Bluestar led the trip back to camp swiftly, and Wildpaw was panting by the time they reached it. The noise of the pawsteps woke the cats who hadn't stayed up for the news.

"What's the news?" Halftail called sleepily.

"Yes, were ShadowClan there?" Willowpelt asked.

"Yes," Bluestar replied. She leaped onto the Highrock and began the Clan meeting without prelude. Tigerclaw jumped up beside her. "There was a lot on tension between the Clans tonight," Bluestar meowed. "And I became aware of a potential alliance between RiverClan and ShadowClan."
Graystripe appeared next to Fireheart who was sitting near Wildpaw. She was close enough to hear him whisper,

"What are they talking about? I thought that Nightpelt agreed with Bluestar!"

"Nightpelt?" An elder called. Wildpaw could see One-eye at the back of the crowd near Patchpelt.

"He's ShadowClan's new leader," Bluestar informed her.

"Then why isn't he Nightstar?" One-eye demanded. This time, Tigerclaw answered.

"He plans to travel to the Moonstone tomorrow night,"

"No leader can speak for their Clan at a Gathering without StarClan's approval!" One-eye protested.

"I sure didn't see any clouds over the moon." Dustpaw murmured, next to Wildpaw.

"He has ShadowClan's support, One-eye," Bluestar replied. "We can't ignore what he said tonight." One-eye sniffed, unable to argue any further. Bluestar contined. "At the Gathering, I suggested we find WindClan and return them to their home. Crookedstar and Nightpelt, however, don't want them to."

"They're hardly likely to join forces, though, aren't they?" Graystripe called. "They were about to claw each other over the river!"

"Didn't you see the look they were swapping at the end? They're both desperate to get their paws on WindClan territory." Fireheart exclaimed.

"But why?" Sandpaw mewed, who was sitting next to Whitestorm, who in turn answered his apprentice.

"I suspect ShadowClan isn't as weak as we thought. Nightpelt seems to have more ambition than any cat expected."

"But why does RiverClan want to hunt on WindClan's grounds?" Willowpelt's normally gentle mew was now a yowl. "They've always been fat on the fish from their precious river! The uplands are a long way to go for a few scrawny rabbits!" Dappletail the tortoiseshell raised her voice.

"At the Gathering, some of the RiverClan elders spoke of Twolegs taking over part of their river."

"Yes," Frostfur agreed. "They told of Twolegs living in shelters beside the river and scaring away the fish. The cats have had to hide and watch them with empty stomachs!"

Wildpaw felt a pang of pity. No wonder Silverpaw and Heavypaw had been so quiet. No that she thought about, Wildpaw recalled Silverpaw's ribs bulging from her pelt, which had seemed so shiny in the moonlight.

"For now, we must be careful to not unintentionally provoke ShadowClan and RiverClan to draw closer together." Bluestar warned. "Go and rest now. Runningwind, take Wildpaw, Sandpaw and Whitestorm for the dawn patrol." Dawn patrol! Wildpaw thought, suppressing a yawn. She shivered, though not sure if it was from the frigid breeze or the thought of going out right after the Gathering.

"Do I have to?" She asked her mentor hopefully. Runningwind hesitated.

"Go sleep." He told her. "We can make up for it in hunting practice." As Wildpaw raced to the apprentices' den, she heard Sandpaw ask Whitestorm the same thing. She couldn't hear Whitestorm's reply, but Sandpaw's sigh of disappointment told Wildpaw everything she needed to know.

Wildpaw awoke with a start. Looking around, she saw Sandpaw nearby in her nest. Wildpaw felt a chill and remembered how warm Frostfur always was. She looked across the camp to the nursery, and was surprised to see Fireheart outside, his fur fluffed up against the cold. His ears pricked momentarily, and Wildpaw thought he'd detected her, but then Fireheart relaxed again.

Wildpaw wondered whether or not to ask him whether or not something was wrong. While she hesitated, Fireheart abruptly turned and went back into the warriors' den. Whatever it was, he must have gotten over it.

Wildpaw felt a sharp cuff around her ear. Yowling in pain, she faced the assailant, hackles raised.

"Forgotten about training?" Runningwind taunted, as Wildpaw relaxed slightly.

"No," She snapped. "I was just tired from the Gathering." It was a lame excuse, and Runningwind knew it too, although he didn't say.

"Did you hear?" Sandpaw had been whispering with Frostfur, Whitestorm, and Dustpaw when she bounded over to Wildpaw.

"What?" Wildpaw felt a sickening feeling in her belly. Had ShadowClan and RiverClan attacked?

"Fireheart and Graystripe are going on a warrior mission!" The sick feeling had faded away, only to be replaced by shock.

"What?"

"Whitestorm, Runningwind and I saw it when we were on the dawn patrol." Wildpaw lashed her tail.

"Wish I'd been there!"

"It wasn't that exciting." Sandpaw laid her tail comfortingly on Wildpaw's shoulder. Was that why Fireheart couldn't sleep? Wildpaw wondered.

"When did they leave?"

"Dawn." I didn't get to wish them good luck! Wildpaw thought angrily.

"Are you going to sit there gossiping all day, or are we hunting?" Runningwind snorted contemptously.

"Sorry!" Wildpaw hurried over. Dustpaw and Darkstripe joined them. Why didn't I go on the dawn patrol?