Hey guys! This shouldn't be this late because it was pre-written, but I'm co captaining a Relay for Life team, so that's made me pretty busy=( Hopefully I can update again next weekend but I'm not promising anything. On the other hand we go back to Midnight with this chapter=)

Bramblewhisker88- Don't worry about the review, I understand being busy with school. As long as you can review every once and a while I'm good=) Glad you liked the chapter! Yeah Moon's fun isn't she? You should be interested;) I haven't decided what's going to happen with them yet. I'm not sure yet… we'll have to wait and see;) Hope you liked this and thanks for reviewing!

Jayleaf1- Yeah I mean everyone needs someone to kinda smack some sense into them one day. And Rose is just going to be mature about it;) You'll have to wait and see if they do! And yes I just want you to randomly pick one so that it's completely impartial, so strike or storm? Thanks for reviewing and I hope you enjoy this!

Chapter Twenty

Coolness creeps into the air as the hollow is washed in the colors of sunset, the blue-purple that precedes dusk lapping at the edges of the sky.

The temperature is refreshing and I close my eyes, enjoying it. Tigerheart sit down next to me, and Ravenclaw joins us before I open my eyes.

"What were you thinking?" Tigerheart asks and I shrug.

"Wasn't thinking. I was enjoying the weather." I reply and Ravenclaw smirks.

"I knew that wasn't your thinking face!" She declares happily.

"Huh… really thought it was, she was all dramatic as the sun set behind her and night descended, she had her eyes closed I figured some deep, philosophical thought had grabbed a hold of her." Tigerheart states, somewhat disappointed.

"Where do you get this stuff?" I ask, as Ravenclaw laughs.

He shrugs mysteriously, "Ask me no questions –"

"– And you'll tell me no lies." I finish, smirking as he nods. "Well we better set off, we might actually make it to a Gathering early." I joke and Raven smirks, before she wanders off to find Onyxnight. They're not coming; I had to cut down because of the new apprentices and their mentors along with the ShadowClan cats.

I join Blazefeather at the thorn tunnel as the patrol assembles. We have a fairly small one tonight, Lionblaze, Cinderheart, Nightwhisper, Cloudtail, Bluemorning, Berrynose, Hazeltail, Dustpelt, and Birchfall along with their corresponding apprentices. Then Tigerheart and his Clanmates, of course, so they can meet with other ShadowClan cats at the Gathering.

Once everyone has assembles, I call order and we head out. We run quickly, and I can hear Lightingpaw and Eaglepaw urging on the new apprentices. Once we reach the tree bridge, I hang back to ensure that the paws make it across (they do with some reassurance) and then we walk through the tall grass to the island.

RiverClan of course is there, but we seem to have beaten WindClan and their ShadowClan group. I stride through the crowd to the tree and jump up, while Blazefeather and Tigerheart settle themselves in the roots.

I greet Mistystar and we chat idly for a few moments until Tawnystar and Ashstar arrive. Once the cats settle, Mistystar calls the Gathering to order.

"So as you all know, the Dark Forest has struck another blow to us, leading the twolegs to ShadowClan's camp. Because of this, ShadowClan is now living split between the Clans," Mistystar mews, "But this will not go unpunished. We will rise up and we will make the Dark Forest pay."

The cats yowl their approval and Mistystar continues, "RiverClan remains strong in these troubled times. We had a small outbreak of whitecough, but our skilled medicine cats dealt with it. We have also had a late kitting, but both the kits and queen are healthy and well. That is all."

Ashstar steps up next, "WindClan too is doing well. We had a small spat with the Dark Forest, but there were no deaths and no other activity since then. Prey is running well. We also have two apprentices, Moorpaw and Dappledpaw."

The two apprentices are sitting in the center of WindClan's group, grinning embarrassedly as the Gathering yowls for them.

"That is all."

Ashstar steps back and I move forward, "ThunderClan is also prosperous." I mew, scanning the crowd, "Leafbare has not been as bad as seasons past and we have four new apprentices: Sparrowpaw, Rosepaw, Falconpaw, and Skypaw."

The Gathering yowls for them too and they grin softly, the others nodding encouragingly to them.

