The next week went by in a blur, and before Dawnsky knew it, the sun had already set and the full moon shined over the group of cats below. "Grassblade, Stormfeather, Firefur, Dawnsky, Swiftwillow, Pebblefur, Longfang, Talonpaw, Firepaw, and Dragonpaw," Whitestar called, "will come with me to the gathering. Nightpelt, Lakeheart, let's go." She mewed to the medicine cat and deputy.

Dawnsky eagerly followed after the cats, walking with Stormfeather and Firefur, "I'm so excited about the gathering!" She purred, "I can't wait to see everybody." She hadn't been to a gathering since she had ran away, and she bounced along like a new apprentice.

"You sound like this is your first gathering!" Firefur chuckled.

Stormfeather looked up at the sky, "Let's hope Star Clan allows it. There are clouds not too far from the moon and I can hear thunder up ahead."

Dawnsky could feel a slight breeze, and could hear thunder clapping in the distance, I hope everything is okay.... she shivered a little.

"I'm sure everything will be fine. It's just a little bit of wind. Stop trying to scare Dawnsky." He teased, smiling mischievously at her.

"Hey! I'm not scared. I was shivering because of the cold." She insisted.

"Yeah, right. It's barely leaf fall, which means it's warm." He laughed, shoving her playfully.

She fell back onto Stormfeather, who pushed her up. Dawnsky then shoved him back, "What was that for?" She purred.

"Oh stop it, you two!" Stormfeather humorously rolled her eyes, "You're not kits anymore, remember? Now come on, we're almost there."

They picked up the pace to catch up with the rest of the group. Dawnsky heard another low rumble of thunder in the distance, and she shuddered.

"I have a bad feeling about tonight," Stormfeather rasped, "I just know something's bound to go wrong."

I hope not... Dawnsky thought, tonight has gone pretty well so far; Shadowstripe, or anyone for that matter, better not ruin it.

As they neared the lake, Dawnsky could smell the mingled scents of other clan cats that were heading towards the island where the gathering was held. She trodded unsteadily though the shifting sand by the lake shore and tried not to let the cold lake waters touch her paws.

One by one, the cats climbed carefully across the bridge that led to the island, and Dawnsky didn't hesitate to bound across when it was her turn. She could see cats from all the clans gathered together, chatting in small groups. She stuck close to her clan, waiting for Whitestar to give the word.

"Now remember, it's been a pretty hard leaf bare for us, but we mustn't let that show,"Whitestar commanded, "we must look as strong as possible, and for Star Clan's sake don't bring up the border skirmish with Mountain Clan."

Everyone nodded and then parted ways. Whitestar and Nightpelt sat with the other leaders and deputies, while Lakeheart joined the group of medicine cats. Dawnsky, looked around, not sure of where to go. She could see Longfang coming towards her with a small smile on his face, "Hey Dawnsky!" he purred, "Why don't you come with me? I know a pretty good group."

Dawnsky nodded and followed him, grateful that she wasn't sitting alone anymore. They joined a large group of Sea Clan warriors, and she immediately felt uncomfortable sitting by the large, well fed cats. She was tiny already, but she hadn't eaten much in the past few moons, and so she looked even more scrawny and weak. She tried to puff out her fur to make herself look bigger, but she still looked like an apprentice compare to the others.

"So how's the prey been running in Ice Clan?" asked a Sea Clan she cat.

Longfang glanced at Dawnsky, and she jumped, realizing that the she cat was talking to her, "Oh! Um it's been pretty good!" she replied.

The she cat nodded, flicking her tail awkwardly. Longfang nudged her to say something, and she looked at the Sea Clan cat, "How is Sea Clan doing?" she asked, flinching as Longfang rolled his eyes.

"I can't complain!" she replied, "There's plenty of fish, and not too much sickness. There have been quite a few new litters of kits, which is awesome! So how has Ice Clan been recovering from the greencough epidemic?" she whispered the last part.

"How did you know about that?!" she gasped.

"We covered it last gathering when you weren't there," Longfang whispered, "we had to tell them something, since Moonstar had died of it."

"Oh.... okay..." she mewed, shuffling her paws, "Ice Clan has recovered well. Now there's plenty of fresh kill and no sickness!"

"There was a famine, too?" she asked.

Whoops... Longfang glared at her, too much information! "Umm, no. Just the greencough. There was no food shortage whatsoever."

The she cat narrowed her eyes and Longfang shook his head, "Oh Star Clan..." he grumbled.

