February Gathering 2017

Owltalon winced, staggering backwards. It didn't hurt that much, but had taken him by surprise as he blinked at the apprentice, eyes wide and disbelieving. Despite his lame behavior before, the tom did have his beliefs, and no matter what, he would never, ever attack a she-cat. 


"What…?" he questioned, confused, as she glared at him. "I was only—"


•••


Puddlepaw, a little ways away, flicked her ear irritably. She couldn't recognize the voice; it was muffled and difficult to make out. I wish the other clans could have some respect during the Gatherings! was her first thought, staring harder up at the leaders. It's like they don't even realize others are speaking.

Dreamleaf leaped to her paws and let out an outraged shout as the fight broke out. Not again!
"Starclan forbid! Cease this at once!" Dreamleaf shouted with anger boiling in her voice. How disrespectful!

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Wildfang lowered his head and smiled.
"I'm doing okay, prey is quite scare honestly, but I'm eating just enough to keep going," he said before turning his head to look at the screeching. His eyes widened and he let out an angry tch..

Hazeflight recognised the familiar yowl and her eyes flew straight to where her daughter sat. The silver Bengal hurried over her ice blue eyes baring down on her daughter. "Wolfpaw! What is the meaning of this?! Gatherings are a time of peace. Why didn't you move away or tell him to stop?" She hissed angrily. Hazeflight turned to face Owltalon her tail lashing. "And what were you doing to cause Wolfpaw to lash out like that?" she added sending daggers at the younger cats.

~~~

Sprucethorn whirled around at Twistedtail's words. Not another fight, he couldn't handle another fight like the one between his clan and RiverClan. He relaxed slightly as he realised it didn't involve his clan. "It's just ShadowClan, they're causing more trouble like usual..." he meowed darkly.

~~~

Ospreypaw snorted slightly at Finchpaw's words. The Tom leaned over and whispered in her ear " He definitely is, but I don't think ol' Thrushstar over there is as crazy as Ashstar. Her son, Smokepelt, is the deputy; even after he maimed two WindClan apprentices. Now that is crazy." Ospreypaw glanced in Flamestrike's direction, flicking his tail in greeting to the orange tom.

Emberheart, relieved that the sudden tension had died away, turned towards the commotion, eyes widened in surprise. Ugh. Shadowclan, she realized, nose wrinkling as the sickeningly sweet scent of pinesap meandered over. She turned back, trying to concentrate on the leaders—if anything, she had enough sense to not want to be involved with something else concerning the clan.

•••

Amberpaw puffed out her chest as her name was mentioned, sharing a proud glance with her sister. She could barely hear the fight begin, and twitched her paw, a cool feeling of dread covering over her small frame.

Just as she stepped word to speak, the fighting broke out and the clouds had covered the moon. StarClan's displeasure was on display for all to see. For once, she was glad that it wasn't a dispute between her clan and WindClan, however she couldn't help feel a tiny bit embarrassed on Thrushstar's behalf. He'd just openly told a leader and a deputy to keep their clans in check, only for an apprentice to start a fight... A quick glance over to her clan, she pinned her gaze to her daughter, Tawnystorm, with a slight flick of her head, she ordered her to not allowed RiverClan to get involved.

"The gathering is over, I will not risk angering StarClan further. Hopefully, next gathering, ShadowClan will teach their apprentices the meaning of restraint. RiverClan, back to camp." With that, the deputy leapt down from the rock, not giving anyone the chance to stop her. She made a beeline to Shellwater, brushing past apprentices on the way. Her early exit wasn't all about maintaining the moral high ground, she had come to this gathering with a heavily pregnant queen and several new apprentices. With WindClan and ThunderClan technically her enemies, a neutral ShadowClan, and a Crowstar-less SkyClan, she didn't want to risk any confrontation. Fishstar wouldn't thank her for getting involved in the petty squabbles of other clans.

-

As soon as the scent of fear twinged through the air, Otterleap was on his paws, standing in front of Shellwater. The tom's worst fears had become reality, yet the battle seemingly ended as quick as it began with Ivyfall choosing to end the gathering. That didn't stop him from tensing though, eyeing all the non-RiverClanners with suspicion. "Come on, let's head home. Lean on me, I'll make sure you don't trip." The tom meowed lowly, pressing himself against his mate to support her up.

-

Acornpaw had been hoping to have her apprenticeship announced, but it seemed that some idiot apprentice had ruined this for her. The apprentice huffed in frustration, though she quickly tried to hide her immaturity in front of Poplarstripe. Licking down her chest fur, she meowed beneath her breath, "May the Dark Forest take you."

Wolfpaw backed into Mudfoot, not answering any of the cats trying to speak to her. Her eyes widened in shock when clouds covered the night sky. What have I done... Starclan hates me... The apprentice kept silent as Riverclan began to leave, shrinking next to her mentor.

***

Wolfpaw, Rippedsky noticed it was Eagleheart's daughter immediately. He wasn't surprised, but saddened the she-cat had chosen to follow in her aggressive father'w pawsteps. He stay next to Cherrymist, but stood up in preparation to leave.

***

No! Eagleheart yowled internally. He had missed the chance to speak with his other Shadowclan daughter. If it weren't one of his clanmates, he would have rushed over to congratulate her with pride. But Hazeflight must have been poisoning her mind against Skyclan. The warrior stayed put, tail lashing behind him.

