Disclaimer: I do NOT own Warriors. It belongs to Erin Hunter.

'Thoughts' Dreams Memories

Sandpaw woke up early the next day, the sky above her still dark and the air around her cool. She blinked and turned her head to the side, the spot where Firepaw would usually lay beside her was empty. So, she hadn't returned yet.

Sandpaw frowned, her claws digging into the dirt as her belly twisted with worry. Firepaw hadn't come back and ShadowClan was out there killing cats. She shivered as she remembered Frostfur's and Speckletail's torn and broken bodies being brought back to camp. The young apprentice twisted her head to look at Lionheart, the huge warrior had slept away from everyone last night and before that he barely talked to any cat. But then, how could blame him, his mother was killed.

It was only natural he would be angry, especially since he was denied his revenge in favor of not having the whole of ShadowClan coming down on them all. Still, Sandpaw could understand his rage, though part of her wondered if he was thinking of doling out his own justice for his mother's sake.

Sandpaw eventually switched her gaze to the still dark sky, wondering where Firepaw was and hoping that she was alright. The pale molly took a deep breath, a pang of loneliness stabbing through her, it had only been a few hours but...she missed Firepaw. The quiet apprentice had been there from almost the beginning. It was strange and upsetting to not feel the full demon's fur against her own.

Sandpaw closed her eyes for a moment and when she opened them, they were filled with determinaton. She would find Firepaw and bring her home safe and sound. She wasn't going to let ShadownClan or anything else stop her. She had to bring Firepaw home!

XxXx

Firepaw had spent the night just outside the border from ThunderClan territory. She had stayed in a split tree, having bugs and all matter of critters crawling through her fur. Now she was awake and very hungry. Yet as she tried to move out of her less than comfy den, she found her body incredibly stiff and could barely move at all.

Groaning softly, the flame colored molly narrowed her eyes and stiffly sat down like an old cat. She set to licking her wounds which by now had stopped bleeding and now just throbbed dully. Still the fact that she could barely move caused her to flatten her ears in annoyance and worry.

"I'll push through it, this is nothing. I can get through this." she muttered to herself, forcing herself to stand with a muted growl.

The fire colored molly then made herself move, wincing with every step. However before she got too far, she caught a certain scent on the wind. Blood. And lots of it. Blinking, the young demon narrowed her eyes and turned to where the blood scent was coming from but as she did so, she suddenly felt claws tearing into the side of her head.

Hissing in pain and rage, Firepaw turned to face what attacked her. It was a truly massive white cat with jet black paws. In his left amber eye, she could see the bottom portion covered in green. He was a full bloodied demon!

Firepaw barely had time to react as the large tom pinned her to the ground, his paws pressing mercilessly against her throat. As Firepaw gasped for air, the male smirked leaning down to snarl in her face.

"What's this? A young demon from ThunderClan, and all alone? My, my. You're either very bold or very stupid! But I suppose you saved me the trouble of tracking one of you down, Brokenstar will be pleased to know that I killed another one of ThunderClan's demons." Blackfoot said, his voice edging into a sadistic purr.

As he leaned closer to bite, his fangs inches from Firepaw's eyes, the young apprentice managed to get one of her hind paws under the male, clawing hard at his belly. When he flinched and loosened his grip in pain, Firepaw managed to wriggle free, gaining some distance before turning to face Blackfoot.

The large male glared at Firepaw for a moment before readying himself to strike, Firepaw did the same but as Blackfoot lunged at her, Firepaw's body stiffened and she was unable to move. Crashing into her with all of his weight, Blackfoot drove his fangs into into the molly's shoulder, deep enough that his fangs scraped bone. Firepaw howled in pain and wasn't able to break free, leaving her wide open for Blackfoot to switch his target from the molly's shoulder to her neck. The young demon's lifeblood stained the ground beneath then as Blackfoot continued to bite. Firepaw could do nothing but scratch feebly at the male who only chuckled and bit harder. Eventually there was a sickening crunch and Firepaw gurgled before going limp.

