March Gathering 2022

Unlike last time, Tinypool didn't walk besides Perchfall when they entered the Gathering. Instead, the small dark molly entered the Gathering with Moon by her side. After all, it was his first Gathering since his arrival to Riverclan. Thanks to his presence she didn't feel as overwhelmed as usual by the high amount of cats reunited tonight. She turned her face to him and smiled. "Well, welcome to the Gathering! I'm glad Jaystar allowed you to come with us tonight. I personally find them a little... crowded but I'm sure you will get along just fine."

She looked at the other clans already settling down in the clearing. It seemed like Shadowclan and Windclan were still travelling. "I'm sure you already this but remember: you are free to talk to other clans and establish relationships with them, as long as Riverclan always come first. I don't know many cats to introduce you but over there is Skyclan and here is Thunder-" Her words were suddenly interrupted at the sight of a familiar tortoiseshell she-cat. Wasn't she a rogue just a few moons ago when they first met here? Intrigued, Tinypool turned her attention to Moon momentarily. "I'm sorry but I gotta talk to someone. I'll be right back just... stay in the clearing. I will find you later." Saying her goodbyes with an apologetic nod, the small dark-furred molly rushed to where Thunderclan cats were chatting.

"Atalante?" The she-cat mewed when she managed to get close enough to confirm the she-cat's face. There was no doubt: How could she forget the face of someone she shared a meal with? "I... I wasn't expecting to see here." She confessed with concern for the molly but was also happy to meet her again. "You're a Thunderclanner now? Is your family with you too?"

Tinypool entered the Gathering with Moon, but is talking to Atalante

---

As usual, Cinderpaw entered the Gathering with a "no-friend" face towards the other clans. She still didn't get the point of these meetings considering how the clans were always fighting each other. Why pretend to be peaceful for just one night? It was nonsense. The young apprentice sat down among her clanmates, not even looking at the other clans.

Cinderpaw is open to talk to!

Cloverheart's steps were slow as she filed into the clearing alongside RiverClan, her head low and features worn. Exhaustion had caught up with her suddenly– even though she'd settled nicely into the routine of Clan life, something clung to her that she couldn't shake. Wearily, she settled near where the medicine cats gathered, and stared unfocused towards the Great Rock.


Newtspring trotted into the clearing with a yawn, tail waving behind him. Wedging himself through the crowd, he found a decent spot in the heart of the audience to situate himself. His mind drifted towards Orchidmask, and the mottled tabby twisted to look for her among the crowd. When he didn't see her immediately, Newtspring sighed and shrugged, turning to instead watch the rest of the crowd mill about.

Cloverheart is open to talk.
Newtspring is looking for Orchidmask, but open to talk.
Webshadow will arrive later.

Murkystar paused at the edge of the clearing, gazing down at the collection of ThunderClan, SkyClan, and RiverClan cats. One pelt in particular caught her eyes, and her lip curled in distaste, tail tip flicking once. Perhaps she was mistaken, and it was a different cat. She'd have to get a closer look to know for sure... But something to bring up all the same. Motioning for her clan, she led the way into the clearing, striding forward until she reached the base of Greatrock. Bunching her muscles, she leaped neatly onto the rock, her wounds healed to the point where they didn't pull so badly anymore. Lowering her head respectfully to the three toms, she settled into her spot on the rock and tried to get a closer look at the strange she-cat she believed she knew all too well. Though the wounds had healed, where they had been ached as she located her ducked head in a group of other cats she didn't quite recognize.

Icepaw stuck as close to the front of the ShadowClan group as she could manage. She had been unable to focus on anything all day except for the promise of the Gathering. As they neared Fourtrees, she started to pick up smells of the other Clans and it sent a new dizzying wave of eagerness through her. She waited with the rest of her clan, stopping until Murkystar gave them the signal to proceed into the area with the rest of the cats. Her tail vibrated with the most outward signal of excitement that she had shared yet.

As soon as Murkystar moved forward and allowed her clan entrance, Icepaw took off down the path. When she arrived at the bottom, she steeled herself and shook her pelt to expel the outward excitement. She took a moment to survey the cats around her, trying to identify any of them.

She spotted a couple other leaders up on the Greatrock with Murkystar. She couldn’t remember the names of the other leaders, and so would have to learn them through conversation with other cats. She also spotted a small group that she was certain were the deputies. Too high on the pecking order to go speak to, though Icepaw hoped that one day she could.

