Gathering 2025 Event omach init ──✩°。⋆⸜ The First Gathering

This gathering took place in the year 2025.
This tag indicates this is an event specific thread.
You walk along the edge of danger
AND IT WILL CHANGE YOU

.


Everything happened too fast. One moment, Copperstorm was speaking calmly with Peachtrot. The next, she was racing off, swallowed by the sea of cats—and then chaos erupted like lightning across the clearing. SkyClan had found their target. Voices rose, claws unsheathed, and now... Now he stood frozen. Wide-eyed. Silent. Shaken. Near his clan, but feeling further from it than ever. He thought he knew them. Thought he understood what they stood for. That they were building something better, something different. But now? Doubt slithered through his chest like a snake, cold and hissing.

And across the clearing, those familiar amber eyes stared at him. Coalstrike. Locked on him like a predator. There was something in those eyes, something that made his heart plummet to the pit of his stomach. Satisfaction. A cruel, quiet satisfaction. See, son. See that I was right. The strong always triumph over the weak. Blood always calls for more blood. And there are killers in everyone. Even you.

No... No.

That was not what he stood for. That was not who he was. He was not his father. He never wanted to become that. Never wanted Boarpaw, or his apprentice Thistlepaw to believe that strength meant cruelty. That violence was virtue. That survival demanded death. His breath caught in his throat, chest tightening as Owlbark spoke. He understood, Stars, he understood. He didn't think Owlbark was evil. But a warrior was dead. A young warrior. A child, barely into his moons.

Survival? Is that what this was? Could Owlbark not have knocked the intruder back? Shoved him away from the border? Fought him off without ending him? Why was death always the answer? His head swam. His ears were ringing. His paws felt rooted and weightless all at once. Where was Boarpaw? Where was Thistlepaw? His golden eyes darted across the clearing in a panic, but there were too many bodies, too many voices, too much noise. They were just apprentices, they should not be here for this. He stepped forward, chest heaving with the effort not to scream.

And then Hawkstar spoke of a code. A warrior code. As if it was a guiding light in all of this. Was there really a code to being a warrior? Could they learn it? Could they be better? His eyes found the SkyClan leader, searching her face, trying to understand what they had walked into, what they were supposed to take from this. Then Juniperstar's voice. Clear. Steady. Final. Offering her life for the life of the warrior. Shock punched the air from his lungs. No. She couldn't. She couldn't do that. Not for this. Not like this. He looked at Owlbark, saw the heaviness in the tom's eyes. Then back to the leaders, his mouth opening, yet no words came out. Nothing. Only shocked silence and bitten back words.

Won't this blood only spill more blood?

A whirlwind of emotion... His eyes wide in horror as Hawkstar agreed to the deal. The debt that would be paid... Juni's life for their warrior's....

This... this warrior code SkyClan spoke of... we don't know it. But we could get to know it. Couldn't we?


Blood tainted the fur of their leader, tainted the leader of SkyClan... And then it was done... It was over... Just like that?! And they had to be okay with this outcome... This horrible red that dripped to the ground... Their leader, motionless...

Nobody wanted a child to receive such a horrible end. Not even him, I don't believe that. I don't believe any of us wanted this.

So many words, unspoken... Gone... Useless.... And in the back of his mind, he swore he could feel the burning stare of his father as he stood there, staring at the scenario before him. He felt miserable, he felt sick... Where... Where were the kits... The apprentices... They needed to.... They needed to regroup... This Gathering was a f a i l u r e... What was meant to be peaceful became so much worse... Blood hung thick in the air, clinging to his fur. Nauseating.... He felt like he would lose his dinner...

Boarpaw... Thistlepaw... He needed to... He needed to find them.

Taking a few steps back, he frowned, swallowing a few times before slowly looking toward Owlbark. Is this ... Is this what we need? Things he wanted to shout would not come out. Juniperstar had lost a life before... He had seen it happen... Now it would happen again. " Someone... " he started, looking back to Juniperstar's body before scowling, body tensing up. " Call... Call together the clan, Owlbark... I think it's safe to say... Once Juniperstar returns to us, we will return home... " he uttered out. A life for a life... A debt is repaid...

He hated it...


Speech, thoughts/emphasis


33 MOONS
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THUNDERCLAN
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SONG
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bio
 

Ghoststrike urges him to keep his calm long enough to duke it out at home. Okay, Thunderflash thinks he can do that. Part of him relaxes when Hopepaw gets closer, mumbling something about wanting to stay near him, shuffling closer. "Tha's fine. Don't go anywhere, alrigh'?" Thunderflash mumbles out. Ghoststrike speaks, and calls trouble- but he doesn't realize why until Ghoststrike tells him it looks like trouble, and baby blue eyes lift from his paws to stare up into the throng of Skyclanners that have arrived. His face shifts from somewhere between anger and frustration to curiosity, if not a little negativity. Blood, the reek of it in the air- and what transpires next causes his throat to feel like it closed up.

Skyclan announces that Owlbark, their deputy, has killed a cat in cold blood. Juniperstar and Hawkstar are arguing, and he can see this devolving fast. Riverclan's leader and another cat are in a spat, briefly visible from where he sat near the edge with Ghoststrike. His stomach tenses, nausea rising as Juniperstar takes the stage. "No, no.. no!" He shouts, standing up. Is se really going through with this? Giving her life up because Owlbark couldn't keep himself from killing a cat? His eyes widen as she offers her throat, as Hawkstar mumbles something he can't see, hardly see her mouth move. His body moves before he knows what's happening, shielding Hopepaw from the sight of it.

