A/N: Sorry for the horrifically long absence. I have no good excuse for not updating this for so long, and I am sooooo sorry. D: So here is two brand-new chapters, I hope that makes up for most of it...
As the IceClan warriors approached the Boulders, Greystar yowled to announce their arrival. Littlepaw's eyes widened as he looked down. In front of him, there were three huge, jagged slate colored boulders looming above many smaller ones.
"That must be where the leaders sit," his sister whispered in awe.
"I wonder if Rockthunder or Ambergaze will be here," Littlepaw mumbled.
"I hope we get to meet some great warriors."
"There aren't very many cats here," Mosspaw walked up to his littermates. Littlepaw lifted his muzzle to taste the air.
"Only FireClan are here," he announced.
"Great job, young kit." The voice behind him made Littlepaw swivel his head. Jackalwind, an IceClan elder, was sitting behind the three apprentices.
"You learn quickly," the tawny brown tomcat rasped. Littlepaw lifted his head with pride.
"Thank you, Jackalwind." he got up to follow the other cats as they trickled into the Gathering Place. He immediately recognized Lakekit, his friend from when FireClan and IceClan had been forced to find shelter together. Without asking permission from Hawkeyes, the fluffy white apprentice strode over to touch noses with his friend.
"Littlekit!" The black and white tom looked surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"It's Littlepaw now. I'm an apprentice!"
"That's great! Now we'll see each other more often! I got apprenticed too. A few moons ago. I'm Lakepaw now," he puffed up with pride.
"Oh no. Now the whole forest is in danger," Littlepaw's eyes widened in mock horror.
"You're right, it is. Since you're going to be a warrior," Littlepaw caught a glimmer of amusement in the small cat's eyes. In the dimming light, Littlepaw noticed Lakepaw's sister in the distance, talking with Mapleshade and Hawkeyes.
"Is Rockthunder here?" he whispered.
"Sure is. You want to go meet him?" Lakepaw batted at a moth. Littlepaw perked his ears up.
"Really?"
"Sure. Let's go," abandoning the moth, Lakepaw stood up and motioned with his tail for Littlepaw to follow.
Hawkeyes lay down on his side and let the cool evening breeze blow over him. He yawned and put his head on his paws, listening to the elders gripe about RockClan's absence.
"I'm telling you, Greystorm. Something is wrong," Snowmuzzle's calm voice rose above the rustling of the trees and murmuring of the other cats. Hawkeyes saw a set of ochre-colored legs pad toward him.
"You tired?" Mapleshade sat down next to her friend. Hawkeyes yawned again.
"Not really. I'm just bored. Isn't the Gathering supposed to have started by now?"
"It should have. RockClan aren't here yet though, and we can't start without them."
"Right. That can't be good. Last time a Clan was late for-" he was interrupted by Birdstar's yowl from the boulder the tom was sitting on.
"I guess they decided not to wait," Mapleshade turned to face the two leaders, surprised.
"Since RockClan are late, we have decided to start without them," Birdstar meowed, now no more than a silhouette against the illuminated sky. Just as he was about to speak, a caterwaul from the shadows interrupted him. Cats poured out from the RockClan side of the Boulders, and Hawkeyes sat up and shared a surprised look with Mapleshade. The cats that had just arrived sat together underneath the Boulders.
"Great StarClan! Did they bring their whole Clan?" Mapleshade lashed her tail. Hawkeyes tasted the air. He did not recognize any of the RockClan warriors' scents, and where was their leader, Darkstar?
Littlepaw glanced around at the clearing.
"What's going on?" he hissed to Lakepaw. His friend turned to him with wide, amber eyes.
"I don't-," Lakepaw was cut off by a yowl from the back of the clearing.
"Birch!" Mapleshade spat, rising to her paws. Hatred blazed in her flame colored eyes as a calico cat jumped up the Boulders.
"What in the name of StarClan is happening?!" a voice meowed.
"Silence!" the calico hissed. She turned to speak with the two leaders. Cats in the clearing were meowing urgently or growling to each other. Littlepaw lifted his head to look at the moon. The clouds are so close...
"Is this what normally happens at a Gathering?" Oakpaw squealed.
