[Deleted]

As LightningClan reached StarClan’s Claws, Lightningpaw was almost vibrating with anticipation. Her first gathering! She’d been waiting so long to go, when Owlmind had told her Redstar had chosen her to attend this time she’d done laps around the camp in her excitement. She’d never met any of the ranking members of the other Clans and they would all be at the gathering! Well, Smokestorm had brought Lynxpaw back to camp a long time ago and she’d caught a glimpse of the StoneClan deputy then, but that was it. Were Hawkstar and Lionstar really as big as every cat said? And would the Tribe be there again? Would she be able to see their leader? Or, uhm, whatever it was called?

She fought not to race ahead of Redstar and Owlmind as they lead the Clan into the clearing, but as soon as Redstar made for the leader’s perch, Lightningpaw was hurrying after her mentor to where the deputies were congregating below their leaders, eyes wide as twin moons on her face. She recognized Smokestorm, and the massive black tom could only be Pumafang, TreeClan’s new deputy. RainClan wasn’t here yet so the other stranger had to be NightClan. What was her name? Her tail flicked once in annoyance that she couldn’t remember the new NightClan deputy’s name.

Still nearly vibrating in her pelt, she came to a stop before the four deputies and stood there staring with an awkward intensity for a moment before she remembered these were deputies and she was being super rude. “Ah! Uh. H-hi,” she dipped her head respectfully to them all and noticed the NightClan deputy’s whiskers twitch before she nodded in greeting, “I mean. I’m Lightningpaw, Owlmind’s apprentice. It’s an honor to meet you all!” Work, tongue!

Taxx Ghost the Undead Goddess @jet (you don’t all have to reply if you don’t want to/don’t have time, just tagging for the mentions and just in case~)

[Taxx]

Smokestorm

This gal right here's gonna rule the world
No, I won't sit still and look pretty

The last thing Smokestorm had expected, as she'd settled with the other deputies of the Clans, was for an apprentice of LightningClan to skid to a halt in front of them all, her eyes lit up like she was gazing upon StarClan warriors. She eyed the silver tabby apprentice, flashed a glance at Owlmind at the mention of mentor, and then merely blinked. In the end- and mostly in light of the fact that it was a Gathering, and the apprentice herself was clearly in awe and being polite enough, the smallest of the deputies gave her a slight nod in return.

"Well met, Lightningpaw. I'm Smokestorm." If she didn't already know, which she ought to- but anyway, it was polite to give her name and not simply assume she was a hot topic in LightningClan's camp. "I suppose this is your first time at a Gathering?"

Deputy of StoneClan

@zen Notes

[Deleted]

So the season neared its end.

Greenleaf, the few months Pumafang had always anticipated to be a respite from hardship, had ended up leading to tragedy for half the clans in the valley. TreeClan had lost Moonfeather in the floods, and Yewfang in the Demon attack, as well as one of Lionstar's lives and Timberfrost's soundness. Her wounds were grave, and Pumafang had resorted to busying himself with patrols while she recovered, with the regular evening visit of course. It did no good to crowd Falconstorm all the time, not when TreeClan needed representation at the borders now more than ever. With LightningClan and NightClan pushing boundaries, Pumafang felt on edge, his self-control constantly being tested. The night when Brackenstride discovered NightClan's thieving hunting party on TreeClan territory was the night Pumafang fell to grips with an uncharacteristic lack of composure. His ruse turned its back on him, and the deputy's own plan backfired because of his own poor judgement and lack of teamwork.

Perhaps it was the ache in his neck from Rookshade's jaws that brought on the memory of it, though the massive, chocolate black tom quickly pushed it away. The past didn't matter. It only corrupted the present and future.

Pumafang took his place beneath Lionstar, finding himself sitting in between Rainfur and Owlmind. He looked over the clearing. Faces bobbed up and down as cats talked, growled, and giggled, the clearing's volume escalating, though a silver tabby yanked his attention away with a rather awkward introduction. She looked capable, almost like a warrior, though her behavior was...unnatural. Although, he really hadn't been approached by the crowd at a gathering his entire deputyship aside from a handful of senior warriors and elders. He questioned whether it was foolishness or courage that rolled this she-cat to the line of deputy's and leaders, though he soon received his answer. After her introduction, he sent a reticent, yet welcoming, dip of his head Lightningpaw's way.

Owlmind's apprentice.

The prickling of distaste made his pelt itch, though he kept an indifferent expression. It wouldn't be fair to attribute the actions of LightningClan leadership to that of a single apprentice. Smokestorm spoke first, not that it was a race. Pumafang had little interest in conversation, though being the face of TreeClan under Lionstar, he felt obligated to introduce himself following the small, yet strong willed StoneClan deputy. Pumafang's colossal, dense frame towered over all the other cat's around him. He was like a panther in the moonlight, his thick, black tail wrapped neatly around his paws. Recent scratches and scars littered his pelt from the scuffle Pumafang and Brackenstride had some nights ago.

It seemed fitting that Rookshade's vicious bite was on the right side of Pumafang's neck, hidden from view to all besides Rainfur and Darkstar.

