July Gathering 2023

Lighttail hadn’t known stable metaphorical ground beneath her in what felt like ages. Disaster, death, injuries, politics, and war plagued her with every step she took and knocked her off her feet. Now, the ground beneath her seemed to shatter entirely as the Gathering erupted into chaos.

A rumbling in the sky and the disappearance of the moon should have been clear enough, but no cat seemed to listen. Suddenly, Lighttail felt a sharp blow to the back of her head. The world went white and her ears rang.

Lighttail has been struck and is on the ground.


Sunflare watched the scene unfold with disgust. Once again it seemed Nightpaw had no more brain than the WindClan cats he hated so much. Wordlessly, the cinnamon tom left his mate’s side and cut the crowd towards Leopardsun. Stopping beside the deputy, he leaned in to murmur into her ear. “I agree that Nightpaw has proven he is not fit to lead. As your cousin, a loyal warrior under your command, and as someone who already opposes Nightpaw, I will support you in what comes next. I will do anything you ask. All I ask of you in return is action. Do something, anything, to hold that coward accountable for his own actions and you will have my undying loyalty.”

Sunflare is being very politically bold for a Tier 2 warrior!

The moment Nightstar opened his mouth, Wolfblossom knew it would be trouble. She recognized his reference to Redice, but that wasn't what had her immediately on edge. No, the yowl for justice, for his lost clanmates... And a demand for herbs in exchange for a cat held hostage. Shrikestar yowled in response, of course. Wolfblossom took in every word spat by the two toms in silence. Once again, the drama between the two played out in front of everyone, ending what should have been a peaceful gathering. Wolfblossom wasn't sure she knew what a peaceful gathering looked like anymore. The deputy glanced between the two leaders on the rock, and wondered if Mottlestar and Perchstar would agree to hold their own gatherings away from the foxdung. To her, it seemed that Windclan and Shadowclan were utterly incapable of civility.

As Shrikestar so kindly demonstrated by shoving Nightstar off the great rock. There was a commotion below, and Leopardsun - poor Leopardsun, being put in such a position time and time again - yowled at her leader to stay down. She had lost kits in that border skirmish, and Wolfblossom's heart twisted in grief for her. To hear them accused of murder, to hear both leaders bicker... Wolfblossom would not have blamed the spotted deputy for wanting vengeance. She was shocked to see Leopardsun make a stand against her leader in front of the gathering, however, that she could not fault the deputy for either. She had watched Leopardsun apologize and smooth things over for Nightstar's behavior plenty in the past, handling every situation with grace. This must've been a breaking point for her, and Wolfblossom briefly wondered if she would have had the patience for it, if her sisters acted in such a manner.

Several Windclanners strode forward, calling out for an end to the senseless foxdung. The Shadowclanner she recognized as Rookfire joined them, and Wolfblossom privately agreed with them. This was not however, her place to interfere. This was not Skyclan business. It was time to go, before things got any more out of paw than they already were. From her position on the great rock, she could see Nightstar surging forward... And just as he barreled into Shrikestar - or Shrikestorm, as one of the Windclanners had called him - Wolfblossom was already calling out to her own clanmates.

"Skyclan!" She called, preparing to leap from the rock, "We're lea-" The violent crash of thunder and static drowned out her words. Too late, she was a heartbeat too late as the two toms playing at leadership careened off the rock. The clearing was lit up brightly, and Wolfblossom's fur stood on end as she leapt from the great rock, fur suddenly standing on end. Her ears rang, the noise in the clearing seeming to fade away. The bright flash of light was blinding, and the deputy stumbled as she hit the ground, a gasp leaving her. She shook her head, desperate to clear it as the scent of burning flesh reached her nose. Something hot, burning touched her flank, or maybe she imagined it. The adrenaline flooding her veins meant she didn't feel it. She glanced around, trying to make sense of the hollow around her. Nightstar and Shrikestar were down, a third cat between them. Some idiot Windclanners were arguing still with Leopardsun... Her lip curled in distaste. Everywhere she looked, cats were scrambling, some on the ground - fainted, worse? The stench of burning flesh was nauseating. Lightning, she realized, staring at the two leaders and the cat in a tangled mess on the ground.

