ThunderClan Clan Meeting February 2021

Nettlestar stood atop the Highrock, as she often did, though today she had no ceremony or exact announcement to make.

But with everything that had happened, she wanted to do whatever she could to keep the clan energized and united. They would need that if they wanted to make it through this. And as much as she could, she wanted to replicate major traditions like Gatherings. Lest they forget what life should be like.

Her voice rang out, calling them all together.

“ThunderClan! Please gather beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting,” she said, "We cannot meet with the other clans, but we can still gather amongst ourselves and share news,"

OOC: This clan meeting serves as the February Gathering. Please post with your character(s) by Feb. 15 to have the requirement count. Thank you!

He hated the Asylum. He couldn't train his apprentices in peace because of them or just hang out with his clanmates. They were always there.

So Quaildock had felt a tinge of excitment, when Nettlestar called out. Not for the Asylum, but for Thunderclan. He padded out into the clearing and sat down, looking up at Nettlestar.

Owlpaw wasn't sure what was going on when Nettlestar yowled across the camp. It seemed like she wanted everyone to come together, but nobody was ranking up from apprentice... were they? Certainly not her. She'd hardly done anything noteworthy.

Then came the other half of the message. It was some kind of Clan Gathering, aiming to cluster their bodies together and bring about some sense of normal. Even if they couldn't share tongues with the other Clans, they could certainly do so with each other. Hardly anyone talked to each other these days, anyways, so it was as good an excuse as any.

Owlpaw padded up to the Highrock and sat down, waiting for any possible announcement.

OnePaw went over it was not a gathering but it was the next closest thing.

—

OrangePaw went over curious of why NettleStar would want the Clan to meet maybe it would be a gathering but just this clan

Shrikesong had had enough of those stupid Asylum cats.

Yes, she had a wide grin on her face as she padded out of the den to listen to Nettlestar's meetings. Yes, she seemed to be one of the most accepting of cats to the Asylum as time passed. However, anyone who knew her well would know that this wasn't her, and that it was just a mask that she put up, one that she chose to live behind at the moment. After all, who would expect a cat who seemed to be on Asylum's side to stab them in the back? If there was any way for Shrikesong to have a shot at getting rid of the Asylum, she would take it in a heartbeat.

At least this ceremony gave her hope, just like the ones before. When Nettlestar spoke, she blinked. She knew that sharing any news about the mask she was wearing could be dangerous, so she only chose to do so if she was confronted. Really, she talked to Asylum cats quite often in her spare time (mostly to give the guise that she was friendly to the Asylum as a whole), so that could always be a possibility today. But really, she would wait for the time for someone to talk to her.

Shrikesong is open to talk to from any Asylum cat.

Cedarheart had been sitting in camp, keeping a watchful eye over her kits. After the attack on Beecloud, she was filled with not merely a dislike, but hate for the Asylum. She did her best to keep it under control, but her patience was running thin. Nettlestar’s words called out, and the warrior’s ears flicked in the direction of the noise. Anything that the leader had to say would be a welcome distraction, so she trotted over. She quickly spotted her daughter and sat a few paces behind her, so she could keep a watchful eye.

Quickly the question in the air had been popped, and the clan now knew why they had gathered. They were to have a gathering of sorts. She smiled. It was a small act of defiance. Not even their captor’s harsh rules could keep them from having their traditions. She looked around for someone to speak to. She could catch up with one of her clanmates. She hadn’t spoken to some of the cats in the clan for a bit. Maybe, even just for tonight, she could get her mind off of the problems she had been facing.

The large white tom perked as Nettlestar called a meeting but it wasn't the usual ceremony or meeting that he had been used to under Asylum's watch but rather something that gave him some hope after the attack on Beecloud. A gathering.. He hadn't had anything like that in a good number of moons. Thoughts filled the tom's mind of what the other clans were like. He didn't know much about them so curiosity filled his mind about them. Maybe one of the older warriors could share their experiences with him?

Green eyes scanned the clearing. Who would be good to approach about the subject?

Heavy paws padded out from the shadow of the cliff's face, dull green eyes flicking up to see his leader on the High Rock. The waning light played off his ginger pelt, the hairs wavy, partly dishevelled, giving him a vaguely roguish look, like he'd been dragged through a bush and not quite bothered enough to groom it. Or just not cared enough.

For a moment he stopped, just out of the shade, simply looking. They milled, chattering. He could see smiles, hesitant ones some, forced ones other. He could see sparks - glimmers of pain, flickers of hatred - in eyes, in the twitch of a tail, the faint bristling of pelts. He stood, his feet on the grass - the cold grass - and he felt the slow churn in his chest, the smooth surface hiding a raging black current, pushing against the cliff walls edging it in.

Silently, his claws slid out, the comforting feel of thorny nails gripping the ground, piercing through to the soil. Steady. Survive. Living... living was for later. A long, slow breath escaped his maw as he closed his eyes, letting the distant chatter - so separate, so strange - twitch at his ears.

He hadn't come to this Clan, left his own and taken oaths to serve it - to protect it - just so that he could watch as it crumbled beneath the claws of cats who cared nothing for them or their way of life. An undercurrent ran through this meeting, much like it did through him. His muscles longed to tense, to burst free of this cage. And it was... The memory flashed through his mind, of bars and darkness, stifling space closed all around him. Just wide enough to put a paw through, to claw at the floor outside and try to get a grip; any advantage to get out.

He'd been here before. The only way out was to work together. Nervous voices flashed back to memory, other paws that could reach where he couldn't, working at the entrance to pop it open. They knew.... We're all in separate cages, too far apart, too locked-in to help each other.

There was no hope. Unless they did something mousebrained - so audacious that Asylum would be on them sooner than they could blink. With a faint sigh, his eyes opened again, muscles relaxing though he hadn't realized they'd tensed. Padding forward, he moved up to the edge of the crowd, sitting and letting his tail wander off to the side, half-curled. There was no need to stand at his ceremonial place by the High Rock. This wasn't a true gathering - he may as well mingle with his Clanmates while he had the chance, enjoy the semblance of what had been. What he hoped beyond hope could be again.

Minkstream is open to talk to. If you're Asylum, he will bite your ears off, though.

At the first word from her former mentor’s mouth, Thrushnose began to drift toward the Highrock. They’d had a few ceremonies since the takeover; not knowing if any of her younger Clanmates were ready to move up, she assumed this was another. Before she could search the crowd for the lucky kit or apprentice, Nettlestar explained. This wasn’t a ceremony at all, but a Gathering…or the closest thing they were allowed to have. The games had been a mockery, but though this made for a hollow reminder of the traditions they could no longer keep, Thrushnose trusted it. Even if she wondered what good it would do. Asylum lurked when ThunderClan were sharing tongues, calling ceremonies, and everything in between; she'd eat her own tail if they didn’t eavesdrop on this, too. How much could they actually talk about within earshot of their captors? Stifling a shudder, the broad-shouldered tabby settled down among her Clanmates.

Thrushnose is open to talk! (...though Asylum cats might want to tread carefully)

To say Songpaw was scared was an understatement. The multi-toed she-cat sat close to her brother, Orangepaw, and curiously looked up at Nettlestar. "What do you think a 'Gathering' is about, Orangepaw?" Songpaw asked, turning to look at her brother.

OrangePaw looked at his sister”Well I think a gathering is when all 5 clans meet” that’s all he really knew about gatherings so he just waited for his sister to reply.