March Gathering 2023

Having reunited with his family was a huge relief, well being reunited with most of them. Hopefully they could help Butterfly escape soon... he really needed his sister around or else he might just pull his own fur out. Of course, Pipsqueak was more than glad that Sunflower and Forest had made it back home, but great hairballs this must've been a test for him; being stuck with the family members that weren't exactly his first choice to spend time with. But still, he knew that he should be thankful, seeing as though he'd been alone with their mother for who knows how long practically fending for himself.

And now, somehow or other... he'd been roped into going on this little adventure with his brother. Part of him had wanted to protest against such an idea, but he'd be lying if he said that he wasn't curious as to what else was out there in the forest and beyond. Sunflower being the coward he was, would never take them further than the edge of the forest and his mother had no interest in the clans, so he supposed it was up to them to take their fates into their own paws. Not to mention at times he did actually find himself intrigued by the fact that he was of SkyClan blood. That was his father's native home and clan, and part of him always wondered if there was more for him than just chasing mice near the Twolegplace and living off scraps. If his father of all cats could be a warrior, then surely he could, there was no doubt about it.

The journey had been fairly uneventful and after a bit of walking, the brothers had decided to rest in a clearing that Forest had apparently been to before during his time away from home. The fact that Forest had already met clan cats before him really ruffled his fur, and he couldn't let him get to know them even more before he got the chance to, so here he was. The white and brown tom had been sleeping soundly against Forest until he was suddenly being prodded at the side, his brother's excited voice saying something, though his tired ears didn't hear much of whatever he'd said.

Groggy olive eyes blinking awake and flicking his ears, his fur instantly stood on edge as his eyes fell onto a group of random cats entering the clearing. "Who are they? You know them?" mewed in a hushed tone as he leaned close to Forest, sitting up tall as to show the extent of his height and lengthy-ness. Part of him tried to hide any weariness, but at the same time he knew that he had every reason to be a bit tense...


Pipsqueak the loner sits by his brother, Forest, a bit on edge...

Creamsky followed dutifully after Birdstar, head held high as he entered the clearing - gaze scanning in vain hope that perhaps Blackbear would be waiting for them - thought no sign of her caused his heart to sink. He knew it had been a silly idea - if she was going to return to SkyClan, why wait for the night of the Gathering when she could just walk into the camp? But even then...He had to hope - the idea that he would see her again eased the pain that lanced through him every time he thought of her.

However in his scan to search for Blackbear did cause him to notice the two unexpected guests - coming to a halt as he stared at them with wide eyes...Before they narrowed. He doubt they were from any of the Clans seeing how SkyClan was the first to arrive - were they cats who had been taken and sought to return to their respective Clan? ...Were they just loners who happen to be in the clearing on such a night? He wasn't sure...And he wasn't sure if he cared enough to approach and ask. So he stood there, simply glaring at the two.

Creamsky has taken notice of the two loners and is glaring at them but making no movement towards them - he is however open to be spoken to nonetheless.

Sunpaw padded slowly at the rear of SkyClan's patrol to Fourtrees. Tonight was his first Gathering, and to say he was enthused was an understatement. The young apprentice was practically vibrating with excitement, except, he refused to let any of it show. Outwardly, he was calm and placid, with an almost bored expression... the only sign of his eagerness was the methodic twitching of his feathery tail. Let's go, let's go, bright yellow eyes settled downward as they crested the rise that would lead them down into Fourtrees, and as they rapidly flicked from side to side, taking in everything the clearing had to offer, he was... disappointed.

They were the only ones here. Or, the first of the clans, at least. SkyClan dispersed, and Sunpaw's now legitimately bored expression landed on Creamsky, who seemed to be practically bristling at two cats on the outskirts of the clearing. One had a weird sort of pelt around its neck, and the other looked like it was more legs than actual cat. Sunpaw flopped down beside Creamsky, duplicating the older warrior's stare at the outsiders. They weren't technically supposed to be here, in Fourtrees, buuuut... this wasn't SkyClan's territory, so it wasn't their problem. Until someone with a bigger voice said so, there was no fight to fight tonight.

Sunpaw is sitting next to Creamsky and staring at the intruders.

*

Smokestep was right behind Wolfblossom on the journey there, and when SkyClan broke apart, she found a spot reasonably close to the leaders' rock to sit down, flicking her tail around her paws, and wait. It surprised her that no other clan had arrived yet, but she supposed they would all be around soon enough.

Smokestep is sitting by herself and is open to talk to.

