The Gathering (December 5th)

[neworleans]

"Cedarpaw!" The small apprentice turned to see who was calling his name. It was a black tom bearing the StreamClan scent. "Long time, no see!" His eyes widened. "Shadepaw?" he asked, almost incredulous. "I haven't seen you since the Journey!" Cedarpaw's tail was straight up in the air by this point. An old friend that he hadn't seen in moons, Shadepaw was a welcome sight for the brown tabby. "So, um, how's life been for you in StreamClan? FogClan's always seemed kind of... empty. You know, without you and the others." By "the others," Cedarpaw meant the other cats he'd made friends with on the Journey.

"Cedarpaw! It's me, Palepaw!" The FogClan tom whipped his head around to see a light-furred she-cat making her way through the crowd- or at least trying to. "Palepaw?" he mewed back, clearly astonished that he was seeing two friends from long ago in such a short time frame. "Palepaw! It's been moons!" he cried excitedly, nearly bouncing on his paws. "Why don't you join us? Shadepaw's over here, too!" Cedarpaw added soon after. Was that... a smile on the small apprentice's face? He just couldn't believe his luck! Shadepaw was a pleasant surprise, and now Palepaw, too? This Gathering was just getting better and better!

ooc: This post takes place after Palepaw's first post on this page.

word count (excluding quotes from others): 202

[hayy]

Lynxstorm stared back at Crow-whisker with a face that was anything but impassive, and yet that is the best descriptor of it. All of the brooding passion, challenging confidence, and angsty resolve that flooded every molecule of Lynxstorm's intense gaze was just a normal product of Lynxstorm being Lynxstorm, there was no other emotion or opinion clouding his gaze.
"I would not know if there is a problem unless all in this vicinity deigned it fit to inform me with complete honesty as to the state of their affairs, but upon initial observation I see little amiss in this situation." The words were clear, intelligent, but somehow challenging, Lynxstorm had perfected the art of irritation.

[Kelly]

Embarrassingly enough, Cougarpaw too tensed when a cat barreled into the StreamClan apprentice in front of him. Call it instinct, but he couldn't help but take the accident as an attack. Especially when terms were so tense during this particular meeting of clans. However, when he realized that the cat really had just accidentally hit the apprentice, Cougarpaw dropped back into a relaxed state, smoothing down his fur with a few quick licks to hide how wrongly he had reacted to the MeadowClan warrior. Great job, he thought sourly to himself, hoping that none of the other cats around him had noticed. That would be a heck of a thing to explain, especially to Ashstorm, a fellow PineClan cat.

Oh. That was odd. There seemed to be a cat represented from each clan, except FogClan. Then again, they did seem like the type to ignore those they didn't like. And it was no secret that FogClan cats did not like PineClan cats. Considering their difference in beliefs, it was natural. Oh if only he could tell them that he too believed in the starry cats above. Maybe then they would be much more open to him and friendly. Having friends was always a good thing, especially ones from other clans. It kept bonds between clans that hopefully prevented battles and death.

“No, Ashstorm is not my mentor, though I am sure she would be a most amazing mentor,” Cougarpaw praised, answering the StreamClan apprentice's question as well. “And, I'm sorry, but I never got your name. Or yours, friend from MeadowClan.” It was rather embarrassing, not knowing the names of the cats he was speaking to. It would make for strangled conversation later on.

“Snow would be nice, though. I've heard so many delightful things about it. But I've never actually seen any...” His parents told him about it once. How it was soft and fluffy and so white it canceled out all color but still kept things beautiful. Snow sounded downright magical to Cougarpaw.

“It's a pleasure to meet you, Palepaw of MeadowClan,” he said evenly, even if it wasn't that much of a pleasure. “Your name is fitting.” That much was true, though. The pretty she-cat did have a fitting name. And it was a unique one, too. Sootpaw had never met a cat who went by Pale. Perhaps it was because FogClan was full of dark or bright color cats, no one really fitting enough to be called Pale. He blinked, cutting his thoughts off quickly. Did he just refer to the she-cat as pretty? Amber eyes surveyed the MeadowClanner before narrowing.

