January 2013 Gathering

[Splash]

Flamestar was silent, eyes wide, mouth agape. In the name of StarClan! Some part of her brain cried. This is insane! This has never happened before. A ,ore bitter part of her brain chimed in, Of course, your first gathering as a leader includes a new clan showing up and your dead former mentor and leader coming down from StarClan to accept them. Because your life just wasn't abnormal enough already. The rational part of her made the point that she was far from the center of the universe, so the world wasn't making a new clan just to spite her. At least you won't have to tell everyone Midnightstar is dead because they all just saw that. Chimed an unwanted part of her mind. Though it took at least twenty seconds, she was able to regain her composure. Flamestar took a big breath. "Well that's that. FrostClan is a clan. Which, in all reality, probably makes it harder for their survival." Flamestar meowed, half to herself, finding that she could speak again. "There's nothing more to be said on the subject and we need to get this gathering started. Does FrostClan have a leader to represent them?"

Flamestar felt the urge to hit her head against something. They probably didn't have a leader, for their medicine cat was talking. Like you stupid rogues, loners, and kittypets haven't spit in the face of our traditions enough. You come here without a leader. Well, they might have a leader. but the medicine cat was doing all the speaking. So the chances of there being a leader were slim. Mousebrained idiots.

[Deleted]

Icestar growled at Thunderstar's words. "At some point and time, some leaders our clans have let in rogues, loners or kittypets into the clans. Just because I say that doesn't mean that every time that a rogue or kittypet wants to join my clan, I let them in." She said, trying to stay calm. She then returned her gaze to Frostclan's medicine cat "Does Frostclan have a leader?"

[Deleted]

Thunderstar had narrowed his eyes dangerously at Bluewing. Medicine cat or not, cats knew better than to insult leaders, especially leaders of another clan. Did she want her clan to go to battle with Whisperclan? Certainly Medicine cats had the right to speak up if their leaders allowed it, but calling him a mouse-brain didn’t seem relevant to any gathering discussion in the slightest, and was definitely pushing the line of the truce. Just because they were at peace here, didn't mean that cats could go around speaking so freely without fearing consequences later on. The truce was only for a full moon.
Aside from that, he knew kits who had more respect for leaders! If she had been his medicine cat, he would have dismissed her in a heartbeat.

Thankfully the silver tom seemed to keep a calm composure though, despite narrowed eyes and disdainfully raising his head. The only cats who are mouse-brained seems to be Leafclan, for their obvious blind acceptance of these cats. As I said, they can keep all of their friendships with kittypets for all I care. They seem to be so fond of them that they would trust them with anything. That’s their mistake to make. “Anger Starclan? If I were you Bluewing, I would watch your place and hold your tongue; you aren’t my medicine cat, and therefore you don’t advise me about my relationship with Starclan. You can rest assured though that I was not speaking of angering or going against Starclan. Midnightstar merely stated that they are a clan, not that we should fall all over them and let down our defenses. Clan or not, it doesn’t change how cat’s behave and doesn't give us reason to trust them near our territories.” Thunderstar lashed his tail.

Hearing Icestar, he merely flicked an ear dismissively. Whether it was one kittypet or a thousand, it was all the same to him. She could justify it all she wanted, but it wasn’t the clan he would raise. Trusting outsiders!
“Yes Frostclan, where is your leader? It seems your medicine cat likes to do all of the talking, but this isn’t a medicine cat’s meeting, this is a clan gathering. As I am sure Starclan has notified you when they sent you here. Or maybe you have deputy that could speak? I would rather speak to the cats who are actually in charge of things.” He waited with his tail curled around his paws. Some clan this is turning out to be! I hope they don't think their leader IS the medicine cat!

--

Whitefire flicked an ear. “Yes, of course we have a leader. Burningstar couldn’t make it to the gathering. He and our deputy are watching the camp and attending to other matters. Since Starclan was the one who sent me the dream to find our way here, I was left to lead them for this gathering.” Thunderstar was really starting to get under her pelt. She would like to see him tend to all of the sick and injured cats in camp and then reconsider if he should be allowed to talk about important matters such as this. It wasn’t like Whitefire had volunteered anyhow, with no leader or deputy she was the next position up. She would much rather be sitting in the back of the crowd than talking and justifying herself to cats like Thunderstar.

