September Gathering - Page 44

**goodacacia** · #**431** Yesterday, 10:53 PM

Palepaw
◆ ShadowClan | 6 moons | [25/100]

Palepaw ear twitched a little when hearing her excited tone dropped a little when mentioning her other mentors. Sleethound...a couple others...Wolffang...Crowtooth. He'll definitely forget those names within a few seconds but it was still cool to know them. They had some really epic names in Palepaw's opinion, perhaps he'll get some super awesome name too. In the back of his mind, he was definitely hoping Dawnstar would pick something cool for him.

"Mentor? Oh! Mines! My mentor is Flytail! He's a super awesome warrior too! A little gruff around the edges but I think he's a good warrior," Palepaw continues excitedly. Flytail had did a little tour for him around the territories. And as for training, he had some lessons with Miss. Sleepysunrise. "Oh! Though I am doing some lessons with Sleepysunrise! She's a super cool teacher too! She does these group lessons where we can train together with other apprentices! I get to learn a lot, though I'd love to learn more!"

If he could talk on, he'd talk forever about his lessons. Palepaw's will to learn was endless like his curiosity. If he had the time, he'd talk about the lessons he had as a kit. The history one with Nightshiver and the basic herb lessons with Lostspark. But those were too long ago to mention. Now, he could go outside of camp and do apprentice things, like hunt, climb, and be one with the shadows. Now that was the cool stuff! Palepaw squinted a little as he weighed the pros and cons. No, it would just be ... cooler stuff. Because, the history and herbs lessons were also really cool.

"I don't suppose you know your warrior name yet..." Palepaw began curiously, sneaking a glance at Lichenpaw. Any topic about being a warrior had intrigued him. "What do want your warrior name to be?"

**Silvershadow13** · #**432** Yesterday, 11:19 PM

•| Cricket'Paw |•

She felt very honored that Burnedpaw shared such a fragile piece of his life with her. Not many times had that happened for her.
"Your fathers sound very caring, I'm sure you've had a good kithood." She didn't want to say anything that could alarm Burnedpaw to her own awful beginning, so instead, she complemented his.
"Has your dad improved, like gotten less anxious?" for the longest time Cricket'Paw had a major improvement, all the stuff with the clan war had brought back bad memories, it was why she didn't remember much of that time, she lived mostly in terror.
@Luna16

**oakcrane** · #**433** Today, 12:59 AM

(Short Post sorry!)

RABBITBREEZE
Windclan Warrior | she/her

Rabbitbreeze wrapped her tail around her paws. This was her first gathering since Spiraltail had left for Riverclan, and she wasn't exactly sure about how it would all pan out.

@Tallstar

**Concorde** · #**434** Today, 01:21 AM

Snakepaw

22 Moons | She/Her | No purrks

ThunderClan Apprentice (demoted)

"Sometimes." Snakepaw answered in response to Riftpaw's question about fish. "Although as you can imagine, it's not really the most popular food in ThunderClan, but I'll have some fish if I get the chance." Although she was more used to eating mice than fish, maybe that's why she preferred the taste of mice. Then she listened as Riftpaw told her that Duskleaf hadn’t yet taught him to fish. "Believe me, I don't think it's because you can’t pounce very well, you're still only a young cat, it takes time to get better at things." Riftpaw's next question was a little unexpected. "Do I miss him?" Snakepaw repeated. "Kinda, yeah. We used to talk at every gathering, of course he didn’t actually know who I was yet." She had been kinda lonely at the last gathering, and remembering the one before that, well tensions were kinda running high. Maybe she broke the news to Duskleaf too quickly, he wasn’t ready for it yet. "We were sorta like friends, I told him the truth at the last gathering RiverClan were at…but I don’t think he was ready to hear that yet, it makes sense now, if Reedclaw had just died at that point."

