A full moon crosses the sky behind thin wisps of cloud as Bluestar leads her warriors to the Gathering. Graystripe feels uneasy, this is the second gathering with Tigerstar as leader. He wonders what the Shadowclan leader will say tonight and hopes it's nothing too bad. His only relief comes from the fact that the other clans are on their side.

Him and his clanmates follow Bluestar down the ravine and more relief floods through him. The last two gatherings he has gone alone, but Bluestar has a clear and fresh mind, the sting of Tigerstar's betrayal behind her. This would be Tawnypaw and Bramblepaw's first gathering. He sticks close to his apprentice, her whiskers quivering in excitement.

As they emerge into the hollow the other Thunderclan cats disperse to talk to Riverclan, or Windclan cats. None of them seemingly wanted to talk to Shadowclan except for Darkstripe. Which makes him suspicious of the dark tabby, but Tawnypaw's mew breaks through his thoughts, "Are we allowed to talk to other clans?"

"Yes. So long as your friendship doesn't interfere with Clan Loyalty and you don't give clan secret's away."

"Then why is every cat avoiding Shadowclan?"

"Like I told you, your father is the leader of Shadowclan. And since Shadowclan accepted Tigerstar so readily, despite us telling the truth of what happened when we exiled him out of the clan and his dark history, well it drove a rift between all the clans."

"Really."

"Yes. I expect he wants you two to join him as well. Since Thunderclan in his eyes are the evil ones."

Tawnypaw sticks out her tongue in disgust, "I don't want to join that murder's stinking clan anyway. Mother is in Thunderclan and I'm always a Thunderclan cat at heart!" She adds quietly, "And I don't want to leave Bramblepaw, or Stormpaw or Featherpaw, or you."

"Thanks. But don't worry I'm sure Thunderclan won't let Tigerstar take you two away, despite some of our clanmates misgivings."

"Right. Brackenfur, Longtail and Sandstorm trust us too, just like you and mother. And our foster littermates."

"Correct. And eventually the rest of the clan will see it too. Bluestar also approves of you two, as she let me and Brackenfur be your mentors."

Tawnypaw tilts her head, "And why is that?"

"Because if she truly believes you two are like your father, she would have chosen mentors who wouldn't be so kind to you."

His apprentice flicks her tail. "You have a point. I don't feel so out of place training with mentors who don't look at me like I'm going to turn out like him. Or mistrust me, or assume my actions are like his."

"Like when one of the elders complained about you not bringing the bedding in time, and likening it to Tigerstar. It's honestly a simple mistake all apprentices make. I know I wasn't the perfect apprentice even if Lionheart wasn't too tough on me."

Tawnypaw purrs, "I'm glad I'm not the first apprentice to make mistakes."

"And you won't be the last."

A yowl rings through the clearing, marking the start of the Gathering. Him and Tawnypaw sit right where they are. He pays little attention to the Riverclan and Windclan news and instead worries about Tigerstar's report and whether Bluestar will mentions the vicious assault that took the life of Swiftpaw and scarred Brightspirit.

Bluestar goes next after Tallstar and her voice rings crystal clear, "Thunderclan has been blessed with three new warriors, Cloudtail, Brightspirit and Thornbranch."

Thunderclan cats along with Riverclan and Windclan cats cheer the warriors' names with Shadowclan staying silent as stones. When the clamor dies down she continues, "We have also been blessed with five new apprentices. Snowpaw, Bramblepaw, Tawnypaw, Featherpaw and Stormpaw." Again the clan cats cheer the names of the mentioned cats while Shadowclan is still silent.

"Unfortunately Swiftpaw could not join his fellow apprentices as a warrior due to a ravage attack that brutally killed him and scarred Brightspirit. The apprentices had gone alone behind my back to prove themselves warriors, as I made an error in judgment, to tackle the beast that has been hunting on our territory. We have tried to track it but it has disappeared, leaving behind faint dog scent in the areas we have scented before. We mourn the apprentice's death." She stays silent for a moment as all the clan cats gasp at the news. Some wail in mourning. Bluestar then continues, "Repairs in our camp have been finished and despite leaf-bare being on the horizon our clan is well-fed."

She then, albeit reluctantly, lets Tigerstar stand in her place on the Great Rock to share Shadowclan news. The other leaders also look at him wearily.

He tells the assembled cats a quick summary of how ShadowClan's training program is progressing, that another new litter of kits has been born, and that three apprentices have been made into warriors. "ShadowClan grows strong again," he finishes. "We are ready to take a full part in the life of the forest."

Graystripe worries that it means an assault on Thunderclan. But Riverclan and Windclan will come to their aid if they send a warrior if Tigerstar dares step one pawstep over the Shadowclan, Thunderclan border.

The ShadowClan leader has paused and is gazing down at the assembled cats as if he has something particularly important to say. "I have a request to make," he begins. "Many of you know that when I left ThunderClan, two kits of mine were in the nursery. They were too young then to travel, and I am grateful to ThunderClan for the care they have given them. But now it's time for them to join me in the Clan where they rightfully belong. Bluestar, I ask that you give me Bramblepaw and Tawnypaw."

Yowls of disapproval come from all three clans, including himself.

"Tawnypaw and Bramblepaw are Thunderclan apprentices. They are Thunderclan cats. Their home is with us. They have friends and family in our clan. I will not let you rip them away from that….."

Tawnypaw yowls, "Besides we've never go and join a clan run by a fox-heart! You are not my father! Graystripe is!"

Bramblepaw joins in, "Yeah! You're a mangy traitor and a piece of fox-dung! You've hurt our clan multiple times! Why would you ever think we'd join you?"

Tigerstar growls, "You are my kits. And my kits shouldn't be…."

Tawnypaw scoffs, "With the enemy? You're the real enemy here, you mangy piece of crowfood!"

Looking around he sees Thunderclan cats and the cats from the other two clans nodding in approval.

Tallstar then steps forward and evenly meets Tigerstar's gaze, "And even if it weren't for that reason and you were concerned about their safety, which I doubt, danger is a part of all clan life. Permanent injuries from attacks and even death happen all the time. And Swiftpaw and Brightspirit went on their own, alone to face something threatening Thunderclan, which was their decision not Bluestar's."

Leopardstar nods, "Yes. They wanted to be made warriors, and thought that driving off the beast was the best course of action. Clans have all had apprentices like that, so desperate to become a warrior they die for an action of glory or become hurt trying to prove themselves to their clan. And Tawnypaw and Bramblepaw have spoken anyway. They don't want to become Shadowclan warriors. They want to be Thunderclan warriors and stay with their friends and family."

Tigerstar grits his teeth and growls. "I am their family!" he exclaims, lashing out his tail.

"No you're not! Our real family is Graystripe, Goldenflower, Stormpaw and Feather!" yowls Tawnypaw in retaliation.

"See," Leopardstar mews coldly to the Shadowclan leader, "Your kits don't see it that way.

Graystripe feels touched at Tawnypaw and Bramblepaw's clear affection for him and his kits. He purrs, despite the tension brewing between the three clans and Shadowclan.

Tigerstar in his anger leaps off the Great Rock and mews loudly, "Come on Shadowclan. We're leaving."

All the Shadowclan cats get up and leave the Gathering, some mewing amongst themselves about what has transpired. He turns to his apprentice, "I am very proud of you Tawnypaw. You stood up for yourself. You'll make a great warrior." He gives her a lick on the shoulder to reaffirm how proud he is of her.