"May all cats old enough to catch their own prey, please gather underneath the High-Ledge for a clan meeting!" Waspsting's cold voice declared, pride seeping through his indifferent facade.

Maplethorn lifted her face out of the rabbit she was eating, licking her lips as she watched Waspsting ascend the High-Ledge, golden pelt glowing underneath the slowly rising full-moon.

"It is the Gathering tonight and we will leave soon, therefore, I will choose some cats to represent our clan," her father meowed proudly, his stance wide and confident. "Shadepool, Briarwish, Glassflicker, Silentpaw, Ashpool, Hailstorm and...Maplethorn."

A surge of shock and suspicion shot through Maplethorn as she blinked twice, wondering if her hearing was impaired, if she had heard her father correctly. Without another word, Waspsting leapt off the High-Ledge, a subtle gesture for those selected to follow him.

A trickle of cats slowly seeped through the exit of MistClan's camp and made their way towards the Trees of Harmony, commonly known as the Trees, the place where the Gathering took place every moon, the only time where peace was, or should be, guaranteed amongst the four clans. It would also be the one of the only times where MistClan members would be seen by the rest of the clans.

Maplethorn watched the rest of the cats ahead of her and felt her sister's pelt leaning against hers and heard her panting slightly, pelt heaving subtly against her fur.

"Are you alright?" Maplethorn whispered quietly, having the hunch that it wouldn't serve either of them well if she spoke too loudly.

Silentpaw gave a weak nod and managed to force out,

"I'm fine, Maplethorn. Don't worry about me; I know what I'm doing."

Maplethorn turned her head to the other side, a small frown forming on her face as she felt a twinge in her heart, annoyed that she wasn't allowed to help Silentpaw, even though her sister had done so for her entire life.

They walked in silence for the rest of the journey, only Silentpaw's barely audible huffing and wheezing breaking the silence of MistClan's eerily still land.

As Maplethorn entered the Trees she stood completely still, astounded by the novelty of it all. She'd never seen such a wide variety of cats in the same place before; never encountered any of the other three clans. Maplethorn's nostrils flared as she took in 

StormClan members carried the scent of pride, almost arrogance, a scent that wasn't too different from what her brother and father emitted. Most of their members were strong, stocky, muscular cats that stood almost half a head taller than the average MistClan cat. They all talked in loud, jovial voices which could've been heard on the other side of the Trees.

WillowClan all radiated an aura of serenity and peace, all lying on their stomachs or backs, completely stretched out and whispering softly, slowly towards members of other clans or their own.

MarshClan smelled of fish, bogs, lakes and more fish. They were the most kittypet-like out of the rest of them. Twoleg scent could be discerned from the rest.

"That's Jaggedstar, the leader of StormClan," Silentpaw whispered, after she plonked herself next to Maplethorn, tail flicking at a grey-blue tom with a white chin and paws, whose pelt was raked with scars. He was missing an eye and the intact one was a scorching, smoking, amber.

"That's Fernstar, leader of WillowClan. All WillowClan leaders are females, as are all higher ranking roles, for WillowClan believes that males are too irrational and may not resort to the pacifist ways they have agreed to," she continued, tail now pointed at a brown she-cat with bengal marks. She was lithe, long-legged and slim. Her eyes were a soft yellow, as though StarClan had blessed her with two suns for eyes instead. A nagging feeling tugged at Maplethorn but she wasn't allowed to dwell on it before her sister continued to speak.

"And that's Duckstar, leader of MarshClan," Silentpaw concluded, before gently grooming her stomach, gaze wandering between the cats and as though a mysterious force summoned her, she got up and disappeared into a certain direction, the mass of cats swallowing her up.

"Hey there," a voice rumbled behind her and Maplethorn whipped around, fur raising on her neck as she faced a white and black tom with fiery amber eyes, however, the bottom portion of his right eye was blue.

"What?" Maplethorn asked coldly, eyes narrowed, licking her muzzle out of suspicion.

"I just wanted to talk," the tom replied, alarmed at her coldness, taking a couple of steps away from her. "After all, that's what Gatherings are for, no?"

Maplethorn bit back her insult at the warrior, sulking as she realised her foolishness; Gatherings were places where all clans could mingle, and with MistClan already being so reserved, sometimes even boycotting Gatherings altogether when she was younger, it was no surprise that any MistClan cats present naturally drew crowds around them.

"Unless," the tom began, breaking the silence "You've never been to one? But since MistClan doesn't attend many Gatherings in general, I'm not surprised if some here are new."

"I've never been to one," Maplethorn sighed, sitting back down as she dipped her head in resignation, praying the tom wouldn't continue to pry.=

"Well," the tom continued. "They're always overwhelming for first-timers. What's your name?"

"Maplethorn," she said, spring-green eyes searching his amber-and-blue ones for any malicious intent. "Yours?"

"Duskriver," he said, "Nice to meet you, Maplethorn."

"You're from MarshClan?" she queried, inhaling the watery scent his clan carried, as well as an indicator within his name. "Isn't your clan filled with kittypets?"

"Yes, I am from MarshClan," the tom chuckled slightly, perhaps amused by her brazenness. "And no, we aren't kittypets, we just...ask for help from Twolegs if we're running low on resources. There's nothing wrong with asking for a little help every now and then."

"What about independence then?" Maplethorn asked, facial features contorted into horror. She'd never let one of those gigantic, lumbering beasts touch her even if it meant they could save her from death.

"Ah," the young warrior replied, his eyes smiling, twinkling like the stars above, even though his mouth remained a grim line. "That is something MistClan cats would never understand. Your clan is so secluded from everyone else, I'm pretty sure any one of you could survive in the abyss that separates StormClan and MistClan itself."

