The Gathering (December 5th)

[Kelly]

ooc; Please don't post until all four leaders have posted. And note that you don't need to play all of your cats that were invited, only the ones you want to.

The grass was frozen from the chilly air in the still clearing. With each step a crunch rang through the air, possibly disturbing other living forest dwellers. Other than that, no noise rose from the group of cats gathered at the top most ridge outside of the clearing. One cat in particular, a large, black and white she-cat, watched the open field with almost a disgusted look. The full moon shown brightly down on the open clearing, illuminating the large rock and trees in the middle, where the leaders would gather shortly. The light picked out details of the leaves that the she-cat could see even from here, proving just how clear the moon was. A sign from StarClan, she decided.

However, it was not the moon that disgusted the leader. When they left, Owlstar had known full well they had left later than they should have. It was a cold night and she didn't want there to be much waiting before the gathering started and the leaders spoke. She wanted to get there, mingle for a moment or two, speak to the clans, and leave, to prevent whining cats from the nipping frost that would soon gather on the plants and stones.

But no other clans were there. The moon light showed no bodies of felines moving through the clearing and speaking with one another. FogClan was, sadly to say, the first clan there. And they had been late.

What were the other leaders thinking? The same thing she had? Great minds think alike, she supposed. After all, they were all leaders chosen by StarClan. Well, most of them were. She snorted with amusement at the thought that PineClan had the same idea she did, before turning to face her gathered clanmates. “FogClan,” she spoke, commanding attention over the silent cats. “We seem to be the first to arrive. Regardless, be careful of who you speak to. Chose your partners wisely and do not give any information that could ruin our clan.” She fixed a steely gaze on each cat in turn. “But please, do enjoy your gathering.” With that, she flicked her tail, signaling for the other cats to rush into the clearing and claim spots before other clans arrived to break the pure FogClan dominance in the gathering spot.

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[Crowzerplorodon]

It was chilly, and his white fur did not good in retaining heat. Cloudstar just felt lucky his fur was so thick, especially now, as leaf-bare was approaching. The gray skies earlier that day hinted at precipitation of some sort, but they didn't give in, and just faded away to a dim sun before night fell over the forest. It disappointed the white tom. They could use some rain right now, it had been a while since the forest was watered. Almost a drought, he groaned to himself.

Down in the clearing he could see a few cats pouring in from another side of the ridge. FogClan, he thought with a smile, catching sight of Owlstar before he scented the clan. His tail flicked in amusement. It seemed StreamClan wasn't the last. They were practically first, too, seeing how FogClan was just pouring in. And here he thought that if he came at the last possible moment he could get his clan mates home before the cold really struck. Cold meant sickness, and Cloudstar wasn't prepared to deal with any sort of cough in his clan.

Behind him he could feel the warm breaths of his clan. He could hear their paws knead at the frozen ground and knew they wanted to dive down into the clearing and speak with their friends from other clans. He turned, gazing at each cat he had invited with a gaze the warmed the frigid air. “StreamClan, tonight's gathering will be frosty, in more ways then one. It's been a while since we've had rain and tensions could be high between clans. So please, be smart about the cats you speak to and what you talk about. We do not want tension tonight, and I'm sure other clans do not either.”

With that, he nodded, letting the cats go down at their own pace. He himself went with the first group to dash down the hill, padding up to the stone in the center of the clearing and nodding politely at Owlstar. “Greetings, Owlstar,” he said with a smile. “I'm glad to see you and your clan are well. I trust those kits of yours aren't suffering in this weather?” It was all formality, but it was tradition at these gatherings.

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[Whiskers]

Gingerstar hated the cold. Even with her thick, lustrous pelt of ginger fur covering her body, she felt the ruffle of frosty wind biting at her paws and nose. It would be an uncomfortable night for her and most of her warriors—if not more so, for they had not been born with a coat like hers. If she glanced back she would mostly see cats with short fur shivering their tails off, and giving her death glances. Ha—it had been interesting announcing which cats were going to the Gathering. She hadn’t received the usual positive response, but groans and grimaces. Who wanted to be out late at night at this time of the year?

