(Just a small announcement, I plan on writing a Gears Of War story for all the COG Gear heads out there, set after GoW3. Any takers? Yes? No?)

Bramblestar narrowed his eyes. What did they want? "Cherry, Cloudtail, Ravenheart and Foxleap, come with me." Bramblestar and the warriors walked out of the camp. They met at right in front of the border, where the other clan leaders and their cats stood just beyond. Mistystar had her deputy Reedwhisker, Minnowtail and Pebblefoot with her. Blackstar had Oakfur, Applefur and Ratscar with him. Onestar had Whitetail, Nightcloud and Harespring with him.

Bramblestar stood in front of all of them with his warriors behind him. "Tell me now why you have invaded my territory and why I shouldn't attack you all." He demanded.

"Because we have warriors waiting to attack you if you do." Blackstar spat.

"And we will kill them all if you so much as flick a tail." Whitethunder snarled back. Mudfur growled beside him, he had only seen her in battle twice, so the snarl she had on her face had to take some getting use too.

'Looney and still dangerous,' he thought with amusement.

Mistystar took a step forward, motioning for her deputy to step back. "Bramblestar, we have been talking," she looked around at the other two leaders, "and we have come to the same conclusion."

"And that is...?" The Thunderclan leader pressed.

Onestar growled at him with narrowed eyes. "That not all of the foreign warriors should stay in your camp. What if you were to attack us? They are dangerous and we don't know what they are capable of."

Lionblaze gasped in disbelief. "We have never sent them to any of our fights! All they do was hunt for us!"

"Mudfur has been seen going to the Moonpool twice!" Blackstar snapped.

"Jayfeather and Leafpool both times were incapable of going." Bramblestar reasoned. "She also knows a thing or two about being a medicine cat and we had dire need of her."

"Why not send Cinderheart?"

"She is with kits." Brairlight answered.

"It doesn't matter! We have made our decision, and yet you still argue for them to stay?" Onestar sneered.

Bramblestar bristled. "I do not argue to keep them, I argue to show you that I have no ill use of them. They are only used when necessary."

"We aren't tools," Longclaw snapped at him.

"I know this Longclaw." He said calmly, then turned back to the invaders. "If you did come to such a conclusion then why do you team up and bring your warriors into my territory? Had my warriors been on patrol and saw you they would've thought it to be an attack!" He hissed. "Since when did you bring warriors to a simple negotiation?"

"We were convinced you wouldn't part with them." Mistystar muttered. Bramblestar snarled lowly at her.

"So you risks endangering my clan and kits for this? I wouldn't mind parting with them. In fact, I was talking go Poppyfrost and Sorreltail the other day about this same thing."

Blackstar stepped forward, eyes gleaming. "Well then we have reached an agreement."

"Yes we have," Bramblestar nodded, turning back towards the foreign cats. Mudfur dipped her head.

"If is fair actually, more balance. I agree with this."

"I do as well," Longclaw mewed, and Whitethunder followed.

Cherry and Autumnspot looked at each other. "I don't know..."

"It's for the good of the clans," Whitethunder murmured to his mate. "Besides, it's their fault for being insecure."

"What was that?" Blackstar snarled as he advanced. Whitethunder watched him in amusement.

"Though our clans don't trust each other, we are respectful and have faith that the other clan will not do anything to tip the scales. You clearly don't have that. From what I've heard of your past Blackstar, you are really insecure and influential."

"Whitethunder," Bramblestar warned. The white tom smirked down at Blackstar's angry amber eyes but took his step back so that he was in between Autumnspot and Longclaw. Autumnspot's ear twitched, Whitethunder's tail flicked in response. Cherry caught onto this and flicked her ear as well. Both toms looked at her with joy and amusement.

Onestar was watching the exchange with suspicion. "What are they doing?"

"Communication." Cherry answered. "Don't you cats do that?"

"We aren't like you!" The Windclan leader snapped.

