Finally, chapter 12. And a longer chapter too! Hope you enjoy!

~Sky

Chapter 12 - The Gathering

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather..." Oakstar let the call die as all of ThunderClan looked up to him. He had chosen a tree branch somewhat high off the ground where he could address his Clan and have a meeting. The call was so familiar to him that he almost said Highledge, but out of the hollow near the lake wasn't home, wasn't the real place of ThunderClan. The red tabby regarded his Clan silently seeing the worry reflected in every cat's eyes. They all knew why he was calling the Clan together and, like him, didn't look forward to what the meeting could lead to. That night was the night of the full moon, the night of the Gathering. Without their hollow, other Clans could take their weakness and exploit it at their will. All the cats knew this and waited with trepidation for the full moon to show itself.

Oakstar sat on the branch with his tail hanging off behind him. With a small sigh, he mewed, "Let's forget the formalities this time," The Clan nodded, the clearing filled with tense silence. He continued, "The full moon is tonight and as all the Clan knows, tonight is the Gathering on the island. We have all been looking forward to this moment with worry and trepidation. We've all wondered what the other Clans would do if they found out about our position. Some cats have even come to me and asked if we could 'forget' the Gathering was here and not make an appearance.

"I have thought long about our situation and what has been brought to me." Oakstar paused a second before continuing with emotion lacing his voice. "ThunderClan will attend the Gathering as usual. 'Forgetting' this tradition out of fear for our Clan is cowardice in my eyes. We're ThunderClan, for StarClan's sake! We can take on anything that dares threaten our Clan! Did we not chase ShadowClan off our territory? Did we not survive the monster attack? We have proven we are strong, and we will prove it again if necessary!"

The members of the Clan started whispering among themselves nodding in agreement. A warrior shouted, "We can take them!" Other warriors agreed with him and an apprentice shouted, "ThunderClan!" Oakstar watched as his Clan went from quiet and worried to loud and prideful. The chant of ThunderClan grew in crescendo and he nodded to Ivyfrost to calm them down.

Nodding to show she understood, Ivyfrost go to her paws and shouted, "All right, that's enough! If you keep that up you'll scare all the prey away!"

After the Clan quieted, Oakstar meowed in an authoritative voice, "ThunderClan will go the Gathering and despite what will happen, we will show our strength and prove that ThunderClan can't be taken advantage of." With the end of his speech, he jumped down to the ground and gestured for his deputy to follow him. The pair padded off into the forest a little ways until they found a small clearing. Oakstar glanced back to where his Clan was. Mews of excitement filled the air and he chuckled, "That wasn't exactly what I expected."

Ivyfrost nodded, amusement filling her eyes. "Perhaps, yes, but you have given new hope to the Clan."

The leader tilted his head. "I wouldn't say I have given them new hope. What I have done is rekindle their pride for their Clan."

She nodded. They sat in silence for a few seconds before Ivyfrost asked, "Are you planning to report the monster attack? No one knows of it but us, and it could happen to others. RiverClan and ShadowClan are close to Thunderpaths that are used often. If a monster attack happened on our territory, think of what could happen in theirs?"

He sighed. "I'm not sure yet. It'll open ourselves to attack, but it'll also help the other Clans protect themselves. It's information they need to know."

"May I give my opinion?"

"Sure."

The pale gray she-cat turned her eyes to where the Clan was beyond the trees. "I think we should tell them. We are a strong Clan and if they are mousebrained enough to attack us then let them. We'll show them that we don't let not having a proper Clan camp weaken us."

Oakstar nodded and mused, "Yes, that's a wise thing to do. And perhaps the Clans won't attack us. Maybe they'll be too preoccupied with defending their Clans from monsters to do so? There is also leaf-fall coming up soon. Prey will become scarcer and scarcer as it progresses. Leaders will be making sure there is enough prey for leaf-bare."

"Any smart leader would work for the Clan betterment before attacking just because the leader could."

"Yes," he looked up at the sky. It was nearing sunhigh. "I need to go organize the cats that'll attend the Gathering. You should get some sleep. I expect you to join me as always."

"Of course, Oakstar."