They could not be her focus. The two had brought it upon themselves and the rest of the cats here. Nightstar, at least, seemed unnaturally still... Not her problem, Wolfblossom told herself. Not her clans to keep safe.

"Skyclan! Out!" Wolfblossom could barely hear her own voice with the ringing in her ears. Blinking rapidly to clear her vision, the pale deputy hurried toward her clanmates. Dawnfeather stood frozen, and Wolfblossom nudged her, hoping she could break through whatever held the golden she-cat in terror. Her own heart beat painfully fast, but she had to keep it together long enough to get her clanmates to safety. "Dawnfeather, Falconmoon! Find the apprentices!" Littlepaw was next to catch her attention, and Wolfblossom winced. Several of the new apprentices were here tonight, what an introduction to gatherings this would be for them. "Stick together!" Her only focus would be ensuring that her clanmates were safe.

---

The clearing exploded into chaos, with the Windclan and Shadowclan leaders fighting and hurling insults... Then claws. Even their own clanmates seemed to be absolutely sick of their leadership, speaking up against them, but it seemed to Graywind that it was pointless. A thunderous roar filled the clearing and the Skyclan warrior flinched, eyes instinctively closing as bright light filled the air, her wispy fur bristling. Her mother had started to call out for Skyclan, but her words were lost amid the noise. Not that her words needed to be clear. It was obvious that the gathering was over, and Skyclan would be leaving. Finding her brother in the crowd, Graywind pressed against Falconmoon's side before moving to follow Wolfblossom.

---

Stoneheart swore under her breath as chaos erupted around them, not at all for the first time. The clearing was loud and full of noise, but her ears still caught Wolfblossom's call for the clan to head out and stick together. "Gatherings!" She hissed, "I'm never going to one of these again, I swear it. Stay close!" She called to Mistflower, turning for the edge of the hollow.

Skyclan has been ordered to leave! Wolfblossom has been singed but hasn't noticed yet.
Graywind and Stoneheart are with their siblings (Falconmoon and Mistflower) and leaving.
Brackenwing is questioning her life choices (I will post with her when wc gets out of dodge.)

Perchstar spared Nightstar a single glance as the tom went up to take her place--and immediately began spewing the most kittish nonsense out of his mouth. While she was normally good at subduing her emotions outwardly, she couldn't help but let out a deep, exasperated huff of a sigh at the tom's demands. Of course Shrikestar wouldn't be much better. And he wasn't. The two were bickering, yelling at each other about "murders" despite all the deaths happening in war, about "fault" despite ShadowClan deciding to invade and WindClan deciding to throw all of their respect away as if it was nothing. The Gathering was descending into chaos. Well, at least she'd made her announcements first. What did it say about the state of the forest that this was simply frustrating rather than concerning? WindClan and ShadowClan could tear each other apart and both cease to exist for all that she cared. But there was no reason to continue watching this display of overt stupidity any longer. As claws flashed out and Nightstar invited StarClan's retribution, she felt her fur begin to stand on end. Did the tom have any brains at all in that thick skull of his?

Her Clan came first--and she wanted her Clan nowhere near this mess. "RiverClan, we are leaving," Perchstar began to call out, managing to keep the disgust from her voice, right before everything went blindingly white. The smell of singed fur filled her nose. All in a few moments, everything devolved even further, and an impossibly loud crack of thunder filled the entire clearing. What was happening? She couldn't hear. She couldn't hear anything that had come after the thunder. Perchstar managed to force her eyes open, though they still hurt from the painfully bright flash of light, and saw a group of injured cats where Shrikestar and Nightstar had been fighting. Both had lost at least one life, evidently. It appeared a few bystanders had been injured as well. Thankfully, she did not recognize that any of her cats had been hurt, though she saw a lot of fur standing on end. Her own pelt was puffed out nearly beyond belief from the static that ran through her. Wolfblossom, it seemed, had been lightly burned by the strike herself. But there was no time to worry about anyone other than her Clan.

