Smallfern was crouched in the Gathering Cave pressed up against Ashnose. Her pelt was fluffed out as she looked up at Willowsong and Soloswoop on the Great Ledge. Her father sat above them, watching as the rest of his group slipped into the cave. Scruffytail padded in with Lightwing and Silverwhiskers. Smallfern watched with curiosity as her littermate touched her nose to the cream tom's nose before leaping up to join her and Ashnose on the rock. The brown tabby sat down in silence between Smallfern and fixed her gaze on their parents.

"Why do you think he's called everyone here?" Ashnose murmured, the tom shifting his weight and crouching down beside them.

"I don't know. I'm concerned," Scruffytail responded, wrapping her bushy tail around her paws.

A few more cats slipped into the cave, slowly, everyone they shared their territory with, was arriving. Even queens and their kits. Dovesong and Spikedpelt sat near the back, with Puddlekit asleep between her father's paws. Fallheart ran into the cave, Crowfoot, and Goldwhisker on his paws. The multi-colored tabby veered away from his friends and leapt onto the rock. The tabby let out a purr as he briefly touched his nose to each of their ears before settling down beside Scruffytail.

"Fallheart," Smallfern said softly. "Do you know why we're here?" She asked.

"No idea," his gaze moved around the cave. "Is everyone here?" Smallfern turned her head to look.

"Tulippelt, Columbineheart, and Amberleg aren't here," the she-cat responded. The tall grass at the one cave entrance parted as she spoke.

Columbineheart padded in, herding her three kits towards Dovesong and Spikedpelt. "That leaves Tulippelt," Scruffytail said with a roll of her blue eyes. "Of course, she's the one late."

"Too busy with her mate," Fallheart said with a teasing purr. Smallfern rolled her eyes.

Honestly! Why does Tulippelt spend so much time with a mouse-brained tom? Her gaze moved to Scruffytail. And why does Scruffytail spend so much time with Lightwing? She shifted her gaze to the curly, cream-furred tom for a moment. Her thoughts were interrupted as Tulippelt and Amberleg padded into the cave, the orange and white she-cat padding forward to join her littermates on the rock.

"I'm grateful you all joined me today," Soloswoop mewed from the Great Ledge. "It's been brought to my attention that for us to survive we must split into smaller groups. Into Clans, which is how Willowsong and I used to live before we came to these territories. Before we met all of you."

Smallfern watched her father curiously. Who was going to lead the other Clans? Her gaze swept around the gathered cats, wondering who her father would pick to lead beside him. Spikedpelt would be a good choice. Nighttail had leadership potential but he was older. Arrowstrike would be... The charcoal tom was looking back at her. She tensed up, quickly turning her head back to her father.

"There will be five Clans. Willowsong has taken a patrol to split the territory into five parts based on where certain cats enjoy hunting. IceClan will live on the icy hills and plains. There is a river for them to fish in when the weather permits it. AspenClan will live in the aspen forest. ShadeClan in the pine forest. FlowerClan in the open meadow with flowers, and, at the request and suggestion of Snaketail, DustClan will live in the abandoned two-leg mine." There were murmurs throughout the gathered group, discussing where they wanted to live.

"And who will lead these Clans?" Graywhisker asked, crouched beside his pregnant mate, Fishfur.

"Smallfern, Ashnose, Scruffytail, Tulippelt, and Fallheart will lead the Clans," Soloswoop responded simply. Smallfern made eye-contact with Scruffytail.

"Us? What is he going to do?" The tabby whispered.

"Maybe act as a mediator?" Smallfern suggested, moving her gaze back to her father.

"Join me," the silver tom flicked his plumy tail to his kits. Glancing at one another, the littermates got onto their paws and padded for the thin and narrow path along the wall that led them onto the Great Ledge. Ashnose led the way, his head held high.

As the littermates settled on the Great Ledge between Willowsong and Soloswoop, the cats were silently shifting into different parts of the cave. They were already splitting themselves up by the territory they wanted. A few sat in the center, waiting to see where others were going. Lightwing, Amberleg, Marveleyes, and Crowfoot amongst them.

"Scruffytail," the brown tabby stood up to stand beside Soloswoop. "I want you to take IceClan. You love fishing and being in the open air," his blue gaze moved out over the gathered cats. Lightwing had stood up to join the others for IceClan. "Who is going to IceClan?" A small group of cats sat huddled near the back. Spikedpelt, Silverwhiskers, Lightwing, Graywhisker and Fishfur, Rainpaw, Pebblepaw, and Breezeclaw sat silently. A few other cats padded from the group they were in to join them.

