April's Gathering 2018

”But we’re all still cats...” Fernpaw mewed softly as Cinderfall padded away. She sighed, disheartened, and slumped down next to Swiftstep once she found him in the crowd of cats.

OOC : Is Fernpaw open to talk to? I need Scarletpaw to at least do something in the Gathering

A great many things could certainly be said about Swanpaw, but none could doubt her persistence. So that must have been why, while she couldn't have missed literally every cue telling her that her presence was unappreciated, she pressed on with her original plan. "You know," she said casually, "Thornpaw, if you would just groom your fur you could be so pretty. Tragic, really." Really, it was a tragedy - such a potentially beautiful cat who took no effort to maintain her appearance.

Cherrypaw was sure she had misheard the tom's name, or that the pronunciation had been a bit off on the toms part, but instead of commenting she just smiled at him. She also noticed that there had been a distinct lack of response to the rest of what she said but she decided to ignore that too, seeing as the tom seemed a bit overwhelmed. "Well it's nice to meet you." Having picked up that the tom was not in a very social mood she decided to settle in next to him silently, hoping to be a comforting presence if she couldn't be a friendly one. Not long after that Cherrypaw noticed the Riverclan cats start to stream into the clearing quickly followed by the start of the gathering. At the news of Crowstar's death, Cherrypaw subconsciously pressed herself closer to 'Eyegloud', a look of dismay on her face. She had never heard of a clan leader dying before except for in the elder's stories. Looking at Blizzardstar with worry-filled eyes, Cherrypaw kneaded the ground with her paws absentmindedly, the next leaders words not registering in her mind.

---

Tinypaw hadn't moved an inch since she had wrapped her tail around Brokenpaw, finally having felt a sense of peace nestled between her closest friend and one of her clanmates. Once the gathering started and Rippedsky spoke though, the tiny she-cat's ears flattened and she pressed herself to the ground as if she could sink into the earth. It quickly became obvious that Crowstar's passing was going to be a big topic at this gathering as the next leader mentioned him once again. Pressing her ears tighter against her head, Tinypaw turned and buried her face into Brokenpaw's shoulder.

MOSSPAW

There was something about a large throng of cats moving at once that enthralled Mosspaw; had restless excitement buzzing beneath his fur. Slipping into the shimmering, moonlit river alongside a dozen sleek warriors made Mosspaw feel like a part of everything -- not just an apprentice in the way. The cold water lapped at his fur as the clan waded in and out of the streams criss-crossing their territory.

The two-leg bridge was at once foreign and awesome -- though Mosspaw had to restrain himself so as not to fall off! Overall, the journey was a quiet, enjoyable one, as they traveled by moonlight and eventually arrived at Foutrees, their damp paws slipping quietly across the ground.

Fourtrees seemed amazing by itself -- the Great Rock he'd only heard described jutting high from the ground -- but it was the huge crowd of cats that really captured him!

"Whoa!" the little black tom exclaimed, green eyes wide. Just as Ivystar took her place at the tall rock Mosspaw bounded into the fold -- streaming past his clanmates into the meld of colors and furs!

There were so many cats, and everyone smelled differently. Some smelled musty, like frogs; some like crisp air and cedar; some like grass -- and some more strongly of the forest... like oaks and leaves... a scent that Mosspaw had smelled before.

It was Thunderclan!

Perking his ears, the little tom weaved through a few more of his clanmates -- and many of the cats, mingling and mewing to one another; a steady, humming din around him. It buzzed Mosspaw with energy, but not as much as when his green eyes searched the crowd -- and landed on a little red she-cat!

It was Cherrypaw! She was here, too!

Mosspaw had been a teensy bit hesitant about the gathering, since it was supposed to be full of a bunch of cats he didn't know, and Silverfang seemed to think Mosspaw wasn't great with "diplomacy." A little hope had lit his chest, though, at the knowledge that maybe it wouldn't be all cats that didn't know him...

And he was right!

"Cherrypaw!" he called out, green eyes sparkling as the little tom leaped over the tails of several apprentices. "Hey! Cherrypaw! It's me!"

Foxpaw sat down next to a random cat. This was her first gathering, and she was excited! She wanted to hear evrey word the leaders said. But she allso wanted to meet new cats. "Hi!" she meowed to the cat next to her. "Im Foxpaw. Whats your name?"

"Thank you, Dawnpetal," Acornpelt purred respectfully. "It's good that ThunderClan's territory is growing back, but not that there's an incline in fox appearances. A small patrol can fend one off, but more of them are trouble. I'll be sure to keep a look-out, thanks, and keep yourself safe, too." Acornpelt, changing the subject, decided to inform Dawnpetal how WindClan was doing. "WindClan is also getting its natural shrubs and grasses back. Prey has been extremely plentiful, we've even been getting normally uncommon prey, like squirrels and mice. It's nice to have something other than rabbit once in a while."


