December Gathering

[WhiteAngel28]

The white and fire colored she-cat stood just above the Moonlit Clearing. She looked towards the sky, noting th epoition of the full moon. her green eyes snapped back down and she bounded forward, flickering her tail for her Clan to follow. Tonight, the Gather had come again.

~

The grayish tom followed his leader down the slope towards Moonlit Clearing. He could barely count how many Gatherings he had seen in his time. Being the previous medcine cat he went to all Gatherings sick or not. Though when he was sick, it usualy made him feel worse to come to a Gathering. But he still did, unless his apprentice stopped him because it could become life threatening. He chuckled. Yes Lilypa-song had become a fine medcine cat.


(gah I knew there was a reason I was going to post with Whiteyes here >_<)

[Hazel]

-BAD WHITEY! 100 word minimum, remember? now fix it.-

The lithe form of the brown tabby leader crept forward and down into the clearing with long, smooth strides. She ignored the branches that attempted to catch at her pelt and pull her back, and a few of the weaker ones snapped with the resistance. The young ones simply bent, only to snap back and be bent again by her clanmates that followed her this evening. As she continued across the clearing, they one by one slowed down to find a comfortable spot to rest, but she kept going until she leaped up onto the clan rock once more, a thing she'd done many times before, both in this life and another. She settled before she murmured to her close friend.

It's quiet tonight, is it not, Brightstar?

[Foxglove:Moonstar]

A snow white she-cat appeared beside the other two leaders, her eyes sparkling in the moonlight. "It is indeed Falconstar," she replied, "The clans are worried about IceClan, I presume." A knowing twinkle showed itself in her leaf green eye as Moonstar, leader of ShadeClan, looked down over the clans.

---

A tabby tom wound his way through the throng of clan cats, looking for a familiar face, listening for a familiar mew. But to no avail. So, Cougarheart chose to sit alone, waiting for the female leaders to begin the Gathering. A small chuckle escaped his lips as he noted that all of the current leaders, save IceClan, were female. Had that ever happened before? Yes, yes it had.

[Infinity]

- Foampaw

Her long fur was groomed close to perfection, and it glowed silver in the moonlight as the small she-cat practically pranced into the clearing. Excitement and nervousness made her jumpy and even more talkative than usual. She ganced around at the cats, overwhelmed by all the different scents. She could recognize which cats were from which Clans, and silently contemplated which she should visit. She decided she'd wait until she saw an apprentice that looked around her age, and stayed by her Clanmates, watching the leaders with wide, curious eyes.

- Nightstorm

The bulky tom followed his leader into the clearing, yellow eyes taking in the familiar scenery while they searched for familiar faces. He loved how the moonlight painted everything silver, almost magical, making the night seem even more special.

He spotted a tabby tom, who he believed was named Cougarheart, and padded toward him.

"You're Cougarheart, right?" he asked, "I'm Nightstorm."

[cocoanut]

Petalstar lead her clan into the gathering, they look to be the last ones. She hated to make everyone wait, she knew they should have left earlier. Padding toward the front of the cats she went and leaped onto where the other three leaders stood. Not wanting to interrupt she sat quietly, waiting.
______________________

Lilypaw heard the Seaclan cats come from a distant, and it surprised her when they suddenly appeared, as if she hadn't heard them coming . The gathering should start soon she thought.. Suddenly she felt all alone and realized that no one was near. She considered going and sitting with the other medicine cats, but instead decided to go see her old mentor, Whiteyes.
"Hey", she meowed.

o.o.c. that was horrible

[Hazel]

Perhaps. I've found myself a bit of a comfort for the coming days. But it isn't a thing to be talked about here, but privately among the four of us. It may be in due time we find ourselves meeting here in the dark of night once more, but we shall have to see.

She replied, her voice tinted with a dash of hope. She always found herself missing those days, though they were full of terror and bloodshed. The days with little responsibility, compared to now, and when they were simply friends figuring out a riddle in the dead of the night, in the center of this very clearing.

----

The long-haired brown tabby padded quietly in, a bit behind her clan. She'd been lost in thought on the way here. It was leafbare, and she hadn't had nearly enough time to gather some herbs she should have. Needless to say, Hazelleaf was worried that the slightest cough would turn into something so much worse. But it would be over soon, and the new shoots would come up. Unfortunately, it was taking its toll. She hadn't been sleeping well, and tonight she doubted she would get any sleep at all.

[Sparrowflight]

~Considering the gathering hasn't been called to order yet, may I join in?~

Sparrowflight took her place wisely, only two tail-lengths behind Skyclan's apprentices. They were known to be fidgety, especially those whose first time it was. Excitement shined in their eyes and the she-cat couldn't help but allow her tail to twitch in amusement. How long had it been since she had felt this eager to go to a gathering? Since her first as a deputy, for sure. A few of the apprentices looked back at her and straightened their shoulders. Good, Sparrowflight thought to herself. At least they have an idea of how they should be behaving. Not wanting to socialize, anything to make her stand out, the deputy faced the leaders squarely. Perhaps it was just her imagination but it seemed like they eyes behind her were staring through her pelt.

[Foxglove:Moonstar]

"Perhaps," Moonstar replied, her voice wistful. She, too, missed the days where the leaders of today could be friends and solve exciting riddles. Her own mother, however, had been killed during those times, but she did not blame the others. "Shall we call this Gathering to order?" the she-cat asked, inclining her head for Falconstar to start.