"Then how do you expect to take one of us into your clan hmm?"

"Act like cats and not like squabbling kits!" Mistystar snapped. "Now it has been decided, Riverclan will take Longclaw."

"Windclan will take Autumnspot."

"And Shadowclan will take Whitethunder."

"What?! No!" Cherry yowled. "I won't be separated from my mate and brother!"

"Cherry," Bramblestar started.

The red she cat hissed. "I just got them!"

"Shh," Whitethunder purred and wrapped his tail around her. "It's for the clans." He looked at the four leaders. "We will do this, but on conditions. We will go to your clans, but we are not fully restricted to stay there. We will be able to meet up to see each other, because my daughter will stay in Thunderclan," he cut Blackstar and glare, "and we will not leave right now, we will separate at the Gathering."

"Why?" Blackstar demanded.

"You don't just expect us to up and leave do you? Our mate kits and friends are being separated, not yours. We've already been separated once and so suddenly, we will not take that again. Plus I have to make a good impression for my daughter."

Autumnspot tilted his head. "I think we also deserve the right to choose which clan we are going to."

Blackstar growled. Harespring stepped forward. "How do we know that if we let you meet you won't go spilling out clan secrets?"

"Yea!" Applefur agreed. Minnowtail nodded his head in agreement.

Toadstep growled at them. "Why would we want to know your secrets? We can already beat you, you thieves!" He told Minnowtail. The Riverclan cats growled as Toadstep and the cats he came with growled back. Lionblaze swatted them all with his tail and cuffed Toadstep behind his ear.

"I brought you here for trust, don't go starting things!" He hissed. Toadstep dipped his head in apology.

"We have no deep ties with Thunderclan, other than the fact that they helped and protected my mate and kits, and that they have welcomed us with no ill will nor suspicion. We have no reason to tell your clan secrets unless you give us one. I agree with Autumnspot though, we should choose which clan we are to go to."

Bramblestar nodded his head. "All warriors but the foreigners and Lionblaze return to their respected clans. Toadstep, tell the others to come."

"If your deputy stays then so does mine," Mistystar told him.

Bramblestar nodded his head. "Bring your deputies then."

"Ashfoot cannot come at the moment Onestar," Harespring told him. "Kestrelflight is treating him."

"Then bring someone else."

The cats left and more returned, Shadowclan bringing Rowanclaw and Windclan bringing Crowfeather.

On their return the rest of the Thunderclan crowed anxiously. "Well? What's happening?"

"Apparently the others don't think it fair that we have the foreign cats with us. Ocean, Luna, Sakura and Raven, you are to go out there and join them." Toadstep hissed. Luna huffed and walked out, along with the others.

~ooo~

"My kits stay with me!" Cherry snarled as she rounded onto Rowanclaw, green eyes gleaming.

The ginger tom bristled at her. "You cannot do that!"

"You won't separate my mate from her kits." Whitethunder growled. "She trained and raised them, you have no right."

"Well something has to happen! Bramblestar will have too many cats!"

The leaders and deputy looked to Bramblestar, who only shrugged. "I will not separate a queen from their kits. It is up to her if she wants to."

"And why not?" Blackstar growled. Bramblestar narrowed his eyes.

"You do not have kits so you don't understand, Blackstar. Had we been the foreign cats in their territory Squirrelflight wouldn't want to separate from her kits. I'm sure neither of their leaders would force that on her either."

Sakura watched as Ocean's face twisted into a scowl. "I can't believe you would force a mother to separate from her kits." He spat. "I will go to Riverclan."

Cherry stared at him. "Ocean..."

"Mother," he purred and smiled at her. "I will be fine. I will also be able to see you."

Autumnspot nodded his head in agreement. "I will go to Shadowclan."

"I'll go to Shadowclan as well. They need the guidance." Mudfur agreed with a snicker.

Whitethunder dipped his head. "I will also go to Riverclan."

