February Gathering 2022

Murkystar stood at the head of ShadowClan, staring down into the empty clearing. The wounds lacing her clanmates pelts, as well as her own, still stung and ached, but they were here. They were breathing, they were present, and they would not yield. The fog that seemed to envelop the marshes did not extend it's tendrils to this hallowed place yet, and Murkystar felt uneasy as she gave the signal for her clan to file into the clearing below. Striding towards Greatrock, it took her some effort to climb it, her healing wounds screaming their distaste at the pulling and stretching. When she finally stood atop it, she sighed and sat down, watching her clanmates settle and waiting for the other clans to arrive.

Bloodstar pushed once more through the snow like a fuzzy bulldozer. He would take the brunt of the cold and forge a path to Fourtrees for his clan. He didn't need the apprentices or warriors getting sick. He had lives to spare, they did not. Once he cleared a path through the snow that would make travel easier for those behind him, Bloodstar's eyes settled on the Great Rock. Murkystar was already there. He leaped easily onto the Great Rock beside her and nodded in greeting.

"Is everything still... manageable?" He asked her softly. He'd continue to help Shadow clan as much as he could as long as it didn't put Skyclan in jeopardy.

Deerpaw scrambled into the clearing behind Murkystar, barely resisting the urge to run in. this would be her first gathering, after all. looking around at the surroundings, she couldn't help but admire them. this place was nothing like the pine forest she had grown up in.

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Slightpaw didn't bother looking at the fourtrees. he had seen it before and they had not changed much. instead, he looked around frantically for the familiar black fur. they had agreed to meet up again, after all. glancing at the leaders, he noticed that there was only Murkystar and Bloodstar. Windclan had not arrived, then. he settled down and wrapped his tail around his paws, eyes glancing at the entrance now and then.


Deerpaw is open to interactions
Slightpaw is open to interactions, but looking for Batpaw

Sootpaw padded confidently into the clearing, striding after Murkystar and glancing around the snow-covered hollow with wide eyes. He'd heard about how huge the great oaks were, but he'd never imagined they'd be this big. He found himself staring up at the branches arching over his head, framing the full, round moon. Other cats were already starting to trickle in, ones he assumed to be Skyclan based on their scent, and he couldn't help but wonder how many there'd be once all five clans had arrived. He paced restlessly, the nervous energy of his first gathering rendering him unable to settle down.






Sootpaw is open to interact!

Swiftheart walked into the gathering following her mother and clanmates in. She saw skyclan had also arrived she did not know any skyclan cats but this might be a good time to get to know them.  She was a very social cat and so meeting others was fun as long as it happened at a gathering a time of peace and order betwen all clans.  She was anxious to hear any news of Basilblooms trip ... she missed her sister so much and wondered if anyone had heard anything about it or had any news whatsever on it.

Swiftheart is open to interact
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The wet caress of a misty lashing curled deep and tight; tethering sharp and poignant to the dreary weight of Jaystar's bones, a secondary dampness clinging atop the stubborn dusting of ice and snow that often bespeckled his dark coat. The frigid late hour was cold and wanting, the prospect of dealing with the unwanted act of socializing unsightly and unseemly, especially without the buffering presence of his Medicine Cat should he be subjected to the latest scheming of liminal arguments. The faintest catching of soft fur grating across the porous surface of old rock was the singular heralding of Jaystar's arrival atop the ceremonial seat alongside Murkystar and Bloodstar, dark gaze giving a cursory skimming to the pale rivulets of partially healed wounds curling across the ShadowClan Leader's mottled coat.

An exceptionally poor condition for wartime in recent days, was it not?

Nightstalker followed in close behind his apprentice, his guard up with a slight raise of his hackles to imply this. Like the rest of his clan-mates, the wounds that mottled his pelt were still obvious, the wounds on his belly still very much so. But with no medicine cat, and the only treatment available being those that have limited knowledge, he was up earlier than perhaps he should have been. Plagued with dizzy spells every time he stood up too fast, and a horrible hunger to accompany him every time he took a step forwards, he thought that any day he may pass in his sleep. Pushing the thought aside, he leaned down to his apprentice. "Watch what you say. If any cat asks about our wounds or in any way tries to get information out of you, shut them down and deflect when Murkystar gives her announcement. It is obvious we are weak right now, but we mustn't give any cat any reason to take advantage of that." He warned before straightening back up and looking for his sister.

Once her white coat was spotted, he padded over and sat close, perhaps with less distance than he'd usually give her. He knew she'd need the comfort, she had been needing it the most out of every cat it seemed. It hurt to see, but he knew that if he said anything about it, he'd only make her feel worse.