He isn't looking either, both eyes wide as he stares down at his apprentice. His shoulders are heaving, breath rattling in his chest. Not here. The blood that stank in the air, death on the mound where Fray's life had been taken. Both eyes snap up to look at Ghoststrike, trying to process what's happening. Juniperstar gave a life to defend her deputy- but Thunderclan wasn't who he thought they were. Owlbark was a killer. Would you be any different, Thunderflash, if you killed Sablestar? A voice whispered, and it caused a distressed noise to leave him.

He doesn't know what to do, besides to stand here and block Hopepaw from a sight that could scar him.

  • "speech"
    // mentioning @hopepaw and @GHOSTSTRIKE
  • THUNDERFLASH he/him, thunderclan storm guard, twenty-six moons.
    a sh/lh chocolate tabby with low white and stunning baby blue eyes. stands of average height with a 'mohawk' and spiky-shaped mane.
    mentored by n/a / mentoring hopepaw
    whichever relations / want listed
    peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
    penned by dallas ↛ dallasofnines on discord, feel free to dm for plots.
 

Stormcrow only tears her eyes away from Owlbark when Hawkstar beckons Juniperstar to her, when she opens her jaws like drawing a sword from its sheathe, and takes the life she was promised. Stormcrow does not flinch, does not look away, does not even show fear– if anyone looked at her face, they would see only awe and adoration. For her king, for their shared glorious purpose.

The other clans knew nothing of purpose, nor justice, nor of the code– nothing of Starclan– pretenders, all of them, vying for a throne only Hawkstar deserved. When her king calls, she comes immediately. She jumps onto the rock, paying no mind to the bloodied body of the Thunderclan leader, and offers her shoulder as support to her king.

"Skyclan, to me!" She calls, her voice clear and loud over the chaos. She quickly counts the heads of her clan, nodding to herself. No one had strayed too far from the pack. "We have gotten our justice– a life for a life. Let us return to our home now, and sit vigil for Rosebelly, as the warrior code dictates."

Still supporting Hawkstar with her shoulder, she leads her king down from the rock, and takes up the head of the patrol of cats.

"Let us not linger unnecessarily. We have gotten what we came for," she murmurs to her clanmates.

She feels the heartbeat of her leader against her own rib cage like the pounding of the feet of a thousand rabbits. Was her king in doubt? Did she question her decision? She wants to reach out at once, to comfort and soothe, but feels it is not appropriate– not with everybody watching them– and settles on supporting her solely through her steady shoulder, her unwavering heartbeat, her heart– her heart, which beats for one sole purpose– for one cat–

They push through the undergrowth lining the clearing, slipping into the dark, the full moon's light no longer reaching them.

STORMCROW. 54 moons
mentor to stonepaw,
daughter of snowveil
peaceful powerplay allowed
ooc - skyclan are out of here! feel free to finish any conversations in your next posts though! or lag behind, if you feel like tempting fate...


 

As soon as the scent of blood had filled the clearing, Cloverpaw knew that something terrible was going to happen. The brief glance she'd taken at the bloodied SkyClan cats told her things were going to get very bad, very quickly, and she knew for a fact she didn't want to be around to see it. It didn't take very long (or very much convincing, on Hollowmumble's part) to get her up, ready to leave, ready to go home... She looked around as the little group hollow had gathered looked for the rest of their clanmates, noticing that most of them seemed to be grouping up and leaving (or getting ready to) with the help of the Gale Guards. Thank StarClan we're getting out of here... Please, no more bloodshed... No more fighting... Let everyone just go home and calm down...

"I'm scared... What if something bad happens to Dustystar while everyone on the rock is yelling? What if Thunderclan cats or Skyclan cats try to attack us? What if..." The words practically exploded out of her mouth with an uncharacteristic speed as she pressed herself as close to Hollow as she could get. All she could think of was how bad this could turn and how quickly it could get there, her paws trembling as she kept pace with the others.
  • "speech" - thoughts
    interacting with @Hollowmumble , getting OUT of there

  • Cloverpaw she/her & windclan
    lh red lynx mink w/ white spotting
    11 moons
    Peaceful and healing powerplay permitted.
    Slight suppressed southern accent

    penned by pastelskulls
    template by scarlet
    template art by lassie
 
Everything stays right where you left it
Everything stays
But it still changes
Ever so slightly, daily and nightly
In little ways, when everything stays

.


One moment, Heartpaw had been babbling, bright-eyed, warm, full of questions too big for the stars. The next… She was on the ground, belly pressed low in terror. Her ears pinned flat, and her round golden eyes stared wide, glassy with shock. The scent, blood. So thick it made her gag. Juniperstar was dead. Hawkstar, the leader of SkyClan had k i l l e d her!! They were going to die... They were going to die. One of the other apprentices had shouted it. SkyClan comes for you next... Now it was true.

