2.12.10 GATHERING!

[glowlynose]

Crowpaw's entire face leaped into an instant smile the instant he saw Finchpaw walking toward him. It was incredible how essentially iridescent the little black tom's smile actually was. His entire countenance glowed with a calm radiance that came from pure, unadulterated happiness. It was quite a sight, and he wore his smile almost constantly. Well, the smile that happened when he saw Finchpaw was a good thousand times greater than his normal one. Sheer glee threatened to lift his body off of the ground until he flew like his namesake. With a chuckle, he wondered if this would happen every time he saw someone he liked. Now that would be interesting.

Oh, but someone was approaching with Finchpaw. It was another tom, with the same color pelt as Crowpaw's friend. He was just... big. The stranger must have been as big as Otterfur, or even bigger! Crowpaw's eyes widened a little bit in apprehension. What if he was coming to hurt him? That was ridiculous. There was the truce. He had to remind himself of that.

When the stranger approached, Crowpaw could smell the same scent as Finchpaw on his pelt. So they were from the same clan. Hogeeze, the big ginger tom was Finchpaw's dad! That could be good, or it could be bad. Either way, he gave the large red tom a respectful dip of the head. It never hurt to be nice to somebody.

"He's your dad?" Crowpaw whispered to Finchpaw after Rowanheart padded away. "From the way he carried himself, I thought he was the leader of your clan! That is, until I remembered that Owlstar's the leader and... yeah.

"Oh, hi! My name's Crowpaw. What's yours?" Crowpaw grinned at the new arrival, a nervous looking tom apprentice. He smelled like FogClan too. It was interesting how many FogClanners were coming to talk to him, a lowly PineClanner. The thought caused him inner tickles of happiness. Yes. Inner tickles. They were quite interesting tickles too... In all honestly, Crowpaw was just glad for the subject change. It gave himself a chance to recover from his embarrassing statement to Finchpaw and to collect himself mentally a little bit. However, what collected means to Crowpaw might not exactly be... average, as exhibited by his glee spasms.

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[Crowzerplorodon]

Blackpaw

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[/i] Blackpaw had forgotten how many cats attended these things. It had been too long since he had been invited, after all. That was probably his fault. Getting into trouble often did not reward with going to the gatherings. And, not so oddly enough, that was fine with Blackpaw. It had bee freezing lately – staying out for a gathering just sounded cold and not at all comfortable. Naw, hanging around in camp during those nights had been pretty fun. Talking to Silverflower, messing around with the other apprentices that didn't go. Psh. Gatherings; who needed them?

Then again, he was pretty excited to be here. So excited, that he had lingered on the ridge before the clearing, gazing out on the cats as they mingled and muttered and met. It was interesting to note who went straight for friends, and who hovered around until they found someone else. It was even more interesting to watch the leaders speak and greet. The four greatest cats in the forest, gathered under one tree, one moon, one night. Oh yeah, that was pretty awesome.

Finally Blackpaw slipped down from the ridge, paws guiding him in the direction that Willowpaw had gone. He caught sight of the silver tom and made to go over, only to stop when he saw Finchpaw. And some other tom, though Blackpaw didn't care much for the black pelted stranger. The older apprentice watched the medicine cat and his friend for a few seconds before turning around, looking to see if there was anyone else he could pester this gathering. Something about Finchpaw irked him – it was probably the medicine cat position – and he couldn't bring himself to be near the gingertom.

In the end, the apprentice settled on hovering around some elders, not close enough to be a part of their conversation, but close enough to hear it. At least this way he'd be amused.[/ul]

Otterfur

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[/b] To say the least. He didn't voice his last concerns, it might jinx things. The tom besides him was extremely right, after all. This was the first time in a long time Otterfur felt he could have gone without his excessive layers of fur. While they were comfortable when it was cold, warmer days just made them cumbersome.

“I'm Otterfur, PineClan.” He inclined his head slightly, both an action of greeting and one to suggest the other tom share his name. It was only polite. Plus, the PineClan warrior wanted to know who this tom was so he could deduce the warrior's purpose at the gathering, especially considering the tom sat where deputies normally sat. Speaking of deputies, where were all the others? The area was surprisingly empty of co-commanders, even though all the clans were here. Perhaps, like PineClan, the other clans had decided keeping their deputies home would be smart tonight? Otterfur couldn't fathom why.

“So much for deputies, eh?” He said lightly, attempting to joke with the other.[/ul][/blockquote][/size]

[Cloud of Diamonds]

Duskpaw

Cold. The lanky apprentice hunched her shoulders and shivered despite her fluffy pelt that clung to her bony frame. Talking was the only thing that made her forget about it for a while. Of course, being in a throng of cats helped. Still, it was good to have something to focus on besides "holy Cat Gods it's cold." Even if it was something she was no good at. Well, she had to try sometime, didn't she? Why not now?

Cause I'll look like even more of a fool, she answered herself.

Even with that in mind, the tortoiseshell apprentice looked around for someone about her own age that she could talk to. Hey, what about that black tom over there? He seemed okay. Before she lost her nerve, the StreamClanner made her way through the crowd of felines and sat about half a tail-length from the apprentice, whose scent identified him as being of FogClan. Okay, FogClan, she thought. What would make one of them like me?

