September Gathering 2019

It was an unexpectedly windy night. As the first RiverClan cats entered the Fourtrees clearing, the four Great Oaks were stirred into hushed murmurings. Torrentstar took in the empty clearing with an glance. It was far from his first time here; however, it was his first time at the head of the RiverClan Gathering patrol. As the deputy, he would usually be behind Jaystar or at the very back to keep an eye on stragglers. He had taken over Jaystar's role, and Ivybrook had taken over his. To say that he was not nervous at all would be a lie. His stony expression, giving away little emotion, really hid how tense he felt. A change of leadership could always mean to the other clans that RiverClan had grown weaker, and that impression was the last one he wanted to give. Vaguely, he was reminded of his first Gathering as the deputy. Had he felt the same way, when Jaystar had taken over for Ivystar? He was almost certain he had. Things had changed ever more now. He was no longer just a deputy. He was RiverClan's leader, and in essence, the face of the clan.

Torrentstar had already given Redpaw instructions ahead of time. They were the same instructions he gave to all his apprentices, when they attended their first Gathering: feel free to mingle, but stick close to your clanmates and watch what you say. It was up to them whether they heeded his words or not, but knowing Redpaw, he knew he could trust her to. The tabby leader met Ivybrook's gaze and nodded once. What were the words of encouragement Jaystar had given him back then...? "Be strong, Ivybrook." He murmured at last. "Hold your head up; we will show the other clans that we have nothing to fear."

Crossing the clearing, Torrentstar came to a stop before the Great Rock. In the moonlight, the sleek stone surface glimmered with silver. If one peered closely enough, he could possibly even make out the flash of stars. Torrentstar had never stood on the Great Rock before, not even once. Thankfully, Jaystar had always been strong enough to make it to the Gatherings. The large tom drew a breath, bunching his muscles. There was a moment of silence. Then he leaped upwards. Claws scrabbled on rock, before Torrentstar was finally atop the Great Rock.

There was a bubbling excitement from Honeypaw as she trailed after her father, peering around him in an effort to get a glimpse into the clearing. Her first gathering! Her tail swished as she tried to imagine what the clearing would look like upon their arrival...Along with an agreement she had made sunrises ago remained in her mind - to try to find and meet Marshpaw at the Gathering. Finally, they entered the clearing...And Honeypaw found herself disappointed at the reveal that they were the first to arrive.

She had been expecting to be greeted with a river of pelts she didn't recognize, the different scents overwhelming...But alas it would look like she would have to wait for the other Clans to arrive first. She slowed to a stop as her gaze flickered over to Torrentstar, watching as her father seemed to hesitate at the bottom of the rock before he leaped onto its sleek surface. A soft gasp of amazement escaped her, seeing her father look so regal on top of the rock. She smiled as she took her spot, her tail curling around her as she glanced around the clearing, hoping that ShadowClan would arrive soon so that she could meet up with Marshpaw.

Redpaw was soon to follow her dad into the clearing. This would be her first gathering but it was also a special gathering for Riverclan since it was the first without Jaystar around. The forest would be surprised by his death too but life had to go on, sadly and now... it was for Torrentstar to rise. Trying to keep her chin up, following her mentor's lead, the apprentice followed him until he reached the Great Rock, where he shared a few words with Ivybrook. She knew that Torrentstar told her to free to mingle and just talk to other clan cats as long as she looked out for her words but... the truth was that she did not feel comfortable with other cats. She wasn't even comfortable with most of her clanmates because of her anxious nature. That was why, when the leader took his place, the she-cat quickly returned to the rest of the Riverclan group but stayed a few paws from them, settling down in her own personal space...

(Redpaw is free to talk)

Stormpaw followed behind Honeypaw. She had stuck close to the golden cat she had made friends with as kits. Though she branched off from the other apprentice as soon as she noticed that there weren't really any cats around. Perfect. She could claim a spot for herself without having to bother with the other clans too much. Its not like she didn't want to talk to them, its just that she certainly preferred her own clan at the moment. She didn't really interact with the other clans too much. She only saw them in passing a couple of times on border patrols but never really talked. Stormpaw looked back to Honeypaw for a moment wanting to return to her friends side but decided to sit down towards the middle of the area not really wanting to bother her friend in what appeared to be a search.

