"SnowClan's prey has been abundant," Darkstar announced, signaling the beginning of the Gathering. "We've seen more rabbits than we have stalks of grass," he continued jokingly.

"No need to boast, Darkstar," Goldenstar of ReedClan said in a slightly disciplining tone. "But continue."

Darkstar nodded to the aging leader and continued. "I am happy to announce that our young warrior Streamwater is expecting kits-and a large litter, it seems. Athena's kits are also growing well, and will soon be ready to be apprenticed."

You don't talk about how many kits a queen is expecting, Ravenblaze thought annoyedly at her leader.

Ravenblaze noticed that Jackalstar's tail tip was thumping against his boulder, as if the AmberClan leader were anxious to speak. He continued to listen to Darkstar.

"I believe that is all SnowClan has to say," Darkstar finished. He turned to Goldenstar. "Go ahead, Goldenstar."

Goldenstar rose to her white paws and took a step forward, clearing her throat. When she spoke, her voice was loud and clear, and Ravenblaze nearly flinched when her strong voice entered her ears.

"ReedClan is doing absolutely wonderful," Goldenstar said in a bragging tone. "We've had a new litter of kits and three new warriors this past moon!" She turned to two she-cats and a tom, all baring white pelts with gray splotches. The tom has green eyes, and so did one she-cat, and the last she-cat had yellow eyes. They lifted their heads as high as their necks would allow them to stretch. "Congratulations to Graydapple," the tom lifted his head as Goldenstar addressed him, and then the she-cats as Goldenstar finished, "Rainsky and Stormclaw."

"So much for not boasting," Stonepaw whispered in his mentor's ear, lifting his gray head to reach it. Ravenblaze nodded, a scowl for Goldenstar on her face.

"And also-" Goldenstar began, only to be cut off by a yowl. She turned her head toward SnowClan's entranceway, her expression showing annoyance. Every other cat in the hollow also turned, and before Ravenblaze she did, she caught a glimpse of Jackalstar's muzzle moving to murmur something under his breath.

The cats who had burst into the clearing were Maplepaw, Dawnripple's apprentice, Robinchest, Thistleblaze and Mosswing. Darkstar gave Thistleblaze a disapproving and disciplining look as he saw his presence.

But the four arriving cats were all panting, their fur bristled. Maplepaw tried to speak, but couldn't, having to take a breath every second passing.

"It-it's..." Mosswing began. Ravenblaze took a few steps forward toward her sister, wondering why she had arrived. Panic started to wrap around her senses as Robinchest spoke for every cat.

"Stagpad... he's... not okay!" Robinchest sputtered. Thistleblaze's orange eyes were wide and clouded with nothing but worry.

Darkstar's amber eyes widened and he leapt down from his boulder, rushing towards the SnowClan patrol. "What do you mean, Robinchest?" He asked, his voice calm but his heart probably pounding.

Thistleblaze explainer it all, looking down at his paws guiltily. "We were checking the queens for ticks, Cloudpaw and I. We had just finished the elders. I noticed that Stagpad wasn't like his usual self, and I wanted to stay with him... but I knew I had an order from Darkstar." He took a second to look into Darkstar's gaze, only to quickly look back down at the dirt beneath his paws.

"Stagpad was the only one in the elders' den, all the others were walking around camp while there was less of a crowd," Thistleblaze continued, "he was asleep. Fennelfoot went in to offer him a vole, but he was barely breathing and wouldn't wake up when Fennelfoot pawed his side. We all slowly gathered to the den..." Thistleblaze trailed off and he let out a main of distress. "He won't wake up..."

Ravenblaze, out of the corner of her widened eye, saw Stonepaw gasp. She raced up beside Mosswing's side, ready to take the trek home.

Darkstar turned to the AmberClan and ReedClan cats, who didn't look as worried as the SnowClan cats did. "I apologize, Goldenstar, Jackalstar, but I must go. I'm sorry for having to call this Gathering off short," Darkstar atoned. With a flick of his thin tail to gather his warriors, he raced past the arrived cats and raced back to SnowClan camp. All the other SnowClan cats followed their leader, prepared for the possibility of a loss of a SnowClan cat's life.

A/N
Hello, everybody! Sorry for this short chapter, but eh. It was a boring Gathering, what could I do to spice it up? Don't think I'm endangering Stagpad go keep everybody interested, I've actually been planning this for a while now.
Anyways, why do you think Jackalstar was so anxious? Let me know your guesses in the comments below! I'd like to hear them, considering you'll have to wait for the next Gathering to hear about what it is!
Well, don't forget to vote, I guess. Have a good day, everybody!