July Gathering | Finished

[Moonpaw & Burnpaw-Ivyclan-Apprentices]

Moonpaw bolted into the clearing, trembling with excitement. Burnpaw on the other hand followed at a much slower pace. It was undignified and kit-like to just run into the clearing, she would go in slowly and with plenty of self-control. "Come on, Burnpaw," Moonpaw whinnied from ahead. Burnpaw rolled her eyes and picked up the pace to catch up. "Stop looking like a kit," Burnpaw scolded. "We're apprentices now." It was Moonpaw's turn to roll her eyes. "What do you want to do first?" Moonpaw asked with a slight jump. "Let's go find some more apprentices from Roseclan!" Burnpaw's pelt bristled at the thought. "You can, but I won't. Its too easy to let clan secrets slip." Moonpaw groaned, Burnpaw could be so difficult sometimes. "Fine then what do you want to do," Moonpaw groaned to Burnpaw. "We should talk to cats in our own clans," Burnpaw decided. "We can do that everyday," Moonpaw whinnied. "Tell you what. Race you across the clearing!" Moonpaw yelped, taking off. Burnpaw groaned but then took off after her, someone had to keep her from getting in trouble. Moonpaw looked back at Burnpaw and didn't realize it when she ran headfirst into Laurelheart. She stumbled back with a squeak and saw who it was. "Oh! Laurelheart I'm so sorry." While she was saying that, Moonpaw was instinctively checking herself over for injuries. She felt relieved when she saw nothing out of the ordinary. Burnpaw stumbled to a halt next to her. "Moonpaw! I told you it was a bad idea! And look what happened, you ran into Laurelheart!" Burnpaw scolded.

[ Echostar / Roseclan / Leader ]

Pebbles clattered quietly beneath Echostar's paws as she guided her clan into the clearing. When she broke from the cover of the trees, the full navy expanse of the sky shone above. Stars glittered like scattered chips of crystal and, directly above the clearing, hovered the full moon. It illuminated the territories below, shedding a comforting light on the shadowed forest. It was just visible past the towering branches of the oak tree.

Unfortunately, the beautiful sight did little to ease Echostar's nerves. Rather than take in the glowing radiance overhead, Echostar found her attention focused on the trees around them. The shadows were like cobweb; Thick, unpenetrable, making it impossible to see further than two tail-lengths into the trees. Echostar had never before feared the dark, but tonight, the lack of visibility unnerved her.

The strange findings in the woods were the main source of this unease. Battered carcasses, savaged prey, all mauled practically beyond recognition and covered in the rancid scent of dog. So far, there had been no sightings of such an animal, or any hint (other than the remains it leaves behind) that it even existed. This might be a source of relief for some, but Echostar couldn't bring herself to relax even slightly. She felt as if the clans were facing an oncoming storm; Momentarily calm, but with an enroaching danger creeping closer by the hour.

The clan arrived at the base of the large tree. Echostar swiftly climbed the tree, lithe form scaling the trunk with ease. She took a seat on a branch, the customary place for the leaders. Though, she was hardly there for her position. No. Tonight, her purpose was entirely for keeping watch. From here, she could see the rocky clearing stretching out before her, the cats gathered below, and past them, the dark treeline. She would see danger before it stepped into the moonlight.


[ Nightprowl / Ivyclan / Warrior ]

Nightprowl couldn't even see his own paws. It was only when he wrested himself from the clinging forest shadows, into the silvery moonlight, when he could truly be seen again. In all honesty, he felt safer in the cover of darkness. After all, he was nearly invisible; He had the innate advantage. Still, the sight of the two mingling clans made his paws light. He had to admit, he was quite excited. He had been looking forward to meeting up with the cats of Roseclan, especially now. My first gathering as a warrior! Maybe now, the other warriors would take him seriously, rather than brushing off his presence and telling him to find younger company. Admittedly, he did enjoy the company of apprentices quite a bit (more so when he was one), but the sense of being left out still lingered.

Everyone was tense this time, however. It wasn't too obvious, but apparent in the mannerisms of the cats around him. They weren't socializing quite as much as usual. Warriors flocked together, murmuring quietly, and many eyes glanced to the trees, wary.

Nightprowl hovered at the edge of the clearing, shifting his weight on his paws. Should I even try to approach anyone?


[ Flutterpaw / Roseclan / Apprentice ]

The tense atmosphere was beginning to get to Flutterpaw. She shied away from the crowd and piercing gazes, flexing her claws in agitation. This certainly wasn't her first gathering, but the proximity of strangers unnerved her every time. Now especially, since everyone here seemed to be on edge. Flutterpaw was glad most cats didn't bother with a lone apprentice; She didn't feel she was collected enough to hold a conversation at the moment.

