Chapter 3

Rainpelt blinked with sorrow as she watched her friends join the crowd of cats to go to the Gathering. She rested her head on her paws and watched Bluestar give the cry to move. The cats began to leave the camp, following their leader to Fourtrees. She shut her eyes, deciding to get some rest.

Fireheart padded to the left of Graystripe, and to the right of Sandstorm. They began to reach the top of the hill and overlooked the bottom, where the other Clans were swapping stories and the elders were speaking of the old days. Bluestar gave the cry and her Clan followed her to the bottom.

Graystripe ran over to Mistyfoot, so Fireheart sought out Morningflower. When spotted, the queen dipped her head warmly and walked over to greet him.

"Good day, Fireheart. How has the Clan been?"

"It's been fine, thank you." He decided he would let Bluestar tell the other Clans of Rainpelt if she wanted anything said. Morningflower nodded. "How is your kit?"

"He's growing fast. I can hardly keep track of him!" Fireheart saw a sparkle of humor in her eyes. She blinked her good-bye and went off to find someone new. He looked around and spotted Tigerclaw speaking with Leopardfur. Fireheart's fur bristled in alarm. He was about to step forward when the leaders leaped on the Highrock and called for silence.

Fireheart sat down, not keeping his eyes off of the leaders above him. Graystripe sat down beside him. "I wonder what ShadowClan will have to say about breaching the border," his friend whispered. Fireheart shrugged as Bluestar stepped forward quickly. She opened her mouth to speak, and he could tell she was going to pull a calm speech, then get to the bottom of her target.

"ThunderClan has attained two new warriors: Sandstorm and Dustpelt," she began as the crowd of cats cleared, leaving Sandstorm and Dustpelt out in the open. "We have also taken a prisoner. She does not have the scent of any forest Clan, but she is not a loner. It has been spoken by her that there are other Clans out there. Hers has been recently wiped out. My deputy and I are speaking of whether or not to take her into our Clan. She is hoping for the invitation, but I would like a word with my deputy of it first.

"We have also come to know that the scent of ShadowClan has been in our territory. Is there a reason you have breached the border, Nightstar?" She narrowed her eyes and looked at the ShadowClan leader.

"We were traveling to Highstones," he explained calmly.

"You do not need to cross our border to reach Highstones."

"That is my only answer."

"It is breaking the warrior code to cross the border into another Clan's territory," she growled.

"But it was to Highstones. All Clans have a free pass to Highstones."

"You did not need to cross our border," Bluestar yowled in defiance. Nightstar hissed and arched his back. Bluestar narrowed her eyes.

"Enough!" Yellowfang spoke up. "There is a cloud heading toward the moon. These Gatherings are to be held in peace." She watched as the leaders calmed themselves and the cloud began to drift the other way.

Crookedstar stepped up to the edge of the Highrock. "I will make one more request to ThunderClan for Sunningrocks. They should belong to RiverClan." He turned his icy gaze toward Bluestar. She narrowed her eyes and shook her head. With a growl he stepped back to let Tallstar speak. He had nothing else to say.

Tallstar spoke of how things were going in WindClan, and that new kits had been recently born. After he finished, the leaders jumped off of the Highrock and headed in the directions of their territories. Fireheart noticed all but RiverClan traveled in silence, and he dared not break the vow.

Rainpelt's head rose as she saw the warriors flood back into camp. She yawned and got up, shaking the moss from her pelt. She padded over to Fireheart and Graystripe as Bluestar and Tigerclaw began to speak in hushed tones.

"How did the Gathering go?" Rainpelt's ears twitched of curiosity.

"ShadowClan breached our border just because they felt like it. Maybe the legend is right that the cold wind blows over all of ShadowClans' hearts," Graystripe mewed coldly.

"We nearly had to leave early because StarClan was angry," Fireheart added. "RiverClan wants Sunningrocks again."

"Again?" Rainpelt's eyes widened, remembering the rocks near the river.

"They've asked for it before. No doubt we'll have to fight RiverClan soon." She nodded and turned to look at Bluestar, and then back at her friends.

"Well if we do have to fight, we'll be ready," she meowed with support.

"Rainpelt!" She turned to look at Bluestar. "May I speak to you please?" She nodded and followed Bluestar under the Highrock. "ThunderClan appreciate you helping us. You are a skilled warrior. You fought Frostfur well when she attacked you. I think ThunderClan could use your service."

Rainpelt's eyes widened. "Do you mean it, Bluestar?"

"I mean every word. Do you accept?"

"Of course!" Her tail twitched with excitement.

"You will sleep with the warriors tonight as an official member of ThunderClan. You are excused." Bluestar followed her out, and then jumped onto the Highrock. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!" she yowled. Cats began to emerge from their dens to sit beneath the Highrock to hear their leader's words.

"We can never replace Rainpelt's original Clan, but we can at least offer her a home. I, Bluestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this warrior. She has proven herself worthy to you, and has followed your noble code. I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn. Rainpelt, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do," Rainpelt replied loud and clear, happiness filling her heart like a fire that would never die out.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, we welcome you as a full ThunderClan warrior." Rainpelt bent her head. Bluestar touched her muzzle to it, and Rainpelt licked her shoulder respectfully in return. "There will be no vow of silence, for you have already received your warrior name." She nodded. The cats began to return to their dens, and Rainpelt was happy to pad off to the warrior den to rest peacefully among her friends.