Dusk was settling in on the moor. The sky darkened as the crickets began to take up their evening song. Above it all, the full moon glowed.
Fireheart stared up at the moon. Somehow, it seemed larger tonight than usual. Was Silverpelt herself curious to see how the night would turn? Fireheart felt strangely calm despite the coming Gathering and threat of TigerClan. I'll see my Clanmates tonight, he thought. For better or worse. He prayed that his friends were still safe in the Clan, even if it had changed. Silverstream must have had her kits by now, he thought, a pang in his chest. He hadn't seen any of his friends in the battle—would they come to the Gathering tonight?
Would they fight him if Tigerstar ordered him to?
Fireheart closed his eyes. I hope not.
"Cats of WindClan!" Ferretstar called. "It is time for the Gathering."
Fireheart turned to see the leader standing atop the Tallrock. He had been recovering slowly from his injuries in the invasion, rarely leaving his nest since the attack had taken place. But tonight he looked nearly renewed, his eyes glowing with fierce pride in his Clan as he looked down on them.
"We need to be prepared for anything," Ferretstar meowed. "There is no telling what Tigerstar will try to do. As such, Gorsepaw and the elders must stay in camp. I won't risk your lives if Tigerstar provokes an attack."
Gorsepaw didn't complain, though the young tom had his head bent. He had been mourning Eaglepaw since the attack—the two had been close friends, having grown up as the only two kits in the nursery and the only two apprentices in training. Fireheart felt a stab of sympathy for him. No doubt he wanted to avenge his friend, but Ferretstar likely feared losing the last apprentice WindClan had.
"Let us depart," Ferretstar meowed. He leaped down from the Tallrock. Fireheart didn't miss how he winced as he landed.
The Gathering party amassed quickly at the top of the slope. Fireheart was joined by Silverthorn as he padded to the top of the slope. The pair of exiles shared a silent glance. They were both risking Leopardstar's wrath by showing their faces at the Gathering… but if Tigerstar planned to launch an attack anyway, it hardly mattered.
Ferretstar waited until all the warriors had joined them. He lifted his jaw, eyes burning with determination. "Let's go," he meowed.
The group set out down the hillside. They proceeded slowly, conserving their energy. Fireheart and Silverthorn lagged at the back of the group, padding together behind the WindClan warriors. Fireheart set his gaze on Fourtrees in the distance. It's time.
Fourtrees was eerily quiet as WindClan arrived. They were evidently the first Clan to show up, with no sign of ShadowClan or TigerClan. Fireheart felt a spike of nervousness at the realization—and from the wary expressions of the others, they felt it too. What if Tigerstar flat-out launched an ambush on WindClan without waiting for ShadowClan to arrive?
Worse, what if he had already attacked ShadowClan for refusing to join him?
Fireheart tried to push the notion out of his mind. Russetstar would have sent for help, he told himself. Right?
His fears were quickly relieved. The undergrowth on the northern-facing slope began to shudder as warriors silently weaved through the ferns. Eyes glinted in the moonlight. Fireheart breathed out a sigh. ShadowClan. Thank StarClan.
Russetstar led them. She padded towards the WindClan group, her gaze uncertain. She seemed to relax as Ferretstar padded forward alone to meet her.
"Russetstar," Ferretstar meowed. "Thank you for agreeing to this alliance." He dipped his head to her. "I hope it will be enough to save us." The black-and-white tom seemed to hesitate. "Unless you have changed your mind?"
Russetstar shook her head. "Any doubts I had about this were recently put to rest," she growled. "I've heard much about what has been going on inside TigerClan, and I want nothing to do with it."
Fireheart pricked his ears with interest. Does ShadowClan have a spy in TigerClan? There were a number of former ShadowClan warriors that had joined the Clan—but would any of them betray TigerClan secrets to their old home?
Ferretstar grinned. "I'm glad to hear it," he meowed. He glanced over his shoulder to his Clanmates. "Come, join ShadowClan. We are allies."
The WindClan warriors padded forward. Some looked eager, others apprehensive. Fireheart stepped forward, searching the ShadowClanners for a familiar face.
"Fireheart!" Snowflight called. She came running from her Clanmates as they locked eyes. The white molly looked far more grown-up than Fireheart had recalled—she finally looked like a proper warrior.
Fireheart purred and leaned forward to touch her nose. "You're finally as tall as I am!" he meowed.
"You're not as big as I remember," Snowflight laughed. "Still as handsome as I remember, though."
Fireheart's ears reddened. "Um…" He let out an awkward cough. Silverthorn blinked in surprise.
Snowflight snickered and flicked Fireheart with her fluffy tail. "I'm teasing! Besides, I have a mate of my own, so don't get any ideas!"
Fireheart blinked a few times before he shook his head. "Er… congratulations?"
"Thanks," Snowflight purred. She sat down. "I'm glad to see you, despite the circumstances." She glanced at the hillside, her eyes narrowing. "Still no sign of them?"
"Not yet," Fireheart meowed. He twitched his tail. "They'll be here soon, I'd bet."
