July 20 Gathering

[Clemence]

Whisperstar led her Clan to the top of the hollow and crouched down. She looked down at Two-Rocks and sighed. I wonder what DeathClan will have to say tonight... she thought. She looked up at the full moon, shining bright in the clear sky, and felt better. I don't care what DeathClan does, we will always be SoulClan. She looked around at the cats she had chosen to go to the Gathering. Her heart warmed at the site at each and every one.

Whisperstar raised herself to her full height and flicked her tail as a signal to move. Her eyes met with Flamepaw's, and Whisperstar saw how proud the young cat was to go to her first Gathering. Whisperstar smiled, and then turned to plunge down the slope of the hollow. DeathClan had not yet arrived.

[Golden /~/ Shatter]

(MY APPRENTICE WHOO)

Goldenshard ran silently behind Whisperstar as they headed towards the Gathering. Next to her ran Flamepaw, and Goldenshard could see how excited she was to go to a Gathering. Goldenshard grinned. "The Gatherings are pretty great, Flamepaw. It's always an honor to be chosen to go to one. But remember to be on your guard. DeathClan can never be trusted. Even at Gatherings, be on the watch for a fight. We may follow StarClan, but many of them don't. There is always the possibility of a fight. Oh, and try to have fun," Goldenshard laughed.

Whisperstar flicked her tail, and the Clan moved out. They raced down to the Gathering area, and as they slowed to a halt they could plainly see that DeathClan wasn't there yet. Goldenshard scowled, and looked to Flamepaw again, her voice quiet. "DeathClan is never here first...they like to make us wait for them." She rolled her eyes, and sat down near Whisperstar, her eyes searching the forest for DeathClan.

[spottedpaw]

Dogfang followed close beside Whisperstar, the anxiety and confidence flowing off her at the same time. He cringed at it, thinking to himself, Ugh, what is wrong with her? Is she dull in the head or something? He kept in a snort and followed her into the clearing. He could scent Flamepaw, the new apprentice, and Goldenshard not far behind him. The Deputy had to force a sneer to not enter his face, though it touched his eyes. Stupid Goldenshard, she'd spoil another apprentice just like her mentor, Spottedsun, did.

Spottedsun padded next to Goldenshard, her eyes shining at her newly apprenticed kit. "You two are going to have so much fun together. I'll make sure we can all train together with my apprentice, Windpaw." She smiled. Things seemed almost okay, even though there was still the burden of all the dead cats. She wondered about her kits, but knew they were okay, being taken care of by the rest of the cats back at camp.

[J/o/y!]

Joypaw padded alongside with Goldenshard, Spottedsun, Flamepaw, and Windpaw. "Can the three apprentices all go out hunting one of these days?" she asked, her ocean-blue eyes wide with pleading. "It'd be great! I bet we would all bring back loads of fresh-kill." The ginger apprentice grinned, her tail curled in excitement. "Gatherings are great," she added to Flamepaw, winking. "But believe me, some DeathClan cats act as if they've never heard of StarClan or the warrior code, or a little something called respect." Joypaw flicked her tail dismissively, rolling her eyes. "It's sickening, I swear it by StarClan. But sometimes we can teach them temporary lessons when we fight them!" Joypaw recalled a border skirmish once that Scarheart had broken up, or, even worse, the midnight ambush. Suppessing a shiver, she bunched her muscles in readiness as Whisperstar flicked her tail, and ran down to the clearing with the rest of her Clan, twitching her ear as she saw it was empty as usual. "Darkstar especially," she agreed with Goldenshard, narrowing her eyes at the thought of the coldhearted DeathClan leader.

[lightningwind]

Owlsong quickly raced across the forest desprately trying to keep up with her clan. " I knew I shouldn't have taken that nap!" she followed her clan's sweet scent untill she caught sight if the Soulclan cats. Owlsong quickly ran up to Dogfang, Joyoaw, and whisperstar. She acted like she wasn't late at all. At past, Owlsong could see the two-rocks, a gathering place of truce. Owlsong sat down in the large crowd of cats. She noticed that Deathclan has not arrived yet. This would be quite an interesting gathering, after the midnight raid that killed many innocent cats. Owlsong looked at Dogfang, "It must be horried to see your mate killed...." Owlsong looked at whisperstar and waited for the gathering to begin.

