January Gathering 2024

Rookfire came in search of a cure.

Once he found himself able to walk out of camp, he made his way over to their new Gathering meet-up place. The other clans were hurting just as much as ShadowClan was, and even though Rookfire seemed to feel better overall, he was still very much sick, and that he really should still be resting unless ShadowClan had a crucial duty for him.

The only thing that brought him here was that he wanted to know if any clan found a cure.

He was sure the medicine cats were working tirelessly on trying to fix it. Stars, he wished he could be there too, brainstorming alongside them (he still knew his herbs!) but his illness kept him bed-ridden during the half-moon meeting, so he couldn't really go.

So Rookfire curled up on the grass where ShadowClan gathered, trying to keep his extremities warm in the frigid wind, his ears open to the announcements that were going to take place.

Rookfire is open to talk to, but only to ShadowClan.

"As am I." She meowed curtly, quickly noticing the arrival of her brother, although she wasn't sure how long he stood there before she truly realized he was there. "Vinecrawler, this is an apprentice I got into a spat with past our borders. Killed an eagle on their land, his and his companion let me have the wing." She spoke in their native tongue over the tom-cats head although her tone didn't imply she was speaking ill. She held no ill for the fight, but she did hold ill for the fact that they wanted to get fat and lazy when the amount of food they took home would have been better for Thunderclan.

"My name is Crocusfrost now, this is my brother, Vinecrawler." She introduced.

Dovepaw had wanted to stay home. Well--not really home. He couldn't start calling it that, or every single hair would stand on end in protest. RiverClan camp was his real home, and they would be heading back just as soon as this horrible bout of sickness finally faded away. He had to believe that. And they would find Pigeonpaw waiting there, laughing at them, fat and happy from eating all the fish in the clean rivers by herself. He had to believe that. He had to believe that, or he would be driven insane from the loss and the fear that swirled together in his brain.

So instead of staying back at temporary camp, he stumbled alongside the rest of his Clan, ignoring the occasional cough. He was hardly sick at all. Not compared to some other cats. Not compared to Perchstar, whose bouts of delirium and trembling limbs had made her nearly bedridden. Not compared to Willowwisp, who he now saw stumble into a snowbank, likely in hopes of staying cool. Where had Swanpaw and Ravenpaw run off to? Well, until he found them... Dovepaw took up an almost sentry-like position a few feet from the silver tabby's resting spot. Nonchalantly, casually. He didn't even look at her. But he waited, casting a careful glance around him occasionally in case any other cats tried to approach. They'd been told not to trust SkyClan--so he wouldn't, he vowed to himself. ThunderClan might be fine. ShadowClan and WindClan, only maybe. But if any strange cats tried any funny business, he'd protect each and every one of his Clanmates.

He had to focus on that. He couldn't think about Pigeonpaw or he would go mad.

Dovepaw is wary (and guarding Willowwisp), but open to talk.

Quickfrost was glad the trip to the gathering was over, she’d not gone to one since the first one she went as an apprentice but she figured she’d go this time to figure out what was going on. Also to help her brother who said he’d go despite being extremely sick. At least he was stronger than some cats She thought looking at the place where the leaders were, noticing a noticeable absence from Perchstar. Besides that Tallshadow said his thing and went into the corner, she was glad he was able to walk a little bit on his own after all that. He had pressed his pelt into hers for a brief moment, she smiled at him with a look that said 'good luck getting through the gathering'.

Well, first things first. Quickfrost went over to find Oatpaw and said, “Well Oatpaw this is a gathering, it’s one time a moon where all clan cats can just talk, no fighting. If you do fight though, Starclan wouldn’t be happy, then they might strike lighting at you. I was unfortunate enough to have that as my only gathering experience. I would talk to you more but I want you to go ahead and talk to other cats! So if you don’t feel comfortable talking to cats outside of Windclan, you can talk with Galepaw and the others. I want you to have fun here. Now go ahead.” she finished by waving her tail signaling she was going to talk to other cats.

Quickfrost did just that by finding a cat who seemed like she was from Thunderclan. They seemed nice enough so why not? She approached the other cat and said “Hello, my names Quickfrost of Windclan, you?” perfect way to start a conversation in her opinion.

Quickfrost told Oatpaw what a gathering was, then left him to go talk to Firefly.

Feral language
Forest language

The collossal tom cast his moonlit shadow over the lanky tom as her passed by him to sit beside his sibling, ears flicking at the title "eagle-killer". To be honest, it made him stand a little straighter next to his sister, his body language oozing with pride that Crocusfrost had earned such a cool title. Completely missing that it might have been said like an insult.

Eyes switched to look at his kin as she spoke to him in their father's tongue. Let her have... A wing? He looked a bit annoyed now. His sister settled for a wing when she had caught the whole bird herself? "A wing? You should have killed the skinny one instead. Would have provided far more to eat." Both an eagle and the chance to try new... Tastes if one was truly desperate. Brown eyes trailed back to Tallshadow to study the WindClanner, but made no further move other than to nod as Crocusfrost introduced him. He would remember this face. One that belonged to the thief that stole from his one and only sister.

