Post by Elder Kat on Sept 13, 2015 10:55:54 GMT -6
A large, nearly pure-white quartz rock where the clans meet each Full Moon to discuss clan matters. So bright and pure that on moonlit night it appears to glow internally.
Last Edit: Sept 19, 2015 16:51:44 GMT -6 by Deleted
When reflected moonlight washed upon Ravenstar's black pelt, his demeanor was transformed. His heavy-laden pawsteps became an extravagant strut as he entered sacred territory, basking in the glory of the tall, glowing rocks before him. He had a passionate love for Gatherings -- if a cat thirsted for attention, they could drown it in here. And honestly, Ravenstar was feeling a little parched.
To his disappointment, there was no one to observe his grand entrance. He had expected that CreekClan would arrive first, considering their proximity to the Southern Meadow. This was a curious happenstance -- in fact, he began to imagine that something terrible must have happened to delay the water-dwelling Clan. Ravenstar looked around at the empty area and shrugged. Although he'd been deprived of turning heads when he entered, it might bode well for GlenClan to be first in light of current circumstances. He'd have other chances to be fashionably late.
Ravenstar gave a luxurious stretch and meandered over to the base of the Brightrock. He looked up at it momentarily, his gaze traveling up to the full moon that stood overhead perfectly. Ravenstar was not terribly religious, though he believed in StarClan. He was a bit skeptical of the will of StarClan -- he did not feel that he could (or should) be commanded by some supernatural force. Ravenstar wasn't overly concerned with the afterlife, seeing as he wasn't a part of it yet. He had received his nine lives. He had their blessing. He take anything they'd give him, though he wouldn't be bribed into fulfilling someone else's idea of how he should lead. In his mind, whatever he chose to do would be the will of StarClan -- so let it be spoken, so it let it be done. Heh.
Ravenstar chuckled and turned away from the rock, not taking his rightful place on it just yet. He looked down the path that his Clanmates and called out, "Ah, see? Punctuality can be accomplished with proper forethought." He settled down in front of Brightrock, attending to his grooming. He needed to look his best up on that rock -- presentation was probably his highest priority tonight. Er, after the whole NestClan business, of course.
As the moon rose higher among silverpelt, a sleek white cat led her clan across the landscape. As she approached the towering BrightRock, she was disappointed to see that even Nestclan had reached the sacred gathering place before them. Oh well, it couldn’t be helped. With the recent events at camp, being a little late was inevitable. The leader hoped everything would be taken care of when they returned to camp, but more than likely she’d have work to do to make sure the clan got back on it’s feet from the sicknesses.
Pearlstar paused and observed the scene. At least it looked like the other clans were just arriving here as well, and she spotted the silhouettes of Ravenstar and Mintstar. She couldn’t help but wonder if they thought it was strange that they were not the first ones here this time, since Pearlstar was normally very prompt. Though it should not matter to them, she decided. The leader would not justify herself when other clans had no business asking. If they even noticed, of course.
Looking back, she turned to gaze at her companions. “…I wouldn’t mention anything of Amberpaw or Echosong while we‘re here tonight.” She murmured finally, hoping her clan mates would take heed. She didn’t want the other clans to find out of their incident; that would place them at a disadvantage with the other clans. Pearlstar hoped Wasppaw in particular would be tactful, since he was the most likely to let things slip with his young age.
“Let’s go.” She mewed, advancing upon the meeting place and lifting her head high and proudly as she walked amongst the other clans. The leader of Creekclan approached the Glenclan and Nestclan leaders, dipping her head in greeting. “Ravenstar. Mintstar.” She meowed respectively, taking her own seat under the BrightRock.
@cottonbreeze @cougarheart @waspwhisker
Last Edit: Oct 10, 2015 21:14:23 GMT -6 by Deleted
The moon rested in the middle of the star filled sky, the Brightrock ominously glowing. The gray-pelted she-cat calmly pads towards the Brightrock. She wasn't particularly pleased about the fact she'd arrived last. Mintstar glanced over at Ravenstar who was, tidying himself up, good, he needed to Mintstar moves silently over to a tall rock and sat on it, she planned to situate atop the Brightrock once all the other clans were ready. Ravenstar seemed to be doing the same, how she hated appearing to be copying another clan's actions, especially Glenclan's. Ah, but she was just doing what she believed was correct.
