Gatherings/Archive 02

Archived 25/04/20
Contains content from the June Gathering

**SplashClan -** Divestar, Otterthorn, Shellskip, Ashfeather, Larkshade, Rockrose (adoptable NPC), Sandrattle (adoptable NPC), Silverpaw

**GladeClan -** Rosestar, Wolfleap, Fawnspots, Sharpeagle, Shadefern, Rustwing, Spiderfoot, Mottlepaw, Casey, looks like Breezepaw ended up here anyway

**BreezeClan -** Moonstar, Owlshade, Adderstrike, Sweetpaw, Fallowgleam, Irontang, Brownbreeze, Deerpaw, Snowpaw, Honeypaw, Sandpaw

Otterthorn too took a seat on a lower ledge of the stone monument, her ears pricked and rosy nostrils flared for any sign of Shadefern as the vague silhouettes of the other two Clans began to take shape in the clinging shadows at the far edges of the moonlit clearing. The deputy's features were still, impassive but deceptive as quicksand as she tensed, seeking to hide all traces of emotion from others but unable to conceal them from herself and her mentor, try as she might.
Shellskip turned in circles, making a comfortable nest in the dust beneath a low, gnarled shrub as he waited with rising anxiety for the other medicine cats. It was undecided if they would share the prophecy with the Gathering and he felt they needed to come to a decision now, since the threat was so immediate. His thoughts drifted to Skyflower and the kits, safe in camp as best he knew but with this cloak of dread shrouding his every waking concern he couldn't be quite *certain*.
Owlshade fell in step with Moonstar as they padded from the looming foothills into the flat clearing, her soft rust mask pale in the grey light of the full moon as it washed the colour from all of the surrounds. The deputy's movements were fluid and her coat sleek, unburdened by the concerns hidden by the medicine cats as she led the Clan beside Moonstar. Sandpaw padded a tail-length behind his mentor though he sought the particular mossy scent of one GladeClan apprentice in the crowd.
Sweetpaw trailed in Adderstrike's wake, pressing into his shoulder as she turned her fretful gaze on the grizzled older tom. "We'll tell them, right? Someone will know what to do." the diminutive tortie mink mewed anxiously.

