The senior cats from all Clans gasped as the unfamiliar warrior stepped into the light. Many of the new warriors looked around in confusion. Lightstar thought she remembered the name Sol from elder's stories, but she couldn't place it. Whoever he was, and whoever this cat was, they meant bad news.
Whitewing motioned to Lightstar with her tail. "Sol was leader of ShadowClan once, and he made the Clans fight against one another. He was driven off, and we never saw him again." The snowy white deputy gulped. "We thought he might leave the Clans alone, but apparently not."
"Cats of all Clans!" Lion yowled, silencing the shocked cats. "I only bring peace." As cats began to protest, he flicked his tail to silence them. "I have come here to escape my father, Sol. You all know of his treacheries, and I hope you don't judge me by his actions."
"Then where's Blackstar?" a WindClan warrior challenged.
"Blackstar lost his last life to a fever that medicine cats can't cure." Lion said. "It comes from the Twoleg filth left behind in our territory. Once you have it in your body, you're dead."
Cats were still muttering. "How do we know we can trust you?" Mistystar asked, gazing at the new leader with steady eyes. "Yeah," agreed Lightstar, with Onestar growling uncomfortably by her side.
"I swear by StarClan that I will not attack any of your clans, "The ShadowClan leader vowed, looking calmly out over the bristling cats. "I will provide for ShadowClan and be a reasonable leader. But don't think this makes ShadowClan any weaker." The tortoishell tom warned, his eyes flashing. The cats began to smooth their ruffled fur and lower their mutters to whispers.
"That's enough excitement for one night." Lightstar said. Onestar yowled, signaling the end of the Gathering.
"Do you think Lion is going to keep his promise?" the leader heard a cat whisper.
"No. What's StarClan to a rogue? He probably isn't going to take a leader's name." another cat whispered back as they padded over one of the stretches of land before they reached ThunderClan camp.
Lightstar looked back at her warriors as they reached the camp, eyes dull as they stopped with weary paws. Whitewing ran up to the ThunderClan leader.
"Are you going to call a Clan meeting tonight or tomorrow to tell the Clan about this new leader?" She asked, flicking her tail nervously.
"I'll let them get their sleep." Lightstar said, and focused on the camp entrance, pushing her way through and then wordlessly padding into her den and curling into a tight ball on the moss.
When the Clan leader woke up, cats were gathered outside of the High Ledge. They probably all knew what was coming. Some of them whispered as they watched the Clan leader.
"All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the High Ledge for a Clan meeting!" She called. The warriors straightened up and the remaining cats streamed into the clearing.
"As most of you have heard, ShadowClan has a new leader. He claims to be the son of Sol, the infamous cat who almost started a huge war between Clans." Cats looked up in surprise. "He has promised to not attack without reason, but has warned us ShadowClan is still strong. Blackstar's life will be remembered, but Lion will be a strong leader for ShadowClan."
The Clan looked satisfied, so Lightstar twitched her whiskers and jumped down from the ledge.
"I'll organize patrols, Whitewing." The Clan leader told her deputy as she began beckoning cats with her tail.
"Lakepool, Berrynose, Brightheart, and Sweetpaw, I want you on the dawn patrol." The chosen cats left the camp. "Jadefall, Windpaw, Adderspot, and Wolfpelt, you go on one hunting patrol, while Flameclaw, Treepaw and I will go on another." The cats nodded. Flameclaw cheerfully trotted up to Lightstar with Treepaw trailing behind.
"Hi, Lightstar! Did you sleep well?" The friendly tom asked, gazing at her with his deep blue eyes, flicking his orange tail.
"Very." The leader said, catching his affectionate glance with amusement, trying not to purr. She could tell Flameclaw had a hard time covering up the fact that he liked her. Lightstar wasn't complaining, though. She grew hot underneath her pelt.
"Let's go." She said; glad to be away from the staring cats when they finally reached the prey-rich section of the forest.
"I want to see how well you do on your own, Treepaw. You're a good hunter, but I want you to improve your bird stalking crouch." Lightstar demonstrated, creeping forward like she was stalking a thrush; light on her paws, but still balancing so she could equally distribute her weight to all four paws.
"Okay!" Treepaw said, scenting the air. She darted away into the gorse bushes.
"Apprentices." Flameclaw snorted.
"You haven't even had one yet." Lightstar snorted back, playfully batting at his ears.
The two cats continued on, laughing and chattering. At the end of their hunting trip, around sunhigh, Lightstar had caught a shrew, a sparrow, and two mice. Flameclaw came back with two large rabbits and a mole. Treepaw caught a blackbird, a thrush, and a squirrel. Lightstar purred when she saw her apprentices' catch.
"That squirrel will please the elders." She said, looking at the dark brown she cat with pride. "Go give it to them, along with one of these mice."
"You've taught her a lot, Lightstar." Flameclaw gazed warmly at the clan leader, and now Lightstar returned his gaze.
"And you will be the best mentor to your apprentice, when Squirrelflight has had her kits." Flameclaw purred and narrowed his eyes modestly. Flightstar could almost believe that everything was normal. But it wasn't. She still had to get to the bottom of Hawkfrost's apology, and Lion was a possible threat. Lightstar shook her head to clear the negative thoughts. She leaned towards Flameclaw, breathing in his comforting mossy scent, forgetting all of her troubles and closing her eyes in the warm sun rays.