January Gathering 2022

Appledapple walked into the Gathering with about as much enthusiasm as her leader, sitting near the back and gazing up at the Great Rock. RiverClan wasn't there yet.... at least they weren't the last ones to the clearing. She couldn't think of anyone she really wanted to sit with. She wasn't in the mood to heckle her remaining siblings. Actually, she had debated not coming, but she figured that she wanted to be there to see what crazy things Jaystar and Bloodstar would say next. Nothing but filth seemed to spew from their mouths. Maybe at least the flood of lies and bilge would contain something funny or interesting this time.

Appledapple is open to talk to.

Dandelionflight ran after her clanmates into the snowy clearing. She was excited for the gathering and to meet some new cats. They were the first one to arrive, and she found a spot to wait. She tried to settle, but the snow was too cold for her to stand still. She ended up pacing around, trying to keep her paws from freezing off.

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Dappledpaw walked after her clan. She was quite tired, but she didn't want to miss a gathering. She wandered around and saw some apprentices talking. She didn't really feel like going up and talking to them, so she would let someone come up to her.

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Cherrycloud tried to keep herself above the snow as she ran down into the clearing. The harsh Leaf-bare made it really hard to find items to decorate her pelt, and she only had a few feathers. She looked around and spotted a dark-furred cat sitting near the Great Rock. She walked up to him and meowed, "Hello, what's your name?"

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Dandelionflight is open to talk to!
Cherrycloud is talking to Nightstalker!
Dappledpaw is open to talk to!

"Hello, what's your name?"

Nightstalker straightened out of his slight daze as he turned to look at the strange she-cat, quirking a scarred brow. He didn't really expect anyone outside of Shadowclan to speak to him, but he supposed there was always a first for everything. "Nightstalker of Shadowclan, at your service." He mewed civilly, good humour in his tone but he was careful not to be too friendly, lest others get the wrong idea. It would bring trouble if cats outside of Shadowclan got too chummy with him, he'd like to keep his distance. "May I perhaps inquire about yours?" Formal, yet kind, setting up a professional tone. Hopefully.


Nightstalker is responding to Cherrycloud.

Swiftheart entered with the rest of shadowclan, she loved gatherings so much, it allowed her to socialize and get to know other cats.

She saw Thunderclan enter and wanted to get to know some cats from there, it could be useful to have friends in other clans, the last thing anyone needed during this harsh season was fighting right?

She padded over to Appledapple Hello! :) she purred with a big smile wanting to be very warm and friendly to talk to.

I am Swiftheart from shadowclan she introduced herself. I hope your clan is doing well she purred

Swiftheart is talking with Appledapple

Paws sunk into the snow, padding behind his clanmates as the four great trees approached. Minnowpaw basked in the moonlight, gaze focused on the white blanket he was trudging through. The sound of cats ahead weren't enough to cheer him up however. Part of him wanted to be excited at the prospect of his first gathering, but honestly... he wasn't sure whether he deserved to be there.

Focusing on the strange scents rising up in the air, he found that he recognized them both. ShadowClan, the scent from across the thunderpath, and SkyClan, one of ThunderClan's bordering clans. He saw Appledapple being approached by a white cat and Minkstar up on the Great Rock. The number of cats already there was rather overwhelming, despite RiverClan and WindClan's absency. Spotting a tabby with pretty green eyes sitting alone, he padded towards her. Maybe she's friendly..

As soon as the she-cat spotted him though, Minnowpaw couldn't think of anything to say. He just... stared. Well this is going well!

Minnowpaw is open to talk to! (he's a little awkward-)

A voice caught his attention, suddenly gatting bombarded with questions he wasn't prepared for. He lifted his head from his tail, giving his chest a few quick licks to make sure he looked presentable. Travel always made a few hairs sticking out of place.

"My training's been fine, Primroselight is a good mentor." She was patient with him when, in the beginning, he probably didn't deserve it. He had gotten over his pettiness though when he realized she was truly skilled as a warrior. "I agree, she is probably better than yours... Who is your mentor again?" He hadn't been paying much attention during Mountainpaw's ceremony. If a meeting wasn't super important or referencing himself, he usually let his mind wander.

Hailpaw is talking to Mountainpaw!

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Cicadashriek entered the clearing, his first gathering as a warrior. It didn't quite feel like an achievement though. Interacting with other clans, when it once felt like a good chance to prove his clan mighty, to be a good representative. It especially felt bad when his gaze found the golden pelt of Dawnfeather on the Skyclan side.

He snorted, staying with his clanmates. He could be a good representative for his clan... from afar and keeping to his own. He sat with other Shadowclan cats, his gaze resting on what leaders were on the rock as though that alone would make it go faster. His tail curled around his paws, keeping his back straight to appear as a regal warrior.

Cicadashriek is... open to talk to?

Spottedpaw walked briskly behind Murkystar, Frostgaze, and the rest of the ShadowClan cats. This was Spottedpaw's first gathering and she was excited to meet other apprentices in other clans.

Spottedpaw is open to talk to.[b]

Copperpaw walked next to Minnowpaw as his clan was arriving at the gathering. Copperpaw wondered how other apprentices were doing and what was going on with their training.

