May Gathering 2020 [Sitewide Plot Finale]

“You killed Morningpaw, and you’d kill us without a second thought." Yowls and snarls echoed throughout the clearing, but Larkflight’s voice was low and angry. Without really thinking about it, Larkflight ran at the starry pelt. A red haze enclosed her vision, and all she could see was her opponent as she ran, bowling the starry pelt over.

Larkflight used Run-And-Tackle, dealing 11 (8+3- distracted opponent) damage and costing 4(10-6) stamina.

Larkflight
45/45
107/120 (-4)

Creeksplash
91/120 (-11)
290/300

Smallbean
45/45
111/120

Streampaw
KO’D

Sunpaw saw her friends fighting the Righteous Few, and decided to join in. She saw one cat attack two StarClan warrior, and decided to help them. Sunpaw snarled and leaped, slashing a claw across her muzzle. Sunpaw nodded at the two warriors.

Sunpaw used front paw strike on Liondawn.
Sunpaw:
25/25
70/80

Lion dawn:
82/120
280/300

Mossbloom pressed her shoulder to Mothglow's lightly before she turned to survey the battlefield that lay before her, splatterings of red flying off of sharp claws. She watched from one battle to another, wincing with every wound that was made on a cat regardless of their clan. Her ears perked as a familiar voice called out, and she tried to find the cat she knew it originated from. Willowpaw.... What was she saying about Rainstrike, and Minkstream? Her eyes combed over the battlefield, searching for what Willowpaw was talking about. Were had she last seen the tom? She growled softly as she couldn't spot either of them over the mass of fighting cats, and with a look to the other medicine cats she pressed her nose to Daisybloom's. "I'm going out to try to help, I'll bring anyone I can back here. You can do it, I know you can. Have faith in your knowledge and abilities." With that, she turned and disappeared into the fray, searching for Minkstream and Rainstrike.

65/65 HP
200/200 SP

---

The world around her spun as Vixenstar grabbed her scruff, shaking her rigorously before dropping her. She tried to stumble to her paws, to face her opponent, but the moving of the battlefield around her kept her disoriented as she hissed in return, punctuated by heavy breathing. "It was never my place to tell her where to go or who to follow, just as it was never yours. That's not living, that's existing. There's a difference, Vixenstar, and I personally feel you've simply existed for far too long."

Dappleshine is no longer stunned!

Dappleshine:
60/105 HP
262/280 SP

Vixenstar:
11/120 HP
255/300 SP

Cherryblossom:
50/50 HP
118/160 SP

Stormpaw:
25/25 HP
76/80 SP

Cedarheart:
45/45 HP
92/120 SP

---

Goldengale left out a splitting yowl of pain as she felt the pop in her tail. She stumbled, having lost her balance, and Cypressflame swiftly took advantage of that, forcing her to the ground. Baring her teeth up at her opponent, Goldengale hissed furiously, trying to ignore the burning sensation in her tail.

Goldengale is no longer stunned!

Goldengale:
46/85 HP
189/240 SP

Cypressflame:
69/120 HP
265/300 SP

Robinloft:
50/50 HP
156/160 SP

Nettlefire:
105/105 HP
276/280 SP

---

"I guess StarClan isn't as all-knowing as I thought, it's Blossomstep. I've never run away from a fight in my life, can you say the same? I don't really care about what SkyClan used to be, I care about what it is now, and I will stand for the right to keep it that way without your interference! I know what you've done to the other clans, and I saw firstpaw tonight that even if we follow you you'll still threaten our clan, so why should I believe a single word that comes out of your mouth? Besides, we have the best deputy I could ever ask for, you couldn't even raise a claw to him, or to Spottedstar." She hissed, squaring against her opponent when a blur of fur rushed past her. She blinked in surprise as the scent of her mate's pelt rushed past her, and she purred as he launched his own attack against the she-cat. She flicked her tail against his shoulder for a heartbeat before turning to launch another attack on the she-cat. Another figure slid underneath her opponent, this one being a cat that Blossomstep didn't recognize. As her opponent's concentration was towards the ground, Blossomstep rose on her hind legs over her before bring sharp claws down over the top of her head and ears.

Blossomstep used Rear-Up to Slash on Whinchatswirl, dealing 9 damage and costing 9 SP.

