March Gathering 2017

Thistleblaze and Lightpaw followed Fishstar into the gathering. The apprentice followed behind her mother, sticking close to her. She was still struggling with the loss of her sister so she didn't feel like interacting with other too much. Her mother would keep others from getting too close.

Leopardpaw trotted in towards the back of the ThunderClan group, his eyes downcast.  Many emotions seethed in him at this moment, turning from rage to sadness to anxiousness, and back to rage.  Lichenpaw is still kidnapped, and we have to ask the other clans before we make a plan to rescue her!  If they don't agree....  His teeth bared slightly, he pushed his way through the crowd until he found a spot near the front.  Sitting down, he waited rigidly for the meeting to start, his stiff posture and unsheathed claws not a welcoming sign for any perhaps approaching cats.

~~~~~~~

Finchpaw dashed down into the clearing, following RiverClan with a broad smile.  This was her second Gathering, and the thought of meeting the other clans still filled her with excitement.  She waved her tail at Ospreypaw when she saw him, but turned away.  She enjoyed spending time with her friend, but this time she wanted to explore on her own.  Turning away, she was suddenly daunted by how many cats stood before her, and a bout of shy anxiety swept over, dampening her previous enthusiasm.  On second thought...  Turning, she dashed up to Ospreypaw's side and purred.  "Hey, who are you looking for?  Can I meet them?"

~~~~~~~~

Ryepaw flicked his tail in greeting as his brother joined him, but kept his eyes on the young medicine cat. The other tom didn't answer, and turned to converse with one of the other medicine cats that had arrived. Slightly confused, he shrugged before turning away. Smiling at Lynxpaw, he noticed Darkpaw and her sister Blackpaw walk by out of the corner of his eye. Waving back, he turned and meowed to his brother; "Wanna go join them?" Suddenly, he noticed the two mollies begin to argue, and let out an awkward laugh. "Or...maybe not."

Swiftheart walked into the gathering behind Fishstar. She sat down, unaware of Sleetfang's recent battle.

Flamestrike shot Hazeflight a questioning look as she came over to join him. Clearly there was something wrong. The she-cat gave off an angry vibe. However, he decided it would be better to question his former mentor after the gathering. There would probably be enough to be said at this gathering already. With Wolffang exiled, Honeydrop missing, and Tigerflower murdered, Shadowclan had a lot happen since the last gathering. I wonder what Thrushstar will share with them? The warrior thought, looking up at the ancient Shadowclan leader.

His chain of thought broke when he spotted Sparkflower. It had been a while since he had spoken to his Thunderclan friend. In fact, it had been a while since he'd met with any of his friends in the other clans. With everything going on with Wolffang, the warrior had been too tied up to run off to Fourtrees. The flame orange tom flicked Hazeflight with his tail before padding away to greet Sparkflower. He really enjoyed the kind medicine cat. Since she wasn't a warrior, he felt better about their friendship.

"I feel like I haven't seen you in forever, Sparkpaw," He meowed as he padded up from behind, oblivious of her new name.

***

Eagleheart didn't say anything as his former mate tried to speak to him. Instead, he dug his claws into the earth, forcing back the desire to tear away at her fur. Rage coursed through the warrior. She thinks she can just speak to me like that? This is all her fault. And now Wolffang is gone, He stared at the ground blankly. It constantly escaped him that he once possibly could have fallen for the Shadowclan she-cat. Now, his family was torn apart. With a couple kits already gone, and Wolffang exiled, his legacy was nothing more than one of shame. Hopefully his and Addergaze's kit would become great Skyclan warriors. He wanted nothing more than to see something great become of the young kits.

After a silent moment, his gaze trailed up to meet his mate's. Maybe I just have a thing for incredibly difficult, hard to deal with she-cats, Eagleheart though as he looked over the queen. But Addergaze was nothing like Hazeflight. She was so much better. Despite all of their flaws as a couple, he was happy to have her being the one to constantly aggravate him. He assumed she would question him about talking too the Shadowclan cat. Eventually, the warrior would have told her anyways. The tom's tone was flat as he meowed, "Wolffang was exiled."

***

Why am I always in the middle of these things? Rippedsky sighed internally as Twistedtail spoke. He was taken back to the birth of Hazeflight's kits. For many moons, the Skyclan warrior had not thought much about the origins of Eagleheart's kits. To him they were just like any other Skyclan kits. During that entire time, he had kept the other tom's secret. It wasn't out of fear that Eagleheart would kill him, though, no matter how many times he threatened. Rippedsky saw no point in calling him out now. The tom had made a mistake and already paid for it. The kits had no reason to be questioning their place in Skyclan either. Of course, Rippedsky would keep his friend's secret. Besides, this was a Windclan issue.