" M... Mama... " she whimpered, voice barely above a whisper. " Mama... " Her breath hitched. Her tiny chest rose and fell too fast, trembling. She scrambled backward, paws slipping in the churned-up earth, crashing into the legs of another cat. A cry of alarm tore from her throat as she recoiled, friend? foe? She didn't care. She didn't know. All she knew was that she was scared. All she knew was that Juniperstar was dead. Dead. " Hope...! " she choked, her voice cracking. " Hope?! " Her fur stood on end, tail puffed comically large, not in play this time, but in pure panic. She darted between cats, nearly bowled over more than once by the chaos around her. She couldn't see anything, there were too many bodies, too many voices, too much leaving.

" Hope?! " she sobbed again, her voice swallowed by the roar of panic and retreat. Then she tripped. Her legs gave out beneath her, and she crumpled in the grass, dazed, gasping. She lifted her head and did the only thing her shattered, panicking mind could come up with.

She wailed.

A high, keening, kittenish cry that ripped straight from her chest, loud and raw as tears streaked her cheeks.

She wanted her brother.
She wanted her mother.
She wanted this to be a dream.


Speech, thoughts/emphasis


6 MOONS
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THUNDERCLANNER
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SONG
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bio
 
You Say That You Are Close
Is Close The Closest Star?


x

It all happens so quickly, the grey apprentice can barely keep up. Someone in Thunderclan killed a Skyclan cat, this is against the code (What code..? If there was a code would that have prevented their own tension with Riverclan..? Thunderclan?) and Hawkstar demands justice. A life for a life. Owlbark- no- Juniperstar's, and Sealpaw opens her mouth to protest. To at least ask why but instead all that comes from her maw is a shaky breath as fear and nausea coils in her gut when the molly steps forward. Calmly placing herself before the executioner's block that is Hawkstar.

What the Skyclan leader calls justice Sealpaw sees as a reenactment- instead of Juniperstar in the other's jaws she sees Leopard's limp form- coldly and cruelly played out with no care to who this may affect. Her vision becomes misty, then blurred completely by pale fur blocking her view. Flamerunner. Her Seal Guard.

He says something she can't-won't- parse from the shock of it. Eyes unmoving from where she was sure the Thunderclan leader still laid, still warm but completely still, despite being unable to see through the warrior. She finds herself pressing into him, burying her face into his side with a stuttering breath before a sob finally escapes her.

"I-" A hiccup, another sob that takes Sralpaw a moment to control enough to be able to speak. "I want to go home..."

She missed her mother.


You Just Feel Twice As Far
SEALPAW

— Shadowclan Apprentice
— She/They
"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK

— Grey Rosetted Tabby With Blue Eyes And A Bobbed Tail. 13 Moons
#4c66bf



ooc:
 
I'm a young soul in this very strange world
Hoping I could learn a bit 'bout what is true and fake
But why all this hate? Try to communicate
Finding trust and love is not always easy to make

.


Oh… oh, a lot was suddenly happening. One moment they were just chattering along, yap, yap, yapping, and the next? That strange heaviness clung to the air, thick and sour, and she didn't like it one bit. " They're making an awful lot of ruckus. " muttered the solid black she-cat, her wide orange eyes fixated on the spectacle before her. " Do they think this will solve anything? Leave a soul unscathed? " She gave her head a slow, disappointed shake, eyes now drifting to Hollowmumble, already nudging Cloverpaw away. Smart. Very smart. They needed to go. Back to WindClan, back to solid earth and open skies.

Tonight was no night for talking. A better night for digging. Or sleeping.

" To you, always. " she murmured, more to herself than anyone else, her voice almost sing-song as she stepped after the two, tail swishing thoughtfully. " I would like to cuddle up to Pumpkinspice tonight. I don't think this Gathering did much good, do you? Maybe a red moon will wash over them. This was all very… brutal. " She gave Cloverpaw a gentle nudge, guiding her onward with a soft hum. " No, no, no need to fret and worry over that. " she said calmly, pressing close. " It'll leave cobwebs in your brain and make you think all funky and slow. "

She pointed a thin tail toward the departing SkyClan cats. " Look, see? SkyClan is leaving too. They had their little show of… whatever this might've looked like. Now they're going. Just like us. And nobody's getting hurt. " Weaselchirp gave Cloverpaw a warm, crooked smile, her wide eyes glinting like damp stone in moonlight. " And tomorrow, we'll show Dustystar our pretty tunnel, yes? We'll show her what we're working on for the cold days to come. This night.... " she paused, tilting her head to the sky. " This night will be a memory. A bad one, maybe. But we'll brush it away, make room for the good ones. "

Speech, thoughts/emphasis


66 MOONS
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WINDCLANNER
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SONG
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bio


talking to @Hollowmumble and @Cloverpaw lets go home <3
 
————————————— The melody sings what the words can't say. ✦


Boarpaw had had a lovely time at the gathering! Up until the shouting. He had frozen in place for some time, fur standing on end with the ruckus of yelling and fury. Eyes focused on his paws, his lovely conversation with Mr Pike having been cut short, and he had wandered off after, suddenly feeling rather nervous and out of place.

He had been looking for his friends, Hopepaw, Heartpaw, Rattle or Thistle, maybe? And yet he couldn't spot any of them over the sea of other cats. It took a while of conjuring his bravery to push through the grown cats, apologising with shaking paws, trying not to panic, being separated from his clan. They hadn't left yet, right? No, no, of course not! Copperstorm wouldn't have left.

