Runningshadow got up and got onto his feet. He felt no pelt beside his, as Cloverpaw was injured and not allowed in any den yet. He sighed, got up and stretched.

Two sunrises ago, Deerpaw and Longpaw had had their hunting assessment. Today must have been the day that they were going to be made warriors!

Excitement fluttering in his paws, even though the two weren't his apprentices, Runningshadow dashed for the bottom of the Highrock to wait for the other cats to gather.

Deerpaw and Longpaw were the first to come out. They looked very excited themselves, they must have already known.

Finally, the entire Clan was seated. Ashstar looked down upon her Clan and yowled, "Cats of ThunderClan, we gather here to name two new warriors. Come forward, you two," She mewed to the apprentices, whipping her tail in a gesture.

The siblings exchanged an excited look and came up to the Highrock.

"Longpaw, Deerpaw, you both are ambitious cats and great hunters. Your fighting and hunting skills have proved yourselves ready to be warriors.

"I, Ashstar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these two apprentices. They have trained hard to learn your noble code, and I commend them as warriors in their turn.

"Deerpaw, Longpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?" Asked Ashstar.

"I do!" Deerpaw exclaimed, kneading her paws.

"I do," Longpaw replied in a calm way.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you two your warrior names. Longpaw, you are now Longwhisker. Deerpaw, from now on your name shall be Deerstripe. StarClan honors your ambition and skills and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

Deerstripe and Longwhisker stepped forward happily to have Ashstar rest her muzzle on their shoulder. They both licked her shoulder in turn and stepped back into the audience to be warmly congratulated by Stripewhisker, their mother.

"Deerstripe! Longwhisker! Deerstripe! Longwhisker!" Chanted the Clan.

Runningshadow remembered how full the moon was last night. He raised a tail to get Ashstar's attention.

"I need to meet with you in your den," Runningshadow said.

Ashstar flattened her ears. She knew what he was talking about. Leaving the two new warriors to be congratulated by the Clan, she jumped down from the Highrock and headed for the den carved beneath it.

"I know what it is," She meowed quietly. "The Gathering is tonight. We need to come up with a decision…" Ashstar let out a small purr. "So on top of things, Runningshadow," She praised.

"Th-thank you, Ashstar," Runningshadow mewed hastily, "But we have to discuss the Gathering. Hurricanesong will be outraged if we don't give him the answer he wants."

"Yes," Ashstar mewed. "Yes. That's the answer he wants."

Runningshadow nodded. "And he'll do anything to get his way. ShadowClan cats love to fight, Ashstar, and he'd love this excuse. What are we going to say?"

"We are going to say no," Ashstar growled. "I refuse to give up my territory. I don't care if ShadowClan got poisoned by Twolegs, I'm not going to give to them what is rightfully ThunderClan's."

Runningshadow nodded. He was glad that she agreed with him. But what would Hurricanesong do when they told him?

Runningshadow kneaded his paws nervously. "So who are you taking to the Gathering?"

Ashstar froze, her eyes staring at nothing. "I haven't arranged that yet," She murmured. "I would like you to do that, while I think over what Hurricanesong asked of us."

"Me?" Asked Runningshadow. "But why me? Why can't you do it?"

"I told you," Ashstar mewed crossly. "I have to plan for tonight's Gathering. Hurricanestar will want a good explanation for this."

Runningshadow, feeling some sympathy for the smoky gray she-cat, decided to just do it and gather some warriors for the Gathering.

The first couple were obvious: Longwhisker and Deerstripe. And that also pinned Mudpelt and Irispetal onto the list. Who else would want to go?

Perhaps Newtfrost- she would want one last Gathering before total motherhood. She always was an energetic cat, and Runningshadow wanted to take her to the Gathering.

But she and Summerheart were getting even more pregnant every day. StarClan knew when they would have their kits. Runningshadow decided it wasn't a good idea, no matter what Newtfrost thought of him after.

Skipping the nursery, Runningshadow went for the apprentices den. The apprentices were making pretty good progress, and most of them were awesome hunters. A few deserved to go.

Excluding Cloverpaw, Runningshadow invited Starpaw, Shadowpaw, and Poisonpaw to the Gathering. They all happily accepted.

Runningshadow also wanted a couple of warriors. No, many warriors. Hurricanesong was so unpredictable, especially at a time like this where a fight was inevitable.

