Welcome to Gaia! ::

((Rushing to the gym so I apologize if I missed anything in an interaction XD: ))

Sparrowflight seemed to beam at Wildflower’s words. She puffed her chest out slightly before leaning in to talk quietly to the other without others being able to hear, “Were you this excited when Shadowstar asked you?” she was practically grinning like an apprentice again. She just couldn’t help it, to be able to be seen as an asset by Brightstar and be able to serve the clan that had taken her in during her worst hour… It was too much for her some days. It was like living the dream.

“Considering the circumstances…” Sparrowflight repeated and nodded sadly. “This leafbare has been cruel.” She agreed. “I hope this meeting brings a spark of life back into both clans. Its so needed…” she looked off once again at the hallow faces, some bright with conversation and she smiled softly. So far so good.

She grew quiet as the leaders spoke. Her heart warmed at the mention of foxkit. Being in this very place, it had to be in the back of everyone’s mind. To hear the kit had pulled through… she sighed internally in relief. The black kittens… She grinned at the mention of them. It had certainly been a mystery, but a pleasant one. Having an influx of kits had really been a journey, but the worry of feeding mouths- No, not here Sparrow. It’s a time of joy, thinking on the good things.

Sparrowflight pulled herself out of her thoughts as she noted another cat near by. She smiled and nodded pleasantly towards them as she watched them go. What a coat! She was certain Cindergaze would have pelt envy with that one. How peculiar though, did she make them nervous? She didn’t mean to if that was the case. Perhaps that’s what new deputies had to learn?




Swiftfoot had been prowling around the gathering eyeing himself some females when none other than a male approached him. He kept his face smooth despite the interruption and eyed this other male over. Looked strong, good coat, he could appreciate it. “It’s a fitting name.” he agreed with the other. “I am Swiftfoot, been known to win a race or two.” He gave the other a toothy grin. Might as well see what he could learn on the other clan.

“How has leafbare been treating you all?” he asked as he sat himself down. “Makes the hunt interesting for us, I can’t imagine what its been like with so many mouths to feed.”



Dawnowl noted his far off gaze and peeked her head up to look around, “What are you looking at?” she asked in interest. If it had caught her sibling’s gaze it had to be something good. She snorted at his comment and nodded as she lowered herself down next to him, “True. We do out number them greatly.” She said as she took in the cats around them. Lightning had certainly brought in the ranks compared to River… Not that there was anything wrong with it. Lightning clan just had a knack for finding strays and bringing them in.

“New territory!” she squeaked and beamed at him, “What if they ask for help securing it? I-I think this time I’d like to go on an adventure like you did.” She said, excitement written all over her face. “I still can’t believe you got to go on one without me!”



Cindergaze's ears perked at the sound of her name being called. The voice sounded familiar- ah! "Wildstripe" she chirped at the male happily. She received his affections with a purr and a returned head butt under his chin before sitting herself down by him, "Thank you for noticing." she said turning her eyes to him admiringly "Doesn't seem as though leafbare has even looked at you. What ever is your secret?" her eyes danced.



Rabbitleap wasn’t phased by his gesture. Instead she pulled back and just smiled sweetly at him, “There have been better months, but I am alive and well so I can’t complain. Haven’t been this hungry before, but I know leafbare will end at some point, so I look forward to fishing once again.” She nodded firmly. She wasn’t really good at the whole, keep the strengths and weaknesses to your clan to yourself thing. “How have you been? Have you managed any more adventures these last few months?” She was thrilled to see him again. She wondered if he had any new insightful things to share with her…

Cedarfang stood next to Pineripple, listening to the conversations happening around him until Brightstar began talking and caught his attention. Expanding the territory? There was so much to consider in this. Were they really ready to expand? How far did Brightstar have in mind? He thought back to the catmint adventure, back to the cold wet day in the marsh lands and shuddered. Hopefully Riverclan would claim the marsh and he'd never have to set foot there again. Honestly he hadn't been that fond of the cold rocky mountain peaks either. The forest past their boarder was nice but also had held the scent of loners.

"It would be nice." He finally concluded and replied to Pineripple with a nod. Cedarfang was paying attention to the conversation of Brightstar and Shadowstar, focused on the expansion.



He wasn't sure when Whisper had started following, him but he knew that his son was somewhere behind him. It took a lot of effort to suppress his instinct to tell Whisper to leave. His son was grown and had the same right to be there as he did but Split still felt overly protective of his only son and did not want Whisper anywhere near all these clan cats.

Split was dragged from his thoughts as a voice called out to him. The only thing keeping his paws from taking flight was the calm beckoning of the clan cat, the confirmation that he was indeed allowed to be there and his determination to see the loner kit. He eyed the cat who spoke to him but this was a clan cat that he didn't know. It would have been polite to say something but between the fear of being attacked and Split not being the best conversationalist, the dual colored cat decided to stay quiet.

