January Gathering 2020

Ferretpaw supposed that Spiderpaw's pelt was sort of thin, but he hadn't thought much of it as it wasn't like he had a lot of fur to speak of. His curiosity had been sparked though, especially when the conversation moved on to what sort of things they did in their Clan. Swimming seemed like an activity where you'd want some kind of an undercoat so you'd stay warm. He figured he'd freeze if he ever attempted it.

"Yeah, exactly. We get to chase rabbits, and when it's warmer out we get to chase butterflies and other bugs! But most of them aren't real active in leafbare. Hey, not tryin' to be rude or anything, but since you mentioned it...Do you get real cold swimming? Since you're not a very fluffy cat. Or is it better to have less fur because then it doesn't get wet? Do big fluffy cats sink?" The tom bit his tongue to stop the word vomit, remembering that he had to give the RiverClan cat a chance to answer his questions.

Zinnia followed the rest of WindClan into the Gathering, paying perhaps less attention than she probably should have to her surroundings. This wasn't her first or even second time beholding the sacred oak trees, but the magic hadn't yet worn off for her. Maybe it never would. Still, she knew the steps now, and so her mind wandered but her paws followed behind the rest of the warriors. She settled herself amicably among some cats from other Clans, though as usual she didn't seek to spark conversation on her own.

(Zinnia is open to talk to!)

Spiderpaw nodded understandingly after Olivepaw's reply. Of course, he knew WindClan cats were runners. He just found it so odd that a Clan could survive on something other than fish! "Y'know, WindClan sounds really cool. I hope I can visit sometime!" As a medicine cat, surely he'd be able to visit other Clans eventually.

Ferretpaw's question caught him a bit off guard, but he certaintly wasn't offended by it. Innocent questions were a lot better than whispering about his 'rat fur' or how he looked like an elder from birth. "Oh, well yeah at this time of year! I can't really swim that well in water where I can't reach because my legs get all numb and slow. But I've been told that the water's warm in Greenleaf, so I'll try swimming a bit more then I suppose. And no, fluffy cats don't sink, it's the opposite really. They're lucky, they get to stay warm, dry and above the water! He sighed a little. Sometimes he wished he had been born with thicker fur, then maybe he'd have been less strange to all the other kits. He shook it off. "But I'm actually training to be a medicine cat, so I don't really need to swim anyway I guess."

Clovertwist was beginning to wonder if his father staying behind from Gatherings was going to continue to be a theme. Last time Barleytuft had stayed home in case the escaped beast-cat returned to the camp; this moon, at least, Barleytuft was staying home to be near their Clanmate, Dappleshine, who was expecting kits soon. Aspenheart assured Raventail - and all of WindClan, as nosy and tight-knit as they were - that the kits weren't coming this night, but Barleytuft insisted upon staying home with her in case something happened. Clovertwist, after his recent hunt with his father and their encounter with the fox, suspected that there might be more behind the reasoning than the senior warrior would admit. Clovertwist decided to leave it be.

As it was, the silver tabby tom padded into Fourtrees close behind his sister, Goldengale. Clovertwist had watched her pick her path carefully, and he had to fight an antagonistic urge to comment on it - a leftover of their kithood days. He suspected Goldengale wasn't quite as recovered from the aftermath of the cave-ins as she claimed, but if he brought it up he knew she'd never breathe a word of the truth to him for the sake of her pride. His whole family was about as proud as they came, Clovertwist was coming to realize, and he wondered if he was too proud, too. It would be hard to know from inside himself. The warrior sniffed as he came to a halt just in front of Goldengale in the back of the clearing, realizing that he'd absently followed her. She was looking at him expectantly.

