The Fourth Gathering

[fαllεη •]

The clearing had energy. The smoky shape that entered did not.
On the wave of a few stragglers, her nose assaulted by the reek of every clan and the scented mess it created, Smokeleaf padded on velvet feet. The clearing echoed with talk, her head aching as she caught the sound of apprentices' voices. Emberpaw. Her apprentice was here, probably (she couldn't remember for the life of her) but the medicine herself couldn't care less. She didn't want to be here. The last thing she wanted was to just wait and see if StarClan would steal another of her leader's lives, if the beings who cast themselves as their protectors would betray her again.

'I devoted my life to you. What have you got to say for yourselves?!' She tilted her head to the moon that hung over head --had hung over head for as long as she could remember, and would hang there long after she was dead and gone. What did Mother Moon think of all this, all this death and abandonment? Her molten glare could have felled a squirrel at twenty paces.

Sitting down under the tree, the chill in the air was more prominent. She seemed not to notice the cats around her; too busy glaring at the moon to pay attention. But, however angry she was, she listened.
"I'm perfect," the she-cat growled in her customary tone, anger lacing the words like a poisoned river. Why wouldn't she be fine? Over seventy moons old and ready to start training her apprentice, standing in her mentor's footsteps and able to do what she loved for many moons more. Sure, her faith in StarClan... Pfft, faith? What StarClan? Kit-murderers, all of them.
"What's wrong Stormleaf? Are you okay? Smokeleaf...is something the matter?"
She turned to Skyleaf with anger in her eyes... anger that was chilling along with her old bones. "Have you kits got nothing better to do with your lives than to ask how I'm doing? StarClan knows how I am, and that's enough."
Apparently, those were the words of a medicine cat who still believed StarClan healed. Only StarClan felt the anger that, if it had been solid, would form a hailstorm the like of which the Place of No Stars would fear.

[Raccoonstar]

NIGHTLEAF

Nightleaf looked at Smokeleaf. She was about to ask how Smokeleaf was doing when Skyleaf did it for her. After that experience, she decided that Smokeleaf needed some alone time. She could join a conversation when she wanted. Nightleaf turned to Stormleaf. She cleared her throat and asked the only male medicine cat how he was again. "Stormleaf, are you okay? You look...sad." she meowed politely. She expected an answer, but not a particularly good one. She'd probably get rejected by the IvyClan tom much like Skyleaf's attempt at conversing with Smokeleaf. But it was in her nature to try; in her nature to care. She needed to care or else she'd be a terrible medicine cat. She cared, Skyleaf cared, even Smokeleaf cared. Did Stormleaf care? She wanted to know this. This was why she asked questions; this was why she cared.

[Fallinggaze]

~Fallinggaze~[/b][/u]

Fallinggaze had only spoken at a Gathering when Seastar had fallen, and alarm rang through her. But Fallinggaze had spotted a lovely cat near her sitting silently as well near her. The one cat smelt of CloudClan, and Fallinggaze began to speak to her, surprised to be speaking.

"Hello," spoke Fallinggaze. "Isn't it nice to watch the moon beam in the sky?" Fallinggaze looked up to gaze at the round, white, full moon, and the stars of Silverpelt gladly shining.

~Dewpaw~[/b][/u]

Dewpaw was sitting near apprentices from other clans, at her second Gathering. Upset that her brother and sister couldn't be there, Dewpaw did not socialize much, and just nodded her head to what the other cats said.

[- - -evening ||]

FLAMEPAW

Chapter 27 --Be Alert

"When I become a warrior, Windchill or Windspark would be a good name. They suits me. It's all up to Silentstar. Oh, here he comes now. Let's follow him to the Gathering." Windchill, was a good name, not bad at all; but he still a bit more preferable to 'Windspark' if it was to be his name --but then again, it wasn't going to be his name. It didn't matter anyhow. A name was a name. It was stupid to be overly protective and sensitive about a name. He saw the good in only the fact that it keep things organized -- 'paw' and 'kit', you knew where to put them. 'Star'? Pitiful.

Something about Windpaw's choice of words kind of ticked him off, 'Let's follow him to the gathering!' Follow? He, for one, did not 'follow' anyone. He was is own and only his own. He took care of himself. He didn't need some cat with the end of his name 'star' to boss him around. He would do what that cat said of course, to loose the suspicious mark, but he didn't follow any cat.

