Edited ✔️

Icepaw's light gray pelt shimmered in the almost fully risen moon. It cast out a beautiful ghastly light in the river. MoonClan's patrol was now crossing StreamClan since it was the only way to get to the Gathering place, and already, all of their paws were wet, and all of their noses were filled with the scents of fish and water. There was a StreamClan group somewhere nearby.

He ran and caught up with his brother, Dewpaw. Mousetail and Dewpaw were talking about the other day's training. He didn't pay attention much. His ears strained somewhere else, while his eyes drifted back up to the moon. He thought, mainly about his own mentor.

Ashtail was still yet to teach Icepaw of MoonClan's abilities. Every Clan had their own abilities, his mother had once told him. Icepaw had only heard of his own Clan's moon advantages, and abilities about their grace. But he had never truly learned it, or even gave it a thought until now. He saw a squirrel high up on a tree, which looked as agile as a cat as it fearlessly leaped on to another tree.

Behind him, Ashtail ran up. "There," he whispered, almost startling Icepaw. "Look at the squirrel. It looks exactly like a MoonClan cat." He watched as it's moon-kissed gray pelt disappeared into a tree. It's bushy tail was the last thing Icepaw could see before it was fully gone.

"I'll learn that, won't I?" Icepaw asked Ashtail. "I'll be as elegant as a squirrel. I never thought about how MoonClan cats really had the abilities of climbing trees so good. Can't every cat climb, though?"

MoonClan wouldn't be so special like the other Clans if all cats could climb a simple tree. It was one of the easiest things. He didn't know who wouldn't be able to do it.

Ashtail shrugged. "Perhaps most cats know," he said. "But in reality, only MoonClan knows how to master tree climbing this good. That's why we have big paws and strong forepaws and more elegant tails." Icepaw paid attention well. "It makes it easier to climb, easier to balance. And plus, we can climb trees at night with only the moon to guide our paw steps. That's one reason how we got out Clan name. It's like StreamClan. Any cat can swim if they wanted to, but it's their specialty, not ours."

Icepaw understood a bit more now. He had an urge of asking Ashtail every single question that flooded in hs mind. But the first one he found came straight out of his mouth: "Are there any more abilities?"

His mentor half shrugged, half nodded. "I don't call them abilities, I call them talents, and I guess so," Ashtail replied. "About two cats in our Clan can swim. But we aren't good. We are good at hiding in undergrounds, but MarshClan can do the same. What really makes us special is how moonlight can shine off our eyes. From what I've experienced, he have an easier time seeing things in the dark."

"How are our eyes any different from other cats?"

"I believe it comes from MoonClan heritage. We pass these qualities from elders to kits, and we learn it by getting used to it as well."

Icepaw then noticed much his Clanmate's eyes sparked or looked so strong. Perhaps this was MoonClan's special abilities; their advantage in the darkness and closeness to the moon.

"Well, anyways, our apprentices are always tested with these abilities. In a few moons, you will probably be tested yourself, although it isn't guaranteed that you might need it."

Icepaw nodded and kept walking. Even now, on his way to the gathering, he was learning such interesting things about MoonClan cats. He now wondered what made StreamClan strong swimmers. He figured out that they can hold their breaths longer than any other cats and they can open their eyes underwater. He also knew how fast CloudClan cats were, and how sly and sneaky and well-hidden MarshClan cats were. He had not a clue of DarkClan. If he knew, he would of heard already. As Ashtail explained everything, Icepaw was impressed at how much knowledge his mentor had.

Soon, many scents began to arise. It must be the other three Clans, because StreamClan was close behind the MoonClan group. Icepaw's pelt bristled with excitement. He walked closer and pressed to Dewpaw, who was also excited. It was their first gathering!

"Let's go ahead, to Sparrowheart!" Dewpaw whispered loudly. Some of ther Clanmate heard them, some sighed agrily, some shushed the two noisy apprentices. For some reason, everyone quieted down. They all slowed down as well.

