"The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times."
― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

Two sunrises had passed since the frustrating events that had happened in the battle, and the Gathering was tonight.

"Splotchstar." Dad meowed to the leader. "Please don't attack anyone at the Gathering."

"What?!" Splotchstar turned on him and glared at him in front of everyone. "Only you know how many lives I have left! And Tawnystar took one of them!"

"And you think causing a battle is going to help?!" Dad growled.

Splotchstar and the deputy kept bickering back and forth without most of us listening.

"I'd rather not go to the Gathering." Songpaw whispered. "I...there's too many angry cats."

"Ain't that the truth." Volepaw growled, ripping a piece of meat from a squirrel. "Two Clans both burning with hatred towards us!"

"It does not matter." Jioveheart meowed indifferently, with Willowtail and Honeybreeze at her side. "I've got the Power of the three."

"Oh go blow it out your-"

"Flypaw!" Willowtail growled. "Don't talk like that to Jioveheart."

"Or what, clouds will cover the moon?" Flypaw taunted the warrior.

I kept looking away from Flypaw to see if Splotchstar would announce who was going, worried that she was going to pick me.

At least till I saw Stormbright pass by, and a twinge of hatred seared through me.

She looked at me and then away with a smug smirk, and I had been hurting knowing that the battle had been planned right under my nose.

"Attention RiverClan, I will now announce who will go to the Gathering." Splotchstar meowed. "Me, Stonewater, Rowanpaw, Pikestep, Weaselberry, Nettleburr, Haytuft, Snailstep, Antpad, Jioveheart, Willowtail, Redpaw, Brownpaw, Flypaw, Volepaw, and Spiderpaw."

"Oh thank StarClan!" Songpaw whispered. "I get to stay."

"Good, it's probably better that you do." I whispered, awaiting the cursed Gathering about to unfold.

As we walked toward the island, warriors constantly looked over their shoulder to make sure that no ThunderClan or ShadowClan cats would strike.

"I'd protect us all anyway!" Jioveheart purred proudly, with Willowtail nodding stupidly.

I was too nervous to say anything, I had realized that ThunderClan had brought rogues such as Capricorn for the fight, but they might stay for good.

I was right.

As we walked onto the island, the first thing I noticed was the black tom barely visible in the darkness, only revealing his sharp amber eyes.

I looked left to right and hopelessly noticed none of my friends were right by me.

"I can see you." the tom finally said, making me jump.

"I'm not afraid of you." I retorted, fur bristling. "You're a rogue."

"Not anymore." a sleek dark brown she-cat with amber eyes hissed. "ThunderClan took us in, and made us warriors."

"That's a load of crap." I growled. "They just wanted you guys so they have more cats in the Clan."

"Gemini." The ThunderClan deputy Dewdust growled from afar. "Wait till all the Clans are here."

"Yes, Dewdust." the dark brown she-cat Gemini muttered, then she wrapped her tail around Capricorn's and looked into my eyes.

"Are those the rogues that joined ThunderClan?" Spiderpaw asked beside me.

"Yes." I whispered.

"ShadowClan just arrived." Brownpaw said to us. "We're all here."

I looked through the crowd of ShadowClan cats and noticed Jioveheart's crush Sandypaw was not here.

But Ivyheart, Shallowstar's mate, was.

"Oh yikes." Rowanpaw winced. "I better let Jioveheart know-"

"No." I growled. "Let her find out for herself."

As I suspected, Jioveheart looked wildly around the island for Sandypaw, desperate to find him.

I noticed my mentor Antpad and her brother Snailstep conversing with two WindClan warriors.

"Huh. Whoever we're at peace with I suppose." Haytuft growled.

"All of you just fightin' and arguin'" a dark gray WindClan elder snapped. "Just get along, stupid-"

"Rockwhisker." Iceskip hissed. "No insulting."

What are we all? Kits?!

"REDPAW!"

I looked over my shoulder and saw none other than Hailpaw prancing like the world was full of sunshine.

"Before you ask! I am Hailflower now!" Hailflower purred. "I requested that Tawnystar name me that!"

"What...what about Wasppaw?" I asked.

"Me and my siblings will become warriors in due time." Wasppaw growled beside Hailflower.

"The Gathering will start!" Ferretstar announced.

Shallowstar and Tawnystar nodded at each other before getting on their branches, they both glared at Splotchstar expectantly.

"You getting on your branch, Splotchstar?" Ferretstar asked her obliviously.

"Yes." Splotchstar whispered before doing so.

"Our Clan has been doing well." Tawnystar purred, puffing her chest. "Onesplash had her kits, and we have three new warriors. Capricorn, Gemini, and Marina!"

"Capricorn! Gemini! Marina!"

I wondered who Marina was until my eyes fell onto a big white she-cat with green eyes, who looked a lot less hostile.

"Our Clan is also doing very good." Shallowstar meowed. "Mintpool has had her kits."

"And WindClan has done well too." Ferretstar said, finally noticing the tension. "...Splotchstar?"

"Giselle has had her kits, and we have two new apprentices. Spiderpaw and Rowanpaw." Splotchstar announced. "And Amberfern and Duskbright are both expecting kits."

Splotchstar eyes were full of malice as she looked at Shallowstar and Tawnystar.

"Splotchstar..." Dad whispered. "Should we go?"

"WindClan! ThunderClan and ShadowClan had attacked us two sunrises ago!" Splotchstar confessed, earning shocked gasps.

"Shut it." Dewdust hissed. "You attacked us first!"

"Nononononononononononono." Brownpaw gasped.

"This can't happen during a full moon!" Spiderpaw hissed.

"This Gathering is over!" Splotchstar hissed.

Jioveheart walked over to Ivyheart and slammed her to the ground.

"That's what you get for attacking me at the Gathering." Jioveheart puffed her chest out in defiance at Shallowstar before we all began to leave.

"Wait!" Hailflower gasped. "I forgot to tell you my latest joke!"

I ignored him as Flypaw joined me.

"Are those two mates?" Flypaw whispered, pointing his tail towards Capricorn and Gemini.

I looked at the two new warriors, their pelts close as they whispered together.

"I would not be surprised." I finally answered, following Flypaw and the rest of RiverClan to camp.