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Post by tor on Feb 13, 2024 12:41:38 GMT -6
#s://i~ibb~co/G2gWhXV/heronpaw~jpg The gathering place spilled out before him, shimmering in the full moon's light, brilliant under a shallow layer of snow. The sight of it stunned him more than Heronpaw wanted to admit. So many cats gathered together, chatting amongst themselves, clan divides briefly forgotten - it was wonderful and overwhelming all at once. Heronpaw lingered toward PrairieClan's border longer than the rest of his clan, needing to remind himself that he was allowed to be here. Finally, after many moons of his apprenticeship, he'd been granted permission to attend a gathering. It was a greater honor than he thought could be bestowed. His paws itched to join the rest of his clan, but he made himself wait just a little longer. I want to remember this, he thought, glancing at every unfamiliar face with anticipation of who he might speak to that night. It's incredible.Finally, when the remaining cats from other clans trickled in, and Heronpaw didn't think he could stall any longer, he hurried down the small slope toward the rest of the cats. Sound hit him all at once, no longer muffled by the snow on the ground. Dozens of voices surrounded him, punctuated by laughter and pleased purrs. Heronpaw's head swam with it. Dizzying. But not in a bad way. No, if anything, it made him feel part of a greater whole to walk through the gathering like this. Eventually, he found a cluster of apprentices and young warriors huddled together toward the far edge of the gathering place. There seemed to be plenty of room to join them. Beating back any awkwardness he felt, Heronpaw took a seat in a gap left between two of the cats, trying his best to smile in greeting. "Good evening," he said politely, when conversation slowed just enough to welcome him. "It's my first gathering. May I join you all?" |
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storms make trees take deeper roots
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Post by cosmic on Feb 19, 2024 12:27:59 GMT -6
#s://i~imgur~com/HXj8XZe~png wolfpaw | | show me the way, Lord...
'cause I am about to explode |
The young tom was now eleven moons, which only meant that his assessment and warrior name were to come soon as well. Briarpelt had been running him through countless exercises and drills to prepare him for it. Wolfpaw had asked for it, of course, but it still was hard work. It was all so that he could be the best. He had to be the best. With a name like his, there was nothing left but for him to succeed and prove everyone wrong. He just prayed that Hailstar would give him a good name. He would probably actually puke if he was named Wolfsong.
He had settled himself with a group. His sibling, Featherpaw, and a young RidgeClan warrior named Redshade. The ones that didn't judge. The ones that he had met previously at the Gatherings, in Redshade's case. Despite how hard it could be at times to be the deputy's apprentice, he gave him some nice perks in being able to meet the other clans and form bonds. Some of the cats in other clans were a lot nicer than some in MistClan.
As he was about to get up and see if Elkpaw was somewhere around the Gathering, an unfamiliar voice spoke to the group. An athletic gray tom approached, and he couldn't help but notice the similarities in their build. Maybe Wolfpaw was a whisker-hair taller... or was the other apprentice taller? He couldn't really tell. But, they looked similar in age too.
It was their first Gathering, and Wolfpaw counted the blessings he had to be able to attend so many more Gatherings. Was it an odd commodity for some cats? More of an honor, rather than a chore?
Wolfpaw, despite his sharp-tongued nature, was looked to be the one to speak out of all the other cats near him. "Sure! It's Featherpaw's first gathering too. We were just talking about if the Kingdom will show up tonight or not?" The siamese-colored apprentice then waved his tail for the stranger to settle next to him on his left, which would complete a semi-circle of gossiping, chattering cats.
"Across from you is Featherpaw, who is also my sister. We are from MistClan. Next is Redshade, he's a young warrior in RidgeClan. And my name is..." he paused, almost wanting to give a repulsed tone to his own name. He knew that Featherpaw and Redshade would defend him if this newcomer would spat on his name. But the anxiety still brew deep in his stomach, like eating a rotten vole in the sunshine. "I'm Wolfpaw. My mentor is Briarpelt, so I've been to Gatherings quite a few times." |
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Post by tor on Feb 20, 2024 12:19:52 GMT -6
#s://i~ibb~co/G2gWhXV/heronpaw~jpg The first cat who responded to him smelled of morning dew - fresh and herbal, not unlike the meadow whenever Heronpaw went on his early walks, before the sun really stirred from its nightly rest. It immediately made Heronpaw comfortable, more so when the tom - a MistClan apprentice, Wolfpaw - seemed happy to speak to him. Any nerves he had about approaching strangers at the gathering fizzled away. "It's nice to meet you," he said, dipping his head in greeting before glancing at the other two. Featherpaw, Wolfpaw's sister, seemed even more pleasant than her brother. They shared a smile. "It's a relief to know not everyone attends gatherings when they're first apprenticed," he told her, confident that Wolfpaw and Featherpaw were his age. He greeted Redshade just as politely before turning back to Wolfpaw. It would be easier to connect with other apprentices, right? Not that he wanted to be rude to the warriors in their midst. "My mentor is Swiftwind," he said. Swiftwind was around here somewhere, but Heronpaw lost track of him before the gathering really started. "And I'm Heronpaw. What's it like being apprenticed to the deputy?" His whiskers twitched, trying to imagine being Nettlefang's apprentice, or Cinderstar's back when she had been deputy. "It seems like it would be an honor." |
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there i go, turn the page
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Post by bones on Feb 22, 2024 19:14:20 GMT -6
#s://i~postimg~cc/BntLs4WG/shadepaw-POSTINGimg~png shadepaw, | | bigender (he/her)
ridgeclan
apprentice |
The lanky Ridgeclan apprentice was joking, of course... somewhat. Shadepaw practically pounced into a narrow opening in the small, yet growing group - she beamed widely at all four cats in attendance, unabashedly. Despite being nine moons old, this was the first time both siblings had been to the same gathering; their mentors, probably in an act of prudence, likely tried to keep the pair apart. Even if their troublemaking was exaggerated by unfavorable family members, it was not... entirely untrue. But it wasn't like either of them would act up at a Gathering! (That would be super dumb, obviously, because that would just give their aunt and grandparent more fuel for fire of ridicule.) While their mentors had led the front of the pack, guiding Ridgeclan all the way down from its camp on high into the valley below. Shadepaw had shadowed their brother, ironically - yes, he is willing to indulge in a small giggling fit when he realizes - most of the way, but the sight of it all had lured him away from Nightpaw's side. It was breathtaking and beautiful and-- well, it was wild to think, just over ten moons ago, that clanmates of the pair's uncle had died here trying to take the Moonpool from Mistclan... That the two's grandfather had perished in the attempt... And all over a fallen tree. The black and white tom had shaken his head, mystified in more way than one: adults were so silly, getting thoughts like that in their heads... He'd, accidentally, lost his brother in his ogling but thankfully his sharp ears and meandering paws had led him near this group! "I'm Shadepaw!" Her eyes creased as her grin grew, tail swishing about haphazardly in excitement before simply plopping herself down between Wolfpaw - what a name - and Redshade, who she vaguely recognized, "My brother Nightpaw is around here somewhere... Isn't it gorgeous here tonight?" |
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storms make trees take deeper roots
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Post by cosmic on Feb 27, 2024 14:31:18 GMT -6
#s://i~imgur~com/HXj8XZe~png wolfpaw | | show me the way, Lord...
