[ti]Open[/ti]As the Compass Spins

[LupTacco]

-= [ Bearstar ] :: 62 moons (F) :: mistclan leader (4 lives) :: bisexual(widowed) =-

The brown-furred queen licked her two newest children's pelts smooth and clean, trusting that either Snowstorm or Petaldawn could manage to keep two more kits alive between them for an evening. Lakekit and Robinkit were her newest treasures, but she couldn't help but feel a bitter sting when she took care of them each day. It seemed she couldn't think about any of her children without some dark shadow lingering over them- Goldenmane over her first litter, and guilt and fear over the two she now cared for and their three hidden siblings. One in each clan- and the last in hers as well. She wasn't sure if it was a gift or a jab at her to have given her a 'spare' child not mentioned in the prophecy at all. But, it wasn't time for that- it was time for her to make the journey to the Gathering. For the first time, however, she would be going there almost completely blind.

It was jarring to realize she could hardly see dim shapes anymore. She wondered how her eyes must look, glossed over in a sheen of white that prevented the light from getting in. She instructed Sabletail to take the leading position, following the sound of his pawsteps and relying on her strong memory of the path. When MistClan poured first into the Moon's Maw, she feigned a cough as she approached the carriages so that she could estimate how high they were, and leapt onto them mostly smoothly. From there, she waited for the others to arrive, praying to StarClan that they wouldn't mention the prophecy, but fearing they would.

[M'Lady]

Rookstar was in no shape to be going to the gathering tonight, so once again Firechaser decided to take the lead. He'd gathered the deputies together, mentioning with a pained voice that to appear strong still to the other clans, it would be best if they didn't huddle around the deputy spot as they had last time. He asked Dustytuft to act as 'deputy' for tonight, as she was the oldest warrior here besides him. Not like he had anything against the others, but some had kits while the others were far too young, it would be better this way.

With a shout, he called Ivyclan to follow on his heels as he quickly began the journey through the forest to the gathering spot, the heavy scent of Mistclan reaching his nose as soon as they arrived. Good, Ivyclan wasn't last today. He glanced up at the empty monsters, wishing that Owlstar was there in all her glory, a time where Ivyclan arrived first and foremost and was the most regal of the clans. Now they were a mess. He approached the carriages, where Bearstar sat and gazed out at nothing. He bowed his head slightly to the leader.

"Bearstar," He greeted, his deep and smooth tone carrying up towards her. "Rookstar is obviously unwell, and couldn't bring himself to make it tonight. Would you allow a mere deputy to stand beside you to address the clans?" He wasn't a fool, he wasn't one of those upstarts that would leap up without a second thought and disrespect the leaders. Firechaser was first and foremost a traditionalist, and as such, he would ask the longest leader of the clans for permission to jump up beside her.

[Broadwaykat]

Was everyone on Ivyclan so on edge? Dustytuft was beginning to think so. Rookstar hadn't been in the best of health for a long time, but now it seemed like he was barely holding things together. As confusing as it was, it was perhaps the only godsend that there were five of them to take things over and keep an eye on everyone. Even if, for the most part, it seemed they deferred to Firechaser.

For that night, she would take the position as a lead deputy, as he worked to address the clans as the stand-in leader. She felt a prickle of unease in her pelt but did her best to square her shoulders to ignore the feeling there. Last Gathering had ended if her feeling as scolded as a newly made apprentice; but this time she was determined not to put her own foot in her mouth.

"The best thing to do is mingle with the others; nothing is wrong. Everyone gets ill from time to time." She tried to keep a false cheeriness to her voice as she said this, nodding at a few of her other Deputies and the younger cats. If there was one thing she could do well, it was to look on the bright side of things.

---

Sandhawk wasn't keen on play-acting, but she at least knew that speaking up was hardly a good idea. With a swish of her tail, she did her best to keep from rolling her eyes as one of the pesudo deputies counselled them on how to act. "Oh, we're not supposed to let on that or own leader's round the bend among enemy clans? Good to know - and here I was planning to blab it to everyone." She hissed beneath her breath. 

At least there couldn't possibly anything worse planned to happen tonight. Unless there was some other surprise to be laid upon them. Like what - a FIFTH clan made up of their former enemies?

---

Gullhop shifted nervously as he sat side by side with some of his other clan-mates, wondering if anyone else could notice that something else was up with Bearstar, or if they noticed certain missing cats among them. He had never been one to be comfortable at a Gathering, truce be damned. But looking over the Gathered Ivyclan cats, he couldn't help but think that at least all of their leadership had managed to make it to this one. 

"At least Bearstar came with us all this time. She didn't let anything hold her back, what with..." He trailed off suddenly, looking down at his own paws as he realized that he probably shouldn't be saying anything about anyone.