[Sand]

Bluewing lashed her tail and spoke in a calm voice, "I was not trying to insult you but not trusting someone because they have moved in beside you is no reason to tree them like killers," she meowed her gaze unwavering as she met his gaze. Then she let her gaze fall on Fangice the Whisperclan deputy and she spoke again. "Your deputy doesn't seem to mind them," she meowed glancing back up at Thunderstar her eyes narrowed to slits.

Fangice glanced up when he heard his name and he blinked hearing what the medicine cat about him trusting Frostclan. "I don't really see any reason to get worked up about, we could easily win against them if they tried to engage us in battle," he meowed with a shrug his eyes unreadable. He glanced up at his leader and blinked, "We could easily over power them so why worry?" he asked glancing at his clan mates feeling pride feel him.

[Deleted]

Icestar flicked her tail. "Enough. Thunderstar's, you are right she is not your medicine cat, she is mine. So you may not speak to her like that. And just because I accept them as a clan, doesn't mean that I trust them one hundred percent. There is no need for your tone of voice right now." The young leader tried to say calmly. She turned back to the new clan "Your leader should be present for the gathering, next time make sure that Burningstar is the one leading his clan to the gatherings." She said.

[Midnight]

Although she didn't necessarily mind FrostClan itself too much, Honeydawn glared at Icestar, followed by Bluewing, then back again. Her green eyes were narrowed in annoyance, and her Bengal-like fur was rising in annoyance. Something about those two continuously arguing with Thunderstar hit Honeydawn's last nerve, and she couldn't stand it. "Icestar, what right do you have to tell another leader how they can speak to a cat? There's nothing in the warrior code that states that a leader of one Clan must listen to the leader of another! Bluewing, you were insulting Thunderstar, whether you like it or not! Is mousebrain no longer an insult just because you say you were not trying to insult my leader? Fine, then. Bluewing and Icestar, I know deem you mousebrains." Snarling, the warrior's tail lashed fiercely.

Her words started mature, but as Honeydawn went on, it seemed to Grassyfire that her sister was acting more like an apprentice, and she gave Honeydawn an odd look. Maybe Honeydawn was just being loyal to her Clan leader, but really, why was she so defensive of Thunderstar?

[Sand]

Bluewing snorted as Honeydawn spoke and she spoke again through gritted teeth her blue eyes flashing angrily. "I was only speaking the truth, and everyone should be use to my sharp tongue, by now," she meowed coolly. Then she glanced back up at her leader nodding her head to her leader encouraging her. "And as your deputy said, I'm sure that you could over power them," she meowed.

[Midnight]

"The truth?!" Honeydawn screeched. She stood, her muscles tense. If it weren't for her sister blocking her way, Honeydawn surely would've leaped at the medicine cat and tried to rip her apart. "If any cat here's a mousebrain, then I was right, and it's definitely you, and definitely that stupid leader of yours."

"Honeydawn," Grassyfire whispered, "Calm down! You're ruffling pelts!"

Silversong glared at Honeydawn, "It seems that WhisperClan doesn't have very good standards for its cats. Otherwise, there wouldn't be loud-mouthed warriors who don't know respect amongst the ranks of the gathering."

"You're hardly more than a warrior yourself, Silversong," Grassyfire hissed, defending her sister, "You're not leader of LeafClan yet, so might I suggest being quiet yourself?"

[Splash]

Flamestar bristled. "SILENCE. It doesn't matter what we think of FrostClan. They are a clan whether we like it or not, and this is a time of peace. FrostClan, please send a representative up. We need to get this gathering started without betraying the full moon truce and tearing each other to bits." The she-cat yowled, trying to calm everyone down though she doubted she could at this point.

Pinefrost padded over to stand in the gap between Bluewing and the warriors. "First, Bluewing, it is not ever your place to insult or question my leader in the name of StarClan. That's my job and nothing he said has been against StarClan. And Honeydawn, it is never your place to attack a medicine cat or question their leader. You're all out of line." Pinefrost spat.

