Stormhawk pushed his way into camp at the head of the group. He waved his tail for Darkpaw and Crimsonclaw to follow him across the clearing toward Adderstar's den.

Darkpaw's paws tingled. He had always wanted to go in that den, even as a kit.

Stormhawk padded down the small slope next to the Meeting Rock into the burrow below.

"Adderstar, we have news to report on the rogue problem." Stormhawk announced as Crimsonclaw and Darkpaw came up on his right side.

The long-haired red tom nodded his head for them to report. 

"Darkpaw and I were searching around for them. They didn't even try to disguise their scent on our territory at all! Then all of a sudden the rogues were attacking us. They had us surrounded and then Stormhawk's patrol came up behind us and helped us fight them off." Crimsonclaw explained, taking a step forward.

"Why were they on our territory in the first place? Did they say?" Adderstar asked.

Crimsonclaw shook his head. "No they didn't. They're just out for revenge for what we did to Scarfur."

Adderstar nodded along as he took in all the information.

"You two can go and eat, there's a gathering tonight at Four Birches so if your chosen to go you'll want to get something to eat before we go." Stormhawk said a sharp edge to his meow. He laid his tail over Darkpaw's shoulders, and Darkpaw raised an eyebrow and leaned away. What was going on? Why did Stormhawk want them to leave in such a hurry that he had to guide them out? They weren't blind bats! Stormhawk pressed against Crimsonclaw's side, leading the two of them up toward the camp above. 

Stormhawk lead them over to the Prey Pile and turned around and padded back to Adderstar's den.

Darkpaw's eyes followed Stormhawk. He glanced back at Crimsonclaw, who was picking out a piece of prey for himself. Curiosity bubbled inside of him, he glanced once more at Crimsonclaw and padded quietly after Stormhawk. 

Darkpaw dropped to his belly and slithered up to the entrance of the den.

"The rogue leader wanted to kill Darkpaw! They were after him, Adderstar!" Stormhawk's voice flowed from inside. Darkpaw crawled further in, his belly fur gathering dust.

"I understand what you're saying, Stormhawk." Adderstar said, calmly.

"Think about who Darkpaw's father was. Who his mother is." Stormhawk whispered. "He could turn out just like them. Do you want a second Scarfur?" He growled, taking a couple steps closer to Adderstar. 

Darkpaw stiffened, anger flowing through his veins.

"No cat wants that but I can assure you that he won't. He's not a bad cat, StarClan would've warned us already if he was." Adderstar replied.

"Don't play dumb, Adderstar! I've seen the way Swanfeather looks at that apprentice these days! StarClan told her something didn't they? Didn't they!" Stormhawk growled, his eyes blazing.

Adderstar's calm expression faltered for a blink but he quickly regained his calm look. "That doesn't concern you, Stormhawk." 

Stormhawk let out a huff of annoyance and sat down. "I've seen the way he fights. He has his father's evilness in him. He's willing to kill. Look what happened to Scarfur."

"He can resist it, Stormhawk." Adderstar assured his deputy.

Darkpaw's breath was turning to gasps. Swanfeather was something about me...

"What if he doesn't! What then!" Stormhawk hissed, unsheathing his claws.

"Drop it, Stormhawk!" Adderstar growled, the fur on the back of his neck now beginning to bristle.

"Don't say I didn't warn you when he turns against you, Adderstar." Stormhawk hissed and turned to head out of the den. 

Darkpaw's eyes widened and he scrambled to his paws. He padded quickly over to the Prey Pile, his heart pounding and his mind swirling with questions. 

"Darkpaw, are you okay? You look a little scared." 

Darkpaw looked up and saw Wolfblaze standing in front of him with a limp squirrel at his paws.

"Huh? Me? Uh, I'm fine!" Darkpaw stammered, quickly.

Wolfblaze raised an eyebrow. "I don't believe you." He meowed. 

Darkpaw's eyes fell to the ground and he bit his lip.

"I'm fine, Wolfblaze. You wouldn't understand anyway." Darkpaw muttered the last part and walked past him, letting his fur brush against Wolfblaze's gray pelt. He wouldn't understand. I don't fully understand it myself...

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Meeting Rock." Adderstar yowled the tradition summon. FoxClan gathered around the rock where Adderstar was standing, the sun setting behind him. "As you know, tonight is the full moon and the gathering is tonight. These are cats and foxes that are going, Stormhawk, Swanfeather, myself, Darkpaw, Wolfblaze, Crimsonclaw, Nightfire, Sagetalon, and Duskheart."

Excitement filled Darkpaw up, pushing his worries to the back of his mind. This was his first gathering! He would meet cats from other clans!

"That is all. We'll leave as soon as the moon rises." Adderstar finished, jumping down from the large rock.

