Chapter 7

The bright light of the full moon dipped the lake in sparkles and rested softly over the Gathering island. Firestar sat atop the leaders' branch between Blackstar and Onestar, the tips of his fur tinged with fire in the moonlight. The Clans mingled amongst each other, sharing news, stories and gossip, all but oblivious to the last Clan, which was conspicuously absent.

When RiverClan did arrive, they brought with them a sense of intangible tension. As Leopardstar, at the helm of her Clan, stepped off the crossing log and set paw on the island, it was almost as if her pawstep resonated across the ground and shocked every cat into silence. RiverClan swiftly filed into the clearing, and Leopardstar made her way over to the leaders' branch amidst an eerie quietness.

She sat herself on the edge next to Onestar. The three leaders gazed at her questioningly, but she ignored the inquiry in their eyes. "Well, should we start?" she mewed curtly, directing her glare at Onestar, who had the misfortune of being next to her. The WindClan leader averted his eyes and exchanged a glance with Firestar, but said nothing.

"Yes, let's begin," Blackstar rumbled. The silent clearing turned to him. "ShadowClan celebrates the birth Owlkit, Ivykit and Snowkit, Tallpoppy's strong and healthy litter. We also scented fox on our territory, but we determined it was stale." He paused, as if about to continued, but then concluded, "That is all ShadowClan has to report."

"WindClan is also pleased to announce the birth of a new kit," Onestar mewed proudly. There was some snickering from the ranks of ShadowClan at the lack of multiple kits, but WindClan wisely ignored them. "Nightcloud has been feeling sick since the birth, but she's getting better, and Breezekit is healthy as can be." Leafpool, pointedly avoiding the WindClan cats, twitched visibly.

Onestar inclined his head to Firestar as an invitation to speak, which the ThunderClan leader accepted with a short nod. "ThunderClan have discovered strange twoleg devices on our territory," he leader meowed gravely. "They're incredibly dangerous - one of our warriors was almost killed. When we went back to investigate, we found a dead fox inside one."

Dustpelt, sitting next to Thornclaw within the ranks ThunderClan, glanced at one another in shared horror. Dustpelt had lead the return patrol to investigate, and it was Thornclaw who had stumbled across the bloodied, choked fox lying dead in the trap. They simultaneously shuddered.

"They can be hard to spot, but if you see any silver, unnatural loops, avoid them at all costs," Firestar warned. "Our bright Squirrelflight discovered that putting a stick through the loops make them close -" he turned to see Squirrelflight blushing. "- and we thank StarClan none of our warriors were hurt."

"Well they should have been!" all eyes swiveled to Leopardstar, who had fiercely interrupted Firestar. "After what they did to our warriors -"

"What are you talking about?" demanded Firestar.

"You know very well what I'm talking about!" she snapped hotly. "Your attack squad murdered our warriors -"

"ThunderClan did no such thing!"

"Then explain the ThunderClan scent we found at the site of their deaths," she meowed coldly. Seeing Firestar's confusion, she laughed bitterly. "Of course you're confused, you did an excellent job trying to mask your scent. We smelled the berries and foxdung too. But what do you take us for, newborn kits? We could easily smell ThunderClan as well."

"I still don't know what you're talking about," Firestar protested.

Leopardstar lashed out angrily. "Stop playing dumb, you ignorant kittypet!"

A hush fell over the Gathering. Cats gawked at Leopardstar amidst the amused laughter from ShadowClan. She had obviously just crossed a line, one that the haughty and outspoken RiverClan leader had respectfully never crossed before.

The Gathering was uncomfortably still and silent for a moment, and then Onestar spoke up hesitantly. "Since no one knows what you're talking about, Leopardstar, would you mind telling us what happened?"

