May Gathering 2024

Lilyvalley followed Leopardstar into the clearing, for once looking forward to a gathering. Nightdancer would most likely be here. And even if her friend chose to stay back in camp, Lilyvalley would rather be here than sulking in her nest. She couldn't even say why she was upset over most of the lost cats. It wasn't like any of them had liked her.

But they were still her Clanmates.

And worse still, one of her missing Clanmates was Juniperpaw. Perhaps that was what really hurt. With a sigh, she turned to her apprentice. "Remember, you're allowed to make friends here. But try not to give away too much about what is going on in the Clan, alright?"

With that last warning, she dismissed Willowpaw, moving to find a spot of her own to sit, keeping an eye on the other cats.

Lilyvalley is open to talk to.

Elmpaw stuck close by Sprucebark, although it wasn't as though the tom had a choice. His father was practically just his kitsitter, something that had his fur standing on end. He wanted more than anything to just branch off on his own. No other apprentice was stuck with their parents!

His eyes caught sight of a hauntingly familiar pelt, and Elmpaw inhaled sharply. What was he doing here?

Forget sticking close, if Sprucebark wanted to hover, he could follow him. Elmpaw had unfinished business to take care of.

"What is a coward like you doing here? You run as soon as you beat up an apprentice and now you think you're tough enough to join in our gathering?!" Elmpaw narrowed his eyes, not even glancing at the other cat as he waited for a response, an explanation, something.

Or maybe he just wanted this cat to give him a reason to make good on his promise.

Elmpaw is confronting Asmondeus.
Robinmist is too sore to attend.
Adderkit is too young to attend.

Sageroot couldn’t hide her shock as yet another new deputy appeared. Not only that, but a very young new deputy. She can’t have been a warrior for long! “Nice to meet you, Rapidfire,” she mewed. “I know we’re from different clans, but as long as there’s a Gathering truce I’m here if you need help figuring things out.”

Sageroot is talking to Rapidfire.

Falconmoon recognized Kestrelchirp, but admittedly hadn't been expecting a reference to Birdclan. It actually brought a smile to the stoic Skyclanner's face. Birdclan... what an immense relief he felt from all of his pain and burdens. Even if just for a moment, Falconmoon was an apprentice again. He was taken back to a time before he regained his memories. Before everything in the forest was thrown into chaos. It had been a subtle gesture, but it was like feeling warmth form the sun on his face after having been shut in dark, icy caverns for moons. It was rejuvenating.

"Long time no speak, fellow Birdclanner." Falconmoon replied, the softness and warmth in his eyes returning in a way that had not been seen since before his warrior ceremony. As for the others that entered afterward, he couldn't blame them for their words. "Sorry about Honey." "She was a good cat." The warmth and light slowly began to fade from Falconmoon's face until he was icy and hard once more.

"She was my daughter. She was a good one." He said flatly, not wishing to allow any emotion to flood his eyes. It would do Skyclan no favors to show weakness right now. Not even for his dead family members. "Nice to meet you, Rapidfire." He sounded like a stump. Some commotion from the gathering distracted him, something he welcomed for once. His eyes landed on a few apprentices and a warrior and...

Falconmoon's eyes narrowed. He knew this cat... yet didn't at the same time. He blinked, noting that the... rogue, apparently... had a similar look in his eye. There was a few tense heartbeats as they took in one another's form... but then the rogue turned his attention to what was going on in front of him.

And they made eye contact no more.

Falconmoon is talking to the other deputies!

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Asmodeus tore his gaze away from the pale Skyclan deputy and put his attention on... oh right. The kids he beat the snot out of. He grinned at them both, even straightened up his posture and held himself upright smugly. He looked at the Riverclanner that he'd messed with about his mother and snickered.

"This isn't my first gathering, and I'll have you know that I beat up two apprentices. It wasn't just you." He gestured toward the Shadowclanner as if making a point. He looked at Boartusk, though he didn't know his name. "You've recovered well I see." It was a flat statement with almost no tone behind it. A simple observation, nothing more. His mismatched eyes flicked back to the Riverclanner. "How's your mom?"

Then Larkshine appeared, and Asmodeus genuinely brightened up. She sat beside him and touched him with her tail, a gesture he returned wholeheartedly. He leaned into her slightly, brushing his shoulder against her's. "Hello Larkshine! Good to see your gorgeous self again!" Oh this was just too good. He wondered how long he could play this game, or if the two idiots he beat up forever ago would be shocked into silence that he actually had a friend at the gathering. What would happen now?

Asmodeus is talking to Boar and Elm and leaning into Lark.