His words proved to be true. Hardly any time passed before Fireheart spotted a tabby on the slope. One by one, more warriors began to appear, padding into view. They looked confident as they came down the hillside, pelts smoothed and eyes glinting. Tigerstar padded at the head of them, his eyes narrowed curiously.
WindClan and ShadowClan did not disperse as they might have if this was to be a usual Gathering. Instead, they stood and faced TigerClan, arching their backs, their formation blocking the route to the Great Rock. Ferretstar and Russetstar stood side-by-side as though they were Clanmates, staring down Tigerstar with undisguised hatred.
Tigerstar stopped a few fox-lengths away from the other two leaders, his ears flat. TigerClan slowed to a stop behind him. Fireheart swallowed as he took in the sheer number of them. Even with ShadowClan and WindClan together, it still looked as though TigerClan outnumbered them.
"What is this?" Tigerstar growled, after a long pause of silence.
"You tell us," Russetstar growled. "It comes down to how you think this Gathering is going to end."
Leopardstar slowly padded forward to stand by Tigerstar's side. Fireheart stiffened as he saw her. His mind flashed back to the terrible day when she had spurned him from his Clan. She had looked down on him with such rage and hatred blazing in her eyes.
But she hardly looked like that cat anymore. Leopardstar's gaze was dull, her pelt unusually dingy. He had always remembered her pelt glossy like a fish, but now, it was hard to tell if it was golden or a dusty tan. Leopardstar hardly seemed to register the two Clans in front of her. If she was afraid or angry, it was impossible to tell.
What happened to her?
Tigerstar's tail slowly snaked from side to side. "I will invite you each one last time to join TigerClan," he declared. He swept a paw towards his Clanmates. "Look at us. We have far more warriors than either of you, and we are healthy and stro—"
"Shut up," Russetstar snapped, curling her lip. "I don't want to hear any more of your drivel."
Tigerstar curled his lip. He fixed his gaze on Ferretstar. "I know WindClan has taken my son," he snarled. "Return Bramblepaw and I will allow you a final chance into my Clan. Refuse and we will destroy you."
Ferretstar frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"Where is he?!" Tigerstar demanded. He took a menacing step forward, claws unsheathing. "I will tear every last one of your lives out if you are hiding him!"
Fireheart swallowed nervously as Tigerstar took a threatening step towards Ferretstar. What is he going on about? Tigerstar's son was missing? He glanced worriedly at Silverthorn. He knew that WindClan had nothing to do with a cat named 'Bramblepaw'—but if Tigerstar thought so, there might not be anything to do to convince himself. He braced himself, ready to be attacked.
Instead, Russetstar smiled slowly. "Bramblepaw, come here," she called.
ShadowClan cats parted as a tabby padded forward. Fireheart's mind swirled with confusion as he saw the young apprentice pad towards Russetstar.
Bramblepaw looked nervous. He stood at Russetstar's side, his eyes avoiding his father.
Tigerstar froze. "Bramblepaw?"
Russetstar curled her tail around the apprentice. "Did you think me a fool, Tigerstar?" she spat. "I've heard all about your 'mighty' Clan. How you allowed Blackclaw to be slaughtered in your own camp and how Leopardstar has been stripped of all powers save her title." She curled her lip in disdain. "Do not think for a heartbeat that I will join TigerClan."
Tigerstar bristled with rage. "You stole him!" he snarled. "Return him to me at once!"
"Bramblepaw came to me," Russetstar spat. "I took him into my Clan willingly."
"Bramblepaw, come here," Tigerstar hissed. "I do not want you caught in the middle of what is going to happen."
Bramblepaw sharply looked up. He narrowed his eyes to slits. "No!" he spat. "I'd rather die than be a part of TigerClan!"
Tigerstar's eyes blazed with fury at his son's rejection. He was still for only a heartbeat before he curled his lip and reared his head back. "Then you will die!" he roared.
Ferretstar leaned forward, arching his back. "Try to destroy us!" he snarled back. "We have StarClan by our side!"
"Is that so?" Tigerstar sneered. "I have friends at my side far stronger than that." He leaned back his head and let out a yowl.
Fireheart braced himself once more, expecting the TigerClan warriors to charge. They remained still. Many looked confused, as though they weren't sure what the wordless cry meant.
Fireheart stiffened as he heard the bushes rustle again. More cats began to emerge from the shadows. They came from all sides, their eyes glinting dangerously. The stench of crowfood travelled with them, making bile rise in Fireheart's throat. There was something else there—a familiar scent, a scent of the town and humans.
Fireheart's eyes widened in horror. BloodClan.
If the scent wasn't enough, the telltale collars were. While several had plain collars, many wore ones adorned with the garish trophies of claws and teeth. Rows and rows of the cats filed into the clearing. WindClan and ShadowClan shrank back, grouping together more tightly. Warriors let out nervous hisses.
To Fireheart's horror, he recognized two of the cats that broke rank to pad towards Tigerstar. One sleek back tom, one pure white molly. His littermates. Scourge and Princess.
Oh, StarClan, no.
They were Tigerstar's allies. They were the reason TigerClan had those strange rogues in the invasion. They were going to help exterminate the other two Clans.
Tigerstar's eyes gleamed. "Well?" he crowed, lifting his chin. "Still so sure you want to stand and fight?"