But Gingerstar was proud of them anyway. Despite the initial mumbles of complaint and discomfort, her warriors were now strutting their stuff, and showing off that Pineclan pride that Gingerstar had so carefully carved and crafted over the moons. Each and every cat she had brought exhibited top behavior—even the apprentices were beginning to shape up and grow out of that annoying first phase of immaturity. This Gathering would possibly be the best yet…despite the cold or the drought. And if a fight broke out (Gingerstar was nearly certain one would) she had confidence that her warriors would remain calm and placid as the other nitwits quarreled.

Unless, of course, the fight got too …ah… personal. Then by gone it, she hoped her warriors would defend Pineclan properly and not make a fool out of her.

Fogclan and Streamclan had arrived already. It annoyed her that she had not been first. One of these days, she had to be first. She did not turn to her clan, but made her way down the slope, calling back to her cats a simple warning:

“Disappoint me and we’ll have problems.”

Gingerstar left with that, meandering her way over to the leaders. Owlstar looked well, as did Cloudstar, but she had to inwardly smirk at how cold they must be feeling. She just loved her pelt. Loved it.

”Well I know Pineclan’s kits aren’t,” Gingerstar announced warmly, breaking into the conversation. ”Swallowpelt’s kits, in fact, seem to take to the cold very nicely. Very vigorous kits, much like their mother. They fit right in.” Gingerstar sat down and wrapped her long tail along her toes. Ah, she was in a good mood for such unpleasant weather. Yes…this gathering would be a very, very good one.

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[Cloud of Diamonds]

MeadowClan was last into the clearing, Cedarstar knew as he gazed at the leaders of the other Clans around him. But it mattered not, he thought as he took his place next to Cloudstar. I am still the greatest. Without my guidance, these other cats wouldn't even be here. So the thick-furred tom told himself.

His bright yellow eyes seemed almost like two moons side by side when he mewed smoothly, "Talking about kits, I see. My only offer to this conversation is that Dappledflower's litter was born recently, and they are healthy." Adding his next words for the sake of politeness, "I'm pleased to hear other litters are flourishing as well." The brown tom was a bit joyful at news of life in the other Clans, though naturally not as much as his own.

However, news of kits also birthed new pangs of jealousy - Cedarstar could barely stand to be around Rabbitstep nowadays, what with him now having two sons and a daughter.

Almost more than the tension he felt around the tabby warrior, his own fears of never finding a mate coming in full swing and his own knowledge that he would be bitter if he so much as said hello to Rabbitstep troubled him.

But he was a leader. He would be strong, and do his duty, and hide within himself these passionate emotions. They were not for others to see. So he held his head high, and looked over the crowded cats below. Earlier, before they left camp, he had said in few words about what he expected when the chosen cats were at the Gathering. They all knew what they could and couldn't do, really, but he knew it was his duty to remind them.

[Spec]

"Don't fret precious I'm here,
step away from the window,
and go back to sleep.
Lay your head down child,
I won't let the boogeyman come.
Countin' bodies like sheep
To the rhythm of the war drums.
Pay no mind to the rabble -
Pay no mind to the rabble.
Head down, go to sleep
to the rhythm of the war drums."

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Mistpelt kept a close watch upon her leader as she paraded herself through their territory towards the sacred lands. Alas, the cold weather hindered her not, nor did it damper her spirits. It benefited the clan for a little cold weather, where weak weeds would die out leaving only the strong flowering blooms to thrive. Another Gathering had come, and with it brought new opportunities for some juicy gossip, albeit it was less ‘gossip’ and more business. Either way, the deputy wouldn’t fail to root around for information regarding the clans since this was a perfect time for frivolous conversation, however much she loathed it – it did pay off. Behind the treacherous she-cat the deputy trailed, careful not to tred in her discarded pawfalls where corruption lingered. She felt that even brushing against anything that had something to do with Owlstar would make her physically sick and now…with so many witnesses, would bound to bring up a question or two. Mistpelt didn’t have the heart to lie. They soon advanced upon the clearing, Starclan gracing them with a bright and avid moon, stars glittering in the pitch black sky as it marked Their divine presence. When Fogclan arrived, the clearing neglected to hold any stink of the other clans. Which meant they were first to arrive. Perfect. She only darkened, however, when she reminded herself that Fogclan was still tardy. This would be subject to change in the future. Despite this, though, she ventured confidently into the clearing, moonlight against her pelt. She found a casual place for her to begin to mingle with the others, the less worthy folk of other clans…She sat upon her haunches, looking as welcoming as she could, a tight smile upon her maw as she waited for someone to approach her. In order to conceal her intentions, she gave her chest fur a few self conscious swipes of her salmon pink tongue.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

