February Gathering 2022

Stoatfur lead Thunderclan to the gathering. His eyes were still, having lost any trace of the tears that had become etched into their glow for several hours. The pain still clung heavy to his chest. Minkstar was gone. Timing could have not been more terrible. While all he wanted to do was sit in his own grief, the new leader had to take his clan to Fourtrees. None of them wanted to be here either - he could feel it. This heavy cloud hung over their heads. He had announced that they would go, to hold the truce, and to stand before the other clans. Upon returning, a proper vigil would be had for Minkstar. Cats had been left to guard the body, his spirit already left in a final journey to the stars. The little tom tried to not think about it too hard.

He tried to reassure the clan as much as he could by being here, standing here with them. But there was only so much words could do to soothe the pain. As they reached the edge of the clearing, he flicked his tail in a silent signal. There was no doubt they would run without the usual vigor. Although the night was young, it was hard to sift through his thoughts. So much had to be done. A deputy needed to be named and it would be done late, breaking tradition. But they needed to honor Minkstar first, that was most important. When the clan grieved, he would be on his way to the moonstone. And regardless of who he saw, the tom had vowed to take his own vigil upon return.

Stoatfur hesitated at the base of the rock for a moment. Leaving the deputies behind felt unusual, and no cat would take his place tonight. Thankfully, his lithe frame made the jump easy. He delicately padded around the other leaders and settled back on his haunches. When he spoke, he kept the words even, shoving any cracking from his voice, "Sorry we are late. Minkstar passed away today and my clan has been in mourning. I will be leaving tonight for the moonstone." It was simple, did not leave room for questions. The tom hardly knew the leaders, beyond being acquainted with Jaystar in battle. It was almost funny.

Although his limbs were exhausted from the journey here, it was just the beginning. He would lead them back to camp, then travel to the moonstone. Thunderclan had no one else right now, he had no one else. The day had been long, and the night threatened to be even longer, stretching well into the next day. Stoatfur's whiskers twitched in the most mild form of amusement - perhaps it was now helpful that he hardly slept until the early hours of sunrise.

Appledapple wasn't sure what to do. She'd almost stayed back to guard Minkstar. But she decided that it was more important to be there-- for her adopted kits, and for Stoatfur himself. He didn't really seem to want her company. However, she gently nudged him anyway before he headed off to the Great Rock, where she was sure difficulty awaited him. She couldn't follow him there, nor did she truly want to. Instead, the she-cat settled in the middle of the crowds, not looking for anyone nor interacting with anyone in particular (save to offer a few words of encouragement to her apprenticed kits, who she told to go off and socialize with cats from ShadowClan or WindClan). So she sat down, wrapped her tail around her paws, and simmered in thoughts.

Appledapple is open to talk to.

Deerpaw blinked at Rabbitchaser's question. she hadn't expected questions so soon. "Murkystar will tell everyone about that in a bit, since it affects all of us, but I don't like to mention it." of course, she was still guilty of not fighting, though it wasn't exactly her fault. an extra paw could have been great, though. shaking her pelt, she added, "What's a being a warrior like?"

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Slightpaw opened his mouth to reply to Batpaw but was rudely interrupted by the same ginger tom he just heard Batpaw swooning about. "I heard they were attacked by the Dawnhawk. apparently we should all be getting ourselves prepared for battle!" he said, proud of himself for overhearing Bloodstar and Murkystar's conversation. he cast a glance towards Batpaw to see her reaction.

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Reedpaw followed behind Appledapple, shocked by the many scents that slammed into him like a wave. who were all these cats? for the first time in his life, he as a bit scared. he cast a long look at his mother and mentor. Don't leave me! he begged silently. what if they don't like me?


Deerpaw is talking to Rabbitchaser
Slightpaw is talking to Batpaw and Scorchpaw
Reedpaw is open to interactions

Batpaws eyes went wide my g-g-g..goodness! she stammered worriedly at Slightpaw's remark about the forgotten order. She had heard horror storries as a kitten from the older apprentices about dawkhawk and she thought he was a ghost used only to tease little kits... he was real?? ... by the looks of shadowclan .... maybe he was.

