Six moons had passed since the day Jayfeather died and Starlight had told Bramblestar about what happened in StarClan. She had been made deputy since Lionblaze had caught greencough and died that leaf bare. She had an apprentice named Treepaw. Lakepool had one of her own named Sweetpaw, Jadefall had Windpaw, and Leafpool and Brightheart were training Rabbitpaw to be a medicine cat. Treepaw, Sweetpaw, Windpaw, and Rabbitpaw had another sibling, Darkkit, but he had died also during leaf bare. Their parents were Dovewing and Bumblestripe. Moonpaw had become Moonheart, Wolfpaw was Wolfpelt, and Adderpaw was named Adderspot. Also, Sandstorm, Graystripe, and Dustpelt had retired to the elder's den.

Bramblestar's familiar yowl sounded from outside of the warrior's den. Starlight and the other cats chosen for the Gathering filed out of their dens, looking towards the camp entrance where Bramblestar already stood. Starlight found Treepaw with Jadefall and Windpaw. They looked tired from the hunting assessment all of the apprentices did that day, and Starlight guessed that she and the others looked the same way.

The Clan took the same route as always, down around the lake, through WindClan territory but staying within a few fox- lengths of the lake, and then past Horseplace to the Gathering island. They stood in the thin line of trees around the clearing, waiting for Bramblestar's signal. RiverClan and ShadowClan were already there. Starlight made her way through the Clan to Bramblestar.

"What are we waiting for?" she asked.

"Look at ShadowClan." he said. "Aren't they acting a bit odd?"

Now that Starlight actually looked at the other Clan's behavior, she noticed that the ShadowClan cats were subdued and staying away from the RiverClan cats. They had also brought along all of their warriors and apprentices, so they were by far the biggest group at the gathering. A few of the RiverClan cats apparently noticed, too, because they were in whispering groups, looking at the ShadowClan cats.

"Something's bothering them." Starlight agreed. "We might as well go down and see what happens."

Bramblestar didn't answer, just flicked his tail and the ThunderClan cats flooded into the clearing. The ShadowClan cats barely looked up, but RiverClan stood to greet their friends from the other clan.

Soon after ThunderClan had joined the Gathering, WindClan also entered the clearing. Starlight noticed that they were warily staring at the large group Blackstar had brought to the gathering. There has to be some reason behind this, thought Starlight.

Bramblestar's yowl sounded from the giant tree in the center of the clearing. The cats topped talking and looked up at the four leaders stationed at different places in the tree. Bramblestar nodded at Mistystar to start.

"RiverClan prospers in this time of scarce prey. Three new kits have been born to our queen, Duskfur. Their names are Streamkit, Maplekit, and Rushkit. We have two new warriors in our midst, also. Their names are Oakclaw and Waterheart." She finished.

"Oakclaw! Waterheart! Oakclaw! Waterheart!" The Clans cheered for the two warriors, but ShadowClan was disrespectfully silent.

Onestar had no urgent news for WindClan; just that the deputy, Ashfoot, joined the elders and Crowfeather took her place. Bramblestar announced the new apprentices and warriors, and again, ShadowClan remained silent as their names were chanted.

"Blackstar?" Mistystar asked. "Are you going to speak?"

Blackstar didn't answer, just looked slowly up at her with closed eyes. He started to chuckle, louder and louder until it became a manic laugh. His eyes shot open. They were a dark golden color. Many of the ThunderClan cats gasped.

"Everyone, get away!" Bramblestar yowled. Most of the cats stayed where they were, waiting to see what was going on.

Blackstar stopped laughing. His eyes fixed on Bramblestar, and then quick as lighting he flipped the tabby tom over and raked his claws down his stomach. Starlight realized what was happening and she looked away as Bramblestar died over and over again.
Blackstar watched with satisfaction as the ThunderClan leader died.

"I'm sorry you had to die, my son." he said in an all-too-familiar voice. "But your death is only the first. Dark Forest, attack!"

Starlight was still frozen in shock and horror as the ShadowClan cats leapt at the other clans. Battle erupted around her, and a possessed ShadowClan warrior pinned her to the ground. She let out a yelp of surprise and went limp. The warrior relaxed his grip,; then Starlight used this as an advantage and sprang up, flinging the warrior away and biting his hind leg, her jaws biting down as hard as she could. The warrior was shook her off, but was limping, so it was easy for her to give him a few more blows before he ran away into the bushes.

Another warrior immediately sprang upon her. The ShadowClan cat flew at Starlight's shoulders, aiming to land on Starlight's back, but before she could, Starlight flipped over onto her back, exposing her stomach, and caught the she- cat with her paws. Starlight flipped over again, pinning the cat beneath her and began to rake her claws down the other cat's stomach. She yowled, and Starlight let her flee.

Starlight heard a yowl and found several RiverClan warriors looking at a limp body on the ground. Graymist, one of the senior RiverClan warriors, was dead.

"Come on, you can grieve later! We have to fight!" shouted Starlight as another tom sprang upon her. She dodged to the side and used her paws to push him past her.

Even though the Dark forest had brought the bulk of the whole of ShadowClan, the other three Clans outnumbered them and slowly the Dark Forest warriors fled until there were none left. A ShadowClan warrior lay dead on the ground, which meant that the Dark Forest was at four lives. Other than Graymist of RiverClan and Bramblestar, there were no more casualties.

"Starlight has to name a new deputy!" someone from WindClan shouted. Starlight acknowledged this with a nod of her head, realizing that she was leader now. She jumped up into the branches of the oak and surveyed the cats below her. She knew Brackenfur and Squirrelflight were the obvious choices.

"A new deputy must be appointed," she meowed. "But first let us give thanks to StarClan for the life of Bramblestar. Tonight he sits with his fellow warriors among the stars."

Silence fell as all of the cats looked up at the sky. It was dark, about Moonhigh and the stars of Silverpelt twinkled in the sky.

"And now I shall name ThunderClan's new deputy." Starlight continued. "I say these words before the body of Bramblestar so heis spirit may hear and approve my choice."

"Brackenfur," she said, "Will be the new deputy of ThunderClan."

Starlight had obviously made a popular choice. The Clans cheered and chanted his name.

"Brackenfur! Brackenfur!" Starlight chanted half-heartedly. She was still disbelieving that she was leader and that Bramblestar was dead. She sighed, turning away from the chanting cats and signaled for her clan to leave.