Gathering - April/May 2008

[Hawkstar]

Hawkstar padded down the slope of the hill into Fourtrees. It didn't seem like that long ago they'd come to this same spot to begin the journey to Highstones. A long time...and yet, in some ways, it still felt like yesterday. The leader shook herself slightly, reflexively, as if to rid herself of the memories. She couldn't waste any more energy thinking about the past. Everything from here was forward.

Hawkstar lengthened her stride and bounded to the base of the Great Rock, slowing just slightly enough at the well known point so she could easily propel herself to the top. Landing gently, Hawkstar turned to face the gathering cats.

[Olan]

Forestwind followed her leader faithfully. It was her first gathering ad deputy. She hoped Hawkstar would mention it. The full moon shone brightly above all of Forestclan as they filed in the clearing. A few wispy clouds covered the moon... perhaps an omen? Would this gathering be a good one??

As soon as she saw Hawkstar jump on the highrock, she sat below her leader, next to the rock, as she saw all the other clan deputy's do in the past gatherings. She looked at her clan with warmth.

[Kiri-chan]

(oh yeah. Twi's temp leader of ShoreClan. heh... *shoves him in*)

No father could be prouder of his new family than Twilightstar, he was sure of it. He'd hardly wanted to leave Midnightsong's side, but he had to run the clan while Midnight nursed and cared for their kits. Already they were proving to be quite a pawful and it seemed Blossompaw and Windpaw were determined to assist Devilkit and Morningkit in joining the dark side.

Shaking his head at thoughts of Devilkit shoving half the warriors into the river from his mind, he glanced up at the moon before emerging from the shadows into the moonlight. It was a full moon tonight - the signal for the gathering. He assumed Midnightsong wouldn't be attending, but he hadn't seen her since his return from hunting earlier since he'd been needed for a few things.

Nodding at the group of warriors waiting for him, Twilightstar took the lead and led them to Fourtrees. Once there he noticed that only ForestClan had arrived. Twilightstar entered the clearing and motioned for them to go mingle. Feeling a tingly feeling in his paws and fur at knowing he would be addressing everyone tonight, Twilightstar briefly found it hard to swallow. Finding his confidence again he approached Hawkstar and mewed a hello.

[Olan]

Forestwind's mouth gaped open. "W-Where's Midnightstar? Is she okay??" her heart beat faster. Ever since she could remember, Midnightstar was leader of Shoreclan. She admired Midnightstar, as she did with Hawkstar, Scarletstar and Blazestar. And now Midnight was... dead? Unbelievable! "Is she.. dead??" she didn't want that to be true.

Forestwind shook her head. "She can't be dead... She isn't." she could kind of tell that she was a queen now. Twilightsong... star... looked overly proud. They must be mates. "I'm the new deputy of Forestclan." she blurted out.

[| .s. u. s .hi. s .hi. r. o. |]

Batkin looked around in wonder as he followed his leader and duputy to Fourtrees. It never ceased to amaze the warrior, and this time, it was going to be special. This would be the first gathering as a new warrior of Forestclan! I wonder if Hawkstar's going to mention me, He thought mildly as he picked a spot near the edge. If she does, I better not make a fool of myself! With that thought in mind, he quickly performed a quick grooming session, making his glossy black fur shine in the full moon.

Sablespirit looked around nevervously. This is the first time coming here, because as a rogue, she avoided this place. Cats sometimes came here to hunt when not a full moon, and the former rogue didn't want to meet anyone on the meeting ground of the clans.

She was glad Frostflash allowed her to come, but was bit worried about her kits, Sugarkit, Shardkit, and Spicekit. Another queen had volunteered to watch them for her, and finnaly, she relented. Where's Cinnamon? The warrior wondered. Her mate was just behind her a second ago! "Oh, well, I supposed I'll wait for him..." Sablespirit wandered over to sit beside a bush, and observed the leaders and deputy. She knew there was Blazestar, but Frostflash was substituting, Hawkstar, Midnightstar, and Scarletstar. Cinnamon had yet to tell her the deputies'.

I'll add Glacier later. Oh, by the way: CINNAMON! WHERE ARE YOOOOUUU?

