Training? Oh, boy. Hunting again? Or maybe this time he'll learn how to dig. He was pretty good at digging, Bouncepaw often won against his sister in the craft, though he wasn't able to win against his father. Or maybe today was more battle practice. He felt he didn't do too badly last time, but he still needed a lot more experience.
"What will we train?" Bouncepaw asks Bluestrike. "More hunting?" He meows wryly. He wasn't mad, just pensive.
Cobwebfern was distracted. Anyone could see it. Wisteriawren certainly did. Studying the young warrior, the ex-kittypet smiled faintly - or attempted a smile - as Cobwebfern turned back to look at her. “Cobwebfern… No, I don’t have any questions.” She a tried to chuckle, which only sounded slightly awkward and out-of-place. Well, she’d asked a question already, but repeating it would be her doom (she was being dramatic).
Exhaling, Wisteriawren leaned forward in an attempt to touch her muzzle to the distracted, rosetted she-cat’s shoulder. “Go have fun. Do… young cat things. Socialize? I promise I’ll be okay.” Wisteriawren barely paid mind to the cats filing in, more intent on letting her Clanmate know she was okay with being left on her own.
To prove her point, the tabby even stood up, gave a last parting wave, and then moved off to sit elsewhere.
What a grave mistake that had been.
The cries of kittens drew Wisteriawren’s attention at first, and then her blue gaze drifted upward to the group of cats they were yelling at — only to freeze. Her smile faded, her face paled with terror at the sight of the large, dreadfully familiar black and white cat sitting there. Next to Dusklion. A high ranking cat.
She knew that cat, could still recall the feel his jaws clamping shut around her right leg, the scrape of claws to her abdomen. Wisteriawren was frozen in place, eyes wide, pupils wider. She’d not even realized she was trembling, breath coming in short pants.
"That sounds good." Bouncepaw doesn't show it, but he relaxes hearing that his next lesson isn't going to just be another failure of a hunt. He wasn't sure of himself, not yet. Maybe they'll have another hunting lesson next time, after he's practiced enough to be more confident.
He eyes the clearing, looking for a Shadowclan apprentice before he retreats, then he finds one. He isn't sure, but she certainly smells like it. Crowfood and pine, accompanied by a marshy stench. Bouncepaw tries not to gag; this was a Gathering. Hopefully his discomfort wasn't noticeable.
"Excuse me," Bouncepaw meows politely, "I'm Bouncepaw, from Windclan, and this is my mentor Bluestrike. What's your name?"
"That sounds good." Bouncepaw doesn't show it, but he relaxes hearing that his next lesson isn't going to just be another failure of a hunt. He wasn't sure of himself, not yet. Maybe they'll have another hunting lesson next time, after he's practiced enough to be more confident.
He eyes the clearing, looking for a Shadowclan apprentice before he retreats back with his mother, then he finds one. He isn't sure, but she certainly smells like it. Crowfood and pine, accompanied by a marshy stench. Bouncepaw tries not to gag; this was a Gathering. Hopefully his discomfort wasn't noticeable.
"Excuse me," Bouncepaw meows politely, "I'm Bouncepaw, from Windclan, and this is my mentor Bluestrike. What's your name?"
Heroneye blinked a bit guiltily. She couldn't help but feel a bit bad about pushing the apprentice into an interaction, considering her prior hesitance. Heroneye didn't blame her one bit, but she'd have to learn to coexist with them, one way or another. Besides, surely Softpaw had wanted to interact with the other Clans, right? Why else would she have come here tonight? Her words told another story entirely, though. Maybe she just wanted to hear news from the other Clans?
This was so much more than simply helping a cat come out of their shell, obviously. It would have to be handled with more care! Argh, why did everything have to be so complicated? Could tonight please just be a nice experience, preferably for both Heroneye and her apprentice?
Alright, well, she had already committed to it, so she supposed it was time to find someone to talk to. Someone approachable-looking, preferably someone on the younger side to be a bit closer to Softpaw's age. And maybe not someone from WindClan; those wounds they had inflicted were still just a bit too fresh for all that.
Scanning the clearing, her eyes caught sight of someone who seemed to fit that description. She gave a small nod to Softpaw before approaching them, hopefully with the apprentice soon to follow.