He is edgy again, he always is! What is wrong with this cat before me. StarClan? Windpaw's behavior was weird these days, as it had been for a while. Don't think that he hadn't noticed the edgy way he walked and the very concentrated look he had on his face when he had awaited for Silentstar to announce the gathering cats. He was extremely edgy too when Silentstar had talked about attacking SnakeClan; but Flamepaw had assumed that he was just nervous about the fact that the 'Silent One' might be catching onto their nightly schemes. Not to mention Windpaw's solo kill of Reedtail. Flamepaw was tempted to roll his eyes like the kit he was supposed to be. For the sake of well being, that cat sure did need to grow up some more. He was indefinitely going to give them away!

'Keep an eye on that one', Hawkfrost's misty presence was evident for the slightest second. "You think I'm stupid?" Flamepaw growled back to him.He sat down in back behind most of the cats. Away from them all. Windpaw tried to sit next to him, but was herded away from most of their warriors who were trying to find a good spot to see the leaders.Flamepaw lost sight of him, and ended up sitting next to this huge burly striped tom. He eyed the tom, a contempt look on his face. Could the cat be any closer?

---

ooc;; Could be anyone, as usual

---

EVENINGPAW

Chapter 29 --Speak of the Devil...//All in your head

Speak of the devil and the devil appears! Wasn't she just thinking about Windpaw? Excited, she patted the spot next to her with her tail. He was looking around, a nervous expression on his face. What? Was he not allowed to see her? Did the oh-so-powerful Silentstar forbid him to see her? ha! She would like to see him try!

"Hi, Eveningpaw. Nice to see you here." he popped his rump down beside her, his voice in a dull unthreating tone. Eveningpaw wanted to roll her eyes, did one of his deadly plans fail? The poor thing. She sighed, the average temperamental IvyClan cats --grumpy, grumpy, large, and grumpy. Hmm, that pretty much summed it up. Come on, could he be at least a little excited? She hadn't seen him for at least half a moon, and all he could say was 'hi Eveningpaw' in the most uninterested dull tone that she had ever heard. She was deeply offended.

She turned her head to the opposite side of where he was sitting. Well, if he didn't show her the respect that she thought that she deserved, she would not talk to him. Urrgh!!! They just didn't get what a she-cat needed! She stayed like that for about five seconds, she could feel his gaze embedded now in the back of her neck, and she whipped her head around to tell him to 'get a life' when she was stopped half by her conscience and half by those eyes. He was staring at her, sizing her up. What was he doing? Seeing if she was good enough; but it didn't come out that way, instead, "Uhhhh...what are you doing, Windpaw?" instead of her voice sounding angry and forbidding, it was more embarrassed and curious, mixed with some shyness.

What was wrong with her? Only her head, only her head."This is my friend Hazelfrost!" she tapped Hazelfrost on the shoulder a little too hard. She was flustered, and she admitted it, but what was wrong with being flustered with a brother right? She laughed nervously,"Hazelfrost, this is Windpaw!" she almost screamed. Okay, something was seriously wrong with her --but it was probably just her. It was all in her head.

---

ooc;; Sorry for throwing Hazelfrost in there! X3 Just was running out of ideas --i can fix it!

[/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify][/size]

[Raccoonstar]

WINDPAW

Windpaw calmed himself. Flamepaw hadn't seen him, and wouldn't see him, and Eveningpaw hadn't left. "Nothing, nothing. Just seeing if someone I know was here." Windpaw meowed, adding much tone to his voice from his last sentence. Then Eveningpaw tapped another SnakeClanner's shoulder, claiming the other she-cat to be Hazelfrost.

"Hazelfrost, this is Windpaw!" Eveningpaw shouted. Windpaw shifted his eyes around; another cat knowing of his existence was pushing it. He preferred one-on-one conversation. "Erm...hi, Hazelfrost," he meowed shyly. "Uh, how are you doing?" Hazelfrost would probably feel uncomfortable with her 'friend-' he assumed she was her friend- showing an IvyClanner who was this uncomfortable with others in a friendly manner. It would be an awkward situation for both cats. But, he was prepared for awkwardness, hostility, every emotion except acceptance. That would really be awkward.

