May Gathering 2020 [Sitewide Plot Finale]

Dappleshine had laid, defeated and silent other than the occasional sobs that escaped her, even when the clearing grew silent. She could sense the shift in the air, but she didn't care much, she knew they would eventually show themselves. However, as the sensation of another cat joined her, her eyes narrowed and she peeked up to find one of the leaders of the Righteous Few herself.... comforting her? No, not comforting, mocking. Her eyes narrowed as she lifted her head to watch as the she-cat before her toyed with her and the ones around her, and the outrage of the cats who had been next to her sounded from all sides. Her teeth bared as Vixenstar implied that it had been her claws that stole Dacedream's life, and the queen's rage served as a crutch for her to stand tall and strong for the first time since the sickness had gripped her. This rotting pile of crowfood had killed her daughter, and now had the sheer idiocy to come deliver herself into her claws? Her plumy tail lashed as she gently nudged Strom away, the act of him coughing in the starry cats face bringing a cold glimmer of amusement to her eyes momentarily. Glancing over to him, Cherryblossom, and Honeytongue, she gestured to Vixenstar with a plumy tail. "She's mine."


Turning then to Vixenstar, her eyes shone with hatred and disdain as she hissed. "You don't belong here. You never have, and you never will. You neither have the power nor the right to tell me when and how I can grieve, and I will continue to do just as I like, Vixenstar. I must admit, you're more fish-brained than I took you for initially, daring to show your face to me and boast about your part in my daughter's death. Clearly you don't understand the grief, and the rage, of a mother when something dare harms her kit, but I have a very strong suspicion you're about to learn, little Vixenstar. You should have stayed in the stars where you belonged. My deepest fears and darkest nightmares have already been realized, thanks to you and your... companions. I don't fear anything more than I feared what has already passed, so do your worst Vixenstar. I can promise you I'll return the favor over and over again, until you beg for mercy. I'm not afraid of death, Vixenstar, and I don't intend to meet my end tonight. You, on the other paw, should be absolutely terrified of what the darkness beyond death holds, because I can promise you I will make you see it tonight with my own claws." Dappleshine had drawn herself up to her full height, the flames of anger and revenge for her daughter's murder fanning her strength as she stared back into the Righteous Few leader's eyes, challenging her.

---

They were here. Time was up. Daisybloom pressed against her side, and Mossbloom instinctively licked her ears gently once before moving to be slightly in front of her and Honeypaw as one of the companions of the Righteous Few approached. "Daisybloom, take the other apprentices and show them where the herbs are. We're going to need them. Be quick, be safe, and you all work together to set up a safe area. We'll join you soon." She whispered as the tom drew near, his round face filled with a sneer as he looked up and down each of them. Mossbloom merely looked back at him, her resolve unwavering as she remained silent next to Mothglow and Aspenheart, anger burning in her eyes.

---

Blossomstep's confusion grew as a pretty cat with marbled fur approached them, her voice purring as she wove around the two of them. "Wolfcall? A rebellion? Morningpaw? What is she talking about?" She questioned her mate, peering at the anger still in his posture and then past him to the apprentice that had stepped forward past the other leaders and deputies. Was that Morningpaw? What was this about a rebellion? And what part did she have in it? Another starry figure moved closer, but her attention was directed to the last leader on the Greatrock.... Spottedstar. Her mocking words hit off of Spottedstar, and Blossomstep's confusion deepened. Amberdawn.... She had heard that name before.... What did Spottedstar have to do with her leaving? She had heard that she left on her own after the trial that led to Tinystar losing a life.... Was that wrong? No, it didn't matter. She would stand by her mentor and leader, no matter what.

---

Galestar turned her head down to regard the familiar she-cat apprentice. "Softpaw..." She greeted her simply, her expression tumultuous as she continued to war with herself following Softpaw's words. Shaking her tabby head, she spoke louder than usual before leaning down towards the apprentices ears with a whisper. "Softpaw, I can't. It's outside of my paws now. I'll do what I can to ensure she does not perish though. Don't cry, little one. I'm sorry."