Vinecrawler has settled in next to Crocusfrost and Tallshadow.

---

For some reason, Heatherberry had expected the young apprentice to comepletely reject her. Her thoughts suddenly coming to a screeching halt as Daisypaw's kind response caught her off gaurd. She blinked. And then blinked some more before she realized Daisypaw had just asked her a genuine question. Guilt smothered what little traces of distain she had for the puffy-pelted young molly. Had she really just done what she feared others did for ShadowClan? The high ranks have all been purged and replaced within WindClan. They couldn't possibly be of the same mind now... Right?

It was hard to think poorly of them now that she was looking down into those curious amber eyes. Heatherberry couldn't help but smile a little with the thought that Daisypaw looked a bit like a curious kit. "Unfortunately, this is not everyone. If both RiverClan and SkyClan make it in, there may not even be room to breathe." This was said as a joke, but Heatherberry wasn't very good at delivering punchlines these days. "I-If you get overwhelmed, though, all of the medicine cats usually hang around the deputies at the base of the Great Ro-- Er, the. Whatever they're using tonight. Though I have to warn you: all of us combined have worse social skills than a battle hardened warrior babysitting a newborn. If you think you can survive that, you're free to join me."

Heatherberry is talking with Daisypaw!

Mottlestar gave nod towards Leopardstar as she approached. As she saw the group that unmistakeably had to be Riverclan, there was relief that tugged at her chest. They were, indeed, arriving before Skyclan. While she searched for that familiar silver and white pelt that she'd always found companionship in, there was fear as she did not see it, but the calico instead. Poppyshine was by no means a foe, nor was she in any way lesser to Mottlestar than Perchstar was. However, in times when tragedy took those closest without a breath of notice, she couldn't help but feel a deep tug of fear at that idea.

A sigh of relief quietly exited the small tortoiseshell as Poppyshine explained that was not the case, and Mottlestar turned her head to release a few coughs into her side before motioning to Poppyshine to sit near her. "I understand." She spoke softly, but atop the hill, she could still easily be heard despite the growing number of mingling voices. "Tell her hi, when you can?" Hope glimmered in her amber gaze that the message could be passed on. Leaning just slightly closer to whisper something to the Riverclan deputy alone, Mottlestar's gaze focused on the crowd as she whispered, "I'm glad you got here before Skyclan." It was a bit of petty gossip that was definitely above the tortoiseshell leader, sure, but she wasn't going to let the statement remain unspoken. It was also a quiet hint of allegiance for Riverclan's sake.

Mottlestar is talking to Poppyshine!

---

Murkyriver found herself slowly trudging into the clearing far behind Dovepaw as Riverclan made their way in. Despite the cold, despite all of it that wanted to seep into her bones, she still made it a point to come. Exhaustion tugged her eyes into almost lightless embers, and part of her had wished she'd stayed back in her nest to sleep. The idea, however, of not being able to see how her brother was doing was much worse than any night of rest. She'd survived a few spars here and there - she could survive a gathering. After all, the worst part was just getting there, and she settled down on the other side of Dovepaw. Tucking her multicolored paws beneath her chest to quietly entertain some rest, her feathered tail also tucked in tight as to not be in the way of any moving cats. She could certainly take a small nap while awaiting other Clans to arrive, and if needed, she was more than ready to launch into defensive action.

Murkyriver is taking a nap by Dovepaw, but is open to conversation!

---

Egretswoop is not in attendance.
Mistwalker is not in attendance.
Mintglade has not yet arrived.

"I'm here!" Cloudypaw yowled out to the cats ahead of her, Eaglefly and Goldengale, who had found Galepaw before she did.

Embarrassing. They were even the first ones here. She had fallen slightly behind the crowd of her clanmates on the way to the Gathering, even more so now that ThunderClan and ShadowClan had joined them too. She wasn't feeling the best - something was 'off'. She had a runny nose that she had been fighting with all day, and she felt an odd pressure in her head. She was a mouth breather. She refused to tell Daisypaw how she was feeling today because of the Gathering, out of fear she'd be removed from the equation. She was avoiding the she-cat like the plague - or maybe she already had it? Who knows. She faked it until she could make it, but she's really feeling it now. Ugh.

She padded slowly to the group of cats, taking a deep breath through her mouth in victory before settling down next to Galepaw, and near Goldengale and Eaglefly. I've finally made it! She was so focused on weaving through the crowd and joining with her brother, that she had almost forgotten to feel scared. There were so many scents and cats, more than she had ever seen before. What is going on? I can hardly tell which clan is which. She felt small. She tried to remember what Morningmoon had taught her, squinting her eyes as she scanned the cats that had come into the clearing. But would it be accurate? Is ShadowClan really that scary - what if they hurt me and use my bones to sharpen their claws? No, that just can't be true. I'll just figure it out myself. There were a half dozen other stereotypes about the other clans that she also disregarded. She felt butterflies in her stomach, thinking about interacting with cats from other clans. What would they say and what are they like? Her paws urged her to find out, but she was too afraid.