@TanghuluCat

**alec** · #**435** Today, 02:40 AM

ROOKFIRE
[ he/him | shadowclan enforcer | purrks ]

finally catching himself from whatever limbo between anger and .. hurt? he had been stuck in, rookfire got up from where he had sat, extending no more attention hillstriders way, the ginger warrior was more or less free to follow but not expected to. sauntering past tuftedtusk and a riverclan warrior he very much remembered from his time over there, o
or at least he thought so, perhaps the 50% of his sight he had left was leading him in the wrong directions, the enforcer gave them a slightly critical stare, certainly not liking the words his fellow enforcer had shared with the fish. unsatisfied with his current position at all, he half listened to whatever fadingkit had to stay, perched up on the large rock so particular about the sandstones, whilst finding his was through the crowd. despite his original plan to stay in the center of everything as to not miss any situation worth him stepping in, the edge of everything, relatively close to the seastones, appeared like a nicer option now that he was actively avoiding two particular riverclanners. anyway, so close to the seastones one would have to look up a good bit to see the leaders and medics was also the least populated spot around so it was realistically better for seeing the whole of the gathering. definitely, and rookfire was serious and not just lying to himself for once, not because this was in closer proximity to mossfreckle. certainly, not even the traitorous brain he had to deal with, would suggest he not take his duties serious in a way. the walk here had been okay because there wasnt much he had to take care of, now, the younger meant nothing to him and only reentered his current thoughts if relevant or now, because he has seen him whilst making his way through the crowd and looking at the others catch up there stars damn it. rook was very aware how much this sounded like lying, but stars he prided himself on his self proclaimed 'work mode' and being able to tune out or supress emotions and memories entirely. mother did not raise him to be a failure because of the way his heart sang. he could be serious, he was serious, and he would stay serious until they were a good bit away from the seastones and no other clan cat could possibly be following them.
to rookfires displeasure, nothing was really going on, the crowd was behaving. which was good! but not to his current situation, sat alone and metaphorically chewing on the conversation he had with marigoldpaw and goldfish. certainly not his proudest moment but certainly one he would love to tune out with some nice mediator work. too bad there was nowhere to be mediating.

[ please no one read this post its so bad || OPEN ]

**Wingnettle** · #**436** Today, 05:25 AM

Nightfall
he/him | Windclan warrior | 19 moons
Ultimate Predator

Nightfall watched him speak with a brown slightly raised. He wasn't convinced at all that Riverclan's return wouldn't change anything in the clans' life, but how could he know it?
Bug didn't seem so keen on speaking, but that didn't annoy Nightfall one bit. This cat could walk away any time if bug wanted it.

"Well... Dawnstar's and Twilightstar's expressions seem unreadable, unlike the Thunderclan's deputy. Dusklion, huh? Famous for causing trouble." A simple statement, free of any judgement.

Returning to what this Shadowclan warrior was saying... "I think..." he let silence overcome their conversation for a bit of time. "The clans have grown tired of war. Even Bumblestar doesn't seem in the mood for stirring up trouble with Fadingstar's return. After all, they've paid up some debt."

**Quietheart** · #**437** Today, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luna16

[CENTER]

Kitepaw looked up at her father when everyone left, her eyes wide with anxiety. Had she done something wrong? "Papa," she mewed quietly, "sh- di- ...did I do something wrong? Why did they all leave?" Her voice trembled slightly as she stumbled, trying to find the right words for her question. Clearly her appearance had been too much. Maybe she should have stayed away after all? Or faced her mother and just clung to her mentor?

The brown spotted she-cat turned her dark blue gaze down to her paws in disappointment. Clearly, this Gathering was not going to be her time to meet other apprentices. She wasn't entirely sure that was something she even wanted until the others left. Now she wished at least one had stayed. Maybe I'm just not likable? This seemed plausible. After all, if she was likable then her mother wouldn't always ben so on edge around her right? More importantly, her family would've stayed together...

[ @Quietheart - Wavebreaker]

Wavebreaker

|43 Moons|

Cricketpaw had a ready response for the warrior's attempt at digging deeper into whatever mental anguish locked her small silver body in a quivering state. Not wanting to fluster her Wavebreaker didn't press the issue further, but he knew there was more to her panicked state than a simple lack of sleep. In the long term it didn't seem to matter however as Burnedpaw quickly took charge of the situation. The dark brown ThunderClan apprentice managed to encourage Cricketpaw to follow him, until the two had found an unoccupied space in the clearing for a one on one conversation where it would be easier for Wavebreakers clanmate to open up about her troubles.