---

Goldengale stood and positioned herself at her son's side. Morningpaw was her grandkit, and she'd send every single one of these starry no-goods to the Dark Forest before she came to harm.

---

OOC:
-Dappleshine will be going for, you guess it, Vixenstar. That loser murdered her daughter after all.
-Blossomstep will be going for Whinchatswirl
-Mossbloom will be throwing out herbs like candy at a parade
-Goldengale will be going after whoever may be open

Cedarheart saw the crowd gathering around Vixenstar, ready for her demise. Of course, she looked pretty powerful, and they would need a few cats to bring her down, however they could do that to someone, nothing more than a ghost. But yet, really, they were more than ghosts. They could kill, and fight. Still, they weren’t living. If they had been living, they wouldn’t have been this audacious, to just start killing these cats. No matter who they killed, they would only be fueling the cause. ”If you kill one of us now,” her voice rang out. ”You’ll only fuel the cause, only make us fight back stronger. There’s no escaping it.” she mewed to the starry cats.

Applefang quickly felt his brother and father at his side, and he felt stronger. Although he didn’t agree with these cats, he didn’t feel as strongly as, for example, Morningpaw. Or that Thunderclanner that spoke out seconds ago. That brown tabby. No, he just wanted everyone to be safe.

Daisybloom, with a nod, pulled herself away from Mossbloom, beckoning the apprentices over with her tail. ”Just in case something like this happened,” she explained as she led them over, ”Me and Mossbloom brought some herbs.” she picked up two bundles, beckoning the others to grab some as well.

Creeksplash watched as the cats gathered. They dared to question them? She felt herself filling with anger. These insolent, filthy cats had poisoned the forest they had once lived in. But tonight, they would pay. Tonight, the Righteous Few would cleanse the forest. They were doing those living cats a favor, really. And how did they repay it? With ungratefulness! She felt the urge to strike out now, to claw at these dumb cats. But she would wait. She would wait and soon, this place would be covered in the blood of the code-breakers. It was a small price to pay for making the clans great, once again.

ooc: I think I’ve given Creeksplash a different suffix in  another post. This^^ is the correct one lol

((Ravenmist is going straight for Brackenstar when the battle starts, while Crowspirit will probably attack whoever goes for Morningpaw.))

Ravenmist curled her tail, speaking after Flintstar. “I apologize for not telling you. But we deemed it necessary at the time. You know that I would never lay a claw against you or ShadowClan.”

Then the StarClanners came, and the blind deputy bristled. Brackenstar was among them. Tonight, she’d defend Morningpaw, defend her Clan, and show that idiot just what a blind deputy could do. “Well-spoken, Morningpaw. Whatever happens, I will stand and fight. For peace, for freedom.”

_____________________________

Crowspirit growled, low in his throat when the StarClanners spoke. ”If even one of you lays a claw on my daughter, I’ll rip you apart slowly, limb from limb.” The only tone present in his voice was rage, unbridled rage. Morningpaw spoke well, but she had no chance against a StarClanner. She was only an apprentice. His daughter, sweet Morningpaw, facing against a StarClanner. He wouldn’t have it. Whatever happened, he would fight beside her. Protect her.

_____________________________

Kestrelstorm stood in silence behind the leaders, proud, ready. But she would wait for their signal, like the loyal warrior she always had been. And now she had sworn her loyalty to these cats, and would fight and die, again, for them. Death was not something she feared, it never had been. Her purpose was to serve her Clan, and she would serve it through to the end. ThunderClan would suffer temporarily, but it would be necessary to bring back purity.

((All of my cats are apprentices they would be backup.))

Willowpaw nodded at Daisybloom, beckoning for Moonpaw to join her. “Ok, Daisybloom...what do you want me to do?” She asked, ready to do anything that would help her Clan. “Do you want us to set up a temporary camp of some sort, or drag injured cats to the medicine den?” Willowpaw didn’t want to be useless again, not like in the plague. This time she would actually help her Clan out.

Streampaw heard the ThunderClan medicine cat’s call and padded over towards the cat. Looking around, she spotted herb bundles hidden near the border, and she smirked. Whoever had thought of that idea was smart. Now they had a chance to heal cats. 


