Editing ✔️

This book is so close to be done, I'm not even kidding. I'm going to cry when it's completed, really. Thanks for sticking by this journey for ao long! Also, I have nearly forty chapters already edited. Ahh, I'm so glad that the next update was as few as six days instead of two weeks this time. I wrote a little bit each day, and there's a surprise later at the end ;) read to find out!!

a/n this chapter has 666 reads. I couldn't help but notice O__o (12/29/15)

A moon and a half has passed since Goldenpaw had her dream about the battle, and tonight was the gathering. Icestar was sitting by himself in his den, his eyes fixed onto his paws as he thought of the things that could happen tonight. Dewstar could pick a fight, or even attack MoonClan's camp while he's gone . . . no cat was safe anymore, no matter where they were.

A new presence was scented from the entrance of Icestar's den, and he looked up to see his deputy, Ashtail, staring back at him. "The moon's almost fully risen," he informed, motioning outside. "It's almost time to go."

Icestar nodded and got up from his nest, giving a long stretch. He padded from his spot, stopping right at the front of the den. "Before we go, I want to say goodbye to Silverleaf."

Ashtail dipped his head with respect. "I'll start getting the warriors and apprentices ready by the camp entrance," he said, before making his way to the warrior's den.

Icestar stepped into the clearing, and took a deep breath. The air was still cold to the point where his nose felt frozen, but the snow had cleared away, and hadn't been coming down for almost a full moon. He was thankful for this, because the prey was improving in MoonClan's forests, and Icestar's cats weren't so hungry anymore. Nobody has also been too sick this leaf-bare, so Sweetheart's medicine supply was strong.

He spotted Goldenpaw and Blackpaw padding out of the apprentice's den side-by-side, talking to each other. This reminded Icestar of the events over a moon ago, where Goldenpaw had ran away to the Night Flower for answers to her strange dreams. He had talked about it with Ashtail, Sweetheart, and Goldenpaw's parents, but it had been decided that they will have to wait and see what will happen next. Those dreams included CloudClan within them, and Icestar knew that at tonight's gathering, he will have to talk to Swiftstar about Dewstar's threat and the upcoming war.

"Hi Icestar!" called Blackpaw, noticing that the leader's gaze was in their direction. "Is there anything you need?"

Goldenpaw also turned her head to his direction, noticing him as well. "I was just saying goodbye to Blackpaw before he left," the golden apprentice said.

"No, there's nothing I need," Icestar responded, shaking his head. "Carry along." Then, he left his spot to continue his way to the nursery, where Sagepelt, her kits, and Silverleaf stayed. He was lost in thought of what to do in tonight's gathering, but he fully regained himself again.

Silverleaf was close to having their kits. Dewstar had shown no sign of wanting anything to do with them yet, but Icestar was sure that he would pull something sooner or later. It made Icestar uneasy most of the time, as if Dewstar was lurking in the shadows, waiting for the kits to be born just to snatch them away.

He padded into the nursery, and touched noses with her. "I'll be leaving soon," he meowed to Silverleaf.

"Tell me everything when you get back," she responded with a purr.

"I will," Icestar promised. "Stay safe while I'm gone."

Silverleaf sighed. "MoonClan still has half a moon before anything serious happens . . . besides, I can still protect myself."

Icestar opened his mouth to respond, but Sagepelt cut him off. "She's right, you know. A queen's burning desire to protect their kits only make them stronger." She gave Shadekit, who was sleeping, a lick between his ears before turning back to Icestar. Berrykit stirred, but she did not wake. "I'll be here to watch over her if you're so worried."

"Thank you, Sagepelt," said Icestar. "Bye, you two. I have to go."

"See you soon," Silverleaf mewed, before turning to Sagepelt. In no time, the two began to have start a conversation.

Icestar didn't stick around long enough to listen, he had to take MoonClan to the gathering now. He padded over to Sharpfang. "Watch over MoonClan while I am gone," he ordered the senior warrior. Sharpfang gave a curt nod, and sat near the leader's den so he can have a good look all around the camp. Icestar, who noticed that a group of cats were gathered by the camp entrance, called out, "Is everyone I chose to go?"

"Everyone's here," Ashtail reported.

Icestar called over his shoulder as he began to lead the group outside the camp entrance. He squeezed through the thorn entrance carefully, and began to walk down the cold, grassy slope in the direction of the gathering. His patrol of cats followed close by, Flameheart in particular at his side. Ashtail was in the back of the group, keeping track of everyone as they went along.