[fαllεη •]

The she-cat settled down for the long, cold night, her fur bristling away from the cats she sat beside. She wanted to laugh in their faces, now. 'Did I ever tell you that everything you ever stood for is a lie?' StarClan weren't going to save them; they had no power to save the living and so they took that gift away from anyone who believed in them. Somewhere up there, her father and mother werre laughing their tails off, thinking how they'd managed to mess things up all over again... No. She couldn't think like that; her parents had been good cats, and they'd done what they'd believed was right... And if Smokeleaf didn't agree with that, then she couldn't justify being alive. Amusing, to think she was following a belief system that decided she and her brother should've died at birth.
She watched as a familiar dark shape entered the clearing; the cat who'd brought her the cat she called apprentice, who would pass on the knowledge that she now held. Funny how she still disliked him, even after he gave her what she wanted.

He didn't seem happy, the medicine cat mused. Fine. Let the whole world be miserable for all she cared: let an unnamed sorrow crush the Gathering and make everyone realise how ridiculous all this was. Why were they bothering with this politics, when they could be trying to stay alive, as cats always had. Fallinggaze looked up at the stars, probably appreciating the body of spirits that were supposed to protect them. And IvyClan apprentice sat with two from SnakeClan. Dewpaw sat nearby. She couldn't see Emberpaw... That cinched it: her apprentice must still be at camp. She felt so weak, not able to remember some simple location: how could she forget something that it was her responsibility to know.

[//Sunneh// is FuMiNg]

~Stormleaf~

"...I believe the world is burning to the ground
Oh well, I guess we're gonna find out
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come..."

How Far We’ve Come © Xbox 20

"Hello, Stormleaf. How is IvyClan, and how are you?"
Though he tried to suppress it, Stormleaf's ears couldn't help but twitch in amusement as Nightleaf spoke. He found the concern in her voice laughable (though StarClan knows why), but he made no move to answer her; unlike his fellow's query, the rage bubbling up inside his chest was nothing to laugh at. The golden tom wasn't about to risk a rude retort simply to appease the black medicine cat's social aptitude. Still, it would be impolite to ignore her, so Stormlead offered her a nod and a shrug. Confusing, yes, but it was still a reply, no matter how mute. He turned his head a bit as Skyleaf spoke behind him, her naturally musical voice clearly distinctive from the other two she-cats.
"What's wrong Stormleaf? Are you okay?" Great; he should of known that his fellows would persist in their attempts to...to do what? Stormleaf felt a pang of guilt for acting so cold towards Nightleaf a few seconds prior. It wasn't as if they were threatening him or anything of the sort. They were concerned, that was all. Obviously noticing his hesitation to speak, Skyleaf turned to Smokeleaf, who snapped out something about StarClan knowing how she was barely moments after the black-and-white she-cat spoke. In the awkward silence that followed, Stormleaf winced with pity - there was obviously something bothering Smokeleaf, though the elderly she-cat's rage was nothing new.

He blinked as, once again, Nightleaf piped up beside him, her flame-colored eyes wide with graciousness. "Stormleaf, are you okay? You look...sad." This time, Stormleaf forced a smile. Sad? Depressed? No. He was simply angry. And he had no one to direct his anger at but himself. That was the worst part of his rage. "I'm fine," he replied, adjusting his position a bit to stare at his paws. He lifted his crippled one up a bit, pads facing upward, and studied the familiar scars in the pale light as he spoke. "It just seems like the clans are being ripped apart sometimes, y'know? Nothing's the way it used to be...and I'm starting to miss the past." The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. Embarrassed at how naive he sounded, Stormleaf's gaze returned to the ground.

[/blockquote][/blockquote][/size]

OOC: I'll reply as Hazelfrost later. :P I'm in a really big hurry~ *eye twitches*

[Seafeather]

Skyleaf

"Have you kits got nothing better to do with your lives than to ask how I'm doing? StarClan knows how I am, and that's enough." Smokeleaf snapped at Skyleaf. Skyleaf let out a little gasp of surprise. Hurt is the main emotion that Skyleaf felt at that moment. But then anger seethed into every little gap of her heart.

"Just because you're having problems Smokeleaf doesn't mean you can wallow around in them and then take it out on somebody else later! Try and Fix It! Ask StarClan and I promise they will tell you why! Try and Fix IT!" Skyleaf screeched. Her teeth were bared in anger at this old mange ridden flea-bag called Smokeleaf. She'd been silent for too long. Every time Smokeleaf said something a little to snappy Skyleaf wanted to say something but was afraid to. She thought that she would get even more snappy with her. But this time Smokeleaf couldn't even top Skyleaf's snappiness this time. Skyleaf had reached her limit, she plopped down next to Stormleaf. Hoping that since he was silent he wouldn't talk to her because she didn't feel like it either. But she let out one sentence to him. "I know what you mean."