Ebonypaw padded over silently, still blending into the shadows. She said nothing, as she was cold to strangers. She saw apprentices her age eve try where, including Ashpaw, which she tried her best to ignore. Ashpaw was obviously mad at her, but she had another task: helping out her Clan.

Clovertwist watched as Morningpaw - as ever unwilling to back down even from an impossible challenge - stepped forward, willing to meet the Righteous Few's challenge. The WindClan tom was struck with worry, despite the strong, compelling words the she spoke... more words to make Finchstar proud. He glanced aside to Cedarheart as she growled at one of the starry cats, a leader from the first visit, who had approached Dappleshine and sneered at her. "Be safe," Clovertwist mumbled after her as Cedarheart left him alone once more in the furious and anxious crowd. He turned his head back to listen to Morningpaw's moving speech, her words of certainty. She was afraid, but they all were, and it was alright. Just as the Gathering before, voices began to cry out, rallying in agreement behind Morningpaw. Clovertwist looked towards Briarthorn as he snarled a threat and promise.

At that moment Clovertwist began looking for Goldengale - his sister. More cats in the crowd had begun to yowl in fury and protest, and Clovertwist's fur prickled as he felt the tension growing. He was somewhat alarmed to find Goldengale's familiar pelt at the front of the clearing nearest to Morningpaw, with hew son Crowspirit before her. Defending the family, he thought proudly, and glancing furtively around the clearing he began to weave through the crowd to join them. He glared as he heard the starry cats continuing to taunt and mock the Clans in the clearing, but he continued to make his way to Goldengale. He stopped once his silver pelt brushed her side, his cold amber gaze burning into Badgerstar where he had demanded Morningpaw's presence.

---

As the proud representative of the Righteous Ones loomed in front of the medicine cats, he heard the crowd around him crying with protest, demanding peace or justice or violence or whatever else. Larchneedle was disappointed that none of the medicine cats seemed to be joining in; they all sat with cold, quiet reserve and stony faces. His green eyes locked onto the eyes of Mossbloom, the ThunderClan cat, and he scowled at her. "It makes sense you ended up as a medicine cat, huh?" he asked, and then he scoffed, "Kittypet - happy to sit back while others get shredded doin' the hard work." His eyes shifted to Aspenheart, and he smiled, but it was a mirthful grin. "Unlike you! You've done everythin' right, what with gettin' squashed by dogs and then goin' on to serve StarClan anyways. It's just too bad your Clan doesn't seem to give a rat's tail about your opinion, huh?" he drawled, and then he snickered and looked to Softpaw where she looked pleadingly up at a dark-faced Galestar. "It sucks bein' spurned for little half-Clanners who haven't earned what you've got," Larchneedle meowed with an edge to his voice.

His injury still hurt. Nearly half a moon later, it still stung at his throat, made his voice a bit worse for wear, but nowhere as bad as his heart. He followed Flintstar’s lead with paws as heavy as rocks. His tail low and drooped in uncertainty and misery. He wished he could have said more… done more… but his time in camp had been him healing… and reminiscing. Every shadow reminded him of a life he once had. Every piece of prey and herb… he was almost lost to grief as it ripped his chest and soul apart. Shadowclan has been his home once, the place where he was born… and he had turned his back on them. As though it was a simple thing, like family was all that mattered and clan bonds meant nothing.

Regret stung his heart so violently it nearly made him fall.

Marshpaw looked ahead to the gathered cats. His haunches sat on the very edge of the clearing as he listened to yowls of anger and watched the gathering storm clouds. The pelts of starry cats that once would have meant so much to him. Now… all they meant was confusion, panic and pain. They had taken away one of his best warriors without a thought. Dacedream wasn’t his warrior though. She had belonged in RiverClan… didn’t she? Just like he belonged in ShadowClan once. He stared down at the muddy grass at his paws. The way it mingled with the white of his pawtips made him think of muddied clouds. It brought back a painful realisation that even if he had been born in ShadowClan, he was still half clan. Everything about him was wrong. He should never have been chosen as a leader.

