September Gathering 2019

Mossbloom had been slowly but surely finding herself again, each day was better than the last. She couldn't help but wonder how Flintfang would feel about his true daughters, would he have been so cold to them? Would he have told them no, or that he hated parts of them? She sighed as she took up her position, glancing up at the Greatrock. Scorchclaw stood there, along with Finchstar and Oakstar. A quick glance showed a different warrior standing in the deputy's position for RiverClan, and she bowed her head silently. Jaystar must have joined their ancestors, and Scorchclaw ascended to take his place. Nodding briefly to Ivybrook and Raventail, she looked out at the crowd of cats, taking them in quickly. ShadowClan and SkyClan were the last to arrive... Hopefully SkyClan, and Tinystar notably, had been able to figure themselves out. If StarClan wanted judgement, they would send a sign, of that she was sure. Amberdawn's words after the last medicine cat meeting still haunted her though, was her friend okay?

---

Grousefrost started padding for her just as her sister did, and Goldengale smiled at them both as they joined her. She nodded in agreement to Grousefrost, her mind travelling back to the last Gathering, and the accusation of murder. "Yes, I hope so too... At least, no more terrible news." Her pelt flashed hot at Mistypaw's words though, and her eyes widened as she turned to stare at her in shock. Her voice stuttered as fur remained warm, all too aware that Grousefrost was at her side. "M-Mistypaw, we're not a couple..." Her head lowered slightly as her voice trailed off, her gaze shifting to almost disappointment. "I don't... I don't think Grousefrost even likes me that way..."

Grayleaf padded into the clearing. Her first gathering as a warrior. It was kind of a bit nerve racking. She had no mentor to pad beside anymore. She was on her own, but if she was being honest, she liked it that way. Even though she had a little more confidence than as an apprentice, she did keep her trait of solitude. It was peaceful that way. So the she cat closed her eyes, just listenting to the sounds around her.

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Hazelpaw padded into the clearing beside her mentor. She was finally an apprentice, and it felt good. And every cat was going to know she was an apprentice. The best apprentice in the forest, even! Her strides were tall as she walked. Even though she had literally had no training yet, she had the confidence of a thousand StarClan cats.

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Mistypaw looked at Goldengale. Her sister looked so sad. She really liked Grousefrost, didn't she? She looked at her mentor. "You wouldn't mind if I spent some time alone with my sister, would you?" She asked politely. With a smile, she sat beside Goldengale. Leaning over, she whispered in the tabby's ear. "I am willing to bet Grousefrost has been falling head over paws for you. I think you just need to look for the signs! Haven't you noticed how much time he spends with you? Don't put yourself down. Even if he doesn't like you, it is his own loss."

Dacepaw had been a chattering, vibrating mess of fur and feelings the entire day when she'd been told she would be allowed to go to the Gathering with ThunderClan. She'd been shocked; she'd never been to a Gathering before. The little tortoiseshell she-cat didn't even have an official mentor yet - all of the forest Clan had been taking care of her training and entertainment. Some part of Dacepaw suspected that Oakstar hadn't given her a mentor because he suspected she would return to RiverClan, but too much else was present in her mind for her to realize her own guess. The morning had crawled by. She found out everything she could about what happened at the Gathering in the meantime.

RiverClan would be there: her mother would be there. She would get to see Dappleshine.

The trek through the forest had been invigorating and exciting; if only Dacepaw was excited, she couldn't tell. She was certain everyone must be as enthused about this great meeting of Clans as she was. They stopped at a ledge, and Dacepaw gazed down, and immediately her heart soared. Yes - she saw her birth Clan. Oakstar signaled ThunderClan to enter the clearing, and Dacepaw was about to try to find the best way to dash off in search of her mother when she realized that the dark tabby leader had angled towards her. Bouncing with excitement, she met him in the middle.

He said her name softly, and Dacepaw replied brightly with her eyes shining innocently, "Yes, Oakystar?" The next words he said, however, were completely unexpected. He suggested her returning to RiverClan. Certainly the thought had occurred to her, but ever since the day Sparkfrost had delivered his farewell wish, Dacepaw had been unable to decide and unwilling to consider it. She'd eagerly floated along in a cheery kittish limbo. The apprentice simply stood blinking with surprise as he finished that she would always be welcome, and before she could even think of how to reply the leader had swept away to join two other cats on the largest rock at the edge of the clearing.

