When Darkthorn woke up, he found himself at a thorny den. He tried to stand up but sharp thorns pierced his pelt.

"I see you have woken up," Nighttail growled.

"Where am I?" Darkthorn demanded, clawing at the thorns, but it didn't budge.

"Don't worry, you are fine for now, but soon, you won't," he replied, leaving Darkthorn alone.

~~~~

"Reedfang!" Willowbrook yowled when he saw her mate. He was struggling to walk properly and Flinttalon didn't look any better.

"What happened this time?" Birchstar demanded.

"RiverClan attacked," Flinttalon replied. "Nighttail was leading it himself!"

"I will ask Streamstar for answers tonight at the Gathering," Birchstar growled. "She better have an explanation."

Nightkit looked at the patrol. "Wait, isn't Darkthorn in the patrol too? Where is he?"

"I was getting to that," Reedfang panted. "Nighttail knocked him out and we were chased off before we could go anything. There were too many to fight."

Petalstorm's fur bristled with shock. "RiverClan has taken my mate!"

More yowls came from the cats who were listening.

Birchstar raised his paw for silence. "ThunderClan will not attack RiverClan until after the Gathering," he mewed. "We will leave them a warning, one last chance to release Darkthorn."

Breezetail nodded in approval.

Nightkit looked at Petalstorm's sad look, and his ears drooped. Darkthorn, where are you? he wondered.

~~~~ (In Reedfang's POV)

Reedfang felt the sting as Rainstep carefully dripped marigold juice into his wounds. We have no trouble with RiverClan in the past, why now? he thought.

His mate, Willowbrook, glanced at him with worry. "I am fine," Reedfang called out to her.

Her worried expression remained, and told him that she didn't believe him.

Reedfang sighed as he thought of his fellow clanmate, Darkthorn, who got captured by RiverClan. Petalstorm was heartbroken while Nightkit was too shocked to speak.

"Am I fit to got to the Gathering?" he asked.

"Yes," Rainstep replied. "But don't over strain yourself."

Reedfang nodded and went out of the den.

To his surprise, Nightkit had settled at his paws as if to search for comfort. Reedfang blinked in confusion. Petalstorm didn't give any sign of disapproval as he sat down with Nightkit.

"Are you okay?" Reedfang asked.

Nightkit looked at him with his amber eyes and mewed softly, "I want Darkthorn back. Your fur is warm..."

Suddenly, he remembered when Nightkit was borned, that night was chilly. Since Reedfang's fur was thick and usually warm, Petalstorm let him warm the tiny kit up.

"I remember you when I was young..." Nightkit muttered half to himself. Soon, the black kit that dosed off.

Reedfang carried the kit back to the nursery where Petalstorm flashed him a grateful smile.

"You will be a great father," Willowbrook purred, standing beside her mate.

"The cats chosen for the Gathering to gather at the thorn barrier!" Birchstar yowled.

Reedfang followed the crowd of cats towards Fourtrees, the Gathering place.

When they arrived, he could tell that his Clanmates were tense and hostile towards RiverClan, who looked like nothing has happened.

"Those fish-brains will pay!" Fuzzytail hissed silently, as the other two Clan arrived.

Reedfang nodded grimly.

"I will start first," Birchstar mewed cultly to the other leaders. Lionstar gave no sign of disapproval while the rest nodded.

Birchstar glared at Streamstar and announced, "RiverClan has taken our warrior!"

There was an uproar; RiverClan protesting that they were innocent, WindClan and ShadowClan yowling in shock.

"RiverClan did not take your warrior," Streamstar mewed firmly over the noise.

"Yes you did!" Birchstar spat. "Your deputy led a patrol to Sunningrocks and attacked our patrol without provoking you."

"What?" Streamstar turned to glare at her deputy. "Nighttail, what is the meaning of this?"

"Birchstar is lying," Nighttail scoffed. "His patrol provoked ours and caused a fight."

"Yeah," a RiverClan warrior piled up.

"You are all lying!" Reedfang snarled, jumping to his paws. "I was there myself, and you, Nighttail, brought a patrol of at least 6 cats to attack us. We did nothing to provoke you but you attacked and took Darkthorn while holding the rest of the patrol members back!"

"Every cat knows ThunderClan is a Clan with kittypets and liars," Nighttail taunted.

"Enough!" Streamstar yowled. "Nighttail, admit your crime now!"

"You would believe ThunderClan than me?" Nighttail growled, outraged.

"You gave me plenty of reasons to," the RiverClan leader replied coldly. "Nighttail, return their warrior before more cats get hurt."

"Fine!" Nighttail growled.

Birchstar nodded, sastifed. Streamstar turned to him with an apologetic look.

"I'm terribly sorry for my deputy's decisions," she mewed sincerely. "I will make sure this wouldn't happen again."

Birchstar mewed, "I am sure you will."

As the rest of the Gathering continued, Reedfang was sure that Nighttail would not stop his actions.