October Gathering 2013

[Midnight]

A black cat with stars in her fur sat atop the boulder in the center of the Pond of Truce, gazing out at the LeafClanners as Silverstar came forward, glancing up with confusion. The LeafClan leader leaped up, cautiously approaching the black she-cat and taking in her scent. What's a MidnightClanner doing up here? There's no way this cat is Flamestar! She's not huge and muscular like this. The black cat's red eyes were focused on the clearing itself, but no cat in particular. She appeared to be waiting.

"I wonder how many of them will remember you," Midnightstar's mate's voice rang through her ears, and she flicked one, deciding not to answer him.

[Splash]

Flamestar had, purposefully, not come to the last gathering. MidnightClan was busy. but she came to this one. Why, she couldn't say. As it was, very few apprentices and only trusted cats were with her today - not a drop of information could be leaked. Th leader padded into the gathering, eyes dead. It wasn't any one thing anymore. It was everything. Every breath was too hard and she had not a moment's rest. She saw LeafClan, and knowing Silverstar was among them, felt hatred rise up in her throat. How she hated the LeafClan leader. So much of the everything was her fault. It would have been hard enough to hold a clan together - now it was under the threat of war. With a tired sigh, she padded towards the stone in the center, looking up, she saw her.

Most of the time, Flame could only be described as composed. but now that composition shattered. The MidnghtClan leader stood there, frozen in place, eyes wide as she looked upon the cat on the stone. Her former leader. Former mentor. Then she realized that Silverstar was up there with the dead cat. Which left her with many options - the most tempting one was to leap up there and shred the LeafClan leader to bits. Of course, what with the political repercussions of such a thing. (ie: LeafClanners killing off many of her clanmates and herself before she could take more then three lives.) And she doubted her former mentor had come to help them out with the LeafClan problem. (though that would be lovely)

Which left her with two options - either stand here, frozen and dumbstruck for everyone to stare at for try - and fail, to act normally. She chose the later. Slowly, walking towards the rock, she barely made enough momentum to reach the top and stumbled upon landing. Once she got up there, though, she could hardly do anything other then stare at her former leader. "M-Midnightstar?" She stuttered, all her moons of making a mask to hide behind failing her now.

Perhaps others did not see the previous leader in the same way, but Flamestar had, ever since the death of the previous leader, seen the older she-cat as, in some ways, a goddess. Obsession pushed it a bit too far but it was an extremely strong admiration that Flamestar held for the cat. but it was more then that. Flamestar had grown up looking at others as equals. Midnightstar had been the one cat that Flamestar had thought of as above her - and, by extension, all her equals which was everyone else. Midnightstar had always been in Flamestar's eyes a cut above the rest. In that extent, she never thought of the she-cat as a friends, or a clanmate. Her leader, her mentor; that was Midnightstar in her mind. Even now, those thoughts carried in, placing Midnightstar above Flamestar if only in her own mind.

Then, of course, the leader had died. Flamestar had seen her in a dream once, and another time when she'd come to express StarClan's acceptance of FrostClan. Then she'd been able to handle it - once because it was a dream and that was much easier then this, and the other time because of the adrenaline spike of her former leader appearing in the middle of a gathering. Flamestar had thought about both events for a while after, occasionally reliving parts of the memories in her dreams. This was different. And so, the leader who spoke like she'd lived much longer then she had, who appeared brave and clever, who hid every emotion, was left staring at the black-furred ex-leader like a fool.

[[Acro.]]

ooc:// I am assuming it is now officially Leafbare?


{Hope is the thing with feathers}

A petite she-cat stalked into the Pond of Truce, tail raised and head lowered. Her sharp eyes were narrowed straight ahead, a coldness behind them that never seemed to thaw.

Never when anyone could see.

