[Deleted]

Sootpaw

What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?

_{Vincent Van Gogh}

✣StoneClan, 8 Moons, She-Cat

Sootpaw was so excited she could barely sit still as Hawkstar led his chosen cats to StarClan's Claws. Her first gathering... She was a little overwhelmed, but still determined to enjoy the evening and make as many friends as she possibly could. 

She'd listened to the stories from her mother when she was a kit, about how she was encouraged to make friends from other clans, but to be careful; she could one day be forced to engage them in battle... there was no room for divided loyalties, especially when the safety of the Clan was at stake. 

But still... She wanted to make at least one friend tonight. As Hawkstar leapt, shortly after joined by the other leaders, she felt more than saw the other StoneClan cats spread out, greeting friends and sharing tongues. 

Looking for a cat who was alone, her gaze settled on a white she-cat. Her pelt was unmistakeably beautiful and unique, and her scent? LightningClan. She bounded over to the other cat.

"Hi! I'm Sootpaw, what's your name?"

Dovecloud looked around at the sudden explosion of kit-hood exuberance and purred. Here was a StoneClan cat who was too innocent and too young to really remember the fierce battle that had been waged between their two clans. 

"My name is Dovecloud. Nice to meet you, little Sootpaw. First gathering? Keep an eye out, the gatherings are a place where friendships and alliances can be forged. Now, if you don't mind and don't think me too rude, I've seen a friend of mine that I want to go and see. Have fun!"

Dovecloud sauntered away, leaving Sootpaw feeling a little off-put. There were a lot of cats here. At least Dovecloud...was that her name? had seemed friendly. 

She stood for a moment, looking around at the different groups of cats, feeling a little left out that there was barely anyone she knew.

341, Nerves are biting Sootpaw like a badger✣

[Deleted]

---

Snakepaw was a little disappointed Honeywhisker wouldn't be going to the gathering with them, but at least his sister was going. When Foxstar called them all together to leave, Snakepaw stuck to his sister's side, excited and a little bit nervous. What would it be like? Would he meet new friends? What were all the other Clans like? He remembered one of his earliest conversations with his mentor, about how each Clan had their own special powers. He couldn't wait to meet cats from every Clan.

Trotting alongside Scrap-paw, their pelts brushing every so often, he followed Foxstar to the gathering place, staring up at the nearest 'claw' as the NightClan group passed beneath it, before the scents of every Clan assualted his nose. The rest of the NightClan cats began to head off in different directions, spotting cats they recognized from other Clans, but Snakepaw simply stood at the edge of the clearing, taking it all in. There were so many cats!

A bright white pelt caught his eye and he turned, watching Dovecloud as she walked away from Sootpaw, ears pricked, wondering if she was like him. He'd never seen another cat with red eyes like his. But as he caught a glimpse of her face, her eyes, it was clear they weren't red. His ears flicked back, disappointed, but then he looked over at the apprentice she had walked away from and his disappointment was forgotten.

He bounded over to her immediately. “Hi, who are you? I'm Snakepaw! I'm from NightClan,” he announced proudly. The albino tom leaned forward, invading the she-cat's personal space a bit as he tried to make out her scent over all the conflicting scents in the area, trying to work out which Clan she was from.

Rushwhisker remained beside his apprentice for a little while, not entirely happy with being chosen to attend yet another gathering, but at least wanting to be there for Fernpaw if she was nervous about her first gathering. He glanced around every so often, wondering if Lichenfrost would show up to accost him again. Perhaps StarClan would show him a modicum of kindness and she wouldn't be here.

During one of his looks around, he noticed two apprentices greeting each other, neither of which he recognized. They looked young, it was likely their first gathering as well. He flicked Fernpaw's shoulder with his tail, pointing toward them with his nose, “Hey, why don't you go say hello to them? They look about your age, it's probably their first time at a gathering too. Shared experiences are good ways to start friendships.” He gave her a soft, encouraging smile, “Take this opportunity to learn from them. Every Clan has unique skills that shape how they live.”

---

@calico
Taxx

[Deleted]

LIONPAW

Lionpaw breathed in deeply as he followed Silverstar into Starclan's Claws. So what if there were a lot of cats? He could handle it, he was Lionpaw. Greatest cat out of the clans! Despite his inner monologue, Lionpaw had to swallow back the desire to run away from so many strangers. He could hear his father scolding him, only a coward runs away, I won't have a coward for a son!

There! A familiar white pelt with gleaming red eyes. He remembered Snakepaw from their meeting at the border, and his aggressive sister Scrap-paw. Speaking of, there she was matching her brother's pawsteps stride by stride. What a woman. There was another apprentice Lionpaw didn't recognise but he bounded over anyway.

Stumbling to a halt, Lionpaw managed to puff out his chest in his usual demeanor a split second before he joined the group. "Hello Snakepaw, Scrap-paw. It's nice to see you again."