Perchstar could not hear. She could not hear anything. Though she saw a hundred moving mouths, the words being spoken remained a mystery to her. Instead, she trusted her instincts and yowled out in a voice that she hoped was as loud as she wanted it to be. "RiverClan! Head out, now! Everyone find someone! Meet me back at camp!" Hopefully they heard her. If not heard her, hopefully they at least saw her gesture with her tail, fur all standing on end, in the direction of their territory. The stars had decreed this Gathering over, and decreed Shrikestar and Nightstar unfit to lead. She did not want to remain nearby and see what they would do, given how poorly they all seemed to accept being reminded of their flaws. Still deafened, only able to feel the insanely fast pounding of her heart, Perchstar leapt down by the deputies, searching for Poppyshine so that they could orchestrate leaving together. She tried her best not to walk close to the burned heaps of fur that had started this whole mess.

RiverClan has been ordered to leave. Perchstar is sticking around until she sees all of her Clanmates get out safely.

--

Dovepaw waited with interest for the other apprentice to respond--and then everything went insane. Two leaders, whose names he did not know, got into a straight-up brawl on top of the rock. What was wrong with them? Did they not know this was supposed to be a time of peace? Then, as the dark one asked StarClan to strike them down, he felt his hackles raise. Ravenpaw. Swanpaw. Owlcall. I need to find everyone. He should have been keeping an eye on them! He shouldn't have left! "E-excuse me," he said hastily, not even noticing that the apprentice he was speaking to had already begun to leave. A bright flash of light, crackling the air with static electricity. A thunderingly loud blast of sound. It left Dovepaw reeling, but he couldn't even think about it. His paws were already moving as fast as he could, sprinting toward where he knew he had left Ravenpaw. He nudged the tom frantically, glancing toward where Swanpaw and Owlcall sat together nearby. "Come on, let's get out of here!" Perchstar's voice was barely audible over the cacophony, but he heard her saying to leave. Thankfully. "We need to go!"

Dovepaw is gathering his siblings so they can leave.

The conversation between fellow apprentices died down as the gathering begun, and Brindlepaw shone with pride as her leader listed her name among the many new apprentices. In all honesty, Brindlepaw didn't yet care for clan politics and various things like that, as long as they didn't directly affect her, so was beginning to get bored as the other clans' leaders rattled off announcements and names. However, all of this changed when the accusations and shouting began. When the lightening came, Brindlepaw was sure she had never been this scared in her life. In all her panic, she wanted to run like a kit to her mother, but Goldenfern was nowhere in her eye line, blocked by the endless numbers of cats frantically searching for their own loved ones. Instinctively, Brindlepaw reach for Hickorypaw, clinging to her sister. All her ideas of dignity and reputation were gone, and all she could consider was how terrified she was, and how badly she wanted to protect her littermate from whatever was happening, willing to fight the sky itself if that's what it took to keep the pair safe.

Brindlepaw is terrified and won't leave Hickorypaw's side

---

Violetpaw watched the announcements with interest, and desperately tried to make sense of all the shouting and disagreements that were happening. In the swarm, she was one of the first to panic, and immediately searched for Dawnfeather, hoping Alderpaw would be following her. Much to the apprentice's dismay, it seemed her mother wasn't faring much better. It felt like the warrior couldn't hear either her or Foxtrot, who was also trying to reach her. Trying to help, she stayed close to Dawnfeather's other side as they left the gathering, all of Skyclan eager to follow Wolfblossom and avoid the chaos they had no part in.

Violetpaw is leaving with Foxtrot, Dawnfeather and the rest of Skyclan

Leopardsun was spared the agony of having to address the self-righteous coward (the one that was, apparently, Shrikestar's own daughter) again as she turned to speak to someone else. Good. The ShadowClan deputy was running low on patience, but she knew she couldn't afford to explode toward some cat whose name she didn't even know.

The WindClan cat had already proven her point: they had no loyalty to the code, or to each other.

