GATHERING! [August 2014 | Leafbare]

[Snivellus]

Clawstar padded up to the small pond, sitting next to the fallen oak where the leaders would address the rest of their clan. He swished his tail and gazed out over the water that reflected the bright moon.  StoneClan was doing well this leafbare. They didn't have as much prey as AshClan and some of the herbs they needed were a little difficult to find but their cave camp offered plenty of shelter from any winds or snow, he couldn't imagine how FogClan and SnowClan were surviving, he'd heard when he was an apprentice that they both had very little shelter. Settling into a comfortable crouch he narrowed his eyes and waited for the rest of the cats to arrive. ((OOC: All clan cats are welcome to the gathering! All leaders must make an appearance unless their clan is in peril!))

[Lemonade]

The leader of AshClan shouldered through the woods, headed for the Moon Pond. He didn't stop to see if his clan followed close behind- the cats he selected to go to gatherings could make the trek to the pond with their eyes shut, if need be.

After all, they had to make a good impression.

The telltale twitch of his tail twitch, an irritable tick on the otherwise stoic looking tom, betrayed his anxiety. LeafBare was difficult for most clans, and his mind was racing as he thought of all the things that could go wrong with his clan, and could also go wrong in his neighboring clans.

Mostly, he was concerned about the state of SnowClan. The dishonest cats who his clan unfortunately shared a border with wouldn't wait to stoop to such a level as launching an attack on their clan if they thought they could overpower them. Of all of the clans, SnowClan had the hardest time of Leafbare, and the hardest time accepting help from other clans. They would rather carve a path of violence through all the lands than simply take some freshkill to help them through.

But it seemed that AshClan had beaten SnowClan to the gathering, and it was only Clawstar who sat near the great oak. "Evening, Clawstar!" Gorsestar called gruffly, bounding over to the leader and dipping his head shortly in greeting before finding a spot beside him. "I expect the prey is running well for you?"

[amunet]

Eveningstar soon joined the two younger leaders, nodding her head in acknowledgement of their presence.

"Greetings, Clawstar. Greetings, Gorsestar," she said, a touch of inattention in her voice. Her usual chilly demeanor toward the latter tom had altogether evaporated in light of her preoccupation with her own thoughts. She sat next to the younger leader, Clawstar, absently gazing out over the three now-mingling clans. The lack of prey and herbs, as well as the lateness of FogClan, were at the forefront of her worries. She had chosen her most well-fed warriors and apprentices tonight, which was not many of them, in an effort to hide her Clan's malnourishment. Where is Honeypool? she wondered, searching for the small she-cat's and cream coat, if only to catch her eye and remind her to speak up for the good of the clan. Eveningstar was proud, and hated accepting help from other clans, but desperate times called for desperate measures.

[Snivellus]

The large white tom gave a polite nod to Gorsestar, "as well as it ever is in leafbare, I trust AshClan is doing fine, all those warm trees and underbrush the prey probably doesn't even notice the chill." He let his tail flick absentmindedly, staying in his leisurely comfortable crouch. As the leader of SnowClan approached he gave another nod. "Good evening, Eveningstar." He mewed with a nearly playful tone in his voice, "is SnowClan fairing well? It looks like you have enough snow to drown in from the cliffs." He swished his tail again keeping his lazy gaze on his own warriors.

Not far behind the leaders sat a mottled dark she-cat with patches of weight. She sat almost stoicly still except for the occasional tail twitch or blink, watching the cats from the other clans with thinly veiled suspicion.  Bramblefur didn't trust that all these cats would keep to the Warrior Code. Not that AshClan had ever has any trouble on the full moon before, she really had no reason to be so cranky, but she didn't like risking her clan so that the leaders could come and chit chat about prey. "HEY, WATCH IT." She whipped around and hissed as a scrawny SnowClan apprentice trod on her tail. "Typical SnowClan can't see where they're stepping." She growled settling back into her spot.

