A/N: Anyone who's fan of Blackstar might hate me for this . . . .

First Gathering

Mary handed me the next three books of The Power of Three. "Are you sure you don't want to wait until you're done with The Sight?" she asked.

I shook my head, closing my gym locker. "No, I'm almost done anyway." Actually, I finished it early in the morning on Sunday. I just waited a few days before asking her for the next books so she wouldn't get suspicious or anything. So far to Mary, I was just a fast reader.

As I reached out to get my books, another hand snatched them up instead. Ellen let out a loud, hollering laugh. It rang throughout the entire girls' locker room. All eyes were on us.

"How cute," Ellen said, loud enough for everyone to hear. "She has no friends, so now she turns to cats." She slammed the books down on the ground. "Pathetic."

Mary jumped up, her face in Ellen's. "You're pathetic! Is your self-esteem really that low you have to mock her in everything she does?"

Ellen stared at her in disbelief. I really just wanted to hug Mary right then and there.

With snarl of her lip and a stamp of her foot, Ellen turned on her heels and walked away, not before sneaking a look of death at me.

I couldn't help but gulp. Man was she a bitch. Once everyone went back to their normal activities, I jumped up and hugged Mary. "Thanks," I said to her.

She smiled. "Of course. No one insults my friend . . . or my Warriors books."

We both laughed.

"Oh." Mary tapped me. "You wanted to show me the picture Rachel gave you?"

I nodded. "Yes! It's right-"

A loud piercing whistle rang through the girls' locker room. "Alright girls!" Mrs. Camborne place her hands on her chubby hips. "Into the gym now! It's dodgeball day."

We all groaned. She stared hard at us. We then let out very unenthusiastic cheers.

"I guess I'll have to show you it after gym," I said.

Mary nodded. "Okay."

Gym class seemed to go fast for me. I had so much energy built up in me, the dodgeballs were scared of me. After class ended I hit the showers, then went back to my locker. Mary and I were already changed when she asked to see the picture.

I opened up my locker and grabbed my bag. I reached in to the bottom of my bag, feeling around for the picture. My eyebrows knitted together when I didn't feel it. I checked all the pockets and wiggled the pages in my books to see if maybe it fell in there. My heart almost stopped when I saw it wasn't there.

"It's gone . . ." I felt the color drain from my face as I said it.

Mary's eyes widened. "Jani are you sure? Maybe you left it at home, or in your other locker?"

I shook my head. I sat down on the bench, hugging myself and rocking a little. Mary knelt beside me, putting a hand on my arm. "No Jani don't start freaking out. I mean it's not like someone's going to use it as blackmail or something."

At that very moment, I looked up and saw Ellen walking out of the locker room. She stopped at the door and turn around looking straight at me. Her sea-green eyes were narrowed and she was smiling in an evil way at me. Then, flipping her hair over her shoulder, she walked out of the room.

The world seemed to have stopped for me. My stomach felt like it was halfway up my throat. All I knew was that something bad was going to happen. I suddenly wished that green stuff I drank from the pool a few nights ago had killed me right at the spot . . . .

I stared down at the clan from where I was standing. I was smiling like an idiot, but I didn't care. Firestar had just made me a warrior.

"Violetmoon! Violetmoon!"

My stomach made little butterflies as the clan chanted my name. God I loved that name. Violetmoon. It sounded mystical. The perfect name for a half-Spirit like me.

As I gazed down at the clan, I saw many smiling faces. One of them my former mentor, Brambleclaw. I was forever in a debt of gratitude. He sacrificed all his nights for me be standing here now. Not to mention, after reading the books, I really admired him. Not many cats can grow up in a clan that suspects him of doing bad twenty-four-seven, rejecting teaching methods from his own father, killing his half-brother, and end up becoming a chill deputy. Brambleclaw is boss-end of discussion!

As Firestar dismissed the crowd, he looked to me. "Now Violetmoon, surely you can stay for your warrior vigil?"

