See, remember when I said I had missed a chapter? Well I'm posting it, because it's taking me a bit of time to write while school has started. Hopefully this will stall you for a bit. ^_^ enjoy! This was suppose to be Chapter 17.

All of the cats at the Gathering were surprised to say the least. They had waited for Thunderclan to show up, expecting to see the blind tom named Jayfeather, not his mother Leafpool. Bramblestar acted as though it was nothing new and joined Mistystar, Blackstar and Onestar on the branches. All cats shot Leafpool suspicious looks, though it was Windclan who shot her hated glares, especially Crowfeather, Breezepelt and Nightcloud. Leafpool swelled with pride to see Breezepelt sporting scars from their last encounter, three claw marks across his face. 'Serves you right, traitor,' she thought to herself.

Bramblestar raised his tail for silence and nodded his head politely to Mistystar for her to tell her clan news. She gave him a questioning look, which he returned later with a promising blink. Turns out Shadowclan were four kits stronger and Riverclan had a fox attack, giving a proud purr as Mistystar explained that her warriors drove it away. She still gave warnings to watch out for it though, just in case it returned. Onestar gave his report on great hunting and three new paws, though he shot accusing looks at Bramblestar.

"Over a half a moon ago, I had three warriors come back to their clan covered in wounds. Your warriors are getting too bold Bramblestar."

"With all due respect Onestar, it was your warriors who were getting bold. They overstepped the borders that were clearly marked. Leafpool did them herself."

"We don't care about borders marked by traitors," Breezepelt snarled, fur bristling. Nightcloud gave her approving yowl while Crowfeather cut them a mild glare, though he did seem to agree with his son. Bramblestar glared down at him, though it was Lionblaze who rose and hissed at the scarred tom.

"Look who is calling who a traitor! You betrayed your clan to fight with Tigerstar, to kill your own!" The cats of Thunderclan yowled their agreement, shooting Breezepelt untrustworthy glares. Nightcloud seemed to be silent, fur prickling with embarrassment as they spat the truth at them. Her son had tried to kill them, kill her, the clans.

"I was brainwashed. You know how Tigerstar can twist his words to make them seem right. You should know Lionblaze, you were trained by him personally."

Lionblaze bristled. "Yes I was, but I didn't agree to attack my family like you did."

"You don't have a family!"

"Yes I do!" Lionblaze stood tall, tail held high. "I have my brother Jayfeather and my mother Leafpool. I have my grandmother Sandstorm and my aunt Squirrelflight. Cats I would never betray. Unlike you." Leafpool purred loudly, fur prickling. Lionblaze admitted that she was his mother to the clans! She never thought she could be any happier.

All cat murmured, looking around at each other. Some cats stared at Lionblaze in awe while others stared in admiration. It was not only because he had called Leafpool his mother, but because what he said was true. Breezepelt betrayed the clans without a second thought except to get back at him and Leafpool.

Bramblestar raised his tail for silence, though the proud look in his eyes didn't go unnoticed. When the cats quieted down Bramblestar looked over at Onestar. "Your cats overstepped their borders and hunted on our territory. That meant that they were stealing, which also meant we could attack. Wouldn't you send warriors to defend your territory Onestar, had you found Thunderclan warriors on the wrong side of the border?"

Onestar growled. "Of course, but I wouldn't send six cats against three. What happened to Thunderclan and all their fairness hmm?"

Bramblestar flicked and ear. "Six cats? Last time I checked only Leafpool was out that day. She came back to camp littered with claw marks. She also said she ran into three Windclan cats on Thunderclan turf."

Onestar snorted. "Lies!"

Leafpool stood, her tail twitching in slight amusement. "With all due respect Onestar, I still bare some of the wounds that scarred, if you want to look for yourself. Breezepelt put one right here," she pawed at her shoulder, "with his teeth. I remember that clearly, because I shredded his ears."

Nightcloud jumped up and growled. "Don't you dare shame my son!"

"Your son shames his self. He blames this incident on six Thunderclan warriors and not the one she cat that did it."

"Enough!"

The arguing cats looked up at Mistystar, who was glaring at them both. Her eyes flicked up to the sky, all cats standing still as the clouds hovered around the moon, slowly slipping away. Mistystar looked at Bramblestar, fur slightly bristled. "Do you have a report Bramblestar?"

Bramblestar nodded, chest swelling with pride. "Thunderclan had three new kits in the clan and hunting is fine with us. I also have something to talk to the other clan leaders about." He gave them pointed looks, nodding over to a secluded tree. Mistystar narrowed her eyes confusingly before looking at the clans.

