CHAPTER 9

Many days had passed since the battle with MoonClan. Fernstar had chosen her new deputy: Swiftrain and all were running smoothly. It was the night of the gathering, where all of the Clans go to Mountain Clearing. The mountain curved into a dip in the side making a perfect clearing for the three Clans to gather.

Fernstar's waved her tail and the BreezeClan cats that were going to the gathering, padded up beside her. Featherwind followed Silverleaf to stand beside Fernstar. Swiftrain flanked her other side. Oakfur padded up with Streamspark, Nightpaw, and Sandpaw. Brightpaw followed behind them more slowly. Fernstar nodded and turned, leading the group out of camp.

Featherwind looked up. Stars dotted the night sky. The moon turned the cats' pelts to silver. They walked in silence as they came close to the MoonClan border. BreezeClan bristled with anger as MoonClan appeared, heading to Mountain Curve. Featherwind flanked Silverleaf. She forced her fur flat, and looked at her Clan. Many cat where throwing warning hisses and snarls at MoonClan. MoonClan threw them right back. Some of them only stalked on with ears laid back in silent fear.

We can't have a battle tonight! It would break StarClan's truce! BreezeClan reached Mountain Curve first, but MoonClan barged ahead and Falconstar: The MoonClan leader broke away from his Clan and leaped onto a ledge on the rock face. Featherwind saw her calico leader bunch her muscles and take a flying leap onto another ledge. It was just higher than Falconstar's and he scowled. Fernstar stared calmly down into the clearing flicking her ear.

The bushes rustled and another group of cats came through.

Good! FireClan's here.

A white tom with gray paws and ears jumped onto a ledge, and all the cats in the clearing began to find places to sit. Falconstar yowled and stood up, holding his tail high in the air, commandingly.

The Gathering had begun.

I wonder if Fernstar will mention Skullclaw. Featherwind looked up at the leaders. Falconstar didn't wait.

"MoonClan territory is being invaded by dogs. They have been running through the meadows, and scaring off all of the prey! The Clans lost kits because of the last winter. However, MoonClan didn't lose any kits! MoonClan thrives through the coldest winters, when your Clans suffer! We have more kits to feed. And with no prey to give them, you must give us some of your territory." Falconstar finished bluntly. Furious yowls sounded all around the clearing. Featherwind bristled.

The Clans have always been able to support themselves in their own territory! Oakfur stood up. "Clans have never shared territory! Why should we have to now?" FireClan and BreezeClan howled their agreement.

Falconstar drew back his lip, baring his sharp teeth.

"Silence!"

"Falconstar, as Oakfur has said, Clans have never shared territory. It is not right for our Clans to territory that is rightfully ours." Fernstar motioned to Hailstar and herself. The white leader nodded his agreement.

"The Clans have always survived with their own territory." Falconstar turned back to the clearing.

"So, MoonClan is meant to starve because we have more kits, no food? Because the other Clans are too selfish to pass over a small strip of land?"

"No!" MoonClan cats yowled but BreezeClan and FireClan said nothing.

"You say you're starving yet, you have the strength they have to start two battles with BreezeClan and loose both times?" Fernstar meowed calmly. Gasps from FireClan swept through the clearing.

"We lost because we are starving!" Falconstar snarled up at the BreezeClan leader.

"You don't look hungry." Fernstar pressed. "Your coats are bright, and I can't see the ribs on you or any of your cats. You all look just fine." Falconstar unsheathed his claws and his gray and white patched pelt bristled fiercely.

"MoonClan is quite thick furred! That is why we can stand the cold winters! You must give us some or your territory!"

Hailstar and Fernstar both shook her head with disapproval. "If you don't give us some we will force it out of your own paws!" Falconstar vowed as he leaped down from the ledge and was instantly surrounded by his warriors protectively.

The gathering had come to its end and MoonClan disappeared into the darkness. Fernstar leaped from her perch and Hailstar followed. Fernstar walked strongly to her Clan and led it out of the clearing.

"May StarClan light you path!" Hailstar yowled as he led his Clan away in the other direction. Fernstar dipped her head and continued on, disturbed cats following.

Featherwind walked into camp with the rest of the patrol. The moment they had entered the camp Fernstar bounded onto the High Cliff.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join me here beneath the High Cliff for a Clan meeting!" Fernstar's yowl echoed against the cave walls. Most of the Clan was already looking up at their glossy furred, calico leader. Fernstar's tail tip twitched and her pale green eyes blazed. She was obviously disturbed. Blizzardheart shooed her curious kits back into the nursery as they tried to peek over her tail. The warriors that had stayed behind stumbled drowsily out of the den. Ambersong sat beside Featherwind. Featherwind turned too looked to the far side of the clearing. Skullclaw sat in the shadows of his nest. His gaze locked with hers. She beckoned him with her tail to come and sit with the rest of the Clan. Oakfur noticed and hissed loudly. Beside him Hawksight flattened his ears and fluffed out his tail in pure disapproval. Skullclaw hesitated, but Featherwind flat out ignored them and looked at Skullclaw. He smiled and sat beside her.

Fernstar looked down at her cats.

"MoonClan." She spat in disgust. "They have chosen to try and get some of the other Clans territory. It's true; we did loose kits last winter. To poor Blizzardheart. The only surviving, Brightpaw." Fernstar dipped her head to the queen and sadness clouded her blue gaze. "MoonClan claims that they didn't lose kits." The cats below her listened intently. Featherwind twitched her tail.

Come on, just get to the point! She was ready to drop dead with tiredness. Fernstar continued.

"They have told us at the gathering that their territory is being invaded by Twoleg dogs." Many of the cats exchanged worried glances. "Falconstar says that because of the dogs there is no more prey. Therefore, no more food to feed their kits. So, they asked for territory." Blizzardheart looked up. "If their kits are starving, why don't we give them some territory?" The white queen loved and cared about all kits. No matter where they came from. She refused to let a kit be harmed in anyway. It also made her love from her own kits much fiercer.

Fernstar glanced at her.

"When we saw them at the gathering, their pelts and eyes where bright. I could not see any of their bones. They looked in perfect shape to me aside from the scars we inflicted onto them."

"They did not smell of sickness either." Silverleaf added. Fernstar nodded to acknowledge her Medicine Cat.

"Hailstar and I told Falconstar that we were not going to hand over any territory. That's when he said something unexpected." Fernstar looked at her deputy, who was sitting below the High Cliff looking the rest of the Clan. "Falconstar is going to launch battles to force us to give them our land." Angry yowls filled the cave. Ambersong's pretty tortoiseshell pelt bristled fiercely. Nightpaw and Brightpaw lashed their tails and Sandpaw jumped up yowling beside Streamspark and Hawksight.

Fernstar lashed her tail. "Enough!" The yowling died down and Fernstar continued. "I say, we show MoonClan we are not to be messed with! They have failed to beat us in battle, twice! Yet, they keep coming back! Falconstar vowed to force the territory out of our paws. BreezeClan will not let that happen!" The yowling rose up again, but this time to support their leader and she didn't try to stop them. "We attack tomorrow at Sun-high. Now everyone, get some sleep." Fernstar jumped down from the High Cliff and retreated into her den under a pile of boulders. Swiftrain sat beside the camp entrance to guard and the rest of the Clan went to their dens. Featherwind looked at Ambersong.

"Come on. If there is going to be a battle tomorrow, we better be ready." Ambersong meowed and Featherwind nodded. She stood up to follow her mother. Featherwind looked over at Skullclaw's nest. He was already curled up and she left him to sleep.