"We will," Silverwhiskers said, his tail wrapping around Pebblepaw and Rainpaw.

"You will need to choose a deputy, all of you will, from your group. A deputy must have been a mentor, and must show leadership potential."

"Smallfern," the small silver and brown tabby pushed onto her paws. "You will lead ShadeClan. Amongst the dark pine forest, where you can hunt in the shadows." Arrowstrike got onto his paws.

"We'll join ShadeClan," his tail gesturing to the group. Flashstrike, Whiteleaf, and Larkfeather were behind him. Heatherstorm, heavily pregnant, joined the group with Lightningpaw. Starlingheart and his mate, nearly as pregnant as Heatherstorm, Maplenose, joining them.

"Fallheart, I know you love the two-leg tunnels. You shall lead DustClan." Marveleyes and Goosetongue got onto their paws to join Nighttail, Snaketail, and Longnose. Crowfoot and Goldwhisker shared a look before also padding to the DustClan group. Frostpaw hesitated, glancing up at the Great Ledge at her mentor before joining the DustClan group.

"As for Ashnose," Willowsong broke in, which seemed odd to Smallfern that Willowsong spoke about Ashnose, but didn't give it a second thought. "I have chosen AspenClan for you. It is the perfect balanced territory. Sheltered with aspens but also open to the night sky. Who will join AspenClan?" The group was already gathered, and no one got up to join them.

"We will," Jayheart and Lightsoul mewed in unison. Behind them sat Waterpelt and Nettleclaw, their daughter Cloudpad between them. Columbineheart herded Sparklekit, Plumkit, and Squeakkit with the help of Badgerface.

"As for, Tulippelt," Soloswoop said. "You will take FlowerClan. The territory is open and beautiful. Who will be joining?" Amberleg got onto his paws and hurried to join Troutclaw and Elksong, their son Spiderkit playing at their paws, Stonehead, Stormsong, and Ashwhiskers settling around them.

"We have five healers, and they have already chosen which cat and Clan they will join," Willowsong said, her tail beckoning to the Medicine Cats.

"I'm joining ShadeClan," Duckheart said with a dip of his head.

"I'll be with IceClan," Lionsoul mewed, dipping his head.

"FlowerClan," Greenheart said simply. The massive black tom dipped his head like the others.

"Fallheart," Limpleg said, his one leg jutting out almost uselessly. "I will serve you and DustClan well."

"Ashnose, I look forward to working with you," Littlesplash said, his blind gaze focusing up at the Great Ledge.

"Now," Soloswoop said softly. "You must choose a deputy. Whenever you are ready, step forward to tell us." There was silence as each littermate looked over the gathered cats.

Whiteleaf is my best friend, but she's never trained an apprentice. Flashstrike is too nice. Smallfern'seyes landed on Arrowstrike. He's training an apprentice. He's strong, he's smart, he's handsome. No, not handsome. You're not a love-stricken mouse-brain like your littermates.

Fallheart got onto his paws and stepped forward, looking over the group one last time. "Crowfoot, although just starting to train your first apprentice. A tom couldn't ask for a better deputy." The tan and black tom stood up and padded forward in front of the Great Ledge.

"Amberleg, he's organized and brave," Tulippelt said quickly, letting out a purr. The golden-colored tom joined Crowfoot on the flat rock beneath them. Scruffytail was still staring at her group nervously while Ashnose padded forward.

"I choose Lightsoul. He's smart and caring." the dark brown tom dipped his head to Ashnose before joining the other deputies.

"Arrowstrike! We haven't always seen eye to eye, but you are a hard-working, loyal warrior," Smallfern said, looking at the muscular tom. A look of confusion flashed through his green gaze as he padded forward and leapt onto the stone.

"Graywhisker, you were my mentor, and you trained me well. I know you will serve IceClan well," Scruffytail announced. The light gray tom padded forward to sit beside the other deputies.

"You will all need to travel before the next full-moon to Moon Fall to receive your nine-lives from StarClan. Your medicine cat will escort you there," Soloswoop explained. "You will need to explore your territories fully and find a camp. Some of you have dens in these territories. If your den is in the territory, help as best you can."

"What are you going to do, Soloswoop?" Graywhisker asked.

"Willowsong and I are leaving. I failed to become a leader, and I am no longer needed."

Smallfern's heart fell. Just like that? He's leaving us?

"I know, in my heart, that these five young cats will serve for many moons as leaders. I'm very proud of all of them... And in the morning, Willowsong and I will set out for new territories."