A/N: Like I said, I was bored! Oh, and for all of those who have clicked on this story, you will HAVE to leave a review.

~Chapter 10~

Hollyheart padded through the forest, feeling confident with herself. Three suns had passed since Branchkit was allowed in the Clan. He had settled in quite well, and Hollyheart was pleased to know that some day he would become a strong, loyal warrior. I hope, she thought as she stopped for a moment. But then, the voice sounded in her head again. She hadn't heard in a while, though it still sent shivers through her fur.

You could also be a strong and loyal warrior, the voice whispered. You could take Branchkit on as an apprentice, the voice was almost sneering, and Hollyheart tried desperately to shake her head, hoping to get rid of the voice. But it went on, become friends with Branchkit, and you will soon become deputy. With that, the voice faded and it left Hollyheart feeling terrified. What danger did this new power bring to her?

She padded on, grateful that the voice was gone. Soon Hollyheart spotted and killed a vole, ignoring the pain the sliced through her spine. She quickly dispatched a wood lark and a sparrow, then carried her meeger catch back to camp. She wasn't aware of Muskedfur, who must have returned from the dawn patrol. He stepped in front of her, though his yellow eyes were gleaming with anticipation. "Bramblestar has announced who will be going to the Gathering," he meowed. "You and I are going," he added with a flick of his tail. "Leaspots, Sandstorm, Cloudtail and Lynxpaw will also be going."

The black she-cat purred and licked his cheek. "That's great," she mewed as she dropped her catch at her paws. "I'm taking this to the fresh-kill pile," she added as she padded away.

Muskedfur stared after her as she dropped it on the fresh-kill pile. Suddenly a shadow loomed over her, and Hollyheart looked up to see Bramblestar staring at her as well. "That was well done," he meowed. "Hollyheart, I'd like to see you in my den," he added.

He jumped up the pile of rocks that made up the Highledge, and Hollyheart quickly followed, feeling confused. Why would he want to see her? She didn't know whether or not something had happened while she was gone. What if I caused a commotion? She wondered as she slowly approached the entrance.

Squirrelflight also was there, though her belly was bulging. Hollyheart knew it would only be a matter of time before her kits came. It was good news for ThunderClan, new kits meant more apprentices, which was something the Clan needed more then anything else. Bramblestar was watching his mate with concerned amber eyes, and licked her shoulder gently as Squirrelflight groaned softly.

"Hollyheart," the dark brown tabby suddenly called as he finished, "you've been a warrior for only a couple of moons, but you've also shown that you're loyal, strong and compassionate." The praise caught Hollyheart off guard. She had never expected this to come, and she stared at him with wide eyes. "And I think, even though you're young, you are ready for an apprentice." Before he had a chance to continue, a thought suddenly accured to Hollyheart. The only kits in the Clan were Briarleaf's, and they wouldn't be apprentices for another couple of moons. Was Bramblestar telling her that she would mentor one of her kits? "I want you to mentor Branchkit when he is ready to become an apprentice," Bramblestar went on. "He is almost ready to become an apprentice, and you have shown that you above all care for him."

She felt Squirrelflight's stare burn into her pelt. Hollyheart was almost as shocked as she was. But before Hollyheart could say anything, Bramblestar meowed, "it's time to go to the Gathering."

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The full moon gleamed in the night sky, and stars sparked brightly, turning the forest a silver color. Hollyheart's tail tip twitched with excitement - this would be her first time at the Gathering as a warrio - she was somewhat nervous at the thought of it, but she knew that she would be okay. Muskedfur crouched beside her, along with Leafspots. Lynxpaw, who had grown furious with her since she became a warrior, was sitting next to his mentor Sorreltail. The tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat was gazing at the island with a fond look in her eyes.

Hollyheart knew that the Clan was ready to face the threat WindClan and ShadowClan threw at them. They had trained during the past moon, and now they were lean, muscular and well fit to take on just about anything.

Bramblestar suddenly let out a yowl, and the ThunderClan cats charged towards the island. Hollyheart quickly followed, with her tail raised in the air, and her green eyes gleaming in the pale moonlight.

When they reached the island, Hollyheart saw that RiverClan and ShadowClan were already there. She quickly spotted her friend Shellpaw and bounded over to her. Shellpaw's brother Coalpaw was speaking to a couple of ShadowClan warriors. Hollyheart was surprised that he could be so brave, but then, he seemed like the type of cat who would rather hang around older warriors.

