A Gathering Among Stars

<sup>Quiet, silent the air crackled around her. She could feel the storm drawing near, the cold breeze tickled her fur. The glorious shimmer of the moon shown brightly in the sky, but she knew. Every cat knew that this silence wouldn't last, a storm would break loose. Better make this gathering quick.

With powerful legs she leaped forward he body, landed neatly upon the slippery log that singled the ritual used moons and moons to come, this was the way to the Gathering.

With a grunt the compact she-cat landed swiftly on the other side, without waiting for the other she leaped into the tree, her hazel colored pelt glimmering in the moonlight. Tonight was the gathering.

And I am Hazelstar, leader of Windclan.

ooc:Let the gathering begin!</sup>

Mintpaw followed determinedly, this would be her first time ever crossing the log. it looked challenging the way it shown in the moonlight, slick, slippery, and quite difficult. With a nervous gulp she trudged forward, if only Jayriver was here to comfort me like with the Storm..

Shaking her head she mustn't think of the annoying tom, but she was grateful to him, since he helped her with through such a tough time. Leaping forward she clutched to the slippery tree with outstretched claws, slowly one at a time she made her way across the mouse-brained tree.

Why couldn't crossing it be much easier! Her thoughts screeched but she made it across anyways, pushing her head through the branches of the trees she found herself standing in a deserted clearing. Hazelstar's proud figure stood above her, watching, waiting.

Windclan was the clan only here tonight.

<sup>Tanglepaw twisted and weaved between the bodies of his clan-mates eager for reaching the island before anyone else.

"Aww! Mintpaw got here before me!" Tanglepaw whined as soon as he realized the she-cat familiar scent wafted past his nose, with a grunt he flung himself upon the branch but immediately let out a screech. He had jumped too forcefully and was now clutching the branches with claws outstretched. As for Tanglepaw's amazing luck, he was hanging upside down.

"Ah--Someone help?!" he meowed in alarm, his ginger fur bristled with fear of dropping into the cold depths below, and this tom wasn't looking forward to another deep sea adventure. Tanglepaw knew he had experienced water more then he had wanted in his life.</sup>

<sup>Riverspirit stalked grumpily through the crowd of cats, hoping to weave her way out from Tanglepaw's view and melt into the rushing cats. Slowing down she sighed in relief when it seemed as if Tanglepaw was too involved in getting to the island before anyone else. Maybe I will be lucky tonight...

But as soon as she was enjoying her freedom, a shape fell off the log, barely escaping the water's hungry waves for the cat's body. Riverspirit raced forward, not believing what she was seeing. "Stupid furball!" she yowled at her apprentice, slipping past the other cats and peeking down at the dangling tom. She stretching down and grabbed his scruff, barely keeping herself from falling.

"You stupid tom...I hope you fall!" she growled, heaving up. But his weight was a little too heavy for him and she was slipping. Geh...StarClan help me!</sup>

( Aw crap forgot Riverstar...sorry for double posting >_< )

<sup>Riverstar sped toward her desination, leading her Clan with a speedy start. She didn't want to be late to the gathering, but she didn't want her cats to be left behind either by her impatient urge.

Looking over her shoulder, her stress level decreased when it seemed like the Clan was catching up just fine. Or it seemed like it, anyway. It was hard to see through the darkness and rain, especially at night like this. When will this storm stop?

What worried Riverstar most was the moon. At any time a storm cloud could cover it, threatening to end the gathering. It surprised her it didn't cover it now. Racing through the wind and rain she finally caught up to one of the other Clans, and it seemed like she wasn't late at all.</sup>

<sup>{Either I am way messed up or BTH's clock isn't working for me. You said the gathering wasn't starting till Eight and the time says it is 7 0.o Anywho, I made it and that is what matters }


SUNEYES
Shining like the sun.
Suneyes noticed the predicament Riverspirit and Tanglepaw was in immediately. Racing forward, the queen grabbed Riverspirit's scruff and heaved the warrior up. When Riverspirit was firmly on the log, she reached down and pulled up Tanglepaw with Riverspirits help.

"Be careful next time." she meowed to Tanglepaw. Her son was hyper and excited, she knew how it was when she went to her first gathering. The excitement but fear of what the other Clans would think of her, especially not being Clan born, had made her all jittery. And just like her son, she had almost fallen into the lake.

The queen jumped off the log, and looked around for any ThunderClan cats. Hoping she would see the other queen Rainflight.


SPIRITPAW
King of the forest.
Spiritpaw though, was slowly following the clan. He let at an annoyed snarl as he looked at the scene before him. He couldn't stand it that he was in a Clan with a kit as clumsy as Tanglepaw. But he would just have to deal with it.

{Oh and Wish, should Loudstorm come too for the you-know-what or not? 0.0}</sup>

Dawnfrost forwent the log, using it was for anyone who was lazy or wimpy in her not-so-humble opinion. Instead she swam across the water. It was a good thing she did. She heard the cries of a young cat. She stopped, and treaded water as she looked up.
"What are you doing up there you silly cat, trying to show off. Either cross above the log or swim... you will fall in that way." she shook her head and kept on swiming, then dragged her sleek body ashore.
A nice refreshing evening swim. She didn't greet anyone, instead went and sat alone.

<sup>ooc:Moony, you mean the ultra super Dance party! Nah--he ain't allowed!