Owlpaw was trying very hard to hide his excitement to be at his first gathering. Once he reached the area near the fallen oak though he broke into a sprint ahead of his mentor and stomped on some she-cat's tail. He muttered a semi-apologetic sorry and looked around for the other medicine cats. He knew that none of the others had an apprentice, but it would be great to talk to someone besides Honeypool who shared the same path with him. "Which ones are they?" He muttered to himself trying to pick them out.

[amunet]

EVENINGSTAR

"As well as ever," Eveningstar replied, seeking to diffuse the joking. Clawstar's play on her name was nothing short of annoying, and the snow comment ruffled her fur the wrong way. They were after all, called SnowClan. They had not been named for no reason. However, she kept a calm outward demeanor as she addressed the other two leaders once again. "And with you both? How runs the prey?"

SNOWSTEP

Snowstep settled on the outskirts of the mingling cats, watching their interactions with sharp blue eyes. Coming to the Gathering was not her area of expertise... nor was making friends... She scoffed at herself. Putting effort into friendship was not worth having the same bonds destroyed in battle later one. StarClan knows how inevitable that is, she thought cynically. Considering my father is probably with them.

[Grimace]

The little black feline made her way up the path to the moon pond, twitching off the falling snow as it landed on her whiskers. She stopped to gaze into the moon pond, collecting her thoughts. Gatherings were not her strong point as she did not like to socialize, especially with the other clans. "But if StarClan insists," Crowfeather whispered to herself. She gazed back into the pond once more, bewildered that it had not yet frozen over. The FogClan medicine cat did not know whether this was a good or bad omen, but knew StarClan would let her know in good time. She readied herself as she continued up the path to where the others were gathered. "First here... that's never good." she muttered, looking around for her leader. Shadowstar was no where to be found. In fact, she was the first of her clan to show up. She shook off the worries and looked around for Honeypool. Surely the medicine cats needed to discuss the dwindling herbs amongst themselves beforehand. Discontent that she was also the first medicine cat here, she sunk back to watch the leaders of the clans gather. There was...Ashclan...Snowclan...and Stoneclan..but where was Fogclan?

A lithe white figure stalked the medicine cat cautiously, being careful to not be caught. There was no way Willowtail was going to be the first to arrive, she was a fighter not a leader. She noticed Crowfeather sulking at the outskits of the gathering place, but was careful not to upset the witch. She had enough lip from her whenever there was an injury let alone being followed... There was no way to doubt it, FogClan had already been suffering in the leafbare. The colder air made it more difficult to find prey in the fog and it sure did show on the clan cats. Still, FogClan cats were very hearty cats. They lived where most of the other clans wouldn't venture and they were making the best of it. The fact still lingered in her mind of the growing worry of prey as she looked around at the other clans. They were not as frail as Willowtail, but she silently dared them to challenge her. She quickly shook the thought of aggressions out of her mind and made her way up to Crowfeather, sitting next to her. The medicine cat seemed weak and only acknowledged Willowtail with a nod and a swish of the tail... They were both too stubborn to ever make friends with the other clans. The two she-cats sat patiently waiting for any sign of their leader..or well atleast another clan mate.

[Schultz]

Shadowstar pushed through the bushes at the edge of the clearing, his black and white coat fluffed up against the cold. He murmured a greeting to his medicine cat as he walked towards the other leaders. "Eveningstar, Clawstar, Goresestar, I hope prey is running well in your clans. Fogclan, of course, is doing well as always."

He had to make his clan look strong, as the other leaders did during Leafbare when prey was scarce. To admit weakness was to invite an invasion.

Shadowstar knew that the other clans would notice Fogclan's lateness, but what business was it of theirs what his clan was doing? His one good eye glowed brightly in the darkness, his scarred eye just barely noticeable. He had always hated how other cats thought him weak because his eye had the "shadow" over it. Were they convinced that it was a curse from Starclan? No, he thought briefly pinning his ears back, it was a foolish mistake as a kit. It had given him an advantage in battle, cats that thought he couldn't see out of that eye would attack from that side, only to be surprised when he swung around before they could attack.

