At Moonhigh
Every cat turned to look up at the Highrock when they heard ThunderClan's deputy, Fireheart, yowl for silence.
"Cats of the Forest," Bluestar began sadly. "We have been recently betrayed and attackled by the ex-ShadowClan rogues. Brokentail was killed-" Despite the satisfying news, ShadowClan and WindClan were still casting hostile looks at the ThunderClan leader for sheltering him in the first place. ShadowClan and WindClan had grown to dislike CloudClan and RiverClan also for agreeing with ThunderClan over the matter of allowing him to live. "But we have discovered that my deputy, Tigerclaw, was responsible for the murder of not only our deceased deputy, Redtail-" this sent a gasp of shock through the crowd. "-but the attempted murder of me. Without Fireheart, I wouldn't be here right now." Fireheart seemed embarrassed by the praise. "He's still out in the forest, though. We warn you to watch out for him."
Murmurs of fright rose through the crowd, and this time Shadowstorm silenced them.
Tallstar, leader of WindClan, stepped forward. Woodclaw noted how scrawny he was, and wondered if he would attack another clan for food. "I regret to say that we've found bones on our territory, and they reek of ThunderClan. But it may have been Tigerclaw; I may note he is a poor rabbit hunter." He paused. "Brokentail's death could not have been painful enough."
Bluestar's fur bristled, "Why? For your information, he died, a slow, horrible death that was not deserved by any cat in the forest."
"He murdered our kits and you still say a horrible death was too bad a punishment?" Nightstar questioned angrily. "Do you not care about the pain and suffering he caused us?"
"Yellowfang, a cat now of ThunderClan, suffered also!" Frostfur stood up, ready to pounce angrily on Nightstar. "What about me? I suffered as I wondered if my kits would be alright when ThunderClan helped you to chase Brokentail away from you! Have you forgotten what we've done for you? You repay us with hatred when we have done no wrong!"
"Enough, Frostfur, you made your point," Bluestar said gently, but the look of hatred in Nightstar's eyes told Woodclaw that ThunderClan should be expecting trouble from ShadowClan soon.
A cloud covered the moon, telling every cat at Fourtrees that StarClan was not pleased. The crowd of cats grew silent, but it took several seconds before the moon was visible again.
"We regret to say that ThunderClan has lost a warrior," Bluestar continued slowly. "Graystripe has joined RiverClan." There were no cries of protest at her words. Everyone still felt betrayed by Graystripe's love for Silverstream, the RiverClan cat that had his kits.
"Graystripe is taken care of," Crookedstar, leader of RiverClan, replied. "He will be a great addition to the clan." He sounded sincere, but ShadowClan had other things on their mind.
"We scented CloudClan on bones just inside our territory," he sounded angry.
Heatherstar spoke for the first time the whole Gathering, "No cat has gone near your border in my clan," she hissed. "We'd have to cross WindClan territory to get there, and WindClan hasn't smelled a sing CloudClan warrior over there!"
"How could thay have gotten over there?" Lillyheart called.
"Yeah!" Mistyfoot, a RiverClan warrior, agreed. Woodclaw was angered by the very thought of it. She wouldn't have put it past WindClan to frame them.
"It does not matter!" Nightstar replied. "We are simply warning you, we will attack if we scent you on our bones. The same goes to ThunderClan and RiverClan."
"RiverClan has fish," Crookedstar spat. "We don't need your pitiful mice!"
"If he comes anywhere near my kits I'll shred him apart!" Brindleface growled.
"Agreed," Woodclaw mumbled to the queen beside her.
"We have one last matter we must quickly discuss before our time runs out," Heatherstar spoke out, looking up at the moon. The cats all glanced up to see that the moon was halfway down the horizon. Time had passed quickly.
"What would that be?" Nightstar asked distrustfully.
"Yes, what would that be?" Tallstar spat.
"That the thaw has come!" Heatherstar rejoiced, purring while her green eyes sparkled happily. "No Gathering should be left on a bad note!"
"The thaw has come?" Crookedstar's eyes lit up. "The river hasn't started melting yet, but thank StarClan!"
"We knew of this already," Nightstar said, his eyes still hateful.
"We did not, but it shall bring no change to us other than the disappearance of the snow," Tallstar's stare was a replica of Nightstar's, as though he refused to enjoy the happy news simply because it had come from the mouth of a CloudClan cat.
The moon disappeared, and the cats exited slowly. To be safe, CloudClan and ThunderClan made the journey home together.