[Deleted]

31 Moons ~ Tom ~ Bisexual ~ StoneClan Warrior

Foxtrot feigned attention to Hawkstar, knowing full well the usual blurb that was always to be directed at the cats chosen to go to the gathering.

Blah blah- decorum- blah- don't hit anyone

He flicked his ears impatiently, choosing instead to eye-up Wolfclaw instead. He grinned stupidly at the big burly tom, admiring his strange fur and musing to himself whether or not it would be bristly or soft if he brushed against the deputy. Foxtrot was certainly a rampant flirt, but he hadn't quite managed to bring himself to rub up against his deputy just this yet, though he was certainly feeling tempted-

Aww-

Everyone had set off, and with a little huff Foxtrot joined in with a leap and a bound, quickly catching up and keeping pace as they drew closer to StarClan's claws. He quickly felt comforted by the idea of mingling with cats from other clans. It was the perfect opportunity for harmless flirting, and he fully intended to use it, grinning as RainClan scent hit his nostrils.

The bright red tom-cat pranced happily into the clearing, eyes falling almost immediately on Adderstrike and marvelling at his beautiful striped coat. With a swish of his bushy tail Foxtrot trotted happily up to him with bright eyes and a charming smile.

"Stormstar has surely blessed me tonight by having such a handsome tom accompany him."

He mewed, dipping his handsome head with the most dazzling smile he could conger up.

242Words ~ @jet ~ Notes

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RainClan - Senior Warrior - Tom - 42 Moons

“Alright, spread out everyone, try not to cluster. We want to present a healthy front, but it would be nice if we could get some information as well. Make friends, start conversations. There is nothing to be afraid of giving away. Just make sure no one gets aggressive. We don't need any conflict on our paws, understood?”

Stormstar's words rang clear in the night. The Rainclan leader's bright golden eyes shone like twin suns in the darkness, and moonlight licked his black and white fur as he stood confidently in front of the ten cats he invited with him to his first gathering as leader. He looks quite composed and relaxed. Adderstrike thought to himself, standing patiently. Of course, he always has. The brown tabby tom nodded in agreement to Stormstar's assertive and reassuring comments, feeling his clanmates drift away from him like falling leaves. He looked up at the five massive, cold stones that towered towards the stars like unsheathed claws. They wrapped around him, almost ominously in the pale light of night. I've always thought this place was...powerful. He shook his fur and walked to the back of the clearing, unable to hide his usual limp.

Adderstrike was trying to rest his paws on soft soil, though he constantly found himself stepping on sharp stones or uncomfortable pebbles. He nodded and smiled to Quietstream as he passed, faintly admiring her pallid, cream colored pelt. The air was crisp and sharp with the scent of all five territories, and perhaps a faint breeze carried some faraway taste of the mountains. The smell of pine, marsh, deciduous trees, sap, river, fish, heather, and fresh wind all came together and spilled into Starclan's Claws like a rushing waterfall. The rock littered ground was losing its warmth to the chill of night, though the breeze felt warmer tonight than it had all of leafbare. A twinge of hope put an upbeat bounce in Adderstrike's uneven gait. His flanks were still sore from the fox fight, though pain was easy to ignore as satisfaction bubbled up within the tom's chest. He hated leafbare. The impending warmth of newleaf put a sparkle in his yellow-green eyes and instilled in Adderstrike a winsome exuberance.

The amber tom found a solitary spot that would oversee not only all the leaders, but most of the clan cats as well. He sat basking in the starlight, washing his pelt until his marbled tabby coat shone brilliantly. Adderstrike watched as Stormstar awaited the company of the other leaders. An unexpected rush of unease hit him like an avalanche of stones as memories of the fox attack replayed in his mind. Adderstrike's heart fluttered as he remembered his walk back to camp beside his leader. Both cat's had been horribly injured. Well, I survived. I'm sure he healed just like I did. The tom thought adamantly, though doubt still managed to writhe in his stomach like a fish out of water. Adderstrike has spent much time in camp healing from his wounds, constantly in the care of Ottersplash. After the bloody and painful incident, Stormstar was as impassive and strong as he had ever been. Maybe his wounds weren't as bad as I thought. Adderstrike convinced himself, pushing away disturbing thoughts and emotions. It's time to relax and talk. Why do I always have to make thoughts and situations so tense and uninviting? He thought, puzzled. I definitely need to work on that.

Just as he started getting edgy anticipating the arrival of the other clans, the scent of Stoneclan wafted into the clearing. His spirits dropped. Adderstrike was hoping to listen in on Nightclan conversations. Newleaf was coming, and who knows if they were planning an attack on the Wooded Marsh. I guess it depends on how full their nursery is.

Despite his well hidden disappointment at Stoneclan's arrival, Adderstrike took a deep breath and softened his normally rigid stature. It's time to be friendly and inviting, I guess. He thought reluctantly. It was time for him to stifle his hostile tendencies. Adderstrike's pale, yellow-green eyes watched warmly as the new cats came flooding in. Three apprentices, Adderstrike noted. and we only have Berrypaw here. I hope our lack of new blood isn't too obvious. I would have invited more apprentices. Lost in his thoughts, Adderstrike didn't even notice Foxtrot until he was a couple tail-lengths away. The bright red tom had trotted up wearing a comely grin.

"Stormstar has surely blessed me tonight by having such a handsome tom accompany him."

