Brackenstar stood atop the Highledge, his tabby brown fur illuminated by the sunbeams which provided a warm and beautiful glow to his pelt.
"All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a clan meeting." Brackenstar said, his eyes shuffled around the clearing as his fellow Thunderclan cats slowly left their dens and duties to stand beneath him.
Among them he saw Frostpaw, one of the cats he had to bring to the gathering. If he had a family member of one of the fallen warriors it would surely bring more sympathy from other clans and help him build his case against Skyclan more.
Once the entire clan (with the Exception of Goldentail and her kits) had gathered beneath the ledge he began the announcements.
"The Gathering is tonight, and we will be confronting Skyclan over the Border Incident." Brackenstar said, "They killed Several Loyal Thunderclan Warriors and Justice must be served, but we are not rouges, and we will do it properly."
Murmurs of approval came out from the clearing.
"The Cats that will come with us to the gathering are as follows." Brackenstar began, "Applefern, Ravenheart, Flamewing, Dapplefur, Frostpaw, Featherfur, Whitepelt, Graypaw, Squirrelfire, and Rowanheart." Brackenstar finished.
Some confused murmuring came out from the gathering cats.
"Why take so few?" Brambleheart asked
"If Skyclan was willing to attack us at the border with such ferocity, we have no reason to believe they wouldn't attack the camp, if they still have honorable warriors then we will see for ourselves the next gathering." Brackenstar explained, twitching his tail.
Mews of approval could be heard from the clearing as he explained it properly.
"That is all." Brackenstar mewed.
As the cats dispersed, Brackenstar took another look at the Crowd, these were his cat's and his responsibility, but no war had ever come during his leadership and neither had it been tested to this extent. He knew if he made the wrong choice that many would suffer, and he felt that pressure bearing down on him.
Things used to be so much easier for him, so much simpler. He wondered what path Starclan had laid out for him and his clan.
Frostpaw lay in the apprentices' den, thinking about everything in general. This was to be his first gathering as an apprentice! Many apprentices would dream of this moment, their mouth's watering and eyes gleaming. But his situation complicated thing's certainly, for had any other apprentices been in his situation their thoughts on going to the gathering would be more clouded.
He trusted Brackenstar, with his life even. He had heard tales of past leaders of other clans, infamous tales of Cats like Tigerstar from ancient times still lingered among the clans and even more recently Runningstar of Windclan were cats who had manipulated, or even downright murdered others were still told in nurseries.
He had never met the Leader of Skyclan, nor heard particularly of him in stories. All he knew of the Tom was that his name was Oakstar and that his deputy was Sunleap. He didn't even know what the Leader looked like, or any of the Skyclanian warriors besides his Deputy.
Now he imagined what they could be…to take down a whole patrol they could be twice the size of Brackenstar and with Claws sharper than a Fox! Fear shuddered through Frostpaw's small frame as he drew up horrifying thoughts in his mind of them slaughtering the patrol-his father.
The young cat was still trembling when Dawnpaw emerged into the den, and when she saw Frostpaw she must have thought he was cold.
"Frostpaw, are you ok?" She asked, concerned for her lifelong friend.
He turned his head to her and she saw his eyes gleaming with fear. She rushed to him quickly and he began murmuring very confusing words.
"The voices are right, The Voices are right…." Frostpaw mewed in a low voice.
"Who's right?" Dawnpaw asked.
He adjusted his head, he seemed tired and to her must have looked like a wreck.
"Nothing…" He rasped.
Her eyes were lit with concern, but she had no idea what the young cat was going through, and how could she? She was no older than him and even then hadn't gone through the same loss, her father, Russetpelt, was still alive after all.
"Well, Brackenstar is getting the cats who are going to the gathering ready, so you gotta get up." She said, nosing him.
It's time already? He thought, when he got up and checked outside he saw she was right, for a huge mass of cats were gathering near the camp entrance, he hastily rushed to be among them, followed by Dawnpaw.
Brackenstar noticed him approaching and gave him a nod.
Even if Dawnpaw wasn't going to the gathering, she was going to see them off.
"That's all the cats." Brackenstar said he turned his head to the other half the clan who wasn't coming.
