Above: Art by the talented FerntailOfSilverClan!! (Isn't it pretty?)

"It appears we're the first ones to this Gathering," observed Mudfoot, Ashleaf's deputy, as StormClan halted at the peak of the hill. 

Ashleaf nodded in agreement. "Indeed," She replied softly. Her fur almost stood on end with foreboding. 

Before her was a large clearing, an expanse of flat plains, golden fronds of grass dancing ominously in the pale glow of the full moon. Four large elm trees stood in the center. A dilapidated tree trunk lay parallel to them, tendrils of ivy slithering its way up the bark. 

"It'll be an interesting one, likewise," murmured Snowsong adjacent to her, "Hawkstar's going to have an earful."

Assuming Hawkstar was the leader of this mysterious StoneClan, Ashleaf turned to her deputy and medicine cat. Ashleaf hoped the cats she had chosen to attend the Gathering would be sufficient in the eyes of the other two Clans. She had chosen Snowsong and Mudfoot, of course, being the closest cats to her. Sunpaw and Mousepaw had come along, as well as Pantherstep, Lilyblossom, and Pineneedle, Ashleaf's mother. 

Spotflower, a queen in the nursery, had insisted she attend. Ashleaf had tried to protest, but Spotflower had already convinced Ferneye to watch after her kit, Oakkit. Ashleaf had reluctantly submitted to the queen's demands, besides, who wants to argue with a queen? In addition, the elders Scarpelt and Mistyfur had tagged along. 

Ten cats Ashleaf had chosen. Please let it be adequate, she pleaded to StarClan. 

"StormClan, advance," She yowled to her Clanmates. The ten cats poured into the clearing. Snowsong stuck close to Ashleaf, meeting her shoulder to shoulder, while Mudfoot and Lilyblossom followed not far behind.

"This is Fourtrees. You're going to go sit up on that tree trunk in the middle with Rosestar and Hawkstar." She signaled with her tail to the old fallen tree. "Mudfoot and the deputies," She continued, "Brightcloud and Snakescale, will sit below. The warriors and apprentices will fill the clearing. I'll be perched on that old tree stump over there, with the medicine cats, of course."

As she paced her way to the old tree trunk, Ashleaf asked, "Who are the medicine cats?"

"That would be Silenttooth, his apprentice, Featherpaw, and Rabbithop with her apprentice, Shinepaw." Snowsong mewed in reply.

"Ah," the leader nodded in comprehension, "Snowsong, I'm really nervous-"

She was cut off by a sharp yowl from Lilyblossom, "StoneClan has arrived! Every cat to their places!"

A jolt of alarm shot through Ashleaf's pelt. Paws scrabbling on the log, Ashleaf struggled to leap up onto the stump. She ignored the amused snorts of laughter behind her, clearly from Mudfoot and Snowsong. 

"Having a bit of trouble there, Ashstar?" mewed a cool, calculated voice behind her. 

Ashleaf craned her neck around. A large group of cats was slipping silently from behind one of the ancient elm trees. They were lead by a large, muscular mottled brown-and-white tabby tom. His dark brown eyes sparkled in the moonlight and his spots reminded her of those of a hawk's feathers. This must be Hawkstar, Ashleaf realized.

Pelt burning with embarrassment, she pulled herself onto the log. "N-no, I've got it," She'd rather not appear as a coward to yet another leader. 

Hawkstar's whiskers twitched with amusement, oak-brown eyes glimmering with humor. The handsome tom leaned back on his haunches and then launched himself onto the trunk, landing gracefully on the old elm. "You'll learn to be a leader, you know. It takes time." He mewed comfortingly. "Some cats aren't cut out to do it. But, Ashstar, some cats say my senses are as precise as a hawk's. And do you know what those senses tell me? They tell me that you are."

"R-really?" Ashleaf mewed gratefully, "You think so?"

"I know so," replied Hawkstar. He parted his jaws to say more, however, he ceased as a wave of foul, bitter scent washed over the clearing. 

Glancing down into the clearing, Ashleaf noticed with a pang of alarm that cats of both StormClan and StoneClan were being shoved aside by much larger, plumper cats. 

"Out of my way, flea-brains," Ashleaf could scarcely discern one muttering to a pair of StormClan warriors. 

That'll be MeadowClan, thinking they own the place, She thought wretchedly.

