July Gathering 2020

Haypaw's tail swished as Batpaw started to explain the territory, eyes widening as she titled his head. That sounded...Gross. She much preferred the hard ground of the moor - having mud and water clinging to you didn't sound fun at all - but she did suppose it couldn't be that bad if one had short fur and felt a pang of sympathy for any long-haired ShadowClan cats there might be. "Oh, I see!" she said with a nod of her head. "I just haven't been near our border in a long while, it doesn't hold...Um, good memories for me so I haven't been able to see the marsh myself. But it reminds me a bit of RiverClan's territory - my mentor, Dappleshine, told me lots about it and how it tends to be wet and stuff. I don't think its as muddy thought," she noted. "...What is it like being a ShadowClan cat? I heard all the Clans are really different in their own ways but I only know what its like to be a WindClan cat so."

Padding into the clearing with the rest of her clan, Tulipfang found herself a spot near the front of the crowd. Sitting down, the fluffy molly rested her tail gracefully across her white paws, waiting for the gathering to begin.

Smallbean walked into the large clearing with his head low, letting out a small sigh. There wasn't too much to look forward to during gatherings, it was really just gossiping and occasionally drama, but none of it really mattered to him. It's not like any of it directly affected him anyways, he didn't talk to cats enough to create drama.The small tom padded over to the edge of the clearing and sat down under the branches of a low hanging tree. He looked over toward the leaders, trying to determine when they would start with announcements. He hoped it would be soon, he just wanted this to be over with.

[Smallbean is open for conversation]

Fogpaw went alongside many of her now recovered clan mates moving swiftly like the vere flowing wind. When her name was called to go to the gathering her heart leapt with joy at the bright news. A creeping memory pierces her chest but the joy of meeting new cats under more peaceful circumstances, No longer did she feel the heavy burden of her sickly parents - the path to recovery looked clearer and clearer every day. The lithe apprentice made her way on over to where the majority of other cats lingered. It was quite eventful in her previous gathering, yet here she was floundering to talk some else's ear off. That of course changed when her pale blue gaze settled on Tulipfang. "Hello there!" She cheerfully called out to the experienced molly. "Who would you be? I'm Fogpaw by the way."

As every Clan made their way into the clearing under the full moon, Cherryblossom didn't have to wait long for a conversation partner to present themselves to her, in the form of a young WindClan she-cat, judging by the heathery scent that wafted off of the lean, tawny cat. Taking note of Hickorypaw tailing her as she had entered the clearing, she swept her tail around the apprentice as she gave a trill of greeting to the blind WindClanner, sitting down and making herself comfortable.
"Hey, I'm Cherryblossom of ThunderClan, and this is my apprentice Hickorypaw! What's your name?"

As Windclan entered Fourtrees, Palepaw was practically plastered to his mentor's side. Despite still being a new apprentice, he already trusted Olivestone more than just about any cat. (To be fair, it wasn't as if he had ever even talked to many other cats...) He was honestly shocked that he'd even been allowed to this Gathering; he'd assumed that only older apprentices, ones who were closer to becoming full warriors, were meant to join the monthly meeting between the clans. Nonetheless, he was here, and his eyes widened as he took in the sight of a busy Fourtrees.

Cats of all clans were absolutely everywhere. Their scents intermingled and were impossible to pick out with his untrained nose. Their conversations coalesced into a wave of noise that hurt his large, sensitive ears. Their multicolored pelts turned the dark clearing into a mesmerizing work of art as the light of the full moon reflected off of them. Feeling overloaded with sensory input, Palepaw ducked his head down and followed his mentor to her spot beside what he assumed to be the other deputies at the base of the Great Rock. While he would normally be petrified around these cats, seeing as they all held high ranks in their clans and were entirely unknown to him, this feeling was drowned out by the overwhelming amount of everything happening around him.

After settling down beside his mentor, Palepaw finally dared to look back up at the collection of cats all around him. Immediately, he noticed a small, bright orange streak of fur dart away from a large group of cats at an incredible speed and make its way up one of the four trees surrounding the clearing. From his extremely limited knowledge of the other clans, he deduced that this was most likely a Skyclan cat, as they were the only clan who tended to feel comfortable among the branches in their part of the forest. Palepaw couldn't imagine it, having spent the entirety of his life so far on the ground and under the open sky. He stared at the branches of the massive oak tree that the ginger cat had disappeared within and shook his head. Is that even allowed? Though he took a mental note of this strange occurrence, Palepaw was absolutely positive that he shouldn't even attempt to investigate. It was better to stay out of trouble, especially considering this was his first gathering, and even if he were to disregard that, he wasn't sure he'd even have the courage to approach the tree. Instead, he returned to watching the goings-on around him, still feeling overwhelmed but starting to tune out the drone of so many cats conversing. At least it's cooling off....

