November Gathering 2024

"I see," Hollypaw said, moving underneath the oak tree. "Thank you."

Hollypaw is open to talk to.

~~

Laurelriver was excited for tonight's Gathering.

After the mess that was September's Gathering, and not being able to go to October's Gathering due to nursing her injury, she was itching to be able to talk with the other cats in other clans - and she felt like she wasn't the only one. "Stars, I can't wait," she mewed.

As the other clans soon began to pour in, Laurelriver began searching their groups for cats she could talk to. Spotting a she-cat on the edge of RiverClan's side of the Gathering, she bounded up to her.

"Hi! My name's Laurelriver, from WindClan!"

~~

Kitespring had barely pulled herself out for tonight's Gathering. She was just here for Poppystar - to make sure something like that wolf attack wouldn't hurt her like it did before. Stars, she worried about how things could get better. How can I be a good cat when-

A calico cat from WindClan interrupted her with a smile.

The russet she-cat glanced at the calico warily. "Kitespring," she said. "From RiverClan." She didn't think she had gotten so close as for another cat to have talked to her, but as she thought about it she had been a lot closer to the center - perhaps she should have expected a cat to walk up to her. Perhaps she could fake a smile and let her leave.

Laurelriver's face dropped. "Is everything alright?" she asked, tilting her head.

That was exactly the opposite of what Kitespring wanted. "Don't worry about me," she said. "I can't really talk to you about it, clan secrets and all."

Laurelriver is talking to Kitespring.

Swandive did not like being at fourtrees in the slightest. She did not appreciate the mingling of the other clans, and blue eyes noted the new cat who had taken the place of one of the usual suspects on the great rock. Tigerstar's place, she was sure... But whatever had happened did not interest her.

---

Briarpatch followed Shadowclan to the gathering in silence, green eyes watching as her mother moved to stand with the other leaders. The warrior's shoulders were tensse as she sat among her clanmates, her gaze distant. She hadn't forgotten the violence that had taken place in this supposedly safe place, or the massive, hulking beasts that had inflicted it.

---

Cloudjumper padded in with Windclan, her own gaze taking note of Rapidfire now standing where Tigerstar normally would have. Hopefully there wouldn't be any tensions at this gathering... Or wolves to crash it.

Swandive is open to conversation.
Briarpatch is open to conversation.
Cloudjumper is open to conversation.

Dovetail did not like Gatherings. He did not want to come to this Gathering. He had avoided the past few under the pretense of caring for his kits, but he could labor under that excuse no longer. Besides... now that Murkyriver was feeling well enough to attend, he couldn't shake the fear that wolves would reappear, or some other threat would emerge from the cover of night, and he wouldn't be there to protect her. So, reluctantly, he slunk into the clearing, suspicious blue eyes narrowed at the crowds of cats that babbled around Fourtrees. At least he wasn't alone. He couldn't deny that Murkyriver's form pressed into his, her lithe frame and silky fur brushing against him, made the onslaught of noise and scent far easier to bear. He felt warmth from it, too, burning up along the lines her swishing tail drew against his side, but he did his best to ignore that part. "Nor I," he murmured back to her, his ears flicking. "If it were up to me, I'd prefer we abolish these things altogether." His eyes picked Swandive out of the crowd, ensuring her safety, then went back to roving.

Dovetail is with Murkyriver, and stars help anyone who tries to interrupt them.

--

Larchbreeze let out a sigh under his breath as he padded into Fourtrees. What would happen this time? Wolves again? Some kind of argument? His gaze followed Rapidfire and Molehill as they made their way to the center, taking their new places as leader and deputy. Hopefully the happy-go-lucky she-cat could bear the pressure. He would hate for WindClan to be made a laughingstock. Well... if he sat around tonight thinking about that, he'd go mad. Golden eyes landed first on Snowvixen, following the white she-cat who glowed in the moonlight as she sauntered around the clearing. He thought better of that, though, pointedly turning his head to ignore her. Certainly there were far better-mannered she-cats to speak with at this Gathering. As long as nothing interrupted him. There--on ShadowClan's end of the forest, there were several nice looking she-cats sitting alone. Perhaps that tabby wouldn't mind speaking with him? He desperately needed something to do other than mull on the memories of beasts and the itching scar on his shoulder.

Larchbreeze checked himself quickly to make sure his fur was groomed properly, then made his way over to the she-cat he saw sitting alone. A warm smile appeared on his face when he drew nearer. "Hey," he purred, offering a wave of his tail in greeting. "Mind if I sit here? I couldn't help but notice you sitting by yourself. If I may say so, your pelt is striking, and it caught my eye." He settled down close by, making sure not to wrinkle his nose at the strong scent of ShadowClan that wafted from her. That wouldn't be very charming of him. "The name's Larchbreeze, by the way, from WindClan. What's yours?"

