January 2024 Gathering [Riverclan Camp]

Duckpaw, with great effort, flopped onto the ground of the camp clearing with a tired wheeze. Their mind was their own for the night as they lifted their head to look up at the full moon, wishing they had the strength to join the rest of their Clanmates. It sadly wasn't so thought as they flopped onto their side and let their tail tiredly thump the ground - hopefully a few Clanmates would venture out to lay in the moonlight with them...But they couldn't bring themself to stay in their nest after nearly an entire moon, they needed some fresh air.

Mistwalker's joints may have been acting up in a particular brand of fury that she had otherwise not known, but come the Dark Forest or Starclan's reign upon the forest, she was going to participate in the gathering somehow. Limping with great pain as she left the comfort of where the elders had gathered, her gaze swept across the clearing to find a clanmate to keep company. She would have wished to go to the proper gathering, but when even her mother had stayed behind, it aided in the feeling of failure that still lingered. Even her sister had pushed herself to go, though her state had been far from one that said she was well enough to attend. It didn't matter - all of her mother's children were stubborn. They made their own fates and walked those paths, no matter who stood in their way.

Wincing as one of her front paws made a small pop! from putting a bit too much of her weight on it too quickly, Mistwalker ultimately chose to settle down not too far from where her nest was. She felt horribly guilty having to spend so much time in her nest when, overall, she was in a much better state than the majority of her Clan. It was just impossible to walk when her very paws refused to allow her to do so, but the frustration was kept behind the tightly veiled mask that she had grown to keep from her mother.

As his clanmates gathered underneath the full moon, Littlepaw had settled at the entrance of the medicine cat's den. It had only been one sunset since he was named medicine cat apprentice. The words of the ceremony still rang in his ears. Most of the clan had gone to the gathering. However, with Sandyshell still sick and him being so new to the role, he had stayed behind to do what he could for their impacted clanmates. He took a moment to curl into his hare pelt from Egretswoop, craning his neck to look up at the full moon and wondering what the clans were discussing. It was exciting to think about standing underneath the stars with cats of all clans, seeing the greater world of the forest, or lake rather. While he had been disappointed to stay behind, the little gray and white tom was grateful for the moment of rest. Camp was so peaceful. It was funny to think that only days earlier he had begged for something to keep him busy. Starclan did listen after all.