Hello everybody! I'm sorry that this chapter took sooo long to be put up. i had writer's block until i woke up this morning. lol! anyway i really hope you enjoy this chapt-

Morningstar: Just get on with it already!

Redpaw + Troutpaw: Yeah! We want to go to the Gathering already!

Thistleface: Alright! Jeesh, calm the freak down! Just don't hit me with Brambleheart's sledgehammer.

The Three Cats: *Grin Evily and lift teh sledgehammer*

Thistleface: Ahh! *runs away with the three cats chasing after her*

Thistlestar: Uhh, Read and Review? *Flinches as loud bang sounds* Ohh! That's gotta hurt!

Chapter 21

Morningstar P.O.V

Morningstar gazed around the Shadowclan camp and her gaze rested on the cats gathered by the entrance to camp. They were leaving for the gathering soon and she waited for Juniperfoot and Cloudpaw to join the rest of the cats. She stood and waved her tail when they appeared from the medicine den. Morningstar crossed the camp and stopped by Echomist, her deputy.

"Shadowclan," she raised her voice over the chatter. "Let's go!" She pushed off with her hind legs and her warriors followed her through the Shadowclan camp entrance.

The needles on the forest floor flew out from underneath her paws as she whizzed past the pines towards the lake. The full moon lit up the forest and her warrior ancestors shone brightly. When they reached the shore, the pebbles clattered beneath their feet. The tree bridge grew closer and the scent of Thunderclan was overwhelming. Undergrowth rustled a few fox-lengths ahead and Paddedstar darted out with his clanmates following. Morningstar slowed and signaled for her clan to do the same. Paddedstar waved his tail in thanks and the Shadowclan cats soon charged onward after the Thunderclan patrol.

When Morningstar and her clanmates arrived at the island, she realized that Riverclan wasn't there yet. What is keeping Reedstar? She thought. As Thunderclan finished crossing, she jumped up on the tree bridge and dug her claws deep into the bark. It had rained recently and she didn't feel like getting her fur wet. Padding carefully across the tree, she scented that Windclan was already there. She felt the bridge shake as Echomist, Juniperfoot, and Cloudpaw jumped up behind her. A squeal rang through the air and Morningstar whipped around to see Cloudpaw clinging to a small branch over the silver water.

Juniperfoot bent down and grabbed Cloudpaw's scruff in his teeth. Morningstar let out a sigh of relief. She didn't want to have to send the young Medicine cat apprentice back to camp. Echomist met Morningstar's worried gaze as she padded past. The Shadowclan deputy shrugged and jumped off the tree bridge. As Morningstar turned back around, she heard Juniperfoot scolding his apprentice.

"You need to be more careful, Cloudpaw." She heard him say. "You know how slippery the tree bridge gets after it rains."

Morningstar let out a soft mrrrow of laughter as she jumped down from the tree and landed on the shore. Pushing her way through the undergrowth, Morningstar scented Paddedstar just ahead of her. She slowed sow she wouldn't run into the Thunderclan leader and Echomist, who was padding beside Paddedstar, exchanging greetings. The Shadowclan leader sped up until she was in the clearing. Many cats mingled around her and the noise was over whelming. She frantically looked around, wanting to find a path to the Great Oak so she could get to her normal spot, but there was no path to be found.

A worried mew sounded behind her. "Morningstar? Are you okay?" The deep mew starled her and she whipped around. Letting out a sigh, she scolded herself by being startled by a simple Windclan warrior.

"Yes, Antfoot, I'm fine. I'm just looking for a path to get to the great oak," she mewed shakily. Forcing her fur to lie flat, she turned back around and noticed multiple cats had stopped and watched her. Some of her own clanmates watched her with curious eyes. Echomist stood a few tail lengths away, looking over her shoulder and swishing her tail on the ground.

"Come with me, Morningstar," her deputy suggested.

Morningstar nodded and padded behind Echomist. Rowanstar and Paddedstar gazed down at her from their spots in the branches of the Great Oak and Reedstar walked by her. He glanced at her like she was crazy because of her little show. She ducked her head, embarrassed by the way she acted and sped up glad to get to the Great Oak. She clawed her way up the tree and took her seat by Paddedstar. She nodded to the Thunderclan and Windclan leader. Reedstar sat down by Rowanstar.

Rowanstar rose to his feet and let out a yowl. "Let the Gathering begin!"

The chatter from the clan cats died down and the all turned their attention to the leaders. The Windclan leader nodded to Morningstar before he sat down. Shakily, Morningstar stood and looked out over the four clans.

"Shadowclan is doing well," she began. "We have three new warriors: Sootfur, Voletooth, and Mousetail. Fallowtail has passed away and we are all still recovering from our loss." Some of the cats below her bowed their heads while others had sorrow shine in their eyes. Dawnshadow and Russetwind pressed against eachother. "In happier matters, Streamtail has given birth to Rainpelt's kits. They are Riverkit, Hollykit, and Fernkit."

Rainpelt puffed out his chest and Morningstar could hear a faint purr. Morningstar sat down and motioned to Reedstar with her tail. The Riverclan leader nodded his thanks and stepped forward, as far as the branch would let him go.

"Riverclan is doing very well. The fish have flourished and we are as strong as ever." Reedstar glanced at his clan below him and Morningstar narrowed her eyes. That sounded like a threat to me, Reedstar, she thought. But she didn't mention her suspicion and Reedstar went on. "We also have a new warrior. Thornpaw is now Thornfur. Seedpaw and Snowpaw will be having their warrior assessments tomorrow, and I hope they will pass. Whitekit, Tigerkit, Willowkit, and Flashkit have become apprentices. Their mentors are Icefoot, Dappledheart, Pebbleskip, and Sharpfoot. Mothflight's kits will be born soon. Our clan is strong." He repeated.

Morningstar narrowed her eyes again, but opened them as Paddedstar stood to share his news. "Prey is running well in Thunderclan. We have no problems what so ever. Thistlestar will be missed terribly but Willowbreeze has given birth to my kits." Mews of congratulations rippled through the clans. "Hopekit, Dewkit, Shadekit, Bumblekit, and Sootkit are their names. Foxpaw, Flamepaw, and Featherpaw became Foxtail, Flameclaw, and Featherstripe. Redkit and Troutkit are now Redpaw and Troutpaw. Their mentors are Kestrelheart and Cloverwish."

Paddedstar sat back down and Rowanstar rose to take his turn. "Windclan is doing well. The rabbits are starting to hide because of the coming cold weather. Peachpaw, Applepaw, and Moonpaw are now warriors. They are Peachfur, Appleclaw, and Moonshine. Mistypool has retired to the Elder's Den and Whiskerflight is now the clans only medicine cat." The medicine cats at the base of the tree shared sad glances. "Brackenkit and Shadowkit are now Brackenpaw and Shadowpaw. Spottedpaw and Hailpaw will have their warrior assessment in a moon." With that, the Windclan leader leaped from the tree and pushed through the clan cats.

Morningstar leaped down after him and Paddedstar and Reedstar followed. The four clans started to mingle and share tongues. Rowanstar and Reedstar didn't stop. They gathered their clans and started to leave. Morningstar shared a confused glance with Reedstar and the Thunderclan leader shrugged his shoulders. Shaking her head, Morningstar called out to her clan.

"Shadowclan, lets go home!" Her clan gathered and within moments they were streaking across the pebbly shore to Shadowclan territory.

Well? Did you like it? Not that bad of a cliff hanger this time. But You'll find out what happens with the clans in the next chapter... yupp. anyway i hope you like it so go and Review! Do it fast! Do it!