 Fallowgleam rested her tail on Deerpaw's shoulder as the Clan continued to file into the clearing. "Remember, you're almost a warrior now. Please act it." she reminded him gently, licking the grumpy apprentice's ear affectionately.
Snowpaw fell in with Honeypaw, the thick-furred white apprentice's step had an uncharacteristic spring in it as she thought of *hours* without Hailgaze's harassment. She nuzzled Honeypaw's rosy ear, glancing sideways at her friend out of her mismatched orbs.
Late as GladeClan was, Rustwing was comfortable towards the back of the patrol. She glanced over at her companion and immediately away again, the pretty ginger-and-white kittypet femme was distracting to the shy warrior. She hadn't even complained about being assigned babysitter duty.
Breezepaw trailed unwillingly in Sharpeagle's wake, zir long tail dragging in the dust with just the tip kinked up and swishing gently. Ze flicked an ear and wrinkled zir nose, the cold ocean scent of SplashClan and musky heather scent of BreezeClan mingled in the air, individual scents were indistinguishable though Breezepaw fully intended to ditch Sharpeagle and find someone of better company the instant ze could. Curiously, zir eyes were drawn to a bright spotted silver pelt for a moment, admiring Deerantler's sleek muscles almost distantly before returning their gaze to the ground beneath zem as the Clans filed into the Gathering space. One riot,one ranger! 01:17, June 13, 2019 (UTC)
Brownbreeze looked to the surroundings and still unfamiliar to what the gatherings were but ze always would listen on the sidelines and even when ze listens, ze looked around and took in the scenery and the scent of unfamiliar cats around zir and the full moon. Hesitant to walk closer, ze settles in a circle and listens to all of the different cats speaking their views. Swishing ze tail lazily, ze gave a huge yawn in silence so as not to show disrespect. It is both a blessing  and a curse to feel everything so deeply... 15:23, June 23, 2019 (UTC)
Moonstar turned and gently nosed her deputy as she pressed through the undergrowth and into the clearing. She glanced behind herself and watched the clan disperse among the SplashClanners. She herself split from Owlshade with a nod and jumped onto the high rock to join Divestar as they watched the clans mingling.
Pressing past a bramble that tugged at her fur, Rosestar lead her clan into the clearing, she had known that SplashClan and BreezeClan had arrived earlier than the rest of them. Glancing at Mottlepaw, she nodded quietly, she trusted her apprentice to know to behave. Turning to Wolfleap, who had been walking at her shoulder she flicked an ear, quietly she leaped away and up to join Divestar and Moonstar on the ledge.
Honeypaw nuzzled Snowpaw in return, uncertainty bubbled under her pelt as she thought of Hailgaze left back at camp. She never liked her mentor, but she had never been to a gathering without him there. Though she could feel the relief that radiated off her companion. With Hailgaze away, Snowpaw seemed far more happy, and that pleased Honeypaw enough that she decided to forget that Hailgaze wasn't there and enjoy the gathering with her friend.
Adderstrike turned to his apprentice pausing to press himself against her, he looked around, "We have to discuss that with Shellskip and Fawnspots." he meowed to her softly, hoping not to catch the attention of the other cats around them as he then ushered her towards where Shellskip had made a small nest.
Wolfleap glanced at Rosestar as she slipped away and turned to join Otterthorn. "Otterthorn" he greeted quietly as he turned and crouched beside her, watching the clans mingling together.
Fawnspots blinked and glanced around, taking in her surroundings. As she scanned the clearing she spotted the chocolate pelt of Adderstrike and the accompanying tortoiseshell coats of Sweetpaw and Shellskip. She slipped through the cats and made her way over to them. She dipped her head to brush her nose along Shellskip's ear, "How are the kits and Skyflower?"
Shadefern flicked her tail nervously as she looked around the clearing. She knew where Otterthorn was, but she didn't want to make it obvious that she wanted to go over to the SplashClan deputy, instead she hung back watching Casey and Rustwing. Blinking she turned her attention toward the rest of the clans. Nervously she slipped among them sitting in a not as obvious spot where she could see Otterthorn through the other cats.
Sharpeagle flicked his tail as he watched Breezpaw. His apprentice was trailing behind him in a despondent manner. "Breezepaw, could you stop being a pain in my tail, It won't be long until you become a warrior you need to act more like one" he snapped sharply. His ears pinned as his tail flicked irritably. This time, Sharpeagle didn't even care if Breezepaw wandered off. For some reason, the tom was in a foul mood today.
Deerantler flicked their ear and turned to look at Breezepaw curiously. Though by the time they did, the apprentice had already looked away. The silver spotted cat blinked and watched the striped apprentice for a bit out of curiosity, but eventually turned away and pressed through the clearing of cats to find a cosy spot to settle and listen to the gathering news. Though they would have rathered go sit and gossip with the apprentices, they knew better and didn't want to upset Rosestar or Wolfleap.
Casey blinked as the mass of cats. Overwhelmed by the sheer amount in one place, she pressed into Rustwing's side anxiously. The young swollen queen blinked her eyes at the clearing. "Is this ALL the cats from the clans?" she asked in a hoarse whisper. A light shines best in the dark..
Otterthorn did not startle as the massive blue-silver tabby settled himself beside her. "Wolfleap," she greeted him amicably. "How goes GladeClan? We don't see your territory too often from the moors but I hope that newleaf is treating you well." The cinnamon deputy was almost considering asking him if Shadefern was in attendance, when she caught sight of the black smoke's shaded pelt as the sea of cats parted for a moment.