Silverpelt with the warriors of StarClan appeared as it slowly became moonhigh. Leafpaw stood with her sister, Berrypaw, and Lionpaw near their leaders. The pale gray she-cat watched her sister and the calico tom whisper together in their small group. By the fierceness of the whispers, Leafpaw guessed it was a heated argument. About what she didn't know, but watching Lionpaw's tail erratically twitch and Berrypaw baring her teeth was funny. She had never seen the two so angry in her lifetime.

Stormpelt padded up to her side and regarded the pair of apprentices. With a disappointed sigh, he said, "It's almost time to go. Break them up and tell them the same or they'll be left behind."

"Okay," Leafpaw replied, but her mentor had already walked away to join the group of warriors talking by the makeshift fresh-kill pile. She shrugged and got to her paws with a tired stretch. Thinking she was possibly going to regret getting involved, the light gray apprentice slowly approached them.

"You're full of yourself! Why would you think she'd even take you?" Berrypaw said as Leafpaw got near enough to hear the whispered argument. Curious, Leafpaw asked, "Who take who?"

Her sister glanced at her surprised and stuttered, "N-no one. We were just talking."

Lionpaw rolled his eyes. "She thinks I can't obtain a certain she-cat as a mate."

A fuzzy feeling filled Leafpaw from nose to tail tip. "Who's the she-cat?"

He stared at her blankly before answering, "No one."

"You, Leafpaw." Her sister added.

"Lionpaw wants me as a mate?" Leafpaw asked in disbelief.

"Yeah. Tell her, Lionpaw." Berrypaw nudged the tom with a paw. "Tell her that you love her."

"Who? Me? I have no idea what you're talking about," he muttered turning away. The darker gray she-cat rolled her eyes and turned to Leafpaw. "He's in denial."

Speechless, Leafpaw watched Lionpaw wander to the group that was going to leave for the Gathering. Her sister brushed her tail along her flank.

"What are you thinking?" Berrypaw asked.

"Nothing. Let's go."

The pair of she-cats ran up to the group as it started to leave the camp. Leafpaw kept her eyes to the ground as they walked, lost in thought. She wondered if Lionpaw did really love her and if he was just hiding it behind his clueless front. The she-cat was certainly in love with the tom and despite the possibility of him loving her back, she didn't want to put herself in a spot where he didn't share the same feelings. Leafpaw didn't want her heart broken. Especially not by the one tom she had become friends with.

"It's a lovely night tonight, isn't it?"

Berrypaw's words broke through Leafpaw's thinking. She looked up at the night sky to see all the stars shining brightly with no clouds in sight. The full moon stood out the most, lighting the way in the darkness to the island on the lake. "It looks like StarClan approves of us attending."

Her sister nodded and sighed. "I kind of hoped they wouldn't, you know? We're defenseless without our hollow to protect us."

"But we're strong."

"Yeah, but," she shook her head. "I just don't want the chance to prove it."

Leafpaw nodded in agreement. "I understand how you feel, but I have a feeling StarClan wouldn't allow it."

"I hope so."

Oakstar gave the signal for the group to stop at the tree that led onto the island. Warriors started onto the trunk and gracefully crossed the water. When Leafpaw's turn came, she stood straight and slowly crossed the trunk without looking down. As her paws hit the coast of the island, she took a deep breath and sighed. Lionpaw and Berrypaw had followed and looked curiously at her.

"I don't understand how RiverClan cats can stand the water," she gave as a response to the looks. The trio walked together into the forest headed for the clearing where the Gathering was held. Voices filled the still, cool night air.

"ShadowClan's here," commented Berrypaw wrinkling her nose.

They pushed through some undergrowth and entered the clearing where a small group of ShadowClan cats had sat. Lionpaw flicked his ears and started off into the direction where he had sat at the last Gathering. Leafpaw glanced at the groups and started to follow. Her ears couldn't help picking up some of the conversation though as she passed the group.

"Is that the apprentice?"

"Yeah, that's the one that ate Whitefur's ear."

"I don't believe it. Are you sure Whitefur wasn't lying and got his ear ripped off in the battle?"

"No. He's serious. Did you see the wound? There were teeth marks!"

Leafpaw glanced over her shoulder before sprinting to catch up with Lionpaw. When she reached his spot, she asked panting, "You ate a ShadowClan warrior's ear?" Her voice was disbelieving yet angered slightly.

Lionpaw looked up at her and shrugged. "I've had better freshkill."