"I won't tell anyone, Twistedtail," Rippedsky promised, compassion shining in her eyes. Not only had the she-cat made a horrible mistake, she had lost a close friend recently. The two cats shared in the pain of Sprucethorn's loss. There was no reason for him to judge her now. They just needed the comfort of old friends. Looking over his Windclan friend and nursery mate, he silently vowed to not only keep this hidden, but to do whatever he could to keep them safe. The tom flicked his tail across her coat comfortingly, "It'll be okay."

Hazeflight followed behind Flamestrike, her eyes focused on the floor. She wanted to go, to run and let it all loose. She wanted the whole forest to hear her pain, and know how she had suffered.

Hazeflight lifted her head as Flamestrike stopped beside Sparkflower. The silver She-cat flashed a quick smile at the medicine cat, then dropped her gaze. She hated her life.

~

Hollypaw stared after the fuming She-cat as she stormed off. Her ice blue eyes lifting to look at her father. It annoyed her, that she was oblivious to who the She-cat was, but Addergaze did. It annoyed her even more when Eagleheart spoke of another cat she didn't know.

Hollypaw narrowed her eyes at Eagleheart and Addergaze, trying to work out what was going on. The Bengal, dug her claws into the soft ground below as she thought about the things the pair were hiding from her.

~

Ospreypaw smiled as Finchpaw darted to his side. "No one, just a friend. He's from ShadowClan." he replied flicking her with his tail. The tom glanced around again, looking for the familiar orange pelt. "He's over with the ThunderClan medicine cat and former mentor, see." purred Ospreypaw flicking his tail in Flamestrike's direction. "We can go talk to him if you want, I don't mind."

Ashstar watched as all the respective Clans entered the Gathering, noting with an inner smirk that Fishstar was last. She nodded in respect to Blizzardshine and Thrushstar, customarily not even glancing at Crowstar or the RiverClan leader. As all the cats took their places, the fluffy gray she-cat cleared her throat and stepped forwards. "The Gathering will now begin," she yowled to get everyone's attention. She shook out her fur as everyone quieted down, then began to speak.

"WindClan has been steadily growing as this newleaf season begins," the WindClan leader stated. "Our nursery is full of kits and pur fresh-kill pile full of prey. We have many new apprentices: Twitchpaw, Heatherpaw, Fawnpaw, Sootpaw, Specklepaw, Hawkpaw, Echopaw, Nectarpaw, Sleetpaw, and a returning apprentice, Goatpaw. We have also named several new warriors, called Gustpuddle, Jayfall, Silentstrike, Ryecloud, Hollowfang, Squirrelsong and Raccoonfang." She took a deep breath. "Unfortunately, on a sadder note, we have lost three good warriors: Swiftheart and Cloudrunner, who were killed by a RiverClan warrior-" Ashstar shot a venomous glare at Fishstar- "and Sprucethorn, who was murdered by a rogue in WindClan territory. If the other leaders have any news of rogues doing similar things in their Clans, let me know, and WindClan will help eradicate them as a threat once and for all." Ashstar sat back down, ready for another leader to continue.

Crwostar took a step forward to announce his part of the gathering after Ashstar has finished. "Skyclan is fairing well. We have lost a few warriors this past while. Some of them were killed, while others were taken from us. There are rogues hanging out in the abandoned barn keeping some of my warriors hostage." The fluffy black leader said. "I sent a warrior to investigate their numbers, but he hasn't returned, so I fear he may have been killed. Have any of your warriors gone missing? If so I propose we send a large group of warriors from each clan to take down this rogue threat, and return our clanmates."

The skyclan looked around at the other leaders, awaiting their response. They couldn't just let these rogues keep their warriors captive. Even if none of the others were taken, Crowstar would lead his clan and chase those rogues out.

Blizzardshine stepped forward, half glad and half worried to know that the other leaders also had troubles with the rogues. That could mean that they would help, but it also meant that the rogue group could be as strong as she feared “ThunderClan is doing fine, we have some new apprentices, Cinderpaw, Spottedpaw, Cloverpaw, Blazingpaw and Snowpaw. We also have three new warriors, Sandblaze, Goosefeather and Rockthorn” Her voice went from polite yet somewhat optimistic to unusually serious for the usually calm and cheerful deputy “Some of our clanmates had been kidnapped by this rogue group you’re dealing with as well. One of them almost got away from them, but was recaptured before making it back home. She, however, managed to send us a short message through one of our apprentices, who managed to escape before being captured by who he identified as their leader. As Crowstar already pointed out, they are in the Abandoned Barn, and are keeping hostage several clan cats, rogues and loners. They’re being watched over by what they call ‘enforcers’, and they are willing to punish and even kill other cats without a second thought, reason we should fear for the lives of our clanmates”.

