GATHERING

[**Liz**]

Runningfern nodded enthusiastically. He was all for being a good warrior and keeping to the code, but enough was enough.
Clans needed to look out for themselves, and if they couldn't then that was their own defeat, not his.
" I agree with Deathstar-" he stood cautiously, knowing that even the truce of the meeting couldn't keep the wrath of a particularly passionate cat. " Clans need to stick up for themselves, and if they cannot then why should the whole forest be thrown out of sorts? Windclan either comes home, or not, but whatever they decide to do is their own clans business, not ours."


Sunmist glanced toward her clanmate with disgust as she padded past him, to stand beside Talonwing.
" Hear his words, I too have received ominous messages from Starclan." She paused, looking up at her leader with a flash of uncertainty to whether she should be relaying her message or not. But she needed Windclan back, and the clans needed to know. " We may or may not already be too late- Windclan did not leave on their own accord, I can to you all that. Something bigger has pushed them away."

Darkpaw shifted his weight uncomfortably, trying to make sense of this strange night. This was his first gathering, and what a hell of a gathering it was.
He was becoming deeply, deeply troubled.
" Stargazer, do you think Windclan is dead?"

Dreamchaser met his leaders gaze steadily and calmly, almost challengingly.
He sat slowly, there was literally no point in arguing.
The young Thunderclan she-cat who'd spoken, took the words from his tongue, and struck him defenseless. She'd made his point quite well.
There were two sides to this argument, and he figured the argument would carry on without him.

[windrunner]

I say we should find Windclan.If they're hurt or really need help then let's help them.Eclipsemoon turned to Deathstar.What if your clan was in need of help like if your clan has the same thing happening as Windclan.Would you want our help?He tunred away.Shadowclan is too proud.Why can't they gived it up.He thought bitterly.

[yellow]Dartpaw stood up and turned defiantly to Deathstar.he's right.if Windclan is dying out there and they need help then lets help them.Or are you too proud to help them?She thought.She flicked her tail side to side furiously and sat down.[/yellow]

[Sasha]

"Hush, Darkpaw," she said quickly, though her tone was light and nervous, "do not speak of such things at a time like this."
Stargazer gave him a small nudge and motioned to herself, then the cats around them. "I fear talk of Windclan riles all of us up to the extreme, comrade, and I wish none to bolt so soon. Speak of that, and cats will be throwing themselves into a pit for their friends. We can only hope they are not."

Maplestar stepped forward and beside Deathstar, opening her mouth to speak, to quiet Eclipsemoon and her murmuring clan, but she paused and gave them a quick, thorough look-over instead.
She sat again, glancing at Deathstar. "We shouldn't be so hasty," she said. "She may be right. All of you may be right. But what if we jump into a mess Windclan wants us to stay out of? We must know for sure, first." With that she silenced, her nose pointed to her paws.

[D.e.a.t.h]

"Shadowclan is perfectly capable of taking care of itself. If we need help will ask for it" she said her anger growing back slightly. Deathstar glanced over at Maplestar with releaf. Even though she was talking a more neutral stance she still seemed to lean her way. Deathstar also silently thanked Runningfern. She wasn't proud as much as thought she also wished to keep her clan intact. "As am saying if we rush in blindly it would be like running into a badger set without checking to see if its there". Dark eyes now turned to her opposition.
[/size]

[windrunner]

[pink]Runningpaw felt her fur beginning to prickle.What about if we have a group of cats from each clan go over on windclan's territory and investigate?She twitched her tail nervously.She knew her voice probably was small among the warriors, deputies, other apprentices, and leaders.[/pink]

[TYPICAL RED]

Scarletpaw was a little taken aback when her mentor stood up and spoke out to the leaders. Surely that is not allowed! Thought Scarletpaw, and she glanced up at the moon to see if there were any sign of clouds. None. Well... thought Scarlet.


"I agree with Runningpaw!" She said. "Although it is not my decision, I think that is a sensible idea." Scarletpaw's fur felt as if it were being rubbed the wrong way, and she knew that she had said the absolutely wrong thing. I wont be a loud at any more gatherings as long as i live! She thought, but didn't sit down. Instead she stared directly into her leader's eyes.

[D.e.a.t.h]

Whats the point of a clan if they wont fight for you. Another one turned away from her was this a joke the world had a cruel way of playing them. She stared right back her eyes daring the apprentice to push on. Then she looked away this gathering was taring her clan apart. "Shadowclan will not go after the windclan if the rest of you feel the need go ahead" her voice was hard and held nor room for arguing. She stepped back she'd let the rest decide what to do with themselves.
[/size]

[windrunner]

[pink]Runningpaw shrugged.It was an idea.She sighed.Why won't Deathstar see sense.No wonder our clan is the hated one.He pelt prickled.Not everyone's mean.Runningpaw was about to open her mouth but Arrowpaw cut her of.[/pink]

[red]Runningpaw didn't say that we had.It was just an idea.She said defiantly.Even though she hated being a shadow she had to stick up for her.arrowpaw was ready to argue.She had listened to this bored but now she was ready to argue.[/red]

[Sasha]

The sleek, gray she-cat edged closer to the undergrowth. "They are getting tense, comrade," she said quietly. "I don't like this."

"Guys, please." Ivymoon's voice was an angry shout, though she hadn't risen to her paws nor moved any part of her figure, though her head turned slightly toward the apprentices. "This is mainly our leader's decision! I honestly can't stand the disrespect you're all tossing about Deathstar, I'm sick of the arguing, and if we discuss this, I vote to return to our own clans and speak there. I think we should finish this up as soon as possible." she glanced at some of her clanmates, muttering to a cat nearby: "the apprentices are getting grouchy, and it's getting harder and harder for me to keep back from smacking them between the ears. I can't stand these kits."
To be honest, Ivymoon couldn't stand young kits and apprentices as it was, and the fact they were bickering as if their words really mattered drove her mad.