Larchbreeze is chatting with Briarpatch.

--

Bubblebeam hung at the back of ShadowClan's group of cats, her pale green eyes darting nervously around SkyClan's ranks before she came fully into the clearing. If Sunfire was here again, she had to make sure that he didn't spot her. It would have been safer not to come at all, she knew--but she couldn't quite bring herself to stay at home when she still hadn't found out for sure if Sorrelmist and Hemlockfox were okay after the wolf attack. She had to know. If she didn't see them nearby and safe, if she couldn't at least whisper her desperate query to one of them, then she was going to go mad. Had Silverbird come this time? She didn't think so; she hadn't seen him. She was just going to stay sheltered among her new Clanmates, trying not to let anyone see her, and look for her family.

Bubblebeam is looking for Hemlockfox or Sorrelmist, but she is open to talk to.
Hedgepaw might come later, but she's probably staying home again.

As uneasy as the clearing made her, it was easy to spot the tom that headed her way. Windclan, if her nose was right. She didn't harbor the same animosity that some of her clan still seemed to toward their neighbors, and this was supposed to be a night of peace, after all. Well, so long as no wolves showed up, at least.

Briarpatch ducked her head at the comment, feeling slightly embarrassed... But she also found she didn't mind the attention, either. "Thank you." She mewed, somewhat shyly.

"I'm Briarpatch of Shadowclan. It's nice to meet you, Larchbreeze. I hope Windclan is well?"

Clan secrets?

Laurelriver was inclined to believe the RiverClan she-cat, but something felt... off, too. Why would she mention clan secrets that she was desperately trying to hide? "Alright," she said, changing the subject. Maybe a compliment could cheer her up. Her pelt was pretty rough around the edges, but despite that-

"You're a pretty cat, Kitespring."

Kitespring's brain completely froze at Laurelriver's compliment. Pretty? She hadn't even taken care of herself for moons! Why did another cat just call her pretty? Besides, she had Poppystar- who didn't like her in that way, but still! She couldn't break the code for a WindClan cat, that would be absurd, and even if they were only friends she couldn't break her trust like that!

"Thank you," she said finally, looking away. Stars, what does she do with that? Was she actually pretty? That couldn't be right. She probably looked so rough around the edges, why did Laurelriver call her pretty-

Kitespring looked a little better now, which was nice. "What do you like to do in your spare time, Kitespring?"

Recently, Kitespring often just sat in her den doing nothing, which wasn't really something she could share with another cat. "Um... I like making stories?" she said, nervously chuckling.

Laurelriver's eyes widened. "Oooooo! Can you tell me one? Please?"

Kitespring blinked. What kind of story could she tell Laurelriver? The forbidden love story was probably really bad to talk to a cat from another clan, she couldn't even think of the Thrushstar one without crying anymore, and she really didn't have any other ideas that came to mind.

"Umm... I'll try and come up with one, and I'll let you know when I've made one."

Laurelriver nodded. "You make these stories up?" she asked. "That's so cool! I've only heard of elders telling stories about real life, and it can get stale after a while. Take as long as you need!"

Laurelriver is talking to Kitespring.

~~

Hollypaw searched for WindClan's medicine cats. Hemlockfox seemed... weirdly out of it, but he did spot a she-cat eying the tom from far away. Maybe she was his apprentice? "Good evening," he said, smiling at her. "I'm Hollypaw, SkyClan's medicine cat. Are you... Hemlockfox's apprentice?"

Hollypaw is talking to Weevilpaw.

~~

Rookfire padded into the Gathering, sitting next to Larkshine. "You'd think tonight we won't end up with wolves attacking the Gathering again," he said with a chuckle.

Rookfire is talking to Larkshine.

Kestrelchirp was hesitant to come to the Gathering after the last time, but... He had to. This time, however, he sat at the edge and watched. Carefully.

Kestrelchirp is open to talk.

Coyotegrin sat next to her son, also eyeing the Gathering crowd. She only came for Rapidfire, as requested.

Coyotegrin is also open to talk.

Quailprowler knew she had to come to this Gathering. She had failed to protect Acornstar last time. This time... she inched a little closer to the rock.

Quailprowler is open to talk.

Burnetpaw bundled into the Gathering, eyes wide. His momma had already told him he needed to go and make new friends - but this was so many cats.

Burnetpaw is open to talk.

With all the leaders now here, Wolfstar watched the mingling cats below for a moment before finally lifting her voice in a yowl to start the gathering.