The moon was just above the horizon, bathing the rocky grasslands in white moonlight. Adderstar had called the cats who were going to the gathering together by the camp's entrance.

"Alright, let's head out. The other clans will be waiting for us." Adderstar said and lead the patrol of warriors out of camp.

Four great, white birch trees stood tall surrounding the hollow below. There was a huge boulder near the back of the clearing. The moonlight from the full moon was giving the hollow a white sheen. Darkpaw was mesmerized. 

Adderstar gave a swish of his tail and the small group of FoxClan cats filed down into the hollow. 

"Looks like FernClan and DuskClan are already here." Wolfblaze commented, looking around.

"Awesome!" Darkpaw replied. 

Adderstar had leapt onto the large boulder and was talking with Chestnutstar, their heads bent close together. 

"Who's the leader of DuskClan?" Darkpaw asked Wolfblaze as the rest of FoxClan began to disperse among the two other clans.

"Oh, that light brown she-cat with the pinkish colored eyes up there, sitting on the Great Boulder with Chestnutstar and Adderstar." Wolfblaze pointed with his tail. "Her name is Cherrystar. Her deputy is talking with Stormhawk and Thistleheart. She's Spottedwillow, the white calico with the amber eyes." Wolfblaze replied, pointing toward her.

"Hmm." Darkpaw nodded along.

"Oh look! CreekClan just got here!" Wolfblaze said.

Darkpaw turned to look. There was a patrol of fishy smelling cats walking into the crowd. A yellowish she-cat with blue eyes leapt onto the Great Boulder by the other leaders. 

"That's Brightstar and her deputy is Sandyshore, the sandy brown she-cat with blue eyes." Wolfblaze explained.

Darkpaw nodded, gazing around the clearing.

A body came barreling into his side all of a sudden. 

"Sorry!" Came a startled she-cat's voice. Darkpaw turned. This cat was probably an apprentice based on her size, she was light gray with darker gray splashes and blue eyes. "I didn't mean to run into you. I'm just so excited! This is my first gathering! There are so many cats here! Oh, ahem, right. Hi! I'm Lakepaw of CreekClan!" 

This cat's cheerful... Darkpaw thought.

"Hi, I'm Darkpaw of FoxClan and this is my friend Wolfblaze, also of FoxClan."

"Nice you meet you two! Is this your first gathering Darkpaw?" Lakepaw asked.

Darkpaw nodded, giving his chest a few quick licks.

"Cool! What do you think so far?" Lakepaw asked, her eyes bright with excitement.

"It's really cool, actually." Darkpaw replied, letting his eyes wander around.

"Darkpaw, the gathering's starting! Let's go find some good spots!" Wolfblaze meowed. 

"Yeah I'm coming." Darkpaw replied.

"See ya! Nice meeting you guys!"Lakepaw called after them as they weaved their way toward more of their clanmates.

"Cats of the clans! This gathering is now going to begin!" Chestnutstar meowed from on top of the boulder. He took a couple paces back. "Adderstar, you may go." He nodded his head to the red furred tom beside him.

"Thank you Chestnutstar." Adderstar replied, stepping forward to the edge of the stone. "I bring some disturbing news to this gathering tonight. There have been rogues on our territory. And not too long ago, a former FernClan cat, named Scarfur led an attack on our camp. Our clan took care of him but his rogues are out for revenge." Adderstar announced. 

"FernClan has also had some rogue issues. Not as bad as yours Adderstar, but still bad. They've been tramping through our woods and frightening the prey." Chestnutstar took a pace forward, looking at the FoxClan leader.

"Hmm. Have CreekClan or DuskClan had problems with rogues?" Adderstar asked, turning to the two leaders beside him. Both leaders shook their heads.

"Alright then." 

"Wait, Adderstar. Do you think maybe the rogues were after something? Think about who led them? Scarfur. Think about who his kin-" Stormhawk started.

"Enough Stormhawk! CreekClan and DuskClan don't have any rogue problems and FernClan's aren't as bad, this doesn't concern them!" Adderstar snapped at his deputy.

Stormhawk glared up at his leader for a second before resting his gaze on Darkpaw. Darkpaw tensed and his neck fur bristled.

"Besides the rogue problems, FoxClan brings to this gathering one new apprentice, Darkpaw and we also bring a newly named warrior, Wolfblaze."

"Darkpaw, Wolfblaze!" The other clans cheered respectfully. 

"Prey is running well for us but leaf-fall is on its way. I can feel the air beginning to grow colder. That is all. Chestnutstar, you may go." Adderstar stepped back, giving a nod to the brown tom.

Chestnutstar returned the nod and stepped forward. "FernClan is doing well, despite the rogue issues we're having. We are able to get prey along with patrolling our territory to try to keep the rogues out. That is all" Chestnutstar meowed. "Brightstar."

