Blinking in surprise as she was addressed by the ShadowClan deputy, Dusklion glanced over at Mistlewhisker, taking a moment to register what was said. First time...? Following her gaze she glanced back at Wisteriawren, and couldn't help crack a smile. "Yeah. Joined as an outsider before the..." her voice trailed off, and she cleared it in the hopes to distract from it. "Not sure what's got her all worked up - I know gatherin's can be overwhelmin' for some." Looking back out at the she-cat, she offered another soft grin.
And then her brother spoke in return to Twilightstar and... a part of Dusklion faltered. He wasn't really saying those words, was he? He wasn't swallowing his pride and accepting Twilightstar's words as truth and even offering help? After... after everything? After all she had tried to do?
...Would he ever trust her again?
It was nearly impossible to keep her muscles from stiffening, her jaw going tight. Flashbacks to how dismissive he had been when she had told him pretty much the exact same thing that Twilightstar was saying now... and here he was just accepting it. From a stranger. A cat he didn't know. While she had only gotten flattened ears and a displeased look.
Dusklion had to close her eyes, knowing that within their blue depths the beginnings of her heart starting to crack would easily be on full display. She didn't want to show that type of weakness, not here. She didn't want to let any of these cats know just how much her brother's changes were affecting her.
...Stars dammit all...
The only thing that brought her back was the voice of the WindClan deputy. Talking about Wisteriawren. Saying how she - "She was your what??" The shock was evident in her voice as her eyes flung open, looking over at Crowtooth. He couldn't be serious, right? This was a joke. A low growl rumbled in her throat before she cut it off, remembering where they were. Oh, but did her blood boil though.
The rest of his words went in one ear and out the other and on that night, Dusklion added yet another cat to the list of those she would let bleed out onto the forest floor. Even as he moved onto kits she stared at him, memorizing his face and features and scent. "...I hope you rot, fox-heart." It was as contained as she could managed as she pointedly turned away from the tom - though it wasn't without its venom - once again thankful her tail concealed currently unsheathed claws. She had to mentally repeat to herself to not lash out, to not lunge and kill yet another one of WindClan's deputies - this time on purpose.
Yeah, whatever jealousy she had been feel about the rabbit not talking to her left like the sea breeze.
Thankful for the distraction that Floodsight posed as she approached with Aspenpaw in tow, Dusklion blinked. Taking Aspenpaw home? That was odd... she'd have to check in on that later. "Be safe. Keep your wits about you," she nodded, though her words were short and curt. It wasn't Floodsight she was angry at, by any means - it was the fear that if she let herself speak for too long she would say a couple things that would make this true null and void to the dark forest rat sitting next to her.
Watching them leave, Dawnstar was the next to start the news for ShadowClan. New apprentices, a new warrior - oh. Dusklion's eyes flashed in recognition at the name Springburst. That had been one of the cats she had looked for on her way to the den, but hadn't found her. And she had... gone and joined ShadowClan? Was it right after the raid? During the fight?? Ignoring the way her chest constricted she scanned the gathering clearing for the former Lionheart - but it didn't seem like she was here.
It seemed also that the colossal ShadowClan leader was offering neutrality as well, and Dusklion turned to look at her. She figured it was only because Twilightstar had gone first, but regardless the deputy dipped her head in silent gratitude before turning back around. She still remembered how they'd had no real stake in the fight other than wanting to cause issues given that there hadn't been any before, but who was she to tell a crazed bloodthirsty leader that? Plus, despite her cocky confidence even she knew she'd be no match against the Rat Leader should she try and start something at the gathering tonight.
Dusklion rolled her shoulders back and watched the crowd, waiting for Bumblesquirrel to finish out the announcements so they could all go home. She hadn't expected to want to, but with each passing moment she could feel her control over her claws loosening - pretty soon if it ran out, she wouldn't be able to control where they went (i.e., right into Crow-food's neck).
Dear. His smile is too-wide and a little and all heartfelt, at that. He's dear? Hello?? Are all Thunderclan cats as nice as this???
