Tada, what you've all been waiting for. Enjoy, guys!

Leafpool's eyes were fixed on something in the darkness. Her ears pricked. She blinked confidently, knowing she was dreaming. Suddenly the breath was taken put of her lungs. Her fur bristled, but then froze and she felt coldness. Such coldness. Her fur was still leaf-bare thin and Leafpool heaved, trying to catch her breath, shrinking together, longing to hear Spottedleaf's, or Cinderpelt's voice, but everything remained silent.

Until a scream of a single cat made her heart want to stop beating.

"Leafpool! Leafpool! Wake up!"

Leafpool opened her eyes, and jumped up, expecting an enemy, the horrible cold, but saw only the ginger fur of her sister, looking at her quizzically.

"You were mewing in your sleep. Everything alright?" Leafpool looked at her sister's warm, green eyes, longing to tell her everything, the dream that had been haunting her for a moon, but she shook her head.

"I just had a nightmare, that's all." She blinked and looked at the ground, knowing Squirrelflight was probably not fooled.

Squirrelflight looked at her again, but then sighed; knowing Leafpool wasn't going to share anything with her.

"Goldenflower says her stomach's acting up."

Leafpool nodded, still shaken by her dream. "I'll go tend to her."

She brushed past her sister, not missing her disappointed look.

The clan needs me now, Leafpool thought, and the time's long passed since Squirrelflight and I were kits and there weren't any secrets between us. We're walking different paths now.

Leafpool sighed and got some juniper berries, gently carrying her bundle to her patient.

Her ears pricked when she saw Firestar on the High Rock.

He's probably going to announce which cats are going to the Gathering. Do I want to go?

On one side, Leafpool was eager to go to the Gathering. She loved meeting up with all the other cats, and maybe she could ask the other medicine cats about her dream….

But on the other side, would Crowfeather be there? What would they say to each other if their paths crossed? Every cat in every clan would know about them now. Leafpool had been putting all her energy into her medicine cat duties, collecting berries, tending to the cats, but deep inside she knew she still loved him. Loved everything about him. The way he moved, talked. And she would never forget him. Ever.

Oh Starclan, why are you so cruel? You know I could easily balance Crowfeather and my medicine cat duties.

Leafpool almost had the feeling she could smell Spottedleaf's sweet scent, but it was gone before she could distinguish it.

Instead she turned her attention back to Firestar, her scent glands still overpowered by the strong scent of juniper.

"I'm going to take: Sandstorm, Goldenflower, Mousefur, Squirrelflight and Rainwhisker." Firestar meowed, taking a look at each of his chosen cats in turn.

It was Brambleclaw who spoke up first, his voice shaken by anger and almost a bit disappointment:

"What will the other clans think if we are so Thunderclan shows up little? They'll be trying to take over Thunderclan's hunting grounds before you can say: 'Mouse'."

Leafpool cocked her head, wondering if Brambleclaw was angry that he wasn't chosen, or that Squirrelflight had been.

Sometimes I think the thing between them really goes too far, she thought, shaking her head in dismay.

Firestar didn't blink. "I don't want to leave the clan unprotected. And the badger attack is nothing we need to hide from the clans. The badgers could've been a threat to any of us; it was sheer bad luck that they choose Thunderclan."

He took a quick pause, almost jumping down from the High Ledge, before he seemed to remember something. "Leafpool, I'd like to speak to you, first, though."

Leafpool's eyes reflected her own surprise, but she shook it off. It was normal that clan leaders spoke to their medicine cats.

She dropped the juniper, forgetting about it and padded over to Firestar's den.

Her father was there already and nodded when he saw her. "Have you eaten yet?" he asked, flicking his tail at a piece of fresh-kill lying next to his own.

Leafpool shook her head. "I'm not hungry."

Whatever appetite she had had, had been taken away by her nightmare.

Her eyes burned into his, persuading him to start the conversation.

Firestar coughed and started: "I wanted to ask you if you'd like to come to this Gathering. I know it probably isn't wise, since Windclan might still be a bit," he paused, searching for the right word, "annoyed about you and Crowfeather, but I know after loosing Cinderpelt I thought you might want to see some of the other medicine cats again."

Leafpool's eyes started to water and she noticed the same dull expression that showed Firestar would probably still grieve for Cinderpelt for many more moons. She remembered that Cinderpelt had originally been his apprentice before her accident at the Thunderpath that had crippled her.

