SCENE ONE

A bitterly cold full moon in leaf-bare, on the island where the Clans gather. Trees

sparkle with frost, breath hangs in the air, all the cats are shivering–and some look very

hungry indeed. The leaders of each Clan sit in the low branches of a tree at the head of

the clearing (possibly use a stepladder?) with their deputies and medicine cats sitting

below. Facing them are cats from all four Clans (not every cat from each Clan–about

eight to ten per Clan).

NARRATOR: It is a bitterly cold night in winter. The four Clans of warriors cats who

live by the lake have gathered to share news in a truce that only lasts while the moon is

full. ThunderClan, RiverClan, WindClan, and ShadowClan are represented by their

leaders, their deputies, and a patrol of warriors. All are bound by the warrior code, a list

of rules that ensures they are loyal, well-trained, and true to the traditions of the cats that

lived in the Clans before them. The Clans have been at peace with one another for a

while, but rivalries and tensions are always close to the surface, even on the night of the

full moon.

Onestar: (looking around) Are we all here?

Leopardstar: (climbing up to her branch)Yes, we are now. Come on. Let’s get started

before we all freeze to death.

Blackstar:Would that be quicker than starving to death? Because that’s what we’re all

doing right now.

Startled meows from watching cats. The leader of ShadowClan has admitted severe

weakness!

Russetfur: (whispering furiously) Blackstar, what are you doing? If the other Clans

know how weak we are, they’ll be crossing our borders before sunrise.

Blackstar: Don’t be a mousebrain, Russetfur. Any cat can see we’re all hungry.

(louder) Tell me, does any Clan have enough to eat?

Onestar: Every leaf-bare is hard. . . .

Leopardstar: Not this hard! Have you seen that the lake has frozen over? How are we

supposed to catch fish when they are hidden under ice?

Blackstar: You’re very quiet, Firestar. Too scared to admit your Clan is suffering, too?

Firestar: Not at all. As Onestar said, it’s always a challenge to find food in leaf-bare.

Lionblaze: (whispering to Hollyleaf in the crowd below the tree) What’s he talking

about? We’re fine! I caught two blackbirds and a vole yesterday.

Hollyleaf: Hush! If Firestar tells the other Clans we have enough fresh-kill, they might

invade our territory to steal prey!

Lionblaze: That bunch of weaklings? I’d soon chase them off.

Hollyleaf: Yes, because a battle is exactly what we need when all the medicine herbs

have been killed with frost.

Jaypaw: (padding up from sitting with the medicine cats) What’s up?

Lionblaze: Hollyleaf reckons we’re going to be invaded by other Clans wanting our

prey. They’ve got feathers for brains if they try. Have you seen how thin they are?

Jaypaw: Well no, Lionblaze, I haven’t seen, actually.

Brambleclaw: (appearing behind him—the leaders have finished talking and have

climbed down from the tree) But ThunderClan is as strong as ever, which is the only

thing we need to worry about. Come on, let’s get back to camp.

Hollyleaf: So soon? But the Gathering’s only just started.

Brambleclaw: (with a regretful look over his shoulder) Blackstar was right: The other

Clans are struggling to survive right now. There’s no time for making new apprentices

or warriors—and no she-cat would be mouse-brained enough to risk having kits in this

weather, so there’s nothing to report. Our neighbors are no threat to us, that’s for sure.

Lionblaze: (heading out of the clearing with his Clanmates) Yay! ThunderClan’s the

best! We win again!