"Hey, right on time."

Littlescent walked out the open back entrance to camp, through the medicine den, and towards the rest of the meeting party. Wolfgang was standing next to Longstar and Shortpaw. Two other warriors were standing at their sides.

"We're just waiting on Fleetheart. Did you see her on your way here?"

"No," Littlescent responded. "She's probably just waking up or tending to the kits."

"Well, it's like Fleetheart to be a little late anyway. She should be here soon though." Littlescent sat near the group as she let out a long yawn. The clouds had cleared while she was sleeping, and she looked up at the sky. The stars were bright and the moon covered the area in a calm, pale light. Littlescent closed her eyes as she looked directly at it.

Please let this meeting go well, she thought. I heard the others hadn't. And with the sky-monster attacks and all, we need to be on the same side.

Wolfgang stood as he watched a greyish-blue cat push the entrance wide open and slowly move towards the group. "Where's Fleetheart," he asked.

"I left her in the queen's den," Panzer responded. "Let her deal with that mess for a night."

"Panzer," Longstar started, moving from his conversation with a couple of warriors. "We talked about this."

She waved him away with a flick of her tail. "Yeah yeah, but this time I think Wolfstar might actually show up, and I have a few words for that overgrown rat." She walked directly up to Longstar. "You aren't leaving me behind, not this time. I'm not going back into camp until I've seen Wolfstar and the wind cats; don't you fight me this time."

Longstar paused for a while, weighing his 'options' against Panzer's stern expression. "Fine, you can come, but don't make a habit of it. I need you safe from harm."

"Yeah, and I want to make dirt all over the leaf cat's camp. But we can still dream, at least. Now let's go." Panzer began padding off into the clearing, with the warriors quickly following.

"Behind us, Panzer," Longstar called out. "I want you safe."

Panzer mumbled all the way back to her place in the line, just in front of Littlescent at the rear. "At least I've got the Littleclaw as cover. If it's one thing she's good at, which isn't much..."

Littlescent did her best to ignore her as the group continued down the thunderpath that marked the clan's borders. They quickly made their way down the path and towards a crossing of a set of snake-monster tracks and the path itself.

It would be terrible if one came during the Gathering, Littlescent thought, watching the group step over the tall, grey tracks. Those things are so loud and disruptive. And they might scare off the others. Even a wildcat has to know what they can't beat.

The wind picked up as she reached the other side with the rest of the party. It carried a strong scent she instantly recognized. In front of the group was a deep hole. The whole thunderpath blocked off by silverthorns.

Littlescent caught the spike's silver glint in her eyes.

Brand new. Just put up by the Twolegs no more than a night ago... I really, really hate those things. But it does mean there are no Twolegs or monsters in this area. So that's something good that comes of those things, I guess.

The group easily slipped through a hole in the barrier, emerging in front of a large, circular pad in the center of a clearing. The clearing itself was an elevated patch of grass planted in the center of the circular thunderpath by the Twolegs for decoration. Several trees blocked the view of the inside. Overgrown bushes nearly cut off the way in.

"We can smell your stench already, leaf cats," Panzer started. "All this tree sap and flowers aren't going to hide you from these noses."

"They're over there. Breeze cats are with them," Wolfgang said from inside. The rest quickly made their way off the thunderpath and into the small grass area. In the center was a smooth, glossy rock that reflected the small amount of moonlight that managed to slip through the thick tree canopy. The tall grass and thick branches almost hid the angry eyes of several cats. Littlescent watched each set of eyes, looking as if they would pounce at any second.

"As usual, Wolfstar," Longstar shouted, leaping onto the smooth rock, "you hide your warrior's scents in these thick plant smells. There are no tricks here. No need to be ready to fight." Longstar put his paw on the slick rock before him, watching the eyes moving into view.

Several large wildcats walked towards the group from the overgrown bushes. Each of them larger than any StoneClan cat. Their thick, striped tails flicked back and forth as they looked over each of the cats. Each of their short, stout faces threatened them when they walked to the other side of the rock. One of them saw Longstar already on the rock.

"Breeze cats came earlier. They're under tree."