"Y-You're very nice, is that—uh, normal?" He asks the question because he can't help himself; not now, not ever. The lean, dark tom settles onto the ground, wormy tail looped up over his paws. He's got his attention fixed firm on this warrior, at the risk of missing what all's being officially announced. It helps to have something closer to focus on, with so many cats and so much—of—everything, all happening.
If there are nice cats in other clans and...uh, some nice cats in Shadowclan, to...why is there ever conflict? He wonders if this question would be an unfair one to ask, so he instead goes for something a little less complicated and hopefully a tad friendlier: "Uh. Uh, Mothflame, do you—oh, I like your n-name, too—d'you go to gatherings, uh. A lot? Or, or does it start t'get boring, ever?"
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Re: September Gathering
Quote:
Originally Posted by gs29513
Well well well. What had he here? Shrewstep was vaguely aware that chatting up (chatting TO, leave him alone) his apprentice's mother wasn't exactly the most proper thing to be doing but, like, when had that ever stopped him? Clovepool was pretty! She was beautiful, even! And tall, massive and imposing in a way Shrewstep had never been, but always admired. Envied, more like. Regardless, it drew him in. Snatched his attention from the mundane, the averagely sized rabble and shrimps like him. They, perhaps understandably, weren't inclined towards smaller toms, but Shrewstep always enjoyed a bit of a challenge. Something to really put his wits to work.
Smoothing out his fur with a few, swift laps of his tongue, Shrewstep fixed on his coolest face (if he did say so himself) and sauntered over to Clovepool in as nonchalant a manner as he could muster. He was never nonchalant really, but he could fake it well enough. Hello Clovepool. he purred, keeping his voice low. Low and mysterious, low and mysterious. COOL, not bouncy. She was no Foggybrook or Lilyheart, that was for certain. How are you faring? From my vantage point a rather short one, but what was a cat to do you look drop-dead gorgeous. Not least because, if I were to annoy you, I doubt I'd be standing much longer. That line....a bit risky. He just had to hope his charm made it sound like the compliment it was intended to be, and not just....really weird.
The regal tortoiseshell queen turned her head sharply at the sound of a familiar voice. Ah, Shrewstep. Shadepaw's mentor. Her only exposure to him was from watching Shadepaw's naming and mentor assignment from afar and had never actually interacted with him till now. The vixenish she cat, looking him up and down as he spoke, indeed clocked the fact that they had quite the size difference whether that be because Clovepool was fluffier or simply bigger built. Either way, what an interesting development. Was he attempting to court her? Amusing. Her blank, emotionless stare melted into an enigmatic smile, her dark amber eyes that seemed to flicker like a flame burned bright with curiosity as she took a few paces closer to Shrewstep. Gazing intensely into his green eyes, she purred in a low rumble that was her silky voice, "Shrewstep... a pleasure to meet you." she meowed in acknowledgement, dipping her head in a respectful greeting before sitting back on her hindlegs and giving her front right paw a few nonchalant licks while speaking in between, "I look drop dead gorgeous because I am drop dead goregeous, but thank you... And no, you wouldn't... but it looks like you're still standing..." She giggled, her typical sultry personality being eclipsed by her sudden and playful and bubbly side that rarely, if ever, is exposed.
She's leaving. Or, trying to, anyway, but she can't because Maggotpaw's not done! Sooorry! Only it's not, not at all, because it gets a kick out of trailing after her to wherever she's headed and starting up on the next story as though she's some gleeful participant in all of this.
"Okay so this one is about a war. There's a war, and everyone's all fighty-fight because that's all anybody in the war has ever done before and that's all they'll ever do always. One side is all fighty-fight because the specialest and most important law they have has been broken and the other side is all fighty-fight because they think that law is a bad one and they'll break it as often as they please." What the law is and where it came from and what purpose it serves evidently does not merit mention. That is not what this story is about.