The sound of Juniperstar's voice, clear over the rabble, was enough to grab his attention, of course! His mentor was here; she wouldn't leave without him. He steadied his breath and he shuffled through past the adults. They were the same height as these cats, but shoving past them felt painfully disrespectful....

Finally, he broke past a crowd, the shouting having gotten louder, but Boar having paid no attention as he focused on trying not to barrel someone over. But as he pushed past, his eyes widened in terror, watching as Hawkstar, bloodied and wild-eyed eyed dropped Juniperstar from her maw. Crimson leaked in droves from the limp body of his mentor, the other leader turning and leaving with a simple call to her clan.

One step, then two. Then a stumbling set of too large paws collapsed at the side of his mentor, trying in vain to rouse her awake. "Junipersthtar..." Boarpaw hadn't even realised he had rushed to her side, let alone the tears that welled in his eyes. There was little he could call his family anymore, his siblings, Copperstorm and Dewshine, and, well, Juniperstar. She was his mentor, but he looked up to her like she was family, too. She brought him into the clan, an unneeded kindness. Met only with unneeded violence.

Blood laced his grey fur as bleary eyes peered up to Hawkstar. He couldn't do anything, couldn't move or speak. Let alone look to her with a fury. Their heart in too much sorrow seeing their leader a still, bleeding mess. Tears overwhelmed their vision as they doubled in close to Juniperstar, hiccupping sobs as they towered over her. He hadn't been small enough to curl up at her side for a very long time now, but oh, how he wished to be small enough to tuck close to her once more.

  • Boarpaw
    ✦—Thunderclan apprentice | 8 moons
    ✦—He/They
    ✦—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
    ✦—A long-haired, dark grey tom with a prominent underbite and blue eyes.
    #a4bac1
 
  • Sad
Reactions: tieirlys
When you're lost in the universe, lost in the universe, don't lose faith
My mother says, "Your whole life's in the paws of the Stars"

.


A body suddenly slammed into Fleafire's side, Tickpaw, his orange eyes narrowed, chest heaving with adrenaline. " Here… I'm here. " he muttered, pressing close to her side, steadying her with his weight. His gaze flicked to Stoatpaw, searching her expression. Was she still mad? Still distant? He didn't know. Didn't understand it either. But right now, none of that mattered. Everything was going to shit. This Gathering was a disaster. Chaos hung thick in the air like smoke. Cats shouting. Leaders furious. Blood already spilled.

A low rumble built in his throat as his tail lashed from side to side, his fur bristling.

Some of SkyClan had helped him not long ago, helped him back to the border, sent him home. But now one of theirs had just killed a leader in front of everyone. Maybe they came back through some StarClan loophole, but that wasn't the point. That wasn't the way, right? That was execution. " Leader got killed. " he growled under his breath, sharp gaze scanning the clearing. " Far as I could see… It's a mess. We should get back to the rest of ShadowClan. Don't wanna be caught in the middle of… whatever the hell this is. "

He flicked his tail toward the outer edges. " Saw movement near RiverClan, think something happened there too.... And I think WindClan's already leaving. They've got the right idea. " His eyes finally returned to Stoatpaw and Fleafire, voice quieter now, but no less intense. " You both okay? " he asked, concern etched deep in every word.

Speech, thoughts/emphasis


10 MOONS
𖧧
SHADOWCLANNER
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SONG
𖧧
bio
 

Hollowmumble, -- 39 Moons / 'Windclan' Cat -- Ages on the 14th
Black spotted ghost tabby with bright amber eyes.
She is friendly, yet quiet, and always willing to help.

Tagging @Cloverpaw @Weaselchirp

"If something bad happens to Dustystar, Goldenroar will protect her." Hollowmumble responded as they walked along, head and tail held high as she surveyed the sureounding area, an unusual confidence brought about by deadly circumstances and the need to keep her closest safe.

"Skyclan has no reason to attack us. Their fight is with Thunderclan, and they've finished it. They're leaving now." There was no telling how the other two clans would react, though. She continued after a pause, watching another Windclan cat join the group, doing a mental tally in her head. "If anyone attacks you... I'll protect you, okay?" Hollow turned to face Cloverpaw, tail curling to rest over her back. "Weaselchirp will protect you too. We'll be okay. Breathe. Think about how you're going to show Dustystar your tunnels tomorrow. Focus on getting home safely."

 
Last edited:
You walk along the edge of danger
AND IT WILL CHANGE YOU

.


Then suddenly there was Boarpaw. Golden eyes widened in alarm the instant he saw the apprentice moving forward. Toward Juniperstar's still form. Toward Hawkstar. Copperstorm's breath caught as the boy stumbled closer, tears carving silent tracks through his face. And before he even thought, before his mind could scream at him to stop, his paws were moving, faster than thought, faster than fear. He was there in an instant. Positioning himself between Boarpaw and Hawkstar, his broad form shielding the apprentice like a wall of bristling gold and thunder. His gaze burned into the retreating SkyClanners, a warning without words. His tail lashed once behind him, a silent, seething line in the sand.