Blossomstep:
45/45 HP
102/120 SP (-9)

Whinchatswirl:
88/120 HP (-9)
285/300 SP

Wolfcall:
105/105 HP
276/280 SP

Frostpaw:
25/25 HP
76/80 SP

---

Grateful that Zinnia continued to maintain her distance, Galestar continued her task until a threatening hiss reached her ears, and her gaze focused momentarily on the apprentice that had joined Zinnia. Downpaw, she thought, recalling he was Softpaw's littermate. When he didn't attack in the same heartbeat, she relaxed again to resume her task, only to be interrupted once more as she was sent tumbling to the ground, a warrior standing atop her. Hissing in fury, she moved out from under him and stood, lashing a sheathed paw at his shoulder. "You mousebrain, knock it off! I'm trying to help and you just prolonged the process, now be still!" Her gray eyes glared at him, waiting for his response before resuming her attempts, not wishing to be interrupted once again.

Galestar used Front Paw Blow (yes, the kit move) on Briarthorn, dealing 15 damage and costing 5 SP.

Galestar:
109/120 HP
295/300 SP (-5)

Zinnia:
65/65 HP
196/200 SP

Downpaw:
25/25 HP
80/80 SP

Briarthorn:
50/65 HP (-15)
196/200 SP

Spiderquill stood, paralyzed, as claws raked across his face. He didn't even feel the pain so much as the terror of his bluff being called. He didn't stand a chance here. Blood dripped from his face, mixing with the pool of tears he had left just previously. He was too shocked to move. He should've known this would be the result of his little outburst. He was pathetic. However, it was clear that Larchneedle's attack had an effect. Softpaw lunged at the starry tom only to fail and the forest descended into chaos. Everywhere cats were fighting, blood staining the ground and yowls filling the air. This was war, Spiderquill realized with a terrified jolt that brought the feeling back to his body. He could move his limbs now, so he scampered away from Larchneedle and got to work helping the battling warriors. He ignored his own bleeding for now, finding the hidden herbs Mossbloom had mentioned earlier and making sure severe wounds were taken care of. Fear still coursed through his body, but he ignored it. There would be plenty of time for an emotional breakdown after the threat of death stopped looming over his head.

He scanned the clearing for the umpteenth time, looking for anyone in need of aid. By this point his face was devoid of emotion and his blood half-dried, creating a crusty red-brown layer on his bare face. There was no time to wash it off right now. As his eyes checked Fourtrees yet again, they landed on something that made his heart shatter. There was Ivystar, his mother, limp in the jaws of some tall ginger cat. Blood poured from her throat and her lungs were still. Still. They weren't- they weren't supposed to do that.

Ivystar wasn't breathing.

He wanted to rush towards her, to see if she was okay, to make her be okay. He had to do something. But he was frozen to the spot once again. He could do nothing as the Righteous Few cat dropped his limp mother, nor as Stormbringer and another cat he didn't recognize charged at and attacked the ginger tom. He just sat there, eyes stinging with fresh tears and mouth ajar in shock. He couldn't believe his leader, his friend, his mother was dead. He refused to believe it. She had nine lives right? This was only one of them. Any moment now, her lungs would stop being so deathly still and she'd spring back to life. She had to. Desperation filling his head, he opened his throat and let out a piercing, sorrowful cry.

"MOM!"

As if on cue, tears began to run down his face. He whispered to himself quietly, sobs interrupting him every few syllables. "P-please respond. Please c-come back. Please. You can't- you can't die. Not today."

Crowspirit yowled in eagerness, lunging forward again to attack the StarClan cat. She would pay. Pay for striking down his daughter, pay for attacking his Clan.

Crowspirit used Upright Front Paws, dealing 11 Damage and costing 14 Stamina.

Crowspirit:
50/50 HP
131/160 SP (-14)

Olivestone:
85/105 HP
223/280 SP

Swansong:
50/50 HP
146/160 SP

Lavenderbreeze:
54/120 HP (-11)
250/300 SP


Kestrelstorm growled under her breath as more cats joined the fray, but, nevertheless, lashed out at Daisyflame. He was the oldest, the biggest threat, he had to be taken out first. So she gripped his scruff, wrenching hard before tossing the tom to the ground and facing her other opponents.

Kestrelstorm used Scruff Shake, dealing 10 Damage and costing 25 Stamina.
Daisyflame is stunned for two turns.

