Gathering {September 09}

[FIRESTRIPE ❥]

The gathering officially begins on the fourth, but your cats may come early!


Goldstar quietly padded into the clearing, glancing around, seeing no one. As usual she came early to the gathering so she could acquaint herself with anything new in the area since last time she was here, and to prepare herself mentally for the gathering. The gatherings where her least favorite part of leading her clan, but she had learned how to deal. She took a deep breth, padded to under the rock and prepared herself.

[ḞḶIṆṪ]

^{(Was Baypaw invited?)}

Velvet, the color of silver shimmered as Baypaw passed from Thunderclans ferns and into the moonlight. Excitement pricked his pelt, all the anticipation from his days as a kit felt ready to burst. This was the moment the large Thunderclan apprentice had been waiting for! Now he could meet new cats and begin to identify border scents with faces. He bounded forward, unable to resist the temptation of the wide open clearing.

To his surprise though, only a few cats were present. Glancing back he easily picked out Goldstars shape along with a few emerging warriors. Looking towards the other clans entrances though, the foliage was deserted. Placing one paw after another he ventured forward. Old scents were every were! He bet to sniff the ground an uncovered the lingering traces of last moon's gathering. Striating up his twisted and looked around. The moon's face shined so bright it blocked out the stars around it and lit every crevice of the clearing. Around him the four oaks stood still, there broad leafs cast the only shadows.

He wasn't sure if Thunderclan were to early or not; it was his first gathering and he had always been asleep when the cats left before. The night felt young though, heat and haze still hung in the air. Leaf dust could still be seen gently drifting away. Baypaw turned and headed back to the warriors of his clan. He didn't want to be caught out in the open when the other clans showed up. Still, his tail tip couldn't stop twitching and his wide eyes were bright. He hoped never to forget this first gathering.

[ºNìghtº]

Moonlight fell across Nightclaw's shadowy dark pelt, causing it to almost appear silver. She stood patiently beside her fellow ShadowClan warrior, Frostbite. His teeth were bared in his usually snarl as he glared deeply into the eyes of another clan's apprentice. His white pelt bristled furiously, unmistakable in the crowds of cats.

"Great StarClan, you don't need to be so nasty. It was just an apprentice, hardly anything worth the bother."
"It was another clan's cat."
"Your lack of common sense really pains me." Nightclaw frowned disapprovingly, "Aren;t you supposed to come to Gatherings with the attitude you'll get to meet new cats?"
"I didn't even want to go to the stupid Gathering."

Nightclaw sighed. "Then why are you here? Don't take out your anger on these cats here. Anyways, I'm leaving you to swallow yourself in your own anger. I plan to actually have a few enjoyable discussions with some cats that are not from ShadowClan." Nightclaw drew away from him.

[tangley]

Leopardclaw walked into the gathering and sat down. He looked around the clearing and spotted many she-cats. They were all pretty enough but his clan seemed to have a shortage.

[CHARZERZ]

Charredstar stalked into the hollow with pride, his cold gaze trained on nothing in particular. He leapt casually onto the great rock, and nodded cooly at Goldstar as he swept the clearing with a look of mild boredom. His gaze returned to Goldstar; if there was one leader most similar to himself, it would have to have been her. Adressing other clans cooly, and trusting few. However, He knew Golstar to have a fiery temper, brought on at any moment, as far as he was concerned it was much better to remain calm in bad situations, like he did himself. He let his gaze wander once again to see his deputy, Willowfrost gazing warily around the clearing. It hadn't been all that long since the war with shadowclan, he couldn't blame her. Willowfrost was one of the very numbered cats he trusted, and actually let his gaurd down around from time-to-time. He stood with his eyes glazed, memories filling his head for a few moments, but he suddenly snapped back to reality, shaking his head, quickly whipping hid head around with a slight snarl to see if Goldstar had been watching him.

[ºNìghtº]

With her head raised proudly, Nightclaw stalked around the cat's in the clearing, dark blue eyes narrowed dangerously as they sweeped by cat's pelts. Nightclaw gave her long, beautiful black coat a few licks, before recoiling from the strong, repulsive scent of the other clans. Now, she wished she hadn't left Frostbite's side. She didn't like feeling so exposed among these unfamiliar cats. She walked up to a few warriors, settling herself down, and drawing a tail across her paws, giving off a mask of cool, controlled indifference. "Hello, my name is Nightclaw." She greeted them all with a curt nod of her head.

[tangley]

Leopardclaw turned at the sound of a voice. "Hello Nightclaw" he said nodding back. "I am Leopardclaw", he said not wanting to be here. He turned to face the black she-cat licking down his own pelt. His fur was filled with dirt and he made sure it was clean for the gathering. "How is your clan... I guess", he asked not really sure what to say.