Only then did he turn, ears flat as he looked at Boarpaw's broken face. The ache in his chest was unbearable, swallowing his breath whole. And without hesitation, he leaned down and pulled the apprentice close. Closer than close. Chin tucked over his shoulder, pressing his nose into Boarpaw's scruff as if by sheer will he could protect him from the world. " Shhh… shh… She will be back. " he rasped into his fur, voice low and shaking. " I promise you this, Boarpaw... she did before. She will again. " But in his heart, the promise felt like ashes. Because even if she came back, it wouldn't be the same. It wouldn't unsee what they'd seen. Wouldn't erase the hollow look in Boarpaw's eyes or the way his shoulders trembled. Wouldn't stop the ache or fill the void that had opened in so many chests tonight.

It wouldn't make this right.

Anger surged beneath the grief, hot and wild. Anger at this event. At the blood. At his father, still somewhere watching. At everything that kept trying to steal the future he was trying to build, for them. For Boarpaw, for Dewshine. For all of them. His gaze flicked back toward Juniperstar's body. A life for a life. That was the cost. A life. A bitter scoff escaped him, low in his throat, as he curled his tail protectively around Boarpaw, anchoring him like roots in the earth. Stars help him if anyone came close again.

" ...Somebody round up the youngest. " he finally growled, raising his voice just enough. " Get them out of here. " He turned slightly, golden eyes sweeping the clearing. Too many faces. Too much panic. He could've sworn he had heard a cry. A wail. One of Palefern's kits, maybe. A sound that cut bone-deep. " Thunderflash. " he barked, urgency sharpening his voice now. " You and Hope, find the apprentices. All of them. Get them together. Get them safe. Now. "

Speech, thoughts/emphasis


33 MOONS
𖧧
THUNDERCLAN
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SONG
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bio
 

Snakepaw approached his clanmates again, and sat down to watch the show given to everyone in the gathering. Fleafire probably would look up for Stoat and Tick, so that was taken care of. He didn't feel like trying to help find the two apprentices, in case it seemed like he was coddling them again. And well, he was sure the gathering didn't need more violence, especially if it was against him.

He felt his shoulders tensing up, hearing the accusations being thrown around. A cat killed in cold blood. It wasn't like he was about to say that it was something above his clanmates. He felt many of them would do so gladly if given the chance. Snakepaw wasn't so sure he would have the stomach for this, but he would do so for self defense. He was training for that, after all.

A life for a life. A nobody warrior's life for a leader? That seemed excessive, even if Snake wasn't very well versed in diplomacy or cat politics. He watched in trance as Juniperstar put herself vulnerable to the other leader, as she gave her life away. He watched with a certain admiration for both leaders: Juniperstar to even put her clan above her life, and Hawkstar for demanding justice for her clan. He watched as the Skyclan leader's maw closed, as the blood spilt, as Juniperstar died in front of everyone's eyes.

Something stirred in his heart as he watched Juniperstar give her own life for her deputy, for her clan. He had the feeling Sablestar wouldn't care so much for his own clan and deputy, he felt the tom was more egoistical than Thunderclan's leader. At least, he was certain he would not be saved by his own leader if the wrong circumstances ever arose. The tortie apprentice was a nobody, after all.

Snakepaw had no family, he barely had a friend, all he truly had was his clan, a clan that would not care enough for him. Something solidified in his heart, he felt as if it had stopped beating only to turn into solid rock. No more a bleeding heart, no more a heart that stirred and jumped with anxiety to be liked, to be cared for.

He made a decision right then and there: he would not put his life up for his clan or really anyone for that matter. No matter who. The only one who mattered was himself and no one else. He would live by those words, by this promise to only care for himself. If he needed to be cunning and use someone to survive, he would no longer have qualms about doing so.

He survived for so long by depending on others, by depending on their kindness. Not anymore. It was time to be sure no one could hurt him ever again. Still, part of him worried for Stoatpaw, Fleafire and Tickpaw. He hoped they were alright, but he was not moving a muscle to help them. Better to be said to be a coward than to be dead. Better to be a bastard than a body in the ground. And nothing would change his mind.

  • "speech"
    thoughts

    ☆ OOC:

    Art by Pheo!
  • SNAKEPAW he/him, shadowclanner, 12 moons.
    A lanky blue diluted tortie with green eyes. Stands of average, almost tall for his age, height.
    Mentored by Loudclaw (NPC)
    No family
    Peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
    Color = mediumpurple
    Penned by draculaelliot ↛ draculaelliot on discord, feel free to dm for plots.
 
I wish the dawn will come
The first gathering, a monumental occasion for the clans though he shared the same worries of it going poorly - he wasn't so naive a fool as to expect there to be no fighting of some kind, arguing and the swipe of claws and the outrage of SkyClan pouring down like a torrential downpour upon proceedings. RiverClan was a bubbling river overflowing with spite and hatred, it had been festering for moons now and he saw in it the chance at something better if they would only stand together and not apart but claws and teeth made swift work of the leader chosen by his own paw to leave it fractured and in disarray - he wonders briefly if he would have been the same sort of cat to draw blood for his kits and mate; in Adderfang he sees a reflection of a future he never for the chance to fight for, the struggles he could never hope to understand as distant as he was. It was pain to watch things go as they did, it was more painful to know they could not lift a paw. Supposedly. Old hushed words and voices echoed of not intervening, his mismatched eyes widened with every biting remark and barred teeth. He had died for a purpose only to watch it slip like water through their paws, was enough blood not laid upon that land below that more needed to spill.