"This happens when there's this lull in the fighting, right? Everyone was doing war but now they have to stop because the side that broke the special law wants to make a new law, and the side that's doing war to them—well, they like that sort of thing, so they've agreed to hear them out. So everyone who matters and has a face meets up with everyone else like that, and all their faces are pointing at each other and they're all some kind of mad. Because there's different kinds. There's quiet mad and loud mad and laughing mad. You know. So everyone with a face is one of those things and they're all doing it really hard at each other, like this." Regardless of whether Quietpaw is looking or not, Maggotpaw shows a somber frown, then twists its face into a vicious grimace, and then ends on a mirthless, haughty chuckle—quiet, loud, and laughing mad. "They do that. Okay, now listen. This is the part about the laws."
It has to stifle a yawn, here. Maggotpaw is not accustomed to staying awake so late into the night. It hadn't taken the advised nap before and now it's really feeling it, but the show must go on.
"So the one side that hates the special law says, 'we're making a new law that says you can't do war to us'. And the side that's mad at them says, 'you can't do that, it isn't how it works. you can't just make up laws to suit your mood.'
'Can too,' says the leader of the lawbreakers.
'Can't,' says the head law-liker, being quiet-mad.
'Well sure we can,' Lawbreakerstar insists. 'Or else where did your special and most important law come from? Someone who was in the mood for it, that's where.'
'It's not the same.' Lawstar sounds adamant. Which means he really, really, really thinks he's right. Which is how everyone in this story feels. 'Our special and most important law is different. Many many moons ago, a very special cat made it. That special cat had a face and a name that everyone remembers, so their law has to be followed. Everybody knows that's the way it works.'
Lawbreakerstar is quiet for a really long time after this. A really long time. The sky changes colors. Then the leaves. Then their pelts. Then, when all the cats are grey and almost forget all about their voices and their lws, Lawbreakerstar says, 'Okay. You can kill me now, and then you'll accept my new law.'
'Nuh-uh,' says his enemy, who is all rickety and rattley and old now, but so is everybody.
'Yeah-huh,' says Lawbreakerstar. 'Kill me and win, because that's what you want. And now that we've sat here for ages, you'll never forget my face. You'll never forget my name. You will always remember me. And when I'm dead, that will make me dead and important to you, and you'll want to listen to my law—which is what I want.'
Lawstar is nodding along, because finally Lawbreakerstar is talking some sense. He'a not even quiet-mad or anything-mad, he's something else. Doesn't matter. Anyway, he thinks it's a really good idea but then...from hiiiiigh up in the sky...a sound. Like something falling."
Maggotpaw is entirely too thrilled about its stupid, stupid, stupid little set-up and the impending punchline. Entirely too smug about wasting its own time and Quietpaw's on a story designed to go nowhere.
"Both of the leaders, and everyone else with a face, look up. And there, falling out of the sky, is a very imperfect kitten, all covered in dark splotches. And she lands right on top of the two leaders, and they die."
Maggotpaw's all done being a pest, now that it's gotten the entirety of the gag out of the way. Good thing, too; it hasn't been paying a lick of attention to the gathering, too busy pestering Quietpaw, but if it had to guess things might be on their way to wrapping up, now.
"The end. You know, you don't talk a lot. Are you busted?"
The regal tortoiseshell queen turned her head sharply at the sound of a familiar voice. Ah, Shrewstep. Shadepaw's mentor. Her only exposure to him was from watching Shadepaw's naming and mentor assignment from afar and had never actually interacted with him till now. The vixenish she cat, looking him up and down as he spoke, indeed clocked the fact that they had quite the size difference whether that be because Clovepool was fluffier or simply bigger built. Either way, what an interesting development. Was he attempting to court her? Amusing. Her blank, emotionless stare melted into an enigmatic smile, her dark amber eyes that seemed to flicker like a flame burned bright with curiosity as she took a few paces closer to Shrewstep. Gazing intensely into his green eyes, she purred in a low rumble that was her silky voice, "Shrewstep... a pleasure to meet you." she meowed in acknowledgement, dipping her head in a respectful greeting before sitting back on her hindlegs and giving her front right paw a few nonchalant licks while speaking in between, "I look drop dead gorgeous because I am drop dead goregeous, but thank you... And no, you wouldn't... but it looks like you're still standing..." She giggled, her typical sultry personality being eclipsed by her sudden and playful and bubbly side that rarely, if ever, is exposed.
