August Gathering

[roo!]

Featherpelt did not hesitate to walk out with his clan. He left with an anxious swish of his tail

[Tecumori]

Owlpaw - The Mute
WindClan | Apprentice | He/Them | 5 moons | 24/100

Owlpaw followed closely after Twilightstar and the rest of his clanmates. This gathering had certainly been... something. He didn't know what to think of that deranged off-white apprentice and the ShadowClan pelt he carried, but one thing was for certain, he was definitely going to have nightmares about it later. He always thought ShadowClan was the one to do evil and psychotic things like that, so it was shocking to see that ThunderClan seemed to be following in their pawsteps. With a shake of his head, golden eyes trained on the tails in front of him, not looking forward to sleeping tonight.

(CLOSED - Left the gathering)

Image of my oc was created using Clangen Cat Maker

[elswhere]

SLEETHOUND
large white cat with silver tabby patches and blue eyes
Purrks: None

A sigh of relief escaped their body as tense left Sleethound. What an eventful night, and boy did they need some rest. Bounding quickly behind Twilightstar, the large cat called over their shoulder, eyes narrowing at Lichenpaw bunting her head against a Thundercat's apprentice. Sheesh, when did WindClan become buddy-buddy with Bumblestar and her pack of dogs? "Come on Lichenpaw, we're leaving." They didn't wait for the scruffy apprentice as the silver and white pelt dissappeared behind into the night.

[ SLEETHOUND HAS LEFT THE GATHERING. ]

[val]

High Rank Announcement [#hrannouncement]

This gathering was a complete mess. Throw it into the abyss, where all the rot and filth belonged, because Alderstep's had it with this ruse of a truce.

First of all, pelts certainly were not bring-a-longs, and Alderstep was still ticked off that Cracklepaw had even skinned a cat. If it was meant to be impressive, it wasn't. All for what? To further rile up ShadowClan and put the clan at a higher threat? Ugh.

Second, cats were attacking each other. Definitely a normal occurrence during a truce. At least the Shadowrat deputy had gone and handled that. Alderstep felt embarrassed for the guy. He'd honestly just leave the clans and never come back if someone from his clan outright tried to murk somebody from another clan, and for a false reason too. As far as Alderstep knew, ThunderClan had had nothing to do with the rats' loss of Ivysnake.

Third, Dawnstar was lying and saying that his clanmates had indeed murdered a medicine cat. Alderstep would have done a massive eye-roll if he hadn't known it would only aggravate his growing headache. Whatever, if she wanted to talk about flying mice, that was her problem. He was just glad that he didn't have to live in her clan and deal with that every day.

Fourth, WindClan was being meanies and not sharing juicy gossip, and they just left. Well, at least that meant that the gathering was certainly wrapping up soon, which was cause to mentally celebrate. RiverClan hadn't even shown up (a possible fifth reason why this gathering was dirt), so that meant that it would just be Thunder and Shadow left, and they certainly wouldn't be sticking around to continue chatting about the latest weather.

This time, his very convincing, soulful, pleading stare better persuade Bumblestar to tell the clan to depart. Not to whine like a kit, but this had been the biggest waste of his life, right here. Just gone, down the abyss mentioned before. Wahh wahh wahh, cry cry cry. Alderstep might just start coughing up furballs, if only to wrap this stupid show up.

@dino.

[Dark]

Darkfall

Shadow Fiend: Inactive | Beefed Up (T1)
___________
(woah boy, I’ve got a lot to respond to, so bare with me for a moment))

To say that he was frustrated would be an understatement. His blue eyes met those of the golden-eyed apprentice and listened to the younger cat’s threats with little interest. Just what did he think that he could do? And then to top it off, the ThunderClan queen decided to join in on the threats. ’Too small’ the dark-furred warrior found himself thinking as he looked between the two with narrowed eyes ’Much too small’.

Darkfall, thanks to his heritage, was a large cat. Not the biggest cat ever, but as he had shown over the last couple of moons, he wasn’t quite done growing. Not only that, but the tom was also really muscular thanks to the extra training that he put himself through. He was fairly confident that should a fight erupt, he’d be able to kill at least one of them and do a fair amount of damage to the other before he was overwhelmed himself. He found himself flexing his claws as he listened to the duo’s harsh words. All it’d take is one quick movement. One swipe of one of his huge paws and then a swift bite to the neck and it’d all be over. He contemplated the series of actions for a while, remaining silent.