A cry unbroken strangled up from his throat, choked as he swallowed it down in horror, JUNEBUG! Do not let your heart be what leads you, he was told once, logic and patience was what a clan truly had to guide it but if there was no heart then how could the body thrive without that beating core - he was standing then and pivoting around, tail a banner waving at his back as he paced frantically side to side - they were stronger now, the stars brighter than ever before though still dim, in growing darkness they could only illuminate more. No, I can't. I can't let this go on. They would kill eachother, they would never know peace, the ancient clans met once a moon but the newer ones needed that breath away from their origins.
"I'm sorry." Thornstar says in a soft tone, a flicker of a mischievous smile on his maw as he looks back down to the clans - the apology is two parts and decidedly not sorry in the slightest: to Coffeestar, to his beloved friend and momentary deputy, to the clans they could not guide better. "If I am too be punished for this then so be it... Even before he moves he feels the end fray, the essence of what is left of him stretches and snaps into place as he dives and with a bright flash as lightning struck the heart of the clearing in a hot bolt of light the scorched ground rippled outward around here his paws planted firmly on hard soil - he felt alive, the tingling of the mortal coil making his star spotted pelt flicker and spark with the electricity he rode down to appear almost solid in the midst of the chaos and bloodshed.
"Cats of ALL CLANS!" He did not have a lot of time, he knew, already his voice strained with effort to connect, to remain grounded while the sky above seemed to beckon him back, pulling and tugging like the wires of a trap, "This place is not for blood, not for clashing claws or snarling maws, beneath this moon there will be peace! The old code is from a time long since lost to us, for it to be reformed and for the paths you take to improve upon it, add to it, strike down what did not spare them before, you must walk together beneath this night!" The chocolate tabby raises his head high and sways suddenly, unsteady for a moment a if vertigo struck to topple him - he has never felt so suddenly offbalance and poorly since dying, with the lack of a body came no pain but the spirit it seemed could till be pushed too far. Maybe he didn't need to be punished, maybe he was already about to regret it. His gaze drifts to Juniperstar's body, still warm, blood still dripping from Hawkstar's maw, the RiverClan leader is surely coming back any moment but hers would take a touch longer.
"By StarClan's decree, you will meet once every other full moon!" Every moon might be pushing it this soon, they could not snap the already taut cords of peace, "In this time you will not raise claw to one another, no matter the circumstances..." The tabby trailed off, choking as his last words were forced out in a wheeze. He wanted to say more, wanted to use this brief moment to find his kits, his mate, maybe once tangible chance to press his nose to each young head and whisper to them how proud he was but his mismatched gaze met Serpentberry's briefly before the stars lining his pelt brightened and obscured him and with a crackle of lingering electricity he was gone.

Ooc- For this post alone, he is entirely visible to all cats!

There's a bright day — through the dark night.
THORNSTAR

ThunderClan Founder | Former Leader
He/Him
Chocolate Tabby Lynx Point w/ One Orange and One Blue Eye.
#7d97bf - "Speech"
#f4b951 - 'Thoughts'
x
 
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DUSKPOOL
"Swirlpaw!" His timbre rattlin' like angry storms, urgin' the kid to shield herself from the slaughter. "Don't look." He rumbled gravelly. "None of ya look." His timbre quiveirn' like the angry crackle of a fire set free.

For the first time, Duskpool believed Coffeestar had been wrong in pickin' Hawkstar to be deputy all those moons ago. He watched with a blank expression, thoughts combined into a maelstrom, leavin' him hangin' on the edge of the abyss. She'd do anythin' in the name of revenge.

Just as he had torn into Chi and Kyungmin's skin. His lips stained crimson. His teeth forever tainted by the blood of sinners and innocents. His body a reminder of all that he has lost. His punishment. Perhaps Duskpool ain't all that different, but to willingly sink teeth into an innocent? His lips peeled into a subtle sneer. He was as much of a monster as anyone else with blood on their paws.

Nothin' would be the same. Not for moons to come. The land tainted by the blood of innocents. Their deaths forever marked in history. Hawkstar had killed another, not in battle, but to settle a rotten score. Rosebelly's name forever stained as a reminder of what happened.

Was it worth it, Hawkstar?

He watched onward, head tilted toward their leader with a prickle of anger and grief. Was all of this worth it? He wanted to laugh, instead twistin' his helm with gritted teeth.

Ryuji died here. His sons in ThunderClan. If Hawkstar had truly cared for the warrior code, she would have sought this confrontation elsewhere, away from the gatherin'. And yet, every cat will see SkyClan as villainous vipers comin' to pick at the lawless, unaware of the code, but seen by StarClan. It was them whom they should turn their ire on, and yet none of them dared, perhaps too brainwashed to see the flaws in the deceased they worshipped.

And what would become of SkyClan if the others retaliated? They were only so strong, but against the four clans? SkyClan would be wiped from this world as a forgotten, bitter memory of what could've been. "We're leavin'." He rumbled to those closest to his broad-shouldered frame, wooly plumage sweepin' to herd Swirlpaw and whoever else away from the carnage.

Today, SkyClan became the monsters. Just as ThunderClan had become the same. But ain't that the kicker? It takes a monster to kill another. Perhaps they'd always be oil and water, co-existin', but never touchin'. He huffed bitterly, anger rollin' beneath wooly fur, bathed in the fierceness to protect his clan and the shame of what transpired. Disgust for his leader's actions.