Ah yes, the vigil. I read all about those in the books. My stomach churned as I shook my head. "I'm really sorry Firestar, but I just can't. I can stay as long as I can before dawn."

Firestar sighed. "I guess that'll be good enough. But if I'm going to let you keep your vigil before the sun rises, you better stay up for the whole thing! And I'll have the cats guarding the entrance tell me if you stayed all night or not."

I nodded. "I won't be a slacker, promise." Hopefully they'll be no distractions. Cough cough-Tigerstar!

As I stepped down from the rock, I was flooded with congratulations. I saw Hollyleaf bounding towards me. Her green eyes sparkled (though as much as Blackstar's . . . wait, what?).

"Violetmoon! Congratulations!"

I smiled back at her. "Why thank you kind one."

Lionblaze walked up behind his sister. He was looking at only me, a warm look in his eyes. Awkward. That was the same look Blackstar had given me, only . . . my belly wasn't all warm inside. I mean I liked Lionblaze as a friend completely. But I wasn't into him that that. But neither was I into Blackstar like . . . .

My head was getting dizzy with all these thoughts, so I continued to smile at Lionblaze's moony face.

"Congratulations new warrior," he said.

Jayfeather nudged up against me. "Great, a new warrior. Now I have another cat to come with me help collect herbs."

I whacked him playfully with my tail. It seems like Jayfeather was the only cat in the clan who shared in modern-day humor.

About a thousand other cats came to wish me congratulations. I smiled and thanked them all. They were all so nice to me. Very kind. Many of them commented on my warrior name.

"It's a very unique and pretty name," Leafpool said. You see, I liked Leafpool. She was sweet as Skittles. Sure the other she-cats were nice, but they never really meant half the stuff they said. Just like modern-day girls. Leafpool however meant every word she said. She was also kind to every living thing. Too bad she couldn't be a mother. I imagined she would've made a good one.

As I got settled for my vigil, guess who dropped by? Ashfur peered at me with those eyes of his. They were narrowed in a way that reminded me of a Nazi looking down at a Jew. If I had hands, I'd punch him in the face.

"You don't deserve that name," he sneered. "I work hard for my clan."

I nodded. "So do I."

"I help feed my clan."

"I do my fair share of hunting as well."

"I fight for clan."

"Given the opportunity, I would too."

"I'm a warrior of ThunderClan."

"And I've just become one."

I smiled as Ashfur didn't respond back. He soon barred some teeth at me. "Don't get too comfortable as a warrior." He added character on "warrior" as if the word was imaginary.

All I did was growl. He was a senior warrior which meant I head to treat him with respect. I hated how he had the upper hand-er-paw. It bugged the hell out of me. Just like politics.

He walked away, thinking he had won. I'll get him back eventually. Darn. Like I said, if I had hands . . .

It was getting late, which meant vigil time. Well the clan was quite as hell. All I could hear was the soft breeze, crickets, the occasional hoot of an owl, and the snoring from the warriors' den (mainly Cloudtail).

All was settled. I watched the stars, tracing the patterns and making pictures. Those were things I use to do when I was little and went camping with my cousins (my parents weren't exactly the "outdoors" type). That's when I felt a presence just behind me.

"So it's Violetmoon now?"

"Oh for God's sake." I rolled my eyes and turned my head. "Damn it Tigerstar must you-"

I lowered my voice a little as I noticed I was close to shouting. "Much you intervene?"

The dead cat chuckled. "Normally I don't, but with special cats like you, I'll make an exception."

I growled. "You're not gonna fool me pretty boy. I know all about you-especially about how you recruit innocent cats to join your little gang down under."

Tigerstar just smiled. Why was he smiling? He's not suppose to be smiling. "And you're not going to fool everyone here." He looked around the camp. "Pretty soon these mindless pieces of meat will soon find out about why you can only stay during the night. But a double life, I must say is impressive. What if you were to live . . . a triple life?"

I raised a cat brow. "Say what?"

