Hey! Here's the second chapter I promised!

To be clear, we are back to Lightningpaw's point of view.

Once again, happy Friday! I'll see you again on Tuesday!

-Izrose

Chapter Ten

Settingstar's silhouette against the full moon was frightening. His scarlet fur glowed dim blood-red in the scarce light, and his eyes shone through the shadows. He stood atop the Highrock, waiting for cats to gather beneath him.

Not for a meeting, for the Gathering.

I had just learned that every full moon, all four Clans met in a place called Fourtrees in the center of the territories. I was going with Jaysight tonight and right now sat beside him right under the Highrock, waiting for the rest of the patrol to gather.

Leopardclaw stood at Settingstar's flank, watching him rather than the cats below. Something was halfway concealed behind her forest green eyes. It wasn't impatience, or frustration, or anything I'd seen Leopardclaw looking like before. It looked almost like… admiration? Not quite… something more than that…

I shook those thoughts out of my mind. I had bigger things to worry about. For instance, this whole dispute with ShadowClan. It had nothing to do with the real reason I was here, but I had the sneaking feeling that it was somehow connected. I had no evidence to support my idea, of course. A very improbable idea, anyway. But I couldn't shake it off.

It had been nearly half a moon since the meeting with Blizzardstar. Only a few sunrises ago, the first traces of ShadowClan since then had been found on our territory. Except it was a little more than traces now. It looked like an entire patrol of cats had been there, going much further into our territory than they had before. Settingstar had said it was too close to the Gathering to bother much now, so we waited and kept out eyes out. It seemed like the cats visited every night now, but Settingstar refused to do anything before speaking with Blizzardstar again at the Gathering.

Finally, after sitting there with my tail freezing into the ground for ages, every cat seemed to be ready. I glanced around. I recognized Cloudfall, Runningbird, Thunderfang, Tigerstep, Stormblaze, Mistypaw, Ashpaw, Spiderpaw, and Forestpaw. In addition, there were two twin dark grey tabby cats called Pricklepad and Berrypool whom I hadn't really gotten to know well – I just knew they were Ashpaw's and Spiderpaw's mentors.

Settingstar leapt off the Highrock, signaling for his patrol to follow him. It was the largest group of cats I'd ever been in outside of camp, excluding the time I was in ShadowClan territory. We moved quickly across the territory, and I stuck by Jaysight's side, but I was so nervous that I was going very slowly.

I had a bad feeling going towards Fourtrees. A weight in my stomach, a lump in my throat. I have no clue where it was coming from, but… something wasn't right. I looked up at Silverpelt while I ran.

Is something wrong? What's going on? I thought, not sure if I was asking myself or StarClan.

After leaping over a low stream without getting my paws wet, and watching Ashpaw, frustrated, splash into it, I could see Fourtrees. There were four humongous oak trees around the clearing, and one Great Rock in the center. When we reached the clearing, it wasn't immediately clear if my suspicions were correct or not. Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary.

Except that there were a lot of cats. More than I'd ever seen in my life in one place. WindClan and RiverClan, it looked like, had already arrived. ShadowClan had yet to make its entrance.

I was so busy taking it all in that I didn't realize that Jaysight had left my side. I looked around frantically, until the touch of Mistypaw's tail-tip tapped my flank.

"You don't have to stay with your mentor, you know. More fun without them watching your every move," she said, smiling.

I smiled back, relaxing a little. "How many Gatherings have you been to?"

"This is my second, actually," she said. "I've been an apprentice for five moons. Anytime now, I'll be having my assessment and getting my warrior name." She said this last part very proudly.

"The den will be empty without you and Spiderpaw," I meowed. "Ashpaw, however, I don't think I'll mind too much when he leaves."

Mistypaw laughed. "Ah, but then you and Forestpaw will have the den to yourselves," she meowed, winking.

I rolled my eyes. "Oh, be quiet. Come on, why don't we go talk to some apprentices from other Clans?"