But just as he pivoted, Duskpool paused, watchin' the glitterin' tinge of a StarClanner. Typical of 'em, huh? Showin' up after the damage was already done. He barked back a bitter laugh, helm twistin' to hide the ripple of lips twistin' in a sneer. He couldn't find it within himself to be surprised. His emotions wore thin as the night went on. The loss of a nephew to fresh. The disaster this gatherin' had become.

we're only haunted by the things we refuse to accept

  • talking to @Swirlpaw
  • DUSKPOOL he/him a storm carved in flesh and smoke, duskpool towers with the bulk of a maine coon and norwegin forest cat. his wooly black pelt bristles with ghost-stripes and scars—old wounds etched like lightning through dusk. one copper eye burns like molten steel and the other a mangled ruin of war. every step is heavy, thunderous—war-born, death-burdened, and unflinchingly alive.

    ᯓ★ senior warrior of skyclan (sun guard during coffeestar's reign)
    ᯓ★ brother to outlawbite & thistlestrike, half-brother to flowercloud
    ᯓ★ eighty-three moons; ages on the 1st of every month
    ᯓ★ speech thought action
    ᯓ★ peaceful/healing powerplay permitted
 


ababababababa The seasons change, we are not the same




indentMaiseyleg squeals as claws meet flesh. Until now, she had been a perfectly poised warrior, ready to carry out whatever her king commanded of her. At the first suggestion of murder, her downy fur bristles. Biting her lip to keep herself from crying out, Maiseyleg reminds herself this is what she had agreed to. "If it's for Rosebelly, then..." Still, she can't help the turning in her stomach.

indentAs the tension builds, Maiseyleg worries her claws in the dirt underfoot, staining her perfect white paws a muddy brown. "Killing someone else... Will that really make us feel better?" The words leave her lips without her notice. The Thunderclan deputy had broken the code, but hadn't Rosebelly done the same? If Owlbark hadn't been the killer, would Flowercloud's son be the one on trial? 'Is my entire clan filled with killers?'

indentShe doesn't have time to look away before Hawkstar strikes. She watches wide-eyed and helpless as her leader tears another - their neighbor - asunder. With a high-pitched whine, she ducks her head into Duskpool's shoulder beside her, desperate to wipe away what she'd seen. When he calls for them to leave, she pulls away, leaving his fur stained with glittering tears. "Of course." She tries to keep a straight face for the little ones, but her voice wobbles. "Hawkstar will understand if we leave a little early, okay? It'll be alright"



ababaugfbiufhufbdfduibabababa
Maiseyleg | 63 moons | Warrior of Skyclan ababababbnihfibnfdifdhfhababa




 

Swirlpaw, -- 8 Moons / Skyclan Apprentice -- Ages on the 5th
Brown and orange tabby chimera she-cat with mismatched eyes.
Daughter of Milkheart, sister of Creampaw and Nutmegpaw.
Tagging @Maiseyleg @DUSKPOOL

"But-!" Swirlpaw stuttered, trying to look past Duskpool's large torso. "I- I don't want to go-!" She stuttered out, but it was ultimately useless as she was turned away from the great rock in the center of the clearing, cats blocking her field of view as she was made to pad alongside Maiseyleg and Duskpool. They should stay, their leader needs them to support her! What if a battle breaks out, objections to the righteous justice being put into place? They had to fight for their clan!

It wasn't right to just... leave. But who was she to object to the older warriors? They were so much more experienced than her, it wasn't her place... but... Hawkstar's word was law, and she commanded her clan to stand beside her! Ultimately, it was far too late for Swirlpaw to change her mind and run back to the fourtrees, already many tail-lengths away as she could hear the mixed voices of Skyclan rise, either preparing for battle or getting ready to head back to camp. She sighed to herself, disappointed to have missed it.

 
& I don't know what's got its TEETH in me

"I'm....Magpiepaw." The young apprentice says slowly, his head tilted up to meet Duskpool's gaze before glancing forward at the spirit directly before them, it wasn't clear who he was speaking to as he stared at Froststorm curiously-there was a lingering ShadowClan scent on the tom but he had never seen him before, was he new - was the kit just unaware enough to not realize his own clanmates? Magpiepaw thought he was fairly astute, his gaze tore away with a soft smile to find Littlepaw present and looking more cheerful than before, he leaned forward to try and butt his head to his sibling only to nearly faceplant as he recalled they could not touch. That was fine, being there was enough for now at least. He was going to answer the questions but the clamor of sound near the leaders drew his focus from his own claustrophobic unease in this crowd to what was occurring right before his eyes. He'd never seen his mother so stern and stalwart, he always knew her as gentle, loving, a cat who nurtures and not one who stands before terrifying foes such as the SkyClan leader. She was scary in her rage, blood soaked and looming like an actual hawk circling overhead. Magpiepaw can not hear what is being said this far away but the voices are angry and teeth are barred and as though time escalated he blinks and Juniperstar is on the ground; blood spills from the other leaders teeth, dripping stalagmites in a dark cave, his mother doesn't move, there is a hush in the crowd before some cats start to wail and cry, his mother doesn't move, he hears Thunderflash distantly shouting something, the SkyClanners are already moving to leave, his mother doesn't move, his violet gaze sweeps the crowd to find his mentor, his father, someone to console him and tell him she'll be fine but his mother doesn't move and he's alone. Alone with a cat whose leader just snapped her teeth around Juniperstar like plucking prey from a pile, he didn't even know what happened.