"You have so many questions clogging up your mind Jani."

"Hey! That's Violetmoon to you."

He shrugged. "Very well, Violetmoon, you have so many unanswered questions. Not to mention hidden talents. You've only scratched the surface of your powers. However, I can teach you more that wrinkled old Spirit ever will!"

How dare he . . . . Wait, scratched the surface? There was more to these powers than this? But Mother Gana said half-Spirits don't normally have that much power to begin with. I narrowed my eyes at him. "You're lying."

He shook his head.

I lifted my chin. "Alright, prove it."

"That green liquid," he said. "That you drank in StarClan. Not only would that have killed a StarClan cat, it would've killed a half-Spirit as well."

"Liar," I snorted.

He gave me a stare. "Oh and I suppose that Spirit has told you all about it now has she?"

I opened my mouth to say something, but silence caught me. He was right. I visited Mother Gana the day after that. She didn't say much about it. Only that it was a risky stunt, and she was glad I was still alive.

I looked to Tigerstar, right into his amber eyes. ""Do . . . Do you know about it?"

He nodded. "That green stuff was put in the water by an evil spirit. I'm to really sure as to why though. All I know is that the green liquid is made from a plant grown in the Underworld of the Dark Spirits. It weakens Spirits permanently, and kills half-spirits or mortal spirits if they drink too much. The fact that you drank a whole pool of it Violetmoon means that you are powerful than any cat could've imagined."

My mouth was a little open. Something deep inside me told me he was telling the truth. But why is he the one telling me this and not Mother Gana? Why isn't she telling me this stuff? I was suddenly hungry for more.

"Is there anything else you can tell me? I asked.

A small smiled twitched on his mouth. "Only one way to find out." He sat up. "Come to the Dark Forest with me."

My eyes widened. "But I can't now. I'm in the middle of my vigil."

He looked around. Nodding he said, "Then tomorrow, after you come back from the Gathering, go to the abandoned Twoleg nest. I'll be there."

I sat up. "Wait! What did you say about a Gathering?"

But the dark tom had already faded into a thick gray mist, and was gone.

I was both surprised and not surprised when Firestar called my name for cats attending the Gathering. I was little surprised he had chosen me, but then Tigerstar had said last night "after the Gathering" to meet him, so it was kind of foreshadowed.

With all honesty, I really needed this Gathering to raise my spirits up. The day at school had not been well. Ellen had corned me in the hallway. There was a cat book sticking out of my bag. She took a picture of me with it on her phone and posted it. Last time I checked before sundown, there were two hundred comments on it. Oh my God, I almost threw the laptop across the room as I read them. I never once knew kids could be this nasty. Then I read the status on Ellen's profile that she tagged me in.

Just wait until I post the next pic of the slutty Jani Patel. U r gonna rotflol! XD

That sent chills down my spine and a million butterflies in my stomach. What did that horrid bitch mean?

But as I was journeying to the Island for the Gathering, Ellen was far from my mind. Tonight was gonna be a Gathering, and from what I read in the books these things were kind of beast. It was the one night that the clans didn't spend the entire day kicking each other's asses. Sounded fun to me.

"Just wait till the other cats see you," Hollyleaf said as she padded besides me.

"Oh yeah, they're all going to be in awe of you," Cinderheart (another one of my clan favorites) added in.

I twitched my tail. "Why would you both say that? I mean, it's not like the other clans have ever seen a new warrior before."

Cinderheart nodded. "Yeah but they've never seen a new warrior who is . . . oh what's the word Hollyleaf?"

"Beautiful!"

I stopped at looked at the two of them. They were seriously. I let out a laugh. "You guys talk as if I'm a gem. I'm not that beautiful, and I'm not trying to sound self-pity. It's just where I come from I'm not considered pretty."

"Then those cats are blind!" Cinderheart said. She put a tail on my shoulder. "Your beauty will outshine every she-cat at the whole Gathering."

