January Gathering 2017

Following closely behind the Skyclan leader was Rippedsky. The run from camp had warmed up him muscles and he was ready for the gathering. With his clanmates next to him, he felt an exhilarating rush as the streamed into the clearing. All thoughts of disdain from other cats were forgotten in that moment. Cats from all clans had expressed their dislike of the young warrior, but he had found a place in his adoptive clan.

The tom shuddered slightly as he stopped and scented Shadowclan. It hadn't been long since he had felt the sting of Mudfoot's claws against his skin. They were formidable opponents. But he couldn't hold the actions of one warrior against the whole clan and shook it off. He looked around for his former clanmates, wanting to give them the news of his warrior status before they heard it from the leader.

***

Eagleheart walked in with his head high as he surveyed the other clans. No sight of Thunderclan, He thought to himself. He walked down into the clearing with Skyclan, but didn't break off from the clan. Instead of going to mix with the other clans, he stayed with his own. He willed himself to not look into the ranks of Shadowclan for his family.

Breezewhisker padded into Fourtrees after his father, quiet as usual. He looked around to see that they were only missing ThunderClan, now. Well, at least they weren't the last ones. For all of Rippedpaw's moping about WindClan, they seemed as good an normal as every other Clan. What did the mouse-brained tom have against them? Maybe it was just a determination not to be of the same opinion as the cross-Clan tom, but he sat by the first WindClan cat he saw. To the Dark Forest with what his father thought about the moor Clan. "Hello- I'm Breezewhisker," he mewed in a friendly tone.

Shimmerheart grinned as Webtail approached. "StarClan, but it's great to see you again," she purred, nuzzling him in a motherly way. "How have you been lately?"

OOC: For some reason I am sort of hoping someone would see Squirrelpaw and taunt her about her muteness and her scars

IC: Twistedpaw looked around the clearing as Riverclan and Skyclan came in, her gaze resting on Rippedsky. She shouted, "Hey Rippedpaw! Me and Sprucethorn were waiting for you!" she invited, flicking her crooked tail across an empty area next to her, Mossfoot, and Sprucethorn.

Sprucethorn nodded his head in agreement." Yeah we are, now get over here!" he purred flicking his tail to the seat they had saved him.

~

Ospreypaw watched as the ShadowClan cats streamed in behind Thrushstar and Leopardfang. He had to admire the way that Thrushstar, despite his age, always made the long treck to Fourtrees. That was real dertmination there. The young apprentice scanned the ranks of the cats milling in and quickly came across the cat he was looking for. Ospreypaw flicked Dawnpaw with his tail indicating her to follow. "Look ShadowClan and SkyClan are here! C'mon let's go meet some other apprentices. " he purred jumping to his feet.

Ospreypaw wound his way through the mass of cats, his tail held high so Dawnpaw knew where he was. Eventually he found Flamepaw and dipped his head in greeting. " Hey, Flamepaw. How's ShadowClan anything new happen?"Ospreypaw asked.

~

Hollypaw trotted in beside her father. The apprentice couldn't hide her excitement that this was her first gathering. She glanced around the clearing curiously, there were so many cats! Hollypaw identified the fish scent of RiverClan, the musky scent of WindClan and the reek of marshes that meant ShadowClan was here too.Yuck! This place reeks! the Bengal She-cat glanced up at her father, who seemed not as prideful and happy as usual. " What's up, dad? You look a little not yourself." Hollypaw mewed her voice calm and not dripping with the usual sarcasm. Hollypaw glanced around, a question burning her mind. Would her mother be here? She knew nothing of her, but was more than certain that she was a clan cat. Eagleheart would never become mates with a rogue as far as she was aware.

~

Hazeflight smiled as Eagleheart and the rest of SkyClan walked in. She watched Eagleheart waiting to see what he would do. The tom glanced over the cleaeing and continued on his way settling she ranks of his own clan. Hazeflight felt a stab of anger and jealousy as her former mate plaintively ignored her. She continued watch him, then noticed a smaller she-cat trotting along beside him. The she-cat had brown Bengal pelt and icy blue eyes just like her own. Who is she? His apprentice?... Hazeflight watched the she-cat she-cat with curiosity, she seemed oddly familiar. That's when she realised who it was. My daughter! Hazeflight wanted to rush over there and apolagise to them both, but she couldn't. She knew that that would be bad idea. So Hazeflight sat there alone, wallowing in self pity. She had brought this down upon herself, but now her kits and former mate had to suffer. It wasn't fair.

It was her first gathering, and she was thrilled to finally be at one. She heard stories how some gatherings went wrong and how the moon once turned red when things really started heating up, not that she was hoping for anything like that to happen but it would be a neat experience. Cloverpaw had settled between the crowd of skyclan cats and looked around glancing at other clan cats with a curious look.

