A Small Gathering (AF)

[</cloudii>]

((I couldn't fit all this in the title so this thread is open to these people:
Crystalpool - Strawberrypaw
Seamist - Seamist or/and Hazeltear or/and Pinestorm
A n u y - Spyglass
Holly&&Pebble - Mountainflower
Owl - Mousepaw
Cloudii - Swallowsong or/and Ripplestream))

Swallowsong padded into the camp, hoping to find some fresh-kill to eat after a long sun-high patrol. She quickly picked up a small squirrel and carried it over to a shady patch by the nursery to eat. Devouring the squirrel in a few minutes, the tabby she-cat stretched and was about to close her eyes and take a quick nap before she heard paws skidding towards her. Her amber eyes flashed and she looked around her...

((^^))

[A n u y]

Spyglass trotted into camp from a different patrol. It was the first time since leaf-fall there had been a bounce in her step. She smiled. Her paws were sore from the still half frozen earth but there was the promise of new-leaf in the air now. She couldn't' be more exited. All around her the dead forest was tinted with green as buds began to grow and the sun began to shine with renewed strength. Even the bird were exited, singing out the joy she felt.

Spotting Swallowsong Spyglass grabbed a thrush and trotted over, eager to see of other cats were exited to. "Hey Swallowsong" she mewed friendly as she lay down next to the older warrior and bit into the thrush. "Isn't this great? Prey is finally starting to return! We can all eat well again instead of those scrawny morsels we always get in leaf-bare." Suddenly she remembered the claw was always supposed to be thankful for any prey no matter how Small and quickly back stepped mewing, "At least there was enough so none of us went hungry right? We should thank Starclan for that." She smiled, that was the traditional thing to say when talking about leaf-bare prey and she thought she pulled it off well. Even if she didn't really agree, it was something to be thankful for.

[/font]

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

Pinestorm bounded into the camp, basking in the glow of the rare leaf-bare sun. He stopped for several seconds to smooth his ruffled fur, after glimpsing his mate - she usually scolded him if he looked even the slightest bit dirty in her opinion, although by his own standards, he was perfectly fine. "Hey there," he mewed, and blinked warmly at Spyglass.
His whiskers twitched slightly as he listened to what she had to say. He hated being a party pooper, and scolding was never really his thing, and so he let it go. Besides, he knew that his Clanmate spoke with no ill intention.

"Yes, thank StarClan," he echoed. StarClan...that's where Pebblestone is, right? he thought absently. I bet he's watching out for us from their hunting grounds, guiding our pawsteps and protecting us from harm...

[A n u y]

Spyglass turned toward Pinestorm, the warrior greeted her warmly and even over looked her slip up. It was great to be in a clan where she had so many friends. Suddenly Pinestorm went silent, his gaze distant. She watched him for a second, honey golden eyes concerned. Spyglass glanced over at Swallowsong trying to see if she knew what was wrong. Generally when a cat went silent like that it meant they were remembering something from there past. She looked away as Crimsons orange pelt and laughing smile echoed in her thoughts. Weakly she forced a smile. She was trying hard to recover and move on.

"Hey, why don't you join us Pinestorm?"
She mewed in an attempt she bring him out of his thoughts and get him to enjoy life with them.

[/font][/color]

[Owl]

Mousepaw stumbled out of the Medicine Cat's den, a conversation had woken him up, the blind apprentice walked over to the cats and sat down next to Spyglass. "What was that about StarClan?" The apprentice mewed, turning his head towards Pinestorm.

[♫ [.nighty.]]

STRAWBERRYPAW
[glow=red,2,300]please don't hate me because of my past[/glow]A small Apprentice, smelling faintly of kittypet food, stumbled into the light. Her eyes were numb with sleep. Noticing Spyglass, Swallowsong, Pinestorm, and Mousepaw, Strawberrypaw blinked. Usually aren't so many cats in the clearing.
[glow=red,2,300]look deeper than my mask[/glow]
Strawberrypaw padded over, green eyes flashing in greeting.
"Hello, Y'all." Strawberrypaw remembered how her Twoleg had spoke to her, and Strawberrypaw flushed lightly. As soon as I start training with Nightfrost I can finally-hopefully?- get my mind off my past.
[glow=red,2,300]so you can see the hurt... deep within[/glow]
Strawberrypaw's heart ached for a moment, and the former-kittypet stared dumbly at a leaf.

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

Startled out of his daydream, Pinestorm turned to Mousepaw and mewed, "Hm? Oh, I was just saying how I agreed with Spyglass - we should be thanking StarClan that the prey is starting to run again."
And not a moment too soon, in his opinion. Many of his Clanmates' pelts looked gaunt, and lacked their usual shine. A good meal would do them all a world of good.

