The tall pale tom known as Tallpaw pricked his ears up in astonishment. He had no idea what was going on. Nightpaw flicked his tail back and forth in anger. He was frustrated at Stormpaw for accusing him like that. The black tom stood up, and glared at the white apprentice known as Stormpaw, "How dare you accuse Tallpaw and me!"
Stormpaw chuckled, as if Nightpaw said something stupid. "I am one of Shadowclan. I have the right to speak for the sake of our clan, Nightpaw. And you should respect me as well. I am your brother." he meowed, and his yellow eyes gleamed, as if he wanted to light the darkness.
"Enough, you two!" Owlstar hissed at the two apprentices, and looked at the other leaders, "Well, do you believe my apprentice?"
Tailstar, Copperstar, and Whitestar whispered to each other in secrecy. Every now and then, they glance at the curious Owlstar, but they immediately return to their conversation that could change the status between Thunderclan and Shadowclan. After a few minutes, Whitestar stared at Owlstar's yellow eyes.
"It is hard to tell, Owlstar, that he is telling the truth. We just heard it from one cat. Has any other cats seen Nightpaw and Tallpaw trespass on Thunderclan territory?" Whitestar asked, tilting his head, but keeping his stern eyes on Shadowclan's leader.
Owlstar nodded in respect, and looked at his group of Shadowclan warriors and apprentices. Many of them have nodded when Owlstar's yellow eyes peered at each and every one of them. The brown tom jerked his head back at the rest of the leaders. "Is that enough for you?" Owlstar asked, growling a little.
Shadowclan is lying! Hawkpaw wanted to say, but she knew that Nightpaw has been trespassing on Thunderclan territory. She wished she drove Nightpaw off her clan's territory sooner, then letting him feed off their prey-filled forest. She looked at Swallowpaw who was staring at the leaders. He obviously wanted to know what would happen next.
"Nightpaw and Tallpaw, come here." Copperstar beckoned across the Island. He stared directly at the two worried cats who were hesitating to come forward. "We don't have all night." he growled impatiently.
Nightpaw and Tallpaw looked at each other, and quickly padded to the branch where the leaders were sitting. They sat down, and looked at the leaders, waiting for their fate. Tallpaw was worried sick, but Nightpaw was filled with anger, twitching his tail as he thought of his cruel brother, Stormpaw.
"Is it true that you have been trespassing on another clan's territory without that clan's permission?" Copperstar asked, looking at the two apprentices, but more at Nightpaw.
The two apprentices said nothing. They were stiff on their feet. In desperation to get out of the harsh spotlight, Tallpaw began to open his mouth. Before he was able to say a word, Nightpaw growled at Copperstar, "We haven't done anything with Thunderclan's territories."
Copperstar stared at Nightpaw sternly. He didn't truly believe the apprentice, but he didn't want to look like he was desperate for the topic to be over as soon as possible.
"Tailstar, I suggest you strengthen your scent markers and your patrols. At the next Gathering, if this problem keeps popping up, we will surely take action." Whitestar meowed, licking his paw.
That would be easier if that fire didn't kill all those warriors, Hawkpaw thought in sadness. When she was a kit, the forest fire swept through the land of Thunderclan and nearly killed her if Mudtalon hadn't saved her. She missed many of the fallen warriors, even though she didn't respect how loyal a warrior could be to the clan since she was a little kit back then.
It looked as if Tailstar was thinking the same because worry could be seen in Tailstar's blue eyes. "Very well." Then, she remembered another thing that she wanted to talk about, "Has any of your Medicine Cats received a prophecy from Starclan?"
Everyone's ears pricked up in astonishment.
"A prophecy?" Sandyfoot, a Riverclan warrior, asked in curiosity.
"What is it about?" Stoneclaw, a Windclan warrior, asked, ears pricked.
"Two will share the burden of their evil kin." Tailstar answered, her eyes darkening as the words "evil kin" were spoken. She couldn't help but ponder on what it meant once again.
"What does your Medicine Cat think the prophecy means?" Whitestar asked, leaning forward in curiosity. He glanced at his own Medicine Cat, Flowerstem, as if wanting to ask the grey she-cat if she received that prophecy as well.
"Maplefoot assumes that it means two cats will be held responsible for their brother or sister." Tailstar answered, dipping her head at the curious leader.
"Rabbittail, did you ever get this prophecy from Starclan before?" Copperstar asked, leaning forward to listen to Riverclan's loyal Medicine Cat.
The white she-cat shook her head slowly, her ears flattened. "No, Copperstar. I haven't had a connection with Starclan for moons."
"How about you, Flowerstem?" Whitestar asked, staring at the she-cat.