Stormwatcher's eyes flared in anger at this punk brat Riverclan's attitude - who the dark forest did he think he was anyways. Like the absolute coward the riverclanner was they were trying to scamper off back towards the safety of their numbers the only reason that they had won that battle in the first place.

But he had made a mistake - hadn't his mentor ever told him not to turn your back? Hadn't his mentor told him to watch his tail? The way Stormwatcher saw it he was almost doing this disrespectful little brat a favor as he swiftly reminded him of these two things.  The big skyclanner pinned down the smaller cats tail with a heavy front paw and he even gave a bit of a twist with his paw grinding it downwards into the earth.

"oh... clumsy me ... my tree navigation thought that was a branch to step on" he growled lowly to to the pinned cats ear.

"Scram you flea" he hissed grinding with his paw a final time before giving the riverclanner another shove away.

Narrowed eyes burned into Rookflight's pelt.

go on - scream I dare you - go run and hide behind perch - in fact go get her why don't you - I wanted that anyways

It was Rookflights move if he wanted to call foul he could but it was easy enough to believe a tail step was accidental, it happened common enough in gatherings the cowardly clan he belonged to murdered his sister on skyclans own land. He would step on Rook's tail 1000 more times if he could.


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Sprucebark was very attentive as always during gatherings - even more so tonight having his son with him. Elmpaw always had a way of finding trouble - the whole reason he was tasked with keeping an eye on him tonight.

Perchstar had made him promise to keep an eye on him and that was going so well until something just had to happen. His ears perked as Elmpaw was getting upset at something - oh stars what now child? he wondered tilting his head confused at first.

However at the realization of what was happening his pelt went hot with anger - this loner fellow had attacked his son? And was mocking his biological mother?

What kind of sick cat was this? And why were they let into the gathering.

He glared at this fellow and did his best to keep between him and Elmpaw. "Tonight is of truce" he said guarded and was already in a bit of a defensive stance mindful to keep his chin tucked a bit gaurding his throat his claws already on alert and ready to be drawn at moments moment - this other loner seemed very relaxed leaning into some other cat - it would be easy to claw his throat out - he clearly was not thinking very much. Of course - the rule loving riverclanner would never attack first but he was confident if it came to a fight he could have this loner drained of blood in a couple minutes. And if Asmo ever touched his son again he would.

Elmpaw bared his teeth as Asmondeus spoke of his mother. He was ready to lunge, but then Sprucebark stepped in front of him. There was no scolding from his father, just a reminder of the truce currently in place. He hated that that truce kept him from tearing into this rogue's pelt, but at least in this moment Elmpaw didn't feel so alone. Even Sprucebark looked like he wanted to tear into this fleapelt.

And then another cat joined them, seeming a lot more cheerful by this cat's presence. A lot more so than the rest of them. Even her own Clanmate, judging by the scents, had some conflict with the rogue. Similar conflict to Elmpaw himself.

He looked at at the ShadowClan cat that had been talking to Asmondeus before he arrived. He hadn't even realized that they were not friends, but there was a slight comfort in the fact that this cat had gone through the same thing Elmpaw himself had. He did not know much about this cat, not even his name, but already Elmpaw held a bit of respect for him.

Then he turned back to the rogue, eyes narrowed and cold. "You do not get to talk about my family. You are lucky there is a truce tonight, because if there was not, I would kill you. The next time I see you on our territory, I will kill you. I will make you suffer for every cruel thing you have said."

Hopepaw had fully intended to bring a squirrel to the big trees. However, Mother had decided that she was not to do that. The apprentice huffed and puffed her way to the gathering, sad she had nothing to bring her friends this time. But she could see He Who Protects and She Who Breathes Power, and that seemed to quiet her whines as her friends broke through the foliage surrounding the big trees. Instantly, she spotted She Who Breathes Power on the High Rock, and the apprentice bounded towards the base, her tail held so high it nearly bent forward to touch her head. With a happy trill, Hopepaw let out a few squeaks in greeting to the older cat. Once eye contact was made, Hopepaw began to purr once again. How good it was to see her friends! With a few happy spins, she parted ways with She Who Breaths Power.

Next, He Who Protects! She bounded into the masses and began her search for her friend. Yet, after many minutes, she returned empty-pawed. Deflated, the apprentice ducked her head, tail curling around her paws tightly. He Who Watches Over, and also He Who Protects? Why wasn't he here? Was she all alone without her friends? She glanced around all the cats, taking in the scents that swirled around, overwhelming this time now she was without her friends.

Hopepaw greets Wolfstar, then runs off to find Brackendawn. She fails and is open to talk to. Or, you can try, I guess?

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