The lake shimmered with starlight as the clear sky showed a full moon glowing bright. For the first time since Shelldawn became an apprentice, Sweettooth was walking towards the gathering island without her.

"You don't have to sit with the medicine cats." Icewing slowed down to match pace with Sweettooth, who was at the end of the line together with Grayfoot and Mudstripe. "It would also seem strange when your kits are announced."

"They know I'm not a medicine cat," Sweettooth objected. "I hope. Besides, I want to tell them Graysmall will be back to her full strength in a sunrise or two."

"I believe you meant Willowshine." Icewing corrected Sweettooth's mistake, sounding cheerful. After a few moments' pause, Icewing resumed meowing in the same tone. "You know your kits are much bigger than they are supposed to be right? They opened their eyes the day they were born and Torrentkit was running around earlier. We might even have to apprentice them early."

"I can't even think about them being warriors and fighting other cats," Sweettooth was still worried about the thought that had already passed through his mind countless times. "But I wouldn't want to hold them back."

"Don't worry Sweettooth," Icewing returned, surely noticing Sweettooth's fearful expression. "I understand how you feel. If you and Shelldawn want to be with your kits a bit more, the clan won't force you to give them up."

Sweettooth looked happily at Icewing as gratitude for her caring response. Icewing picked up her pace to the front of the party, leaving Sweettooth with Grayfoot and Mudstripe.

"Do you think there's going to be anything special this gathering?" Mudstripe asked Sweettooth and Grayfoot.

"The WindClan patrol didn't seem uptight about anything this dawn." Sweettooth answered.

"Neither did ShadowClan," Grayfoot added. "They've also scented some badgers though." Grayfoot paused for a few heartbeats, seemingly thinking. "You know," Grayfoot began anew. "There is a ShadowClan warrior called Sunbeam, and I haven't seen her since two gatherings ago. She wasn't even in the ShadowClan camp when I was there. I wonder how I could have missed her."

"Oh, Sunbeam is a brown-and-white tabby from ShadowClan." Mudstripe tried to help Sweettooth remember. "I think I remember seeing her talk to Flameclaw when Shelldawn and I were announced as warriors."

"Flameclaw is a black ThunderClan tom." Grayfoot managed to jog up Sweettootm's memory a bit. "Sweettooth, you and Shelldawn spoke with him and Pouncestep last gathering didn't you?"

"I think we did," Sweettooth answered, trying hard to reach forgotten memories. "They talked about a cat that has gone missing and about how ShadowClan does not want to blame RiverClan for it."

Sweettooth noticed Reedfeather was twitching his ears and turning his head backwards to face the three young warriors. "I'm sorry for the slight eavesdrop," The RiverClan leader addressed his warriors calmly and reassuringly. "But I understand your worries. I'll try to speak with Tigerstar about it, maybe we can work together to figure this out."

"Thank you Reedstar," Grayfoot meowed. "That would be very generous of us."

"I'll see you from the Oak." Reedstar meowed as he quickened his pace and led the party once again.

The strong clan reached the tree bridge that led to the island. One by one every cat in the clan crossed the bridge, joining ThunderClan, ShadowClan, and SkyClan who were already on the island.

Sweettooth left Mudstripe and Grayfoot and headed towards The Great Oak where the medicine cats sat.

"Hi Sweettooth," The dark ginger ThunderClan medicine cat greeted. "How's Willowshine?"

"Willowshine is well," Sweettooth answered happily. "Her headache, toothache, and bellyache are all nearly gone."

"So you won't be joining us next time I presume." The ginger tom suggested.

"No, I would not." Sweettooth meowed, excited about what he will be doing instead. "I have kits to take care of now."

"Congratulations!" Purred the black-and-white SkyClan medicine cat. "Are they healthy?"

"Thank StarClan they are." Sweettooth was excited talking about his kits. "And they're so lively, Torrentkit almost crashed into his clanmates with how fast he was running."

"Running?" The mottled brown ShadowClan medicine cat seemed puzzled. "How old are they? You didn't tell us anything of them when we were at the Moonpool."

"They were only born the next morning." Sweettooth answered, understanding the medicine cat's bewilderment. "But they grew up very fast. They've opened their eyes the day they were born."

"That is very peculiar." commented the tabby SkyClan medicine cat. "But I guess it's possible. I wish your kits well."

"Thank you." Sweettooth returned politely as he scented and heard WindClan cats coming onto the island.

From the edge of the clearing, Sweettooth saw a rippling wave of spines forming as cats from all clans except for ThunderClan and WindClan began to yowl, snarl, and hiss in exclamation.
"Bayblade!"

