A/N: Enjoy!!

When the cats below the Great Rock finally settled down, Longstar spoke up. He padded to the highest part of the rock and stared down at the Clan cats, pride gleaming in his eyes.

"Cats of LightClan, EmberClan, and RainClan, we all welcome you," he called out in a clear, crisp voice. "But not many cats could come tonight. You see, the LightClan camp has been attacked by rogues, leaving not many warriors left. They also took the place of our beloved medicine cat, Amberleaf. Now, her apprentice, Mosspaw, has become Mosspelt, and is taking her place."

Grief tugged at Skyfeather's stomach. Her eyes watered, but she held back the tears. Amberleaf had cared for Stormstar when he was injured from an attack by LightClan's first deputy, Flashtail. Actually, Skyfeather found out the hard way that Stormstar was the one who attacked Flashtail, since he was a power-hungry deputy who was going to kill his leader, Ravenstar, just to become leader. Stormstar eventually killed Flashtail, which resulted in being banished from LightClan. Firestar, Skyfeather, Frostfur, Snowstorm, Goldenheart, Sparrowstripe, and Gingerfoot all came with him, and the cats formed RainClan, the third Clan of the forest.

But Skyfeather could never forget her beloved first Clanmates, and especially not Amberleaf. She was an exceptionally good medicine cat, and Skyfeather would never be able to forget her.

Still Mosspelt was a good medicine cat, and friendly at that. When Skyfeather journeyed with Firestar, Stormstar, Sandstorm, Amberleaf, and Mosspelt to find the new Moonstone in the Twolegplace just beyond the RainClan and EmberClan forest, she had met Mosspelt, and the two became acquaintances.

Skyfeather glanced around the gathered cats to see many LightClan cats bowing their heads in remembrance of their beloved medicine cat. Mosspelt lowered her head too, but a flash of responsibility flickered in her eyes as she stared at the ground.

"One of our senior warriors, Earthback, has been taken prisoner of the rogues as well," Longstar went on, forcing a talon of ice cold dread through Skyfeather's heart.

Earthback…

The brown-and-white warrior was Skyfeather's first and only mentor when she was in LightClan, and the two had had a special bond. Now that Earthback was gone, Skyfeather found it hard to grasp.

"Clan life must go on without these afore-mentioned cats. Leafpatch will go on mentoring Sandpaw and Midnightpaw, and Stoneclaw will take over Cinderpaw's training, since Whitepaw has gone."

Skyfeather looked at her paws. A pang of guilt swept over her at the mention of Whitepaw's disappearance. She saw Littlerock cast a meaningful glance at her, but chose to ignore it. She didn't want her to get on her case about it.

"Dappletail's kits have been born, and they are named Mousekit, Brindlekit, and Brackenkit," Longstar went on. "We welcome them as LightClan kits."

Longstar stepped back down and Streamstar stepped forward. He announced a new warrior, and three new apprentices. But Skyfeather didn't catch the names. She was too busy wondering what Stormstar would say. Skyfeather told him the night before that none of the Clans new that greencough was a problem in RainClan, and she didn't know how he would cover the subject.

Finally, Streamstar stepped down and let Stormstar step forward. Skyfeather hid behind the shadow of a heavy-looking EmberClan warrior. She promised Stormstar that she wouldn't go to the Gathering, but she couldn't help it. There was too much information passed around these days to miss one.

"I know I have been absent these past few moons," Stormstar meowed clearly through the night. "But there are reasons behind it. I have been sick for the last two moons, but now I am able to attend Gatherings."

Skyfeather blinked. Did Stormstar just announce RainClan's weakness to the whole forest?

"Fortunately, I am well now, and can attend the Gatherings," Stormstar went on. "Thank you for the warning, Longstar. RainClan will take this into consideration and send out more patrols. On a more poignant note, RainClan's medicine cat, Leafstripe has passed away as well."

Skyfeather grazed her eyes over the cats around her until she found Sandstorm. The light ginger she-cat bowed her head in remembrance of Leafstripe; she was his mentor. When RainClan started out, they didn't have a medicine cat. Sandstorm and Streamstar agreed to mentor Leafstripe to become a medicine cat for RainClan, the first medicine cat.

"I bring Icepool, Leafstripe's apprentice, to this Gathering as RainClan's full-fledged medicine cat."

Skyfeather saw Icepool nod respectfully to Sandstorm, Mosspelt, and another bracken-coloured she-cat that Skyfeather couldn't recognize. Probably Sandstorm's new apprentice, she thought decisively.