Just in time, the leaders stepped up to start the gathering, and everyone went silent. A cat that Dawnsky didn't recognize stood on the rock, and she looked questioningly at Longfang.

"Galaxystar."Longfang whispered, "New leader of Mountain Clan. Ice Clan wasn't the only clan to lose leaders over the past few moons. Look, that's Blizzardstar, Moor Clan's new leader."

Dawnsky nodded, looking at Galaxystar. He was a brown tabby, and there was something familiar about him, but she wasn't sure what it was. She shrugged, and listened to him report Mountain Clan's news. He said nothing about the past border skirmishes, and she sighed in relief.

"...that's all of the news Mountain Clan has. Thank you." Galaxystar nodded to Blizzardstar, and he jumped off the tree.

Blizzardstar jumped up to take her place and cleared her throat, "Moor Clan's prey has been running well...."

Dawnsky didn't really listen to Blizzardstar's reports. She was more focused on the constant rumbling of thunder in the background. The clouds were getting bigger, and coming closer and closer to the moon. I don't understand, she fretted, what has Star Clan got to be angry about tonight? We haven't even argued at all!

Before she knew it, Blizzardstar was already finished and Whitestar jumped up to the tree. The thunder was getting louder, and cats started to whisper in small groups.

"Silence!" she called, making all the cats turn their heads. Once everyone had settled down again, Whitestar began to speak, "Ice Clan-"

She was suddenly interrupted by a terrorized shriek, and then a loud bark. Everyone stood up, looking around. There was no dog in sight, but the shrieking and yowling was only getting louder. Dawnsky's fur bristled in alarm.

"What in Star Clan?" she heard Stormfeather mew.

Dawnsky could sense panic all around her. Everyone's fur was puffed out and there was an eerie hush. No one was talking, they were just waiting for something to happen. Whitestar wasn't even trying to address the clans again, she was just looking around warily.

As soon as she parted her jaws to speak, there was another loud wail, and the sound of pawsteps. Everyone gasped as a cat burst though the crowd. It was Orangetail. His sides were heaving and his fur was matted with blood.

"Orangetail! What in Star Clan-"

"Help! Ice Clan.... being attacked..." he gasped for breath, "..by dogs!"

"No!" the crowd burst into a frenzy of anxious conversation. Everyone was on their paws and ready to get up and fight. Dawnsky's eyes had widened, what are we just standing here for?! We have to help the clan!

"EVERYONE STOP!" cried Whitestar, "Star Clan obviously doesn't want us to meet. The clouds are already over the moon. I'm afraid Ice Clan must leave the gathering." she jumped down from the tree and lifted her tail so that everyone would follow.

All of the other clan cats parted to let the Ice Clan cats pass. Galaxystar, Blizzardstar, and Pinestar looked shocked and they rushed up to Whitestar.

"Please, let us help you!" Galaxystar mewed, "Dogs are an enemy to all the clans. We could help drive them out."

"No!" Whitestar shook her head pridefully, "We can defeat the dogs ourselves."

"Yeah! Ice Clan is strong!" insisted Nightpelt.

No! This isn't right! Ice Clan needs help! Dawnsky wanted to yowl. "This isn't going to be good..."

"Are you sure?" Blizzardstar asked, "We'd be glad to help."

"No. Ice Clan can do it themselves." Whitestar turned to leave, and Dawnsky suddenly could see the dark figure of Shadowstripe standing right beside her.

"Shadowstripe! You'd better not be 'helping' with this." she whispered.

Shadowstripe only laughed, "I'm just spectating this time. Whitestar will fall tonight because of her pride."

Dawnsky shook her head, and then he was gone. She shuddered, I hope that's not true... The Ice Clan warriors began to leave, and Dawnsky looked back. The other three clans stood and watched, shaking their heads.

As they rushed past the sandy shores and back into the pine forest, Dawnsky couldn't help turning to Stormfeather, "This isn't right. If we don't get help, Ice Clan will fall!"

Stormfeather shook her head sadly, "I'm afraid pride has got the best of her tonight. She has wanted to prove herself leader for so long. I'm afraid there's nothing we can do."

"But-"

"We will fight no matter what the cost," she said while still running.

Dawnsky had stopped in her tracks, "I can't let my clan fall because of some bad decision! I am going to ask for help."

She expected that Stormfeather would try and stop her, but she only turned around, looking defeated, "Do what you must, Dawnsky. May Star Clan light your path."

She quickly nodded and headed in the opposite direction of her clanmates. She felt bad that she was not doing as she was told, but she couldn't just let the whole clan get killed because of Whitestar and Nightpelt's pride.

