We Rise Above [Phase Two Gathering]

Jaypaw slowly nodded at Scorchpaw "I think that would be best" he agreed "You're a fox-hearted liar" he murmured to Webtail "If you really believe that she's your daughter you need to prove it, not just claim it" he hissed.

Fogheart had been calm for once, awaiting the Dark Forest cats. However, hearing these cats talk so freely of their illegitimate heritage, it irritated her. Then they insult her greatest apprentice. The blind warrior turned her head in the direction on the apprentices. "Well s'cuse us for hearing you when y'r right there," she spat. Her fur rose in anger and she stood on instinct. "With y'r attitude I know why you'er chosen, which only makes y' more irritating."

Jaypaw was pretty much full of anger but didn't show it, he grumpily turned around and looked for a new spot to sit down with Scorchpaw.

Lionpaw hissed, fur rising as she squared up to the smaller apprentices. "I could take all three of you any day, easily." She growled lowly. "You're a blind cat with no training," she motioned to Jaypaw as he left. "If you truly think you're great, just watch Fogheart!" She called harshly after the group, fur bristling. Lionpaw didn't like her mentor at first, but now she did since she was here.

Scorchpaw sighed, sitting down with his new friend. "I'm glad you don't think I'm mad, but it seems like most of the cats here already do. I swear on it, Cinnamonpaw is my sister! I just wish there was some way to prove it..." He growled and groomed his tail. "Don't listen to that mangy she-cat, you may be blind, but you're brave and kind. I don't care what Clan you're from, you have a friend in me already."

Jaypaw gave a small smile to Scorchpaw "Thanks, but she does know she is technically saying the same thing to her mentor by saying that to me. Fogheart is also blind" he pointed out "So I guess were friends now" he mewed.

She sighed and looked around. Its ok its ok she repeated in her head so that she wouldn't have an episode again. Cinnamonpaw has a bit of a.... temper. She Was a bit crazy as well. "You are right! We can rule the forest at this rate!" tears were about to form in her eyes. Could she really give up her Family she had lived with as a kit? And to apprenticehood?

Jaypaw was with these apprentices felt comfortable. He had some cats to talk to. They actually were nice and really didn't mind him being blind. As they said they would rule the forest he was then filled with determination, the Dark Forest would rule. Just because they were apprentices doesn't mean they wouldn't become strong and powerful, these cats got him.

Night sat through all of this. He got up. "I'm sure the dark forest will give us plenty of strength." he said. He felt a bit of guilt went through him.

From the shadows, a few more cats emerged, confident and silent, waiting for the gathering to start. Icestep looked around as she entered the clearing. This was good. There were a lot of cats here. She took her place silently as she watched for the leader, half expecting them to show up at any moment.

On the other side of the clearing, Dustclaw strode in, his chest puffed out as his tail lashed about behind him. He looked around with contempt, wondering how in the world the Dark Forest was able to get this many cats. When he looked harder, he realized there were a lot of apprentices. Cats that could be molded and shaped into whatever they needed. This was good. However, he listened to all of them quietly. In most ways, it sounded like most of them had been fooled into joining while others were actively knowing what they were getting into. He took his place with a 'hmph,' not even acknowledging half the cats that surrounded him.

The final cat to awkwardly walk in with a paranoid look in her wide, yellow eyes was Blacktail. The she-cat really had no idea what to do with herself. Giving off the occasional nervous laugh, her eyes kept moving between the cats that she came upon. She knew what was going on and what the plan was overall, but the poor warrior had a hard time keeping herself together. During her time alive, her brain had snapped and she had gone crazy. After her death, the condition had lessened, but she still went into fits where nothing felt normal, but she knew that she hated Starclan for sticking her in this place even though what she had done wasn't entirely her fault. Now she and the rest of the cats were here waiting for the gathering to start.

Jaypaw had scented three new cats who had joined them, he stared at them with a calm yet unsettling face.

Cinnamonpaw sighed, she looked around and her eyes slit. She looked at the sky and it started to move in a circle. A high pitched SCREEEECHHH came through the clearing that only she could here, or so she thought. The pressure of the clearing was practically unbearable. Her body seemed to go lower to the floor. Until finally the screech sound, the spinning, and the pressure stopped. WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT?!? she questioned nervously to herself. She looked around, also wondering why the things had stopped. Everyone was just chattering away or waiting for someone to explain why the evil cats of the clans had appeared. The shadow Gang. That is what she would call it for now, the shadow gang. In other words a group of cats that traveled by night, going dream to dream to form groups of cats coming into the evil place called the darkforest. Whom she finally felt alright.

Webtail didn't respond to Scorchpaw's words, each of the sent a thorn to his heart as the apprentice spoke. He dreaded the fact that bloodlines meant so much to clan cats and that his, no Webtail had no right to think that now, Shatteredsoul's daughter, was being talked into leaving to be with her family by blood. Webtail dug his case into the mud and shook his head, looking at Cinnamonpaw with new determination in his eyes. "I wouldn't care if you were born of kittypets, to me, you'll always be my daughter."

Scorchpaw watched with a grouchy look as three dead cats joined them. He looked towards Jaypaw. "I don't think these guys are alive, which means one of them might be our leader. Hold yourself high, be proud. They're judging us, no doubt."

Jaypaw nodded "Maybe..." he murmured, thinking of ThunderClan he remembered Gentlepaw "So how's ThunderClan doing?"