Ha HA! Success! Hell yeah! Look at him go! Shrewstep was a chatty little short king, and sometimes it WORKED! And when it did, he was perhaps pathetically excited about it. He managed to keep his satisfaction under some degree of control, not bursting out in giggles or celebratory jumps or anything of the sort. Instead he simply smiled with something close to a coy expression, dipping his head in a parallel greeting. He took a seat opposite Clovepool, doing his best to sort of puff himself up a bit. Stretching his spine, trying to make his posture a bit more regal. He couldn't match her, of course, but he could damn well try his best. Clovepool seemed shockingly receptive to his advances, so he was fairly certain that Shadepaw's father was no longer in the picture. Delightful! Indeed I am! he purred, in response to her comment about him still being standing. Or sitting now, whatever. It didn't really matter. So I'm led to believe that you don't mind. Can't say that I'm disappointed. Quite the opposite, in fact. He was THRILLED! Now how to proceed. More flirting. That he could do! So tell me, Clovepool, how does one become so fantastically radiant? Though I suppose you must not be sharing, seeing as I've not seen any other cats looking this amazing. Ah, he was really outdoing himself. A sort of subtle compliment with a hint of wit, oh yes, he was killing it.
__________________
All hail the Rat Queen's!!
Shrewstep has Silver Tongue and Mind Reader purrks
Pit has Just a Scratch and Beefed Up Tier 2
Bumblestar was more than content to sit back and let the others do the talking for a little while. Her ears twitched as she listened absently while she took to grooming one of her forepaws. WindClan's new deputy (finally, stars above) and medicine cat apprentice, the typical from ShadowClan, and depressingly lackluster news from the fish. How disappointing - she'd really been hoping to be regaled with stories of danger and treachery and mass destruction... but nothing. It seemed Fadingstar was just boring.
Once the others were done, she stretched out with a huff and stood. "ThunderClan brings a bunch of news. I'll try to keep it short.
"Starting with the longest: Snowpaw, Cougarpaw, Twistedpaw, Hollowpaw, Lionpaw, Willowpaw, Peachpaw, Bravepaw, Mothpaw, Beepaw, Nettlepaw, Slugpaw, Fawnpaw, Brightpaw, Orangepaw, Hailpaw, Chasmpaw, 'n Wheatpaw have all started their apprentice training." So many starsdamned kids. Bumblestar really didn't remember if all of them were still around, and she didn't care to filter out the few that might have vanished, so they better enjoy the call-out.
"We've also had Copperpaw, Weevilkit, Splitpaw, and Lynxkit join our ranks from outside the Clans. Echopaw 'n Streampaw have returned after some time away as well.
"On top of that, Kestrelpaw and Morningpaw both finished up their training and have been welcomed as warriors as Shockhoney 'n Flamesurge, respectively."
Now for the more negative news. Bumblestar let her tail lash once, a sign of overdue mixed irritation and grief.
"As far as exiles go, I feel like the stupidity worm's been makin' its way around. Bluemoon 'n Ratheart, formerly Wolfsnarl, were both chased out for being more than just a little less than kind to their own kits. I'd be on the lookout for a dark brown tom with blue eyes or a big gray tom with a scar on his muzzle, regardless of what names they give you if you find 'em trying to weasel their way into your ranks. Darkecho's also been chased out for neglect 'n stupidity with kids, 'n Applefang ran after she murdered Coldfang. Scrawny-lookin' black tom for the first one 'n a russet she-cat with one blue 'n one amber eye, if you care to be on the look-out." She tipped her head in a scoff. "None of these cats are worth wastin' your resources on; they're all rats.
"We've also... been havin' run-ins with predators lately. Nothing that couldn't be handled, but an owl-" Her voice caught. Damn. Bumblestar ran her tongue over her lips, started over. "An owl made off with Springlight before it could be caught 'n killed. ThunderClan's felt her loss hard. She'd been working hard since the beginning of my efforts to rebuild my Clan, sometimes too much. She was a kind soul and a wonderful medicine cat - her loss has created a hole that'll take a long time to be filled."