StarClan belief, duh, she answered herself. Well, unfortunately that was not in strong supply. She could pretend, though. She squirmed a bit at the thought, but maybe if she just made it seem like she believed without actually lying it could work...and if she didn't have a mood swing or if her mind didn't go blank...

"Isn't it just so....delicious out here?"

What?

Why on earth had she said that? Well, the briskness of the air almost made it taste better, that was true...but the tom probably would just think she was mouse-brained. Once again, Duskpaw the fool shows her social ineptitude, she thought darkly.

[frosty]

A lithe, sleek-pelted she-cat parted a curled frond of bracken and pushed her way into the clearing with liquid movement. Instinctively, she scanned the clearing. With hard dark blue eyes, she raked the cats in the clearing. The pelts of black, white, gray, ginger, and tortoiseshell seemed to mingle in a fluffy cloud. She looked away, tilting her head upwards to Silverpelt.

The bleak branches traced a delicate pattern in the sky. Frost tipped the wooden fingers. They seemed to hold StarClan in their protective hands, reaching out the the blazing specks of white fire. Fallowfoot briefly dipped her head to the stars before rushing into the clearing.

Her thin tail weaves a swirl in the frigid air as it streamed out behind her. Her muscles extended and contracted as she bounded across the clearing. Her economical ripple of muscles was incredible; her legs moved like a running brook. On light, silent paws she plunged into the busy clearing. Her pale golden brown pelt melted with countless other shades of color.

Fallowfoot mentally insisted she was the only cat in the clearing whom drew the moonlight towards her. She believed her presence at the Gathering was a privilege. Fallowfoot imagined her lithe form sucking all the attention away, so it focused on her. With a glittering gaze, she scanned the crowd of cats once more. Certainly, she would not stoop as low as to socialize with apprentices. But even apprentices would be better than Pineclanners. She narrowed her eyes to mere slits as she lowered her rump to sit. Fallowfoot drew a paw over her ear a few times before exhaling slowly. She wrapped her tail neatly around her forepaws and awaited the meeting to begin.

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[sophie]

Swanflower

Swanflower pushed out of the bracken that surrounded the Gathering clearing. She had only been to one of these Gatherings before, and she didn't really interact with much of the cats. But now she knew she was going to meet someone new. Perhaps make a new acquaintance? The white-and-gray tabby warrior wove around the gathered cats, murmuring apologies if she happened to bump one or squish someones tail.

She was glad no one seemed too hostile, and that made her relax a bit. Honestly, Swanflower was terribly nervous, afraid someone would....do something but she really didn't know what she was afraid of. The she-cat started to think that cats were staring at her. Are they all staring a me? Do they mind me being here? Am I doing something wrong? Caught up in her own inner thoughts, Swanflower ran into Blackpaw. "Oh StarClan!" the she-cat gasped, stumbling backwards and falling into a sitting position. "I'm sorry. I didn't see you there." Swanflower apologized, her light blue eyes wide still with surprise.

She looked at the younger cat, taking him in so that she possibly remembered him if she ever saw him again. "I'm Swanflower, by the way." She added in, fidgeting her way into a more comfortable position. She really hoped the tom didn't give her too much trouble.

[Cloud of Diamonds]

Ashstorm

She wove her way through the endless crowd. Just aimlessly milling around, really, her face passive and neutral, trying to conceal her anxiety. She was not anxious for herself, but for losing her temper with some mouse-brained cat. Particularly some idiot FogClanner or young mouse-brain.

The gray tabby sighed. She sounded like Swallowpelt. Not good.

Pale green eyes searched the crowd for any cats on their own that she might be able to start up a conversation with. Anyone would do. Any warrior. Anyone who was not annoying. Anyone who didn't judge her because of her Clan or beliefs.

So a select number of cats, really. Pity she couldn't tell all those things by looking. Well, over there was a reddish brown tabby who looked okay...what the heck. She had to talk to someone, and if she didn't like them she could leave them. Why not?

So the gray PineClanner sat down next to the tabby. "Hey." She said somewhat awkwardly, after realizing he was a FogClanner. She just had to have picked a FogClanner, didn't she? Well, she wouldn't leave until she had a good reason to.

[Pyro]

Harepaw looked around the clearing. Once again she had been chosen to go to the gathering, a lucky thing for two reasons. One, she was going to the gathering two months in a row even though she was a mere apprentice...and Two. Two, two, two. The more shameful reason: She had been such a bore at the last gathering. She hadn't talked to anyone at the gathering. And what's more, no one had talked to her. Or rather, not one of the handsome eligible bachelors had. Well. This time she'd just have to make those tongue-wagging toms turn their pretty little heads. She was Harepaw. Harepaw the sassy, the beautiful, the elegant...The most badass apprentice here, and she'd be damned if she was going to fade into the crowd again.

She scanned the clearing again. Hm...hm...hm...who would her victim be? Ah there he was~ A nice, handsome black-furred, older tom sitting all alone by the elders. He looked like he needed some company. Female company. Her company.