"Skyclan welcomes Snowhunter and Mistyflash as warriors, Pondpaw to the apprentices, and Hollypaw has chosen to walk the path of a medicine cat." She began, eyes finding each of her cats in turn, offering them a nod, "Prey runs well despite the colder weather. Our borders remain patrolled regularly. That is all."

Rapidfire really wished someone had told her how this all was supposed to work. Once again it was feeling like she was tossed into the deep end of things and left to either sink or swim.

Was it anyone's turn once one of the leaders spoke? that was what it appeared like when she was deputy and they didnt exactly say prior an ordering.

She listened quietly to Wolfstar's and nodded a bit to the skyclan leader when wolf was done.


"Windclan has a lot of cats in new roles this past moon. Tigerstar has gone missing, I am Windclan's leader now, Molehill our new deputy. Additionally, we welcome Thistledown, Cricketleap and Moondrop as warriors and bugpaw as apprentice

she gave a pause nodding

"Prey is well, our borders secure. I do hope to achieve and maintain a peace as the new leader of my clan. That is all"


She hoped her point was across well enough that their clan was growing even though they were under new leadership transitions. Moresover, she hoped that old wounds could heal and that the other clans would at least give her a chance to try for peace and would not hold old wars against her. She did hope to get to speak to leopardstar after all this, if for nothing else the initial pawsteps towards at least an understanding she hoped to reach. She for one felt more responsible than ever to fight for her clan, and right now that meant not getting into fights, especially not before the harsh season was bearing down on them all.

Lighttail wasn’t exactly enthusiastic about this Gathering. There wasn’t anyone she wanted to see. Still, she noted with interest the new face on the Great Rock. She’s… young. Truth be told, this curl-eared cat couldn’t be much older than, say, Pineblossom’s kits. Huh.
Lighttail is here.

Sageroot smiled warmly at the new deputies in the circle. “Hi there,” she purred. ”I’m Sageroot of ThunderClan. I… just realized I think I’ve been here longer than anyone else. Stars, does that make me old? Anyway, it’s great to have you! Clan borders aside for a moment, you can come to me if you need any tips on patrols or mentor choice. We’re not at war, and all the clans should stand strong.”
Sageroot is here.

Minkbite lounged off in a corner, an unamused expression on her face. This moon had been an exhausting one, and every second with the other clans’ scents on the air made her regret the decision to come more and more.
Minkbite is here.

Swiftheart entered late, even so the extraverted shadowclan warrior quietly entered as the leaders were doing their announcements. She weaved through the crowd being very mindful not to accidently step on any tails... that would be very bad.

Eventually she got to a better spot closer to the front where she could actually see.

She spotted the new leader from windclan and looked around for the deputies wondering who their new deputy was and if she knew him or not... hmm she definitely did not she determained.

But, she did see her friend Sageroot there and waved her tail happily to her friend

swiftheart is here


Eaglefly had not found his brother and had defaulted to sitting near the back of the crowd since he didnt really want to find anyone else that was. He gave a nod to Bugpaw and Rainpaw since they were the only cats he recognized back here

Rainpaw rolled her eyes a bit staying quiet as her mom talked through the announcments, she couldnt stand having her parents be in such spotlight, it would certainly draw more unwanted attention onto her.

She gave a gentle poke at bugpaws sides and tried not to laugh too hard at his jumping around from it as she teased playfully at him.


rainpaw is playing with bugpaw

Eaglefly is existing

Swiftheart is over near the deputies silently saying hi to sage

The announcements were all standard, Acornstar absently nodding along to them - that was until Rapidfire spoke. Tigerstar, missing? Her stomach twisted, staring at the new leader in a mixed look of horror and sympathy - for was that not how Tigerstar himself had become leader? Smallstar had disappeared during their time at the lake, nearly a full turn of the seasons had past. What a twisted sense of fate for it to happen again. Leopardstar likewise made mention of their own deputy going missing, having been replaced...

What was happening to this forest that cats were disappearing without a trace? Was their a general wave of unhappiness, was something else at work? Was this ever going to end? She shook her head, before she realized she was the last leader to go. She stepped forward, clearing her throat as she pulled her thoughts together. "Likewise, prey has been running fine for ThunderClan despite the turn of the season," she meowed, tail swishing. "We welcome a new warrior in Flurryshade and otherwise has had an uneventful moon. I am sorry to hear of the disappearance of Tigerstar and Sablestrike both - should any information somehow come to ThunderClan's attention, I will be certain to share it. I only pray that our fortunes turn for the better - we'll need all the paws we can once Leafbear truly strikes. But with that, I have nothing more to say - this Gathering is over," she finished, swishing her tail to mark the end of the announcements as she glanced back at the leaders. While she was sure Wolfstar would leave right away, she figured she would at least give the chance to let the others make their own way out first lest there was anything they wanted to discuss.