Harestar led his Clan towards the sand dunes where the Clans meet in peace every full moon. Redcloud was beside him on his right, Dragonheart on his left. He wouldn't be surprised if the grey tom became deputy after his death. He looked over his shoulder. Sandpaw was in between Redpaw and Flamepaw, pushing them around.

She's not acting like she was when Willowpelt died. Or Poppydawn and Thrushpelt, He thought.

"…Right, Sandpaw?" Flamepaw was saying.

"Wrong!" Sandpaw slammed herself against him, nearly knocking him over. Redpaw laughed at his friends.

"What are you laughing at?" Flamepaw asked irritably. Redpaw opened his mouth to speak, but Sandpaw cut him off.

"Now, kits," she mocked. "No fighting."

"Who are you calling kits?" Redpaw asked.

"Yeah!" Flamepaw agreed. "If I'm remembering correctly, Redpaw, I do believe that we're older than her. Isn't that right, Sandpaw?"

"Shut up," Sandpaw growled. She looked up and saw the sand dunes for the first time. They were four great mounds of sand, so close they could have been one. And then she noticed something else.

"Oh, no," she said.

"What?" Redpaw asked.

"Adderpaw. He's here."

"Really? That mouse-brain got invited to the Gathering? For what, nearly killing a ThunderClan apprentice?"

"Shut up," Sandpaw repeated.

"Wait," Flamepaw spoke up. "I don't see his sister or his parents. If he came alone, he'll be easier to handle."

"True," Redpaw agreed.

"That's not the point!" Sandpaw hissed.

Harestar leapt up onto his sand dune. Adderpaw turned and locked eyes with Sandpaw. She froze. Oh, great, she thought. He saw me.

Redpaw and Flamepaw stopped and turned back to Sandpaw.

"You alright?" Redpaw whispered. Sandpaw nodded and took a couple of shaky paw-steps forward, not taking her eyes off of Adderpaw. He stared right back at her. She shivered, turning her eyes away. Sandpaw, Flamepaw, and Redpaw settled in the heart of ThunderClan's cats. Sandpaw glanced in Adderpaw's direction, just in time to see him weaving through the gathered cats, toward her and her friends.

"Incoming," Sandpaw muttered under her breath, just loud enough for Redpaw and Flamepaw to hear.

"Hello, love," Adderpaw purred.

"G-go away," Sandpaw said, suddenly very interested with her paws and the bugs on the ground.

"Yeah," Redpaw said, stepping in front of Sandpaw. His fur was fluffed up, and he drew his lips back, snarling at Adderpaw.

"You're not welcome here," Redpaw spat, nose to nose with the FlameClan apprentice.

"And why not?" Adderpaw asked, beginning to circle Redpaw. "This is a truce, no? Between all Clans?"

"Well, yeah, but—"

"Then I have a right to speak to Sandpaw!"

Redpaw flinched, but didn't move. Flamepaw joined him in front of their ginger friend.

"Go away," Flamepaw hissed.
"Touchy, touchy," Adderpaw sneered. "Why so protective of your—our—friend, huh?"

"I'm not your friend!" Sandpaw yowled. Adderpaw was about to reply but was cut off by Russetstar.

"Let the Gathering begin!" she yowled, silencing all cats. "IceClan will start; prey is running very well for us, and we have a new apprentice, who is here tonight. Whitepaw!"

Enthusiastic chants filled the Gathering spot until Goldenstar raised her tail for silence. "Prey is running well for FlameClan," she growled. Sandpaw saw Harestar stiffen, afraid that she would accuse his Clan for stealing prey. "And we have two new warriors, sitting vigil right now; Mousedeath and Toadfoot."

"I will speak next," Harestar said quickly. "Prey is running well in OceanClan as well and we have handled Leaf-bare well."

Squirrelstar stepped forward now. "Prey is running excellent in LightningClan and we also have a new warrior; Shadowwing!"

Shadowwing raised her head proudly from the clearing, and once again chants echoed around the clearing: "Shadowwing! Shadowwing!"

Once the noise died down, Goldenstar declared that the Gathering was over. Adderpaw turned back to Sandpaw, only to find that she and her friends were already gone. He sighed. Next time, he thought.