Dacepaw stared down in the clearing, feeling that familiar uncertainty and loss bubbling up in her belly. It made her think of the day her father left her, and she didn't want that memory. Did Oakstar think she belonged in RiverClan? Didn't Sparkfrost say ThunderClan would help her be happy?

The tortoiseshell saw a familiar pelt down the slope. Her decision could wait. One decision at least was made for her: she knew exactly who she was sitting by this Gathering. A slender, silk-furred she-cat sat near the front of the slowly growing crowd, hopeful blue eyes standing out against a dark face which in turn contrasted with the creamy body. The RiverClan queen was like the moon itself in the light of the Gathering - a beacon for a lost little apprentice who didn't know where she belonged.

"Mommy!" Dacepaw cried, and for the time any thoughts of her friends were forgotten. The thick-furred she-cat immediately launched herself down the ledge towards her mother. At one point, the apprentice stumbled quite unceremoniously and tumbled head-over-tail before ungracefully recovering her footing and continuing her charge to her mother's side. Dacepaw threw herself into her mother's side full-pelt, throwing caution to the wind as she immediately wrapped her limbs around the she-cat. Immediately the dilute tortoiseshell was sobbing into Dappleshine's neck fur - the queen smelled like love.

Ploverpaw was.. hesitant to say the least. He was very unsure following his leader into the gathering. Last time he was there.. He couldn't recall if he was with Windclan or Skyclan at the time.. They had forced him to make his choice between the two. His fathers clan or his mothers. He chose Windclan to be with his mother after none of his siblings wanted to leave. He was sure he was making the right choice then, but now? He wasn't sure. At least Mistyrain was still alive and doing well.

Yellow eyes shifted between the other clans that were already there. Did he still belong? Would there be anyone that recognized him? The fluffy gray tuxedo tom slowly moved forward into the gathering crowd. The warrior sized apprentice decided to stick to the back of the crowd not wanting to disturb anyone. He hadn't earned his spot to be among them yet. He still had to get used to everything again. Hopefully one day everything would feel like home again..

(Feel free to talk to Ploverpaw)

✧ Another gathering as an apprentice. Houndpaw had found both dissatisfaction and enjoyment at the last one. Perhaps there would be more friends here, or enemies that he had met in battle. He had decided he wasn't a fan of Skyclan. Thankfully it seemed they weren't among the gathered yet. If he was lucky, maybe they wouldn't show up at. With a flick of one of his massive ears, the apprentice trotted down the side of the clearing. He caught sight of Dacepaw and followed after in hopes that they might find someone to talk to together. The idea some cat might stand at his side this gathering was an appealing one. Both Dacepaw and Duskpaw would accompany him this gathering and it would be better than he could have hoped. Some of the natural born spite and darkness that crowded his spirit since kithood seemed to have been at bay. It didn't make him slower to speak or more consider of other cats, but it brought a joy he did not know he was capable of possessing.

Before he could meet the cheery, Riverclan born she-cat, she was engaged in brief conversation with Oakstar. He stopped. The leader had always tried to be somewhat of a father to him, something that Houndpaw resisted vehemently. Although the young tabby had always respected the leader, even if it did not seem like it most times, talking to him was still something that filled Houndpaw with apprehension and the urge to sprint away. Instead of padding over, he waited. And then Dacepaw was sprinting off. In an instant, he was streaming after her in a desperate effort to catch up and join her in whatever adventure she was headed for. A rare and joyous wide smile broke out across his maw.

Mommy!