Last Edit: Oct 11, 2015 11:45:42 GMT -6 by Deleted
Arriving at Brightrock, Tigerblaze didn't waste too much time, before going over to Mintstar, and standing right next to her rock. Looking around, he spotted the other two clan leaders. He wondered what they would have to say at this Gathering. Would they comment on what he had done? Quite possibly. Well, he would do his best to defend his clan from any of their potential accusations.
Ashenmane stayed away from Ravenstar, prepared to rally her clanmates to her as she paced alongside the lower parts of the rock; but as Nestclan arrived there was a visible rise to her fur as she growled below her voice. Despite her promise to her clan, to Ravenstar, that nothing would happen tonight, she couldn't help but feel her ire rising as she noticed the odd twoleg-loving mongrels that called themselves a clan.
"Tiger..." She nodded, keeping a civil tongue at least, practiced through ages, barely reclining her head the the orange warrior who supposedly called himself a Deputy as well. Fluffy fool he was. He was too young, in her mind, to be so high up in the clan. But then again it hadn't been that long since all the clan members had probably been kittypets.
Pudgepaw was certainly eager, her eyes widening as she spotted everything; the giant white rock, and the cats- the strangers. She wasn't sure where Owlmask had gotten too, but she was eager to see all the cats around her. They smelled funny, sure...but they were different.
And some of them, she was shocked to learn, were HUGE.
As Ashenmane approached her....she grew a little apprehensive, pressing close to Tigerblaze as she looked up at her. But there was something in the way she addressed her mentor that brushed her the wrong way.
"His name's Tigerblaze." She repeated, holding her head up a little higher. "And he's a Deputy. Of Nestclan." She said, as if this fact was unknown to the stranger, but would now undoubtedly impress them.
Last Edit: Oct 11, 2015 12:06:49 GMT -6 by Deleted
Ravenstar raised his head from his grooming to see Pearlstar approach and he dipped his head to her. Not soon after, Mintstar led CreekClan into the clearing. A sly smile curled at the corners of Ravenstar's mouth and his gaze lingered on the she-cat before switching to her Clanmates. He noticed that Ashenmane was greeting NestClan's deputy, Tigerblaze. He studied the ginger tom for awhile until he spotted a small she-cat by his side.
Ravenstar frowned, not recognizing the apprentice. She must be a new NestClan recruit. He was able to keep himself from sneering at the thought, though he felt inward disapproval. Stealing kittypets from their homes seemed like a dishonest business, really. That was absolutely no way to lead a Clan.
Ravenstar blinked and caught himself, realizing that it was all relative. NestClan's numbers were likely benefited by taking in every stray and kittypet, but how that disadvantaged their loyalty and unity he did not know. What he did know, though, was that he wouldn't be opposed to accepting an outsider under the right circumstances. Day-warriors were a mousebrained concept, however -- Ravenstar would demand the utmost loyalty from anyone who was not born in his Clan.
He bit back any derogatory remarks that jumped to mind as he watched the apprentice and instead focused his attention on the other leaders. Among the Clan leaders, he was the youngest; a position that earned him much skeptical criticism. He had risen to power early, starting as a young deputy and now a young leader. He felt no disadvantage -- the climb from nursery runt to GlenClan leader had been a hard and grueling fight. He slowly faced Mintstar and Pearlstar, a pleasant expression on his face hiding his immediate question. Had NestClan moved in on GlenClan territory because Mintstar doubted his ability to lead? Even if that wasn't the driving reason, had it been an additional motivation?
Ravenstar only smiled though his eyes glinted mischievously. He aimed his next words at both Pearlstar and Mintstar, the former for her curious lateness and the latter for obvious reasons.
"I trust the journey here was not much trouble? Hm?"
Ashenmane's jaw twisted slightly, as if she were grinding her lower canines, when the small, squawky voice piped up. But the old she-cat's gaze soften a modicum when she noticed that the speaker was a rather round, and obviously young thing. It was a look that she had seen in several of her own apprentices, if not her own children. Even coming from a Nestclan brat, her heart melted ever so slightly for the youngun...