[Midnight]

Honeydawn and Grassyfire glared at Pinefrost. She was their medicine cat, for StarClan's sake! Why shouldn't she defend them? Either way, Honeydawn sat down and glanced up at Thunderstar, her gaze a mix of guilt and a piece of caring, because she definitely cared about him.

Grassyfire saw the look that Honeydawn gave Thunderstar and purred in amusement. It was clear to her: Honeydawn definitely liked Thunderstar... I had been WhisperClan's leader's mate once.. Oh, Swiftstar, where did you go? The brown tabby thought, wishing that Swiftstar was still around.


Featherpaw's claws sank into the ground, "Do you think we're really going to come here every moon if they always argue like this?" She quietly asked Whitefire, looking up worriedly at her mentor.

[Lotus]

Roseleaf hurried into the Pond of Truce, with SunsetClan following. "I'm sorry we're late!" The deputy called out as she jumped across the rocks. She noticed that there was many more cats then their was at other gatherings, and all of them she didn't recognize. She heard Flamestar mention a FrostClan. "Sandstar is not here yet, so I'll be taking her place for now." She said as she scrambled up the tree. "Excuse me, but, who in the name of Starclan are Frostclan?" The rosy ginger she-cat's expression showed confusion.

[Sand]

"Frostclan is a new clan that has been accepted by Starclan," Fangice meowed glancing up at Roseleaf his tail swishing from side to side. Then he gazed back down at the cats gathered below.

[Deleted]

A low growl had risen in Thunderstar’s throat and he had straightened up to face the two Leafclan cats with the fur on his back bristling slightly and his green eyes piercing like thorns after they had spoken out. Bluewing was getting on Thunderstar’s last irritated nerve, and Icestar was only adding more fuel to the fire. Here Bluewing was, not only insulting him in front of all of the clans by calling him a mouse-brain moments ago, but now she was denying the plain fact, only to turn around and insult his deputy by questioning his clan loyalty! Fangice had done nothing to show that he favored these Frostclan cats, and whether he had or not, Bluewing was crossing the line with every word she seemed to speak out and was challenging Whisperclan. Then, here was Icestar, acting like she was the high and mighty leader over him and telling him to respect her medicine cat, after Bluewing had clearly spoken out of place and insulted his clan! Thunderstar was beginning to wonder if it was a war that Leafclan really wanted, and he was dangerously close to giving them one. The moon wasn’t going to last forever, but apparently just enough for Leafclan to run their mouths off to their content without thinking that there might be consequences. Mouse-brained fools! How dare you continue to challenge and insult my clan!

The tom had nodded to Fangice in approval, convinced that his deputy was not supporting these outsider cats at all; contrary to what Bluewing seemed to be suggesting. Thunderstar had risen up and been about to reply to the Leafclan cats initially, but his ears had flicked up slightly and he blinked in surprise as Honeydawn had spoken up for him and Whisperclan. He was even more surprised to hear her so strongly speaking against them, but he felt a rush of pride as well as gratitude that she shared his thoughts and was clearly defending her clan. It wasn’t her place to challenge another leader, but Thunderstar couldn't care less, especially with how the Leafclan cats were acting. If they thought that they could challenge him and his clan irrationally and speak out of rank, then why couldn’t his cats do the same? At least it would show that Whisperclan wasn’t going to take any of Leafclan’s remarks silently. He looked almost pleased in expression until Bluewing opened her mouth again, and then he bared his teeth. Bluewing was clearly a mouse-brain if she thought that a ‘sharp tongue’ was an excuse to say whatever she liked! He couldn’t believe what he was even hearing! When Silversong spoke it was coming to the final straw, and even he looked as if he were about ready to leap at Leafclan himself. He was done with letting them turn this gathering into an opportunity to freely insult and accuse his clan! He didn’t think that even Starclan would blame him for losing his temper in this instance, and certainly not the Whisperclan ancestors.