She purred and padding over to Firestar and gave his ear a lick. "I'd like to come, actually," she paused, adding more sympathetically, "don't grieve her too long, Firestar. Your clan needs you and she'll be watching over us from Starclan."

Firestar's eyes betrayed his feelings once again, but then he closed up and mrrowed with laughter.

"Since when do you sound so wise, so much like her?"

Leafpool shrugged, not giving away the tugging at her heart that she was feeling.

Firestar dipped his head, signaling he was finished and closed his eyes.

Leafpool padded out of the den silently, and making her way back to her den, suddenly remembering the juniper she was supposed to bring to Goldenflower.

On the way she almost bumped into Brambleclaw, who was still wearing the same frown that he'd had since Firestar announce which cats would get to go to the Gathering.

"Did Firestar say why he didn't choose me to go to the Gathering?" he asked Leafpool. His voice sounded weird, it wasn't the voice she was used to hearing from the tabby warrior that looked so much like his father.

She mrrowed, laughing. "No, but I can sense that a certain cat needs to get something of his shoulders," she replied, looking at him with a gentle look.

Brambleclaw gave her a relieved look and flopped down, not waiting until he was settled down to speak.

"I can't believe Firestar wants me to stay here. I need to see Tawnypelt and Crowfeather. How else are we ever going to get going? I'm not sure what 'what's still missing' means, but I'm sure it won't wait forever."

Leafpool twitched at the mention of Crowfeather, but forced herself to relax, and think.

"But Squirrelflight's going, isn't she? And she can do that, too. Plus, Firestar might talk to the other leaders about your mission. He needs many strong warriors in camp in case the badgers decide to return."

"Yes, ..but," Brambleclaw seemed determined to find more reasons why he should go to the Gathering, "remember what Midnight said. She told us the badgers would leave us alone, now. And since Stormfur and Brook are here, there are two extra warriors in camp."

He frowned. "I don't know why Firestar's being so super-cautious."

Leafpool looked at the young warrior inquiringly. Brambleclaw had changed a lot. Where was the young apprentice who would've never disobeyed or questioned his leader and mentor? And, what did this Gathering mean to him? She could think of no reason why he was acting like it had been ages since he had seen the other clans. If she remembered correctly he'd been at the last Gathering, too.

She gave his ear a quick lick. "Remember, Cinderpelt died when the badgers attacked, and now Firestar's lost another cat that he was awfully close to who. He doesn't want to risk the life of any other cat. But, if it's so important to you, why don't you go ask him? But mind you, be easy on him."

Brambleclaw's eyes seemed to widen and Leafpool remembered that he had lived to watch ThunderClan's old leader, Bluestar, go insane because of Tigerclaw's betrayal.

Leafpool shook her head, answering an unsaid question. "Firestar'll recover quickly, you'll see. He just needs to understanding of every cat in the clan."

Leafpool turned her eyes back on Brambleclaw only to see that he had already gone sprinting off towards Firestar's den, not waiting for her to finish.

Leafpool's eyes burned into Brambleclaw's fur until he disappeared into her leader's den.

Maybe Squirrelflight's right, she thought, Brambleclaw's changed an awful lot.

(I'd end the chapter here, but that'd be a bit too little, I think xp)

&&&

Leafpool gulped. The full-moon shone, high up in the sky, no clouds anywhere nearby that could threaten to disturb the peaceful night.

But that wasn't what was bothering her. She had smelled the scent that she had been afraid to smell, hoping he would've stayed in camp.

Crowfeather's scent.

She would've recognized that scent if it were coming from Starclan themselves.

And now he was here. What would he say to her? What would she say? And most importantly, what would the other clans say?

After all, she and Crowfeather had been willing to give up their places in their clans, and ran away, without telling anybody.

She looked up again and realized that the other cats were already considerably ahead of her.

With a small grunt of effort, she jumped up and raced after them, bumping into a bundle of golden fur.

"Mrehhh!" Leafpool winced as the other cat's body slammed into he own. She opened her eyes, recognizing the cat on top of her.

"Mothwing!"

"Leafpool!" the cat jumped back in surprise, but then purred. "You came," suddenly her eyes clouded with sympathy, "I wasn't sure you would."

Leafpool rested her head on Mothwing's shoulder. "Nothing would've kept me away. I want to talk to you about…."

Suddenly she remembered Mothwing's secret, she didn't believe in Starclan. Would Mothwing listen to her, or just blame the dream on a too full stomach?