---

ooc: palepaw is open to talk to, though he's very shy and will respond best to cats his own age (regardless of clan)!

Fernpaw excitedly padded into the clearing. Another gathering, another chance to make new friends!
[Open!]

---

Vinetail lashed his tail and sat down, curling it around him. He quickly glanced around.
[Open!]

(Oops, so sorry for a late response, I was unexpectedly away for a week ^^')

Ravenmist padded into the clearing behind Flintstar, taking her customary place below the rock. Tonight she wasn't actively seeking out someone to talk to, but she felt tired, so tired. Between the heat, which made her sluggish despite her short pelt, and the ever-coming slew of kits, she had her paws full, even with the battle against the Righteous Few ending.

Then a crackle sounded, a cat climbing the tree, and a leaf falling that marked they were somewhere above her. "Hello. SkyClanner, I presume? Quite a clever way to get out of the crowd." She angled her head upwards, in a hope that the cat above her would know she was speaking to them.

[Ravenmist is speaking to Firepaw!]

Crowspirit marched into the Gathering, a single goal on his mind, despite the humidity that clung to his thick pelt, despite the heat dissipating with darkness. He picked out a familiar red pelt, every one of his senses angled towards the tom. Redfall seemed to be preoccupied with a couple of other cats, but Crowspirit could wait. Tonight he'd confront the tom who had attacked his mate at this very spot. As if he didn't think Redfall was bad enough before he had learned that little fact.

So he sat, glaring at the SkyClanner, waiting for him to finish speaking.

[Crowspirit is laser-focused on Redfall, but anyone's welcome to try and talk to him!]

Briarthorn padded into the gathering behind his clanmates. He sat down at his usual place, near the front, and waited for the gathering to start. He looked back at the group of cats before the sound of claws scraping rock brought his attention back to the leaders. Apparently, Oakstar was having trouble leaping onto the Great Rock. Since when was ThunderClan's great leader so weak? Well, he is getting older... Briarthorn thought, as he turned his attention back to the growing crowd.

Foxspirit walked into Fourtrees, sticking near her daughter. She sat down, and gazed up at the great rock. She winced as Oakstar slipped off the rock on his first try to leap to the top. All the stress and injuries from the last few moons must be catching up to him... Foxspirit thought with a concerned look on her face. She sat quietly as she waited for the gathering to start.

There she was - ThunderClan's medicine cat; a bit tired, possibly even ill, but here nonetheless. Spottedstar glanced up at the other leaders. They didn't look like they would start without him, but he wanted to be quick. It was too important to let the opportunity pass. He approached Mossbloom, hesitant and much more humble than usual, tail low and head bowed respectfully. "Mossbloom! Mossbloom, I... would like to see you soon. And talk to you." Stars, he was bad at this. How were you supposed to talk to cats from other Clans? Just like regular cats? It was too important to let his awkwardness get in the way, so Spottedstar pushed ever onward. "I want to meet you in... seven nights? At the Fallen Oak, if that's okay? It's about medicine... and Sagelight, and... something personal..." He dropped his gaze to his paws, growing too warm to continue. The hot, sticky air wasn't helping, nor was the presence of other medicine cats. He was all too aware of how scandalous this could appear, but he knew no better way to beg someone to meet him. The SkyClan leader dipped his head, still averting his gaze, and then turned to scale the Great Rock, practically fleeing the conversation without waiting for Mossbloom's answer. He could only show up and hope she'd be there.

Swansong purred in amusement. "I don't think the creek would be big enough to hold all of us, besides." A twinkle glimmered in her eye for a moment as she cocked her head, distant memories of her time at the lake among all different cats from different Clans coming to mind. There was that one time she'd been offered a bite.... "I'm not sure you would like the taste of fish, much. It's... odd."