As the clan cat moved on to speak with other cats, Split riled the courage to move forward. Slowly, he moved closer to the other cats. Though still mostly hidden from a good portion of the cats, Split settled down close enough to hear the words of Brightstar. His fur raised ever so slightly as she mentioned expansion. He did not claim any of that land for himself but he did use it from time to time and did not like the idea of never being able to go back to certain hunting spots or dens. Split also wasn't the only loner. This would mean that Spirit and Whisper, Wikkit and the others, they would all have to move on to different grounds as well.

The tension left his body as a familiar sadness and loneliness set in. This was the way things were. Having what almost passes for friends and a family was nice while it lasted but now it was time for the loners to move on and the clans to grow their lands and chase them off. Split reminded himself that he hated these clans and didn't want to live near them anyway...

Split's gold and blue eyes scanned the area. He spotted Lostpath and Petalnose and felt a slight pang of longing. Perhaps he would still stick around the clan lands for awhile longer.

News of black kittens and Brightstar calling out to the loners drew his attention back to the Lighteningclan leader. Wait, had she said loners, as in plural? Split looked around the gathering and was surprised when another loner answered her question. So he wasn't the only loner to brave the leafbare meeting with the clans under the moon. Feeling more at ease he sat up.

As he was not hot on the scent of the kittens, he did not hold hostility for the clans for taking them. However, he was curious to see if they would dispute how many kittens would go to each clan or if they only fought because they didn't want to share just the one orange and white kitten. Speaking of, the leaders had mentioned the kit, grown, and finding her way. Split's eyes scanned the area once more, searching for the loner kit and found her near many others.

He did not respond to Brightstar's question, no need to announce himself. With his eyes drifting between Lostpath, Petalnose, and the orange and white she cat, Split lowered himself into a relaxed crouch and listened.

Owlheart didn’t understand that one at all. “How does Barkfang know? She wasn’t there.” That was strange. He showed up with his mentor, but not once did he see Barkfang. Just how did that shecat know things. “You were alone when you approached the borders.” Nodding his head towards Foxfur, Owlheart added, “Foxfur found you first, he could tell you more about that time.” Her comments shocked him onto his toes. “The fox raised you?” Full on surprise in his tone, eyes wide at the statement. “You didn’t smell like fox…I had no idea foxes raised kits. She must have been very special to take you in when she found you originally. Do you remember how long you were with her?” Who was her birth queen? Neither clan lost a queen that he’d heard of, so she must have been a loner. Poor thing.

Nerve struck hard on that one. Maybe Foxfur didn’t know best? Owlheart tried to help, or stick his paw more into his mouth, “Of course you shouldn’t stop missing her. All your mothers played a part in your life. If you don’t want to tell him directly, I could let Bumblebreeze know that the pelt upsets you. I doubt your brother keep doing something that hurts you. Not all brothers are bad.” Being medcat apprentices, he suspected they were even more in-tune and empathetic then the average cat. Surely if he said something with Cardinalwhisper there—when was she not there?—he’d understand and feel horrible about it.

Barkfang was wrong, probably about many things, but she was wrong about talking to other cats causing an issue. They had been fine until she was crowded, and a nerve was hit hard. Looking at the assembled cats he suggested, “Maybe its best to let her cool off a little? I’ll follow and just stand watch. Peace or no, she seems to be hurting too badly to be left completely alone.” A lot of what she said just didn’t make any sense. One thing he keyed on was she didn’t remember that far back. Was she assuming the fox was her mother and confusing her with the mother she lost? Oh there was a whole lot there that was never addressed. He felt bad for her and understood her frustrations a lot.

Slowly, he moved to follow her just to get close enough that she knew he was there without invading her personal space. There he just plopped down and laid silently.

Heavy paws came to a halt as dark eyes gazed down at a gathering of cats. Powerful jaws opened and out came an ear splitting cry, enough to startle anyone who had the ears to hear it.

“PIIIIIIIIIIIIIIKE?”


As his voice echoed around the clearing, the big Brute of a cat’s eyes opened wider, glancing down at the gathering of cats....actually finally realizing it was a gathering of cats. “Oh.” He said, tilting his head as his cat brows furrowed. He glanced down at them all, mouth slightly ajar as he took in the scent. “ANYONE SEEN MY BUDDY PIKE?” He called again, tail lashing the air. “SHE’S ABOUT THIS BIG.” He said, holding a paw off the ground to indicate a rather small size for a fellow cat, especially compared to him. “REALLY PRETTY...” he paused then glanced around at any tom cats as if to say ‘don’t even try’ before finally adding. “AND SUPER STRONG.” He finished, waiting but half a second for a reply, patience not really his strong suite.

When no one immediately answered, his ears fell and he muttered a “No? Oh....SORREE.” Before sitting down and looking lost in quite the contemplative contemplation.

RiverClan


As Foxcry was starting to cool off, thanks to the chill of the leafbare night, she began to think more clearly on what Owlheart had told her.
What did he mean Barkfang wasn't there? She thought with a frown. She knows so much about what took place... I always figured she must've been there in order to get such a good account of it. Her tail flicked and she closed her eyes. And they say I didn't smell like fox, but... Maybe it's because the smell of sickness or something else was hanging to my fur. She shook her head. I know it was the fox that raised me. It could talk and it was looking for me and... She lashed her tail once and made sharp, rasping bark as she spoke the word of pain, bristling against the cold and her own bitterness.