[ºNìghtº]

"Nice to meet you," Nightclaw replied swiftly, with a cordial tone to her voice. "Thank you for asking. ShadowClan has been doing exceedingly well. We've had a good moon. How has your clan been?" Nightclaw's tail flicked lightly into the air, feeling a strange excitement for the Gathering to start.

Frostbite caught sight of Nightclaw talking to some warriors with her usualy measured look, and decided it would be much more interesting if he experienced the Gathering talking to someone, rather than sitting on his paws and glaring at every cat who came near enough to talk to him. Therefore, he walked over to Nightclaw and settled himself down beside her, his whites paws scraping the ground. "I'm Frostbite."

[sandstar7]

Huntstar entered the Four Trees with her clanmates to see that almost every clan was here. She padded quietly to the base of the great rock and jumped up to meet Goldstar and Charredstar. "Good evening." She said not expecting a reply.

[FIRESTRIPE ❥]

(There are so few cats any clan cat may come to the gathering)

Goldstar saw charredstar enter, and after awhile Huntstar. She hoped Flystar would arrive soon, she hated waiting, she also hoped Pyrestorm would arrive with the rest of thunderclan soon. She always put her deputy in charge of getting the clan to the gathering. She had to much anxiety to lead her clan in, she always needed to see the area without cats. She was eager to get the gathering over with, and get back to camp for a good nights sleep, and hopefully a peaceful moon, though she couldnt help wishing there was a fight, there hadnt been one in awhile...

[ḞḶIṆṪ]

Flystars shape slipped between the ferns and shadows. Around her the forests plant life abruptly thickened as the clearing light became clearer. Though she had rarely been here under the sun the bowl was known to be a cadge for the days rays and become exceedingly hot. A light wind sighed in the oaks above her and gently pressed her fur, dark leafs were full and thick softly murmuring the seasons comfort. There was little prey here though, many moons of cats had alerted them to make home father back in the forest. She prowled up to the murky edge, sharp olive eyes taking in the entire sight below in a quick glance. Many pelts rippled and many cats’ maws were flapping with chatter. Like a rippling brook there undistinguishable voices rolled up the bank.

This was how the dark brown she cat preferred it. Still and silent, like a hunter with cornered prey. The cats below couldn’t see her much less sent her with so many pelts littering the air. She on the other paw would never have scented cats here and now only caught the slightest whiff of the three clans markers. It was no hindrance though; she knew from others reports that the sense would be blind in this situation anyway. Actually it rather looked like every creature below was still presently blind to Shadowclans official arrival. She smirked, it was time to change that.

Tendrils of moonlight glinted over the blue gray flecks dotting her back and paws. A long slender tail raised as Flystar abandoned the shadows and proudly distinguished her shape from the black beyond. Each fur on her pelt had been groomed and shown. Her gaze was quick and bright, her nose not stuck to the sky, instead she watched as cats moved about and lingered before her. Already she’d picked out the two forms of her warriors speaking with some Riverclanner. Goldstar’s from sat alone, while charcoal Charredstar had made for the great rock. Black pads touched down on the main gathering floor. Sliding easily about she glided towards the leaders rock, long legs launched her up and over it in one fluid motion.

The hard stone was cool under paw and smooth. Nodding politely with a knowledgeable look in her eyes Flystar brushed past the other leaders and took her traditional seat without a sound. Once she’d entered the clearing the brown cat had said nothing to her warriors. They were competent in her mind and wouldn’t breathe a word against Shadowclan. It was a strange trust she upheld, many of the swamplands leaders before had been stricter. Now she waited calmly, tail dangling over the boulders edge. Dark olive orbs scanned everyone’s shape before glancing down at Goldstar, her face surprisingly welcoming towards Thunderclans usually guarded leader.

[☮iSLY]

Quick and soft pawsteps grazed over the smooth stone as the medicine cat apprentice of Thunderclan came onto the edge of the gathering spot.

Blazepaw's official second gathering was starting, and look, everyone was here! Except for the rest of Thunderclan. Pyrestorm was bringing the other cats.
Many different sights and smells came into contact with the young tom as Blazepaw scanned around the gathering clans.

Ashstorm was somewhere behind him, he had told him to go on ahead. Which Blazepaw didn't mind, he liked gatherings, they were great times to get to know how the other clan cats acted and treated one another. It wasn't hard to spot Goldstar, his leader, up on the boulder, awaiting the rest of her clan. He knew she was getting pissed from waiting. Next he saw Charredstar of Windclan, then Huntstar of Riverclan, but where as Skystar of Shadow?

