July Gathering 2022

Sleepypaw tiredly rolled into the gathering, after taking a bump from her sibling, Rainpaw. The young apprentice whirled the rest of the way in, thanking the stars RiverClan was the first to the gathering. Her green eyes flitted around the clearing, settling off to the side. While meeting other clan cats would be cool and interesting, all her hard work today to earn the right to come-- kept her even more tired than she usually is.

With a yawn, Sleepypaw closed her eyes and ducked her head, hopefully, hidden in the masses of cats.

Sleepypaw naps.

Speaking of Shadowclan, while Smallbean was watching for Thunderclan he noticed the scent growing closer. Assuming it was just the arrival of Shadowclan as a whole, he focused on the edge of the clearing again, barely noticing the sound of approaching footsteps. After a moment he looked over, being met with a pair of expecting yellow eyes. "Gah!" He jumped, landing square on his paws- to his surprise. Normally he landed unnaturally.

"Oh, Stars, I'm so sorry! You... Startled me." A wave of guilt washed over him. He was sure Nightstalker hadn't meant to scare him. "Nice to meet you, Nightstalker." An intimidating name for an intimidating cat. "Yeah, um, I became deputy a few moons ago." He averted his gaze, still feeling embarrassment from his outburst. "So.. uh. You're new to being deputy too? How is it going?" He hoped he was right. All the clans had gotten new leaders recently, so it would make sense for Nightstalker to be relatively new to being deputy, but he had to admit that he hadn't been paying much attention the past few moons. "I've been settling in.. okay. It gets easier."

Lightpaw trotted alongside her mentor, Dappledlight, feeling a small thrill at the Greenleaf breeze in her whiskers, the smells of all the other clans mixing together, and the murmur of countless voices coming from the clearing below. The silver tabby held her head high, white tail waving with the wind, as ShadowClan entered Fourtrees. Looking to her mother and mentor, she politely asked, “May I go meet the other apprentices?”

Snowfoot smiled at her daughter’s good manners. “You may, provided Dappledlight says yes,” she responded. Snowfoot couldn’t imagine her sister saying no, but she knew it was no longer her place to tell her daughter what she could do. That was her mentor’s job.

Snowfoot is with Dappledlight and open to talk!
Blazefang is still open!
Lightpaw will be open to talk soon!

-- Murkypaw, Shadowclan, A shorthaired tall and lean smoke tortoiseshell she-cat with yellow eyes
Murkypaw was very excited to be attending her very first Gathering. Her yellow eyes shone in the dim moonlight as she ran down into the hollow in which the Gatherings were held. She held her head up high with a smile, looking for someone to talk to. This is so exciting! I'll get to meet new friends and know more about other clans... She shook herself, taking in a calm breath. Calm yourself, Murkypaw. She told herself, sitting down. A warrior wouldn't leap into the Gathering like a kit.

... The only thing that Murkypaw couldn't hide was her pure, excited smile on her face.
Murkypaw is open to conversation!

--Hickorypaw, Riverclan, A thick-furred shorthaired large brown ghost tabby tom with orange eyes
Hickorypaw practically bounced into the large area that was known as Fourtrees. There was no way the large tom could keep his pure excitement contained. Bright orange eyes gleaming, the ghost tabby tom sat down within his clan's little group, keeping an eye out for cats he might want to brag to... The all-amazing Perchstar was his mentor after all! This obviously meant the tom was destined to be the greatest warrior in all of the five clans!
Hickorypaw is open for conversation!

--Peach, Kittypet, A mediumhaired oriental mostly-ginger tortoiseshell van with light green eyes
Peach was wandering along the little path that led from her home in the twolegplace all the way to the centre point of what she assumed to be the the wild cat's 'clan' territories. She skipped along the path when she heard voices coming from the little hollow with the four giant trees. Ever since Peach had started her little adventures around the wild cat territories, she had only been there twice, each time peaceful and quite, not to mention beautiful. This was her first time going there at night and she found it quite curious she could hear a ton of voices from the beautiful area.

Hmm... The tortoiseshell van skipped closer, peering into the hollow, and her pale green eyes widened in wonder. So many cats! The bright-eyed kittypet decided that she absolutely had to join the odd cats, and ran down to sit somewhere at random. Peach didn't normally have a collar around her neck, but because it was nighttime, she happened to have one with a bell on it, alerting at least one cat of her strange presence.
Peach is open for... interrogating, she doesn't quite realise she isn't supposed to be here

There he was! Blazefang’s face broke into a grin as Stormpaw approached. “Sure I remember you! And yeah, it’s Blazefang now. I had my ceremony right after the last gathering. So how are you doing? Oh, and how’s Maplespring?” Blazefang was talking pretty quickly and with much enthusiasm, fidgeting a bit with one paw on a nearby pebble.

Blazefang found someone to talk to! Or rather, he found her.

Dandelionflight was enjoying the cool night air. The hot Greenleaf days were tiring. The noise in the clearing grew, and she looked up at the Greatrock. Shrikestar and Froststar had joined the other leaders. She scanned the clearing and spotted a friendly-looking calico. She slipped through the forming crowd and bounded toward her. "Hey there!" she greeted.

---

Lightpaw questioned if she could go and talk to the other apprentices. Dappledlight didn't see why not. "Sure, just don't get into any trouble," she responded. Her tail flicked back and forth as she waited for the gathering to begin.

---

Dandelionflight is talking to Roseburn!
Dappledlight is sitting with Snowfoot, but is open to interact!