Ratstar led SunsetClan into the Gathering, steps purposeful and direct. She made a beeline to the Pond and crouched to leap onto the stone, but paused when she saw a cat she did not recognize. Her hard expression landed on the stranger, though her look was not unkind--only questioning. She had arrived just after Flamestar's moment of clarity... Subtly tasting at the air, Ratstar racked her brain her a name to go with the scent... but she found nothing. Something picked at the back of her mind... and a strange buzz rippled through her fur as she picked up more of the scent... but the she-cat had no recognition of the stranger.

No matter.

Breaking easily out of her momentary hesitation, Ratstar followed through with her previously initiated leap and landed lightly on the stone. She nodded curtly to both of the other leaders. "Flamestar, Silverstar." She sat down on the other side of the stranger, flicking her tail in acknowledgement. She was quiet for the briefest moment, considering... and then she spoke with a voice that was authoritative, but not impolite. "Welcome. I am Ratstar, leader of SunsetClan. What business do you have here?" This question was posed to be conversational, not interrogative or accusatory.

{That perches in the soul}

With SunsetClan, two lithe warriors padded proudly not far behind Ratstar. Fallowmist, her stoic brother, and Sandstrike her... dearest... friend, strode into the Gathering nearly side by side. Fallowmist's pale eyes were piercing, and Sandstrike's were fiery. They each took a seat well away from LeafClan.

Behind Flamestar, a large, long-furred tom padded slowly into the clearing. Boulderstrike's revealing yellow eyes scanned the crowds without trying to make it obvious he was looking for somebody... Walking as nonchalantly as possible, he took a seat toward the back, not too close to LeafClan, but close enough to see...

[Sand]

Fangstar walked to the pond of truce followed closely by his clan. He saw that his clan was one of the last clans to arrive except for Stormclan, but Stormclan rarily came since Otterstar had become leader. He did notice that Midnightclan had come this time. 'I don't think any clan should miss a gathering,' he thought narrowing his eyes. He thought it was disrespectful for a clan to miss a gathering.

From all the scents of all the other clans he could tell that Leafclan had gotten here first. He scowled and stalked up to the rock where all the leaders were before jumping up beside Flamestar keeping his distance from Silverstar. At first he didn't notice Midnightstar but when he did he recognized her. The tom never forgot a face but he was pretty bad with names.

Even though he recognized Midnightstar he couldn't remember her name. He barely acknowledged the other leaders as he turned his attention away from Midnightstar and gazed down into the clearing below.

He could see his clan mates getting settled around the Sunsetclan cats and Midnightclan cats. He knew that a lot of them hated Leafclan but he didn't necessarily hate Leafclan he just hated Silverstar. He didn't blame Leafclan for doing what was expected of them and following Silverstar. It was the job of a warrior to obey your leader. A leaders word was law no matter how wrong it seemed.

He could see a few Leafclan cats glaring up at Silverstar. He also noticed that a few of the Leafclan cats had injuries. 'I hope Leafclan didn't attack Stormclan,' he thought. Until he actually saw Stormclan he would worry about them. He wondered if they should just go ahead and start the gathering.

—————————————————

Darksun followed Fangstar into the gathering and sat down among her clan mates. She hadn't been born in Whisperclan she had actually been born in Leafclan but she had rebelled against Leafclan along with some of her other clan mates. They had lost the rebellion and had been exiled. Now she was loyal to Whisperclan and hoped to one day rid the clans of Silverstar. In her mind Silverstar was unfit to be leader.

—————————————————

Blackheart sat among her clan mates glowering at Silverstar. She was a Leafclanner but at the moment she hated Silverstar. 'If it weren't for Silverstar Swiftwhisper would still be alive,' she thought. She thought that Starclan had sent the badgers because of what they had done.

—————————————————

Clawpelt had followed Ratstar into the gathering and was now looking for some one to talk to. At most gatherings he kept to himself but he had decided that he wanted to interact with the other clans tonight.

Smokewhisker was right behind Clawpelt but he really wasn't in the mood to talk to his own clan mate. He was looking for someone and he hoped that she was here. He weaved his way through his clan mates still looking for Cinderwing.