Foxtrot said, twinkling at Adderstrike seductively. You've got to be kidding me. Adderstrike was slightly taken aback by the tom's daring approach. It took every ounce of self control he had not to recoil and walk away. He forced a cordial smile, and in moments, amusement began to glitter in the brown tabby's gaze. Adderstrike could honestly say he had never been approached in this manner at a gathering. The brown marbled tom rose to his paws, noticing how much larger the Stoneclan cat's build was compared to Adderstrike's short, stout complexion.

"I am pleased to see you doing so fine, Foxtrot. How are you on this pleasant night?"

Adderstrike tried to get Foxtrot talking about himself. He felt uncomfortable with the fluffy red tom's blatant flirting, though deep inside, he thought it was kind of funny how the most social and outgoing cat in the clearing found him; Adderstrike was probably the most reclusive cat there.

Liberty for wolves is death to the lambs.

[Deleted]

31 Moons ~ Tom ~ Bisexual ~ StoneClan Warrior

Adderstrike's initial distaste wasn't lost on Foxtrot, canny as his namesake when it came to emotions, and the tom paused to gauge whether or not it would be wise to continue, his pleasant grin still hovering on his face. It seemed like the other tom was warming up to the idea of him being spoken to in such a manner however, so Foxtrot happily continued, always happy to chatter about himself or anything else.

"Faaaaaaaabulous of course! I got to watch Wolfclaw's stoic form leaping over the snow in the moonlight on the way here, and now I'm surrounded by beautiful cats. Frankly I'm ecstatic."

He grinned, tail swishing through the air excitedly as Adderstrike stood. He realised that he was looking down on the other tom ever so slightly, so decided to look less challenging by flopping onto his side and rolling onto his back. He didn't really think that Adderstrike would think him imposing, but wanted to keep everything as jovial as possible. If he was acting like a fool, it would reduce the chances of ruffling Adderstrike up the wrong way.

"Besides, what other opportunity would I have to meet you without the expectation of aggression?"

He purred, wriggling around on the ground with his feathery red tail stirring up the ground,

"We share a border after all, and the only sightings I would get would either be of you far away, or rather violently close, so I rather relish the chance to talk to my neighbours without such anxieties."

He gazed up at Adderstrike from the ground, a goofy grin on his features that made light of the potentially nasty topic.

284Words ~ @jet ~ Notes

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RainClan - Senior Warrior - Tom - 42 Moons

"Faaaaaaaabulous of course! I got to watch Wolfclaw's stoic form leaping over the snow in the moonlight on the way here, and now I'm surrounded by beautiful cats. Frankly I'm ecstatic."

Foxtrot finished his sentences, rolling over on his back playfully. Discomfort scuttled up Adderstrike's spine like a viper. This isn't normal. He must be tricking me into underestimating him. The brown marbled tabby thought, convinced that Foxtrot was honing some sort of deceptive tactics. Despite his internal dispute on whether or not Foxtrot was practicing trickery, Adderstrike nodded calmly to the red tom and shed a faint, amiable smile. He went to sit back down, though a random sharp pain on his left side made him hesitate before fully putting weight on his haunches. Foxtrot continued talking.

"Besides, what other opportunity would I have to meet you without the expectation of aggression?"

He watched as Foxtrot twisted around playfully before him. Adderstrike tipped his head, shifting his weight slightly to the right. His left flank had begun aching in the short time he was at Starclan's Claws. I hate foxes. Adderstrike thought distractedly before remembering he had taken part in this interesting interaction with the fluffy red tom before him.

"We share a border after all, and the only sightings I would get would either be of you far away, or rather violently close, so I rather relish the chance to talk to my neighbors without such anxieties."

Adderstrike dipped his head respectfully. Fair enough. Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends? Besides, I can always try to get some information out of him about Stoneclan affairs. He pondered, glancing at the fluffy red tom with a newfound fondness.

"I agree." Adderstrike began to respond to Foxtrot cordially. "Especially at gatherings, we must reach out our paws in friendship and dignity both to those who would support us, and to those who would stand against us." The brown marbled tabby paused. "How are things in Stonecl-"

Adderstrike hesitated. He noticed cats from all clans quieting down around him. Rats! He cursed silently. The leaders were ready to speak. He wrapped his tail around his paws and looked at Foxtrot apologetically before turning his attention to the clan leaders.

I guess we'll talk again in the future.

Liberty for wolves is death to the lambs.

[Deleted]

31 Moons ~ Tom ~ Bisexual ~ StoneClan Warrior

From down on the floor, curling into "S" shapes while looking up at Adderstrike, Foxtrot grinned back at the other tom's returning smile as he kept up his chatter. Adderstrike's pain on sitting was not lost on the russet tom, and he couldn't help but cast a glance up and down his body to look for the source of the injury.

Been in a fight lately? Bless, poor sod looks a little uncomfortable

He mused, nodding eagerly at Adderstrike as he reciprocated his gesture of wanting to chat and be friendly. A purr rumbled in the tom's chest as he piped up with a response.

"Oh it's all goo- oup-"

The tom perked his head up sheepishly, body flopping onto his side as he looked around at the quieting cats, glancing to catch Adderstrike's apologetic look as he quickly scrambled back up into a sitting position and looked up at the leaders, tail politely curling around his paws.

170 Words ~ @jet ~ Sorry it's short >.<'