"Cats of ShiningClan! Gather beneath the Meeting Rock and hear my words."

A hush fell over the crowd of cats. Each one gazed up expectantly at Ivystar. The leader gazed back, his green eyes calm.

"Adderstrike and I have come to a decision," he started, his deep voice echoing throughout the clearing. "DuskClan is under the impression that I have been intruding on their territory in recent moons. However, we have learned that it is my brother, Gray, and his band of rogues who have been wandering about."

Adderstrike got to her paws and climbed up next to Ivystar. "Yes. None of the witnesses had ever seen the intruder up close, and therefore, have failed to notice that he has yellow eyes as opposed to Ivystar's green ones."

Ashpuddle shuffled his paws and leaned towards Dewleaf. "Where are they going with this?" The gray tom shrugged in response. Volepaw was equally as confused.

"Yes," Ivystar continued. "Thanks to those rogues, we are looked down on by the other Clans, especially DuskClan." He paused, narrowing his eyes. "We believe it's time we changed that. We will be looked up to. We will be feared."

A crushing silence enveloped the cats. Volepaw glanced around at her Clanmates. Many seemed to be contemplating, and some looked… afraid?

A sharp growl snapped her attention back to the Meeting Rock. Adderstrike had moved herself in front of Ivystar and was glowering down at the Clan. "So? Will you fight? Or are you going to sit back on your haunches and let DuskClan tread on your tails?"

The silence was broken by a sudden yowl. Volepaw whipped her head around. Wolfpaw had gotten to his paws and began cheering in support of the plan. Two more voices rose from the crowd to join him. Then more, and more. Soon the whole Clan was on their paws and yowling their approval.

"Good, good," Ivystar meowed. "Now, I'll let Adderstrike explain to you our plans."

The tom backed down from the edge of the Meeting Rock and Adderstrike took his place.

"First, we need to show those rogues who's in charge. We know that they've set up a camp somewhere near OneClan's territory. We'll attack and drive them away from the forest." A murmur of approval arose from the crowd.

"What happens after that?" Volepaw recognized Eelfin's voice.

"I believe it would be best to work on one phase of the plan at a time," the deputy mewed calmly. "Any other questions?"

Cloverpelt raised her voice. "When will we attack?"

"We first need to send out some cats to track down their camp," Adderstrike replied. "Clawdusk, Iceflower." The she-cats looked up at the sound of their names. "You both have exceptional tracking skills. I'm putting you two in charge of the search."

Both dipped their heads. "We'll do our best, Adderstrike," Clawdusk mewed.

Adderstrike did the same. "I expect no less of you. Alright, time to send out patrols. Cloverpelt, take Amberclaw and Ashpuddle on a border patrol on the river border." The she-cat dipped her head and moved to gather her cats. "Any other able cats should organize themselves into small hunting patrols. Leaf-bare is coming quickly, and we need as much fresh-kill as we can get."

Ivystar dipped his head to her as she stepped down from the Meeting Rock. "Dismissed."

Cloudpaw smirked. "Can't wait to sink my claws into those rogues' pelts."

Oakpaw shuffled uneasily. Volepaw cast a questioning glance at him, but he merely shook his head and grinned. She sighed and gazed around camp. Warriors were already forming small hunting patrols all around them.

"Don't worry Volepaw," Adderstrike's voice snapped Volepaw out of her thoughts. "You'll be out hunting tomorrow. Just take it easy today. You deserve it after all the hard work you've been doing."

Volepaw sighed. "I guess you're right."

Adderstrike studied her for a few heartbeats. She quietly chuckled. "You're not the type of cat to lie around camp all day. You always need to be out and about." When Volepaw opened her mouth to speak, Adderstrike silenced her with a flick of her tail. "That's not a bad thing. It means that you'll be of great help to the Clan." Volepaw blinked. Adderstrike chuckled again. "I think Sheepnose said something about gathering herbs for the upcoming battles. We could go help her if you want. It'd give you a chance to get out of camp for a while."

Volepaw couldn't help but lash her tail happily. "Sure!"

Adderstrike purred and looked past her. "Either of you want to come?"

Cloudpaw yawned. "I think I'm going to enjoy my day off."

"That sounds about right," Volepaw snickered. Cloudpaw shot her a dirty look. "You, Oakpaw?"

The tabby tom shook his head. "I'm gonna see if Stagheart will take me out for battle training."

"Alright," Adderstrike mewed. "Let's go, Volepaw."

"Ok. See you guys later!"

"See ya!"

"Have fun!"