Hey there! This is the first story of mine here, though I've been reading fanfictions like this for about two years now. Thank you for reading, please tell me how I'm doing!

~Quinn

The full moon shone brightly and illuminated every spike of fur of Tigerclaw's pelt. Beside him, Lionheart padded forward. His head was raised in pride at his new status in the Clan. Firepaw and Graypaw were near the front, by Bluestar. Their heads were together as they murmured anxiously.

Ravenpaw had wanted to come, but Tigerclaw had insisted he stay in camp to rest. Ravenpaw, of course, had protested to the point where Tigerclaw wanted to tear his own ears off.

Tigerclaw bristled as another pelt brushed up against his own, then forced his fur flat as he recognized Longtail's silver pelt.

"Did Darkstripe stay behind?" the large tabby pondered. As Longtail began to nod, Bluestar bolted past them, her blue-gray fur silver in the moonlight. She bounded to the top of the rock and sat next to Tallstar. The black and white leader gave her a curt nod.

"Bluestar's looking younger," Longtail commented dryly. Tigerclaw laughed heartily, but realized Longtail was right. The leader was in light conversation with Crookedstar, and her ice-blue eyes twinkled in amusement. Perhaps Firepaw had truly helped the Clan. Tigerclaw shrugged and snuck a glance at the ginger tom, who was perched next to Graypaw. Maybe he needed to stop jumping to conclusions about ThunderClan's newest addition.

"Where's ShadowClan?" Longtail queried, leaning towards Tigerclaw. The brown tabby shrugged. Ever since Brokenstar, the new leader, had been appointed, ShadowClan had acted a bit strange. They showed up late to Gatherings nearly every full moon, their border scents had grown stale, and hardly any patrols had been spotted. Not that ThunderClan was complaining, of course. Any peace, even odd peace, was worth keeping.

"There they are!" Tallstar bellowed, rising to his paws. Though many heads turned, every cat knew what he was talking about. A broad brown tom emerged from the underbrush, yellow eyes narrowed. Behind him, the rest of ShadowClan warily followed. They walked as if they were being followed, slinking along mysteriously. But maybe they're just used to being under so many pine trees that the clearing doesn't appease them, Tigerclaw thought as they wove through the crowd.

Blackfoot, the large white deputy, caught sight of Firepaw immediately. He cast him a surprised glance as he nearly tripped over the orange apprentice before swinging his head to Brokenstar. He spoke in a rapid whisper, and Brokenstar's eyes widened ever so slightly. The ShadowClan leader ambled up to the rock, while Blackfoot sat below, greeting the other deputies with his gaze still on Firepaw.

"Did you see that?" Tigerclaw hissed, nudging Longtail with his shoulder.

"See what?" Longtail mused, obviously not paying a lick of attention to ShadowClan's bizarre reaction of Firepaw. Tigerclaw hissed, but he was cut off by Tallstar's meow.

"Let the Gathering begin!" he bellowed. "RiverClan, would you like to go first?"

Crookedstar nodded courteously and rose to his paws. "RiverClan is thriving," he began. "We have one new apprentice, Silverpaw." Tigerclaw snuck a glance at the RiverClan cats, narrowing his eyes at the sleek fur and rounded belly of the nearest tom. He saw Silverpaw beaming as her name was called and immediately recognized her from the battle.

Thriving wasn't a smart choice of words for Crookedstar; many of ThunderClan's cats bristled at the stinging reminder of Redtail's death. Crookedstar held up a paw to silence the mews of protest. "We also lost our beloved deputy Oakheart recently, and Leopardfur has been appointed in his place. During the battle it was unclear-"
"Sunningrocks belong to ThunderClan," Bluestar interrupted coldly. Crookedstar gave her a baffled glance.

"Well since the winner of the battle was unclear-"
"Sunningrocks belonged to ThunderClan before you attacked us out of the blue," the gray she-cat meowed icily. "And since the winner was unclear, nothing has changed."

Crookedstar growled softly before stepping back. Wisely, Tallstar stepped forward.

"WindClan has had a litter of kits in the past moon," he announced, beaming as if he was imagining the kits in front of him. "We have had no quarrels with other Clans," he added, casting a sidelong glance at Crookedstar. Bluestar looked at him, boring her icy gaze into his fur, before deciding he was finished.

"ThunderClan has also flourished," she began carefully. Tigerclaw sucked on his breath as he noticed Brokenstar's gaze round in interest. "Like RiverClan, we have lost a deputy, Redtail. Lionheart is the new deputy of ThunderClan."

Lionheart nodded as his name was chanted. Tigerclaw was surprised at how many cats outside of ThunderClan cheered for him; he was a popular cat.

"We also have two new apprentices, Graypaw and Firepaw," Bluestar went on smoothly. As the apprentices got a polite chant, Brokenstar went rigid. Below him, Tigerclaw saw Yellowfang and Runningnose, the two ShadowClan medicine cats, put their heads together in a murmur. Bluestar dipped her head and stepped back. "That is all."
Brokenstar rose to his paws, still looking astonished. "ShadowClan is doing well," he said simply. "Badgerpaw has become an apprentice, and Flintfang is his mentor."

Tigerclaw chanted Badgerpaw's name in amusement as the large, black and white apprentice grinned.

"Six moons felt like forever!" he exclaimed to his mentor, a gray tom, who laughed gently.

"So tell me, Bluestar," Brokenstar went on, sitting down and wrapping his odd tail around his paws. "How come my Clan smelt a hint of kittypet mingled with your Clan on our way in?"
Bluestar sniffed. "That's none of your business."
Brokenstar grinned, flashing crooked yellow teeth. "I think it is."

"Maybe he didn't get his name from his tail," Longtail muttered, flicking his tail at Brokenstar's smile.

"Firepaw was invited to join our ranks, as he showed extreme potential," Bluestar defended. Firepaw raised his muzzle in prominence. Bluestar tipped her head to the side. "Coming from a cat with kittypet ancestry, I'm surprised at you, Brokenstar."
Brokenstar reeled back. "You only know rumors," he hissed. "The Gathering is over."
Cats broke apart from the throng and loud talking broke out the minute Brokenstar spoke. Tigerclaw wove through the crowd, trying to find someone from his own Clan when one pelt stood out from the rest.

Tigerclaw narrowed his eyes at the bright orange fur. Firepaw was deep in conversation with a ShadowClan tom. Both of them had their head low, and though Firepaw's emerald eyes were large, something sinister sparkled beneath them. Tigerclaw felt a prickle of unease run down his spine. Was Firepaw really worthy of ThunderClan's trust?
"Longtail," he snapped, prodding his friend with a paw. Longtail hissed and stumbled away from a pretty WindClan she-cat, who giggled at him.

"What?" Longtail hissed, jerking his head at the she-cat. "I'm busy!" Tigerclaw jabbed his tail in Firepaw's direction.

"Are you not seeing this?" he growled. Longtail's eyes flashed with confusion.

"What am I looking at?" he meowed. Tigerclaw whipped his head around, but to his amazement, Firepaw had turned back around and was laughing at something with Graypaw.

Longtail shook his head. "I know you don't like him, but this is getting out of paw," he muttered.

"But he-" Tigerclaw trailed off as Longtail turned around. Tigerclaw looked helplessly back at Firepaw, who was looking straight at him.

And he smirked.

Tigerclaw stomped away, cursing under his breath as Bluestar began to call ThunderClan together. Was he going crazy? Maybe. But something about Firepaw wasn't right, and he was going to prove it until his last breath stopped him.