July's Gathering 2018

The full moon illuminated the large clearing between the dense, forested territory, the Great Rock glistening from the earlier rains that had swept over the area. The darkness was interrupted only by the small light emitted from the fireflies littered in the thick foliage just beyond the Great Oaks. It was a rather hot night, the bitter humidity of the Greenleaf filling the air.

With Jaystar stepping into the dark clearing, Riverclan was the first to arrive. He wasn't nervous. He wasn't shaking. The tom walked straight to the leader's rock with a darkness inside his eyes and in his mind. His clanmates wounded... Shade's danger threatening his clan... the meeting he had with Leopardstar in his camp and how a Thunderclan cat was killed in front of his eyes. The weight of leadership was heavier than he thought but it had made him tougher, less naive.

The tall tom leapt to the Great rock and took his respective place as he watched his clanmates taking sitting. He didn't want to come but it had to be done.

Viperstorm followed Jaystar to the gathering area. The blue gray warrior was getting older but that didn't slow her one bit. She had much to prove to the world. She was working her way to be Riverclan's top warrior, and she was going to achieve that goal. Viperstorm soon settled down close to the rock. Not in the deputy spot but close enough to prove her rank. Riverclan was strong, and it would remain that way as long as she was here.

Frostpaw followed the others into the gathering. She wanted to run off and explore but one step away from the closest warrior they would snap at her and drag her back. Especially Scorchclaw. She shivered at the thought of getting into trouble again. She couldn't have her warrior ceremony delayed. She wouldn't. So the white she-cat sat down next to a Riverclan warrior, shifting as she waited on others to get here and to start the gathering.

Spotfur arrived to the gathering, significantly more stable... but still a tad wobbly. Shade wanted to cause damage, well, he had.

The two siblings strode in after their leader, both with an expressionless look on their faces. Tawnyfang noticed her father wobbling along, barely keeping himself steady, and her heart swelled with grief. Immediately, she raced to his side and offered support, kindness shining in her bright blue eyes. Even though they weren't family by blood, he had still raised her when her own parents had failed to do so. Gently, the brown and white she-cat led him along, allowing him to lean on her so he wouldn't collapse. "Don't worry, Father," She spoke in a hushed tone, "We'll find him, and get him back for this. I know we will."

Torrentstorm watched from afar, also wishing to help, but his sister seemed to have it under control. With a smile reaching his lips, he padded to a spot that he hoped would be crowded. Now that Tawnyfang was occupied, he was hoping to meet another cat to talk to. At previous gatherings, he remained glued to her side; he knew he hated interaction and yet, didn't wish to leave her alone for his own satisfaction. But this time, she had Spotfur to keep her company, and could now do as he so pleased.

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Birchpaw padded into the gathering behind Riverclan, noting that they were the first ones to arrive. Ah, no other cats to bother him hopefully. The creme and black tom sat in the back, hoping that no cat would approach him and try to talk. He would much rather watch the gathering unfold, anyway.

ooc; torrentstorm and birchpaw are open for conversation

ic: Muddypaw followed in step behind RiverClan, his eyes alert. This would be his first Gathering! He had stayed back last moon to guard the camp with a few other Clanmates. It wasn't fun. However, the wait was definitely worth it. They were first to show up as well! He wondered how many cats would start piling up in the clearing. The tom found a spot near his Clan to settle down and sit.

ooc: Muddypaw is open for any kind of conversation ^^

Flurrypaw padded after her Clanmates, looking up at the beautiful starry night sky. She would much rather watch her warrior ancestors twinkle radiantly up above than pay much attention to the Gathering -- though, then again, there was quite a bit of delicious drama and gossip that went on during this night. Just so long as RiverClan wasn't caught in the middle of it, of course.

(OOC: Flurrypaw is open for discussion!)

With heavy paws, Scorchclaw stepped into the gathering clearing. It seemed RiverClan was the first clan to arrive this time. The past moon had been an exhausting one, what of Jaystar's visit to ThunderClan and Shade's attacks. Thoughts of Muddypaw and Featherpaw occupied his mind. Fur covered in blood and just barely clinging on to life - the images floated up again and again to his mind's eye. Even though he had tried his hardest to track Shade, both times the murderous tom had slipped through his claws. A heavy, tense atmosphere hung over the RiverClan camp. So far, Jaystar's orders were being followed. Scorchclaw ensured that they were, keeping a close eye on every single one of his clanmates. The one piece of good news, if it could even be called good news, was that war with ThunderClan had been narrowly avoided for the moment.