"Pay no mind what other voices say.
They don't care about you, like I do.
Safe from pain, and truth, and choice, and other poison devils,
See, they don't give a fuck about you, like I do.
I'll be the one to protect you from
Your enemies and all your demons...
I'll be the one to protect you from
A will to survive and a voice of reason...
I'll be the one to protect you from
Your enemies and your choices son...
They're one and the same
I must isolate you.
Isolate and save you from yourself!"

[prowler.]

Minnow. hail. DARK.

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The start was always the worst! Minnowpaw thought as she sauntered at an easy pace not far behind her leader, she had been lucky to attend today, having only lately been able to regain favour for her experience with the PineClan border. So lucky too, she'd only just been missed on that little escapade - Stormflower hadn't been too harsh though, but it was more the disappointment of both her mentor-deputy and leader that crushed her. Oh well, she'd prove them different, that she could be trusted! Still, her excitement meant she barely heard the words of Cloudstar, not that it really mattered much, leaders always said the same thing - watch what you say, behave, bla bla blah, whatever, she knew how to act, or she thought she did anyway. Once she entered the clearing to see they were only the second clan to arrive, her heart skipped, stumbled and then fell a little, before boldly picking up again. Her first reaction was simply to stop and stare as she always did, which persisted of course of the typical reaction, since she seemed to do this every Gathering. The cats paying attention that noticed her star-struck attitude simply sidestepped or swerved to avoid her, others were not so lucky, resulting in a brief cacophony of "hey!" "ooph!" "watch where you're going" "don't stand in the middle of the path like that, minnowpaw!" and other variants.

In a quick skip of surprise at this, Minnowpaw managed to shift her still-tiny physique out of the resultant backlogged chaos. Her ears flattened lightly with embarrassment as she spoke perhaps too quietly whisper-like to the ones she'd disrupted 'sorry!' She coughed lightly, awkwardly and turned away from the scene to scurry into the clearing. FogClan. Well, they had never been particularly friendly to her, well, I mean, obviously a few didn't speak for everyone, but two of the monochrome apprentices from the last Gathering had given her some evil looks, but she supposed she couldn't pin that on all of FogClan... Still, she was in no hurry to strike conversation with one of them and perking up a little, merrily trotted over to a clear space and sat down to lick her paw, this time they would come to her, she'd decided. That was if nobody stereotyped her this time, kit indeed!

----

hailstorm entered the clearing just two paces behind mistpelt and owlstar, ears perked attentively just in case he might miss an order or similar. owlstar's words when they came were reasonable and he inclined his head in respectful confirmation before turning away to lope down to the clearing with the rest of the clan. he quickly observed the gathering with a quick look, but owlstar had been quite correct, they were very much alone. or were anyway, until he heard the sound of meows coming from the other side of the clearing moments after they themselves had settled in. he watched with amusement as the gathering was temporarily blocked by the same tiny apprentice that had blocked and tripped he himself at the last gathering and gave a light chuckle before turning away.

scoping for conversation he flicked his tail in slight distaste at his options, most cats were still moving to assume places, not yet really merging into conversational groups. the one cat that was settled aside from the leaders discussion was mistpelt and hailstorm still felt a little distaste from their last encounter with her methods of control. he shifted slightly so as to pretend not to quite see her presence, so their mutual-dislike might not be picked up upon before approaching a stray newcomer, they were turned away from him and upwind, so really he had no idea who exactly this cat was, but really, they couldn't be any worse than his alternatives. hey there, he said, his voice deep and chocolatey as ever as he greeted the anonymous feline warmly.

