August Gathering 2024

Before Rapidfire could respond the WindClanner jumped in, but Silverdusk wasn’t upset. Not with him at least. Thier heart ached for his loss, knowing now what it felt like to lose her own son. If there was hope Elmstorm was alive, like there was for Wiggleworm and Bearpaw then she would help. They would have helped him regardless they knew deep down, a debt repaid to RiverClan. “I am sorry to hear about your son, I have had much the same luck. Nothing. It does not make sense.” they mewed. The tom mentioned he had permission to leave RiverClan temporarily and the molly’s heart clenched, but this time it clenched with hope. Thier green eyes darted to Sageroot and then Acornstar. Sageroot would understand that they had to do this, had she not been the one that had accompanied her most on their fruitless hunts? The one that had told her in confidence that Wiggleworm was like a son to her, that she wanted to be able to tell him that in person? The deputy wanted to see him home as much as they did, she would let her do this. Acornstar though… she suspected the crimson she-cat would be much harder to convince. ThunderClan’s numbers were low, would she risk sending out Silverdusk. And if she asked to bring Serpentpaw too? The more thought they put into it the more likely it seemed her diets would be denied, but she had to try.

“I will talk with Acornstar and Sageroot tonight about joining you, I will not wait on answers any longer. If I am refused; my mate is called Wiggleworm he is larger than most, perhaps the biggest cat in this forest. He has brown eyes and a brown speckled coat. As for my niece, her name is Bearpaw and like her name suggests she is not small either, bigger than any other apprentice. She is light brown and has tufted ears. I do not doubt that her and Wiggleworm went missing together.” mewed Silverdusk firmly, before turning to the WindClan deputy who had now managed to get her piece out. “If you learn anything ThunderClan, and I imagine RiverClan, would be very grateful for any information. I will keep an eye out for your Coyote.” she said, glancing at Sprucebark when they mentioned RiverClan.

“I forget, I did not catch your name or when you plan to leave, I think I might need to know these things before I speak to Acornstar and Sageroot.”

Silverdusk is still speaking with Sprucebark and Rapidfire

Sprucebark flicked his ears attentivly, he did his best to commit the names Wiggleworm and Bearpaw to memory as well as their descriptions, it helped that they were both unique names and the Bear being big helped as a memory trick as well.

He felt his face go hot with embarrassment, he had been so interested in other missing cats he had forgotten to introduce himself altogether something that usually would never have happened, he meowed a little apologized "I'm Sprucebark, and I will do everything I can to bring your family home too should I find them" he meowed wholesomely with a respectful dip of his head.

The formal tom had some amount of hope... perhaps Elmstorm was surviving in a coordinated effort with the missing thunderclan cats? It might mean there was higher likelyhood of survival of all of them in that case!


Sprucebark is talking with Rapidfire and Silver
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Swiftheart nodded understandingly that Sageroot would want to first run this by Acornstar, that made good sense of course. She flicked an ear grinning a little and looking at her front paws, "oh erm.. yeah a lot of my clan didnt like him by the end.. but we were always close siblings growing up and some amount of closure from it all would be nice" she meowed.

She purred a bit not wanting to bring the conversation to gloomyness, "and you, do you have siblings? Tell me more about you" she purred happily, from what she had seen so far at least, Sageroot was friendly and was at least trying to let her go to Night's graveside. Perhaps the two of them were similar in the ways of kindness.

Sageroot fidgeted a moment with the cobweb-strung leaves at her paws, her self-fashioned hearing protection should the night get too loud. “I was an only kit,” she mewed. “Right now, I’m pretty short on family so the whole clan is like my family. I will say, though, the Ferals treat me almost like one of their own.” She smiled, breaking eye contact for a moment. “I bet it’d look pretty funny if we all stood together, though — all these huge cats and me.” Sageroot wasn’t the smallest cat around, but she was on the shorter side of average. “You know, I hope we can talk more. You seem like a nice cat. Feel free to come chat at Gatherings.”

Sageroot is talking to Swiftheart.

Larchbreeze padded lazily into the clearing, glancing through the crowds for anyone of notice. Seemed like tonight would be a slow, boring evening. Could he find someone interesting to talk to for once?

Larchbreeze is open to talk to.