"Then we will go to Windclan," Longclaw said as she glanced at Raven. The tom looked at her with incredulous eyes.

"I'm staying in Thunderclan! I have a mate to win and her sons to impress."

Crowfeather tilted his head curiously at this. "A mate? Bramblestar is so domestic to let foreign cats breed with their warriors?" Bramblestar slits his eyes at that but otherwise says nothing. Raven though, smirked.

"Well, didn't you mate with Leafpool? She wasn't of your clan."

Crowfeather bristled at that, but kept his face calm. "That was a mistake."

"A mistake? We are mistakes to you Crowfeather, your own kits? Did that mean Hollyleaf was a mistake as well?" Lionblaze snarled.

Crowfeather tensed as he stared Lionblaze in his eyes. "That is not what I meant."

"Keep your personal affairs to yourself!" Onestar snapped. Lionblaze sat down slowly, calming down when Raven put the tip of his tail on his shoulder.

Crowfeather watched them with hidden anger and envy. Breezepelt wouldn't even go near him, and Nightcloud didn't pay as much attention to him as she used to. And even though he denied it Lionblaze was still his son. 'The past,' he thought to himself. 'It is the past.' His eyes hardened to a glare. He still didn't like Raven.

"I will go to Windclan." Luna offered. Longclaw rolled her eyes but otherwise stayed silent.

"And what about Cherry?" Mistystar asked.

"She stays wherever Sakura is, and she also stays in Thunderclan."

"I can live with that," Blackstar grouches. He wanted Whitethunder to come to his clan though, the orange tom just had to open is big mouth. "If that is settled, then we will be off."

"At the Gathering they leave to their chosen clans." Onestar warned them.

Whitethunder growled back at him. "We know; we are not as brainless as your cats."

Mudfur cracked, breaking into fits of laughter. Longclaw groaned. "She was quiet for such a long time too!"

"You can never forget that Sandclan cats are insane, Longclaw." Cherry chastised. They all returned to the Thunderclan camp, and at that moment Cherry snarled and went back outside. Whitethunder's eyes widened and he quickly followed.

"Don't worry about them." Ocean said as Autumnspot made to follow them. "They are going to fight and be done with it, no trouble."

"Like Raven and Sakura?"

"Mhm."

"Oh..." The Sunclan warrior whispered, blinking rapidly before turning and trotted to the apprentice den.

Squirrelflight walked over to him, worry clouding her eyes. "What happened?"

He nodded to the Highledge and trotted towards it. As he ascended he called for a clan meeting. "Thunderclan, the other clans came here with the idea that we would use our added help against them, to take over the clans."

They all gasped and hissed.

"They think us so low? Had it been them they wouldn't hesitate!"

"Like Shadowclan!"

"Especially Windclan!"

"No, Riverclan! After we beat them last time they would definitely want revenge!"

"I'm sure they would," Bramblestar growled. "On the next Gathering Whitethunder, Longclaw, Autumnspot, Ocean, Mudfur and Luna will leave to their separated clans."

"They fear us!" Cinderheart yowled from the nursery. The cats yowled in agreement.

"Know this is also for the balance of the clans. With that said, all of you who are leaving, you have to teach the clans some of the fighting moves you have taught us. They do need to be prepared, for the future."

"We will," Whitethunder promised, though he didn't look too happy about it.

"Bramblestar, if I may," Cherry mewed. The ThunderClan leader dipped his head.

"Go on."

"Well, we would like to share our clan tradition with you all, it is very important and I have been prolonging it for too long." Curious eyes turned to her.

"About what?"

"About how an apprentice becomes a warrior. If it is alright with you I would like to promote my kits right away, preferably it will happen at your Gathering."

"What?!" Luna squeaked in excitement."

"We're going to become warriors!" Ocean yowled. Him, Sakura and Luna pranced around happily.

Raven watched them in amusement. "Such kits."

"You as well, Raven." Cherry purred.

The black tom blinked. "Me?"

