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Post by dream. on Feb 3, 2007 23:55:48 GMT -5
[ Out Of Character ]This is itS' first gathering. What you do is simple. It's like a big roleplay, so just play all of your characters.
Try not to dash on ahead in front of your leader, and make it realistic, please.
[ Back In Character ] Icy blue eyes flashed in the moonlight, as a pale silver she-cat stepped out of the thick undergrowth, into a fairly large clearing.
In the center of the clearing a tall oak tree grew, and a full moon hung in the sky. As Dreamstar's paws hit ground, she could feel the frost that clung to the blades of grass crunching under her weight. She took a deep breath.
The night was filled with all the bitter cold of leaf-bare, and she could see her own breath, like mist staining the air in front of her.
Bitter thoughts raced through her mind, and she trembled at the thought of facing the other cats like this.
Would they see? Would they be able to tell the change in her? If she kept to the shadows, they might just think she was fat. It's leaf-bare, Dreamstar reminded herself. There was always a shortage of prey in the feared season.
She shrugged off all her worries. Surely the other Clans' wouldn't notice that she was expecting kits...
What if they start asking questions?
No. She couldn't give in to misery right now. Not just yet...
With a swish of her tail, Dreamstar signaled for her clan to follow her into the empty clearing, where the Clans of the forest held their gathering every full moon.
Dreamstar stepped lightly across the withering grasses, and headed for the Oak. She was conscious of how her belly swayed back and forth, heavy with unborn kits. Dreamstar knew that she was growing weaker. She found it hard to get through a day as Clan leader, the duties she had grown so accustomed to doing, now more difficult than ever to carry out. Frequently, Dreamstar had to rest in her den. She felt old. Frail. Defeated.
As Dreamstar reached the Oak, she remembered how she could easily jump to the lowest branch, a flash of silver fur, a few moons ago. But now, It took an enormous amount of effort to claw her way up the trunk, so she could perch, clumsy and unbalanced, upon one of the branches of the old, gnarled oak tree. |
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Post by tide on Feb 4, 2007 0:00:38 GMT -5
A small calico she-cat stepped lightly into the gathering clearing. Moonlight shone upon her pelt, making her look as though she were a StarClan warrior. Hiddenheart had always loved gatherings. Ever since her first one. She shook herself, and gazed out.
So ThunderClans were the first ones there, were they?
She wove herself towards where Dreamstar stood. She padded off to the left, and tucked her paws under her chest. She waited for the other medicine cats to arrive.
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Post by M A t t. on Feb 4, 2007 0:09:45 GMT -5
Hailstorm padded calmly out of the undergrowth, behind his leader. He knew that she was weakening, and as far as he was concerned, it was up to him to protect her. He dashed after her, watching as she struggled to take up the leaders place on the Oak. His pale green eyes glowed warily, though he calmed down slightly when he saw that she had reached her place unharmed.
Hailstorm ran his tongue through his medium length ebony pelt, while keeping one eye on his beloved leader. Those were his kits! Or so he thought...
Hailstorm turned away, and padded a few pawsteps away from the Oak, before turning back to gaze at Dreamstar again. No cat could deny that Hailstorm loved her, but he didn't know the truth.
Turning away again, Hailstorm turned his pale green gaze toward the edges of the clearing. When would the other Clans' arrive? He was anxious to find out the news of Shadowclan, as they had just survived a recent crisis. Did they have a new leader yet?
And he had heard rumors that Windclan had a significant shortage of prey...
But all his concern remained for Dreamstar. A chill ran down his spine at the thought of the other Clans' discovering her secret. |
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Post by untilthis.echo on Feb 4, 2007 0:17:47 GMT -5
Golden eyes gazed at the clearing of the island as autumn shaded paws stepped lightly onto the ground. Pale peridot flecks sparked in the creature's eyes as the paws padded across the bark of an old fallen log, a glance stolen at the dark water below. Echostar's pale eyes burned with heat, misery, and uncertainty as he gazed at the reflection. She was probably going to be there, at the gathering. She had to be, since she was the leader of her Clan. How would he act around her? How could he act calm around her, when his heart would leap and his stomach would flutter. He shuddered just thinking of her.
Looking back up at the island ahead, the tom continued his trek and leaped off the log to pad to the clearing. Echostar emerged from the brush, leading his Clan and padded to the large Oak. He instantly spotted a heavy silver form and he had to bite his lip to force back a yelp of longing and love. Grunting with a spurt of anger at having to hide his feelings, the bengal tom leaped into the branches and ceased on one above Dreamstar. He hid himself in the dark canopy of leaves, wishing that the shadows could hide his feelings as easily as they could hide himself.
The tom straightened, clearing his mind of the dark feelings and glanced around the clearing. Would the other Clans act differently, since it was no real secret that Windclan were starting to starve because of a famine?
