November Gathering 2021

Bloodstar lead Skyclan to Fourtrees in a mix of excitement and… nervousness? This was far from his first gathering. Since he had been an apprentice he had attended every gathering… but this was his first one as a leader. A part of him wished he had Wolfcall’s support right now despite knowing exactly what to do just from moons of observation and from acting as leader in Wolfstar’s place once. There was a lot to report, as always, from Skyclan. He broke off from the rest of his clan and took his place upon the Great Rock. He’d been on the rock before, but this time it was truly his place. He wasn’t here as a stand in for someone else.

Bloodstar sat down and patiently waited for the other clans to arrive. He could only imagine some of the whispers… and not quite whispers, that were going to be going around the gathering like wildfire. He knew he was likely the least favorite of the leaders that would be on this rock tonight, but that was also the least of his concerns. Bloodstar was here now, and he was here to stay until he was ready to step down and let Ashstorm receive her nine lives in his stead. After that… he was tempted to live out the rest of his days in Skyclan until he was too old and slow to be of any use. Whether or not he would throw himself to dogs to avoid being a burden to his clan or feel entitled to the treatment elders got in the elder’s den… he wasn’t entirely sure just yet.

The cold wind seemed to cut through her fur as she padded behind Bloodstar and Ashstorm, ears flicking back in irritation as leaves crunched under foot. Beechface fluffed up her fur, grumbling butt they reached the edge of the hollow. It seemed as though Skyclan had been the first to arrive, and she just hoped that the other clans didn't take their sweet time in getting here. She wanted this gathering over with so she could go home.

Beechface stalked into fourtrees with the rest of the clan, choosing a place closer to the great rock and away from the infernal swaying of the tree branches in the wind. It made her fur bristle, and the scarred medicine cat struggled to smooth it back down, claws digging into the cold earth.

Beechface is open to talk to medicine cats.
Smokefeather is not in attendance.
Swiftspirit and Mistyfalcon have not arrived yet.

SkyClan had been the first to arrive at the Gathering. Spottedfrog trailed near the back of the clan, her desire to be up in the thick of things far outweighed by wanting to stay as far away from Beechface as possible. As they arrived, she split away, heading to flop down somewhere near the middle of the clearing.

It was Pigeonsun's first Gathering as a full warrior of SkyClan, and he prayed to StarClan it would be a peaceful one as he followed the rest of the clan into Fourtrees. Noticing Beechface settling down near the Great Rock, he slunk over, offering a quick purr in greeting, and settled down nearby. He knew the medicine cat wasn't fond of being here since the incident a few moons ago, and truthfully he wasn't too thrilled about it either.

Hailpaw strutted into his first gathering as though he had been to one every day of his life, confidence and excitement radiating off of him to an almost suffocating degree. He had taken the whole day before to collect the prettiest flowers that had survived the leaf-fall chill and delicately weaved them into his tail and chest fur. He was by far the best-looking cat here (in his expert opinion.)

Only, Skyclan was the first clan in. Who was he going to make his grand entrance to if no one else was here?! All that talent wasted. He let himself fall into a more casual gait, the taste of disappointment sticking to the roof of his mouth as his eyes scanned the treeline. Cats would show up soon, then he could see what the other clans are like. Hopefully they were interesting.

Hailpaw is open to show off talk!
Cicadapaw and Ebonypaw have not arrived yet.

Slowly, Flintstar led his Clan into the clearing. He lurched forward with a limp, his shoulder wound still a brilliant red as it was slowly knitting itself closed after the brutal fight with the rogues. But...At least the threat was dealt with - with luck a peace would fall under ShadowClan for some time. He gave his head a shake as he pressed forward, making his way to the Great Rock. As he reached the base, he started to bunch up his muscles for a leap before he froze, gaze traveling up the height of the rock before he took a small step back, a small expression of uncertainty flashing over his face. With a huff, he pushed himself onto his back paws, bracing his one good paw against the stone as he judged the length...Then looked down at where his right leg hung limply.

...He couldn't make the jump. Or, well, he could... But he knew it would be a terrible choice - he couldn't lift his leg to clear the rock. It would be a risk - catching his leg on the edge of the rock or getting it pinned beneath him. His ears twitched as he stepped away from the rock, glancing over at where SkyClan's deputy - a...New cat? He hadn't taken a look at the Great Rock on the approach to see if Wolfstar was there. Had something happened to his deputy? ...Or had something happened to the leader?

