First Gathering

[jay]

((Eep! So many posts. D:))

Jaywind

A speckled she-cat stepped quietly into the gathering place, taking care not the disturb the other cats. Jaywind knew she was late, she had been helping an apprentice get out of a sticky bee situation....

The deputy took her her place in the crowd, actually, right next to her brother. Hawkfang. Her deep gaze rested on him, she rested her long tail on his shoulders, letting Hawkfang know that she was there.

Jaywind listened to her own leader, Rookstar, address to the
Clans.

"My decision is made. RiverClan will fight for control of the moorland."
Great StarClan! Was this the right choice? Leaf-bare was among the forest, RiverClan wouldn't have enough prey to give the strength to any warrior! Especially with the river frozen over.
Well, the Warrior Code says to respect the leader's decision.... but couldn't she say something as deputy?

Jaywind looked around to see the cats, no one but RiverClan seemed to be shocked. She looked toward her brother, a nod in agreement. Was she the only one who disagreed? Surely the other Clans would not like this decision... more Clans, less chance of winning. Could there ever be peace in the Clans?
No, there was always something going on, wether it be a rivalry, a boarder skirmish, or a full-blown three-Clan battle. That was the life of a warrior, sadly. Hopefully it would pay off in the ranks of StarClan.

The tense deputy listened on, awaiting Willowstar's decision.

[{Otter}]

Vixenfang

A pair of deep amber eyes peered out from the base of the Great Rock, sweeping the clearing of cats. Some were hissing under their breath, some looked angry, others just seemed surprised. Younger cats, perhaps apprentices or young warriors, almost looked nervous and scared. Well, why not? Throughout this Gathering, a fight could have started any time.

Vixenfang, she stayed silent as the leaders debated. She kept one eye on Duskfrost and the other on Jaywind, attempting to read their expressions. She wasn't, however, gifted in the area of expression-reading, and could only discover the thoughts of the two other deputies when they didn't try to hide them. Lucky for her, Duskfrost and Jaywind weren't the hiding type.

Amber eyes narrowed and widened as the debating went on, going from "ShadowClan deserves it" to "RiverClan needs it" to "ThunderClan wants it" to "Let's split it" to "ShadowClan wants it again." The arguments went fast, and her tail-tip flicked in annoyance. Why was there never a clear answer for this kind of thing?

"Thunderclan will fight for the land closest to Fourtrees. We ask of only a little for we do not need much because we are not greedy."

A soft nod on Vixenfang's part. No, ThunderClan was not desperate for land this leafbare, but that didn't mean they wouldn't be in need another year. They needed to get what territory they could out of the Moorlands. ShadowClan sure didn't deserve it. And RiverClan..they had their river!

"My decision is made. RiverClan will fight for control of the moorland."

Vixenfang's eyes shot towards Jaywind, and she did not miss the tense in the RiverClan deputy's stance. Did she disagree? Did she think RiverClan was too weak to fight, or did she just think it was not necessary? Or perhaps she wasn't in disagreement at all--perhaps she was just stressed. Vixenfang couldn't know for sure, but she let her eyes sweep over the other RiverClan cats. She spotted Hawkfang, the scrawny warrior she had seen on the moorlands. He, alone, looked like the kind of RiverClan cat who would be of any success in the moorlands. Why would RiverClan want the rabbits, anyway? She wanted to speak her thoughts aloud, but she dare not. It was Elkstar's time now. She'd speak if it was necessary.

RiverClan would fight for control of the moorland. Well, they wouldn't get it. ThunderClan couldn't let RiverClan gain all that territory. It was too much. Too much for one Clan to hold. Why couldn't Rookstar see that? Vixenfang wasn't the kind of cat to look for peace on every turn, but surely such an aged leader would know this. No Clan could control all of WindClan. They'd never be able to keep it.

[Willow]

Willowstar's yellow eyes scanned the gathered cats. Her gaze stopped briefly on Duskfrost, trying to gauge his reaction. Surely he would agree with her decision to fight the other Clans. They could not so easily give in to such demands. ShadowClan would not cede an inch. They would fight for the moorland.