[Legit]

BRAMBLETALON - MALE - WARRIOR - MIDNIGHTCLAN

Brambletalon strode confidently into the Pond of Truce, a few paces behind Flamestar, with the light brown tabby she-cat Briarwing to his left and his former apprentice Cedarleap to his right*. Even from afar, he could sense that LeafClan was, yet again, the first Clan to the Gathering. And to make everything even better, MidnightClan was the second Clan, which meant they were alone with the LeafClanners.

Brambletalon knew that not all members of LeafClan were like Silverstar - or even supported Silverstar, - but it was hard for him to tell the difference. That fluffy gray she-cat over there might turn out to be a savage in battle and might support Silverstar with her life. Or that large ginger tom over there might secretly be part of a group that despised Silverstar and is plotting to rise against her. Who could read the inner thoughts of these cats? Brambletalon obviously couldn't, and to him, all of these cats were just that. Cats, no matter the circumstances. This MidnightClanner would just try to be respectful and not rude to any LeafClanner - or any cat for that matter - that approached him.

(*Misa said it was okay for me to say that Cedarleap was walking beside Brambletalon. This also happens right after Flamestar enters the Gathering, so before SunsetClan and WhisperClan arrive. )

---

BRIARWING - FEMALE - WARRIOR - MIDNIGHTCLAN

Briarwing padded silently into the Pond of Truce beside Brambletalon, a large dark brown tabby tom. She was towards the front of the group of MidnightClanners selected to go to this Gathering - which largely consisted of experienced warriors rather than apprentices - and was a bit apprehensive of being with so many LeafClanners. Briarwing didn't hate them with a passion like most of her Clanmates and the cats of other Clans did, but she was still scared. The warm and reassuring presence of her Clanmates boosted her spirits a bit, and she wondered how Brambletalon could be so undaunted when virtually coming upon the most powerful Clan in the territories alone.

When Flamestar split away to join Silverstar and a black she-cat who held an air of familiarity and authority - even over the other leaders - upon the boulder in the center of the Pond, Briarwing knew that almost everyone would be breaking away into their own groups until the Gathering began. The she-cat always tried to socialize herself with a different Clanmate each time she attended a Gathering, and it just happened to be that Briarwing has not yet gotten to know the tom to her right. "Hey, Brambletalon," she mewed politely, lifting her head to look up at him, "do you mind if I tag along with you tonight?"

(This also happens right after Flamestar enters the Gathering, so before SunsetClan and WhisperClan arrive.

---

MOSSPETAL - FEMALE - ELDER - SUNSETCLAN

Mosspetal limped after her Clanmates into the Pond of Truce. The elder wasn't injured or sick or in pain, this faltering walk was just her new natural gait. She had wanted some fresh air and was tired of listening to complaints about LeafClan. Even if she was in pain, Mosspetal would have still come to the Gathering anyway. Too proud, too headstrong, and too determined.

Mosspetal's focus followed Ratstar to her perch atop the stone where the other leaders sat. She spotted Silverstar's thin form and light gray tabby pelt, along with another feline. The second she-cat had a black pelt speckled with faint glittering "spots."* She was tall and muscular and it took a while for Mosspetal's watchful gaze to finally realize who this cat was. It was none other than Midnightstar, the leader of MidnightClan before Flamestar!

Even though Mosspetal was an old badger, her mind could still remember a few bits and pieces. Why her brain chose to remember Midnightstar, the elder did not know. She stared at Midnightstar with bright, curious green eyes, much like the ones of a kit's. Seeing a StarClanner in person, in full wakefulness, for the first time excited the calico she-cat. I doubt you know me or watch over me, as we are from different Clans that do not even border each other, but I know that I am getting old and will join you in the starry ranks soon. Please let me move on peacefully.