Skidding to a halt, the lanky tom almost fell flat on his face. Mommy? She didn't even look around for him. Dacepaw wasn't even thinking about him. Her maw was buried deep into the coat of a Riverclan cat, snuggled in a fashion he was sure he had never felt before. Houndpaw's ears fell and his eyes widened as a dejected look crossed his expression. It quickly twisted into a frown. Although he considered turning and storming away, he was frozen in place. Even Dacepaw had a mom, one who loved her. Why didn't he? And why was it so easy for the she-cat to forget about him? Were moms more important than friends? Such thoughts twisted in his mind until he turned away, paws still set in the same place. He suddenly wasn't in the mood for conversing with other cats anymore. Hopefully they knew better than to try to speak with him. ✧

✢ Beartooth padded into the gathering after Oakstar for the second time. But this time he trailed a bit of a distance, sticking close to Ferretnose, a warrior he had started spending more time with, and his constant companion of Harefoot. It was something he thought little of now, attending a gathering. There were few cats he came here to see and even fewer he considered to friends. After the last gathering, he had found himself eager to see Amberdawn again. She had left so suddenly at the revelation of her leader to all of the clans, and the accusation of the other medicine cat. Regardless of what had happened, he hoped she was okay. With a quick nod to the pair of warriors at his side, the well-muscled tom padded for his place at the base of the highrock. Skyclan wasn't here yet, but it appeared there was a new face to greet among them. To the Riverclan she-cat, whose presence wasn't a shock to him after Dacepaw's father revealed the death of Jaystar, he dipped his head and chose to say nothing. ✢

Mistypaw’s teasing tone jostled Grousefrost’s attention away from the leaders. His head turned to see his silver and white apprentice looking rather smug as he looked away from Goldengale as she denied the words. They hurt. For some reason. He blinked his blue eyes in confusion as he thought about it. Goldengale was beautiful, kind and a good hunter. She was effective, but also nurturing… she was… oh moons. He looked back at Goldengale as Mistypaw asked him to leave, standing up and looking at her golden coat and shining eyes before he padded away towards the edge of the clearing.

How could he be in love so soon? He frowned, eyes going up towards the sky. ‘Petalbreeze...I’m so sorry. First I let you down by not being there… and now… ’ His gaze returned back to Goldengale, where she sat with Mistypaw. Smiling, glowing compared to the pelts around her. ‘Now… I … I hope you can forgive me, but I couldn’t bare to see her with another Tom.’

His decision made, he padded forward, sitting down beside Goldengale once more as he wrapped his tail around her. For all his talk of efficiency… he hadn’t been very efficient when it came to this. He lowered his head, looking up at the beautiful blue eyes that reminded him of the bright afternoon sky.
“I would like it… if… we were a couple.” he felt his pelt flush with embarrassment as he said this in front of Mistypaw, at a gathering of all places! Realizing this, he sat up sharply, looking around to see if other cats were staring as he looked away in embarrassment. “I-If you’d like to that is.”

Berrycloud entered the gathering, his tail low just like his head. It was his first gathering without Jaystar, the first one he would not be able to sit with either of his siblings: one lost who knew where and the other fulfilling a destiny greater than her. He looked around, hoping to see familiar faces but to be honest, it was all a blur. He was still recovering from the reveal and loss of his father... and though he had friends like Mistlepaw and Myrtlepaw... it was still painful.

He padded with the Riverclan group, taking a glance towards Dappleshine, who was also sad because of Sparkfrost leaving. He started to walk towards her when he suddenly spotted a familiar pelt rushing toward the queen. The voice was familiar and it was undeniable who she was. Berrycloud rushed to the two she-cats with a regained hope. They were safe! Dacepaw was safe! "Dacepaw! It's really you!" He purred with happiness, settling down next to Dappleshine.

Mistypaw smiled. She gave her sister an "I told you so" look before standing up. Had she really just done something so good for her sister as to lead her crush to confess to her? There was no better feeling then what she was feeling right now. "I think I will give you two love birds some time alone." Before she walked off, she looked to Grousefrost. "I have a lot of respect for you. I really do. But you hurt my sister, and things will not be pleasant. Also, I expect kits." And with that, she was off, low key laughing her head off.

She had waited for what felt like moons, feeling like bees were buzzing in her pelt. Surely ThunderClan would arrive soon, right? Surely her daughter was among them, safe and well and happy. With Sparkfrost. The two would greet her, and she would be able to love her daughter the way she hadn't been able to since she followed after her father's pawprints, disappearing in the mourning of the clan. A small voice called out a single word, and Dappleshine immediately stood and turned, searching for it's source. She knew that voice anywhere, there was no mistaking it. A small apprentice tumbling caught her eye, and recognition followed by adoration and concern and pure love filled the Queen's expression. The small, perfect, beautiful pelt of her daughter regained her paws and barreled into her side, and she rolled with it. Luckily there was space to avoid any collisions, but her joyous purr rang out loudly as she held her beloved daughter close as she sobbed into the fur at her neck.

