[ti]Open[/ti]Step by Step

[foggy]

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Smokeshade treaded the path that he was now familiar with. Perhaps not as familiar as with his own territory but the black smoke tom had come a long way from when he was an apprentice and being at the back of his clan party, having to follow them for direction. He was still young but, as a clan member who had mentored a feline fully grown to a warrior and was now mentoring again, felt like he could finally begin to walk closer to the beginning of the Mistclanners heading to the gathering.

When his clan poured into the gathering clearing and began to disperse, he realised that he finally had someone to sit by this time, as he had not for the last few times he'd been at a gathering. Snokeshade was a large warrior, so usually he could peer over the heads of those around him to get a better view, but it wasn't like he couldn't easily spot the certain chocolate furred feline he was looking for. Lilycloud was as easy to find as the full moon on a clear night, at least, to him. He weaved around numerous cats to get to his beloved, gently brushing against Lilycloud as he stood beside her, whispering a soft greeting. If he had spotted her earlier, he would've walked beside her to the gathering but, as was the usual, Mistclan could get a little chaotic before they left. "No Mothstar? Maybe he's relapsed back into that illness from a couple moons ago," He mewed, idly pondering the reason for the fluffy cat's absence.

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Unlike most apprentices, who would've groomed their pelts into perfection, Hailpaw had left for the gathering with her clan right after a patrol, so her coat was a little bit of a mess. Not disgracefully so, but there were definitely a few noticeable burrs and tangles along her long fur. Not that she cared, Hailpaw had better things to worry about - like the gathering. She had never gone to on before, it would be her first experience with the others clans for the first time, unless you count her mentor, who Hailpaw still thought was a disgrace to everything Mothclan stood for, though her temper had cooled considerably, mostly because her first-time jitters for the gathering had taken first place as her most prominent emotion at current.

However, it was hard to feel anything but just a little apprehensive with her sister by her side, the pair would make an intimdating duo in time, when they had grown to their full sizes. Already they were both a little usual than the other apprentices their age, with Stormpaw just a few inches larger than Hailpaw herself. "I'm Hailpaw, from Mothclan," She mewed to no one in particular, making her introduction to everyone nearby in general, she wasn't going to repeat herself if she could help it. The large group of apprentices that she had sat down and joined didn't look too frightening, but even Hailpaw had let her guard down slightly, knowing that no fighting was allowed at a gathering so there was no point in exerting energy best used for something else.

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The only clan that had been affected by the rouges so far was Ivyclan, as far as she knew, so hopefully the gathering would be a chance to gain some information on their new foes. The fluffy white warrior padded alongside those in her clan, a barely noticeable skip in her step. A gathering was a nice distraction from her current state of mind and the clan's problems, and Lavendersong had always enjoyed meeting new people. Usually, she would mingle as soon as they stepped paw in the clearing but with the hostilities towards Mothclan the past few gatherings, she thought staying closer to her clan would be a better course of action. You couldn't trust that 'clan,' if you could even call them that. Not that she would ever say that to one of their faces, mind, Lavendersong wouldn't last a full minute against one of those barbarous brutes.

The curly eared feline chose to sit alone for now, despite her jolly mood. She'd accept company, should anyone want hers, but for the time being, she was content to wait until the gathering officially started. Apparently, by the solemn looks of the two female leaders, and the absence of a certain hot-blooded tom cat, something was going to be a little different about this gathering. If nothing else, it would be something to talk about on patrol tomorrow.

[Miss Tactical]

The black tom narrowed his eyes, today both were open, normally one of them was partially shut due to scarring. He grumbled as Brackenfall took his spot with the leaders and was instantly targeted. Of course... I had a feeling this would happen... He huffed slightly before he too padded close to the monsters, being incredibly bold to where the other deputies and medicine cats would take their place, he looked up at them with beady yellow eyes that were furrowed into a scowl. Oh did he have words to say to those she-cats up there and he didn't care if they disagreed with him or not. Tail lashing her parted his jaw ever so slightly being careful to pick his words.