[fαllεη •]

Stormleaf didn't seem to be having better luck with this game; she was able to slow down the boiling anger inside her just enough to notice his... perhaps discomfort was the wrong word, but it was the best she could think of. She didn't understand how, when he was queried a second time, he could force a smile and an honest response. The last thing she wanted right now was to tell anyone what was going on in FrostClan --after all, everything that concerned her, the root of her anger, all boiled down to something she'd sworn not to mention. And it was frustrating. Not that she couldn't tell anyone --being open at Gatherings was not the medicine cat's most recognised trait-- but that she simply didn't want them to ask. Hopefully, now that she'd spat something in Skyleaf's direction, the SnakeClan medicine cat would leave her be.

Alas, it was not going to happen like that.

"Just because you're having problems Smokeleaf doesn't mean you can wallow around in them and then take it out on somebody else later!"
The venom in the young cat's words literally made Smokeleaf jump to her paws and whirl to face her, registering the anger before what was actually said.
"Try and Fix It! Ask StarClan and I promise they will tell you why! Try and Fix IT!"
And then, the icing on the cake: the young medicine cat had the nerve to sit down next to Stormleaf and mutter "I know what you mean."

'Know what you mean?' Smokeleaf started to shake with anger, and immediately hated herself for showing such strong emotion. Part of her was trying to convince her that Skyleaf, young and reckless, wasn't worth her fury, and slowly, slowly, the medicine cat began to calm. But she wasn't going to leave this Gathering without a few words of her own.
"StarClan couldn't care less about FrostClan, Skyleaf," she growled in a low tone. What right did Skyleaf have to challenge her? Smokeleaf had been a medicine cat probably longer than she had been alive; where was the respect? StarClan were killing Seastar: she couldn't accept this, but it wasn't as if she could just not show up to the Gathering. That would reflect poorly on Seastar, and with IvyClan right next door, that was the last thing they needed. But it was Skyleaf's words to Stormleaf that would've made her laugh harder, if such a mood had been on the cards. The young medicine cats, conferring about the 'good old days'. They'd only reaped the fruits of their parents' labours; of course they saw things as the setting sun, not the sun risen high and burning everything black. This wasn't the end of an era --well, it was for FrostClan, but how should they know?
Fury began to make her paws shake again. She wanted to go, wanted to spend all night working on something that might save Seastar and her dreams. But if StarClan themselves couldn't -wouldn't- save her... What chance did a mortal medicine cat have?

It was all she could do to stare blind fury into Skyleaf's side, before forcing herself to sit and tie her tail around her paws. SnakeClan clearly bred warriors like the scaled worm they were named for: who struck without warning, and whose poison coursed through the veins and inflicted pain long after the fang itself was gone.
Smokeleaf bared her teeth in an answering snarl.

[Seafeather]

Seastar

Seastar's eyes widened as she watched the scuffle between the normally quiet SnakeClan medicine cat and her own. "Just because you're having problems Smokeleaf doesn't mean you can wallow around in them and then take it out on somebody else later! Try and Fix It! Ask StarClan and I promise they will tell you why! Try and Fix IT!" She had screamed. Seastar could barely hear it over the clamor of the gathering cats, but she did hear it. Could she know?!

Seastar saw how difficult it was for the older medicine cat to stay where she was and bite the bullet. Smokeleaf had glanced her way, and Seastar nodded. Permission to leave, her nod said. She wouldn't make the medicine cat stay, that's cruel. But instead, she would give her the chance to leave and have an excuse as to why she was leaving.

Thump-thump, thump, thump-thump thump-thump... Seastar's chest thudded. No! Not now! Seastar knew she had from the moment the moon reached it's highest in the sky, which was right now, until the moon reached just over the hills in CloudClan's territory until she looses her next life. She would loose it on her way home...the secret's out.

[//Sunneh// is FuMiNg]

~Stormleaf~

"...I believe the world is burning to the ground
Oh well, I guess we're gonna find out
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come..."