"Good evening," she said, suddenly realizing just how little she had to say. We're back? Lovely weather we're having? Haven't seen you or your Clan since that one time you drove us all out of our homes? Come on, Heroneye, think! "Ahem. I hope prey is running well in your Clan." Alright, well, that was... kind of a conversation starter. Maybe.
She cast Softpaw a glance, trying to keep the uneasiness out of her eyes. No, I'm the one who suggested this, and I'll be the one who makes it work! RIght! If this is a positive experience, Softpaw may come out of it with a slightly less negative view of the other Clans, thereby helping to stop the never ending cycle of hatred and violence between the Clans! Hopefully!
A dark plume lingered amongst the thorny brambles and thickets that bordered the gathering clearing. Emerging from the tendrils and vines of the overgrowth with a slow, yet deliberate pace, Clovepool stood looming eerily amongst the shadows as she surveyed her surroundings before her. Her brindled, tortoiseshell coat glistened under the moonlight as briefly shook off a few leaves before padding powerfully into the clearing. The bobtailed ShadowClan queen stared intimidatingly as she drifted through the crowds of cats, searching for a familiar face as her dark amber eyes glinted with a certain rigidity. As usual, her energy remained as uninviting and as cold as ever.
Although Clovepool had trailed behind her clan, she had listened intently to Mistlewhisker's announcement and scoffed to herself. Until she found a way for leaking information on Dawnstar to serve her, Clovepool wasn't about to say anything to anyone. Unless of course, that changed tonight. Anything to gain more power and control, simple as that. Flexing her unusually long claws into the earth, the silky maned she cat sat back on her haunches after finding a spot where there weren't many blind spots. The cold hearted queen began giving her paw thorough licks as she waited with patiently, her menacing aura radiating intensely around her.
entirely ignoring goldfish first comment, mildly confused why she was acting like he had been reminding everyone of him being an adult, (the last he remembered he had insisted to still be a child, make fadingsun fighting him and LOSING sound as miserable as it really was, because he had been a CHILD, a barely trained CHILD,) and not quite sure why goldfish had called mossfreckle flower boy since he wasnt wearing any flowers in his fur and flowers werent really the thing associated with medicine anyway but who knows, rookfire tucked it away in his mind as a nickname either way. he considered pointing out the fact that goldfish was making up facts to make herself sound better but decided it wasnt worth spending time on, like, honestly, what had him being a child to do with fancying mossfreckle?
"ah what a coincidence, i earned my enforcer status alongside my name, which is rookfire and rookfire only to you, by the way." he snapped back, entirely ignoring the point about his murder. it didnt matter for this, he wasnt his actions, there was nuance. this was like saying you could never ever trust a cat because they can killed once without taking the circumstances into account. he had killed before and goldfish had never cared. there were barely three or four moons between both incidents as well, a time period of miniscule a riverclanner could only recognise it as relevant in combination with admitting their training was absolute dirt and shadowclan just so happened to be better at everything.
rookfire sighed heavily as if scolding a kit about something stupid they had done, except this time he was scolding a fully grown warrior older than him that had just childishly slapped a feather out of his paw "youve always been a huge spoilsport, but as an enforcer keen on keeping peace, i'd appreciate you not make a huge deal out of a simple conversation, and do not touch me again or i'll make you regret it." voice light and still carrying that particular, mocking, undertone, dropped to a more serious, threatening one at the last part, teeth flashing in low light and ears (or what was left of 'em) twitching to lay a bit more snuggly against his head despite marigolds presence.
"I have a family to look after. And frankly, you aren’t part of it. I loved you and trusted you- I called you my own-" rookfire simply shrugged "i am a changed man, none of who you knew was really me." truth, beneath all the layers of teasing and anger to protect what lay beneath, there was the knowledge that this, for once, was true. nothing in riverclan had been anything but barely getting by, suffering under the pressure of fadingsun grasping leadership and enforcing foolish rules, the expectations of cats he knew to be so much lower than him. goldfish should see it, goldfish should see how much happier he was and no longer a dead man walking, she should feel guilty for wishing for a version of him that had done nothing but suffer. a bird in a cage, left to break free.
jaws clenching tight at goldfishs last comment, rookfire couldnt leave it at that, demeanour suddenly losing its snappy, teasing tone. goldfishs attack on mossfreckles and his relationship felt more personal than any of the things said before, hell, rookfire couldnt care less about goldfishs anger about his murder or any of the other things but to attack something so fragile, possibly the only thing he ever actually cared about keeping safe. no.
