Open to Join Trying Times [GATHERING 14MW21]

The best are often found in midst of thunderous chaos.

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The lingering cold was.. concerning, to the younger leader. He disliked the idea of Leafbare fighting to hold its grasp on the forest. Leafbare was hard enough- they had been lucky to not suffer casualties to sickness this year.. 

Just that thought, "casualties" made him want to pause and dig his claws into the soil.

Nonetheless, he made his way to fourtrees with his clanmates in tow. There were many of them today, and for good reason. Despite the lasting peace between clans, a rogue had dared to create chaos of their own.. killing one of his Senior Warriors, Cottonlily, in the process. If such a cat could manage to kill her, one of the most skilled cats in the clan.. then there was no doubt every cat was at danger of this clanless fiend. 

Thus, as he walked into the moon-bathed clearing- which he crossed without thought- he offered Palestar a thoughtful nod, while considering her. Every warrior knew well not to betray secrets to the other clans- whether through word or expression. However, it wasn't hard for a strong emotion, such as grief or anger, to still seep its way through even the most stone-hard cat. He was curious if this rogue had only troubled ThunderClan and RiverClan's border, or if it was more far-reaching than that.. 

Perhaps those rogues had returned.. If so, this problem would be highly unlikely to be more than simply a problem for ThunderClan- bigger than simply keeping patrols large and full of skilled fighters.. 

Just the thought made Moosestar's blood cool.. 

Tiptoe through the murk and mire
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Duskpaw moved with the rest of ShadowClan, his ears pricked, blue eyes sharp as they passed through the underpass.

Whisperingwind was dead. Murdered.

The word stuck in his head like a thorn, a cold, gnawing thing. As Fourtrees came into view, bathed in the eerie glow of the full moon, Duskpaw's claws flexed against the ground. His gaze flickered to Palestar. She was steady, unreadable, but he knew the truth she carried would shake the Gathering to its roots. He could already imagine the looks on the other Clans’ faces - shock, suspicion, maybe even fear.

Good. Let them be afraid.

His tail lashed once before he forced it still. ShadowClan wouldn't cower. He wouldn’t cower. Keeping his head high, he followed his leader into the clearing, the weight of the coming storm settling deep in his bones.

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
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Leopardrose moved with quiet purpose among her Clanmates, her sharp gaze sweeping over the gathered warriors beneath the moon's silver glow. The damp chill of the night clung to her pelt, but it was nothing compared to the unease settling in her chest.

Cottonlily was dead.

The news had struck ThunderClan hard, rippling through their ranks like a stone breaking the surface of a still pond. Cottonlily hadn’t been some reckless apprentice or an aging elder. She had been one of their best, a warrior as skilled as she was steadfast. And yet, she had been slain. Not in battle, not by some rival Clan, but by an outsider. A rogue.

Her eyes flickered toward the leaders as they arrived, catching their wary glances of acknowledgement. Without a word her rosetted pelt moved among her clan, before breaking free and padding confidently towards RiverClan's side of the clearing, casually scenting for their arrival. Perhaps Boldstar or his cold-eyed deputy would reveal any such insecurities before announcements were shared. She liked to speculate, at least.

This wouldn't be an ordinary Gathering. Blood had been spilled in the forest.