In the end, he didn’t do anything. Though he had been given permission to act by Dawnstar, something about killing an apprentice didn’t sit right with him. He could still remember Larkfire’s reaction when Daypaw had been attacked at their border all those moons ago, and the prospect of an overprotective she-cat lashing out at him afterward while he may not have time to react did not appeal to him. He wasn’t scared or anything, just realized that the cons far outweighed the pros.

Cracklepaw left with a "I'll be back before you know it." and Darkfall found himself chuckling a little. He prayed to StarClan that he didn’t meet the young tom on their side of the border because he wasn’t quite sure that he’d be able to restrain himself. Did that stupid furball think that he would meet the same fate as Starlingheart? Ha! He had another thing coming. Starlingheart had had many difficulties becoming a warrior from what he could recall and was a very new warrior upon their death. Darkfall on the other hand became a warrior two moons earlier than normal and continued his training even afterwards. In short, he was just more experienced. He had stared death in the face three times now and was no longer concerned with the possibility of what may happen. He was confident. Confident in his abilities, and confident in his training. If he and Cracklepaw were to face off in battle and he went all out, he was almost certain that he would kill the tom without too much trouble. He wasn’t one of those cowardly squirrels, he was a ShadowClan warrior, and he was not weak.

Upon receiving instruction, Houndhunter took Starlingheart’s body with haunt. The warrior appeared to be beckoning him with a flick of haunt’s tail, but the tom remained. He felt it necessary to remain with the rest of the clan in case a fight broke out or something. After all, his apprentice Rufflepaw was still somewhere in the crowd, and then he was sure he had seen Larkfire somewhere as well. He couldn’t just leave. He would have to remain here to defend the ones he cared about.

Shortly after the dumb apprentice and Houndhunter left, the just as dumb warrior began to back out as well, never turning her face from them. Well, at least she had the sense not to turn her back on an enemy, not that he’d do something as cowardly as an attack from behind at a Gathering. No, that’s not the way he liked to do things. The large tom wanted to see the look of despair on his opponent’s face and bask in the feeling of triumph when they were overwhelmingly beaten. Maybe that was the ShadowClan in him that made him think that way, but not having a proper fight was just too boring. ’Oh gosh, that darn Cougarivy has rubbed off on me’ he found himself thinking with a disapproving shake of his head.

Now with the disturbances gone, Darkfall remained in the front and turned his attention to what the two leaders were saying. Bumblestar, as seemed customary, deflected blame for the actions of her clanmates, and began listing the happenings of her clan. Gosh, he did not like her. To be fair, he hadn’t been Sparrowstar’s number-one fan either, and he could hardly remember Thrushflight’s brief reign, but he could at least tolerate those two. Frankly, he found Bumblestar’s attitude abhorrent and decided that she was the exact opposite of what he felt a leader should be. A leader should be able to control their clan for the most part like Dawnstar did, perhaps with a little less cruelty, acknowledge the faults of their own and remedy them the way Dawnstar and Twilighstar did, and be level-headed and aim for overall peace, again like Twilightstar was. He didn’t have enough experience with either Pikestar or Beanstar to give informed opinions on them, and Skystar, from his knowledge died prior to him coming to his first gathering.

Anyways, while the leaders were doing their petty squabbling and boasting of their clans, another commotion caused his ears to swivel in its direction. ’What in StarClan’s green forest is it this time!’ he wondered crossly, turning to where he heard it.

Apparently, Vixensnarl was attempting to kill someone (really, why was she always killing someone?) for… wait, they killed Ivysnake? Darkfall felt the anger that had begun to ebb beginning to sink its claws back into him. The situation didn’t get to escalate too far though because Vulturefang stepped in. To the deputy’s credit, he did have a point, as much as he didn’t want to admit it. That didn’t mean that that was the outcome he wanted. Darkfall felt that the tom deserved to be killed right there on the spot, and if it weren’t for the possibility of a full-blown battle right there at the gathering, he may have encouraged it.