The apprentice lashed her tail with an evil look. Harepaw prowled through the crowd, a tawny-pelted goddess. The moonlight was her aid, the seductive shadows her accomplices. The little sized, but all woman, she-cat padded up to Blackpaw with a smile. That was when she had the opportunity to take a sniff. Her eyes clouded a little. A FogClanner. She sure knew how to pick 'em. Well, she was already here. Walking away would make her look stupid. nd that was not an option.

"You don' really look like the Isolatin' sort. Whatcha doin' heyah all by yer lonesome?"

[Crowzerplorodon]

Blackpaw

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[/i]?

Oh yeah, it was delicious out here. The grass smelled of rabbits and the air of mice. Plus, there was plenty of snow – water – to wash down all that food. And of course-

Wait.

What?

What in StarClan's name was he thinking? Was the gathering getting to him? Because it definitely was not delicious out here and Blackpaw had no idea what the strange she-cat was saying. He turned to face her with a raised brow, green eyes dancing with amusement. StreamClan, on the older side (around his age, that was nice), and pretty. Hoo-boy, why were all the pretty ones always so... Interesting in the head? “Oh yeah, mighty tasty out here,” the tom replied casually, wiping the amusement off his place to replace it with a look of interest.

Before he could introduce himself, Blackpaw felt some other cat bump into him, knocking his paws out from under him. Quite a good thing he was sitting, now that he thought about it. That could have possibly ended in disaster. The apprentice turned to see who had crashed – another StreamClan she-cat – with a lopsided grin. Hm, interesting he had been approached by two StreamClan she-cats. This one was older, probably a warrior, and not so much on the dainty side. But hey, he didn't always like the skinny she-cats. Strong ones were just as pretty. He opened his jaw to speak to the light colored cat – Swandflower – only to once more be interrupted. This time, though, by words.

Oh now this – this – was a surprise. PineClan, she-cat, apprentice, and not a sore on the eyes. Farthest thing from it. Whether it be the moon's fault or not, Blackpaw greatly appreciated the tawny colored she-cats presence. How... lustrous. His grin returned, and for a moment the apprentice ignored the first two she-cats that approached him. “But m'not, can't you see? Got some lovely company already.” To say this was how he imagined the night going would be a lie. To say he didn't enjoy it, though, would have been a lie as well. “The name's Blackpaw,” he continued, addressing all three she-cats this time. “FogClan, obviously. Don't judge for it.” Because, as of late, judging FogClanners was just as bad as judging PineClanners.[/ul][/blockquote][/size]

[Whiskers]

"From the way he carried himself, I thought he was the leader of your clan!

Finchpaw couldn't help it; he burst out laughing. He loved Crowpaw's honesty. Loved. It. It was like Frostpaw's sense of honesty, though Finchpaw didn't think Crowpaw meant anything bad by his comment. Still, the way the tom so...accurately described his father's attitude with such blatant honestly, tickled Finchpaw's insides.

Finchpaw opened his mouth to reply (or rather, thank Crowpaw for his comment), whennone other than Willowpaw came stumbling along. Finchpaw hadn't even heard the nervous apprentice coming toward them, but he was quickly alerted when his name was gasped behind him. Giving a little jump, Finchpaw turned abruptly and watched as his fellow apprentice sat himself down. The poor tom looked like a fright; his fur was ruffled, his eyes were wide, yet he looked a little relieved to have found someone familiar. Finchpaw was glad to serve such a purpose and so he offered Willowpaw a smile of his own, once he had gotten over the shock of the tom's arrival.

"Ah, you scared me there, Willowpaw!" Finchpaw said rather cheerfully-- so unlike him. "Glad you could join us. Crowpaw, this is Willowpaw, as you've heard. Fellow Fogclanner and a nice guy."

Now that the introductions were out of the way, Finchpaw could focus on Crowpaw's hilarious statement about his father. His eyebrows arched as he replayed the comment over in his head. He didn't know if Crowpaw had meant it as a compliment or...or what, really. But whatever way it was meant, Finchpaw couldn't help but chuckle, and he wished that Rowanheart could have heard it. It might take his father down a notch or two. And humbling Rowanheart was a feat indeed.

"And yeah... that's my dad alright," Finchpaw said with a sigh, yet a smile remained on his lips. "Don't hold it against me."

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[Pyro]

"But m'not, can't you see? Got some lovely company already."

Harepaw giggled a little. The little laugh was a thick, honey sort of sound and disappeared almost as soon as it surfaced, rather than pealing out for an exaggerated period of time like so many other she-cat giggles. But that would be no surprise to someone who knew Harepaw. As if she'd let herself be like another woman...aside from maybe Gingerstar.

However.

Though her outward appearance seemed cheery enough after the giggle, her mind was sinking into the darkness of evil. Who did those she-cats think they were? They should have flew to the winds when they saw her coming. But of course they were no real competition. If she heard Blackpaw's words right and her eyes were working, the first one was eating air and the second was a clutz. This would be a piece of cake.

"Yeh ah withou' me t'keep yuh comp'ny." She said with a smile. "My name's Harepaw. PineClanner... An' ah won' judge if you don'."