January Gathering 2022

Bloodstar was rather pleased with himself that he'd had the foresight to claim more ground for his clan to hunt on. This leaf-bare was harsh and it came swiftly. Right now, as he lead his clan to Fourtrees plowing through snow, he hoped it would end as suddenly as it began. He could only imagine how other clans were handling it. Border skirmishes seemed to have come to a screeching halt. Was it because the other warriors were too weak to fight due to scarce food? He supposed he and his clan were about to find out.

Bloodstar leaped onto the Great Rock and took his place there, patiently waiting for the others to arrive. He sat down, suddenly missing his tail. It would have been nice to have something over his freezing toes. The sooner this gathering was over, the better.

Dawnfeather followed behind Bloodstrike, bounding through the snow. The golden she-cat kept near her family and friends- it was odd, being first. At least she could play in the snow a little bit before the other Clans arrived- plunging her front legs into the snow, she let out a delighted sneeze as a flake settled on her nose. She could see her breath- it looked like a beautiful cloud. Leaf-bare was beautiful.

Dawnfeather is open to interact with other SkyClanners.

Beechfang padded into fourtrees with her ears flat and lip curled. She didn't enjoy being here, and being the first clan to arrive only meant that they were stuck waiting on others in this stars-forsaken hollow. She eyed the bare, snow-covered branches above in disgust, but said nothing as she sat among her clanmates.

Beechfang is open to talk.

She kept glancing up at the moon. A perfectly round dot, shining down in its golden glory. It felt calming, though also as if beckoning her to sleep. Oliverain knew she needed to rest but forbid herself from it. There was always more to do. If not a patrol it was hunting. If not a night guard it was practicing. At least she knew her clan was doing well, and she wanted to keep it that way. Though there wasn't as much importance in attending a Gathering was there? The reason she joined her clan tonight was the golden she-cat nearby. Oliverain had felt so off without Dawnfeather. She wanted to celebrate her friend's return.

The friend in question was playing in the snow, jumping and diving playfully. Oliverain smiled, admitting to herself it looked fun. With a quick yawn she walked up to Dawnfeather. "Can I join you?" she mewed politely, moving her paws around in the snow. The warrior was too tired to play like Dawnfeather did, but making shapes in the snow was entertaining enough. "How do you think this Gathering will go?" she asked, only trying to start a conversation.

Oliverain is talking with Dawnfeather.

Brrr- it was cold, Dawnfeather admitted to herself, although she couldn’t resist the temptation to play around real quick. Beechaunt looked tired- or annoyed- or angry- or something. Maybe she wanted to talk? Or maybe (and this was honestly more likely) she wanted to be alone for a moment. Keen blue eyes studied her aunt for a moment longer, before the golden molly turned her attention back to the very important duties of playing in the snow.

She was half-way between the glow of fun and freezing her tail off when Olive came up! She’d been not far from her friend on the walk here… but, to be honest, they’d gotten separated when Dawnfeather bounded down the slope to jump into the deep drifts.

“Of course!” She mewed, waving her tail in excitement. “Ooh… I don’t know. Guess what? I figured out that every leader’s warrior name starts in an -s! Bloodstrike, Murkystrike, Dayspring,, Minkstream, Jay… song or shriek, I can’t remember. Coincidence?”

She grinned, for a moment, eyes shining in the light of the moon reflecting off the snow. ”I think not!”

Dawnfeather is talking to Oliverain.

Hailpaw shivered as the cold chilled his short pelt, reaching the skin beneath. He couldn't wait for new-leaf to come. No more cold, no more snow, and easier navigation. However, he wasn't allowed to hibernate the season away. At least gatherings were fun. New cats to meet, new opportunities to show off a bit, it wasn't something he was going to miss out on.

He trotted into the clearing, finding that Skyclan were the first cats here. That was fine he supposed, could wait for more cats to arrive. He quietly adjusted the bluejay feathers in his tail, a decoration he was starting to get bored of but lacked the variety to replace. That would be another gift new-leaf brings. Flowers, something new to adorn himself with.

Hailpaw is open to talk to!

Mountainpaw arrived with the rest of his clan he was glad to be here, it gave him time away from his mentor, Beechfang who he hated.

he saw Dawnfeather and oliverrain playing in the snow and rolled his eyes. kits he muttered under his breath.  If other clans saw this it would be embarrassing.  Skyclan needed to look serious and strong for this and they were off goofing around in the snow. Ridiculous.

he saw hailpaw sitting a little ways away and walked over.

