The Gathering Approaches

[hedgie]

“Remedy?” Crowpaw sighed. “I wish there was one that didn’t involve forgetting him entirely. He’s family, I can’t do that to him.” The young tom dipped his head, trying to look away from the camp entrance. It felt impossible, like his gaze was tied to the hole.”I’m not that distracted. You make it sound like all I do is think of him. I concentrate on my work, I do. It’s just when the activity lapses…..that I seem to slip back.” He watched Russetfang, concentrating on his mentor, fighting that urge to look back.
“Yeah, maybe the Gathering’ll help. I promise I won’t bother anyone about Birchpaw. Well, no promises, but I’ll try.” He admitted, shuffling his paws in the dirt, that tan showing up against his dark pelt. He’d have to wash his paws later, so he looked presentable for the Gathering. “Are you excited for it, Russetfang?” Crowpaw felt slightly thrilled by the idea, now that he thought about it more. So many cats, it would be great.

[Amber]

Ripplepaw looked at Briarpaw, quite impressed by him being able to carry the rabbit back to camp all by himself. She doubted she would be able to do that herself, but then again she hadn't been able to train lately due to her brother, and now having a new mentor who she didn't trust, and who she didn't want to trust.

"No, not really. I caught a rabbit myself the other day, but it isn't nearly as big as yours. I haven't really been able to train lately and Thistlefrost said for me to not to try to catch something bigger than myself just yet, until I am a little more experienced or so he says." she mewed.

"But I plan on trying to catch something to beat you with that rabbit. I won't be beaten by you." her eyes shone with determination as she smirked. "Thistlefrost isn't training me anyways, so I don't need to listen to him until he does, right?" Sometimes Ripplepaw's mind was a scary place to be.

[chaos]

" Ha! Maybe when I learn to fly!" Briarpaw let a sly smile spread across his face, eager to await Ripplepaw's goal. " But still, I just don't get why warriors think they know everything about us.. I mean, we could be a lot stronger than they are!" The apprentice exaggerated a bit; he usually isn't very optimistic, but there seemed to be a reason for this. His pale gaze softened, " I think you could catch a rabbit bigger than mine. Afterall, it's only just a rabbit.." Briarpaw flickered his tail and perked his ears foward. He turned around to take a quick glance at Crowpaw and Russetfang, then turned back to his denmate infront of him.

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

Sandkit let out a loud, audible squeak as she felt a tug on her scruff. She was lifted off the ground and, being the resisting kitten that she was, flailed her legs and tried to make her mother release her. The rabbit dropped to the ground and Sandkit continued to squirm. "But I'm hungry!" She whined, mirroring the quiet tone of Rivermist's voice. She stood up as soon as she was placed on the ground and started to walk somewhat stealthily toward her rabbit again once Rivermist looked away. "Ravenstar won't kick us out." She meowed, sounding quite confident of her belief as she said it. She inched toward the rabbit, even flashing out a paw to dab at it. She looked around quickly this time, hoping no one was watching as she made another attempt to pick up the big piece of fresh-kill.

Heathertail felt a small smile grow on her face when she heard she would be going to the Gathering. Her happiness at this realization was temporary when she heard that Dustfur would be staying behind. "I'm sorry," She started to say but Dustfur cut her off by flicking his tail in front of her mouth. "It's fine, you'll have Harewhisker. And you have plenty of friends in other Clans, too. You don't need me." Heathertail couldn't argue, just did a small nod and stood up, searching for Harewhisker. She spotted him already padding toward the camp's entrance to wait for the patrol to leave. Oh well, she thought as she looked around for someone to talk to, at least she would be distracted from the issue of Ripplepaw and not being able to get her to listen.

[Amber]

Ripplepaw burst out into a laughing fit. She had the mental image of the tom attemping to fly by jumping out of a tree, and growing wings like a sparrow. Now that was something she really wanted to see. She nodded in agreement. "I know, they think just because they have been alive longer that they know everything. They think we should still be mewling in the nursery or something." Even if Briarpaw was exaggerating, Ripplepaw didn't care, she felt the exact same way. Finally someone who agreed and was on her side!