"Of course she raised me." She still knew how to speak in her mother's tongue, somehow. She may not have remembered much about her mother, but the language, it seemed, would stick. She spoke the word for pain again, finding comfort in the way it made her throat tingle. She ducked her head, licking her chest. "I may not be able to remember a lot, but I remember that much." She muttered.

The soft crunching behind her alerted her to the presence of another cat and she whirled around, ready to shout at them for some privacy!-but it was Owlheart. She stared at him, tail pushed out twice its twice, before her fur began to lay flat and she looked away.
"I'm not going back there. Not with so many cats around." She told him and sat down. And after how she'd acted, she doubted any of them would want her to go back anyway. If not for Barkfang, Fadingsky and dear Ebonykit, maybe she would've just disappeared that night. She let out a long sigh. "Why does everything have to be so complicated all the time?" She grumbled.

“U-Um…” Autumnriver wasn’t sure what had just happened. The blow up wasn’t expected. He turned his head to Foxfur, a somewhat weird look on his face. Maybe shock? He didn’t know. He barely heard what Owlheart had said but nodded as the tome went off. “Was it something I said?” He really just wanted to know how she was doing. Apparently not well. “So… how are thing with you Foxfur? It’s been a while hasn’t it?”





Deathclaw sighed. “I’m partially listening… that she-cat is apart of our bloodline.” He watched as more cats seemed to gather around her. He could sense her discomfort, but she did seem like she was doing better. Then she ran off after her display. He glanced over to Spiritwillow sighing. Did she realize she was an adult as well? What a creeper. “I wouldn’t be surprised if another group of cats left Lightningclan to former another clan… Maybe… that’s what needs to happen. All this talk about expanding seems to put the other clan…. Well most don’t like it.” Deathclaw sighed again. This was going to be a long night.

"maybe Bloodstorm.... maybe" ... she purred back then smiled when her father approached "Daddy!" she said sweetly, getting up and trilling at him in return. "this is soooo boring" she whined a little at him, looking around at the cats, blantantly NOT paying them much heed.



~~~~~~~

Barkfang twitched her ears at Shadowstar's conversation with Brightstar, wondering where the talks of expansion were going. Quietly she moved fowards, giving Shadowstar space but ready to jump into action should she think things were going south for Riverclan.



~~~~~~~

Tailchaser looked at Lostpath "Yeah maybe, that would be a good gesture right?" he said, his over sized ears twitching between the conversation between the Leaders, and his friends. "The loners won't be happy though" he sighed, "my friend Spirit might be in trouble" he muttered to himself.




~~~~~~~

"I only know what they told us when they got back" Silverstreak sighed, wondering what was going to happen with the clans .. She spied the orange kit, now grown and got up "I'll be back in a bit" she said to Pineripple, walking over to where Foxcry had gone.

"Hey..." she said quietly, seeing the younger cat seemed to be somewhat distressed but missing whatever the tom beside her had said. "I...I don't know if you remember me but i'm Silverstreak, i rushed in to get you safe when the toms of our clans decided to fight, i ...i tried to look after you" Her stomach flipped with all sorts of unspoken feeling, she looked back at the young warrior with a wonky smile "i'm glad you grew into a strong looking warrior" she said, her voice shaky, wishing it had been with her, with lightningclan, but happy enough seeing her healthy and grown up.



~~~~~~~~~

Pikepaw had turned up with other Riverclan members but hadn't felt the need to really socialise, When she heard a loud voice coming from a huge cat, hmmm... curious. "I'M PIKE, I DON'T KNOW YOU, WHY IN SILVERPELT ARE YOU SCREAMING FOR ME?" she yelled right back at him at the top of her lungs, moving through the gathering towards the impressive Tomcat. "What do you want?" she asked him when she got close enough, sitting down close but not TOO close to him.

It was then that Brightstar jumped, he words cutting off as a Tom pushed their way up onto the rock. "Hmmm... So many cats all gathered up.... Easy pickings for the dogs." With those words, Shadowstar and Brightstar would be able to recognize the scent of dog on his fur. A flick of the tail and he shook his head. "Silly Clan cats... didnt you learn last time the dogs ran through?" As if to punctuate his words there was the distant howling of dogs, all former rockclan cats would probably recognize the barks for what they were.

He waved his tail. "ONly smart thing to do is split up these giant numbers... so much land that you are talking about expanding... when you will all still be huddled up like sitting ducks.... easy pickings." Omen jumped back down... "Hmmm Peace is good... i wonder if the dogs will respect it~" And with that he was on his way out. Afterall, he didnt want to be here when the dogs came through.

[Meet Omen everyone, a loner bringing some baaaad news, sounds like dogs may be coming back?! And with such large clans all gathered up.... What should the clans do?! Discuss?]