Secret...
He swallowed. He hoped his secret, their secret, would be kept safe. He prayed to Starclan it would. Oh how he prayed. |
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Post by kestrel on Feb 4, 2007 0:34:51 GMT -5
The fear that had been contained inside him for so long was threatening to make him explode. But he had to put that fear aside, for the sake of his Clan. After all that ShadowClan had been through, they could not afford to show weakness. They had to be strong. Stand together.
Astercoat knew that he could make his clan great again.
After Slithertalon's omen had been told to the clan, he had found it easier to tell them that he was the right cat to lead ShadowClan.
He had already taken it upon himself to start reorganizing the clan after their fatal sickness. The apprentices were back on a semi-regular training schedule, and there were extra hunting patrols, to strengthen ShadowClan with good food in the midst of the harshest season.
He had yet to travel to the moonpool and receive his nine lives.
A shiver ran down Astercoat's spine, making his fur bristle at the though. The mysteries of StarClan, that he was so close to entering.
Gathering all of his strength, he stepped into the feline-filled clearing, at the head of his Clan.
The mingled scents of ThunderClan and WindClan told him which cats were already present at the gathering. A chilled wind whipped around the milky white tom, and he waved his tail, in a signal for his clan to follow him out into the clearing. |
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Post by dream. on Feb 4, 2007 0:59:25 GMT -5
Mottledpaw's ambery-orange eyes glowed with excitement and delight, as she followed the small crowd of Thunderclan cats' out of the undergrowth, and into the main clearing on the island. This was her second gathering as an apprentice, and she loved mingling with the crowds of felines, or following her mentor, Hiddenheart, around and meeting new friends.
Mottledpaw's tortoiseshell coat gleamed in the moonlight; she had taken special care while grooming her fur. Her eyes shone, and thin tail twitched in a mix of excitement and anticipation. Spotting her mentor sitting close to the Oak, Mottledpaw pattered over as fast as her small, dainty paws would let her. She sat down next to her mentor, and mewed a cheery greeting.
"Hello, Hiddenheart!" |
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Post by kestrel on Feb 4, 2007 1:24:29 GMT -5
Kestrelclaw wove through the Riverclan cats' that stood around the fallen tree, ready to cross over to the gathering. The scents of the other three clans wafted over to him from the direction of the island, notifying him that RiverClan was late. He didn't understand why they were hesitating around the fallen tree, instead of crossing over. Of course, RiverClan cats' feared water least, so they should have no reason to mingle about.
Kestrelclaw shuffled his russet hued paws in anticipation, waiting for his turn to cross to the island. |
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Post by dream. on Feb 4, 2007 1:35:56 GMT -5
Searedheart glanced from clanmate to clanmate. They all looked the same, excited and anxious to go to the gathering.
How do they manage?
He thought bitterly, noticing, not for the first time, his lack of excitement toward everyday life.
The mottled brown warrior padded toward a nearby clanmate; Kestrelclaw. Sitting down next to the other warrior, Searedheart murmured a distant greeting, then added, "Why is it taking so long to cross the fallen tree? Can't they see we'll be late? We're wasting moonlight."
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Terror padded confidently into the clearing, behind his new leader, and with his clanmates. He was anxious to see toe other Clans' reactions to Astercoat, and to get the news from the other Clan cats'.
Shadowclan appeared strong for the first time in many moons, and he wondered how the other clans' were coping with leafbare. Were they thriving as well? He glanced around the busy clearing, slightly nervous, before spotting Hiddenheart, the Thunderclan medicine cat, and her apprentice, Mottledpaw.
He started padding across the clearing, wondering what to say when he reached them. |
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Post by untilthis.echo on Feb 4, 2007 2:11:22 GMT -5
Dark earthen eyes, glazed over and filled with hazy serenity, roamed over the clearing as an earthen-painted she-cat padded around it. Mossstorm twitched her whiskers and cleared her eyes for a few seconds, breaking off from what the wind had been whispering. Just as the rustle of the night breeze had told her, the Clans were jittery, anxious to see the state of each other. On the outside, Shadowclan, Thunderclan, and Windclan all seemed fine. Contrary though, there was tension and anxiety in the depths of each cat she passed, as if they were all waiting for something. Which they were.
Riverclan.
The Clan leaving by the streams was still absent. Mossstorm blinked and glanced toward the log, wondering what was taking them so long. Her earthen emerald-flecked eyes glowed heatedly as the focus in them faded back to haziness. Like all the others, she would wait. And she sat down, to wait.