Tanglepaw grunted inwardly as he was rudely heaved upwards, panting he finally felt solid ground beneath him once more. Sighing he growled,

"At least if I fall you'll be going down with me!" Turning to his mom he muttered, "Sorry mom!" With a light-hearted growl he raced through the small branches of leaves-and pain and landed quite awkwardly on the ground.

Once again he wasn't paying attention and ended up face first into a pile of sand, leaping upwards immediately he spat out the sand with a sickened expression. Turning to Riverspirit he complained,

"This is all your fault!" But there was laughter displayed in his green orbs, so without hesitation he sped off into the clearing--excited for his first gathering.</sup>

<sup>Snowstar silently ran out the entrance with every cat that she had called behind her, following her toward the island that held the gathering of all four clans. Her white pelt clung to her skin as the long grass brushed up against her making her cold and chilled. She quickly glanced behind her making sure that her clanmates were still behind her.

Moments had passed and the log that all the clans cross came into eye sight. She dipped her head and turned to her clan.
“We have made, help others that need help crossing the log.” She ordered closing the distance from her and the log.

When she got the soggy log she waited her turn as the Windclan cats hadn’t finish crossing. She respectfully kept her distance from the other clan until all the Windclan cats had pass.</sup>

[/sup]

<sup>Riverspirit sighed in relief when she was saved by the one and only Suneyes. Nodding in thanks to the she-cat she laughed nervously, "Haha...isn't your son such a silly little guy?" faking a smile, she waited for her to walk a little ahead of them before turning toward Tanglepaw.

"Can't you just wait behind everyone else instead of rushing ahead like that?" Riverspirit snapped. "Once again, you could have drowned and died!"

Rainflight rushed after her leader, trying to find her brother and her mate. Out of all the cats, she was confused between the black-and-white pelt and brown tabby fur and other pelt colors such as ginger or gray. Just staring at the speeding cats made her dizzy.

Deciding to go on ahead, she pelted forward, trying to get through the mingled mess of WindClan and ThunderClan. But instead she found out she was lost in the swarm of Clan cats. "Owltalon? Nightflare?" she called out, hoping for someone familiar to bring her out of this confusion. Rainflight hadn't been to a gathering in a while due to nursing the kits.</sup>

<sup>Owltalon heard his mate's called right away, with a purr he padded up to the she-cat and pressed his tabby-colored muzzle against hers, his purr grew louder.

"Come on just stick by me and we'll soon be out of this mess." he muttered, although he was excited for the Gathering he chose not to show it, he was deputy now, it meant all playfulness aside. Being careful not to sigh in regret around his mate he kept his worried thoughts to himself, what if I'm not good enough for the clan, what if I'm just a failure?

But he shook the thoughts away, he was in a position many cats longed for. So he should make the best of it, even if it wasn't what he wanted.
"Looks like Windclan, Thunderclan, and now Riverclan are here, I wonder what's taking Shadowclan so long?" he murmured only loud enough for Rainflight to hear.</sup>

Dawnfrost sat, her tail curled around her paws. She still kept a distance between her and the other cats. What was the point of this gathering, aside from watching the other cats and gauging how much of a threat they were. She narrowed her eyes as the warriors of other clans attempted to cross the log. Why should she help, if they were weak... they were weak. She wasn't going to help weak cats.

<sup>Rainflight smiled, flicking her tail in delight at Owltalon's appearance. "Whatever you say, Mr. Deputy." she teased, grinning and finally feeling comfortable than she did earlier in the day till the time she was lost in the crowd.

Shrugging, she looked around, also noticing the absence of ShadowClan. "Who knows. I'm sure they'll get here soon, though. They aren't that stupid to miss a gathering."</sup>

( Lol I just noticed how late I was with the Riverspirit reply XD )

<sup>SPIRITPAW
King of the forest.
Spiritpaw had to admit he was a little over whelmed by all of the cats around him. All the different pelts blended into one large one and the young tom didn't know where he was going. Looking for any familiar cat, he didn't realize he was about to run into a cat until too late. The apprentice ran right into the side of Owltalon.

"Sorry." he mumbled when he recovered from the shock. Some heat rose to his face especially when he realized the scent was not familiar. Luckily, he was saved by Suneyes.


SUNEYES
Shining like the sun.
The queen came beside him, meowing so he could hear "Find you a seat near the front, I see Tanglepaw over there." she flicked her tail at her sons bouncing figure.

Spiritpaw went in the direction without hesitation. Suneyes turned to Owltalon and meowed "I'm sorry for his bumping into you. I'm sure you remember what first gatherings are like." Suneyes choked out the last part when she recognized the cat beside the tom. The cat she had seen in the clouds. Rainflight.

{XD I don't know if you wanted the cats to run into each other now or later Wish.}</sup>

<sup>Rainflight twitched her whiskers in amusement at the WindClan apprentice's clumsiness, smiling warmly at him. It was only a few moments when the scent of another WindClan cat filled the air, and Rainflight soon spotted a pretty tabby she-cat.

"Haha, I remember my first gathering, that's for sure." Rainflight grinned. "I almost fell off the log and I was so excited I bumped into every cat!" Pausing, her smile turned curious when she noticed Suneyes's expression. "Is something wrong?"</sup>