The large brown tom did not wish that he had remained a normal warrior, but the strain of deputyship was great enough at times to make the thought flash across his mind. Was he even good enough to be deputy? Out of the corner of his eye, Scorchclaw spotted Tawneyfang supporting Spotfur forward. Darkness flashed across his pale-green eyes at the sight. If it weren't for his carelessness, the spotted warrior would still have his leg. He headed over to his spot and sat down. A cold, unfriendly aura settled over him.

The sooner this gathering was over, the sooner he could return to camp.

The next clan to arrive was ThunderClan, making its presence known as Leopardstar stepped out of the shadows and galloped down the slope, his golden fur glowing in the pale moonlight.  The tom's face was hard, stoic, and unmoving as if it had been chiseled out of stone.  His mind was raging with an array of emotions as he bunched his haunches and leaped onto the Great Rock, catching sight of Jaystar.  He locked eyes with the RiverClan leader but didn't greet him, merely gazing for a moment before turning his eyes out toward the crowd.  The Gathering was the last place he wanted to be at the moment...but the customs of the forest must go on, even through the tragedy and betrayal.

Mistywater moved alongside her clan as they began to move towards Fourtrees. Hearing the recent news and being able to feel the dread of going to the gathering from ThunderClan's leader all made the senior warrior slightly uncomfortable. She hadn't been at the scene, but she knew what it must've felt like, saving the lives of the innocent, and leaving some others behind. But this was a gathering, there was always an elephant in the room when these times came around and it was always noticed in some way.

Bumblepaw moved close to her grandmother, Mistywater. It was her first time at a gathering and it felt so strange. Usually when you see another clan, you're either fighting them or somewhat disagreeing on them. Although, she knew that that hadn't been the same for some cats, especially towards some cross-clan mates too.

OOC: Both my children are opening to talking ;0

Stormstrike padded into the gathering, his eyes bright. He was happy. He was just a happy guy. So happy.

Leafstorm padded into the gathering, his eyes dull. He was sad. He was just a sad guy. So sad.

Minkspark padded into the gathering following behind Leopardstar. She wished Tatteredleaf would have come tonight be she decided to stay back and care for some new kits in the nursery. The large brown she-cat found her usual spot and sat down, waiting on the other clans to arrive.

Wolfpaw entered into the gathering with the rest of his clan. Even though he became apprentice not to long ago he felt a bit scared at the thought. A whole new list of responsibilities had come on top of him and he wasn't entirely sure if he was even ready for them yet. Not to mention the fact he hadn't even met his mentor yet.

Beetlepaw followed his leader with his head lowered. He was already old enough to be a warrior but Leopardstar wasn't ready to call him a warrior. Why? Why should a rogue like him decide the promotion of pure, loyal Thunderclan apprentices? Thunderclan was rotten, to the core. But he swore that once he becomes a warrior, he would show everyone what a pure-blooded can do. Everyone had forgotten the Code. He had to remind them why outsiders shouldn't be welcomed here.

Rainpaw's muscles churned without rest, his eyes set in a stony expression as he sat down where the other medicine cats would soon join. His jaw was set tight and the slash that had caused the whole of his muzzle to itch burned and gleamed in the moonlight. Lifting his chin, his golden brown eyes settled on the leaders above. This was no longer a social event to him. It was a job that would be done and then he would go home or to Wildfire's grave. Whichever called him first. The idea of his grief for her made a pool of disgust in his stomach. Why was he grieving her? A traitorous, murderous cat with all the material to be the golden cat of the clan. Blizzardshine had mentored her! She had a family legacy and still, she had gone out with greed fueling her movements, wanting to take another life. His lip draw back momentarily in a snarl before he let his face relax back into the blank, solemn expression it held before.

Newttongue peered over the other cats to give his son a worried look before shaking his head and sitting near Mistywater. The she-cat 's presence calmed him greatly and it was wise to remain nearby.

Birchheart hadn't felt grief like this for a while. Sharptooth was a traitor not only to her clan but, to her family as well. The fact that her mother was innocent helped her cope but it wasn't easy. She brushed her father side and offered Leafstorm a soft smile not for her own sake but, for his. She knew now more than ever, she had to be loyal to keep their family from breaking even more.

Boarpaw glanced around the clearing, silently wondering if Clearpaw was here yet. The lake of SkyClan's scent gave him his answer but he sat in the same place anyway, pondering the odd, flattering tom. His mind flickered from mixed worry about Sharptooth and frustration to the amused, slightly confused feeling Clearpaw gave him with his odd way of working things. He swore, that tom could find beauty in carrion on a thunderpath...