(*I always imagined StarClan cats as literally having faint stars in their fur that looks a bit like glitter. =3)

[Deleted]

Slatescar ever so silently stepped in amongst the group of gathering cats, moving his massive form through the backways in order not to disturb anyone. He had come behind MidnightClan, not as a group. This was because he hadn't decided to go until they had already left. Following their path, he came upon the Notorious Pond of Truce. It was an astonishing scene. He was met with a picture of tranquility and comfort, with a touch of surreality. He swore this was heaven. He had never been to a gathering before. He had an idea of the proceedings, but it was high time he experienced it first hand.

He identified Flamestar amongst the other MidnightClanners, however he did not join them straight away. He wasn't amongst their initial party, and didn't want to seem like he was "fashionably late". Instead, he sat in a random location, where he could get a good view on what was going on. Looking about, he began observing the scene.

All of the leaders were there--except Otterstar of Stormclan, who was nowhere to be seen at the moment. He caught sight of Silverstar and the LeafClan, and a surge of malice boiled in the deepest depths of his heart. He contained himself though. This was the Pond of Truce for a reason. His mother had told him it was a place of peace, and only a dishonorable individual breaks that kind of trust. Wait...was that?

Midnightstar.

He smirked and nodded in approval as the great former leader of his clan blessed the audience with her presence. This was remarkable. Surely she would share great information on the future of the clans...he hoped she said something about the fall of LeafClan. That would be fantastic. Midnightstar.....imagine that?

[Midnight]

(If you're not too partial to reading the whole thing, read the very beginning, before the first line, then read the centered and the RPing after.)

Silverstar flicked her tail toward Ratstar when the SunsetClan leader asked what business Midnightstar had at the gathering, "Yes, cat, what business do you have here?" The silver tabby asked through harsh, narrowed eyes.

Midnightstar ignored her.

---

There was something up with StarClan. Instead of going to the leaders (well, if they did, then Ratstar hadn't said anything to Sparrowleaf and herself) or the medicine cats, a StarClanner came to a gathering instead.

Mintpaw felt sick all of a sudden. However, she forced her paws to move forward, sitting in front of the pond and looking up curiously. She felt Midnightstar's red eyes flick toward her, saw the she-cat nod, then look away. Although Mintpaw had no real idea who she was, the StarClanner clearly recognized Mintpaw as a medicine cat apprentice.

---

The feline that had joined the leaders didn't seem to be much of a threat, but Vergil still couldn't help but feel that there was something wrong about her being there. He also couldn't help but wonder if she was StormClan's new leader or something along those lines.

---

Rowanwhisker took a seat beside Briarclaw, one of his littermates. He felt fur brush beside his, and out of the corner of his eye, to the right, there was white fur that he recognized to be Hailcloud's. "This appears to be a rather poor situation," Rowanwhisker commented aloud, not receiving a response from either Briarclaw or Hailcloud.

---

Goldenlight sat anxiously at the back of the crowd, looking around for one specific large, powerful tom. Did Boulderstrike attend the gathering or not? She was beginning to miss him and wanted to take note if there were any she-cats in MidnightClan that he was particularly close to.

---

Dovetalon took a seat where cats were more mingled; she could recognize the calico tom from SunsetClan from before (who she hoped was an apprentice this time around) and Honeydawn from WhisperClan. There were a few others, but Dovetalon wasn't sure she really knew who they were. "Hey, how's WhisperClan?" She casually asked Honeydawn, pretending that her Clan didn't forcefully take some of their territory.

---

Honeydawn nodded to Dovetalon, "We're fine, despite a slight lack of territory." After responding, the spotted she-cat turned away from the gray cat. She felt another cat nudge her, and knowing it was her sister, spat, "I'm trying to listen, Grassyfire, knock it off."

"Fine, fine," Grassyfire replied, backing away a bit.

---

Oh no. Oh no, no, no, no, no. There was a StarClan cat here. Patchpaw knew it. He began freaking out on the inside, spinning and kneading the ground where he wanted to sit.