[+[{S.E.A.M.I.S.T.}]+]

Seamist wandered over with her son, Pinestorm. Hazeltear had been left behind, as she was ill with greencough. Having finally accepted Twilightsong's leadership after an initial reaction of distrust, she padded over to her Clanmate's side and sat down calmly.
"W-Where's Midnightstar? Is she okay??"
Seamist's ears flicked as she mewed, "Of course she isn't dead. Twilightsong would be too, if that happened," she mewed wryly.
Her sea-green eyes flicked back and forth as she searched for the cats she knew; there actually weren't that many, since she had rejoined her Clan fairly recently. Hopefully, Cloudmist will be here, she thought absently.[/color]

[Wildstorm]

Silent as a shadow, Scarletstar ran swiftly through the undergrowth to the gathering place. Her red and white fur shimmered silver in the moonlight, and her two-toned eyes flashed like glowing orbs. Approaching the gathering place, she slowed to a trot and halted at the top of the ridge. Parting her jaws, she drew in the night scents; only ForestCLan and ShoreClan.
Flicking her tail, she plunged down the slope and didn't slow her stride as she rand across the clearing and leaped up to join the others on the highrock. "Greetings, Hawkstar, Twilightsong." She purred, dipping her head to them. "Is everything alright with Midnightstar?" She asked in innocent curiosity. She respected the ShoreClan leader highly and she knew she would be upset if anything had happened to her.

Wildstorm padded quietly into the gathering place, eyes flicking around the clearing to survey which cats were already here. ShoreClan and StormClan. She thought to herself as she weaved among the other cats.

A ghostly black cat stepped proudly into the clearing, his blue eyes alight with ecstasy. My first gathering as a warrior! Thought Yanghallow with barely suppressed excitement. He padded confidently next to his sister, trying not to look to overly much like a newly apprenticed kit.

Yinpaw trotted happily next to her brother, tail waving in the air behind her. She blinked when she saw Twilightsong and not Midnightstar. Hmm.... Midnightstar is probably at home in the nursery. She thought kindly, watching the cats on the highrock.

[icehawk]

Icehawk padded towards the gathering at a steady pace. Their leader, Midnightstar wasn't there. He went down the hill and went over to a group of cats, he meowed, "Hello" As he passed by some cats. He settled himself by a bush, and layed his tail neatly over his paws, his icy blue gaze looking at each cat.

Jaguarpaw bounded down towards Fourtrees, she was happy to be at her first gathering! It seemed only yesturday she was a kit in the nursery. She smiled brightly as she saw all the clan cats mingling below.

[</cloudii>]

Cloudmist padded into the clearing, her green eyes looking over all the cats there. The tortoiseshell warrior quickly spotted Seamist, whom she had recently talked to about...an issue. "Hi, Seamist," she meowed in a friendly way, "How's everything going?" She turned her head for a moment to see if Shadowfire was nearby. He'd better not try anything stupid, she thought, seeing Ripplestream with the ShoreClan group that had just come with Twilightsong.

Ripplestream was walking alongside Swallowsong as she made her way to Fourtrees. I wonder where Shadowfire is..., she swept her gaze around the clearing, hoping to see the black tom. Not seeing him after a moment, she nodded to the warrior beside her and trotted over to the other medicine cats, looking over her shoulder once to see if her apprentice, Mousepaw was following. Only Yinpaw was here so far and she mewed a friendly greeting to the young apprentice.

[Owl]

Mousepaw followed Ripplestream into the Clearing and watched her look around, he noticed Yinpaw and nodded, the blind apprentice sat down and noticed Twilightsong... Or was it Twilightstar now? He shook his head, Twilightstar and Midnightsong were obviously worried about Devilkit, StarClan hadn't sent any signs... yet. He turned to Yinpaw, "Everything good in ForestClan?" he asked.

[Cinder]

Shadowpaw slunk down into the center of the hollow, doing his best to look like this was some awful torture. Why do i have to come to the Gathering? Why???
Scowling heartily, the medicine cat apprentice sat down on the grass, hoping that no cat would talk to him. I hate polite conversation.

Grey paws pattered on the grass as EmberClan's deputy walked towards the Great rock. Her violet eyes widened slightly as she noticed that Twilightsong was there instead of Midnightstar. That's not good... Did something happen to her?
Walking slightly faster now, Frostflash headed towards a group of cats, eager to find out what had happened.

Stormpaw's blue eyes were wide as she looked around the hollow. it was not her first time at the Gathering, but she was still unprepared for the amount of cats that were gathered there already. A brief smile flashed across her muzzle as she saw that StormClan was there already.
The apprentice's heart leaped, and she began to scan the clearing, hoping that Oakpaw was there.

