Mintpool's pelt fluffed up with surprise, shock and anger flowing through her. Cobrastrike... attacked FireClan? She blinked, trying to wrap her mind around that. He was such a kind and gentle cat! To attack a Clan... well, she couldn't even begin to imagine him doing that. As for the anger, she understood that he was mad at FireClan, but it was an automatic reaction - anything that went against the Clans brought a prick of anger to her pelt. However, she tried calming herself down, thinking about it from Cobrastrike's point of view. She wasn't definitely happy that her friend had done such a thing, but she could understand why.

Tigerstar growled from the branch, lashing his tail. "He must be stopped!" the dark tom yowled. "Him and the rogues! This is getting ridiculous! They've already attacked us all! Are we really going to just sit here, waiting for their next attack?"

Murmurs of agreement filled the air.

"We need a plan," Tigerstar continued, pacing back and forth on the branch, "to end them, once and for all!" He gazed around at the cats below him. "But you've seen what they can do. One Clan can't take them on alone! We need help. That's why all the Clans need to get together and-"

"Tigerstar, wait." The dark tom's speech was cut off by Sunstar. The orange tom blinked at the FireClan leader. "You want us all to team up to attack the rogues?"

"Yes." Tigerstar stared back at him. "It needs to be done. These rogues must be defeated."

Spottedstar twitched her pelt, blinking at the FireClan leader uncertainly. Although Mintpool was sure that she, too, wanted to get rid of the rogues, she just didn't trust Tigerstar completely. The FireClan leader sure didn't give off a easy-to-work-with aura. 

"I don't know..." Moonstar looked conflicted. "Does the Warrior Code allow this?"

Tigerstar twitched his tail-tip with frustration. "Why wouldn't it?"

"Well..." The EarthClan leader shot a quick glance up at the sky. "We should check if StarClan approves first, before we take any action."

"Quit this mouse-brained thinking!" Tigerstar snarled. "This needs to be done, and quickly!"

Mintpool blinked at him, completely in shock. So this is what the elders mean by FireClan being... spirited. He just called another leader mouse-brained.

It was clear that Moonstar didn't miss that. Fury glittered in her blue gaze as Spottedstar and Sunstar just sat, silent. "What did you just say?"

Tigerstar didn't hesitate to repeat himself. "Your thinking is mouse-brained! We need to stop the rogues! Stop taking so many precautions."

Soft growls of anger came from the EarthClan cats as they glared up at the FireClan leader. Before long, their furious yowls filled the air.

"What did you just call our leader?"

"You think you have the right to tell us what to do?"

"What do you mean by "precautions"? We're just making sure StarClan approves!"

"Or do you not care about our warrior ancestors at all?"

Moonstar whisked her tail angrily. "We're not going to join your little attack," she declared.

"What?" Tigerstar glowered at her. "Are you mouse-brained? This is what we need to do to stop the rogues!"

Snarls of anger rose from the EarthClan cats again, this time countered by FireClan warriors. The two Clans seemed on edges, pelts bristled, lips pulled back into a snarl, glaring at each other. Mintpool caught sight of Leafwhisker crouched down in front of a FireClan cat, snarling, looking ready to attack. Even Cloverleaf scooched away from Nightstrike, the FireClan medicine cat doing the same. 

"Do not tell us what to do!" Moonstar yowled. "When we team up, it won't really be a team! It'll just be you bossing us all around!" Her white pelt was bristled until she was twice her size, her blue eyes flaming blue fire. "How dare you even try to tell EarthClan what's right and what's wrong! We'll decide that for ourselves!"

Tigerstar lashed his tail. "Isn't it obvious what to do? Or are you so mouse-brained that you can't even see the clear correct steps in front of you."

"How dare you!" 

Dark clouds drifted over the moon, the silver light instantly gone. Shock struck Mintpool as she held still. It seemed as though the cats around her did as well.

Moonstar's pelt instantly flattened, looking apologetic as she blinked up at the sky. "Come along, EarthClan. We're leaving." With a sharp flick of her tail, she led the patrol out of the clearing.

Mintpool felt Leafwhisker brush past her coldly. She blinked after him, half in shock from what happened and half hurt by his actions. EarthClan filed out of the clearing quietly after Moonstar, although their pelts were still bristled with anger.

As soon as Moonstar was gone, Tigerstar yowled after her. "Fine! Leave! Let's see how brave you act when the rogues attack you!"

"Stop this," Spottedstar chided. "The Gathering is at a end - StarClan has declared that." 

"What?" Tigerstar protested, his mew heavy with anger. "We still need to plan!"

"Not tonight," Sunstar meowed firmly. "StarClan wants this Gathering to come to an end, and we are to respect their wishes. Perhaps we could've had more time." At those words, he sent a hard look towards the FireClan leader.

Should another cat do that, they would've gotten their face clawed out, but Tigerstar's pelt just fluffed angrily. "How is it my fault?"

Spottedstar gave him a seriously look as she leaped off of the tree. Sunstar followed her, his pelt twitching as he blinked up at Tigerstar.

"It's not my fault!" Tigerstar insisted, leaping after them. "How is it my fault if Moonstar and EarthClan is sensitive and mouse-brained? They can't even see the correct path in front of them and gets mad when I try to help!"

"Enough," Spottedstar growled. "You showed them absolutely no respect."

"Don't tell me what to do," Tigerstar snarled back.

Sunstar stepped between the two bristling leaders. "No more of this," he meowed. "The Gathering is at an end. I suggest we all go back to camp."

Spottedstar bowed her head, flicking her tail towards the AirClan patrol. Mintpool hurried towards her, a cold feeling seeping through her. FireClan was really easy to argue with. They were arrogant, rude, and never took responsibility for their actions! Just look at Tigerstar for example.

She shivered as they entered the forest, feeling shadows dance around them, not a single speck of silver light visible. Her pelt twitched, hearing the sound of her Clanmates' paws crunching the leaves on the ground and feeling the anger and surprise that were fuming from their pelts. 

The Gathering had been completely crazy and insane. FireClan and EarthClan hated each other! How are we ever supposed to work together to get rid of the rogues now? 

Mintpool blinked up at the starless sky, her pelt twitching. Too much had happened at the Gathering. She couldn't even begin to worry about healing her and Leafwhisker's friendship. All she could think about was how guilty she felt. At what? Well, even though she knew it was wrong, a little bit of her wished that the Clans wouldn't attack the rogues.

It's because you want a peaceful way out, she tried convincing herself, but she knew that wasn't the reason. Not the entire reason, anyway. It's because she didn't want Cobrastrike to get hurt.

A sigh escaped her as she trotted after her Clanmates. Cobrastrike was exactly the opposite of how Tigerstar acted. Although she felt terrible for the way his Clanmates treated him, a small part of her felt glad for how he'd been raised. Since he's never exactly been accepted, he doesn't act like them. He didn't pick up their bad habits. 

Mintpool took another glance at the sky. Everything was dark, bringing a heavy feeling towards her. It felt as though a terrible future was looming over her.

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Word Count // 1297

Hi! What did you think of Chapter 35? Are you on Tigerstar or Moonstar's side? Do you think that the Clans will attack the rogues? If so, how will it play out? How do you think Mintpool's going to participate? I'd love to know! Okay, Moonstar's at the top! That's all, bye!