I'm sorry I didn't update yesterday! Not only was it my parents anniversary, but my friends birthday as well. That, and I had an online quiz that needed to be finished. So once again, I'm sorry.

Anyways. Thanks . T-Roxie-I., Darkspots, Stormikat, Wolfgaze, Loststream and jenafuneral for reviewing! Wow, four new reviewers, that's great!

Also, I've already figured out most of the plot for this story, and there will be a total of...twenty or twenty five chapters, depending on where it leads. Okay, on to the next chapter!

Chapter 9

A full moon gleamed up in the night sky. Its silvery light washed over the trees, creating an eerie atmosphere. The clearing was filled with cats who were preparing to leave. On the Highrock, Lightningstar watched carefully.

She could barely make out Mistpaw's silvery pelt in the moon's light. Mistpaw blended in so perfectly, that her name suited her. Lightningstar's tail twitched when she realized that this would be Mistpaw's first Gathering. She would have to come up with an explanation as to why Mistpaw had not been at the last one. Of course, she had to think about the scars that now etched around Mistpaw's neck.

Mistpaw looked up, suddenly wondering what the Gathering would be like. Lightsnow had told her that there were many cats. These cats all came from ShadowClan, RiverClan, and WindClan. He warned her that ShadowClan cats could be cold-hearted, and often kept to themselves. RiverClan were slightly friendlier, but they were also proud and arrogant about their fish. WindClan were wiry and offensive. They often fought over the best hunting grounds because rabbits made up most of their diet.

"Let all cats old enough gather around the Highrock for a Clan meeting!" Lightningstar's yowl made Mistpaw jump. She did not see the black leader rise to her paws. However, there was really no need to call for a meeting. Most cats were already out, pacing and eagerly waiting to hear who would go. "I have decided who will come to the Gathering. Jayflight, Chillgaze, Lightsnow, Snowstorm, Cinderfoot and Mistpaw. Prepare to leave." And with that, Lightningstar leaped from her perch and went into her den.

It took Mistpaw a few moments to realize that Lightningstar hadn't chosen cats who were either afraid of Mistpaw or annoyed with her. She felt her heart lurch, knowing that it would only make them angrier.

"I'm so excited!" Lightsnow said when the meeting drew to an end. He was dancing from paw to paw, sending dewdrops flying onto Mistpaw's fur. "This will be my first Gathering as a warrior," he added with a wide, cat-like grin.

"Don't forget, it will be our second," Cinderfoot mewed with a low purr. Lightsnow purred back and flicked his tail over her shoulder, while Mistpaw just rolled her eyes.

She herself was rather nervous about going. It would be her first Gathering ever, and she was not sure how cats would react to her scars. The rest of the Clan seemed to accept that she was now brutally scarred. But there were still a few who flinched every time they looked at her neck. Neat, little cuts fashioned around her neck, where the clawmarks had been. Some of them looked as though she had done them herself, but she knew that they were the work of Eclipse.

After a few more heartbeats of waiting, Lightningstar finally emerged with Fallstripe behind her. Berrytail immediately approached her mate and gave him a loving purr, before returning to the warriors' den. Applepaw and Hawkpaw were forced to come to the Gathering, so Lightningstar had no need to announce their names. The two apprentices were bounding around like kits, acting as though they couldn't wait for it to begin.

Lightningstar moved to the entrance, where the rest of the chosen cats awaited her command. She raised her tail, and the patrol rose to their paws. Mistpaw quickly followed, stunned by how fast they moved. Lightningstar herself was gracefully leaping over fallen logs or bounding away from them. Mistpaw's breath became ragged as they passed Snakerocks and neared the clearing where the four oaks towered.

When they reached the hill, Mistpaw looked at the bramble bush where she had nearly been slaughtered. She shivered when she saw that it was growing on the blood of the cats that were killed there. Suddenly she wondered how many more cats were used in a sacrifice; killed right in that spot.

The scents of the other Clans wafted through the air. Mistpaw's nose wrinkled when a mixture of scents filled it. The scent was mixed with marshy grounds and Twolegs. Mistpaw had seen her first Twoleg when Lightningstar showed her Twolegplace. It from that moment when Mistpaw vowed to never set paw in their territory. Ever.

Silhouettes of the warriors, apprentices, queens and elders, could be seen over the hill. Mistpaw could see that they were all mingling, getting to know each other. Some cats stayed where they were to listen to tales from the other Clans, while others talked about how the prey was running.

Lightningstar let out a yowl and suddenly plunged through the undergrowth. Mistpaw followed, suddenly feeling excitement run through her. Lightsnow's fur brushed against her, while Cinderfoot ran on the other side. Applepaw and Hawkpaw bounced side by side, chattering about how they would approach the other apprentices. Mistpaw herself wondered how she would, but she didn't think too highly about it.

When they reached the clearing, they were greeted by a chorus of rough purrs and growls. ShadowClan, of course, were the ones growling. A patrol of ShadowClan warriors had been caught and attacked by Speckledface, who so eagerly clawed at their fur.

Mistpaw had never seen so many cats in her life. This was the first time she had ever met any cats from other Clans. Most of the time when she had been on a patrol, peace ensued. No one wanted to fight during the chills of leafbare. She was quickly greeted by a ginger tom, who had a handsome face and dark, glistening eyes. He was sitting beside a light brown tabby she-cat, who bore the same, sharp, intelligent look.

"Hi there, I've never seen you around," he meowed when she saw him stare at her.