[♥S.C.O.U.T.♥]

Whitefire looked past the entrance to DeathClan, her tail swishing impatiently. This would be her first gathering as a warrior and she was practically clawing out the ground in excitement. It was not only for her first gathering as a warrior, but how SoulClan would react to seeing DeathClan, and what she would say. Whitefire smirked. No doubt she would include the surprise attack five DeathClan cats had planned, going against their leader just for fun. She would probably ask about the border scene Whitefire, Joypaw, Stonekit, Scarheart, and Windpaw had fought.

Whitefire sneered. This was going to be an interesting gathering.

***

Sandheart padded wearily after the SoulClan cats, tired of the recent fight. She'd been high on her paws ever since she got back to Camp, treating any cat hurt. And that was a lot of cats. And with no apprentice, it made it twice as hard. She sighed. How hard the past few moons have been!
[/color]
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Word Count: 183
Notes: Posted finally xD.
Muse: Argh.
Thread Status -- SC & DC only

[spottedpaw]

Dogfang's gaze flickered to Owlsong who didn't sit far away. His eyes burned with such a feriousity, he almost saw Owlsong flinch. Sitting down, he cleared his throat, narrowing his bright yellow eyes. "That is none of your business," he simply said. He turned his head away, staring up at the bordering trees.

He'd known Saidie was dead after walking past Sandheart's den to the warrior's den. He still couldn't figure out his reaction to her death. Was he sad? Did he not care? It seemed a mix of both. He'd barely talked to the she-cat after she had her kits, mainly ignoring her and pretending to focus on his duties. Now, his mind was wondering to a strange, unique feeling in his heart. Dogfang's heart clenched and unclenched with every beat, and he was perplexed at what was going on in his body. Little did he know, but he was experiencing loss.

[Evanna]

Flamepaw - Crazy and go-lucky

Flamepaw glanced at Whisperstar and grinned back at the she-cat. As the calico warrior queen bounded into the clearing, she followed close behind, making sure as to stick close to Joypaw, Goldenshard, and Spottedsun.

She skid to a direct halt and glanced at Goldenshard. The warrior had been talking to her and she pricked her ears up directly as if she were in a training session.

"The Gatherings are pretty great, Flamepaw. It's always an honor to be chosen to go to one. But remember to be on your guard. DeathClan can never be trusted. Even at Gatherings, be on the watch for a fight. We may follow StarClan, but many of them don't. There is always the possibility of a fight. Oh, and try to have fun."

The dark ginger apprentice nodded. She had heard many stories about DeathClan, they were just as bad as BloodClan themselves and that was saying a lot. She lifted her nose to the air, to see if she could scent them. Just as Goldenshard added about how they made them wait.

The nerve those stupid cats had! Attacking her Clan's patrols and always insulting them, and to make it worst, just to see them annoyed, they made them wait for them at Gatherings of all places. The nerve! When she was a warrior, Flamepaw would prove to her Clan and to DeathClan that she did not play when the shots came to her Clan.

She glanced at Joypaw as the she-cat meowed, "It's sickening, I swear it by StarClan. But sometimes we can teach them temporary lessons when we fight them!"

Flamepaw growled, as soon as she had the chance, she would show those DeathClan cats what SoulClan was really made of. Maybe, if she was lucky, she could get to know a DeathClan apprentice. She would make sure as to stay away from the warriors such as Blackdeath, Whitepaw, and the rest of them.

When Joypaw also mentioned Darkstar, Flamepaw blinked at her. The leader of the wretched Clan. What was he thinking? To allow his warriors to go around just...killing all of their neighboring Clans, was just plain cruel! What a heartless cat he must be.

"Why can't they just leave us alone?" she asked, speaking out right and for the first time since they had come to the Gathering. When Dogfang passed by, Flamepaw's fur prickled. She looked back towards her mother and mentor. "What have SoulClan ever done to them?"