What are you doing?! She heard Shadowstripe's vicious growl inside her head, You're breaking the warrior code!

I honestly don't care right now, Shadowstripe. She hissed, trying to think of other things to distract her from his taunting.

She could see the three clans parting ways, just in time. She thought with relief, I'm glad they haven't already left! "Everyone, STOP!" She yowled.

Galaxystar, Pinestar, and Blizzardstar turned their heads, "What is it? Ice Clan having more trouble than they thought?" Sneered Pinestar.

"Yes, and we need your help." She pleaded, holding back a retort.

"Did Whitestar send you?" Asked Blizzardstar.

"Er yes," she lied.

Galaxystar looked surprised, "Okay then. MountainClan would be happy to help."

"And so would Moor Clan." Blizzardstar nodded.

"I guess I could send a small patrol to help." The old Sea Clan leader grumbled.

"Thank you all so much." Dawnsky sighed in relief.

Once a patrol was gathered from each clan, Dawnsky set off, leading them into IceClan territory. I hope this is the right decision.... she thought with worry.

When they reached the camp, she could see that IceClan was already on the losing side. There were three dogs, but they weren't the kind that belonged to twolegs. These were wild dogs who were ready to kill.

Some of the cats in the patrols looked hesitant at first, but they all threw themselves into battle. Dawnsky snuck up behind a dog that was fighting with two cats who she recognized were from Sea Clan and Moor Clan. This was her opportunity. She leaped up and grabbed the dog's tail. She bit with all of her might, and the dog let out a howl of pain.

The dog tried to bite her, but she just climbed onto it's back and sunk her claws in. It yelped and tried to throw her off, but her claws were sunk in, "Get out of my territory, you piece of fox dung!" She spat.

The dog eventually flung her off and retreated with its tail between its legs out of the hole in the clan wall that they had made. Dawnsky flew across the camp and landed hard on Nightpelt.

"Dawnsky!" He hissed, "Where did all these other clan cats come from?!"

"I... I brought them here." She admitted.

"But IceClan was perfectly capable-"

"No. They weren't." She interrupted, and then heard a high pitched wail.

"My kits! Help me!" Cried Raggedpelt. A dog was attempting to dig a hole to get into the nursery.

"No!" Gasped Nightpelt and Dawnsky at the same time. They both rushed to the nursery, but a cat suddenly shoved them out of the way.

"You will not destroy my clan!" Yowled Whitestar as she leapt on top of the dog. The dog let out a furious snarl and it pinned her to the ground.

Nightpelt and Dawnsky watched helplessly as the dog picked up their leader with its long jaws and shook her mercilessly. It then bit down hard and she heard a sickening snap.

She flinched, "Was that-"

"Her spine..." Nightpelt finished her sentence with a shudder, "Uh huh."

The dog dropped Whitestar's limp body when more and more enraged cats fought against it. They backed it up to a corner, until the dog whimpered and ran out with the rest of the pack. The battle was finally over.

"Is she...." Dawnsky's voice trailed off when she saw the leader's glassy, lifeless blue eyes.

Grassblade shook his head in grief, "I don't think Star Clan could heal that type of wound. Whitestar is dead."

Cats from every clan sat around the fallen leader with their heads down. Mousetail, the Mountain Clan deputy, stepped up to Nightpelt, "I'm sorry about your leader. We must be going now."

The other clans said the same and began to leave. The IceClan cats silently watched them go, and Dawnsky mewed, "Thank you."

Mousetail nodded and led his patrol out. Once they had all left, Nightpelt glared at her, "Why did you break the warrior code?"

"I had to in order to save the clan!" She spat, "If you hadn't been so prideful-"

Nightpelt sighed, "I understand....." he then uttered something that Dawnsky thought she would never hear from his mouth, "I'm sorry. It's all my fault that Whitestar is dead. If it wasn't for my pride she probably would still be here."

Dawnsky put her tail on his shoulder, "I'm sorry for breaking the warrior code." She told him, even though she hated to say it.

"We will sit vigil for her tonight, and then in the morning I will go to the moonstone."

Everyone nodded, and Dawnsky looked up at Silverpelt with a sigh. She suddenly noticed that the clouds that had covered the moon earlier were nowhere in sight. Maybe it was the right decision after all...

((Okie dokie I'm doing a chapter count down! 4 MORE CHAPTERS TO GO!! :D woohoo!!
XD wow, this chapter was pretty long...hehe sorry about that. Well anyways, keep reading!))