She scooted closer to slightpaw for reassurance and because she subconciously wanted to... hmm good thing you will keep me safe.... right? she purred quietly looking into slightpaws eyes she said it with a little giggle very giddy. When she was with him, she felt safe and at ease. While her stutter while still there was alot better when talking with him.

She glanced at her clanmate scorchpaw who had walked over ohh... Scorchpaw this is Slightpaw by the way she told him introducing the two best she could.... she had not told scorchpaw that when sneaking out of camp that is when she had met slightpaw and ... that ever since then she had been wanting to meet him again...

hmm yeah I guess you could ask them she answered her clanmates question as innocently as possible.  The last thing she wanted was make him feel he had to but she was so curious about what had chewed them all up... she was too shy to ask herself.

Hollyleaf blinked. Had she been too formal? The cat she now knew as Mistysky had been formal too, and she didn't seem very uncomfortable about it. Still, she'd try to be more casual. Apparently, formality wouldn't always be good. She'd... remember that for next time. "Nice to meet you, Mistysky," She gave a small smile. "RiverClan's—" Hollyleaf paused for a moment, rethinking her words. No, not all was well. Swanmist, Flurrypaw, Pebblepaw... and even her apprentice: Mintpaw, has left. Why? "There's.. been some trouble, unfortunately. I do hope all is well for you and your clan, though? How have things been?" The molly quickly changed the topic. Revealing too much was unnecessary, and Jaystar would choose his words best to tell later on.

Hollyleaf is talking to Mistysky!

Webshadow's descent into the clearing was slow and staggered. He'd taken up the rear of the patrol– voluntarily, if any cat asked, but his wounds still stretched and ached and his breath caught uncomfortably in his lungs, rattling through his ribs. A wheeze left the dark warrior, and he took a moment to gather himself before finding somewhere to settle in. Shypaw wasn't far off... his ear flicked, and quietly Webshadow padded over to join her, nodding in greeting before turning his attention to the Rock.


Newtspring joined the clearing with the rest of SkyClan, ears low and expression sour. His mind wandered doggedly to thoughts of Spottedfrog and Bearflower, even when he'd attempted to fill it with every other little thing. With nothing to keep himself occupied, he was left to brood, and the mottled warrior sat quietly alone, tail beating against the earth.

Webshadow is sitting next to Shypaw.
Newtspring is upset, but open to talk.
Cloverheart is on the flower patrol.

Slightpaw puffed out his chest fur and ran a tail down Batpaw's spine. "Of course! No one will harm a hair on your pelt!" He vowed.

he dipped his head slightly to Scorchpaw. Stay away from her, you bright ginger flea-bag! He flicked a hostile tail at the tom, his blue eyes glaring.

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Reedpaw noticed a small white she-cat among the crowd. she looked apprentice aged, so gathering up his courage he bounded over. "Hey! My name's Reedpaw, from Thunderclan! What happened to all the Shadowclan cats? They look in pretty bad shape. I hope they'll recover soon!" He rambled, like he always did when he got nervous. where was his littermates?

Deerpaw is talking to Rabbitchaser
Slightpaw is talking to Batpaw and Scorchpaw
Reedpaw is trying to start a conversation with Shypaw

Opting to keep close to his mentor, he offered silent support, running a tail-length behind the deputy. The news of Minkstar's death was heartbreaking to most, even more painful to those especially close. Based on his observations, Stoatfur was one of those cats, and concern for the tom was occupying his mind.

Seeing the deputy, now leader, leap up onto the Great Rock, he looked around. An older she-cat he'd seen around camp before was sitting in the center of the crowds and so he made his way to her. Appledapple, was the she-cat's name he recalled. "Do you think Stoatfur will be alright?" he worriedly asked, loud enough for her to hear. The grey and white tom wrapped his tail around his paws. Glancing around, he noticed many scarred and healing pelts among those of Shadowclan.

