For generations, four clans have shared the forest. But ThunderClan is in severe peril, and the other three Clans grow stronger every day. In the midst of this turmoil, appears two house-cat's named Rusty and Star... who both may turn out to be the...
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⊰᯽⊱┈──╌❊❊╌──┈⊰᯽⊱
BLUESTAR LED THE way swiftly back to camp. The noise of their return awoke the cats who had remained behind. As they group streamed through the gorse entrance, sleepy figures began emerging from their dens.
"What's the news?" called Halftail.
"Was ShadowClan there?" asked Willowpelt.
"Yes, they were," Bluestar replied gravely. She strode passed Willowpelt and leaped onto the Highrock. There was no need for her customary call for a Clan meeting—the cats were already gathering below the rock. Tigerclaw jumped up beside her.
"There was much tension between the Clans tonight," Bluestar began. "And I became aware of a possible new allegiance between Crookedstar and Nightpelt."
Midnightpaw sat between Whiterose and Runningwind. "What are they talking about?" she asked. "I thought Nightpelt agreed with Bluestar."
"Nightpelt?" croaked One-eye's ancient voice from the back of the crowd.
"He has been named as ShadowClan's new leader," Bluestar explained.
"But his name—hasn't he been accepted by StarClan yet?" asked One-eye.
"He plans to travel to the Moonstone tomorrow night," Tigerclaw told her.
"No leader can speak for their Clan at a Gathering without receiving StarClan's approval first," muttered One-eye, loudly enough for all the cats to hear.
"He has the support of ShadowClan, One-eye," answered Bluestar nodding at the old she-cat. "We cannot ignore what he said tonight." One-eye gave a disgruntled sniff, and Bluestar lifted her head to address the whole Clan. "At the Gathering, I suggested we find WindClan and bring them home. But Crookedstar and Nightpelt don't want them to return."
"They're hardly likely to join forces, though, are they?" called Graystripe. "They almost had a scrap over hunting rights in the river."
Fireheart looked at his friend. "Didn't you see the looks they were swapping by the end of the meeting? They're both desperate to get their paws on WindClan territory."
"But why?" asked Sandpaw, who was sitting beside her mentor, Whitestorm.
Whitestorm answered her. "I suspect ShadowClan is not as weak as we thought it would be. And Nightpelt seems to have more ambition than any cat expected."
"But why does RiverClan want to hunt WindClan's grounds? They have always grown fat on the fish from their precious river!" yowled Willowpelt. "The uplands are a long way to go for a few windblown rabbits!"
The once beautiful queen, Dappletail, spoke up in a voice cracked with age. "At the Gathering, some of the RiverClan elders spoke of Twolegs taking over part of their river."