"No, Whitestar." Flowerstem answered in embarrassment. It was like she wanted to get a connection from Starclan.
"How about your Medicine Cat, Owlstar?" Copperstar asked, looking at the brown tom who was sitting further away from Tailstar.
Owlstar looked at Bramblefur who was staring straight at the leaders. "Have you received anything from Starclan yet?" His voice was rough, as if he wanted to hear Shadowclan's Medicine Cat say "yes."
Bramblefur hesitated, but then she found the courage to speak the truth, even though it would make his leader frustrated. "No, Owlstar." He muttered, and shifted his paws around, waiting for Owlstar to yell at him.
Owlstar struggled to keep his anger inside him. It eventually built up inside him, and he hissed in anger, "What? I thought you were Shadowclan's Medicine Cat! Why haven't you received a sign from Starclan? Is it because you do not believe in Starclan? Is that it?"
"Stop, Owlstar!" Whitestar hissed at the angered leader, and flicked his tail in front of Owlstar. He did not want anyone to fight since they were being watched by Starclan above them. "It is not Bramblefur's fault that he has not received a sign from Starclan!"
Owlstar glared at Whitestar in anger. He did not want to be among the puny clans who haven't been getting signs from Starclan. He jerked his head back to Bramblefur who was folding his ears back in fright. "I'll talk to you when we get back to camp." Owlstar growled softly.
"We will wait for Starclan to give us more signs about the prophecy. In the next Gathering, be sure to tell everyone if Starclan has notified your Medicine Cat, Maplefoot, once again." Copperstar spoke, turning his head to Tailstar.
"I will make sure of that, Copperstar." Tailstar replied, dipping her head in respect. She flicked her long tail at Owlstar who was quietly muttering to himself.
"Shall we call the Gathering adjourned?" Whitestar asked, looking at the three leaders.
Tailstar and Copperstar both nodded their heads in agreement. Copperstar was the first to lead his clan back to camp.
"Riverclan, follow me!" he meowed, and led the group of Riverclan warriors and apprentices back to their own camp.
Whitestar leaped off the branch, and called out to his own clan, "Windclan, follow me!" He led Windclan off the treebridge, and quickly padded for the hills.
"Shadowclan, follow me!" Owlstar yowled in anger, and he took off, his clan barely being able to catch up with him. They disappeared into the darkness and left Thunderclan at the Island.
Tailstar pondered for a moment. She was confused about Owlstar. He seemed different somehow. "Thunderclan, follow me." she said softly, and leaped off the branch. She looked at all the warriors and apprentices, and padded onto the treebridge. Cedarclaw, Stonepelt, Mudtalon, Hawkpaw, and Swallowpaw followed her off the Island and onto the edge of Riverclan territory.
"So, how do you think the Gathering was?" Swallowpaw asked, turning his head towards Hawkpaw who was padding right next to him.
"It was pretty interesting. I can't believe Owlstar held his claws back." Hawkpaw answered, nodding her head in wonder.
"Well, it is against the Warrior Code." Swallowpaw added, staring at the lake, the water reflecting the light coming from the full-moon above their heads. "Starclan would've been very upset if a battle broke out at a time of peace."
The group of Thunderclan cats padded back home in silence. Tailstar's tail was flicking back and forth, almost hitting Cedarclaw on the side of the head. But the Thunderclan Deputy didn't mind. He knew that Tailstar was going through some misgivings. Thunderclan has been working hard for the past seasons, keeping up the pace of hunting as fast as they had when Thunderclan had five more warriors last time.
As they neared the camp, Tailstar looked at Cedarclaw who fell into step with her. "Cedarclaw, at dawn, add another warrior to the patrol. Do the same thing with the evening patrol. I don't want those Shadowclan pests trespassing on our territory again." she muttered, and she padded quickly back to the leader's den.
"Come on, Hawkpaw." Swallowpaw whispered, and padded towards the Apprentice's Den.
Hawkpaw followed Swallowpaw, and pushed away the vines that showed the entrance to the den. "Good evening, Foxpaw."
Foxpaw slowly opened his eyes, and yawned slowly. "I see you two have returned. How was it?"
"Not that great." Hawkpaw answered, shrugging.
"What?"
"Shadowclan and Thunderclan are sort of enemies now."
"Do you mean clan rivalry kind of enemies?" Foxpaw asked, standing up, and stretching his strong forelegs.
"No…More like fight to the death enemies." Hawkpaw answered sadly.
"So Thunderclan and Shadowclan are in a sort of war?" Foxpaw asked, his ears pricked up in astonishment.
Swallowpaw and Hawkpaw nodded slowly, wondering what would happen to Thunderclan and Shadowclan now.