---

Midnightstar shot a sharp, fierce glare at Ratstar and then Silverstar. Had they no respect? Had they no knowledge of who they were talking to? Ah, maybe she'd grown a patch of arrogance somewhere, but really, "What business do you have here?"? Did this leader, with her nine lives, know what she was getting herself into? Midnightstar considered that, with the attitudes of these leaders, maybe it was a bad idea to warn the Clans of the danger ahead.

No, no, can't do that to all of the decent cats.

The previous MidnightClan leader stood, large, muscular body taking up a good amount of the boulder. "Alright," Midnightstar said, her voice loud and clear. She looked out at the cats of the Clans and felt a purr rising in her throat. It had been so long, so very long since she'd done this.

"Firstly, for those of you who are young and unaware of who I am, my name is Midnightstar. I led MidnightClan after Leafstar* and before Flamestar. I now reside in StarClan, watching over all of you. Kits, apprentices, warriors, queens, and elders alike are all in danger. I leave you now with a final message:

Beware of things that travel above the ground."

With that, Midnightstar faded back to StarClan.

---

No way. There was no way that Midnightstar meant her. LeafClan traveled throughout the trees, thus above ground, but she wasn't planning any attacks at the moment, so what did this warning mean? Silverstar's fur bristled, and she stood defensively, just waiting for some cat to accuse her. If any cat says anything, then they should start to fear us. I won't let my Clan be attacked by StarClan like this!

(*Leafstar was never actually a leader in-character, but I play her from StarClan from time to time.)

[[Acro.]]

{And sings the tune without the words}

That look...

It was in that look... that Ratstar knew. While she still did not recognize Midnightstar by name, when the former leader hit the petite she-cat with those eyes... a jolt shot through her like a shard of ice, fallen from the highest tree and into her spine. For once visibly thrown off, Ratstar's eyes widened and her ears partially lowered. This cat...

'StarClan...' With her mind so clouded by... recent happenings, recent worries, Ratstar had been blind to Midnightstar's ethereality. She hadn't seen... Recovering from her blatant surprise, Ratstar's expression fell back to a hard line, but she found herself full of an angry heat. Anger toward StarClan, yes--how could she be faulted for not knowing?--but more so it was an intense anger toward herself. How could she have been so foolish? All the work, all the stress and energy she had spent trying to do right--by her Clan, by her father, by the stars--it all could have been wasted in that one instant when she'd opened her mouth and revealed her ignorance...

Or maybe... the disdain she had seen in those eyes came from... Did they know? Surely her loyalty and dedication to her Clan was enough to make up for her mistake...?

Flicking her tail once, Ratstar clenched her jaw and sat composed while Midnightstar delivered her warning. She took in the words, committing them to memory. "Beware of things that travel above the ground." She wanted--badly--to jump on the chance to pin everything, finally, on Silverstar... but her gut, deep down, told her to wait. Wait...

Still simmering, deep in thought, Ratstar did not move to speak after the StarClanner disappeared. She would wait.

{And never stops at all}

Sandstrike's hot, yellow eyes landed on Ratstar. He had seen her front crumble... but he had also seen beyond that. He could see her struggling even after her composure had been regained. The tom didn't care about Midnightstar's prophecy--that could wait. Sandstrike's focus was on trying to will Ratstar to look his way, to meet his eyes in the crowd and be reassured, or at least tell him more... but the leader's eyes remained on a fixed point, and that point was not him.

Beside Sandstrike, Fallowmist's sharp, ocher gaze narrowed pointedly onto Silverstar. If he were not a quiet cat, he could think of a few choice words to call her way... 'It's about time StarClan stepped in,' he thought bitterly.

Boulderstrike furrowed his brow. What...? He couldn't wrap his mind around that prophecy, let alone the fact that a cat just disappeared right in front of his eyes... The large tom shook his pelt, disturbing some of the cats around him. "Sorry... sorry," he mumbled, lowering his ears. From the corner of his eye, he thought he caught a familiar pelt... 'Goldenlight?' but when he turned to see, a mass of cats stood in his way. His tail dropped, disappointed.

