It was the day of the gathering, and Darkheart was finishing up hunting with Owlpaw. It had been more than a quarter of a moon since Skysong was killed. "Darkheart?" Owlpaw interrupted Darkheart's thoughts.
"Yes?" Darkheart answered.
"Are you thinking about Rainstar and Windclan?" the apprentice asked.
"Oh- yes." Darkheart answered. He couldn't tell his apprentice he was trying to track down a murderer. The roses and the fur was all he knew. I have to figure this out! Darkheart thought frustrated. "Let's get back to camp." He mewed. I can't let them kill any more innocent cats!
Once they were back in camp, Darkheart sent Owlpaw to feed the elders with he catches. He then went over to the fresh kill pile and grabbed a mouse. He was on his way over to Shrewfur, who was sharing tongues with Bluetail. But he then heard a cat call his name. He turned around to see Shadestar. "Eat that mouse quickly, you're coming to the gathering." The leader mewed. She then walked away before Darkheart could reply.
Darkheart continued his walk over to Bluetail and Shrewfur. "I saw Shadestar talking to you. Are you going to the gathering?" Shrewfur mewed
Darkheart nodded, "Yes, I am." He mewed, "Are you?"
"Not this time." Shrewfur answered.
"I'm going." Bluetail answered. Darkheart nodded, and then began eating his mouse. Shortly after he was done, Shadestar mewed for the cats going to the gathering to gather. Shadestar, Icefur, Stonecloud, Rockfall, Bluetail, Sageleaf, Leafears, Darkheart, Whitewhisker, Silverpaw, Nightpaw, Lionpaw and Mudpelt gathered near Shadestar to go to the gathering. Darkheart noticed Owlpaw had not been chosen to go this time. Oh well, he thought.
The cats started moving towards Tall Trees. Sageleaf walked up to Darkheart and mewed, "Do you think Windclan will do anything?"
Darkheart replied, "I'm not sure. Rainstar seemed pretty determined."
"She's bluffing." Mudpelt mewed from behind them.
"You weren't there." Longfur mewed, "you'll see tonight what she was like."
What she was like, Darkheart though. How could this possibly be the same weak leader that was at the last gathering?
When Thunderclan got to the gathering, Shadowclan and Riverclan were already there. Treeclaw walked up to Darkheart when he saw him. "So how's Owlpaw doing?" he mewed.
"She great with her battle moves." Darkheart answered.
Treeclaw nodded, "That's good," he mewed, "Summerpaw is better at hunting."
"Well, they haven't been apprentices long, they'll get better." Darkheart mewed.
With that, Windclan entered and Barkstar yowled to begin the gathering.
"We have had no changes." Barkstar mewed, "That clan is getting back on its paws."
Cinderstar moved forward and nodded in agreement with Barkstar, "Let us rejoice that the hardships of leafbare are behind us."
The gathered cats mewed in agreement.
"I'll go next." Darkheart heard the mew of Rainstar, and he felt every fur on his pelt stand up in anger. She better say the right things, he though, unsheathing his claws.