"Oh Dacepaw, my dear, sweet minnow. I'm here, don't worry, I'll always be here." Her worst fears relieved, she nuzzle her daughter's head tenderly, as she cast a glance around. What had made her dear daughter cry? Her eyes sought out Oakstar, the leader of ThunderClan, with an unspoken challenge. If any of his cats had harmed her in any way.... She would be sure to rip his pelt to shreds herself. After that brief, fiery moment, one only drawn out of her by the love of a mother for her kits, her attention returned fully to her daughter, purring as she gently nuzzled her daughter over, checking her for injuries or anything that could cause any physical pain. The only thing she noticed was a new set of scars on her little cheek, under her eyes. Gently licking them once before lapping her tongue over Dacepaw's head, she whispered in a quiet soothing voice. "My dear, sweet Dacepaw, everything will be alright. I'm here. You're always loved, my minnow. You must have so many stories for me, my little fish, I can't wait to hear them all. But first, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"

Another familiar voice caught her attention, and she looked up with a brighter smile than she'd had since Jaystar's death. Her daughter was here, safe and sound, and even if she didn't return to RiverClan with her... She knew things would be okay.

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Goldengale's paws shifted nervously as Mistypaw asked Grousefrost to give them some privacy, and she flicked her tail to his flank as he stood after a moment, looking almost hurt. She felt herself shrink at the thought that the two had offended him in some way, and then Mistypaw kept talking. Her words were soothing, easing her fears slightly. Maybe she should approach him about the subject... "I don't want to push him... So soon after Petalbreeze's death... I don't want to put him in a bad situation, but... Oh Mistypaw, he's so strong and fast and there's just so much to him.. I want to be with him, but.. I'm afraid he doesn't want the same." She trailed off, paws shuffling as she realized she had rambled on a bit. "Oh stars, you probably don't want to hear about all of that... I sound like a starstruck kit..."

Pawsteps approached behind them, and she turned to look and was greeted by Grousefrost once more. He lowered his head, turning his eyes up to her own before a few hesitant words left his maw, and she froze in shock. Grousefrost... Wanted them to be a couple? Oh stars, was this a dream? Surely this was a dream. Her pelt flashed with heat as she noticed his tail wrapped around her, and the realization that this was no dream struck camp in her mind. He looked away in embarrassment and she leaned forward to gently lick his cheek, hesitating for only a moment. "I would love that, if you're sure about it, that is." Pulling her head back to rest it on his shoulder for a moment, she twined her tail with his as she pulled back, shooting a nervous and giddily excited look to Mistypaw. Never in her wildest, rabbit-chasing dreams had she imagined that this would have happened, and in this way of all things! She brushed closer to the tom joyfully as the three settled in further, anxious to how her older sister would react. Grousefrost was her mentor, after all... Another wave of embarrassment filled her at the thought, but the feeling of his tail wrapped with hers eased it, slightly.

The words that came from her sister shocked her, and she stared in disbelief. Kits?? So soon? Her ears roared with the sound of her heart racing as she froze at the thought, pelt burning with the heat of the sun on the moors. Inwardly she groaned at he sister's forwardness, but she loved her all the same for it. Kits would come another day though, once she had broken the news to Barleytuft and Cloverpaw. Meeting Grousefrost's gaze awkwardly, she gave him a small, tentative smile.

The clearing held only RiverClan by the time that WindClan had entered. Barleytuft followed after his leader, feeling a peace he hadn't felt in moons. Even the threat of discontent from last Gathering couldn't touch him. His family was growing stronger; his Clan too. It meant the world to him. As they entered the clearing the senior warrior watched his loved ones begin to disperse. Finchstar, as always, took his leave to the Great Rock with Scorchclaw/ Barleytuft wondered where Jaystar might be, and with a feeling of foreboding he expected he'd soon learn the answer. Unsurprisingly, Goldengale and Grousefrost were together - the tom had first noticed their fleeting glances and the hint of their feelings at his daughter's ceremony - and talking softly.

