Time flew by and the time of the Gathering was upon the Clans. Frostpaw was chosen to go, much to her delight. It would be her first Gathering, along with Goldenpaw. Her littermates, Redpaw and Patchpaw had already went to their first one the previous moon.

"Remember," Appleshade mewed to Frostpaw as Nightstar led the Clan towards Fourtrees, "do not share our Clan hunting and battle techniques with the other Clans. Also, try not to get too friendly with the other apprentices."

"Okay," Frostpaw mewed.

It was not long until they reached Fourtrees. Frostpaw gasped. Fourtrees was bigger than Redpaw described it to be. There were four big trees surrounding a clearing with a huge rock in the middle. Patchpaw told her that it was called the Great Rock.

Many unfamiliar cat scents hit her nose as she nervously entered the Clan's Gathering place, held every full moon.

Nightstar leaped onto the Great Rock, giving a curt nod to the WindClan leader, Rabbitstar. Duskstar, ShadowClan's leader, glared at Nightstar with hostility.

"RiverClan has not arrived yet," Rabbitstar meowed. "Should we wait for them?"

Before any of the leaders could reply, a stream of cats entered the clearing. That must be RiverClan, Frostpaw thought. But the cat leading them doesn't seem to be Streamstar.

The leaders exchanged knowing glances.

"I am sad to announce that Streamstar went to StarClan a few days ago," she meowed. "I am now Greenstar, and our new deputy is Quailwing."

"Greenstar! Greenstar!" the Clans called as if they were welcoming a new warrior. "Quailwing! Quailwing!"

"Rabbitstar, would you like to speak next?" the new RiverClan leader, Greenstar, asked.

Rabbitstar nodded and began to give his report. As he was boasting about WindClan's prey, Frostpaw noticed that Duskstar and Nightstar were having a silent battle with each other - glaring at the other leader with much hatred.

After Rabbitstar's report, it was Duskstar's turn. "Prey has even running well in ShadowClan, but our borders are being threatened by ThunderClan."

Yowls of protest followed his words.

Duskstar continued, unfazed. " One of my patrols were ambushed and a young apprentice was involved. The ThunderClan warriors showed no mercy and severely wounded all the members of the patrol. Care to explain, the great and mighty Nightstar?" The ShadowClan leader's tone was mocking.

"ThunderClan did no such things!" Nightstar snarled. "Your Clan invaded first!"

The Gathering place was suddenly coated with darkness. Clouds had covered the moon.

"Watch your back, Nightstar," Duskstar hissed, flicking his tail for his Clan to leave. "You wouldn't get away with all you have done!"

"I guess the Gathering is over," Frostpaw didn't realise Goldenpaw siting nearby. "Luckily, StarClan stopped it or else worse things could happen."

"ThunderClan, we are going home," Nightstar mewed, sounding angry.

As ThunderClan began to leave, Frostpaw heard some cat muttering, "Interesting Gathering tonight."

~~~~

Frostpaw had a undisturbed sleep after the Gathering. Appleshade brought her for the dawn patrol and she sighed in relief when it was over.

Frostpaw settled herself near the fresh-kill pile and tucked into a mouse.

A patrol came back with a strange cat with them. All cats immediately stood up, bristling with hostility. "Who is he?" Brownstripe asked calmly.

Icetail, the leader of the patrol, replied. "He wishes to join ThunderClan to become a warrior."

Nightstar, who was listening to the conversation, nodded approvingly.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather at the Highrock for a Clan meeting!" Nightstar yowled. Stormleaf appeared out of the medicine cat den with Leafnose and Stagpaw while the others padded out of their dens.

"This cat is willing to join ThunderClan. Since we are in need of warriors, we will accept him into our clan. If he proves himself worthy of being a warrior, he can stay." Brownstripe looked doubtful, but nodded in agreement.

"From this moment on, this cat will be known as Longpaw until he receives his warrior name," Nightstar said. "Fireclaw will be his mentor."

"Longpaw! Longpaw!" the Clan yowled even though some of them are looking doubtful.

"Welcome, Longpaw!" Patchpaw mewed welcomingly with a grin.

"You can sleep anywhere in here, and you have plenty of choices," Redpaw explained.

Longpaw looked excited as he surveyed the surroundings curiously.

"Why did you join the Clan?" Frostpaw asked. She never met a loner or a rogue before, so she wondered why Longpaw joined.

"I heard from a cat that speaks of the Clans," Longpaw replied. "You see, times are hard. Prey is scarce. I joined in hopes of a better life."

"Then you made a good choice in joining," the light grey and white she-cat meowed. "The Clan always sticks together in tough times."

"I can't wait," the newcomer responded.

~~~~

As Frostpaw stalked a rabbit, Goldenpaw crashed into her abruptly, causing the prey to escape.

"Why did you do that for?" she asked, annoyed.

"My littermates and I passed our warrior assessments!" Goldenpaw replied excitedly. "We are going to be warriors!"

"Congrats!" Frostpaw meowed, her previous annoyance fading away.

"Thanks!" Goldenpaw smiled, though her expression changed quickly.

"I wish Grasspaw can become a warrior too," she added glumly. "It doesn't make sense to me that such a hardworking cat like him have to be punished like that!"

Frostpaw remembered Nightstar's words and started to explain to the golden she-cat, but she did not get a chance to do so.

Goldenpaw had already rushed back to camp, probably to prepare for the ceremony.

She probably pities Grasspaw, Frostpaw thought before resuming the hunt.

~~~~

Back at camp, Nightstar gathered the Clan to begin the three littermates' warrior ceremony.

"I, Nightstar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. Redpaw, Goldenpaw, Patchpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do," all of them meowed.

"Then, by the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior names: Redpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Redfur. StarClan honors your loyalty and swiftness, and we welcome you as a warrior of ThunderClan."

"Goldenpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Goldenfeather. StarClan honors your honesty and intelligence and we welcome you as a warrior of ThunderClan."

"Patchpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Patchheart. StarClan honors your courage and endurance and we welcome you as a warrior of ThunderClan." Nightstar finished.

"Redfur! Goldenfeather! Patchheart!" the Clan erupted in cheers.

"It will be your turn soon," Appleshade promised.

Frostpaw smiled. I hope so.