October Gathering 2023

Wolfblossom padded into fourtrees at Birdstar's side. Worry was an uncomfortable sensation within her gut, just as the hunger clawed uncomfortably at her stomach, but the deputy was determined to keep her expression free of her inner thoughts as she padded into fourtrees. Thunderclan and Riverclan had gotten there first, and Wolfblossom headed toward the other deputies with her usual smile, not failing to note the signs of hunger seemingly present in every cat she laid eyes on. Leaffall had come with a vengeance after such an easy greenleaf, it would seem. Wolfblossom inclined her head to the gathered deputies, "Hello," There was little need to address the painfully obvious, and if Wolfblossom was being honest with herself, she was tired after the recent moons. Tired after Bloodstrike and Trufflesnap. Skyclan's recent prey shortage was more alarming than she would let on.

---

Graywind padded into fourtrees only reluctantly. Hunger gnawed at her stomach, and instinct told her to turn and walk home, to try and hunt rather than waste time at a social event. Maybe she would, if the night began to drag on, but for now the pale warrior simply sat among her clanmates, eyeing the other clan cats. Skyclan wasn't the only one starving... And that was hardly a good sign of things to come.

---

Stoneheart padded at the back of Skyclan's patrol, glancing around at the gathered cats with a slight frown. She seldom liked socializing at gatherings, but seeing almost every cat affected by such obvious signs of hunger made the warrior feel a bit of sympathy. At least her clan wasn't the only one suffering unfairly. A chill swept through her, but Stoneheart simply ruffled her fur, glancing around for Mistflower or Stormwatcher.

---

Swanpaw was tense as Riverclan approached fourtrees. The toll of their fouled waters and difficult hunting had made itself clear in her haggard, pale pelt, and as the apprentice sat among her clanmates, glancing around at the other gathered clan cats, she was surprised to see how weary and thin other cats looked. At least, she thought, Riverclan weren't the only ones. And stars help them if they thought they could find prey on territory that was not theirs.

Wolfblossom has greeted the deputies.
Graywind, Stoneheart and Swanpaw are open to talk.

Acornstem straightened up as Poppyshine approached, giving her a weak smile as the RiverClan deputy settled next to her. Her smile faded a little however as the deputy asked her question. 'Also' - the simple word caused her heart to sink. She was certain that SkyClan would be sharing the same troubles but RiverClan as well, even with a food source all their own...? There was some comfort in knowing that at least one Clan knew their pain but that itself was worrying - was all of the Clans suffering food shortage...?

If every Clan grew desperate enough, would claws be unleashed for the smallest scrap that fell upon their borders...?

"Is it that obvious?" she finally managed, her voice a little humorous but she tried to smile anyways before her ears slicked back. "...Yeah. Its...Bad. But you said 'also' - is RiverClan also...?" she let her question drift off, knowing perhaps it was pointless. The answer was obvious as well and she could only shake her head. Her voice was low - as if to keep this a matter among themselves. She was certain it would be common knowledge soon, what Clans were struggling but it felt not her place to make such things widely known until Mottlestar had a chance to speak of it herself. "I had thought if any Clan was going to be spared, it would have been you all with having the river as your source..." She drifted off however as Wolfblossom approached, giving the SkyClan deputy a nod of respect and acknowledgement but a single look at her confirmed her earlier fears.

She glanced around - only WindClan had yet to arrive but it didn't look like ShadowClan was doing much better themselves. What was happening to the forest...?

followed her clan in happily. Sure, it had been rough recently but that did not stop her from being her usual excited, and energetic clean.

She saw a skyclan cat nearish to her and decided to go meet them.

Going over and giving a happy wave of her tail she sat next to Lightningbreeze

"oh hello! I'm swiftheart from shadowclan" she purred happily, she liked making new friends alot and gatherings were for just that she figured.

Even in this famine times this other cat she was talking too at least appeared so far to be in high-ish spirits as well.

Swiftheart is talking with Lightningbreeze now

Sprucebark

Sprucebark purred happily when his brother came over to sit with him. Hawk's warm pelt was comforting to lean against slightly. His brother had always been there for him. He thought back to when they had been swept away by the river and had to camp out in an old fox den before finally getting back home, only to then be captured by twolegs.

He gave a slight smile, if they could get through that then surely they could navigate this too.

right?

He gave a very satisfied purr "thanks for joining me"



Sprucebark is hanging out with Hawk

Stormwatcher

still open to talk to

Eaglefly

*Still on his way not yet arrived





Lavendarcloud has decided she is not going to this

Smallstar's jaws separated in a wide yawn as he ducked beneath the brittle branches of the undergrowth that followed the edge of Fourtrees. A small cloud formed and dissipated, confirming the leaders suspicion that Leaf-bare was well om its way. It was a lucky thing that his fur was so thick, he supposed. The only part of him that could feel the nights chill was his damp paws.