Yellow slits focused on Elkstar as the young, quite inexperienced, leader maintained her innocent standpoint. Oh yes, and once you've won that, dear Elkstar, what next? Surely you will not stop there, Willowstar thought with a smirk at the she-cat's claim. ThunderClan would not stop at territory "close to their borders" no Clan would. It was only common nature to be taken by greed once you've already won.

Elkstar finished speaking and Rookstar began, stating that RiverClan would fight as well. She had expected them to. Rookstar spoke no more, simply stating his decision briefly. Willowstar stepped forward. Her tail bristled and her ears slanted forward. Her eyes were poisonous slits.

"You will not stop before you conquer all of WindClan territory, Elkstar. Do not kid yourself. No cat would. You will encroach into territory close to RiverClan and ShadowClan borders. I will not allow this. ShadowClan will fight for the moor to feed our hungry kits and nursing queens. I will not let my Clan die before me when so much territory goes unused only foxlengths away from our lands. We will fight. And we will win."

No more words were necessary. Willowstar stood tall and proud for a moment before leaping from the Great Rock to the frozen ground beneath. "This gathering is over!" she declared in a loud, strong voice as she gestured with a long tail for her Clan to gather. Her stance was tensed and strong as she watched them approach from the corners of the clearing.

Soon there would be bloodshed.

Soon, ShadowClan would emerge victorious.

[{Otter}]

Vixenfang

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The lanky leader of ShadowClan spoke, and the ginger fur along the back of her neck bristled with each new word. Amber eyes narrowed as she glared up at Willowstar, standing all "proud and majestic" atop the moonwashed boulder.

"You will not stop before you conquer all of WindClan territory, Elkstar. Do not kid yourself."

A growl ripped from Vixenfang's throat, and she sprang to her paws at once. "No, Willowstar, you are wrong,"[/b] she hissed, raising her voice so the leader could hear, if she chose. "ShadowClan are the ones who like to take more than they need, to steal land from other Clans and pick battles. ThunderClan are better than that."[/b] Take that as she will. Vixenfang couldn't stay quiet any longer.

"This gathering is over!"

A soft growl rippled from the she-cat's throat, but Vixenfang managed to hold herself back. Now was probably not the time to pick a fight ShadowClan. There would be plenty of that later. "Coward,"[/b] she hissed softly, amber eyes narrowed as she glared in the direction of Willowstar. "How like ShadowClan to throw out a challenge and then scamper away back to their camp like embarrassed little kits."[/b] Willowstar wanted a fight? Rookstar agreed? Then ThunderClan would fight, no doubt. Surely Elkstar wouldn't make them sit idly by as the other two Clans claimed the moors for themselves. Amber eyes sought her leader, wanting to know her thoughts. They would have to talk tonight...plans had to be made. The next few moons would be gravely lacking in peace. Every cat knew that.
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[Elkheart]

Elkstar

Elkstar bit her tongue to hold back a hiss. To think she actually liked Willowstar! Every single trace of liking for the Leader disappeared in an instant. Elkstar was ready to backfire.
"This Gathering is over!"
"Hahaha!" she let out a mrrow of laughter, "No it is not. I have a few more things to say and until then this Gathering is still in session," she smirked at the crow-food eating Shadowclan Leader then continued, "You know what, take Thunderclan out of this battle. We don't need this land we're strong and healthy without it. Thunderstar chose the territory Thunderclan has today and he chose right. Shadowstar chose land that Shadowclan cats can adapt to. Riverstar chose the land he thought was best for Riverclan. And Windstar chose the Moors because it fit Windclan cats. We shouldn't even be fighting over territory that doesn't belong to us. It's now Starclan's territory, not ours.If Riverclan or Shadowclan need our aid then they will not have it. We refuse to fight for this land that is Starclan's!" Elkstar hoped she was getting through to any of the cats, especially the cats in her Clan, she needed them on her side. She needed support.
"Now the Gathering can be over, that's all I needed to say. Sleep well my fellow Clans," she added with a mysterious grin. She couldn't wait until Riverclan and Shadowclan started their little two-way war. It would probably just end as a disaster like all the other battles. Willowstar and Rookstar could fight over the Moorlands but Thunderclan wouldn't. In a way Elkstar missed Windclan because they were close allies and because it felt weird without a fourth Leader to have a say on things. Somewhere deep down Elkstar had a feeling there were some Windclanners still out there. Somewhere out there.