"Just a rabbit? That thing is almost as big as we are!" she exclaimed, despite wanting to beat his catch, she still was impressed by her denmate's catch. "And plus you have to be a good hunter to catch something like that, I'm good, but not that good."

[chaos]

Briarpaw giggled as Ripplepaw went on. " I know! They'll be like, ' Briarpaw! Don't eat that!' and I'll be like," Briarpaw jumped over to the opposite side of the apprentice, " 'But it's only catnip!' " He sprang back to his other side, " And they'll be like, ' I don't care! I said no!' " The tom tried his best to impersonate an older "more experienced" warrior, but was soon rolling on the ground laughing. It bugged him the more that he and Ripplepaw spoke of it, and started to think of a world without warriors. He calmed down a bit and looked at her while upside-down, " You know how cool it would be if there were no warriors? Just apprentices?" Briarpaw's eyes sparkled at the thought. No bossing around. No rules. Just him, his denmates, and all the freedom they could ever wish for.

[nightstorm]

Rivermist sighed as Sandkit tried to sneak back to the rabbit, then shook her head, trying to stifle her amuesment. No, it wouldn't do to encourage such behavior. Still...

"Fine. You may bring the rabbit. But this is the last time, understand?" Rivermist told Sandkit sternly. "Kits aren't supposed to take prey from the freshkill pile. She flicked her tail towards her daughter, her eyes soft. "But bring it into the nursery." Turning, she headed back into the nursery, giving Silverkit a lick over her ears as the little kit nuzzled her.

Silverkit looked towards where Sandkit was trying to steal a rabbit, and shook her head. "That rabbit is three times her size," she commented to Stonekit, before standing. She bounded over to her mother, tail held high. Nuzzling her mother, she followed Rivermist into the nursery. "That's a big rabbit," she said to Sandkit.

Russetfang's eyes were kind. "It's alright, young one. I understand your concern. As long as I don't get complaints, go ahead and ask around. See if anyone has seen him." He stood, shaking the dust from his pelt. "As for the Gathering, I suppose I'm no more excited than usual," he said with a slight purr. "But yes, I am looking forward to hearing the news. It will be good to see the other medicine cats. Remember, keep your ears and eyes open. Even if you have chosen the ways of a medicine cat, it doesn't hurt to overhear tidbits that could benefit your Clan." He flicked his apprentice with his tail affectionately. For all his quiet and moody, and sometimes grumpy ways, he had a fondness for younger cats, and there was of course the bond between a mentor and his apprentice.

[. s p o r e l e t t ♪]

The sun had set. The moon had risen. It was time to go. Getting to his paws, Ravenstar beckoned Streamfur to his side and called the Clan together. It was time for them to depart for the gathering. For a few moments, while the black tom waited for his Clan to gather around him, he thought about what the other leaders might have to say that night. It was greenleaf, and prey was running high, so there shouldn't be any border disputes to worry about just yet. There was always the chance that some Clan was aspiring to increase their territory, though. Well, he would find out when they got there. With that thought in mind, Ravenstar raised his tail and bounded up the slope, leading his Clan into the darkened moor and heading swiftly towards Fourtrees.

[Yoko]

Stormkit felt a little bad for ignoring his mother but he had to speak with Creamkit. The light brown tabby turned her nose up and away from him. Violetkit on the other hand turned her head to the grey tabby. She glanced up at her mother.

Sandtail was resting her head on Hawfrost's shoulder. She sighed as he pulled away. He mewed goodbye to his kits, and Sandtail. He padded after Ravenstar swiftly. Sandtail sighed. As she began to turn around towards Stormkit, Violetkit squeaked.

"What happened?!" she mewed whipping her head towards her kit and away from Stormkit.

"You stepped on my paw," she mewed holding it up for her mother to see. She winked at Creamkit and Stormkit.

Sighing, Creamkit snuck away with her former friend. Clearly, Violetkit thought they needed to talk. They ran directly behind the elder's den.

