I had no idea you cared so much! I receivedfour reviews in what was it...two, three days?

The days passed quickly for Sharpclaw, and soon the Gathering was only several days away. She passed the time by hunting constantly and offering to go on patrols. She wanted to show that she was loyal to WindClan so that none of the other cats would think of her leaving. But she surprised herself at how much she socialized with the other cats. Only days before, she'd been certain that they hated her, but now she had friendly conversations with all of them.

But she didn't dare let herself get too close to them. So far she would already miss Flashfur, Patchclaw, her old mentor Barkface, and just maybe Lightpelt. He had become a warrior only several moons before she had, and he constantly pestered her, but she had recently begun to not mind him so much. Lightpelt was a tortoiseshell at first glance, but close up you could see a light tan underside.

"Hi Sharpclaw!" It was anycat's guess as to how Lightpelt managed to pop up whenever Sharpclaw thought of him. The calico warrior popped up in front of her after sneaking up on her from behind.

"Scared you, didn't I?"

"As if I hadn't heard coming. You stalk like a half-dead badger." She never failed to amaze herself. First it was friendly conversations, now she was making jokes!

"Well, haven't heard that side of you in a while." Lightpelt said to her.

"What do you mean?" she asked, not looking at him.

"You used to always be happy and joking. Lately you've just been moping around and avoiding everybody."

Sharpclaw was about to meow a protest when she noticed her uncle Patchclaw walked toward her. The black and white deputy mewed a greeting to them both, then turned to Lightpelt.

"May I have a word with Sharpclaw?"

Lightpelt nodded and walked off. Patchclaw turned back to his neice.

"Sharpclaw, I noticed you've been distant these past few days."

"Distant? What do you mean exactly?"

"I know you've been going on patrols a lot, but you don't seem to talk as much as you used to. I'm worried about you."

Sharpclaw felt slightly overwhelmed that someone cared about her, but worried that her bond might provoke her to stay.

"I'm fine." she said, meaning to sound tense, but failing.

"If you say so. Anyway, I wanted to ask you something. Moonfur's kit's are going to apprenticed soon. Would you like to have one?"

Sharpclaw felt a sharp tug at her heart. She'd always looked forward to having an apprentice, but now she realized that it would be impossible for her to have one if she was going to leave. She wouldn't be able to leave behind an apprentice, as much as she wanted to leave. She sat there, trying to figure out what to do.

"Sharpclaw?" Patchclaw's voice interuppted her thoughts.

"I..I don't think so. I just don't think I'm ready yet. I've only been a warrior for a few moons. But I'm sure that Honeyfur would like one. She's been hinting about it. I'm feeling sick anyway." It was true. Lying to her own uncle about wanting an apprentice was making her stomach do flips. It was a touchy subject.

Patchclaw nodded and gave her a lick on her shoulder as a farewell. He bounded off to Kinkstar's den to tell him about Honeyfur.

Later that night, Sharpclaw stayed in the den, still feeling sick, while Redkit and Lionkit were apprenticed. She watched the ceremony from the den. Redkit and Lionkit were sitting next to their mother, Streaktail, clearly full of energy, while their father Barkface watched nearby. Shortleg received Redpaw, while Honeyfur was given Lionpaw. Sharpclaw was glad she'd given her friend something to be happy about.

The days passed quickly, and it was time for the Gathering. Sharpclaw would be going, and Kinkstar was bound to call them any moment, so Sharpclaw was simply watching the cats as they went about their tasks. Barkface was picking something from the fresh-kill pile with Wetstorm before they left for the Gathering. Rabbittail was talking with Kinkstar and Foxnose. Moonfur was in the nursery with her and Rockpelt's kits, newly born, and the gray warrior was probably with her.

Lightpelt was mock fighting with his sister Honeyfur while Redpaw and Lionpaw watched them intently. Mayheart and Flashfur were sharing tongues while they waited for Kinkstar to call them for the Gathering. Shortleg would be visiting Snowstorm in the nursery, as usual. Threetoe, Darktail, and Tallfang were all in the elders den. And there went Patchclaw, going to visit Sleekheart in the nursery. Sharpclaw laughed to herself. She always knew they'd end up together. Her only regret was that she wouldn't get to see their kits.

Kinkstar's commanding yowl was heard, and the cats assembled to go to the Gathering. The journey was quick, and Sharpclaw was silent the whole way. She knew what she had to do, and her heart was heavy with the burden.