A lithe tom with a sandy orange, tabby pelt sat at the back of the Gathering. He had shown up later than usual, and so he'd missed the magic show. Ramble's eyes drifted around, trying to figure out why there was a new sort of tension in the air, different from the other "Gatherings" he'd been to...

[Splash]

As soon as Midnightstar was gone, Flamestar felt like a great weight had been lifted off her chest and she could breathe again and think about what had just happened. "Things that traveled above the ground." Flamestar's mind was happy to turn it's thoughts to a new puzzle. Since there are very few things that travel below the ground, I think it would be a reasonable assumption she doesn't mean things that travel on the ground. Birds. Maybe things in the trees. but warning of a large bird attack would not prompt this - they would tell leaders or medicine cats specifically. The fact that they hadn't just told medicine cats or leaders could mean a couple things - either a, they didn't trust the medicine cats and leaders, b, everyone has to know, or c, there was something that the clans needed to know right now. The last one could be canceled out within a couple sunrises as by then any immediate danger would have passed. The first one was unlikely. Which left the second one - this was important. This would effect every last cat. Flamestar figured that sounded about right. but that was the most terrifying of the options. What was so big that it would reach most of the lives in the forest?

Think, Flamestar. Recent events? Something that effects the entire forest? Silverstar's rule! Coincidences happen, of course, but nonetheless it makes sense. To tie these together. After all, LeafClan cats travel by trees. Above the ground, not on it or in it. The leader chalked this up to the most likely option that the time, but still - why would StarClan warn them about LeafClan everyone already knew about them. There was something missing, she was sure of it. but without ore information, she would have to wait til another time to think on it more. It would be nice to pin this on LeafClan but she was pretty sure that conclusion was incorrect. StarClan spoke to them in riddles. She could only infer so much before it became insanity. The she-cat looked at the other leaders, silently wondering what they thought of it. Her face had returned to the cold, emotionless mask she'd worn before, but the she-cat didn't look anywhere near as tired. Not with an interesting new problem to solve, a break in what had been a loop of exhaustion and work. Yes, this was something new.

[Deleted]

"Uh...what?" Slatescar said, a little louder than he wanted. He looked from side to side, hoping no one really heard him. but seriously, was that it? He had come all the way to the Pond, amongst several other cats that he didn't really know, not to mention those he hated (LeafClan) for one riddled sentence? He looked around again, his fiery eyes reading the faces of other cats as their faces bloomed with epiphany and wonder. Did they understand the sentence?

He was beginning to feel far less intelligent by the moment. This was the first Gathering he'd been to, granted. Still, why did he feel like an outlier? What did Midnightstar mean by: "Beware of things that travel above the ground."? He could have told them that. Owl's were dangerous predators, as well as Hawks. WhisperClan could possibly vouch for that. However, he imagined there was a deeper meaning to it. Despite the fact that he was one who pondered nearly half the night, he couldn't quite decipher Midnightstar's advice. Perhaps she was speaking of Leafclan...they travel above the ground. Always looking down from those despicable birch trees...

Shrugging, the warrior gave up. He would just as soon go with the opinion of the next cat. He was stumped.

[Legit]

BRAMBLETALON - MALE - WARRIOR - MIDNIGHTCLAN

"Uhh... yeah, sure, Brairwing. Let's go sit over there," Brambletalon pointed with his tail to a somewhat-clear spot a few fox-lengths from the water's edge. He lead Briarwing over to that area he had shown; they had to walk single file through the throng of cats. I wonder if everyone is so close to each other to just get a good view of the leaders and... Midnightstar! Something really important must be going on."