There could be an end to the bloodshed, there should be an end to the bloodshed, but Leopardsun was starting to think there would never be peace. Not so long as WindClan was incapable of honor, loyalty, and mercy.

Meanwhile, the more pressing issue: Nightstar remained on the ground, as did Shrikestar- both unmoving, for the moment. How much damage had StarClan done to the forest, this time?

Sunflare was at her side in an instant, and she swallowed a growl; he was reminding her of Sablestrike in the worst ways at the moment, though Sablestrike at least hadn't bothered to try and hide his own ambitions. It was true that he had been a loyal warrior as far as she was aware, but it didn't make his behavior in the moment any less irritating. "Sunflare," she said, keeping her voice even, "now is not the time."

And then Creekpaw spoke up as well, louder and with a surprising amount of actual insight. The apprentice was making more sense than most of the warriors. What was the world coming to?

"You're right, Creekpaw. We have more pressing matters to attend to than settling their business for them," she nodded to the apprentice. Then, addressing the cats around her who weren't yet leaving the clearing: "Everyone move further away from the bodies, in case StarClan decides they aren't quite finished. Or the two of them happen to wake up, and decide they aren't quite finished. Was anyone else injured?"

It would be just like them, on all accounts, not to care about collateral damage.

Leopardsun is addressing Sunflare, Creekpaw, and the rest of the cats who were close enough to feel the lightning strike!
Mistflower is leaving with Stoneheart!
Lightningbreeze is looking for Creamsky and leaving!

Littlepaw followed after everyone when suddenly she was pushed away by Whin. As she got up she felt a burning sensation on her pelt and noticed that fire was creeping up her fluffy fur. She quickly laid down on the ground getting rid of the fire, just in time to hear whin scream in pain. He too was also on fire. Littlepaw didnt care about her burning side as she padded up to him and tossed more dirt onto his fur. Finally after a while, whin was put out. "Are you okay? she mewed licking his burns carefully not even caring about herself.


Littlepaw has been struck and now is burned

While one leader seemed to have attracted quite the crowd of Starclanners, the other who found himself in their domain would find himself approached by one she-cat, a frown upon her lips. "Shrikestar." Swiftspirit spoke quietly, a weariness to her tone as she addressed him. "You've lost a lot tonight. The stars can only do so much, and you are far from the only cat injured. The medicine cats are going to have their paws full, I fear." It was difficult to tell whether the opalescent she-cat was disappointed, angry, frustrated... Perhaps a combination of those and more. Shrikestar had lost far more than lives, but his dignity, respect... His command over his own clanmates. She had watched it crumble for seasons in front of her. Tonight though, tonight she was through with watching. Someone needed to talk to the leader, someone had needed to do so for moons.

"I gave you the gift of clear judgment at your leader ceremony, did I not?" The star-speckled tabby stepped toward him, blue eyes holding the Windclanner's gaze. "You seem to have forgotten that. Batsong too, though her I've already spoken to. Now it's your turn, I suppose, though I loathe to pile onto what you're already facing from your own clan, you need to listen. What happened, Shrikestar? You used to put the clan first. I vouched for you when Lilacsong would have exiled you for doing what you thought was right. You managed to be dragged into a sham alliance with Shadowclan that offered you nothing, when you had everything to lose. And you have lost. The 'alliance,' your own warriors... Your reason. So you clung to your pride and hoped the problem would de-escalate on it's own? Batsong fanned the flames, but you could have put a stop to it. Presenting a united front is all well and good until it endangers those under your protection. Which it did." She had watched that meeting after Windclan had returned from the gathering. She had watched cats speak out against what had transpired. A few words from Shrikestar could have prevented it, or at least softened the blow for the rest of his clanmates.