"I am Pumafang, deputy of TreeClan, and this is Rainfur." His voice resonated deeply, almost kindly, wasting no time to steal the words out of Rainfur's mouth. Pumafang's impulsive irritation had left the NightClan deputy devoid of a professional title. He hoped she felt far away and detached from the conversation: the rogues that she commanded needed not influence TreeClan's only other neighbor. He didn't want it to seem too obvious to the apprentice, though Pumafang did crave more of that cold look Rainfur gave him as he crafted words of his own.

"I commend your respectful nature, Lightningpaw. It isn't often that I see cats with such civility." Pumafang paused, relishing his passive insults. His emphasis couldn't have gone unnoticed. "It is uplifting to see the future of LightningClan in good paws. There are many who could learn from your reverence."

Pumafang's amber gaze flicked down at Rainfur for a brief moment before shifting back to Lightningpaw. He didn't lie, never saw the need to. The silver marbled tabby she-cat was the future of the valley, regardless of the clan she was in, and he just hoped she upheld the warrior code better than those before her, and around her.

It seemed to be the only thing keeping the valley from careening into calamity.

"Surely your warrior's ceremony is soon?" Pumafang mentioned casually, glancing at Owlmind before resuming his interaction with Smokestorm and Lightningpaw. He was glad the tall, thin, and grey deputy was closer to his height. More specifically since his run-in with the thieving NightClan hunting party, Pumafang was tired of looking down at the whole valley.



@zen Taxx Ghost the Undead Goddess

[Deleted]

Lightningpaw nodded emphatically as Smokestorm introduced herself and asked if this was her first time attending a gathering, “Yes, it is! There’s so many cats!” Her wide gaze shifted to Pumafang as the massive tom spoke, and for a few heartbeats flitted between the TreeClan deputy and the leaders up on their perch, trying to figure out just how Pumafang compared to Lionstar and Hawkstar. The two eldest leaders in the valley were fabled for their size, but standing in front of Pumafang made Lightningpaw feel like a kit again. Is that how she’d feel standing in front of Lionstar or Hawkstar? It was hard to tell from the distance up to the rock they stood on.

When the tom introduced Rainfur, the she-cat’s ear flicked dismissively. The NightClan deputy’s gaze shifted to the larger tom, passive, as she considered his motives. Such pettiness was rather unbecoming, particularly at a gathering, and the passive aggressive nature of his insults cowardly. If he had something to say, he ought to just come out and say it instead of hiding behind false politeness. But he was young, after all. She turned her attention back to the LightningClan apprentice and paid him no more mind. If Pumafang wanted to draw the feud between their Clans before the gathering as a spectacle once more, as Lionstar had done previously, he could do it on his own. She would have no part in it.

Lightningpaw felt warm from nose to tail tip at Pumafang’s compliment and dipped her head, suddenly shy at the attention from one of the other Clan’s ranking members. “Th-thank you….” She glanced at her mentor as the tom asked about her ceremony, then back up at him, “I think so.” She nearly rushed into the story about how she’d been held back and now she was training as a tunneler and tunneling training took longer but that was… well, the tunneling wasn’t really common knowledge. And she really didn’t want to tell all the Clans deputies how she had been held back for bad behavior as a kit, especially after Pumafang had complimented her so nicely. She shuffled her paws, unsure just what to say, and in her mad rush to find something, she blurted the next thing that popped into her head, “I really hope I never have to fight you, you’d probably squish me with one paw.” A nervous squeak escaped her then. That was a terrible thing to say, especially at a gathering! Harebrain!

Rainfur laughed, but her eyes were kind when they met Lightningpaw’s, “If he could hit you. You look quick, Lightningpaw, and perhaps very well named. There is more to battle than brute strength.” Lightningpaw nodded stiffly, rigid with embarrassment for her outburst.

Taxx @jet Ghost the Undead Goddess

[Ghost the Undead Goddess]

Owlmind

LightningClan || 69 Moons || Deputy

Nimble gray paws quietly led the lanky feline through the long familar path leading from Lightningclan's moorlands to the gathered space of Starclan's Claws. The aging she-cat had seen several full moons within the mixed presence of all five clans, but only a few as deputy. Calm and collected, she held her head and tail high as she held herself with proper respect and position. Wise amber pools surveyed which clans had arrived and which had yet to filter in before the Gathering started before landing upon the group of rock in which the leaders stood. The deputies all congregated beneath it near the Medicine Cats as the higher ranks kept somewhat out of the way.

Long tail flickering, the lanky feline let that ever watchful gaze slide down to where her pale tabby apprentice was jittering at her shoulder. It was Lightningpaw's first Gathering, and excitement was clearly etched into her expression and gaze as she held somewhat of a star-struck look. Normally young warriors and apprentices liked to mingle with cats of their own age from different clans, which wasn't bad. Curiosity and knowledge could come as an advantage in certain situations, and the lanky deptuy was always one to take advantage of such things, even as small as they might be. However, Lightningpaw's attention seemed to be stuck on meeting the other deputies, and the senior warrioress wasn't about to deny her young of an opportunity to learn and experience.