It wasn't often she allowed herself to openly portray any emotion up here other than anger, but the grief was clear tonight; she wouldn't bother to hide that, or even attempt to. With a low exhale, she let her gaze drift over to where the medicine cats had grouped up together. "Wolfpaw's been selected to fill her pawsteps. It's not an easy task, but he's a promising young cat doing well by it already."
Whatever responses came of this news, she didn't bother to dwell on. Instead she shook out her ears and turned a much sharper stare on Fadingstar and Dusklion. "Your transgressions may have been forgiven for the time being as part of the terms with your little trip, but they sure as hell haven't been forgotten. ThunderClan knows to leave you lot well enough alone so long as you keep your poison to yourself this time, but if I catch even a whiff of one of your warriors across my border, they'll be killed and dropped in the river once they're found. 'N they will be found." She'd seen their territory, all sparse trees and open, soggy soil. Fish adept in traversing ThunderClan's dense undergrowth were few and far between, and those stupid enough to try would be dealt with accordingly. They had their warning now - crying when it happened wouldn't count for a damn thing.
With a final flick of her tail, she tore her gaze away and made her way down the stones. "I'm done here. ThunderClan! We're heading home, get moving! Wolfpaw, I want you walkin' with me!" She jerked her muzzle at the tom, eyeing RiverClan's healer critically.
Status: my motivation is being weird so sorry if i reply really late :']
Gender: male, he/him, they/them is ok too i guess
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Re: September Gathering
~° Honeypetal °~
Image made on Picrew and edited by Honey_Dreamz
Genderfluid • She/They/He • 24 moons
Warrior of ThunderClan
More Honeypetal info + relationship signups here! °•._________.•°
Honeypetal had been left behind the group a bit, and by the time she caught up and reached where the rest of ThunderClan was, it was already time to go. Honeypetal sighed. More time to have an existential crisis back at camp, she guessed. She did not object, she knew that would be foolish, so she followed the rest of her Clan, this time doing her best to actually stick with the group.
——
╔═════ ≪ °❈° ≫ ═════╗
A large, dark gray tom with white-tipped ears, paws, face, and tail and amber eyes.
❆ Darkice ❆ He/him•ShadowClan•Warrior•42 moons ❝ Who cares what happens to me? If my Clan is happy, that's all I want. ❞
╚═════ ≪ °❈° ≫ ═════╝
Huh. ThunderClan was leaving. Alright, it wasn't his problem. He just sat there by himself, looking around, finding the conversations of the crowds a bit amusing. He did kinda wish someone would go and talk to him, but he knew that nobody goes and talks to the quiet cat in the corner, so he got up a bit nervously and looked around for someone to talk to.
——
┏━━•❃°•°❀°•°❃•━━┓
windclan warrior
❝ if i have to be mean to fit in, is it really worth it? ❞
❀ AUTUMNWHISPER
it/its | agender | 34 moons
a reddish orange cat with reddish brown splotches and yellow-orange eyes.
┗━━•❃°•°❀°•°❃•━━┛ Purrks: Heightened Perception (Hearing) - ACTIVE
Autumnwhisper wasn't sure how it felt about the Gathering. Look, it was fun, but there were so many cats! Hang on, then it realized that ThunderClan was leaving. That removed a bit of the amount of cats there were but there were still quite a few. It appeared a bit nervous and on guard, it wasn't willing to fight in any way at the Gathering, especially considering that, well, it was the Gathering. But still, there was probably going to be some jerk walking up to it all...mean and clean.
Oh, Sedgeflake hit a nerve. She knew it, and she was sure he knew it. But this was a matter of defending not just herself anymore, but her mate. "My mate tends to trust my judgment. Which means no matter how much I want to wipe that smug grin off your face, I'll have to wait until we inevitably get to crush you in battle."
Ah, great. Wordplay. Vi rolled her eyes. "So what, I'm not allowed to go into hibernation? Oh dear, how awful! What are you going to do, come to ThunderClan and get beat to a pulp?" She snorted. Tree kittypet. Couldn't he come up with any insult that didn't start with "tree"? But before she could make a snide remark back, another unwelcome face showed itself.