Ashstar stared in disbelief as a ShadowClan apprentice full-on attacked a SkyClan warrior and clouds almost immediately covered the full moon above. She felt a sudden stab of pity for Thrushstar- it wasn't the best position to have out of control cats; she knew that from experience. Recovering quickly, Ashstar followed Ivyfall's lead. "Back to camp, WindClan," she called out. "We will have no more part in this. I wish you the best of luck with your apprentice, ShadowClan. I hope you can teach her better respect." She gave Thrushstar a parting nod on the way out, leading WindClan behind her back to the moors. Quailfeather immediately followed her.

Shellwater drew back against Otterleap as a fight broke out. The Gathering quickly deteriorated, and StarClan showed their disapproval. Ivyfall immediately led RiverClan away, heading over to the queen to make sure she was okay. The deputy's concern was followed by her mate's guidance, which warmed her heart. She gave him a gentle purr of thanks and leaned on him in order to get up and start moving. She loved her Clan and her Clanmates.

Upon hearing Ashstar dismiss WindClan from the now chaotic gathering area, Smokepelt made his way to Hazefur and Ryepaw, nudging his son's rump with his muzzle. "There's not need to be scared, we're going home now," he mewed softly and continued to follow WindClan out of the gathering, knowing that Ryepaw would follow. Sure enough, the apprentice, along with Kindleblaze quickly scampered after their father and the family padded home together, leaving ShadowClan and the others to deal with their own problems.

~~~~~~

Listening to Wolfpaw, the warrior was able to reply when suddenly, his apprentice attacked a SkyClan warrior. Fortunately, the fight quickly ended and when his apprentice backed into him, he gave her a nip on the rump with his teeth. "What in StarClan's name were you thinking?" he hissed, looking down to her with an angry glare, although their was disappointment in them as well. Had he really not taught her any respect? "I hope you know that Thrushstar is going to have your hide when we get back to camp," Mudfoot whispered into her ear, glancing around as cats started to leave the gathering.

Venompaw watched in horror as the other apprentice, from her clan of al things, attacked the skyclan warrior. She didn't know Wolfpaw very well, but glared at her and couldn't help muttering
"What in Starclan's name were you thinking!" She was humiliated, for the first time ever she was embarrassed to be in Shadowclan. She had to admit, she'd seen the warrior's behaviour and couldn't help thinking it was oddly charming, but pushed the thought away. Why bother with that when she had bigger problems. Approching the apprentice she hissed
"What was that?! You can't just attack someone in the middle of the gathering!" She was older than the apprentice she was scolding, Wolfpaw she thought her name was, but not her mentor. That wasn't, however, going to stop her from yelling where it was necessary "Unbelievable!"
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Markedpaw and been so proud for all of a few moments, but hearing a warrior yowl from across the clearing she looked on it horror as the moon went dark and Riverclan and Windclan left. Her first gathering, ruined by Shadowclan. She looked at Pinewhisker and asked
"What happened? Who angered Starclan? We won' be punished will we? Because I don't think we should, its Shadowclan's fault, they should be punished for not being able to control their own apprentices!" She got gradually more annoyed the further her sentence went on. Shadowclan had ruined this for her

Finchpaw gasped in shock as Ospreypaw spoke about the WindClan leader. "What! Really?" Suddenly, the clearing seemed to darken. Clouds had drifted over the moon, casting the clearing in darkness. Cats now moved like shadows in the night, and their scared yowls frightened her. Eyes widening, Finchpaw couldn't help but scoot closer to Ospreypaw, her pricked fur brushing against his.

~~~

Pansypaw and Leopardpaw both looked up when the sky began to darken, and listened to the leader's commands.

Blacktwig, as opposed to shrinking back, stepped forwards, gaze darkening as the sky did. It covered the silver sheen of the moon. "StarClan is angry," he hissed silently, glaring over at Wolfpaw, an apprentice who seemed very upset. She did it! he thought, outraged. No matter how guilty he felt after Emberheart attacked Blazeflight, ShadowClan needed to control their apprentices.

------

Fallowstripe pressed against the side of an oak tree as she saw the atmosphere become obscured with darkened clouds. Bewildered, the young she-cat glanced around, and searched for Finchpaw. "Finchpaw!" she yowled quietly to her daughter.

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Bouncepaw stood rigid next to Cloudstone as the sky darkened, as black as his mentor's fur. His scent was comfortably herb-laden, with a hint of traditional RiverClan. He frowned with fear, and cowered back at the horrible sight.

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Vipertail's claws slithered in and out of their sheaths, as the sky began to dim. She managed a glare over at ShadowClan, looking at Pansypaw to see if she was alright. Of course she wasn't! thought Vipertail doubtfully. StarClan is disturbed. Vipertail grimaced as the last shafts of light disappeared.

Wolfpaw ignored all of the comments directed towards her as the clans began to disperse. Not even Puddlepaw's phased her. She stayed close to Mudfoot with her head low. When her mentor nipped her, there was no reaction from the small grey she-cat. Mostly, she was angry, but there was also a good portion of her filled with immense guilt. I told him to leave me alone... and now it's all my fault, She fumed internally. While she wanted to yowl at Owltalon for starting this and accuse him in front of the clans, she stayed silent. Most of the fight had drained from her as she saw the disappointment in the eyes of all the cats she cared about the most.

***

Flamestrike had been intently listening to the leaders speak when Wolfpaw's yowl interrupted everything. It took everything in the young tom to not race over and try to stop whatever was happening. He knew Mudfoot would handle it, though. When the clouds darkened the dimly lit sky, dread filled the warrior's stomach. Starclan is not happy. Oh, Wolfpaw, what have you done? Instead of speaking, he shook his head sadly and followed after the rest of the clan as they gathered to leave.

Twistedtail reluctantly followed Windclan back to their area of the forest. Looking back behind her, she called, "See ya soon, Rippedsky!"