"Bayblade!"

"Let me claw his eyes out!"

"It must be a good gathering if he chose to show his face here."

"Rip his pelt off!"

Out of the hissing crowd popped the WindClan medicine cat. The mottled gray tom looked at Sweettooth and smiled as if trying to ignore the tensions behind him. "Hi Sweettooth," The medicine cat greeted. "How's Willowshine?"

Before Sweettooth had a chance to answer, the golden ThunderClan leader jumped to his paws. "Nightstar!" The muscled golden tom let out a loud snarl while looking at Bayblade, standing with four WincClan cats surrounding him tightly. "What is the meaning of all this."

Nightstar did not answer, simply walking to the Great Oak and jumping up to one of its thick branches. "Let the gathering begin." The black she-cat yowled.

Sweettooth wanted to answer the question he was asked earlier but was aware the gathering was about to begin any heartbeat now. "Willowshine well," Sweettooth meowed swiftly. "Headache, toothache, bellyache gone."

"Headache, toothache, bellyache?" The gray medicine cat began to ask but was interrupted quickly.

"Nightstar," The ThunderClan leader snarled again, more reserved this time. "Why is Bayblade with you and why is he treated as a prisoner in this time of truce?"

"I wanted to ask him the same question," Nightstar answered, sounding in control. "But I'd thought it would be a waste to make Bayblade tell the same story twice." Nightstar paused to look at the reactions from the clearing. "Bayblade reached our camp near sunhigh." Nightstar explained. "I already know Fluttercloud's blood is on his paws, but I felt generous and decided to bring him here for a fair trial in front of all the clans before we punish him."

"Bayblade," The golden leader meowed to his warrior. "Tell your story. Prove Nightstar wrong."

"Of course I will." Bayblade meowed, sure of himself, and proceeded to writhe from side to side, loosening the formation of his captors. "Two moons ago, the night before the medicine cats' half moon gathering, I had a vision. The vision was—"

"Why would you have a vision?" A white ShadowClan she-cat interrupted loudly. "You're not a medicine cat!"

"Gullswoop be quiet!" The ShadowClan leader muted his warrior angrily. "Let Bayblade continue his story."

"The vision was about WarriorClan," Bayblade continued his story only to create more confusion among the gathered cats. I know my memory isn't great, but surely I won't forget an entire clan. "They're a group of former kittypets and loners who live according to the warrior code in the old forest. In my vision, I saw their leader, Monkeystar, and their medicine cat, Petunia. Petunia told Monkeystar about a vision she had where she saw blades of golden and white fire protecting their clan while she heard the words Fire alone would save your clan. I knew her vision talked about me and that I have to save them, alone."

"So you did it alone and no one here can confirm your actions." Nightstar snarled impatiently. "Is that what you're trying to say?"

"No," Bayblade answered calmly. "I told Flameclaw that I had a vision. Flameclaw did you pass my message to Sunbeam?" Bayblade didn't wait for a response, and started scanning the clearing. "Where is Sunbeam anyway? Is she in camp?"

"Yes," The dark tabby on the tree lied hurriedly, keeping the secret. "Sunbeam got your message and she also told Pouncestep. Pouncestep, that is what you told me, is that still correct?"

"Yes Tigerstar." The gray tabby meowed nervously, probably anxious about the secret she is helping to hide. "I can confirm Sunbeam got the message from Flameclaw and passed it onto me."

"Does that satisfy you enough Nightstar?" The ThunderClan leader snarled at the WindClan leader sitting a few branches away from him.

"No," Nightstar objected swiftly. "Bayblade, continue your story. How did you leave clan territory?"

"I was leading a hunting patrol with Flameclaw and Molewhisker on the way to the border with WindClan. I asked to lead the patrol there because I knew that is the general direction, It didn't hurt that Molewhisker was previously on a journey to the SkyClan gorge so I managed to sneak out information from him on directions to the old forest. Afterwards, I sent my patrol back without me, rolled in watermint to hide my scent, and traveled along the lake's shore until I neared the Horseplace—"

"And that's where you found the catmint patch which you used to hide Fluttercloud's scent." Nightstar snarled again.

"No," Bayblade gave Nightstar another calm objection. "I did see the catmint patch, but I decided to go into RiverClan territory without hiding my scent, and travel there to the edge of clan territory, to halt any WindClan warriors from following my trail, and traveled back into WindClan territory, to halt RiverClan warriors as well. From there I traveled to the old forest, and saved WarriorClan from rogues, disease, and dogs. After all of that, I came back here and you already know the rest."

