April Gathering 2020

Flintstar stood at the cusp of the clearing, his head raised to stare at at the calm sky. While there was relief at the harsh leaf-bare was over, there was no denying that this season would be of more changes than just the warmer weather. The Clans were finding a new pace with the threat of the Stars that hung above them, he being far more careful where his paws stepped lest he stir them to strike at ShadowClan. ...Their silence towards the medicine cats wasn't making that any easier. He sighed, pressing forward to lead his Clan into the clearing. They were the first to arrive and he wasted no time in bounding onto the Great Rock, wondering if Finchstar would be foolish enough to end the Gathering in another storm or if they would pretend everything was alright.

With confidence in each step, Ivystar led RiverClan into the clearing, gaze occasionally flickering up to the stars to make sure that nothing had changed. No storm clouds, no flashy lightning... For now, they seemed to be doing okay. The ominous threat that StarClan posed still hung in the air, however, and it couldn't be shaken off quite as easily. Nonetheless, she expected her Clan to show up to the gathering with a sense of courage, appearing strong and ready no matter what problems they might be faced with. Stepping forward, she approached the Great Rock, leaping up to the top. She offered a slight nod to Flintstar, not bothering with small talk that simply wouldn't convey the magnitude of what the Clans were experiencing.

Applepaw follows his leader into the Gathering. He assumed this would be his last Gathering as an apprentice, and was ready to make the most of it. Realizing their clan was the second one there, he waited for other cats to join so he could meet them. Like the Thunderclan apprentice from last time. He looked around for someone to talk to. Anyone would do. He kind of wanted to talk to a warrior to ask what it was like, being one, but also talking to an apprentice was fun.

Since he’d become an apprentice, Snowpaw’s eyes had been fixed on his ultimate goal: a full name, the privileges of warriorhood, and the glory he was certain to win for himself and RiverClan. But in the last moon, he’d learned that being a ‘paw had at least one advantage. Apprentices, especially the ones who hadn’t gone to the Moonstone yet, had no reason to concern themselves with the problems of warriors. That was how he saw it, anyway. It meant he didn’t have to think too much about what StarClan wanted or the fates of Mistleshine, Torrentstar, and the other leader who’d died, the one from across the forest. More importantly, it meant he could spend tonight the way he’d spent the last Gathering. With a parting flick of his tail, Snowpaw trotted away from his Clanmates toward the only other group in the clearing—the muddy-smelling one, ShadowClan. Maybe he could find that she-cat with the squished muzzle again.

ooc: snowpaw is reserved for briarpaw [maple]

Nightwolf padded into the gathering, his tail wagging. He glanced around for someone to talk to. His eyes landed on his brother. "Hiya Applepaw!" Nightwolf said padding up to Applepaw.

Briarpaw wasn't particularly interested in this gathering, having heard from her denmates and mentor about what had taken place in the last few. What she was more interested in was seeing just how incredibly stupid the other leaders were, and in particular... Finchstar. She'd heard that he'd caused StarClan to send down a horrid storm, just with his words. Anyone who was willing to make StarClan angry after such... horrible repercussions had fallen to other leaders had to be crazier than a rabid fox at moonhigh. Shaking her head, she took her own spot on a small knoll of grass, looking up at Ivystar and her big brother on the rock. Perhaps someday, she'd be up there. She wasn't entirely sure she wanted to, though. The fluffy she-cats gaze shifted once more as a rather confident tom made his way over to where the majority of ShadowClan was seated. It was odd to see a cat with such a light-colored pelt, as ShadowClan was known for exactly the opposite. "Hey," she called out to the apprentice, "I can tell you're from RiverClan, because you smell like fish that's been rotting in the sun for two moons." She just couldn't help herself.

---

Tiny paws made their way into the clearing as Freckleface stepped forward, passing the large oak trees cautiously. The previous gathering had been something else, and the she-cat still wasn't entirely sure what to make of it. No matter what she'd be there for her Clan, but her feelings about StarClan were constantly evolving, as each gathering seemed to bring its own bit of carnage to the mix. Taking a seat off to the side, Freckleface looked up to Flintstar on the rock. She was beginning to think that what she felt for the tom could really be something... Something real. She wouldn't ever admit it out loud, but she was almost afraid to tell him. To tell him that when their pelts touched, it made her shiver, that being around him brought her a sense of delight that no other cat could manage... She'd tell him eventually, she couldn't keep it bottled up forever. Without realizing it, she seemed to be daydreaming, her gaze still locked on the fluffy tom atop the rock.

ooc; freckleface is open for interactions! :D

Stormbringer followed after Ivystar. The gray deputy only paused in her stride for a second to determine if the area was safe considering everything that happened last gathering. She continued forward seeing that only Shadowclan had arrived in the clearing so far. Things seemed to remain calm for right now though she wasn't sure it would remain this way considering Finchstar still had to show up with Windclan. For now the Riverclan deputy took her spot at the base of the rock waiting for the other deputies to join her once they arrived.

Shadestrike is caring for her kits at camp


Eveningpaw slowly followed Flintstar to the clearing. Her oddly-coloured eyes blinked up at the sky as soon as she stepped in the place surrounded by tall oaks. She suddenly wished her mother could come with her, but she was too busy caring for her siblings. "Speaking of siblings..." Eveningpaw whispered. Her eyes not making a long search before shrugging. "Nevermind." She found herself at the area she'd followed Mothglow to last gathering and sat down. She washed her ears and waited for her mentor to come over, maybe she could have a longer chat with the other medicine cats?

