[ti]Open[/ti]Circle of Life

[Fireflake]

Mantisstar lead MothClan toward Moon's Maw, kicking at the thin layer of remaining snow with every step. So far, nobody had reported seeing any shoots or flower buds, but the wilderness was stirring and it could only be a matter of time before Newleaf showed up. That was the mindset that she clung onto for now. They all had to be looking to the future, because looking at the past might cripple them. Mantisstar waved her tail for the rest of the cats to fill the clearing as she headed for the long monster.

The tabby leapt up with ease and settled into place on the cold metal. It glistened with silver light and, looking up, Mantisstar could see the moon shining down on the world in all its glory. Tensions with the other clans had been almost suspiciously quiet in recent times, paradoxically putting her on edge, but at least she could be sure that her clan was safe tonight. As well as the full-moon truce, the measures put in place after the rogues had snatched MothClan kits had now been made permanent. Extra guards were posted in camp until the rest of the clan returned home, so if those dirty Twolegplace cats wanted to face up against MothClan again, they'd be in for an unpleasant surprise.

Mantisstar raised her head to a soft breeze whistling past with no fresh scents, and looked around as she wondered which of the others clans would show up first.

[Broadwaykat]

"Come on then, Rootclan." Shadowstar would not say it hadn't be tough, but easier that he thought, he was stepping into the leadership role. There were still many sleepless nights, and he worried constantly about who would fill his paws as Medicine Cat, but the clan was becoming strong once more. He watched proudly as the warriors filed past him, slipping in to greet others in the center of the Gathering space. 

"Good evening, Mantisstar." He greeted the Mothclan leader with a respectful nod of his head. "I trust the prey is running well in Mothclan." 

Yes, pleasantries like this still set him on edge a little bit: he was aware of how strange it had been for a Medicine Cat to take over as leader, official - surely there were mutters around the other clans that it must have seemed that Rootclan was slipping back, perhaps to their tribe ancestry. But what they might have forgotten was that, before he was a healer, he had been a fighter, a warrior - and truth be told he found that he had missed it only when he was back in a position to defend them physically.

[GnawingOnIce]

Dogstar trod along, his Clan behind him, beneath the full moon. He was not his usual stoic, proud self, no. He was shaken from losing a life, the entire process of seeing StarClan in front of him so briefly before being returned to his aching, wounded body was a strange experience he couldn’t quite process.

Nevertheless, a gathering had to be held. As he arrived, RootClan scent hit his nose, a scent he hadn’t smelled in a long while. It was almost refreshing- perhaps it was a good sign they were finally getting back to their paws?

He dismissed his Clan to mingle then made his way toward the monster carcasses. He lept up onto them and sat beside Mantis-star, dipping his head to her. He was surprised to see Shadowfall, who must be RootClan’s new leader, sitting on the other side of Mantis-star.

”Shadow... star, now? I presume?” Dogstar asked tentatively.

Meanwhile, Mottlepool shuffled her paws nervously. This was her first gathering as medicine cat and at first she was alone, sitting awkwardly at the base of the monster carcasses. RootClan arrived but didn’t bring a medicine cat with them. Then, MistClan came and she searched for someone out of place, someone who would hopefully come ambling toward her.

Tags;; Fireflake, Broadwaykat
Notes;; n/a

[Broadwaykat]

Acknowledging Dogstar's greeting with a small nod, his eye seemed to reflect the slight confusion in the tom's eyes. He didn't understand it as much as Dogstar did - but at least there seemed to be an agreement between the other leaders that this would be tolerated without the expected argument.

"That is correct. I hope the prey is running well for Mistclan, Dogstar." He greeted with a solemn politeness which as due for him. "With the weather we have been having, it is a good time for most of us, I trust."

Now all they needed for the evening was the arrival of Ivyclan...but the longer they did not appear, the more worry began to worm it's way through his chest.