While her gaze looked over the other cats, she knew that ideally, she would go to speak with other apprentices. But she was more interested in speaking with warriors and learning from them, who had more experience. Though it was unlikely she could really learn much about the other clans from warriors, who were so much more experienced at guarding their clan’s secrets. She tilted her head in consideration and thought that perhaps she could speak with some warriors now before the leaders’ announcements, and then she could speak with other apprentices afterwards. That seemed like the best plan in her mind.

Icepaw’s gaze landed on a particularly scarred she-cat and curiosity instantly piqued. She made her way towards her, carefully winding through carious cats. As she approached, she sniffed cautiously. Was her scent…SkyClan? She couldn’t be sure. She had not been taken out much yet and was still learning the scents of the different clans.

“Hello,” Icepaw meowed in greeting and she offered the warrior a respectful head nod. She sat before her and gazed up, hoping that she kept her expression in check and that her curiosity and interest didn’t show too obviously on her young face. She silently reminded herself to remember her manners. This was not the place to forget them. “It is nice to meet a cat from another clan. I’m Icepaw, of ShadowClan. I hope that you don’t mind the conversation.”

Icepaw has arrived and opened dialogue with Beechfang.

Poppypaw eagerly looked around for apprentices to speak to. There were so many cats here that it was overwhelming. She was also not a shy cat, but the number of unknown cats and the sheer amount of warriors was making her a little nervous. She didn’t know how to speak to cats that were older than her and she also didn’t even know! She was starting to regret not sticking with Perchfall just a little longer.

Hoping to not be lost in the sea of unknown faces for too long, Poppypaw set her eyes on the first group of younger cats that she could see. She bounded over and her tail swished in positive greeting. “Hello!” she meowed happily, either seeming to not notice or not mind the clear expression of having no desire to talk that was on one of the she-cat apprentices face. “It’s great to meet you. I’m Poppypaw of RiverClan!”

Poppypaw has opened dialogue with Cinderpaw.

Pinepaw pads over to a Silky black cat, This cat being Hollyleaf, And begins a bit of Small talk. "Hey! I'm Pinepaw, I presume you're.. Hollyleaf?" He asked, Just wanting to get to know the cat first. He gave a soft smile to ensure it was just some friendly conversation, In case the slightly Excited tone didn't make that clear.

Rainpaw enters the Fourtrees, Looking around, And giving a Friendly bow when they see the Leaders and Deputies, Before running off to sit with Other cats, Loafing and wrapping their Tail around their paws, and looking at all of the Scarred cats, all of the Brave cats, All of the Apprentices, All of the Warriors, They've done a lot for their respective clans, For their kits.

Pinepaw is Chatting with Hollyleaf.

Rainpaw is open for Talk!

Pebblepaw followed after the rest of his clanmates, wide eyes searching the crowd of gathering cats as an electric thrill ran through him from his ears to his tail tip. Gatherings had a certain kind of energy that made him want to bound about like a kit. But he was an apprentice now so he would have to keep his paws and whiskers in proper order.
As he carefully made his way down the slope, he immediately picked up the scent of RiverClan, and he perked up, hoping to see the familiar pelt of his grandfather, Snowdash. How was the elder doing these moons since they had left? I hope he’s getting fed enough, Pebblepaw thought. He couldn’t find the old tom among the RiverClan cats, but his gaze did settle on the snowy white fur of his mother, and he picked his way through the crowd to take a seat beside her.
“Wonder what the other clans have had to deal with this moon,” he murmured to Swanmist as he settled in, touching his nose to her shoulder.

Pebblepaw is talking to Swanmist

Despite the occasional shiver rolling down his spine, Emberleap felt himself relax just a little as he passed beneath the Great Oaks. Sure, it was his duty to be here, but if he looked past the cold and his nerves and the leaders sniping at each other and the brutal practicality of being one body among many, part of the silent show of strength every Clan put on at Fourtrees, he really did enjoy Gatherings sometimes. More often, he guessed, than most ShadowClan cats did. They could be a rather taciturn bunch. For his part, he savored every snippet of conversation he’d stumbled into; it helped that none of them involved WindClan. Navigating toward the clearing’s center, he brushed some snow aside to sit not quite within the crowd of ShadowClanners, but not fully apart from them, either.

Emberleap is open to talk!
(Thrushnose + Flywhisker are unable to attend)

Dovefrost had followed Stoatstar into the gathering, his head towards the ground, not really paying any mind to the other cats. He didn't really feel up to talking. He was just here right now because he needed to be. At least he could see how Windclan was doing. He settled himself in an empty space, wrapping his tail around his paws tightly. He tried to keep himself as warm as possible.

