The camp was fairly quiet as Fawnstar padded out of the highrock, for they were all still shocked there were no clues of where Foxstorm had disappeared to. Some started to believe she had went out into the forest and had gotten attacked by a fox, and some claimed she must have been kidnapped. No one knew for sure.

Fawnstar cleared her throat and called out who would be going to the gathering. She was a small cat, and her voice was a slightly higher pitch than others, so they can all tell it was her when they heard her voice. "Sandhawk, Cloverheart, Scorchfang, Breezetail, Almondpelt, Raincatcher, and Thornpaw will come to the gathering tonight."

Woodleap appeared next to her, a bit taller and broader, with dark brown fur with black streaks. The deputy added on with, "If everybody's ready, we leave now."

    The assembled cats shared murmurs and nods until Almondpelt called out to him, "yeah, we're ready."

    Thornpaw hadn't realized she had called him until Aquapaw whispered. "Go! She called you." He smiled at her gratefully and sprinted after the cats who were beginning to leave.

    He had only been to a gathering once in his life. He met a couple cats, shared a few stories, and listened as the leaders talked about new warriors and badgers and prey. Maybe it would be a tad more interesting this time.

    His mentor Sandhawk slipped up next to him. "Hey," the warrior greeted. "Are you excited for the gathering?"

    "Yeah..."

    "Is something wrong?"

    "Um, no."

    Thornpaw guiltily looked away from Sandhawk as the black and tan warrior meowed in concern, "you can tell me anything, Thornpaw. How am I supposed to mentor you if you won't talk?"

    Thornpaw looked at his feet, padding over the grass. "Uh. You know how Foxstorm vanished?"

    Sandhawk's gaze flashed in surprise, like he didn't expect him to say that. But he nodded for Thornpaw to go on. "Well, I don't really want that to happen to anyone else, especially... Er..."

    "Aquapaw," Sandhawk said sympathetically. Thornpaw awkwardly nodded.

    "Uh, yeah. That's what's wrong."

    Sandhawk brushed against him. "It's fine. But let me tell you a secret..."

    Intruiged, Thornpaw nodded.

    "I think Aquapaw likes you, too."

    Thornpaw's eyes widened with excitement. "She- She does? How do you know?" He knew he was acting like a kit, but he really wanted to know.

    "I said I think. And I've seen the way you two look at each other when the other's not looking. Have you ever thought about telling her?"

    Thornpaw remembered when he tried to tell her after Foxstorm's disappearance. "Yeah. Why? Do you have a mate?"

    "No. Neither does my brother Breezetail. But I remember when my friend Runningstream told Redheart. It was right in front of everyone, he was brave. Anyways, he told her, and she yelled 'Yes'! They truly loved each other. It was heartwarming." Sandhawk purred. "Redheart's expecting kits now. I can picture them- little red and brown bundles of joy."

    Thornpaw smiled at the thought. "Oh- we're here."

    The gathering place, which they called the Starstone, was a large rock jutting out of the earth taller than the four thin oaks surrounding it. Each tree was meant to resemble a clan- one pointed to Sunclan, one pointed to Lightclan, and so on. The leaders stood at the very top, while the deputy's mainly sat at the base. Medicine cats usually stayed near a certain tree.

    Moonclan was already there. It was spoken that Sunclan and Moonclan didn't get along. Same thing for Lightclan snd Darkclan. The Moonclan cats caught sight of them and didn't turn hostile, exactly, just turned away.

    Thornpaw watched his clanmates scatter but stay mainly near the Sunclan tree. He watched the Moonclan medicine cats, Snaketooth and Needlepaw, go over to stand by Featherstep. At first he was confused, then remembered the medicine cats were friends.

He turned, but saw the Sandhawk had wandered to talk with Scorchfang. Thornpaw watched the two cats murmur until someone tapped his shoulder.

"Oh-!" Thornpaw yelped. He spun around, only to see a gray striped cat around his size- maybe younger. "Uh, hi?"

"Hey!" The cat purred, his blue eyes shining. "I'm Tealpaw. This is my first gathering. Is this your first gathering?"

"Uh, no, this is only my second-"

"Wow! How long have you been training? I started only a moon ago!"

"Um... Uh, three moons. I'm Thornpaw."