The tom who had killed Ivysnake was scum. Unprovoked, he attacked and killed the medicine cat apprentice on their territory and had the audacity to brag about it (what was up with ThunderClan and bragging about killing ShadowClan cats? Were they having a competition or something?). The main issue he had with it though was the fact that Ivysnake had been a medicine cat. In his eyes, medicine cats should never find themselves targets of any kind of violence from the other clans, regardless of circumstances. They were just that valuable. Without the medicine cats, entire clans could be thrown into disarray and it could cause the deaths of many. Disgusting. That was what his actions were. Absolutely vile.

While this was occurring, Darkfall was vaguely aware of WindClan's retreat back to their own territory, however, he didn't care and was more interested in how things in front of him would play out.

[ I’m not going to bother mentioning everyone because this is so late, so uhh… yeah OPEN][

[iliri]

High Rank Announcement [#hrannouncement]

Well… that escalated rather quickly.

Springpaw’s deep lapis blue gaze silently surveyed the crowded area as the drama was already stirring up out of thin air. Out of all the things that could have happened, why did a fight have to succumb to all of them? It could’ve easily been avoided if Cracklepaw hadn’t made the rather ridiculous choice of bringing a pelt of a deceased ShadowClan warrior to the gathering itself. The sight of the deceased feline’s skinned pelt left Springpaw’s stomach feeling like it was constantly buzzing with worker bees and her mind whirling sickeningly. Her eyes shot wide as she stared mind-bogglingly at the twisted form of the deceased pelt of the ShadowClan warrior. What was this ridiculous apprentice even thinking of bringing in a skinned pelt that came from the clan that was currently despising them for all the things that they’ve done to them? Or, just to put in a matter-of-factly point of mind, they despised them with every single fiber of their being. It seemed to fit rather perfectly with the current state of the twisted situation. Almost too perfect, in fact.

A silent yelp escaped her throat as Mapleface’s voice boomed throughout the entire sandy clearing, loud enough for the young medic to almost rise to her paws against the sheer amount of horror and concern that laced her voice. It was enough to make Springpaw wince against the amount of cats that were quick to rise against Cracklepaw’s heinous crime; the load of them being from ShadowClan themselves.

Frightened hues danced over towards the pissed-off form of Bumblestar as she scrambled down the stones; the sheer amount of anger restlessly poured off her body as she trudged her way towards the trio—she had no idea who the other cat was, but she supposed that cat was a ShadowClan warrior demanding for the deceased cats pelt—her voice seething with unbridled rage and anger as she spat at the hotheaded apprentice for his idiotic actions. Springpaw’s thorn-sharp claws scraped against the smooth stone; her heart restlessly danced in the middle of her throat. Was Bumblestar going to exile Cracklepaw from ThunderClan like she had with poor Blazepaw?

The more the medicine cat apprentice thought about it, the more uncomfortable she felt sitting up atop the ungodly warm, flat stone-like surface of the Seastones. Stars, why was this night already going so wrongly? Cracklepaw brought the pelt of a former ShadowClan warrior and eagerly showed it off as if it was some well-earned prize from a vile game he played. How in the hell were they going to fix something that was already going as wrong as this and make sure that it wouldn’t ever happen again? The question hung itself by a thread as it danced in circles around Springpaw’s mind. Her snow-white paws shuffled uneasily over one another as her blood roared against the loud, obnoxious arguing against the cats below among the sand.

Another shape popped up to join the infusing drama, this cat seemingly being another ShadowClan warrior that was probably ticked off to all high hell from the recent events of Cracklepaw causing a massive scene. His body slid through the darkened atmosphere like an adder in the dead of night. His almost naturally pitch-black fur eliminates against the dimly lit yellow hues from the moon.

The dilute calico had to mentally fight away a wince as the dark-furred warrior showed his unbridled rage and fury toward the situation. It was understandable that he was angry. He had every right to be angry at what had just happened right the watchful eyes of everyone sitting in the middle of a gathering itself. Springpaw simply couldn't fully confirm a valid enough retort about that, and the words that had climbed up her throat were already quick to die as soon as they came. Oh god, what was Dawnstar going to think of this?