I can't believe he's Hawkthornes apprentice, he mused. The image of the temperamental gray furred warrior flashing behind his mind's eye. As far as Wavebreaker was concerned the ThunderClan apprentice already had more sense than his mentor. He's going to make a fine warrior someday. He was briefly envious, wishing Burnedpaw was in RiverClan. Not many full grown cats could assess a situation quickly and take action as he had. All while maintaining a level head. It was a small test for sure, but the small tests in life often revealed how life's bigger problems would be handled if and when they ever occurred. As the tomcat considered these things, one by one the group began going their separate ways. He gave each a nod goodbye until only he and Kitepaw remained.

His daughter recaptured his attention, as he heard her familiar mew of "Papa." Wavebreaker turned his head back down to face her only just now noticing the look of hurt present in her blue eyes. "sh- di- ...did I do something wrong? Why did they all leave?" The sight of her precious small speckled form shivering with emotion and the identifiable break in her voice nearly made her father scoop Kitepaw up right there. But he resisted the urge. Understanding with a lingering lament that she was growing up now, and he couldn't just go grabbing her by the scruff like a kit every moment something went south. Despite his heart begging for him to do so. The warrior sat himself up, giving his pelt a few licks and gathering his own feelings before speaking.

Wavebreaker tried to keep his expression as placid and controlled as possible while answering. "No Kitepaw, I don't think so," He reassured his daughter. "It was just bad timing, nothing you could control." He placed his paw gingerly under her chin lifting her head back up towards his eyes, the same yellow patch of fur plastered on either cats face, a symbol of their connection. "Sometimes that's just the way things go. You can have all the good intentions in the world but other cats may simply be too distracted or unready to listen to what you tell them." He couldn't help but think of his conversation with Irisdream from the night before, and how he had attempted to cheer her up by drawing a parallel between her and her mother Pebblestorm. Wavebreaker had only wanted to make her feel better, instead he had made things much worse. "You showed up right when Cricketpaw seemed to be struggling with some emotions. Burnedpaw just happened to take initiative to help her, that's why they walked away to give her space." He allowed his voice to take on a soothing gentle tone, "As for Bouncepaw and Bluestrike they are mentor and student, its only natural they would have things to discuss."

He paused briefly before adding "Besides Burnedpaw did say he would be right back, he only wants to make sure Cricketpaw is ok first. It's an admirable thing for him to do considering he is not from our clan, and our recent history of fighting one another." Even as he mentioned this last bit, Wavbreaker couldn't but help feeling a certain sense of unease. Part of the veteran wondered if Burnedpaw wasn't being too casual with Cricketpaw, and what kind of attention or trouble that could bring. Not to mention he did not want to set the precedent for his daughter that she should feel comfortable talking to other clans outside of the gathering. After all it wouldn't be the first time two cats from separate allegiances found it hard to stay loyal to their own causes. Feelings often conflicted that way, especially in battle. I wonder if I should talk to Kitepaw separately about that? With his daughters current worries, it didn't feel like the right time to be bringing new concerns into the equation. All Wavebreaker could do now was hope she responded well to his words.

@Luna16
@Silvershadow13

**Lil'Ember** · #**438** Today, 09:40 AM

Firepaw
Moons: 10
Posts: 27/100

Firepaw gave Silentpaw a little nod, a small smile on her face. It just felt... Nice, to have him around, relaxing, even. He was a little bit rude, sure (though something in her told her he didnt do it on purpose), but when she was around him she didnt feel as preasured to look perpetually cheerfull as she usually did, which ironically made her feel more genuineally happy. Funny how the brain does that, she thought. Maybe they could hang out a bit more when they went back to camp, that could be fun. "Well, I guess at least I ain't alone in that then!" She continued, the older apprentice settling into a more confortable sit as she turned back to Silentpaw."Well, at least this is a bit more of a calmer spot, so this isnt as exagerate-- Firepaws words were cut by a a molly suddenly bumping into her. Firepaw turned around to the scarred she-cat and she had to suppress a growl when strong smell git her nose. Yuck, fish, it seemed the cat was from Riverclan. Firepaw shook her head to clear her nose from the smell. She guessed she would get used to the scent in a couple of moons... But this moon wasnt ceirtingly the one. "Oh, dont worry, its alright! Here, you can sit with us if you want." She said, patting with her paw at a free spot beside her, only to notice that the blind molly couldnt see the gesture, but hoped the point came across either way. A cat from another clan! It seemed that she was going to be able to socialice a bit like she planned to, and now she felt a lot more confortable now that she had Silentpaw by her side, she didnt have to face all these new cats alone. "Im Firepaw, and this is Silentpaw, we're both from Shadowclan! Firepaw turned to the ginger and silver apprentice to prompt him to introduce himself, but she quickly realiced that he was looking to someone else.