----

His presence wasn't one appreciated nor particularly liked in his current position, but Darkfur was nevertheless present amongst the other felines in his clan. His huge physique took a row on the path alone as they slipped down the hill and in honesty, his clan seemed quite glad that was the case - Darkfur wasn't known to have a pleasant nor social demeanour. In fact, it was surprising he'd been chosen at all to attend the Gathering, he hated company and really hardly was an encouraging representation of PineClan at tense times. He snorted lightly as he entered the clearing third. Pure incompetence, if he'd been keeping the pace of such an unruly lot there'd have been no such thing. First. Always. He flicked his tail in annoyance as he glanced at the step of his comrades, nobody was kept in time or at the same pace whatsoever, what disorder. He flicked his tail in contempt and the moment it was possible, fell out to the right of his clan, brusquely not taking any note of Gingerstar's words. If he had something to say or someone said something out of line, Darkfur would be the first to slap them around the face with reality.

It took him less than a second to deem nobody present worthy of discussion, it was rare that there ever in fact was. Only a few minds were ever brilliant enough to meet his standards and even then, they were scourged with such disgusting weakness as faith. Faith! What was that? Having a "feeling" that something was right? The idiom of stupidity, in his mind, not worth a second thought. This only fuelled his disgust for those cats present further, that was why he was in PineClan he supposed, a strong, fierce warrior that relentlessly kept on going. He'd run his paws bloody for this clan and he didn't even know why, oh no, certainly not loyalty or courage, nor did he feel any kind of fondness toward the cats that surrounded him. No. They simply were better than being a filthy, disorganized loner, besides, loners could never have as much fun as clan wars could rustle up. Talking of clan wars... Darkfur turned to look around with a relit anticipation, tensions had been high of late and it was almost certain that something would occur. His muscles rippled beneath obsidian fur as he flexed them and teal eyes glowed with dark malice.

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[Cloud of Diamonds]

Ashstorm

Ashstorm was happy to be at the Gathering. Normally she wouldn't be, but after she'd been attacked by Barktail, she'd been wanting to be with other cats, had even been lost a little trust in her Clanmates all together. And what better way than the Gathering? Gingerstar had granted her desires. This warrior wouldn't dream of disappointing her. As long she didn't meet any more stupid toms like Barktail, she was bound to be just fine. Of course, she'd be wary of speaking to any FogClanners, but meeting a StreamClanner or MeadowClanner had its attractions. Picking her way through the crowd, she spotted a young-looking apprentice, with the especially sleek pelt that made the small PineClanner guess that the young she-cat belonged to StreamClan. Well, might as well find out. She padded over to the little gray-and-white cat, sitting about a tail-length from her on the cold ground. "Hi, there. Sure is cold tonight, huh?" The faintly striped cat winced slightly at the weak conversation starter she'd offered. But at least it was a harmless topic, one this cat couldn't possibly take offense at.

Redtail

Gatherings made him....uncomfortable. The tension was often high. And the feeling of being surrounded by so many cats, not of his Clan, all with feelings and thoughts and desires more foreign than the cats' territories himself. Not even he could figure them out. Even if he dared to try and invade their sacred privacy. Redtail shuddered. Who would dare? What if by invading a cat from another Clan's mind you yourself never thought again, too consumed by the strangeness? Ugh. He scared himself sometimes...no, most of the time. Why in the river's name had Cloudstar ever picked him for this? What if some she-cat spoke to him? What would he do? He sat on the edge of the group, nervously twitching his tail, paws pressed together, amber eyes watching warily.

Stormclaw

Ah, 'twas a briskly refreshing night, indeed! He would not betray his Clan's honor, no sir he would not. Oh, not that he would ignore the cats from other Clans, but not a word would pass his lips on news of MeadowClan, not of prey, or apprentices, or anything. No, they would speak of other things. Like...ok, maybe he'd have to say something to do with his own Clan. There were few things that did not relate to them. But nothing important, certainly not! Only trivial tidbits would given out. StarClan smite him were he to betray Cedarstar's faith! Well...no, the blessed ancestors would not do that. They would show displeasure in other ways, he was certain. He let himself be jostled by the crowd for a bit, but then he began to stride purposefully through the clearing, letting StarClan lead his paws where they would.