Kestrelstorm:
86/120 HP
250/300 SP (-25)

Daisyflame:
95/105 HP (-10)
276/280 SP

Marshcloud:
40/40 HP
105/120 SP

Moonpaw:
25/25 HP
70/80 SP

The member 'Falconwing' has done the following action : Dices roll

---

'Effect Dice' : 5

Morningpaw could oh-so-faintly hear the cries of Softpaw in her ears above the din of battle, the world ringing like a bell struck around her head. At first, the pain was overwhelming; her chest, her tail, her belly, her head, all stabbing into her like a thousand thorns-- but now? Now, she felt nothing. Perhaps her nerves had overloaded; perhaps she'd simply adjusted; or perhaps it was a brief moment of mercy from StarClan in her dying moments. But as the noise around her faded away, as she felt herself rising up on gilded wings, she wanted to comfort the cat before her. It's okay, she wanted to say; This is my time; go and help the others. All this time, Morningpaw had carried the forest upon her shoulders willingly (almost forcibly, and to the protest of everyone else); but it was finally, oh-so-finally, time to let go, and she was glad of it. The fire was lit, even at the expense of her life. So why was Softpaw still trying?

She'd always admired Softpaw, though she'd never quite had the chance to say it. The medicine cat's determination and spirit and eternal capacity for good was- well, would it be braggartly to think she reminded Morningpaw of herself? They had both called for peace, silver tongues against silver pelts, aiming to help instead of hurt, to heal the rift between the stars and the forest. They had both tried to save Finchstar, giving all they could and then some, and they had both failed. And at this point, she would have trusted the rebellion to any Clan cat- for nobody here would give in, not if the screams for justice and cries of battle were anything to go by- but the medicine cat apprentice who frantically shoved cobwebs at her (a sensation which she was only faintly aware of) knew Morningpaw's struggle first-hand. Don't ever blame yourself for this- please.

Remember that you can't save everyone, a voice whispered in the back of her shattered, bloodied skull; but remember that you still have to try. And try she had. Morningpaw had given her words, her spirit, her courage; and she had given her life, and it was working. And if she died here- and she knew she would- then she would die willingly, knowing that her own would be the only casualty of the battle. So she let go. She let her torn heart stop, her punctured lungs finally give in, her dark, final blood pool around her and her spirit ascend to StarClan. There would be sixteen less stars tonight; but also one more- and her mind felt a quiet sense of amusement as she reflected, Not how I imagined becoming Morningstar, but I'll take it. So she rose. And the last thing she heard was-

"YOU."
"You're all a bunch of filthy, foxmothering murderers!"
"MOM!"

--No, Morningpaw thought. She knew what had happened- how could she not? A cat had died, just like she had, and the blood of another innocent was on the paws of the Righteous Few. A child, left without a mother; a Clan, left without a warrior; and a body, left without a soul. And this fight was not, as she thought, going in their direction. This was not a bloodless revolution, and Morningpaw was not the only casualty-- and as long as other cats were in danger, she would not give in. So she refused the call of the stars, her own sheer determination pushing through to drag her back into her body. Morningpaw wasn't going to die here- she couldn't die here, not as long as cats were in danger, not as long as they needed her. Not like this. And she felt the pain come back, all at once, claws tearing into her soft flesh all over again, her head cracking under a mighty blow once more, forcing her out, forcing her to give in and submit to death- but Morningpaw did what she knew. She resisted.

To any cat, she seemed dead already; her injuries were simply unsurvivable, and the light had clearly - at least for a few moments - left her. And even to Softpaw, knowledgeable in the ways of medicine, Morningpaw was a lost cause; she wasn't breathing, her heart wasn't beating. Her ribs were shattered, one puncturing her lung and filling her breath with blood; her belly was laced with a dozen deep, brutal cuts, far beyond what mere cobwebs could fix; and perhaps worst of all, her skull was cracked, shattered, fragments of bone just barely visible as blood poured freely down her face. All three injuries would be lethal even on their own; but combined? No, Morningpaw was a lost cause--
--and just like that, her heart thumped within her, weak and dying, but persistent. And just like that, she took a breath, barely able to sustain her as the blood seeped through the cobwebs, but determined.
And just like that- for now, at least- Morningpaw lived.

Not gonna die tonight.

Honeytongue growled as the tom once slashed at Silverpaw, slashing at him as she spared a glanced toward her apprentice. "Silverpaw! Get out of here - we'll be fine!" she shouted towards her apprentice, rearing backwards to strike out when a suddenly yowl caught her ear.

"MOM!"