Nightstalker blinked with surprise at the Windclan cat's reaction to his arrival. He had tried not to give the small tom a fright, but he supposed that this cat was just that unobservant. "Yes, I am. It has been fair, many kits have received their apprentice ceremonies." The young tom replied, before realizing that he was still not given a name. "My apologies, but when an equal gives you their name, it is only polite to respond with your own." quirking a brow, Nightstalker continued looking at Smallbean with his steely gaze, a bit miffed that he had to ask for the toms name instead of being supplied it automatically, how rude.

Sootpaw was amazed to say the least, as he followed after the rest of his clan. He had heard stories of gatherings, and how many cats there were but he never imagined there would be this many. It was amazing! He didn't really know where to start, who to talk to first! So many possibilities for the young tom. Amber eyes looked around trying to figure out who to talk to first.

--

Echomist didn't want to be here again, but when he was chosen to go he wasn't going to deny his leader. There was so much that happened last time, and he hoped and prayed none of it would happen again. Hopefully he could just sit here and ignore the gathering peacefully and go back to camp like nothing happened.

Sootpaw is open to conversation.
Echomist is open to conversatoin.
Dovefrost is too depressed to attend.

“Don’t worry, I’ll stay out of trouble,” Lightpaw assured her mentor before snaking off through the crowd. The silver tabby soon spotted another cat who looked to be about her age. “Hi, I’m Lightpaw, from ShadowClan,” she introduced herself. “Is this your first Gathering too?”

Snowfoot sighed a little as she watched her daughter run off. “They grow up so fast,” she mewed to her sister, then laughed. “Wow, I sound like an elder!” She could hardly believe it, her own first Gathering felt like it was just a few moons ago and here she was with her daughter.

Snowfoot is with Dappledlight but is open to conversation with others.
Lightpaw has approached Sootpaw.

Roseburg was delighted as a cat approached her.

"Hiya! I'm Roseburn, of ShadowClan. Just became a warrior, too! You're SkyClan, right? What's your name?"

With any luck, she didn't sound too overbearing. It would be fun to meet a new friend from a different Clan

Roseburn is talking to Dandelionflight
Dovesight is still open to talk to, and probably still low key freaking out

It was unlike Minnowfin to be late, but the tom felt a hesitation nagging him back. He knew that going to the moonstone was due a long time ago, yet he kept delaying his trip, coming up with excuses for his behavior. Who are these excuses for? Mottlerose? The clan? The grey and white tom's thoughts spiraled as he prepared to lead his clan into the gathering. Occasional glances towards his mate hinted that he was unsure whether he still had her approval. I wonder what the other leaders will think of me... what will Perchstar think? Selfish mouse-brain. What will they think of Thunderclan? Vulnerable without a leader with 8 lives to spare? With that realization, he decided to go on the trip as soon as possible. After the gathering perhaps, if he still had energy and if it did not descend into chaos as the previous one did.

Nearing the sacred clearing that had been used from generation to generation, Minnowfin was aware that they would be the last to arrive. I don't think leaders are supposed to dread going to Gatherings... These feelings he kept to himself as much as he could, only revealing some of it for his mate alone. At the edge of the tree line, he willed himself to slowly exhale, then signaled the go sign.

"Sorry to keep everyone waiting, but Thunderclan is here now." he stated, nodding in greeting. So what if they judge? he tried to convince himself, but deep down, he knew he cared.

Thunderclan may now enter the Gathering!
Minnowfin has joined the leaders.

---

Martenpaw followed behind her sister into the gathering, just a step behind. Curiosity was itching in her paws after what had happened at the previous gathering. Maybe this time we'll actually hear what all the leaders have to say. Or maybe another kitting will happen. Very much unlikely. Now in the clearing, the bright-eyed apprentice was tempted to run around in the empty space. Before she could make a move, she was already scolding herself. Such a childish thought- You're going to be a warrior soon Martenpaw. "Looks like we're the first to arrive!" she mewed to no one in particular.

Watching as the next couple of clans started to file into the clearing, the din of voices gradually grew louder. She did not sit, but her pale green gaze surveyed the happenings with interest.

Martenpaw is open to talk to!

---

With training now occupying most of her time, she hadn't realized another moon had gone by. Time sure flies when you keep busy... Walking alongside her family, she entered the clearing, already filled with cats from the other four clans. "Where should we sit?" she asked, expectantly turning to Mintpool, Pebblepaw, and Clouddream.

Flurrypaw is with her family as usual, but is open to interact with.

When Mottlerose and Minnowfin mentioned he would be one of the ones to attend the gathering, he had practically jumped for joy and excitement. Curiosity tore away at him, having catching the scents of the other clans on borders, but never quite getting the chance to meet anyone else... until now. Blue eyes scanned the clearing, tail held high.
There were so many cats. Who to talk to first ---? Oh. Was that apprentice... sleeping?

Stormpaw blinked, following the rest of his clanmates throughout the clearing and glancing Mottlerose's way before quickly making his way over to the snoozing shape. RiverClan, he noted. "Uhhh... Are you okay?"

Stormpaw is talking to Sleepypaw.

Bearpaw was beyond ecstatic to be attending a gathering. Being an apprentice was even more exciting than she'd thought! She'd never actually seen the other clans before, so it was thrilling to see them as she followed her clan into the Gathering. She tried to guess what clans were which, but it wasn't as easy as she'd thought it would be. She wasn't sure what she'd expected, but this was way better than anything she'd imagined. She was itching to go and talk to another cat, especially one from another clan. She made eye contact with another apprentice, and bounded up to her quickly.

"Hiya! I'm Bearpaw. I'm from Thunderclan." She introduced herself with a grin, her tail flicking contentedly.

Bearpaw has approached Crowpaw.