(Feel free to talk to Stormpaw)

Dappleshine followed in with the crowd, keeping an eye on her apprentice as she padded side by side with Honeypaw. Approaching them with a purr as they settled down, she merely offered a small smile. "I hope you both have an exciting first Gathering! If you have any questions, I'll be right over there." She gestured with her tail towards a spot closer to the front, but around the side of the Greatrock that was close to where ThunderClan would emerge. He was probably getting her hopes up for nothing.... For once though, the currents of fate may bring two lives together once more, even just to mingle for a short time.

OOC: Dappleshine is open for quick, one response conversation, but is reserved beyond that once ThunderClan arrives.

Despite there only being a light breeze flowing through the Great Oaks, Ivybrook found herself shivering. It wasn't quite cold, so she couldn't seem to figure out why. Was it the fact that she still was filling a role that Jaystar and Torrentstar's paws had once filled, or was it the loss of her father still causing her paws to tremble? Her thoughts were put to a halt as Torrentstar shifted his green gaze to her own, giving her a confident nod that she wasn't exactly sure how to respond to. She'd almost never had trouble conferring with her Clanmates, but now she wasn't exactly sure how to. Some of them spoke to her different now that she had a new title on her shoulders, with respect and reverence. It wasn't something she could bring herself to enjoy- all she wanted was for things to go back to how they were.

Torrentstar's words brought her back from her thoughts, and she nodded at his remark. How could I have nothing to fear when my entire world has been torn to pieces? She thought contrarily. How could she keep her chin up when the weight of the world was pressing down on her, whispering for her to crumble? She did as her leader commanded, though, lifting her head and nodding once more. "Absolutely." After Torrentstar headed off towards the Great Rock and was out of earshot, Ivybrook sighed. Looking back at RiverClan trailing in behind her, her eyes searched for her own apprentice and her... hopefully temporary one, Pebblepaw and Honeypaw. She'd given them instructions before-paw, but she wanted to make sure that they were alright. When she found Honeypaw's bright yellow pelt, she padded over quickly.

"Remember what I said, Honeypaw. Mingle all you want, just be careful how much you reveal to your friends." With a slight nod, Ivybrook padded to the base of the Great Rock where hopefully, the rest of the deputies would soon join her. What would they think of her, when they padded into the clearing and didn't see Torrentstar sitting where her paws now stood? Would they look up to the Great Rock and see him standing there, realizing what had happened? Would they even care? Shifting her weight from one paw to another, she looked around the edges of the clearing anxiously. Would they accept her?

Honeypaw shifted on her paws, wondering how long it would be until the other Clans would arrive. Was there a chance of one just failing to show up? She wondered if that had ever happened - a Clan simply not arriving to a Gathering...What kind of sign would that be? That something so terrible had happened that one of the five couldn't send anyone in their place. Her thoughts drifted, before she heard the familiar voice of her eldest sister. She glanced to her side to see Dappleshine giving her a soft smile. "Alright, Dappleshine!" she responded, giving a wave of her tail in acknowledgement as the warrior wandered off to take her spot.

Honeypaw took the moment to glance around, seeing Stormpaw stepping away to take her own spot and Redpaw also not very far away from her. She smiled at her fellow apprentices, so excited to be sharing her first gathering with them. For a second, she thought about getting up and sitting down next to either her sister or Stormpaw...But refrained, knowing that she was planning to talk to Marshpaw once he arrived - if he did end up coming with ShadowClan - so perhaps it was wise to just stay where she was... She blinked as she realized Ivybrook had stepped up, her tail swishing as she turned to look at her current mentor.

"Of course, Ivybrook," she chirped, giving the deputy a quick nod. "I'll be careful with what I talk about and share!" As she watched Ivybrook pad away to take her spot at the bottom of the rock, Honeypaw sighed softly as she looked down at her paws. She knew that she was right - Marshpaw and ShadowClan might be their allies for now, but it would be hard to know if things would ever turn. She had to be careful on what information she revealed - but she had already kept that in mind when she had first met Marshpaw! She hadn't spoken a word to him about Jaystar's death, it hadn't been her place and he would find out tonight anyways.

