Firepaw shivered, but did not tear his gaze away from the cat before him. "Sandstorm..."

The dark ginger apprentice had carefully groomed the fallen warrior himself, and as the chilly night breeze ruffled his fur, he made sure that it did not move a single hair on her pelt.

He rested his muzzle on her flank with a heavy sigh and another shudder. "I'm so sorry, this is all my fault. All you are dead because of me." He looked up from Sandstorm's body to gaze around the camp. Several other cats were huddled around, talking in low voices to honor the dead.

Runningwind, Ashpaw, Speckletail, Smallear... Tears welled in his eyes as he pictured each cat, standing with a smile on their face. And some of the rogues, too. He wasn't sure of their names, but he thought he could remember seeing the former ShadowClan warrior Tangleburr fall in the horrible, bloody battle.

And poor Brightpaw, he turned his gaze to the medicine den, where the small apprentice sat in the entrance, gazing sadly out at her Clanmates with her one remaining eye. The right half of her face was covered in ferns and cobwebs, plastered over the massive patch of fur and flesh that had been lost in the battle. Fireoaw felt a growl rising in his throat as he watched his broken Clan grieve. How could StarClan let this happen? He glared angrily up at the stars. Are you watching us? Did you tell Tigerstar to lead us into battle? Did you know how many of us would join you today!?

He sighed, snuggling in closer to Sandstorm to preserve all the warmth in her body. StarClan, please help us.

        ~~❤︎❤︎❤︎~~

   "Cats of ThunderClan, gather here to hear me speak," Tigerstar yowl rant out across the treetops. The cats had just gotten back from burying the fallen, and it turned out that two other former rogues, Redflame and Hawkflight, had also been struck down by RiverClan.

   "We lost several loyal cats last sunrise," the leader began, a solemn tone plastered on his face rather than his usual smug grin. "Those cats' sacrifice will not be forgotten. Don't pity the fallen. They gave their life defending their Clan. Isn't that the best way for a warrior to join StarClan?"

   Some cats were murmuring in agreement, and while others were flexing their claws, no cat dared say a word. Tigerstar nodded, satisfied. "Since it is the night of the Gathering tonight, I believe that it is time to perform one of a leader's greatest tasks," Firepaw held his breath. What could that mean? The leader's amber gaze raked through the Clan. "The making of new warriors! Swiftpaw, Brightpaw, Thornpaw, and Fernpaw, come forward."

   What about Cloudpaw? With a jolt, Firepaw remembered the prison by the lake. I completely forgot! Oh StarClan, I hope they're alright!

   "Apprentices, do you promise to defend your Clan and your Clanmates, even at the cost of your life? Do you pledge your full-hearted loyalty to ThunderClan, and ThunderClan alone?"

   "I do," all of the apprentices breathed in unison.

   The leader smiled. "Then by my power as the leader of ThunderClan, I give you your warrior names. Swiftpaw, you will be known as Swiftstrike. StarClan honors your speed and battle prowess."

   "Thornpaw, you will be known as Thornfang. StarClan honors your problem-solving skills and the passion that you put into your warrior duties."

   "Fernpaw, you will be known as Ferngash. StarClan honors your gentle nature and fierce loyalty to your Clanmates."

   "And... Brightpaw," the leader glared down at the shaking, injured, frail apprentice. "You will now be known as Lostface."

   Cries of horror and outrage met his words. "Lostface!? How dare you!"

   "How can StarClan allow this?"

   "How could any cat be so cruel?"

   "Does the name not suit her?" Tigerstar roared, silencing the crowd. He sat down and lowered his voice to a threatening growl. "Lostface, do you protest?"

   Firepaw held his breath. The leader's gaze was penetrating as he stared down at the one-eyed apprentice. If she says yes, she'll be killed, he noted as he saw two rogue-warriors creeping up with their claws unsheathed. But if she says no, she'll be stuck with the horrible name forever!

   He could see the inner turmoil plastered on Lostface's face. Finally she sighed, her shoulders hunched. "No, T-Tigerstar."

   Tigerstar flicked his tail to the two rogues, and they sat down, acting as if nothing had happened. "Very well. I present these cats to you as warriors of ThunderClan!"

   It took a heartbeat before cats started chanting. "Swiftstrike! Thornfang! Ferngash! L-Lostface..."

   Every cat trailed off when they reached the final name, unsure of whether to praise it or not. Lostface seemed deep in thought, as if she couldn't hear any of them anyways.

   "Now," the leader lashed his tail for silence. "It is time to choose the cats that will accompany me to the Gathering. I will bring my deputy, Darkstripe, and of course my medicine cats."

   "Both of us?" Yellowfang grunted from somewhere in the crowd.

   "Yes," Tigerstar replied. "And bring some basic herbs. RiverClan might try and start trouble," he paused, waiting for a reply from the medicine cats. They nodded, and he continued. "Longtail, Dustpelt, Clawface, Blackfoot, Jaggedtooth, Jayscar, Scorchwind, Lionfang, Bristlethorn, Swiftstrike, Ferngash, Thornfang, Firepaw, Frostfur, and Brindleface will accompany me as well."

But not Lostface, Firepaw gazed sadly over at the hunched-over she-cat. She got a horrible name, and doesn't even get to go to her first Gathering as a warrior. Tigerstar is despicable.