It wasn't an... inaccurate description, he admitted reluctantly. The she-cat's spotted pelt was far from an eye sore. “Do you know Jaypaw?” Sootpaw blurted, shaking his head to clear his thoughts. “He is also MeadowClan. Do you know if he has come this gathering? Or perhaps Cloudpaw? He is also MeadowClan...” Really, Sootpaw just wanted someone he knew to talk to. Being alone on a gathering night (and no, Palepaw did not count as company) was no fun, especially when it was a cold one such as this. Maybe he should just go listen to some elders. They were always open for talking to young apprentices.

[Cloud of Diamonds]

Ashstorm

"Oh, Cougarpaw, you're too kind." She purred. This was quite a nice little group chat they were having. A nice tom from her own Clan beside her and two others who admittedly hadn't said much so far, but at least they were polite and seemingly friendly in general. The petite gray she-cat was quite happy that her own wishes had been satisfied at the Gathering - indeed, it was probably the best she'd ever gone to.

She was glad Cougarpaw had thought to ask the others' names; the female PineClanner had forgotten. Hmm...she looked at the others and tried to remember if she knew their names from past Gatherings. The MeadowClan tom was named after some kind of animal, she knew, what was it...Rabbit! Rabbitstep! She'd remembered from the bouncy way he walked. However, the small StreamClanner was entirely unknown to her. "So there're kits in MeadowClan now?" She asked interestedly. The faintly striped warrior wondered if they were older or younger than Swallowpelt's litter, who were approaching their second moon. She did remember a scrap of news from a Gathering she hadn't attended, that there was a MeadowClan queen expecting kits. She guessed this was the same one.

Palepaw

Huh. Well, this was a change. The gray tom was certainly nicer now than he had been before. She wondered why. A slight gust against her thick pelt made her shiver a bit, her big yellow eyes closing halfway. The wind was picking up. The spotted apprentice bunched her shoulders and shifted her legs into a slightly warmer position.

Oh, but then he had to treat her a bit like an idiot again. Humph. Ah well, at least it wasn't as bad as before, right? Not that she didn't want to get out of here, especially if this Sootpaw only wanted to talk to his other friends. She scowled slightly, trying to recall if either tom was at the Gathering. It was hard to recall exactly...but as far as she knew the only other apprentice here was Swanpaw.

Well, she wasn't going to lie to him and tell the FogClanner it was a pleasure in return, courtesy or no. She'd just answer his other questions. Her name was fitting...that was an odd thing for him to say though. But he was FogClan, maybe they said stuff like that. She'd thank him for it, anyways. It was kind of a compliment

"Thanks. I know Jaypaw and Cloudpaw, but neither of them are here tonight. Swanpaw is, though."

She looked through the crowd, hoping to see someone she knew. Despite the cold, she'd like any excuse to get moving. Wait...was her friend Cedarpaw over there? She hadn't seen him in moons! She looked back at Sootpaw briefly and said a polite "Excuse me, I'm going to join my friend Cedarpaw over there." She rose and padded off, not caring if Sootpaw thought she was rude or not.

"Cedarpaw! It's me, Palepaw!" She called through the throng of cats, hoping he could hear her.

Redtail

It was....indescribable. And not in a good way. Almost by accident, he seemed to be floundering in a river that was wearing down his barriers to the world. But that river had a name and a face. It was his brother. It was Snarl-though no doubt he, like Redtail (formerly Hiss, of course), had another name now.

Guilt struck him, harsh and deep as a fox's bite. So many feelings were tangled up like a spider's web. So much he could not do, here and now. So much he would not admit.

Lowering his eyes and voice so only his brother could hear him, he muttered.

"I......don't know. Give me some time to sort things out, ok?"

And with that, he slipped through the crowd away from the familiar tabby tom, wrestling with his hurricane of feelings.

[ZEBRA ! [used to be toasty]]

Voices of other cats rang in his ears. The smells of different clans where strong, and hung in the air. The excitement whirled in the body. His mind was racing of what he would see. He took a deep breath, and concentrated at everything around him. Different colored pelts whirled together, making it look like rainbow.. An ocean of cats. But a colorful ocean. He purred and trotted around. Taking sniffs of everything around him. It was an interesting smell, but there was also a sweet smell lingering in the air. It was the nature around him. He stretched, his paws reaching about one of his body lengths. His mouth's size increased as a yawn came on. Although he was thrilled to be there, he was tired from the trip. Right about now he would be getting ready to sleep. Or close to that time. He purred and trotted around, looking for a good chat. He padded pass Palepaw, and heard his name. He stopped and bowed. Maybe they would think we was funny if that happened. Anything to make them think Swanpaw was funny! That would make him look slightly better. Then he can go and brag about his fighting skills...

