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

'Thoughts' Dreams Memories

All of the gathered Clan cats stared in stunned silence to Brokenstar's words. Most didn't know what to make of of the leader of ShadowClan said. Hushed murmurs broke out from the crowd below before Mousefur go to her paws, glaring up the tom, though Sandpaw, despite everything, noticed that her gaze wavered and the small molly swayed on her paws.

"Why...why should give you more territory? Surely your land can support you!" she growled, though it sounded distant and soon she lowered her head, inadvertently saving herself from falling further into the misty void.

Brokenstar only smirked and lashed his mishappen tail, rising taller on his paws as he turned his gaze to all the cats down below. "ShadowClan grows more and more, out kits are strong and our warriors are fierce. Should my Clan be punished because we are growing stronger every day? My Clan's kits need more food, more than any other Clan. So I demand more territory so they do not starve."

As he spoke, Sandpaw looked over to some of ShadowClan's cats, despite what Broeknstar said, she noticed with a bit of a shock that two of the apprentices that were brought to the Gathering were rather small, almost kit-sized. And looking through the group, it wasn't just the young ones, a few of the warriors looked small as well.

But then she saw cats like Clawface and Blackfoot, both were massive and even from hear, Sandpaw was shocked to see small bits of different colors covering their left eyes. Were they full bloodied demons?! Looking around, it wasn't just them but a skinny but well muscled black tom and large gray tom.

They weren't the only ones! There were demons in the other Clans! Sandpaw then looked around, wanting to know who else was a demon.

"WindClan did not understand this, so I did what was best for my Clan and drove those pathetic rabbit chasers out!" The dark brown tom said evenly, his gaze calm and cool. "I have a WindClan pelt serving my nest right now and surprisingly, they have much softer fur than they look." Brokenstar said this with a smile on his muzzle and the other leaders gaped at him.

"You...you skinned a cat?" Crookedstar, the leader of RiverClan stammered while Bluestar looked down at the cats below.

"That's why there are no WindClan cats here, why there was none in their territory. You drove them out and even killed one!" she hissed, backing away from the dark cat.

Brokenstar only chuckled and unsheathed his claws, a dangerous light entering his eyes. "It was more than one, my bravest warriors need warm nests too."

"StarClan will strike you down for what you are saying!" Crookedstar growled, he stood close to Brokenstar, both toms were nearly the same size and Sandpaw wondered if Crookedstar had demon blood in him too.

"And yet the moon remains uncovered." Brokenstar replied slyly, his tail twitching in dark amusement. "Seems like StarClan has no problem with what I ask, so why should you? I must admit though, you RiverClan cats always had nice fur. I wonder if yours would make an even better nest?"

At the threat, Crookedstar backed away, his fur bristling. Bluestar looked over at him before standing before Brokenstar who lifted his chin and narrowed his eyes, his claws unsheathed.

"It would be better for all of us if we could come to terms." Bluestar said, though Sandpaw could see her tail twitching frantically. She was afraid.

"Terms? Ah, very well. These are my terms; hand over your territory immediately."

"We cannot agree to that, but perhaps we can come up with something better. For all of us."

"You're in no position to bargain, Bluestar," Brokenstar growled softly, his claws scraping against the rock. Bluestar noticed and took a deep breath.

"You drove out and killed cats of WindClan. Surely that should be enough on your conscience. Perhaps, if you are really struggling, you can send some of your kits and apprentices to us. Ease the strain on your land, allow the prey to replenish. Then we will give them back. You will have food and power aplenty."

"I will not give my kits or apprentices away so you can turn them against me. I'll take back my terms. If you have not made your decision by the time of the next Gathering, I'll tear every throat out in your Clans! I will not allow my Clan to starve when we deserve to be strong!"

Brokenstar then jumped from the Great Rock and immediately his warriors surrounded him as they traveled back to ShadowClan. Bluestar and Crookedstar watched him go, before the RiverClan leader looked to the sky, seeing the moon still shining brightly.

