November Gathering 2019

Basilpaw trotted the rest of the distance as Flintshard's shadow was cast over her and she knew he was just behind her. Once she reached the place, the Skyclan apprentice settled down into a resting position with her tail curled around her. She made her her pelt was just barely brushing her new friend's as he too made himself comfortable away from the crowd and away from the noise. While it might have been more exciting to flit through the crowd and chatter with ever cat she possibly could, Basilpaw found herself more concerned with making sure her new friend was comfortable. Besides, she was his first friend, she couldn't very well just dash off. He was a good cat, even if he had few words to say. Flintshard was probably a very good listener, she decided.

As he thanked her, less hesitant in speech, a broad smile crossed her maw. Hopefully he was happier now. He seemed less fidgety than before, although she was oblivious to the movement of his pads that was cleverly hidden by his tail. For a few moment she aimply watched after the gathering, watching a deputy speak in place of his leader. It was a fact she would have missed, had he not said it. Hearing their loss, her expression darkened and she spoke softly to the tom once again, "It seems like every clan has lost someone this moon... does that happen a lot?" At least it was to predators and not other cats. She had heard of the mindless beasts that occasionally crashed through the territories in destruction. But they were monsters, not cats willfully taking the life of another.

Flintshard spared a glance toward Basilpaw at the feeling of her pelt brushing his, thinking about saying something but halted...Instead letting his attention shift back onto the leaders as a tom he didn't recognize stepped forward. Raventail, huh? He listened gentle to the rest of the announcement, of another life lost. Hm. He glanced over as Basilpaw leaned close to gentle whisper, giving a rough shrug of his shoulders in response. "Can't say for sure, but I'm not surprised if so," he rumbled, his gaze shifting past the countless gathered cats. "Every one of us will perish at some point. Some tragically cut short by cruel events, some peacefully passing in their nest." His voice was even, saying the most words he had yet to the apprentice - not bothering to lighten his tone or sweeten his words. "Its just something we have to accept...And make the most of, I suppose," he added, almost an afterthought of perhaps it was better to give some hope with his words. "To make our lives...Something meaningful to ourselves and others before we join the stars."

Stormbringer let out a small snort at Houndheart's reply. He was freaking out about her breaking the code in just a simple manner but would boast about him crossing the border unprevoked and attacking an apprentice? Typical Thunderclan. Ignore their own code-breaking ways and point out others. Amber eyes glanced over to Houndheart as he spoke up again. His tone lighter than before. The riverclan warrior let out a small hum. Her voice remaining low as the leader's spoke. "With the way he has been lately? I wouldn't be surprised." Not that she couldn't blame her leader. She understood where he was coming from and would probably do the same. The things that have happened in Riverclan were part of the reason why she was so quick to slap Houndheart in the first place.

Oakstar huffed as Torrentstar pushed between him and Raventail. He looked at the black tom apologetically as Torrentstar relayed his clan’s current status. His gaze flickered over the assembled cats as though to pick out the newly named, when he heard about the return of an apprentice. He smiled softly to himself, hopefully, they would find their paws as he did.

When Spottedstar spoke, Oakstar blinked in confusion for a moment. Though the tom explained how he reached his current status, it felt… sudden and abrupt. Mistyrain had been a deputy with him once, and Oakstar dipped his head mournfully at her loss. SkyClan would have been in good paws with her, now it was hopefully in good paws with Spottedstar as he continued. The mention of missing clanmates caused his eyes to narrow warily. It sounded like a dangerous situation…

Just as soon as Spottedstar was done however, Raventail took over, and Oakstar pushed away his concerns for the moment to listen respectfully to the black tom. His ears flattened at the mention of more predators. They had already seen the results of that, but it was hardly WindClan’s fault as he padded forward to give his own news.

His heart lurched as he looked towards where the medicine cats sat.
"ThunderClan has faired decently… but we have not been without our own loss. We mourn the loss of our Medicine Cat Pricklebush." He spoke, head dipping for a moment as his chest felt heavier with the mention of the spiky tom’s name. Hopefully, he was finding the comforts he sorely needed in StarClan. "All is not bad news, we have a new apprentice, Rainpaw, and two new warriors Houndheart and Nettlefire." He looked up towards his clanmates with pride. He glanced towards the other leaders. Eyes landed on Thornstar for a moment as he tilted his head respectfully.

