Plot Thread [Sticky] Summer Showers at Late Hours [Gathering LG20]

Here we set the scene
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The sacred circle of the four trees stood as a silent sentinel in the heart of the forest, a place where the chosen few of each clan gathered under the full moon to share news under the gaze of starclan. On this night, however, the atmosphere was charged with an unusual tension,, the air thick with the promise of a coming storm. Dark clouds loomed overhead, obscuring the moon's gentle glow and casting a deep shadow over the clearing.

Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light; I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night
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Palestar led her sodden group through the tunnel underneath the thunderpath, their journey especially swift as she picked up the pace to a determined trot. Not even a hurricane would stop the she-cat from bringing her clan to Fourtrees this night, and she knew her group could handle it. Emerging from the other side, odd eyes caught sight of the sacred group, hoping Starclan was in good spirits.

She kept her pace as she entered the small wood surrounding the clearing before, from the west, the sure sign of her lynx pointed face and sweeping mismtahced eyes burst through the treeline, clan in step. Her sodden tail raised as she made her presense known, but stranger still it seemed something was causing a stir. Underneath some paltry cover she could have sworn she saw the glimmer of fur, and her nostrils flared as much as they could to take in the scent.

When only the sharp scent of the storm could be detected, the she-cat padded closer, cautious and tense. For a moment her eyes flicked towards the sky, seeing only a glimmer of the full moon visible above. Only when she spotted a small, dark body emerge from the brush did her sodden spine tickle straight.

"Moosestar. Badgerstar. What is the meaning of this? What are these kits doing here, tonight of all times and here of all places?" A leveled hiss escaped her, although she continued into the clearing to approach the kit that had crawled out. Whatever insolence either Windclan or Thunderclan brought tonight made the she-cat blister irritably, the audacity!

Adventurous hearts, wild and free, dance to the rhythm of destiny
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Following behind her leader and mentor, a damp Brindlepaw easily kept pace with the warriors. Tail held high she was curious to see what tonight would bring - even if they might manage to nearly drown from it. Maybe some apprentices would be here tonight and they could all grumble about the weather Starclan sent!
 But when the clan shuffled into the clearing and saw a small bundle of fur escape from beneath a veil of leaves, the she-cat stopped in her tracks. Indubiously her head shot up when she heard the accusations of the Shadowclan leader.

Kiss my eyes and lay me to sleep
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A soft voice echoed in his head, painting images of beauty from beyond the realities of the storm. So quickly his life had been uprooted, and so quickly every certainty stolen from him - fairness wasn't a consideration. Oh how he wished he could have stayed with his sire - the only other cat he really knew besides the comfort of his mother. Lost.

Deposited in some low hanging foliage, the soon to be Murkkit huddled close to the other warm bodies he had ever known. Together they had to stay strong - confusion and fear threatened to overwhelm him, and his dark blue eyes were slammed shut, recalling the pleasant scent of flowers and herbs that would stay with him the rest of his days.

"W-What if they don't come?" He mewed to his siblings, recalling a bit of conversation last heard by the cats that had brought them here. Those cats that would be their new home? Why couldn't he had just stayed with them and not these strangers. Poking his head out of the ferns, he squinted - seeing shapes decend upon them. He bolted back under the leaves, hoping he didn't look as scared as he felt.

With his tiny heart beating hard against his chest, he tiptoed out for every cat to see. His half adult, half kitten fluff poofed out if not for the damp strands clumping unseemly.

The aim of an argument is not victory, but progress
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Sootpaw's worries about looking cool and mysterious towards the other apprentices evaporated when he saw the a kit poke it's head from the foliage. His mentor and the other leaders were bickering over who they belonged to... did it matter?

Without permission - like he cared at the moment - he slunk over to the bush where the kit was now peeking out of. Oh Starclan, there was more than one. As much as he wanted to scruff the little scraps of fur, he also didn't want to crowd them. If he was left out in the middle of nowhere and a bunch of weird cats were all around... he would want to run away. Sitting back, Sootpaw glanced at Palestar - sending a somewhat panicked look - before turning back at the kits and trying to keep a smile on his face. 