At the head of the MeadowClan patrol stood the magnificent, prophecy-proclaimed greatness of Rosestar. Beside her were her deputy, Brightcloud, and her medicine cats, Silenttooth and Featherpaw. 

Ashleaf chose this moment to analyze Rosestar's acquaintances. Brightcloud was a small, golden tabby she-cat with a long scar running down her shoulder. Her sunshine-yellow eyes shone brightly with a superficial optimism. Silenttooth, the medicine cat, Ashleaf observed, lived up to his name. A wordless bellicose expression spread across his muzzle, he gave the impression of a warrior as opposed to a medicine cat. 

Wouldn't want to be under his care, she shuddered. At that moment, Ashleaf reflected on how fortunate she was to have a cat like the compassionate Snowsong as a medicine cat.

Ashleaf tensed as Rosestar crouched down and then thrust herself onto the tree trunk. But to her utter shock, Rosestar turned to Ashleaf, purring affectionately. "Greetings, Ashstar, Hawkstar! Pleased to be here. How's the prey running for you both?"

"Very well, thank you," replied Hawkstar with a purr, "And in MeadowClan?"

Rosestar's golden eyes shone, "Greenleaf's been kind to us. I must say, I think a pawful of my warriors are getting a bit plump!" Hawkstar let out a mrrow of laughter. "And you, Ashstar?"

Ashleaf could do nothing but stand idly in astonishment. Why was Rosestar suddenly being so kind? Did she somehow forget the apparent hatred she had for Ashleaf? Was she choosing to ignore it? 

Rosestar continued to wait for Ashleaf's reply, while Ashleaf was aware that an awkward hush had fallen over Fourtrees. It appeared that every warrior in the clearing now had their eyes fixed on the trio of leaders. 

Finally, Ashleaf let out a choked mew. "Y-yes..fine...thank you," She attempted vainly to gulp down her fear, knowing she couldn't reveal it in public sight like this. 

The small brown she-cat stared at Ashleaf skeptically for a moment, but then shrugged. "If you say so," She mewed. Then, she turned to the cats in the clearing. "Under the will of StarClan, I now proclaim this the beginning of this Gathering. Silenttooth, will you begin with the reciting of the prophecy?"

Ashleaf's eyes widened. They start off Gatherings with the prophecy?! Are MeadowClan cats really that full of themselves?! She craned her neck to glance at Rosestar, who was beaming proudly, her head held high with arrogance. 

The only thought that appeased her is the prospect of hearing this so-called prophecy for the first time. Though she had received an abstract version of it from Snowsong, she had yet to witness a proper saying of it. 

From the tree stump where the medicine cats lay, Silenttooth from MeadowClan brushed past Snowsong and Shinepaw. The old, grimy black tom lifted his head and let out a hoarse, rasping cough.

Ashleaf winced. According to what she had heard from Snowsong, Silenttooth's voice was like listening to claws scratching stone. The ancient medicine cat rarely spoke, and no living cat had ever heard him utter anything other than prophecies. Whether or not it was Silenttooth's choice to be mute, was a mystery. 

When at last the old tom had finished his choking fit, he stood in the face of the three Clans and recited the prophecy, his voice rough and grating. 

"The cat destined to save us all,

Must come forth to answer the call!

Kind, courageous, and beautiful is she,

She will lead the Clans assisted by three, 

She'll save us all from certain peril,

And stop us from being the Clans destined to fail!"

As Silenttooth finished, Ashleaf had to suppress a growl as joyous cheers rose around Fourtrees. This prophecy didn't make sense. Questions flooded her mind. Her prime question was about the prophecy itself. StoneClan, MeadowClan, and StormClan were destined to fail? Was there something so inapposite about the trio of Clans that they had no other fate but destruction? 

StoneClan and MeadowClan yowled choruses of love, respect, and honor towards Rosestar, which repulsed Ashleaf from head to tail. What was so special about Rosestar, anyway? What could she do to prevent whatever destruction came their way? How did the cats even know that the prophecy was about her? 

Silenttooth's prophecy promised kindness, bravery, and beauty. Rosestar certainly had beauty as well as bravery, but kindness? Kindness she lacked. A cat with such an attribute would never commit an act such as to steal a wounded, helpless apprentice and hold her hostage. 

But what will you do about it, Ashleaf?  whispered a soft voice in her mind. 

