Preparing to Leave

[.:¾AutumnStar:.]

Autumnstar dropped a magpie on the fresh pile kill and looked around the camp for MoonShadow. She had to talk to him about who was going to the gathering so he could inform the others. She sat there rolling around the list in her head of who was going and who was staying.

[//MoonShadow\\]

MoonShadow slipped out of the soft, thick grass that fringed the entrance to the Medicine Cat's den. He still had a small limp, but his black-streaked pelt was free of blood and his stride was confident as he padded toward his leader. "Ah, hello AutumnStar," The deputy purred when he finally reached the sorrel-furred she-cat. Noticing that the leader seemed to be milling something over, the tom added "Do you need any help with something?"

[.:¾AutumnStar:.]

"Yes actually. Could you please inform that Mistpaw, Goldenpaw, SunStream, and Bramblepaw that they are going to the gathering tonight." She purred to her deputy, placing her tail on his black streaked pelt. "You are coming too of course. We shall be leaving soon so I need them all to assemble here now."

[~*~MiStFeAtHeR~*~]

Mistpaw raced out of her den. She had already cleared up from the sickness and was freeling much better. She knew that tonite would be her first gathering. She couldn't wait to see all of the cats there. She padded up to Moonshadow and Autumnstar and meowed, "Are we leaving yet, Autumnstar?", she meowed quickly. She sat and wrapped her tail over her paws, waiting for her mentor's response.

[//MoonShadow\\]

"Sure, I'll go do that right now," MoonShadow mewed cheerfully, dipping his raven-laced head to the leader before turning around to return to the Medicine Cat's den. He halted, however, when MistPaw zoomed up to him.

"Are we leaving yet, Autumnstar?"

MoonShadow turned his amber gaze to the slowly darkening sky, where the stars of SilverPelt glowed like pale ghosts of their usual brilliance. A small slice of the sun was still visable above the horizon, though it was sinking lower even as he watched. "Not yet MistPaw," The deputy mewed. "The sun hasn't quite set yet." Remembering that the calico apprentice's question was directed toward AutumnStar and not him, he flicked the tip of his black-streaked tail sheepishly and pretended to be glancing around the camp for other Clanmates to inform.

[GoldenPaw]

GoldenPaw was right behind MistPaw that she almost bumped into her. She was very excited just like MistPaw, it was also her very first gathering. "How long till we are leaving??? I can't wait till we leave." GoldenPaw purred.

[*~.:SuNsTrEaM:.~*]

^{"Soon enough, Goldenpaw." Sunstream purred, amused. "Moonshadow just told you." she laughed. "Don't forget, there will be other cats there, so be on your best behavior. Use this time wisely; learn about your opponents, and although this is a night of truce, there is no reason that other Clans will use any secret you tell them against us." Sunstream knew that there were many cats new to the ways of the Gathering, and it would be useful to remind them. She padded up to her brother, and rubbed under his chin. "How's the noble deputy doing?" she asked quietly, just to him. She wrapped her tail comfortingly over his.}

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[~*~MiStFeAtHeR~*~]

Mistpaw sat beside Goldenpaw and waited a little impatiently. She couldn't help it. She was o ready to leave that her small paws were tearing ferociously at the ground.

[GoldenPaw]

"Are you excited that we are going MistPaw? I can't wait till we leave." GoldenPaw jumped around in circles. Then she finally lost her breath and sat down.

[//MoonShadow\\]

MoonShadow let out a quiet purr as his sister rubbed against him. "I'm doing fine," He mewed softly, appreciating the solid warmth of SunStream's ginger pelt against his dappled one. "I have to admit, I was pretty shocked when AutumnStar chose me. After all, we did originally live in ShadowClan, and, well... You know how ShadowClan is." The raven-streaked tom paused for a second, his brow furrowing as unwanted memories of his life with the shady cats of the marsh began playing in his mind. The deputy shook his head vigorously, as if shooing away a pesky fly, and continued on. "...But, after an hour or two, I decided to get over my disbelief and start being the deputy our Clan deserves. Anyway, enough about me; How've you been doing?" The mottled tom let his last words fade into a purr, turning his ebony-laced head to rasp his tongue over his sister's flame-colored ear.

[.:¾AutumnStar:.]

-Where's Bramblepaw?-

"It is time to go now. Hope that everyone is ready!" AutumnStar yowled to her Clan and then raced of to the entrance of the camp, keeping an eye on her Clan to make sure they were following. She raced through the forest so fast that her paws never seemed to touch the ground.

To: The First Gathering (2/22/08)

[~*~MiStFeAtHeR~*~]

Mistpaw raced after her mentor and leader and joy and excitement filled her paws. This would be her first gathering and she couldn't be more thrilled.

To: The first gathering (2/22/08)

[GoldenPaw]

GoldenPaw was right behind MistPaw and the best leader ever.

To: The first gathering (2/22/08)

[//MoonShadow\\]

((I dunno... ))

"C'mon, time to go!" MoonShadow yowled joyfully to his sister, catching his Clanmates' excitement. The raven-streaked tom gave his sister one last affectionate nuzzle before he bounded across the camp and fell into place behind AutumnStar, his black-banded tail streaming out behind him like a bizarre banner. The night sky was the color of a raven's wing now, and the warriors of SilverPelt could be clearly seen against it, tiny clawpricks of frozen fire. In fact, the stars were what MoonShadow was gazing at. Their shimmering forms were reflected in his warm amber eyes. "StarClan," He mewed softly, "Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve my Clan. I promise I will always do the best I can to meet your expectations." The deputy remained like that for a few minutes, his sight fixed on the sky and his paws on auto-pilot, before he managed to wrench his gaze away and return to the present. All right, He thought, Gathering, here I come!

[*~.:SuNsTrEaM:.~*]

<sup>"I'll be right there." Sunstream mewed, although she was sure that it was lost in the thundering of her Clanmates' paws. When the rest of ThunderClan had left, she turned her head to the sky. The stars dappled the black sky, illuminating the sky above her. "Oh StarClan, what do you have in store for us now?" she asked. Sighing, she ran after her Clan, and realized that the sky was setting. So why did she see a night sky???

To: Gathering.</sup>

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