"Hey, Golden," Clovertwist greeted warmly, reaching his head forward to bump his forehead against hers. The kink-tailed tom then sat beside his sister's torso, looking towards the Great Rock. RiverClan, WindClan... Was that it? The silver tabby hummed and meowed, "Maybe the snow and cold weather has been slowing everyone down." He looked at Goldengale for her thoughts.

ooc; Clovertwist is speaking to his sister, Goldengale, but is still open for outside conversation. :)

Oakstar padded into fourtrees. His pelt was in disarray from Beartooth’s death only a couple nights earlier. His bright amber eyes were dull as he padded past the already gathered cats on his way to Highrock with no real attempt at a greeting. His paws scuffed the ground a bit at his steps.

The dullness of his coat certainly didn’t make him look any better. He leapt onto Highrock, then sat down next to Finchstar. The usually calm and friendly leader didn’t even really greet them, just kept his dulled gaze on the clanmates filing in. He knew he should be doing better. He knew it… but it was hard. It was just so, so hard. Beartooth was gone… and Houndheart felt like the right choice.

Warriors died. It was a simple fact of life. Beartooth had a long life ahead of him though, he’d had a kit, no kits now… his heart lurched for Ferretnose, who’d raise them without Beartooth helping her.

Stormpaw followed her leader, father, idol, into the gathering clearing of Fourtrees. She should be ecstatic, as she always thought she'd be, ot was her first gathering! But instead an empty hollowness rested in her stomach. Despite not knowing him well, Beartooth's death shook her to her core. How could she go on like everything was normal? Nothing would ever be normal again. The silver tabby watched as her father padded towards the Highrock and leap up towards the other leaders without much a greeting.

She wandered over to a sheltered clump of ferns where she'd get a good view of tge leaders while keeping her isolation. Her once neat pelt was ruffled and unkept, a reminder of the countless heartbeats she'd spent tending to Ferretnose and Dustcloud, especially Ferretnose. Her blue eyes were dull as she stared at the moon above, praying to StarClan all of Ferretnose's kits would be healthy.

OOC: open to talk!

Downpaw sauntered into the gathering after Clovertwist and Goldengale. His first gathering! No doubt he'd brag to all the apprentices that he was tge leader's apprentice. If that didn't impress them, he'd casually mention his sister was going to be a medicine cat. He'd be the most popular apprentice!

OOC: Downpaw is open to conversation! Preferably with a mischievous kibben~

Spottedstar appeared at the edge of the clearing, feeling the ice and snow prickling at his pawpads as he stared over the gathered crowd. There was Oakstar and Torrentstar, massive brown tabbies that couldn't be missed in even the thickest of crowds. ThunderClan and RiverClan were present, and there seemed to be no tension among the gathered cats. Only despair freely wafted from the ThunderClan cats, and Spottedstar wondered what had happened in the last moon to cause Oakstar to be so crestfallen. The spotted tabby also noted Finchstar and WindClan's presence, and with a weary roll of his eyes, the SkyClan leader lifted his tail to signal his clan to enter Fourtrees.

Instead of charging to the center, Spottedstar hung back around the edge and allowed his clan to fill in the gathering space. He had no desire to mingle with anybody. The last moon had been confusing and uncomfortable despite the peace that followed SkyClan and ShadowClan's short-lived war. Foxfire's resignation as deputy was preferable to his death, but still a sucker punch to Spottedstar's fragile self-worth as leader. Even more upsetting was his farewell with Sandblaze and Amberdawn, and while he normally would have paid a great deal of attention to his half-brother's permanent goodbye, the former medicine cat's golden fur and the smell of catmint and thyme floated through his mind every time his focus was lost. Murkpelt occupied his large, empty den, but even with her presence and the frequent attention from Wolfcall, Spottedstar realized there was a hole in his heart that could never be filled. His only resolve on the matter was to prevent his family and clan from finding out that he had fallen painfully, hopelessly in love with a ghost seasons ago and that it persisted even now. He sat in the snow, thick tail wrapping tightly around his paws and amber eyes vacantly staring at the Great Rock, where he would pretend to be competent for one more Gathering.