Stormstar nodded formally to the throng of cats below and turned to the other two leaders. As they chatted quietly, the Clan cats below began to disband and group into their Clans.

Skyfeather slipped through the shadows of the other warriors to remain hidden and trotted up to Sandstorm. "Hello," she mewed warmly, but softly. "Who's this?"

Sandstorm spotted her and lowered her voice, understanding that Skyfeather wanted to remain obscured. "This is my apprentice, Sunpaw. She's going to be EmberClan's next medicine cat, I'm sure of it."

Skyfeather chuckled. "Yeah," she agreed. "After what happened to the last few apprentices, I'm not sure."

Sandstorm purred half-heartedly. Skyfeather made a mental note not to mention Mudface or the others again.

Sunpaw nudged Sandstorm forcefully. "Come on, Sandstorm," she whined. "Streamstar's going to leave without us."

Sandstorm chuckled and turned to Skyfeather. "She may be EmberClan's next medicine cat, but she still has loads to learn. Including patience."

Sunpaw shrugged nonchalantly and dashed off into the throng of EmberClan cats heading back to the sugar river. Sandstorm and Skyfeather followed her at a slower pace.

"Why are you here, Skyfeather?" Sandstorm questioned thoughtfully. "I'm sure Stormstar wouldn't allow you to come to any Gathering so close to your delivery."

Skyfeather nodded in discomfiture. "I'm not supposed to be here," she responded. "But I can't miss out on the Gatherings! They're too important these days."

Sandstorm nodded agreeably. "I understand," she meowed, "but you still shouldn't be here. What if you can't make it back to your territory in time? You never know when your kits are going to come."

Skyfeather nodded, embarrassed. "All right. I won't go to the next Gathering."

"Your kits might have come by then."

Skyfeather nodded. "Exactly."

Sandstorm sighed and rolled her eyes before plunging into the rushing current of the sugar river. Skyfeather stared in after her. She wasn't quite sure how she'd cross the river unnoticed.

"Skyfeather?" The silver queen spun around to see a dark-pelted she-cat trotting toward her. In the moonlight, her fur looked navy blue, and Skyfeather knew exactly who it was.

Reluctantly, she plunged into the flashing current, not seeking an argument or a scolding. Her swollen belly tossed and flopped around, causing pain to ripple though her body. Whimpering in discomfort, she struggled through the water until her paws were safely planted on the grass on the other side.

"Skyfeather, you come back here this instant!" Skyfeather heard Moonflower shrieking.

Sudden adrenaline pulsing through her veins, Skyfeather darted through the throng of RainClan and EmberClan cats, weaving in and out through familiar and unfamiliar faces.

Just then, she passed up Stormstar, who evidently only caught a glimpse of her. But this glimpse was enough to start chasing her.

"Skyfeather, you promised you wouldn't come to the Gathering!" he hollered breathlessly. "Now you're making Moonflower, a weak elder, chase you around."

"Who said I was weak?" Moonflower hissed, hard on Skyfeather's heels.

Suddenly, Skyfeather halted, panting from the run. The pain in her sides caused her to flop to the ground breathlessly. "I'm sorry," she breathed.

"Sorry isn't enough!" Moonflower scolded, thrusting her nose in Skyfeather's face. "You broke a promise and put your kits and yourself in danger. I think—"

"Moonflower," Stormstar interrupted calmly, "can't you see that Skyfeather is hurt?"

Skyfeather sent Stormstar a pleading and thankful look. The last thing she wanted right now was a yowl from her mother.

"Why don't you follow the others back to camp?" Stormstar continued.

"And leave my daughter here to die?" Moonflower scoffed. "I think not."

"Moonflower, as your leader, I'm telling you to go back."

Moonflower hesitated, but eventually gave in and limped back to the others, casting nervous and furious glances over her shoulder.

Stormstar turned back to Skyfeather. He didn't say anything; he simply gave her a hard, stern glare.

"Stormstar, I—" Skyfeather began. But Stormstar silenced her with a flick of his tail.

"Come on," he meowed icily. "We'd better get you back to camp. Icepool probably has something for you."

Skyfeather nodded glumly and heaved herself to her paws. It was then when she realized just how big and swollen her belly was. She probably looked odd compared to the other cats; queens bearing kits should never go to Gatherings.

The two plodded along silently, only the sounds of the forest night echoing through the crisp, newleaf air. The season would be ending soon, and the group of cats Skyfeather had sent out still hadn't returned. She didn't even know what they'd say when they got back. How would Stormstar take it? Skyfeather realized for the first time that sending the cats out on a journey secretively could possibly risk Stormstar's loyalty to her as a mate.