When the shouting finally died down, Rosestar stepped forward, eyes shining haughtily, "I thank you, my Clans. I will strive to do my best to serve you all, and I assure you, I will never abandon you. Now, Hawkstar, would you like to begin the reports?"

"Yes, please," Hawkstar replied with a nod, "StoneClan is doing well. Prey is plentiful with the gorgeous greenleaf weather. One of our queens, Pebblestream, has three new healthy kits. I'd also like to present two new warriors, Applefall and Duskshade."

 "Applefall! Duskshade!" More cheers erupted around the clearing. 

At that moment, Ashleaf realized just how small her Clan's party was in comparison to the other two. Rosestar's party clearly contained more than twenty cats, more than double the size of her own, and Hawkstar's, possibly more! Ten cats seemed like nothing, despite Ashleaf bringing almost the entirety of her Clan. Was StormClan really that small?

Rosestar, who now appeared to lead the Gatherings in a way, then turned to Ashleaf, and innocent purr rumbling from her throat. "And, Ashstar? Anything you'd like to add? My, that's going to be difficult getting used to, addressing you! I've grown so accustomed to asking Lightstar-"

"Save it," Ashleaf cut off with a growl. She had had quite enough of these games. What was Rosestar playing at, acting all innocent and sweet at this Gathering, when truly, she was a horrible, cruel foxheart?

Rosestar's muzzle dropped. "Excuse me? Is that any way to talk to a leader?"

"Well, you're not my leader! I'm the leader of my own Clan, thank you!" Ashleaf snapped back, anger flaring in her veins. 

Another hush fell over the crowd. StormClan wore looks of dismay and horror, and MeadowClan looked both amused and perplexed. Ashleaf overheard a snort of laughter from Sunheart, one of the MeadowClan warriors. StoneClan, however, were taken by shock. Even Hawkstar seemed taken aback.

Rosestar, to Ashleaf's surprise, looked slightly hurt! "W-well, um, Ashstar, I know that. I wasn't trying to-"

"Would you shut your muzzle?!" the tabby leader shrieked sheer fury. Gasps arose from the cats below, but Ashleaf paid no mind. This is absurd, Ashleaf thought, Why can't they see how horrible she is? She's not kind! Why is she acting so nice?! "I'll have you know," she hissed to the cats in the crowd, "That Rosestar, the 'kind, loving, leader' you know, is not the cat you think she is!" Her loud voice boomed across the clearing, echoing off the trees around them. 

The raging Ashleaf continued,"Just a half moon ago, this cat brought warriors into my camp for no reason, attacked us, and stole a poor, defenseless apprentice! She's holding Loudpaw hostage in her camp right this second, probably torturing her and-"

"Ashstar! That's enough!" It was Hawkstar, with a dismayed yowl that silenced Ashstar. "What are you doing, throwing accusations straight out to Silverpelt? You know Rosestar would never do anything like that! We know being a leader is stressful, but you don't have to take out on Rosestar!"

"What?!" Ashleaf caterwauled, "You're kidding! Of course, she would do something like that! Do you see Loudpaw here with us tonight?! No! It's because she's locked up, in Rosestar's camp, being held hostage because of that cruel excuse for a leader!"

Suddenly, an eerie darkness fell upon Fourtrees. Ashleaf snapped her head up to see a dark storm cloud drifting its way to shield the full moon from the cats below. 

"StarClan's angry," whispered a voice from below, the StoneClan medicine cat, Rabbithop. 

After what seemed like moons, Rosestar spoke up. Her mew was a mere squeak. "Ashstar, why are you saying these things? I-I never took your apprentice!"

Ashleaf couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Fox dung! Of course, you did!"

"Ashstar," Rosestar answered, voice steadier now, "I did not take your apprentice. Are you trying to frame me? Your apprentice, Loudpaw, you said, isn't here. How do we know she isn't back at camp, home safe? Knowing you, you're just trying to get me in trouble."

Though Rosestar's claim seemed plausible, Ashleaf could still detect the icy tone in them. She wasn't deceived. She parted her jaws to screech her protests once more, but was interrupted by a sharp yowl below.

"Every cat, enough!" 

It was Snowsong, who had now leaped down from the tree stump, her white and brown fur fluffed up like a cloud. Her amber eyes blazed with bewilderment and her voice was shrill. "StarClan has dismissed this Gathering! Back to camp! All of you!"