Hey! How's your training going? Do you like your mentor? No matter who your mentor is I guarantee you they are better than mine

Mountainpaw is talking with Hailpaw

Murkystar had her long fur fluffed out in an attempt to ward off the freezing cold, and as she paused at the edge of the clearing with her clan she glanced skyward with a sigh. The clouds were threatening more snow, and she briefly wondered if they would cover the moon tonight. If they did... That was an obstacle they would overcome later. Motioning to her clan, she led the charge into the clearing, giving Frostgaze a nod before leaping up Greatrock. A gasp at the unforgiving cold under her paws escaped her maw, and she quickly moved to the edge of the rock to make way for the other leaders that had yet to arrive. So far only SkyClan was here. With as harsh as leaf-bare was, having Highpine would be a help, but was it worth the battle that would come with it? Perhaps not at this point. Lowering her head in a silent greeting to Bloodstar, she turned her attention to their clanmates below to watch them interact with each other.

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OOC: Due to IC punishments, Burningwing and Marshmallow of ShadowClan were not permitted to attend this Gathering!

Nightstalker padded in after his mother his first gathering as a grown warrior. He looked his best, doing his utmost to keep his fur clean and sleek. Nightstalker was on the skinnier side though, with how harsh the leaf-bare was, on top of how usually barren Shadowclan territory was, he silently hoped that the other clans wouldn't notice. The young, handsome tom settled for somewheres a bit closer to the great rock, wanting to be close enough to hear the leaders clearly.



Nightstalker is open to talk to

Oliverain hadn't expected such a fun answer, but she appreciated it nonetheless. "It is a bit odd," she giggled, "But what do you think the reason is? Is it the same for deputies or medicine cats? I don't know most of their names, so it's plausible." Who knows, maybe the she-cat was on to something. Oliverain brought her tail across her paws, giving her that smidge of warmth she needed. The fluffy warrior wondered how thin-furred cats lived through leaf-bare. Just a moment ago Dawnfeather was covering herself in snow like it was nothing. Maybe I should get more moss for the dens, to make them cozier for leaf-bare.. Oliverain flicked her ear, shaking away the urge to curl up and nap.

Oliverain talking with Dawnfeather.

Just like the last moon— the harsh, bitterly cold chills of leaf-bare enwrapped him into the Gathering. With Murkystar leading forward, Duskflight made his way into the clearing with his other clanmates, not forgetting to check up with his apprentice behind. Being a mentor was still fairly new to him, and though it came with responsibility, it also came with much excitement.

Like the previous time, SkyClan, once again, was the first to arrive. And no other, ShadowClan was the second to come. He'd noticed some new faces, while most were still more recognizable from the previous encounters. Soon, the warrior made his way through the crowd, settling down somewhere near the front. RiverClan and SkyClan were the only clans he'd interacted with before. Though with enough luck, perhaps this time he'd be able to interact with another instead.

Duskflight is open to talk!

She raised her head as ShadowClan came pouring into the clearing. Against the bright light of the full moon reflecting off the snow, even her subpar nightvision could easily pick out their black pelts. Dawnfeather sat back as they came rushing into the hollow, curling her tail around her paws like Olive. It was cold- and now that she wasn’t moving about playing in the snow it was even colder.

“I know Ashaunt does it, aaaand ummm well Muddy doesn’t, but I don’t know anyone else’s names- maybe I should pay more attention this time. You looked tired, Olive,” she commented suddenly, tilting her head. “Have you been getting enough sleep? I can take the next night guard shift!”

To be honest, she probably shouldn’t- staying awake at night was… not one of her strengths, and she was tired for days. And she could usually see only about a fox-length away at night. Maybe the moon reflecting off the snow would help? Besides, Olive did look tired. Maybe… ferns in her nest, or some poppy seeds?

Frostgaze entered quickly, trotting behind Murkystar. Shadowclan was the second clan to arrive, which was nice. He never did like being last. Breaking off from the rest, he continued following Murkystar up to the Greatrock, returning her nod as he sat near the base. Frostgaze dipped his head to Skyclan's deputy and looked out across the clearing. He would prefer to be speaking with his own clan, or not speaking at all, but as a deputy, he felt forced to make some form of small talk. At least he didn't have to yet, not when there was only one deputy there with him.

Frostgaze is open to talk to!

Minkstar padded into the clearing with numb paws - nothing new, there. He'd just about forgotten what his toes felt like - along with his stomach. That he even managed to scale the Great Rock was a feat in and of itself, his limbs feeling a bit like dead weights shuddering subtly in some unseen wind. Gathering, then home. It was all his exhausted being asked for.

Minkstar is... open to talk to, I guess?