Disclaimer: The Warriors series belongs to Erin Hunter; this is only a fanfic I had an idea for, so please don't sue me.

And to get everyone off my case about Blackblade: I love the name and the warrior cats already seem to have an understanding of words they should not be familiar with to begin with. An example from the books? Read off some of the names from the newest series. One is Emberfoot. Yes, they know what fire is, but not what an ember would be. Olivenose is another one. How would they know what an olive is? They live in England! And if I'm not mistaken, olives don't grow there. If they do, then they STILL wouldn't know what it is, since in NONE of the books is an olive tree described, thus they should never have even SEEN one! I also named Blackblade after a blade, as in a sharp pointy thing. The reason for this is that I know for FACT that in at least one for the books, the main character the chapter was following sees a claw and refers to it as a blade in the description; therefore they DO know what a blade is. Just not a bloody katana. Blackblade refers to his claws. No more questioning it. Get off my back. If you need more of a reason, this is FANFICTION. I can do whatever I want, including giving all the cats blue eyes if I want to.

Chapter 4

The log bounced under Dawnstar's weight, making her pause and shiver as the icy lake water lapped at her paws. Carefully, she inched forward across the log, her tail flicking for her clanmates to follow. When the ThunderClan leader finally reached the last tail-length of the log, she bunched her muscles and jumped, landing gracefully on the soft grassy ground of the island. Her nerves instantly settled for the first time in days, then flared up again like a flame. Tonight she would tell the clans about the badgers, Blaze, and Crimsonkit, and they would accept her decision, whether they liked it or not.

Her clanmates followed her slowly. She had decided on bringing only the cats that had seen the badgers or Blaze for support, as well as Whiteleaf, who had agreed that she could leave Crimsonkit and Bluekit with Thornwhisker for the night. Badgerclaw followed after her and hopped off the log, hissing when he landed awkwardly. Following him was Poppystripe, Lightningclaw, Morningwind, Sparrowpaw, Whiteleaf, then finally his brother, Blackblade.

Poppystripe wasted no time in scolding the ThunderClan deputy for nearly reopening his wounds, then finally sped off in a huff toward the other medicine cats after he apologized to her twice. Morningwind let out a small amused purr, quickly retreating to a group of WindClan she-cats before he could cuff her. Sparrowpaw meanwhile followed Lightningclaw's every paw step, nervously eyeing all of the other cats. The two toms stayed close to Whiteleaf, near the roots of the Great Oak.

"Everyone but ShadowClan is here." Blackblade mewed, slithering beside Dawnstar from the shadows.

"They'll be here any moment." Dawnstar assured him, grooming her chest to keep her nerves at bay. Her tail frizzed a little at the thought of losing her confidence with all of the other cats staring at her. She had to keep her fur on, and make it clear that her decision was final.

Blackblade opened his mouth to go on, but before he could meow another word, Fallingstar, the ShadowClan leader, burst in through the trees, his clan at his paws. His green eyes surveyed the other clan cats briefly, glaring at Dawnstar when he noticed her, until he trotted passed and jumped into the Great Oak. Whitestar and Froststar followed him, leaving Dawnstar the last leader to scramble up the thick trunk of the oak. She took her place behind the other more experienced leaders, flinching when Fallingstar let out a fierce yowl, beginning the Gathering.

The clan cats quickly drew together under the oak, their distinct scents mixing in the cool night air. Their eyes all glistened hungrily for the latest news from the other clans.

"All is well in ShadowClan, prey is plentiful this season," Fallingstar began, stepping ahead of the other leaders so the cats below could see him more clearly. The white patches of his pelt shone like a ghostly warrior in the moonlight as he continued. "Flamepelt has kitted, and we have two new kits to welcome to ShadowClan." He dipped his head and stepped back, allowing Froststar to take his place.

The RiverClan leader waited for the approving mews to die down before starting.