Barleytuft himself settled near the side of the clearing, keeping a space open for any of his loved ones. Mistypaw looked a little lost, but she didn't make her way to him. She's independent, even if she does miss Cloverpaw, he thought. He certainly wouldn't force her to sit by her father and miss out on the fun. After a short time ThunderClan joined them, and as they arrived he saw Mistypaw had finally veered towards her sister and mentor, joining their company. Barleytuft raised a brow curiously.

A movement nearby caught Barleytuft's attention; Ploverpaw had settled near the side as well, looking uncomfortable. The senior warrior beckoned to the tom from his seat farther up, a wordless offer for him to join for the company of at least an acquaintance in such a strange, overwhelming place.

ooc; barleytuft is speaking with ploverpaw

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The sound of Dappleshine's soothing voice was everything Dacepaw had wanted for the last moon - even more during the last half-moon since Sparkfrost had disappeared. "I'm here. I'm always here." Her mother embraced her with all the love and comfort in the world; the apprentice missed her mother's protective display towards Oakstar completely, her face smothered entirely in thick fur. She soaked in the presence of her mother. After a moment Dappleshine began to nudge and nuzzle Dacepaw, and the little apprentice sat up a little straighter to give her mother some room to examine her. She sniffled hard, tears falling down her face as her sobs gave way to little infrequent gasps and sniffs. Her mother licked those tears away, too, and for the first time Dacepaw felt the rough texture of her mother's tongue on the new wounds from her battle. It was an odd sensation.

After a brief moment, the queen licked her daughter's head and asked why she was crying. As if she had just realized it, Dacepaw sniffled and giggle nervously and answered in a husky, stammering voice, "I j-just really m-m-missed you, mommy. I've been s-so lonely. Daddy w-went away and Houndpaw won't cuddle me and Duskpaw's busy with tr-traini-ing and I got cut by a dumb mean raccoon!" A few more tears fell, but she was already more at ease. Her mother was here. Another voice sounded and Dacepaw looked past her mother's thick fur to see her kin from RiverClan. "Uncleberrycloud!" she gasped with delight.

Pricklebush walked in as usual, not sparing a glance to most of the warriors and apprentices in the crowd as he pushed forwards to the medicine cat spot by the Great Rock. He'd been busy lately... which he realized guiltily was his go-to excuse for avoiding interaction with other cats as much as possible. Training Mistlepaw was his number one goal, but he'd tried as hard as he could to spend time with Mossbloom as well, knowing how much it hurt her to feel abandoned by him. The ominous and condescending "prophecy" about betrayal was almost out of his mind; he'd never listened to StarClan before, why start now? There was no way such a pure and amazing she-cat could do anything horrendous, whatever it was. Even his cynicism ought to know that. And Amberdawn didn't deserve his suspicion either- everything she'd done for Mossbloom had, he realized somewhat grudgingly, been out of the goodness of her heart. He had been considering visiting SkyClan just to talk with her, actually, before he remembered that if he did so, he would have to deal with Tinystar and Mintwhisker. He shuddered... maybe he could arrange a time for Amberdawn to visit them in ThunderClan, one of the times he was there anyways. Offering a nod to the medicine cats that were there already, not seeing the ginger she-cat, he sat by his newly named apprentice with a kind smile. "Doing all right?" he asked her, noticing that she didn't seem happy. Then again, she hadn't truly been, of late.


Graybriar had finally worked up the courage to return to the Gathering. Had it truly been another moon since... She shook her head, angry at herself for letting the ever-constant thought return. For once, she would not spend a night wallowing in her own misery. Death happened. It was time to stop letting herself be devoured by sorrow. Head held higher now, she followed Barleytuft- ever her rock in the storm, her savior- into Fourtrees, the chaotic but familiar smells of almost all the Clans enveloping her. SkyClan hadn't arrived yet... Oh, SkyClan, her former Clan. How low they seemed to have sunk. How little hope she still had for them. How little respect remained for one of the senior warriors she'd once idolized, now a leader and already gone to unforseen lows. Once again she was grateful to StarClan for all they'd given her. How blessed she was to have Finchstar for a leader, wise already despite his youth. She settled herself unthinkingly next to her mate, leaning into his strong shoulder, the warmth of his fur melding with hers. Any time she could be with him was time well spent. As he beckoned the newly returned Ploverpaw over, she smiled welcomingly at the apprentice, remembering him faintly from before he'd vanished. The lost look on his face was similar to hers, when she'd joined WindClan.