The Gathering was short, with none of the Clans having anything important to tell. They soon dispersed, but Sharpclaw stayed at the back of the group. As soon as the last Clan had left, she saw her chance. As WindClan made their way through the grass, she slipped off to the side and ran silently back. She could hardly believe she was really doing it. She was actually running away!

When she reached the Talltree, she simply stood there and looked at it, with its great height and branches growing from it, then looked around her. None of the cats would be back here for a while, so she decided to stay the night there. She curled into a tight ball between two great roots at the base of the tree, and stayed that way wide awake until sleep inevitably claimed her.

Nightshade sat in the middle of the camp, surrounded by the other cats. He had been made to stay in the medicine cat's den for several days so that he could be watched over, and it was now the day of the Gathering. Nightshade thought that maybe they would have simmered down a bit, but the whole Clan still seemed riled about his antics.

They had gotten Yewpelt's kittens out from under the wall safely, but now Spotstar was in his den talking with his deputy Soilfoot and the senior warriors about him. This was by far the worst thing he'd ever done. Nightshade wasn't sure what was going to happen to him. He didn't dare try to talk, or make any noise at all. He didn't even move. He just sat there, staring straight ahead as he listened to the murmurs of the cats around him. They couldn't think he'd done this on purpose, could they? That wasn't true! He hadn't meant to knock over the wall!

Spotstar and the other cats emerged from the den and a fresh wave of apprehension and guilt surged through Nightshade as Spotstar jumped up to the top of the mound of compacted dirt in front of his den. He looked down on the cats until his gaze rested on Nightshade. Finally, he spoke.

"Nightshade, at first we all thought you were simply a troublemaker. But then your deeds became worse and more devious as you grew. I made you a warrior hoping you would take your life more seriously. But you have failed me, and your Clan. You don't seem to think anything of your life, and now you have endangered the lives of others." The elders tittered uncomfortably and Yewpelt wrapped her tail protectively around her kits.

"Nightshade, I swore once I would watch you grow, to see how you would turn out, and one day, though I thought it would be in private and to myself, but one day, I would half to pass judgement on you. And I pass it now." He paused and gave Nightshade a long, hard look as the dark brown tabby stared back, his heart pounding.

"Exile!"

The word rang in Nightshade's head. Exile. Forced to live his life without a Clan, as a rogue, constantly hunted down by any Clan whose territory he was in. Unconsciously, he began backing toward the entrance to the camp, still in shock, as the cats behind parted in a path for him. As he passed them, they began walking toward him, constantly chasing him away, out of the camp, and yet matching his pace. He backed further and further away, his head ringing numbly, as Spotstar's voice came again.

"The Clans will be told at the Gathering tonight of your misdeeds, and you will be forbidden to join them. You will be forced to live your life as a loner until you atone for yourself. When you think you've learned enough, return here and I shall pass judgement again. But until then, you are banished from the Clan!"

Nightshade could now feel the camp wall against his hind feet. The cats were still closing in on him, cutting him off from the rest of the camp. He looked over at Bluetide, his mother, and saw a look of such sadness and helplessness that he nearly cried out. His mother was the only one that still liked him, even loved him, and now she couldn't do a thing. It was too much for him to handle. With a small spurt of energy, he sprinted over to his left and out through the small opening in the wall.

And he ran. Like he had never run before. Not even when he'd been nearly run over by a monster on the Thunderpath once before. Now, he was running from his Clan, from the past he'd had, from his very life. He nearly flew over the ground, hardly feeling it, hardly feeling anything at all. All he felt, all he knew was running, and getting away. Eventually, he gathered the nerve to look over his shoulder and saw that he wasn't being followed. Then, suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in the side of his head, and he collapsed, not unconscious, but exhausted.

He had been about to get up when he heard a yowl behind him. He looked over his shoulder to see a ThunderClan patrol and he found himself running again. Only this time, he felt that same feeling he got when he was breaking rules. Exhileration. Trying to shake off the feeling and remember that was a loner now, he decided to head for the Talltree. The Gathering was probably over by now, and they would lose his scent.

He couldn't hear their steps now, but he had to keep running, to make it to the Talltree, so that they would never find him. He just had to make it. He forced himself to run faster and faster. He collapsed in the grass shortly before the Talltree.

Cliffhanger! What will happen? Will he find Sharpclaw? Will Sharpclaw find him? What will happen? Three morereviews, and you'll find out.