"There was frost on the streams this morning, but RiverClan is thriving. We can still fish and hunt as if it were new-leaf." Her green gaze then shifted down to one cat in particular. He was a young silver tom with blue-grey patches littered around his flanks. He puffed out his chest when he met his leader's stare. "We also have a new warrior, Shinepool! He has taken his vigil and shall sleep in the warrior's den tonight!" Meows of approval erupted from the clan cats below her again as the cats congratulated Shinepool. He was a popular apprentice, and would likely be an even more popular warrior. Froststar waited yet again before finishing. "Finally, Shadefoot has kitted her first litter. Though we are saddened with the misbirth of two of her kits, we are proud to welcome Silverkit as a part of RiverClan." She bowed her head to the conversing cats below and stepped beside Fallingstar for Whitestar to move forward.

The WindClan leader dipped her head to FrostStar. "We all grieve for the loss of your clan's kits. Nothing is sadder than a kit losing its life before it has even started." She turned back to face the rest of the clan cats. "There is still an abundance of rabbits in WindClan; we do not plan to starve this leaf-bare, nor any." The WindClan cats below let out an agreeing yowl. Whitestar nodded to them, then allowed her expression to go sour. "Lately a number of rogues have trespassed on our territory, claiming to live near the TwoLeg barn. We have made it clear, though, that WindClan is not to be trifled with. A patrol sent them packing the last time they tried to steal our rabbits...not that they were able to catch any."

"Just let them show their face again! We'll show them what a WindClan cat can do!" A young tortoiseshell growled below, more WindClan cats chiming in after her. As much as Dawnstar tried, she couldn't place her paw on her name though...

Whitestar turned back to Froststar. "You may want to patrol the WindClan border more often, in case the rogues wish to cause trouble on your own territory."

"Thank you, Whitestar. That is good to know." Froststar purred. "The last thing we need are rogues causing trouble as leaf-bare approaches." Her claws dug into the bark of the tree. The crackling made Dawnstar's stomach lurch. How was she going to explain Blaze and Crimsonkit now?

Fallingstar's growl brought Dawnstar out of her thoughts as she noticed the three other leaders looking at her. It was her turn to speak. She must have looked like such a mouse-brain!

Quickly she slid past the WindClan leader, her claws digging into the bark with every paw step, nervousness rippling throughout her stomach like snakes. She nearly jumped when the older she-cat brushed her back with her tail. She allowed herself a quick glance at her, surprised to see a sympathetic look in her amber eyes. Dawnstar had almost forgotten how close they were in their days as warriors. How much time had passed since she became the WindClan leader, and left their old friendship behind? Loyalty to the clan came first...

Dawnstar moved to the edge of the branch overlooking all of the cats below. Their eyes scorched her fur like merciless embers, making her nearly lose her nerve once more. Scanning through the crowd though, she managed to pick out her own clanmates, and their presence was enough to keep her nerves at bay.

"The prey is running well in ThunderClan," she began, sweeping her eyes around the mass of cats below. "Our bellies are full, and we are strong. With that said, we managed to drive two badgers from our territory a number of days ago." Shocked meows whispered below her.

"Two badgers? At the same time?" A ShadowClan cat challenged. He was silenced quickly by his leader's harsh glare. Dawnstar wasn't sure if Fallingstar silenced him because he believed in her, or because he just wanted to go home early as the night air became colder...

"Yes. Two full grown badgers were found in our territory near the WindClan border. We managed to drive them out with one patrol...but only because of the help of a brave rogue by the name of Blaze." Silence filled the air. The fur on Dawnstar's pelt pricked. Maybe she could have stated it better, or should have waited a bit longer to mention the rogue...but it was out now. She could feel Whitestar's eyes on her back, burning into it. The other leaders behind her didn't seem all too pleased as well.

"A rogue, Dawnstar?" Whitestar asked, digging a claw into the bark and pulling it back. "Like the ones in our territory that have been causing us trouble?"

"Blaze helped us drive out the badgers." She turned to face the thin she-cat, her blue eyes glaring into her golden ones. "She did not cause us any trouble. In fact, she sacrificed her life for ThunderClan."

The whispering below became louder. Dawnstar could make out nervous mews, curious purrs and even angry hisses. She could also see her own clanmates' fur on end as they supported her below, hissing at all those who disbelieved her statement.

"A rogue that sacrificed their own life for a clan cat? I have never heard of such a thing, Dawnstar." Fallingstar growled, his green eyes narrowed into slits. "A rogue cares only for themself. They care not for anyone else around them."