What was Dawnstar going to think of this? How was she going to feel about learning of one of her clan-mates' pelts suddenly being skinned? It already looked like something that could easily be as worn as a well-prized victory from a hunting match, bringing a sickening pang to Springpaw's stomach. Springpaw’s hackles bristled uncomfortably among her shoulders as the inside of her mouth had already felt drier than sandpaper. Briskly, the calico hesitantly swiped her tongue across her dry lips, fighting away the suppressing anxiety that was channeling itself restlessly through her veins. Lapis hues briefly scanned up towards the familiar russet-furred pelt of Alderstep, the young dilute calico questioning what exactly he thought of the rather unsettling situation.

Did he feel just as ticked off by the sudden news just as Bumblestar was? Was he questioning why Cracklepaw had decided to make his rather rash decision and bring a skinned pelt to the gathering that’ll only cause more and more drama to ensue. A suppressed shiver escaped the molly the more she glanced in the russet-furred tom’s direction, the more uneasiness that she felt trampling her body. Stars, how in the world was she espoused to fight off against this? Her focus on the tom-cat was quick to digress when she focused up towards Dawnstar, quick to notice how the molly looked… eerily calm throughout the entire thing. How? How could she control her temper when literally one of her clan-mates had just been brutally slaughtered? It just made almost absolutely zero sense to Springpaw herself. If she were possibly in the leader’s position, she would’ve gone ballistic and would’ve gone off the charts. It didn’t really seem to be that way though, as her fur was quick to bristle against the sour, bitter chuckle that escaped her lips. Oh god, she was laughing. Pure, cold-blooded laughter.

The words that escaped the leader’s lips made more sense than she thought they would. Dawnstar was angry; pissed, even. ThunderClan was absolutely to blame for everything that had been happening as of late—well, not necessarily everything, she hoped—and no one was doing anything about it. Hell, Springpaw herself felt like her paws were in the wrong just from everything that’s been happening ever since she became the next medicine cat apprentice. Was this what StarClan wanted? Was this what Bumblestar wanted?

Was this what her clan wanted?

She wasn’t sure about it, but it only sent a chill of unease down her spine just from the single thought itself. Could it be true? Could it be false? God, she didn’t know. There were so many things wrong and so many things that needed to be fixed. Her head felt like it was buzzing tremendously with bees and the distant background noises of incessant chattering only sounded distant and distorted. She just wanted to go home.

There was so many things going wrong…

[Saki]

Starrylight saw all the other cats leaving and decided to leave aswell.

[Rani]

Bad to worse and worse and worse still. Honestly if Mudhound wasnt desperately trying to put on a strong front for their clan, their clans pride, and the apprentices they were focused on protecting then they'd have started crying already. What was Bumblestar even doing in this mess? Just letting Cracklepaw go without punishment to satisfy the fury and horror aimed at thunderclan (didnt she care about how the clans viewed them now? The consequences that'd come from that) but also to protect her clan itself! Cracklepaw was only escalating! Worse and worse every day with no end in sight and no one to stop him! How long until his tendencies turned on his own clan, were they safe with him in their midst this danger now within? .....Were they safe with Bumblestar, who didnt seem to care about abject cruelty in front of them and even seemed to partially approve. Of the killing that is, if not the display.

The maine coon mix was being torn in two with their love for their sibling and wish to support them and their fear for those they were growing to also love that her actions endangered.

This all to not even mention about how Mudhound's moral code could not disregard this. If the leader wasnt going to do something..... Then wasnt it then Mudhounds job as a good cat to act? Yes. For the sake of everyone even their sister who was obviously blind to these actions if nothing was done the tripod would do something.

What they didnt know though.

The thunderclan warrior stared across the seastones as the two apprentices they called to them stirred, half an ear on their windclan acquaintances words. They were distracted, obviously, priorities shifted on to the young cats well-beings but they still responded. "It scares me to agree but I do. Shadowclan will be out for deaths above all else now, but I still think the opinions of others matter." Other cats feelings matter. Mudhound straightened, posture going from slumped to firm and tall as they drew a steadying breath in. "I'll wish shadowclan good luck on trying to bring down the camp though. I really do." Thunderclan would both not allow them and keep this all hidden from them.

They were just about to continue the conversation, maybe ask about any tips for shadowclan from a cat who mustve spent a life against them, when a noise of horror ripped itself from Mudhound. Ghostpaw had just collapsed and the tripod was on their paws in a flash. "Im sorry I need to go tend to the apprentices and it sounds like your leader is calling you off. I loved talking to you and I hope we can meet at another gathering or on the border or something." Then they were gone, just a fluffy tail there leaving Deadmoon behind.

