Tigerclaw

RiverClan and ShadowClan had already arrived and were seated on the island in small groups. After a moment's hesitation, Bluestar flicked her tail, and ThunderClan padded across the log and into the clearing on the island.

Tigerclaw padded toward a group of older warriors. Among them, he recognized Darkflower of ShadowClan and Stonefur of RiverClan, along with a sleek, mottled golden she-cat.

"Greetings," Tigerclaw mewed, padding up to sit near them. "Stonefur, Darkflower."

"Hello, Tigerclaw," Stonefur meowed. "This is Leopardfur, a senior warrior of our Clan." Tigerclaw dipped his head to the she-cat as he sat down.

"How is Mistyfoot?" Tigerclaw asked, directing the question at Stonefur.

"My sister is fine," Stonefur replied. "She'll be moving to the nursery soon, though."

"Oh?" Darkflower asked. "Who's the lucky tom?"

"Ask Mistyfoot," Stonefur replied, nodding at a blue-grey she-cat sitting on the other side of the clearing. "She'll be more than happy to tell you."

"I heard about your promotion at the last Gathering, Tigerclaw," Leopardfur meowed, glancing at him with piercing dark amber eyes. "Congratulations."

"Thank you," Tigerclaw replied politely. "And how is your deputy?"

"Oakheart is just fine," Leopardfur mewed. "But Crookedstar put him on guard duty tonight." A quiet purr escaped from the dappled she-cat's mouth. "No cat can say Crookedstar shows favoritism towards his deputy!"

A loud yowl echoed across the clearing, and the warriors turned towards the leaders' tree. Bluestar stepped out to speak first, the moon washing her fur in a brilliant silver light. Tigerclaw couldn't help a shadow of doubt creeping through his head. He remembered what Darkstripe had said about her meeting possibly breaking the Code. Then he shook himself. Darkstripe, for once, was wrong. This was the best leader in ThunderClan history.

"ThunderClan brings to this Gathering their new medicine cat, Yellowfang," she announced formally. Most of the cats in the clearing turned to look at the old, flat-faced she-cat. Yellowfang was visibly uncomfortable, but then she locked eyes with Runningnose, the new ShadowClan medicine cat. Yellowfang relaxed.

"We also bring two newly named warriors―Fireheart and Graystripe." The Clans politely cheered the two warriors' names, with Tigerclaw cheering more quietly than those around him. He had nothing against Graystripe, but there was definitely something about Fireheart that bothered him.

"As well as two new apprentices," Bluestar added. "Swiftpaw and Mistpaw." The Clans also hailed the apprentices―and this time, Tigerclaw was cheering loudest of all. After all, the apprentices were his sons.

"Finally, Tigerclaw and Goldenflower have announced their decision to become mates." Every cat in the hollow turned to look at Tigerclaw and Goldenflower. Several queens near Goldenflower murmured their congratulations on becoming the deputy's mate. Tigerclaw's whiskers twitched in amusement as he watched. They have no idea.

Nightpelt of ShadowClan brushed past Bluestar, taking his place in front of the other two leaders.

"I, Nightpelt, have taken over the leadership of ShadowClan," he announced. "Our former leader, Brokenstar, broke the warrior code and we were forced to chase him out."

Yes, we know, Tigerclaw thought, a bit impatiently. Across the hollow, he caught sight of Graystripe murmuring something in Fireheart's ear. He would never trust that orange cat.

"The spirits of our ancestors have spoken to Runningnose and chosen me as leader," Nightpelt continued. "I have not yet traveled to the Moonpool to receive StarClan's gift of nine lives, but I will make this journey tomorrow night while the moon is still full. After my vigil, I will be known as Nightstar."

"Where is Brokenstar now?" yowled a voice from the crowd. Tigerclaw looked over and recognized Frostfur, sitting right next to Goldenflower.

"I think we can assume that he has left the forest with the other banished warriors. He knows it would be dangerous for him to try to return," answered Nightpelt.

"I hope so," Frostfur murmured to her neighbor, a sleek silver-and-white queen.

RiverClan's leader Crookedstar stepped forward. "Let's hope Brokenstar has had the sense to leave the forest for good. His greed for territory threatened us all."

Yowls of agreement sounded across the crowd of cats. When they had died down, Crookedstar continued.

"While Brokenstar was ShadowClan leader, I allowed him to hunt in our river. But now ShadowClan has a new leader, and this agreement can no longer stand. The prey in our river belongs to RiverClan alone."

Mews of triumph and agreement rose from the gathered RiverClan cats, but Tigerclaw noted, with some alarm, that Nightpelt was bristling.

"ShadowClan has the same needs that it had under Brokenstar!" Nightpelt yowled. "We have many mouths to feed, Crookedstar. You made an agreement with the whole of ShadowClan!"