Suddenly she felt her fur prickle under the stare of a rather large looking cat. Hollyheart turned to see a large dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes glaring at her icily, as if she were his worst enemy. Beside him was a mottled dark brown tom and a pale tabby she-cat. Both cats narrowed their eyes at her. "Come on Snakeclaw, we don't need to see this...ThunderClan cat," the pale tabby she-cat sneered.

The dark brown tabby tom nodded slowly, though as he led the group away, he continued to stare at Hollyheart. "Hollypaw, how are you?" Shellpaw's mew distracted her, and for once, she was grateful. The blue-gray she-cat was watching the three ShadowClan warriors with a cold expression. "Ignore them," she added. "They're mouse-brains."

Hollyheart shook her head and stared at Shellpaw. "Actually it's Hollyheart now," she corrected her friend.

Shellpaw's blue eyes widened. "Wow, and here I thought you'd still be an apprentice. Well, I'm Shellspots," she mewed.

The two new warriors giggled at each other, then Hollyheart suddenly wanted to ask Shellspots if she knew more about those ShadowClan warriors. "Hey Shellspots, do you know anything about them?" She asked, casting a glance towards them.

They were huddled in a small group, mumbling to each other while glancing over at her. Hollyheart was certain that they were talking about her, and the thought of it made her fur stand on end. She flicked her ears, hoping she could make herself look like she were ignoring them. Suddenly Hollyheart heard a yowl from the Sky Oak, and she saw that Russetstar was starting the meeting. She looked around, hoping to find some WindClan warriors, but to Hollyheart's dismay, there were none.

"Russetstar, we cannot begin the Gathering without WindClan," Mistystar meowed from her branch. The gray she-cat was perched on it, and her blue eyes were narrowed as she stared at the ShadowClan leader.

The dark ginger she-cat flicked her tail submissively, as though she had not heard Mistystar's call. "Cats of all Clans, I have news from ShadowClan," she began. "Our Clan grows stronger every day, and we have decided to make our territory larger to support us." She glared at every cat defiantly, daring them to speak out against her.

Bramblestar glared back at her and growled, "and just how do you prapose to enlarge your territory?"

The ShadowClan leader snorted and dipped her head to him, suddenly looking friendly. Hollyheart knew exactly what she was trying to do. Russetstar was hoping that the ThunderClan leader would help her out. Well, you're not getting any help from us, she thought as she glared at her.

"Our territory goes further back," Russetstar explained calmly. "We decided to move our scent markers in the deeper part of the forest." She turned to stare at Brambleclaw with a mutinous look. "If that's okay with you," she added in a low hiss.

Hollyheart stared at her in shock. No cat ever challenged one another at a Gathering. Especially leaders. She felt as though a giant claw was tearing at her; StarClan were not happy with them, that she knew. The black she-cat gazed at them, wondering whether or not she should call out at them. But then she relaxed as Bramblestar dipped his head. At least he was easy to reason with, to an extant.

"Do you agree Mistystar?" He asked the RiverClan leader.

She had been silent the whole time, as if she were thinking of what to do. She glanced up to stare at him, then nodded. "I agree it is a good idea," she replied. "Now can we please get on with this?" She added.

Bramblestar nodded and began to speak. "All is well in ThunderClan. We have four new warriors: Muskedfur, Leafspots, Kerntail and Hollyheart." Hollyheart felt most cats stare at her. It felt like the last Gathering she had been to, when the Clans learned of her first name. "That is all." Bramblestar sat down, allowing Mistystar to speak out.

"All is well in RiverClan. We too have two new warriors: Shellspots and Coalpelt. Mosspelt has also had her kits, Leapordkit, Smallkit and Hawkkit." When the gray she-cat finished speaking, the Clans yowled out their new names. But Hollyheart was well aware that it was mostly from RiverClan and ThunderClan. Most of the ShadowClan cats were glowering at Mistystar, as if she were their worst enemy.

Hollyheart shuddered, and she suddenly realized that things were about to get far worse. WindClan had not shown up, and ShadowClan had openly threatened Bramblestar and Mistystar. She knew that a battle was coming, no matter how much Hollyheart wanted to stop it.

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A/N: Yay for long chapters! Anyways, I think I made it kind of obvious as to who Snakeclaw is(hint hint, he's a dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes). PLEASE review, you won't regret it, and it does NOT give you any sort of infection. I think.