She, like all other apprentices when they were kits, had heard a lot about DeathClan and how evil their deeds were. But she never heard about how it all STARTED. Quite a story that would be. She mentally made a note to ask Goldenshard later, at the moment. She had a Gathering to attend.

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Word Count?: 474
Muse Level?: Ending sucked, Goldenshard and Joypaw were bitching at me in the chat(XDD) and I had to hurry and end it >D ITS YOUR FAULT XDD
Notes?: Ummah Ummah...thats a lot of words xDD Have not posted in FOREVER Needs to CATCH UP DX
Thread Statues?: Clan cats only - sorry loners D8

[J/o/y!]

Joypaw flexed her claws angrily at Flamepaw's question. She wasn't angry at her friend, but at those wretched DeathClan cats. "Nothing!" she snarled, anger pulsing inside her, growing stronger by the moment. Then she relaxed forcefully, allowing her neck fur to lie flat again. "Sorry I snapped," she meowed. "It's just that those heaps of fox dung really get me worked up. "I don't understand anything about them, and I never will. Sometimes I think they're truely raving mad, bloodthirsty and coldhearted. They can't be trusted for the quickest heartbeat- believe me, I know from expierence," she added sorrowfully. The midnight raid was the dirtiest DeathClan trick yet.

As she glanced around at the peaceful clearing, the moonlight shining down in shafts, she began to truely relax. "Let's go have a look around," she suggested.

[Golden /~/ Shatter]

Goldenshard just shook her head as Flamepaw asked the reason why DeathClan had started this all. "If we knew that, then maybe we wouldn't have to fight so much..." But she made a note to tell Flamepaw more later. Right now wasn't the time, especially with DeathClan approaching at any moment. "...Just remember to stay on guard, and if you can, gather any information you learn. Anything could help us."

As Dogfang walked past them she bristled, but kept her face calm. She stepped forward and sat so that she was between the Deputy, and Whisperstar and Flamepaw were on her other side. I hope he controls himself better today than he did in the woods, or else the Clan will really see what he is. She couldn't take much more of Dogfang...she just wished Whisperstar could see it too. Then her ears flicked as she heard footsteps. DeathClan was coming.

~

The flashing trees slowed as DeathClan halted at the top of the hollow, Shattergaze pausing behind Darkstar. He always did like making SoulClan wait, and Shattergaze loved it as well. She looked through her Clan until she saw Whitefire, and gave her a half smile. It was her first Gathering as a warrior. Just something else to put SoulClan on edge. They haven't had a good thing happen to them in...why, a long time. It was just beautiful. And with Dogfang on their side now...this was going to be interesting. Then in an unspoken the signal, the Clan swept like dark tide down into the Gathering area.

Shattergaze smoothly made her way through the cats, her piercing gaze sliding through them. She put a slightly menacing, condescending look on her face. After all, SoulClan didn't deserve to exist, and had shown that when they completely folded in the midnight attack. Pathetic... She couldn't wait for the Gathering to start.

[♥S.C.O.U.T.♥]

Whitefire padded after her Clan, each anticipating what was to come at the gathering. As they halted at the top of the hill, Whitefire smirked. This was a normal gathering routine, making SoulClan wait impatiently as DeathClan took their time. Every DeathClan cat loved that. She caught Shattergaze's eye and smile, and was about to return the smile when the Clan slipped down the slope to the Two-Rocks. Whitefire rolled her eyes as she spotted Joypaw, Goldenshard, and a few other cats, their fur bristling. She knew they all hated her and DeathClan, but it just made it more satisfying.

Whitefire padded over to Joypaw, Goldenshard, Spottedsun, and Flamekit....? That couldn't be right, she would never be allowed here if she was a kit. She must be Flamepaw now. "Hello Joypaw, Spottedsun, Goldenshard, Flamepaw." Whitefire mewed calmly.[/color]

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Word Count: 156
Notes: Posted...?
Muse: Argh.
Tread Status -- SC & DC only

[spottedpaw]

Dogfang pricked his ears as he watched out of the corner of his eye, Goldenshard, with her bristling golden ginger and white fur, step between him and Flamepaw and Whisperstar. Ha, he thought, pretending not to notice. Does she think that I'd be mouse-brained enough to try and attack them? Goldenshard, I'm little more clever than you assume, I assue you. he wanted to say. He could see Flamepaw nearly take a step back. Ah . . . it's nice being intimidating, it really is. He grinned to himself.