After a brief moment, the queen licked her daughter's head and asked why she was crying. As if she had just realized it, Dacepaw sniffled and giggle nervously and answered in a husky, stammering voice, "I j-just really m-m-missed you, mommy. I've been s-so lonely. Daddy w-went away and Houndpaw won't cuddle me and Duskpaw's busy with tr-traini-ing and I got cut by a dumb mean raccoon!" A few more tears fell, but she was already more at ease. Her mother was here. Another voice sounded and Dacepaw looked past her mother's thick fur to see her kin from RiverClan. "Uncleberrycloud!" she gasped with delight.

Dacepaw's giggle rang in her ears, and she tightened around her daughter instinctively as she began to speak in a stuttering voice, husky from her tears. I missed you... Daddy went away... Houndpaw won't cuddle me... Duskpaw busy..... Raccoon was dumb and mean and cut her..... That must be what happened to her face, Dappleshine thought as she gently touched her nose to the scars once more before the words she had stated before knocked the wind out of her. Daddy, Sparkfrost, went away? Shock filled her expression, hidden away from Dacepaw's view as she looked to her uncle. Then her expression twisted into a seething rage, an emotion that had never come to her face before. He left her? In an unknown place, with no one she truly knew? What in StarClan was that tom thinking, and where in StarClan could he have possibly gone that was so much more important than their daughter? Her eyes met Berrycloud's over Dacepaw's head, broiling with unspoken anger and the nerve of the runaway RiverClan tom who had fathered Dacepaw. Another look flashed to Oakstar, an unspoken demand for explanation at the nearest moment, followed by a desperate look to Torrentstar. He should know... Maybe Dacepaw could come home, and return to her side...

She swallowed hard, forcing her expression to relax before she returned her gaze to her daughter and groomed her neck and ears. "I've missed you too, my minnow. I've been lonely as well, but I took comfort in the thought that you were safe and happy with Sparkfrost. Did he happen to tell you where he was going, my sweet?" She tried so hard to keep her voice soft, but she couldn't help the cold edge that crept into it when she inquired about his whereabouts. If she ever got a hold of him, he would regret it. Once her daughter answered, she quickly turned the conversation to another topic, Dacepaw was understandably distraught about Sparkfrost's leave, so she inquired instead about the other cats she mentioned. "Houndpaw and Duskpaw, huh? Are they friends of yours? The night's are still warm, my little fish, he might get too hot cuddling next to you, he's probably not used to it yet. Give him time, you haven't been there for too long after all. Training keeps all cats busy, try to keep your chin up my dear. Maybe you can ask if you can go with her on her trainings, that should give you more time together, and you get to learn with and from each other!" She encouraged, even as her heart ached for her beloved daughter. She had been so strong, growing more beautiful and bigger even on her own. Her stomach twisted with the weird combination of love and adoration for Dacepaw, towards Sparkfrost, and joy at their reunion, even if it wasn't entirely what she had expected.

---

Mossbloom looked up at a familiar voice, and smiled back at her mentor. She shrugged in response, lowering her voice slightly to avoid the ears of the growing crowd. "Just a bit... concerned, I guess. Last Gathering was interesting, to say the least. Finchstar revealed Tinystar murdered an apprentice, and it all went downhill from there. I wonder if Scorchstar is feeling well enough to attend this one, he missed the last... Jaystar is not present, Scorchclaw is up with the other leaders but there is another she-cat standing in his old spot." She gestured with her tail slightly to Ivybrook, pointing her out subtly to Pricklebush. "That does not bode well for their news. SkyClan and ShadowClan still haven't arrived, so I worry for their well-being, especially considering the circumstances they've faced the last moon or so. Amberdawn was rather shaken after the medicine cat meeting, and didn't say much afterward... I hope that all is well. I'm just worried. Something is off in the air tonight, like there's something just on the verge of happening but I don't know what." Her mind flit to her own premonition, but it hadn't seemed like anything that would happen with the Gathering.... Was it? Oh stars, she felt very lost in her position suddenly. Wrapping her tail around her paws tightly, she looked up to the sky. Maybe a sign, or an answer would be held in them? Her wish remained not granted, the sky was clear and quiet, seeming as normal as it always had. Maybe she was working herself up for nothing.