Starlingflare had followed behind the other Thunderclan cats, sneering slightly as he looked over and saw Riverclan cats. He couldn't stand them. His single yellow eye glared them down for a moment, before turning away. He sat down in an open spot. Hopefully they could get this over with, and he could get back to camp. He didn't want to be at this gathering any longer than he had to be.

Starlingflare and Dovefrost are open to talk!

(OOC: Oh no that's Duskflight, Hollyleaf is a silver tabby LOL)

Although unexpected, Hollyleaf didn't complain as one of the apprentices approached her. Pinepaw, if she had remembered correctly. "Yes, indeed. Hello there, Pinepaw." She'd slightly lower her head, returning the young tom's friendliness with a smile. "How are you doing? Has your training been alright so far?" She asked, keeping a polite— yet friendly profile, as much as she could. She.. truly wasn't one for extroversion.

Hollyleaf is talking to Pinepaw!

---

Duskflight entered the Gathering with relative quietness. He'd scanned the Gathering, reminiscing at the first time he'd been here as an apprentice— so thrilled, ecstatic, and full of energy. Of course, that hadn't meant he didn't wasn't now, although he'd learned to observe more. Spotting his mentor from a distance, Duskflight approached the tom with a smile, then set himself down beside him. "Hey there, Emberleap. It's.. been a while since we've talked again, how are you doing?"

Duskflight is talking to Emberleap!

Mistyfalcon paused at the edge of the hollow, dark eyes sweeping over the already-assembled cats. Thunderclan, Riverclan, Skyclan... And a rogue, apparently. Her head was down, but Mistyfalcon recognized that much. He'd headbutted her, he was pretty sure. Violently. As she'd deserved. "Recognize that pale tortoiseshell?" He mewed softly, voice pitched to only carry to Murkystar. "What in the void is she doing with Thunderclan?" Maybe that headbutt had scrambled her wits more than he'd thought. Enough for that filthy mongrel to be at a gathering? Sitting among Thunderclanners? It made his claws itch. Just a little. With a huff, Mistyfalcon slunk quietly into the shadows near the edge of the hollow, dark gaze coldly watching the rogue that had participated in the attack on Shadowclan's camp.

---

Beechfang silently observed as Riverclan, Thunderclan and Shadowclan entered the hollow. Her eyes immediately focused on the medicine cats out of habit, grimly noting the way Cloverheart seemed tired, even at a distance. The little Riverclanner was smart enough to keep well away... A very good thing for her health, in Beechfang's opinion. Her gaze wandered, noting quite a few young apprentices in Thunderclan. It seemed their ranks were growing despite the harsh leafbare. Good for them.

A voice pulled her from her thoughts, and Beechfang glanced over, yellow-green gaze guarded. "Oh, um... Hi." Beechfang hadn't expected to be approached, but the cat seemed young. Shadowclan, by scent. She could afford to make the effort to be friendly, then. "I'm Beechfang of Skyclan. Is this your first gathering?"

---

More cats entered the hollow, and Atalante could feel a pair of eyes on her, unsettling. Shadowclan scent was on the wind, and she risked a glance that wasn't staring at her paws to see a familiar tortoiseshell staring at her from atop the rock... Foxdung. A quick, unhappy glance around the hollow showed another dark, scarred pelt. His gaze was particularly unfriendly despite the many cats milling around. Atalante cringed slightly, praying that if any cat saw her discomfort they would simply attribute it to being uneasy with the crowds, or the first-time experience. She desperately hoped that nobody would actually approach her.

Of course, someone had to, but the voice was a familiar one. "Tinypaw?" Atalante's eyes widened slightly as she glanced up at the sound of a voice, though she had to admit that she was relieved that it had been a friendlier face that had approached her and not say, someone from Shadowclan or Skyclan. "They're calling me Featherpaw now... I'm not completely used to it. My father and I had disagreements, so I left." The practiced lie fell easily from her lips. Tinypaw was nice enough, but she didn't need to know anything more than that. "I didn't expect there to be quite so many cats here." She added.

Beechfang is talking to Icepaw.
Atalante/Featherpaw is talking to Tinypool.
Mistyfalcon is open to talk, but is staring daggers at Atalante. If looks could kill...
Swiftspirit hasn't arrived yet.

Copperheart walked along side his former mentor, Appledapple as he arrived with the rest of Thunderclan at his first gathering as a warrior. He was curious to see what was going to happen at this moon's gathering. While waiting for the leaders to start the gathering, he looked around for other warriors to talk to.

Copperheart is open to talk to.

