Twigpaw felt an even sharper pang at the SkyClan leader’s news. They’ve been apprentices as long as I have! Then she felt Finpaw pressing affectionately against her side.

“It’s okay,” he whispered. “It’ll be our turn soon.”

Instantly Twigpaw’s pelt grew hot with shame. Even though she hadn’t put her ungenerous thoughts into words, her face must have given her away. If Finpaw wasn’t upset, when the new warriors were his littermates, then she had no business griping either.

I chose this, she reminded herself. I will be a ThunderClan warrior, one day.

“It’s fine,” she murmured, giving Finpaw a grateful lick around the ear.

Meanwhile Mistystar had come forward, balancing gracefully on the end of a branch, to give news of RiverClan.

“We thank you all for the help you gave us in escaping the fire,” she meowed, “and for the shelter you offered when our camp was destroyed. We are now ready to return and take part in the full life of the Clans, and we’ll be grateful for any help you can give us in rebuilding our camp.”

“Oh, that’s great!” Twigpaw exclaimed. “They really are coming back for good.”

Sparkpelt let out a skeptical snort; Twigpaw could tell that her mentor didn’t share her excitement. Then Crowfeather, the WindClan deputy, rose to his paws from where he sat on the oak roots with the other deputies.

“That’s all very well, Mistystar,” he began, his voice harsh, and an irritated look in his eyes. “But it’s beginning to feel like you’re using the other Clans. You wanted nothing to do with us until we came and saved your tails, and now that you need help, you want to be a Clan again.”

“Yeah, what a coincidence!” Scorchfur called out from SkyClan.

Mistystar didn’t seem angry at Crowfeather’s challenge. Instead she gave him a respectful dip of her head. “There’s some truth in what you say, Crowfeather,” she meowed. “The timing is awkward, I admit. But before the fire we had already made the decision to rejoin the rest of you.”

“Yeah, right!” Sparkpelt muttered.

Twigpaw cast an impatient glance at her mentor. There’s too much arguing at this Gathering already, she thought. You don’t have to make it worse!

“After the damage inflicted on us by Darktail and his Kin, we needed time to turn inward and strengthen ourselves,” Mistystar continued, apparently having not heard Sparkpelt’s comment, or having decided to ignore it. “But now we’re ready to contribute again. And the time alone has reminded us of how important it is to be part of something bigger than one Clan.”

The RiverClan leader’s measured words evidently impressed Crowfeather, who gave her a nod and sat down again. But the hostile muttering still went on.