Crookedstar leapt to his paws and turned on Nightpelt, hissing, ears flattened. Silence instantly settled over the cats on the island.

Bluestar quickly stepped between the two leaders.

"ShadowClan has suffered many losses recently," she mewed softly. "With fewer mouths to feed, Nightpelt, do you really need RiverClan's fish?"

Crookedstar gave a threatening hiss, but Nightpelt didn't flinch.

Bluestar yowled again, her voice higher, "You have just driven out several of your strongest warriors! And Brokenstar went against the warrior code when he forced Crookedstar to agree to share the river."

Tigerclaw swallowed nervously as Nightpelt unsheathed his claws. Bluestar, however, didn't blink. Her icy blue eyes glinted in the moonlight. "Remember that you have no even received your nine lives from StarClan, Nightpelt. Are you so confident you can make these demands?"

Cats in the crowd began to bristle with tension, waiting for Nightpelt's reply. Near Tigerclaw, Leopardfur and Darkflower turned to each other, fur bristling and eyes narrowed. Before rivalry could become enmity, however, Nightpelt looked away from Brokenstar, flicking his tail. Bluestar had won.

"We all know ShadowClan has suffered much in these past few moons," the silvery leader mewed softly. "ThunderClan has agreed to leave you in peace until you have had time to recover." She turned her gaze on Crookedstar. "I'm sure that Crookedstar will agree to show you the same respect."

Crookedstar narrowed his eyes and nodded. "But only as long as ShadowClan is not scented in our territory," he growled.

Tigerclaw relaxed, along with most of the cats on the island. Thank StarClan for Bluestar's diplomacy. The situation between Nightpelt and Crookedstar could easily have deteriorated into a fight. See, she would never break the code. She's too… good.

"You won't scent us, Crookedstar," Nightpelt meowed. "Bluestar was right―we don't need your fish. After all, we have the uplands to hunt in, now that WindClan have left their territory."

Crookedstar's eyes brightened. "That's true," he agreed. "An empty territory means extra prey for all of us."

Bluestar's head jerked upwards sharply. "No! WindClan must return!"

Crookedstar and Nightpelt looked at the ThunderClan leader with confusion.

"Why?" asked Crookedstar.

"If we share WindClan's hunting grounds, it will mean extra food for all of our kits!" Nightpelt pointed out.

"The forest needs four Clans," Bluestar insisted. "Just as we have four seasons. StarClan has given us four Clans. We must find WindClan as soon as possible and bring them home."

Tigerclaw raised a yowl in support of his leader, and in a moment he was joined by several other ThunderClan cats. Crookedstar's on yowl rose above the Clan cats, however.

"Your argument is weak, Bluestar. Do we really need four seasons? Wouldn't you rather go without leaf-bare, and the cold and hunger it brings?"

Bluestar fearlessly locked eyes with the tabby leader, "StarClan gave us leaf-bare to let the earth recover and prepare for newleaf. This forest, and the uplands, had supported four Clans for generations. It is not our place to challenge StarClan."

Near Tigerclaw, Leopardfur spoke up.

"Why should we go hungry for the sake of a Clan that cannot even defend its territory?" she yowled.

"Bluestar is right! WindClan must return!" Tigerclaw hissed back, drawing himself up to his full height and glaring at Leopardfur. Nobody defied his leader.

Bluestar spoke again, "Crookedstar. RiverClan's hunting grounds are known for their richness. You have the river and all the fish in it, plus the lake and its fish. Why do you need extra prey?" Crookedstar looked away and didn't answer. RiverClan began to murmur anxiously amongst themselves.

"And Nightpelt," Bluestar went on. "It was Brokenstar who drove WindClan from their home." The she-cat paused. "That is why ThunderClan helped you to chase him out." Tigerclaw nodded approvingly. He could tell that Bluestar was gently reminding Nightpelt of ShadowClan's debt to ThunderClan.

Nightpelt half-closed his eyes. After a long, tense silence, he opened them again and meowed, "Very well, Bluestar. We will allow WindClan to return." Tigerclaw noticed Crookedstar turning his head away, eyes gleaming with anger.

"Two of us have agreed, Crookedstar," Bluestar mewed. "WindClan must be found and brought home. Until then, no Clan should hunt in their territory."

With that, the Gathering began to break up. Crookedstar leapt down from the tree and summoned his cats to head home. Nightpelt and Bluestar exchanged a few words, and then Bluestar jumped down to lead her cats home. But as Tigerclaw turned to leave the clearing, he caught a flash of anger in Nightpelt's eyes.

Could it be that Bluestar didn't really have Nightpelt's support at all?