[ti]Open[/ti]Turn for Better or Worse

[M'Lady]

Owlstar prided herself on being prompt and early when it came to gatherings. She was the oldest leader, the leader of Ivyclan, it was only right that she should be the first to arrive. Sure, Mothstar was a senior warrior and very respectable when it came to battle, and sure, Bearstar seemed to fit the role of a leader despite being so new to the role. But even they bowed their heads to see if she'd like to speak first, whether it be out of respect or just plain deference, and she held her head high because of that. 

So, she roused her clan, warm pelts brushing against each other in contrast to the chill of the night. They'd wake up to fresh frost in the morning, that was for sure. She led them to the monster carcasses, her steps silent and quick as she made her way through the territory and led her cats whose paws thundered behind her. If her fur had been any lighter, she would've seemed like a ghost through the trees, her movements so graceful and fluid it seemed impossible that they could come from just a normal she-cat like herself. 

She glanced at her deputy as he found his place at the base of the cars, and readied herself for the quick few leaps to the top. As elegant as always, she made it up without a problem. Fluffing her fur up against the chill, she cast her bright yellow gaze across her clan cats, a small smile coming to her face. They were mingling among themselves, talking in hushed voices and huddled together against the cold. Oh she loved her clan, they were so proud and loyal. Loyalty was always something she valued highly, which is why she found herself disliking Mothclan, despite her efforts to remain neutral. A clan of cats that left their homes. Who would want to leave the clan they had been born in? Ivyclan and Mistclan had existed for countless seasons, decades of generations. She herself was from a long line of Ivyclan smoky furred cats, and she held her bloodline in high regard. She did love it though, when others joined their clan. It meant they preferred life in Ivyclan over all else. Perhaps that's why she was so accepting of the rogues and kittypets that wanted to join clanlife. 

She rose her head in interest as the scent of different cats reached her noise, casting a glance over to find where the sounds of paws and voices were coming from. She wondered who'd arrived next. Tonight would be a momentous gathering, she could feel it. Starclan was stirring, the moon was full and bright, and the blood of clan cats ran as hot as fire against the cold of leaf bare. 

[americanfacepalm]

Hawksplash followed her Clan leader, Owlstar, to the masses of monster corpses for the purpose of meeting with the other Clans. While not her first Gathering, it was still exciting to go, exciting to feel the pelts of her Clanmates brush up against hers, and exciting to hear the paws and voices of so many cats. It almost made her feel like an apprentice again every time, seeing all these cats. However, it seemed that her Clan had arrived first, so they would have to wait for others to appear and join them. She was loyal to IvyClan and always would be, but she was antsy to talk with cats outside of her Clan. You kind of saw your own Clanmates everyday, so talking with outsiders to your Clan was refreshing and new.

The scents of the other Clans wafted to her, bringing wonder and excitement about who would arrive next. Would it be MistClan? MothClan? Whoever it was, she could not wait to get to gossiping. She was queenlike in that sense, despite never having had kits of her own. Her spot where she sat down was near the rest of IvyClan, but open enough for other cats to join her.

[KingHarry]

MothClan was the second clan to arrive. Mothstar led the group - a self-confidence, smug expression on his face. The embarrassment of dying at the last gathering was all but gone because he had it - he had the cure to the illness. Well, Cedarleap had it, but that was basically the same thing, right? 

The clan still looked a little ragged - the effects of the illness still lingering - but there was definitely an improvement since the last time the three clans had gathered. Mothstar himself looked much better. Thankfully, he hadn't caught the illness again after the events of the last moon. This time he was perfectly healthy and ready to represent those that followed him.

Once he arrived, he headed straight for the monster that the leaders sat on - hopping up onto it, loud thuds accompanying his paws whenever his massive body landed. "Good evening, Owlstar." MothClan's leader greeted, cockiness evident in his voice. "And just how are you today?"

As he waited for a response, Mothstar blew a long tuft of hair out of his eyes. That was the problem with being so hairy - the fur brought benefits in terms of protection and warmth, but it really did get everywhere.

---

Confident that Mothstar couldn't do something as stupid as he did last moon. Dying was a really bad idea. It made the clan seem weak, and that was not something they needed right now. Thankfully, he seemed healthy this time (something that Silvertongue had insisted on checking beforehand) and so the chances of the repeat performance seemed incredibly likely.

So, happy that events should go well this time, Silvertongue didn't see the need to stick to his leader like a spider stuck to its web. Instead, he split off to find someone to talk to. Gatherings were a good time to gather gossip and secrets about others - something that could always come in useful.

The tabby flicked his eyes over the crowd, looking for anyone that he knew liked to talk. Ah! There! Hawksplash. She had a reputation for enjoying gossip.

"Hello," Silvertongue said as he sat down next to the other, making sure to put on as kind a voice as he could. "I hope you don't mind if I sit with you?"

[Mama]

Briarfrost was sitting in the front of the rock, shivering quite a bit as usual. Was it usually cold or just her? Most likely just her being a worrywuss. Giving a light gulp, she gazed around towards the other cats before glancing up towards Wolfclaw with a dreamy sigh. She couldn't help he was so easy to look at... and so handsome...