She agreed and dropped the subject of Forestpaw for now. We soon ran into a couple of WindClan apprentices and one from RiverClan. The two WindClan were named Starlingpaw, a small black-and-white tom, and Hailpaw, a huge white tom. We were surprised to learn they were the same age – their size difference was immense. Quailpaw of RiverClan was a pretty tortoiseshell who was quiet and kind. She had been talking to the pair of WindClan apprentices before we approached.

We sat with the three apprentices and began talking, and before long I was having a great time. I never expected to get along so well with other Clans. However, this was a peaceful and joyful time in the Clans, and it was easy to like cats that were so like me.

Eventually, though, ShadowClan arrived. And as their leader joined the other three leaders atop the Great Rock, I realized I had been right in my hunch that something was wrong.

Because the leader that leapt onto the rock was not Blizzardstar.

"Bonetooth?" Gingerstar, the WindClan leader, asked. "What has happened to Blizzardstar?"

Bonetooth was a huge cream-colored tom. When he spoke next, he was speaking to every cat in the clearing. "Blizzardstar was in an unfortunate accident with a fox on our territory. He was on his last life. The fox has been driven off, but we are both mournful and watchful for its return. I have received my nine lives from StarClan, and I am now Bonestar, as of three sunrises ago. Twoclaw has been named my deputy."

Quiet and confused meows sounded out through the clearing. I thought it was because Twoclaw didn't seem like a likely choice for deputy. Not only did he lack leadership skills, but he was nearly an elder, and ragged and scarred from years of battle. He would not last long if he saw battle again before Bonestar's reign ended.

I saw confusion spark in my own leader's eyes, too, but I got the feeling it was more than just Bonestar's choice in deputy.

Finally, Gingerstar spoke again. "Blizzardstar was a great leader, both powerful and thoughtful. I remember the Gathering when he announced that he was succeeding Jasminestar. He was an amazing leader for ShadowClan, taking care of them for many seasons. He watches over all the Clans from Silverpelt tonight." The entire clearing dipped their heads in respect for Blizzardstar. Gingerstar nodded to Bonestar. "We wish you luck in your leadership, and may StarClan light the way for you and ShadowClan."

Bonestar acknowledged her with a nod of his head, but said nothing more.

Settingstar stepped forward after the moment of respect for Blizzardstar. As if to rid the clearing of the silence, he began, "ThunderClan has a new apprentice this moon, Lightningpaw." I ducked my head shyly at the mention of my name. Settingstar paused before continuing. "In addition, and I hate to bring this up with the recent tragedy in your Clan, but it seems that several ShadowClan cats have been visiting our territory nightly, Bonestar."

Silence echoed across the clearing. All eyes turned to the huge white tom.

"I'm afraid you are mistaken, Settingstar," Bonestar said slowly. "None of my cats have been trespassing." He said it with perfect calmness and sincerity, it was almost like you could believe him.

But none of ThunderClan did.

Leopardclaw was the first to burst out in rage. "Liar!"

The rest of ThunderClan followed suit, yowling at Bonestar loudly.

"There's no way you can tell us that there are no ShadowClan trespassers! We've scented them every night!" yowled Leopardclaw from the foot of the Great Rock, raw rage in her voice.

Bonetooth looked down at her with cold yellow eyes, not at all disturbed or panicked. "I assure you, there is a mistake. My warriors have not been trespassing."

Settingstar silenced his Clan with a wave of his tail. "Very well, Bonestar. Perhaps you are right. We will be more careful." His words were icy in comparison to his flaming eyes that betrayed his true rage that matched Leopardclaw's in every way except in the way it was contained.

Every Clan was in shocked silence, it seemed, except ShadowClan. Their warriors seemed relaxed as if nothing exciting had happened at all.

There was silence across the clearing. I looked up at the sky. The moon was clear. Jaysight had said that if StarClan was unhappy with what was happening, they would sometimes send clouds to cover the moon. But the sky was clear, and the clearing well-lit.

What could StarClan be thinking as they watched from the sky?

I knew one thing: something was off about Bonestar and Twoclaw. I hoped StarClan could see through it too.