The big gray tom took a firm grip around Robinrunners neck and pulled him onto his paws. Robinrunner felt embarrassed that he was so helpless. Robinrunner had always been an independent cat and being forced to depend on others made him feel like a kitt. The dark gray tom jumped onto the loge and gave him a look that offered help. Robinrunner nodded and the tom locked his jaws around his neck skin and dragged him onto the log. Robinrunner stumbled on his paws and tumbled into the other tom's chest. His ears were hot with embarrassment. Robinrunner shyly glanced up at the tom who quickly met his gaze before looking away. They stood like that for what seemed like forever until Robinrunner heard pawsteps. It was Shadowclan emerging from around the corner. Robinrunner realised that the tom was from Shadowclan but that smell he had always had found disgusting smelled amazing on the tom. His pelt had the deep scent of pines and it belonged on the tom.

- Wolfheart, do you know this cat, the clan leader Ashstar said. Her face was unreadable for Robinrunner and he was able to hear some faint amusement in her voice but he wasn't sure. Her face certainly didn't look amused. The tom who must be Wolfheart shrugged.

- We were just talking but I am sure that wasn't what you meant, Wolfheart said and made it sound like a question. The ash-colored she cat shook her head and Robinrunner was uncomfortable with the silence.

- I am Robinrunner from Thunderclan, he said and lowered his head in a small bow. He was aware that in reality he should have done a real bow but with his leg that was too risky. He would maybe be able to get away with it as he was standing on a log half hidden behind Wolfheart. To his surprise Ashstar nodded approvingly. The Shadowclan leader had always seemed like a very serious cat.

- Well I think we should get moving so that the gathering can start, Ashstar said. Her voice was much softer and now he was sure that she was at least a little amused with the situation. Robinrunner nodded and limped over the log. His bad leg was still blistering with pain but he had learned to ignore it.

When Robinrunner landed on the ground he had Wolfheart right behind him. The tom's fur was all around him as he turned around to face Ashstar. Wolfheart backed off and looked away towards the water, not that Robinrunner would have been able to meet those beautiful blue eyes.

When all of Shadowclan had gotten over Robinrunner turned towards Ashstar to say something but the leader was already on her way towards the oak where the other leaders were already sitting. He saw how Ashstar walked up to the oak and swiftly climbed up and got up on a branch next to Snowstar Riverclans leader. As his name suggested, Snowstar was as white as snow. He exchanged a greeting with Ashstar before she sat down. The rest of Shadowclan sat down under their leader. Robinrunner wasn't sure where he was supposed to sit. Shredstar had let him come but as he wasn't able to run yet he had arrived long after his clanmates.

He saw his clanmates but decided to sit down on the edge of the clearing. To his surprise Wolfheart sat down next to him and both of their pelts touched. Robinrunned didn't move away, he liked this cat and as it had become chillier he appreciated the extra warmth.

Robinrunner kept quiet, his ears were hot and he liked this tom emberassly much. The silence was friendly and Robinrunner felt the urge to move closer but he didn't move. Wolfheart's eyes were locked on his leader.

Shredstar walked out to the edge of his branch and made himself comfortable. Robinrunner signed internally this leader had ruined his life. Taken away his purpose in the clan. It had made him so sad and he had been so ashamed of showing himself that he never left the elders' den. He had trained his bad leg every night and it had just been painful. Finchstrike had never visited him even though he often was in pain. His bad leg was now covered in even bigger and uglier scars.

- Thunderclan lost a warrior, he started and Robinrunner was irritated, Shredstar loved being dramatik.

- Robinrunner was forced to retire due to reasons we don't have to share, he continued on he was only saying that prey was running well.

- Thunderclan has no use for a retired cat who hasn't served his clan for long so he is going to be exiled this morning if none of you are interested in him, Shredstar meowed. Robinrunner froze and he could feel Wolfheart tense next to him. He was being traded like prey or herbs. No one said a word then something happened.

- I will take him, a voice called out. This voice belonged to Ashstar the ash colored she cat that was the leader of Shadowclan. Suddenly he felt a gratefulness that Robinrunner couldn't put words on. At the same time a hatred for his old leader bloomed inside of him. Robinrunner felt the strong urge to claw Shredstars face of when he felt a paw on his own.

When Robinrunner looked down he realised that he had unsheathed his claws. With a quick glance at Wolfheart he could see the tom shaking his head. Robinrunner cheated his claws but didn't stop glaring at Shredstar.

The rest of the gathering went by without anything major happening but Robinrunner could see that other Shadowclan cats were searching after him with their gazes. Lucky for him no one had spotted him. Wolfheart had laid his big tail over his shoulders but had kept quiet. Robinrunner was thankful for that. When he was angry it often happened that he lashed out at the ones he loved.

The gathering ended soon enough and Wolfheart walked up to his clan leaving Robinrunner to say goodbye. He limped over to Hazelfire, Smokesky hadn't come with them this gathering. He pressed his head against Hazelfires chest.

- Say goodbye to Amberglow and Somkesky promised me that, he said, afraid that his voice would crack. Hazelfire just nodded and turned around to leave with Thunderclan. Robinrunner stood there dumbfounded for a second before a thought appeared in his head ''he must be afraid to cry''. Robinrunner turned around and limped up to Shadowclan. Ashstar and the rest were already over the log.

Wolfheart was standing on the log and helped him up. Robinrunner gave him a thankful glance. They jumped off the log and started moving towards his new territory. It was time to start his new life.

So what do you guys think? I know that it is not only ace who is reading so please leave your thoughts down below before ace takes over the comentsektion. See you all in the next chapter.

:D