Minnowpaw is talking with Appledapple but doesn't mind if anyone else joins him.

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Flakey bits of snow clung to her fur as the lithe apprentice entered the clearing. Wisps of clouds were scattered in the sky and the air was filled with noise. As usual, Daisypaw looked around, specifically searching for a cat no one was talking to. A sour-looking tom sat alone, a moody cloud hanging around him. He looks like he could use some cheering up! Squeezing through a throng of cats to get to him, she gave a friendly meow of greeting, "Hello! Daisypaw of Windclan. Something wrong? You look like you need someone to cheer you up!"

Daisypaw is introducing herself to Newtspring!

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Sticking with her family, the apprentice wondered how her former clanmates would react to her family's appearance. Silent pawsteps sunk in the snow, numb with cold by the time they had arrived at a scent-filled clearing. This is... a lot more cats than I was expecting. At least we might get to see grandpa...

"Let's stick together." she mewed among her siblings.

Flurrypaw is open to talk, but is sticking with her family.

Batpaw purred happily as she felt his tail on her back it was comforting and his words were so confident.  she closed her eyes and gently rested her head on his shoulder but only breifly before sitting back up straight... he might not like her being too clingy and she was not sure if he felt the same way ... she knew that she for one was falling for him... but she sat up again with Scorchpaw being right there it might not be a good idea....

she had totally missed the glance Slightpaw had shot and Scorchpaw.  She groomed her front paws and pelt getting it looking even better.

She held her white feather close that Slightpaw had given her.

awwwee... t-t-thanks she purred softly in response to Slightpaws vow of protection.

Cinderpaw trotted behind her father and a new leader. Shortly after her apprentice ceremony, the news of Minkstar passing away arrived. It all happened so fast... so suddenly for the young she-cat. But for Stoatfur it was definitely worse. The gray-brown she-cat wasn't good at expressing affection but she tried her best. She stood by her father's side, nudging him to bring him some comfort and not saying much to not exhaust him anymore. Tonight, she had to behave for his sake. Cinderpaw didn't want him to worry about a troublemaker apprentice.

When it was time for the Thunderclan leader to join the other leaders, the molly left Stoatfur side and trotted back to her clanmates. She didn't want to talk to any potential enemy of her clan. Who knows when they would meet in battle? It was better for her to not make any contact with non-Thunderclanners.

Cinderpaw is open to talk to (But I wouldn't recommend it if you're not from Thunderclan hehe)

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Fawnpaw's thoughts were interrupted when someone bumped on him. The tom flinched, taking a step back. His amber eyes looked down at the unfamiliar white and grey tabby she-cat. She definitely was from another clan since she lacked the scent of the moors that characterized his home. A grumpy scoff came out of his mouth as he sat down again, his ear twitching in annoyance. "You should watch where you step then." The ginger tom lashed his tail, a bit uncomfortable talking to someone who wasn't from his clan. He wasn't really angry at the stranger but he preferred to be alone among his clanmates rather than interact with someone from another clan. The young tom didn't need any distractions from his training. "Shouldn't you be with your clan?"

Grumpy boi Fawnpaw is talking to Elkpaw

Swanmist was wary as soon as she stepped into the crowd. Her first gathering as a Thunderclanner, but that word didn't feel like it fit, yet. She kept close to her kits, maybe she could hide them from Riverclan? No.. That didn't seem likely, Mintpaw was starting to get bigger than her, Flurrypaw and Pebblepaw catching up fast. Hopefully Pebblepaw wont be tall... She didn't want a reminder of... Someone.... near her.

Dainty yet dirty white paws, following the group of Thunderclan cats, tail curled near her kits.

Soon they sat down, Swanmist glanced around nervously. Spotting the group of Riverclan, her father wasn't among them, and she didn't even want to know if Smokeflame was. She lowered her body, hoping to blend in with the crowd. But it felt like they stuck out like a sore paw, hopefully, just hopefully, nobody would notice. "Grandpa isn't here." She informed the kits quietly. "Gatherings are very loud. Stay close so we can hear each other." And stay out of view from Riverclan. She wanted to say, but that wasn't likely. Cats were probably gonna see them, everyone was starting to spread out across different groups.

