Breezestar jumped to his paws as a screech split the air. He scrambled out of his den and looked around for intruders. But there was nobody.

All he saw was Starberry rush out of the medicine den with a bundle of herbs in her mouth. "What's going on?" Breezestar called to her from across the clearing. The whole clan was awake by now and gathered around Breezestar.

"Lilystem is kitting," Starberry mumbled through her mouthful of herbs before pushing her way into the nursery. Sparrowwing looked around with panic. "She can't be having her kits now! I'm not ready!" he whimpered.

Mudtail layed his tail across the toms shoulders, "Hey look at the positive side. Your almost a father." Sparrowwing's gaze suddenly became more focused. He looked to the nursery and then to Breezestar. Breezestar dipped his head, "I will organize the patrols. You go help Lilystem. But don't forget its Breezeclan's first gathering tonight."

Sparrowwing nodded and dashed into the den. Breezestar looked around the gathered cats. It was only Frostleaf, Mudtail, and Fernrose who remained. I need to leave at least one cat to watch the camp while Lilystem is kitting. But I only have three warriors!

He sighed and looked at Mudtail. "Please stay here and protect the camp while I'm out on patrol," he meowed. Mudtail nodded and walked over to the nursery entrance.

Breezestar looked to Frostleaf and Fernrose. They both looked anxious to get out of camp. He hoped down from the Tallrock and led them out onto the moor. 

*______________________*

As the sun slowly drifted down to the horizon Breezestar led the patrol into camp. They had checked the Shadeclan border, the Dawnclan border, and they also hunted on the way back to camp.

Breezestar was exhausted. He longed to curl up in his soft nest. But they still had the gathering to go to.

Frostleaf and Fernrose dropped their prey on the pitiful fresh-kill pile. Breezestar followed more slowly. He pricked his ears as Starberry slid out of the nursery. He rushed over to her.

"How's Lilystem?" he asked. Starberry looked at him with tired eyes. "She's fine. She has three healthy kits. Two toms and a she-cat," she meowed and walked off to the medicine den. Breezestar poked his head into the nursery.

Sparrowwing was crouched beside Lilystem, licking her ear fondly. At Lilystem's belly were three beautiful kits. A pale tortoiseshell she-kit mewled loudly. Lilystem and Sparrowwing dipped their heads to him as he entered.

"Their beautiful Lilystem. Have you given them names?" he asked. Lilystem nodded and pointed with her tail to a small ginger tabby tom. "This is Sandkit," she meowed. Then she pointed to a larger brown and white tom with a ginger muzzle. "This is Swiftkit," she mewed. Finally Sparrowwing touched his nose to the she-kits head. She mewled loudly once more. "This is Blossomkit. She likes to make herself heard," he purred.

Breezestar purred as well, "Those are wonderful names. Sparrowwing, are you ready for the gathering?" Sparrowwing nodded, "Yes."

"Go get something to eat before we leave. You've had a long day," Breezestar meowed. Sparrowwing nodded and pushed past Breezestar into the clearing. Breezestar followed him.

Outside Fernrose was eating a plump rabbit with Mudtail. Breezestar was pleased to see his sister and the former rogue getting along. His eyes lit up when Frostleaf skipped over to him with a shrew in her jaws. "Do you want to share this shrew with me? I can't eat it all by myself," she meowed.

Breezestar purred, "Of course." They made their way to the leaders den. He settled down beside her. He relished the feeling of her soft fur brushing against his. Her sweet scent almost completely drowned out the scent of the shrew.

Frostleaf stopped eating when she noticed he was staring at her. "Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked curiously. Breezestar gazed at her lovingly. "I was just thinking. Since we are technically mates now. Shouldn't we share the same nest? And the same den? I mean if you don't want to then I'll just have to stock my nest with moss so I don't get too cold," he meowed playfully.

She purred, "I would love that. We can make our nest tonight!" Breezestar licked her forehead, "I'm looking forward to it."

*___________________*

Breezestar fluffed out his fur against the chilly night air. The few warriors he could spare trailed behind him.

His tail flicked with frustration. How would Squirrelstar take him seriously if he barely even has enough cats to make a clan? The cats he brought were Starberry, Sparrowwing, Frostleaf, and Mudtail. Breezestar had purposely left Fernrose to watch Lilystem. He wanted to prove to his former rogue clanmates that he truly did care about them. Not just clan born cats.

He forced his fur to lie flat when he saw the shapes of cats emerging from the pine trees. Breezestar smelled the nervousness wafting off his clanmates.

He held his breath as they neared Shadeclan. Squirrelstar was already half way across the treebridge, she didn't even bother looking back. Nightpelt hopped down beside Squirrelstar to wait for their clanmates.

Breezestar led his clan across the treebridge, making sure not to be too close behind the Shadeclan cats. He kept his distance. Breezestar hopped down onto the gathering island and waited for his clanmates to join him. The smell of Shadeclan and Sunclan made his fur prickle along his shoulders. Sparrowwing shifted nervously beside him.

