Hey all! Luna here! Sorry for not updating sooner. Math's being a pain in the rear, and so are vocabulary tests. :/ Anyway, I get a double snow-day! Whoo-Hoo! :D

Chapter 7: The Meetings

A cat crept through the shadows, blending in seamlessly. The only thing visible was his eyes, scanning the undergrowth. He was soon joined by a white-and-brown tom. His blue eyes met amber ones, and they blinked, nodding in respect.

"Is this the right place?" the black tom whispered.

"Of course it is! We're both here!" the other hissed.

Lashing his tail, the first meowed, amused. "Got nettles in your tail, Gorsestar, or are you just itching to get Riverclan fur under your claws after they tried to-"

"Shh! Shut up, Echostar" The white-and-brown tom swiped a paw at the black one, causing the black cat to be cut off as he ducked under it smoothly. "No, I don't! I-"

"Quiet, mousebrains!" a voice from a tree snapped. Two green eyes peered down at the two bristling toms. The black she-cat leapt down from the high branch she sat on, landing with grace and ease. She padded over to them, a grin on her face.

"Thank you for coming, and joining my alliance. Now, about Riverclan." She glanced at Gorsestar with raised eyebrows. "What's the history between you?"

Gorsestar averted hi eyes, mumbling under his breath. His tail twitched when he spoke audibly. "Riverclan…they once took advantage of us without the other clan's knowledge. They invaded our camp after the Twolegs near the river became a problem for them. They took our prey, killed our kits, and mated with our queens, including my mate, Amberstream." He trailed off, looking not at the forest around them, but at a far away memory. He suddenly unsheathed his claws, tearing them into the earth.

Darkshard smiled, resting her tail on his shoulders. He blinked, looking at her with a thankful smile. He retracted his claws from the soft ground, listening to the she-cat.

"Riverclan may be a little harder to convince to join our side. I think it's because Riverclan, without telling us so, believes Thunderclan over us, despite what Silentstar said at the Gathering."

Echostar frowned. "So what's our battle strategy? Pick them off, one-by-one? Circle the camps and starve them all? Just attack one camp with everything we got, then come around the ally and-"

Darkshard chuckled. "Easy, Echostar. First, we need to see if Riverclan is really on their side. Then…"

Gorsestar and Echostar leaned in closer, ears perked and eyes anxious. You could barely hear the ensuing hushed whispers over the wind on the dark night.

Silentstar curled up in her feather and moss nest. Placing her head on her paws, she started to drift off, when her deputy, Brokenwhisker, poked her head in. With a startled 'mrow', Silentstar sat up, narrowing her eyes at the white tom with only half his whiskers. He got caught in a fire, and half of his muzzle had extremely bad burns. They healed, but he never grew whiskers on the left side of his muzzle after that, but he was still a good, respected warrior, nonetheless. He had saved her sister's kit, Scarletkit.

"Silentstar, there is a she-cat who wishes to speak with you. She's hurt, but refuses treatment." He blinked, adding. "She says it's of the utmost importance. War might break out."

The silver she-cat was on her paws in a second. She hated the idea of war, but would do anything to keep her clan safe. Brokenwhisker stepped out of the way, and Silentstar emerged from her den. They padded into the clearing, where apprentices and warrior gathered. Queens and the tiny heads of kits poked out of the nursery, including Scarletkit. Their eyes were on a black she-cat, whose pelt was dotted with brown. A long red streak was a sharp contrast to the fur on her shoulder. Her white paw had flecks of red on it. Her other one did too, it just wasn't as visible.

Silentstar watched the she-cat with expressionless eyes. "Greetings, Darkshard. What brings you so far away from your camp?"

"I fear it is in danger, Silentstar. Thunderclan has attacked my patrol and stolen our prey." Gasps filled the clearing, along with a few angry snarls.

"How typical of the clan who takes in kittypets!" "Thunderclan would never do such a thing!" "Look at her, she's hurt. It's proof!" "Will Thunderclan attack us too?"

A yowl for silence filled the clearing, and the attention shifted to Brokenwhisker. The white tom looked around the clearing, and then spoke. "Thunderclan hasn't given us much trouble before. Why should they start now?"

Silentstar nodded. "They did make a claim that you did kidnap their queens and kits. Sorry, Darkshard, but I believe this to be true. Duskstar isn't the kind of cat to throw around unjust accusations."

Darkshard hissed. "What? You actually believe that fox-dung!" She spun, raising her voice at the cats observing. "Who here believes we took Thunderclan queens and kits? Who thinks we are the kind of cats Silentstar says we are?"

A few tails stayed down, but the majority of them were raised high, defending their leader' words. Darkshard bared her teeth. "Fine then. Believe the lies Thunderclan has fed you. Any cat who wishes otherwise, who believes in the right thing, is welcome to join."

Turning to Brokenwhisker and Silentstar, she gives them an icy glare. Suddenly, she spits in Silentstar's face and dashes away and over the rock. A few bristling warriors follow, snarling.

Silentstar wiped the spit off of her face, flicking it off of her paws. Brokenwhisker re-gained his composure and looked at Silentstar. "Shall we make an alliance with Thunderclan?"

The silver she-cat looked at the place where Darkshard took off. "Prepare the warriors. Speak to Thunderclan with all haste. This new threat must be contained at once."

The white tom blinked his amber eyes. The warriors who ran after Darkshard came back, with minor injuries and no prisoner. Silentstar took a deep breath. This was going to be a long night.