1x1 Kess and Gohtye.

[Kess]

Jackalfur stood ready at the entrance to camp. He looked around for Sandstar irritably. "Sandstar! Where is the patrol? It's about time we left for the Gathering, unless you all WANT to be late." He glared at Pebblepaw and Darkpaw as they bounded up. "At least someone is ready to go!" He harrumphed. "Sorry, you two," he said with a sigh.

Pebblepaw smiled brightly at Jackalfur and shrugged. "It's okay." She flicked her tail. "I saw our parents coming out of the den a few moments ago, so they should be here. I think Echoheart is coming too."

Berryfeather walked stiffly over to join Jackalfur and the two apprentices. Lately her back right leg had been hurting, and she didn't know why. Maybe I'm getting old, she thought. She shoved the idea away. I'm barely fifteen moons! I can't be getting old just yet. She smiled serenely at the other cats and waited for the rest of the patrol.

Fluffwhisker nodded to the patrol and mewed to her mate, "I think we'd best go join them before they leave without us," she meowed tenderly. She was still heartbroken over the death of her son and overwhelmed with gratitude from Jackalfur's honoring him with a real name, but she knew she needed to move on. Perhaps the Gathering would help her. She blinked at Fallownose, awaiting a response.

[ragemonster]

Sandstar

"I'm comming, I'm comming. Keep your pelt on, Jackalfur," she teased lightly, "the Gathering will still be there when we arrive." She padded to the head of the group of cats, all of whom were chatting conversationally with eachother. It appeared as if Fluffwhisker, Fallownose, and Echoheart had yet to make an appearence. A white-and-brown streak shot out of the warrior's den, and Echoheart panted, "Sorry I'm late — wanted to get in a good nap before the gathering." She went to stand by Pebblepaw, leaving Sandstar staring in the direction of the medicine den.

Fallownose

Fallownose nodded his gray-and-white head, licking Fluffwhisker reassuringly on the forehead before leading the way out. He'd have to be strong for her — he knew if he showed any of the storm of grief that was crashing around inside of him, it would only upset her further. He cast a blueish-green gaze at his mate. She looked perfectly normal, other than perhaps the slight droop of her tail and the subtle tightness of her reddish shoulders. He clenched his jaw. He hoped he could control himself at the Gathering — it would be... unfortunate, should he loose his temper and avenge Ravenpaw's —Ravenheart's — death.

[Kess]

Fluffwhisker purred at Fallownose. "Keep your head on straight tonight, okay, hon?" she meowed comfortingly. Someday, WindClan will feel the sting of my claws, but only in a justified battle. Then we will both have our vengeance. Ravenheart died for a good cause, you know." She nodded as she joined the rest of the patrol.

"Right, then," Jackalfur muttered, blinking at Sandstar. "I just want to get there early. We're always last, and on a cold night like tonight, I want to get that good, warm spot that Kestrelpelt always has." He flicked his tail. Kestrelpelt was the old, tired deputy of RiverClan. As soon as he had said the last remark, he instantly felt guilty. "Er, ah, I mean, Kestrelpelt can have it...warm his old bones..." He licked his chest in embarrasment.

[ragemonster]

Sandstar's whiskers twitched, but otherwise she made no comment. She stood as she spotted Fluffwhisker and Fallownose approaching, and motioned with her tail for the cats to set off at a brisk pace. They wouldn't be too late, she thought as she half-ran at the head of the cats. Sandstar's ears lay flat when she thought about what she'd say to the WindClan leader about the unjustified attack on her Clan.

Fallownose sighed. "You're right, of course. As usual." He smiled briefly. "I'll try not to flay them alive tonight... but no promises." He was making a half-hearted attempt at humor, but at the same time he was partially serious.

[Kess]

Fluffwhisker wasn't sure if her mate was joking or not this time. He usually wasn't serious, but now he sounded like he really would kill WindClan for what they'd done. She didn't speak, but trotted after Sandstar, eager to get to the Gathering. She hadn't seen her ShadowClan friend Cherryleaf in a long time. Cherryleaf had been about to kit two moons before when she'd been there. Perhaps by now her kits were born.

[ragemonster]

Sandstar slowed as they reached the ridge that Echoheart had been attacked at. She could still smell the blood, feel the rip of claws through her pelt and hear the sounds of her Clanmate's agonized yowls. Forcing down a vicious snarl, Sandstar plowed ahead, pushing through ferns as she decended into the small gulley that was Fourtrees. ShadowClan and WindClan were there already, but RiverClan was not; she could smell them close by, however. Sandstar trotted up to the Great Rock, made a graceful leap, and settled beside the ShadowClan leader, Birchstar. The large brown-and-white tom dipped his head in greeting to her while Marshstar gazed at her without emotion in her amber eyes. Sandstar returned the she-cat's look without a word.

[Kess]

Jackalfur bounded after his leader as they entered the Gathering place. He nodded respectfully to Kestrelpelt and sat down beside him. "Er...sure is cold tonight, eh?" he meowed, trying to be friendly.

[you can play Kestrelpelt, if you want]

[ragemonster]

Kestrelpelt glanced at the ThunderClan deputy, blue eyes reflecting in the moonlight. "So it is," he meowed in his gravely voice. "Leaf-fall is coming to an end. Leaf-bare isn't too far behind."

Echoheart bounded past the group of WindClan cats, blatantly ignoring the lot of them though she could hear very low hisses from some of them as she passed. She slowed as she reached her ShadowClan friend, Snaketail. "Hi, Snaketail," she meowed, touching noses with him in a friendly gesture. "Hi," he meowed back, purring. His pelt of dark brown with its black tabby stripes had been bleached almost completely silver and gray from the glaring light of the full moon, as she had suspected hers must be, too.

((Hmmm, thinking of spicing up the RP a bit... add some drama with these two. What d'you think?))

[Kess]

(Sure, if you like.)

Jackalfur shifted awkwardly beside the older cat. "Yes...and then it'll just be everyone complaining about being here in the cold!"

[ragemonster]

Kestrelpelt laughed. "Yes, I suppose it will. I think the Gathering is starting," he added, hearing one of the leaders above clear their throat.

Sandstar looked to Birchstar. "Would you like to start?" she asked. Birchstar nodded, stepping forward. "ShadowClan has exciting news; two of our queens, Cherryleaf and Gingerfoot, have both kitted. Five healthy kits have been added to the ranks of ShadowClan. The hunting remains good on our territory, and we are as strong as ever," he meowed. Sandstar barely concealed an eye-roll; ShadowClan were always making sure there was no doubt whatsoever that they were strong, healthy, and able to combat any attacks the Clans might unleash upon them.

Sandstar waited for the RiverClan leader to go next, reporting all was well within RiverClan and that one of their queens was also expecting, along with three new apprentices being brought to their first gathering. When named, Sandstar noticed them shrink down in slight embarrassment, but smiling slightly with pride. She briefly recalled her first gathering, and remembered the feeling.