"do you even hear yourself?! im done. done. i need you to know you were never my mother, or sister or whatever you made up in your head, and your jealousy towards mossfreckle is hugely misplaced. if you ever cared about me you'd be glad i have someone that likes me for who i am, and wouldnt repeatedly try to make someone out of me that i am not." rookfire finished, voice sounding hollow, like instead of choosing between anger and desperation, he had settled on swallowing every semblance of feeling entirely. he never raised his voice, instead pressing rows of sharp teeth together hard enough faint worry about snapping a tooth floated around in the back of his mind.
watching goldfish and marigoldpaw leave, ears pinned to his head, he inhaled a few shaky breaths that felt like someone was standing on his ribcage or perhaps his windpipe..or both..rookfire finally turned to face hillstrider, so conflicted about the emotions fighting for relevance within him that he felt like crying would be a nice option. he hadnt heard most of what the warrior had said but attempted to catch him up anyway, "goldfish, marigoldki- marigoldpaw." he forced out through bared teeth, brows drawn together as if in pain before a breathy laugh in response to hillstriders comment broke the tension. "its- it doesnt really matter.. thanks" rook offered hillstrider a grateful smile, knocking his own shoulder into his in a friendly manner.
Lichenpaw! That was certainly a cool name. And she'd carry a scent he can't pinpoint properly due to his lack of training. But probably something along the lines of WindClan, perhaps. Rabbit scents here and there. But it all didn't matter when she smiled at him.
"Aah yes! My first Gathering! I can't believe there's so many cats here." Palepaw exclaimed in awe of the sea of cats forming around the Seastone. He waved his paws out, stretching it from one side to the other. "Also the sand, it stretches and goes forever! It's my first time here at Seastone, too!"
It was almost as exciting as going out for the first time. Here everything was new, worthy to gawk at for moments at a time. The sceneries changes quickly as cats shifted one way or another, and Palepaw's anticipation for the actual Gathering to start just grew. He'd turned back to Lichenpaw and with a curious look to his face, he'd asked, "I'm guessing you've been here more times than I have?"
The other apprentice sure looked small, but the way she had carried herself sounded like someone with more experience than himself. Palepaw had yet to experienced the harsh world, nor rid of his childish naivety. In some odd way, he could tell the difference between himself and Lichenpaw.
Lichenpaw
~<>~
17 moons || she/her || WindClan apprentice || honed skill [INACTIVE] scrawny calico with one blind eye; blue eyes
"A few times, yeah," Lichenpaw responds, nodding, "but this'll be my last time here as an apprentice!" It was exciting just thinking about it. The next time she felt sand beneath her paws, she would no longer be a 'paw, but a real warrior. Long overdue, but there had been... complications in getting here. It all payed off in the end, though.
"Up there," Lichenpaw gestures to Twiloghtstar where she sits among the leaders, "that's Twilightstar, my leader. I think she's the best leader in the forest. And there, with the deputies?" She gestures to Crowtooth now, grinning, "that's Crowtooth, our new deputy and my mentor." She really was proud of the skunnk-pelted tom. She'd looked up to him a great deal when she was younger, and she still does even now.
A smile crept up onto Silverleopard´s maw, and she blinked warmly at Doeflame. ´´Thank you. I was hoping my name would´ve been Silverlion, but I was given Silverleopard. I think it´s cuter,´´ She mewed, her plumy tail swaying behind her. ´´And more innocent. An enemy won´t think twice before attacking me again, if they've fought me.´´ She wasn't saying that Doeflame was an enemy, but she wasn't saying that she weren't an enemy, either.
Doeflame's tail twitched thoughtfully as Silverleopard spoke. "I don't know. Leopards are pretty fierce too, being apex predators and all. I think my name's more unassuming. Like, deer aren't exactly the first thing that comes to mind when you think of predators, right? But they can crush you easily with those big hooves of theirs."
"Oh, and speaking of fighting, did you go in the RiverClan raid? I did, got these scars from it." Doeflame twisted to show the ThunderClan she-cat the claw marks on her stomach. They were marks of pride for her; this was the second time she had shown them to someone at a gathering, and it probably wouldn't be the last. "Shame they're back, though. We have to deal with that awful stench at gatherings again. I certainly did not miss that."
Re: September Gathering