"Oh come on," I said. "You two are gorgeous yourself. Hollyleaf, your green eyes match wonderfully to that black fur. And Cinderheart come on, that grey fur is to die for."

Cinderheart's eyes widened. "But you-"

"I said to die for!" I laughed and the other two she-cats soon joined in.

A snarl from Ashfur stopped us. "Hush the three of you! ThunderClan doesn't need to be announced by a bunch of loud she-cats."

I laughed. "Lighten up Ashfur. Just cause we have friends and you don't doesn't mean you have to pick on us."

Hollyleaf and Cinderheart looked at me as if I was crazy. Ashfur looked ready to pounce on me as if I was a piece of prey. But instead, he dug his claws into the earth then turned and walked away.

I smiled. I got him back.

Looking at the she-cats, I tilted my head towards the Island. "Well? Let's go party."

The sights and smells were overwhelming as I stepped from the fallen tree onto the Island. So many cats. All different colors and shapes and sizes. If cats had their own United Nations meeting, this is kind of what it would be like. And to think a few months ago, I never knew there were this many cats living around the lake. Wow, how life has changed.

Hollyleaf and Cinderheart were pretty much my escorts. As the three of us walked throughout the small land, I could feel eyes on me, burning into my pelt.

"Are they staring?" I whispered to Hollyleaf.

She turned slightly. "Yes. A lot of them too. Toms mainly. She-cats take one glance and look away."

"Told you they would be jealous," Cinderheart whispered.

I met with many cats. They all introduced themselves, but I already knew who they were. I knew Mistyfoot (RiverClan deputy), Ashfoot (WindClan deputy), Mothwing (the atheist RiverClan medicine cat), Littlecloud (the tiny ShadowClan medicine cat), Crowfeather (an apparentatly womanizing tom from WindClan from what I've read), and Russetfur (ShadowClan deputy).

"So you've just become a warrior?" the deputy asked.

I nodded. "Yes, just yesterday in fact. Vigils are hard to maintain if I might say so myself."

Russetfur laughed at that. She stared at me then. "Forgive me for staring, but you look so . . . unique."

She must've seen the awkward look on my face but then she said, "Oh no! Not in a bad way! I just meant that you are very pretty. A real eye-catcher if I might say so myself." She laughed. "Don't let the toms in my clan see you, they'll chase after you until dawn."

I laughed. Oh, it's a tad too late for that . . .

As we continued to laugh together, Onestar called the meeting to a start. Just as I had read, the four leaders stood on tree branches overlooking the rest of us. Standing bold on a thick tree branch, I saw Blackstar. His green eyes shone like emeralds in a river. Wait, why am I staring at his eyes?

Sandstorm came up to me. To me, Sandstorm was like the grandmother I've never had-but in cat form.

"So now they're going to tell each other the latest clan updates," she explained. "Some might even have important announces, so I would suggest not to talk much throughout the Gathering. Remember, it's an honor to be here."

I nodded. Was just gonna shut my mouth at look at Blackstar's eyes-I mean listen! Jeesh what's gotten into me?

Firestar started talking. "All is well in ThunderClan. Yesterday, one of our apprentices became a warrior. Violetmoon just had her vigil last night and is at her very first Gathering today."

"Violetmoon! Violetmoon!"

I couldn't help but smile as my clan cheered my name. It was as if I was about to score the winning touchdown at a football game, and the whole crowd was cheering on for me.

There was a silence after Firestar spoke. Everyone looked at Blackstar. The great leader was looking at . . . me!

His green eyes looked at me just as warmly as they had that day he escorted me back to ThunderClan territory. I could feel my heart beating against my chest. I looked away from his gaze, a little smile slipped onto my mouth.

"Blackstar?" Leopardstar said from her branch.

Blackstar looked at her as if he had suddenly been dropped from the sky. "Er, yes?"

"What news in ShadowClan?" she asked.

"Yes." Onestar nodded. "Is it true you chased that mangy rogue out of your clan?"

