July Gathering 2014 [PLOT]

Silverstorm and Reedstar both shot to their paws, fangs bared. A low growl rumbled in the SkyClan deputy's throat while the aging tabby tom lashed his tail. "You think you can threaten and lecture us like this?" His voice was strained with an unbridled fury that made his hackles rise. "Worse things happen in the heat of battle. None of my Clanmates would kill an elder intentionally. We still have our honor and pride, something I think you lost long ago. My mother raised this Clan herself, as an exile far from home. Disparage her name again and I'll rip out your lying tongue."

Reedstar stepped in next, between them. No good would come if SkyClan broke the full moon's truce. It was bad enough that they'd shelter Twopelt, they didn't need this stain on their honor too. "And do not presume to scold us on barbarism." He said the word as if it was sour on his tongue. Green fire burned in the murky emerald pools of his eyes. "You act as if your Clan was attacked unprovoked. Not all of us have the memories of freshkill, Dewstar. We all still remember how you threatened to drive out and massacre SkyClan, right here on this rock, and we all still remember how you exiled an apprentice for simply speaking out against you. Had we not attacked first it was only a matter of time before you came after us."

Deomilites. The word took them both by surprise, though Reedstar could still hazily remember the moment. She'd admitted it, in front of all of them, although Reedstar could hardly hear.

The SkyClan deputy was the first to retort, with a snort of derision. "And what of it?" He unsheathed his claws, making them scrape against the Great Rock. "The way here wasn't easy, and we feared that we'd all die before seeing our Clan's homeland. We were moving through mountains. It was cold, there was hardly any prey and barely any herbs that we recognized. Too many cats had lost their footing and tumbled down ravines or off the side of the mountain. Other were preyed on by eagles and cats bigger than anything you've ever seen. That's when Elea came. She told us how to survive, which berries were dangerous and which were safe to eat, where to take shelter, how to catch the mountain prey, how to walk so you wouldn't slip and fall to your death. She healed my Clanmates and gave us all sound counsel. I don't know how many more of us might've died if it wasn't for her." Silverstorm bared his teeth. "Aye, she talked of gods too, and the way she spoke about StarClan rubbed a lot of us the wrong way, but we were all rogues and kittypets once, and everything she's prophesied has come true. You would have us throw her out for something she didn't even partake in, that happened how many moons ago? She doesn't even fight. She's a priestess, not a warrior. I don't think I've ever seen her unsheathe her claws once."

Another bitter snort. "And you are a fool to think Elea was leading any attack. Are you going blind in your old age? She's the size of an apprentice and softer than a kittypet. What place would she have in a battle?"

A tremendous one, Reedstar thought, remembering how calm she looked during the chaos, like the eye in a storm, but he didn't let the words pass his lips. He didn't trust Elea and never had ― something was off about her, and if she was a Deomilite, then that was even worse... but if all Silverstorm said was true, what harm had she ever done that they knew of? "A Deomilite and a rogue led us all into battle once, and he was one of the bravest warriors I ever knew. The Deomilites are dead and scattered, and RiverClan fights for SkyClan's honor, not for Elea."

Dapplepaw settled in next to some other apprentices and listened to the Clans. Hearing their words, she was slightly surprised at what she heard. "Battle? What battle?" she mumbled quietly so only she could hear her words. Woah, don't these leaders and deputies like to argue a lot.

Cormorantpelt sat with her head held high among the other deputies, listening to Silverstorm's little sob story. All of it registered as this 'Elea' basically being some kind of skilled Medicine Cat and the whiny silver tom not yet realizing that hardships comes with Clanhood. He was irritating and Cormorantpelt wished him to either shut his muzzle or just leave altogether.

ooc; i would like to apologize to all of the roeplaying community for my failure to do anything good whatsoever

