OH MY GAWD!!!!!!! I'M POSTING!!!!!!! SHOCKING!!! I hope you guys are still reading my stories and haven't abandoned me!! I promise I'll try and update more often!! HOPE THEY ARE STILL AS GOOD!!

Brambleclaw's POV:

We had finally reached the Gathering, and the sun was setting in the west, behind some large oaks that swayed delicately in the wind. Squirrelflight was brushing up against me as we walked, and I was instantly at ease. Giddy with the fact that Squirrelflight and I were not in a feud anymore, I settled down next to her near a group of ShadowClan apprentices, who happened to be conversing in soft tones and shooting furtive looks around the island. I narrowed my eyes at one particularly scrawny gray one that was staring at me. He nearly jumped out of his skin, and whipped his head back around. I chuckled.

Squirrelflight looked at me, waiting for an explanation. I nodded in the direction of the twitchy apprentices. "What do you think they are plotting?" she glanced around and smirked.

"I don't know, but I think has something to do with eating the prophecy cats!" she meowed while switching her gaze from the ShadowClan cats to Sunfeather. I looked at her skeptically.

"No- I don't think has anything to do with… that. But they are watching them."

"Look at those cats! They are practically salivating over them! You can't say it's just curiosity!" Squirrelflight seethed, giving me a look of total annoyance. Rolling my eyes at her, I sighed. "I'll tell you what," I mewed calmly "I'll go over there and ask them what they're up to."

Now it was time for her to roll her eyes at me. "Yeah, they will tell you, a ThunderClan warrior, all about why they are casting such off glances the prophecy cats that are staying in our camp! Sometimes I can't believe I speak with you!" She looked exasperated.

A scratchy voice came from behind me, "Those cats are staying at your camp?"

"Yes, they are!" Squirrelflight shot at the scrawny apprentice that was staring at me earlier, before I could stop her. My heart nearly dropped as the apprentice grinned a terrible grin, which showed all his teeth, and then cast one horribly happy look at Sunfeather before scurrying off to meet his friends. The group of ShadowClan rejoiced as he gave them the news.

Squirrelflight's eyes her lost, and I'm sure mine mirrored the same emotion that was pulling on her heart strings.

"We need to tell Firestar!" we rushed out at the same time, just as a voice came from above us.

Leopardstar's voice rang out. "Attention!" her commanding demeanor quieted the island at once. A/N: Sorry- I forgot what they say to begin the Gatherings. I haven't read the books in a while!

Firestar's fiery pelt blazed in the moonlight, especially next to Blackstar's white coat. Each cat stood up on the rock, all looking dignified. I could feel Squirrelflight squirming beside me, wanting to call out and interrupt Leopardstar's report about how well their prey was running. Whatever the shady ShadowClan apprentices were planning could wait until we back at camp, I suppose.

****

Max's POV:

I was walking alongside Iggy, our pelts brushing so he would know when to move. I kept my voice low. "That little stunt before the Gathering isn't going to cut it! Okay? We have to blend in… we are here for a reason so we don't want to be kicked out-"

"-If that's possible-" Iggy muttered irritably.

"-But that's not the point really- Just. Don't. Do. It." I hissed and left him to seethe in silence. I made my way up next to Fang.

"So… this place is pretty cool. Don't you think?" I meowed, glancing around the moon speckled forest, soaking it all up.

"Yeah, they've all been really… welcoming- especially Whitepaw…" his voice trailed off, and I felt my stomach twist and simmer in anger. "But there is a bit of an age difference, I suppose." I looked at him incredulously. He was actually considering that little white weirdo! Stopping my thinking, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. Fang is a brother, nothing more. I don't control him. No one really can. He's- my paw hit a root and I flew forward (Ha-Ha! Some Flock humor for you!). Fang lunged toward me and in one swift movement, yanked me up by the scruff before I even hit the ground, and brought me to my feet. My face was burning in embarrassment.

"Thanks," I murmured, and then hurried through the thorn tunnel and into the camp. But something was off. There was an eerie silence, like before I started screaming at Iggy and Gazzy when they blew up my pants or something. Stopping short, I listened.

Movement. It came from somewhere in the shadows, by the warriors' den. Usually all the queens, elders, kits, and apprentices were asleep, and a few warriors would be wobbling around the camp. But there was no one.

Inching my way toward the nursery, I heard a moan of pain from the warriors' den and I rushed to it instantly. When I reached it, I could clearly see two bodies lying in a heap right next to the entrance. Moving closer, I could make out Rainwhisker and Sootfur. I gasped and whispered their names. Both stirred but only Rainwhisker opened his eyes fully. Gashes covered each of the cat's faces and arms and legs.

"No- Sunfeather! Get out of here! They're here for you!" he croaked before falling back into Sootfur. I stood there, aghast. Suddenly, I heard a claw scraping across the ground. Whipping around, I saw a scrawny gray apprentice slinking toward me. Thinking hard, I couldn't seem to remember a cat like that in ThunderClan. I froze, immediately knowing this cat shouldn't be here. I locked my body into a fighting position, readying myself.

"I'll fight you- and you can bet your flea-bitten butt, that I'll win!" I growled circling him.

"Oh, you are so stupid to fight," he cooed menacingly. And I unsheathed my claws and bared my teeth.

"Oh, you are so stupid to try!" and I lunged at him. Ripping my claws across his flank, he howled in pain. As I streaked past him, I caught a whiff of his scent. ShadowClan. Yowling in fury, I steadied myself to lunge again, but was tackled from the back.

And in an instant everything was a flurry of claws. I couldn't see anything but ripped at anything that stank of ShadowClan. My blood sang and adrenaline fueled my fight more. They were here for us, so they would get us. A few seconds that seemed like an hour later, the Flock raced into the camp and saw my predicament. Launching themselves into the battle, I thought fearfully of Angel, Gazzy and Nudge. They were so young and hadn't ever fought like this. But neither have I and I knew anyway. Oh yeah, we were programmed to think like this, I guess.

The fight raged on as more and more ShadowClan apprentices came into view. I think some ran away though as the rest of ThunderClan came into the battle. Fighting alongside of Gazzy, I raked my claws across the nose of some cat that had just bowled over Angel, when the scrawny apprentices that had first challenged me howled out to the rest of the cats "Retreat! Retreat!" The ThunderClan cats graciously let them go, but not without a last parting gift: a swipe across the face!

The cats bolted out of the camp as fast as they could and some warriors ran out after them to make sure they didn't come back. Leafpool and Cinderpelt galloped from cat to cat, treating the wounds and moping up the blood. All of this had happened so quickly and suddenly, I'm not so sure that it happened.

But it had.

And I bet it was some time again.

PLEASE REVIEW!!!!! I hope you like it as much as the other ones!! Tell me if you have any suggestions!!!! I'M SORRY I HAVEN'T POSTED IN FOREVER, BUT I'LL TRY TO MORE OFTEN!!!!!

Yours,

The Flock's Bud