[{Otter}]

Vixenfang

When Elkstar yowled that the Gathering was not over, Vixenfang felt a twinge of pride for her leader. Oh no, Elkstar wouldn't let Willowstar end this Gathering. ThunderClan needed the last word.

"You know what, take Thunderclan out of this battle. We don't need this land we're strong and healthy without it."

Vixenfang's mouth fell open. What had Elkstar said? ThunderClan wouldn't fight for the Moorlands? Her tail lashed in confusion as her gaze swept the faces of the cats around. She sought out the faces of ThunderClan, searching their expressions in an attempt to gage their reactions. What did her Clanmates think of this? What did anyone think of this? ThunderClan not fighting?!?

She kept her mouth shut and forced her aura to remain calm. She had to at least appear to be supporting Elkstar, even if she didn't agree with her decision. The other Clans couldn't see any division among them--she hoped none of her Clanmates would speak up. Rising to her ginger paws, the she-cat trotted over to Elkstar with as content and unruffled of an air as she could. Unless another leader decided to interrupt, the Gathering was over for real this time. It was time to go home.

[Willow]

Willowstar bared her fangs at the insolent ThunderClan deputy. So, she was a coward for ending pointless conversation, was she? "You preach to me of the goodness and honor of ThunderClan far too much. I have yet to see any of this honor with my own eyes or hear of it with my own ears," she spat in the direction of Vixenfang.

Her anger turned to amusement as Elkstar stated the gathering was not over. Oh what did this naive little she-cat have to say now? As Elkstar spoke, Willowstar's amusement grew tenfold until she was left simply dumbfounded. It was her turn to laugh. The ShadowClan leader turned her head back to Vixenfang, a cruel grin on her face.

"And you call ShadowClan cowards."

With an arrogant flick of her tail, she turned back towards ShadowClan land. Her face was a triumphant mask as she began to stalk away from the clearing. Maybe she didn't need the moor. Maybe she'd just take land from those weak ThunderClan fleabags instead. Yes. Let Rookstar have his stringy rabbits.

With a little laugh, Willowstar and her Clan disappeared into the darkness.

[duskfur]

DUSKFROST

Share the territory—that was what the young leader of ThunderClan preached. It made the dusky tabby’s lip curl in disgust. He was sure that in moons long past such a proposition had been thrown out, and yet even now no territory save the four oaks was shared. There was a reason that each Clan had boundaries and guarded their territory fiercely. But then again, it was the arrogant way of ThunderClan to pretend that they were peacekeepers after the tyranny of Tigerstar, a leadership that had shaken the reputation of the haughty Clan but had not taken away their characteristics. One gentle dolt for a leader standing on the large silver-edged boulder did not mean that the Clan had changed to perfection.

Rookstar made a more normal decision: that their Clan would fight for the moorland. This was more of the legacy of the warrior cats. The deputy wasn’t opposed to bloodshed as long as there was a chance ShadowClan would come out on top, so he didn’t hiss or spit when this proclamation was made. He was going to fight to the death to gain possession over the fields, and if his death did come about, it would be worth it for the generations to come to have that land in victory.

The ThunderClan deputy hissed a challenge toward his leader: “ShadowClan are the ones who like to take more than they need, to steal land from other Clans and pick battles. ThunderClan are better than that.”

Duskfrost strode over to her in a few easy, long steps and twitched his whiskers. “Better,” he echoed, “or weaker? We have the strength to take what we will to feed our growing Clan. You sit and do nothing and tell us it’s because you’re so morally inclined.” He pricked his ears as Willowstar called off the Gathering, and as she signaled with her tail for her Clan to leave, he gathered himself to follow her. However, an increasingly annoying voice wailed out after the declaration.

He stared with shock at Elkstar as she stated that she would refuse to fight. A wicked grin then passed over his face at the shock and tension on Vixenfang’s. “My point exactly,” he growled in his baritone before jumping over to follow his leader. The smirk hadn’t left his face as he mused, loud enough for some of the other Clan cats to hear even if he wasn’t shouting. “Our territory is the most variable out of all the Clans’, isn’t it, Willowstar? We have the wetness of RiverClan in our marsh, the forests of ThunderClan, and small open spaces similar to WindClan. It wouldn’t be so difficult to adapt.”