”You are not alone." He ears flattened as the words rang through his memory. The memory of a starry forest and the golden tom sat next to him. Warm as in life… and just as brave and kind. Marshpaw was none of those things. Marshpaw was cold, distant… so alone. ”...brother." His claws dug into the dirt. The memory that leapt into his mind one of uncertainty. When Oakstar, newly appointed had visiting Leopardclaw in the medicine den. When the other tom was weak from demotion… Marshpaw had foolishly asked the tom if they could be like brothers. There was no blood tie there, yet there he was. Doing one more thing that he could have done in ShadowClan and didn’t.

Half of him wanted to turn away. To leave the gathering, to let the angry starred cats win. Perhaps they were right.

He paused. Two full strides away from the gathering as tears fell to the ground. His chest ached so badly he could barely breathe as Dustcloud came to mind. Dustcloud, Nettlefire, Mossbloom, Batbite… His mate, cats that were or he considered to be family. The marshes were cold to him now. Despite his two week tenure among them. He didn’t tread them as well… missed the paths sometimes. They were like old friends far apart. In the gathering behind him… was warmth. His head tilted in the direction of the gathering once more as yowls intensified.

Threats of death lingered in the air, in a very familiar voice. Vixenpaw. Certainly her anger was justified… his ears flattened. She wasn’t his concern… but she was. His time in ShadowClan was spent in confusion as cats continued to call him Oakstar. The gifted name of StarClan… the one that even as the angry tom had stripped away, his brother had returned. Wolffang had fought the other StarClan cats to protect him… and now he stood facing away from his clan. Towards the marsh and forest that was cold and unfamiliar.

A low, gutted yowl rose from his throat. Everything hurt. His head, his heart… nothing made sense anymore. Who was he supposed to be? Where was he supposed to go?

“Lead them well, Oakstar. I am proud of you.” His amber eyes closed as he felt a wave of memories wash over him. His ceremony… his leadership ceremony. Where they could have rejected him cold… but instead, they trusted him. Enough to name him, to believe in him.
“To live through the easy moments and to survive and push forward through the difficult ones. Keep your wits about you, Marshstorm.” His old leader. Not Blizzardshine… but even Thrushstar had been alright with it. Not happy, but not angry either. The old leader had been gracious about it.

Here he stood, turning his back on it all. Oakstar’s amber eyes reopened. His heart slowed and steadied as the ache in his heart and chest slowly began to abate. He didn’t know these starclan cats. They were not familiar to him. Whomever they were, was far before his time. Their ideals and struggles were far in the past now… and the current one. That was the one that mattered. He turned back towards the gathering. Each pawstep towards it made his head raise higher. Prouder. No matter what these cats said… the truth of it. The singular truth he had to remember, was that some StarClan cats believed in him. They think he made the right call. They trusted him.

He could never repay that trust by running.

Spotlake watched in terror as Starclan cats came down. No as the rightous few came down. So many cats spoke. But Spotlake didn't listen to many of them. She only listened to her Morningpaw and Crowspririt. And only one thougt crossed Spotlake's mind.

They were going to hurt her kits and anyone else she cared about if they decided to fight against the rightous few.

"Please don't hurt any cat. Please don't hurt Morningpaw. Please." Spotlake pleaded, tears coming down her cheeks, her voice loud and full of fear.

"Please."

OOC: Spotlake will fight any one that dare lays a claw on her children and Nightwolf will take on any Starclan cat. Spotlake is in full Mom mode

(OOC: didn't read over this post, so there's probably some typos in there)))

'Maybe this won't be a bad gathering after all?" Smallbean let out a sigh of relief. The leaders seemed eager to get this gathering over with. Most of them had already spoken, and still no "righteous few". The gathering was going well, at least in his point of view. He turned his head to Beepaw as he began to speak, making sure he was still listening to the leaders. "Yeah, it's b-been the s-same for Windclan. I usually just k-keep my nose out of it and try going on as m-many patrols as i can to keep myself distracted." He pawed at the ground. "What do yo-"

Smallbean felt his heart jump into his throat when he heard an ear-splitting screech rip through the air around Fourtrees. His eyes widened in fear. "W-what... W-was...." He couldn't will himself to finish the question. He deep down knew what it was. It was the very thing he was afraid of, coming to this gathering, yet what he came here for. His fur stood on end as he stood on his hind legs, trying to see above he crowd. Then they caught his eye. Many cats, all coming from what seemed like the shadows beneath the trees. He immediately ducked down, trying to hide himself. What was he going to do? Of course, there was no guarantee of a battle, but the tensions were so high, and as far as he knew this was far more "righteous few" cats than had been at the last gathering. He started to tremble, the worst thoughts coming to his mind. What would happen to his family?