"And who are you?" She snorted, her frosty voice warming ever so slightly. "Big defiance for one so little."
She cocked her head, but not towards Tigerblaze and the black-and-white fuzzball who seemed determined to defend him, but to listen to Ravenstar. She wasn't going to miss what he had to say, of course. At the very least, because she was curious about their infringement.
Wasppaw's paws tingled with excitement. He had worked the last few chunks of spoiled perch out of his fur on the way, though not before long, clueless deliberation on where the faint foul smell was coming from. He generally stuck around Cougarheart, though he impatiently bounced ahead every now and then. Although he had been told Brightrock was located near CreekClan, the trip had seemed agonizingly slow. His mind was a whirlwind of questions and fantasies about the Gathering and the other Clans. Were GlenClan warriors really made out of shadow? And were all NestClan cats fat? And just how bright was Brightrock anyway?
Wasppaw nearly stumbled over himself when everyone halted. Upset by the delay, Wasppaw huffed and peered around Cougarheart at Pearlstar. It was then that he noticed something he hadn't before -- strange smells and voices drifting from somewhere up ahead. They were here.
“…I wouldn’t mention anything of Amberpaw or Echosong while we‘re here tonight.”
Wasppaw nodded dutifully, though he didn't understand Pearlstar's reason. He knew that one had to be careful at Gatherings, because the other Clans were sly and deceitful, always wanting to discover their secrets. At least, that's what he had been told since a kit. He still didn't understand why Amberpaw and Echosong should be a secret, though. Weren't they both okay now? Didn't other Clans get tummy aches every now and then? Wasppaw shrugged, deciding that he'd trust Pearlstar's reasons despite how mysterious they seemed.
He followed his Clanmates into the clearing and he was immediately turned breathless. There were strange cats gathered in the clearing, all of varying sizes and smells. Some carried the scent of earth and forest, while others carried radically unnatural odors. Yet all these new cats paled in comparison to what they all surrounded. It was a boulder, but unlike any that Wasppaw had ever seen. This boulder glowed. It glowed with such supernatural ferocity that Wasppaw trembled in its presence.
Wasppaw had an unshakable belief in StarClan; not because he had actually seen or experienced any evidence to their existence, but because he had never encountered anything to the contrary. His parents believed in StarClan. His Clanmates believed in StarClan. All the legends spoke of cats who were blessed by StarClan themselves to do their holy will. It only seemed obvious that they must exist. And here, as Wasppaw stared at the great glowing rock, he became utterly convinced that they not only existed but were present at the Gathering.
And he would have approached that rock had it not been guarded by a bunch of unfamiliar cats. To his amazement, he saw Pearlstar walk over and sit beside them. Perhaps the rock was off-limits to anyone but the important cats. Wasppaw felt a wave of disappointment. If he had to be a leader to touch that rock, then he'd have to wait a really, really, really long time.
Uncertain, Wasppaw stood apart from the rest of the cats. He had many questions about the other Clans, but now that he finally had the chance to get them answered he hesitated. Being the only apprentice to attend the Gathering had seemed like a boast-worthy opportunity, but now he wished Amberpaw had come too. All of these cats seemed older and bigger than he was, though he spotted what he guessed to be another apprentice nearby. Wasppaw slowly approached, though his mind went blank as he drew closer. Out of all the questions he had for this moment, one had never crossed his mind: How do you even start a conversation with one?
Last Edit: Oct 11, 2015 19:33:10 GMT -6 by Deleted
Bringing her paws up underneath her, Pudgepaw lifted her head and tried her best to stare up at the giant cat -a feat that was rather hard as her heart was beating in her chest like a trapped butterfly against her ribcage. "I'm Pudgepaw." She emphasized, her fluffy tail swatting the ground beneath her. Then, with the help of an extra burst of braver, added. "And I wouldn't forget that if I were you!"
The problem with Pudgepaw's bravado, however, was that it was fleeting - mostly because she was easily distracted, too. Her eyes darted from the rock, to the big cats on the rock, to - wait, who was that.
