The silver lunar light slowly began to illuminate the nighttime darkness. A sheet of calm lake reflected them, making the water seem to shine. From time to time, peaceful owls were interrupted by owls or other nocturnal creatures. The wind was humming softly between the trees, making the shadows of their branches extend in all directions.

In the night's darkness one could see a quick, shapely movement on the island on the lake. After him came another, equally fast. On the branches of a huge tree on this island, four shapes jumped. One of them; a silver tabby tomcat stuck his head toward the moonlight, making his fur seem to shine with the light of countless stars. He looked at the Silver Skin, letting the stars bounce into his bright eyes, then scanned the crowd of other cats right under the tree.

Each cat had a bristling fur, ready to move with its claws to its neighbor at any moment. They were all clearly divided into four different groups. The clans were no longer mixed up in the Gatherings as before, to make new friends or listen to the stories of the elders. No. Now, instead of friendship and peace, she ruled by unalloyed pure hatred.

The silver tomcat with pain looked at what was happening at the lake from many moons. Mutual, day-to-day growing hatred, which ruled the forest and the lake, slowly depleted all four Clans and no one could do anything about it. Especially old, weakened by the militant life of a tomcat.
He looked at his wood companions. Each of the other three cats tried not to look at the other one. Like the cats downstairs, and here was the hateful atmosphere that could cause bloodshed at all times.
Suddenly, one of the two she-cats sitting on the thick branches of the tree got up and poked her ears commanding peace and quiet, which wasn't lacking at the bottom anyway. Leaders haven't silenced their warriors for a long time. It was pointless, because they didn't even say anything among themselves.

They did so out of habit.

Making sure, that all cats focused on the four characters sitting on the tree, the cat stood motionless for a moment. In the end she raised her head proudly and, as if compelled to look at each cat on the tree.

"I believe the Grathering has begun," she announced in a grave voice. "Let each leader present the progress of his clan in the training of his apprentices and the appointment of warriors."

The Gratherings was begun for some time just like this. No more important matters were discussed. If any clan had problems, it had to deal with them himself.

After these words, he immediately got up a cream-colored, big tomcat. His long fur waved for a moment, and he stared at the cats below.

"All right Charredstar" he nodded, as if forcing himself to show respect "I would like to introduce new apprentices of the Wind Clan; Smoke Paw and Rabbit Paw. Next, I would like to welcome the Beech Dawn, Deer Fur, and Duck Foot in the circle of new warriors of the Wind Clan." after saying these names, he noticed the movement of three shapes down on the side of the Wind Clan "The Wind Clan is doing very well, and its warriors are ready for anything"he said with absolute certainty. "Now let the River Clan tell you about your progress."

At these words, the slender brown cat rose quickly and put her ears forward. She raised her head and looked straight into the eyes of the cream cat with her icy blue eyes.

"Of course, Honeystar. The River Clan is doing better than ever before" she looked with hostility at the other three cats "Three new apprentices were appointed; Rainpaw, Groundpaw and Rosepaw. Three new warriors were nominated in the same way; Graphiteheart, Swiftstream and Beigetail - these are their names. " she looked again, but this time with superiority on cats from other clans - "Charredstar please, now you present your news from the Shadow Clan."

The pitch-black cat, already in a standing position, turned and jumped on a branch higher than those on which the remaining leaders stood. She looked around and purred softly, seeing her nervous behavior with the words of the other cats' mouths looking down at her.
She was silent for a moment, until she finally began to meow.

"The Shadow Clan has plenty of animals, drinking water and herbs. We have recently appointed two new students; Willowpaw and Softpaw and the new warrior Lynxshadow." - she finished her grave voice.

Nobody spoke for a long time. The silver tabby tomcat, knowing that it will probably not happen anymore and will not be asked to tell about the progress of his clan, stepped forward on a thick branch himself. He looked uncertainly out of the corner of his eye at the other leaders. Everyone was looking at some points in front of him, as if he was not here. Then he looked at the cats below. He saw the expression of indignation on the faces of his brothers. He sighed quietly and began to speak.

"In the Thunder Clan..." - hesitated a moment - everything is fine. We do not lack animals, no herbs, no drinking water. The new apprentices were named Snakepaw, Yewpaw and Battercuppaw. The new warriors were Hardfur and Dogleap. However, I also have a sad message to convey. A few summers ago my dead deputy was found on the border with the Wind Clan; Specklednose. Therefore, in his place, Woodpelt was established." he was still up, but not seeing any particular reaction from the leaders, he continued "I would like to explain this matter to you Honeystar and your warriors" he just looked into the green eyes of a cream cat.

At once the long fur of the Wind Clan leader bristled, for it seemed even longer. The warrior bared his fangs and turned aggressively to the old tomcat.

- How dare you Swallowstar ?! Are you accusing me and my warriors of something so horrible? The ineptitude of your old deputy finally had to lead him into the arms of the Star Clan! he hissed with full hatred and hostility.

Swallow Star stepped back, not expecting such a reaction from the leader of the Wind Clan.

"But Honeystar! I'm not accusing anyone. I just want to clarify this matter, because it is on our common border that the body of the Specklednose has been found. Our medicinecat Redstripe said that the wounds on his body indicate a fight. He bled, Honeystar. And that's what I want to talk about. " he said as gently as he could.

The eyes of the Honeystar flashed even more. It seemed that in a moment he would jump on Swallowstar. He stuck his claws tightly in the branch and breathed hoarsely. It lasted a while. Everyone was still, watching the course of events.

"Do not hesitate to accuse my noble warriors of murder in cold blood and leave the needy. Do you understand old cat ?!" he exclaimed, furious and hateful.

The first protests of the clergy of the Swallowstar began to wade through the voice of the leader of the Wind Clan. There were more and more of them, and through this, warriors of the Honeystar, insults thrown at Thunderclanners began. None of the leaders, however, reacted.
Now the Swallowstar fur began to bristle. He took a proud stance and put his ears forward.

"Do not you think about me saying like this, Honeystar. I don't accuse anyone. Yet. I want to solve this peacefully. The death of the Specklednose is not just an accident. I want to explain it to you and your Clan" he replied coldly.

Under the tree the atmosphere was getting more and more hot. Cats from the Thunder Clan and the Wind Clan were more and more eager to fight.
In the end, the leader of the River Clan; Wetstar, spoke.

" I remind you that the Grathering is not the time to fight. Either you do it among yourself, or break the warrior code!" she said sharply.

"And since when is the warrior's code so important to you, the kitten ?! the Charredstar hissed, pointing out the very young age of the leader of the River Clan - You do not obey him with him, stealing the animals from my territory!

The young she-cat was upset.

- My Clan wouldn't have fallen aside to something like that in contrast to your Charredstar. Everyone knows that the Shadow Clan is a Clan that will never be worthy of a real clan! - she said with hatred.

At that moment, the leaders rushed at each other. They fell from the branches of the tree and clawed at them, tearing their skins. The warriors and students of all clans did the same. The assembly turned into one big battle. The grass began to spray the first blood shed during the truce. Dust and sand hovered everywhere. It was not possible to distinguish one piece of fur from another. We could hear hissing insults everywhere.

Only one single voice tried to break through all the others. The voice was quiet and loud at the same time. The only voice of reason in all this incident.

- Please! Stop! It's useless! - the voice begged and pleaded - This hatred will destroy the clans! Please...