Foxfire lingered not far from Spottedstar, nervousness fluttering in his chest as he stared down at the gathered cats. His first Gathering since he had stepped down...He sighed, whiskers twitching as he took the plunge into the crowd, feeling rather uncertain of himself. Certainly Spottedstar would have to announce it to the Clan - that he had stepped down and another had taken his place. They would ask questions otherwise of why he was no longer deputy...How would they react? Would they see it as shameful? Would they understand? ...Would they even care in the first place? He sighed, coming to a slight halt as he nervously glanced around. ...Where was he to sit? To go? He...He was so use to at least having the familiar spot beneath the Great Rock to go that now that he was expected to sit and socialize with the warriors again, he felt...Far more uncertain than himself than he had since he had made his tough choice.

So, he gave a shook of his head and sat down in the snow by himself. He paused, hesitating for a moment before he turned to scan where the SkyClan cats had separated from each other to mingle, hoping that he would be joined by Flowerthorn - he really wanted to spend more time with her and knew he would feel far more comfortable at her side than talking to a stranger. There was always Basilpaw but he assumed she would be more distracted with talking to Flintshard once ShadowClan arrived, assuming he was with them. She had all the time in the world to talk and bother him - it made far more sense that her attention would be on her friend that she only got to see once a moon.

The tall white cat narrowed her eyes as she looked around, bored- if only there was a cat to talk to. Her long fluffy tail tapped the ground as she gazed across the clearing, Shadowclan hadn't arrived.
(Amberwing is open for interaction.)

Stormpaw ambled on. Today he was chosen to go to the gathering! They didn't let him go last time because of his healing wound. Honestly, the bit of stiff pelt reminded him of that first hunting trip, but he didn't dwell on that thought. He clamored with excitement as he pushed passed the bushes. A gasp escaped his mouth as he looked at all the cats. Was this even all of them? He smiled cheekily as he walked towards the middle of where the cats gathered, yellow eyes filled with wonder and excitement.

(Open for interaction)

Crowpaw’s mismatched gaze finally landed on a yellow-eyed SkyClan cat, looking to be a bit younger than him. “Hey, kitten! First Gathering, huh?” You could always tell. Either a sense of wonder in their eyes, nervousness, or, sometimes, carefully kept pride. He swished his tail, a playful glimmer in his glancing. “Name’s Crowpaw, of WindClan, though I’ll have my warrior name soon. Who might you be?”

Grousefrost padded behind the rest of his clan. He had no idea if he was being silent or loud… probably loud. He felt the bushes break as WindClan entered the clearing, but frustratingly heard… nothing. There was still not a trace of sound in his ears, although he could hear the memories of Gatherings. The taunting whisperings of rumours passed… of issues spoken of. Ones he would have no knowledge or recognition of.

His silver ears flattened as his head dropped.

Why did he come? He couldn’t be useful here. The only thing he could provide was his body, proving that WindClan had mostly recovered… except for him. He would never recover, and was destined to a StarClan cursed life of silence. At least he could press close to Goldengale, though he didn’t want to intimidate her friends.


OOC: Grouse is open for … well, he can’t really hear so… XD Do as you will.

Things had been getting back to normal since the untimely death of Beartooth during a cold, snowy night; ThunderClan wasn't recovered, but they were moving on. Dacedream wondered if the Gathering was helping to bury others' grieving thoughts as it had done for her. The entire day the new ThunderClan warrior had been distracted thinking of the meeting of the Clans at Fourtrees and what it might be like to be there as a warrior now instead of an apprentice. Who all would she tell? By StarClan's grace and the kindness in Finchstar and Oakstar's hearts, Dappleshine had been able to attend the warrior ceremony with Dacedream's dear family-friend (and aunt, in a manner of speaking) Honeytongue. By now the news would have been passed on to Raventail, Dappleshine's mate. By the end of the Gathering even Torrentstar and Thornstar would be made aware of Dacedream's new role in ThunderClan.