"Try not to start a fight." Aldergaze, Brackenstar's mate, told him.
"I'll try." Brackenstar teased.
Aldergaze shot him a glance, and he stared back with a reassuring gaze.
"Alright Thunderclan, let's go." Brackenstar said, flicking his tail for the cat's to follow him.
As they exited the camp, Frostpaw glanced back at the Camp. He had ventured out only twice, but now he was going on a journey through Windclan territory to The Island. It wasn't as far as the Outer borders, but it was such a different place!
They kept so close to the shore that he felt like the small waves could wash over him at any moment, and he kept close to Applefern as he had no idea whether another clan would ambush them.
They passed the Hills that made up windclan, and by the time that they reached the tree that led to the island the sun had nearly vanished beneath the horizon.
He felt uneasy as he walked over the tree, and he imagined how embarrassing it would be to fall down it. He heard once that a Skyclan apprentice had fallen off it…
That's when he got his glimpse of a Different clan cat, it was a Riverclan warrior, then the rest of them came into view, 3 Other Leaders were on the tree already. Some shot their greetings at Brackenstar, and then he saw the other warriors. Perhaps as many as 20 or even 30 other cats total from the other cats.
"Greetings Brackenstar." Dipped the head of one of the Leaders, He guessed it was a Shadowclan cat from his scent.
"Greetings to you, Stonestar." Brackenstar said.
Brackenstar took his place among the Leaders as they joined the crowd, and Frostpaw realized there were none of Skyclans cats yet.
Then, with a loud howl he saw a Skyclanian cat standing at the bridge. A Muscular Tabby Tom with Piercing Green Eyes. He looked a bit like Brackenstar, with the exception of his eyes and size for he was bigger and taller than Brackenstar.
He realized he had been right, Skyclan's leader at least looked significantly bigger than any of the Thunderclan cats, and Frostpaw felt horror come upon him. The Voice…the Thoughts, had been true!
At least a Dozen cats followed him, and Frostpaw watched as they shot hostile glances at all the clan cats. Oakstar took his place on the far side from Brackenstar, next to the Riverclan leader Ripplestar.
"The Gathering may commence." Oakstar said with a harsh tone.
There was murmuring around the clearing as all the clan cats looked at Oakstar.
"Prey has been running well in Riverclan." Ripplestar said, "We have had 4 New Apprentices this moon, although they did not make the Journey to the Gathering."
Runningstar spoke next
"Prey has been well in Windclan, and we have a new warrior, Hawkshine." He said.
"Hawkshine, Hawkshine!" The Clearing took up the chant with the exception of the skyclan cats.
"Prey has been plentiful in Shadowclan." Stonestar said, "we have no new warriors or apprentices, but one of our queens had a litter of Kits."
Brackenstar nodded, "Prey has been well in Thunderclan, and we have had several new apprentices and a New warrior."
Cats nodded their Congratulations, but then Brackenstar flicked his tail, asking for science.
"We have a matter to discuss, Oakstar, I'd like you to explain yourself." Brackenstar said.
"Explain myself?I need to give no Explanation." Oakstar snarled.
"Really? Explain why your warriors killed a whole patrol of cats on our territory, one of which has family here." Brackenstar spat, flicking his tail at the Frostpaw.
Some cats shot sympathetic gazes at him, and he felt a bit embarrassed.
"You dare bring this to the clans? Is Thunderclan so weak it can't defend itself and that it has to ask the clans for help?" Oakstar retorted.
"No, I brought this to the attention of all the clans so they would bear witness to your crimes." Brackenstar said calmly.
"My crimes? I am just making sure my clan is safe." Oakstar hissed.
"By trespassing and killing innocent warriors?" Ripplestar asked
"Stay out of this." Oakstar yowled, lashing his tail. Tension was building throughout the clearing and the Cats were getting ready to fight when suddenly it became significantly darker.
"Clouds have covered the moon, Starclan is angry!" Ravenheart yowled, and just like that Thunderclan fled the scene first, knowing that they had to get home before Skyclan.
"What just happened?" Asked a frightened frostpaw.
"I don't know…I really don't know." Applefern said as they ran to camp, hopefully before Skyclan could catch up…