Scorchpaws eyes widened at the mention of the rogues. Maybe one of them knew his father, when he was alive? Perhaps he'd ask his mother about it later.

Turning his attention back to the conversation at hand, he noticed how close Slightpaw and Batpaw had become, and his heart warmed at the thought of one of his good friends being happy. Though he certainly didn't miss the hostile look Slightpaw sent him. We can both be friends with her, mouse-brain. He thought to himself with a roll of his eyes.

"Nice to meet you Slightpaw." He said politely, though his eyes were already scanning the clearing in search of something to do.

"I'm gonna see if I can round up some other apprentices for a race! They haven't seen speed until they've raced Windclan, they won't even know what hit them!" Excitement filled his eyes, the yellow orbs already scoping out who he thought would make good competition. Turning back to Batpaw, he added,

"I'm sure you'll be fine here, but let me know if this furball gives you any trouble. Oh, and the two of you can perhaps come to join the race if it happens?" He was half-joking about Slightpaw; the Skyclanner had seemed grumpy ever since Scorchpaw had joined the conversation, and he hoped maybe a little humor would lighten up his mood. With that, he padded away. Maybe one of his brothers would be interested in racing...

Scorchpaw is open to talk to!

Appledapple was surprised when Stoatfur's former apprentice-- Minnowsomething?-- approached her. Anyone could probably see that she and the deputy were not close. Not as much as she would like to be, anyway. But as a warrior of ThunderClan, even without her opinion of the tom, she would have the same concern. "I don't know," she answered honestly, glancing at the young warrior. "We'll have to wait and see. It depends on whether he lets other cats help with his grief, or if he tries to just keep it all inside again." As clever as Stoatfur was with things like battle tactics, the tom was mouse-brained in matters of emotion. Not that she was an expert, but even she knew that refusing to discuss your feelings led to a whole lot of problems.

Appledapple is talking to Minnowfin.

Softpaw walked over and sat next to Appledapple. He always had seen her as his mother.... ok so she was not actually his mother... Stoat and her had told them their real parents died in battle but always shut them down when he or his siblings asked for any further information... he saw that as a bit unfair but at the same time he understood... perhaps his mother and Appledapple were good friends and talking about it hurt too much....


In either case he never knew exactly how to call Appledapple... if it were up soley to him he would call her mom and Stoat dad... but they didnt always seem to appreciate that even though the pair was indeed the closest thing he had to parents.  

he overheard a bit of Apples and Minows conversation and nodded in agreement.

Dad... oh ermm Stoatstar he awkwardly corrected himself... he wished he didnt have to do that but he knew that Apple may at least appreciate the effort of him not being sooo clingy... besides he and his littermates were kinda dumped on them and he felt at times like a bit of a burden to them... so he wanted to make their lives as easy as possible and vowed to himself to train as hard as he could to help his clan.

was never good at talking about that kind of thing... but I hope he knows we are there for him he said quietly.


Softpaw has joined in with talking to Appledapple and Minnowfin.

Frostgaze refused to not be in attendance. If Murkystar was going, then so was he. Besides, Basilbloom was still gone, he didn't want Shadowclan looking too weak at a gathering. So he pushed through the snow, ribs aching, neck wound still screaming with every step he took. With any luck at all, it wouldn't open again. He didn't need everyone to see how red his fur could get.

Immediately he noticed Thunderclan's change of leadership. It seemed Shadowclan wasn't the only clan going through issues. Silently sitting near the rest of the deputies, his gaze looked out for Webshadow. It would be much nicer to spend this time with him... but alas, he had to preform his duties as deputy, and this was one of them.

Frostgaze is open to talk to!
Ashfall is still on the herb patrol!
Hawkpaw is staying home!