Nightstalker, along with Swiftheart, are open to talk to

Darkpaw stuck closely to the cats of her clan. She did not know why she was here. The thought of many cats milling about was an overwhelming one, more than in their camp even! It was unimaginable. Thankfully, the cold was the least of her worried. Admittedly, there was a small spark of curiosity about what the rest of the forest were like. Had it not been for the recent events, perhaps her enthusiasm would have been less dim.

The sight of the clearing below caused her eyes to widen. It was impossible to take them all in. She felt her fur bristle slightly with discomfort. Maybe she would be fine if she stuck close to Tinypool, or Robinpatch.

Tinypool entered the clearing more confident than last time. She looked around, remembering her encounter with Atalante the last time she was here. On that occasion, the Fourtrees were much quieter and more empty. A completely different scenario than the one of a Gathering.

She walked near Perchfall, still getting used to the fact that she was no longer her apprentice. When it was time for the deputy to leave her side to join Jaystar, the small warrior stayed behind with her clanmates, trying to calm down her breathing. Big crowds still made her nervous but at least this time... she wasn't alone. During her apprenticehood she had met Hollyleaf and Darkkit, now Darkpaw.

The dark-furred molly turned her gaze to the apprentice. Tinypool could sense her discomfort... it reminded her of her own when she was just her age a few moons ago. Quietly, the young molly settled down besides Darkpaw and put her paw over hers. Keeping her own anxious thoughts hidden, she smiled at the black-ginger she-cat. "It's okay, you'll be fine. You don't need to talk to anyone if you don't want to. We can stay together if you want too." She purred.

Tinypool is talking to Darkpaw

Swiftheart purrs quietly when Nightstalker came to sit with her.  The closer distance did not go unnoticed and she grinned weakly at him... she knew he was not much for that kind of thing ...but she was and he knew that

and right now he was doing that for her which she appreciated so much.

"Thank you" she whispered meaning it so much.

Him having her back right now was so comforting. It had been a rough week

Perchfall was even more closed off than normal as she padded through Fourtrees. It was nice to momentarily have Tinypool at her side, but with a nod the newly named warrior headed off, leaving the deputy alone. Being next to Jaystar honestly didn't count for company, as from the tom's actions she didn't know whether he'd even notice if she was suddenly replaced by a mindless ghost. The frequent mishaps that RiverClan had gone through had continued to make life difficult, and now they had to sit and talk with the other cats as if everything was fine. Honestly, if she wasn't deputy, she would want to stay at camp. She'd rather sit with Ashflight... her eyes cast about for a moment, searching for him in the crowd, but the efforts were fruitless. Still, she continued onward, and sat at the deputies' spot, offering little to whoever of her colleagues already happened to be there.

Perchfall is open to talk to.

Rabbitchaser was in a fairly decent mood as she entered the gathering, since nothing particularly bad had happened since the last gathering. At least, not in SkyClan. Looking around, it seemed like ShadowClan was a bit worse for wear, and she figured she did not want to know why. They looked grumpy enough, best not to poke the badger.

So instead, Rabbitchaser found her seat among the crowd, keeping quiet, and casting the occasional worried glance around. There were quite a few ruffled pelts, and she did not want to get any backlash from them. She didn't like isolating, but she hated fighting even more. Especially at a gathering, when there is supposed to be a truce.

Rabbitchaser is open to talk to!

Goldenstar led WindClan into Fourtrees with the harsh gale at their backs. The winds of this meeting were not unlike their home territory, and so they were accustomed to the biting cold air. That didn’t make it pleasant, though, and a shiver ran down the WindClan leader’s spine. She slowed her entrance to prepare to gather her footing before her jump onto the Great Rock, but a sour scent crossed her nose. After scaling the vantage point, she could see the source. Murkystar herself bore deep, fresh wounds, and a quick glance over the crowd revealed much the same on other ShadowClanners.

The expression in their eyes… the fear, the anxiety…

Goldenstar stared emptily over the crowd, making no polite gesture towards the others and missing Bloodstar’s soft comment to Murkystar.

Batpaw could not wait to get to the gathering. She wanted to meet back up with Slightpaw so much. As she entered with her clan she quickly split off from the main group of windclan cats. No one would notice her absence since no one usually was that watching out for her she slinked around through the crowd to find him. Spotting him she made her way over to him. It was so noisy from all the conversations going on that no one would really overhear them and they were near the outskirts of the crowd anyways.

She tapped on his shoulder with her tail. "Guess who?" she giggled.
she was so happy to see him again and she smiled from ear to ear. "How is your training going?" she asked him curiously