Open to Join [Sticky] Cheetah's Flight '21 Gathering

Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light; I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night
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Palestar's thoughts were a dark swirl as her paw falls brought her into the clearing. Flutterdream had perished early that same day and now without a medicine cat to train young Muddypaw. It had been more that enough to delay their usual proceedings; Flutterdream had needed to be laid to rest.

RiverClan scent clad bodies claimed the hollow but the pointed leader barely noticed. She had to remain a steadying force for the rest of her Clan and her tail gave a halfhearted wave towards Coldstar. Alongside her deputy, Dawnflurry and the now mentor-less Muddypaw, Nightwhisper, Heronsong, and Ashcloud were in her company representing ShadowClan.

There would be much to discuss.

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TC ATTENDEES: Palestar, Dawnflurry, Muddypaw, Heronsong, Ashcloud  and Nightwhisper

rise from the smoldering pyre of wormwood and weeds
↫ ⭒ ☽ ⭒ 〄 ⭒ ☾ ⭒ ↬

Nettleplume followed at Coldstar's flank, his steps light yet purposeful as he descended into the hollow. His pale gaze moved instinctively across the clearing when he noticed ShadowClan emerging from the foliage. When their bodies settled he noticed immediately. Of who was among their ranks...and who was not.

His eyes settled on Palestar, then flicked once across the gathered cats to the newly named apprentice...Alone. His tail stilled, unable to meet Palestar's greeting as his brows furrowed with increasing intensity.

There had to be an explanation.

The best are often found in midst of thunderous chaos.

‹‹‹‹ ★ ››››

Moosestar assuredly brought up the rear, his scent mingling with the thick pines as the heat tickled his short, dense fur. At least it gave him needed relief compared to the other two leaders in attendance. His tail shook with compressed excitement as he stepped forward, allowing his Clan to disperse and mingle as they saw fit.

"Hello Coldstar...Palestar. How are you both?" He greeted them both as the edges of his maw teased a smile.

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TC ATTENDEES: Moosestar, Kestralswipe, Tigerrush, Robinpaw, Dovethorn and Greypebbles

I did not wake up to be mediocre.

｡‧˚ʚ🪻ɞ˚‧｡

Nightwhisper's claws unsheathed into the dirt of Fourtrees when her clan had arrived, Flutterdream was gone, it wasn't even the rogue that caused it! There was nothing she could ambiably project her fury at that wouldn't get her in danger either. Her fur bristled by softened when she took noticed of Muddypaw... Oh Muddypaw, no other cat would be suffering from this loss more than her right now. Nightwhisper hadn't heard of a medicine cat apprentice alive without a mentor in some time. Her heart ached for the ruddy tortoiseshell.

As much as Nightwhisper wished to bound over and hover over Muddypaw protectively, the bicolor she-cat refrained, that wouldn't help at a gathering and the hovering wouldn't do well for any cat really, except for maybe kits needing protection from some of the worlds cruelties. But she had very little play in this, this was Palestar's news to share.

Whatever Palestar chose to do, Nightwhisper would be behind her.

Don’t compromise yourself - you’re all you have.

✦･ﾟ:* 💫 *:･ﾟ✦

As ThunderClan moved into the hollow of Fourtrees, Robinpaw noticed a tension that held thick in the air, something that felt almost wrong, weighing on her like heavy stones on her shoulders. With a short, unsteady breath, Robinpaw moved forward with her mentor, advancing to the cats in the clearing.

And then she saw the ShadowClan medicine cats... or lack-there-of. Muddypaw was there, but where was Flutterdream. Robinpaw wanted to ask, truly she did, but if it turned out to be the worst of the situations, she wouldn't be helping anyone by prying into business that wasn't her own.

Instead, she took herself to her mentor's side, lowering her tail as she stared at the entrance to Fourtrees, she hoped Flutterdream was just keeping up the rear... hopefully she was just ill today, but the thickness in the air spoke of something much more dire... please no.

Let’s have some fun!
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Muddypaw trudged along behind Palestar and Dawnflurry, shock making her eyes wide enough to almost hide the amber in them. It was all too sudden and not at all in the way that things were supposed to be. The ruddy torbie looked around the clearing, her ears drooping. She hadn’t been here last moon with her mentor. Even though she had been newly named, Flutterdream had trusted her to keep an eye on Brackenwing. Anxiety had wracked the young apprentice’s heart for the time while the clan’s medicine cat had been away, but nothing had happened and she had swiftly calmed down when Flutterdream had returned.