The SkyClanner's he sits near seem just as horrified but that gave him little solace, he was stumbling forward away from the warrior as his clanmates pressed in to him for comfort and wobbling in frantic hurried steps to the tabby on the ground before them, her blood reflected the moon above that shone with a gentleness this gathering had not offered to its occupants.
"MAMA!" His voice cracked as he hobbled to her side, clambering over earth and stone and brushing past his uncle Graybird standing shellshocked and horrified as most the others present; the black and white apprentice draped his small body over her neck, violet eyes watering as they darted around for any kind of cobweb or something to stop the bleeding but he found none other than his own paws. There was no fluttering pulse, he could feel nothing other than an alarming stillness and he remembered the way Cicadabuzz had died similarly and lurched to life again after, too stiff and limbs too uncertain as if unsure how his own body worked. The flash of lightning and bright light of a cat that sparkled like Littlepaw could not rip him away from Juniperstar then, he had seen enough spirits now they lost their luster, they were too late to spare his mother and it meant nothing to him in that moment as he pawed futilely at her battered form as if he could push life back inside.

Ooc- ooc info here.

I dream in phosphorescence - Bleed through spaces
MAGPIEKIT

— kitten of shadowclan
— He/They
"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
— Solid black w/low white & blue-violet eyes.
— Has 'wobbly cat' syndrome.
#9272ee
 
fart


Maremane had caught Dustystar's eye at the beginning, her spine rigid as they moved into the Gathering like a breath on the prairie. There was no need to be wary of Maremane that night -- she was hesitant of herself.

Turns out, it wasn't her that Owlbark had to face judgement from.

The deputy was so protective of lines they pissed to mark that he'd slaughtered someone over it. Maremane had been so wrapped up in WindClan's side of things that she had never thought about tensions beyond the borders. It made her feel only incrementally better that it wasn't just a her problem, a WindClan problem. She wasn't sure if she was disgusted at the blood that wet the stones, at the life stolen so theatrically, or at how ThunderClan's leader allowed a full grown tom to escape his crimes.

Or maybe she was disgusted at the news itself. At how close it was to being Gorsepaw. Would he have done the same to her?

Maremane finally glanced away from the gored flesh of Juniperstar's throat, snapping to attention as Merrystalk found her in the crowd hypnotized. She felt like every vision dragged, smearing across her eyes as she called robotically into the cats. Clan names surged in the air as guards and others summoned their cats, some of them eager to leave, some others lingering with the grief no matter how temporary.

"WindClan -- find us! We're leaving!" Wasting no time in standing to assemble them fully, Maremane pushed towards the entrance, broad shoulders increasingly uncaring to who they brushed. Her fur crawled as she thought of who she was bumping aside, how the macabre display could make them behave. She didn't want to wrangle herself through the crowd to get to Dustystar and Goldenroar- she planned to make it farther away out of the entrance, so she could keep an eye on WindClanners leaving.

Before she exited, she raised her voice above the din one last time: "@Peafowlpaw, let's go!"

 
FLAMERUNNNER OF SHADOWCLAN

A mess. That was the simplest thing Flamerunner could call it. Blood had been spilled, by ThunderClan, apparently and now SkyClan had come to collect. A debt for a debt. A life for a life. His blue eyes were fixed on the scene, ears pinned flat. He didn't agree with this. It was one thing to judge. It was another to become the executioner. His gaze flicked to the molly who'd delivered the final blow. He hoped she found sleep tonight, because he knew he wouldn't. Not with that image burned into his mind. Blood on her muzzle, life fading from another.

It happened too quickly. Flamerunner barely had time to process it before instinct took over. He moved swift, quiet and pulled Sealpaw into his long fur, curling himself around her. She didn't need to see this. Not again. Leopard's body had already scarred her young eyes. This… was too much. " We're going home... " he murmured gently, voice low and steady in her ear. " Doubt we're needed here now. " His gaze swept the crowd one last time and that was when it happened. A shimmer. A flicker. A presence. One moment: just cats. The next: a star-marked figure stepped through the crowd like mist, glowing faintly with an ethereal light.

Hawthorne.

Eyes widened. Ears pricked forward. Dead cats weren't supposed to speak. And yet… he did. Words carried on starlight. Meaning wrapped in silence. Flamerunner listened, but the bitterness crept in before he could stop it. " A little too late, don't you think... " he muttered under his breath, half to himself. Where had Hawthorne been before it all fell apart? A dead cat. A ghost cloaked in stars. Gone as quickly as he came. Flamerunner's chest tightened. Was this what Sablestar had seen when he'd come back from the brink? Were these the ones who granted power? A life beyond death?

He didn't know. He wasn't sure he wanted to know. But he tightened his tail around Sealpaw, warmth shielding her from the cold that had settled over the Gathering. Some truths could wait. Right now, they just needed to go home.



RUN BOY RUN ——・゚✦
・゚✦ —— THE SUN WILL BE GUIDING YOU