Fear shot through her body, causing her to land on all fours as she looked towards where Spiderquill was standing not far from here. He was focused on something in the distance, tears running down his face as she felt her heart sink. Who-Which one? Which one had...She spun to look over the battles, searching the cats for her mates. Where were they, who was hurt. What was... Finally, her eyes landed on the unmoving body of Ivystar. She laid there, so beautiful and peaceful that Honeytongue could almost mistaken her as asleep if it wasn't for the rotten crimson that pooled around her. She could see that Stormbringer was fine, no doubt fighting the tom who had struck down their leader. Their...Mate.

And so she had lost another. Her ears slicked back as her shoulders fell. Another cat she couldn't save - another cat she wasn't there to protect. She had promised them, she had promised Stormbringer that she would be there to fight together with the two of them and now Ivystar was... She had nine lives but that hadn't saved Torrentstar, Thornstar...Or even Finchstar. There was no telling if Ivystar would wake up. It... Tears of her own started to run down her face as a sob hiccuped in her throat, growing ridge for a heartbeat.

Then her eyes flashed, darker than they had ever been as she suddenly swiveled with a howl and threw herself at Larchneedle. Claws tore at every inch of fur she could get as she snapped at him, fur prickling with pure anger. "Y-You fish-rotten rogues! You will all pay for everything you have taken from me! For every death I've witnessed, I'll bring endless upon you and your twisted companions! You should have stayed where we couldn't touch you! You should have been content to be nothing but stars!"

Honeytongue used Jumping Strike on Larchneedle, dealing 14 damage and costing 14 stamina.

Honeytongue:
85/85 HP
193/240 SP (-14)

Larchneedle:
56/120 HP (-14)
265/300 SP

Badgerstar hissed as Raventail's claws came sliding down his face, his rage only building as Dustcloud ducked around him and his attacks. His eyes narrowed, backing up from the pair as he went on the defensive, tail swishing. "Doesn't it just eat you up inside?" he hissed, "That you haven't the slightest idea where Finchstar ended up?" He turned to Dustcloud. "Dacedream, as well? I know where they are. Would you like to find out?" He saw his opening and struck out at Dustcloud again, rearing up on his hind legs and smashing her down with his huge paws.

Badgerstar used Rear-Up to Slash on Dustcloud! [20 HP] [15 SP]
Badgerstar
45/120 HP
230/300 SP

Dustcloud
49/105 HP
223/280 SP

Raventail
105/105 HP
252/280 SP

---

Tanglepaw didn't bother suppressing the flinch that attacked her face. Somewhere, RiverClan cats screamed. She recognized their bubbly, smooth voices, which mimicked the water they lived in. This was no placid brook, this was a roiling river. She snuck a glance. Ivystar's throat leaked crimson. She did not resurrect. Oh.

Tanglepaw shook off the panic. This was, what, the third leader to die at the paws of a ghostly cat? She had no time to worry about Flintstar. It was time to fight. She swung out at Owlstar wildly before leaping back, unnerved by his large fangs.

Tanglepaw used Front Paw Strike (+ Night Finesse) on Owlstar! [6+2 HP] [4 SP]
Tanglepaw
25/25 HP
72/80 SP

Owlstar
81/120 HP
275/300 SP

Ferretdance
45/45 HP
111/120 SP

Freckleface
50/50 HP
156/160 SP

---

Aspenheart unceremoniously lifted himself onto his back legs, balancing very precariously (like a meerkat in distress) as he peered over the crowd. What was he meant to do? Raventail ferociously slashed at the more eloquent of the leaders, Larkflight and Smallbean fought side-by-side, Olivestone and Crowspirit came to the aide of a RiverClan she-cat... and he was trapped by his own inability to fight. There were no casualties yet. Scratch that, a silver apprentice fell and scurried away to lick her wounds.

Spiderquill screamed beside him. He followed the direction of the smooth-faced tom's eyes and saw Ivystar's vacant eyes staring permanently forward. Why was she not reviving? ... Oh no.

Aspenheart haphazardly snatched herbs in his teeth and stumbled across the battlefield, paws shuffling, belly close to the ground, making a desperate beeline towards the RiverClan leader. Spiderquill had called her "mom," but that was not the only reason for his haste. Another leader could not fall to these starry paws. He refused to sit back and let it happen to another clan. The grief that choked his heart was unlike any other. Ivystar had served her clan ever since Torrentstar was taken. She hadn't even had the chance to truly lead. Torrentstar, Thornstar, Finchstar, now Ivystar? Would Oakstar follow? What did that brute plan to do with Raventail when he was done staving off Dustcloud?