When no other words were exchanged, it seemed as if it was finally Thrushstar's turn to speak. Stepping up, he looked around at the cats underneath him and spoke up. "I have a warning for each of the clans. The murderous traitor Soulfang has been exiled from Shadowclan earlier this moon. He confessed to the brutal murders of at least three warriors and the attempted murders of several more including his own clan mates." He let that sink in for a moment. "I have not seen Soulfang since, and I am not sure where he is headed." He turned around to look at the other leaders. "Do with him as you please." Turning back to the other cats, he continued. "But I ultimately regret not finding this psychopathic traitor sooner as it would have saved three innocent lives taken so barbarically in a battle that nearly decimated Shadowclan. I hope that Thunderclan, Windclan, and Riverclan are proud of what they have accomplished because since then, Shadowclan has never been stronger. We have doubled in numbers in both warriors and apprentices and every single one of us is ready for anything that can be thrown our way. Prepare yourselves Dewstar, Reedstar, and Falconstar. We are no longer your play thing. We are a force to be reckoned with. If you try anything that threatens us, we will not hesitate to attack." With that, Thrushstar was done. He proved his point and hopefully got it through their thick skulls that Shadowclan was done hiding. This was a new time for the clan and they were not going to be stepped on any longer. Stepping back and taking his place where he stood just moments before, he didn't even bother looking around to see the response he had gotten from his words. He knew it would step on the clans' paws, but it needed to be said. He was finished. They could yell at him all they wanted to-- it wasn't going to change anything.

As the ShadowClan leader spoke his words with pride, Scorchclaw sat up with his cranium held high and chest puffed out. ShadowClan was not afraid of any attacks or invasions whatsoever and they were prepared to fight back with all their strengh.

Breezetail and Lilyclaw's pelts ruffled at the words of the two hypocritical leaders. How dare they? They'd threatened the utter destruction of SkyClan, killed the kin of Silentstar, and yet they had to audacity to stand under the full moon - under StarClan and amongst the forest, and try to play the victim? It left bad tastes in their mouths. Lilyclaw narrowed her eyes, supposing there were a few lessons that they - Dewstar especially - had yet to learn. The fools. They were not tools, or play things, rogues, or sheep. They were SkyClan, nothing less, and it seemed as if they would find any excuse to condemn them. Elea had nothing to do with it.

Otterfur had nothing to say as he watched the leaders quarrel on top of the rock, the tip of his tail twitching in amusement as Reedstar and Silverstorm put Dewstar in her place, and appreciating the silence that wound on as the three leaders retreating; that was, before the ShadowClan leader stepped up to take his turn.

Tigerclaw was the first to yowl, his caterwaul voicing his strong support for his leader, and his clan. Ebonyleaf's and Mistflower's voices quickly followed, their calls echoing eerily in the clearing.
Out of the three of them, the queen's was the most heartfelt, gazing up at Silverpelt with tears stinging her eyes. "Gingerheart!" she called out her old mentor's name, lost among the voices of her clan. The face of the sharp-tongued she-cat flashed in her mind, of before her sickness, or her cruel death. "Daisynose! Mistedpaw!" Their bodies were left sprawled out in the camp, turned into carrion. "S- Sagewhisker!" The last he was seen, he was fighting off three or four warriors, before he disappeared. She choked up at his name, wondering what had happened to her father, not even his body was found.
Although the truth brought some relief, it also left a sick, deep pit of disgust in their stomachs. What did they die for?

Falconstar made no indication that Thrushstar's veiled threats phased him. He would have to watch ShadowClan closely of course, but that was really the same for all clans. Besides, he needed ShadowClan's help, and it would do no good to antagonize them further under StarClan's moon. Was StarClan even watching them, or were they just there to guide a false clan's mission to eliminate the real clans? The stars mocked them in the night sky.

"WindClan welcomes ShadowClan back to the Gatherings, and I hope that now there can be peace between the four clans. If everyone is done, though, I think we can conclude this Gathering." He gazed towards the other leaders, nodding slightly at Dewstar.

The rash she-cat went silent at the protests of the two toms. She didn't care for their arguments or their threats, merely stepping back to let another cat speak about something hopefully important. Oh, stupidity 'for SkyClan's honor!' What did I expect? A confession of sins? A plea for forgiveness? There's nothing in his skull but bloodlust. Both of them just want to hurt others for their own gain. Dewstar's attention was immediately grabbed when the newest leader started with a warning, thinking for just a moment that he was going to threaten the other Clans. It wasn't long before it did turn into a threat, however. He was just Sagestar in another cat's pelt. It seemed that greed and pride were the only qualities ShadowClan leaders looked for in deputies. But she kept her mouth shut, waited for him to finish speaking and watched Thrushstar with a curious look. "Before we leave, though, I would like to ask ShadowClan about Nightstar's condition. Is she sick, or perhaps...?" She trailed off, though the rest of her question would easily be interpreted. She had yet to hear if Nightstar was still living or if a new deputy had been appointed. She noticed the black she-cat sitting amongst the deputies, but she wanted to hear the words from the tom's mouth.