Jaypaw shifted his paws nervously as he began the story. "Eagletalon, one of our elders, once told me a story of a noble warrior who strived to contribute to the Clan as much as he can. If I remember correctly, I think he was Stormjaw's mentor."

"What's the interesting thing?" Leafpaw asked impatiently.

"Well..." Jaypaw hesitated. "That warrior suddenly disappeared one day. No cat found out what happened to him up til this day."

"That's unfortunate," Shadowpaw commented.

Hoppaw nodded in agreement.

"I think that it's not polite to gossip about a warrior who has been gone for a long time," Stormjaw's voice made Jaypaw jump in surprise. "Especially when the leaders are about to speak."

"Sorry," Jaypaw muttered.

"Okay then," Kinkpaw sighed in disappointment. "We will have to postpone the story telling."

"There is always a next time," Sorrelpaw mewed. "I'm sure we will have more exciting stories then!"

The group of apprentices quieted down as Flailstar, the old BrambleClan leader, began to speak first.

"I am proud to announce that BrambleClan has grown stronger with a new, enthusiastic apprentice, Sorrelpaw," he mewed slowly. "I believe that Icefang will teach her well."

"Sorrelpaw! Sorrelpaw!" the Clans called.

Jaypaw turned to look at the BrambleClan apprentice, who had ducked her head in embarrassment.

"BrambleClan also welcome Softstep's litter of kits. May they grow and become noble warriors in the future," Flailstar finished.

Flailstar dipped his head to Pouncestar, who was next to speak. "Like BrambleClan," the SunClan leader began, "SunClan has been doing well and growing stronger with three new apprentices: Kinkpaw, Shadowpaw and Falconpaw."

"Kinkpaw! Shadowpaw! Falconpaw!" Jaypaw found himself calling out the names of the new apprentices with the Clans.

"That's all," Pouncestar ended his report.

Birdstar took Pouncestar's place and Jaypaw looked up at his leader in anticipation.

"RookClan has been doing well," Birdstar mewed, glancing at the gathered cats. "We also welcomed two apprentices: Jaypaw and Redpaw. May they contribute to RookClan well."

"Jaypaw! Redpaw!" Jaypaw felt overjoyed at the fact that his name is being called.

Birdstar sounded tense, he noticed. What is she worried about?

Before the RookClan leader confirmed that she was done with the report, the WaveClan leader, Shellstar, stepped forward to speak.

"I'll like to know what's going on in your Clan, Birdstar," Shellstar demanded. "Some of your warriors seemed to be taking things into their own paws and attacking my cats. I want an explanation."

Birdstar bristled at his words and Jaypaw immediately thought of Stormjaw. Will Birdstar or Shellstar single him out?

"I have talked with the warrior causing trouble," Birdstar replied, her voice ringing with authority. "He will not border your cats again."

Jaypaw let out the breath he was holding.

Shellstar narrowed his eyes, but nodded, accepting her answer. "WaveClan has two new apprentices: Troutpaw and Hoppaw. That is all."

"Troutpaw! Hoppaw!" the yowls sounded rather tense after Shellstar had confronted Birdstar about borders.

Jaypaw craned his neck to look for his mentor, but Stormjaw was no where to be seen. He spotted a streak of lightning and wondered if it was going to rain soon.

There was a growl of thunder and clouds were beginning to cover the moon. Jaypaw tensed when the Oaks became covered by darkness.

"The Gathering is over!" Flailstar yowled over every cats' murmuring.

Before the leaders could gather their cats and leave, an unfamiliar voice called out. "I don't think you should leave so soon."

Jaypaw looked around, trying to find the source of the voice. Instead, he noticed that they were surrounded by mud coated cats.

He could not identify any of them by sight or scent - most of the light was blocked by the clouds and the mud covered their scents well.

"What do you want?" Pouncestar growled, his eyes darting around nervously. "Who are you?"

"Isn't it obvious, sun cat?" the voice spoke. "We are rogues and I am the leader."

Sun cat? Jaypaw thought. How did that rogue know that Pouncestar is from SunClan?

He felt that something was amiss. The way that cat talks, the way the rogues took advantage of this situation... it seems so familiar. I can't quite put my paw on it.

Jaypaw growled in frustration. He couldn't remember why it was so familiar to him.

"Well?" it was Birdstar who spoke up. "What is your intention?"

"Yet another rhetorical question," the leader of the rogues laughed. "We want to take over the Clans."