"Hi! I'm Sootpaw of Shadowclan. I know you don't really know me, but it's pretty cold out. Do you need help? There are some really nice cats out here - if you don't want my help, maybe they can help you?"

The aim of an argument is not victory, but progress
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As another of the kits hopped from the bush, spitting and hissing, Sootpaw watched his sire place himself between the kits and other cats. He was probably right about not letting anyone near them, but at the same time they might freeze in the rain if no one grabbed them. He dipped his head as Dawnflurry looked at him - missing the pride in his father's eyes.

Wracking his brain - he honestly didn't have much experience with kits - Sootpaw let out a animated 'surprised' gasp and stretched out onto his belly so he was looking at the kits at eye level.

"Oh wow! You are very brave for protecting your siblings." He made no real move to push past his kin, instead trying to draw the kit's attention to him rather than at the bickering cats."When I was a kit, I wanted to learn how to fight, but you seem to have it down. My brother is a way better fighter than I was. His name is Ashpaw."

Leaning so that he was now laying on his side - arguably not a great position for when a fight might actually break out, but also not threatening in any way - he continued. "Do you know how to sneak too? I'm still learning to hunt but maybe you can show me a thing or two." Surprisingly, despite the rain, despite the high tensions, Sootpaw was actually being genuine in his surprise. The little puffball had a fighter's spirit.

You're a Rockstar, a Superhero!
Get up, get up and show 'em what you're made of!

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Moosestar rose his head from his investigation as he realized the sound of pawstep, along with the lightest waft of scent that the rain allowed. Windclan. He turned to look at the cats Badgerstar, and then Palestar, lead into the clearing, shifting how he stood to show more confidence, rather than the unsure demeanor he had before. 

"Calm yourself, Palestar." 

Was his first response, his tail wavering in the air as his ears flicked about, working to keep an eye on the actions of the cats in the clearing, including his own. He specifically noticed Brindlepaw, who he glanced to. He stared for a moment, narrowing his eyes as if as a momentary, light scold before looking back to the other clan leaders.

"These kits were here when Thunderclan first arrived. There seems to be no scent on them, and they also seem to be young."

He looked to the kits, away from the Windclan and Shadowclan High Ranks. One was a little vicious, but the rest were rather quiet, scared of the great groups of cats that now surrounded by them. With no scent to claim them, no bloodline, or any indication of orientation.. they could be from anywhere.

He turned to the other Leaders and Deputies; his yellow eyes a bit wide. 

"Perhaps, these kits are from StarClan." 

Kiss my eyes and lay me to sleep
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Never in his life had he ever dreamed he'd be in the company of so many cats. Up until this morning he hadn't known anything else in his life and now bodies crowded around them. A white cat with flecks of black approached them, and Murkkit held his ground, deep blue eyes narrowing. Mistykit may have caught his attention though, giving them a assertive swat. His ears folded back against his skull, skulking to the side inch by inch. Body slung low to the ground and oblivious to any other, Murkkit tried to maneuver his way around Sootpaw and those intense eyes fell on his tail.

It was ironic when the apprentice spoke of hunting and stalking, as he was inevitably the target of the tomkit himself. Jumping to his feet, he launched himself at Sootpaw's tail - not even a yowl escaping him. He struck without a sound, maw open to try and get a mouthfull of fluff. Little did he know that Sootpaw's tactics were actually working and felt comfortable enough to try to impress his siblings.

Even if he didn't manage to get Sootpaw beneath his teeth, his eyes flicked to the grey she-cat (Heronsong) who he remembered asked about their mother. Deflated, the little tom sank to the wet ground, muttering. "Mother's gone. We were walking on a rocky path - and a Big Sound hit her. We barely made it across, but Mother didn't move. And she didn't follow." Murkkit didn't care about this Starclan that the brown tom seemed intent on, but it sounded important.

Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light; I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night
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Palestar found herself in reluctant agreement with her deputy as those eyes studied the four small bodied partially hidden in the weeds. A part of her heart stirred from his words as if she was watching her own sister's kits, and these ones did seem similarly aged. The edges of the she-cat softened, if only a little, smoothing out her coat with a quick, considering tongue lap as she gave the kits room to breathe. Sootpaw was doing an admirable job among it all, her whole clan seemed sympathetic to this mystery. As mouse-brained as Moosestar seemed to be, they could at least agree on one thing. "Whoever left these kits meant for the clans to find them. Starclan, or otherwise." She kept her voice level, a collected note, as her eyes shifted to the treeline, expecting to see whoever left them reveal themselves. Or at least that old, flat-pawed Boldstar to show his drenched hide, at least. Perhaps the medicine cats would know more...