"Look here you lanky furballs, he was given permission by Mothstar to LEAD...yes LEAD MothClan tonight. Now there is no point in shoving him back down here because then we got to wait for him to climb up again, then we have to wait for him to get settled and quote frankly it is a waste of everyones time including your own, so how about you all just accept the fact he's up there and move on. He's not hurting anyone but your egos apparently." He mewed firmly. Tail lashing he flicked his ear with annoyance before sitting right where he was. That would certainly fluff there fur. He couldn't help but chuckle he was good at ruffling feathers these days.....


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mudjaw hissed as Otterpaw came crashing in falling on Mumblepaw he narrowed his eyes, helping the black she-cat up. "Could you be more annoying?" How in StarClan's name did MothClan handle this she-cat she was wild and hard to tame. Goodness if she was his clan mate he would have shreded her ears by now. She was out of control. Mudpaw...did she just call me Mudpaw? Oh...she doesn't know yet...time to Shine Mudjaw time to shine." He looked at her shaking his head disdainfully before shifting to face her. His pink scars on his chest face and back clearly visible.

"MudJAW! He correct. He gave his paw a swift lick swiping it over his ears. "I helped fight off a group of mangey rouges and earned my warrior name earlier than normal. So you can say I had a huge accomplishment...meanwhile what have you done catch mice that's hardly skillfull these days." He mewed with a slight smirk. "Your leader isn't present, either, so I guess IvyClan outshines once again. No run along maybe you could potentially compete with MistClan but we are much too Ivy League for you to compare yourself too." He mewed with a firm nod of his head. that would certainly teach her wouldn't it?

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The gray and white MistClan tom spotted the IvyClan she-cat instantly. He hesitated ever so slightly, was he okay to approach the she-cat? He knew that the two of them had been talking at the borders, and both had been very close to the border line, did any one notice? Hopefully IvyClan wouldn't mention MistClans scents being close. He sighed, it was nice to have a friend even if they were in a different clan. He just hoped to StarClan that MistClan and IvyClan never had conflict. He cleared his throat before finally braving the thoughts he padded over and sat down next to the she-cat.

"Hey Lavendersong how have you been?" Rushfeather mewed. HE didn't sit too close as he didn't want to make the she-cat uncomfortable, but close enough that he could be heard without any straining after all gatherings got chatty sometimes especially with all the apprentices and new warriors talking to each other. It would be an interesting night it seemed. "How is prey running? Good I Hope!" He mewed trying to strike up casual conversation.

[ladyspectral]

They had the numbers, that wasn't a problem in Honeyheart's mind. It was getting there undetected and what happened once they got there that was the problem... She eyed the slowly growing gathering from the sidelines, just too far away to be scented but close enough to make out some of what was being said.

Though she still had a slim frame, the she cat looked notably less skinny than she had just a few moons before. Without all the self righteousness she could see the benefits of living in a group. Even old Weaseltongue was doing fine for his old age, in her eyes at least.

Viper curled against her side, her precious tom kit watching the group with wide eyes. Others of her group, her alliance were with her, awaiting her word. As much as she claimed to not be a leader she functioned as one much of the time.

"There are so many of them..." Viper muttered, pressing into the scarred she cat for reassurance. "Yes, but they cannot fight us. It goes against their rule, any violence will upset the gathering. Just... smile and don't cause trouble. This isn't a battle, this has other purposes." She hoped the truce extended past the clans, even to rogues that intruded. As far as she knew this was unprecedented, something the clans had never seen nor heard of. Something she could do to show them her cats knew more about the clans than any other rogues did before.

With that, she rose. And she strode out of the brambles with the young Viper at her side, tail flicking as a gesture for the rest of her group to follow her toward the gathering.