--
Dovetail is at home with his kits.
Bubblebeam and Hedgepaw are in Time Soup Limbo and therefore not attending.

Sleepycloud followed behind her clan with a bit more effort. She hadn't gotten a chance to leave the camp before they left for the gathering. Determined not to be too late, the medicine cat apprentice limped along faster than she was used to. The usual bundle of white fluff at her side was Hopepaw, who seemed never to let Sleepycloud out of her sight given a chance. Not that she minded, truly. Trailing after the clan was much more comfortable with someone by her side. As the path widened into the Fourtrees, the apprentice broke away from her mother into the mess of cats. Hopefully, Hopepaw will not start any inter-clan incidents again. Forcing herself not to worry, she went to Pidgeonpounce and the others. With a tired nod, she finally was able to lay down and rest her aching leg. If the stars were on her side, she would wake up before the leaders started their announcements.

Sleepycloud is tired from the journey and is resting next to the other medicine cats. But is open to talk to.

---

Hopepaw had to make sure Mother made it there safe. But with so many other cats, she was sure nothing could happen to Mother while she was gone. Head held high, she bounded past the other cats, spotting new cats she had never met before and other cats she had seen before. So interesting! Hopepaw wanted to know where everyone was coming from. Were their homes like hers? What did they--

The thought process stalled out as her bright blue eyes landed on the form of what seemed to be a giant rabbit. Her favorite prey. But...Oh! Some cats were wearing the remains of their meal...? Why? Were they pretending to be a rabbit? Well, Hopepaw would love to play along! Bounding past a group of cats, she stopped just behind some large tom. A hunter's crouch hid her partially from the other cat. But the bright moon most certainly shone against her coat. There was no way she would catch this cat by surprise. Oh well! With a shake of her tail, the apprentice leaped to the space just in front of the rabbit-skinned cat and placed a playful bat on their flank.

A trill of excitement left the apprentice, crouching low, thrilled to see their response.

Hopepaw pretends that Harebounce is a rabbit.

---

Lakepaw stretched out in a larger open space. Despite his concerns about never growing into his paws, the tom had noticed lately that his form had become more significant, and he filled out his paws more akin to his father and uncle. It reflected his ability to hunt and fight without tripping over himself, though the embarrassment he felt was not something he would soon forget. The past moons were filled with his dedication to mastering his movement and providing for the can as best he could. But for right now, he could relax and watch others interact. Hopefully his large form wasn't in anyone's way.

Lakepaw is open to talk to.

Laurelriver felt at home in the noise of the Gathering.

Cats from all five clans were mingling, sharing stories and conversing with each other. Even the aloof Leopardwind was enjoying himself with a SkyClan cat under the peace of the full moon. Spotting a familiar white tom sitting by himself, the calico she-cat quickly walked over to him. "It's great to see you again, Nettleweaver," she said, sitting down next to him. "How's ShadowClan been?" It wasn't a conscious attempt to gain secrets from ShadowClan, more so that she wanted to talk with a friend she made across the border.

Laurelriver has pulled up to Nettleweaver minaj!

~~

Rookfire overslept and missed the Gathering.

Kitespring has chosen not to attend.

“I’ll send them back your way if they’re on out territory. We don’t need any stinky WindClanners on our turf anyway,” Mistypaw joked. “But really, I’ll keep an eye out. My siblings are a gray and white tabby and a solid gray.”
Mistypaw is speaking with Leopardwind.

Leopardstar and Tigerstar's arrival almost made the tabby and white leader break, so tempted she was to ask how each of her grandkits were doing. She refrained though, in front of everyone else was not the time to ask about her family, and it was no business of Thunderclan or Riverclan, who she would still prefer to avoid altogether.

Everyone was here... Time to get this started. With a nod to the other leaders, Wolfstar stepped forward, "This gathering has started!" She began, gazing out over the crowd, "It's been a quiet moon, and Skyclan welcomes Mistypaw, Asterpaw, Lilypaw, Spiderpaw and Newtpaw as apprentices, and we welcome Firetreader to the rank of warrior. Prey runs well and our borders are patrolled as usual. That is all." Nevermind that the apprentices in her clan equaled the number of her warriors, it was progress after so many moons of loss. Wolfstar stepped back, allowing the other leaders to speak.