Mottlestar came in next, leading Thunderclan in behind her. She prayed to the stars vehemently that there would be no disruptions tonight, that she could make her announcements and celebrate with the other clans in peace. Her senses instantly picked up the familiar scent of Skyclan as she came, and her head dipped to Birdstar as she lept atop the Great Rock. "I hope you've been well, Birdstar. It seems things are... finally at an end." It was nice to be able to tread around the territories without constant fear of twoleg traps, even if a few still lingered. They were getting rid of all of them, one by one.

Thunderclan may enter the gathering!

---

Murkyripple was not too far behind, the large calico stalking. She remembered the battle that had happened here not too long prior, and the she-cat found a place to sit among the crowd to watch. Always watching, always keeping track. That was her job. That was what her job would be.

Murkyripple is open to conversation!

Moonlily followed her clanmates in, taking a spot and simply keeping as much peace as she could. There was much on her mind, and little to really do about it at the moment. So instead, the large molly simply observed, waiting to hear the news of the Clans.

Moonlily is open to conversation!

Marigoldmask was no exception either, finding a spot among the crowd to settle down and half-curl as other clans began to come in. Part of her wondered who she might meet, but most of her was simply ready to get the night over with and go back to sleep.

Marigoldmask is sleepily open to conversation!

Creamsky's ears flickered at the sound of approaching pawsteps, glancing over as a cat sat next to him. He had been expecting Lightningpaw so he found himself blinking in surprise as instead Sunpaw was at his side - gaze focused on the strangers that he had spotted. He gave a nod of acknowledgement before he turned his gaze back to the pair - waiting to see if they were going to do anything more than just watch...Or perhaps somebody would approach them - then at least they wouldn't be his problem to worry about.

---------

Acornpaw could barely hold back her excitement as she stepped into the clearing, tail lashing back and forth as she scanned the crowd. There was a little disappointment that it was just SkyClan and ThunderClan who had arrived yet - she wasn't aiming to speak to anybody in particular but options would have been nice. Ah well, she sighed with a shrug of her shoulders, stepping forward before she took a seat. She would just have to hope that somebody would approach her first...Or she could at least try to find a conversation partner once the others had arrived.

Acornpaw is open to conversation.

The apprentice was practically vibrating with energy. His first gathering! He bounded after his mentor and sat beside Smokestep. He supposed he'd watch for now, but he wanted very much to meet with someone of another clan. How should he start it? With his name, he guessed... but who? He leaned slightly into Smokestep's hip for reassurance.

"You wouldn't happen to have any friends in other clans, do you?" He asked Smokestep, his confidence suddenly leaving him at the thought of another warrior or apprentice not liking him. He realized what he was doing and shook himself. He was a Skyclan cat! Son of the deputy! Why should he care what another cat from another clan thinks???

Still... he'd rather have friends than enemies...

Falconpaw is open to talk to, but this is his first gathering and he is a bit nervous. He is seeking reassurance and encouragement from Smokestep.

---

The dawn and shadow smoke colored tabby entered the hollow, relieved to see that there weren't any twolegs, dogs, or their traps this time. He'd had enough of that ruckus, thanks. As usual, the cranky tom sat on the edges of Thunderclan and stared out across the hollow. Skyclan was already here, but he noted Bloodstrike's absence. Maybe the old man had died of infection from their little skirmish. He could only hope.

His mismatched eyes traveled along the cats of the other clan... and his heart stopped. His eyes were fixed on a gold and white apprentice that looked far too familiar... yet not exactly familiar at the same time. After a moment of stiffness and an unblinking expression, the warrior slowly made his fur lie flat. He'd never seen his dad as an apprentice, obviously... but the resemblance was... hard to ignore. His moment of shock and... he hated to admit it... some fear, maybe... he wasn't going to think too hard on it... went away and gave way to annoyance and resentment. That apprentice was probably related to him, as was most of Skyclan and a good chunk of Thunderclan.

Dismissing the Skyclan tom for now, Darkspirit's eyes went to the Great Rock. With a huff, he waited for the gathering to end so that he could go back home.

Darkspirit is open to talk to.

It felt like they had just been back at Fourtrees, freeing their trapped clanmates, but now they were returning so soon afterwards. Shrikestar was on guard, as if they would reach the clearing and see the twolegs still there with their rabid dogs. However, when he and the rest of his clan reached Fourtrees, he could see that it was safe. It was full of cats - ThunderClan and SkyClan - with no sign of the twolegs that had been there before. It was as if they hadn't existed at all. In a way, it was unnerving how they could just be present one day and then vanished the next. What more could these twolegs do? Trying not to think about it, Shrikestar led his clan into the clearing, heading for the Great Rock to greet the other leaders that were there.