Brightstar gave a polite smile and padded up to the edge of the boulder. "CreekClan is doing well. The river is flowing with fish and our prey pile is full thanks to our warriors. We bring to this gathering a new apprentice, Lakepaw." Brightstar glanced down at Lakepaw and gave her a bright smile.

"Lakepaw, Lakepaw!" The clans meowed. Lakepaw smiled and looked around at the clans, giving her chest a few embarrassed licks.

"That is all for CreekClan. Cherrystar, you may go." 

Cherrystar nodded and stepped forward. "DuskClan is doing well. Our prey is running well and DuskClan is strong. Our borders are safe and secure. That's all." Cherrystar meowed.

"Feel free to discuss things with the other clans before this gathering ends." Brightstar called down.

Darkpaw gave his chest a few licks and glanced around. 

"Darkpaw. Long time no see. How are things?" 

Darkpaw turned to see Thistleheart standing beside him.

"Hey Thistleheart. Things are okay. How are things with FernClan?" Darkpaw replied.

"Things are good. Except for the rogues scaring off our prey on occasion." Thistleheart flicked an ear. "They attacked your camp is what Adderstar said, was Scarfur there?"

Darkpaw hung his head. "Yeah he was.." 

"Hmm. How did you take it?" Thistleheart asked, concern sparkling in his green eyes.

"Not well." Darkpaw replied, honestly, considering he had killed Scarfur during that battle.

"I'm sorry to hear that. I hope things get better for your clan." Thistleheart meowed, flicking his tail across Darkpaw's shoulder.

"Yeah, me too." Darkpaw said. 

"Well, until the next gathering then." Thistleheart dipped his head to the apprentice and padded off toward Spottedwillow.

"You now you'll turn into you father sooner or later.. Those rogues wanted you Darkpaw. It's just a matter of time.." A voice hissed in his ear.

Darkpaw jumped and spun around, his nose hitting Stormhawk's. Stormhawk reared back and curled his lip in disgust. 

"I'm not going to turn evil!" Darkpaw growled. 

"I saw the way you fought him. You can kill. You have his anger in you, you worthless scrap of fur." Stormhawk snarled. 

"I won't." Darkpaw repeated, his eyes narrowing.

"Just wait and see." Stormhawk growled, stalking away from him, whacking him in the face with his tail as he turned.

Darkpaw stared after the deputy, pawing the strands of Stormhawk's fur off of him.

"FoxClan! We're leaving now!" Addestar called from the edge of the hollow. The FoxClan cats began to file out of the clearing.

I have to tell Adderstar about Stormhawk. Does Adderstar believe what Stormhawk told him in his den? Darkpaw took a deep breath and bounded over to his clanmates. He reached Adderstar and came to a halt as the rest of his clan padded up and over the slope.

"Adderstar, wait! Can I talk with you for a few moments?" Darkpaw asked. Stormhawk turned his head back to look at Darkpaw. 

"Sure Darkpaw. Stormhawk start leading the clan back to our territory." Adderstar nodded to his deputy.

Stormhawk shot a glare at Darkpaw and with a small hiss, he turned around and bounded ahead of his clanmates.

"What is Darkpaw?" Adderstar meowed, turning back to him.

"Stormhawk is right, you know." Darkpaw admitted, glancing in the direction the blue-gray tom had gone.

"What do you mean?" Adderstar pressed, studying Darkpaw's face.

"Those rogues were looking for me. To kill me." Darkpaw closed his eyes as he felt a shudder coming on. He pushed it away with a shake of his black pelt. "They want to get revenge on me for what I did. I killed their leader. My... father..." He scrunched up his face at the word 'father'. "I felt so angry. So full of rage. Stormhawk's right. I could turn out like him. A murderer. A evil cat. A traitor." Darkpaw looked his leader in the eyes.

"I want you to listen to me Darkpaw." Adderstar meowed. "You are not your father. You're a good cat. You always will be, trust me on that. I don't know your motives for killing him because I'm not you, but I know that you're a good cat. You're not evil." Adderstar said, resting his fluffy tail on Darkpaw's shoulder.

Darkpaw stared down at his paws and looked up at Adderstar after a few moments. "He deserved it though. Scarfur. He deserved to die."

"Darkpaw..." Addestar murmured. 

"If those rogues are after me, I'll do just what I did to Scarfur, to them. They all deserve that fate." Darkpaw growled, almost hearing their pitiful screams for mercy in his ears.

"Darkpaw." Adderstar repeated. "I know we all have our bad times. And yours are worse than some but I want you to remember something. Not all things have to be solved by dark ways. Don't forget about the light inside you."