Tealpaw gave a little bounce. "Who's your leader? Minkstar, right? No, wait! Don't tell me! Uh- Fawnstar!"

"Yes, my leader is Fawnstar," Thornpaw said, slowly and clearly to make sure this hyper cat understood. Maybe he caught greencough and had too much catmint.

    "Mine's Graystar! Look, she's huge compared to your leader!"

    Thornpaw gave him an odd look and glanced up at the t. Fawnstar was perched next to a broad gray cat. Tealpaw had a point- Graystar was tall and muscular, while Fawnstar was small and meek next to her. Thornpaw knew Tealpaw hadn't meant to be rude, but it still annoyed him.

    "Yeah, you're right," Thornpaw managed, trying to keep calm.

    "Look! Look, another clan!" Tealpaw suddenly exclaimed as the Lightclan cats trotted in. Their leader Minkstar, a small cat (but larger than Fawnstar) with dark brown fur, sprang up the Starstone until he was next to Graystar. His yellow-green eyes scanned the cats, as if he was looking for someone. After a couple seconds he relaxed and sat back.

    Thornpaw watched him with his eyes narrowed, wondering who he could possibly be looking for.

<><><>

    Renegade lowered himself to the ground and watched the Lightclan cats slink into the gathering place. He had rolled in ivy and mulch to blend in with the scents of the forest. His light brown tabby pelt also helped in hiding in the plants.

    He had only been to a gathering once as a rogue, sneaking in two moons ago. It was useful to know what was going on in the clans, but he needed to be more careful this time- last time Shardstar had spotted him behind the medicine cats. It was a dumb plan, Renegade thought. The leader would know he wasn't a medicine cat.

    He waited a few seconds before climbing around the Lightclan tree and pressed himself against it. He smiled to himself when Minkstar looked anxiously at the already assembled medicine cats. Thinks I'll try that again... I'm not an idiot, Minkstar.

    Renegade scanned the unorganized cats and made a mental note that Darkclan will come in soon. Darkclan had a sharp sense of smell, he hoped they wouldn't scent him hiding in the ferns. Then again, there were many mingled scents.

    His gaze turned to the leaders again as Graystar called out, "I see Darkclan. The gathering will begin soon, so be quiet."

    "Harsh," Renegade murmured to himself. Then he remembered it wouldn't be a very good idea to hide with Lightclan- they'd recognize him for sure. So he turned right and crawled to the next tree, Sunclan's.

    Darkclan swarmed in right as he got to the tree. Shardstar was up on the Stone in an instant. "Let the gathering commence!" He yowled.

    Graystar rolled her eyes and said, "finally. I'll go first." The gray cat stood up and called out, "Moonclan is doing fairly awesome. Our medicine cat apprentice Needlepaw is learning well, and will got her name in a moon."

She smiled and sat back, resting her bushy gray tail over her paws. "Who's next?"

"I am," Minkstar's quiet voice drifted up. The thin brown cat climbed to the very top of the rock, looking nervous. Renegade pricked his ears in surprise; Minkstar's was usually last to go, and stayed near the back when he talked. Who's the leader that chose him, and why? Renegade wondered.

Oh, right. Sweetstar. That white and red cat that was obsessed when being kind and not fighting. No wonder she chose Minkstar.

His thoughts went back to the present as Minkstar cleared his throat and stammered, "Uh... Uh... A couple days ago... Uh..."

"Hurry up," Graystar growled.

Minkstar swallowed. "Nine days ago, we sent a patrol out, and, uh, we found Burnstalk. He's the cat accused of ambushing our medicine cat, Littlewhisker, seven moons ago."

    Renegade narrowed his eyes.

    "He threatened our patrol," Minkstar went on shakily. "He would have went over the border if they hadn't stopped him. If you see him, don't be afraid to take him prisoner or kill him or... Or whatever's necessary."

    Renegade resisted the urge to sprint up their and cuff him over the air. He did not threaten them, he didn't try to get over the border...

    He did not try to murder Littlewhisker seven moons ago.

    Fawnstar dipped her head. "We understand, Minkstar," she said softly. "If he does cross our border, we will deal with it. Is there anything else you wish to say?"

    Minkstar seemed to freeze up, then said, "One of our apprentices, Snowpaw, has gone missing."