"See Nightstar," The ThunderClan leader challenged with a victorious meow. "Bayblade left for a noble reason, he did not kill Fluttercloud."

"I don't believe it for a second, Lionstar." Nightstar retorted with a snarl. "Bayblade is obviously lying."

Lionstar returned the snarl, and both leaders were gazing at one another with some sort of hatred.

"Nightstar, what if you sent a warrior of yours to check Bayblade's claim." The SkyClan leader suggested, sounding irritated after the ongoing squabble. "That way you'd have the word of a cat you trust."

"That sounds acceptable." Nightstar agreed with a pretentious grunt. "Whistleclaw, I trust you to travel to the old forest, where you'll judge Bayblade's claim, whether it's true or false."

"I will not fail." Whistleclaw rose to her paws and obliged determinedly.

"We'll discuss your journey back at camp, and you are to leave at dawn." Nightstar meowed before jumping off the oak. Signaling with her tail to tighten the guard around Bayblade, Nightstar began to meow again. "Bayblade will stay prisoner in our camp until Whistleclaw returns. May StarClan reveal the truth soon."

"You can't do that!" Lionstar yowled in objection. "Bayblade belongs with his clan!"

Nightstar did not answer as she disappeared along with her clan and her captive from the island clearing.

"Lionstar," Reedstar tried to reason with the golden leader. "It is only fair for it to be this way. Bayblade is strong minded, I'm sure he can stay another moon away from his clan."

Lionstar simply returned an angry gaze and jumped to the ground. "ThunderClan!" The leader yowled. "We're leaving." The ThunderClan cats followed their leader and left towards the tree bridge.

"I'm tired." The SkyClan leader meowed with a yawn as she too jumped off and led her cats to the queue forming at the treebridge's roots.

"Tigerstar," Reedstar called to the ShadowClan leader, in a calm, friendly tone. "We haven't gotten to the usual reports, Shall we do them now, even if it's just for both our clans?"

"Go ahead," Tigerstar agreed unenthusiastically. "I'll listen."

"RiverClan is glad to announce Willowshine is back to her strength and will return to her duties from the coming dawn." Reedstar began his report, his voice as loud and clear as if he was speaking to the entire five clans. "In more happy news, RiverClan has three more future warriors or medicine cats in Maplekit, Silverkit, and Torrentkit who were born to Shelldawn a few sunrises ago."

"Shelldawn! Maplekit! Silverkit! Torrentkit!" The intimate group of cats yowled, among them the loudest yowl was that of Sweettooth.

"That is my entire report for now. Tigerstar," The black leader sat down and summoned the dark tabby.

"Nothing special has happened in ShadowClan in the past moon except for the badger scents you already know about." Tigerstar finished his report quickly. "However, I've heard some news from SkyClan and ThunderClan, if you're interested in those."

"I sure am." Reedstar answered.

"ThunderClan has a new litter, Hollytuft and Stormcloud now have Rookkit and Nightkit to raise." Tigerstar reported ThunderClan's news first, and then proceeded to report SkyClan's. "In SkyClan, Rabbitleap, Plumwillow, and Nettlesplash all moved to the elders' den. Sadly, Cherrytail and Nettlesplash died shortly after in their sleep."

"They've gone through many hardships in their lives." Reedstar tried to commemorate the elders and the dead. "May StarClan allow them to rest now." Reedstar paused as cats in the gathering nodded to his remarks.

Reedstar took a long look, studying the dark tabby on the branch near him. "I mean no disrespect, Tigerstar," Reedstar began politely. "But it has come to my knowledge that Sunbeam had disappeared from your clan."

Reedstar paused to let Tigerstar react. A snarl was beginning to rise in the dark tabby's throat but was suppressed. Reedstar continued. "I would like to offer RiverClan's help to understand the situation."

Is he insinuating Sunbeam might be dead?

"That is generous, Reedstar," Tigerstar meowed with a hint of suspicion in his tone. "But ShadowClan can solve its problems by itself. Unless you're willing to let us search your territory, there's not much you can do."

"We're not worried about having a few warriors in our territory." Reedstar hinted at RiverClan's strength. "Send a patrol over at dawn. Our patrol will wait for them near the Twoleg Halfbridge."

"That is acceptable." Tigerstar answered, trying to sound in control. "The gathering is closed." Tigerstar got off the oak and led his clanmates towards the treebridge.

Author's Note (I hope I'm doing this right):

So, I'm new, incase you didn't read my Allegiance author's note, and the rest of the chapters should be uploaded soon. I've already written most of them but I still need to write to last few and edit. Hope you enjoyed the story so far and I would be glad to hear what do you think about it

- Asi