How Far We’ve Come © Xbox 20

If Stormleaf had known that this Gathering was going to erupt into a fight, he would of stayed at camp and turned his attention to counting herbs. It was a dull pastime, and not exactly a sensible one unless your store of chamomile was in the habit of multiplying by itself, but it was a whole lot safer than being caught in the middle of a pair of angry she-cats. He knew that their claws would remain sheathed - they were oh-so 'wise and mighty' medicine cats, not cranky kits - but their angry stares were just as lethal as the sharpest of claws. Great StarClan, they weren't even aimed towards him and it took all the strength in Stormleaf's body not to turn tail and run in a different direction - preferably the IvyClan camp, where there were only the most brotherly of quarrels to deal with. But this quarrel was certainly not brotherly (or sisterly for that matter).

"Just because you're having problems Smokeleaf doesn't mean you can wallow around in them and then take it out on somebody else later! Try and Fix It! Ask StarClan and I promise they will tell you why! Try and Fix IT!" Stormleaf's jaw dropped as Skyleaf spat out these words in Smokeleaf's face, her usually calm features twisted with rage. Oh no... he wanted to moan, staring at the dark-furred medicine cat helplessly. She stood there for a long moment, then sat down heavily beside him, adding the phrase, "I know what you mean", to her spiel. Even in his dazed state, the golden tom was tempted to tell the she-cat to leave him out of this fight, but refrained - he wasn't that rude.
The circle of medicine cats fell silent as Smokeleaf shook with anger, Skyleaf met her gaze angrily, and Stormleaf simply stared. He wasn't about to claim that he knew Skyleaf all that well, but he was familiar with her gentle ways, and he had never - never - seen the tranquil she-cat this angry. He wanted to intervene, to change the subject to the normal drivel, but even if he had mustered up the courage to speak, Smokeleaf beat him to it. But she was by no means trying to stop the fight. "StarClan couldn't care less about FrostClan, Skyleaf," she spat. The words hung in the air for a deathly moment, as if it was too much information for Stormleaf to handle, but their meaning sunk into his skull quickly enough:

Smokeleaf had lost her faith in StarClan.

He was sure that the elderly gray she-cat retained her belief in them - what sane medicine cat wouldn't? Smokeleaf had been sharing tongues with her warrior ancestors for most of her life, and that knowledge just didn't fade away to nothing, no matter how far a cat could sink into denial. Anyway, Smokeleaf was a sensible cat - Stormleaf knew that denial wasn't the case; she was obviously doubting their ability to help, or even care about the clans. And, to tell you the truth, Stormleaf didn't blame her. He had gone through this stage earlier in his life (when he had first become crippled) and had reached a conclusion that was only his to know. Smokeleaf would reach her conclusion as well, but she would have to seek it on her own. He smirked at how fake that phrase sounded. What was he, a preachy elder? She didn't need any help, especially from an IvyClan tom seasons younger than her. Anyway, she had been addressing Skyleaf, not him - this wasn't his affair. Still, Stormleaf couldn't help but mutter something underneath his breath, where it couldn't be detected unless one was looking for his input. It was doubtful, but he wasn't the type to keep quiet when he felt that there was something he needed to say.

"StarClan." A small sigh punctuated that one word, like the slightest breeze on a leaf-fall morning. "I pity them."

[/blockquote][/blockquote][/size]

-Hazelfrost-

"...I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly
I'll do what it takes ‘til I touch the sky
And I'll make a wish, take a chance, make a change
And breakaway…”

Breakaway © Kelly Clarkson

"This is my friend Hazelfrost!"
Hazelfrost turned at the sound of her name, blinking rapidly as she did so. The blue-gray tabby had been drifting off into a daydream - or was it a nightdream? - about the future moons she would spend as a warrior, so it took her a moment to register the identity of the speaker. Eveningpaw had whisked her off to this spot at the very moment they arrived in the clearing, claiming that she wanted to introduce her to a friend, but this so-called friend was taking a while to arrive. Or was he...? Wincing as Eveningpaw's tail slapped her shoulder a bit harder than usual, Hazelfrost let her gaze wander to her friend's side. She could tell by his distinct scent that the apprentice sitting beside Eveningpaw was an IvyClanner, but his expression seemed even worse than your average one. And he was an apprentice for StarClan's sake! "Hazelfrost, this is Windpaw!" Eveningpaw declared, obviously nervous. Windpaw? So that was the stocky tom's name. "Erm...hi, Hazelfrost," Windpaw greeted her, his young face taking on an expression of shyness. "Uh, how are you doing?"