"Maybe," Maplethorn said, feeling awkward, not sure how to continue the conversation.

"Regardless, thank you for the conversation. MistClan truly is as enigmatic and interesting as they proclaim themselves to be," Duskriver smirked, giving Maplethorn a half-wink with his two-hued eye and his tail tip brushed her cheek before he slunk away to where MarshClan cats situated themselves.

Her gaze lingered on Duskriver for a couple of seconds before she licked her muzzle, attention turned back to her sister that had now taken a seat beside her.

"Now that all four clans are present," she heard the deep, gravelly voice of Jaggedstar boom across the Trees, and the mass of cats chattering below the leaders and Waspsting on the branches of the Great Oak, four dangling branches that hovered above the clearing, quietened down and hustled to take a seat in the clearing.

The deputies, Maplethorn observed, sat on the protruding roots of the Great Oak, just below the leaders. MistClan's deputy seat was empty, and Waspsting instead, sat where Cinderstar would've probably been seated instead.

"StormClan is all well," Jaggedstar continued, taking a firm hold on the course of the Gathering. "We've had 5 new kits born albeit the oncoming harshness of leaf-bare and all are strong and healthy. Furthermore, two kits have now become apprentices, Icypaw and Cloudedpaw and we've gained a new warrior, Thistlecloud."

A wave of congratulations to the mentioned cats washed through the clearing before slowly dying down, allowing him to continue.

"However, one of our apprentices have fallen into the abyss, and we still mourn the loss, however, they are now running with StarClan, thus, we have nothing to fear."

Maplethorn sighed heavily. Is this what all Gatherings were like? Dull, and only bragging about their clan's prowess? Maplethorn was relieved that she'd never been to one until now, for even though it just began, she was ready to make a run for it and escape this place.

"That sounds very good for you and your clan," Maplethorn heard Waspsting's cold, harsh voice sweep across the Trees, a cold gust of wind raking across the clearing at the same time, xtaking note of how he refused to address StormClan's leader by his title, treating him like how he would with his subordinates in MistClan.

"MistClan has been doing exceptionally well," Wapsting continued, cruel golden eyes glistening with pride, relishing his newfound power as the 'leader' of MistClan.

"Three kits, Blizzardpaw, Sharppaw and Moonpaw, are now old enough to become apprentices. A loner, Briarwish, has joined our clan and her adeptness and skill has proven to us that she is worthy of joining our clan. We welcome her with open paws into MistClan's ranks as a warrior."

Another wave of applause and congratulations flooded the clearing and she saw Briarwish, her tail entwined with Shadepool's, pressing against Maplethorn's brother like he cushion, her body puffed up with pride and eyes filled with joy as she received the praise from those around her.

"If I may interject, Waspstar," Fernstar softly spoke, the young leader, older than Maplethorn by five moons at maximum, halting her father in his speech, stood up and faced him. Maplethorn was taken aback by how familiar the voice sounded, yet didn't have time to ponder, for Silentpaw fell into a coughing fit beside her.

"Don't worry about me," she said again, the second time tonight, "I know what I'm doing."

"Where is your deputy?" Fernstar continued, "Unless he or she is unwell, they should be attending, but regardless, there should be one to take their place."

"Ah," Waspsting smiled, the expression slicing into his face as his gaze fell on WillowClan's leader. "I was going to get to that. You see, Cinderstar has fallen so ill that she can barely stand on her own four paws without collapsing from exhaustion, however, her mind is fully sound and she ordered me to replace her as leader temporarily and I did not promote any cat as a temporary deputy for I know my leader will recover completely from this awful disease that has taken hold of her and lead our clan for moons to come."

"So you are not Waspstar?" Fernstar confirmed, tail swishing as she stood on her branch to the right of Waspsting.

"Indeed," he said, dipping his head and Maplethorn saw his eyes darken momentarily, expression turning into a frown before it vanished as though it never occurred in the first place.

"Best wishes to you, your clan and Cinderstar, Waspsting," Fernstar smiled gently at him before she turned to the mass of cats at the Gathering, indicating to him that his speaking time was over. She saw his father's face flood with ire, but at least he had the decency to stay silent and seated.

"WillowClan has been doing wonderfully well," the melodic voice of Fernstar pooled slowly into the clearing. "Dovesprig is pleased that the prophecy of StarClan has been fulfilled, and now we can rest in peace, knowing their wishes have been completed. Our clan has recently had three kits, both mother and kits are thriving. A Sister has also joined our ranks, successfully completing their freshling assessment, Vinesight."

"Congratulations for your new additions to the clan, Willowstar," Duckstar began after the applause ended and Maplethorn was ready to bash her skull on some rocks if this Gathering didn't end soon, however, she was more distracted by Silentpaw's heavy breathing, her flanks heaving and contracting fiercely.

Soon enough, she saw a wave of cats engulf her, making their way to the exit and Silentpaw stood up, gesturing that the Gathering was over, and it was time to leave.

"Ugh," Maplethorn snorted. "That was the most boring experience of my life. I genuinely don't get how apprentices are always so excited when they're called on to a Gathering."

Silentpaw giggled as she replied, "You're not one of us Maplethorn. Everyone else loves a Gathering. It's a good experience for later in life."

A smile spread across her face as Maplethorn teased and joked with her sister on their way back to camp. She found herself curled in her nest as her eyes stared into the dark oblivion that MistClan was. She caught herself pondering such deep thoughts it was impossible to untangle herself from them, even as she fell asleep.