Blackfoot released her and narrowed his eyes, titling his head as he bit her again. When the apprentice didn't move, Blackfoot picked her up by the scruff and carried her over to a large rock. He then savagely bashed Firepaw's head against it, letting the body dropp without an once of regret. Blackfoot scoffed before idly clawing at Firepaw's prone body, his tail twitching. "Well, looks like you're dead. It's too bad you're so small, but I wouldn't dare bring such a small meal to Brokenstar. He deserve much more than that. At least the one more demon of ThunderClan taken out. I should get back, Brokenstar will want to hear about this."

XxXx

The following day, near sundown, Sandpaw was just coming back from hunting as well as serching for Firepaw, but with no luck. Shadowclan's scent was getting closer and closer to camp and everyone was worried. The pale furred apprentice dropped her catch and looked to see Lionheart speaking with Graypaw, the large warrior's claws were unsheathed and his eyes were narrowed in fury and hatred. Seeing his bristling fur and twitching eyes it wasn't hard to see that Lionheart was still grieving for his mother and wanted to tear apart the ShadowClan cat who did it.

Bluestar appeared from her den and jumped to the Highrock, giving the normal summons, though it was barely needed as most of the cats were out and about and had gathered to hear what their leader had to say. As usual, the Clan was divided but Bluestar barely reflected on this before she opened her jaws to speak. "I will now chose the cats who will join me at the Gathering! Darkstripe, Longtail, Mousefur, Runningwind, Whitestorm, Tigerclaw, Ravenpaw and Sandpaw. Those who are chosen will come with me immediately. I think I will have plenty to report, especially to ShadowClan."

Sandpaw and Ravenpaw both looked at one another, they were going to the Gathering! However the joyous mood soon darkened as Lionheart stood, facing his leader with slitted eyes and fangs partially bared.

"That is all of the normal warriors that are going with you! And barely any of us, wouldn't you want to show more unity in your Clan but taking more of us with you? And what about Spottedleaf, why leave her behind?"

Bluestar's hackles raised as she looked down at the warrior, her own teeth bared. "Bringing three of you demons is more than you deserve. Besides, if ShadowClan attacks, I would want my camp and my warriors defended. There's also the fact that you demons might be tempted to attack during the Gathering due to what happened earlier. I will not have conflict be brought on because you demons cannot control yourselves! There is also no rule that says I have to bring the medicine cat. Spottedleaf will stay with the rest of you. That is all."

"You can't do that!" Sandpaw found herself yelling before she even realized what she was doing. The whole of the Clan turned their heads to look at her and Sandpaw flinched, wrapping her tail around her and flattening her ears while Bluestar glared down at her, her claws coming out.

"Care to repeat that?" the leader spoke, her voice icy calm, it sent shivers down Sandpaw's spine, he tried to open her mouth to speak, but no sound came out and Bluestar's glare only intensified. However the older molly turned her head to face the rest of the Clan, her voice coming out as a growl.

"The rest of you will stay here, guard the camp and if any ShadowClan cats come then tear them apart!"

None of the demons reacted to her words, Ravenpaw nuzzled Sandpaw gently before he got his paws and joined the rest of the Gathering patrol. Darkstripe hung back, walking over to Tigerclaw and Lionheart, just managing to stop the golden warrior before he began walking away towards the camp entrance.

"Lionheart, listen. I don't agree with Bluestar's methods or her reasoning for keeping the rest of you out...but if ShadowClan does attack, please do everything you can to defend yourself. But if the odds aren't in your favor, run away. I don't want you risking your lives! Leave the camp, Whitestorm and I will find you. I swear!"

The massive demon glared at Darkstripe at first, but seeing the genuine concern in his eyes, he sighed and his gaze softened. "Alright. I will do as you ask. You...be careful as well. You're risky a lot, being friendly with me."