Crowpaw followed his clan into the gathering his head was held high, he wanted to be noticed by all the other clans. He wanted to make sure that every clan in the forest knew that Windclan was the best and that they should bow down to them. The jet black apprentice tried to ignore the cold and acted tough sitting down as he saw his other clan mates settle down.

Rosepaw was so cold.. she had hoped that the gathering would be over soon, although she was really excited to be here she couldn't handle how cold it was! She had huffed ears twitching as she glanced around seeing other clan's come into the clearing as well. It was finally happening her first gathering! It wont be long until she's a warrior she couldn't wait.

Rippedsky purred happily as he padded over to join his Windclan friends. Twistedpaw and Sprucethorn had always been kind to him despite his decision to leave. As he reached the others, he meowed, "They call me Rippedsky now!" He stood up proudly as he was finally able to declare to his friends his new warrior status. A pang of sadness hit him as he realized they would never fight alongside each other, but he shook it off quickly. While he did miss the couple Windclan cats, nothing would ever make him regret his decision.

***

"Good to see you, Ospreypaw," A smile crossed his features as he greeted the Riverclan cat. He hoped no cat from his clan would question him talking to another clan's apprentices. Most never noticed him anyways, so he wasn't too worried.

After a moment he remembered to answer the tom's question, "Not much. I went through my assessment, but still haven't been made a warrior. How's Riverclan treating you?"

***

"Stay close to me," Eagleheart meowed simply without looking down at Hollykit. He'd seen Hazeflight. Today was not the day for Hollykit to meet her. All of their ties needed to be cut from Shadowclan. If it were up to him, the rest of the kits would be joining them in Skyclan. Before the young kit could argue, he gave her a firm look, voice serious and edging towards pleading, "Just stay near me tonight, Hollypaw."

Viperfang trotted behind the large group of cats that she called her clan. She would've liked to have her kits with her, mostly to have a reason not to talk to anyone else. They were too young, but they would be apprentices very soon and they would have to come this terrible event that cats call a gathering.

But, Viperfang did what she had to and settled down at the edge of the clearing, having the cold weather and open air give her an even worse mood, if possible.

Everyone walked in behind their leaders.

Swiftheart sat down casually, even if WindClan threatened them.

Oceanlight sat down with the medicine cats. She greeted the others.

Snowstorm sat down and looked up.

Snakepaw felt anxious for his gathering. He sat near ShadowClan warriors.

Cherrymist trotted amongst the SkyClan cats into the Gathering, scenting the air to find the other Clans already there. The grieving she-cat sat down with an almost lost expression, hoping for a family member to join her.

Hollypaw was taken a back at her father's response. Something was definitely up and it scared her more than anyone would ever know. She wanted to explore and meet the other apprentices, but her father clearly didn't want her to. Hollypaw followed her father's gaze as he stared out at ShadowClan. "Why? What's wrong? There isn't any hostility between the other clams except for RiverClan and WindClan. Tell me please!" she mewed her voice wavering with worry. Why is he looking at ShadowClan that way? What did they do? I always thought ShadowClan and SkyClan were on great terms... It's probably just father's pride, knowing him.

~

Sprucethorn flicked Rippedsky with his tail in congratulations. "Well done! You've been deserving your warrior name for ages. I think Rippedsky suits you, don't you agree Twistedpaw?" he purred, turning his emerald gaze to the She-cat sat beside him.

~

"Fine. My sister, Dawnpaw, wanted join us tonight. Is that okay with you?" replied Ospreypaw flicking his tail towards the grey tabby She-cat.

~

Hazeflight stood up, abruptly. She was not going to sit around and feel sorry for herself, she had to move on. The silver She-cat flicked her tail in the direction of Eagleheart and Hollypaw recognising their presence, then walked off. She should of just stayed in the nursery.

Silently, she took a seat beside Flamepaw, flicking her tail in greeting to Ospreypaw and Flamepaw.

Spiderfur followed shortly behind the rest of Windclan, short legs scuttling to keep up like the arachnid she was named for. As per usual, she gazed about the clearing for someone she knew, and still, as usual, they weren't there. Disappointed, and feeling a bit ashamed of her eagerness, the warrior sat where she could keep an eye on two of her former apprentices, Sprucethorn and Rippedsky, as well as her current, Redpaw.

A dark form slid in behind Riverclan, the medicine cat Cloudstone. He had had such a solemn look on his face for the past few moons that it was now almost painful to be this downright cheerful. He had an apprentice now! Newleaf would come within the next moon, surely. It was the perfect time to train the next medicine cat of Riverclan.

