Spottedleaf woke up to the sound of a squeal. She remembered Featherwhisker wasn't around to help her and although it had been a moon since his death, she wasn't used to the fact of working as a solo medicine cat. She still missed her mentor and wished he had never died.

"Spottedleaf!" The medicine cat identified Willowpelt's voice. She had not talked to her sister since before the greencough epidemic. Spottedleaf let out a sigh, and walked to the entrance of the medicine den, where Willowpelt was. For some reason her blue eyes were shining of excitement. "I'm expecting kits!"

"Really? That's good to hear!" Spottedleaf purred. "White--"

"Whitestorm? No, Spottedleaf, he isn't the father. Tawnyspots is." Tawnyspots? Spottedleaf couldn't even believe what she had heard. She had never seen Willowpelt and Tawnyspots spending time with each other-- maybe it was her duties that failed her from noticing?

"I thought you and Whitestorm. . . Never mind."

"It's crazy, yes, I can agree on that, but really your duties must stop you from seeing the world and what's happening. Maybe you should have been a warrior." Willowpelt gave a shrug. "Who am I to judge?"

"I'm fine with being a medicine cat. It's exciting but I wish Featherwhisker did not die."

"I just thought I'd let you know, Spottedleaf. Bye!" Willowpelt began walking away, and Spottedleaf heard Bluestar's frightful wail.

"My kits are missing!" At once Spottedleaf began to race into the nursery, seeing a worried and shocked Bluefur.

"What happened?" Spottedleaf asked.

"I woke up and my kits were gone," Bluefur replied. "I don't know when they left the nursery."

"It's okay, Bluefur. I'll make sure we find them," Spottedleaf promised. "I'll get Sunstar to do something."

"Thanks," Bluefur thanked the tortoiseshell. Tonight the Gathering is on, Spottedleaf just remembered as she began walking out of the nursery.

***

ThunderClan had arrived at Fourtrees, being led from their camp by Sunstar. They were the third Clan there as ShadowClan and WindClan had arrived at Fourtrees before them. Spottedleaf began walking over to Yellowfang, Runningnose and Barkface. Hawkheart was not there with them this time, so she assumed he was staying back in the WindClan camp.

"Hello," Spottedleaf greeted Barkface. Barkface returned the greeting, looking happy to see the dappled coated tortoiseshell. "Hawkheart's staying back at WindClan, I am guessing."Barkface did not nod, instead his eyes darkened slightly. Runningnose sniffed as he always had a cold.

It's still funny how he's a medicine cat and he can't even cure his own cold, Spottedleaf thought as she stared at the ShadowClan medicine apprentice.

At once RiverClan began to trot into Fourtrees, and as Spottedleaf saw Mudfur, something seemed to be troubling him by the expression his eyes gave. Hailstar, RiverClan's leader, joined Raggedstar on the Great Rock. For some reason Talltail, WindClan's deputy, was on the Great Rock, Deadfoot sitting where Talltail would normally sit at Gatherings.

At once the Gathering had come to a start, and Tallstar stood in front of the Clan leaders. "I know you must be all wondering why Heatherstar is not here with us," he began, staring down nervously at the crowd. "But I have the saddest news to report that Heatherstar passed away from greencough earlier this sunrise."

There was a silence as cats began to mourn silently for WindClan's former leader. Heatherstar was a respected leader than some.

"I have appointed Deadfoot as WindClan's deputy," Tallstar continued, casting a glance to the new black deputy. "But on top of Heatherstar's death I have good news to report. Wrenflight, a WindClan queen, has given birth to a new kit named Onekit."

Cats began to cheer this time for Wrenflight's new born kit. Tallstar retreated back to his place, Hailstar stepping forward.

"RiverClan is well but we have lost Brambleberry, our medicine cat, due to an unknown reason," he announced and stepped backwards. So that's what was on Mudfur's mind! Spottedleaf thought. Raggedstar stood up and began to walk in front of the other leaders.

"The prey in ShadowClan is well," he reported. "Unfortunately we lost Foxheart to rats at the Carrionplace, and Cloudpelt, our deputy after Foxheart, died of blood loss from a wound shortly after Foxheart's death."Both deputies dead just after they were made deputies, Spottedleaf thought with surprise as there was a silence.

"However ShadowClan is strong as Brokentail is our Clan's new deputy," Raggedstar continued, his eyes shining as stared down at his son, who didn't show any expression or emotion. There was cheering and it was quite clear Brokentail was a popular choice among his Clan. Raggedstar then turned and Sunstar took the ShadowClan leader's place.

As Spottedleaf happened to cast a glance at Yellowfang, the dark grey medicine cat's eyes were full of darkness, as if something was wrong that Raggedstar had decided not to share.

"I would like to congratulate all the Clans on their newly-appointed deputies and arrival of new members," Sunstar began. "ThunderClan has unfortunate news, too. Featherwhisker, our Clan's medicine cat, died during a greencough epidemic."

There was yet again a silence as Featherwhisker was known to be one of the best medicine cats ThunderClan has ever had. "Spottedleaf is now our Clan's medicine cat," Sunstar went on. Cats began to chant Spottedleaf's name at Sunstar's announcement.

"Sorry about your loss," Barkface murmured to the ThunderClan medicine cat. "But congratulations on becoming a full medicine cat."

"Tawnyspots has now retired to the elder's den and Bluefur has sadly lost her three kits. If any cat sees any kits wondering in their territory, I advise you report it to ThunderClan and do not attack the kits," Sunstar continued once the chanting died out.

ThunderClan was left with no deputy, and Spottedleaf began wondering who Sunstar would choice to replace Tawnyspots. Thistleclaw was a good choice and Sunstar may decide to pick him in the end.

"Unfortunately ThunderClan's two elders, Mumblefoot and Weedwhisker, have passed away in their sleep not long ago. They now hunt freely with StarClan. That is all ThunderClan has to share." Sunstar began to hop from the rock, beginning to round his warriors up.

Spottedleaf began walking away from the medicines cats, and happened to notice Thistleclaw was glaring at her, his sharp amber eyes burning. What ruffled his fur this time? she asked herself as she continued staring at the unevenly mottled warrior.

Thistleclaw always seemed to be angry though. It was as if his Clan had always made him angry and his most hidden emotions besides anger must have rubbed onto his former apprentice, Tigerclaw. For some reason which Spottedleaf could never know, she always got this dark feeling when she was around Thistleclaw or Tigerclaw.

"Bluefur, do you know what's always up with Thistleclaw?" Spottedleaf asked the blue-grey she-cat, who had to return to her warrior duties.

"No," Bluefur replied, her blue gaze turning to Spottedleaf. "I think he just looks angry although he isn't. You can't really tell what's up with that cat nowadays, anyway." Spottedleaf gave a brief nod.

For some reason though, something seemed to cloud up in Bluefur's eyes so Spottedleaf just guessed she was thinking about her missing kits. But a part of Spottedleaf told her that there was something more than just Bluefur's kits that troubled her, and she began to wonder what was really troubling her Clanmate. . .