"This is my first Gathering," she admitted. It was then that the light brown tabby noticed her scars. She flinched and stalked away, while Mistpaw just stared after her, suddenly wishing a hole would appear under her paws.

"Don't mind Minnowpaw," he said. He glared after her. "She doesn't know how to...react towards strangers."

Minnowpaw ignored the ginger tom and padded towards Applepaw and Hawkpaw, who were wide-eyed and didn't know what to make of the Gathering. Mistpaw couldn't help but purr at his words.

"My name's Duskpaw, and I'm a RiverClan apprentice," he explained after a few moments of silence. "You look like you're a ThunderClan apprentice; I recognize your scent. But you don't have the build of a ThunderClan cat."

"I don't?" Mistpaw asked. She was slightly irritated that he went on about how they should look like or smell like.

"They have a stalky build, you know, for running through the forest," he replied.

Mistpaw was about to open her jaws when a yowl came from the Great Rock. The four leaders had gathered and were now looking down upon the Clans. Mistpaw made out Fallstripe, sitting among the other deputies. He looked frail and old, compared to them.

"I would like to speak first," said a small pale gray tabby tom. He looked like a mouse compared to the other leaders. But there was a cold and calculated look in his eyes. He was definitely the leader of ShadowClan. Mistpaw blinked when the other leaders allowed him to speak. He rose to his paws, which made him appear larger now.

"During the last couple of days, we've spotted rogues stalking in our territory," he meowed. "Since then, a kit and an apprentice has disappeared. We now ask and warn you, that these rogues will intrude on your territory as well. We must ban together and stop them before any other lives are taken."

Spiders ran through Mistpaw's spine. The rogues were now attacking ShadowClan. She wondered if Eclipse was among the rogues who had kitnapped.

"We do not wish to waste any blood, Tinystar," replied a ginger tom with a narrowed face. "I am sorry, but WindClan has suffered too many losses to participate in your...revenge."

Yowls of outrage filled the clearing. Mistpaw was shocked that the WindClan leader would admit that his Clan was weak. Never before had a leader openly said so. She glanced around and saw that other warriors were just as shocked. The WindClan warriors were dismayed with their leader. While this was going on, Tinystar narrowed his eyes and decided to ignore the WindClan leader's comment. He turned and looked down at the crowd.

"Enough!" he caterwauled. Silence followed his ear-piercing cry. "I'm sorry you say that Foxstar," he added with a dip of his head to the ginger tom, "Is there anyone else who is willing to help?"

"I am willing." The call came from a thick-furred gray she-cat, who was the RiverClan leader. "My warriors are strong, and we will assist you in any means possible."

Duskpaw's breath hitched at her words. "She's lost her mind!" he gasped.

"What? Why?" Mistpaw asked. She was slightly confused as to why Duskpaw wouldn't want to fight. He seemed like the type of cat who would enjoy it.

"We're getting weak now because the river's flow isn't as strong as it used to be," he explained under his breath. "She just wants to join so that Tinystar will be in her debt."

Mistpaw stared at him in surprise. She knew that the RiverClan leader was one who took advantage of the Clan, but she didn't realize that she was this strong. Mistpaw shook her head, suddenly wondering if the Clans were in fact, preparing for a war that would never end.

"All is well in ThunderClan." Lightningstar spoke next. Her yellow eyes glowed like orbs as they pierced through the light of the moon. "We have two new warriors: Lightsnow and Finchwing."

The Clans, after reveling in Tinystar's news, mumbled their names half-heartily. Mistpaw glared at them.

"And we also have two new apprentices: Applepaw and Hawkpaw."

Lightningstar backed down, and the RiverClan leader known as Lunarstar spoke next. "Hunting is well in RiverClan," she meowed. "The Twolegs have left us in peace, until next greenleaf."

Mistpaw remembered Lightningstar telling her that Twolegs often came to the river. They had long sticks that dangled over the water, and caught fish themselves. She knew they were a danger to RiverClan's living. If they had disappeared, then why was Duskpaw so worried about his Clan?

The WindClan leader spoke next. Mistpaw could see that he was uncomfortable after revealing that WindClan had been weakened. But he lifted his chin and stared down at the Clans, daring anyone to say anything.

"WindClan has recovered from a greencough attack," he said when a silence filled the air. "We must prepare for the rest of leafbare that is to come."

Murmurs followed his words. Mistpaw knew they were feeling exactly what she felt: Uncertainty. She could feel them shifting uncomfortable as Foxstar spoke.

"That is all." He dipped his head and leaped down from the Great Rock to meet his deputy, a white tortoiseshell she-cat with amber eyes. She looked as lithe as he did, but there was something oddly familiar about the way she moved. Mistpaw couldn't place her paw on it; not yet anyways.

"This was...interesting," Duskpaw muttered when the Gathering was drawling to an end.

"Why would Foxstar reveal a threat like that?" Mistpaw whispered. She was still undaunted by how many cats there were.

"He wanted to make it sound like his Clan was weak," Duskpaw replied with a shrug. "I guess he's ready for an attack, because that's what Tinystar will give him for refusing to fight."

And that was the last thought Mistpaw had, before returning back to camp.

Eh, suckish ending. But I wasn't sure where this would lead. Now that you've been introduced to Duskpaw, can anyone guess why I chose Lightsnow to fall in love with Cinderfoot? If you do, I'll give you a blood-stained Eclipse plushie!O.o That sounded freaky. Anyways, PLEASE review!