With an easy flick of her tail to Moonstar, Owlshade settled herself beside Otterthorn and Wolfleap on the rock. The rosy tortoiseshell felt a little awkward as she intruded on their conversation, but she did manage a brief greeting. "Hi. Otterthorn, Wolfleap - how go your Clans?"
Divestar greeted their colleagues politely, a little concerned. "You were both late. Is all well with you?" they queried pointedly, lapping at one errant spike on their shoulder that refused to lie flat. Their almond-shaped citrine eyes were luminescent although stripped of colour in the cold newleaf moonlight as they settled down on their belly, surveying the gathered felines "If nobody minds, I will begin the Gathering. The wind still has bite to it and we don't need to stay out longer than necessary."
Rising to their paws, the chocolate tabby let out a yowl and waited patiently for the chatter to still, curling their tail over their paws. "The past moon has been full of change for SplashClan. Unfortunately Skyflower's kits were lost to sickness, but the tides blessed us with four new kits which she has taken charge of. Unfortunately Glimmerkit was lost to greencough but the three others - Sparkkit, Shimmerkit and Shadowkit - are healthy and strong. We lost Swallowfern, Swiftstrike and Honeywhisker too; they walk with the stars or seas now. Their loss has left us saddened but not weak and with the return of the sun the ice has melted and fish are returning to the streams."
Comfortable they had said their piece, the spike-furred leader nodded to the congregation and turned to Moonstar, an encouraging smile upon their face. "Congratulations on being made leader, Moonstar. It will be difficult, rebuilding BreezeClan from what Halfstar left it but you have our support." they mewed, briefly nosing the lilac point's cheek in a friendly gesture of encouragement before settling back on their belly to wait for others to speak.
Snowpaw settled down in a little dusty hollow, her back against Honeypaw's side. She enjoyed the contact, it quieted some of the panic that such numbers of cats brought on. Divestar's support of Moonstar did not go unnoticed and she felt some small reassurance that the larger Clan stood in support of them as they struggled to move on from Halfstar's reign.
Shellskip leaned into Fawnspots' touch, a broken purr rising in his throat. "Skyflower is wonderful. She's so patient with both me and them. Glimmerkit's loss was hard and Sparkkit was sick for a while too but the three of them are so engaged and lively. I'm more sure than ever that Shimmerkit will be the right choice as my apprentice, though now isn't the time to tell her that."
The pale tortoiseshell's face sombered as Adderstrike and Sweetpaw approached. "Adderstrike, Sweetpaw. It's good to see you." he greeted them, his sweet voice losing what small good humour the discussion of the kits had brought forth. "We need to ask to speak. This is a great threat, we can't keep this to ourselves." he mewed decisively, hoping he did not overstep too much. Both his colleagues were far older and wiser than he.
Sweetpaw peered out from behind Adderstrike's leg, the fluffy apprentice's rounded ears were flat and her whiskers trembled. "What if they panic? I know we can't hide it but there is a *lot* of stuff that can go wrong." She mewed anxiously, images of mob hysteria or the Clans dissolving clamouring in her skull.
Breezepaw's fur fluffed up and the apprentice flattened zir ears. "Really, Sharpeagle? You're so insecure today you're gonna yell at me over... what this time? Being quiet? Wow. A real new low for you." ze hissed, flicking their tail and turning away in disdain, padding over to Deerantler and flopping down in the dust beside them with a cranky huff. Ze took a deep breath, letting the frown melt from zir face and the angry tension from zir muscles. "Sorry about that... I didn't mean to cause a scene. He's just getting under my fur. Mind if I hide here behind you for a bit?" ze queried, the weary humour creeping back into zir tone.
Fallowgleam found a spot in the dust a couple of tail-lengths from Brownbreeze. The chocolate tortie's attention was divided, keeping her prickly apprentice in her peripheral vision to ensure he wasn't causing trouble. Like Snowpaw, she appreciated Divestar's show of support. The good-natured warrior had always felt Divestar, while a bit odd with their talk of tides and sea-spirits, was a good egg and this only confirmed it. "I do feel bad for them though... they lost a lot of cats this winter. At least we only lost those who... well, really needed to go." She mewed, a wry edge tainting her normally sweet voice at the indirect mention of the malignantly neglectful leader and his supporters.
Rustwing touched her nose to Casey's cheek, hoping the contact might calm the frightened queen. "Unfortunately, no. There's more. This is just who they decided to bring along. Don't worry, we can sit on the edges." she mewed, picking them a path around behind the congregation to where Shadefern sat on the edges. Like them, Shadefern didn't seem to like being crowded and Rustwing hoped the equally shy black smoke warrior might reassure Casey somewhat that not everyone was comfortable in this sort of environment.
Sandpaw padded through the crowd, unconcerned with losing his Clan - he knew most of these faces anyway. He stepped on someone's tail and apologised with an apologetic grin. "Whoops, sorry Ashfeather!" he mewed before carrying on his way, eventually pushing his way through the throng to the GladeClan cats. He scanned the group, it was hard to tell coat colours in the dark. "Hey, Mottlepaw!" he called out, eventually spotting the other tom's dark brown pelt. Mottlepaw was much taller than when Sandpaw had seen him last, but that didn't stop Sandpaw being excited to see his unwilling friend. One riot,one ranger! 03:40, July 31, 2019 (UTC)