Mothwing looked at her, her amber eyes confused. "What is it, Leafpool?"

Leafpool tried to think fast, but a million things seemed to be blurring through her mind. Why did it seem as if every secret in the forest was counting on her to keep it safe?

"Err, umm,-I just wanted to ask you how the hunting is." Leafpool knew it was a bad lie, but there was nothing else she could do.

"Fine. Look, Leafpool, is this about Crowfeather?"

Leafpool looked at her paws, embarrassed. Obviously, the news that she and Crowfeather had tried to flee from clan life had spread like wildfire.

But of all the cats she knew, wouldn't Mothwing be one to stick to her?

Mothwing's eyes widened as she saw Leafpool's response.

"No-no, Leafpool, you're not understanding me," Mothwing closed her eyes and re-opened them, "I've never felt like that, but I admire you Leafpool. What you did was brave, and you had such courage. And you know what I think about the warrior code. It's mouse-brained that medicine cats can't have mates, or cats need to choose mates from their own clan."

Leafpool's eyes brimmed with gratitude and friendship. What Mothwing said meant so much to her.

"Anyways," Mothwing added with a mischievous look in her eyes, "I think you and Crowfeather make a perfect pair."

Leafpool narrowed her eyes and gave her friend a soft shove.

Suddenly she noticed that it was quiet, the sound and smells of the other cats were getting more and more distant.

She laughed and broke into a run. "Come on, Mothwing, or else they might already be done with the Gathering before we arrive!"

Mothwing closed her eyes, and Leafpool noticed she was barely holding back a giggling fit before speeding up to keep pace with Leafpool.

&&&

(I know, many &&&'s. But it would be boring if the whole story would be told from one cat's point of view, or? ;P)

Brambleclaw's tail stood up rigidly as he padded through the throng of other cats, searching for his brother.

He had to talk to him. He'd received another dream from Tigerclaw, and…..

It was complicated to explain, but he hadn't seen Hawkfrost in it, and he had a prickling feeling he should share it.

"Don't say hi, will you?"

Brambleclaw spun around, his fur on the edge, but he relaxed when he saw his sister, Tawnypelt.

She was looking at him with a suspicious look in her eyes.

"What are you sneaking around here, acting as if you're expecting Starclan themselves to jump out of every bush?"

Brambleclaw tried to sound as normal as possible. "I'm just looking for, uhh," he searched for a name of any of his clanmates, "Ashfur."

He winced as soon as the word was out his mouth, knowing it wasn't a good choice.

"Well, look two pawsteps behind you, and you'll see him," Tawnypelt meowed sarcastically pointing out Ashfur in the middle of some Riverclan warriors not more than two tail-lengths away. "What's really going on Brambleclaw?"

Instead of responding, Brambleclaw jumped up in surprise and gulped. Standing behind Tawnypelt, signaling urgently with his tail, was Hawkfrost.

Tawnypelt just seemed more frustrated with him. "Earth to Brambleclaw? What's wrong with you, Brambleclaw?"

Brambleclaw, who hadn't been listening to this question, either, got up and meowed quickly: "I have to go make dirt, see you later, Tawnypelt!"

But instead of going directly towards Hawkfrost, who, from what Brambleclaw could scent was now sitting behind a row of bushes and a tree, nicely hidden away from the rest of the cats, he made a long circle around what seemed like an endless row of bushes and trees before reaching his brother.

Hawkfrost had curled his tail around his legs, but he sat up taller as Brambleclaw sat down beside him.

"Finally, I thought you'd never arrive," he meowed, almost challenging Brambleclaw with his blue, glittering eyes.

"Well, I'm here now," Brambleclaw replied, "look, Hawkfrost, there's something I need to tell you…."

&&&

(Muaahhaa, you thought I'd let you in on Brambleclaw and Hawfrost's secret? Sorry, no way Jose. xP)

Squirrelflight's eyes were shining. Crowfeather said he'd go! It'll be just like before! Now I just have to find Tawnypelt.

Her eyes scanned the little groups of cats sitting together in the clearing murmuring to another, until she saw the former Thunderclan cat with which she had bonded during the journey.

She trotted over to her, calling out: "Tawnypelt!" to catch the she-cat's attention.

Tawnypelt seemed to be wearing a frown, and meowed subdued: "Squirrelflight."

Squirrelflight's tail dropped and she lost her enthusiasm. Had she done anything wrong?

"Tawnypelt, what's wrong?" she asked, her words brimmed with worry. Had the kittypets attacked Shadowclan again?

