Eleven

The Clan was beginning to show signs of prospering under Dovestar's leadership. In spite of Minnowtail's concerns and the fact that she was far too young, she stepped into her role with as much courage as she could muster. She knew that it was a huge understatement to say that she was nervous about where her leadership would go. The Clan, made up of mostly rogues and former Clan cats, showed signs of being one Clan. She was only just beginning to realize that while the wounds of the Dark Battle were still fresh, the older cats with those memories were beginning to recover. Herself included.

There was still one commodity she had to discuss with Hollyleaf and Mothwing. It was a tradition that the Clans used to uphold during every full moon: The Gathering.

They missed the last one due to the fact that LakeClan had only just begun. They were still recovering from the shock of the Dark Battle. In the end, that was what Mothwing had dubbed the events that took place nearly a moon ago. In a way, it was fitting since the cats that fought against the Clans were working for the Dark Forest.

A shiver swept through Dovestar as she thought of how easily the Clans had been attacked. They were mostly unprepared for the battle. She often found herself wondering if things could have gone differently had she, Jayfeather and Lionblaze warned the Clans in time. While there was a great divide between the Clans, especially WindClan, ThunderClan and ShadowClan, they would find a way to work together. There had been a time when the Clans worked together, after all.

Birchfall was a good friend with a ShadowClan cat of all things, she reminded herself.

He once told her and Ivypool of the Great Journey and how the Clans worked together to find a place by the lake. He was just a kit at the time, struggling to survive the ordeal. He and a group of other surviving kits had become close friends during the journey. It was only until the Clans had to return to their old ways that they saw the truth behind the Great Journey. And that they also saw that the Clans could get along if they needed to.

If only we found a way to unite the Clans, she thought guiltily. That was supposed to be our task as the Great Three.

She was all that was left of the Three. The prophecy had failed the Clans, and so she was left with her abilities to protect what was left of them. She took her duties seriously, knowing full-well that Lightning posed a threat. It wasn't just Lightning they had to worry about either. There had been survivors of the Dark Battle that fled the scene like cowards. She knew sooner or later they would run into those cats, and she dreaded the day that happened.

That was the main reason she wanted to uphold the tradition of Gatherings. To honor the memories of those who fell during the Dark Battle. It would also mean honoring the memories of the Clans as well. She never planned on taking away anyone's desire to remember life in the Clans. It was hard enough knowing that their families were slaughtered in the battle. Mothwing happily agreed to the idea of keeping those memories and skills alive. Even she saw the benefits of merging every skill into one Clan.

Tigerheart's ability to hunt in the darkness had given them an edge over their prey. He taught those skills to the newcomers who were just beginning to learn what life was like in the Clan. Mothwing taught the newcomers that were willing to get their paws wet how to fish. Hollyleaf, in spite of not having been raised in WindClan, taught the cats who were quick on their paws how to hunt rabbits. Apparently she used her time alone to teach herself those skills, honing in on her bloodline through WindClan.

With everyone working together to improve the lives of the newcomers and the Clan overall, it was beginning to look like a true Clan. Dovestar had high hopes that things would continue to prosper, but she was well aware that all good things came to an end. That was part of the reason she and Tigerheart had begun working on co-training with the apprentices.

Together they went off to train with Olivepaw and Nightpaw.

Olivepaw was finally beginning to gain control of her temper in a mock fight. She noticed with a start that the young cat was beginning to understand what it meant to be an apprentice. While Olivepaw still held her head high, she looked after the queens like the other apprentices did. There wouldn't be elders for some time now, and Dovestar felt incredibly guilty for that notion.

Elders had always been an important part of Clan life. They held on to stories that were passed down from one elder to another. She missed hearing Purdy's stories and the tales Mousefur shared. All the elders were the first to die in the Dark Battle. Their loss was a tragic one that should have never happened, along with the kits and queens that were also killed.

"Today we're going to focus on partner tactics," she explained after settling down. She was relieved to see Tigerheart there with Nightpaw. She chose Nightpaw tactfully, knowing full-well Olivepaw would have taken advantage of Perchpaw. She hoped that by using a different apprentice to train with, Olivepaw wouldn't be as prepared. She was already one step ahead when she saw the annoyance sweep across Olivepaw's face after seeing Nightpaw there. "In a battle it's good to know who your allies are, and how to fight alongside them. Apprentices will sometimes pair together and defend one another on either side, leaving little opportunity for an enemy to attack."