When Swiftspirit continued, her voice was calm, but there was a hint of disapproving disappointment not unlike a queen scolding a kit. "What did you think shoving another leader off the great rock would accomplish? Especially one so prideful and bloodthirsty? I know, that border skirmish got truly out of paw. What was one accident spiraled into far more than it ever needed to be, and that seems to be the way of things between the clans. I cannot blame you for that - war is... war. It's messy, and cats are going to be hurt. But vengeance for the fallen will not solve your problems, resorting to violence at a gathering will not solve your problems. The request for herbs wasn't reasonable, but it was a way to reclaim your warrior - my son - without bloodshed. Those herbs would regrow, a cat's life does not. And you responded with the same unreasonableness and have created more problems for yourself. Windclan's reputation has not mattered for moons now, but I have seen it sink to new lows tonight. Same for Shadowclan, but their leader isn't mine to lecture. Far more than just the two of you are injured. All because two toms refuse to see reason. So much that could have been avoided, if you'd both just think of the consequences before you act." The pale gray and white lynx point shook her head with a sigh. She hated seeing the clan she had grown up in reduced to this. She hated seeing a cat she once respected lose his way so completely. Striped tail lashed back and forth and she regarded him for several long, quiet moments.

"You are drowning, Shrikestar. You've been drowning. Swallow that stubborn pride of yours and use the brain I know you still have somewhere between those ears of yours. What is your legacy, as a leader? What has been the cost of it, to yourself and your clan? Being a leader is difficult even when you don't take every step to make it more difficult. It's difficult when your clan is fully behind you... And Windclan isn't behind you anymore." She had hoped for better, for an end to the seemingly endless chaos Windclan had been put through. The chaos only continued though.

"I have kept you here as long as I can, but it has not healed all the damage done. I beg you, don't continue this fighting when you wake. Enough of the forest have been wounded tonight with the actions Nightstar and you have taken." Swiftspirit stood, starry form beginning to fade from Shrikestar's view. "Think wisely, Shrikestar. Do what's best for them, not for your damaged reputation. You might find that to be what's best for you as well, in the long run, regardless of how it feels right now." And with those final, stern words, Swiftspirit faded from view, leaving Shrikestar to wake up to the painful reality that was being dragged from the great rock and then struck by lightning.

---

The voices of so many cats in one area were almost overwhelming, but so long as this gathering remained peaceful, Aurelia thought she might be able to bear it. Then there was yowling, about things that most definitely did not involve Thunderclan, and the golden spotted she-cat inched backward toward Thunderclan territory. When the two toms on the large rock began to fight for real, and a deep rumble of thunder seemed to make her very bones ache, the wildcat turned and fled, just as lightning lit the hollow.

---

Swanpaw listened to Owlcall list off each leader - and deputy stand-in, it seemed, with intent curiosity. Before she could ask anything else, the gathering had been called to a start, and the young apprentice strained to listen, wanting to hear everything going on. Then the dark forest broke lose, and she would listen to Owlcall's caution to ignore the two fighting clans. They weren't involved with Riverclan, anyways. Still, her heart beat fast and her paws shook at the suddenness of the screeching, yowling and violence. The thunder and lightning was nearly enough to make her jump out of her skin, and Swanpaw was grateful to stick as close to her brother's side as she could and put as much distance between herself and this hollow that could be had.

Swiftspirit is just Windclan's disappointed mom, I guess.

Aurelia has fled.
Swanpaw is leaving with Owlcall and the rest of Riverclan.
Bracken is still questioning her life choices.

The ringing in Sparrowthorn's ears had barely begun to subside when she felt the touch of another cat. Looking up, Sleepyhollow was mouthing something... Slowly it began to filter in. "Fine!" She mewed, all too loudly, as she began to get to her paws. One of her legs was sore, maybe the lightning had traveled through her through it? Regardless, she was able to trot to Sootstorm's body and grab his scruff, dragging his burned body away from the leaders before Starclan could hit them once more.

Sparrowthorn watched Sootstorm's flank for a moment, ensuring it still rose and fell. That he was still part of the living, that Starclan had not taken him for nothing. With that one formality out of the way, it was time to get to work. "Sleepy, find warriors that haven't been hurt to help me carry Sootstorm back. There might be herbs around but looking for what I need in unfamiliar territory only wastes time. Batsong and I can help him more in camp. I'd say to bring dad but..." She glanced back at the unmoving form of her father, quickly looking back to her sister. "If he starts anything again I won't have anyone else be struck." The now constant ringing in her ears caused her to wince. "Once I get the help I need to move Sootstorm out of here, Windclan needs to leave."