Redfall still didn't seem too happy, even with them chatting, but she put it down to the heat as she glanced at both him and Wrenspring. Hopefully he'll warm up, eventually.... The thought trailed off as someone approaching caught her eye, and she turned her head to see a thick-pelted tom glaring in their direction as he sat, every hair seeming to radiate animosity as his oddly-coloured eyes flashed.

She felt a tingle of worry thread down her back, and flicked a quick look at her companions before turning a wary smile on the tom still glowering like a dark thundercloud on the horizon, the scent drifting to her indicating he came from WindClan. "Greetings, can we help you...?"

Swansong is still talking to Redfall and Wrenspring, but has noticed Crowspirit.

Wildflower gave a slight nod, thankful the two ThunderClanners didn’t seem to care about her blindness. Or maybe they did. She couldn’t tell. As the older she-cat spoke, introducing herself as Cherryblossom and the apprentice Hickorypaw, Wildflower settled down into a sitting position, tucking her paws under her tail. “W-wildflower. WindClan.” Oh, stars, the stutter was back again. Forcing it out of her voice, the scarred molly continued, voicing the question that many others were probably being asked. “H-how’s this hot w-weather for ThunderC-Clan?”

Batbite settled comfortably a ways away from the other cats, close enough to catch snippets of conversation and clearly hear when the leaders spoke. She was here, as she was at most Gatherings, to observe the clans around them.
~
Zinnia was half-listening to the happenings around her, but mostly staring up at the stars. Occasionally she'd glance over to Olivestone, but her attention was swiftly captured by the twinkling sky-lights, or words carried on the breeze.

Firepaw had just begun to make herself comfortable in the tree, finding the perfect place to curl up and watch the proceedings, when a voice called up to her- the exact opposite of what she was trying to achieve here. But then- maybe she could handle just one cat to talk to, if not quite a hundred. And she couldn't very well ignore the voice either, so... glancing below her into the congregation of cats, the flock of felines, the gaggle of grimalkins (okay, maybe one that was a stretch), Firepaw looked for the one who had addressed her. The only cat both looking up and speaking in her general direction was the tall, soft-looking she-cat with the myriad of scars and raven-black fur; so the apprentice gave a nod in greeting and flicked her tail towards the tree trunk. (Were she a little closer, Firepaw would've noticed visual cues might not have worked so well, but it's the thought that counts, right?)

"What can I say?", she replied with a spark of deflective humor- it was about getting out of the crowd, but she very well didn't want this stranger thinking so. "I like the ambience up here. Easier to focus on the important parts of the Gathering. You're welcome to come up if you like, but getting up is the easy part- it's getting down I need to worry about."

A slight pause, and then finally, the apprentice introduced herself: "My name is Firepaw. SkyClan, as you guessed. And- if anyone asks, you didn't see me up here."

((Firepaw is speaking to Ravenmist!))

A smile flitted across Beecloud’s face, accompanied by a simple ”you’re welcome.” Snowflight couldn’t be sure which one disarmed him more thoroughly. Something like relief pulled another smile, genuine this time, onto his muzzle. He blinked once, very deliberately, and waited for his ears to stop prickling. When he searched for the guilt that had loomed over him for the last few sunups, he came up empty-pawed. At last, he was light again. He’d accomplished what he’d come here for. But right now, he couldn’t feel the weight of any eyes that weren’t Beecloud’s (which were astonishingly warm and not at all unpleasant to have on him, anyway), and the grass had crushed comfortably underneath him, and he thought, why shouldn’t he stay here? Now that he had nothing left to dread, it seemed more than reasonable. Better than sitting alone.

The earnestness in Beecloud’s next question nudged him off the fence for good. Snowflight allowed—forced, really—his tail to uncurl itself somewhat, and was rewarded by the feeling of muggy-yet-fresh air on his skin. “Yeah, it looked worse than it was; once I washed the blood off, it was okay. Well, better. Still stung the whole way home,” he said, mouth twitching. ”These might be sticking around, though.” He raised a paw to the lines on his forehead. There wasn’t much of a point in hiding them when Beecloud had seen them bleeding. Still, it was only a matter of heartbeats before he hurried on to a new subject. ”As long as we’re talking about being worried, when you first went over that rock, I thought you’d gone swimming.” Letting his voice trail off, he pondered how long Beecloud’s thick, ruffled fur would take to dry. Then a more pertinent question rose, and he asked, “Did, uh—did you ever learn that? ThunderClan's not far from the river, either, so I always thought…”