"How should I know? Do I look like an experienced warrior to you?" Mosspaw snapped. Littlepaw glanced over at his brother. He was fluffed up to nearly twice his size. Greystar silenced the crowd with a yowl. "If you are all quite ready, we will begin." He continued to speak, but Littlepaw, overcome with curiousity, wasn't listening. He was watching the RockClan cats. Some were huddled together, others were glaring across the clearing. Only when Greystar mentioned the new apprentices did Littlepaw snap to attention.
"IceClan is proud to announce the naming of three new apprentices. Oakpaw, Mosspaw, and Littlepaw."
Lakepaw jumped up. "Oakpaw! Mosspaw! Littlepaw!" he yowled. The other cats joined in. Littlepaw sat up as tall as he could. He couldn't help noticing how many cats were looking at him, even the great warriors. The white apprentice basked in the attention, until Greystar continued with his announcements. When he stepped back and Birdstar came forward, Lakepaw turned to Littlepaw and whispered,
"Did you notice that not a single RockClan cat cheered for you and your littermates?"
Littlepaw flicked his ears back, annoyed.
"Who made dirt in their fresh-kill?"
Lakepaw shrugged. He turned to look at his leader. Littlepaw settled down and tucked his paws neatly under him.
"We are expecting a litter of kits soon."
The calico from RockClan perked up her ears and looked oddly interested. Several FireClan warriors shifted uncomfortably. When Birdstar finished speaking, the calico stepped up with a courteous nod to the FireClan leader.
"Thank you, Birdstar. I-" she was cut off by a yowl from one of the elders.
"What is going on here? What did you do to Darkstar?"
The calico cleared her throat and lashed her tail.
"If you will allow it, I will explain everything. Darkstar is with StarClan," she gazed up at Silverpelt, glittering brightly despite the ominous clouds lurking close to the swath of stars.
"You sent him there, didn't you?!" Mistyfur hissed. Littlepaw's fur rose. He had never seen her so angry before. "No, his life was taken by rogues."
"BloodClan rouges, no doubt! Where is Ambergaze?" Mistyfur growled with challenge in her voice.
"Enough!" Greystar stood up. "We will listen to what Birch has to say."
Mistyfur growled something under her breath and lashed her tail, but she sat back down obediently.
"Greystar, if I may correct you, I am Birchstar."
"You expect us to call you Birchstar?! After all you have done?! You are not worthy of a leader's name!" Jackalwind spat from his place in the shadows. Birchstar went on, ignoring him.
"RockClan are proud to welcome our new warriors. After sickness and attacks from rouges ravaged the Clan, we found new warriors and apprentices in Twolegplace. RockClan have recovered, and our prey is running very well. I am sure-"
"Birch!" Birdstar snapped, interrupting her. "You are not worthy to lead a Clan. You are a fox-hearted crowfood eater. I would advise you to go back to where you came from, and take all your BloodClan warriors with you."
Birchstar's fur rose and she slowly rose to her full height.
"How dare you say that! It matters not that I wasn't born in a Clan. RockClan have accepted me as their leader, and you would do well to do the same," she hissed. Littlepaw felt uneasy. He noticed clouds creeping ever closer to the full moon.
"You do not belong in the forest!" Wolffrost yowled. "It's not about where you were born, it's about what you have done! You nearly destroyed us once, and we will not allow you the chance to do it again!"
"Shut up!" a RockClan (or BloodClan) warrior jumped to his paws. His fiery orange tabby pelt glistened in the moonlight; the tom was no bigger than an apprentice, but marked with numerous battle scars.
"You know nothing of what Birchstar did!"
"We know too much!" A FireClan tabby rose to his paws.
"You fox-hearted rogues better crawl back to Twolegplace, or we'll make mousemeat out of you!"
Snarling, the RockClan tabby hurled himself at the FireClan warrior. Other RockClan cats leaped into battle. Soon, the clearing was alive with writhing, caterwauling warriors. Littlepaw caught a glimpse of Icywind herding several elders away from the worst fighting. Suddenly, the forest was enveloped in darkness. Clouds had covered the moon.
Quick history lesson: In this universe, BloodClan was led by a sinister she-cat named Birch, (and her brother Storm) who terrorized the Clans for a long time. After a while, she disappeared, and was presumed dead. Apparently though she has resurfaced. Also Mistyfur is Littlepaw's mom.