[mewmehh]

|| Shadder ||

Pale green eyes glowered in the diml ight of the full moon as Shadder slunk alongside the other members of the rogue group. No signs of anxiety could be seen from his stoic, flat expression, but if who looked hard enough, they could see the occasional shiver of nervousness in his legs between steps.

The dark tabby had only recently joined the numbers of Honeyheart's group and was surprised to find he was already meant to attend an outing with the group. This would his first outing as a sort of scout, he was told, and he was anxious to see what it would entail. From what had been said before they left their camp, it was supposed to be a peaceful exchange. Something about tonight would keep the clan cats from attack, or something had been what Eaglewing had said. Still, Shadder remained somewhat unconvinced. His initial plan had been to bolt as soon as the situation got hairy, but after seeing how some of the group's kits had tagged along for the ride, Shadder was less than certain he would make such a run. He couldn't, in good conscience, leave behind a bunch of kits in the middle of a fight. In the end, he just stuck close to the old pale tom cat that recruited him and hoped Eaglewing would tell him what to do when the time came.

[ladyspectral]

The gathering... wasn't as spectacular as Viper had imagined. A single she cat stood atop the crumpled monsters long since let to rot, alone with a meager gathering of cats below her. Meager compared to what the tom kit had expected at least. What a waste of time. The ginger and white cat couldn't help but mutter as he looked toward Shadder. "Do you think the others are late? This is the time, right?" He whispered, leaning toward his companion with just as much unease. As much as he trusted his mother, he began to feel the first flickers of doubt cloud his young mind. He had practiced fighting and hunting, sure, but always on rodents and scraps of twoleg garbage. Nothing that lived and breathed. Nothing close to a cat.

The stars above glittered coldly, and he couldn't help but feel his eyes drawn up to them. Were the spirits of dead cats really watching? He wondered what they would think. He often heard Honeyheart muttering curses to them during the quietest nights of the two leg's place, blaming them for his brother's hind leg. Promising revenge, for something. He never asked, nor did he ever admit he had heard her hushed words.

His gaze finally settled on the gathering again, remembering where he was exactly. In the middle of enemy territory, intruding on a sacred tradition.

[mewmehh]

Shadder blinked in surprise, startled by Viper's whisper which had sounded so much louder in the dark tabby's head due to the stark silence surrounding them. Snapping his mossy gaze over to the small ginger tabby, the masked tom hadn't realized that the younger cat had moved closer.

At his question, Shadder's face creased with a soft scowl and he gently shook his head. "I'm not sure," he meowed in a low voice. He had no real knowledge of the clans and their customs. Only a few stories here and there he had heard in passing. And, of course, everything Honeyheart and Eaglewing had to say on the matter. Though, he was sure they were a bit biased.

Shifting on his paws, he added in an attempt to ease the younger tom's nerves (as well as his own, quite frankly) Shadder flicked Viper's shoulder light with his ringed tail and added, "The less of them that are here though means they're less of a threat to us."

ladyspectral

[ladyspectral]

Viper nodded his head to Shadder, nevousness obvious on his face. His paws ached from the long trek, something they had prepared for since early that morning. He wasn't sure what the reasoning for it was, just that his mother had insisted they go. "I don't know... Maybe this isn't all of them? Maybe we're early."

He was cut off as Honeyheart calle out to Owlstar. "Hello, Owlstar." She greeted with a dip of her head. "I hope we aren't late, or maybe we're early? I don't see the other leaders. Though maybe it's been a while since the old town. How has Sunkit been?" Despite her seemingly friendly voice her words were cold.

"We haven't come to start trouble, we fully intend to respect your truce. We wouldn't want to make your Starclan angry now, would we?" She added, green eyes narrowing as she glanced around the group. Viper shuffled his paws, moving a bit closer to the she cat.