Brambletalon settled down, scooting over to make room for Briarwing, when a cat to his right shrieked. "Watch whose tail you sit on, furball!" a ginger LeafClan she-cat hissed at him. "I'm truly sorry, Amberclaw," Brambletalon apologized, although his tail flicked irritably. Amberclaw always seemed to ruffle his fur. "It's a bit of a tight squeeze, but everyone must be curious as to what Midnightstar has to say."

---

BRIARWING - FEMALE - WARRIOR - MIDNIGHTCLAN

"Okay," Briarwing agreed and padded along behind Brambletalon. She sat down beside him, her fur brushing his... and almost every other cats' around her. Everyone must be really interested in what this StarClan cat has to say, she thought, staring up at the cat intently. She seems so familiar..

A screech to her right interrupted Briarwing's thoughts. She couldn't see around Brambletalon's large form, but heard him speaking to an outraged LeafClan she-cat. Midnightstar! The name popped into her mind. That's why the starry warrior felt indistinctly familiar! She was my leader when I was still an apprentice!

---

MOSSPETAL - FEMALE - ELDER - SUNSETCLAN

LeafClan! It must be LeafClan! No doubt about it! There's no one else it could be! Mosspetal gasped as Midnightstar spoke her warning, and then disappeared like mist in the wind. She collapsed to the ground, mostly from pure shock and fright.

---

SPARROWLEAF - MALE - MEDICINE CAT - SUNSETCLAN

Sparrowleaf had been sitting beside Mosspetal the elder during Midnightstar's ominous warning, away from his apprentice Mintpaw out of worry for the elder. When the old she-cat crumpled to the ground, he hurriedly thrust the side of his head to her chest.

Good. She was still breathing. Sparrowleaf calmed his racing heart and began to soothingly stroke the elder's calico fur with his tail.

"Beware of things that travel above the ground."

What could it mean? LeafClan? They traveled across their territory by leaping from tree to tree, and they certainly were something to be wary of. but what about those of LeafClan that didn't travel by tree? I know some preferred the solidity of the ground to the feeling of being like squirrels. Maybe the mysterious omen was centered towards the whole of LeafClan, instead of singling out a few cats? Or maybe Twolegs would sprout wings?

...

No. Just no. Highly implausible.

What about birds? They traveled above the ground, and spent more time in the air or perched on branches... Sparrowleaf tilted his head, no longer paying attention to the Gathering. His mind was only focused on StarClan's warning and Mosspetal's gently stirring body.

---

AMBERCLAW - FEMALE - WARRIOR - LEAFCLAN

Amberclaw let out a screech as a large tabby tom flopped down on her tail. "Watch whose tail you sit on, furball!" she hissed at him. The ginger she-cat just rolled her eyes and sniffed at his response. Brambletalon, she groaned inwardly. Her attention diverted back to the five cats atop the boulder in the center of the Pond.

Some warning, huh, she sighed. I'll leave all the mulling over this to Bluewing.

---

BRAMBLETALON

Brambletalon stiffened at Midnightstar's omen, ignoring Amberclaw. Danger is coming to the Clans, but we all knew it. Why tell us what we already knew, StarClan? He glanced around the field at the some of the other cats. Some were shocked, others looked fearful, while others kept a straight face, hiding their emotions from peering eyes. He heard Slatescar's voice. Appalled? Confused? Angry? Or maybe all three?

---

BRIARWING

Did she hear correctly? "Beware of things that travel above the ground." Briarwing couldn't possibly comprehend the meaning of these words, and she never would until she saw with her own eyes what they meant. "Hey, Brambletalon," she whispered. "What do you think Midnightstar meant?"

[Deleted]

Lilysong and Otterpelt Warriors of Whisperclan
Lilysong padded along with the rest of Whisperclan with Otterpelt at her side. They had been friends for quite sometime and she often went along side him to the gatherings. They sat towards the center of their own clan, Whisperclan offered protection to both of them. Both Otterpelt and Lilysong were loyal to their clans and loved Whisperclan. Otterpelt especially had always believed the Whisperclan way was the only correct way.