Immediately he raised his head and started looking above the crowd. Without saying a word, he left Beepaw and started weaving between cats, trying to find a familiar pelt. He didn't really need to find who he was looking for, as he soon heard Crowspirit's yowl from above the crowd. He rushed toward his voice and was relieved to find that Spotlake was there too. "O-oh good, You're all still okay." He meowed. He wanted to be close to his parents in case of something bad happening, but he also wanted to be there for Larkflight. He spotted her close nearby and padded up to her. "Larkflight, a-are you alright?"

---

Robinloft narrowed her eyes when she heard a yowl echo around the clearing. "So, these are the righteous few I've heard so much about?" She growled, watching the cats appear from the brush and undergrowth around Fourtrees. These were the cats that had killed Dacedream. These were the cat's that had killed Torrentstar and Thornstar. These were the cats that had killed Finchstar. These cats had no right to call themselves righteous! They have killed many cats, and the still call themselves Righteous! They'd be better off in the Dark Forest for what they've done! She felt her hackles begin to raise when one asked for Morningpaw. Her eyes widened. What were they going to do to an apprentice? They surely wouldn't kill an apprentice, would they?

As yowls of protest began to rise above the crowd, Robinloft heard the confident voice of Morningpaw above them all. She'd always admired the young she-cat for her confidence. If she were in the same situation, she wasn't sure what she would do. But she wasn't going to let them take Morningpaw. She wasn't the main cause of the rebellion, every cat spoke and acted for themselves when joining the rebellion, herself included. As she listened to the Windclan apprentice's speech, something gave her new confidence. Every word she spoke was true, whether the Righteous few believed it or not. Either way, Robinloft felt like something bad was going to happen, and all she could do was ready herself for the storm that was yet to come.


Robinloft will try going after Aspenleaf (if someone doesn't already have dibs on her), and Smallbean will fight whoever confronts him, probably will stick close to/help Spotlake, Crowspirit, and Larkflight.

Olivestone could hardly believe her ears as Lavenderbreeze split off from the group to begin taunting Spottedstar, of all cats. While she didn't think particularly highly of the SkyClan leader, she still thought it unfair that the Righteous Few would publicly call him out in front of everyone. Still, she felt the newly familiar anger growing more in her gut, and she knew she'd fight to protect her charge. Morningpaw was her apprentice, and Olivestone was willing to do anything to protect her, even at the cost of her own safety.

---

Cherryblossom, for once, didn't mind Vixenpaw's screeching, because for once, she agreed with what was leaving her sister's mouth. She flexed her claws, digging them into the ground as she imagined digging them into Vixenstar's starry pelt, and making her pay for the suffering she'd caused. She knew that everyone in her immediate vicinity would join her in that, and she glanced at each of them in turn.

---

ooc: i said this before but as the battle draws nearer, and for those who missed it, i'll say it again!

olivestone will be going after lavenderbreeze! (Plans:tm: are afoot)
cherryblossom will go after vixenstar
redwolf will go after whoever is closest to her

Foxspirit was terrified. She stared at the righteous few as they called Morningpaw forwards. No! Not my grandkit! They were going to kill her! She looked over at Spotlake, who seemed to have come to the same conclusion. "Spotlake!" Foxspirit said to the young she-cat. "Sweety, no matter what happens, please, try to stay safe. You're my last kit- I... I can't lose you too!" Her eyes were filled with tears as she looked back to Morningpaw as she spoke to the starry cats.

Echofrost's eyes grew wide with despair. They had come again! They were here for him, and all the other codebrakers! He started to back up, hiding in the greenery at the edge of the clearing. He was still feeling weak, and knew that he couldn't run far if he tried, so he resolved to stay in the bush. Hopefully, he would be overlooked.