Once more the shattered apprentice looked around the hollow of Fourtrees nervously. She was supposed to be here with a mentor by her side, but instead she was here alone. With a shiver the mid-furred torbie padded over to join the other medicine cats. She had no clue where else to be and was grateful that she could at least recognise them from her prior visits to the moonstone at half moon. The memory of the night she had been accepted by Starclan as Shadowclan’s medicine cat apprentice stirred bittersweet memories. Looking up, Muddypaw wondered if they were looking down on her now, and whether they supported her still.

Healing is a matter of time,
but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.

‹‹‹‹ ››››

She tread softly behind Fawnbriar as the leader led the way into Fourtrees. Fawnbriar settled herself to listen, but Rowanglade made her way towards Nettleplume. Muddypaw, Flutterdream’s apprentice, was clinging close but she was confident that the young cat would warm up as soon as the ShadowClan Medicine Cat joined them. Though, Rowanglade hasn’t seen the she-cat yet.

”Hello Nettleplume. Hope your trip went well.” Rowanglade gave a purr as Muddypaw joined them. The apprentice seemed more pensive than a cat that young should look. ”And how was your trip in, Muddypaw? It always seems like ShadowClan is so far away with the thunderpath in the way.”  

Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.

｡ ₊°༺ ☀️ ༻°₊ ｡

Emberdawn followed into the clearing beside Rowanglade, if not a few paces ahead of her. He was somewhat deep in thought, about Aspenberry, his roll in WindClan now, everything he could have done at that battle with the rogue... so many things he could have done. But what mattered is what he was going to do. And despite his thoughts, his posture didn't show them. He stood tall enough to seem confident. WindClan needed a deputy that can represent them with confidence and honor, he would be that deputy.

When the cats diverged into their respective directions, Emberdawn went in to his, this was his first gathering as deputy... questions would be had, but it was his time to take the place as deputy and represent his clan. And so, the time has come.

The tall cinnamon van tom made his way to the group of three deputies, Kestrelswipe of ThunderClan, Cinderwisp of RiverClan, and Dawnflurry of ShadowClan. And named, Emberdawn of WindClan. He sat himself beside them but didn't make an effort to talk at first, the fur along his shoudler's bristling with a quiet sense of unease. He took in abreath, held it for a moment before letting go in a sigh, then he greeted. Feeling the weight of the situation heavy on his back.

"Hello all of you."

"I can tell that we are gonna be friends"

⋆˚✿˖°

Petalsnap followed her clanmates into the Fourtrees clearing. Tense gloom filled it like dew in a leaf and weighed on her despite her efforts to remain unaffected. The rogue ordeal and associated tragedies had left a vague ache in her that reappeared now that she was at the Fourtrees again; the place seemed to present her with a ghost of the last gathering, highlighting spots that had once been occupied.

Petalsnap settled into a sitting position. Her tail lashed a few times before curling around her paws. She turned her attention to the comforting sound and smell of cats congregating around her and felt a bit warmer.

Let’s have some fun!
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Muddypaw jumped slightly as Rowanglade addressed her. She turned to look at the older Medicine Cat, her gaze hollow. “It was… alright, I guess,” she mewed quietly before turning her gaze back toward Palestar. Had the journey been far like Rowanglade had suggested? The young medicine cat apprentice had no clue. It had all been a blur to her, so lost in her thoughts had she been. It wasn’t supposed to be this way, and truthfully Muddypaw had no clue what was to happen. Was she still going to be a medicine cat apprentice? Surely she would, but who would train her? The young she-cat shook her head, distraught at the thought of the future.

Dully the cinnamon torbie looked around the clearing that was gradually filling. Something about the way the Windclan cats moved and spoke to others had her wondering if something had happened with them too, although whatever it was it didn’t seem as fresh as the loss that Shadowclan was experiencing. Having missed the prior gathering, Muddypaw was completely unaware that a different cat from the expected one was sitting in the Windclan deputy position. Maybe if she had been able to attend that Gathering she would have noticed.

Healing is a matter of time,
but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.

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Muddypaw’s distraction and reaction sent a wave of worry though Rowanglade. Ususally a first time appearance at a gathering was exciting for an apprentice, not a cause for this level of unease and moroseness.

”Muddypaw…” She began, the newfound nervousness showing in the twitch of her tail and the slight rising of the fur along her spin. Something was wrong here. She hadn’t lived for six full turns of the seasons to miss a thing so obvious as this. ”Something is bothering you.” 

The old she-cat moved to sit next to the young cat. ”Please tell me what’s wrong.”