Getting lost in her thoughts, she gained a bit of a frozen look, except the fact that her shaking continued and continued.

///

Shadespirit followed behind her leader and took a place in the back of the crowd, looking a bit lonely as she stood and gaze. Her good side was soft and her eye flickered calmly around, however her bad side was forced into a rather angry scowl, making her look a bit mean with all the scars and her missing tail. She wasn't looking for anyone in general, but hoped maybe Rivershine would pop out of the crowd.

///

Yewpaw sat formally near the base of the rock, her eyes locked on Mothstar with the normal cold and hollow expression. She didn't look around or converse, despite this being her first gathering. She was interested, but she also wanted to keep an eye on the cats near the top..

///

On the other paw, Emberpaw was running around and stumbling into every cat near her. Her feet were too big for her, and her body looked odd, mostly because she was still growing. The she-cat was already the size of a small warrior, and didn't look like she would stop anytime soon. "Excuse me!" She mewed, tripping on another cat before landing on her face with a splat.

[GnawingOnIce]

-----

This was Meteorfall's first gathering as a warrior, and she couldn't be happier.
Everyone, or at least her Clan, would chant her name.
She was sitting beside Finchpaw like every other gathering.
The only bad part about this gathering was that it was still cold and Finchpaw hadn't become a warrior with her.
She tried to reassure him, however, and told him that soon they'd be great warriors and could go patrolling together and do whatever they'd like.
She didn't know if that made him feel better, but it made her feel better.

-----

Dogear had decided to not come to the gathering.
There was no reason for him to be there.

-----

Coppertuft had come to the gathering, however.
He was sitting beside Kinktail, this time, and not by himself for once.
This made him happy and made him feel like his situation was improving.

-----

Timberpaw and Maplepaw had come to the gathering, of course.
Both of them were fidgeting around from some sort of excitement that they always had.
No cat understands why they're always so happy.
"Just think, next time we come here we'll be warriors!"
Maplepaw whispered to Timberpaw.
"Yeah! I can't wait."

-----

Cedarleap had stayed at camp, once again.
She had good reason to, though.
Since she found the cure for redcough, she had immediately given the herb, Elfdock, to all the sick cats in the Clan.

-----

[LupTacco]

Bearstar's ears flicked with dissatisfaction- MistClan was the last to arrive this time. Glancing around the other two clans, she couldn't help but note how small MothClan was. It hadn't really occurred to her before. At least their leader seemed to be in better humors, no longer hunched and speckled with red. Much as she didn't wish to lose more clanmates as they joined MothClan's ranks, she didn't really want to see it fail. Traitors though they may be, they were all someone's family at one point, and still are for many of the cats who remained loyal. Leaping up to take her place alongside Owlstar and Mothstar, she dipped her head in polite greeting to the two. 

---

The young grey warrior shivered, wrapping his tail around his paws. Shrikeheart had never been much for the cold in spite of his thick coat- the soft warm days of New-Leaf were much more his style. The new leader was... enthusiastic, at least. A little too wordy though, he thought. He took a look at the cats nearby, not actively seeking conversation but not averse to it either. 

--

Daisytail decided to rest tonight, the cold has been hard on her joints. 

---

Thrushbelly stayed back at camp, still dealing with the tail-end of his illness. 

---

Sagespiral remained back at camp to stay on guard for any dangerous animals or too-curious rogues. 

[americanfacepalm]

Hawksplash dipped her head in greeting to Silvertongue. "No, I don't mind at all," she said blithely. "How are things in MothClan? Mothstar is looking leaps and bounds better already!" Now, she did enjoy the good bit of gossip, but she tried her best to be careful-- that meant not sharing vital Clan secrets, although no cat was stupid enough to give those away. However, stuff like the latest antics of kits or elders was definitely up for discussion. Those two ranks of cats never seemed to get dull. There was always some odd thing a kit did, or something that an elder had let slip. Of course, there were always the statuses of various warriors... oh, gossip was fun!

---

Duskjaw did not come to the Gathering with MothClan.

---

Cougartail ended up coming to the Gathering with MistClan, looking as large and proud as ever. Though he had been a warrior for moons, he still enjoyed flaunting himself and all of his scars. He sat himself down with the rest of his Clan and waited for the leaders to speak, implying himself open for an apprentice or two to gawk at him.

[M'Lady]

Owlstar's gaze flickered towards Mothstar when he jumped up, dipping her head slightly in greeting. "Good evening to you as well, Mothstar. I am well, and you are certainly looking better," She commented, casting her gaze across the clan that had arrived with him. Actually, they all seemed to be looking much better. Perhaps Cedarleap had figured something out, redcough-wise. Well, either Mothstar would mention it, or Cedarleap would let the other medicine cats know.

Bearstar arrived soon after, and Owlstar returned her nod with a soft "Greetings, Bearstar." She turned her head back out to watch the clans mingle, and then cast her eyes upwards to glance at the moon. Full and bright, this gathering had Starclan's blessing to begin. As was proper, Owlstar deemed it time to start. She glanced at the other two, as a form of courtesy, before she cleared her throat to begin.