[Amber]

"When warriors talk to me all I hear is my own thoughts. I tend to block out what they are saying, and wonder what I should do later in the day, or what I would like to eat." she said, her eyes watching Briarpaw with amusement.

"A world without warriors? That would be awesome! No one would tell us what to do, we could learn what we wanted by experiencing it ourselves and not have to listen to them telling us we have to wait to eat until everyone else is fed." she mewed, thinking outloud. Ripplepaw was imagining this world now, and was actually liking it.

Hearing Ravenstar she looked toward her denmate and sighed. "I wish you didn't have to go, but promise me that when you get back you'll tell me everything. Even if I am asleep wake me up, I wanna hear it from someone who won't lie to me and doesn't hide anything." Ripplepaw said softly.

[chaos]

Briarpaw smiled, having liked that Ripplepaw actually agreed with his "fantasy world." Maybe so the day would come, but the little apprentice doubted it. He pushed his doubts out of his head and perked his ears foward having heard Ravenstar call for the Gathering party. The tom turned his attention back towards Ripplepaw, hearing her say something.

" Oh. Yeah, I promise." Briarpaw arose slowly to his paws, watching his denmate for a few heartbeats before he realized that he was staring. " Right, well, I'll see you later, okay?" He mewed, rather embarassed. It was not long before he turned-tail and darted off after Ravenstar, eager to await the news that the gathering would bring.

[nightstorm]

Russetfang stood, and bounded after Ravenstar, flicking his tail to urge Crowpaw to hurry up. His paws drummed lightly over the moors as they headed to the Gathering. Russetfang looked forward to seeing the other medicine cats, and seeing how the other Clans were. It had been such an unexciting moon that the kit fight seemed almost like a refreshing change.

Still, he felt bad for Rivermist, and hoped that the matter would be resolved soon. There was too much tension in the Clan now, between the quarreling queens and kits. No sense in fighting among themselves when the other Clans could do that just as well.

[Yoko]

Violetkit waited patiently for her sister and Stormkit to return. Sandtail was now licking Violetkit's fur so much that it seemed to actually stand on end now. Violetkit considered telling her mother that she was fine, but then she might stop and look for Creamkit.

Just as Violetkit felt her fur was about to fall off, Creamkit appeared from behind the elder's den.

"Mom, I'm fine now," Violetkit mewed, struggling away from the queen's tight grip.

Violetkit could feel her mother's confused gaze on her back, but she padded directly for her sister. She looked behind the bigger kit.

"Where is he?" she hissed.

Creamkit just smiled. "He said he's sorry about everything between our mom's. He wants us to go play together."

Violetkit looked confused. "Won't his siblings be angry?"

"They won't know. We'll go play-um, maybe we should just go there."

Violetkit nodded. She glanced at Sandtail who was padding towards them already.

"We're gonna go play," Creamkit mewed. "You know, we don't want to go back to the nursery right now..."

She looked sadly at the ground. Sandtail nodded solemnly, "Just stay in camp."

The kits nodded and padded across the clearing.

Nightpelt yawned. "I'm heading back inside. Are you, Mudpelt?"

But she was already through the entrance.

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

Sandkit smiled victoriously and went on struggling to get a good grasp on the rabbit. She fastened her teeth in its scruff and tugged, resulting in the fresh-kill moving a few kitsteps. Her green eyes narrowed and she mentally said to herself that she would move this rabbit. She once more tugged, this time much harder, and it dragged along the ground. At least it was moving now, although it would get quite dusty by the time she was finished.

She heard Silverkit comment on the rabbit and looked at her. "Yeah, but I can carry it!" She insisted and continued pulling it toward the nursery. Sandkit felt giddy with excitement. Wait until they see how huge the rabbit is! It'll probably feed all of us!

At last she reached the nursery's entrance. She hadn't even noticed the Gathering patrol leaving and didn't notice it now either. Sandkit jumped to the other side of the rabbit and gave it a big shove, sending it though the entrance. She then went in after it.