He gave his head a shake as he instead turned his gaze to his deputy, twitching an ear. "...It seems I will be sitting with you lot for the night," he meowed solemnly as he turned and took his spot. There was...Much to think about with this turn of events but it was nothing he had to dwell on in the moment. "...That is fine, I can...Do my announcements from down here," he added with a mutter, ears twitching as he suddenly remembered how much he hated sitting down here. The sounds always bounced from rock, making it overwhelming at times.

...Flintstar had never enjoyed Gatherings. Somehow, this one had just gotten much worst.

Murkystrike padded behind Flintstar as they neared Fourtrees, watching him out of the corner of her eyes. His wound was healing, very slowly, but still he hadn't regained use of his leg. It worried her, and she knew that her concerns were echoed in the rest of the clan. So focused was she on the tom as they neared Greatrock that she wasn't paying attention to who all was present thus far. He gauged the jump hesitantly, and Murkystrike's brow furrowed the longer he hesitated. His head shook and Murkystrike let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding, a sense of relief and also uncertainty filling her chest. If Flintstar couldn't get up the rock... Could he get up Jaggedrock? It wasn't as steep... She nodded as he said he would sit with the deputies, moving from her usual spot to allow Flintstar to take a seat there and settling beside him on his injured side. Now that they were settled where they would be, she looked around the clearing. SkyClan was the only clan to have arrived yet... She turned to find a different deputy representing the neighboring clan. Her ear flicked as she glanced up Greatrock, unable to see from that angle who was atop it, but she could easily guess that Bloodstrike, likely Bloodstar now, stood atop it.

The walk to Fourtrees usually tired Basilpaw out quite a bit, but this time much more than usual.  Perhaps because she had been working her tail off ever since the battle to treat every wound and make sure no infections were setting in, though while doing her work it felt as if it took no effort at all, being on the go all the time definitely had an effect on the frail she-cat.  There was no way she was missing a Gathering though, and she forced herself to take the last few pawsteps to bring her down the slope into the clearing before she flopped down to her belly and took several deep, calming breaths.  Her heart was struggling...  While she found her strength again, she watched as her mother and Flintstar approached the Great Rock, and a sudden pang of realization struck her.  Oh no...if Flintstar tries to jump onto the rock I'll have to go stop him, no way he can make it.  To her relief though, her leader chose safety over pride and settled down with the deputies, though her heart panged to see it.  

Flintstar had suffered the most in the recent battle, and though it broke her heart to imagine it she didn't know if all that suffering would go away.  The way his leg just hung limply, the reopened scar tissue recovering yet the internals still sleeping, made her stomach churn.  She had never treated anything like this before, and she could tell that neither had Batglow (though she didn't imagine asking him for help after the ordeal her mentor had just gone through, he deserved his rest just as much as Flintstar).  She needed someone experienced to ask for advice on things like this, and as she recovered enough to climb to her paws and walk farther into the clearing she noticed a she-cat sitting near the Great Rock, one with a missing eye and many scars.  Is that...her?  Curiosity piqued, Basilpaw walked up to greet the silver tabby she-cat, dipping her head respectfully and offering her a friendly smile.  "Excuse me, you're Beechface of SkyClan, right?  I'm Basilpaw, ShadowClan's medicine cat apprentice.  Do you mind if I sit with you?"

Bloodstar watched Shadowclan arrive and immediately scented old, dried blood. He blinked, wondering what exactly could have happened to them. He was going to ask... until Flintstar never jumped to the rock. He'd been injured badly... Bloodstar's lip twitched. He'd always liked Flintstar. He would be very eager to hear why many warriors in Shadowclan and their leader were wearing fresh wounds to the gathering tonight. He wanted to offer Flintstar help up, but he worried that it would hurt the older leader's dignity. Instead, he merely sat alone on the Great Rock and cast his eyes out to look for the other clans.

---

Burningwing padded into the gathering and watched Flintstar refuse to climb the Great Rock. One smart word out of anyone about it and they'd be marked as a target. He sighed, his own wounds still healing, and sat down on Shadowclan's side of the gathering. He inhaled deeply as he watched for Windclan and Riverclan to arrive.

Would the fight with the rogues distract Murkystrike and Flintstar from his altercation with the Windclan she-cat, the Riverclan tom and Dawnhawk he'd told them about? He supposed he'd wait and find out.

Burningingwing is open to talk!

Bearspirit hasn't arrived yet.

Dawnfeather took a deep breath as she padded into Fourtrees, filling her lungs with the cool night air. She’d stayed rather close to Beechaunt and Prima on the way here, but now she was determined to meet some other cats! (Not that she disliked Prima and Beechaunt, quite the contrary.)