A wicked grin flitted across Hazelfrost's face. Fine, the apprentice had passed the first test - he was a cat all right. And he had a bit more emotion in that heart of stone than his face expressed. But he would need more than that to be worthy of being Eveningpaw's friend! "Hello, Windpaw," she mewed back, her voice as cheerful as could be. She wasn't about to disappoint her friend by acting hostile towards him and besides, he didn't seem like such a bad cat after all. "I'm doing fine. How about you?"

[/blockquote][/blockquote][/size]

[Raccoonstar]

WINDPAW

Oh mousedung. There it was. Acceptance. The one thing that would make things awkward-er than ever. Now he was going to just say 'um' and 'uh' over and over again until he lost both she-cats. No! I'm not going to stutter now! I can do this! Windpaw thought frantically. "Fine. I'm doing fine." he meowed warmly. See? Was that so hard? ...Yes. Yes it was. But I did it, so good. Thanks, Tigerstar, whatever you did! he thought, relieved. He was calmer now, the shyness replaced with warmth. And Windpaw wasn't doing anything wrong, after all, Silentstar had said to be nice to SnakeClan. Windpaw had stretched this slightly; he did like Eveningpaw, and that was an understatement. Hazelfrost probably thought they were just friends. Where had he heard that before? Oh, just EVERYWHERE.

[fαllεη •]

The moonlight shone like a spotlight over the Gathering. There would be no doubt that StarClan was watching their precious representatives almost going for each other's throats --verbally if not physically. Of course they would care. StarClan might have every concern for their image among the clans, but letting a leader live was just too much to ask. If she was particularly unlucky, maybe Snowstar would walk in her dreams tonight, with some sappy comment about how StarClan were not all-powerful. She knew that. At least, she thought she had. Now she was doubting everything, why not consider the theory that StarClan did have the power to heal Seastar, could tell their 'Doubting Thomas' what to do so that she could heal her, but were instead keeping that choice piece of information to themselves? Her paws were still shaking with anger, to say nothing of her dangerously-waving tail.

As if tapped, Smokeleaf looked over her shoulder to see Seastar watching her. She drew herself up a little more, mouth and eyes pressed into a thin line. 'Be disappointed in me if you want, Seastar,' her expression said. 'I don't hold my tongue.'
But, instead of the rebuking expression she'd expected, Seastar instead gave her an understanding nod. Permission. She dipped her head in thanks; after all, that was what you did when someone gave you what you wanted. You didn't just bend your head and go about your daily affairs when you were condemned.
Turning back to the 'good' medicine cats, she caught sight of a bitter smirk on Stormleaf's face. What was he so happy about? Her waving tail began to slow a little. Stormleaf's paw was a constant reminder of the life he'd lost, presumably a life he'd wanted. He'd lost a life and a mentor; not exactly the most brilliant rewards reaped from StarClan's almighty rule. It couldn't be easy, being a young medicine cat under Silentstar's reign. It couldn't be easy under Silenstar's reign, full stop. She turned her good eye elsewhere, but couldn't help noticing as his smirk fell, and he whispered something... Whatever it was, she caught only the word "StarClan", before remembering that his spoken thoughts were none of her business.
Nightleaf, mercifully, had also held her tongue through the whole exchange, in spite of Smokeleaf's snappish answer to her useless question. It was in a medicine cat's nature to be observant, and unless they had become medicine cats by being remarkably obtuse, none of them would have missed the exchange between Seastar and herself, or the significance of it. After all, cats who spent their entire lives looking for vague signs weren't going to miss out on a meaningful glance or two.

"It seems I'm leaving you to your happy Gathering," she said, raising an eyebrow higher than her gravelly voice would ever go. Dipping her head to the three remaining cats, she pushed her way through the foliage at their backs and disappeared into the treeline, not even bothering to check her course by the light of the moon.

She picked up her pace slightly after getting out of sight and earshot. Things did prowl the night, everyone knew. But the reason for her swift pace was a trifle more complex than a fear of what lurked in the shadows. Back home, in FrostClan camp, nestled in her den where the stars couldn't watch her try to thwart them, she wanted to try... Just a few things. She wasn't letting a leader die on her watch, and she wasn't giving in without a fight.
She found herself a touch regretful that her problems could no longer be solved by her sharpest pair of claws.

