The sun began to set, being swallowed up by the horizon, and the moon was just coming out of hiding. "Cats, gather behind me!" Pricklestar called, "It is time for the gathering!" He turned, the cats going to the gathering falling in behind him. Sparrowpaw caught a glimpse of her littermates, their mentors, the new warriors, Dawnheart, Twistedear, and a few other warriors.

Pricklestar padded off, leading the way, with the several cats behind him following. "This is so exciting!" Sparrowpaw turned and saw Bubblepaw trotting next to her. She nodded, "Yeah it is!"

Heatherpaw was walking side by side with Lilyfeather. Sparrowpaw turned back to Bubblepaw, "I think Heatherpaw aspires Lilyfeather as a mate someday" She observed. Bubblepaw chuckled, "Indeed"

Sparrowpaw kept padding. She soon saw four tall trees ahead. The great oaks… They were enormous, even bigger then she imagined. Gentle voices murmured ahead. Some cats were already there. When Thunderclan emerged into fourtrees, several cats nodded their arrival. These cats were thin and lanky, their lean bodies settled down on the cool grass.

"Who are they?" Sparrowpaw wondered aloud. Cherryclaw answered her, "Those are Windclan cats, very skinny and fast. They live where there are no trees!"
No trees? She wondered, How can they hide themselves from invaders?

"Greetings" Pricklestar nodded to the elder leader. "That's Goldenstar, and below him is his deputy, Grasspelt," Cherryclaw whispered. "I see Thunderclan is doing well" Goldenstar acknowledged.

"Indeed" Pricklestar agreed, "Now, where is Riverclan and Shadowclan, they seem to be late."

Dark colored cats started creeping from the Shadows, a light gray tom in the lead. "Shadowclan is here with a special report to make," The tom growled, "Now where is Riverclan, those fish-breathed cats are never late, so they say"

Cherryclaw mewed in Sparrowpaw's ear, "That's Wolfstar, he is the oldest leader in the forest right now, he has quite a temper though" Sparrowpaw nodded gently. As the cats stepped out, Sparrowpaw realized how skinny they were, their ribs showing through their pelts, and bones clawing through the muscles.

"They are starving…" She mewed. Wolfstar climbed on the rock as another group of cats came into the clearing. "The cat in the lead is Birchfeather, but where is Streamstar?" Cherryclaw mewed.

Birchfeather leapt onto the great rock. Wolfstar turned to him, "This looks interesting," He sneered, "Why don't Riverclan go first?"

Birchfeather stepped up and opened his mouth to speak. "Streamstar has lost her final life to a severe case of Greencough," He mewed sadly, "I, Birchstar have received my leader name and nine lives"

The cats below sank their heads in grief, all except for Shadowclan. How rude! She thought. "Birchstar, Birchstar!" They soon yowled. Birchstar smiled and continued, "We also have some new warriors. Welcome Silkfur, Curlbird, and Riverclan's new medicine cat, Sunshade!"

"Silkfur, Curlbird, Sunshade!" The cats below chanted. Birchstar silenced them with his tail and added, "We also have a new litter of kits, our first in the season, Moonkit and Swiftkit."

Wolfstar nodded his head for the Windclan leader to speak. "Prey is running fine in Windclan," He bellowed, "And we have a new apprentice; Petalpaw!

"Petalpaw, Petalpaw!" Came the chanting of cats. "That is all" Goldenstar finished.

"Now for Thunderclan!" Pricklestar spoke up, "It is at my utmost mirth to announce we have new warriors, Cherryclaw, Lilyfeather, and Mousefoot,"

The cats chanted their names below and the warriors' eyes shone with pride. "We also have a new litter, Smudgekit and Sandkit," He told them, "And new apprentices! Bubblepaw, Rileypaw, Heatherpaw, and Sparrowpaw!"

Sparrowpaw noticed he called out her name the loudest, and maybe even proudest. She shook her head, but felt good inside. She didn't know why she did, but she felt something.

"Now that you are done with your pointless reports" Wolfstar snarled, "I have an announcement to make."

"Go right ahead," Birchstar meowed courteously. Wolfstar positioned himself at the edge of the rock "My clan is starving and dying right before me, we need more food," He bellowed, "Thunderclan and Windclan, Give us some of your territory!"