Dacedream's new name was not the only great change from last Gathering to the present, however. As ThunderClan made its way into Fourtrees after a sorrowful and bedraggled-looking Oakstar, Dacedream pressed her coat close to Houndheart - ThunderClan's new deputy. Her green-hazel eyes were shining with excitement and pride, observing Houndheart admiringly throughout the journey. The clearing stretched before them, and Dacedream nuzzled Houndheart's shoulder slightly. Much to her surprise, Houndheart hadn't been quite so reproachful to her affection lately - even seeming to take a little comfort in it - but she didn't want to push his limits and so pulled away as she meowed cheerily, "Oh, Houndheart, I'm so excited for you! I always knew you belonged with the deputies."

Looking around, Dacedream realized quite suddenly that sitting with the deputies meant that he would no longer be able to sit with her in the clearing. She let out a soft "Oh" as she realized, but she waved her bushy tail and banished the thought with it. She would find someone else to sit with; what mattered was that Houndheart would be where he was meant to be. He would be happy at last. Still... "I want to sit right up at the front," Dacedream decided, smiling at Houndheart, "in case the other deputies aren't as exciting to talk to." She looked at him hopefully. She hoped he wouldn't mind her wanting to be close.

ooc; Dacedream is open for conversation!

When Spottedstar gave the clan permission to proceed down into the gathering, Wolfcall took a few steps and then hesitated when he noticed the leader wasn't following. He looked over his shoulder, uncertain as to whether he should continue forward. What would the rest of the deputies think when Foxfire stayed within the crowd, and he, a warrior barely out of apprenticehood, sat among them instead? His ears flattened uncertainly, but Wolfcall shook his head, clearing his mind of the doubts that plagued him. He was a good warrior, and he'd be a good deputy. If the other clans didn't see that, it was their own problem.

He blinked at Spottedstar, trying to convey all the love and support he could muster in that tiny gesture, before turning and padding down the snow-covered slope and into the gathering. Normally, he'd have found an out of the way place to sit and watch the gathering, but this time, that wasn't an option. So he picked his way through the pawprints of the other cats, dutifully taking his place beneath the Great Rock with the other deputies.

Oddly enough, this was Egretstorm's first time entering Fourtrees in this state - full of cats. With RiverClan first to arrive, she didn't immediately realize just how stunted her clan was, with so few cats to their ranks. Her pelt brushed against Honeytongue's, because although the two weren't particularly good friends, the other she-cat's friendly disposition made her feel a bit more comfortable in this odd place. She sat with the younger warrior and tucked her paws beneath her chest. For better or for worse, RiverClan had become a close-knit bunch during these trying times. She didn't know what to expect outside the territory. Dark eyes watched three other clans roll in, WindClan, SkyClan, and lastly ThunderClan. Her tail lashed, making the snow look like she had a bird's tail. "When did WindClan get so big?" She mewed in surprise. The grey tabby admitted to being a bit glad their clans weren't on terrible terms anymore, though RiverClan's size made her feel a bit of sadness.


Crunch crunch crunch. Crushing snow sent a tingle up Firflower's spine. Feeling the thin layer of ice break beneath her gentle paws gave her a mild satisfaction, not unlike that of crushing dead leaves or walking on loose pebbles. She felt privy to these little things, the fleeting and unique sensations so often overlooked. Attending the Gathering didn't give her much, but she couldn't evade it forever. And so instead of clearing snow from the camp, here she was, amidst cats she couldn't understand. As they entered the moonlit clearing, her sharp eyes caught her son breaking away instead of heading towards the Great Rock. She waited a few moments as their other Clanmates dispersed before making her way towards Spottedstar.

Her tail brushed against the tom's flank, followed by her shoulder. She wanted to know what was on his mind, but if he didn't want to divulge that, she wouldn't force him. She could only wish he'd let her mother him. The older she-cat resolved to clear a few pine needles in his fur, if all he wanted to do was think.