Tawnypelt shook her head. "Oh it's nothing."

Then, she seemed to change her mind and mouthed: "Brambleclaw."

Squirrelflight rolled her eyes, not caring if Tawnypelt or ever Brambleclaw saw it.

Brambleclaw, where is that wrenched furball, anyways? Wasn't he supposed to help me talk to the others about Feathertail's prophecy? He's as untrustworthy as a badger these days.

"What did he do this time?" Squirrelflight meowed, trying to sound indifferent.

Tawnypelt flopped down, her eyes betraying hurt, the same look that Squirrelflight had been carrying around her for so long.

"I just wanted to talk to him a bit, you know, I was real grateful how you helped us against the kittypets, but he wouldn't listen to me, and then stalked off, saying he had to make dirt."

Tawnypelt narrowed her eyes snarling: "And it wasn't even true. I followed him; he made a wide circle around the other cats and then stepped behind the bushes. There was another cat there too; I just didn't know the scent. Riverclan, I think."

Squirrelflight didn't even twitch. Had the time come where she'd gotten used to Brambleclaw doing such things?

She sighed. "He's been like that often, too," she didn't want to tell Tawnypelt about the prophecy, and him not telling her, yet, "he's changed an awful lot. I don't know him anymore."

Riverclan! Of course, Brambleclaw was meeting up with Hawkfrost again. And why didn't this surprise Squirrelflight?

She gulped. How can I love such a, rude, undeserving cat?

She shook her head. "He probably wanted to meet Hawkfrost, probably just for them to catch up on the news in clans.

Wow, she thought, has making excuses for Brambleclaw's behavior become natural for me? And he doesn't even thank me for it!

"But listen, Tawnypelt, there's something more important, than Brambleclaw at the moment."

Tawnypelt pricked her ears, to Squirrelflight's relief forgetting about Brambleclaw's rudeness for a moment.

"Stormfur came to our camp shortly after the badger attack."

Tawnypelt nearly jumped out of her fur. "Stormfur! But didn't he go live with the Tribe? And badgers? What happened?"

"The badger attack is old news, you'll probably hear about it from Firestar. Cinderpelt and Sootfur died, though."

Tawnypelt bowed her head. "I'm so sorry, Squirrelflight, that's awful," she replied, licking Squirrelflight's ear in a rare sign of affection.

Squirrelflight nodded, having to wait a few seconds for a huge stone in her throat to clear. Talking about Cinderpelt always made her want to start wailing again.

"Stormfur came with Brook because Feathertail sent him a message. She said 'with four cats you must unite and as one you shall travel to find what's still missing'. Stormfur must unite with four cats, Brambleclaw, you, me and Crowfeather!"

Suddenly it all became clear for Squirrelflight. Brambleclaw had said only four cats were to go, but he was wrong! Starclan had said that Stormfur had to unite with four cats, so Stormfur wasn't one of them, which meant five cats were meant to go, including her. Squirrelflight's heart seemed to be as light as a feather.

Tawnypelt just stared at her, for one, two seconds, not believing what she was hearing.

Squirrelflight knew how she must feel. She had been happy to be back in Shadowclan, and now Starclan were sending her away, again.

Tawnypelt shook her head sadly, not meeting Squirrelflight's eyes. "Squirrelflight, you should be one of the first cats to know I wouldn't back down from an adventure, or a prophecy from Starclan, but," Tawnypelt hesisitated.

Does she not trust Brambleclaw and doesn't want to go with him?

Tawnypelt seemed to be reading her mind. "No, Squirrelflight, I still trust Brambleclaw with my life, he's still my brother, no matter how mouse-brained he sometimes behaves. But Shadowclan lost a lot of cats to the kittypets, and warriors are not plenty at the moment. We're all working towards exhaustion, trying to keep up with patrols and hunting. Shadowclan can spare no cats, at the moment."

Just when Squirrelflight nothing could surprise her more, a flash of thunder hit one of the trees at the edge of the clearing.

There was a sickening thud, and muffled meows as cats sprang out of the way and the tree finally hit the ground, shaking the island.

Amid calls of "Is everything alright?" from the leaders, two cats stood revealed behind the tree. One, standing up defiantly, the other bowing his head, shocked and embarrassed at once.

(Another small update. I actually wanted to fit the whole Gathering in one chapter, but I still need to come to the actual Gathering, and another POV change to Leafpool, so I guess I'll leave it as this. :3)