[b]Copperpaw is open to talk to.

The cat seemed to be slightly confused at first, but curtly answered her question. "Nice to meet you, Nightstalker. I'm Cherrycloud of ThunderClan," She meowed to the tom. While she didn't know everyone in clans, the name sounded unfamiliar. "I don't think I've heard your name before," she thoughtfully mewed, "Is this your first gathering as a warrior?"

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Dappledpaw saw a gray and white cat approaching her, and she turned to look at them. The cat stopped in his tracks and just akwardly stared at her. "Hello there. I'm Dappledpaw, what's your name?" She meowed to him, trying to start the conversation. He looked to be somewhat of a newer apprentice, and she wondered if this was his first gathering.

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Cherrycloud is talking to Nightstalker!
Dappledpaw is talking to Minnowpaw!
Dandelionflight is open to talk to!

"Indeed. Just received my name not too long ago. What about you? Is this your first as well? I will admit, I don't particularly know anyone outside of Shadowclan." The young tom meowed. Nightstalker looked around the growing clearing, spotting Cicadashriek, suddenly wishing that he would see Nightstalker and see his polite distress. Save me from this conversation! Please! Though his outward expressions did not betray any of his reluctance.

Dovefrost followed Minkstar into the clearing, his own paws were starting to feel the chill seeping in. The nights growing colder by the day, with the sunlight hardly providing any relief. Thunderclan wasn't in the best shape. Prey was too scarce. Normally he would have been alright with this kind of weather due to his thick fur, but even he had been growing skinny. The white medicine cat was quick to take his place at the gathering. The chill seeping into his bones. He wanted this over with.

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Hate. That was the only thing the gray tom was feeling right now. He hated this weather. He hated the snow. He hated the lack of food. His empty eye socket ached even more these days, the colder the weather the worse the pain seemed to be. Even with his somewhat fluffy fur, the cold easily settled into him. He just wanted to go back to the camp, eat some poppy seeds and sleep but no he had to be here. The tom let out a small growl as he settled into his spot. Hopefully this would be over soon.

Dovefrost is open to talk!
Starlingflare is open but is irritated!

"Oh no need! I.. I just look tired I guess," she said with a flick of her ear. The molly quickly turned her gaze to the arriving clans. Some faces were familiar, most weren't. Oliverain didn't feel a need to meet them though. Not many could match Dawnfeather. "I'll get some rest after tonight. Promise."

OH NO- was his first thought when the she-cat spoke to him. Had he been staring? Of course he had. Mousebrain!

"I'm Minnowpaw of ThunderClan, nice to meet you! Sorry I was staring like that.. I just- couldn't think of what to say.." he meowed, offering an embarrassed smile. Dappledpaw was a nice name.. Before he could make the conversation go any worse, he attempted to make small talk. "This is my first gathering, what about you?" So far.. not too bad.

Minnowpaw is talking with Dappledpaw!

Stoatfur padded into the clearing. He had not been alive during Asylum's grip on the clans but he had heard the stories - and was now jealous of their pelts. Although he followed after the clan leader with glossed over eyes, the little brown and white time held back slightly so he could drift close to Minnowpaw. The two were not as close as most mentor an apprentice pair might be but that was mostly his fault, and he knew it. Knowing that fact stung worse than snake venom in his veins, although he had yet to do much about it. With a flick of his tail, he drew near to the young apprentice and meowed lowly, "Get to know as many cats as you cat. Gatherings are more important than you realize."

Even with their strained relationship, Stoatfur was relentless in his pursuit to share the knowledge that burned within his skull. He was observant, perhaps condemningly so, and sought to soak up every little detail of the world around him. Most times it was a burden, the many things that swam in his mind without ceasing, but it was useful in many ways. This mannerism is what had sharpened him to be such a skilled warrior and separated him from others in more ways than one. The deputy paused briefly, as if he had something more to say, but opted for just nodding his head once before padding away.

His paws carried him to the base of the rock where he sat down without a sound, just a stiff and polite nod of his head. They had little to say last time about the murder of his clanmate. Stoatfur cared little for morality but it had managed to make him slightly bitter - even if his maw didn't show it.

Steadily dissipating remnants of translucent white breath quickly bleeding from liminal view under the stark gleam of a freshly-turned moon, the ever-freezing breath of the lingering snowfall webbed out against unoccupied earth with a greedy shimmer. Silky tendrils of darkness curled tight and with enough intensity to be mistaken for heat, the blank night sky overly burdened with the poignant reminder of this newly-arrived season. Whirling fog of his collected breath eagerly drifting away into the grander currents of steadily building and dissipating mists coiling within the depths of Fourtrees, Jaystar remained idle in his progression into the already busied clearing despite the frequently strengthening chill welling upon the tight expanse of his shoulders.

Snow-dusted aquiline features shaded with the ever familiar touch of absent disinterest, the young RiverClanner's silky dark coat roiled under the weights of his quiet movements as he leapt atop the Great Rock, taking his place alongside others who looked as resolutely thrilled as he currently felt.