The young warrior, noticing they were first to arrive at Fourtrees, nearly leaped into a nearby Great Oak for a vantage point… but that wouldn’t be kind to Beechaunt. She settled for rising onto her haunches for a moment, noticing Hailpaw do… some sort of funny walk that made her snicker.

The scent of the marsh filled her nose as ShadowClan streamed down into the clearing. She quickly fell onto all fours, watching curiously as… Flintstar, that was it- settled next to his deputy. His leg looked painful… should he be out here? Dawnfeather looked around in curiously, wondering if she’d see Jasminepaw, or maybe that apprentice she… fought wasn’t exactly the word. Skirmished, that was better.

She meandered slowly through the growing crowd, occasionally waving her tail at Beechaunt, or Prima, or one of the other many SkyClan cats she knew and loved.

Dawnfeather would love to talk to you. Yes, you.
Hentooth isn’t here yet.
Thrushflight isn’t here.
Prickletail might not be coming. We’ll see.

After a bit, Shadowclan scent flooded the hollow, and Beechface continued staring at her paws. Don't look up, don't look up. She told herself, trying to ignore the presence of the swaying tree branches above. If she listened hard enough, she could almost hear a sickening creak. Pigeonsun near her, giving a brief purr in greeting that she returned with a brittle smile before he settled down nearby.

Beechface twitched an ear at the sound of Flintstar's voice... Blinking at the obvious injury that seemed to be preventing him from jumping onto the great rock where Bloodstar already sat. On the heels of that came a soft voice, and Beechface eyed the small Shadowclanner that had approached her. Their medicine cat, she recalled, Beechface vaguely recognized her, though they hadn't really spoken at all before now.

"I'm Beechface." She nodded. "Muddythorn mentioned he spoke to you at one of the previous gatherings? Nice to meet you." She shrugged her shoulders, not really minding if the she-cat sat with her or not... But maybe conversation would prove to be a distraction from... Everything else.

---

Mistyfalcon quietly slipped into the hollow after Murkystrike and Flintstar, noting that Skyclan seemed to be the only other clan there for the moment. He watched as Flintstar approached the great rock, wincing internally as the Shadowclan leader seemed to consider jumping before thinking better of it. His leg hadn't been healing right, it was obvious. And with most of Shadowclan still bearing fresh, still-healing wounds (Mistyfalcon included), the other clans would notice immediately. His gaze turned, watching as his daughter approached Skyclan's... supposed medicine cat. He knew the she-cat by reputation only, namely that she'd apparently helped kill a dog. Somehow, Mistyfalcon found that easier to believe than some other claims about the Skyclanners, though he still didn't particularly care for them. They were all known for having tempers, so he'd be keeping an eye on Basilpaw just in case.

Beechface is talking to Basilpaw!
Mistyfalcon is open to talk!
Swiftspirit hasn't arrived yet.

Duskpaw bounced into the Fourtrees with the rest of his clan, though noticing the awkward tension in the air, he slightly slowed down to walk beside them instead. He settled down to a spot near his clanmates, head raised up in anticipation as his eyes gazed towards the Great Rock. This was his first Gathering, and he had been waiting for it for what seems like such a long time already, despite the fact that it had only just been a moon. His eyes scanned the clearing for other clan's apprentices, though for now, only SkyClan and his has arrived. He was looking forward to getting to know the other apprentices more. As fast as it was, a certain, rather flashy-looking and unfamiliar apprentice has caught his attention. The other apprentice's fur was decorated with brilliantly-colored flowers, that somehow managed to survive the chilling winds of leaf-fall.

He considered padding over, although after battling with himself for a while, he decided to not in the end. Though surely enough, he exchanged them a friendly greeting, followed by a nod, then continued to scan around for another more familiar face instead. Ratpaw.. Where was he? Hopefully, he didn't intend to skip this Gathering. That would.. surely be a shame to miss out on his first one. Continuing to look over the place, he searched for the other clan's appearances. They wouldn't come in late, would they? Hopefully not.

Duskpaw is open to talk to!
Hollypaw hasn't arrived yet.
Dreampaw hasn't arrived yet.

Lynxpetal followed towards the back of SkyClan’s group with Oliverain at her side. She’d been in the forest for moons now, but this was her first Gathering. She’d barely left the camp until now, so even the brisk run through the territory had been interesting, and the four oaks before her and the giant stone in the center looked splendid in the cold moonlight. The queen could smell old, faded scents of many, many cats. They were nearly indistinguishable until a second Clan appeared.

