four cats sitting near the base of the tree. Another group of four that was sitting on the far side of the tree joined the leaders and medicine cats. After talking for a while, the leaders returned to the tree and Blackstar stepped forward to speak.
"We've decided that each clan will accept some of your clanmates. We will allow each of you to choose which clan you want to join."
Darkstar stepped forward to better address all the gathered cats.
"Would any of you willingly leave your family and friends to live among strangers? Why would you expect us to do so? We look for a single home for all of us, not to be separated among your camps. Is there room for another clan's territory here or should we continue to journey?"
There was utter silence for a moment as every cat stared at Darkstar. Then Mistystar stood.
"There is extra land between my territory and Windclan's, but not enough to feed a clan the size of yours."
"We also have unclaimed land between Shadowclan's and Thunderclan." Firestar added. "But there is the same problem that it would not hold all of Leafclan."
Snaketail walked forward to speak more closely with Darkstar.
"Long before we left our first territory, Nightpaw had a vision-type dream. She had been following a bright leaf that brought her to this island before breaking in half in the lake. Leafclan is larger than most of the other clans. I don't want to leave any of our friends but we could probably manage as two clans instead of one." She murmured.
"Come to think of it, I also saw a leaf split in half weirdly before we left. I think that was just after Willowfire got bit by that fox." Darkstar responded softly. Then he lifted his head to speak to the other leaders again.
"I need to speak to my clan." He stated before immediately turning around to view his clanmates. They all crowded forward a little closer so he could speak to them directly. Brighttalon, Shiningheart, Sandpelt, Silverfire, and Snaketail were closest to Darkstar, with Wildear, Nightpaw, Spruceheart, Hazelwood, and Shadowlion just behind them.
"Right, what do you all think? Would we be able to manage as two clans instead of one?"
"I don't like it." Frostpelt spoke up from her seat behind Spruceheart and Hazelwood. "But I don't see what other choice there is."
"I could lead the other clan." Shiningheart commented.
"So could I." Silverfire challenged mildly.
"And Nightsh- paw and I could be a medicine cat for each clan." Snaketail added, ignoring Shiningheart and Silverfire's dispute.
"Alright, I guess we're doing this. We can figure out specifics later." Darkstar turned again towards the leaders. "Leafclan will split into two clans. Both small enough to be supported by the territories available, but still strong enough to defend ourselves. This way no families need be separated and everyone on this island can feel comfortable that their sharing their dens with cats that they know they can trust."
"And what about the foxes that I see rubbing pelts with your cats." Blackstar growled. "Shadowclan doesn't share borders with foxes."
"They are in my clan and as such will be treated with as much respect as any of their clanmates." Darkstar responded coldly.
"As long as they stay within their borders I see no problem with them." Firestar commented.
"Yeah, well, you wouldn't, would you, Firestar?" Blackstar hissed.
"Enough you two." Mistystar yowled. "I'm sure that Darkstar's warriors will obey the warrior code."
"Can foxes be considered warriors?" Blackstar questioned.
"As soon as they finish their training they will be." Darkstar stated firmly.
"Now that that's settled, can we commence with the Gathering?" Onestar asked impatiently. "Windclan has been doing well this past moon. Prey has been running this leaf-fall but not too quickly for my warriors."
"Thunderclan too is well-fed this leaf-fall. And our warriors are strong after a kind Greenleaf."
"Shadowclan is well."
"Riverclan is content. Duskfur has moved into the nursery." There were noises of congratulation from all the original clans. Then they started to spread out, cats from different clans seeking each other out to converse.
"Hey Snaketail, Nightpaw!" Kestrelflight called. "Come meet the others.
"This is Jayfeather of Thunderclan," he began, gesturing to a gray tabby tomcat with pale blue eyes. "Littlecloud of Shadowclan." A small tabby tom nodded in a friendly way. "And Mothwing and Willowshine of Riverclan." Mothwing was a golden she-cat with long fur and Willowshine was a gray tabby she-cat.