Another brief pause, and then to the three other leaders' relief, she ignored the biting edge to Onestar's tone and explained. "Our dusk border patrol was attacked as it passed over the river cliffs," she growled. "Only one cat survived. He told us that a ThunderClan patrol of three or four cats - he hadn't counted - had attacked them from both sides, and forced our warrior Reedwhisker off the side of the cliffs." She paused, blinking back tears Firestar struggled to identify as real. "They then went for young Ripplepaw, and our courageous deputy Mistyfoot leapt in front of her and sacrificed herself for the apprentice. But her sacrifice was in vain, for Ripplepaw was killed as well... the only luck RiverClan came by on this day was that one warrior, Hawkfrost, survived to report to us. Because of his swift action, we were able to sniff out ThunderClan and find the bodies of our dead."

At the mention of Hawkfrost, pelts within ThunderClan bristled. Squirrelflight turned to Ashfur, but then the gray-furred tom quickly looked away. Brambleclaw was nowhere in sight.

Finally, Firestar responded. "That's not true," he meowed. "ThunderClan would never attack so brutally and without reason."

"Without reason? Please, Firestar, we know what you're up to." Leopardstar rolled her eyes mockingly. "You tried this in the old territory as well, attacking us and hoping we'd give you territory. It's not going to work."

"Why would we want their territory?" Thornclaw whispered to Dustpelt. "We're on the opposite side of the lake!"

"Leopardstar, I assure you that is not the case," Firestar mewed firmly. "We don't want your territory, and ThunderClan did not attack RiverClan. If I discover cats who attacked you without reason and without my orders, they will be punished. But I can tell you with full confidence that none of my warriors would ever do such a thing."

Blackstar snickered. Onestar shot him a glare.

"When we found the bodies, Ripplepaw was still alive," Leopardstar mewed quietly. Soft whimpers and cries echoed from RiverClan, and mews of sympathy from the others. "She only breathed for a few minutes more - StarClan protect of her poor soul - but she did manage to describe one of the attackers."

At the back of the Gathering where no cat could see him, Brambleclaw swallowed. The apprentice had lived? Had she described him? Had she given away Hawkfrost?

"Don't worry, my brother," Hawkfrost meowed in a chilly voice from his side. "She began to describe you, but then started speaking nonsense. She never spoke of me."

"She started to describe a red-brown tom, and then we lost her. Her last words were a warning, to beware the cat who won't turn back."

The Gathering burst into pandemonium. Who was a red-brown tom within ThunderClan? There wasn't one save Foxkit, who was barely old enough to walk. What did the dying apprentice mean by "the cat who won't turn back"? Was she referring to herself? To Mistyfoot?

"Sounds like a prophecy to me," Leafpool murmured to no one in particular. Beside her, Kestrelpaw's ears perked, and he whispered something to Willowpaw.

"Leopardstar, there are no cats in ThunderClan who match your description, except for a kit in the nursery." He dipped his head to his fellow leader. "ThunderClan mourns the deaths of all three innocent cats, and Mistyfoot, who shared half of our blood. I myself mourn the death of a great friend."

Blackstar smirked. "You talk a good game, Firestar, but really, does anyone believe you?"

The Gathering was again launched into an uproar. Onestar desperately tried to quiet his Clan while ShadowClan joined RiverClan in trading jeers and insults with ThunderClan. A dark, whispy cloud made its way across the glowing moon, sending the assembled cats into darkness.

"StarClan is angry with us!" cried Littlecloud, leaping to his paws in frustration. Barkface and Leafpool, sitting by his side, nodded in agreement. Mothwing looked to Leafpool and followed her lead.

"That's it, WindClan is leaving," growled Onestar, leaping off the branch. Firestar followed suit.

"Wait, RiverClan has one more announcement." The exiting Clans halted in their tracks. "After the tragic death of Mistyfoot, RiverClan has a new deputy. And our new deputy is Hawkfrost."

Hawkfrost seemed to be the only one on the island who didn't shudder, instead wearing a glorious smirk.

"You see, my brother? Soon everything we want will be ours."

x

"You see, Brambleclaw? Soon everything we want will be ours."