He hadn't been here in a while. A chocolate Skyclan warrior came into the clearing, scanning the cats around him with an almost calculating look in his amber eyes. Pineeye was curious to see what  was happening in the forest, and he wanted to see it firsthand. Not from the mouths of the cats that came back. He sat among the majority of the Skyclan cats, looking for Ghostpelt.


They were late! Darkstar emerged from the undergrowth surrounding the clearing, a tad bit embarrassed that her clan was the last to arrive. She wiped her face of any negative emotion before approaching the Great Rock. Every climb up had to be conducted well, as her single hind leg was something she had to account for. Even so, she easily reached the top, nodding towards the other leaders, but letting her eyes settle for a moment on Ivyfall. 'Where's Fishstar?' Well, wherever she was, maybe this Gathering would be a bit more peaceful in her absence. Her golden eyes flickered around the clearing, stopping on a cat she knew well. So, she'd joined Windclan? And she'd even trained the she-cat herself. A ghost of a frown moved across her face before disappearing. Why had she betrayed her birth Clan?

Pansypaw trotted into the moonlit clearing behind her clan, murky green eyes wide. This was her first Gathering, and was excited to meet the other cats. Catching the scent of ShadowClan, she examined the group with wary, accusing eyes. Ever since she had been attacked by Mudfoot she had been wary around their border. I didn't even do anything wrong! I just wanted to explore the Thunderpath! A frustrated huff escaped her lungs, and she glanced around, looking for other cats who might welcome her.

Rockpaw came charging down the clearing, right behind his mentor and leader Darkstar. Slitted green eyes quickly picked out the familiar pelt of Mottlepaw. "Mottlepaw!" Hollered the stone grey tom cat, tail high and fur sleek he towered over his best friend.

"How have you been Mottlepaw?" His tail flicked away any cat that was too close to the subject of his attention, his eyes probing Mottlepaw's gentle face for answers.

Mottleheart was sitting peacefully, nobody had bothered him yet and it was rather nice. He blinked however when the scent of ThunderClan filled the air. There they were! He quickly turned to scan the cats for Rockpaw but barely had to wait until the tom came charging over to him, hollering all the way. A smile flashed on the warrior's face, his heart feeling so much lighter at the simple apperance of his friend. "Rockpaw!" he purred as the tom reached him before blinking at his question. "A pleasure you see you again but its Mottleheart now - I'm a warrior." He wanted to ask the question if Rockpaw was a warrior as well but he held his tongue like normal. Instead, he tilted his head, studying Rockpaw hard. Rockpaw was a bit younger then Mottleheart - not that you could tell by the size of the two of them but surely Rockpaw would already have his name...But wouldn't Rockpaw have guessed then that Mottleheart already had his if that was so?



Lionspark was following not far from Rockpaw, blinking in surprise as the tom suddenly darted away shouting a name almost at the top of his lungs. She sighed softly as she shook her head before noting that they were the last ones to arrive. Strolling into the clearing, she spotted Darkstar jumping onto the rock and took notice that Fishstar was not there. Instead, her deputy took her place. What was that about? Did Fishstar lose a life or something? Hoping the question would be answered soon, she sat down as her ears perked at the chattering of all of the cats. She was fine sitting alone, rather interested in what news would be shared this moon.

Bending his head to the deputy and sighting, the medicine cat apprentice Beetlepaw retreated from the spot with an unhappy glance to his best friend Jaypaw. The youngster bounded up towards the spot where the medicine cats gathered. With a set and embarassed face, wondering whether the three adult cats have spotted the deputy spliting him and the other apprentice apart, he greeted them formaly. "Hello, everyone. How have you all been?" he asked, sitting down with an awkward glance up to the RiverClan ,edicine cat, Cloudstone. He wondered what gave him the slightly happier look tonight. After all he ahd heard about the fishing Clan, born after their terrible attack on WindClan, he expected the tomcatto be just as harsh and mean. "You don't happen to have some spare goatweed, do you? RiverClan is the only Clan which has it, and I'm afraid I might need some soon."

~

Jaypaw sighted as she backed away from the older warrior and walked in the opposite direction, wandering of to a shaded place where she sat down. The young cat felt lostwithout her best friend, and slightly unhappy, as well. Deciding to busy herself with something else, the apprentice started look around at the other arriving Clans.

~

Pinewhisker padded in with the late TunderClan, thinking with a proud smile about what news he would hive Mossfoot tonight about his newborn kits. Them and their other friend, Blacktwig, had promised to talk to eachother as much as they could and share news about their families. But the chocolate warrior wondered whether Datkstar would notice her, an original ThunderVlan warrior that, after being lost, fled to another Clan. He searched with his eyes for the jet black tomcat so they could go together to talk to their former clanmate.