"How are you, Palepaw? Who are your friends?" He mewed.

[|| allie]

badgernose.

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Badgernose could feel the excitement tingling in her toes as she charged down the grassy hill to the Gathering. As she reached the bottom, she skidded to an ungraceful halt and nearly toppled over her own paws. She caught her balance, twisted around, and licked her shoulder, whiskers twitching in embarrassment. She hoped no one saw that. Turning, she inhaled the crisp night air. She sighed. It felt perfect tonight, though still chilly. It was Leaf-Bare after all. The she-cat fluffed up her thick black fur as a gust of wind blew past, and she looked around at the sea of cats in front of her. So many cats... it made her dizzy just looking at them...

Badgernose shook her head and blinked. She had started to doze off a bit watching the cats. It was a long trip here after all; she could afford to be a tiny bit sleepy. The she-cat narrowed her eyes and set off walking in a random direction. As she walked, she called out greetings to cats. Cats she knew. Cats she didn't know. Cats she had seen around but didn't really know. It didn't matter to her. She was just being friendly ole' Badgernose.

She eventually stopped as she was nearing the four great oak trees. Now she was unsure what to do, as she didn't have a partner to share tongues with. Frowning, Badgernose plopped on the ground and looked for a potential buddy. Her fur blew into her face as more wind swept past her. "Of course," she muttered, and turned again to smooth her fur out.

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[Whiskers]

Well, tonight had pretty much been one big bust for Shrikewhisker. The tom hadn't had any lasting conversations-- okay, he had pretty much just jumped from one to another, mostly exchanging hellos. But what could he say, most of the cats didn't really want much to do with him tonight. It was too cold, Shrikewhisker thought, to have any real fun. Most cats were just cuddling with clanmates, and he didn't have one. How upsetting. Truly. It made him sniff a little.

As it was, Shrikewhisker didn't like the cold, oh no. He found the cold unbearable, and what with his short coat, he was ready to fly south with all the birds each time leaf-bare swung around. But he just had to suck it up. Gingerstar didn't like complainers. She'd probably make him pick ticks off the elders if he so much uttered a peep about feeling cold around her.

But cold he was, and he needed someone to snuggle up with. His eyes swept through the crowd and then landed on Badgernose. Badgernose, ah yes! The medicine cat from Streamclan, very young, very into the Starclan thing. Perhaps he could have some fun with her-- oh not that kind of fun of course. He just wanted someone to talk to, some pretty she-cat to keep him company until the leaders called the Gathering to order.

So he went over there, a very wide grin plastered on his muzzle. He popped up from behind her shoulder. "Why hello there, Miss Badgernose! Cold night isn't it? But very beautiful. There's something very pretty about leaf-bare days and nights, don't you think?" Shrikewhisker instantly launched himself into one of his rambles. "Especially the moon. And ya know, the stars. They all just sort of shine brighter on cold days. Wonder why?"

And then he looked at her with that same old silly grin, expecting an answer.

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[|| allie]

badgernose.

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Fur finally intact, Badgernose gave it an approving nod and untwisted her head. She shivered. It was getting colder as the night went by. She wrapped her tail around her paws, like it would make a huge difference. She suddenly wished she would have taken the time to find a friend. Better late than never. Scanning in front of her, she chose the first cat she saw. A young MeadowClan warrior, she guessed by the scent. "Hiya!" she called out with a rumbling purr.

The tom ignored her and continued padding in the opposite direction. Badgernose shook her head. "He just didn't hear me. That's all," she told herself, whiskers twitching. Well of course he didn't hear her. He wouldn't intentionally ignore her. Why, that would be flat-out rude.