"The Gathering is now closed. Wait until your clan leaders appear for you to leave." And with that she turned tail and walked away, Bramblestar, Onestar and Blackstar close on her paws. As soon as the leaders left the cats immediately began to mingle, questions flying. Cats swarmed around Leafpool.

"Where is Jayfeather?"

"Why isn't he at the Gathering?"

"Did something happen to him?"

Leafpool gave them annoyed glares. "Jayfeather isn't fit enough to come to the Gathering, so I was said to come in his place."

"What's wrong with him," Kestrelflight asked, the other medicine cats gathering around. Leafpool acted as though she didn't care, though deep down she squirmed uncomfortably. "Jayfeather," she leaned closer to the cats, "has been having strange dreams. He collapsed days ago from exhaustion. Bramblestar ordered me to take his place until he got well."

Littlecloud frowned. "That is bad. Will he be Ok?"

"He will be fine. He is Thunderclan's medicine cat after all. He's needed."

"That's right; he is Thunderclan's medicine cat. Not you."

Leafpool calmly ran her gaze over to Breezepelt. She only blinked at his sneer. "Can I help you kit?"

Nightcloud growled beside him. "Watch your tongue!"

Leafpool tilted her head, mocking shock. "And why should I, because your son got beaten by me, a traitor?" The Windclan cats growled while the Thunderclan cats stood around Leafpool, Lionblaze stuck at her side.

Breezepelt snorted. "Like mother like son, both have to stick up for each other. It's sickening how you can even stand to be around her."

"Right, because Lionblaze can stick up for his mother, even with her past, and be proud of it! You would rather kill yours!" Rosepetal spat. Breezepelt snarled and readied his claws.

Nightcloud looked hurt by the comment. "My son would always stick up for me!" She retorted.

Dovewing sneered along with her sister. "Then why did he have his claws by your throat at the battle hmm?"

"Don't you dare say anything like that to her again!" Crowfeather growled.

Toadstephuffed. "Why? I don't like Leafpool, but even I can tell she would've been a better mate for you than that mange right there. At least she is making an effort to gain forgiveness and is still contributing to the clan. Being an old medicine cat, she is quite handy when Jayfeather is too busy. What can Nightcloud do other than walking around, crave blood and glare at you for having kits with a cat of another clan? Nothing." Toadstep knew he said a bit too much in Leafpool's favor by the surprise and gratitude on her face. Thornclaw snorted in amusement, though a flash of anger was detected in his eyes when he turned to Toadstep. They were supposed to be against Leafpool, not with her.

Foxleap snickered and Sandstorm purred happily. Cloudtail and Dustpelt nodded their heads like the others in their clans. Even some of the other cats in different clans, including Windclan, agreed.

Crowfeather tensed, ready to pounce, when Leaffall stepped in front of him. "Crowfeather, you guys, be calm. They only want to rile us up, to weaken us. We can't let anger get the best of us. Plus Starclan is watching." Crowfeather looked at her in irritation and nodded. He couldn't let his anger the best of him. He looked sideways to Nightcloud, and she looked devastated. He saw how she subtly moved away from Breezepelt and felt a pang of panic. This was bad; it could break up the family he was slowly winning back. He looked at Breezepelt, who didn't even notice or seem to care about the words they were saying.

Breezepelt bared his fangs and stepped forward. "Thunderclan is full of nothing but kittypets, rouges and manges. You are the weakest of the clans, and all because of that kittypet Firestar! And now she is left to do as she pleases?!" He motioned to Leafpool. "She should've been exiled!"

"Don't you dare beseech my mate's name like that! He saved your sorry hide!" Sandstorm yowled. A chorus of growls sounded from Thunderclan.

Breezepelt hissed and spat at them, but Crowfeather tapped him with his tail. "That's enough Breezepelt."

"Don't touch me!" Breezepelt snapped. "These kittypets need to be taught a lesson!"

"You are making us look bad with your excessive rambling!" the dark grey tom hissed angrily.

Lionblaze's huffed in annoyance and agreement. "These are old grudges Breezepelt. The war is over and we haven't spoken to each other since then. Why must you carry this burden around? Just forget about it already!"

Breezepelt narrowed his eyes, ignoring the soft mews of agreement from the other cats from the clans. Sandstorm stepped forward, wise but deadly green eyes locked on Breezepelt's cold blue ones. "Let this go, Breezepelt."

"Yea," Leafpool agreed off handedly, "best to drop this situation now while you still can. Holding grudges through death will be a total let down."