[Goku-san]

Ducktail, SnowClan's deputy, when he arrived at the Gathering immediately went to gaze at the water of Moon Pond. Something about the way the moon reflected off the surface of the water seemed to mesmerize him as he stared deeply at it.

However, even he had to admit it seemed odd that the pond hadn't frozen over with how cold it has been. He shuddered a bit thinking about how icy cold the water must be. As much as he liked to swim, which was unusual for a SnowClan cat, doing it in Leafbare would be foolish. The trip to the Gathering made him cold enough already despite his thick heavy coat and he rather would be in his nice warm den right now.

[amunet]

Eveningstar saw a fluffy tail out of the corner of her eye. She turned to see who it was and caught sight of her deputy, Ducktail, looking into the Moon Pond. Oh no, she thought to herself.

"Ducktail, be careful over there, she called to the goofy cat. For all his wise advisements, Ducktail could be quite the klutz.

She turned to the other Clan leaders. "Well, now that we're all here," she mewed, with a pointed look at Shadowstar, "shall we begin the gathering?" With that, she leapt up upon the great fallen tree.


Snowstep's ears perked as she saw movement from the corner of her eye. It was Eveningstar, jumping up on the great fallen tree. The young she-cat settled back on her haunches. The Gathering was about to begin.

[JustMallory]

Sootpaw;; Apprentice of Snowclan
Sootpaw shifted his paws, his stomach growling. He hadn't eaten before they had left for the gathering. Clearly a mistake. Groaning inwardly, he prayed his stomach wouldn't make itself loud enough for the cats around him to hear. He flicked his ears self-consciously, eyes searching the clearing for anyone familiar. He caught sight of the cats from his clan, but felt uninspired to chat with the overly familiar faces. That was until he spotted Owlpaw. He looked flustered. "Hey, Owlpaw. Looking forwards to the gathering?"

[Lemonade]

Gorsestar's ears flickered. The prey was running well enough in AshClan... but even if it wasn't, he would never let the other leaders in on their weakness. He nodded curtly to Eveningstar, shifting on his haunches noncommittally away from the regal she-cat. She seemed chipper enough, despite the trouble Leafbare was no doubt bringing her clan. Nevertheless, he avoided looking at her with an arid atmosphere of discontent, staring out at the gathering clans and assessing the cats.

Shadowstar was the last to join them. "Shadowstar!" He greeted the FogClan leader with more enthusiasm than he might ever allow Eveningstar. "You're looking as well as you sound. Glad you could make it." FogClan was a little late to the party, but it was no matter. The clans had to have a chance to socialize before they began, lest things become tense in the midst of the leaders' reports.

Eveningstar apparently had no time to chat however. Not wanting to be bested, Gorsestar followed her onto the tree, digging his long claws into its trunk and hauling himself up with his powerful shoulders. He stood taller than her, and cutting his eyes at her, waited for her to speak the words that would begin the gathering. "As soon as you're ready."

~

Along the walk to the Moon Pond, Honeypool's head drooped and her eyelids fluttered with exhaustion. She was lagging a few paces behind her apprentice, her paws dead and heavy. Humiliation prickled on the surface of her pelt, and as they drew into the sight of the other clans, the medicine cat lifted her head and shook out her long cream and white fur, hiding her weakness. She mustn't look weak. Eveningstar depended on the impression all of the cats in SnowClan made. If the other medicine cats even saw it necessary to offer help to them... well, Honeypool had already failed.

Nosing up behind her apprentice, Honeypool gave Owlpaw a little nudge, flicking her tail and smiling in Crowfeather's direction. Normally the medicine cats would sit at the foot of the fallen oak by the Moon Pond while the leaders addressed the clans from atop it. For now, the leaders lingered by the trembling stripped roots of the tree and Crowfeather spoke with her clanmate. "Crowfeather!" Honeypool meowed pleasantly, stepping ahead of Owlpaw, leaving him to chat with another apprentice, and moving toward the FogClan medicine cat. "Nice night, isn't it?