"The wolves have arrived," I mew after the crowd has grown quiet and some cats shift uneasily. I'm rather glad I decided against bringing them, "And they have set up a temporary camp outside our own. That is all."

I step down and Tawnystar takes my place, "I would like to sincerely thank all of the Clans for taking in ShadowClan. This had the potential to be an awful tragedy, but we have banded together to make the best of this. Thank you. I have talked to several of my Clanmates, and they are doing well thanks to your hospitality. Thank you."

Tawnystar backs down and I exchange a questioning look with Mistystar. She nods and mews, "We will stay for a few moments so you can visit with friends."

The Clan groups break up as cats spilt off to find friends, or in the case of ShadowClan, talk with family and Clanmates.

Watching the cats for a moment I gather my thoughts before I jump lightly down. Tigerheart is with his mother, talking to Clanmates, but Blazefeather and Nightwhisper wait for me.

"How long will we stay?" Blazefeather asks and I shrug.

"Not too long." I reply.

My friend keeps looking around, probably for his kits.

"Don't worry." Nightwhisper mews gently, "They're just exploring."

"That's why I'm worried." Blazefeather retorts and I roll my eyes.

"They're with Lightingpaw and Raven's kits, they are perfectly safe." I mew, "I promise."

At long last he nods, and we observe the cats around us. A ShadowClan couple is whispering, a group of WindClan and RiverClan cats are joking, and I see Mistystar talking through the crowd.

We amuse ourselves for the next few minutes by making up the dialogue for the conversations we can't hear – and though I have an advantage – it's pretty hilarious. When Tigerheart turns and meets my eyes I nod slightly and he bids his mother goodbye before leading his Clanmates to us. I call for the rest of the patrol and we head home.

The group's waiting for us, so Nightwhisper and I grab a vole to share and sit with our friends. Echosong's the first to speak, "What happened?"

"Honestly not much." I reply, "Just some reports, Mistystar and Ashstar didn't want to seem too weak so they talked about how great everything was."

"So did you." Nightwhisper points out.

"Cause they did." I retort.

He smiles slightly and looks back to the others, "WindClan has two new apprentices, what was it? Something odd…" he looks at me and I swallow my bite of the vole.

"Moorpaw and Dappledpaw." I mew.

"Right…"

"Who names their kid Moor?" Jaggedwind snorts.

"Someone who lives on a moor." Ravenclaw replies drily.

"I kind of like it." Echosong replies, "It could be a really cool warrior name… and it's different."

"I bet I know who did it…" Onyxnight mews thoughtfully, "And she was definitely going for different…"

We all laugh and Creamlight mews, "Well Dappledpaw isn't bad."

"Yeah I like that one." I reply, "I'd make it like Dappledsun or something."

"That's pretty!" Echosong and Creamlight coo.

Jaggedwind carries on the conversation after that and I finish my half of the vole quickly. I keep to myself more than usual, watching the flow of the conversation with a smile. Since it's a full moon tonight, the moon is a dazzling white, lighting up the sky.

When we break up for sleep, Nightwhisper sticks close to me, "You were in another world there." he mews softly.

"Yeah sorry… I was just thinking."

"About what?" he asks as we walk into my den.

"That I love our friends." I reply with a laugh.

He laughs with me and nods, "They are pretty great."

We settle down in our nest and I lay my head next to his, looking out at the night sky through the gap in the rocks. I try not to feel it – because it normally means that something bad is about to happen – but I can't help the simple happiness that washes over me as I slowly fall asleep.

Well what did you think? I know it wasn't super exciting but it had some humor and there was some downtime, something that won't be around for much longer;)

About the poll I realized I needed to clarify something, I want you to randomly pick strike or storm. So think and pick please=)

-Quote: "It was only when he had attained a great age that the youngest brother finally took off the Cloak of Invisibility and gave it to his son. And then he greeted Death as an old friend, and went with him gladly, and, equals, they departed this life." ~The Tale of the Three Brothers, The Tales of Beedle the Bard.

Because I really like that story, and the movie couldn't get it right even though there were two sources for it. Sorry, personal vendetta.

So review please!=)

~Midnight