DAWNPAW

Dawnpaw did not like this one bit. None of her brothers were here, her mentor was, but she didn't know Nightstep all that well and the fact that the tom didn't talk much didn't help. Calling upon the power of stubbornness, Dawnpaw tried to meet every cat she saw with a unfaltering stare; looking a bit like an angry owl in her attempt.

A group of... five apprentices seemed to be converging and Dawnpaw hurried over; she knew she'd be encouraged to socialize and she'd rather not do so with other warriors. Best focus on the competition at hand and her potential future opponents. 

She snorted at the Rainclan tom's weird introduction, apparently he already knew the two cats. Determined to make her presence known, she gave him a nudge out of the way; keeping her legs and chin straight to meet the other apprentices' eyes. 

"Hello, I'm Dawnpa-AGH!" The tabby jumped a bit, her bright golden eyes focusing on the white tom's red ones. She briefly wondered if he was some kind of monster before remembering Whiteshade and Cherrypool. This other clan must have a cat like them, obviously since here he was. "Your eyes are like my clan's Whiteshade's and Cherrypool's.

they are here @calico @zen

[williams]

SORRELPAW
After hearing her name as one chosen, Sorrelpaw practically flew to Starclan's Claws, loping in time with the gathering party. She would not be left behind, panting with each step she took. Frozenrain wasn't coming, wasn't watching her apprentice step into the sacred lands, scars healed and stance tall and sure. She was still an apprentice yes, and that would cause questions. But Sorrelpaw was not worried about that. She'll deal with them as a strong Stoneclan cat Hawkstar believed her to be. Instead of her mentor, Vipertail kept pace with her. Maybe Frozenrain set him up to keep a watch on her, but if she had, the tom wasn't sharing that information with her. It did help, since her own Viperpaw wasn't chosen. Don't forget, She thought, thinking back. I need to make sure to learn of other locations with neat rocks. Rainclan might know, because of the rivers.

Lost in thought, she almost missed the wave to charge into the clearing. Vipertail nudged her shoulder to get joining, before putting on a charming smile as he strode off to greet old friends, older warriors. One that that will be me. The tabby apprentice thought, scanning the crowd for anyone familiar. It had been so long, the faces and scents blurred into one mostly happy mixture that flooded her senses. Sighing, Sorrelpaw spotted a familiar face, Sootpaw from her own clan, and made her way over as more and more cats headed that way. Younger apprentices, all bright-eyed and bushy tailed. This was their first gathering she realized with a sinking heart, cursing her injury more and more as she started to hear their words. I'm the oldest one in this group.

She flicked her tail in greeting at the younger apprentices, before sitting beside Sootpaw willing to let the younger apprentice lead the conversation for now. She'd interrupt if she gave any Stoneclan secrets away, but for now, she just wanted to enjoy the loud hum of conversation cascading over her senses like a comfortable blanket.

notes// old gal mingles with youngsters
words// 350
tagged// @medusa (+viper mention) @calico @zen Fawn (frozenrain mention)

[Taxx]

Fernpaw

7 Moons. She-Cat. RainClan.

Fernpaw had stuck to Rushwhisker like mud stuck to fur throughout the journey, equal parts excited and nervous about meeting the other Clans; she'd never met another Clan cat before, and she was on edge about how they'd receive her. Now, as they headed down the slope into the clearing, the nervousness had her fur prickling.

But she was excited too, and for one reason: by now, Pantherkit and Flamekit ought to be apprentices; they should have had their ceremony. What if they were here? Oh, how she wanted to see them again, her brothers (no matter what any cat said) had been on her mind ever since she'd been told she would be going to the Gathering. But, as she paused next to Rushwhisker, sitting up to peer around the crowd, brief moments of interest as she spied a black-and-white pelt or a ginger one, only to realize it wasn't the cats she was looking for... a wave of disappointment as she failed to see them washed over her and she sank down again, shuffling her paws as she sighed.

Her mentor spoke and Fernpaw turned her head in the direction of the group, ears flicking as she eyed the two young cats. Whiskers flicking, she cast a glance at Rushwhisker, confused. She didn't want to be friends with them- after all, they were enemies- but Rushwhisker's lessons on talking, on putting herself in another cat's mind, flashed through her mind. She supposed it couldn't hurt to try to get to know them. Dipping her head to the tom, she headed for the two, her steps faltering just a bit as more joined the small group.

She too jumped at the sight of the deep red eyes of the white tom, but she held her tongue, only picking up her pace to hear his reply. There were no cats like him in RainClan, but there were in LightningClan? How interesting. Her gaze drifted toward yet another she-cat as she approached, this one clearly either a warrior or an apprentice held back for some reason. Fernpaw settled herself next to Lionpaw, more familiar with him than the rest, and mewed greetings to the rest. "Hello. I'm Fernpaw from RainClan. This is my first Gathering. Yours too?" she asked Snakepaw, unable to help the slight ripple of whiskers as she met his gaze, a bit disconcerted by the unusual color of his eyes.

@zen @medusa williams @calico ooc: