July Gathering 2013

Bristlepaw's blue eyes turned over to Mapleface, a hint of surprise lit up the dark blue orbs. Why would a warrior- ShadowClan at that- talk to an apprentice from WindClan? Perhaps she was a newer warrior, and she was still preferring to talk with the younger cats? Or maybe it was just friendly talk? Was he that attractive? /shotA small breeze snapped him out of his wondering thoughts. He smiled slightly and replied with a friendly, "Hello~" The apprentice glanced over at Snowpaw, who wasn't trying to draw attention to herself. 'Why-? With a flash, he remembered why she was shy. Bristlepaw had never really payed much attention to it. But, he was sure that someone else would. "I am Bristlepaw, and this is Snowpaw." The tom mewed soon after he looked back at the ShadowClan warrior. Although, he positioned himself to where he would be taking the attention away from Snowpaw.

Morningfur purred with amusement at Lichenpaw's questions. "I'm glad to hear things are going well. StarClan has blessed us all." Then she looked around the clearing, just noticing ThunderClan had not arrived. "They better get here soon," she said.

So, this was the gathering...? Russetpaw shifted around uncomfortably on his toes as both his mentor and his step in left him, making a straight line for the Great Rock and leaving him standing alone while the rest of the clan blended into the crowd. His warm gaze traveled around. He had never seen so many cats in one place before. He took in a deep breath, catching the familiar scent of WindClan at once. Those rabbit eaters... There was another sharp stench that hit the roof of his mouth, causing him stop and wrinkle his nose in disgust. He was no expert, but that had to be ShadowClan's scent. Worse than he imagined. The tom padded up and sat to the closest cat near him, "Maplepaw." He meowed, nudging his shoulder gently with hers to get her attention. "You look like you've got thorn in your side. Something bugging you?"

Sagestar flicked his tail impatiently with the other two leaders, a clear frown growing on his face. It wasn't like ThunderClan to be late like this. "Should we start without them?"

"If they are willing to be late then might as well." Raccoonstar said, patience wearing on the she-cat. Her tail tip flicked slightly with annoyance. She didn't want to be here anymore than she had to be.

Maplepaw blinked in surprise as she heard her name being said, turning to look at Russetpaw. She smiled softly, but you could tell she was a bit uneasy about the question. "I-It's nothing," she said quickly but after a few moments, she sighed and shook her head. "It's just that...It seems a bit unnatural sitting next to the other Clans and just expecting to get along. Seeing how as soon as the gathering is over, we are back to trying to rip each other's throats out. Part of me just kinda wants to pick a fight, you know? I mean, I am pretty good with WindClan...But just being near ShadowClan wants me to want gag. How come they think that they are great? I think we just have gatherings so the other Clans can brag how well they are doing..."

Mossstar quickly ran up beside the clearing, growling at himself that he was late. He looked back to his Clan before flicking his tail and racing into the clearing, his new strength and energy propelling him forward. He swiftly dug his claws into the ground before pushing himself up onto the top of Great Rock in two quick leaps. He sat on the edge of the rock, looking down at the clearing to see all the cats here. Then he turned back to the other leaders and meowed "I'm sorry we are late."

Hearing the ThunderClan deputy's voice, Reedheart tore his attention away from the cats beside him to the Great Rock. Mosspelt? Where was Lionstar? The ThunderClan leader was old. Must be too sick and weary tonight. Reedheart told himself, though a creeping negative feeling was telling him otherwise. Had the leader... died? Reedheart droned out the chatty cats of Fourtrees and focused hard up at the four leaders. The warrior would find out soon enough.

Lionheart was not dead, though. In fact, he padded slowly in the back of the line with the others, though instead of making his way onto the Great Rock as usual, the old tom went to go sit where the elders normally sat at gatherings. He may be old and getting weaker, but he wasn't going to miss the first gathering his new leader attended as, well, leader. He would be there for his former deputy if anyone dare question Mossstar's leadership.

Crowpaw looked up at the Great Rock in surprise. Last gathering, there was a different cat on the Great Rock to represent Thunderclan. Lionstar, was it? Well now it seemed that old lump of fur was sitting somewhere else, and instead a new, younger cat was in his spot. What was going on? Had something happened in the leadership?

Shadeclaw tipped his head, wondering if perhaps something had happened. But no, here came Lionstar, older than ever, trudging into the clearing and sitting with the elders. If this didn't make it obvious enough, surely Mosspelt - Probably Mossstar now - would announce Lionstar's retirement.

Dewclaw followed closely behind Mossstar until he jumped up on top of the Rock. She branched off into the crowd, not sure where to sit. She was quickly lost in thought. So much had happened recently that she just didn't know what to think, though Lionstar's- er, Lionheart's- case was much easier than dealing with the loss of someone she thought as very dear to her.

Mossfur waked with all the ThunderClan cats. She looked around and settled down with a group of warriors.

Gingerheart quickly looked at the Thunderclan cats as they strode into the Gathering. Of course, it was just like them to show up late to something this important. As she sat in her spot, she just rolled her eyes and glanced back up at the leaders, hoping the Gathering was going to start pretty soon. It's not that she wanted to hear what was going on, but she wanted to know the reason why Thunderclan is so late.

Thrushstripe quickly looked at the late clan. He didn't know any of them, but now he got a good look at the clan. He knew just what cats actually belonged to Thunderclan, even though he didn't recognize any of them, but now he at least knew his rivals. Gingerheart had always talked about how bad Thunderclan was, but now that he truly knew who belonged there, he couldn't help but feel that they were pretty pitiful. But it surprised him to see a new cat up on the Greatrock. That was not the same leader as before. Who was that?

Honeypaw came padding after her Clan, her tail flickering as she glanced at all the cats that were gathered. She was surprised by how many cats where gathered, and she made sure to stick with her Clan as she found herself a spot. She looked up at the leaders, having a feeling that the gathering would be starting very soon due to ThunderClan being so late.

"I'm Mapleface." she said softly, flickering her green eyes over the two apprentices. "Snowpaw and Bristlepaw, eh? Pretty names." Mapleface swept her head over the crowd, and pointed out Thrushstripe with her tail. "that's my brother, Thrushstripe. We just became warriors." Mapleface turned her attention back to the apprentices. "Is this your first gathering?"

Lichenpaw flicked his tail. "Does ThunderClan even have a medicine cat? I don't think I've met them." He paused, purring at Shadeheart. "I hadn't met the WindClan medicine cat either, and now I have!"

"Well, with their late arrival, I suppose we should start now." The tabby muttered under his breath and padded up to the front of the Great Rock. "ShadowClan will speak first. It is with great joy that we announce the appointment of many new warriors and apprentices, as well as the birth of new kits. Our new territory sustains us." Sagestar paused, narrowing his eyes. "However, last night before dawn our patrol found fresh scents that went straight through our territory, belonging to WindClan." He shot a glare at Raccoonstar accusingly.

Raccoonstar gave off a growl, "How do you know it wasn't one of your warriors, that brought back our scent? Besides why would any of my warriors want to be on your nasty territory anyway? I mean we have plenty of territory, and prey why would we need to be on yours?" The Windclan leader gave off a low hiss, "However, Windclan is glad to welcome five new warriors, and a lot of new apprentices." Raccoonstar said trying to roll of the dark mood. The leader glared at Sagestar for a moment, before replying to him again, this time in a soft voice that only the leaders could hear. "If it's a fight you are looking for then cross my border anytime soon, and you will get one." The gray she-cat growled to the Shadowclan leader.