The stars that swirled around Nightstar suddenly seemed to catch ablaze. What was the equivalent of shooting stars were suddenly akin to apocalyptic meteors engulfed in flames. Burningwing descended like a wrathful wraith from the sky, claws outstretched as he hurtled toward Nightstar. His mouth was parted wide and a furious caterwaul ripped from his maw in a raw expression of unbridled divine fury. The dark furred tom landed with what could have been an earth shattering thud, claws unsheathed, in front of Nightstar. His tail whooshed as it whipped violently from one side to the other, audibly slapping the dark tom's haunches as it did so.

For several moments Burningwing said nothing, could not say anything, as the crackling growl akin to a roaring fire tore from his throat. His burning, sulfuric yellow eyes pierced the younger tom with all the intensity of an inferno as he stalked forward and invaded Nightstar's space. Even though he was a medium-length furred cat, his muscles could be seen rippling with a ferocious energy in areas where it was thin. His ears had plastered back against his head so hard it appeared as if he had none.

"You disgusting, filthy traitor!" Burningwing finally bellowed once he collected enough sanity to do so. Burningwing's teetch clacked together more like a furious canine's might rather than a cat's. He was barely holding himself back from attacking the mortal creature before him. "I entrust you with a life, give you my blessing and all of the hope I could muster to lead Shadowclan to greatness... ALL FOR YOU TO THROW IT AWAY BY HAVING FILTHY MIXED BLOOD KITS!" Burningwing started forward and swiped at Nightstar, though his claws only sailed through the empty air in front of his eyes.

"I STRIP YOU OF THE LIFE I GAVE YOU! I HOPE YOU LOSE EVERYTHING THAT WAS PRECIOUS TO YOU!" He was spitting now and took a moment to lick his lips and take a quick breath. His bellowing quieted, but only just on the verge of another surge of volume. "I hope you have to watch as everything you worked hard to achieve crumbles to blood-stained dust before you! I hope all you will know from this day forward is the ashes of your joys, your dreams, your loved ones and your future! Curse you, Nightstar! Curse you for violating my trust and the trust of your ancestors before you!"

Burningwing took a breath, but it quelled his rage about as well as fanning flames to put them out. He roared back to life with another surge of divine wrath. "You were supposed to lead your clan to greatness and all you have done is lead them to war! An unnecessary war! Not only have you violated the code with your offspring filth," He spat that last word, hoping he spat in Nightstar's eye. "But you continue to insult me and all of Starclan and the traditions you swore to uphold on the day you became a warrior of Shadowclan by repeatedly breaking the code at your whim! You are unworthy of leadership! You are scum!"

Burningwing released another growl, a rumbling sound akin to the earth slowly being torn apart by an erupting volcano. "May whatever remaining life you have be lived in agony and regret. May your endeavors bare no fruit no matter how desperately you claw forward to achieve them. May your vile offspring find no joy, no peace and no meaning in their worthless lives and die in the carrion place where they belong! May your death come slowly and remain tantalizingly out of your reach when you can bare the burden of living no longer! And when you finally do draw your last wretched breath, may the Dark Forest drag you into the deepest, loneliest pit with nothing and no one to accompany you but your past failures and my scorn!"

Burningwing stepped back a few paces, bunched his haunches, then sprang at Nightstar with a war cry... only to disappear just before contact in a flash of bright, burning light.

---

Things had happened so fast that he didn't get a chance to say anything to Thrush. Falconmoon turned to watch as Nightstar and Shrikestar began to squabble... and a deep sense of satisfaction washed over him in that moment. Oh how perfect...

"Couldn't have happened to two better toms. A traitor... and a kit killer." Okay so Apollo hadn't exactly been a kit, but he had been Dawnhawk's kit. He loved watching the squabble, and he couldn't keep the sinister grin from spreading across his face, nor could he hide the dancing lights in his fiery blue gaze. He started to laugh, hearing about the deaths of both Windclan and Shadowclan. Good. He could only hope that the clans would fall under these two leaders. It was all they both deserved.