"Clans of Ivy, Mist, and Moth!" She called, her voice loud and clear above the general murmur of the crowd. It quieted as soon as she spoke, and eyes turned to look up at her on the dead monster carcass. When everyone had fallen silent, she begun the Ivyclan announcements.

"Ivyclan has been blessed this past moon, with four new cats young and strong, who have been named warriors! Brooksong, Shadowgaze, Wildwing, and Russetblaze, welcome to your first gathering as true warriors of Ivyclan." Cheers broke out among her clan, and a few from others as well. She smiled slightly, her clan was as proud as ever, it seemed. It soon feel silent once again when she cleared her throat.
"In other news, prey has been running surprisingly well, it may be the early ending of leafbare, or perhaps just this new territory. Needless to say, we'll be defending our borders proudly." She forced herself not to glance at Mothstar as she said this, though her voice hinted with a defensive tone. Owlstar paused for a moment before continuing.
"But of course, it seems like we aren't the only blessed clan this full moon night. Mothstar, your warriors are looking much healthier than last moon, would you care to elaborate?"

[Dofferz!]

Most certainly Larkbeat was to be attending this moon's gathering. Last moon she had been absent to simply deal with a minor case of Whitecough, but the brief sickness had cured up leaving her back to her normal state. Word had spread like wildfire that during the last gathering Mothstar had struggled against a case of convulsions identical to those under her care in the medicine cat den right before they slipped into the paws of Starclan, but her own opinions stayed in her head as she would rather not be the cause of rumors. Besides, much to her own surprise a few of the cats diagnosed with the Redcough had survived said convulsions, and the undersized medicine cat wouldn't put it past Mothstar to be strong enough to fight through like her own clanmates were doing.

Her mouth opened in a yawn as she gathered, sitting in among a few felines whom were her own clanmates along with some that were not and simply listened intently to their conversation until Owlstar began the gathering.

---

Finchpaw assumed his usual spot beside of his best friend. She was the same cat, but there was a different feeling that what was normal. No matter how elated he was that the grey feline had become a warrior, there was still a little bit of sorrow that tore at his heart. It hadn't resonated until the night of Meteorfall's vigil that she wouldn't be curled up in the next beside him again nor would he train with her during the daytime hours. But surely that didn't show too much because his joy and pride that his best friend was a warrior overcame the selfishness of his own desires. He knew she deserved it, and he wouldn't want her to revert to apprenticehood just because he didn't see her as often as before. Oh Starclan, no.

The gathering started with Owlstar's command, and he wiggled a bit as the smoky Ivyclan leader announced the names of her clan's newest clanmates. "I bet Bearstar will say yours too!" he whispered as excitement pricked at his pelt.

---

And lastly, Tawnystorm trod through the clearing, a little more of a spring in her step than usual. She was a warrior, and she wanted to certainly make that known as she squeezed her way past a Ivyclan couple to sit up close to the action. The Bengal cast her gaze around the clearing, hoping to pick out a familiar pelt of one of the felines she had grown up with. Her sister or her brothers. Surely Owlstar had the senses to realize that the lot of them were ready to receive their names, and at that, the Mothclan warrior couldn't help the smile that tugged at the edges of her lips as she announced the names: Brooksong, Shadowgaze, and Wildwing. 'I couldn't of thought of anything to match them better.' she found her admitting within her thoughts.

With Starclan's luck she could catch the lot of them out when the gathering came to a close to offer a congratulations and catch up on the news she had missed during the time in her new clan.

[christicat15]

Large paws carried the large deputy into the gathering place and, after watching his beloved leader and cousin, Owlstar, jump up to the top of the deceased creatures, he took his place at the feet the monsters. His tail rested beside his large paws and his posture remained good as he sat there, ears perked and face stoic per usual, as he waited for the gathering to start. His sharp claws kneaded against the soft dirt as his yellow gaze caught sight of a certain Clan leader entering the scene. Mothstar. Even the sight of him made Wolfclaw's fur bristle in anger. Not long ago, that same leader had attacked Briarfrost, which made rage course through Wolfclaw's entire body, and his blood boiled. He just wanted to sink his claws and teeth into the other male. But he had to keep his rage in check. He knew that sometimes anger could overcome him and... he didn't want to turn into something, or some cat rather, he feared he'd turn into. Wolfclaw was about to approach him and confront him about his fight with Briarfrost when Owlstar started the gathering. It would have to wait. Wolfclaw's eyes swiveled towards his cousin as he listened to her words, speaking of the good fortune their Clan had come by in the past moon, as the sickness left their camp. This made him swell with pride. IvyClan seemed to pride themselves on, well, being proud. But he forced himself not to growl when Owlstar spoke so calmly to Mothstar, even though he had detected the slightly defensive hint in her tone as she spoke of defending their borders. As it was now Mothstar's turn to speak, Wolfclaw's burning glare fell upon the other male as he waited for him to, in Owlstar's own words, elaborate on their own fortune and possible misfortune.

When all hope begins to shatter, know that I won't be afraid. IvyClan Deputy Biography x Mentions: Everyone

credit to Laura of Adox