    The crowd began to whisper.

    "Hush!" Shardstar snapped. "Go on, Minkstar."

    "She was out in the forest alone when she vanished. Her scent trail cuts off, and there are no clues of where she went."

    Fawnstar sat up quickly. "The same thing happened to our warrior Foxstorm as she was on guard duty."

    "Stonewood is still missing," murmured Shardstar. Renegade remembered Shardstar mentioning that the first time he snuck in.

    Graystar frowned. "No one is missing from Moonclan," she said. "Why?"

    "They could come to yours next," Minkstar warned quietly.

    Shardstar faced Minkstar. "Do you think perhaps Burnstalk is behind this? If he threatened your patrol, he could be the one kidnapping cats." From somewhere in the crowd, Renegade heard a voice yowl, "Ha! I told him it was a kidnapper!"

Renegade flared his nostrils. Minkstar has no proof he threatened them, which he didn't. And they thought he was behind this? Yes, Shardstar, I just walk into clan territory and drag off random cats for absolutely no reason.

    "My name is not Burnstalk!" He shouted before he could stop himself. The cats immediately faced his direction, sliding their claws out after realizing it was him. Renegade shoved past a group of Lightclan apprentices as leaped up the Starstone.

    "No!" Minkstar screamed. "The Stone is for leaders only! Get off!" As Renegade climbed onto the top Minkstar yelped and ducked behind Shardstar.

    "My name is not Burnstalk," he repeated, softer this time because his voice was clear at the top of the Rock and not muffled by bushes. He turned to face the crowd, turning so each clan could see him. Half looked terrified, but the other half looked prepared for a fight. "My name is Renegade. So stop calling me Burstalk."

    "You!" Graystar roared. "Have you been kidnapping cats?" She lowered her head and prepared to pounce on him.

    "Shut up. I'm getting to that part," Renegade snapped. "And this goes for all of you, sheathe your claws! Your perfect Starclan doesn't want you fighting here, do they?"

    "I don't want you talking about Starclan that way!" Minkstar managed, coming out from behind Shardstar.

    Renegade lunged at him and stopped when their noses were almost touching. Minkstar squeaked. "I don't care what you want from me," Renegade snarled. "You're not my leader anymore."

    The Lightclan cats yowled. "Get off our leader!"

    "He's hurting him!"

    "He truly is evil!"

    "He's trying another murder!"

    Renegade pricked his ears at the last one and pulled away. Once again he looked at everyone, who were almost twitching with desire to attack him. "All those moons ago, when you claimed I tried to kill Littlewhisker? It wasn't me, fools."

    "Yes it was!" Littlewhisker cried out. "I remembered you attacking me!"

    Renegade met her gaze. "Tell me," he growled. "Tell us all. What happened when you were attacked?"

    Littlewhisker gulped. "I was in my den, which is a one-exit cave. I was in the back, sorting herbs. And then... And then... A claw was shoved against my throat and I was pressed into the wall. I couldn't see anything, but my neck was starting to bleed. Then I heard cats fighting and the claw went away. When finally I managed to get up and turn around, Burnstalk was standing there, one claw covered in blood and covered in scratches."

    "I was fighting, mouse-brain!" Renegade shouted. "I was trying to save you!"

    "There was only your scent," Littlewhisker retorted.

    "Then why were there fighting cats?"

    "Quiet!" Fawnstar yelled. "What's happened already happened. Burn- Renegade, you were exiled, and now your a rogue. We all just want to know if you've kidnapped any cats... Foxstorm? Stonewood? Or Snowpaw?"

    "None of them," Renegade snarled, with a quick glance up at the moon. He was quite surprised it was still shining. "But I know where they are."

    Every single cat went dead silent. They looked up at him, forcing him to go on.

    "I will take some cats there if they want to save their clanmates. Warriors? Perhaps an apprentice or two?" Renegade looked around at the silent cats.

    "You will be taking no one!" Graystar shouted. "I will never trust you with my cats."

    The Moonclan cats nodded furiously and glared at him.

    "Okay, looks like Moonclan's not as brave as Graystar makes them out to be." Renegade swung around to look at the other three clans. "Anybody else?"

    "I'll go."

    The creaky voice came from Darkclan.

    Renegade hopes fell.

    An elder?