Dewpaw began to lead Icepaw away, running and pushing through the large MoonClan crowd. Everyone was becoming tense, except for a few cats. Icepaw guessed because it was probably since DarkClan was at the gathering. Icepaw knew exactly how brute and mean their Clan were. He once almost fought Flamepaw, a DarkClan apprentice out of force by DarkClan's crazy leader Sandstar. He hardly knew any fighting moves then. Flamepaw was obviousy more experienced and Icepaw had no idea what to do.

He let out a shaky breath, and kept his nose on his brother's tail to keep track of where he was going. It seemed that they were almost to the front of the group now since Sparrowheart was in sight. The two apprentices ran up to him, excited, nervous and scared all at once.

Sparrowheart's tail flicked and it touched Icepaw's ears. He looked back up at Brightstar, who was leading the patrol. Her bright pelt shimmered against the moonlight, and it almost looked like a StarClan cat's pelt. It reminded him of that she-cat he ran into a few times—a beautiful silver, the one who had saved him in the dream the day of his apprentice ceremony.

He forced himself to shake away the memory.

The MoonClan cats began to slip through the entrance to the Gathering clearing. Brightstar turned. She pointed her tail to the side of the gathering, where the trees and bushes were the thickest. "File as much as you can on the trees," Brightstar whispered. "Get the lowest branches. If not many cats can fit, stay away from the other Clans, especially DarkClan."

Sparrowheart nodded. "Move out," he called to the Clan.

Dawnpaw walked by Icepaw, and her pelt brushed on his as they walked. "Wanna sit by each other?" she asked, her voice only above a whisper.

Icepaw looked around. "Well . . . I wanted to see this DarkClan cat," he said.

Dawnpaw gasped. "Why would you do that? You know what DarkClan did to us," she replied with a soft growl. For some reason, his Clan seemed to only hate the DarkClan cats.

"Well . . . remember Flamepaw? I'd like to talk to him," Icepaw admitted. "Please sit by Dewpaw, and don't tell anyone where I am. It'll be quick. When I'm done talking I'll try and squeeze by to you."

Dawnpaw sighed. "Fine, whatever," she mumbled, walking over to Dewpaw.

Icepaw felt a bit bad. But he knew that Flamepaw was here—Sandstar seemed fond of him and treasured him since he was her apprentice. Sandstar sat in the front of the large rock the leaders gathered on all the time. She was licking her paws, glaring all around. Icepaw shuttered.

He looked around and opened his jaws to see or smell if his friend was here. Finally, he spotted Flamepaw, sitting in the dark in the back. Flamepaw's pelt looked ruffled and he seemed tired. Icepaw had second thoughts about approaching him, but then Flamepaw's amber eyes met Icepaw's.

He froze for a second, and then waved his tail. Flamepaw got up and walked over, his ginger pelt looking darker than ever. He sighed as soon as he got to Icepaw.

"Hello," he said. "Would you like to sit over by me? Sandstar won't be able to see. I'm sitting in the dark over there, like you saw."

"Sure," Icepaw said as he released of his breath. He didn't know why he was relieved. Maybe it was because Flamepaw didn't seem to have betrayed him to his Clan. Speaking of that . . . "I haven't told my Clan about what you told me. You know, the warrior code thing?" His voice was low so others wouldn't hear.

"Oh, you didn't?" Flamepaw looked surprised. "I thought . . . never mind. Let's go sit. StreamClan just got here so the gathering is going to start."

Icepaw looked over and saw as a whole bunch of cats with sleek, wet fur. He assumed that they were swimming before they got here—probably to cross their lake to get to the other side. He turned back to Flamepaw who was already headed back to his dark spot.

Icepaw followed, running to catch up.

The two apprentice toms sat down right next to each other. Icepaw looked up to see Brightstar and Lakestar taking their places. Everyone who was talking settled down. Icepaw looked and saw his Clan among the trees, away from everyone else.

Sandstar, her eyes crazed and fur ruffled, stood taller. She was missing many tufts of her light ginger fur, which would be beautiful if it weren't so uncared for. Icepaw noticed for the first time that her eyes were a dark amber. Her movements and structure reminded Icepaw of someone . . . but he couldn't quite recall who.

