Return from the Gathering

[Snowstar]

<sub>She cast her eyes over her shoulder at her mate, and the slate-like hardness disappeared for a moment as she gazed at him. Yes.. Yes, go take care of the kits.. I shall alert the clan of what has happened She said softly, turning to bolt towards the Announcement Stone. She sprung upon it with quick reflexes, and landed expertly on the points of her toes. She turned, her tail lashing behind her like a whip.

CATS OF STONECLAN! Gather before me, I have a message for you, news of the gathering... And to tell you of the murder of Blindsong! She yowled. If the first few words didn't catch their attention, the last sure was. The story was tragic, a heartless murder. She would do it justice and tell of it's events, and then.. Someday.. She would seek vengeance</sub>

[autumn]

<sub>Autumnkit nuzzled her brother's cheek and bounded clumsily to Jadepaw. The only she-kit in the litter was the least harmed from the encounter with Anarchy and Hiddenwrath. "Jadepaw," she mewed, looking up at the medicine cat apprentice. "Tempestkit needs poppy seeds. His leg hurts again." She sat and her little tail twitched. She really hoped that her brothers recovered well, especially Tempestkit.

She was obviously not acting in front of Silverwhisker anymore. She'd confused him enough. Rowdykit seemed to be having fun, though; once she had given Tempestkit his poppy seeds, she'd go and jump on him and Pinedark. She was fun like that.

ooc - OMG HARRY POTTER COMMERCIAL XDDD</sub>

[Onyxdart]

Pinedark heard Autumnkit asking Jadepaw for more poppy. Turning around until only one paw was on the ground- and she was a bit off balance- she glanced at the apprentice.

"If you need me to get some more, just lemme know. I know where it is now, and then you can stay here if it makes you more comfortable," she said. Then she looked up as Snowstar and the others returned. Oh good. Pinedark had been half worried they'd get into trouble somewhere in between here and there.

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Warfox had wanted to let Snowstar know he'd already said something of Blindsong's death, but she went straight to her announcement rock, and he didn't get to catch her first. Instead, he stayed where he was, sitting next to Blindsong's body like a big silent guardian.

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[Lucky]

Silverwhisker was quite hurt. Did Pinedark know he kinda liked the Medicine Cat? The gray tom shook his head. No, she couldn't know! He didn't know why she said no, just that she did. He didn't think that what the Kits had said was funny either. He glared at them, and before he could stalk off, Snowstar had called a meeting. He already knew about the death and didn't care to hear what he had already heard about the Gathering. He turned coldly before growling, I'll be in the Warriors Den, and leaped away.

[Amberstar]

<sub>Snowstar watched a few of the cats gather before her, and watched the unusual site play out as her kits.. Erm.. were.. hitting.. on.. warriors.. Ahem. She watched as the cat called Silverwhisker bounded away. He was already causing troubles? She let out a booming hiss. Silverwhisker, if you think the words of a leader are too good for your ears, then perhaps Clanlife is not for you!
She spat disdainfully. Her eyes shown with irritation. It was lack of sleep and exhaustion that led her temper, and she was in no mood to argue with any of her clanmates. Any cat should see this.

Do join us, Silverwhisker, She growled, flicking her tail. Perhaps Warfox has already told you of the current standings She growled, addressing the entire clan. There are several things I wish to announce. Before I continue...

Warfox, please step up.</sub>

[Onyxdart]

Pinedark watched Silverwhisker huff off, and then get shouted at by the leader. She even felt a little bit bad, somewhere under being really exhausted. But there were announcements to pay attention to. She looked up at her leader, and yawned wide enough that her jaw popped. Still, she was sitting and paying attention and listening.

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The big orange tom was listening intently, more or less, but at first hearing his own name really didn't register, because it was so unexpected. Then he realized he'd been told to step forward. So he did so. He went and stood at the base of the announcement rock and tilted his head to look up at Snowstar. He wasn't quite certain what was going on, but he figured he'd find out sooner rather than later. But he wasn't quite clueless, either.

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[Rowdykit]

<sub>As soon as Silverwhisker darted away, he began bouncing on the tips of his toes, his bob of a tail high in the air with a mischievious grin on his face. "I did good, huh huh huh?? Wasn't I good? I got rid of him for you!" He said in response to the glare. He then let out an honest laugh as his mother got mad at him. Heh, he was pathetic, really. Always hitting on the females of the clan... Even if personality wise he'd probably be quite the player as well.

