Klaus stepped back, startled. "Wait, what?"

     Two cats stepped out from behind him: a black and white tom and a gray tabby she-cat. His litter mates were here! They scurried out of their hiding places and over to Soot. They sat at his sides, backing him up. Willow piped up.

     "Yeah daddy! It's really nice here. I wanna stay with Soot." Flash nodded and agreed with his litter mates. Klaus had a mix of emotions showing in his eyes, but Soot could only make out pain. His father took a moment to look around at the damage he had caused, then turned tail and ran out of camp. The cats that had stayed until the end got up and followed him. Two warriors followed them out and made sure they didn't return.

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     It had been two sunrises since the battle, and Soot and his litter mates had joined MoonClan formally. They even got official clan names. They were now Sootkit, Flashkit, and Willowkit. He thought the names suied them, and he had learned the names of all the clan cats. Soot and his brother and sister shared a nest with Applefur and her kits Mousekit and Pebblekit. Soot was also pretty sure he had heard every tale the elders could ever tell. A full moon was tonight, and evru cat was talking about a gathering. Whatever that is. I'll have to have Snowpaw what it is, he promised himself.

     He caught up to Snowpaw at the freshkill pile just as the sun was setting. She had been out training all day, and just got back to camp with Berryheart. He padded over to her and sat down next to her. She began to chow down on a large vole, wolfing it down hungrily.

     "Hey Snowpaw, do you know anything about the gathering tonight?"

     Snowpaw nodded and licked her paw aggressively. "Oh yeah. All of the clans gather at the great rock to share news under a truce. But you have to be an apprentice to go. Sorry Sootkit."

     Sootkit nodded solemnly, and perked his ears up the next second. "Will you be going?" Snowpaw nodded, and a smile formed at the corner of her mouth. She had stood from her now finished meal, and pounced on top of Sootkit's tail, he whipped it away from her and turned to face her.

     The game was on now, and he was ready to play. He tucked his paws beneath himself and launched from the ground and onto Snowpaw's back. She reared up and tried to shake him off, but Sootkit held tight to her thick fur. Then, with no warning, she flipped over on her back, squishing Sootkit under her weight. He squirmed out from under her, and curred her ear with his paw. He wasn't as big as Snowpaw yet, but he was growing fast. In a matter of moons he would be an apprentice. Then, he could train with the other apprentices as well.

     Clawstar emerged from his den, along with Splashfoot, Greeneyes and Oatwhisker. They were whispering amongst themselves. Then Clawstar leaped onto the tall rock and said, "All cats old enough to yowl gather beneath the Tall Rock,"

     When the whole clan had gathered, he spoke again.

     "I have decided who will be attending the gathering tonight." His tail sweeped over the smooth rock and he motioned toward his deputy who stood at the bottom of the rock. Splashfoot took over from there and started calling out names.

     "Snowpelt, Nightpaw, Rainclaw, Zebrahstripe, Tigerlily," he paused to take a breath and then started talking again.

     "Steampaw, Berryheart, Snowpaw, Pepperclaw, Darkear, Patchpelt. We will be leaving as soon as the moon starts to rise."

     The chosen cats assembled near the camp entrance, waiting for the signal to leave. The others went straight to their dens. Snowpaw and Nightpaw were tumbling with each other and Steampaw was padding back and forth near his mentor. He seemed anxious, or nervous. Or a mix of the two.

     The moon was just visible above the treetops when the group set out, Snowpaw among them. After she left, Sootkit went back to the nursery. Applefur and the other kits were all fast asleep in their nests. He joined his brother and sister in their own nest and cuddled up next to them. Sleep gripped onto his consciousness and he was pulled into a dream.