Great.
What was better than one brother? It just had to be both of them, didn't it?
Who did he think he was, scolding her like a kit fresh out of the nursery? After seasons upon seasons of not speaking, this was how he chose to reintroduce himself. "You," Violetfreckle hissed, words laced with venom, "can stick your self-righteous nose back up your own ass where it belongs." Her tail was now flicking back and forth, out of her control. "Don't 'Vi' me. I'm out of here. You two otterhearts can enjoy each other's company." And with that, she gave a final glare to her so-called brothers and stalked deeper into the crowd.
Reedshade
44 Moons
He/Him
Riverclan warrior
Reedshade stepped With a severe scowl, Reedshade moved between Sedgeflake and Vi. "Okay, enough," he remarked in a calm but somewhat irritated tone. "Sedgeflake, you're doing a great job if your goal is to cause trouble. However, I won't play along with your games here. He turned to face Vi, his eyes controlled but piercing. "And you, Vi—are you succumbing to Sedgeflake's taunts? It's disheartening, particularly in light of all that has occurred. Considering your past, I would have thought you could manage this better. Reedshade went on, his voice unwavering. "Neither of you should be making this into a show; we're at a gathering. Move on from here if you want to settle personal scores. Let's exercise some discipline and not add to the pandemonium.
An argument from across the sand made Mountaintalon's ears perk up. His attention on Cedarstrike was lost almost entirely as he craned his neck to listen. Whatever squabble was happening between Violetfreckle and that spotted tabby was none of his business. It was the tan tom he cared about.
He leaned in to touch his nose to the tip of Cedarstrike's ear with a murmured, "Excuse me," and then he rose to his paws and strode over. Violetfreckle was already giving the fish her two cents, and as she turned to storm off, he took her place.
Sedgeflake was almost entirely ignored, save for a swift glance in his direction - Mountaintalon's eyes narrowed in on Reedshade instead. "Attempting to instruct a ThunderClanner on how to behave is laughable in the light of your own audacity," he growled. "Dare to do so again and I am not afraid to actually make a spectacle of you, truce or not. Go sit back down with your other fish friends." He would haul this tom back by his scruff if he had to.
"Yeah, leave it to a rodent to trust your judgement. We both know a cat with a brain wouldn't, but that's--"
Whatever Sedgeflake was gonna say was cut off by Reedshade being Reedshade. "Are you freaking serious right now? Did it not occur to you to buzz off after your LAST lecture went so well tonight???
"For someone who doesn't want problems, you sure as hell keep causing them! We were PERFECTLY fine before you shoved your nose into this, and now it's a show for EVERYONE to see 'cause YOU can't mind YOUR OWN BUSINESS!"
He was so done with Reedshade! Never had he felt the urge to smack a Clan-mate upside the head so badly, and he'd just been speaking to Violetfreckle for star's sake. "Why don't you make like a tree and LEAF me be!"
Then Sedgeflake stormed off, effectively ending his time at this gathering.
Splitpaw purred at the mention of her name. Her gaze shifted to around her at the other clans. She took in all of them. Riverclan. Shadowclan and Windclan. They looked all the same but the only difference was the way they smelled. She could tell that Riverclan, really did smell like a river..Shadowclan had a pine smell...and Windclan...well smelled like the open wind. Her gaze suddenly shifted around for Burnedpaw. She was excited to ask him so many questions.
Her gaze suddenly spotted him, sitting and talking to a she-cat who was definitely not Thunderclan. She knew they were aloud to mingle with the cats during these meetings but not outside of meetings.
Splitpaw padded over to them both. "Uhm...hello." she meowed softly, turning her one blue and one green eye on the she-cat before turning her gaze back to Burnedpaw. Her two mismatched eyes sparkled once they landed on Burnedpaw. "Hi Burnedpaw." she purred.
(Thought I would have her see her, to make her know what she looks like for our plot)
Re: September Gathering