Icestar could hear Blackpaw and Amberpaw talking silently to each other about what might happen at the gathering, specifically if DarkClan would or wouldn't try anything this time. Swiftbreeze was talking to Ashtail about Windcloud and Grassheart—obviously wondering if they were doing alright. Goldsun and Squirreltail were expressing their thoughts about Thornheart and his StreamClan mate, Mistyleaf. Apparently, during last moon's gathering, Thornheart explained that his kits were growing fast.

As they trudged along the forest, Icestar wondered all of these things too. Mistyleaf's kits must be close to becoming apprentices by now, because they are in fact older than Sagepelt's kits, who were nearly four moons old now. And speaking of Windcloud and Grassheart . . . it's been over three moons since he returned them back to CloudClan, so their kits are bound to already be born by now. Last but not least, the thought of DarkClan especially tugged at his mind. Dewstar is not aloud to try anything, right? He promised that Icestar could have two moons before he attacked . . . and those two moons were nearly up.

Well, I'll be able to find all of this out at tonight's gathering, thought Icestar. I'm sure everything will be fine tonight.

* * *

MoonClan finally arrived at the gathering place later on. Three of the Clans were already there—StreamClan, with their leader Lakestar scanning the crowd carefully from upon the leader's rock. CloudClan and MarshClan were also here, but Swiftstar and Stonestar were nowhere to be seen. They must be talking amongst the crowd.

Icestar allowed his Clan to disperse among the clearing to socialize as well, and he himself decided to speak to a few cats before going to the large rock in the center of the clearing. The first cat he spotted was Grassheart, who was eagerly talking to two StreamClan cats, a tom and a she-cat. He weaved his way around the crowd before reaching Grassheart.

"—DarkClan didn't stand a chance two days ago!" Grassheart was saying. "Our patrol met several of their cats, but we outnumbered them and defeated them brilliantly. None of our warriors died, and only two ended up injured."

"That's amazing, Grassheart," said the she-cat. "It sure does seem that DarkClan didn't stand a chance. Well, I'm just glad that StreamClan doesn't have to deal with them much."

"It's great that they were put in their place this one time," Icestar piped up.

Grassheart looked at Icestar, and he purred. "It's great to see you again," meowed the CloudClan warrior.

Icestar found himself purring as well, as if the two were old friends. "How is Windcloud? Did she have your kits yet?" he asked, tilting his head. "It's been a while now."

"She had our kits half a moon ago," he responded. "We named the firstborn Skykit, because the moment she opened her eyes, she wouldn't stop staring at the sky. Her brother is named Flykit. The third and fourth are also toms. Their names are Stemkit and Airkit. The last born kit is a she-kit named Silentkit."

"Why is her name Silentkit?" Icestar asked.

Grassheart shrugged. "Well, she was very quiet the moment she was born. It took moments before she started mewling—little Silentkit scared the life out of both Windcloud and I." He sighed at the memory. "But now she's talking just as much as Flykit. I don't know if her name suits her anymore."

Icestar let out a mrrow of laughter. "She sounds lovely."

"How about your kits?" Grassheart asked.

The MoonClan leader shook his head. "It's too early for them to be born yet. Maybe soon, though. Our medicine cat keeps saying that the time is close."

"Then the time probably is close," he agreed, nodding.

The StreamClan she-cat was still here, listening to the two toms talk. She looked amused. "I thought talking about the Clan's youngsters was the she-cat's job!" she exclaimed.

Greenheart purred. "Can't help but love my kits, Driftstorm."

Driftstorm nodded. "My son died in battle when he was just a 'paw, but my daughter Mistyleaf gave birth to her kits a few moons ago. Those little things grow fast, really! They make me feel older than I am."

Icestar, surprised, looked right at her. "Thornheart, her mate—how is he?"

Driftstorm was surprised for a moment, but then she seemed to realize that Thornheart use to be in MoonClan. "Don't worry," she purred, "he misses his family, but he sticks to the decision he made with Mistyleaf. He is doing well, by the way."

Icestar sighed with relief. Dropeyes, Redsky, Hawktalon and Goldsun would be relieved to hear that. After all, nobody's heard from Thornheart for a while now.

"Some cats still don't trust him, like the apprentices," Driftstorm went on. "They always rummage about he can be sneaking to meet with MoonClan, but we all know that's not true. Every cat got over it a long time ago when we saw how loyal he is."

"Thornheart's a good cat, and he'll stay that way," Icestar agreed.

Grassheart, who didn't know what they were talking about, was paying attention somewhere else. Icestar noticed this as soon as Grassheart nudged him. "Look, Swiftstar and Stonestar are going to the leader's rock. I'm thinking that you should."

"I'm thinking so, too," agreed Icestar. "Bye Grassheart, it was good seeing you. And nice meeting you, Driftstorm."