Palepaw

Excitement was in the air! Or so Palepaw thought. She loved Gatherings, but only been to one before. The cold was annoying, yes, but there was so much to like! And her spotted pelt was thick enough, she knew. All the cats to look at, the conversations to hear, there so many little things her attention could settle on and leave as it wished. Crowclaw wasn't here, and without him around she could relax. Her mentor was scary, but hopefully she'd become a warrior in a moon or two. What would her name be, she wondered? As she went and sat next to somecat-she didn't know who-she pondered this. I don't really have any special skills, she admitted to herself....I like tracking, and my hunting's all right. My fighting's average. I know I could get by in everything evenly, so maybe I'll be named Palefur or Palepelt. Those names sounded so dull, though....if she was honest, she wanted a name that was just a little more...exciting. How embarrassing and kittish. She self-conciously looked down, even though she knew her thoughts couldn't be heard.

[Crowzerplorodon]

Cloudstar

He turned to face Gingerstar warmly, glad to see her healthy ginger coat. Of course the cold would not prevent her from leading PineClan down to the gathering, he thought with a slight nod. The ginger she-cat was not the type to give in to a little chilly wind. “That is most excellent to hear,” he responded, shifted so that he could see both she-cats. “The news that the forest prospers even in such frigid weather warms my heart, if you do not mind the joke.” He smiled, feeling much, much older than he was all of a sudden, and wrapped his tail firmly around his paws.

His smile faltered for just a second. FogClan, PineClan, and MeadowClan had all had their first kits by now. And if his information was accurate, FogClan's kits would be hitting apprentice age soon, if they already hadn't. StreamClan, however, hadn't been blessed with birth yet. He knew they would come in time (especially since he wasn't up for playing match-maker), but Cloudstar couldn't help but ask StarClan if they could be blessed with StreamClan kits sometime soon.

“Lovely to hear, Cedarstar,” he greeted with a nod to the large, brown tom cat. It seemed all the leaders were here now. Of course, that meant nothing about actually starting the gathering. All the other cats attending had just begun to speak. They would be given time, if a little less time, to finish their conversations before the leaders take charge and end the gathering. “Quite a drought lately, isn't it?”

Tigertail

“Quite a night, eh, Stormclaw?” Tigertail asked with a boisterous mew, causing a few heads to turn and see who made the noise. He ignored them, butting the gray warrior jokingly. “Kinda cold, though.” He chuckled deeply, then strut off. “Have fun tonight!” The warrior added, snorting even more at himself. The cold seemed to have gotten to Tigertail's head, making him giddy that night. Maybe it was because the oxygen was harder to take in, it being so cold.

He pushed his way into the most populated part of the gathering, feeling a lot warmer among cats who produced heat. Tonight, he thought with a grin, he'd talk to some StreamClanners. Maybe Spottedpaw will be back tonight? Or, he thought, she could've been a warrior by now. She did say something about being an older apprentice, didn't she? The warrior closed his eyes in thought, trying to remember that meeting with the spunky apprentice as he strolled blind through the group of cats.

Foxflower

Foxflower hesitated before following her clan down, feeling a little nervous about this gathering. It was oh so cold out, and with cold came cold feelings. Tensions would be high, she thought with a silent sigh and a small pout. Finally, after the last cat had scurried down the slope, the ginger and white she-cat made her way down, paws landing in places where others had already stepped, making it easier to gripped the frozen ground. Her earthy eyes looked around the clans with a curious glint, surprised that each clan was interacting kindly. Even PineClan was being treated fair tonight, something which more than surprised the MeadowClan she-cat.

Slowly she entered the thick of the clans, nodding to her clanmates as they saw her. She sat not far away from the leaders and deputies, ears pricked so she could hear some of what they were saying, but not much. Not enough to be considered eavesdropping. But, seeing how there was no one to speak to, the leaders and deputies provided her with conversation, even if they didn't meant to. Listening to them speak of kits and weather, Foxflower didn't hear or scent the FogClan tom approach. She turned sharply, eyes wide as she kept from hitting the large, gray warrior. “Oh, dear, sorry,” Foxflower said quickly, looking around to see if anyone else had tried approaching her. “Uh, hello... Hailstorm, is it?”