OOC: oof sorry for the late-ish post, i've been feeling pretty lazy recently

Goldeneye padded up to where the medicine cats den, Cloudstone once more away at camp, the toms old bones would be unable to make the journey. It saddened her greatly to know that her mentor was old and weak, but it was only about time he was replaced. He served his time for many, many moons as the medicine cat but it was time for him to step down. Goldeneye sighed wistfully, remembering that she was always getting on his nerves, that he was much like a father to her. Goldeneye nodded to her fellow medicine cats and listened to the leaders speak, though no cat seemed to be paying attention.

Sootpaw padded in with Thunderclan, hanging by Eaglepaw for the majority of the gathering and frowning disapprovingly as he picked several fights but his attention didn't last long when a beautiful calico padded in with Riverclan. Wide blue eyes grew as he looked at the dazzling amber suns that she held in her eyes. As if on his own accord the scruffy tom padded towards her, his heart racing and his fur heating as he continued to stare into her beautiful, warm eyes. "Uh-Uhm...hi" he sputtered, his paws shuffling with nervousness before he remembered to introduce himself. "I'm Sootpaw! H-Hi!" Sootpaw flinched when he said hi again, he was so stupid! "Sorry."

Cherrypaw's ears swiveled around and her head turned as she heard someone calling her name. Looking around, it only took her a moment to spot Mosspaw heading towards her. Smiling the she-cat sat up, trying her best to make sure not to disturb 'Eyegloud' too much with her movements. "Hello Mosspaw! It's nice to see you again." As the tom got closer she nodded to the spot next to her in an invitation to sit with her "Here, sit with me. We can chat after the leaders finish speaking."

Crowstar dead? Ivystar had thought it was odd that Rippedsky had taken the black tom's place but to think that the leader had died. If any cat was to die, she had thought it would be the fool, Ashstar. Crowstar was so young, she remembered the tom as a deputy in RiverClan, all fluffed up and confused by the icy waters that surrounded him in the camp. She wasn't one to be sentimental, so it brought her no great sadness, however it did make her consider how fleeting life could be.

"May Crowstar hunt with the stars for the rest of his days in peace." Ivystar meowed to the newly named Rippedstar, quietly sighing afterwards as she listened to Ashstar say her piece. More WindClan warriors, a voice that sounded eerily like her brother's whispered that she should have killed all their kits when she had the chance. Ended their line so that they would never rise again to threaten her. With a slow blink of her eyes, she dismissed that dark whisper, focusing back to the crowd of cats gathered around her.

"RiverClan has fared well this moon. The ice has all melted, and fish are flourishing in our rivers again. We've grown in numbers with Cinderfall, Fogcloud, Hailsong, Nightshade, Scorchclaw and Shadefang. And our apprentices are too numerous to count. StarClan has blessed us this Newleaf." With that, the leader stepped aside to allow another to speak.

Gill sat alone on top of one of the smaller trees on the rim of the clearing. He was late, but it did not matter. After all, the leaders had just started speaking. "I wish I could be asleep." Gillpaw muttered under his breath. He watched he other apprentices mingle. Shouldn't they be listening? Gillpaw sighed.

Heronflight and Wrenpaw padded along with RiverClan. Wrenpaw was so excited to see so many cats, while Heronflight sat next to Wrenpaw, watching the leaders talk.

MOSSPAW

"It's nice to see you, too!" he mewed, tail flicking. The little tom nodded excitedly as the she-cat motioned for him to sit beside her, plopping down just as Ivystar began speaking. The she-cat's voice traveled, telling of their clan's strength -- and making Mosspaw straighten.

It was only then, looking closely, that he noticed things seemed... almost tense. Sure, there were cats chatting amicably, sharing tongues and brushing shoulders -- but there were also some at the edges; some near the Great Rock. The perceptive tom saw their eyes -- like his mentor's. Cold. Wary.

It was almost like how the cats were during that patrol, when he'd met the she-cat beside him. Spotfur was so tense -- and so were the other Thunderclan cats; as if conflict would break out at any moment. What was up with that?

Cherrypaw seemed nice enough to him.

Glancing at the pretty she-cat, he flicked his ears. So close to her, he could smell her fur -- like leaves, it's true, but also... mouse? Or was that squirrel?

"You guys don't eat fish, do you?" he asked, the knowledge dawning on him. She smelled as far from herring as he could tell -- and Mosspaw had a keen sense of smell. Come to think of it -- well, the other clans couldn't swim, either. That would make fishing difficult. "You ate... mouse earlier, right? Or squirrel? I can't tell the difference yet. Silverfang says it's because I suck at hunting, but... I dunno. It's just so different."

Sparkpaw

Sparkpaw closed his eyes and concentrated on all the sounds he could hear. The chirping of birds, the meowing of cats around him. Scents of all five Clans drifted to his nose, and he could feel the warm breeze ruffling his fur. Just as he opened his eyes again, Ivystar, the leader he despised most, began to speak. As she talked about RiverClan's prosperity, hateful thoughts began to drift through his mind. RiverClan could starve, for all I can care. He absolutely hated everything about the despicable Clan.


OOC : Riverclanners dont get triggered we have freedom of meow, just Sparkpaw's opinion