"It's also good to understand the strength of your partner as well," Tigerheart put in as Nightpaw's ears pricked forward with excitement.

This wasn't his first training session, but this was his first training session with a more experienced apprentice. She hoped that by putting the two cats together, it would give Olivepaw the chance to understand that she wasn't the only apprentice in the Clan. Though she also knew that the young cat was full of herself, and it wouldn't take long for her to snap at Nightpaw.

"How exactly is this a fair fight when that runt is half my size?" Olivepaw demanded with a roll of her eyes.

"Don't ever underestimate your opponent." Dovestar narrowed her eyes and shared a knowing look with Tigerheart. One flick of her tail was all it took for Nightpaw to understand the signal. The lithe black tom used that communication to his advantage by pressing forward. Olivepaw was caught off guard by Nightpaw's sudden advancement, and it wasn't long before he had her pinned to the ground. "It isn't always about size; more often than not, you'll be facing an opponent you're not ready for."

Olivepaw let out a furious hiss when Nightpaw let her back up, "That was a cheap shot! Anyone can do that to an unsuspecting victim!"

"Exactly," Tigerheart retorted without missing a beat. "Do you honestly think an enemy or a rival won't do the same?"

The older apprentice seemed to contemplate his question before grudgingly accepting that notion. Dovestar shook her head in amusement and allowed the two apprentices to spar. She knew Olivepaw would need to take her frustration out on someone. Fortunately, Nightpaw was much faster than the she–cat. He used his speed and his size to his advantage, hardly giving Olivepaw the chance to strike back. Eventually Olivepaw was finally able to pin Nightpaw down.

"Are you finished with your little game?" Dovestar asked as Olivepaw glared at the younger tom. Nightpaw didn't even look the least bit defeated. If anything, it looked as if he let Olivepaw pin him down. "Maybe now we can focus on the actual task."

They spent the rest of the afternoon working on partner moves. To Dovestar's surprise and relief, Olivepaw learned quickly. There were still times when the she–cat would fight Nightpaw off, but she quickly learned to work alongside him rather than against him. It wouldn't be long before both cats were a force to be reckoned with in a battle.

Olivepaw is finally learning how to get along with the others, she realized after sharing a knowing look with Tigerheart. She wondered how long it had been since Olivepaw had the chance to spend time with other cats like Nightpaw. Forestpelt hardly talked about his family or his history with them. The only thing she really knew was that Olivepaw had lost her siblings and her mother to Lightning. No cat deserves to suffer from that loss.

The sun was high in the sky by the time they were finished with their training session. Olivepaw looked more than happy to end the session, while Nightpaw's shoulders heaved with exhaustion. He was technically a newer apprentice, so Dovestar wasn't surprised by that. He would have to build up the stamina that most Clan cats had if he wanted to keep up with his training.

She remembered how exhausting her first day out of camp had been. Lionblaze made sure that she could keep up with him, but it was still difficult. She and Ivypool slept well that night after their apprentice ceremony.

"Grab something from the fresh-kill pile, you've earned it," she meowed once they returned to camp.

Olivepaw's tail curled at the praise, though she didn't let it show on her face. She and Nightpaw were quick to pick something from the fresh-kill pile once they were given permission. In spite of the young cat's earlier annoyance, Olivepaw sat beside Nightpaw and shared prey with him. Dovestar couldn't help but watch the pair in surprise.

"Nightpaw reminds me a bit of Dawnpelt," Tigerheart mused once the apprentices were out of hearing range. Dovestar couldn't help but glance at him thoughtfully. "She was always competitive even when we were kits."

She wished she could tell him about her nine lives ceremony. Tradition made it so that leaders couldn't share who gave them nine lives. Even so, Dawnpelt's approval meant more than she could ever admit out loud. The cream-furred she–cat hadn't been happy at first when she found out her brother was seeing a cat outside the Clan. Eventually though, Tigerheart proved that it wasn't just a kit crush.

"There's going to be a full moon tonight," she suddenly pointed out. "I was hoping that we could keep the tradition of Gatherings alive by honoring everyone that… you know."