Blackstar took one last look at me and addressed the crowd. "Um, er, yes! We kicked him out of clan and territory, and I promised if he ever showed his face again, my warriors will have no problem doing away with him. I can't speak for what the rest of you might do if you see him."

"My warriors won't take him so lightly either," Leopardstar put in.

"Same with mine," Onestar agreed.

Onestar and Leopardstar shared their news about their clans. Next thing I knew, the meeting was over.

Sandstorm sighed. "Sorry your first Gathering wasn't as interesting as you thought it would be."

I shrugged. "Nah, I'm actually kind of happy that they didn't start to fight. It would be uncomfortable for me, plus I'm kind of a neutral when it comes to these things."

Sandstorm smiled. "Well, I assume we'll be heading home soon."

"Can I meet you all by the fallen tree?"

She shrugged. "Sure I don't see why not. Don't you want to talk a little more though?"

I shook my head. "I'm kind of tired."

Sandstorm nodded. "I understand. Very well, you may go then."

And so I walked over to the fallen tree. My clan was still over by the other side of the Island. Looks like I would be waiting a while until they came. I sat down but the side of the tree, looking out onto the dark water of the lake. Memories returned of when Mother Gana sent me here to for help. Again, my how things have changed.

"Nice night, isn't it?"

I jumped a little at the sound of Blackstar's voice, and whirled around. His eyes widened when he saw my panic face. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to frighten you!"

I shook my head. "Oh that's okay, I was kind of in a daze anyway."

"Staring at the lake?"

"Nature relaxes me," I said. "Doesn't it do that to you sometimes?"

He looked out onto the water and shook his head. "Water terrifies me. I almost drowned once when I was kit."

"Really?" I said, a little surprised. "A big cat like you drowning? That's a little hard to see."

He chuckled a bit. "To many cats' surprise, I wasn't always like this?"

"What? With black paws?"

We both laughed at that one. He smiled warmly at me. "So you're a warrior now huh? Guess you won't be coming on my territory anymore huh?"

"That would a yes," I said back.

"Oh," he sighed. "Too bad . . ."

I raised a cat brow. "What'd you mean?"

I could sense his pelt go hot with embarrassment. "Oh, nothing, I just meant that-maybe, you would wonder onto-and I would-"

My giggles interrupted him. "You talk too much for a ShadowClan cat, you know that?"

He shrugged. "I guess it's the full moon."

"Yes it is a beautiful night . . ." Night . . . Uh oh! Tigerstar! I have to go to him!

Blackstar looked at me. "Something wrong?"

"What? Um . . ." I staggered as he stood up and leaned close to me, so close one would swear our noses were touching. "I'm . . ."

"Yes?"

I choked on words. "I have to go." I took a step back. "Go-Good-bye!"

As I dashed off, I could hear him calling good-bye as well.

Running crazily through RiverClan and ShadowClan territory, my heart skipped happily, and my stomach felt warm and fuzzy. I could feel myself smiling. Why was I so happy? It was just Blackstar. Who gets happy about Blackstar? But he was so nice to me. Gentle and calm. A real gentleman, as they would say in the human world. But he was a cat, and I . . . was a cat. Hey maybe this could-

I stumbled on the pebbles that led into the abandoned Twoleg nest. It stood in the night sky like a half empty crypt. It actually sent a chill or two down my spine. A sudden cold breeze made me shiver.

"Late."

I turned as Tigerstar appeared behind me. I scowled at me. "I'm not late, I was just-"

"Staring at my former deputy with moony eyes?"

I stared at him in confusion. "What?"

He shook his head. "Never mind." Then a slick smile came on his once serious face. "What's important is that you're here."

He looked at the abandoned nest, then back at me. "Are you ready to go down into the Dark Forest?"

A bad feeling settled in my stomach. "Yes. I'm ready."

A/N: I told warned that guys might hate me ;) Oh and don't mind that cliffie, it'll be continued shortly. All I ask is one thing and that is to review. Gracias!