Thunderstar seemed to only be able to calm down enough to sit tall again as Flamestar drew the attention back to the gathering and on announcements, though his eyes still held hostility towards the Leafclan cats who had spoken out. He was satisfied with Pinefrost scolding Bluewing, but his long-furred silver tail swished slightly in irritation as she turned to Honeydawn for speaking out for them. He knew that Pinefrost was right to lecture her for challenging a leader, but Pinefrost certainly hadn’t spoken up for Whisperclan as Honeydawn had… and also maybe he was just a bit biased towards the she-cat that he was fond of. He glanced at Honeydawn appreciatively despite how he probably should have seemed.


--

Whitefire just sat down and watched all of the shouting and insults being thrown back and forth with an irritated blue gaze and her tail wrapped around her paws as she waited. It was like the cats had just forgotten that they were standing here, and were too concerned with attacking one another. Is this what all of the gatherings are like? I thought Starclan’s truce meant that there would be no conflict at all…. I guess it just means no physical conflict! Whatever the case is, if I have to sit here and listen to these mouse-brains ramble on and on while they hiss at one another, we won’t return to our camp until the moon has set three times.

“If Starclan says we must then we must, but I have to admit that it isn’t what I thought they had planned.” Whitefire replied to her apprentice with a sigh. She had thought that some of the cats in their clan wasn’t reasonable, but no cat she had met had compared to this fur-ruffled bunch. They seemed more interested in looking for fights than actually gathering here.

Ignoring Icestar’s remarks or the new clan that arrived asking the same questions about them, Whitefire stood up and made her way forward to where the other leaders stood on the island. If they won’t start this thing, then I will. Starclan knows this is taking too long. She didn’t think her clan would mind her being a representative since she had led them there, and also was the highest rank they had. Still, she wished that Burningstar or their deputy had come, as she didn’t feel it was her job to be speaking for the clan as if she were a leader. I heal cats, I don’t do this sort of thing! How should I know what to tell them? She flicked an ear and took a breath before announcing;

“Frostclan is doing well, thanks to our guidance from Starclan as well as our leader and deputy. We have grown from a clan of a couple of cats to a large clan that is always active and always growing. All of our camp is in place finally after some moons of getting it together. Our borders are now marked and set, our ranks in place, and we have several litters of kits that have been born in our nurseries.“ The she-cat finished.

[Midnight]

Honeydawn watched Thunderstar, her green eyes sharp and alert. What would he say? She couldn't wait for the WhisperClan leader to say something that set the LeafClanners off so much that they might just break the truce. Despite getting verbally punished by Pinefrost, Honeydawn's claws sank into the ground, and for once, the she-cat really itched for a fight.

When Thunderstar didn't say anything, part of Honeydawn was slightly disappointed, while the rest of her knew it was the right choice, in a way. Why feed the dumb cats who constantly insult, anyway? The spotted she-cat caught Thunderstar's gaze and blinked warmly, nodding slightly in approval.


Featherpaw flicked an ear, her blue eyes flicking around. These cats were pretty pitiful if all they did was fight like this at the gatherings. FrostClan is a few Clan cats and a bunch of loners, rogues, and kittypets, and we don't ever get this bad. It's pretty weird to see all of these cats, most of which are probably Clanborn, be so argumentative. The medicine cat apprentice's fluffy white tail flicked back and forth, and she slowly made her way to where cats that smelled like herbs, who she assumed to be fellow medicine cats, were, and sat by them, listening to Whitefire's little... speech.

Zel, Corona, and Koneeko all let out yowls of agreement with Whitefire. "FrostClan is strong!"

[Splash]

Flamestar bristled as Whitefire spoke first. She bristled but contained saying anything until the she-cat had finish, though she glared at the three cats who had cheered. "StarClan is throwing us to the wolves. They really didn't tell your clan how to behave, did they?" She hissed as she stepped up to the front. Raising her voice, she yowled,"MidnightClan is also doing quite well. We have good amounts of food and StarClan has been kind to us this last moon. It is my sorrow to report that our brave, great leader, Midnightstar, has died." She glanced at the spot where the leader had descended to accept the new 'clan' before continuing. "It is a great loss and one that we will mourn for." Bowing her head in memory of the leader, she stepped back.