She didn't want to say out loud what happened to the victims of the Dark Battle. While they were gone, that didn't make their deaths any better. Guilt still raked away at her as she found herself wondering how she was lucky enough to survive that battle. Mothwing constantly reminded her that it wasn't just her fault, and that she didn't have to feel guilty for surviving.

"That's actually a great idea." Both Dovestar and Tigerheart looked at Mothwing in surprise when she reached them, having overheard Dovestar's statement. "It would be good for the newcomers too; they've never experienced what it was like for all four Clans to get together in one place."

Dovestar realized with a start that that was one tradition the newcomers hadn't experienced yet. Mothwing was right to point out the fact that the newcomers didn't exactly know some of the tradition that Clan cats underwent. She wanted them to know how Clan life worked and what was expected out of them. More importantly, she wanted them to understand that their choices made an impact on the Clan.

Once that was established, she decided to spread the word that there would be a Gathering tonight. For now, they would hold the Gathering in camp. She planned on changing that as soon as she was sure the Clan could handle traveling to the island. She wasn't sure if the newcomers were ready for such a task, especially since they had queens to worry about.

"What's it like to be at the Gathering?" Emberleaf asked once everyone learned about said tradition.

"It can be overwhelming at first," Hollyleaf meowed as she joined in. "With so many cats there's different scents to take in, along with sounds and pelts to look at. But it's also an amazing experience as well. I honestly can't remember the last time I went to an official Gathering."

She wasn't around for moons before the Dark Battle, Dovestar reminded herself.

She understood the reasons behind Hollyleaf's disappearance. The black she–cat fled after killing Ashfur, and it was only until rumors of the Dark Forest that Hollyleaf finally returned. She fought alongside the Dark Battle in a vein attempt to drive off the enemies, but even that wasn't enough to save the Clans.

Still, Hollyleaf was also the second oldest Clanborn cat next to Mothwing and Minnowtail. Dovestar was grateful for the experience Hollyleaf provided. Because she spent time outside the Clans and gathered valuable insight as a loner, it gave them an advantage. Dovestar was only beginning to realize how thankful she was to have the deputy as an ally.

"I wish I could've been there when the four Clans were around," Aspencreek let out a heavy sigh.

Maybe one day the Clans will return to four.

Dovestar had her convictions about letting the Clan split into four. She didn't want to think about the families that would split apart because of that change. It happened once the Clans were first formed. Families fought against one another in horrendous battles. Usually the battles ended in bloodshed, until the Clans decided enough was enough.

"Do the apprentices get to go?" Perchpaw asked after joining them.

"Everyone will get to attend, even the kits," Dovestar replied without hesitation. Perchpaw's eyes widened with excitement when he realized what that implied. "It will be good for the younger cats to see it as well, and it won't be long before you and Olivepaw have your warrior assessments."

By now, Perchpaw was practically bursting with excitement over the prospect of becoming a warrior. Dovestar couldn't help but watch him with amusement. She knew what it was like to be in that position. Before she and Ivypool became warriors, they would often talk about their ceremonies and try to figure out what their names would be.

Everyone started talking about the Gathering in hushed whispers. As the sun began to sink below the horizon, Dovestar reflected on how much stronger the Clan seemed now. She was grateful to have the support of Mothwing, Hollyleaf and Tigerheart. She knew Minnowtail would continue giving her trouble around every corner, but at least now she was ready for it. The rogues that joined them had become strong members of the Clan, providing valuable insight and fresh-kill for everyone to feast on.

The apprentices sparred with one another throughout the evening, showing how much progress they made. For once, Olivepaw wasn't tormenting Perchpaw like she normally did. Instead, she chose to work on 'partner' sparring alongside Nightpaw. Dovestar was even more surprised at how well Perchpaw got along with Pepperpaw. The two young toms fought alongside Nightpaw and Olivepaw, proving that they were a force to be reckoned with. It reminded her of how she and Ivypool used to train together before the Dark Battle. They would work alongside each other and look for any signs of weaknesses or openings the Dark Forest cats could use against them.

It was a lesson I will never forget, she told herself.

She wasn't even sure where to begin with the Gathering itself. She wanted to honor the memories of those who died during the Dark Battle. It was also important to honor the newcomers that joined the Clan. By joining, they were giving up their old lives and willing to sacrifice themselves to the Clan. She knew what a heavy burden that was. That made her all the more grateful that these cats agreed to join.