Applepaw grinned as his brother approached. ”Hi Nightwolf! Anyone you know that we could talk to?” he was still a little jealous his brother was a warrior, but he knew he would go on his Moonstone Journey soon, and become a warrior like his father and brother. Poppypaw would be joining them too soon, he assumed.

Poppypaw padded after her two brothers, overly aware that her pelt was patchy from where it hadn't fully grown back yet. This was the first gathering since the fight with the WindClan tom, and she couldn't deny she was a little nervous to run into any cats from the Clan from the moors, although most especially the one who had left her with her first real scars.

"There's not many cats here yet," she spoke up, hearing Applepaw's question.

---

Viperpaw bounded after Flintstar, excited to be at her first gathering. Realizing that she wasn't appearing very refined, she slowed her pace, glancing around for any other cats to speak to. She saw RiverClan, but she felt a little hesitant to speak to any of their apprentices. After all, with her history and who her mother was, she didn't want anyone to think anything scandalous of her. At the same time, she was curious, because she was half RiverClan. She stood, looking conflicted, and decided to let someone approach her to take it out of her paws.

(Viperpaw is open <3)

Redpaw followed Flintstar into Fourtrees, head held high and her stare cold. It seemed that despite the warming weather, her attitude towards the other Clans hadn't thawed. Flicking her fluffy tail, she looked around for Goldenpaw, hoping that she'd get to spend time with the pretty golden apprentice instead of mingling with the other Clans.

The only other Clan at Fourtrees was RiverClan, and she had to fight the urge to curl her lip at the strongly fish-scented odor.
Imagine eating fish for every meal! Gross.
Despite her distaste for the other Clans, she had the common sense to keep her thoughts to herself.

---

ooc: redpaw is looking for goldenpaw, but she is technically open to talk! she certainly won't be very friendly, though

It was time.

Another gathering loomed on the horizon as Oakstar led his clan through the greening canopy. Green bushes tugged at his pelt as he slipped through them with the ease of Thunderclan. It’d been this way for moons, and would continue to be… but he’d be a liar if he said he expected things to not change. The old tom’s head lifted to the sky. Amber eyes blinked at the glow of the full round moon.

With luck, there would be no storm to end it this time. Perhaps they could talk things out, and make a resolution that would please the stars that winked above them all, waiting and watching. He breathed in deeply, pushed past the final bushes to see Ivystar and Flintstar in wait. This would make three at least. He looked around at the gathered cats, then twitched his tail before he padded down to the gathering.

The leap onto High rock felt like a daunting one. His vision blurred briefly as he stared up at the large rock before he leapt onto it. Paws scrabbled for purchase for a moment before he took his place at the side of the other leaders. His pelt looked a little more unkempt than usual, amber eyes alert, but the lines beneath them showed just how tired he truly was. He rarely felt his years… but he sure did now.

Dacedream moved alongside the rest of ThunderClan as they descended into the hollow of Fourtrees. As she took her first step onto the threshold a nervous shiver ran through her body, and the tortoiseshell she-cat glanced up to the clear, large-mooned sky with an anxious expression. If there was something to fear, though, Dacedream couldn't place it; Silverpelt sparkled in the dark newleaf sky. The storms which had racked the sky at the last Gatherings were nowhere to be seen - but then again, they had come as a surprise as those Gatherings. Still, Dacedream swallowed, took a breath to try to gather her courage, and continued moving.

Once again RiverClan and ShadowClan were the first two to arrive. Dacedream looked at Flintstar and Ivystar, merely drinking in what little information she could glean from their stoic appearances. She winced slightly as she spotted her own leader, Oakstar, scrabble at the top of the Great Rock as though he'd nearly failed to make the leap. Still, a moment later the dark tabby was safe atop the stone, and Dacedream tore her gaze away. She looked around the clearing with a thoughtful expression. Many cats sat mostly by themselves or near their own Clans. Nobody really seemed to feel like socializing... It made since given StarClan's recent fury, but even the apprentices - who were usually a bit more recklessly friendly - were sitting by themselves. With a sigh, Dacedream did the same.

A voice cut through the murmuring around him. Snowpaw first thought one of his siblings was at his heels, but the voice didn’t sound familiar. Maybe it was the apprentice with the flat muzzle? It made sense that she’d find him, rather than the other way around; in this part of the crowd, his smooth white pelt stuck out like fur on a fish. He turned toward where he was sure the voice had come from, only to find that he’d been wrong on both counts. The cat who’d called out wasn’t the one he’d met a moon ago, nor was she part of his family. In fact, she couldn’t have looked less like a RiverClanner—or talked less like one either, he noted, heating to the tips of his ears as he realized exactly what she’d said.

He’d been told a Gathering was no place for fights. But if this cat was going to be like that… What else could he do? As long as they kept their claws in, it wouldn’t be an issue. ”Well, you must be ShadowClan, because you smell like a wet rat,” Snowpaw retorted, scrunching up his muzzle. Though he was on the tall side for his age, he wasn’t nearly tall enough to look down his nose at her. Not that it stopped him from trying. ”You know, eating fish is what makes my pelt look this good,” he meowed as his tail twitched behind him. ”Maybe you should try some.”