Windclan was the last to arrive to Fourtrees, it seemed. Routinely, he separated from Tigerdance, briefly dipping his head to the striped tom, although he wasn't sure if he saw it. Turning his gaze to the Tallrock, he took a deep breath before approaching and subsequently scaling it. All four of the other leaders were there, but Birdstar, Mottlestar, and Perchstar all seemed to be engaged in conversation. The tension between leaders had long since subsided, but Smallstar still felt that Windclan and Shadowclan were alienated. He almost felt more comfortable with Leopardstar.

"Good evening." He meowed, unintentionally aloof.


Windclan may now enter the gathering!

Although the hunger pangs pinched Duskpaw’s belly, she had managed to make her way to Fourtrees this evening. She couldn’t turn down the chance to socialize, no matter how much her body wanted to stay home! The tabby apprentice picked a random lonely face from the crowd and bounded over to her. A ginger she-cat, ThunderClan by her scent, but built more like a WindClan cat than anything else.

“Hi, I’m Duskpaw from WindClan! What’s your name?” she mewed.
“Hi kiddo, I’m Blazefang,” the ginger replied. “Say, who’s your mentor?”
“Sleepyhollow!” Duskpaw chirped.
The ginger gasped. “Hey, now there’s a name I haven’t heard in a while!” At Duskpaw’s confused expression she explained. “I’m a ThunderClan cat now, but I used to be WindClan. Sleepyhollow was my apprentice back in the day. I guess you could call me your grand-mentor!”
Duskpaw giggled. “Grand-mentor! I like it! Who trained you?”
“Smallstar, although he was still Smallbean back then.”
“Wait.” Duskpaw’s mind raced as she put the pieces together. “My training comes from Smallstar, y’know, indirectly?”

Blazefang and Duskpaw are chatting. Duskpaw is learning a bit of her mentoring background.

Mother Tongue
Forest Tongue

Vinepaw - in his annoyed, hungry state - couldn't suppress the eye-roll that came when the RiverClan cat introduced himself. Willowpaw hadn't said or done anything wrong, but his manner of speaking felt stiff to the sandy apprentice. "Vinepaw. ThunderClan." The large apprentice grumbled, careful not to be too mean with Thrushnose right next to him, briefly looking to his mentor. He would never be so disrespectful in front of him; Thrushnose has tought him many things without judgment, after all. "RiverClan..." He remembered another RiverClan apprentice that had smelled of fish, but this one had only faint traces left. His eyes narrowed. "You don't smell like fish." He felt disappointed as his stomach grumbled.

Vinepaw is talking to Willowpaw and Thrushnose!

---

Green eyes longed for the fluffy fur of Acornstem, though she couldn't imagine it would be alright to press against it for warmth. They had only just started to get to know each other outside of sparring... It would be weird, wouldn't it? Besides, Acormstem had already taken on a conversation with RiverClan's deputy. It would be rude to interrupt now.

A particularly nasty cough shook Firefly's shoulders as she shivered, moving further into the crowd of gathering cats to secretly steal their warmth. Unusual behavior for a cat who rarely spoke with anyone other than ThunderClan, but Firefly spotted a haughty looking apprentice to talk to. "Hello, I am Firefly. A warrior of ThunderClan." Her voice was level and her posture made her appear as if she herself wasn't starving just as much as the next cat. The others could learn a lesson from these two.

Firefly is talking to Scarletpaw!

---

Heatherberry could feel the ache in her Clanmates bodies as they trudged through the forest, the herb supply now growing measly as she did her best to heal the injured. Traveling herbs would normally be used for longer journeys than this, but ShadowClan had needed them tonight. Her eyes traveled around the clearing, taking in the obvious: everyone here looked haggard, even those who pretended not to. Her mind briefly went back to the prophecy she and the other medicine cats had been given, her tail giving an anxious flick.


Heatherberry is open to talk to!

Lightningbreeze waved her tail in greeting as a cat approached, one that seemed similarly happy to be here. "I'm Lightningbreeze! SkyClan," she introduced herself cheerfully, tilting her head curiously. "Do you guys really stay up all night? That sounds exhausting."

Lightningbreeze is speaking with Swiftheart!

---

Nightdancer hummed, a considering sound, and inclined her head. "I wouldn't mind, no. I am Nightdancer, warrior of ThunderClan." She let out a quiet, bitter laugh. The way she was sitting hid her single white paw from view; it had become her preferred position, not to have to see a reminder of painful memories. "Truth be told, I'm not sure why I still come to these things. They tend to go rather poorly, don't they?"

Nightdancer is speaking with Sootstorm!

---

Scarletpaw puffed himself up as an older cat approached; recognizing a warrior of ThunderClan by scent. It was difficult to make out over the mixture that filled the clearing, but when she got close it wasn't as hard to tell. He might have been starving as much as the rest of the forest, but between his posture and his natural fluff he thought he was better at hiding it. "Scarletpaw, apprentice to Mistwalker of RiverClan." He wasn't sure if most apprentices introduced themselves by their mentor, but he held his in decently high regard; and if others didn't do things that way, maybe they should start.

Scarletpaw is talking to Firefly!