Lilysong was shocked to see a Starclanner here. She had such mixed feelings about Starclan that she was slightly angry. The words beware of things that travel above the ground rang loudly in her ears. She had no clue what that meant but she thought long and hard. She quite literally didn't care what it meant, she had a burning hatred for Leafclan. She always had a hatred for Leafclan since she felt her brother had betrayed Whisperclan for them. She would never forgive him, she hated him, Leafclan, and especially Silverstar. She knew that even Otterpelt didn't know how much she really hated Leafclan. It didn't matter what Starclan said, Lilysong blamed Leafclan for everything. She looked over at Otterpelt and in a whisper asked, "What does that mean?

Otterpelt was a cat of few words. He looked back over at Lilysong, his yellow eyes piercing in curiosity. "It means something very bad, Lilysong."

Lilysong quietly looked away and up to Fangstar who was sitting by the other clan leaders. She quietly waited for what the leaders were going to say, paying special attention to her own leader. Otterpelt had his eyes focused on the Leafclan cats. He tried to nonchalantly look around at all the other clans. He couldn't help but wonder what was going through the Leafclan cat's minds.

[.masquerade.]

Wolfleap- Female- StormClan- Warrior
Padding shyly along with her Clan was a tall, sleek black she-cat with white spots and gold-amber eyes. She seemed tense, worried. She even looked at her own Clanmates as if she expected one of them to suddenly attack her. Though she did walk within the crowd, she didn't blend with it. Her awkward posture and random twitching would certainly give her away as a coward to anyone who noticed her. She was so concerned with trying not to stand out that she had no idea what was happening.

Wolfstream- Male- MidnightClan- Deputy
Tall, muscular, confident, but very awkward-looking was Wolfstream, the Deputy of MidnightClan. He seemed a little excited, even if he wasn't overly fond of the other Clans. He had a great admiration for his leader and StarClan, though, and would remain civil- even friendly- if confronted by a cat of a different Clan. He wore a perpetual charming smile that ignited his dark amber eyes. He looked to see what had attracted the attention of the others and was a bit more than a little confused to see a StarClanner and even more so by the message provided.

Amberfoot- Female- MidnightClan- Warrior
She was not overly pleased to be in attendance. Her average-sized muscular form gave away all her boredom and displeasure in its posture. The tom beside her- her deputy- seemed to be enjoying himself. That only added to her irritation. In her usual habit, the black she-cat lifted her single amber hindpaw and twitched it. Then she looked around with dark green eyes, hoping to find someone to talk to and take her mind off all the annoying thoughts buzzing about her easily distracted mind. As stated before, she was easily distracted and had no knowledge of the spectre of a former leader of her Clan.

[Deleted]

Slatescar studied the reactions from all the other cats--like the elder Sunsetclanner collapsing in fright--with intent interest, trying to get an idea of what the general population perceived the news as. What he got from the mass of talking cats was: This is bad. So he had thought wrong earlier. He had assumed it was something to do with a fight with LeafClan, which he wanted nothing more than to do. However, he began to feel as if this omen was prophesying another event. He'd have to wait and see.

He saw that more MidnightClanners were around, so he left his spot and joined them amongst Flamestar, returning to his stoic gaze and posture.

[Echo]

(( I am typing this as if Nightpoppy has already settled in))

Nightpoppy was still gazing at where Midnightstar had been, wide eyed. This could only mean Leafclan. only. Nightpoppy felt it. It couldn't be birds, what's dangerous about them other than stealing kits? No squirrels... or any of those creatures. Twolegs don't fly, so Leaflclan. Up in the trees is where they roam, and this now made them a bigger threat. If Starclan had to go through all that trouble to say one sentence of prophecy, this was important. Without thinking, she spoke only loud enough for other medicine cats to hear. "Do you think we should plan up a time to meet and discuss this? It is our job to deal with Starclan, too."