Okay, so everybody, I have a LOT of apologizing to do. I didn't realize that I completely forgot to put in one chapter (called Darkheart's Proposal) that is really essential to the story, so I had to delete the chapters that were supposed to come before it and post this one. Again, I am SO sorry I can't even tell you. I hope you'll still read this fic and reviews are appreciated, even if you do just flame me for this huge mistake.

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Chapter 9: Darkheart's Proposal

Firestar, Graystripe, Tawnyclaw, Flamepelt, Silvercloud, Ambertail, Ferncloud, Dustpelt, Cloudtail, Rainpaw, and Sorrelpaw were on their way to Fourtrees for the Gathering. This would be a particuarly interesting Gathering, Tawnyclaw knew. ShadowClan had some explaining to do for their attack on ThunderClan the night before.

When the ThunderClan cats arrived, WindClan and RiverClan were already there. Tallstar padded up to greet Firestar.

"Greetings, Firestar." meowed Tallstar. "How is ThunderClan?"

"Oh, we're not bad, Tallstar." replied the ginger tom. "But last night we were attacked by ShadowClan."

Tallstar's eyes widened with surprise. "What? ShadowClan attacked you? Why?"

"We're not sure, but I didn't see Blackstar there. I don't think he had anything to do with it."

"Hmm..." The WindClan leader appeared to be thinking. "Blackstar wasn't there? How strange. Did any of them attack you?"

Firestar nodded slowly. "Darkheart jumped me in my den. I was able to fight him off, but I think he went after Flamepelt after that..."

Inturrupting her leader, Ambertail meowed eagerly, "He did! I think Darkheart was trying to kill him, but I knocked him over and saved Flamepelt." Her pale ginger fur glowed with pride.

The ThunderClan leader nodded with approval. "Good job, Ambertail." Then he glanced over his shoulder and narrowed his eyes with displeasure. "Oh, ShadowClan's here."

"Then we can start." meowed Leopardstar. She stepped forward to speak. "RiverClan is doing well. The fish fill the river, and Dawnflower's kits grow stronger every day."

Tallstar spoke for WindClan next, then it was ThunderClan's turn. Firestar told the cats about their new apprentice, Whitepaw, and of their new warriors Silvercloud, Flamepelt, and Sabelfur. He told the cats about the ShadowClan attack from the previous night, which caused WindClan and RiverClan cats to mutter among themselves. Clearly they were as shocked as ThunderClan.

"So, ShadowClan..." finished Firestar in a chilly tone. "How do you explain this? Why did you attack ThunderClan?"

Everyone had expected Blackstar to shoulder through the crowd and counter Firestar. But it was Darkheart who appeared in front, with Blackfur and Stormwind on either side of him. Gasps of shock came from the Clan cats, and they yeowled accusatory questions. "Where's Blackstar?" "What are you doing?" "Why did you attack ThunderClan?"

Firestar gazed at the ShadowClan warrior with cold green eyes. "Darkheart." he said after a long moment. It sounded like a greeting, but Tawnyclaw heard a question lurking under the name. "Is Blackstar ill?"

Darkheart flicked his tail carelessly as if shooing a fly away. "He's all right. But you cannot call him Blackstar, for he is no longer leader of ShadowClan." He puffed out his chest with pride and held his head high as he added, "I am."

The Clan cats froze in shock. How could Darkheart be leader if Blackstar wasn't dead? Even if he was, as the deputy Russetfur would become leader. No one knew what to do next or what was going on.

Finally Leopardstar broke the long silence. She asked icily, "What kind of leader will you be, Darkheart?"

"I was hoping you'd ask that." said the dark tom gleefully. "You see, I have come up with a plan to make ShadowClan the sole ruler of this forest. All of you puny, weak Clans may join me if you wish. If not..." Darkheart's eyes glittered evilly. "Then I will conquer your Clan anyway, and you will be forced to be slaves to ShadowClan."

Firestar,Tallstar, and Leopardstar glanced at each other. They'd been in this situation once before, many moons ago, when the evil ShadowClan leader Tigerstar had formed TigerClan with RiverClan. This time, the three leaders formed a silent agreement that they would not give in to this new tyrant's demands under any circumstances.

"Well?" purred Darkheart smoothly. "Will you join me, or do this the hard way?"

Firestar stepped in front of the other two Clan leaders to answer the ShadowClan tom. "Darkheart, you will not have known about this, but together WindClan, RiverClan, and ThunderClan drove out another evil Clan out of this forest many moons ago. That Clan, BloodClan, no longer exists. We will do the same to you, and all of ShadowClan, if we are forced to.

Twitching his tail in annoyance, Darkheart snarled, "So what are you saying? You refuse to join me? You reject a peaceful offer from the great leader Darkheart?"

Nodding, Tallstar said bravely, "We'd rather die than join the likes of you!" Leopardstar hissed nastily and growled, "We'll fight to the death to protect our Clans."

Darkheart's mouth fell open. "Cats of the forest, I came here with an offer of peaceful unity. I can't believe you are acting this way..."

"No you didn't!" yeowled Ambertail suddenly. "We know what you're planning, Hacker! You want to destroy these cats and take their forest for yourself!"

There were shocked gasps and whispers from various ShadowClan cats. Flamepelt, however, looked ready to burst with pride. He purred loudly and pushed his nose affectionately into the she-cat's fur, murmuring, "Way to go, Nezzie!"

Meanwhile Darkheart looked ready to burst also, but for a very different reason. He was so angry his black eyes had narrowed into barely visible slits. Looking straight into Ambertail's eyes, he hissed, "This is none of your business, you insolent earthworm!" Before he could lay a paw on her, however, Flamepelt and Tawnyclaw pushed in front of the pale ginger she-cat, shielding her from Darkheart's wrath.

"Get out of here, Hacker!" growled Tawnyclaw. "You're not wanted in our Clans!"

Darkheart turned to ShadowClan in hopes of help, but he got none. Every cat was either hissing or glaring menacingly at him. Growling, "Blackfur! Stormwind! Come on, we're getting out of here!" he whirled and sprinted into the forest, his two henchmen close behind hiim.

"Well, let's hope that's the last we see of him for a while." meowed Graystripe. "Good work, Tawnyclaw and Flamepelt."

Soon after Darkheart fled, the Gathering ended. Russetfur filled in as ShadowClan's leader. On their way back to the ThunderClan camp, Flamepelt winked at Ambertail and whispered, "Now we're even."

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Again, I'm sorry for this...