        ~~❤︎❤︎❤︎~~

   "Cats of all the Clans," Firepaw gazed up at the four leaders on the rock. Tigerstar was sitting near the center, casting his cold amber glare around the clearing. Nightstar and Tallstar sat a little further back, murmuring to each other and glancing at the powerful ThunderClan leader. But instead of the familiar large light brown tabby up on the rock with the others, a lithe dappled tabby she-cat perched on the edge of the stone, her shoulders slumped in defeat.

   Firepaw felt a pang in his chest. Not Crookedstar too! Too many lives were lost in that terrible battle.

   "Bluestar was killed in a recent battle," Tigerstar continued, silencing all of the chatter below. "So I am now Tigerstar, leader of ThunderClan."

   "Tigerstar!" A few of the ThunderClan cats cheered. Some ShadowClan and WindClan cats joined in as well, but the RiverClan cats glared at them silently. "Tigerstar! Tigerstar!"

   The large tabby tom swished his tail for silence. "My Clan is well. Our fresh-kill pile is well-stocked, and we have been lucky to not have had any cases of Whitecough as leaf-bare approaches."

   "Are you going to say nothing of RiverClan, Tigerstar?" The only female cat on the rock growled furiously.

   Tigerstar flicked his tail, turning his piercing gaze to the new RiverClan leader. "I wasn't aware that RiverClan was any of my business."

   "Coward!" Leopardstar yowled. "Cats of WindClan and ShadowClan, Tigerstar and his cats raided our camp, killing our cats like viscous rogues!" Shocked and horrified murmurs met her words. "Among our dead are Shadepaw, Silverpaw, Duskfur, Troutfin, Minnowtail, Feathertail, Stormfur, Stonefur, Blackclaw, our only medicine cat, Mudfur, and our beloved leader, Crookedstar," She hung her head with a sigh, trembling slightly. "I am now Leopardstar, leader of RiverClan."

   The cats below were too shocked and horrified to call out the new leader's name. Some cats were muttering words to each other, and Firepaw strained to hear.

   "Was Bluestar killed in the RiverClan battle?"

   "ThunderClan are killing in battle? That's against the code!"

   "What does this mean for the rest of us? Should we fear a raid on our camp?"

   That last comment must have drifted up to Tigerstar's ears, because the tom stood up from his position on the rock. "You are not the only one with dead Clanmates, Leopardstar," Tigerstar growled warningly. "We lost Runningwind, Sandstorm, Tangleburr, Redflame, Hawkflight, Ashpaw, Speckletail, and Smallear."

   More grief-filled murmurs met Firepaw's ears. The dark ginger apprentice sighed and hung his head. What does this mean for the other Clans? Are we going to "prove our strength" to them as well?

   "But ThunderClan remains strong," Tigerstar continued. "I have a proposal to make, Tallstar, Nightstar, and Leopardstar. I think you'll find that it would benefit us all."

   The clearing was dead silent. Firepaw held his breath, terrified of what was about to come out of Tigerstar's mouth.

   The dark brown tabby tom's gaze raked over the cats below him. "I propose," all the cats seemed to hold their breath. "that we join Clans."

   "What!?" An outraged yowl came from below. It was Yellowfang. "Have you got bees in your brain?"

   "I have to agree with your medicine cat, Tigerstar," Tallstar rasped, taking a step forward so that he was face-to-face with Tigerstar. Firepaw winced when he saw how small and scrawny the WindClan leader was. His eyes barely reached Tigerstar's broad muzzle. "That wouldn't even work. It's not StarClan's will for us to be one."

   "StarClan?" Tigerstar spat. "Does StarClan even care about us? Do they save our cats from horrible fates? Do they guide us and tell us how to survive the terrible disasters we are faced with? The answer to both questions is no. They do not. How can we trust ancestors that don't do everything in their power to protect us from danger?

   A few cats cried out in outrage, but they were drowned out by the murmurs if agreement. Firepaw was almost gaping at the cats around him. He stood, glaring up at his leader.

   "StarClan is all about faith. That is what sets us apart from rogues and loners. If we do not have faith, then what do we have?"

   He glanced over at the huddle of medicine cats. Yellowfang looked very proud, and nodded to him in agreement. He blushed and looked away when he noticed Cinderpelt with her eyebrows raised and her mouth slightly open, as if she was impressed.

   But Tigerstar was glaring harshly at him. "Apprentices do not speak up at Gatherings."

   "Apprentice?" A cat near him echoed. He glanced over to see Onewhisker, his head cocked to one side. "But you're Fireheart. You've been a warrior for moons."

   "Things have changed," he replied sadly, hanging his head and averting his gaze.

All eyes were still on the ThunderClan leader. "The rest of this conversation will take place in a quarter moon. Leaders, I would like you to meet me here under a truce in that time," he paused briefly, searching the other leaders' gazes. "There will be no need to bring any warriors, or your medicine cats. This is a decision for us, and us alone."

"This is a decision that will decide all our fates, not just theirs!" Some cat shouted. "Speak now, and let us have a say!"

Some cats yowled in agreement, but Nightstar stepped forward. The black tom was so thin that all his ribs were showing through his pelt, and his fur was matted as if he had not been properly groomed in a moon. His eyes were hollow with signs of illness. "Tigerstar is right," the frail leader rasped. "My Clan has only three warriors and a medicine cat. We would have less say in this decision than any other Clan," he turned to Tigerstar, boldly meeting the tom's gaze. "I will meet your here in one quarter moon's time."

"As will I," Tallstar meowed, while Leopardstar simply nodded.

Tigerstar dipped his head respectfully. "Thank you. I'm finished now."