"Remember what I warned you about. Watch out for Shadeclan. Squirrelstar doesn't agree with the making of Breezeclan so neither will her clanmates. Sunclan isn't as bad but I would still keep your senses sharp. Sparrowwing and Starberry, you will come with to meet the other deputies and medicine cats. Frostleaf and Mudtail, stay together. Be ready to leave quickly if something goes wrong," Breezestar meowed strictly to his clanmates. They all have him obedient nods.

Breezestar took a deep breath and pushed his way into the clearing. The Shadeclan cats immediately gave them disapproving looks. Breezestar's pelt burned from the hostile gazes.

He kept his chin high as he made his way up to the Great Oak. Squirrelstar's eyes were narrowed to tiny slits. Branchstar dipped his head to Breezestar with bright eyes. "Greetings Breezeflight," he meowed. "Its Breezestar, leader of Breezeclan," Breezestar corrected him.

Branchstar's lit up at once, "Congratulations!" Breezestar purred and beckoned Sparrowwing and Starberry to step toward. "This is Breezeclan's deputy, Sparrowwing. And this is Breezeclan's medicine cat, Starberry," he meowed steadily. He glanced at Squirrelstar and Nightpelt.

Nightpelt dipped his head to Sparrowwing while Squirrelstar stared at Starberry with a hostile gaze. "Most clan cat names don't start with 'star'. Is that a rogue name? I would assume so since your clan is basically a band of rogues trying to be clan cats," Squirrelstar growled.

Breezestar held back a snarl, "Starberry is a unique name for a unique cat. I would not consider Breezeclan a band of rogues. For we too follow the same warrior code as any other clan does. But my clanmates are not just warriors. They are unique warriors, which makes Breezeclan twice as smart and twice as fast as any other clan here. So I would watch what you say, Squirrelstar."

Squirrelstar looked taken aback. Even Branchstar and Stormcloud looked quite surprised. Breezestar didn't wait for a response as he pushed past the leaders and leaped onto the Great Oak. He sat on a lower branch of the tree. He didn't like feeling to far away from the earth.

Squirrelstar and Branchstar soon joined him. A few moments later Dawnstar pushed her way into the clearing with her clanmates trailing behind her. Squirrelstar's fur was now prickling along her spine. Breezestar could feel hostility in the air as Dawnstar leaped up beside him.

He tensed when she sat beside him. The argument they had had still lingered in his mind. Breezestar felt a growl form in his throat. But he quickly pushed it away. He still couldn't believe how she had turned down his plead for help.

"The gathering will now begin!" Squirrelstar yowled and sat back down as Branchstar stood up on his branch. "With leaf-bare on its way prey has been eager to shelter in their dens. But Sunclan sure enough has full bellies. We have two new apprentices, Jaypaw and Dewpaw."

The Sunclan cats yelled the names of the two new apprentices. Breezestar's heart filled with warmth as his old clanmates puffed their chests put with pride.

Branchstar dipped his head to Squirrelstar as he finished. Squirrelstar stood on her branch and raked her gaze through the gathered cats. "Hunting has been fine in our marshes. A few sunrises ago a border patrol came across a few cats claiming to be apart of a clan called Breezeclan," she meowed coldly and shot Breezestar an icy glare. Breezestar glared back at her calmy. "What I said is true. I am the leader of Breezeclan. I told you Starclan wishes to have two more clans make their homes beside the lake. That is exactly what I have done. And Squirrelstar, you need to teach your warriors how to respect clan leaders. Some think its okay lash out at a clan leader," Breezestar meowed as he flashed a hostile look at Thorntail. The tom glared back at him through eyes narrowed down to slits.

Squirrelstar's fur was now spiked up with anger and she bared her teeth at him. "How dare you tell me how to lead my warriors! For that you are no better than a piece of fox-dung," she snarled. Dawnstar stared in alarm at her mother. "Squirrelstar, calm down," Dawnstar urged.

Squirrelstar wiped around to face her daughter. "I don't want to hear from you," she growled and turned back to face Breezestar. Breezestar braced himself for another insult. But Squirrelstar just stared at him with intense amber eyes. "Your a young leader, Breezestar. You aren't as experienced with leading a clan as Branchstar and I," she reasoned. "So I am just giving you a warning now. I advise you to start thinking before you speak."

Breezestar glared back at her without speaking. Squirrelstar was the first to break the intense stare. "Shadeclan, we're leaving!"

Breezestar watched as the Shadeclan leader leaped down from the Great Oak and hurried towards the treebridge. He made his way down the trunk more slowly than the other cats. His few clanmates were already waiting for him expectantly at the base of the tree. Frostleaf gave him a worried glance. But he ignored it. He had too many other things clouding his thoughts. If Squirrelstar was ready to boss him around why shouldn't he do the same? Besides he was a clan leader as well.