TW: Sensitive Content LIGHT UP THE NIGHT SKY ౨ৎ gathering return

[nutmegpurr nutmegpurr]

[ cw for depictions of gore / violence ]

The gathering had been nothing short of a mess, of frenzied panic, of accusations, of should bes. She still remembers Merrystalk, remembers his promise to get her home safe. For the second time, she was forced to put her sisters safety in to someone elses paws, despite how much she wanted to sprint and find her baby sister in the crowd. She can only hope that this time goes better than the last. Something uncomfortable, dread-like, a scream rises in her throat as she hurries along in to camp with the rest of them.

Though the ghost of a touch should be long gone now that they've reached camp, her tail still does not leave Roosters side, determined to keep both him and herself grounded. "What the hell was that?" she breathes, collecting herself. When her eyes flutter shut for a quick blink, she could still see-

Pearls digging into soft skin, blood welling… The sickening rend of flesh from skin, muscle from bone. The spray of blood, Hawkstars attempt at a departure following it. She can't imagine the stains on the boulder. Oh, Stars, her stomach churns uncomfortably in its confines, her mouth waters, a telltale sign of… Eugh. "Where is my sister?" she asks to no one in particular, her tone slightly panicked despite the demand, eyes fluttering over each body that had attended the gathering.. She steps closer to Rooster, fur still prickling alongside her back, fur still raised along her tail. "Where is Dustystar!? N' Goldenroar!?"

GOOD NEWS FOR ANYONE ♡ WHO LOVES BAD NEWS

• the gathering patrol is back yay!! tagging @ROOSTERTUFT since she lead him back
  
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  NUTMEGPURR ♡
  
  ( gale guard of windclan )​
  ❥ a tall cinnamon tortie with curled ears & pink-brown eyes; well-muscled & fluffy
  ❥ mentoring n/a
  ❥ sister to meadowpaw & peafowlpaw
  ❥ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
  ❥ penned by chuff
  
  "speech"

 

[SNAILPAW SNAILPAW]

To be honest? Snailpaw hadn't expected the group of cats that had left for the word meeting-gathering thing to be back until much, much later in the night. They had gotten to their paws, preparing to sleep- they were sure they'd hear about everything later- when the scent of Windclan greets them, followed by the mass of cats that had left earlier. And none of them are smiling.

"Woah. You all look like shi-"

They cut themself off when they realize just how rattled these cats looked by whatever had occurred. There's all sorts of ruffled pelts, all sorts of wide eyes, terrified and in disbelief, a sort of panicked frenzy to how the group interacted with each other. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that something very, very bad had happened.

They couldn't begin to imagine what that could have been.

"What even happened out there?" Even as they ask it, Snailpaw's certain that they don't want to know the answer. Not when their clanmates are this bothered by it.

 

[PEONYPAW]

Peonypaw drags his feet as he returns to camp. Arguably, this place is so much safer than the throat-choking crowd at the Gathering, but he still twitches and glances around like he's preparing for someone to jump at him. He has never been an optimist, but he still can't believe just how wrong it all went. When he closes his eyes, he still sees the narrowed gazes of Hawkstar's henchmen, eyes blazing with fury and self-righteousness. Do they feel justified now?

Something bitter curls in him. Selfishly, he almost wants to tell Petalpaw I told you so. The logical part of him that still kicks around tells him otherwise though: it's not like anybody had expected these turn of events.

He throws a look back over his shoulder. What will Dustystar say? Is she going to forbid WindClan from attending any more desperate garnering for peace? It's a miracle that they had not been dragged into this mess; they had been mere bystanders, and yet, he still feels like his fur is covered in dust and grime. What a mess.

Whatever Dustystar's plans might be stop to matter when a curious Clanmate inquiries about the Gathering.

"The SkyClan leader killed ThunderClan's leader,"

is all he says to Snailpaw, offeirng no further context. The words seem to scrape against the insides of his throat anyway. It feels like he is speaking against gravel, rough and insistent. At least Snailpaw has the consideration to not look terribly excited as they wait for details.