Once DeathClan began to pile into the clearing, he caught Shattergaze's blue eyes for a brief moment. He couldn't detect anything else except for the fierce hate and blood lust that swirled through them.

[J/o/y!]

Before Joypaw could take a step, the purtid scent of DeathClan hit her. Wrinkling her nose, she turned around to find Whitepaw. The white she-cat mewed a greeting to the little group, her voice calm. Joypaw settled a moment, and tilted her head at Whitepaw, studying her for a moment. There was the usual smirk that she gave Joypaw whenever she encountered her, but there was a little something unusual in her gaze... Pride? Satisfication? Then the ginger apprentice remembered Whitepaw was nearly a warrior... perhaps she'd received her warrior name. Joypaw straightened her head and dipped her head politely, though she was burning with anger as she remembered the raid. But peace was demanded at a Gathering.

"Hello, Whitepaw. Or have you received your warrior name? I think you're old enough by now." Joypaw's casual yet polite tone was one hundred percent fake, through and through, and she kept her ground, resisting the urge to rip Whitepaw's fur off.

Looking around, she saw Shattergaze, the deputy and Whitepaw's mentor. Or former mentor, Joypaw reminded herself. And from the proud look Shattergaze gave Whitepaw, it was pretty much obivious. Bending her head, she licked a paw and drew it over her ear, and flicked her tail in anticipation. "I wonder what DeathClan will have to report?" she thought aloud, blinking. At least SoulClan had something good, like Flamepaw's apprenticeship. She smiled halfheartedly at her friend, and twitched her ear at Two-Rocks. Darkstar was making his way toward the unique rock. At least DeathClan didn't make us wait long, she thought, staring up at Two-Rocks, absorbed completely in her own thoughts about the coldhearted DeathClan.

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Word Count- 272
Notes- Yeah, we made Flame hurry up because she was taking FOREVER GOSH XDD
Muse- Blah
Thread Status- Clan cats

[Golden /~/ Shatter]

Goldenshard could feel Dogfang watch her for a moment. He wouldn't attack at a Gathering...probably. That doesn't mean I have to trust him though. And I feel better knowing he's not sitting next to my apprentice or Whisper, contaminating them.

Moments after sitting down, Whitepaw padded over to the group of cats, addressing them smugly. What's with her...oh. She probably has her warrior name... Looking around the clearing she spotted Shattergaze, and saw the smile that she and Whitepaw shared. Yes, that would be it... Goldenshard eyed the cat. "Hello Whitepaw. Although, I assume that is no longer your name, correct? And yes, this is Flamepaw," she nodded her head in the cat's direction. "She is my apprentice." Turning to Joypaw, Goldenshard wondered also. "No doubt they will have something to say. They always do."

~

As Shattergaze padded through the clearing, she could feel the SoulClan eyes on her, and it made her grin. She saw Whitefire go over to a group of SoulCats, Joypaw among them, and nodded. Good. Pehaps she will be able to get some useful information from them...perhaps that new apprentice will let something slip. Or maybe she'll snap when Whitefire goes after them. Shattergaze chuckled. It was a win-win.

She kept looking around the clearing and met Dogfang's eyes for one moment. She didn't need to worry though, because her eyes gave away nothing of the secret deal they had made days before. No cat, not even Whisperstar herself, would suspect what was going on between the Clans. In Dogfang's eyes she could make out a faint trace of bloodlust, but it was so well hidden no cat would think it out of place. They'd just assume he was DeathClan blood, and not the other way around. Good. She padded over and took her place underneath Two-Rocks, waiting for the Gathering to begin.

[♥S.C.O.U.T.♥]

Whitefire's eyes burned with pride. She was now a warrior, a higher ranking. She was better then Joypaw at the moment, as well as Flamepaw and that was a nice little feeling she was encountering.