"I will start," said Sandstar. "No objections, I presume?" She looked back to the other four leaders. They all remained silent. "Alright then. DarkClan is thriving, first of all. The air might be getting cold soon but our Clan has an abundance of prey."

Her eyes beamed.

Right besides him, Flamepaw growled of anger. "What lies."

"Every Clan leader lies at a Gathering," Icepaw said. "Or at least they exaggerate. Well, they never state their weaknesses. I've heard about it."

Flamepaw nodded and pointed to the top of the rock where the leaders sat.

"And my patrols are doubling," Sandstar said, casting a glance at Brightstar. "We don't want any intruders coming onto our side of the border. We'll be keeping a close watch."

Brightstar snarled. "What are you saying, Sandstar?"

The DarkClan leader shrugged. "All I am saying is that my Clan will not want anymore intruders," she hissed back. Her ears flattened to Brightstar. "And we also have a new apprentice in my Clan, Beetlepaw."

A small kit raised his head, looking proud among his Clan. "Beetlepaw! Beetlepaw!" the large DarkClan group chanted. Some StreamClan cats chanted, too, and some MarshClan cats as well. Sandstar nodded and sat down, wrapping her molted tail around her paws neatly. She nodded to finish her announcements.

"Beetlepaw looks too small to be an apprentice," murmured Icepaw to Flamepaw.

"Well, maybe he just doesn't grow as fast," said Flamepaw quickly. "Shh, it's not over yet."

Icepaw nodded and looked up. "It's my turn," Brightstar said, before any leader. She stood up, and the moon glinted off her pelt. "Our Clan is doing well, too. With lead-fall on it's way our Clan is doing just fine. We've been finding enough prey on our territory."

It was somewhat true. Icepaw's Clan has been finding some prey, but not too much for the past few days. Everyone had their suspicions that it was because of DarkClan, but Brightstar didn't mention that.

"The phrase fine must mean that MoonClan isn't at its best," muttered Sandstar, loud enough for a variety of cats to hear.

"It's Brightstar's turn!" Sparrowheart snapped.

The MoonClan leader was glaring at Sandstar. "Thank you, Sparrowheart. About a half-moon ago, we named two new apprentices," said Brightstar. "Icepaw and Dewpaw. Their training is doing well and I give praise to our new future warriors." She dipped her head near the MoonClan group.

"Icepaw! Dewpaw! Icepaw! Dewpaw!" his Clan chanted. A few other Clans chanted too, but no DarkClan cats. Icepaw straightened his back in pride and had a determined look on his face. Brightstar looked down and spotted Icepaw—their eyes met. She looked as if she had questions about where Icepaw sat, and he sank down to his spot.

"Moving on, my Clan is also raising our border patrols. We don't want any intruders either." Brightstar turned her gaze to Sandstar. The DarkClan leader's pelt was bristling and she was snarling a bit. Icepaw wondered if they were going to rip of each other's pelts soon. "That's all I have to say for tonight." She sat down.

Lakestar got up this time. "It's my turn," he said quickly. Lakestar was a gray tom cat with blue eyes and a torn ear. His pelt was a bit damp, and his muscles shone under his glossy fur.

"StreamClan has been getting lots of fish this season," he began with pride. "Not much is happening at my territory that is giving us trouble, and Moleheart's mate has moved into the nursery, expecting his kits."

He looked down to his deputy, and cast a warm glance. "Shimmerpelt has also had kits this past moon; Troutkit and Rainkit. Our Clan grows each day with more and more new joys." He sighed with contentment. "And the Twolegs are starting to stay away from our river now that the days are getting colder. We've been growing as strong as any Clan."

He sat back down.

"Done?" asked Rabbitstar, the large black and white tom cat with amber eyes and many scars.

"Yes, you may go now, Rabbitstar," said Lakestar.

Rabbitstar nodded. "MarshClan has been thriving," he said slowly.

He's watching what he is saying, realized Icepaw. His eyes were clouded with many emotions and he looked grief-stricken. Many other cats noticed too.

"We caught a lot of prey this past moon, too, thanks to StarClan," he continued.