Then the lightning struck, raising Falconmoon's fur unwillingly to it's max length. He hadn't been singed like anyone else, but he felt his heart stop in that brief moment where he was trying to figure out if he had been hit or not. He looked himself over, his heart racing and his limbs shaking. He was fine... he was fine... But when he looked up at the leaders... there they lie. Sparks danced in their fur and smoke rose in coils from their motionless bodies.

Falconmoon laughed so loud it literally hurt his throat to do so. The giddiness of the adrenaline made him clumsy. He didn't care who saw and he didn't think he could hide his emotions right now anyway. He drank in their forms as if they were the largest diamonds on earth, and he, a treasure hunter.

"You both deserved that. You piles of crowfood!" His tail lashed in excitement just before he heard Wolfblossom call him. It snapped him somewhat out of his adrenaline filled stupor and laughing fit. Find the apprentices? Uh... okay.

Falconmoon strode into the clearing with his eyes searching for the 'paws of Skyclan. They'd be fine. A little shook maybe, but fine. He on the other hand couldn't be put in a better mood if he tried.

Worry had worked its way into the she-cat's heart as Riverclan announced a successful battle at the gorge, followed by Nightstar's announcement that Shadowclan had also been attacking Windclan. Owlshade? While not particularly close Silverwing had always enjoyed the tom's company. He had been a friend to her while in Windclan, and it was hard to imagine him being the murderer Nightstar claimed him to be. Silverwing could feel her fur raise as the Shadowclan leader publicly threatened Shrikestar, then the Windclan leader spoke. Adderdawn and Flutterpetal were dead... Two young cats with kind hearts had been cut down by Shadowclan's dogs! The worry in her chest had quickly transitioned to fury as the molly's claws unsheathed.

A familiar voice drew Silverwing's attention and for a moment the molly could feel her anger giving way. Brackenwing! Silverwing wanted to cry out to her friend, grab the elder's attention so they could... well, what would they do? The gathering was quickly becoming a mess and would be disbanded soon. Just as the thought crossed her mind Nightstar made his move. Silverwing had always known he was an evil wretch with no redeeming qualities but to fight at a gathering?

A sudden hot flash of light blinded the molly following the Shadowclan leader's declaration. Lightning strikes peppered the clearing as Silverwing stood frozen. She could feel the heat radiate through the clearing as multiple cats were struck. Cries erupted from the gathered masses and she was almost sure that one of those sounded familiar to her. Silverwing's gaze swept out across the clearing. Utter chaos had descended upon this gathering, and all of it had been Nightstar's fault. When wasn't it his fault? There was one cat actually burning. Motion finally stirred the she-cat to life as she realized who exactly was on fire.

Silverwing spared only a glance in Brackenwing's direction before bolting toward her apprentice's burning form. A couple moons stuck in Skyclan hadn't dulled the warrior's speed, though as she arrived at the tom's body Littlepaw had already assisted in putting out the fire. Silverwing wasted no time in licking at Whinchatpaw's burns along with Littlepaw, fear spiking in her gut. "Whinchatpaw! Are you all right?" Of course he's not all right, he was on fire!

Silverwing is with Whinchatpaw and Littlepaw

Stoatclaw sat at the edge of Fourtrees, watching as the gathering descended gradually into chaos. Of course Starclan is going to smite you, he thought bitterly, look at what you're doing. Clawing at another leader during a gathering, stars you were practically begging them to smite you. Some rancid part of him was glad Nightstar had been struck this night. If only he had- Is that? The tom was on his paws and bounding toward a crumpled form. Upon reaching the cat Stoatclaw's fears were realized. "Lighttail!" Unsure of what to do for his friend, Stoatclaw frantically licked at Lighttail's body. "Stars, why you?" Lighttail had never done anything deserving of this, why had Starclan decided to punish her? Tears began to well in the tom's eyes as his licks grew more frantic. "H-help! Please, someone!"