Tigerstar paced back and forth in front of his two sons. "I hope you don't feel afraid or guilty, Brambleclaw." Brambleclaw swallowed. "Guilt and fear are weaknesses. Are you weak?"

"No," Brambleclaw mewed softly.

Tigerstar was instantly in his face. "Say it like you mean it! I can't have one of my sons being a scared kittypet!"

"N-no! I'm not weak!"

"He's just confused, Father," Hawkfrost meowed hastily. "He's... unfamiliar to the practice of murder. Give him time."

"I don't want to give him time! I should not have to wait!" He stared down at Brambleclaw. "Don't cringe and hide, my son. Is that really the kind of coward you are?"

By some magic or hidden will, Brambleclaw wrenched himself free of the guilt binding his limbs and straightened his form before his Father. "No. I'm not a coward," he growled firmly.

Tigerstar smirked. "That's more like it." He eyed both his sons deviously. "Now, as promised, let us return to the matter of Squirrelflight."

At the simple mention of the loved and hated name, Brambleclaw's throat tightened and the fur on his neck shot up. Cruel amusement played in his father's eyes.

"It'll be easy," Hawkfrost whispered in his brother's ear. "Father came up with a foolproof plan to get her back."

"And not only will you have her, but you'll hold a position of power as well," Tigerstar continued, pausing his pacing to pose in a fighter's crouch. "In order to win her back, you must become deputy of ThunderClan."

Brambleclaw felt as though a boulder had been dropped on his head. He felt dizzy and disoriented, his ears ringing and roaring with blood, and wouldn't have been surprised to find an angry red bump between his ears the next morning. "Deputy?" he spluttered incredulously, "But... I haven't even had an apprentice!"

"So get one!" Tigerstar roared, his claws digging into the black earth. "Three kits are about to become apprentices, correct? Get one!"

"It's not that easy! There are so many other avaliable warriors -"

"Are you becoming weak again?" Tigerstar's whole being seemed to mock him. "You can get one, and you will get one. Got it?"

"Yes, Father."

Silence.

"You're lucky, Brambleclaw." Hawkfrost intervened hesitantly. "Your rise to power will be easier than mine, since it doesn't involve immediate murder. ThunderClan doesn't even have a deputy right now, correct?"

"Correct," Tigerstar answered as Brambleclaw began to open his mouth. "That mousebrained kittypet is still waiting for his puppet to return."

Hawkfrost's eyes gleamed. "It'll be easy, then. All you have to do is convince the Clan that a new deputy is needed, and you're just the cat."

"Precisely," Tigerstar agreed. He turned on Brambleclaw. "Isn't that simple? That's all you have to do."

Brambleclaw couldn't tell if his words were meant to mock or comfort, but the more he thought about it, the more he was sure that they were true. Squirrelflight would respect his power and authority, and Ashfur wouldn't have any. Simple as that. It would be the perfect time to exercise the leadership ability he'd always known he'd possessed while putting Ashfur down and winning back Squirrelflight.

Isn't that simple? That's all you have to do.

That's all you have to do.

Brambleclaw gritted his teeth, and then his jaws turned into an upward curve, almost a distorted rendition of a grin. "Yeah. Simple. I'll do it."

--

A/N: just a little note: at the Gathering, there were a few cats mentioned who aren't exactly main characters, but who you'd know if you're up to date on your reading. (For example, Littlecloud and Kestrelpaw) If you aren't, or if you don't have a good memory and didn't recognize some names, feel free to ask, or look them up. Type the name into wikipedia and there you go. :) And yes, every cat mentioned exists. So far, no name mentioned has been invented or made up. I'm trying to keep it that way. A little background reading is also required for this chapter, particularly with the reference to Graystripe. As long as you've read through Sunset, you should be fine.

Sorry for the short chapter; I'm having a bit of writer's block - but you can't really call it that, since I know exactly where this story is going - I'm just having some trouble getting it there. Moving it along. Don't worry, we'll be right back on track soon. :)