She flicked her ringed tail at one of the sap-laden trees. A small group of five moved towards the rock; Littlescent recognized Whitetail immediately. She watched as he made way for a large, striped she-cat with small, yellow eyes. Yellowstar put her paw on the rock and looked towards Panzer. A small cat with a silver-blue coat emerged from behind Yellowstar, watching the group of StoneClan cats move about.

"You brought her along?" Panzer left Littlescent's side and leaped onto the rock. "Typical Yellowcat, best of the best and all that." She turned away from the BreezeClan group as she sat at her place near the rock.

"Hi, littermate," she scoffed.

"Yeah, nice to see you too," Blueclaw responded, rolling her eyes.

As the others settled into various places on the rock, two LeafClan cats approached alongside a third in the middle. Littlescent winced back a little at the size of the three wildcats that approached. She examined the center cat as he limped towards the rock, his brown, patchy fur riddled with old scars. All three quickly leaped onto the rock and took their place, closest to where their hidden warriors still laid in wait.

"Just like I said, Wolfstar," said Longstar. "No tricks."

"You lie," he barked back. "There were only six of you but you show up with seven. Cannot smell seven?"

"Wolfstar," Yellowstar said, shaking out her thin, orange coat. "The sooner we get through this Gathering, the sooner you can leave."

"Watch your tongue, Star-eyed cat!" Wolfstar shouted. "You forget ground you sit belongs to LeafClan." He looked around the rock, eyeing over each cat. "Not strongest in litters here, Longstar. You stayed soft." He put his paw in the center of the rock with the other leaders.

Yellowstar settled, removing her paw from the center. "Now that we are all here, I ask the Stars above to guide us all to peace at this time." The breeze died down as Yellowstar turned to Longstar. "Since you called this emergency Gathering, please state what it is that troubles you?"

Longstar looked towards the stars as the others waited for him to speak. "For the past few moons, we have seen an increasing presence of other clan's cats in our territory. There has been no trouble from BreezeClan, but the LeafClan cats have been hunting, scouting, and even taunting our cats."

"Well I not telling them to." Wolfstar responded.

"Yes, but it's happening. If it's not you then they're acting on their own."

"You dare accuse my warriors acting without orders?" he snapped.

Longstar shook his head. "Well, either they're doing it on their own or someone's telling them to."

"It is not just StoneClan," Yellowstar said. "We are not even close to your borders, but we have been harassed by your cats. They keep marking beyond our borders, and hissing at us whenever we come into contact."

"You accuse whole clan," hissed the large, all white she-cat next to Wolfstar, her red eyes glaring at the BreezeClan leader. She had no stripes, unlike the others. "Give us proof, more than just words!"

"Hold yourself, Flyfoot. I said not speak." Wolfstar glanced at the cat beside him. Flyfoot withdrew her anger.

"You want examples," Panzer started. "I'll give you some. A quarter-moon ago, one of your marking teams was out there hissing at Sharptooth and Poule for no reason. The next moonhigh, I saw your warriors-"

"I want to hear from Longstar." Wolfstar interrupted. "Stop talking, old kittypet."

"Hold yourself you raspy old badger." Wolfstar bore his teeth and let out a low pitched meow. "I'm not done yet. Your warriors that next night taunted Wolfgang while he was out on patrol. Sometime after that, they decided it'd be fun to mark all over our Upper Territory. There were at least nine of them doing it; took us several patrol teams to get them out."

"You have no proof," he said.

"And just this sunhigh," she continued, "Wolfgang chased off two of your warriors who had the skin to hunt on our territory."

"My second informs me of all warriors' moves," he said proudly. "No such reports since Pact. Ever."

"Because you're the one giving the orders, you dirt-brained claw swinger!" Panzer shouted. "To you, there's no need to tell you because breaking truces and acting out are just normal actions for you."

"Watch your tongue, little Twoleg pet," Wolfstar hissed.

"You know what the best part was? How your 'brave and fearless' wildcat warriors fled from a young kittypet. But you know what's even better than that? How your patrols keep yelping at me and eyeing me. So what does that say about the mind of your 'wild' toms?"

Flyfoot stood, and Panzer stared right into her narrowed eyes.

"That's right, young one. Your toms seem to prefer the bodies of old little kittypets to strong healthy wildcats like yourself. Of course how healthy could your cats be when all you do is eat carcasses and wrap open wounds in plants?"