~~~
Yellow eyes roamed wildly over the clearing as Shadowpaw leaped down from the log that his Clan had crossed. He'd restrained from racing ahead of the whole of Shadowclan all the time through the trip. Excitement coursed through his smoky fur like electric fire, burning his pelt and making his fur stand on end. His paws scrabbled on the earth, unsheathed claws bringing up earth and bugs. Panting with the fervor of his high spirits, the apprentice took a few minutes to rove his gaze over the clearing. Shadowclan, Windclan, and Thunderclan were all here, but where was Riverclan?
Tilting his head to one side, the smoky tom turned to gaze back at the log. His pelt suddenly prickled again, but not with joyful vigor. This time with agitation. He hoped nothing had happened to make Riverclan late.
~~~
Cloudheart's azure eyes took in the sight of the large Oak first before anything else. Her sky-tinted gaze was aimed at Hailstorm and Dreamstar. The two highest cats of Thunderclan were acting strange, had been acting strange for quite some time. The demure long-furred golden femme was not one to speak out loud, but she had a perceptive eye, if nothing else. She'd noticed that Hailstorm had been acting more protective with Dreamstar, more so than a deputy and one who harbored affections did. He harbored a secret.
But looking at Dreamstar, at the silver majesty closer, Cloudheart couldn't help but feel as if the leader held a darker secret. One related to Hailstorm's, yet tainted with the sin of taboo. The gold creamy cat licked her lips. There was something heavy in the air. Something...
secret. |
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Post by keestaa.. on Feb 4, 2007 8:41:38 GMT -5
Small gray paws keaded the cold dry earth. Claws, unsheathed, dug into the ground, bringing up green grass, which was flung all over the place. Sea green eyes scanned the clearing as he did this. The orbs were full of excitement though they were usually dull. Magnificent eyes like those should be used for excitment but not Crescentpaw's. He had other things on his mind...
Anyway, back to the Gathering. Finally, the apprentice's eyes rested on something. That was the log, that was a bridge from land to island. Where was RiverClan? They are the closest to the Gathering Island and they are late. Tsk, tsk. Sighing, the young tom continued to dig up grass and waited. Waited for something to happen. |
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Post by sorrelpaw on Feb 4, 2007 9:15:30 GMT -5
A shadow slipped between the trees and soft blue eyes gazed in wonder up at the full moons translucent surface. The kitten padded onwards, weaving among her clan, her fur brushing her friends. Its silky sheen caught the brilliant silver bursts of moonlight and set the coat that covered her alight with stars and celestial fire. The white of her pelt glimmered while the dark mottled lacing glowed. The throat let out a rusty purr as the kitten's small white paws took her towards the grey tabby shape of a second kitten. Two whispered words left her silken lips.
"It's beautiful." |
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Post by siberiantiger on Feb 4, 2007 10:42:10 GMT -5
Clawwind trotted accross the fallen tree, weaving in and out between the branches. The full moon was high and the sky, and it lit up the island in front of him. When he reached the other side, he hopped down lightly, and padded up to talk to some ThunderClan warriors. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Iceheart sat by himself in the clearing. He did not talk to anyone. He was thinking of all the times he had come here as an apprentice with his friend; Honeypaw. But she was dead now, and those were only distant memories. He sighed and waited for the gathering to start. |
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Post by snowheart on Feb 4, 2007 10:44:32 GMT -5
Chaosflight crept behind her leader, gazing wearily around the clearing. The full moon looked down at the island where the cats were gathering. She looked over her shoulder to make sure that everyone was saftely on the island. Chaosflight past by Astercoat, and started to walk among the gathered Clans. As much as she wished she could talk, she barely knew any of these cats. It was troubling. She flipped her tail around lazily in the air. In this light, Chaosflight's tabby coat seemed silver, and her amber eyes glowed with intensity.
Where was RiverClan? |
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Post by siberiantiger on Feb 4, 2007 10:53:52 GMT -5
Iceheart gazed up at the moon, high in Silverpelt. It had already reached-it's half-way point. The gathering should have started already he thought to himself. He looked around. The clearing seemed emptier than usual, and he realized with a jolt that RiverClan had not yet arrived. He padded over to his his Clan-mate Chaosflight. "Why aren't RiverClan here?" he meowed urgently.
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Post by keestaa.. on Feb 4, 2007 11:50:51 GMT -5
The flying of grass stopped when the she-cat spoke. The tabby figure was covered in grass from head to tail. He shook, now grass flying all around him and landing on the ground from where it came. The sea green eyes fell upon the she-cat that spoke. Sighing, he nodded and looked up at the dark sky that was lightened by the the bright moon and the sparkling stars. "Yes it is beautiful,"he murmured.
Every star up there was twinkling in the sky. There was one that stuck out to him. It was bright and shown larger than most of the stars. There was one next to it that was smaller and on it's other side was an even smaller one that was hard to see. "I know which one is my mother, sister and mentor,"he whispered and looked back at Sorrelpaw. "I just know...." |
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