They'd never even gotten eachothers names.




Moving like an unstoppable truck Mudhound probably bowled a couple cats over on their charge to get to the two apprentices. They reached Sprucepaw first, stopping to give the apprentice a good sniffspection to make sure he was ok, a large fluffy tail curling around him to shield him from the gathering and lightly pull him into the warriors belly. "You ok? No one touched you? Im so relieved Im so sorry you had to see that that was horrible." It was probably a bit forward, a move more akin to a mothers actions to their kitten but Mudhound was beyond boundaries rasping a tongue over the tom to try and soothe him. "That was not ok of Cracklepaw, not allowed, not alright, not right at all. I-I wont let him anywhere near you ok? I promise. Ill talk to Mapleface and Bumble-sis and everyone he wont get away with this." Who could do something? Mapleface obviously meant something to Cracklepaw, Mudhound would approach her to talk to the tom. Spiderthroat was his mentor but judging from everything with shadowclan right now he was obviously just as bad.... Bumble-sis..... Mudhound didnt know but would try.

With Sprucepaw tucked as far into their belly fluff as he'd allow the warrior reached over to the collapsed Ghostpaw. They probably shouldve approached him first but..... Well they were obviously growing very attached to Sprucepaw and was biased. Grabbing the comparitivly much smaller apprentice by the scruff they drew her close. Placing Ghostpaw between their paws the tripod checked her breathing.
Asleep not dead, thank the stars. Dragging a rough tongue along her pelt the warrior tried to rouse Ghostpaw, purring loudly in comfort. If she wouldnt wake here Mudhound could take her to the medicine cats back at home where it was safe(er) but they did their best to wake the apprentice here regardless.

After some time, succeed or not, the next task was clear. "Ok, Ghostpaw will be ok. Im taking you two home now, the gathering is not safe as it should be. You two can sleep in my nest in the warriors den as long as you want, you dont have to be anywhere near Cracklepaw." Mudhound would sleep curled around their own giant nest in a big fluffy wall and fight anyone who tried to make the apprentices leave the warrior den. Lotuspaw could be dragged in to this situation to, keep everyone important safe all at once.
Ducking their head down the maine coon mixed asked Sprucepaw (because after that mess Ghostpaw was being carried regardless of what she said) "You ok to walk back or do you want me to carry you? I dont mind it at all, I just want you to be comfortable."

@gs29513 @Alchemist Kitsune @Starfinder

[gs29513]

Twilightstar was here now, and then immediately yelling for them all to head back to camp. It made sense to Deadmoon, if there was going to be a brawl it was better to skedaddle before it happened than risk getting caught up in the chaos. She was fairly certain some of her clanmates would be tempted to take a swipe at some Shadowclanners if the opportunity presented itself, and the pine forest cats certainly weren't above a cheap shot at her clanmates either. So yeah, scuttling out of there asap was probably the safest thing to do.

She felt a bit disappointed, having to leave what had proved a rather entertaining conversation with Mudhound rather prematurely, nodding quickly at their response. It was somewhat tempting to point out that they'd been basically taken over by Shadowclan via an attack on their camp in living memory, but that would be a bit of the pot calling the kettle black so she let it lie. Opening her maw to respond, her words were halted by a cry from the brown warrior, who seemed like they had other responsibilities to tend to. Just as well, Twilighstar wouldn't wait around forever, and she understood the desire to protect the younger members of the clan above all else.

Her partner in coversation's words were kind, and she wasn't quite sure what her horribly sarcastic nature had done to endeer them to her, but she responded in a rather trademark pessimistic fashion. If we're still alive in a moon, I'll try and seek you out. Deadmoon replied, a bit far, even for her. It was more likely than not that most cats in this gathering would make it many moons into the future, but as Cracklepaw had proven, you never could be too sure. Especially not with everyone looking for a piece of.......everyone else. With this last salvo she got to her paws, tail whisking behind her as she joined the back end of the Windclan cats leaving Seastones, clambering up over the sand dunes and into the night. @Rani

[Alchemist Kitsune]

| Sprucepaw |

Fudge was a tom with a goal. Reach The Boulder. Escape. Get to the comparative safety of the ThunderClan camp - and ensure he never came back to one of these... because sheesh - and then... Look. He would cross that bridge when he got to it.