She then turned to look at the leaders “I support Crowstar’s plan, and I suggest we hurry. If this group is as fox-hearted as we were told we have no time to waste”.

Excitement buzzed through his paws. This was his first gathering. He would be announced as an apprentice and the clans would cheer. He flicked his tail as he streamed down the slope after Flamestrike and Smokestripe. He flicked his tail to his mentor and dissapeared at once into the clearing scenting out some other apprentices. He padded toward the front of the group and spotted an apprentice who was doing his best to ward off any other cats. Finchpaw thought ruefully I'll show him how to have some fun. His eyes focused on the tom and he poadded forward taking a deep breath as he neared him. Thunderclan. He opened his mouth and spoke confidently to the apprentice known as Leopardpaw who looked so sullen and frustrated My name is Finchpaw, I'm from Shadowclan. What's your name Thunderclan apprentice?" he flicked his ears hearing The leaders speak but something was off. He turned and watched in horror as a blood covered cat dragged herself into the clearing and toward the great oaks.

Spottedpaw

Paw step by paw step she came. Her body on fire with pain and her mind filled with determination and overwhelming pain. She was nearly there. She could almost here the soft rumble of many voices. They were just on the other side of the trees, she could almost sense them. Blood still ran freely from her sides and underbelly. Her tail and ears were shredded. Her beautiful white fur was hidden under splashes of red and brown. She could see only out of one eyes the gash above her right eye dripping a steady stream of blood. Paw step by agonizing paw step she dragged herself onward. moving only by the sheer determination of her Thunderclan spirit. Then she was through. Cats were speaking and the sound was torture. She could hear it and yet she couldn't. It all around her, relief and panic all at the same time. Guilt and shame and joy. She tottered the last few steps she could manage before collapsing at the bast of the 4 great oaks. Under her scent of fear and blood was the scent of her pursuer. And the scent of the barn. The cursed barn. She looked up at the leaders, blackness swimming at the edge of her vision. She could feel the eyes of every cat on her, surely they could sense her pain, see the blood covering her pelt. They may not even recognize her she realized. Her heartbeat began to thrum again, fear and agony driving it ever more strongly to obediently pump her own life out of her. She closed her eyes trying to blink the blood from them. Unable to do so she coughed, her voice coming in a raspy whisper. The silence now was excruciating, roaring in her ears like thunder. She coughed again, tired to speak, failed and coughed again spitting a red glob of blood onto the ground. She collapsed her legs finally giving way to exhaustion and pain. She opened her mouth, her words coming in a harsh whisper, "Bear....he's coming." Then ehr head dropped to the ground and she succumbed to the darkness.

Leopardpaw's black-tipped ears swiveled around at the sound of a young voice, and looked down to see a small apprentice smiling up at him. Narrowing his eyes in annoyance, the large golden tom flicked his tail tip impatiently before turning back towards the Great Rock; the leaders were about to begin speaking. He listened to their reports, ignoring the small tom for a long moment. Suddenly, a twinge of guilt twisted in his chest, and he reluctantly turned one hazel eye back to the ShadowClan apprentice and meowed gruffly; "Leopardpaw."