While she was thinking about this, she was too distracted to notice Shrikewhisker pop up behind her. His voice booming in her ear, Badgernose could have died from shock right there. Or at least lost all sense of hearing. Instead, she fell over. "Hey... you," she meowed, getting back on her paws. She couldn't remember his name, though she felt like she knew him from somewhere, and felt guilty. Still, she kept the conversation going: "Yes, it is indeed a beautiful night. I like it chilly like this, though. Gives my coat some good use, you know." The she-cat purred. She was glad she wasn't lonely anymore; it didn't even take much effort to find a buddy.

"I never really thought about that...hmm..." she trailed off, deep in thought. "Maybe because the air's not full of heat and such like during Leaf-Green? Then you can just see straight to the sky.... Certainly makes StarClan look beautiful, don'tcha think?" She turned to him, and just then she knew. This cat was from PineClan. Her tail twitched; she knew there were few StarClan believers in PineClan. She wondered if this was one of them. If he wasn't... she'd try not to react too harshly. He seemed like a genuinely nice cat.... even if his smile was a bit goofy.

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[Whiskers]

Shrikewhisker was delighted that Badgernose had taken up the conversation. He had definitely come on a little strong-- he always did. But it didn't really phase Badgernose (well, she had fallen to the ground initially but she was fine now). There was nothing more that Shrikewhisker enjoyed than a cat willing to go with the flow. And being a Streamclan cat, it looked like it came naturally to her.

And then Starclan came up.

Shrikewhisker, now, didn't think Starclan believers were nuts. No, no, he respected them and sort of admired their faith. He just didn't have that faith and he really hated thinking about the afterlife. He pretty much just avoided Starclan altogether. He had joined Pineclan just because Starclan would hardly be talked about, not because he necessarily agreed that there was no life after death. Oh no. Here he was thinking about it. That would just ruin his good mood and ruin this pretty night.

He tried to ignore this, brushing it aside as if it were an annoying bug buzzing round his head. He realized that she didn't know his name-- well that was enough of a distraction for him.

"Oh, by the way, I didn't exactly introduce myself," meowed Shrikewhisker as he seated himself next to her. "The name is Shrikewhisker, warrior of Pineclan! And unfortunately I don't have a beautiful pelt like you do. Mine is rather short. Does me no good, I tell you, during leaf-bare. And Gingerstar frowns upon snuggling, so I have to stuff myself in a pile of leaves and hope for the best." He was, of course, joking. Gingerstar wasn't that uptight and he gave his leader an amused glance, as if she was listening in to their conversation.

"Whatever the reason, at least it makes leaf-bare a little bit bearable, to have something so beautiful to remind us of new-leaf."

[/size]

[Pyro]

Harepaw looked around in wonder at all the clan cats. She'd seen cats from other clans before...At those awkward times when patrols passed each other...But she'd really never seen so many at once, together, chatting hospitably, even! The small apprentice would have stared endlessly at the gathering if she hadn't noticed that her clan was beginning to descend. She trotted to join their ranks once again.

But where was Shrikewhisker? She had been following him closer than was normal for her. After all, it was her first gathering. And despite her usual attitude, she was still young. Young and inexperienced. She didn't know what to expect and had deemed in necessary to stick close to her mentor, at least until she got a feel for things. However, in her wonder she had lost sight of him. Worse of all, before she knew it her clan had dispersed amongst the cats already there, a sizable amount to say the least. She wasn't quite sure it could be harder to find her mentor, but then then at last MeadowClan arrived, adding even more cats to the mix.

The she-cat shook her head. No. She musn't show weakness. She mustn't mewl for her mentor as though she were some milk-warm kit. What she must do is stay calm, and just act like she normally did. She was from PineClan after all, the clan that did not need to cling to their dead in order to get by. That alone made them the strongest, the best of all the clans. And she ought to act it. Harepaw glanced warily around again at all the cats.

Well...Maybe just acting like a warrior would do.

Her eyes finally locked on Shrikewhisker. And who better to do that with, than with Shrikewhisker? She made a beeline for the tom, sitting beside him with the soft crunching of leaves. She nodded a greeting to the cat already engaging him in conversation. Harepaw opted not to talk though, for once. She'd wait until they talked to her and gave her material to work with. Despite her brave thoughts, she was still very nervous. Too nervous at least to interrupt, as was her usual habit.