The cats muttered some more in surprise, staring at Crowfeather as the tom stepped forward, blue eyes blazing with hostility. "You threaten my son? Are you declaring a war, Leafpool?"

Leafpool narrowed her eyes at him, bravely padding over to him until they were nose to nose. Her mind screamed for her to back away, knowing Crowfeather could blind her with a bite to her face, but she ignored it. It would be his fault if he started a fight with her now. From the menacing glares from her clan mates behind her, they were anticipating it.

"No I am not Crowfeather, but you didn't seem to mind when both of your sons were threatening each other. And had I wanted to place a threat on Breezepelt's life I would have killed him when he invaded our territory. No, I am not placing a dangerous hold on his life, something else is. And it's not just his life; it's all of our lives."

Crowfeather had his fangs bared the whole time, but his eyes widened in surprise. They were in danger? From what?

"What are you talking about Leafpool?"

Leafpool looked over at a Shadowclan warrior. She was a brown she cat, little younger than herself. "It is not for me to tell in details, but for the leaders when the time comes. Starclan has prophesied another war."

'Well so much for keeping it a secret,' Leafpool thought to herself, watching in amusement as every cat's face twisted up in horror.

"Keep calm," Littlecloud yelled over them as they started yowling in fear, shooting a disapproving look to Leafpool. Leafpool shrugged. Sorry? "It is not really known if the war will actually happen, but it can be prevented. Plus it is a long ways away. We don't have to worry."

"Don't have to worry?! We waited out last time with the war against the Dark Forest and almost died if it wasn't for Starclan and the Ancient Cats! We would be dead right now! And you are telling us to calm down?!"

"My mate just had her kits! She isn't ready to fight!"

"My kits just became paws! I will not wait for death to come to us just when they have started!"

Many more yowls of dismay and reason were shouted by the clans. The medicine cats gathering together like cowering squirrels. "See why only the leaders were supposed to know this?!" Willowshine half hissed, half whimpered.

Leafpool looked away from Willowshine's angry eyes. Oops? The light ginger she cat looked up, giving the others only a sideways glace before she jumped up to where the leaders sat. She stood and raised her tail for silence, not even blinking when the others joined beside her. "Like Littlecloud said, we are in no immediately danger. The war is still moons away, but the extra detail is known only to us, Starclan and the leaders. They are not allowed to tell you the full story until the time has come."

"And what time is that?!" Kinkfur yowled. Leafpool frowned at the she cat, her tail lashing in irritation.

"Soon."

"How soon?! How do you know?!"

Other cats nodded their heads, snarling up at Leafpool with doubt. Many more started wailing. Leafpool looked at Kinkfur with a glare that would skin a dog. The she cat stared back at her, a challenging look in her eyes. Then Leafpool erupted and snarled at her, her patience gone.

"Because I went to Moonpool, I talked to our ancestors, that's how I know! You will know when you will, because as I have said time and time again we have moons to wait. Some of you might be dead by then. Stop crying like a bunch of sick, weakling kits! Your warriors, ACT LIKE IT!"

She stared out at the quiet cats, her sides heaving. Was this how the leaders felt when they managed their clans? She was now glad that she turned out to be a medicine cats and not a leader. She would've clawed all of their pelts off by now.

Mothwing touched Leafpool's flank gently with her tail, stepping forward. "We are not in any immediate danger, so don't stress us or our leaders out. Like Starclan said, you will know in time." The cats were grudging, but they all mewed their silent understandings.

Leafpool hastily jumped down from then perch, the other medicine cats following. She stalked past Breezepelt, purposely brushing by him. Nightcloud growled at her, which made Leafpool snarl as she rounded the female and hissed angrily, fur bristling as she crouched, as though ready to attack. Nightcloud tensed, caught momentarily by surprise. Crowfeather didn't look at Leafpool, knowing the she cat was on her edge. Lionblaze nudged Leafpool's shoulder, standing tall when she growled at him. She then sighed and licked his shoulder in apology before stalking though the sea of cats.

Briarlight was surprises at Leafpool's reaction. That she cat was so tense! The leaders returned to their clans later know, looking confused when the cats were strangely quiet. Of course that had heard commotions, but to come back to quiet clans was shocking. Looking at each other and shrugging, the leaders split up, taking their cats with them. Bramblestar was even more surprised when all of the cats were giving Leafpool a wide berth on the walk home. What had happened?

That night Leafpool didn't go straight to bed, she went hunting. She returned right before the sun started to rise, tired and worn out. Dropping her prey into the fresh kill pile, she trudged into the medicine cats den, dropping on her moss bed and instantly falling asleep.