--

Cougarheart nodded once to acknowledge Nightstorm, but kept his mouth shut. He was anxious to get home. His soon-to-be apprentice was bound to be getting into some trouble. Thinking better of his stony silence, the tabby turned his head to Nightstorm and smiled. "Pardon my silence," he apologized, "I'm hoping the kits back in the clan aren't getting themselves into trouble. They are so much like my sisters and I."

[Hazel]

-actually sparrow, i was keep every cat made in january out of it, but i'll let you stay. since you put up a post and we're starting anyway XD -

Falconstar smiled softly at Moonstar, and dipped her head, respecting the silent offer sent to her for the opening. She drew in a deep breath as she padded forwards to the edge of their perch, her chest barrelling out as her lungs filled with air. Opening her mouth, she let out a yowl loud enough to be heard over murmurs and purrs, through the whole clearing. Over the moons she'd gotten accustomed to having to make it so loud, otherwise she often had to call for silence more than once.

Cats of the clans, the gathering now begins.

She whispered softly, knowing that those still speaking would quickly quiet, to hear what she said, in case it had been important. A little trick she'd learnt from the dearly departed Tigerstar, who had likely learnt it from Seraphstar before him, but she couldn't be sure. Nor did it matter.

The moors and mountains have been generous to Skyclan the past moon. We have been fed well. Tomorrow, we will be naming three kits as apprentices, as well. Our border patrols have increased, but not out of hostility to you. We wish only to make sure we keep Iceclan out.

She knew Shadeclan, at least, would have been suspicious of the activity. Maybe not all of said clan, for surely Moonstar would understand, but there were always those cautious few who would ask questions.

She backed away and motioned for another leader to step up, silently thinking what she would not say out loud. And give Cadell protection on the way in.

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[cocoanut]

o.o.c. Sorry I've haven't been on for a while, I was busy working and studying. Oh and welcome back Sparrow. Wish I could write something long today, but I have to work again later, sigh.

Silently Petalstar listened as Falconstar started the gathering. The technique she used to get everyone’s attention worked effectively, but she still wondered how many actually heard the very beginning of her speech. Surprise hit her when Falconstar talked about the increase of patrols, although she soon understood why. She honestly didn’t know as much about Iceclan as the others, but she remained aware. She wanted to protect her clan at all cost against this supposed new clan, which only added to her worries. When it grew quiet again she considered going next, but wasn’t sure if someone else was already planning to go, so she waited

[Foxglove:Moonstar]

Moonstar stepped up next, her snow white pelt nearly silver in the moon's light. "The forests continue to shelter the cats of ShadeClan and have fed us well," the she-cat smiled softly, "We have welcomed a cat into our clan and she will be apprenticed tomorrow as well. ShadeClan bears no ill will to the cats of SkyClan for protecting what is theirs." A few cats in her clan began to murmur, but she silenced them with a stern mismatched gaze. The white cat stepped back and nodded to Petalstar and Brightstar to choose who stepped up next.

[Sparrowflight]

-Oops Sorry Hazel! Thanks for letting me stay though!-

Sparrowflight's pelt bristled at the mention of IceClan. Her clan had spent many nights and days patrolling their borders for even a flash of the rogues. Nothing so far, but the deputy wasn't trusting anyone. However, she also hoped nobody would notice her frustrated tail flick. Of course they meant hostility to the other clans! Perhaps not openly, but all the clans were hostile. They weren't meant to be friends! Of course, as deputy of the clan, Sparrowflight had to support Falconstar. That didn't mean she had to agree though...

[cocoanut]

When everyone had been silenced Petalstar moved forward when Moonstar signaled. SHe figured that it was time for her too go and although she felt weird not having anything major to report, but she knew that that shouldn't stop her. Clearing her throat she stood in front of the rest of the cats that were gathered and spoke.

"Starclan has been kind to Seaclan this past moon. The prey is running well and every cat remains well fed. We have nothing major to report, except that we have a new apprentice, Foampaw. We acknowledge that some of you have felt threatened by Iceclan, but so far we have had no dealings from them." With that she finished her report and stepped back, no one interrupted her, which was to be expected. She hoped that FOampaw glowed when she was mentioned, but she was not able to find her among the cats when she spoke.

o.o.c. hope that was alright. What do you all think?

[Hazel]

-sounded very leader-like. You're not as bad as you think, Cocoa-

Hazelleaf smiled gently at the mention of Foampaw. He mind wander to the empty nursery, though, and she hoped desperately it would have an occupant in it soon. Without kits there were no apprentices, and with no apprentices a clan would never continue to thrive as Seaclan was. Prey was good, yes, but no one can escape old age, no matter how well feed and well excersized. They could delay it, easily, but stop it, never.

Falconstar smiled softly. It seemed that besides the constant threat Iceclan posed, clan life was going well all around. Of course, they still had Stormclan to hear from, but her and Brightstar's Starclan halves often talked to each other, sharing news between the clans, and then passing it onto their living halves. It made for a wonderful, if not a slightly weird, friendship.

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[Infinity]

Nightstorm nodded to Cougarheart, but then turned his attention to the leaders, where the gathering was in process. He took it in silently, his tail twitching when SkyClan's increased border patrols and IceClan was mentioned, but he kept his mouth shut.

Foampaw, for once, managed to force herself into silence, listening intently to the leader's announcements. When her name was mentioned, she sat up a little straighter, feeling a bit overwhelmed when cats were staring at her. Her blue eyes shone and she self consciously wondered if her fur still looked nice.