Whitefire smiled slyly. "Yes, my name is Whitefire now." She informed the two ginger cats. Whitefire could tell Joypaw was fighting the urge to attack Whitefire straight out, but was also attempting to keep her temper and let StarClan not be angry with her for ruining the gathering. That made it all the better to mock her.

"Oh I have a this gathering will be interesting." Whitefire shrugged, not exactly answering the question. She curled her tail over her paws. "Have you buried all the dead cats yet?" Whitefire mewed. It wasn't exactly the best conversation starter, but she was sure as hell it would get everyone around her worked up.[/color]

______________
Word Count: 170
Notes: Ooh..provoking SoulClan cats.
Muse: Blech.
Thread Status -- SC & DC.

[J/o/y!]

Joypaw's ocean blue eyes burned cold fire at Whitefire's sly and smug words, and she fought down her anger and grief and nodded coolly. "That's a great name!" she meowed with fake enthusiasm, narrowing her eyes into brilliant blue slits. When Whitefire pointed out the Gathering ought to be interesting, Joypaw nodded halfheartedly. "Yes, I'm sure. Both Clans have much to report. Quite a bit has happened this past moon," At the word moon, Joypaw looked up at the gathering twilight and saw that the full moon was shining brightly. StarClan, let it stay that way, she prayed silently, still staring. Then Whitefire asked a question that burned the hottest fire and coldest ice, making the ginger apprentice stiffen.

Have you buried all the dead cats yet?

Joypaw had to fight harder to keep her ground now. Usually, Joypaw's temper took a lot to take off, but DeathClan cats knew just how to light her fuse and let it fly free. "Actually, yes, and our wounds are healing. Won't take long with Sandheart as our medicine cat." The apprentice's fierce gaze softened as she glanced at the exhausted Sandheart, then lit up again as she turned her head back around to face the new warrior. "How's Scarheart's body?" she asked with a smug tone, knowing she'd played a big role in the massive tom's death. Of course, she didn't like mentioning it, and she hated having to kill. But she'd do anything for her Clan. "Of course, you do honor dead cats, don't you? I hear he was such a strong warrior," she meowed sarcastically. A strong warrior beaten by Stormheart and I, she thought, screwing her face in a disgusted snarl. Relaxing quickly before anyone noticed her sudden change, she curled her tail over her paws tightly, and twitched her ear uncomfortably.

[spottedpaw]

Noticing that the Gathering was very close to starting, Dogfang padded to the Two-Rocks, sitting down near Shattergaze. He faked a digusted smirk to her. "Hello, Shattergaze," he said to the Deputy of SoulClan. "How's the prey running?" His hard voice was stiff, like he was fighting the erge to teach her a lesson. Not that he'd do that anytime ever in this lifetime. Probably never.

If they ended up in the Dark Forest and she irritated him, he might claw some some fur out of her tail. After all, their recent lives then, didn't matter anymore. They had their accomplishments and failures, but he was guessing that nothing would be important in that dark dark place anymore.

He noticed that Shattergaze's gaze kept flickering over to Whitepaw who sat with Joypaw, Goldenshard, Windpaw, Flamepaw, and Spottedsun. What's she doing . . . ? Dogfang wondered, studying Shattergaze, his eyes turning back and forth between the she-cats. She was her apprentice . . . maybe she's been made into a warrior?

Spottedsun sat there with Goldenshard, Flamepaw, Joypaw, and her new apprentice, Windpaw. Her eyes were cold as she glared at Whitefire, but she remembered her manners . . . barely. "Congratulations, Whitefire," she spat.

[J/o/y!]

Joypaw took a deep breath, trying to blow her anger away. Her eyes still burned cold fire, as if the ocean was in a mad storm. She was amazed at how Spottedsun kept her ground so well, but if Joypaw knew her, she was most likely furious, too. Narrowing her eyes, her gaze flickered back from Dogfang to Whitefire. Suddenly her thoughts turned tail and went straight at Dogfang, and something struck her hard as a badger's blow. Saidie had died in the raid, and she was the deputy's mate. Questions hurled themselves at the ginger-pelted apprentice, overwhelming most other thoughts.

How had Dogfang felt when he found out his mate was dead? Did Saidie die without realizing who Dogfang really was? Does Dogfang even care? Did he ever care for her at all?