"It's nice to meet you all. I'm Snaketail. And this is my apprentice, Nightpaw." Snaketail responded, feeling somewhat timid.
"It's nice to meet you too." Littlecloud responded, a hint of a wheeze in his voice.
"What's it like to have foxes in your clan?" Willowshine asked, curious rather than hostile.
"They aren't too different from any of our other apprentices. A little better at hunting than most of us." Snaketail shot Nightpaw a sharp glance. "They have longer legs than their denmates so they can pounce from further away and still catch something. And rogues are less willing to take on our patrols when they include either Pebblepaw or Cloudpaw."
"I take it Pebblepaw and Cloudpaw are the foxes?" Jayfeather asked.
"Yes. They're siblings." Snaketail responded. "For a while we also had their other two siblings and their aunt but the other three chose to stay behind when we began traveling."
"They smell different than most foxes Thunderclan has dealt with." Jayfeather commented, a question in his voice.
"They're not red foxes." Mothwing responded.
"No, they're gray foxes." Snaketail agreed.
"How did you come to have foxes in your clan?" Kestrelflight asked.
"Does it matter? They're our clanmates now." Nightpaw reproached.
"Sorry, I was just curious." Kestrelflight muttered, his ears back.
"Hardly worth clawing his ears for." Jayfeather snipped. Willowshine shot an incredulous look at him and Jayfeather twitched his whiskers in a way that seemed almost amused.
"Hey, I need my medicine cats. We need to figure out how Leafclan will split." Darkstar interrupted the conversation. Snaketail and Nightpaw bid the other medicine cats farewell before they followed Darkstar to the rest of Leafclan.
"So Brighttalon and I already decided to stay in the same clan. Who will go into the new clan?"
"I will." Shiningheart stated.
"We will also." Hazelwood added, referring to Spruceheart, Eaglewing, and herself.
"I'll go with them." Snowlion surprised Darkstar by saying.
"I'm also going to." Snaketail decided, torn but wanting to stay with Snowlion more.
"I think I will too." Silverfire said.
"I'm with her." Wolffang commented.
"We are too." Tornadoclaw stated, wrapping her tail around her kits. Moonleap pressed close to her side.
"I think I'm going to follow Shiningheart." Pebblepaw stated uncertainly, glancing at her mentor.
"If you wanted to stay with us, we could find you another mentor." Darkstar offered.
"Thank you, but the other clan will be stronger if they also have a fox with them." Pebblepaw argued. Darkstar nodded, unable to respond.
"By my count, we've almost got as many warriors as you do now, Darkstar." Shiningheart commented. "You have two more than us."
"I'll also go into the new clan." Frostpelt decided. "That way it's even."
"Alright. Well, I guess this is goodbye. We'll meet again next full moon."
"Go well. And take care." Frostpelt said, rubbing her head against her son's.
"Fair winds." Wildear replied, rubbing her side against Frostpelt's. Soon everyone that was originally from Leafclan were bidding farewell to their friends and family in the other clan.
After the salutations were done, Darkstar led what remained of his clan over to Firestar to ask about the extra territory on their border and Silverfire led the rest to Mistystar for the same reason. On their leader's orders, Brambleclaw of Thunderclan and Reedwhisker of Riverclan brought the newest clans to their land.
"Thanks." Darkstar said in gratitude as Brambleclaw turned to leave.
"No problem." Brambleclaw responded. "Good luck." He added as he left.
Darkstar looked around at his clanmates before speaking again.
"We'll need to find a camp. Rosethorn, take Shadowlion, Blackpaw, and Dustpaw out toward the lake. Brighttalon, take Dawnpaw, Embershade, and Badgerswipe towards Thunderclan territory. Wildear, Duskmist, Nightpaw, and Rabbitpaw, go in the direction of Shadowclan territory. Crimsonclaw, Sandpelt, Cloudpaw, and I will go in the opposite direction of the lake. We'll meet back here either after we find somewhere or after we reach the border."
Each of the patrol leaders nodded and led their group in the assigned direction.