Spottedpaw padded beside the other ShadowClan apprentices as her clan was arriving at the gathering. Once they had arrived at four trees, she scampered off to speak with other clans apprentices until the gathering started.

Spottedpaw is open to talk to.

Ashstorm walked into the gathering behind Bloodstar.  Gatherings were always... chaotic to say the least.  The deputies were nice to talk to though for the most part.  They were not the ones to inform others of what was happening in their clan, and so they could talk more normally from what Ashstorm observed.  So, after she arrived in fourtrees, she quickly approached her fellow deputies.

Ashstorm is open to talk to.
_______________________________

Waterlily followed with Thunderclan.  Her kits were a bit older and, although she loved them dearly, this gathering was something she was looking forward to.  Today, she was able to travel somewhere without young kits by her side.  Today, she was not worried.  Even through the loudness of the gathering was irritating to her, she liked the cats and was actually a bit happy to be here.

Waterlily is open to talk to.
_______________________________

Scarletriver entered the gathering with a completely neutral expression.  She sat near Riverclan, not particularly excited to be there.  The only thing she really did was watch other cats.  She would observe their behavior.  She learned that there was a lot you can learn about a cat, which can be used for or against them.  And, unfortunately for many, she was more interested in the latter.

She had not been sleeping well, with dreams keeping her up, and so she did not exactly like being in an environment with many cats and a lot of noise.  She simply sat, with her tail tightly wrapped around herself, trying to make herself as small as possible.  Now, she watched all that was happening around her, staying completely silent.

Scarletriver is open to talk to.

Sootwhisker followed his clan into the gathering, feeling considerably less excited than he'd been the first time he was here. Though it was his first gathering as a warrior, the accomplishment felt somewhat... overshadowed by the turmoil of emotions that had been swirling through his mind lately. But, best not to dwell on that. He found a spot to sit among Shadowclan's ranks, vowing that tonight he'd try to clear his mind, at least for a little while.

Sootwhisker is open to talk to!

Scorchtalon hasn't arrived yet!

Swanmist's gaze shifted between each Riverclan cat she could see, but she didn't even get halfway through the crowd before her son interrupted her. "Probably just gonna ramble on about how hungry they are." She mewed quietly, voice easily drained out by the other cats in the clearing, but she was sure that Pebblepaw could hear her. "Do you see your sisters anywhere?"

Swanmist is talking to Pebblepaw, but is still open to interact with

Marshmallow still felt the presence of something near her, watching her. But every single time she turned to look, there was nothing. She glanced over the clearing to get her mind off of the thing. "Thunderclan, Riverclan, Skyclan... and Shadowclan, of course." She muttered under her breath. "Are we the last ones to arrive..? Wait... No, that's four clans, I'm missing... Windclan! Windclan isn't here..." As she followed her clan, she shuffled away from the Shadowclan blob of cats towards a bit of an empty spot. "Windclan will go her..." The fur on the back of her neck rose, she turned back to see Not-Marshmallow standing there. You'll regret everything. She wanted to just swipe at the non-existent being, but she knew that'd make her look mousebrained. So instead, she turned her head back to the rock. Ignoring your feeling wont help. She shut her eyes as she felt it move closer. You hurt Loudnose. You saw that Amberdawn had died and felt nothing. Stop. I'll just keep ignoring.. it.

Marshmallow is somewhat open to talk to, but she might seem a bit... off

It took several moments for Emberleap to realize he had company. Once he did, and recognized the fluffy charcoal pelt as his apprentice’s a heartbeat later, a smile rose on his muzzle. Not a new face, but one he could afford to relax around regardless. So many things had happened since their last proper conversation. The invasion loomed largest among them, of course, but Duskflight had gone on a grand journey and become a father (to a fully-named warrior, no less!) in that time—and those were just the things Emberleap knew about. “Too long, if you ask me,” he murmured.

Brighter, with a tinge of sheepishness to his expression, he went on. “I’m still a little sore to be honest, but—” He waved a carefree paw. “Nothing worth worrying about.” He and Basilbloom had managed to work all the quills out of his pelt (well, both of his pelts) several nights ago; the fox was salvageable, and the tiny marks they’d left in Emberleap himself were healing well, if too slowly for his liking. None of that excused him getting injured in the first place, but there was a time and a place for those thoughts, and this was neither. Turning his wide-eyed gaze to Duskflight, he curled his tail around himself. Its end didn't quite settle over his paws. “What about you? Things going all right with Ivycreek?” Though he tended to give the nursery a wide berth, he’d still heard whispers.