"You shut your mouth, kittypet!" Flyfoot's long fur started bristling. Her short snout curled, revealing rows of stained teeth.

Panzer met her gaze, unmoved. "Or maybe they just like how nice we are. Unlike you savages, we are beyond fang-baring and hissing to say 'hello'... that deranged look that you have on your face right now. I think you just might have a bit more rocks inside your head than most. You must be the designated mating cat, rewarded to good toms in during your heat?"

"We not here to be insulted!" Wolfstar cried as the rest of the LeafClan cats surrounding the rock began to hiss and groan at them. "She leaves or we leave."

The LeafClan cats cried out in agreement, and Longstar looked at Panzer who was still staring at Flyfoot. She knew she would have to go.

The old medicine cat flicked her tail. "Fine. I said what I needed to say and what the wildcats needed to hear. Young ones, stay here. I want you to learn how these ones think. They seem particularly stupid."

She pointed to the two other warriors, who were sitting just below the rock. "You two, get me back to camp. Wouldn't want any of these leaf cats to act on any of their weird urges towards me."

"Leave!" Wolfstar shouted.

The two warriors moved alongside Panzer, leaving Shortpaw, Littlescent, and Wolfgang behind. They made it to the edge of the grassy area when Panzer turned back towards Wolfstar. "Also, tell that apprentice grass healer cat to learn how to use some real medicine. I'll throw some over the border for her. Do your clan a favor and tell her to drink it down real good. When the mouth-gagging and twitching starts, that means it's working."

Flyfoot let out a loud hiss, dashing across her place on the rock and glaring down towards Panzer.

"Oh right, you're that apprentice grass-healer," Panzer said, pausing and pretending to think. "In that case, tell Mousetail to learn some real medicine. Then drink the stuff I give you."

"Panzer, go," Longstar said.

"Just telling her the truth, that's all," she responded before crouching through the overgrown bushes along with the other two warriors.

Wolfstar returned his attention to the groups in front of him. Longstar watched the rest of the LeafClan cats sit down and restrain themselves.

"Do your clan favor," Wolfstar said. "Elder that snake-tonged old kittypet."

"What she says is true Wolfstar," Longstar responded. "Before the insults. Your cats are harassing us. It's been like this for a few moons now."

"All of these actions break the Pact," said Yellowstar. "StoneClan and LeafClan are not to violate each other's borders-"

"I don't need you telling me rules, Star-eyed cat," he snapped. "I know Pact. It is StoneClan who breaks it first. They extend borders many times in past moons."

Longstar nodded. "I told you in the last meeting that it's the sky-monsters. They keep hitting the Twoleg dens. A moon ago, we lost many cats to their attack near our old camp. It even forced BreezeClan to leave the Twoleg territory altogether."

"Fire-fallers are no excuse to extend territory," said Wolfstar, pointing his tail towards the sky. "You knew what threats Twoleg territory holds."

"No one could've seen this coming though," Longstar said, also pointing his tail upward. "While we were at war, the sky-monsters never attacked. They just flew overhead. That was a long time ago, and now they fly in the opposite direction and attack the Twoleg warriros."

"We get big heavy thunder-spitters; move across our thunderpaths. Eagleclaw reports at least one seen every moonhigh. And large earth-shakers roll along at least once each two nights. We live next to their tracks. But we don't fear them, we don't move borders. We honor Pact, and our warriors only protect what is... was ours."

"But you haven't had trouble with sky-monsters," Longstar said. "They aren't like the ones that used to roll along the thunderpaths or the set, long paths. They fly, they drop fire, they can't be stopped or avoided, and they keep coming back. And we can never know when. Even the Twolegs fear them; they run from them just as we do."

Wolfstar shrugged off his words. "We let you have it. We only move because it was worthless Twoleg-filled territory. Nothing to hunt but dying mice and pigeons. But you move far as you can runt cats. Past that place you call camp is, was, deep LeafClan territory. You too close to our camp. Move somewhere else, further into your territory."

Longstar looked at Yellowstar's concerned face. He tried to think of a solution to help both clans. Littlescent examined Longstar over as he twitched his tail from side to side, thinking.