Darkstripe huffed slightly at that and lashed his tail. "I'm not risking anything. I am being loyal to my Clanmates. Be careful tonight, whatever happens at the Gathering, I will be sure to tell you all." Then, a little awkwardly, the dark furred tabby leaned up and touched the bigger warrior's nose to his own. Lionheart blinked in surprise at the gesture, Darkstripe was not known to be an affectionate cat but Lionheart soon smiled and accepted the kind gesture.

When Darkstripe backed away, Lionheart bowed his head to him in deep respect, Tigerclaw reluctantly doing the same a few seconds later. "No matter what happens, Darkstar, we will follow you."

Darkstripe's eyes widened at that, did...did Lionheart just really call him Darkstar?! The smaller male's legs began to and he could barely stand but he somehow managed. "Please..." he muttered, his voice shaking with surprise and gratitude. "Don't...I'm not...I mean...thank you. But Bluestar is still you're leader, you shouldn't call me that. And please...raise your head. I am no cat to give such respect to. I'm just...Darkstripe."

Lionheart did raise his head and as he did, Darkstripe saw him smirking. The dark male wasn't sure how to feel about that, but at least Lionheart wasn't as angry anymore, right? The massive tom then turned away, heading towards Willowpelt and Graypaw.

"Don't ever doubt yourself. You deserve all the respect you get...Darkstar."

"L-Lionheart..." Darkstripe wanted to chase after him and tell him again not to call him that, but Bluestar's yowl stopped him. He looked to his leader than the retreating tom before sghing. He would talk to Lionheart about what h was saying after the Gathering.

XxXx

It was nearly moonhigh when ThunderClan reached the slope leading towards Fourtrees and the Gathering hollow of the Clans. The whole time, Sandpaw walked as slow as she could, trying to scent for Firepaw. She had noticed the flame colored molly had walked through here and Sandpaw also smelled blood as well. Firepaw must had been still bleeding from their fight yesterday. But Sandpaw also realized that Firepaw's scent was stale. She hadn't returned yet and she probably didn't intend to come back.

Bluestar her lagging behind and hissed at her to keep moving but Sandpaw barely heard her. Firepaw...hadn't returned after Lionheart and Tigerclaw scolded her. No one had seen the young demon molly since yesterday and Firepaw had returned then or now.

The demon's words then rang in Sandpaw's ears. "I'm thinking about leaving. There is no one urging me to stay."

Sandpaw flattened her ears and began to tremble. Firepaw...was gone, left the Clan. Left her...

She didn't even care when Bluestar showed up and cuffed her over the ears, demanding that she move. Her legs moved of their own accord but she did not say that she really cared too much. She stiffly walked towards Ravenpaw who knew that something was bothering his Clanmate but felt like this wasn't the time to bring it up. Instead, he pressed against Sandpaw's side, offering her comfort where he could.

Eventually ThunderClan reached the slope of the Gathering and at the head Bluestar looked down at the cats grouped before before turning to her own Clan. She nodded to them and after flicked her tail, signalling for ThunderClan to join the others below.

Sandpaw ran quietly after her Clanmates, her eyes not taking in the other cats giving her greetings or her own Clan splitting apart to chat with friends. Even Ravenpaw eventually left her alone and soon so did any other cat that was close. Sandpaw didn't care one bit, Firepaw was gone, she had left the Clan.

And she didn't even get a chance to stop or even say goodbye.

Suddenly there was a loud yowl from somewhere above her, Sandpaw pried her eyes from the ground to see a huge dark brown tom standing on top of the Great Rock where the leaders stood. His gaze swept over all the cats assembled and he opened his jaws once more to address all of them.

"ShadowClan needs more prey and I, Brokenstar, demand that you other leaders surrender some of your territory to me! Do so, and your Clans will be safe. But if you refuse, then you will have all the claws and fangs of ShadowClan brought down upon you!"

A/N: Well, what a way to start a Gathering! Brokenstar does not mess around! And Firepaw is taken out of commision while Sandpaw is dealing with a broken , Bluestar is losing her mind. I wonder if anything will go right for the demons of ThunderClan? I hope you'll stick around to find out and as always, please enjoy.