Thunderclan was ready for the gathering. Shadestar, Icefur, Stonecloud, Whitewhisker, Silverpaw, Nightpaw, Owlpaw, Sageleaf, Rockfall, Tinyberry, Mudpelt, Darkheart, Bluetail and Shrewfur were moving towards the place of the gathering, the Tall Trees. "Shadestar," Stonecloud mewed, "should we act as if the battle never happened?"

"You let me deal with that." The leader mewed. She stopped and turned to her clan, "If any cat mentions the battle to you, change the subject. I will be the only one to speak about the gathering." She turned back around and continued walking. They were the first clan there, probably part of Shadestar's plan. Darkheart sat down near Shrewfur and Bluetail, who were talking again.

Sageleaf padded up to Darkheart and mewed, "What do you think Shadestar is going to say?"

Darkheart mewed, "I have no idea. But she's probably been planning it, the battle did happen almost a moon ago."

Within moments, Shadowclan cats entered the clearing. Darkheart was hoping Treepaw would be here, he wanted to tell him he got a warrior name. Darkheart saw Treepaw, and Treepaw saw Darkheart and came over. "Guess what?" Darkheart mewed, "I have a warrior name now!"

"So do I!" Treepaw mewed.

"Mine is Darkheart."

"Mine is Treeclaw!"

Shrewfur turned around to look at Treeclaw. He mewed, "Nice name. I'm Shrewfur. We got our names right after-"

Darkheart shoved his tail in Shrewfur's mouth, remembering Shadestar said not to bring up the battle.

"I got mine after the battles too." Treeclaw mewed. "So did Poppyfeather."

Riverclan and Windclan soon entered the clearing. Barkstar yowled to begin the gathering.

"I will go first tonight." Shadestar mewed. "We have some new warriors. Darkheart, Shrewfur, Patchclaw, Goldenwing and Longfur."

The group of cats chanted Darkheart's name along with the other new warriors.

"We also have new apprentices." Shadestar mewed. "Silverpaw, who had chosen to be a medicine cat, Owlpaw, Darkheart's apprentice, Lionpaw, Who Bluetail shall mentor, and my apprentice, Nightpaw."

The gathering of cats again chanted, "Lionpaw! Owlpaw! Silverpaw! Nightpaw!"

Shadestar then continued, "We also lost some cats during a battle." She stopped for a moment to let the cats mumble about this. She the went on, "We lost one of our elders, Hawkblaze, as well as our longtime deputy Blackthroat." This surprised the cats in the other clans.

"Blackthroat died?" Treepaw mewed to Darkheart.

"No," Sageleaf mewed back, "He was killed."

"Our new deputy," Shadestar cut in to the chatting of the cats, "Is Icefur."

"Is that all?" Barkstar asked.

"Yes, that is all." Shadestar mewed.

"Cats of all clans," Barkstar mewed, "We may have failed in our attack, but we must no give up hope!"

The clearing was silent. The cats were just staring at Barkstar like he was an idiot.

"Shadowclan has had some changes in the past moon." Cinderstar mewed, breaking the eerie silence, "We have two new warriors, Treeclaw and Poppyfeather."

The cats chanted, "Treeclaw! Poppyfeather!"

"We also have three new apprentices." The leader mewed. "Applepaw, Flowerpaw and Summerpaw. Their mentors are Icefrost, Whitestripe and Treeclaw."

Darkheart turned to Treeclaw. He mewed, "You're a mentor too?"

"I know!" the warriors just mewed back. "This warrior shortage is helping us out."

"Also," Cinderstar mewed, "We have two new kits. Lightkit and Hollykit. Yellowflower is their mother."

"That's right!" Shadestar mewed. The cats turned to look at her. "I forgot to mention, Tinyberry had two kits: Barkkit and Spottedkit."

"When did Tinyberry have her kits?" Darkheart mewed.

"Just yesterday." Whitewhisker mewed. "I didn't know if I was going to be here tonight."

"I hope they turn out better than Tinyberry." Shrewfur hissed in Darkheart's ear.

"I guess it is my turn." Rainstar mewed. "Our last elder, Oaktail died of Greencough. She will be missed."

That was a short gathering, Darkheart thought.

"We still have much moonlight left." Cinderstar mewed.

"We might as well use a little more of it." Shadestar mewed.

The cats in the clearing started talking. "Come, Silverpaw," Whitewhisker mewed, "you need to meet the other medicine cats."

"Hey," Treeclaw mewed, "Get your apprentice. I'll get mine."

"Okay." Darkheart mewed. He padded up to Nightpaw and Owlpaw, who were only a few tail lengths away. "Come with me." He mewed.

Treeclaw was coming towards them with Summerpaw. She was a long furred ginger she-cat. Darkheart looked at Nightpaw. He was starring at her. "Hi," he mewed, "I'm Nightpaw. Darkheart is my sister's brother."

Summerpaw smiled. "I'm Summerpaw." She turned to Owlpaw, "What's your name?"

"I'm Owlpaw." The apprentice mewed.

"Nice to meet you two." Summerpaw mewed.

"We'll let you guys get to know each other." Treeclaw mewed. "Us warriors will talk a little ourselves."

"I think they will get along." Treeclaw mewed.

"Yeah," Darkheart replied, "Maybe not with Owlpaw, but with Nightpaw."

Up in the tall trees, three leaders sat with Clawscar. Shadestar was on the ground talking to the medicine cats.

Does she despise the other leaders that much? Darkheart thought.