His mind narrowly focused on his one current objective, the chocolate point almost purred in relief when his savior met him halfway, only stopped by some deep level of self preservation and dignity denying him the option to sound as terrified as he felt. His puffed out fur and strange, stiff, crab like waddle be damned. It wasn't weakness. It was a battle stance. Yeah. The... erm... don't ask any questions, wise guy stance.

Staring up at The Boulder as they began to pepper him with questions, for once the silent apprentice was more than happy to hear someone - anyone - talk so much. Because the words confirmed one very important thing. The Boulder was not a monster. They were just as appalled and as horrified as he was. They just happened to be ten times his size and could probably kill the apprentice with a single toe bean. Shaking his head to let the warrior know that he was alright - for now, who knew where the night would lead - he broke, a small, kittenish mewl escaping him as he felt the comforting tongue on his head.

Confusion soon overrode his sense of safety, however, at the names being thrown into the wind. Cracklepaw was easy enough to deduct. He was certain Angry had screamed it out, and if not, then he was instantly placing the name in her ire filled voice. That was the tom that had... had... done the horrible, horrible thing. Maplehasaleafonherface was also easy to remember. She was one of the nursery queens with a loving family that he totally didn't glare at with jealousy when he had still been in the nursery. He just didn't like them because of how incessantly loud they were, that's all. But who was Bumble-sis?

Blinking as he analyzed the rest of what was explained alongside the name, Fudge tilted his head, deep in thought. The four moon old apprentice was not allowed to get very far with that train of thought, however, as The Boulder tucked him away, allowing the Havana Brown mix to skitter underneath the colossal feline, his fur mixing well with theirs, rendering them almost invisible to anyone who cast just a passing glance. Assuming they ignored the small, obviously white mitted hind paw that stood out so much from the rest of his rich, dark, chocolate fur. They didn't get too far before he felt something change. A shift in The Boulder's pace. Could this have been related to the horrified sound that escaped their maw just moments before?

Fudge tended to pride himself in not really getting involved with... anyone. His family had abandoned him. The city had been cruel to him, and thus far, with very few exceptions, ThunderClan cats were the same brand of bully in a different setting. But there was something unnerving about seeing the new apprentice lying there. Unconscious amidst the chaos. Emerald hues rounding from underneath the mountain sized feline, the young tom held back a whimper of fear. Whatever he could cling to. Whatever he could grasp at to not show even more weakness, he would take. And right now that meant not reacting to a very fallen Spooky among savage brutes and monsters!

The Boulder was on it. Instantly they were attempting to wake Spooky, and Fudge padded forward to get a better look. There was little he could do to help. He'd never tried to wake anyone up before, not even from a nap. It was clear the giant had no intention of leaving either of them here, however, as they instructed that they were to leave with them. Without turning a second glance on the screeching cats that were far too close for comfort, the four moon old tom nodded, eyes already wide almost dilating with fear at The Boulder's mention of Cracklepaw.

Oh. Oh that's right. Monster. Monster slept... slept in the same den as him. The same den as Spooky. He would do the same to them that he'd done to that other cat, wouldn't he? Oh he was going to be sick. Why had that thought not even crossed his mind? Oh! Oh no no! His moss figures! His ma and da! They were at his den! What if Monster decided to trash them. Trash the little figures with the feather and decayed flower Cattibal had given him? He... he needed to save them. They were the only thing he had... the only semblance of a family and a home he had in this chaotic place. They had to come with him!

"Capable," Fudge mewed shakily, doing his best to stand up straight to follow after the mountainous feline.

This was good. He could walk besides The Boulder and Spooky, sneak into the apprentice's den, gather up ma and da, and then go straight back to the warriors' den! And then never go back to the apprentices' den ever again! He would just stay with The Boulder. Yeah. The Boulder was big. And strong. And wasn't a monster. They would protect him from the real monster. He just had to make sure the older tom didn't spot him as he tried to save his moss figures, or else who knew if he was next...

-

@Rani [Mudhound] | @Starfinder [Ghostpaw]