OOC: Foxspirit will go for anyone who hurts her family, especially Spotlake. Echofrost will hide in his bush until someone attacks him

Owlstar slid from the moonlight alongside his companions, head high, long tail curled with satisfaction. Long had he awaited this day, the day when the clans would pay for their disregard of the Warrior Code. Their treachery against the very bones of the clans - what made them separate from loners, rogues, and kittypets. The others, Galestar specifically, had been convinced they could show mercy, that it would only take a small show of force to goad the clans into compliance.

But Owlstar had known from the beginning that it would require more. It would require blood, and lots of it. Torrentstar, Thornstar, Finchstar, Dacedream... they had been a start, but the clans had rallied behind them rather than cowing, like they'd have been smart to do. They'd been given opportunity after opportunity to prove themselves, and yet... at every turn, they met the Righteous Few with resistance.

This ended here. Tonight, in a blaze of glory and retribution. And when the smoke cleared, the Righteous Few would raise the clans from the ashes of what remained. As the others made their way around the clearing, Owlstar remained silent. He prowled around the clan cats with a deliberate air about him, searching the crowd for one, single cat. His eyes landed on the lanky tom, shivering in place through even the warmth of Newleaf, and his eyes never left Sunflower as he approached. Owlstar fell to his haunches gracefully beside the warrior, tail around Sunflower's body as if to provide warmth or comfort to the terrified tom.

And then he waited until there was a lull in the conversation, a moment of silence, before he called out. "SKYCLAN." His voice was booming, demanding of attention, and when the majority of the cats' eyes were on him, he continued. "Very few are entirely blameless here, but some, more than others, have learned from the lessons we've given. I give you the opportunity now, and I will only give it once: join us. Cast aside the sins of the other clans and ally yourself to our cause. You will all be immune to the retribution that is to come." His eyes then moved to stare at the tom at his side, cold and flat in the moonlight. "Except for my friend here, that is. A small price to pay for the immunity of the rest of the clan, no?"

Owlstar pinned Spottedstar with an expectant gaze. "I will not ask again."


She knew they would come, and they did. Amid the already chaotic gathering, the news of Dacedream's death creating ripples of anger and disbelief, amid Morningpaw's declaration of rebellion, they appeared... malevolent shadows, eyes glowing in the moonlight. There were so many of them. Rainstrike had known there were more than just the Five - she'd seen Lavenderbreeze there with Vixenstar on the day Dacedream was killed, but she hadn't imagined this many could be involved. It was nearly an entire clan's worth of starry cats, prowling, slinking, waiting. Rainstrike was waiting, too. Her eyes closed for a brief moment as the realization of what was about to happen truly sank in. Blood would be shed tonight. ThunderClan, RiverClan, ShadowClan, WindClan, and SkyClan blood. Cats would probably die, and she would be complicit in it.

But she had no regrets. Badgerstar had given her instruction, and she would follow it. The pointed tabby's icy eyes flickered to Minkstream, where he sat hemming and hawing his displeasure. Her claws slid into the dirt as the wounds across her shoulderblades, nearly healed now, prickled with the memory of his cowardly attack. If she got the opportunity, he would be the first to die at her paws.


It was clear to Wolfcall that he'd displeased several of the other cats in Morningpaw's little group of rebels, but he didn't care - his father's snarl of outrage atop the rock, his angry words at assuming SkyClan would aid them, was enough for the deputy to justify his reaction. SkyClan would not participate in open rebellion. Blossomstep's sudden appearance at his side both startled and relieved him. He licked her cheek, nodding twice and responding, voice low. "Yes, everything's fine, I-" his words were suddenly drowned out by an earsplitting yowl, and instinctively, the deputy was on his paws. The fur along his spine spiked as the StarClan cats appeared, and he moved to stand in front of Blossomstep, pressing his flank against her to gently guide her back against the Great Rock where he'd just been sitting. The marbled tabby she-cat that approached them spoke nonsense, he was sure - Blossomstep wasn't involved in any sort of rebellion, right? No one in SkyClan was.