Stoatclaw is at Lighttail's side

Familiar voices-

Dawnfeather’s paws shook as she followed the rest of SkyClan out of Fourtrees. Foxtrot- Violetpaw- she opened her maw to speak, but her voice failed her. It was happening again. It was happening again. The smell of scorched flesh lingered in her nostrils as she stumbled away from Fourtrees, eyes wide and ears flat against her head.

Stars above. It was happening again.

Dawnfeather is leaving the clearing, still dazed!

The deputy flinched as lightning ripped through the clearing, bracing himself for a shock that never arrived. When he looked back up, multiple bodies lay in the lightning's wake. The smell of singed fur reached his nose. Bile rose in his throat. It felt like he was going to be sick. As the clearing devolved into chaos, and shrieks from all directions reached his ears, Smallbean found himself frozen, unsure of what to do. All he was sure of was that something had to be done. They needed to leave.

Acting on a fleeting impulse, he lunged forward and closed his jaws around Shrikestar's scruff, dragging him away from the other fallen cats. Sparrowthorn had already seen to Sootstorm, it seemed. No other cats mattered right now, what became of Nightstar was no worry of his. Windclan needed to go home, and Shrikestar wasn't there to guide them. There wasn't time to wait for him. "Windclan, leave now! Help the wounded!" His voice was hoarse, struggling to be loud enough to rise above the clearing's clamor.

Despite the pain in his limbs and his healing wounds, Smallbean ducked beneath Shrikestar, attempting to hoist the tom onto his back. He was only able to manage half of his weight, leaving the leader's hind end to trail on the ground. Wearily, he stepped away from the Great Rock, gaze lowered to his paws as he struggled.

Thornstalker didn't really know what to think. This whole situation was madness. Everything was falling apart in no time and it felt like she blinked and missed it all. All she knew was that Falconmoon was laughing in response to everything. It was concerning to say the least.. Did Falconmoon know something she didn't? How did he know that the leaders deserved something like that? Besides their ridiculous display... It somehow seemed deeper. The small warrior was quick to follow the advice of her deputy, and get to safety. Keeping an eye out for apprentices in the mean time.

Thornstalker is leaving!

Ravenpaw was startled with how quickly everything went downhill. First he was chatting with another apprentice, then there was a loud noise in the clearing, which hurt his sensitive ears, and next thing he knew everyone was in a panic. He didn't know what to do, he just knew he didn't like any of it. Disoriented and confused, he felt his own panic growing. Fear slowly gripping at his heart. Everything seemed to blur, his ears rang. But shortly it all melted away as Dovepaw found him. Relief, that is what his brother was. He was okay to follow him, and keep his eyes on the familiar pelt. Once he saw Swanpaw and Owlcall, he knew things would be alright.

Ravenpaw is leaving with his siblings.

Owlcall was quick to step in front of Swanpaw at the start of the chaos, he would prevent anything happening to his siblings, even if it cost him his own life. Once he saw an opening he nudge Swanpaw in that direction. Noting that the remaining of his siblings were waiting on them. "Go, I will bring up the rear. Dovepaw lead them out of here!" He called to the other tom. Glancing back one last time to Perchstar before following his siblings out.

Owlcall is leaving with his siblings.

Tigerdance didn't expect it to go this way. He didn't expect for their statements against their leaders to escalate so much. For Nightstar to so readily challenge both Shrikestar and Starclan at the same time. He could only watch with shock in his eyes as it got worse so much worse. The bright light blinded his vision causing him to close his eyes and look away but the damage was already done. His ears rang, it was hard to see.

There were shapes.. blurs.. It was so hard to see. Following Smallbean's voice he crept closer to the deputy, careful until he saw two forms. A small one and one unmoving. "I'll help with him.. Just guide me please. The strike messed with my vision, its difficult to see."He told his deputy as he moved to help carry their fallen leader. As much as Tigerdance disliked him, he still wasn't going to let him stay in the clearing and suffer.

Tigerdance is helping with Shrikestar.