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Something happens in this chapter! Yay for happening!

Chapter 3: Surrounded

Thunderfoot hurried into camp. The cats that were going to the Gathering ( Many soldiers, the Medicine Cat, some Hunters and apprentices, the Generals, the Elites, and the Deputy) were due back almost half an hour ago. He had gone hunting to distract himself and settle his nerves, and lost track of the time.

"Thunderfoot! There you are! We were about to leave. Hurry up!" Thunderfoot swiftly put his prey in the pile and, cursing his stupidity, he'd almost gotten left behind, hurried to take his position at the Deputy's flank. When moving in large numbers , two scouts, Hunters usually, traveled in the lead to look for trouble. The General lead the rest, his Deputy a pawstep behind his stride on his right, his Medicine Cat two on his left. The Elites marched shoulder to shoulder behind the General and between, but a little behind, the Medicine Cat and Deputy. Hunters and Soldiers were placed in rows behind them, and all around the company were the Guards. His heart beat in his ears as he ran hard through the forest, trying his best to keep his position.

Riverstripe sprinted nervously beside Wren. The black cat, as edgy as she was, had been, rather than more subdued, even more mischievous than usual. He had almost been banned from coming. They topped a rise and saw sprawled beneath them the Clan of the Fighting Cat and the ancient Sacred Grounds.
Shadowpelt shivered as he watched the Clan of the Swimming Cat thunder onto the Grounds. He surveyed his surroundings for what had to be the fifth time. Spiral shaped rocks jutted up from the smooth stony ground, as if they'd been carved by the claws of the Great Cats. Small but bottomless looking pools were scattered around, the moonlight glinting off of their shimmering surfaces. No other animal lived in the stony valley. Not even mice, who would be perfectly adapted to its almost lifeless habitat. The only vegetation was the small clump of trees, where the official Gathering was held. No cat or Clan was allowed to go in without the others. They weren't even allowed to enter the valley unless it was a Gathering. He sighed and waited for the rest of the Clans to arrive.
Windheart couldn't believe it. She was going to a Gathering, the first one in years. Sitting at the base of the Generals den she watched as the cats that were going were rounded up. She'd been hanging around camp all day, trying to look useful so she wouldn't be late. Now, as she fell in beside her General she felt a nervous excitement well up in her belly. As the party took off along the moorlands, she dashed eagerly beside them.
At last, Thunderfoot thought irritably as the Clan of the Running Cat came crashing down the slope. For runners, they're pretty slow.
They had only been waiting a short time, but to Thunderfoot it felt like forever.

As soon as the Running Clan had joined them the Clans, Generals in the lead, entered the clump of trees. Thunderfoot looked around in awe. He never thought he would see the inside.

The grass was green, soft, and springy, ringed by tress, odd considering the bare landscape outside this haven. A large rock stood at the back, a smaller one considerably lower and flatter for the Deputies at its base. Smaller rocks, barely big enough for a cat to stand on, formed the steps to the top. Another one below that for the Elites and Medicine Cats. A small cascade of pure sparkling water ran off of the large one, and down into a little waterfall (the cats on the rock would have to sit on either side of it), which surged into an equally spotless pool. A stream ran from there, down the middle of the clearing, and disappeared into the trees.

The Generals headed straight for the rock, leaping up the 'steps', and sat on either side of the waterfall. Thunderfoot followed the Deputies to the stones, proudly taking up the position of the Elites. He saw the strangely marked silver tabby he had saved at the battle, the black tom Wren, a lean pale tabby sitting beside a large brown tabby tom, a shadowy tom and a calico she-cat.

Battle sat down next to him. "This is amazing, isn't it?" she murmured. Thunderfoot nodded. "I never thought I'd live to see one of these. I can't wait!" Battle purred and turned to speak with the silver tabby. This was the only time the cats had ever gotten to see each other outside of battle, and even grudges were put aside for the chance to speak.

Thunderfoot avoided her gaze though, looking out at the crowd instead. He caught Mace's gaze and his friend gave him a nod of encouragement, eyes gleaming with pride. Thunderfoot jumped as a nose nudged his shoulder. He looked up at a large black and white she-cat Deputy who smelled of the Clan of the Fighting Cat. She was old, but she had an air of hidden power about her that Thunderfoot liked. "This your first Gathering young one?" she asked. Thunderfoot nodded and the she-cat purred. "I'm Blair by the way. Who are you? A little young to be an Elite."

Thunderfoot nodded agreement as he introduced himself. "I'm young," he added, "but I'm up to the job. I hope." Blair let out a purr of amusement at this and opened her mouth to speak, but four earsplitting battle yowls rang out across the clearing, quieting the talkative buzz that had been growing louder by the second. Blair closed her mouth, nodded to Thunderfoot, and sat back. Thunderfoot looked up but could barely see the Generals, so he looked at the crowd instead.

General Splitfang was first to speak. "You called this Gathering General Mora. What for? What can we do against wolves?" Next, Thunderfoot heard what had to be the Running Clan's General. "What makes you think I know Splitfang. That's the whole point. We need to do something."

Another voice interrupted them. "Only my Deputy knows at the moment, but the Clan of the Fighting Cat has been attacked too. The smell of wolves was everywhere. Mora is right. We must do something."

Shadowpelt tried his best to look up at his General, shocked. His Clan had been attacked. And he was only telling the now! Yowls of shock, fear, and in the Fighting Clan's case, outrage rang through the clearing. Moonflower yowled and the noise stopped. "I only found out today, just as we were leaving. I apologize for not telling you sooner." Shadowpelt was only a little comforted by his Generals words. It obviously soothed the other cats though, as they quieted.

A small grunt escaped in a fourth voice, it had to be General Fire-eyes, but he was cut off by a howl.

Wait, Shadowpelt thought a howl? The truth hit him like a ton of stones. Wolves! Howls arose from all around them, and the scent of blood and hunger tainted the air as cats began to yowl in panic.

They were surrounded.

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