[Raccoonstar]

RACCOONSTAR

-I don't know what you're expecting of me. Put under the pressure of walking in your shoes...-
(Linkin Park-Numb)

Raccoonstar was slightly irritated by it, but it seemed that most of the conversations that had recently buzzed so strongly were ending with Smokeleaf's and Skyleaf's drama. Stormleaf had just smirked, StarClan knew why, and Nightleaf had held her tongue, staying quiet as a warrior stalking a mouse. A wise decision on her part, in his opinion. He smoothed his ruffled fur and stood up straighter. He cleared his throat, and allowed the conversations' buzz to drop to a whisper or silence. "SnakeClan is doing fine. We have two new warriors to show it. Falconcry and Hazelfrost-" he paused to let the surrounding cats cheer for a moment the two warriors' names, then continued. "-will protect SnakeClan with StarClan's blessing. Prey is low, but manageable. No sicknesses have risen in the Clan, but our medicine cat is standing by to heal us if one comes." he finished. He glanced at Skyleaf, not glaring, but just glancing as if to say: "Please don't do that again." He looked away, sure she got the message. He looked at the other leaders, then stepped down politely, awaiting any other Clan leader to step forward.


FALCONCRY

-Like memories in cold decay. Transmissions echoing away...-
(Linkin Park-The Catalyst)

Falconcry took a deep breath as Raccoonstar proudly said his name. He stood up straighter and let the cheers of many cats wash over him like rain. When Raccoonstar ended his sentence about him, he sat down, eyes beaming with joy. Oakpelt and all the rest of those cats had helped him a lot, and now he wasn't nervous, but proud. Raccoonstar then spoke about the prey level, and Falconcry's eyes switched to wonder. Did all the other Clans have a low prey level too? Probably. Then Raccoonstar gave Skyleaf a glare that was more polite than a glare, more of a polite plea for Skyleaf's quiet tongue. But he didn't care! He was a warrior!

[Seafeather]

Seastar

Seastar watched Raccoonstar state his business with patience and an unevenly thumping heart. He finished, proud and gentle, but willing to fight to the death for his clan, that's how a leader should be, and he matched it to a "T". It seemed as though Jadestar wasn't going next and Silentstar was to ignorantly interested in himself and his clan to know anything so Seastar went next. She stood on her branch and began stating her business.

"FrostClan is thriving and well. We have three new apprentices, Dewpaw, Firepaw, and Sunpaw, we also have a medicine cat apprentice: Emberpaw. No new warriors but plenty of kits on the way. We have a new addition that someone left on our borders and we will care for it. Fallinggaze is expecting her kits soon so we will be warrior-filled." She glanced at Silentstar to see if he was paying any attention to her turn. "Prey is plentyful and we are enjoying the snow more and more." She nodded to the last two leaders to begin their's.

These gatherings are getting more uneventful than ever... Seastar thought. Well, the sixth or seventh gathering should be eventful. The mysterious death of a young leader...that'll be a good one. Seastar let out a small chuckle, that was building up in her chest, under her breath.

Oakpelt

Raccoonstar got up and stated a few things. He announced the arrival of two new warriors. "Falconcry!" Oakpelt cheered on queue. He might've been the loudest of all the cats for all he cared. He just wanted to make this young, SnakeClan cat feel welcome and happy about this time. It's like graduation to use humans, it's something to be proud of, not shy.

Oakpelt gave a loud laugh as Falconcry held himself up higher. It's just funny to see the confidence boost a good cheer could give anyone. Seastar stated her business next. Oakpelt looked up to her, she was the spitting image -well, her attitude is- of Snowstar. Brave, willing, daring, courageous, everything a leader must be for their clan. Strong.

Spottedwing

Spottedwing watched as her leader and mentor got up to state business. She was so beautiful and graceful up there, it was hard to believe she was a leader who could be ruthless when she wanted to for her clan. Spottedwing internally wished to be just like her, but also herself. To follow in Seastar's footsteps, but still be herself. To be known as Spottedstar or Spottedwing (whatever comes her way) not Seastar-wannabe.

Badgerface

Badgerface's eyes widened at the exchange between the SnakeClan and FrostClan medicine cats. Could they be on the brink of war? No. Certainly not. They are the two most 'gentle' and 'cooperative' clans out of the four, though they are not to be messed with. Or trusted... Badgerface spat in his mind. He has to admit to himself that he didn't think Spottedwing would've attacked a troop alone. She's got guts, but a bad move on her part. There would be severe consequences if they ever met in battle.