The tom watched tenderly at the moment between mother and daughter the two she-cats were sharing. For a few seconds, it all seemed right and sound. Dacepaw was back into the paws of her mother, a sweet, tender wing that would cover her from all dangers and guide her back to their home, back to their family. Sparkfrost took away Dappleshine's daughter, he stripped him from his brother when he needed him most. Despite being littermates for so long... he was angry at him and blamed him for all the suffering he had caused. But that anger shifted when Dacepaw told them that Sparkfrost went lost... leaving the young she-cat alone in a strange clan.

The fur of his tail and back bristled by those words and the mixed feelings inside him started to rise once again. He faced Dappleshine, who looked at him with a silent fury towards how irresponsible the whole situation was. First, Sparkfrost leaves, abandoning his mate, his clan for another one. And he did not go alone... he took the naive Dacepaw too who only wanted to follow her dad and check he was okay. The least his brother had to do after all that betrayal was to BE with her. Take care of her like a good father and stay by her side. But instead, like always, he ran away, left Dacepaw on Thunderclan on her own, letting her live with strangers and getting herself attacked by a raccoon. Berrycloud lashed his tail to one side but remained settled down, trying to contain all those boiling feelings taking over. He looked down at the pretty dilute she-cat and a tear wanted to escape at the thought of losing another member of his family. First Jaystar, the father who was always meant to be. Then his brother, who betrayed him and his clan... Losing Dacepaw to Thunderclan would be too much for him to handle reasonably. "Dacepaw... I... I'm really happy and glad to see you here, safe and all that but... why don't you go home with us? With your mother? We've missed you so much too and if Sparkfrost isn't around anymore... maybe you should go back with the rest of your family. We need you and we can train you. You will be with Dappleshine, with me and your aunt Ivybrook, who is now deputy. Don't you wanna play with us like we used to do? Hunt and become a warrior with the rest of your family around?" He mewed with a sad voice and trying to hold back the tears from his emerald eyes. Despite not knowing her for too long due to her young age, the she-cat was still his niece and was part of his only remaining family. He had no mate, no kits. Neither have Ivybrook and now that Sparkfrost was gone... the only thing he left was this beautiful she-cat. Even if he despised all he had done, Berrycloud had to admit that he did have a wonderful daughter... one he wanted to protect and raise too. "I understand that these.. Duskpaw and Houndpaw may be your friends. I had friends outside the clans too! Going back to Riverclan won't make you lose them... you can meet up with them here in Gatherings and even in the borders if you're sneaky." He mewed that last part trying to add a playful tone to his voice. For a second there, he remembered Maplepaw, his friend from Skyclan and after leaving that experience, the tom would be happy if Dacepaw could keep her friends from Thunderclan too... as long she returns with them.

Ploverpaw's gaze fell onto Barleytuft and Graybriar as they both motioned him over to join the two. His yellow eyes flicked back to the ever growing crowd of clan cats. Maybe it would be best if he stuck to what he knew. Slowly the fluffy gray and white tom made his way over to the two senior warriors. Sitting close but not enough to invade their space. He nodded a greeting at the two warriors before turning his eyes to focus on something else. His tail curled over his paws as he sifted them a bit.

Cloudpaw followed behind Ivybrook, his stance was prideful yet quiet. After all, he was the apprentice of the deputy, the second-in-command of the leader of the clan. Ivybrook was meant to be leader one day and as her apprentice, he had the privilege to train under the knowledge of the next leader of Riverclan. There was no time to waste on low-class clan cats. The only thing that mattered was to get this Gathering over soon and then, he would be able to go back to his training.

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Tigerpaw followed behind Addershade, excited by this new experience. When they reached the clearing, there weren't many cats but now it was crowded! So many scents, so many faces! He wanted to meet them all but noticed a familiar red tail sitting alone and by herself. Despite his excitement to go and mingle everywhere, the tom cared more about family. He made his way to Redpaw and sat down next to her, with a small smile on his face. "Why are you all alone? Don't you wanna meet cats from other clans?"