[Erm, kinda liked the medicine cat? Dude, she had his kittens. He'd better more 'than just like' Chainless. x3333]</sub>

[Onyxdart]

Pinedark looked down at the bouncing Rowdykit. At least the poppy appeared to have worked. She laughed good naturedly at him.

"Yes, thank you for standing up for me," she told him. She wasn't as sure about him outright laughing at SIlverwhisker. That wasn't very nice, but she didn't think it was really her place to tell him that. That'd be his parents' jobs. Anyway, she guessed kits were like that.

"I think we're supposed to be listening to your mom, though," she said softly, hoping that being quiet would calm him down just a little bit.

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[Bovine]

Jadepaw had been woken by he kit's question, but mostly, because Snowstar had arrived.
She stood and gave a quivering stretch before bounding off to the Medicine Den, giving a quick reassurance over her shoulder.
It's fine Pinedark, I've got it.
As she was on her way to the den, she heard Snowstar chew out Silverwhisker in front of the whole clan. Ouch.
Just in case, Jadepaw cast a quick glance from her leader to the MedicineCat Den; she would be back in the clearing in only a moment.

She was in and out of the den in a flash, carefully holding a single poppyseed between careful teeth; one would be enough. More than that would probably put a kit to sleep for a whole day.

She silently returned to her spot, setting the seed at Tempestkit's paws, giving him a kind smile before turning her attention back to the Announcement Stone.
Jadepaw carefully curled her tail across her paws, trying to be as alert as her sleep-deprived body would permit.


Brindleflame had come out of the Warrior's Den just as Silverwhisker was repremanded to return to the clearing; she had passed him rather stiff-leggedly on her way to sit among her clanmates.
Knowing from being her apprentice, it wasn't wise to anger Snowstar.
And what was this? A murder? At a Gathering, no less!
Boy oh boy, did this torty have some catching-up to do.

[Loveless]

Pawsteps.

Loveless slowly made his way into camp, Underworld’s lifeless body handing from his muzzle. He set her does easily, looking over the gathered cats then to Snowstar.

“Underworld is dead!”

She looked so small there, lying at his paws. He blinked sadly, looking over for Pinedark, for the she-cat he had always cared for.

[Lucky]

OOc: Is there something that I missed? Chainless hasn't had his kittens yet! Did she? O.O No she didn't! They haven't even mated yet.

Ic: Just as Silverwhisker was about to walk into the den, Snowstar singled him out. He stopped dead in his tracks as embarrasment surged through him. Then he slowly turned around and went to sit back down. He shot a look at Pinedark, then Loveless ran in. Oh great, here we go again, he growled inwardly. He turned to look at Loveless. What... what... what happened? he asked, worry in his voice.

[.::Umberwings]

[Actually, she did - bloodofwarriors.proboards81.com/index.cgi?board=undergroundcav&action=display&thread=1173324612]

[Lucky]

Ooc: ACK!!! I MISS EVERYTHING!!!

[Snowstar]

<sub>Thank you, Silverwhisker. Now, Warfox, I... But she trailed away, staring as the dark tom came through the entrance, carrying.. Yet another fallen warrior. She almost froze, toppling to the floor at the sight. The blood and gore that littered their trail...

Underworld.

That would be the second tonight.. She said with trembling fury, shock, shame... All these deaths had happened under her rule.. Were Starclan trying to tell the young leader something?

Without even continuing, she sprang from her seat upon the stone, slowly making her way towards Loveless. She took a single sniff at the tom. Another kill by a rogue... And she recognized this scent! It was by the same one who had killed Blindsong! Now she was blinded by fury as she let out a mad roar, eyes clouding, but she did not swipe. She kept her claws grounded into the earth, shaking, blinded by grief....</sub>

[Onyxdart]

Pinedark looked up as she heard Loveless's voice, but didn't register exactly what'd happened, glancing at the boyd he'd set down before he even finished his sentence. She whipped her tail a few times, upset without making any noise about it. Not another one! She padded over, but not as close as she could have, slightly afraid of her leader's temper. But she wanted to be near Loveless, so she stood a comfortable distance away, just staring at Underworld's body.

