October Gathering 2013

Nervousness fluttered in his chest as the leader made his way up the Great Rock to the top. It was still a strange, to look down on every Clan from high above. He spotted Raccoonstar and Nightstar among the crowd, but no sign of the ThunderClan leader. He felt his gut clench as Dewclaw started making her way up the Great Rock for yet another Gathering. Oh, great. Why in StarClan's name...? He found himself silently praying for Mossstar's health. Reedstar could think of nothing worse than her at ThunderClan's helm.

He bit back some kind of verbal jab and looked away from her as she clambered up, turning his attention to Raccoonstar instead. They had some time to kill before they had to speak before the Clan, and he didn't dare strike up a conversation with his ShadowClan rival. "Good evening, Raccoonstar." he mewed, bowing his head curtly in greeting.

Raccoonstar flicked her gaze at the riverclan leader. She didn't want to speak to the other leaders either, and she sorta knew how the new leader felt. "Kinda cold isn't it?" She commented in response to Reedstar.

The RiverClan leader nodded in response. "Yes, and it'll be even colder soon." he mewed solemnly. Reedstar didn't mention it, but he silently wondered how WindClan cats fared through the harsher seasons. It was said that they didn't have any dens, and on the moors he knew there was no protection from the wind or cold. Their fur seemed thin and they looked so skinny and small. Yet another reason to be glad to be born in RiverClan, he supposed.

Hawkpaw looked to Berrypaw, which had just came to them. "Hi Berrypaw. How's training?" she half focused on her sibling, still looking to Owlpaw, trying to read his movements. That was the only way he "spoke" anyway.

Spottedfeather nodded in greeting at Mossfur and noticed her go to the group of apprentices that they shared tongues with last meeting. Following her, she sat and look to the two apprentices closest to each other. She had a feeling something more would come out of it, but didn't say anything. "Hey, guys." she said quietly.

OOC: Moss: its okay XD. I know it when your trying to find someone to rp with XD.

Cinderfur had totally followed Reedstar into the Gathering without saying much of anything. She didn't particularly like the gatherings. All of the cats that were so strange to her kept her from saying too much. Besides, they smelled bad. Not just a few of them, but all of them. Why would she want to talk to someone who smelled like crowfood or the harsh wind? Water was definitely the way to go. Taking her her place in the clearing, she looked around for one of her own clanmates to talk to to possibly help this gathering go by a little faster, although she was partially interested in the news that was to be shared tonight.

One of the first cats to follow in behind Nightstar was Thrushstripe. He cautiously looked around as he entered the clearing, but at the same time he held his head high and tried to keep a very sophisticated and respectable look to him. He couldn't make Nightstar look bad by acting all cowardly and nervous like he actually felt. Deep inside, he felt like he was too young to be in the deputy position he was in, but hey. He was chosen by Nightstar herself and he wasn't going to go against that. Besides, leading the clan one day could be fun. He knew he could do it, it was just a matter of having his clan like his decisions and stay with him. With a deep sigh, he quietly sat down underneath the Great Rock with all of the other deputies. As he did so, his tail swished back and forth behind him as his ear flicked back with interest as he glanced around at the different groups of cats. Yes, in some ways he was already planning out his leadership if he were to have the position. Who would be a good ally and who wouldn't dare come anywhere near him. That was when he spotted a new face alongside him in the deputy position. This she-cat was definitely not there before. Granted, this was his first gathering as well as a deputy, but he had actually never seen her before. Keeping calm and putting on an almost unreadable face (which wasn't very hard to do anymore after the incident with Mapleface), he stepped towards the Riverclan deputy. "Greetings," He called to her, hoping she would respond.

Of course, after Thrushstripe was Gingerheart. She followed behind quickly and silently, walking in like she always had-- filled with confidence and attitude. Yeah, she thought she was still better than everyone here. Now, there were definitely cats that held power over her such as the leaders, but everyone else was either her equal or lower, and so she wasn't going to be afraid to throw in her opinion if she felt it was needed. Quietly sitting down, she didn't even look around as she waited for the Gathering to start.

Nightstar stayed silent, her icy eyes wandering the clearing. From a WindClan apprentice sitting quietly, was if waiting for someone, to the newest deputies conversing with each other. She did not however, allow her hearing to wonder from her fellow leader's conversation. Of course, they were only talking about the weather. Now that Nightstar thought about it, talking about the weather was slightly redundant. It wasn't like somecat couldn't tell what the weather was. Rolling her eyes, she let her mind wonder.