Despite the wind, there was a new feeling to the clearing. Finchstar's yellow eyes flashed as he sniffed the air, wondering what could have changed. He gave Raventail a sideways glance, tail tip flicking with change. Behind the tom, WindClan weaved through rye shoots and heather. Last moon he had clawed through Tinystar's veil, leaving SkyClan alone to deal with the aftermath. It kept him up at night, a difficult feat. Oftentimes the leader found himself padding up that hill to Brookclover's grave, whispering to her, seeking guidance. His confidence was a strong one, unsullied by most happenings of the world. And yet had actions of his own thrown those across the border into turmoil? Once again Finchstar wished for that unobtainable expendability. Had he been a loner, or a wanderer, such decisions couldn't cut life itself. But the game he played now was a difficult one. He bluffed well, stood tall, and spoke with a claw-like accuracy. And Finchstar had done it well, pelt flashing in the light. But no amount of finesse could save SkyClan from the treachery of the leader. Finchstar was merely the messenger, not the judge, nor the executioner. That was the forest's duty now. He had muttered those thoughts to Brookclover last night, hoping with a fire that SkyClan could overcome their prison. He was not the only one who loved so brilliantly, nor was he the only one who dreamed of things so profound. While the tree-dwelling clan didn't arrive in the clearing as WindClan did, the tom kept his eyes wide, optimism blazing. The ghostly figure ever present by his side sank back into his conscious, warming his frame, steeling his resolve.

And yet his guard had been let down. As Finchstar leapt atop the Great Rock, he did not face Jaystar, but Scorchclaw. The tom's aquatic eyes were solemn, formal in their manner. A single breath, and Finchstar interpreted the situation. An unknown warrior sat in the deputy's spot. And here the last deputy stood, nine times over. "Jaystar..." Finchstar whispered, heart hollow. His yellow eyes narrowed in true sorrow, crossing the face of the rock quickly to rest his tail on Scorchclaw's shoulder. A few moments passed, ever heavy as the two shared their sadness. Jaystar had been ever present during the flood. He had fought against the wind itself, negotiated with the starry mountain cats. He was there in Finchstar's early days, a solid character when all else seemed loss. While they did not share an alliance, nor a strong friendship, Finchstar had come to admire the blue tabby tom. "Tell me, how did he die? Was he in any pain?" It felt foreign to speak to Scorchclaw now in such a place. The symbolism was loud in its manner. A wind gusted through the clearing, leaves twirling around the two kings. And WindClan sat below, RiverClan trekked on. A death that shook the very ground, and yet the forest remained. Finchstar was almost saddened by the lack of profoundness. A cat such as Jaystar deserved to fly above in a glorious whimsy of blues and greens. The stars sang for him, the trees whispered. And yet life padded on. The moon turned full again. And here Scorchclaw was, now a leader. Reality cut hard, much to Finchstar's disappointment. But he had learned this as he bled out in the tunnels, and now he would learn it again. The grit and no-nonsense of their world did not make sacrifices for whimsy and stories. They needed to make their own. Jaystar had died a story, and now his tale would split through things as real as trees and grass. It took a different kind of cat to see between the lines. Finchstar was determined to pull the seams apart, to split the mundane, and let the light shine through. "May his pelt be filled with shimmers in StarClan. He will not be forgotten, Scorchstar."

Heronflight followed Torrentstar to the gathering.  The warrior had never seen a time where a leader had to change his name, even in the many moons he lived, until just a few days ago.  The gray tabby almost immediately brushed it off, knowing that it would be extremely confusing to have two Scorchstars in two different clans.  He sat down, looking at WindClan on the other side.  Their clan was in the middle of coming into the Gathering, so the gray tabby couldn’t talk to any one of them yet... Not like he wanted to, due to his son’s sickness.  Larkfeather had to stay at camp due to him having a small outburst of greencough.  The gray tabby was sure that Larkfeather would recover quickly, as the brown tom had always done.  If the senior warrior could still hunt and fight like a younger cat, Larkfeather would most definitely survive.

At least, that’s what Heronflight thought.

Mistypaw followed behind her leader. It was a rather windy night and, even though it was greenleaf, oit made her shiver. She was nervous about this gathering. It was going to be her first without Cloverpaw. And it seemed Goldengale always hung out with her mentor, so she was out of the question. This was the first gathering Mistypaw was truly alone. And it hurt her, a lot. But she kept a smile on her face all the same. Smile, and the world will smile with you.


(OOC:Misty is free for interaction)

Goldengale padded into the clearing with her head held high in pride. This was her first Gathering as a warrior, and she was certain that it would be a good one. Choosing her position towards the front of the clearing, close to the Greatrock, she sat and cast her gaze around. RiverClan had been th first to arrive, and so far it appeared that they were the only other clan to show up. She looked over her shoulder for Grousefrost, the tom that she had developed such an affection for over the last several moons, and made sure there was space next to her... Just in case. Eyes shifted as she spotted her sister, looking a bit nervous. Waving her tail at her, she gestured to her other side with her tail, silently offering the invitation.