"Yes. You have done well in being a Guardian to my daughter; you deserve your warrior name, if you chose."

Raven dipped his head. "Thank you, Cherry."

"Interesting, don't you name your warriors in your clan?"

"No, that would be hiding our secret and glory from the others; to show the other clans that we have strengthened in numbers is better than hiding it. Let us terrify them, let them grow anxious that the enemy has grown stronger." Whitethunder declared. "We honor and mourn our deceased warriors at the Bonding under the Stars; it is just like your Gathering."

Bramblestar looked out over the clan. They looked very interested. "Then by all means, share it with us. Your kits deserve to be warriors after all they have done."

"Thank you," Cherry said. Bramblestar made room as she and Whitethunder climbed onto the Highledge.

Whitethunder looked down at all of them and felt his heart quicken. When he was leader he would be standing on top of the Shorttree, addressing his clan for news and battle. 'And to think Starrīdā made such a horrible mentor.'

He cleared his throat. "Sandclan, Darkclan, Sunclan and Moonclan all gather to a rocky plain on a hill that lay naked under the stars of the night. It was called by our ancestors the Star Points, and it is called that now. We gather in what we call Bonding under the Stars to tell of how our clans are faring, the dangers that lurk here and there and to thank our ancestors. We also go there to declare the growth of our clan, whether it is kits, apprentices or warriors. Our apprenticed are made apprentices at the Bonding, and our warriors are made warriors the same way."

"We honor our great ancestors, the ones we stemmed from within our blood," Cherry continued. "The Tigers are what made Moonclan, the Lions Sunclan, The leopards Darkclan and the Lynx Sandclan. It was told that in the mist of their cubs becoming adults they roared their names to the stars, and that is what we do for our warriors and apprentices. They swear their loyalty to their clans, Skyclan accepts them and we yowl in response, accepting them ourselves." Dovewing frowned and leaned towards her sister. "That's strange…" "Foreign cats are strange, deal with it." He sister shot back, mirroring her frown. Bramblestar narrowed his eyes. "You believe in this?" "Of course, why shouldn't we? The big cats were the first cats to run the earth." Mudfur purred. From them we are born and like them we are made warriors." "Interesting," Raven muttered. Ravenheart shook his head in disbelief.

"The leader of the clan always gives the warriors and apprentices their names, and if for some reason the leader isn't present then the deputy takes their place. I will be giving them their names." Whitethunder told them.

"So how do we do it?" Sandstorm asked.

"The leader or deputy will say things, the ones being appointed will agree, their names will be given For Skyclan's approval. If clouds appear and cover the moon, the cats aren't worthy of being warriors. If they stay clear, they have earned their warrior name and the cats will yowl to the Skyclan, or in your case Starclan." Longclaw flicked an ear. "Theleader or deputy will say something else and then it is over. The warriors then have to go before every leader and receive a touch to their head, meaning that the leaders accept them. IF a leader doesn't accept them, a clan war breaks out. All of that, yada yada, and so on."

Bramblestar nodded quickly. "Well, we will honor this for you; we will also participate in your way of naming your warriors for your kits ceremony."

Cherry purred. "Thank you." He and Whitethunder jumped down from the Highledge and intertwined tails. Sakura squeezed herself in between them purring loudly. Ocean and Luna joined, and the parents gave each cat a proud lick on the head.

"The meeting is over!" Bramblestar yowled, and the cats dispersed. Lionblaze walked over to them.

"Congrats!" he mewed, bumping heads with Ocean and dipping his head to Sakura, Raven and Luna.

"Yea, congrats." Mousewhisker followed, more to Sakura than anyone else. The light red she cat blinked her eyes rapidly at him and puffed her chest out.

"Thank you." She purred.

Lionblaze side glared at Mousewhisker. Leafpool and the other cats of the clan congratulated them. Patrols were sent out, and for the rest of the day the clan as at peace. A set of blue eyes were glaring daggers at Sakura, all the way from the nursery.