Previously on TMotM...

"I must do it. Even if it means killing my own brother, I will. It's for the good of the Clans."

Anyways, continuing on!

CHAPTER 8: THE GATHERING

Leopardpaw's POV

I woke up at dawn. I was an early-morning riser, so this wasn't unusual even in leaf-bare. I carefully stepped over the sleeping Sassafraspaw and walked out. Goldensun was just going into the warriors' den, his vigil over.

"Hey Goldensun!" Bluepaw said. "Willowbranch wants me to collect herbs from ShadowClan, and I need a warrior escort. Do you want to come with me?"

"No," snapped Goldensun. "I had a vigil, you know." He turned and walked stiffly into the warriors' den.

I was shocked. What was with Goldensun today? Maybe he was just cranky staying up all night. But that still wasn't an excuse for being so rude to his own brother.

"Can I go?" asked Silverpaw.

"You're confined to the camp," I reminded my sister. "Besides, Willowbranch said warrior escort, not apprentice."

"Fine." Silverpaw grumpily looked down at her paws.

I sighed. Sometimes I felt that I was the older littermate, and this was one of those times. Silverpaw just didn't take anything seriously. If she was hardworking like Goldensun or Bluepaw, then she might become a warrior soon. But no. She had to sneak out of camp and act so immature.

"I'll come with you," said Flamingfur, my father. The two toms left the camp.

"Can you put me on a hunting patrol?" I begged Featherfur, our deputy.

"No," she said firmly. "You have to be rested for the Gathering tonight."

"But we need food," I protested. "Leaf-bare is so hard, and the Clans are suffering without food. Look, everyone goes hungry every day. It's been worse ever since we gave up territory to WindClan."

Her gaze softened. "I know you just want to serve your Clan, Leopardpaw. Believe me, I wish that there were more apprentices like you. But you have to rest today and let the Clan provide you with food for a change. You can go hunting tomorrow."

I stomped off to my den. What was the big deal, anyways? I could rest in the afternoon and go hunting now.

For a moment I considered leaving the camp and sneaking out to hunt, but then I decided against it. I wasn't a Silverpaw. Besides, if Midnightstar found out, I wouldn't be allowed to go to the Gathering tonight or hunting tomorrow. It wasn't worth it.

"Tell me everything," Silverpaw begged me as I prepared to leave. "I want to know every single detail."

I snorted. "All right Silverpaw, I get it. Just stay out of trouble for once."

"Her staying out of trouble?" snorted Goldensun, who had finally gotten out of his cranky mood. "Are you crazy? She was born for trouble."

"Everyone, let's go!" Midnightstar called. "Everyone that is staying back, carry on with your normal duties!"

I loved Gatherings. It was so much fun to mingle with cats from other Clans. I bounded forwards, excited.

The full moon shone bright in the sky as I walked on the fallen tree that leads to the island. When I reached, I looked around, and met with a few cats from ThunderClan. There was Wildpaw from ThunderClan. I remembered last Gathering, where he and Silverpaw met and seemed to him it off with each other immediately.

"Hey, Leopardpaw," he purred. "Where's Silverpaw?"

"She didn't come," I replied. Wildpaw looked disappointed.

A hiss suddenly sounded in the clearing, telling all of the cats to be quiet. I saw Bluepaw sitting with the medicine cats in the center of the clearing, surrounding a pool of water. Midnightstar climbed the willow, Flowerstar took the maple, and Foxstar climbed the oak (I know that this isn't how Gatherings are supposed to go but this is just my version of it). Their warriors, elders, and warrior apprentices, from RiverClan, WindClan, and ThunderClan, assembled in front of their trees, and the deputies sat at the foot of their Clan's tree.

Wait! Where was ShadowClan?

I looked towards the pine tree that belonged to ShadowClan. Why wasn't Thornstar climbing it? Why wasn't his deputy standing under it? And why wasn't his Clan assembled in front of the tree?

I looked towards the maple, the tree that belonged to WindClan, and I saw that ShadowClan had assembled there. And to my shock, Thornstar was standing with the warriors, and so was his deputy.

Great StarClan, what was going on?

"Can someone explain this?" Foxstar asked.

Flowerstar purred. "Thornstar agreed to give up all of his territory. It now belongs to me. He has agreed to give up the name of ShadowClan. I have given up the name of WindClan as well. My Clan is called FlowerClan. Thornstar gave me sole leadership of FlowerClan, so he is a regular warrior now, by the name of Thornpelt, and his deputy, Molefoot, is also an ordinary warrior. And the last thing that Thornpelt agreed to was to have his nine lives stripped away."

Thornpelt bowed his head in shame and defeat.

"What do you mean, he agreed to have his nine lives stripped away?" gasped Featherfur.

"What do you think I mean?" Flowerstar purred evilly.

"You killed him eight times?" cried a warrior from ThunderClan. "That's evil!"

"There have always been four Clans, not three," added Midnightstar furiously. "And I can't believe that you named your Clan after yourself!"

"Does any cat wish to join me?" Flowerstar asked, looking around the clearing. Her voice was now dangerously soft as she looked around the clearing, staring boldly at every cat.

"I will," said Wildpaw slowly. I stared at him.

"Don't Wildpaw!" shouted Foxstar.

"I've always been a loyal ThunderClan apprentice," said Wildpaw, "but my parents both died of starvation. In FlowerClan I would be well-fed. Please let me, Foxstar. My parents wouldn't want me to starve either."

I knew there was nothing that could change Wildpaw's mind. Foxstar nodded, looking defeated.

A few other ThunderClan cats, probably Wildpaw's friends, joined him in FlowerClan.

"Anyone, else?" Flowerstar asked, looking around with her sickly-sweet smile. "Speak up now or never. Come on, don't be shy."

Not a single cat uttered a word.

"Very well," Flowerstar replied, looking furious. "Any cat who doesn't join FlowerClan will be dead by next moon. You'd all better watch your tails."

And with that threat, she jumped down from the maple tree, the rest of her Clan following.

I absolutely adore Flowerstar. She reminds me so much of Umbridge from Harry Potter. And Midnightstar is so much like McGonall.

AOTD: I can't answer this. If I do, it'll be a major spoiler for the rest of the story.