'cause I am about to explode |
"You get used to the feeling," Wolfpaw reassured him. "The first Gathering is always nerve-wracking. But, I'd give any piece of prey to be able to feel the excitement again that you probably felt on your way here." Gatherings were for boring adult stuff, and he wasn't an adult, yet. He still had a moon to not concern himself with all the worries of the valley that seemed to keep Briarpelt on his toes.
The alabaster tom looked toward the newcomer to address the questions he had, not really even noticing the black-and-white apprentice that was approaching rather swiftly. "Swiftwind... that's a cool name! I hope I get a cool name in a moon, hopefully." Maybe Wolfstorm? Wolf-flight? Or perhaps Wolfheart!
"It was an honor to be given Briarpelt as a mentor. He pushes me to be my best, even if I don't believe in myself. I'm not sure if that's because of his position, really, but I like to think it is. He can be a real, big softie at times," he laughed, as he looked toward the direction of all the council members meeting at the base of the announcement area. The deputy's brown pelt could be seen through the cats as they passed by. He looked back at the gray tabby. "But, he's sometimes too busy to teach me, which means other cats have to take me training. Which is fine, but I prefer his teaching."
Before he could continue, a lanky kit plopped beside him and Redshade, causing him to lose his balance with how he was sitting and lurch forward. This apprentice was sure energetic... and loud. "Hello, Shadepaw," he nodded. "It is indeed a great night for a Gathering. The leaf-bare clouds have seemed to move out in time for a starry night." He took a quick glance at the stars before returning toward the black-and-white cat. "I'm Wolfpaw, and that's my sister, Featherpaw. We are from MistClan," he noted, even though their scents could have easily alluded to their clan. "And this is Heronpaw," he looked toward the tom, hoping it was okay for him to introduce the tom himself. He couldn't help that the name sounded nice and that he liked saying it.
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Post by tor on Feb 28, 2024 21:43:01 GMT -6
#s://i~ibb~co/G2gWhXV/heronpaw~jpg Wolfpaw spoke soothingly, calming what remained of Heronpaw's nerves that sparked after approaching a group of strangers. He appreciated it. So many cats his age seemed too lively for him, chasing after their friends or shouting in joy as they caught sight of someone they recognized. Maybe one day Heronpaw would feel such exuberance when he attended a gathering. Maybe he would even have friends he'd be delighted to see. Tonight, though, he was just nervous. "I hope I get a cool name in a moon, hopefully."Only a moon? Wolfpaw didn't seem much older than him. And then, with some shock, Heronpaw realized his own naming would be coming up - if Swiftwind and Cinderstar thought him ready, of course. Two moons didn't seem so far away. What sort of name would he get? Maybe Heronclaw, for his battle skills. He hoped to be named for something like that. "But, he's sometimes too busy to teach me, which means other cats have to take me training. Which is fine, but I prefer his teaching."
"I never considered that," he admitted. The luster of being trained by a high ranked warrior - even a leader or deputy - was such that he never considered the downsides. Where would he be, if Cinderstar had been his mentor? Would he have failed to find his focus, unable to figure it out without a present mentor to guide him? Or would he have figured things out sooner, unwilling to embarrass someone like Cinderstar? He didn't like to think about it. It wasn't fair to Swiftwind. "But-"A new voice entered the group. Heronpaw turned to greet the RidgeClan apprentice, admiring for a moment the unique texture to his fur, and the handsome set to her ears. "Hello," he said after Wolfpaw introduced him, pleased to have the burden of introductions lifted from his shoulder. "It's nice to meet you, Shadepaw. You're right. It's a beautiful night." The sky was clearer than he ever recalled seeing it, especially in leaf-bare. It made the moon so bright, it was like it wasn't even dark out. "Are you also a deputy's apprentice?" RidgeClan's deputy was... Toadfeather. Heronpaw sought out the tom, then realized he had no idea what Toadfeather looked like, or any cat from the other clans besides his new companions. He could only speculate based on prefix, and the collection of leaders and deputies sitting toward the clearing's center. "Would you say your deputy is also a - what did you say, Wolfpaw? A softie - like Briarpelt? I don't think PrairieClan's deputy is, but I don't know her very well. She has a good sense of humor." |
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