Runningshadow rounded up Spiritwing, Chasewind, Flamemoon, Autumnpelt, Thistletail, and Pineclaw. He wanted a few more, but decided against it. He could get a couple of elders.

After he had told Phantomheart and Goldpuddle to come to the Gathering, Runningshadow went back around to the nettle patch to grab a piece of fresh-kill.

"Oh no you don't," Growled a voice.

Runningshadow looked up to see the looming shape of Mudpelt over him. "You should hunt first. We need all the prey we can get."

"Leaf-bare is almost over," Runningshadow growled.

"We should manage to get the most prey we can," Mudpelt repeated.

"Well, Mudpaw, I don't think that apprentices can order older warriors around," Sneered Runningshadow. He took a mouse and walked away, flicking his white-tipped tail under Mudpelt's nose.

Mudpelt let out a long, low growl, but didn't do anything, to Runningshadow's surprise. Good, thought the light brown tom. I should be glad his punishment is keeping him from ripping my pelt off.

As Runningshadow sat down to eat, the mouse reminded him of the medicine cat. Cloverpaw, he thought. The thought of the she-cat made him want to see her, so he picked up the mouse and took it to the fern tunnel.

Mossflower was already sitting at the exit, licking herself very thoroughly.

"Be careful," Teased Runningshadow. "We don't want that many kits, at least not from a medicine cat."

Mossflower looked up at Runningshadow and jumped. "Oh, Runningshadow," She gasped. "I had no idea you were here." She turned around and licked her neck fur down.

"You were out with Lightfoot again, weren't you?" Asked Runningshadow.

"Maybe it's none of your business," Mossflower growled, batting his ear with a black paw.

Runningshadow thrust her paw away just in time. "Good try," He teased in a laugh.

"Is that mouse for me?" Asked Mossflower wearily. "I'm starving."

Runningshadow sighed, nodded, and laid the mouse down in front of the medicine cat. "Yes, I figured you could use it since you were taking care of that furball Cloverpaw," He chuckled.

Mossflower laughed, but not in a happy way. "Yeah, she's really a handful. Thanks, Runningshadow."

"No problem," Runningshadow mewed. Remembering Ashstar, he turned around. "I have to talk to Ashstar," He called behind him. "Goodbye!"

"Bye, Runningshadow!" Mossflower called. "I'll tell Cloverpaw you said hi."

"Thanks," Runningshadow mewed. He dashed off through the tunnel where the light was fading.

He poked his head into Ashstar's den, but she wasn't there. "Ashstar?" He called.

"Out on the Sunhigh patrol," Called Thornclaw cheerfully.

Runningshadow felt shivers run up and down his spine. Thornclaw was the one that Summerheart was using as a decoy for Skycloud's kits. Since Thornclaw was light gray, like Skycloud, he would be a good cover in case anybody saw Summerheart with the ShadowClan warrior.

Runningshadow wondered how Thornclaw would feel if he found out that Summerheart's kits weren't his own.

"Thanks, Thornclaw," Called Runningshadow. "Are you excited for Summerheart?"

"Yeah!" Exclaimed Thornclaw. "I had no idea that she would be having my own kits, above all other tom's!"

"Yeah, it sure is amazing, huh?" Grumbled Runningshadow. Poor Thornclaw was being deceived.

"I can't wait for the kits to come!" Thornclaw mewed excitedly. "It won't be long now!"

"Yeah," Runningshadow said, trying to keep his face expressionless.

"Well , I'll let you attend to your duties," Thornclaw mewed. "I hope I'm not keeping you behind?"

"Not at all," Runningshadow mewed, deciding to go and hunt. "See you, Thornclaw."

The light gray tom waved his tail back in reply and went to get some fresh-kill.

Runningshadow felt horrible for Thornclaw. What would happen if he found out that Skycloud was the father and not he?

Runningshadow shivered at the thought.

Since he was going hunting, Runningshadow decided to ask Cloverpaw to come. Suddenly, it hit him. Cloverpaw had a broken leg.

Runningshadow felt scared for his apprentice. Would she or any other cat get hurt anymore by Mudpelt?

The brown tom shivered. He hoped that Mudpelt wouldn't turn out to be as deadly as Hurricanesong or Crimsonstone.

What's going to happen at the next Gathering, I wonder? Mudpelt is getting less and less loyal...REVIEW!! Review and I'll give you a...how about a...hm, i can't think of any plushies...how about a pregnant Summerheart plushie! Her face is all twisted up in fear...oooh...limited edition!! :P