Perhaps it was delirium that lifted her spirits this night, walking with the rest of the hungry RiverClan cats. Harebounce had little in her belly that night, save for the few unlucky bugs that crossed her path. Ants were a bit spicy, she knew that now. Tasty, but not near enough to satiate. And before anyone asked her, butterflies weren’t worth the trouble; they were awfully bitter creatures.

Where was she again? Ah, right, Fourtrees. …Why?

The Gathering! The Gathering, she still had some grasp of her mind yet! She hadn’t been to one in a long time, it felt. Quite a few new, albeit skinny, faces milled about in the growing crowd. Though far fewer total cats than usual.

Harebounce is open to talk to!

---

He wasn’t expecting his first Gathering as a warrior to feel nor look like this. The usually energetic tom was noticeably subdued; he had the thorns of hunger in his belly, much like the rest of his Clanmates. They all looked haggard now, and having entered the clearing, Redsun could see the same was true for all the cats in attendance tonight. GRROWR. His stomach spoke louder than he could bring himself to. He wished he could cheer and shout, spread some joy as the days shortened and the wind nipped, yet he had not the energy to do so. Still, he had to make the most of the occasion. After sweeping his gaze across the clearing, he landed on a lone, smoke-pelted cat and approached them. Upon closer sniff the ginger tomcat could detect the piney notes indicative of a SkyClan cat.

“Hey! I’m Redsun.” His eyes glimmered with some of his usual pep, but not all. “Can I sit with you?”

Redsun is talking to Stoneheart.

---

Snailpaw felt guilty while entering Fourtrees. As an apprentice, she’d been allowed to eat her portion of what meager bits of prey ShadowClan had before the warriors did. Allowed, but still it felt so wrong. Her somewhat crooked tail drooped and she shivered against the Leaffall chill. Even after all these moons she still considered the clearing her first home, having been born beneath the oaks and living her first few moons separated from the rest of ShadowClan. A twinge of nostalgia pulled at her heart, though the image in her mind’s eye of the Leafbare clearing warmed by many chattering cats contrasted sharply with what lay before her now.

Snailpaw is open to talk.

It was an extremely rare change of pace for the fox-pelted molly as she came into the clearing with her Clan. Opposed to her traditional efforts to remain portraying her best rendition of Rowansong's shadow, she had taken to another cat that evening. That cat held an even fonder residence in her heart: Harebounce. Or 'mother', as she was colloquially known to the molly. She followed close by, her own attention being pulled by the various sounds in the clearing. Her fox pelt had done wonders at hiding the hunger that gnawled at her belly, and for that, she was thankful. It didn't hide it entirely, given her already-lithe frame, but it helped.

"Mother, when last did you attend a Gathering?" Egretswoop prompted, her honey-touched gaze assessing the molly aside her.

Egretswoop is sticking to Harebounce BRICK!

---

Mistwalker had come to the gathering as well, though much less interested than some of her other compatriots. She had one thing on her mind: Figure out how to best provide her Clan with prey. As such, she found a place to sit in the thickest of Riverclan's crowd, surveying rather than interacting.

Mistwalker is open for conversation!

---

Mintglade had come as well. This was the first gathering she was to attend with her fully-given name! However, where there should have been a fresh wave of excitement seemed to only be a hollow feeling. She wanted her Clan to be doing better. Coming into the clearing and seeing how the other Clans appeared much the same, it only had that pit in her belly grow deeper. She had yet to confront despair during her lifetime, but now? Now it was hitting. It was hitting hard.

Mintglade is open for conversation!

Stoneheart sat, gaze flitting from the great rock to take note of the other clans in the hollow. A ginger and white tom was padding in her direction, though at first the warrior paid little mind. Stoneheart had not expected to be approached by anyone, but the tom was indeed talking to her and not one of the other cats sitting nearby. "Oh, um. Hi." She responded awkwardly. "Sure. I'm Stoneheart." She introduced herself, it was the nice thing to do,, she supposed... And beyond that the introverted warrior had no clue of what to say. Small talk? It seemed like more clans were going hungry these days than just Skyclan, but who in their right mind wanted to talk about that?

Swiftheart

Swiftheart flicked her tail so happily, it was always so nice to get to talk lots with a fellow extravert and a happy one too! She purred nodding excitedly, yeah! we are up all hours of the night, we hunt then and thats how we got our name. I've met a couple skyclan cats... uhmm Stormwatcher, and umm your previous leader briarstar and hmm bloodstar of course too but only through gatherings

she tilted her head curiously, "have you met any other shadowclan?"

Sprucebark

Sprucebark nodded and cuddled up closer to his brother happy for the comfort and support.

"yeah, no joke. We will probably need more hunting patrols" he glanced around warily, "it doesnt look like the other clans are fairing well either... this could get ugly" he whispered as quiet as possible to hawk. He did not want to cause unneeded alarm but having hawk and him both at least ready would be wise.




Eaglefly arrived and is open to talk to:


Stormwatcher is also open to talk to