October Gathering 2019

The rest of the announcements passed by swiftly. It seemed none of the leaders were intent on dragging the Gathering out this time. Despite his lack of interest in the other clans' affairs, Torrentstar willed himself to focus; one never knew when he would learn something beneficial to RiverClan. It seemed ThunderClan had met with some misfortune in the past moon. The RiverClan leader silently registered Leopardclaw's death, but he did not offer Oakstar the same condolences that Finchstar did. The death of the former ThunderClan leader held little meaning to him. He would not go as far as to rejoice in the death of a cat, even if that cat had been his enemy in the past; but he saw no loss for he and his clan either. The Gathering was almost over... Before the gathered cats could disperse, Torrentstar stepped forward once again. "Thornbriar. No, Thornstar." His voice, while not particularly loud, rang clearly throughout the clearing. There was no hint of friendliness in it. In fact, there was no emotion audible at all. "A few days before, one of our warriors Salmonburn disappeared. When we tracked his scent, we found that it led into ShadowClan territory. Salmonburn was originally a RiverClan cat, but he spent most of his youth in your clan; I believe you already know this. Have you chosen to accept him back?" There was no emotion in his features, in his words... yet in the very absence a faint anger seemed to tremble. Torrentstar stared at his fellow leader, darkened gaze sharp enough that it almost seemed capable of cutting into flesh.

Scorchedbird had been having a grand old time. He had just nuzzled Cardinalpaw when Torrentstar spoke. Uh oh. Looking up, he heard his name. The former leader asked Thornstar about him. Panicking, the silver tom flattened his ears and dove behind the red warrior, crouching in a tight ball. Torrentstar could NOT see him.

Thornstar made no attempt to veil the truth. Well, that she did not made things easier. Torrentstar was silent for a moment, gazing into her mismatched eyes. Was Salmonburn somewhere in the crowd, watching them at this very moment? He was half tempted to turn and search for the disgraced warrior, but the other half of him simply did not care anymore. He had not known that the tom had taken a mate. Considering the fact that no other RiverClan cat had gone missing, it could only be concluded that Salmonburn had broken the code in taking a mate outside the clan. For the stars' sake, what was the Warrior Code even worth to these cats? They were no different from filthy rogues... Betrayal left a bitter taste on his tongue, but it was a taste he had already tasted before. In contrast, the scars that had been carved into his heart with every disappointment throbbed still. At least he had confirmed one theory now; a cat born and raised in another clan, who had been surrounded by that clan's culture for most of his early life, could never be expected to simply change his loyalties. To think that he had even named Salmonburn. But that was just how it was, wasn't it? "...I see." Torrentstar brought himself to utter at last. He turned away from Thornstar; and as he did, the tension that had seemed almost suffocating moments ago dispersed. The leader did not have it in him to repeat what he had done the last Gathering. He was tired, just tired. "He has proven where his loyalties lie, then. RiverClan will no longer welcome him."