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Warfox twisted around as Snowstar jumped from the rock, standing as he swiveled around on a hind paw. He followed after her, but like Pinedark, stood a distance away so as not to intrude on anyone's feelings. His thoughts were utter turmoil for a few minutes, and then certain thoughts began asserting themselves. Foremost was revenge. He would go with whoever else was going, and he would hunt down those rogues and teach them a lesson in taking on the clans. Secondmost was worry for the rest of the clan- one death was bad enough, but two murders were enough to cause real chaos.

He bowed his head, claws out but just touching the ground, not buried in it. His was a dangerous anger- it was calm and utterly logical. He wasn't going to fly off the handle about it, and he was going to sit and think for a long time about hunting down those toms. Right now, however, was not a time to follow that path. Time enough for that, later, after the grief was over.

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[Bovine]

Brindleflame wheeled around as one of her close friends, Loveless, entered the camp...revealing that yet another of their comrades had fallen.
And Snowstar said it was the same rogue who had killed the gentle Blindsong!
Two Stoneclan warriors gone at the claws of one rogue.
The wrath of StarClan(or more likely, Snowstar) would soon be upon the wandering murder for sure.
Brindlepaw looked from the body of Underworld to her leader, sympathy and grief alike in her gaze. She dared not get too close, but it pained her to see her once-mentor shaking with such blinding emotions.
Taking a step forward, careful to stay out of swiping range, Brindleflame spoke in a quiet, pleading voice,
Snowstar....

[Snowstar]

<sub>She was blinded by fury, her eyes almost shining white against the paling sky. All her clan mates had stepped away from her in fear, and she looked up, her claws still anchored to the ground. But Brindleflame stepped forward, a tentative voice, and her claws withdrew. She would never swipe at a clanmate, no matter the fury that she possesed. She had to control herself.. Set an example as a leader, though Starclan may be furious with her...

We shall set out to hunt down the rogues.. And any who get in our way will fall She said calmly, looking at her entire clan. She looked down, finally her furious shaking subsiding. Yes, Brindleflame?</sub>

[Onyxdart]

Warfox grinned, though it was more of a snarl anyway, when Snowstar announced they were going to go hunt down the rogues who'd caused so much pain. Now that it appeared his leader had calmed somewhat, he stepped forward a couple steps and stood still. He was like a big orange ghost just kind of haunting the background of the conversation, waiting to be told to do something useful.

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Pinedark padded over to Loveless as soon as she was sure Snowstar wasn't going to get angry at her for doing so. She rubbed the side of her head against his shoulder, and then sat down right next to him.

"It's been a bad day," she commented quietly. Of course, he knew that, but she felt the need to say something.

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[Bovine]

A small, relieved smile crept onto the brindle warrior's features.
Brindleflame bowed her head for a moment after being addressed, then spoke up again.
I volunteer to help in hunting down the rogues, Snowstar.
Her voice had returned to its usual confidence.
Her paws itched to fight again; she hadn't gotten a real chance to since her training days; and this proved to be the perfect opportunity.

[Loveless]

Loveless still had that dazed, stunned look on his face. Blindsong too? He could see the little calico queen lying limp near the furthest end of the circle of his gathered clan mates. Two warriors? They had lost two? He searched the faces of the other Stoneclan cats, searched and sought with wide yellow hues. Why? Why???

He nuzzled Pinedark softly, breathing in the familiarity of her scent and just so happy that she hadn’t been among the dead. Did that make him a bad cat? That he was glad the one he would die and die again for had survived, while two of his fellow warriors were murdered without cause?

“I can tell.”

He breathed back, but then his attention returned to his leader and his close friend.

“Wait.”

Perhaps it wasn’t his place to say. Perhaps this was wrong. But he wasn’t going to let any more of his friends to run off into a fight and die without plans being made first.

“I want vengeance on our lost ones as much as you do Snowstar. But if we blindly charge out there, leave the clan territory without a single plan or idea just what we might be getting into we might lose even more.”

He swallowed. Loveless knew he wasn’t the most intelligent of cats, but the life-loving tom could see what was before his eyes.

“Chainless is still out there. She…should have been back by now.”