WindClan may enter the Gathering.

Amberstone wasn't sure how she felt about coming back here, but at least the cages, the twolegs and the dogs were gone. Good riddance. As Shrikestar climbed atop the Great Rock, she was content to sit on the front edge of where Windclan was supposed to gather. Thunderclan and Skyclan were already here.

The she-cat surveyed the area with mild interest before turning her eyes to the Great Rock. Once Riverclan and Shadowclan were here, they could begin.

Amberstone is open to talk to.

Wolfblossom padded into fourtrees alongside Birdstar and Smokestep, offering her former apprentice a friendly smile as she reluctantly went to take her place among the deputies. She was keeping an eye on her kits who were in attendance, knowing how excited they were, but she would not smother them and would for now watch them from a distance. She noticed the pair of strange cats in the hollow and her eyes narrowed at them in suspicion, but this wasn't Skyclan territory and it was not her business unless they made it her business. It looked like Creamsky and Sunpaw had also noticed them.

---

Graypaw entered fourtrees with the rest of her clan. She was excited to see what these gatherings were like, but she couldn't help also feeling wary. There were so many cats already, and the only ones she knew were her own clanmates. She glanced around for her siblings, and spotting Sunpaw sitting with Creamsky, she padded over to the pair and sat.

---

Stoneheart found a spot among the Skyclanners that hadn't yet wandered off to mingle, not sure that she wanted to risk a conversation with anyone tonight. Fourtrees never seemed to be quite peaceful, and it made her wary. It seemed like they really had spent more time here than on Skyclan's own territory, and she hoped that that would change now that the twoleg thread seemed to be dealt with. She could remember the scene she had followed Birdstar to find, and shivered.

Wolfblossom is open to talk!
Graypaw is open to talk!
Stoneheart is open to talk!
Moondancer hasn't arrived yet.
Brackenwing is not attending.

Smokestep turned, feeling Falconpaw at her side, and gave him a warm smile. "I'm afraid I don't have friends in the other clans..." she said quietly. Her eyes swept across the clearing, and she noticed WindClan's arrival, her nostrils flaring to bring in their scents. "But, I've seen other cats here, during the full moon... most of them are friendly, and easy to talk to - especially apprentices." The smoky tabby gave her apprentice a reassuring nudge towards the clearing. "I think if you try, you'll have no problem making a friend, or two. Or... you can sit with me all night, and that's perfectly okay, too."

Smokestep is talking to Falconpaw.

*

Owlshade followed behind Shrikestar and the rest of WindClan as they made their way to Fourtrees, but immediately split off when the clan began to disperse. He had no real desire to be here tonight, but if there was a chance that Silverwing showed up, he wanted to be able to talk to her.

Owlshade is sitting by himself, keeping an eye out for Silverwing.

*

Near the back of the group of ThunderClanners was Lichenpaw. The gray tom looked significantly worse for wear than he had the last time his paws touched this territory... luckily, the dog attack hadn't done any major damage - though he walked with a limp still, his leg had healed fine, and the end half of his tail had come off cleanly, with no infection. It was still an adjustment, though, since he didn't have the balance he was used to. As usual, however, his spirits were high, and as ThunderClan made it to the clearing and all scattered to do their own thing, Lichenpaw found himself glancing through the crowd in search of... someone. SkyClan was here, but he didn't see Juniperpaw. Maybe she'd decided to stay home.

Lichenpaw is searching for Juniperpaw.

Nightstar was the second to last leader to arrive, but that was without surprise. Nightstar was slowed by the injury on his hip from the collision with the monster, and the dog bite and his ribs hurt like a fire was roaring through them. But the black tom was determined to show that Shadowclan was fine and healthy despite everything and so he trudged through the muck, the large expanse of his territory with his clan behind them. When they all arrived at the ridge, the black tom took a moment to gain his breath and flatten his fur before he padded into the clearing, making his way directly to the great rock where Mottlestar, Birdstar, and Shrikestar already sat.

Sighing with displeasure under his breath, he scrabbled up the rock, his claws hooking onto the grooves of stone the only thing preventing him from stumbling backwards with his bad leg. Hauling himself up, he sat himself in his typical spot and give each leader a respectful nod, but his eyes connected with Birdstar a bit longer, "Birdstar." He meowed lowly, "I wanted to apologize for my behavior a few moons ago, there were some conflicts that had me distracted at the time, and as such I made a terrible, and disrespectful blunder. It was not my intention to do so." Nightstar meowed before nodding once more and turning his attention away.


Shadowclan may now enter the gathering.