"Cats of LakeClan," she started after the moon began to rise. Thankfully everyone was already gathered around the clearing. Even Minnowtail was wide awake with her four kits. They were scrambling around her and whatever object they could get their claws on. Flosspelt and Smoketuft were sitting at the entrance of the nursery. With Flosspelt's kits due any day now, she couldn't leave the nursery as often as she would have liked. "We're here to celebrate the lives of new and to honor those who fell during the Dark Battle. We keep their memories alive by sharing their story and by ensuring that the Clan remains strong." She paused, debating where to go from there as everyone looked at her expectantly. "Would anyone like to share any news?"

"Pepperpaw has been making great progress since he became an apprentice," Maroonpelt meowed after hesitating for a moment. Dovestar could see the anxiety written across his face. He wasn't prepared to speak out in front of anyone let alone the entire Clan. Yet he was putting on a show of bravery to prove his point. She caught Pepperpaw puffing out his chest at the mention of making progress. One nudge from Nightpaw was all it took for the young cat to deflate. "He managed to catch a thrush just the other day, and he's been learning how to swim at the lake."

Dovestar couldn't help but think back to how RiverClan cats used to swim all the time. She knew it would be good for their traditions to stay alive, regardless of where said cat came from. She could tell that Maroonpelt was telling the truth from the way Pepperpaw's muscles rippled beneath his pelt.

Swimming would be a good way to build those muscles, she thought. Maybe it's something we could all benefit from.

"Aspencreek and I chased away another rogue from Lightning's group," Emberleaf announced. Dovestar's ears flattened at the mention of Lightning. The rogues had become an even bigger nuisance since the newcomers joined them. It was something she would have to keep an eye on. The last thing she wanted was to let Lightning or his gang get away with hurting her Clan. "Luckily it was just one cat, but I know how Lightning operates. More will show up."

"I'll be sure to step up the patrols than," Hollyleaf nodded in agreement.

Everyone seemed a little more reserved after Emberleaf's warning. Not that Dovestar couldn't blame them for feeling that way. She couldn't shake off the feeling that nothing good would come from Lightning or his gang. They were already beginning to prove a challenge to the Clan. If they continued these random assaults on border patrols, then things would get worse.

"My kits are also almost ready to become apprentices," Minnowtail suddenly spoke up loudly enough for everyone to hear.

Dovestar nearly rolled her eyes at the way Minnowtail spoke. The pride in her voice made her think back to the way some of the queens in ThunderClan acted. Ferncloud never once acted that way, and neither did Millie or Daisy. There were some queens though that were nearly unbearable to deal with because of how smug they were. She doubted Minnowtail would thank her anytime soon for pointing that out loud. The dark gray she-cat had already been vocal enough against her leadership. The last thing she wanted was to give Minnowtail an even bigger incentive to complain about her.

"That's good news for the Clan," Tigerheart meowed after realizing what that meant.

The Clan already had four apprentices. They would need more mentors to train the kits once they were ready. She planned on holding a warrior's assessment for Olivepaw and Perchpaw though. While they were far from ready to become mentors, it would add to their number of warriors. It would also free up Hollyleaf and herself if she needed to take on another apprentice.

Overall the Gathering went better than she could have hoped for. The newcomers were finally fully accepted into the Clan after nearly a moon of being held accountable. Dovestar saw the progress Olivepaw made in her training and in her growth. She hadn't missed the pride in Forestpelt's eyes when he saw how much his daughter grew throughout her training. She still had an attitude that needed to be tweaked out, but it wasn't nearly as bad as when she first joined the Clan. Forestpelt himself made excellent progress since he joined, and it wouldn't be long before he had an apprentice of his own to train.

As the Clan finally returned to their nests for the rest of that evening, Dovestar reflected on how this started in the first place.

She didn't have much confidence in herself when Mothwing first suggested that she lead the Clan. In fact, she was still nervous over making foolish mistakes that could cost lives. She still stumbled over certain ceremonies, but it wasn't nearly as bad as the first few days. She had the support of Mothwing, Hollyleaf and Tigerheart at her side now. And she realized with a start that she was beginning to show the signs of a decent leader. She just hoped that she wasn't getting caught up in the moment. As she curled up in her nest with Tigerheart at her side, she couldn't shake off the feeling that Lightning and his rogues would be a formidable problem in the future. And something told her that they would have to face that problem sooner rather than later.