"Who'er you?!" Pudgepaw asked, chest puffing out yet against upon spotting a cat who was decidedly more her size; it was much easier to be brave around cats who didn't look like they could flatten you by sitting on your face; and this yellow thing, in her mind, looked particularly scrawny.
His gaze turned as he heard a female voice address. Looking over, he spotted the rather large she-cat deputy of Glenclan. He frowned, but, nodded back at her. "Ashenmane." While he wasn't sure how to feel about her only addressing him by his prefix, he was still a Twolegplace cat. He was fairly used to Twolegs calling him by single-worded nicknames.
Of course, his apprentice piped up to his rescue, or what she thought to be his rescue. "Pudgepaw, that's enough. Ashenmane is a fellow deputy, and you should respect her." Even if she was a bit disrespectful toward him. However, he couldn't help but smile a little, and shake his head. It really meant the world to him that his little apprentice thought so highly of him.
Looking back at Ashenmane, he couldn't help but remember that Creekclan also had a big deputy in Cougarheart. Really, were the forest and creek cats so concerned with size? Granted, it did mean they could take more hits, but, wasn't it better to be able to avoid more hits in the first place? However, his attention was taken up, as Nestclan was addressed by Ravenstar.
Turning his head toward the Glenclan leader, he couldn't help but get the feeling that he knew. Although, how much he knew was unclear. Still, he couldn't let that affect him too much. Doing his best to keep a neutral face on, he shook his head. "Not much more trouble than usual."
As Rosestripe arrived in the gathering, she couldn't help but feel her stomach plunge. She knew the stars watched her, but did they watch with contempt? Did they watch with anger? The ginger tabby didn't want to think of what might happen at the gathering, every second she spent in the sacred place dripping like poison and digging into her heart like nails, dread filling her entire entity. Something felt off, and not only did she feel the weight of her ancestors wrath on her shoulders, but the air had grown sticky with tension from the other clans, especially between Glen and Nestclan.
The female slunk to the back of the group, keeping in the shadows, as if she were afraid to even touch the moonlit ground. But, the she-cat refused to let her fear of Starclan come to her face, braving enough fear to muster a confident yet fearsome act, for Glenclan cats had a reputation to uphold. And, she did too. She knew how, when other clan cats saw her, the judged off what they saw last; should she meet any of those in the Gathering locked in battle, she knew she could have at least some form of intimidation on her side. If anything, she didn't want anyone to see how much she hated being there. How much she wanted to go home and throw up the bat she had eaten only seconds before.
Hopefully no one talked to her, she didn't know if she would be able to hold her facade up for long.
Cougarheart padded towards the group of cats. The sand-colored cat might as well be polite. Making a good impression was important. He calmly padded over to the Nestclan deputy, he had no reason to be mad at Nestclan, for he had missed the news about Pebble Beach being marked. "Greetings Tigerblaze," He dipped his head politely. Being a deputy himself, it just seemed polite to greet the other deputies. It wasn't common for him to have any conversations during gatherings, cats just, avoided him. Maybe it was his size? He was quite large, and...well...intimidating, in a way. Cougarheart liked having a good reputation with the other clans, during gatherings at least. During battle? That's another story.
Wasppaw frowned and sized up this new cat. He felt certain now that this was another apprentice, but she was considerably larger than he was. Wasppaw tilted his head, wondering if he could discern her Clan somehow. He had heard GlenClan cats ran large but NestClan cats were rumored to be overweight kittypets; Wasppaw realized he didn't know there was a difference between the two.
"I'm Wasppaw," he finally answered, stretching up in an effort to appear taller. He gauged this effect against the other she-cat's height and was dismayed to find he still fell short a whisker's length in comparison. When Cougarheart joined the group, he uneasily settled back into his normal stance, afraid the tom might call him on his bluff.
"And this is Cougarheart. He's the deputy of CreekClan." Wasppaw beamed proudly and added, "And I'm his apprentice." Wasppaw, certain that meant some sort of arbitrary advantage, shrugged casually and asked, "Who's your mentor?"