Mossbloom sat at the base of the Great Rock, barely listening to the crowd of cats surrounding them all and the leaders upon the rock. Her breath caught in her throat as Oakstar mentioned Pricklebush's name, and she looked down at the bundle at her paws. Stars, she wished she was back in her nest instead of here, on display for cats of every clan to watch and examine.

Dappleshine smiled at her daughter's words, her tail wrapping around her paws mirroring Dacepaw's. "Yes, I certainly hope he does!" At her question, however, her shoulders drooped slightly. "...Yes, my minnow, he is very angry at me. Don't worry about that though, I made my choice and I'm... I'm happy. I don't feel lonely anymore." After a couple heartbeats of silence, she changed the topic. "Are you still happy in ThunderClan? How are your friends, my beloved?"

One ear turned towards the leaders as they began their announcements, and a sense of relief washed over her as Torrentstar refrained from mentioning her. Another wave of relief as Raventail didn't either, but as he stepped back she focused her gaze on him. He had been assigned a difficult, unexpected task... He had handled it well though. She was so very proud of her love, that was certain.

Dacepaw had been fairly certain of the answer before she even asked it, and when her mother confirmed it the apprentice frowned deeply and her gaze turned more sympathetic. She scooted to sit closer to her mother, letting their fur brush. "I'm happy. I don't feel lonely anymore," Dappleshine said. Not knowing what else to respond, Dacepaw replied quietly, "Good." Some voice in the back of her mind reminded the apprentice that she had caused some of her mother's loneliness. If Dappleshine hadn't quickly changed the subject, Dacepaw might've ruminated on the thoughts, but instead the now-WindClan she-cat asked about her kit's friends. Dacepaw perked up immediately.

Coincidentally, Oakstar was speaking then, and he announced new apprentices and, most importantly, the most important new warrior to Dacepaw. "My friends are the best!" the cheery she-cat answered, and she added, "Houndheart's a warrior! Duskpaw and I share a nest still; we miss having Houndheart there, he's really funny when we smoosh him in between us!" The dilute tortoiseshell giggled, and as Oakstar stepped back she waved her tail slightly towards her leader, and then she glanced aside to Raventail. A deputy up with the leaders... Mawmaw did that once, Dacepaw thought.

Burningsun sank back deeper into the shadows, her ears pressed close to her head. No, no no... Spottedstar... This is why she ran. She knew they would accuse her. She swallowed. She would have to explain it all soon.

OOC: Short, but Briar Fox and Echo are open to talk!

Briarthon watched the gathering begin, siting among his clanmates. He couldn't help but puff his chest out slightly when it was announced that he was a warrior, despite the hard times his clan had been going through.

Foxspirit sat with her clanmates, worrying about her kits back at home. Regardless, she had wanted to be there with Spotpaw at her first gathering. She sat with her daughter at first, and smiled softly as she left to talk to a RiverClan apprentice. It seemed like so long ago that she had been at her first gathering...

Echofrost sat in the back, far away from ThunderClan, or anyone, really. Partially under some shrubbery, he listened with half an ear to the announcements from the leaders. Nothing they said mattered . Nothing mattered at all. His eyes were sad and his expression pained. This was where he had met her. This was where he last saw her. But she was gone, now. Echofrost new he would never see Lilyflower again.

The cheerfulness in her daughter's mew brightened Dappleshine's eyes, and she licked the top of Dacepaw's head gently. "That's wonderful news! I'm so glad that you and your friends are doing well. Was Houndheart excited to become a warrior? I'm sure ThunderClan has been keeping him busy." Dappleshine purred, though the news that they were sharing a nest came as a bit of surprise. Although, her daughter had always been prone to cuddling close at night, something that had stuck through her days as a kitten in the nursery. Eyes softening, she wondered what her friends thought about it. At least it seemed like they didn't mind. The tom had come off a bit harsh and grumpy, but perhaps he had a good heart, especially if his name was representative of his personality.