Eyes darting around, wondering where the other leader was, he could smell Shadowclan, wrinkling his nose like last time at their rather...unique smell. But where was Sky- Oh wait, there she was. He saw the sleek furred she-cat come and take her seat in front of the four great oaks.

Blinking his hazel eyes acouple times, the young medicine cat apprentice stared up at all four leaders, just taking in that moment. Usually when any leaders were together it was during battle. But here, here they came in peace, to share and to exchange kind words, but each and every cat here knew one day, they would meet in battle.

Blazepaw moved out of the way of some approaching warriors and hurried off to find some of his clan-mates, or find the other medicine cats and their apprentices, that is if they had come.
The moon was bright overhead, and a warm breeze swept by as he approached a cleared area, it bringing a familiar scent he knew very well. It was Baypaw, one of his clan mates! He looked in the direction he scented his friend, well.... Yes, he was his friend, they had gotten quite along back in camp over the past few days, and he knew Baypaw shared his interest in herbs and such, and Baypaw wasn't even a medicine cat!

Smiling halfly, Blazepaw headed off towards the silver-haired tom, approaching his side casually. "Hi Baypaw. How's your first gathering going?" He greeted the young tom, knowing this was his very first gathering. Even though Blazepaw had been here before once, his first gathering, he still was amazed at how big the clans were put together, and how everything smelled, everything was just so....different.

[CHARZERZ]

Charredstar slowly turned his head and let his green eyes fix on Flystar's with a gaze colder then ice. "Shadowclan is late I see, what a surprise." His voice smooth and completely monotone as he adressed the shadowclan leader.

[FIRESTRIPE ❥]

Goldstar quickly jumped onto the leaders rock. She gave the other leaders a quick glance, and than scanned the crowd. Pyrestorm wasn't here yet. She was starting to get anxious, though she noticed a few thunderclan cats around the majority of them where not there. She hoped they where ok, the gathering was already starting pretty badly, she knew shed be anxious the whole time, she wished she could help it. She kept her mask in place. She sniffed the air, and shivered at the smell of all the scents in the same place, she hated it! She impatiently waited for Pyrestorm to arrive, and for the gathering to start. She wanted to be over soon, she needed it to be over soon.

[ḞḶIṆṪ]

Inwardly Flystar sighed. Could her fellow leaders ever lighten up? Her face turned to meet Charredstars icy glare. Below her tail-tip flicked back and forth intently. Pointedly she shifted as if to find a more comfortable position before answering. In the end despite a bit of movement her stance remained completely unchanged but she atleast seemed ready to answer. Amusement flickered like a shadow beneath her polite expression and in a soft plain voice she mewed, I’m sorry you’ve been waiting so long. Certainly we should start before any more time is wasted.

Apparently the disapproval of the other cats wasn’t enough to shake her. Flystar was among the older leaders despite the fact they were all still new to the job with a rather short list of moons behind them. Standing upon the great rock, though still special was no longer a daunting task and she’d come to expect her companions personalities here. No one was going to look weak with every cat watching and she had no interest of staring any quarrels now.

For a moment she watched Charredstar again. It seemed he had something against her but whatever it was Flystar had no idea. The pains of Windclans leader were of no interest as long as the didn’t effect Shadowclan. Would you perhaps care to begin this meeting Charredstar? She questioned with a face that seemed to show nothing but her willingness to let him start them off. It was true, she’d been late but there was no use getting everyone riled up by demanding to speak first to. This gathering was in the end of green-leaf. Cats were well fed and for the moment the forest was generally happy, she expected this gathering to reveal nothing different.

-----------------------------------------

Baypaw:

Below the great leaders a rather large but new apprentice sat. His tail looked to have a death grip around his paws and his eyes and ears were perked forward intensely, he was hardly blinking. Once or twice the tom had forgotten to breath. Everything was still new to him, each experience totally different and Baypaw was known to get wrapped up with new things easily, his curiosity was never ending. The only thing that hindered the night was his mentors appearance. Pyrestorm, thunderclans proud ginger deputy and Baypaws very own mentor had not arrived. Anxiously he glanced around again, silently willing the experienced warrior to break from the shadows and join them.

As it turned out it was a different cat that joined him. Obviously he’d been distracted by something else and jumped as if bit by an ant when Blazepaw appeared next to him. Quickly he flattened down his fur and grinned sheepishly, though he didn’t really look embarrassed. Hey Blazepaw. This is so cool! All these cats here, and all the clans. The leaders are all facing off! His voice hit a high note, in some ways he still acted a lot like a kit. hey have you met up with the other medicine cats? He mewed in a rapid change of subject gazing curiously threw the moonlit dim at his friends two toned form.