[+[{S.E.A.M.I.S.T.}]+]

"Greetings, Cloudmist," Seamist replied calmly. She caught Ripplestream's furtive gaze. "Is he - " she started, and stopped. She had been about to ask, "Is he here?", but she could make out his distinctive jet-black shape approaching Ripplestream. Quickly, she padded up to her brother and nearly stuck her face in front of his, blocking him from Ripplestream. "Hi, Shadowfire," she mewed cheerily. She could tell he was irritated by the way his amber eyes flashed at her, but she was past caring - she and Cloudmist would do everything they could to make sure Shadowfire and Ripplestream wouldn't be able to do anything besides exchanging greetings.

Shadowfire glared at his sister, and attempted to shoulder her aside. This was the only chance he got to see Ripplestream, without having to sneak out of the camp. "Step aside," he hissed through gritted teeth, but he could see in his sister's sea-green eyes that she wasn't about to listen to anything he said for the time being. He tried yet again to shove her away, but she was now the same size that he was - and possibly stronger, though he would have rather died than admit it. "Go away," he muttered.

Nightpaw trailed behind the rest of the ForestClan cats awkwardly. Since he was always so unsociable, he had no friends other than the ones in his Clan. His amber eyes flicked from cat to cat, hoping that he wouldn't be noticed. He would have gladly done chores like fetching moss and searching the elders for ticks rather than this - in fact, he downright hated Gatherings. He was also too embarrassed to ask Hawkstar to not choose him to go to Gatherings all the time; she'd probably think he was weird. StarClan, help me,, he thought, as he wished that he could just curl up and die.

[</cloudii>]

Cloudmist flicked her tail and glanced once at her Clan mate. "Well, as you can see," she meowed dryly, "He's here." Trying to get to Ripplestream, as usual, she just glared at Shadowfire, her green eyes gleaming. She slipped up beside the black tom and hissed into his ear, "Don't try anything stupid, we're watching you and Ripplestream." Her ears twitched and she stepped back from him.

Ripplestream looked up again, just in time to see Shadowfire making his way over to her, but Seamist and Cloudmist were there. Just our luck! she thought irritably. "Um, Mousepaw? I'll be back in a moment or two," she meowed hastily to her apprentice, nodding to Yinpaw and the others.
Padding quickly towards her mate and the two she-cats who were so desperately trying to stop them from meeting, she wondered whether this would be a good time to talk to Shadowfire. Hmm...there's NO chance Seamist is even going to let me near him right now, at the moment but maybe later... Hopefully, they'd be sitting somewhat close when the Gathering started, as she almost reached Cloudmist.
"Hello there, Cloudmist," she mewed, trying to make her voice sounds friendly.

Sunstone trotted into the open clearing, swarming with cats from different Clans. He padded up to Seamist, another senior warrior from ShoreClan, "Greetings, Seamist," the ginger tom smiled at Cloudmist and Shadowfire from StormClan as well, "Cloudmist, Shadowfire," he dipped his head to the warriors in turn. His green eyes turned back to the former ShoreClan deputy, "So, how's everything in ShoreClan?" He looked at Twilightsong and casually added, "I don't see Midnightstar; is she okay?"

"Thank StarClan," Ripplestream breathed. She saw Sunstone, a ForestClan warrior start talking to Seamist. Hopefully, that mousebrain will be distracted long enough for me and Shadowfire to at least say SOMETHING to each other. Even a 'hello' would be better than nothing.

[Owl]

Mousepaw sensed Ripplestream talking to some other cats, they were obviously worried because their scents gave it away. He wondered why a StormClan warrior smelt so strange though. He shrugged and turned back to Yinpaw and the other medicine cats. He smelt Shadowpaw a little way off and turned back to Yinpaw, "What's up with him?" he meowed, pointing his tail off in Shadowpaw's direction.

[Wildstorm]

Yinpaw mewed a greeting to Ripplestream and Mousepaw and told him all is well in ForestClan. When he mentioned Shadowpaw, she glanced in his direction. "I think he's just... unsocial." She said quietly, watching him from the corner of her eye.

Yanghallow narrowed his eyes as he watched the exchanges between ShoreClan and StormCLan. His ears twitched and he looked away. What did he care of the dealings between two different clans?

WIldstorm crouched by the edge of the clearing, watching the exchanges between other clans. SHe noticed a few of the apprentices, including Nightpaw, looked like they would rather be back at camp. She smiled to herself. She used to be like that too, but she had gotten used to it.