He nodded kindly to Strawberrypaw and mewed, "Good idea," [to Spyglass] as he padded over to the freshkill pile, selected a thrush, and returned to his spot beside Swallowsong. She's new, but she'll manage, he thought absently. She has spunk, after all.

[A n u y]

Spyglass watched Strawberrypaw for a moment like she had for Pinestorm. Strawberrypaw was lost in her past to. It seemed every cat here had something troubling them, something that kept interfering with her everyday lives. Annoyed she pulled some feathers from her thrush. How were any of them supposed to move on if they kept moping? She knew she couldn't full herself for ever though. She was really just trying to avoid her past much like how Strawberrypaw was. She followed the apprentices gaze the the leafs. That could be it, she thought with amusement. she's not troubled shes stunned in fascination."

"So Strawberrypaw, witch do you like better? Oak or Maple?"
She mewed in a friendly teasing voice, pointing with her tail where Strawberrypaw had been staring. Hopefully Strawberrypaw wouldn't take it the wrong way.

[/font]

[</cloudii>]

Swallowsong nodded to the cats around her. She turned her warm amber gaze to Pinestorm, her gaze slightly concerned. "It's Pebblestone isn't it?" she whispered, nudging her mate's cheek gently with her pink nose. "Don't worry, I'm sure he's safely with StarClan now." She decided to omit the part about her talk with Ripplestream about a quarter moon ago, when the medicine cat had told her she hadn't had any signs of Pebblestone or hadn't talked to him in her dreams.

The tabby she-cat twitched her ears nervously, hoping that wherever her former mentor was, he was safe and happy. Pebblestone DID deserve the best, even if he wasn't here with his Clan. He had been Seamist's mate, Hazeltear and Pinestorm's father, her mentor, Ripplestream's brother, and a loyal and kind warrior; a valuable asset to ShoreClan. He was also a brave warrior who would sacrifice anything to help his family and friends.

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

Pinestorm nodded silently as he tried to push away his discomfort, and nuzzled her back. It seemed as though everyone was preoccupied today, including himself. "I just hope we'll join him up there some day," he whispered.
Which do you like better? Oak or Maple?
He turned around, whiskers twitching in amusement. Apparently, Spyglass had mistaken her discomfort for...intrigue? Pinestorm chuckled softly as he mewed, "They're leaves. We don't eat them, or hide beneath them. Does it really matter?"

[A n u y]

Spyglass faked an offended face, looking shocked and outraged at the same time while her golden eyes glittered with amusement. "Of course it matters Pinestorm. I'm shocked a talented warrior like you couldn't see the huge potential in those leaves." She stumbled, trying to think of anything they could possibly be used for. Nothing. "hmm . .. maybe not i guess." she acknowledged shrugging. She side glanced Strawberrypaw, the young apprentice still looked distant. "Dang . . ."

[/color]

Oops. I'm beeing kicked of . . . wanted to add more.

[Owl]

Mousepaw looked at Spyglass, her question was a little outlandish, "They haven't got much Medicinal value, but I'm sure they have a use somewhere, everything does," The apprentice looked at Strawberrypaw then back to Pinestorm, "I think that StarClan is trying to tell us something, but they are being cryptic, as always, there haven't been any signs..." Mousepaw thought about Spyglass's question, maybe that was a hint from StarClan?

[♫ [.nighty.]]

STRAWBERRYPAW[/color]

[glow=red,2,300]soon past shall be buried[/glow]
Strawberrypaw hardened her gaze coolly as Mousepaw turned to look at her. All she wanted to do was say, 'Why are you staring at me if you can't see me?'
The young Apprentice stared at the oak and maple leaves.
"Well, maple looks prettier to me." Strawberrypaw flicked her tail dismissively.
[glow=red,2,300]but until then i will wait[/glow]
The sun was fairly high by now, and Strawberrypaw still felt a bit left out.
She backed up a bit, and her paws drove into a huge-enourmous, really!-thorn.
"Ouch!" Strawberrypaw winced, pulling away and managing to bowl herself over while at it.

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

Pinestorm's gaze glazed over with concern, after he had beaten back his alarm at her exclamation. "You should be more careful," he scolded gently, as he bent down to check her paw. "This is going to hurt," he mewed, after glancing at the enormous thorn in her paw, "But only for a bit." And with that, he grasped the thorn in his jaws and pulled firmly.
"You should get some cobwebs for that; it could get nasty," he mewed in dismay, as he noticed the blood beginning to drip from the apprentice's paw. "Should I take you to Ripplestream?" he asked, wondering whether she would limp heavily or not.[/color]

[Owl]

Mousepaw was thrown back into the world of Cold hard reality, "It's okay, I have some nearby, wait a second". He walked off towards the Medicine cat den and grabbed the cobwebs with his jaws and, upon his return, started to bandage the apprentice's paw.