He reached Ivystar's limp body and ran his paws over her. His paws trembled with a vengeance, he sucked in breaths. He was underwater. The sounds of war were too familiar to him. He let the rage infect him, as they stilled his nerves. Aspenheart was beyond the battlefield now. This was his happy place. Healing. He tried to stifle the trickling of blood that continued to leak from Ivystar's throat. It did not slow. Her body was not mending itself. There was nothing he could do.

Aspenheart attempted to heal Ivystar, but...

Ebonypaw panted, slightly exhausted. “Now is definitely NOT the time to ask for names, but I’m Ebonypaw.” She slashed at the StarClan cat’s muzzle, before dropping down to the ground again. Baring her teeth in a grin, Ebonypaw said, “What can I say? Call me pretty and nasty.” Suddenly, she heard angry yowls and screeching filled with grief. Looking over, she saw Ivystar, the RiverClan leader, falling to the ground. Teeth gritted, she turned back towards the StarClan cat and dove back into the shadows, waiting for another opportunity.

Ebonypaw used front paw strike, costing 4 SP because of buff and dealing 6+2 damage.

Ebonypaw:
HP: 25/25
SP: 66/80

Aspenleaf:
HP: 87/120
SP: 280/300

Another cry caught Mossbloom's attention, and she turned to see Spiderquill, tears running down his cheeks. Following his gaze, she saw where Ivystar lay still in a pile of slick blood, Aspenheart rushing next to her body. Momentarily pushing Willowpaw's words from her mind, Mossbloom dashed over to the other side of Ivystar's frame from Aspenheart, and started going through a mental checklist. What would be prevent Ivystar from reviving? Surely she had received her lives, she needed to have. She had her name, of course she did. "Come on Ivystar, you're stronger than this, push through..." She growled, doing everything she could to help. She could only hope now.

Mossbloom attempts to use Revive, healing 15 HP and costing 29 SP.

Mossbloom:
65/65 HP
171/200 SP

Nightwolf perked up. "Oh I'm Nightwolf of Riverclan!" He smiled. Then saw Ivystar fell down. His smile drained from his face. Horror over came the Riverclan tom. He turned around and glared at the Starclan cat he was fighting.

He then swiped his paw at Aspenleaf angrily. Anger was an emotion that Nightwolf hadn't shown ever.

Nightwolf used front paw strike costing -6 sp and dealing -8 hp

Nightwolf:
Hp: 45/45
SP: 108/120 -6

Aspenleaf:
HP: 79/120 -8
SP: 280/300

OOC: I hope I did this right

Foxspirit watched Moringpaw's body fall to the ground as it was struck down by Lavenderbreeze. No... No! She rushed after Spotlake to where her body fell. She opened her mouth to say something as fighting erupted around them, but found that she could not. She sat down next to her daughter, trying to comfort her as best that she could. Foxspirit had gone through this same feeling, when her two other kits had died, when her siblings were killed, and when her mate succumbed to his sickness. It felt like the whole world was conspiring against you. Foxspirit nuzzled Spotlake, tears streaming down the older she-cat's face. As much as she wanted to help in the fight, she was needed here the most, comforting her last kit.

OOC: I'll post with Echofrost later today

"She's not trying to hurt us, Briarthorn," Zinnia whispered. "Can't you see? She says she's trying to help, and I- I trust her. If she's trying to make something right... We have to let her try. Who are we, if we don't?"

Because wasn't it cruel, to tear away any chance at redemption? To say that just because someone was one thing they must always be that way (and wouldn't that, in particular, be hypocritical of her, the flower-child turned moor-runner)?

Cats could learn and grow and change, and perhaps even those who had lived their lives and lost them were not above that process. If Galestar was trying to help, then Zinnia would defend her; and whether or not that choice was right would be made clear in time. But the more she thought about it, she more she thought this was what Finchstar would have wanted - kindness, peace, of a sort; wherever it was possible.

"I'll defend her, if I must. But you should control yourself, in the meantime. Downpaw - will you help me? You've had the sense to stay your paws, if not your tongue."

Zinnia:
65/65 HP
196/200 SP

Moonpaw glared at the StarClan warrior and bared her teeth as menacingly as she could. "Die, you mangy fur-pelt!" she spat before slicing her unsheathed claws through the air, clawing at her opponent's muzzle.

Moonpaw used Front Paw Strike, costing 10 stamina and dealing 6 damage.

Moonpaw:
25/25 HP
60/80 SP (-10)

Kestrelstorm:
80/120 HP (-6)
250/300 SP

Daisyflame:
95/105 HP
276/280 SP

Marshcloud:
40/40 HP
105/120 SP