A lot of things had happened after that incident, which was a few moons ago. For one, Greypaw and Flightpaw passed each of their warrior assessments with flying colours, rightfully earning their names of Greydust and Flightclaw.

Another thing was that Rosepaw started to be nicer to me and the others. It seemed that what happened in the ancient's time seemed to affect the present time.

I asked her once whether she remembered having a dream about the ancients, but she shook her head. Stormpaw and Spottedpaw had the same answer as well. It seemed that I was the only one who went there.

There was only two more moons of our training left, and everybody - even the senior warriors - had been training hard, knowing that Fangstar would not stop until he got what he wanted.

On a slightly brighter note, Strikestar had finally decided to allow the five of us - including Dustpaw - to go to the Gathering. It seemed more important than ever for the Clans to gather and to figure out how to deal with ShadowClan, especially with a rumour that Fangstar had recruited at least ten rogues in addition to his army of fifteen warriors.

I could only hope that things would go well.

~~~~

That night, every cat was tense as Strikestar addressed the Clan. "I'm sure you all have heard rumours about ShadowClan," he meowed gravely. "That is why we need the support of RiverClan and WindClan, more than ever. However, even as I speak, ShadowClan is weakening them, taking their territory. I hope I will have your support in my decision to gain RiverClan and WindClan as allies."

We nodded wordlessly.

"Let's go," Strikestar mewed, taking the lead.

Only soft murmurs accompanied the journey to Fourtrees, probably because of the worry every cat was experiencing.

We arrived at Fourtrees, where RiverClan was already there. "Greetings," the RiverClan leader meowed formally. "I assure that you are managing?"

"Yes, we are," Strikestar mewed. "What about your Clan, Flowerstar?"

"We are managing fairly well and we took back most of the territory that ShadowClan took from us," she replied.

"WindClan hasn't arrived yet," I mewed. "Something smells fishy about this."

"How so?" Stormpaw asked curiously.

"A Gathering starts at moonhigh, where the moon reaches its peak. Usually, Clans do not come late for the Gathering. WindClan may not be coming," I explained. "Or..."

"Or what?" Rosepaw cut in.

Before I could answer, WindClan arrived. A black tom - probably the leader - was leading a small group of WindClan cats into Fourtrees. He looked distressed and somewhat guilty.

"Smokestar, you are here," Strikestar mewed. "Let us start the Gathering."

"Not waiting for us?"

Our eyes fell onto an ever too familiar cat whose eyes were only filled with greed and ambition.

"Fangstar," Strikestar growled.

The ShadowClan leader was alone, but his face of confidence disturbed me. Surely he can't be serious in exposing himself like that. There are way more cats around me that want to rip his throat out without a moment's hesitation.

However, contrary to my belief, every cat stayed put. Fangstar leaped onto the Great Rock with ease, joining the other three leaders.

"I shall make this offer one more time," Fangstar stated with a dangerously low voice. "Side with me, and I will promise that your lives will be spared."

"Never!" Flowerstar snarled, her claws out.

"You must be a mouse-brain if you really think we will join you!" Strikestar growled, his eyes burning with obvious anger. "Am I right, Smokestar?"

Smokestar remained silent.

"I forgot to tell you," Fangstar mewed with a smirk. "WindClan has surrendered themselves to me and will fight on my side now."

"Smokestar, how could you?" Flowerstar gasped.

"How could I?" Smokestar began. "WindClan has suffered enough. We became so weak from ShadowClan's endless attacks... it's best that we surrender. That way, our Clan will live on."

But you will live with shame, I thought.

"Do you see now?" Fangstar meowed triumphantly. "There's no use in resisting. Even StarClan can't stop me and the Dark Forest bends to my will as well."

"Our decision remains the same," Flowerstar meowed firmly. "We will fight to the bitter end."

"If you insist," Fangstar meowed smoothly. His lip turned into a smirk. "Attack."

Within a blink of an eye, Smokestar knocked Flowerstar off the Great Rock while Strikestar struggled against Fangstar.

Meanwhile, many cats who were hidden in the shadows attacked the Clan cats. The WindClan cats joined in the assault.

I was gripped with fear as chaos erupted around me. ShadowClan warriors surrounded us, pushing us closer to the Great Rock. Warriors rushed to protect the elders, who were too weak to fight.

"Frostpaw!" Hawksight rammed into me, just as a ShadowClan warrior pounced, landing on the spot I was a moment ago.

"T-thank you," I stammered.

"We must fight," Hawksight growled. "Use what you were taught to defend those who can't defend themselves."

With a yowl, he leaped into battle against the ShadowClan warrior that was aiming to attack me.

Hawksight is right! I can't daydream at a time like this!

I unsheathed my claws and closed my eyes before opening them again and pouncing onto the nearest enemy I saw.

"Let me help," Dustpaw randomly appeared behind me, assisting me with attacks of his own. I nodded and we worked together to send the warrior running.

Unfortunately, our miniature successes did little to change the tide of battle. Fangstar had just knocked Strikestar off the Great Rock and the ThunderClan leader fell with a sickening thud.

Fangstar pounced onto him, slashing his exposed belly with a speed so fast and unbelievable.

Luckily, Flowerstar knocked the ShadowClan leader off Strikestar and turned to the ThunderClan leader, her eyes filled with defeat.

"We must retreat," she mewed, wincing at a pain in her shoulder. "We will all die if we stay here."

"ThunderClan are not cowards!" Strikestar snapped. "We will fight on."

"But sometimes cowards do live," Fangstar smirked, slowly advancing on the two leaders. "So, are you going to run, or die?"

Strikestar looked around. Antfall and Rosepaw were struggling to defend Nightflame, an elder, against a pair of merciless warriors. Aspenfern and Flamecloud were desperately trying to patch up the wounds of a cat so bloody, that one could not recognise them.

"ThunderClan, retreat!" Strikestar ordered reluctantly.

"RiverClan, retreat!" Flowerstar yowled.

ThunderClan and RiverClan warriors ceased their battles and ran, helping the elders and medicine cats along the way.

Fangstar let out a yowl of triumph and the ShadowClan warriors chased us back to our respective territories, with a few slashes and snaps to remember them by.

Dustpaw's eyes were filled with dismay and despair. "We lost," he mewed.

"We will get revenge," I meowed, but there was no certainty in my words, only a deep pool of doubt.

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