Gathering

A **Gathering** is a meeting of the Clans, and is held on the night of a full moon. As said in the warrior code, there is a truce, which forbids fighting during the Gathering. It is considered a great honor to be chosen by a Clan leader to go to a Gathering. In the forest, this meeting was held at Fourtrees.

## Purpose

On Gatherings, Clan leaders announce current affairs and significant events within their respective Clans, such as the appointment of new apprentices, warriors, and deputies, the deaths and births of cats, and the retirement of cats. They also use this time, if necessary, to ask for help from others.
Warriors use this chance to meet their friends from other Clans and exchange information. Many cats will use a Gathering to try to determine the strength and weakness of another Clan.
* Clan leaders hold Gatherings to share news with the other Clans.
* Gatherings are meant for meeting new cats, but not to share Clan weaknesses and strengths.
* When the moon is full, the Gathering begins.
* The start of the Gathering marks a time of truce between the four Clans. If the truce is broken, the starwalkers will send clouds to cover the moon, signaling their displeasure. Should this happen, the Gathering is ended and each Clan returns to their respecting territories.

* It is possible for leaders to call Gatherings, known as emergency Gatherings, to share news that is very important with the clans.

## Procedure

The Gathering is held on the night of the full moon because it is the only time that the moon is bright enough to see everything and everyone. The leader, the deputy, the healer and their apprentice, if they have one, several warriors, apprentices, queens, and elders participate from each Clan. If a leader cannot attend, the deputy will speak on behalf of their Clan.
Once arrived at the Gathering territory, the leaders sit on a designated high spot (i.e: a rock or a tree branch) along with the other leaders where they can be seen and heard well while talking to the warriors and to each other. Deputies sit close by. A yowl by a Clan leader is the signal to start the meeting. It is considered to be disrespectful if any other cat speaks from atop the leader's spot, unless specifically asked.
As decreed by the starwalkers, the nights of the Gatherings are a time of peace. If there is any violence, the starwalkers sends a cloud to cover the moon signifying their displeasure; usually the Gathering ends if this happens.
The Clans organize a special daylight Gathering, with friendly competitions between apprentices of different Clans, its to celebrate the Clans.
## Location

Gatherings are held on territory that is neutral to all Clans, and it cannot be claimed by one Clan alone. When the Clans were in the old forest, their chosen spot to gather for their meetings is called Fourtrees.
### The forest

* Before its destruction, all Gatherings were once held at the sacred place called Fourtrees. On the night of a the full moon, all four Clans met there, and addressed the four Clans from the Great Rock, a huge and smooth rock in the center of the clearing. Deputies would sit at the foot of the rock, while the healers and their apprentices would sit towards the edge.

### Areas

* Fourtrees:
	+ Leaders on a big rock.
	+ Deputies at the base of the rock.
	+ healers at the edge of the rock.
	+ Everyone else in a clearing beneath the four trees.

#### *Example 1*

Information revealed:

Forestclan
* Sunwake has gone good for them, prey is running well.
* A patrol chased dogs out of their territory.

Mountainclan

* Mountainclan is well, prey is running and greenleaf has been kind to them.
* Three new kits have been born to Grasspelt.

Horizonclan

* Prey is running well.
* There are three new warriors: Stagflame], Doeteeth, and Ryesring.
* Flamepaw is now an apprentice.

Hollowclan

* The lake is full of fish.

#### *Example 2*

Information revealed:

Mountainclan
* Mountainclan is doing well, with leafwake bringing abundant prey and warmth.
* Willowstar reports that more collarpets are straying across the border.

Forestclan
* Oatstar says that he will increase the border patrols.

Hollowclan
* Rookpaw has earned his warrior name, now going by the name of Rookspring.

Other
* Horizonclan does not report anything at this Gathering.