Firepaw tried to follow Silentpaw's gaze, and she almost physically recoiled when her amber eyes landed on the heavely scarred she-cat the other apprentice was eyeing. Scars were overrunning the mollies red fur, covering her flank and stretching out through her body, even overtaking half of her face. How-- How did she even manage to get like that?? She hadnt seen so many scars in any of the most battle hungry cats in Shadowclan. How did an apprentice managed to get her body messed up like that? Did dogs maul her or something? Firepaw looked back to Silentpaw, the apprentice's gaze looked horrified by what he was seeing, almost in panicked. Silentpaws breath was almost audible, large gasps coming in and out of the smaller cat's body. Firepaw leaned in towards him and spoke quietly. "Hey, is... Is everything allright?"

@Starphobia
@Vesper

**Starphobia** · #**439** Today, 11:50 AM

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Silentpaw
Patched tortoiseshell tabby tom with deep blue eyes that look purplish in certain light sources and a short fluffy tail.
He/Him | 7 Moons | ShadowClan Apprentice | Silent
[47/100]
Purrks:
Ultimate Predator [Always Active]
. 。・゜✭・.・✫゜・。.

. 。・゜✭・.・✫゜・。.
Silentpaw hadn't realised a new cat that had bumped into Firepaw until Firepaw started talking. Even then, he could barely hear her voice over the loud ringing in his ears.

Calm down, calm down. You're at a Gathering, and there are other cats around. You don't want to panic, you don't want to panic.

But there was just no way. He couldn't be here, not now. Not when... That Firepaw was around. Did she see him? How would she feel if she did? She would hate him forever. She'd already hated him, no she'd hate him more.
But why did he care about it? He was a ShadowClan cat, and she was ThunderClan. He would stay loyal to ShadowClan, no matter what. Especially not for a stupid she-cat.

Silentpaw shook under the thoughts, almost flinching when he noticed Firepaw leaning closer, his fur bristling and claws threatened to unsheathe. What did she say?
He couldn't hear all that well.
Did she ask if everything was alright?

DOES IT LOOK LIKE EVERYTHING'S ALRIGHT? FIREPAW'S HERE!

But she wouldn't know any better.
Silentpaw nodded quickly, shifting his paws around to balance himself.

Why was he so shaken over Firepaw?

He shut his eyes, letting out a forced sigh.

"Yeah, yeah. Fine." He muttered a reply, his voice shaking. He hoped it wasn't too noticeable. He turned to the new cat, someone who had just happened to come over. That must have been who Firepaw was talking to. As soon as he turned to face her, a familiar yet unpleasant scent hit him. RiverClan. He let out a faint growl before muttering a simple "Hello" to the RiverClan warrior.

RiverClan? Out of everyone? Seriously?

{ @Lil'Ember - @Vesper }
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**Blaaze** · #**440** Today, 01:20 PM

♤ Goldfish ♤
♤The Ace of Spades♤
Go With The Flow | Agatha Kitty | Primal Instincts [Climbing]
____________________

All of Rookfire’s words went in one ear and out the other. Goldfish didn’t give a crap. Trapped? Forced into something? Also, Enforcer? Huh. But that was pressed back to the end of her mind. Frankly, she felt the urge to only reply to one thing. She had few words to speak in response, it was pointless arguing with them. ”I hope you’re happy, Rookfire. I hope you know that no amount of making others suffer will change anything. You wanted to be a medicine cat, and you know it. You were no trapped bird, you were just- and still are- emotionally unstable. But that’s none of my business. But you need to know one thing.” there was a faint pause in her words, her cool neutrality returning. ”Your time will come, Rook. You’ll get your karma, and it’ll bite you on the ass. I’m not saying this to be cruel, I’m saying this to warn you. I wish things could’ve turned out differently, and we could’ve been friends. But the clan comes first. The felonies you’ve caused against Riverclan are too great. So don’t forget what I’ve told you. You’ll regret it.”