[Miss Tactical]

Aster's tail touched Honeyhearts shoulder. "Remember your kits are young...you don't know how these clan cats will act."However it was when Honeyheart stepped forward calling out to IvyClan's leader that she growled in frustration. She stepped in carefully, she would fight if she had too, but her job was to make sure injuries were treated and healed. Honeyheart was still a new mother, and acting in on this gathering, Aster had frowned upon. The gray she-cat sighed before stepping forward with confidence. After all she didn't want them to think their group was weak, in fact she wanted them to be fearful. They had killed a lot of cats over the time, granted she wasn't one to act violently. "Is there a spot for a leader and her healer to sit, I'm sure you have rules!" Aster called out after her leader. She chuckled to herself as she scanned the clearing looking at all of their faces, look at all of them. Her muscles tensed ever so slightly just in case they decided they would attack.

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Mudjaws attention shifted swiftly as he heard familiar voice call out to his leader. His head whipped around and he locked eyes with Honeyheart. His lip curled into a snarl,were rogues apart of the truce could he attack them? "Those are them! Those are the rogues I fought off. Let's see what your made of Otterpaw." He gave a light snort before looking at Mumblepaw. "Stay here please..." His tone was soft as he genuinely cared for her safety. Mudjaw shouldered his way through the awestruck cats pushing his way through the crowd getting as close as he could to the she-cat. He looked up to Owlstar waiting patiently. At her call he would attack. Mudjaw unsheathed his claws and was prepared to get his revenge, he looked up to where the leaders stood....Waiting.

[karambito]

Roseblaze

While the she-cat had wanted to follow beside her leader into the gathering, her mate on the other paw had convinced her otherwise and to never stray far from his side. As they walked through the night, his pelt was pushed up close to hers and she attempted to ease his nerves every now at them by licking his ears or trying to make him smile. Now that they were by the dead monsters, Roseblaze watched Owlstar perch regally upon them, confident and proud of herself and her clan. Touching Sparrowcry's shoulder with her nose, she padded a few pawsteps way from him to approach Mudjaw who had recently became a warrior and had recovered quite well from their patrols ambush. "Mudjaw!" The calico deputy mewed as she walked up to him, a small smile on her face. "Glad to see you well and joining us, hope you're not causing too much trouble" she joked, relieved that the tom was not dead. Roseblaze's leg still hurt from her healing wounds but she covered up her pain very very well, even from Sparrowcry. Hearing the apprentices mention Brackenfall, she now noticed him leading his clan alone and a puzzled look formed on her face. What was he doing?

---

Cottontangle

Joining Mistclan to the gathering, Cottontangle left the masses of chattering clan cats to join Stoatwhisker whom was watching the leaders. "What are they talking about?" He asked the she-cat cooly, eyes on the leaders and deputy, not her as he began to notice now that the Mothclan leader was not present, only the deputy, Brackenfall. Odd.

---

Burrbriar

While not invited to join Ivyclan, Burrbriar had slunk her way quietly from camp after the group had left to go in search of her 'friends'. The dark warrior had found the rogues preparing to enter the gathering, but as Honeyheart introduced herself, Burrbriar stood behind in the shadows, waiting for HER moment to shine. She was promised bloodshed and revenge, and Burrbriar was hoping they'd keep their promise.

---

Pouncefox

Growling as he passed other clan cats, the dark redish brown warrior's tail flicked and lashed behind him as he entered the ranks of the gathering. All eyes were on Brackenfall, what a shame. Snorting, the tom wondered why Mothstar would pick a cat to lead his clan that no one liked. Everyone would have respected HIM if he were up there Pouncefox mused to himself as he took a spot right in front, keeping his eye on Brackenfall. Despite the circumstances though, he wasn't going to let these mange-pelts call his clan names either and he would spit and hiss at them, especially Ivyclan.

---

Quailfur

The Mistclan warrior was listening to several conversations, all mostly boring gossip about Mothstar's absence and such. When the rogues made their debut, her fur rose on her body and she growled.