[Cloud of Diamonds]

Cedarstar

He nodded back at the white tom before dipping his head to the two female leaders in turn, then facing them all once more. "Thank you, Cloudstar. But yes, rain has not fallen for at least a half moon now. Yet there is no snow. Curious, is it not?" His limbs were aching slightly, but shifting his tail to cover his paws more thuroughly helped. Were StarClan punishing them, perhaps, or it was merely the weather's doings? Surely the latter; the Clans had done nothing heinous so far. So far...yet he couldn't help but wonder if shortages of food would bring a battle. It was depressing that he found himself wondering so, but it was a possibility, welcome or not. He found himself thanking the ancestors that most of his Clans' sleeping places were underground, where heat could be easily trapped by the thick earthen walls. And the rabbits, too, surely would also have the same advantage, hopefully keeping their numbers in check. He silently chuckled. A leader thinking about his prey's comfort!

Stormclaw

The blue-gray tom smiled good-naturedly as his friend playfully knocked into him, causing the warrior to misstep slightly, but no harm was done. He called after him,"Ah, Tigertail my faithful comrade, I will!" Stormclaw continued on his random walk, but all the while thoughtfully looking at every cat that passed. The MeadowClan tom wondered what news Cloudstar, Gingerstar, and Owlstar would have to share. Had creatures such as badgers or foxes attacked? Where there any new warriors? It made him think of his own apprentice who, with a surge of guilt as he realized this, was gratefully not at the Gathering. He knew shouldn't be grateful, but he was. Besides, she would never enjoy herself, he thought. She avoids most of her clan anyway, why would she want to spend time with others? He stopped moving, and sighed. His smooth-furred face showed remorse that his efforts to try and get her to respond to him, were, for the most part, failing. His whipping tail showed his sudden aggravation as he contemplated those fruitless attempts to get the sly tabby to socialize a little. Perhaps StarClan would send somecat here to cheer him up, if he were lucky.

Redtail

He was considering getting up and walking around, just to get warmer, when the impossible happened. When the cat who stalked his night phantasms, his brother, his love, the one and only cat he'd ever been truly, fully close to just appeared in front of his very eyes. At first, Redtail thought he was insane and this was just a vision, or he was dreaming. But no..he was not asleep. He knew it as well he knew his own name. He stepped closer, not caring if he was barging past others, until he was just a tail-length away from the brown tabby tom. The ginger StreamClanner held out the breath he'd sucked in. "Snarl? Is it really you?" He whispered.

[Crowzerplorodon]

Tigertail

Oh, he had just been minding his own business, strolling through clan cats with his eyes closed and only relying on his sense of scent to take him from place to place. It was much too noisy to hear his way around. And how would tasting things help him? So scent it was. Once or twice he was sure he only avoided bumping into another feline by sheer luck, or maybe some hidden talent he had. That was getting off track though. The point was that he had been doing nothing wrong. Nothing to deserve a punishment or a shock that practically stopped his heart from bleeding and caused his pause to freeze with the frost covered ground, making it impossible to turn around and face the own of the voice. Though it was pointless to do. He already knew the fact of the speaker.

Tigertail, at the moment, was sure that if he managed to turn around, he'd see the familiar, lovely orange tabby face of his brother, Hiss. Only a few cats ever called him by that name. And they were either dead or resting safely back at MeadowClan, knowing him by another name. So hearing his old name, a symbol of the past he never wished to revisit, floating through the gathering air forced so many emotions of varying connotations into him. Fear for his current life as a MeadowClan warrior weakened him, anger that someone would ruin that life threaten him, love for who it was engulfed him, overwhelming guilt that he had not looked harder almost knock him down, and so many other feelings swirled through his brown striped pelt.

But joy was the strongest one. A powerful burst of pure joy that came with the know that Hiss was still alive. Slowly he turned, a mixture of his normal cocky grin and a joyous smile plastered on his angled face. “Naw, he teased, facing the orange tom fully now. “I'ma mouse.”