A MarshClan cat's voice rose. "Get on with it, Rabbitstar," she said encouragingly. The cat was a white she-cat with green eyes. She seemed sad too, but empathetic.

"How rude," Sandstar growled, casting a glance at the white MarshClan she-cat. "Let your leader speak, you impatient crow-food."

Rabbitstar hissed. "Don't you dare speak about my medicine cat that way!" Rabbitstar threatened. "If Daisyleap has something to say, we all know any medicine cat might as well speak their minds!" He stared at Sandstar, waiting for a response.

Icepaw looked up to the sky, to see the clouds shifting over the moon a tiny bit. Sandstar didn't respond to Rabbitstar's harsh reply.

"Moving on, a brave warrior in my Clan has died. We all know her from what she has done for us all." Rabbitstar trailed off and sighed. "Grasspelt, one of our most respected senior warriors, died defending the camp from a dog who threatened us. We managed to drive the dog away but it had resulted in her death. We sat vigil for her yesterday."

Brightstar set her tail softly down on Rabbitstar's spine. "I know how it feels. Grasspelt once saved an apprentice from my Clan. We all knew her and always thanked her. She will be missed and respected among MoonClan," she said sympathetically.

Rabbitstar nodded gratefully and sat down.

Swiftstar stood up now. He was CloudClan's leader. " I am sorry for your loss, Rabbitstar," the large black-and-white tom said.

"Thank you," mewed Rabbitstar, dipping his head to the other leader.

The CloudClan leader looked down to the DarkClan group. "My Clan is doing well," he started slowly. He looked angry. "Three new warriors were made—Pinefur, Longleap and Crowclaw."

He stopped there so the three warriors could be recognized. "Pinefur! Longleap! Crowclaw!" all the Clans but DarkClan chanted. Icepaw was chanting, too, because he knew one day that it would be him.

"I am also raising the border patrol frequency in CloudClan. Lately we have founs DarkClan scents in our territory, along with prey scatterings. I do not understand it. Doesn't DarkClan have a big enough territory and quite enough food?" He looked at Sandstar accusingly.

Flamepaw's claws scrunched the ground below him. "That was a threat," he murmered to himself.

Icepaw looked at Flamepaw and wondered if it was really true. Did DarkClan—including Flamepaw—steal from another Clan just like that?

Sandstar's tail flicked. "Are you accusing me of something?" she demanded.

Swiftstar nodded. "That's exactly what I am doing," he replied. "I know that you were on my Clan territory. I will not accept no for an answer."

"Fine then!" Sandstar growled, leaping onto Swiftstar.

"Stop, Sandstar!" Brightstar yowled, trying to rip off the DarkClan leader from the CloudClan leader. She was clawing at his pelt, biting down onto his scruff.

"Stop this fighting!" yowled Sparrowheart.

Swiftstar raked Sandstar's belly with his hind claws, snarling ferociously. 

Vinetail gasped. "Look at the moon!" the medicine cat exclaimed, pointing upwards. StarClan was covering the sky with the clouds, and all the light was soon gone. Sandstar climbed off of Swiftstar, and the large, proud leader grunted in pain.

"You're crazy!" he growled to Sandstar.

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the four Clans. Whiteleap, the DarkClan deputy, grunted in disagreement and flicked his tail. Lakestar sighed and looked down to the Clans. "The truce for this moon has been broken by Sandstar!" he yowled. "Tonight's gathering is therefore dismissed!"

Icepaw sighed of sadness. It was supposed to be a bit longer—and he should of met a lot of new cats. It was his first gathering and tonight wasn't so good. He looked right over to Flamepaw. "Well, I guess I will see you around," he said to his DarkClan friend.

"Yeah, I guess so," replied Flamepaw. "Maybe I'll see you on a patrol or at the next gathering. But I'm not so sure we can speak like we do now."

"I understand," murmured Icepaw.

They dipped heads and Flamepaw bounded off to his Clan, who were gathering all together, preparing to leave. Icepaw went to the trees where his Clan waited.

Brightstar walked up and nodded to MoonClan. "Come on," she said. "We must go."