---

(might add others later)

[sabs]

BRACKENFALL >>

    From atop the monsters, the deputy's yellow gaze followed Bearstar as her Clan arrived at the gathering. Finally, everyone was here. At least his Clan wasn't the last to arrive. As soon as the MistClan leader joined the other two, he watched Owlstar turn, seemingly baffled to see him. "I believe you've forgotten your place, Brackenfall." The dark IvyClan leader spoke. He turned to the other brown she-cat as she chipped in, agreeing with her. The dark brown tabby opened his mouth to speak, but one of his Clanmates had beaten him to it. "Look here you lanky furballs, he was given permission by Mothstar to LEAD...yes LEAD MothClan tonight." The deputy turned his eyes downward to see which cat was sticking his throat out, only to be surprised to see that it was Eveningblaze. "He's not hurting anyone but your egos apparently." He heard the black tom finish. Brackenfall shot a bemused glance at his fellow warrior, but quickly gave a flick of his tail, dismissing him.

     "Thank you, Eveningblaze." The tabby spoke, revealing a smirk of amusement. "However if that is how these two wish to run the gathering, so be it." He cleared his throat, casting his gaze over the Clans gathered below. "I will only utilize this position to make my announcements...." He paused, giving Owlstar one last look, before standing on to his paws. "Cats of all Clans! The gathering has started!" The MothClan deputy knew that this would cause nothing but displeasure between the two leaders of the other Clans, but he would not be disrespected this night. Not when Mothstar had asked him to lead his noble Clan in his stead. No, he would make his leader proud, and since the two she-cats were so hellbent on fighting him over a seating position, he would prove a point. The sun would rise before any announcements were made if he didn't take the initiative. So that was exactly what he intended to do. Then he'd return to his deputy position like a good little deputy and keep his mouth shut. 

    "MothClan is prospering this moon. With NewLeaf we welcome many new litters. We are happy to announce Fishleap & Feathercrest's kits, as well as Mothstar & Runningbright's." Brackenfall paused, noting the look of surprise from many of the Clan's faces. No one seemed to expect him to be making the first announcement. "As well, our Clan has many apprentices to guide toward the pawsteps of warriorhood. Welcome, Aspenpaw, Amberpaw, Hailpaw, Stormpaw, Pigeonpaw and Thunderpaw. We are confident in their ability to one day protect our Clan." The tabby tom wavered for a moment so that the apprentices could have their spotlight before continuing. "And finally, we welcome three new warriors. Freckleflame, Liongaze and Heronwatcher have proven themselves an asset to our Clan and earned their place among our ranks." Taking in a breath, he paused again as the chanting ensued. Oh how great it felt that their Clan was expanding and growing into something much more. He'd never felt so at home, no matter what any other cat had to say about it. He definitely wasn't going to let the opinions of the other Clans stand in his way. He would finally prove himself once StarClan had granted him his lives. "Unfortunately, there has been a boar attack in our territory as well, a few of our brave warriors were injured, but thankfully no one was killed. The boar was taken down by them, but be wary that more may be lurking." 

    There, that was satisfactory, the tom mused as he prepared to leap from the monsters, not bothering to see the reactions strewn across the other two cats faces. As Brackenfall was making his way to the base of the monsters, he caught a glimpse of ginger fur in the corner of his eye. Then he saw them. Or rather, her. Honeyheart. A growl rose in the tom's throat. This was the same she-cat he'd banished from MothClan territory only a few moons ago. But it looked like this time she had friends. What could they possibly want? Trouble, he assumed. He finally reached the ground and motioned for his warriors to gather towards him in case a fight was to break loose. The deputy listened intently as the she-cat addressed the IvyClan leader. Then, from a group of apprentices he heard a brown tom shout, "Those are them! Those are the rogues I fought off." Brackenfall's eyes squinted curiously, then out of the corner of his eye he noticed Eveningblaze. "Stay close." He growled. "And watch for an ambush, I don't want anyone to do anything foolish." His gaze shot across the squabble of cats, trying to find the apprentices. StarClan knows those would be the cats doing the foolishness. He just hoped he was wrong.