September Gathering 2020

Tinypaw’s tail twitched in irritation. “Well, what’s so great about you anyway?” He shot back, a little surprised at the venom his own voice held. He sucked in a deep breath to calm himself down. Yowling like a whiny kit in the middle of a Gathering would only just embarrass himself even further. And that'd prove her right, he thought with a half swallowed growl. “You said you’re the best RiverClan has— so what makes you so special?” If Flashpaw wanted proof, then Tinypaw expected the same.

Ivystar sighed as she watched Nettle... star? Climb atop the rock. She hoped that Oakstar was safe at the very least, but she also carried the knowledge that the tom was quite old... She offered a polite nod to each of the leaders as they joined her, not bothering to speak to any of them as cats filed in Clan by Clan. She found it rather peculiar that Olivestar joined them as well... It gave her odd memories of three leaders rising to their positions within the same moon, back when she had become a leader. Once it seemed everyone had gotten settled, she stepped forward to get things started. "Let the Gathering begin!" She yowled, listening as the voices dwindled until she could hear the sound of a leaf falling on the ground.

"Despite the fire that raged within SkyClan's territory and along our own borders as well, RiverClan is doing well. We have hopes that the river will return to us soon, and with it an abundance of fish. Most importantly, though, SkyClan has been located, and if currently taking shelter within RiverClan camp. They have chosen not to join us tonight on account of the severe physical and emotional injuries that many of them have sustained. That is all." The she-cat padded quickly back to her spot, taking in the slight murmurs as the Clans reacted to the news of SkyClan's retrieval.

As Ivystar stepped up and started the Gathering, her yowl echoing across the clearing as the cats below fell silent, and Olivestar listened as the RiverClan leader announced that SkyClan had been found, and that they were residing safely with RiverClan. A smile tugged at the corners of Olivestar's mouth at the news, and she stepped up to the front of the rock as Ivystar stepped back, giving a nod.
"WindClan will speak next. I stand before you as Olivestar, WindClan's new leader. WindClan has been doing well this moon, despite the drought, and prey is running well. I have no other news to report."

With her small piece said, she stepped back from the front of the rock, leaving room for the next leader to speak.

Nettlestar stepped forward after Olivestar was finished.

“I suppose I must introduce myself…” she quietly said to herself before addressing the crowd.

“Greetings, everyone. Oakstar has decided to retire as ThunderClan’s leader and joined the elders’ den, taking on the name Oakheart. I am Nettlestar, ThunderClan’s new leader, with Minkstream as my deputy. I have not much else to report, other than that ThunderClan has been doing well as of late,”

With that, the tall gray she-cat stepped back.

A familiar brown-and-white face appeared above the crowd. Soon, Beecloud was lumbering toward him (toward his right side, though Snowflight had never asked in so many words), amber eyes alight with anxiety, but warm as ever. Beecloud had come looking for him. Feeling his frown melt away, Snowflight sat up so the larger tom wouldn’t have to lean down as much. An answering purr rumbled in his own throat. ”No, I’m with you. Though it’s been so loud back home for the last few sunups that this is…kind of nice.”

Unsurprisingly, the conversation turned to SkyClan after a matter of moments. Snowflight should’ve been irritated at being reminded of his temporary camp-mates; when he searched himself, however, he found nothing of the sort. They’d talked about far less pleasant topics before. He glanced up at the Great Rock, as if SkyClan might’ve defied expectations and materialized in their section of Fourtrees while he wasn’t looking. Naturally, they hadn’t. ”I don’t think they’re coming tonight,” he said, turning his eyes (and ears) back toward Beecloud. Ivystar would probably tell the rest of the forest tonight, if they didn’t already know; SkyClan’s wellbeing was too big a thing to keep quiet about. With a shrug, Snowflight said, ”They’re still staying with us.” Sure enough, Ivystar’s yowl split the cool air a moment after he’d finished speaking. He continued in a whisper in the space between her announcements and the WindClan leader’s. ”It’s…weird, sharing a camp with cats you’ve never met.”

---

With the leaf firmly stuck to some unfortunate apprentice’s back—hopefully they were a good climber in case SkyClan showed up—the two ThunderClan apprentices were free to discuss less dangerous ideas, like birds (which Thrushpaw liked, and would have liked even if her Clan name hadn’t come from them). Pinepaw’s wide, shining grin had her playfully rolling her eyes. The fog that had settled over him after he’d come back with Daisybloom had receded somewhat; that hadn’t been her sole purpose, but a victory was a victory. She took a moment to imagine what that grin would look like with a bunch of feathers sticking out of it, and burst into a quickly-stifled fit of laughter.

Soon after, the conversation turned to SkyClan. After a few moments, Pinepaw proposed his solution, which sounded sensible until Thrushpaw thought about it twice. ”The owls won’t like that.” Her mouth twitched as she watched him chuckle at his own suggestion. ”They’d probably prefer DustClan,” she said, lightly nudging her friend’s shoulder, ”or MoleClan, or BadgerClan—” Before she could continue in that vein, RiverClan’s leader called out for silence. Apparently, they were beginning the Gathering without SkyClan. Even the newest apprentice knew one wasn’t supposed to talk over the leaders, so Thrushpaw shut her mouth, grin settling into a smile that didn’t quite fade until Ivystar told the truth of where SkyClan had gone. RiverClan. It seemed sensible enough, and she was relieved she wouldn’t have to share ThunderClan’s trees, but having an answer took some of the mystery out of it.