Instead, she wandered around the clearing, tail slightly tucked. She studied the sky through the canopy above, marvelling at the shining stars and cloudless sky. She watched cats converse together, specifically Roseclan. She considered joining quite a few of them (Who knows; Maybe that would help me feel a little more relaxed), but ultimately decided to stay at the edges of the clearing. She had always been a better listener than a talker, anyways.

Russetpaw was always a shock of energy, but tonight he was especially so. It was his first Gathering and he was enthralled with the effort of drinking in everything about it, from the sea of unfamiliar scents of IvyClan cats to the cool stones under his paws. He almost immediately sensed the apprehension that clung to everyone like a stubborn thistle, but he did not fully understand its cause. While he was aware that something was lurking in the forest, he could not help but assume it to be a coward. If it was too frightened of showing its face to his Clan alone, it surely would not dare attack both of them.

"Please tell me this isn't how it always is," remarked Russetpaw to the cat nearest to him. Tipping his head to acknowledge the dark-coated tom, he realized that the IvyClan stranger could not have been a great deal older than him. He must have been either a senior apprentice or a very young warrior, and so he made no effort to hide the playful cheekiness in his tone. "I've gone all eight moons of my life being told how great Gatherings are, so everyone huddling up and whispering like scared mice is sort of disappointing."

[ Nightprowl / Ivyclan / Warrior ]

The clamor that accompanied the arrival of Roseclan had died down. Now, the crowd had quieted further, and Nightprowl had to perk his ears to catch any hint of noise. I've never seen the clans so uptight before.

Nightprowl was suddenly aware of the presence of a Roseclan cat beside him. Glancing over revealed it to be a young tom, likely an apprentice. His fur was a startling shade of red.

"Nah, don't worry." He shook his head, grinning. "Usually everyone is about like a pack of hungry kits, spreading gossip and showing off moves, in the apprentices' case." He frowned slightly as he observed the crowd around them. "Tonight is... a lot different than usual, trust me."

He gave Russetpaw a sympathetic look. "Awful luck, having this as your first gathering. It'll be better next time." He grinned, tail swishing to wrap around his paws. "I'm Nightprowl. This is my first gathering as a warrior."

[Quietpaw-Roseclan-Apprentice]

Quietpaw stalked around the edges of the gathering. Why was she chosen to go! She hated all this noise as it pounded her ears. The young apprentice watched as the other cats went into themselves, not wanting to gossip with other clans. Well at least this gathering wasn't going to be as loud as probably the future ones. She'd take what she would get and actually found herself liking this gathering. Quietpaw decided to settle down at the very edge of the clearing, preferring not to be disturbed and left to her peace. Though Quietpaw silently prayed to never have to come to another gathering in her life.

_{[Mothflight - Ivyclan - Warrior]}


The white light of the moon illuminated the clearing that was slowly filling with more cats from both Ivyclan and Roseclan. There scents began to mix, although a majority didn't seem to be sharing tongues like usual. Mothflight lurked among the crowd, watching the rival clan through narrowed crystal blue eyes. Gatherings had always been rather uncomfortable, but tonight there was a different sense of unease that crept along her spine and made her pelt prickle. The young she-cat watched as Roseclan's leader made an immediate leap to the oak. She wondered if it was impatience, or if Echostar felt the same darkness flooding in to the moonlit clearing? The black and beige she-cat glanced around the clearing briefly before settling on a spot near Laurelheart and Ivyclan's two new apprentices, Burnpaw and Moonpaw. Mothflight hoped her unease would subside as she quietly sat close to her clanmates. 

Curling her long black tail around her paws, Mothflight twitched her ears as she listened to the two apprentices chatter excitedly. "The two of you should settle down now." She warned, a small purr of amusement hinted in her tone. 

[Moonpaw & Burnpaw-Ivyclan-Apprentices]

"That's what I've been saying," Burnpaw growled to Moonpaw. "But she won't listen," the ginger she-cat continued to complain. Moonpaw ignored Burnpaw. "But this is my first gathering! I'm not gonna let the other cats stop me from being excited," Moonpaw protested, casting her gaze around at all the somber cats around her. She knew the clans were having trouble lately, but that didn't stop her from enjoying her first gathering. She just wanted to have fun! Burnpaw rolled her eyes, subconsciously moving closer to the warrior. She hated when Moonpaw got like this. "Moonpaw!" Burnpaw snapped. "There are more important things going on that require attention!" Moonpaw rolled her eyes at Burnpaw. Burnpaw was an apprentice and she already acted like an elder, not wanting to have any fun and all serious. "Fine," Moonpaw grumbled under her breath, she just wanted to enjoy her first gathering, why did her fun have to get ruined!