ThunderClan's leader hasn't been seen in a few gatherings. It has been raising suspicions within the other three clans. Nightstar hoped that death wasn't the case. She was sure that of the other leaders have too. Dewclaw. That she-cat worried her. She didn't have any respect to those cats who had higher authority then her. Anger raged through her again. If that cat acted like she was o-so higher and mightier then Nightstar one more time...Her ivory claws chipped away at the grey rock that stood in the center of the clearing.

The strong-headed she-cat, who appeared to be very near to the center of attention, dropped her gaze from the moon to the cats now gathered. She noticed many angry glares and scornful looks, accompanied with bristled fur and unsheathed claws. And this was directed at her. Her lips began to pull back into a defensive snarl, but she resisted the urge and continued to look disinterested. No cat here has the guts to break the peace treaty on the full moon, she thought, and if they do, they'll soon be spilled. Won't it be nice to watch RiverClan be cursed and starve or ShadowClan be infected by disease and killed off slowly for daring to break the command? Though her thoughts were grim, the last thing she'd want would be to watch cats start to die. Or suffer, for that matter.

Dewclaw watched the crowd through narrowed eyes, wondering where the sudden hate came from. Certainly she had given an air of... self-confidence... at the last gathering, but the dislike she was receiving now was petty and foolish. Almost like certain cats that may or may not be controlled by human people were suddenly given false thoughts, such as "She almost broke the treaty of peace!" or "She is evil and not to be trusted!" or "She is not a calm cat and clearly will be destruction for the entire woooorrrlllld!" Seriously, though, some of the ideas that were generated were assumptions that did not accurately reflect her character and this paragraph may or may not be Dewclaw's roleplayer not-so-subtly putting her foot down and saying that just because she acted stuck-up does not automatically mean that she's evil and to be despised and is now everyone's enemy. c:

"Is anyone going to start this gathering?" Dewclaw said, turning to the other leaders, being acutely aware of them ignoring her. Them disliking her was reasonable. Because she gave them reasons. She didn't dare start this gathering herself, because the reactions of the other leaders and Clans would no doubt be very negative. And assuming, since that's what people like to do.

Specklepaw followed immediately, head held high in a calm manner, her strong build and fluffy fur moving violently as she took long and strong strides down the hill, trying to contain her excitement on seeing another clan. "Ploverpaw, hurry up!" she huffed slightly as she continued on with following Dewclaw.

OOC: In defense, I've only seen one person act as if she is evil and conspiring to destroy the whole earth.

IC: Reedstar gave Dewclaw an icy sidelong glance before tearing himself away from his conversation with Raccoonstar to step out to the front, giving a loud yowl to signify the beginning of the Gathering. Might as well get this over with... The monthly "peaceful" meetings were proving themselves to be more bother than they were worth.

"RiverClan is growing stronger." he said. "We have three new warriors—Leafstream, Briarheart, and Lightstream—and five new apprentices; Hazelpaw, Beepaw, Silverpaw, Stormpaw, and Frogpaw. I have also appointed Mapleclaw as my deputy." Reedstar let his gaze sweep the clearing one more time before stepping back.

Mapleclaw lifted her head at the sound of the gathering being started; having not really chosen to speak to the other deputies. She had only nodded and dipped her head to them as they spoke to her. At the sound of her name being said, she lifted her head with a grin as she looked out against the large crowd of cats, daring anybody to speak out against the choice. Not like anybody would; she was going to be the rightful leader of RiverClan one day.

Dewclaw waited for another cat to step up after Reedstar finished, but when no one did, she took charge- this time without any under-handed shoving. She didn't have time to play tonight.
"ThunderClan joyfully announces the new apprentices gained this moon: Ploverpaw, Leopardpaw, Specklepaw, and Snowpaw." Though her voice was loud and clear, there was no joy in her voice. "We welcome a new warrior to our ranks, Spottedfeather." After waiting for the crowd to return their attention from the announced cats, she was silent for a few moments. "Though we have been prospering, I..." She choked on her words, suddenly filled with pain and grief. "...I regret to announce the death of noble Lionheart. He died peacefully in his sleep. May the Clans remember him as a courageous and wise leader." She stepped back, her head bowed and shoulders hunched. This was very painful for her- the rest of the Clans might not have known, but Lionheart was her mentor. Her father figure. Her friend. He meant a lot to her, and she missed the days of playful banter they spent. And with Mossstar losing strength quickly, she was afraid she'd have no one to help her when Leaf-Bare plagued the Clan.