"Wolfstar, I want to make this easy," Longstar said. "What about giving us access to the regions that border our Upper Territories, in exchange for something? Just to have a place to go when the sky-monsters attack."

"Defiantly not," he responded. "Border regions are no limits. You and star cats stay away."

"This isn't about territory," Longstar said. "It's about the safety of our clan-"

"Which I care not for," Wolfstar snapped. "You live Twoleg territory, you deal with Twoleg problems. You have plenty of food while we left to fend with empty territory. You lucky I'm not sending you back to old camp borders."

Longstar's tail flicked around anxiously. "Our means are peaceful. We just want to survive and I just want my clan to be left when it's all over. Your camp lies well beyond our Upper Territories and never sees sky-monster attacks like we do. We're trying to avoid any conflict here. We don't want anything other than our lives."

"Don't care." Wolfstar turned away from the other leaders.

"If it's food you need," Longstar said. "We could give your clan tribute in exchange for safety-"

Wolfstar hissed at his comment. "No, no! By the Stars, no. Do you think we are kittypets to be fed?"

Wolfstar stretched his legs with a cool gust of wind. He then began talking to Flyfoot and the other large wildcat at his side. Littlescent looked towards Yellowstar. The BreezeClan leader's tail flicked back and forth as she watched the wildcats converse.

Littlescent closed her eyes, bowing her head a little.

I know now what kind of cat Wolfstar is, and Panzer wasn't kidding. Maybe exaggerating, though. Wolfstar didn't even want to hear what we had to offer. Let alone what we had to say. If you can hear me, we need this to work, please. We-"

"They won't listen," Wolfstar said, his voice muddled and deep. Littlescent, snapped from her thoughts, stared at the scarred brown wildcat. "Not this time. Some things StarClan want you to solve alone. And if it their will you die and we starve, then you better not listen anyway."

Her body ran cold for just a brief second staring into the old wildcat tom's eyes. She knew that his gaze was sincere and meant what he had said. Yellowstar looked on, nearly in shock, at what the tom had said. Longstar's paws tapped the rock's surface impatiently.

Another wildcat walked up to the group, rearing up to rest his paws on the rock directly behind Wolfstar. He whispered something to him, and he nodded his head.

"Eagleclaw tells me trouble at camp. I go myself to deal with it. So you finish talking with Horsepelt and Flyfoot here." In one leap he was away from the rock with two of the surrounding warriors at his side. "LeafClan, I want other clans gone soon." He quickly crawled through the overgrown bushes, despite his limp, and disappeared along with the two wildcats.

The warriors that continued to surround the group perked up their ears and went back on alert. Horsepelt and Flyfoot both touched their paws to the center of the rock and retracted them.

"Anything else you add before we leave," Horsepelt asked. Flyfoot refused to make eye contact with Longstar, the scowl on her face still fresh from Panzer's rant.

"Just one more thing," stated Yellowstar. "Just ask Wolfstar to consider all that was said here, and at least to end the harassing of our clans."

"That old kittypet speaks lies," spat Flyfoot. "Can't trust her." Ignoring her comment, the dark brown tom looked up at the stars for a brief moment, a gust of wind chilling his fur.

"No promise he'll listen, but I will," Horsepelt said. Flyfoot began glancing at the other warriors. They broke their formation around the rock and quickly moved out of the dense clearing. She followed without another glance at the other cats, leaving Horsepelt alone on the rock, still surrounded by the glaring eyes of his hidden clanmates.

"Also... please tell Wolfstar not to lose faith in StarClan." Yellowstar said. "Terrible things have happened to cats who do, and we do not wish to see him meet one."

Horsepelt shook his head, his long fur waving in the breeze. "He not faithless. Not yet. Just angry at them for silence during his clan's suffering. You want more, speak to Mousetail at the medicine cat Gathering next moonhigh."

He turned away from the other clans. "No matter what Wolfstar says, we all have to deal with fire-fallers. One way or another." He leaped off the rock and disappeared through the overgrowth, the wind completely dying down as he did. Longstar and Yellowstar moved from the center of the rock, observing their surroundings.

Yellowstar sighed. "This is no longer about territory and old rivalries. If only Wolfstar saw the importance of working together during this time. But I'm more