The dark tom's eyes narrowed, a silent threat that any move made against his mate would mean bloodshed, but the she-cat slunk away without further aggression, calling up to his father on the rock about Amberdawn, the previous medicine cat. He knew nothing about that, but it was clearly a jab to make Spottedstar uncomfortable or angry. Don't sink to their level, he pleaded silently.

And then... "SKYCLAN!"

Wolfcall's head snapped to see Owlstar, the tom who'd been preying on Juniperpaw at the last Gathering, settled next to Sunflower. He started to growl, but the noise died in his throat as the starry cat made his offer to their clan. The deputy's eyes narrowed, lowering to trace the ground at his paws in confusion and uncertainty. They hadn't been a part of any of this so far - why would they interfere now? And what had Sunflower done to earn this former leader's wrath? Wolfcall lifted his head, like Owlstar, his eyes on Spottedstar atop the rock. What would his answer be?


Stembreeze was ready to spill blood, and it showed. The silver WindClan tabby paced, wearing a thin line into the dirt at his paws. His eyes were wild, crazed, but he restrained himself, waiting for the command that he knew was coming: kill.

Flowerthorn remained at the back of the group even as the clans mingled. Her blue eyes turned to Foxfire as he told her that he was going to sit with her tonight. The pale warrior offered a nod in response turning her attention back to the leaders. Not that they said anything important, but when the five showed up her mind was focused on them. There was so much going on different cats saying different things.. Sunflower... The pale warrior watched with growing irritation. Her tail flicking silent behind her.

---

Dacedream... Oh stars no.. Stormbringer was at a loss for words. The oh reaction she showed was shock. She didn't know the She-cat too well.. but she was loyal to her clan even if it wasn't her original. Out of all the cats in the forest.. it has to be Dacedream didnt it?

Amber eyes turned to the five dead leaders and their followers. A fire burned within them. She wasn't going to let them get away with this.. any of this.. As long as these dead leaders were around there was no keeping Riverclan safe, and Riverclan was her life. Her mates.. her family.. She wouldnt let them take Ivystar like they did Finchstar. She would rather break first.

He shouldn't have come, he should've protested and fought against it, really should've. But, he hadn't and had been a coward, as always, and now, because of his fear of speaking up, Owlstar had wrapped his tail around him once more. The cunning tom's deceitful words caused the lengthy tom to choke on his own breath and as he sat there shivering, all he could do was stare at his paws as tears welled in his eyes.

"Except for my friend here, that is."

The leader's words cut through his thin pelt like a thousand hornets. He... he would die if SkyClan joined them? He... he may have been nothing more than a coward, but even so, he didn't want to die. If anything, his cowardliness had been the only thing keeping him alive his whole life, all just so that he would die at the paws of some evil StarClan cat? Staying quiet with his abnormally large ears pinned back against his head, the tall, slender tom swallowed the lump in his throat, trying not to panic or make the mistake as he did last gathering when Vixenstar had talked to him. His clanmates wouldn't let him die, would they? Or maybe they would, seeing as though he was nothing but a liability to the clan. Maybe, his demise would be a blessing to SkyClan.

“You shouldn’t listen to such an apprentice.” A stern and cold voice echoed. A dark tortoishell tom stepped forward from behind the line of leaders. The scars that marred his pelt clear lines of shadows that brought darkness to his glow as he glowered down at the cats who dared. First they ruined the sacred code by not following it. Now, they spat in its face as those who still worshipped it tried to ensure its realization. It was a painful, disgusting folly. This couldn’t be allowed to continue.

Even better, there was a simple solution to all this. Take out the head, and the body would writhe until it succumbed. His green gaze fell squarely to Morningpaw’s. A righteous fire burned within them as he stared down the little windclan cat. He prowled forward. Muscles tended and ready as he stalked towards the cats.
“Let me make this perfectly clear.” He growled, eyes turned from Morningpaw, to windclan and the cats beyond. Eventually resting on Flintstar. “You will hand over Morningpaw to us. She will see her punishment for her traitorous actions.” He snarled as he sensed a cat about to interrupt and whipped around with pelt bristled. “This sacred code you Tarnish is the very thing that ensured your survivals until now. Without it, you’d have all never been born. Your lives are owed to US and we will take them BACK!” His paw slammed down. A single tree branch that had laid in the clearing snapped easily beneath his claws, despite being as thick as a foreleg.