She looked up at the leaders with wide eyes. It felt weird seeing Tigerdance with them, having known him so well back at home. She studied them, ears perked, longing to hear what they were saying to one another. "Who do you think they are, the ones with Tigerdance?" She loudly whispered to Galepaw. She couldn't remember. She ran through a list of random -star names in her head, but none of them sounded right. She looked at Eaglefly, hoping he would tell her.

Cloudypaw is getting sick and interacting with Galepaw and their mentors, but she'd love interaction with other clans!

Galepaw

Galepaw turned to Eaglefly as the older tom approached him, revealing Cloudypaw at his side.
"She's right here," Galepaw answered with a curt nod, his amber eyes shining. He was happy to see his sister's mentor watching out for her. He knew that when they went out on patrols seperately from Goldengale and him, that Cloudypaw would be in safe paws.

Turning to Goldengale, he listened as she named the ThunderClan leader.
"Murkystar, eh?" He looked back at the big leader, "She looks just as sick as WindClan." His eyes darted around to the warriors that were now surrounding them, noting how many of them looked affected. Looking at them all, he could almost feel a tickle in his own throat...
Galepaw swallowed.

He gave Cloudykit a teasing flick of his tail, and leaned in close enough to tickle her ear fur as he whispered, "That one's Murkystar," repeating what Goldengale had said with a proud flick of his tail, "and that," he continued, nodding towards a light-colored she-cat with calico markings, "must be the RiverClan leader, because she reeks of fish." He wrinkled his nose. Then his eyes slid over to the dark, spotted she-cat. "I'm not sure who she is," he pointed out, "but she doesn't smell like SkyClan, so I'd guess that's the ShadowClan leader." He paused a moment, before daring to comment, "She looks... unusual."

He looked back up at Goldengale and nudged her.
"Do you know the names of the other leaders? And isn't there a clan missing still?" Galepaw couldn't help but notice only four cats were standing on the hill, not five. His pelt itched with anticipation, his eyes darting back and forth, scanning the treeline.

So many cats! thought Galepaw, I'm so excited to see what happens!

Galepaw is interacting with Cloudypaw, Eaglefly, and Goldengale.
Galepaw is looking around excitedly.

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The member 'starry' has done the following action : Dice roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 8

Galepaw

Galepaw was surprised when his eyes found those of a small tortoiseshell she-cat staring straight back at him. Almost at once she was headed his way, her tail high and a confidence in his step that he couldn't help but admire. Excitement fizzed from nose to tail tip as the she-cat introduced herself to him, fearless enough to come sit with a group of WindClan cats.

"Hello Spiderpaw!" Galepaw greeted, rising to his paws and dipping his head. "I'm Galepaw. This is my sister, Cloudypaw. Eaglefly and Goldengale here are our mentors." He nodded to each cat in turn as he introduced them. "We're from WindClan."

She smells unmistakably like RiverClan, he mentally noted, not that it's a bad thing. But for formality's sake, Galepaw decided to ask anyway. "I'd guess that based on your sleek and glossy fur that you're from RiverClan, right?" He sat back down and wrapped his fluffy tail neatly over his paws.

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Brightsplit, a newly named warrior, made his way towards the edge of the sandy clearing. Guilt wasn’t the only thing pricking at this tom’s fur tonight; no, it wasn’t. He tried not to make it look obvious, but it seemed obvious when he barely spent time in camp, and an apprentice with a scar was walking around. He grumbled, his eyes darting around, searching for the apprentice who he scratched – Silverpaw. He felt as if he had to let out a snarl; this meant war between the two. He knew she’d rat him out immediately, and he was being so ungrateful, taking the fact he wasn’t sick for granted.

Slowly but surely, he turned his gaze towards the Greatrock, waiting for the leaders to speak. Some didn’t come... what wimps. Sickness shouldn’t stop you from a gathering – some code they followed.

___________________________________________________


Scorchlight entered the clearing with joy, clearly plastered all over her face. She coughed a bit but ignored it as always. She felt huge enthusiasm for the gathering to start, still unaware of the horrible state of all the clans. She felt grateful that hunger no longer grabbed at her stomach, but she didn’t even mind it in the famine. She was too busy being happy; nothing could disappoint her anymore. She was huddled with a bunch of cats in the middle of the clearing. She had confessed to her now mate, Sprucebark, even if that felt so long ago. It still helped her think happily.

Brightsplit is sulking and doesn’t want to talk

Scorchlight is joyously intaking the view