Parting from her brother as Redstar easily kept atop The waiting rocks to join the other leaders, Owlmind found herself a spot near Pumafang and Rainfur, those unreadable pools slowly slinking over each cat as she gave respectable nods to each in turn. Lowering her haunches to sit, the gray she-cat wrapped her long tail around her paws, keeping her head high as she let Lightningpaw introduce herself. The pale tabby was well informed of both Smokestorm and Pumafang, it would have been ill-thought not to teach her the deputies of the neighboring clans, Treeclan and Stoneclan.

A wide ear shifted upon her narrow, long head as she turned to listen to the conversations between her ward and the other deputies among them. While they were more intent on conversing with the you gster, the strategical warrioress kept her attention and ever moving mind on each cat that spoke. Tone of voice, expressions within eyes and body language all led to different signs and conclusions. The tension between Treeclan and Nightclan ever obvious with the reactions of their deputies, Smokestorm kept polite despite her feelings towards their neighboring clan within the grasslands.

A monotoned rumble brought Owlmind's attention, those wide pools turning to face the massive form of Treeclan's black furred deputy. His gaze was blank and vague, similar to the way hers was a wall of unreadable amber. His towering form had no affect in the department of intimidation, as she well knew size and power was not everything. She herself was not a powerful cat, her limbs were lean and her body lanky, perfect for running and swift agility. Her mind was her weapon, let her work out the logistics and planning when it came to battle, hunting or war tatics, while those like Redstar or Nightstep completed the tasks given in hopes of advantage.

Parting her jaw, the aging feline spoke in that sharp tone of hers, voice raspy as always. "Lightningpaw is a hard working apprentice. Her name will come." Owlmind was very proud of her apprentice, all the training and hard work she had given despite being held back as a kit showed the deputy that the pale tabby would one day be a phenomenal warrior and assest to her clan. Nothing seemed to discourage her passion and her heart was always in the right place, amber pools briefly glaced at Lightningpaw, giving the young she-cat a nod of approval.

Rainfur was the next deputy that Owlmind gave her ears too, pleased that the Nightclan she-cat gave solid advice on battle tatics, even if it was with the slightest jab towards Pumafang. "Rainfur is right, power is not everything. Most Lightningclan cats are lean, long legged and well suited to swift attacks and quick races. Look at the difference between cats at the gathering. Stoneclan tend to have wide paws and strong hind legs for jumping and roaming rocks. Rainclan has sleek pelts and the occasional webbed paws for swimming." The gray coated feline left the specialties of Treeclan and Shadowclan quiet for now, curious as to wether or not Lightningpaw could point them out on her own.

Wisdom. Courage. Strategy.

774 Words | @zen Taxx @jet

[Taxx]

Smokestorm

This gal right here's gonna rule the world
No, I won't sit still and look pretty

Pumafang's remarks, as subtle as he might have tried to make them, resulted in a cool glance from Smokestorm. There was no call for that, no matter how justified he felt; the rivalry could be put aside for a single night. She dipped her head to Rainfur and tried not to mind too much that she was agreeing with the LightningClan deputy as she added on, "All that strength is pointless if your opponent can't catch you."

Another glance made her realize that Lilygleam was missing, and Smokestorm flashed a look across the crowd behind her. Even the Tribe were here; where was RainClan? "I hope your Clans fared well during the storms?" she asked the others- hardly expecting more than guarded answers in return but still curious. "Aside from some pools and the Stone Stream rising quite a bit, StoneClan was unaffected." And the lives they'd lost, but Hawkstar would announce that. If he remembered; Minkfire's disappearance might be weighing more on his mind than anything else.

Deputy of StoneClan

@zen Ghost the Undead Goddess  @jet Notes

[Deleted]

Pumafang dipped his head, acknowledging Owlmind's statement about her apprentice. It was well said, as was turning Rainfur's amusing comment into a more intellectual discussion for her apprentice. He couldn't deny their statements, but wanted to note that power was relative. Pumafang noticed very little success coming from just speed or strength: although he liked to think himself the strongest in the valley, nothing compared to an industrious mind. Not even celerity.

"The only thing that determines the victor from the victim is perspective, and no small amount of assiduousness." Pumafang countered stolidly. "Dedication and direction will yield more success than strength, or speed, ever will."

Couldn't they all agree on that? None of them had achieved leadership from physical skill alone. No one accomplished excellence without focus and drive. The proof was in the past and the present. If Lightningpaw wanted to be the best warrior in LightningClan, resolve, bearing, and aim were the best tools for the job. Muscle can be built and trained. Agility can be developed. Only a centered mind would be capable of withstanding these pressures provoked by desires: covets variable from cat to cat, yet constant and merciless in each individual.

Pumafang shifted from the topic as Smokestorm spoke, nodding to the StoneClan deputy carefully. None of the deputies would admit any weaknesses, though in sincerity he hoped the innocents were spared suffering in all clans. By the looks of RainClan's absence, they were heavily affected. StarClan's greed has them bulging at the seams.

"TreeClan is well." Pumafang rumbled eerily, dissolving his spite for fate with thought of the future. "I can assure you we are looking forward to dryer ground."

Taxx @zen Ghost the Undead Goddess