The Intensity of Goldfish’s expression, mingled with so many jumbled feelings, was like fire as she stared intently ahead until she halted. Her breath was coming in long and slow gasps as she turned to Marigoldpaw. She was so clueless. So, so clueless. Her claws burrowed holes into the ground beneath her pink padded paws as The Ace of Spades looked fiercely- with no real anger behind her expression, only confusion and anxiety, toward her apprentice. Slowly, her breaths relaxed. Her claws remained sheathed however. Mari had asked a question. Goldfish sure as damn was willing to answer.

”You want to know what happened? Alright. And I’m sorry if I startled you in any way, or made you feel uncomfortable. Know that none of this- not a single bit- has to do with you, kiddo, alright?” goldfish blinked hard to fight the anger in her dandelion hues. ”I was bleeding out in the territory. I’d just stumbled across Minks, right? Around that time, before she ran away, I called her my daughter. She was my kid. She saved my life, then left. Left me bleeding, with three kittens. My sister had to drag me back to camp because Minkpaw was too cowardice to help her. My baby died because Spotty- Spottedstream- couldn’t keep her warm enough. But I don’t blame her. It wasn’t her fault she had to drag four cats home. Minnowkit died because of it.” Goldfish let her sudden burst of words sink in for a moment before continuing.

”And that wasn’t her fault, you may say. How about as soon as she joins Shadowclan she earns herself a new mother. In the 3v1, she gets a new mother. I was right there. And she killed- killed Jayfrosts apprentice, a mere child. So, so young. When I told her I was letting her go, she didn’t even speak a word. Didn’t care to. Her new mentor and mother just didn’t care.” Goldfish looked icy, as though her long fight against depression had built up a stone wall of hatred. Of disrespect. Of e m p t i n e s s. The depression was all Rookrat’s fault.

”She tried to kill Fadingstar. She’s changed, all except that one selfish seed. The seed has become a tree. Everything she said to you- every bit of it- was to pressure me. Pressure me into a whimpering apology. I have nothing to say to her. We shouldn’t speak with her after what she did to our clan. If you do, it puts you at risk because of your bond. It puts me at risk, too. Please understand that Rook? Rook isn’t Minks. I don’t even think Rook is a She anymore. And as soon as they join a clan? They start sucking up to the medicine cat. Coincidence to running away as soon as a new medicine cat was announced? It’s up to interpretation. You may call me pessimistic, you may call me crazy. But so many chances i have given her, and all of them she turns on me and whoops me in the ass. If they approach you again, tell me. You’re at risk with tight relations with Fadingstar. And trust me. I miss Minks too.” for a split second her voice was husky.

”But that cat isn’t Minks. They are, but they pretend they aren’t. And you know what they do as their act? They slaughter. I really don’t want Minks to hurt you, Mari. You mean something to me. A lot. And I don’t want you getting hurt Goldfish had cooled down by this point and attempted to softly curl her tail around Mari and ruffle the fur on her head. ”Promise me.. promise me you hear what I’m saying. Promise me you’ll stay away from them- at least until I know they won’t try to do to you what they did to me, and won’t harm you. Alright? I’m not going to force your opinions. All I ask of you is to hear what I’m saying, and understand it. Can I trust you with that? Can I trust you not to repeat my secrets, not to repeat my reasoning? It’s an unspoken rule to stay away from them, at least for the time being. I trust you, and I need to know you trust me and what I’m saying. Okay?” Goldfish didn’t look pressuring, she looked completely relaxed and neutral right now. For Mari’s sake- and her own.
____________________
@alec @Marigoldwhisper [Latelatelatelatelate]