[Snivellus]

"Oh good, Shadowstar has arrived." He commented giving a polite nod to the tom. It must be hard in FogClan this leafbare, though as far as Clawstar was concerned thngs were always hard in FogClan, how did they smell anything through that painfully thick air?  The tom rose from his comfortable position, "SnowClan cats are always in such a rush, you'd think I was elder with how fast they move." He meowed as Eveningstar hoped up onto the tree. He clawed up after her, carefully nudging himself between the AshClan and SnowClan leader, giving a friendly glance at them both. There was always tension between those two clans, they seemed to always be arguing about one spot of territory or another. He glanced down at Shadowstar for a brief moment and then, rising to his full height, gazed down at the gathered cats, waiting for Eveningstar to begin.

As she noticed the leaders mounting the log, she relaxed a little, it wouldn't be long now before she could head back to AshClan territory and wipe this stink from her nose. The SnowClan apprentice had moved on to sit with FogClan, she flicked her ears and searched for Cloudleaf, she should be sitting with them and making AshClan look strong. If she didn't show up soon Bramblefur would have something to say about it. She must be around her somewhere though.

The scrawny cat glanced over at the other apprentice. "Of course I am!" He said flicking his ears towards the crowd trying to pick out the Medicine Cats. "I'm going to talk with the medicine cats from the other clans, you wouldn't understand what it's like." He said with a rude flick of his tail, "but there are plenty of warriors for you to talk to," he leaned in towards his clanmates ear and pointed his tail to the tabby she-cat sitting not far off, "stay away from that AshClan she-cat though I stepped on her tail and she nearly clawed my fur off." Then he bounded towards his mentor, "see you later Sootpaw!" He called. He skidded to a halt at his mentor's side and sniffed. "FogClan!" He meowed proudly. He'd never smelled a FogClan cat before, he's sniffed AshClan's border plenty of times gathering herbs, and once or twice he'd caught a whiff of SnowClan from the mountains. "I'm Owlpaw, Honeypool's apprentice." He said, finally managing a polite nod.

[JustMallory]

Sootpaw;; Apprentice of Snowclan
Sootpaw narrowed his eyes, anger flashing behind them as Owlpaw brushed him off. He scoffed in the apprentice's direction and turned, tail flicking irritably. "I wouldn't understand, would I?" He murmured harshly. Flicking Owlpaw's rudeness away with a twitch of his ear. His eyes followed Owlpaw's words to a cranky looking she-cat and he fidgeted. His attitude improved slightly as Owlpaw finally called back to him, a bit kinder this time, and he turned. His blue eyes were searching for someone else to chat with before the gathering started.

Ivyheart;; Deputy of Stoneclan
Ivyheart watched patiently as the leader's took their place, watching Clawstar in particular. Pride blossomed for her leader, and she hoped one day, but not to soon, she could fill his paw steps. Her patience wavered as she waited, eyes flicking around for someone to pass the time with. She caught sight of Snowstep, a pretty white she-cat from her clan and smiled. She padded towards the alone she-cat and nodded politely. "Hello, Snowstep. A bit chilly tonight isn't it?"

[Grimace]

Relieved to see Honeypool, Crowfeather stood to her feet to greet the other medicine cat. She nodded to Owlpaw as he came bounding up. "I was wishing for words before the gathering so we'll have to make it brief this time, friend." the words rolled out easily. The truth was that she did not find comfort in the other clans but felt especially connected to the other medicine cats. Crowfeather turned her attention to Owlpaw, a little envious that Honeypool had aid. "It's about time I took a apprentice myself, I hope you're serving StarClan well." she meowed softly at the young apprentice. "Because one day SnowClan's well being will be up to you." Without another second of delay, the FogClan medicine cat turned her attention back to Honeypool. "This leafbare is a strange one..." she muttered. "Now I'm just waiting on StarClan to confirm my suspicions."

[Schultz]

Shadowstar snorted at Eveningstar's irritation at his lateness, he didn't have to explain his reasons to her. "It's good to see you as well Gorsestar," he purred. At least someone was glad to see him. He lept up on the log and made a point to sit next to Eveningstar, momentarily grooming a spot on the white part of his chest as he waited for her to begin.