“If we must, we will break the clans apart by force! For the sake of the code!” His voice rose, echoed throughout the clearing as it rippled into a snarl. Waiting, daring, for a single cat to make the wrong choice.

Someone stepped up to her side, and Swansong glanced over to see her apprentice stand there, his frame shivering slightly, but determination darkening his gaze. She felt a flicker of pride run through her, warming her even through the coldness these prancing monster had dragged in with them. These cats... they would sentence to death another apprentice simply because she saw that they were wrong. Swansong herself, had she been in her paws, might have done the same, and had probably already done enough to draw their wrath.

It was time to make a stand.

Gently, she let her tail rest briefly on his back, trying to help lend him as much support as she could. The young tom had already shown himself brave, and bold - she just hoped he could continue to, no matter how much these cats tried to tear them down and crush that spirit of boldness and strength.

A yowl from behind brought her head whipping around, her eyes narrowing at the sight of the tom who had waltzed among her Clanmates at the last gathering. What is he...? A sudden dread curled into her stomach as he brushed up against her brother, her face suddenly going cold with something akin to anger as her eyes widened, a horrible feeling clenching her heart in a dreadful grip. His words rang through the clearing, directed at her Clan, her family, and in an instant, tearing her brother from both. No....

"A small price?" She felt the fur rising along her spine. "What has Sunflower done? Will you not stop until every cat, every one of our Clanmates, lies dead for an imagined offense?"

"Who are you to demand this?" Her voice, normally reasonable and soft, deepened to something laden with stone, something she had never quite felt before. They had touched those dearest to her. They had dared to speak ill of those she loved, and suddenly, she felt the last shreds of uncertainty melting away like snow under the blazing sun of green-leaf.

But before she could continue, before any of them could cry out further, a dark presence stirred. The voice cut through their words with a growl, and she found her eyes turning to him, even as her posture stayed ready to defend her kin, her brother. His voice rose to a snarl, and she found her spine arching in response, poised to move, poised for whatever might come. When his paw crashed down, splintering a branch as thick as her foreleg, she felt her ears flatten, silence reigning through the clearing as his eyes panned slowly over them, as if daring them to move.

"Our lives do not belong to you."

Her voice didn't need to be any louder, the quiet was thick enough to hear a strand of fur drop. Casting caution to the winds, she took a step forward, pale blue eyes steeled as she met his gaze.

"You say Morningpaw is a traitor. I do not see treachery in her actions. The only treachery that has been, or will ever be, is yours. You think that you can take our lives by force, you think that the way to bring order is to split us apart. You have never been more wrong."

Lifting her head, she let a smile, grim and yet with a hint of the carefree gladness of her youth, twitch at the corners of her maw. "The sacred code you claim has been tarnished is held up by the very thing you spit on. Morningpaw is right. Love is what keeps us, love is what unites us. Without it, you don't have a Clan, you don't have anything."

"If you claim that you will break apart the Clans for the sake of the Code, then you do not know what the Code is." Her lips peeled back ever so slightly as she spoke, her eyes flashing. "If you break apart the Clans, then there is no Code."

She turned her gaze to the Rock, to a small apprentice, wise beyond her years, brave beyond her rank, and dipped her head in respect. "Morningpaw, may the true StarClan light your path, and defend your bravery in upholding their Code as it should be upheld."

"As for me," She paused, turning her eyes back to the monster in front of her, memories of others who had held the mantle of Righteous flitting through her mind - Tinystar, as he stood on the High Branch, his voice declaring the death of an apprentice who should have been given a second chance, and Burningsun, her teeth buried in his throat because she thought StarClan had told her to deliver justice. All of them, guided not by love, as Moonlight had been, but by something else - condemnation, and a callous disregard for the lives they would destroy to uphold it. "I would rather die than follow the so-called Righteous. I have had enough of your ways, 'pure' as they might seem."

"I will not stand by and help you slaughter the innocent."