"StarClan did not cover the moon. Perhaps they would not care if we are wiped out." he muttered morosely, his head hanging.

"I am not willing to die! If Brokenstar thinks he can drove me out or kill me, he will find that I have something that can deal with him." Bluestar said, narrowing her eyes and jumping down from the rock. Crookedstar watched her go and once more looked to the moon before leaping himself.

"ThunderClan, to me!" Bluestar called out though most of the gathering party was already moving towards her, Sandpaw lingered when she noticed Tigerclaw hadn't moved with them, he was looking to where Brokenstar and the rest of ShadowClan had gone.

What was he thinking, she wondered.

XxXx

The ThunderClan Gathering party made it to the camp with no incident. Bluestar looked around it to find that nothing was out of order, leading her to heave a sigh of relief. Lionheart looked over her, seeing her ruffled fur before before he could say anything, Darkstripe rushed over to him, looking him over. Lionheart smirked at this but Bluestar scowled at the open concern her deputy showed, calling him to join her at the Highrock.

Bluestar wasted not time in addressing the Clan, her voice ringing out for all to hear. "ShadowClan is threatening our borders and our very lives. Brokenstar has driven out and killed Windclan cats for their territory and has threatened to do the same to us with we do not submit to him by the time of the next Gathering! I will not be threatened, I will not demanded to! If ShadowClan wishes to fight us, then he will find that ThunderClan will not be so easy to drive off as WindClan!"

Lionheart and the other demons looked at one another, before the mighty warrior stood, tilting his head. "And how do you intend to defend yourself against Brokenstar and his threats?" the way he asked seemed to infer that he knew what Bluestar was going to say, but he wanted to see if she would prove him wrong.

"You demons will serve on the front lines. You are powerful and mighty! I have no doubt that Brokenstar would run into trouble if faced with you."

"So...in other words, you mean to sacrifice us!" Tigerclaw snarled, glaring up at Bluestar, to which she returned the glare before looking to the rest of her Clan.

"If you are as strong as the stories say, then you have nothing to worry about." Bluestar replied, her tail lashing. "I don't know why you are against, you should want to defend your Clan. Remember that you swore an oath! To die for your Clan if need be. In saying that, I have decided that our apprentices must speed up their training. There will also be more patrols going out. I will not have ThunderClan fall to the whims of a tryant! The demons will defend the camp and at least one of them will be patrol from now on."

As the Clan began to talk among themselves, they noticed that Bluestar was not done. They looked up to the leader, the demons wary of what else she would say.

"Tomorrow, I will head to Mothermouth to speak to our ancestors about the coming threat. With me, I will take Tigerclaw, Sandpaw and Ravenpaw. Make sure to see Spottedleaf for what you will need for the journey."

"Hmph, she probably only picked them because she wanted to be protected in case ShadowClan goes beyond the borders to attack her." Willowpelt groused, shaking her head. All the demons of the Clan once more huddled together while Bluestar jumped down from the Highrock. Darkstripe walked over to her, tilting his head.

"Why didn't you want me to come along with you? Not to downgrade their skills but isn't two warriors better than just one and two apprentices?"

Bluestar flicked her tail and rolled her eyes, looking slightly annoyed. "You should know than to question your leader, Darkstripe. But if you must know, I need you here to keep an eye on the demons. There's no telling what could happen and despite our...disagreements of late, I need someone I can actually trust."

"The others don't need watching, they are loyal." Darkstripe replied, his fur beginning to bristle.

"Better to be safe than sorry. I'm only taking those three to guard me, it's about the only thing they are worth. And even if the camp is attacked, the demons will serve as a good shield to protect the true warriors!" Bluestar shot back, heading for her den while Darkstripe watched her go. He then looked to the stars, his gaze troubled.

"StarClan...I don't think it's just Brokenstar we need to worry about! Please, give me the strength to protect my Clanmates. Please!"