Joypaw would miss Saidie a lot. Joypaw herself had been one of the first cats to ever encounter Saidie when she came into the forest. Saidie had been thoughtful enough to... Well, Joypaw didn't want to think about that. The queen had been committed to her Clan, and had left her kittypet life to come here. Didn't that mean something? Fresh grief and sorrow swept over her, so deep and painful she almost wailed aloud. Why did they all have to die? Faithsong, Jaykit, Saidie, Reedkit, Snowkit... The kits had their whole lives ahead of them!

Joypaw remembered when Snowkit had paraded into the camp, proudly carrying a vole in her mouth, with Faithsong behind her, her green eyes shining. Faithsong had taught the kit how to hunt the vole, and in exchange Snowkit had promised not to go out of camp without permission. All that was wasted now, thanks to DeathClan. Sighing inwardly, Joypaw settled more comfortably and recalled memories of the silvery she-cat Faithsong, and her dreams.

Faithsong dreamed of having her own kits, and of mentoring an apprentice. She would have been perfect. She had been patient and kind, a skilled warrior, and had unshakable faith in StarClan. If any DeathClan cat had a whisker's worth of her faith, things would have been much different. Joypaw lifted her head a bit higher. She must have faith just like the silver she-cat had had. Jolting herself back into the present, she gazed fiercely at Whitefire, and mewed, "Thanks for the attempt, but no need to provoke any cat here."

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Word Count: 395
Muse: Eh, okay
Notes: Ha ha, just disowned you Whitefire XDD
Thread Status: Clan cats only.

[.:.S.:.t.:.o.:.r.:.m.:.]

Stormheart casually padded over to Joypaw, Whitefire, Spottedsun, and Goldenshard, her eyes icy calm; the opposite of what she felt. She wanted so badly to lunge at the DeathClan cats and kill them all for what they did to those innocent cats. For a second Stormheart's cover slipped, but she quickly gained control of herself again. Today was a Gathering, a time of peace, and she would behave accordingly. "Hello," she greeted them, taking a seat a tail-length or two away. She drew one of her paws over her ear, and seemed to smile, fakely, at Whitefire. "So, you're a warrior now, I assume? You seem old enough now to be one," Stormheart said to her calmly, looking around at the other cats. Dogfang and Shattergaze seemed to be irritable with eachother... Good. Maybe Dogfang wasn't that bad afterall. He still hated DeathClan, right? Just like everyone else did. Anger burned inside of her again at the thought of DeathClan, who had mercilessly killed five cats. Why can't they just leave us alone for once? No, of course they can't, she thought, surpressing a sigh. How many cats had DeathClan killed already, not even counting the raid? Stormheart continued to think, realizing after a couple of minutes she'd zoned out. She hoped no one had said anything important, or had talked directly to her. She stayed silent for a moment or two more, trying to catch up to what they were talking about.

[J/o/y!]

Joypaw twisted her head around to find Stormheart coming up to them. "Hey, Stormheart! Yes, apparently Whitefire is a warrior now." Her voice softened at her words, now that she was directing them at her friend. Her grief was forgotten for a moment, and she gazed up at Two-Rocks, curiousity and attention flickering in her eyes like minnows in the bluest sea.

Watching Stormheart for a moment, Joypaw figured that the silver she-cat ought to be thinking deeply about the bloodthirsty neighboring Clan. This Gathering will be very interesting. SoulClan have much to accuse DeathClan of, and Darkstar won't deny anything. Will Whisperstar mention the border fight? Does she even know about it? Questions ran through the apprentice's mind, leaving her to zone out for a moment. Everything seemed quiet and peaceful while the moonlight still shone brightly, glowing in shafts through the darkening trees. But when the Gathering started, Joypaw was sure several quarrels would occur between the two Clans. Anything could happen.

Joypaw pulled herself out of the uncertain furture, and focused on her friends. Well, she focused on her friends and Whitefire. Whitefire seemed to think she was so much better than Joypaw. Ha! I'll show her who's better when SoulClan sends DeathClan running for home with their tails between their legs.