as the sun dipped below the horizon, coloring the lake red, a group of felines padded along the shoreline.

the cat in lead, a large gray tom who's toes where white as fresh snow, had his tail kinked over his back. a yellow tabby was walking alongside him.

the group rounded the lake, now heading through an area of waterlogged ground and reeds. as they came across a fallen log, the cats went across one by one, emptying out into an island full of other felines.

lakestar's tail lowered as he approached a gigantic oak tree, cats moving aside to allow him through. he dug his claws into the bark and hauled himself up the trunk, coming to settle on a branch.

"lakestar."

the windclan leader tilted his head to the left, noticing a mucular gray tabby staring at him from her spot between two branches.

"yes, heronstar?" he turned to her.

"you have some explaining to do." heronstar spat back, pale eyes seeming to glow in the half-light.

a shiver ran down lakestar's spine and he turned back to the clearing below.

"may the gathering begin!" the yowl echoed through the island.

"heronstar." the shadowclan leader called down from her high resting point, "you may start."

"thank you, antstar." heronstar gave the tiny leader a glance, then turned to the gathered cats, all watching with wide eyes and twitching ears.

"riverclan is as strong as ever. we are well fed and prepared to defend our borders." she then cast a sly look at lakestar, "which we had to show windclan lately."

"heronstar," lakestar's tail bristled, "i dont believe this is the proper time to bring this up."

she snarled slightly, "oh? lakestar, this is the montgly gathering. such important news must be discussed."

"as i was saying," the tabby returned to her report, "four of lakestar's warriors threatened one of my patrols two days ago. they got into a fight and badly wounded one of my apprentices. in fact, she is still in the medicine den... and may not recover."

"heronstar." barkstar, who sat to the riverclan leader's left, growled, "that is enough. the gathering is no place for disputes."

"but barkstar! if he is responsible for the death of an apprentice due to his own warriors' stupidity, shouldn't he be punished?"

the thunderclan leader did not reply. lakestar stiffened.

》stand up for your clanmates.

》tell her it was an accident.

》stay quiet.

× × ×

there's the beginning! also, please keep in mind that chapters will vary in length. some will be only 100 to 200 words, while others may go past 1000. and dont forget to vote in the comments!