"Blaze was different." Dawnstar persisted, forcing her fur to lay flat. "She appeared out of nowhere and protected Sparrowpaw when the second badger appeared. I later led a patrol myself to make sure that the badgers had left our territory, only to find them to have returned deeper in. Blaze appeared and helped us battle them once more, and we were successful in driving them up out of our territory again. In the battle though, she took a fatal wound to the neck and passed on. She is in StarClan's hunting grounds now, sadly leaving behind her own kit. Because of Blaze's brave sacrifice for our clan though, I have decided that Crimsonkit, as she has been named, will become a part of ThunderClan, and Whiteleaf has agreed to care for her as if she were her own." Dawnstar looked down to Whiteleaf, the eyes of every cat in the clearing following her own. The blue-grey queen did not flinch at their stares. She only dipped respectfully.

Growls rose in the WindClan cats' throats as they recognised the queen in question.

"So you're taking in our own warriors and rogues now too, Dawnstar? Just how desperate is ThunderClan?" Whitestar hissed, her claws ripping into the bark angrily.

Dawnstar turned on the WindClan leader, her own claws digging into the tree. A small cloud hovered over the moon, but quickly moved on. StarClan was with her. She would have to stand her ground against the leader and prove her judgement!

"We are not taking in your warriors, Whitestar. It was Onefeather's choice to join ThunderClan. It was you who allowed him to. It seems to me that it is WindClan that cannot keep their own warriors together and loyal. As for rogues, Crimsonkit will be raised as a forest cat, and live to be a great warrior one day. Just because she was not born in a clan does not make her a rogue. Besides, was it not you who said that 'there is nothing sadder than a kit losing its life before it has had time to live it?' ThunderClan will not leave a defenceless kit to die only because their mother was an outsider." The pale leader raised her nose pointedly.

Whitestar hissed angrily, swiping a claw at the bark. She barred her teeth, but was unable to create a comeback.

"I understand..." She finally hissed, turning away from the ThunderClan leader. "It is the right thing to do..." The words were forced though, disheartening Dawnstar.

"The great Blackstar was once a rogue..." Fallingstar meowed slowly, looking down at arguing cats below. Their attention quickly shifted up to the powerful tom. "He became a great and strong leader, that lead his clan through hard times, including The Great Journey to the lake. Maybe we are too quick to judge the kit, as of yet..." His green eyes shone in the moonlight, another cloud drifting passed the milky sphere harmlessly. "It is Dawnstar's choice as to what happens to the kit," he continued, pacing toward the trunk of the tree. "ShadowClan will accept her choice." He jumped onto a lower branch and slid down the rest of the trunk casually. "ShadowClan, we are going home!" With a flick of his tail, the ShadowClan cats noiselessly followed their leader into the bushes and off of the island.

"I agree." Froststar finally mewed after the last trace of ShadowClan had vanished from the island. "The warrior code states that we will not let a kit die, no matter what. RiverClan, come." She too slid down the trunk and stalked off, her blue-grey tail held high.

With a final hiss, Whitestar nodded curtly to Dawnstar and climbed down the tree noiselessly, her clan following her lead. Dawnstar watched her old friend vanish into the leaves, listening closely for her paw steps on the tree-bridge. When the final paw step vanished from the old log, she too joined her own clan on the ground.

"That went better than expected." Morningwind purred, stepping up to her leader. "If Fallingstar agrees, any clan cat has to!"

"I wish that was true..." Dawnstar mewed softly, looking up at the glowing sphere in the sky. A soft, fluffy cloud slithered over it once more, before passing on as if it was never there. Was StarClan watching them now? Was Blaze even in their hunting grounds? She could not tell, and a small part of her didn't want to know. Her duty right now was to protect her clan, and that now included Crimsonkit. The only thing she hoped for now though was her survival... What would she tell the other clans if the already under-sized kit passed away this leaf-bare after what she had said? Her fur fluffed up like a shield to her thoughts.

"It's getting cold. ThunderClan, let's go home." The pale she-cat meowed, loping through the bushes and to the log-bridge. She would just have to see what would happen now...

I hope this chapter was enjoyable. I'm not used to making 5-page chapters, but it looks like that might happen more often in this fic. Normally my chapters are 16+ pages. We'll have to see. Thanks for reading!