Taking a seat fairly close to the Great Rock, the large tabby molly examined her surroundings. Bloodstar atop the rock, where he was to give his announcements; Ashstorm at the base; Beechface at the base as well, but separated from Ashstorm; SkyClan warriors and apprentices milling about the large clearing. Lynxpetal had her doubts. All this time she was more concerned about escaping her old life ad surviving her kitting. Bloodstar’s changes to SkyClan was eye-opening—she had not once considered the danger her new Clanmates were infrom other Clans. Opposing groups of cats had always made trouble for her pack of strays when she lived with them. Why should the forest be any different? How could they meet so many competitors every moon and not come to violence?

The fur along her spine rose as an unfamiliar scent filled her nose. Lynxpetal’s clear blue eyes narrowed, tracing the other group as they entered, watching for hostility. But… they merely mingled with SkyClan or kept to themselves. Her fur relaxed and her head tilted slightly to one side. “Odd.” Her remark was just a quiet meow to no one in particular. They had to pose some threat, though. They reeked of blood and sourness. It seemed they were equally as wary as Lynxpetal felt.

Lynxpetal is open to talk to.

After some deliberation, Ratpaw decided that, maybe... he did want to go to this Gathering. (Perhaps.)

It would be... enjoyable. (He really did not think it was going to be.) And it was good — he would be in a position to speak politely with other cats. (He really did not see why this would be good.) And regardless, it was an honor to be chosen as such a young apprentice; it would be an insult not to go. (But was it, truly? Was it?)

These things, of course, being things insisted by Ratpaw’s mother — whose words the tom did not always appreciate. But... part of him, he supposed, did want to see Fourtrees — and the other clans. They felt so... mysterious, and spoken of as something you were both respectful to and yet also treated like feral foxes. Ratpaw couldn’t decide.

So there was an excitement there, in his chest. Even if the journey there felt... so long, and tiring.

He flicked his tail, relief flooding in him as they seemed to approach their destination; the tiny tom could not see it yet, but he felt his clanmates slowing, a murmur of low voices. The young cat’s paws felt sore — the earth here wasn’t nearly as gentle as Shadowclan’s, and his pads ached. Ratpaw was meant to stay close, he thinks, to his older clanmates — especially so young — but once they seemed to mingle and settle, Ratpaw found himself just sitting there at the edge. His feet needed to rest! 

And then, he did see it: the Great Rock. A tall, jutting piece of stone that seemed dug into the center of the clearing — as if a giant feline, tall as trees, came and placed it there. Is that what happened? Like Lionclan? (Could they have been that big?) He could see one cat atop it — one that wasn’t Flintstar. Ivystar? 

And he did, once the wind shifted, catch the scent of other cats — many! Maybe as many as his eyes could see under the bright moon, collected under and around the rock. But there was also the faint musk of many others here as well, like an old imprint. It gave this place a feeling of... history, of ancient importance. It was a little exciting!

Ratpaw sat, ears pricked forward, as he waited at the edges, his back to the trees. The other group of cats — of such variety of colors, ones that weren’t dark, either — seemed around the size of theirs. There were five, he knew — would they be coming?

Ratpaw is open to talk to.

Skyclan were the first to arrive at Fourtrees, and Primroselight sat down with her clanmates. As the other clans started to arrive, the scent of blood and old injuries caught her attention, and upon further inspection, it seemed to becoming from Shadowclan. Not only that, but the pine forest-dwelling clan also caused other chatter. At first, the warrior was confused, but she managed to pick up from surrounding conversations that Flintstar hadn't climbed onto the rock. Strange. They seem to have been through the wars.

Primroselight was tempted to try and find Jasminepaw, but decided it was better not to. Her former apprentice was clearly happy where she was, and being looked after by her new clan. Instead, she remembered that it was Lynxpetal's first Gathering, even though the queen had been with them for a while. Although she didn't know her very well, she sat down beside her, just in time to hear her comment. The warrior also had a funny feeling they would be spending more time together in the future, if her own growing belly was anything to do by. "It's a peace agreement." Primroselight explained, assuming what the other she-cat was thinking, "Although I don't understand why our friendships with other clans should be limited to one night a moon, we'd all do better if some of the leaders were humble enough to ask for help."

----

Muddythorn joined the other two medicine cats already there, sitting himself down beside the two she-cats. He also couldn't help but notice the injuries that covered the pelts of many Shadowclan warriors, noticeable by scent alone. "Basilpaw, what happened to Shadowclan? It certainly seems like you've had your work cut out for you." Given how stubborn some warriors were when it came to being healed, Muddythorn knew how difficult it must be to keep all those wounds redressed and clean.
 
Wisteriabloom hasn't arrived yet
Primroselight is talking to Lynxpetal
Muddythorn is talking to Beechface and Basilpaw
Mistlepaw is not going