Noticing the apprentice look away towards a commotion with wide, scared eyes, the older tom turned and gasped. It was Spottedpaw! Blood covered her pelt, but the she-cat he shared a den with was still recognizable. Leaving Finchpaw behind, the spotted cat dashed through the crowd until he stopped at her side; the she-cat's movements had ceased. Fury rising within him, Leopardpaw dug his sharp claws into the earth, a low growl slowly turning into a yowl. "Bear did this....that rouge will regret ever hurting my clan when I'm done with him!"

~~~~~~~~~~

Finchpaw nodded vigorously, and padded ahead a few paces and purred. "Yea, let's go!" Padding alongside her friend, she didn't pay much attention to the meeting until she noticed a commotion towards the front of the crowd. Looking back at Ospreypaw with worried eyes, she pushed through the crowd a bit until she could see; and instantly regretted it. Her heart began to race when she saw the blood, a whole pool of the sticky red liquid that surrounded an unmoving she-cat. She noticed a golden spotted tom near her side, but the silver and white tabby was frozen to the spot. Gasping, her eyes glazed; Finchpaw had never seen so much blood in her life. At that moment, she wanted to run as far away as she possibly could, until she was back in her safe nest in camp. She began to slowly back away, barely noticing when she bumped into Ospreypaw.

Just as Blizzardshine was about to step back to let either Thrushstar or Fishstar take their turn to speak, the stench of blood hit her nostrils even from the elevated place she was in and the sound of the commotion reached her ears. As soon as she looked down and her gaze landed on the bloody apprentice she felt like if her whole world had stopped. She rushed to the edge of the rock closest to the apprentice, having to gather all of her will-power to not just jump off and rush to the aid of her clanmate in what she thought would be an insult to the other leaders. She never had seen one leave their spot on the Great Rock before after all, regardless of what could happen below “Spottedpaw!” Any cat listening to her speech would easily recognize the name as one of the apprentices she had named earlier, her voice full with worry “Oh dear StarClan, hep her please!” As she spoke her eyes traveled to the group of medicine cats gathered between the clans. She already suspected who the responsible of the attack was, but as soon as it was confirmed the fur on her back and tail lifted with anger, something than never before had happened to her “T-That fox heart!” Even though she tried, she couldn’t keep her anger filled words as a whisper to herself at the sight.

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Nightheart looked as Spottedpaw entered in the clearing covered in blood and barely alive. She had been hearing the words of Crowstar and Blizzardshine, but wasn’t expecting something like this. She immediately turned to the leaders, clearly starting to grow nervous.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Moonlight had been there since Crowstar arrived, listening to the leaders with clear impatience. But when Spottedpaw dragged herself in something snapped inside her. For a second she wasn’t looking at the ThunderClan apprentice struggling for her life, but her daughter, who had been kidnapped as well. Guided by her impulsive personality, she looked up at the leader, panic on her eyes “Is this what they do to out kidnapped clanmates?! My daughter was only a sunrise or two from giving birth when she was taken from us! What if they did this to her?! What if they did this to her newborn kits?! We need to do something!” The silver tabby was clearly overwhelmed by her emotions now, and the fact that her daughter and young grandkits were also in danger wasn’t exactly helping her at all.

Beetlepaw's eyes went wide in alarm as the apprentice stumbled inside the Gathering, looking over to the other medicine cats bafore racing up to her, making his way through the cluster of cats. He arrived by her side, huffing from the sprint and kneeling down besides Spottedpaw to sniff her wounds. He couldn't tell where one wound ended and another one started, and the blood covering her whole body. Under the blood he could feel her injured muscles giving up on their strain and turning limp. Beetlepaw was shocked to the tip of his tail, paws itching as he turned to the others. She could feel the ThunderClan deputy besides him, but he ignored her and left her to her grievance. "StarClan has sent us Spottedpaw, a brave, cunning, young soul to warn us from the danger of this rogue. Unfortunately, I do not think we can help her much, here with no herbs nonetheless." he meowed at the top of his lungs. Giving bad news tasted like mouse bile, but he swallowed and bent over to Blizzardshine. "I think you should send someone back to camp with her and the medicine cats." he suggested to her quietly.

Hazeflight lifted her head almost immediately at the smell of blood, in seconds she was on her paws. The silver She-cat dug her claws into the ground, and her eyes blazed. This was just what she needed, a new threat to herself and family.

~

Ospreypaw shuddered at the smell of blood, letting out a surprised yelp. The scene was horrifying, and the distress of the other cats sent his head spinning. The tom closed his eyes, wanting to drive away what he had seen, he wanted to go as far away as he could. An apprentice had not just died in front of him, not like his mother had.

Ospreypaw's legs swayed slightly, he was terrified. His breathing was quicker and his heart thumped against his chest.

The tom oy came back to the real world as Finchpaw bumped into him. By the look on her face, Ospreypaw could tell she was thinking the same thing. "It'll be fine, Finchpaw. The rogue can't get us now, we're safe here. It'll be f-fine." he meowed reassuringly even though he didn't believe it.

The medicine cat smiled at Beetlepaw and Flamestrike. "Well, it's Sparkflower now. I'm a full medicine cat! Can you believe it?" But she was soon distracted as a bloodied, but familar face stumbled into Fourtrees.
Sparkflower's eyes widened at the sight. What was this? Some foxhearted rouge, tormenting, kidnapping....She glanced to Beetlepaw, then back to Spottedpaw. "I'll go back with her. I've got some herbs and other things that might be able to help, but we've got to hurry," she volunteered, fixing her eyes on Blizzardshine.

---

Tawnystorm listened, growing increasingly angrier the more she heard. Spottedpaw was the final straw. "Right! I'm going to find that mangy attacker - Bear, was it - and I'm going to tear him from limb to limb myself! If this happens to any RiverClan cat..." the warrior spat. She may have been one of the clan's oldest warriors, but she still had that fiery temper she'd had since she was only an apprentice.