And this is the tom that I have fallen in love with, she thought exasperated. A cannibal.

"Sure," she muttered sitting down beside him. Slowly the clearing filled with warriors and apprentices of all Clans. Some started to share tongues and mew quietly to each other. Leafpaw watched as, one by one, leaders started to take to the low-lying branches. On the far left sat WindClan's slightly scrawny leader, Willowstar. Beside Willowstar sat Stormstar, the dark gray leader of ShadowClan. Oakstar took the space beside Stormstar and on his right was Featherstar, RiverClan's sleek leader. Everything went quiet after they took their places and Featherstar waved her tail for quiet.

Standing, she gazed back at the other leaders. "If the other leaders don't mind, I'd like to report first." When all the leaders gave nods, she turned her gaze to the gathering of cats. "RiverClan doesn't have much to report. There are two new kits who were born to Lilypetal. The prey is still running in abundance."

She stepped back and Willowstar took her place. "WindClan also doesn't have much to report except that Birchpaw is now Birchfoot." At her name, the warrior stood to face the congratulations. After they started to die, she retook her place. The leader looked around. "That is all WindClan has to report."

Stormstar took her place. "ShadowClan has a new warrior as well; Blackpaw is now Blackwing." The black warrior stood like Birchfoot to face the congratulations. Leafpaw glanced at Lionpaw who had started to insult the warrior and rolled her eyes. The insults died with the congratulations and Leafpaw shook her head, listening again to the leader.

"ShadowClan has had no problems hunting prey and look forward to the challenges of leaf-fall and leaf-bare."

He sat and Oakstar stood. Leafpaw's ears perked up along with Lionpaw's. Around the clearing she could tell that other ThunderClan cats were perking up wondering what their leader was going to say. The red tabby looked out over the crowd and meowed, "ThunderClan has been doing well. The prey is still running. We do not have any new kits or warriors."

"He's not going to say it, is he?" asked Leafpaw in a whisper to know in particular. Perhaps Berrypaw would get her wish.

"We have had some problems though in our territory. A few sunrises ago a monster crashed into one of ThunderClan's territory." Oakstar stopped there as the whole clearing filled with muttering.

"A monster? But aren't they confined to Thunderpaths?" questioned Willowstar. Featherstar nodded her agreement with the question.

Oakstar glanced at Stormstar before replying, "Not anymore it seems. This monster was well away from the Thunderpath that makes the border between ShadowClan and ThunderClan and that one hasn't been used in a long time."

Lionpaw sighed. "Now here comes the decision: will the Clans see this as a weakness to ThunderClan or will they see it as a danger to their own Clans."

The light gray she-cat shot a glance at him in surprise. "Yes, I guess we will see." She turned her eyes back to the leaders.

"If it has happened to ThunderClan, it could happen to the other Clans as well," the red tabby leader continued on. "Especially ShadowClan and RiverClan. There are more Thunderpaths there and they're more active than the ShadowClan-ThunderClan border."

Featherstar nodded. "Yes. It's a big danger to all the Clans with Thunderpaths in their territory. ThunderClan was protected by StarClan; it's cats were well away from the crash and didn't suffer any casualties."

"Thank you, Oakstar, for sharing this information with us all," included Willowstar.

Oakstar nodded. "That is all I have to report for ThunderClan," he finished sitting down.

"If there is no more to report, this Gathering is over." Willowstar looked to the other leaders. "No? Then we all shall meet at the next full moon, StarClan willing."

The leaders started to descend from the branches. Oakstar signaled for his tail for ThunderClan to group up and leave. Leafpaw pushed herself to her paws and stretched. Lionpaw got up along with her and glanced at the gathering Clans.

"We should get going," he muttered.

"Yeah," she agreed. Together they ran to catch up with their Clan. Crossing the water wasn't as bad this time for Leafpaw, but she was too tired to care about the water. By the time she reached the camp, she was almost asleep on her paws. They entered the makeshift apprentices' den and curled up in their nests. Berrypaw joined them and fell instantly asleep as she curled up in her nest. Leafpaw wrapped her tail around her so the tip was over her nose and closed her eyes.

"Good night, Lionpaw," she mumbled, nearly asleep.

"Night," he mumbled back. She curled up tighter in her nest and fell asleep.