Driftstorm dipped her head before Icestar left to join the other three leaders upon the rock. He climbed up right after CloudClan's and MarshClan's leader got on top, to be met with an extremely angry Lakestar.

"DarkClan's way past late!" spat the StreamClan leader. "If we wait any longer, the moon's going to disappear soon!"

Stonestar's gaze was stern. "We should begin without DarkClan," he murmured. "StarClan might get angry."

"I agree," Icestar said. He didn't want to meet with DarkClan, anyways—but a thought scared him. They weren't here yet . . . so is it possible that they could be attacking MoonClan while he was gone? Heart pounding in his chest, he turned to Swiftstar and asked, "what about you?"

"I agree as well," Swiftstar meowed. "The sooner we start the gathering, the better."

* * *

None of the Clans stayed long after the gathering was dismissed. There was still no sign of DarkClan anywhere, and the fear about it rose upon all of the Clans, even MarshClan, who never seem to have problems with them. Icestar and Swiftstar were the two last leaders left, waiting as Lakestar's cats were filing out of the gathering's entrance.

Icestar wanted to desperately talk with Swiftstar. Goldenpaw's dream last moon definitely meant something—that the battle would involve not only MoonClan and DarkClan, but also CloudClan. He took a deep breath, thinking that he should start speaking now.

Swiftstar was sitting at the foot of the leader's rock, waiting patiently as Lakestar's cats continued to leave. He turned to Icestar as soon as he sensed his presence. "Hello, Icestar. It's good to see you," Swiftstar meowed, dipping his head.

"Likewise," Icestar replied, copying his movements. "Listen, Swiftstar. I've been meaning to talk to you. There's been something in my mind all moon . . ."

"If you think I'm crossing your borders or stealing prey—" he began, but Icestar quickly cut him off.

"No, nothing like that!" the MoonClan leader insisted. "I'm not accusing you of anything. I'm just here to talk to you about something." Swiftstar nodded, so Icestar continued to speak. "Last moon, an apprentice of mine received a vision from StarClan about a battle that's yet to happen. In that battle, three Clans were fighting, and it was MoonClan, DarkClan and CloudClan all together."

"CloudClan does not have a plan for going in to battle!" snapped Swiftstar, his fur already bristling. "Who had this dream you said, a warrior apprentice? Perhaps she was having a false dream."

Icestar wanted to sound as convincing as possible. "Yes, she's a warrior apprentice, but I know for sure that the dream speaks of truth. A past warrior from our Clan also visited her, and she didn't even know who that StarClan cat was. That's how I know for sure that this is going to happen in the future . . ."

"Icestar, I can't risk my cats in battle—"

"Please, think this over. DarkClan is large, and is a terrifying enemy. I need you to fight onto our side," Icestar pleaded.

Swiftstar snarled. "Just because you saved two of my warriors a few moons ago does not mean I am in your debt. I'm not obliged to help MoonClan in battle, instead I am obliged to protect my own Clan." Icestar opened his mouth to protest, but the CloudClan leader shook his head. "I am sorry, Icestar. I wish it wouldn't be this way . . . if there was a better option, I'd take it, but no. Times are too rough for us to make any sacrifices."

And at that, Swiftstar padded away to lead his own Clan out of the clearing.

Icestar, feeling defeated, went to go join MoonClan. He was scared for his Clan's future . . . the chances of beating DarkClan, the largest Clan out of all five, was not likely. He knew that if there wasn't a better option, he'll have to do what's best for his friends, and for his home.

As he lead MoonClan over the territory's borders, most of the patrol was quiet. Amberpaw and Ashtail seemed to be the only cats who sensed Icestar's troubles, but everyone else's attention was elsewhere.

The forest was silent as they stalked through the undergrowth. The only sounds heard was the pawsteps of Icestar and the rest of the Clan as they headed home. A single bird chirped once above on a tall oak tree, but no cat tried getting at it. The bird was probably already watching the line of cats going through the forest aware, aware of the dangers around it, it was too dark to hunt anyway.

Icestar kept on leading his Clan at the very front, every single sense of his alert. He felt that DarkClan was lurking through the shadows . . . waiting to strike the gathering patrol before they reached the MoonClan camp—even though Icestar himself knew that it was not true.

Moments passed, and soon, the camp entrance was finally in sight. It was outlined faintly by the soft moonlight, and worried for his Clan, he sped up. Everyone else followed as well, eager to be home and get in their nests. Though as soon as he squeezed through the camp entrance, he was met by a frantic Goldenpaw.

"Icestar!" she gasped, her eyes as wide as two moons. "You won't believe what's happening—Silverleaf's kitting!"

Icestar didn't have time to ask any questions, though. He was cut short as soon as he heard a painful yowl. His heart skipped three beats. Silverleaf!