As Darkstar and his patrol walked, they each left often to examine some clearing or hollow but the group was silent as they found no place that could comfortably house all of them.
They had nearly left clan territory before anyone found a potential camp worth breaking the silence for.
"This might work." Crimsonclaw called out from a few feet away from the rest of his patrol. Darkstar led the other two over to where Crimsonclaw was standing in front of a very large, hollow log. The log sloped so that the far end was buried in the ground but the near side was open at least three times as tall as Darkstar. A live tree had grown on the log so that its roots framed the opening and various smaller plants blanketed the rest of the log. Darkstar recognized skullcap and California poppy among the plants growing atop the log. As Darkstar led the way inside, a small hole at the end of the cave allowed in enough light for them to see that rainfall had hollowed out a dip in the sandy soil deep enough for leaves to coat the bottom and hold in water.
"This could make a nice camp. We'll see if the other patrols found anything better but we'll tell them about this one too." Darkstar decided before bringing his clanmates back towards the decided upon meeting place. Rosethorn's patrol was already waiting when Darkstar's patrol arrived and Wildear's patrol returned soon after. A few minutes passed before Brighttalon brought his patrol back.
"Anyone find anything interesting?" Darkstar asked once they were all assembled.
"There are no good places between here and the lake." Rosethorn complained, sounding annoyed. "There is, however, a fair-sized campground over there. We were given territory that we won't be able to use a quarter of during summer at least."
"I suppose there had to have been a reason Blackstar and Firestar didn't claim this land beforehand." Darkstar reasoned.
"We found somewhere that could work, if we put some work into it." Wildear reported.
"We didn't find anything." Brighttalon commented.
"And we found somewhere that isn't too bad, although it is kind of far from the lake." Darkstar said. "Let's look at Wildear's possible camp first. Then we'll look at the one my group found and see which one looks better."
Wildear nodded and she stood to lead the rest of the clan toward Shadowclan's border. After they had walked for a while, they entered into a small clearing surrounded by trees soaked with thick, heavy moss. The four deer that had been grazing looked up at the newcomers for a moment before three of them returned to their meal.
"This was the camp we looked at but it looks claimed." Wildear commented, watching the deer.
"Alright, let's go look at the other one then." Darkstar decided, leading his clan away again.
They walked for much longer before reaching the hollow log and when they arrived, Cloudpaw raced ahead.
"Bet I can get to the top of the tree before any of you." He howled.
"No way!" Dustpaw argued, launching himself at the side of the log and using his claws to climb. Cloudpaw chose a spot nearby and latched on with his front paws, using his hind legs to push himself up.
"This is the camp my patrol found." Darkstar explained to the rest of his clan. "If you want to look inside, go ahead." As he spoke, the other cats moved forward, a few at a time, to examine the log more closely. Nightpaw chased the other apprentices off the top and sniffed at the plants growing there while Brighttalon and Badgerswipe explored inside.
After each cat had thoroughly looked it over, it was decided that this would be their new camp. Embershade claimed the far back of the log, behind the water-hole, as the nursery and Nightpaw took the other side for the medicine area. After Darkstar agreed to let her have that spot, she began carving out holes in the log for her plants like she had in their first camp. The apprentices were given the space after Nightpaw and the warriors came after them. Looking at the small space left, Darkstar decided he would just share the warriors' sleeping space and any elders that they got later would share the nursery with the queens and kits.
"And we'll have clan meetings out in front." Darkstar announced, jumping to the highest point on the top of the log and being careful not to crush any of the plants.
"Speaking of, Blackpaw come forward."
All of the clan rejoined outside, looking up at Darkstar, and Blackpaw stepped forward.
"Your training with Moonleap was incomplete so I'm giving you a new mentor. Duskmist, you'll take over her training."
Duskmist moved forward and Blackpaw brushed noses with him as the rest of the clan congratulated them.
"And I've decided that our clan will be called Fireclan. Does anyone disagree?"
There were murmurs as the newly named Fireclan discussed it but nobody spoke out against it.