The gathering. Oakstar looked down from the small ledge that bordered fourtrees. His amber eyes seeking out who was already atop the great rock. So far, it seemed to be just Torrentstar and Finchstar. The sight of the two toms filled him with relief. He didn’t have to face Tinystar yet. He turned, looking at the rest of his clan who had followed him here. Flicking his tail to signal the rest of the clan that all was clear, he leapt down from the ledge. Starting the flow of cats into the clearing, padding over to Dacepaw’s side as cats went around them.

"Dacepaw." Oakstar’s voice was soft. His amber eyes filled with the same kindness he had shown to kits and kin. "If you decide to go back to RiverClan, if Torrentstar will let you… I won’t blame you. ThunderClan will always be open to you." He smiled, giving her shoulder a small touch with his tail before turning and darting towards the great rock. Bounding up the face of it with great ease as he nodded respectfully to Finchstar and Torrentstar.
"Good evening. I hope the past moon has been kind to both of you." He looked over at Torrentstar, bowing his head politely. "Well, kinder to you." He amended, sitting down next to the two toms.

---

Grousefrost strode into the clearing with confidence behind Finchstar. His grey and pale pelt gleaming in moonlight as he looked at the cats from other clans. As usual, there was no true order. It was a chaos that he never felt he’d fully get used to. He watched as Mistypaw bounded ahead of him with a shake of his head.

“Apprentices.” He muttered, his gaze turning towards Goldengale with a look that seemed torn between a warm smile and indifference. “This will be your first gathering as a warrior… I hope it’s a more efficient one than usual.” He padded into the spot that was next to hers. His thoughts towards her, and towards Finchstar with the leaders. He paused, noticing one cat was different on the rock. His blue eyes narrowed, why was the deputy of RiverClan on the rock?

It was probably too clear that Raventail was as uneasy as he’d been a moon ago, when his paws had last crossed the boundary to Fourtrees. His ears stood straight; his whiskers twitched; his expression had settled into something uncharacteristically serious, only switching to his usual carefree grin when he thought someone was looking at him. The wind ruffling his fur went unnoticed. However, it wasn’t his responsibilities that had him on edge. Nor was it the matter of SkyClan, though they (mostly Leaftwirl) had been on Raventail’s mind. He’d been glad the accepting, approachable Finchstar was the one leading WindClan, but he’d never considered a leader could be so different from that.

What held Raventail’s focus tonight was a one-sentence description. Long-furred she-cat, barely apprentice age, hopefully in ThunderClan. Inadequate, but it was all he had to go on. He knew more of Dacepaw’s spirit than he did of her appearance. Besides, if she was here, if she arrived with ThunderClan, Dappleshine would find her.

As he approached the Great Rock, a flash of brown fur at the top caught his eye, and he remembered another part of Dappleshine’s terrible news. Though it was less important than Dacepaw’s departure, it had stuck with him, same as everything else she’d said that day. Jaystar was dead. Raventail surveyed Scorchclaw (Scorchstar? Unless he’d gone the same way as Oakstar) with a frown, ears barely lowering. Was it okay to offer condolences? He doubted he was supposed to know… Uncertain as he was, in the end, he did nothing at all, instead padding toward his designated place below the Great Rock.

But someone was already there. A gray tabby, no doubt the one next in line to lead RiverClan. Pushing his worries aside for the moment and pulling up a smile, Raventail sat. "I'd say 'congratulations,' but…" He cast a pointed look toward maybe-not-Scorchclaw. By the time he turned back to Ivybrook, the smile had gone. At least he'd come to fill the position because of a stepping-down; he couldn't imagine being appointed deputy after Finchstar's… "I'm, um. I'm sorry about Jaystar." Condolences it was, then. It didn't seem right to not mention it.

Mistypaw saw her sister wave her tail to her, and she padded over. Her steps became heavy as Grousefrost appeared next to her. Was she really going to end up being the third wheel? She actually deliberated whether or not she actually wanted to join them, but she sat beside the pair all the same. It was her sister after all. They had always been pretty close, why let her relationship choices change that. Of course, if Grousefrost hurt her, she would tear him to shreds. But until then, she would remain civil.

She smiled at the two. "So how is the lovely couple doing?" She teased. Whether or not they were actually together was beyond her, but they sure hung out together enough to be one. What if they had become mates? Surely Goldengale would have told her, right? Or would she keep it a secret?