Maplestar didn't speak, narrowing her eyes at the enemy cat. "She has a point," she muttered. "We should decide what to do amongst our clan. The three of us could send word of our decision to the other clans."
A sensible idea, she figured, though the fact Ivymoon had inspired her made her feel slightly ill.

[[R] a v e n]

Ravenstar watched with calm, collected eyes on the back of the branch, his black fur making him nearly invisible, he was not in the moonlight. He waited for a moment, waiting for all of them to calm down. Ah arguments, is this all my family is good at starting? He waited for Maplestar to finish speaking before he shifted to the front of the branch, in the moonlight, his eyes sparkling a brilliant silver. Like the moon its self. He waited a moment, letting the attention come to him and he then looked to Maplestar and Deathstar. "My friends, I am not trying to motivate everyone to run into a death trap. That would kill me. Riverclan and Shadowclan do not have to participate, Thunderclan will see. I myself will go." He looked to the other cats, wondering how many would see his decision as mousebrained. "Everyone else can stay, I will chose one willing cat to come with me, if they chose. I will not put other lives at stake willingly, only mine".

He turned to Deathstar and Maplestar, but looked to Deathstar mainly. He spoke in a low, caring voice. "Take your clan back and get a good nights rest. I am sorry for messing things up Deathstar." He dipped his head to her and turned to Maplestar. "Good luck Maplestar, you are worthy of leadership. Good night you two." Turning to the rest of the cats, whom were probably looking a lot like Silentstep. Dumbfounded and gaping. "This gathering is over. Goodnight." He jumped down and passed through the middle of the gathered cats, towards the edge of the clearing. He paused to wait for his clan to gather.[/color]

[windrunner]

[red]Dartpaw smiled with triumph.Yessssssss i'm totally for saving windclan.Who will he chose to go alll I know is that I wanna go also.Shwe thought excitedly. Heck why would they take apprentices though.She thought bitterly.She walked to the rest of her clna gathering and waitied tail flicking[/red]

[Sasha]

Stargazer muttered something incomprehensible to Darkpaw, possibly a command to follow of some sort judging by her tone, before slipping quietly through the crowd and placing herself just behind Ravenstar. She looked back for Darkpaw before turning to her Leader, words forming in her throat. The gray warrior took a quick step back, swallowing them.

The Riverclan Leader motioned for her clan to begin to leave, muttering a quick 'goodnight' before jumping down, her steps quick and soft as she left the area, waiting only a few seconds for her clan to gather around her.

Ivymoon rolled her shoulders, happy with Ravenstar's descision. He was a smart cat. The Shadowclan warrior looked up to Deathstar, flashing her a half-hearted smile and waiting for her word.[/color]

[**Liz**]

Dreamchaser looked toward the rest of his clan, his gaze setting on Ivymoon. Yes, yes he was challenging his leader, but for a good cause.
His hackles rose slightly, but he forced them down. Itching his paws felt like they were walking on the bodies of those they were willing to let die, the stress weighed itself upon his shoulders, as if he were pushing against his leader and her followers. He cast around a bitter glare as he walked begrudgingly toward his leader and sat, slowly, stiffly.


Runningfern jumped to his paws and followed his leader, his tail drooping slightly. He didn't want anymore bloodshed, bloodshed was for the vicious and the vain. Besides, Windclan wasn't any of Riverclan's responsibility, he knew his loyalties and his responsibilities were with his clan, and his alone.


"Redpaw, follow close and don't step on anyone's tails." She looked to the other medicine cats, her eyes moist with worry. "Good luck to you all, and lets all pray for Windclan, and hope to Starclan that they're all safe."
Nodding to each one, making careful eye contact, she made her leave and bounded away to speak with Maplestar.
"Maplestar," She whispered out of everyone's reach, "I need to speak with you."

Darkpaw turned for a moment, to see Stargazer gone.
"Stargazer? Stargazer where are you?"
The young tom was caught in the tide of cats moving past him, from all different clans. He scented many of them, some grizzly looking old toms and she-cats from all over, yet he didn't back off. He feared he'd loose his clan, what if he did?
Suddenly, he saw her and caught up.
"Stargazer, don't leave me like that, you had me scared half to death. Whats going on? Why are we all leaving?"

[D.e.a.t.h]

Deathheart jumped down she caught Ivy's smile and let her own sad smile flick back. She then began to lead out but when Dreamchaser went close to her she snapped "Do not walk with thoughs you do not follow". Her dark gaze full of venom the wounds he had made on her where to fresh to be healed. Her apprentices had spoke out of line and some of her warriors disgraced her was she really fit to be leader. She wanted to be cruel and cast the cats who apposed her out but she knew she could never do something so heartless. With that last thought she trodded away home not looking back to see if she had a clan with her or not.[/size]

[~Creamy~]

After a short pause, Squirrelpelt stood up and trotted after Deathstar. Her eyes were fixed on the ground in front of her in thought and worry for WindClan. She thought they should go after them, but didn't voice it at the gathering because those ShadowClan cats who did only seemed to get on Deathstar's nerves and she saw no reason to antagonize the leader.

Redpaw nodded and stood up, sticking close behind Sunmist. However, he fell back to walk with the rest of the Clan, assuming that his mentor would want some privacy when she went to speak with Maplestar. His first gathering and it seemed like there had almost been a fight. Oh well, at least he wouldn't forget it.

Creampelt made her way over to the edge of the clearing to wait for the other ThunderClanners with Ravenstar. She felt a little guilty for some reason that she'd had nothing to contribute during the gathering, but then again, most of her previous gatherings were just spent listening silently so this wasn't much different for her.