The aim of an argument is not victory, but progress
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The Thunderclan leadership’s comments made Sootpaw roll his eyes. “Ah yea, and for their next trick they’ll send a mouse to the gathering to tell us their newest prophecy. A very secure way to deliver messages.” Kits from Starclan, what a silly idea. “Besides. They already have messenger cats-“ He was interrupted by a fluffball attacking his tail – before he even had time to comprehend the consequences of his comment.

“Ahh! A surprise attack? You are a very good hunter after all!” Sootpaw’s acting left a lot to be desired, but he rolled over in pretend surrender. “Palestar! You’re going to have to change my warrior name to Half-Tail now!” He very, VERY slowly brought his front paw down to with sheathed claws to try and tap the bitey kit on the head –hopefully encouraging the kits to attack him – and distract them from listening to the (arguably silly) politics of the Leaders. His belly was nice and exposed for their tiny little claws after all. Any smart cat would take the opportunity to pounce.

He looked up at Heronsong at the mention of ‘Big Sound” and a rocky path. Perhaps Thunderpath? But how on earth did they make it all the way to Fourtrees? Palestar was probably right that someone wanted them to find them. He flicked his tail in front of the kit’s face to try and entice them to chase it again, rather than dwell on clearly distressing memories. The gathering was probably distressing enough. It didn't help that he certainly wasn't a cat to be saving anyone, yet these little ones were waiting for someone.

"Who told you there were cats coming to this place?" His voice wasn't accusatory - more curious as he looked at the little lavender thing that had spoken to him. "We come here to gather- more often than any other cat."

Kiss my eyes and lay me to sleep
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Now that he suspected the white and black cat knew what they were capable of, Murkkit stepped back into the bodies of his siblings. While he was soggy and a bit chilly he would have accepted any offer for comfort, and he couldn't help but throw back his head with a yawn. Murk was exhausted by his efforts and stumbled into the welcome belly of the she-cat with folded ears on offer, eyes catching the orange and white tabby and lynx pointed she-cat, skirting around them before he half curled into Misty. He gave a pitiful little mew, ignoring any more questioning - he wasn't here to be interrogated, he wanted to be cared for. He wanted his sire to come back, but without Mother, he wasn't sure. All he knew was that he could never return to his old life with Mother - and these cats had better make sure they suited them. He listened half-heartedly as the older cats talked amongst themselves, wishing the storm would die down soon. Even as the light of the full moon peered down upon them, droplets of water falling, refreshing the land.

The aim of an argument is not victory, but progress
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Sootpaw didnt like the way the Thunderclan she-cat just talked over him. He didn't know of any kits at gatherings. 'We' all did not know! He kept his hackles from rising but couldnt stop his ears from flattening as he looked at her.

Still, the little lilac kit did provide some answers. So the cat that brought them here was living. Or at least - corporeal and around prior to these kits appearing at the fourtrees.

Maybe the tom was a clan cat! That would make sense. That way the kits could be a part of the clans and the father wouldn't have to admit to siring unknown kits. Sootpaw looked over all the cats at the gathering - wondering if any of them were responsible. Maybe... the Thunderclan leader seemed quick to associate the kits with Starclan...

Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.

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”Four kits by four trees for four clans has been done before.” Rowanglade had kept back from the confused crush of cats. She now slipped forward, watching as her own deputy tried to mother the lost kits like a partridge hen. ”I’m sure it will be done again, too, as a message to color some generation to come after all of us have joined StarClan.”*

She moved closer, next to Fawnbriar so she could look over the four sad little creatures.

There are heroes and then there are legends,
heroes get remembered but legends never die.

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Savagefox has taken their time to reach Fourtrees. They’d instead made a circuit of the area on the outside edges of Fourtrees. With this rain Savagefox was fairly certain no one would even smell the few foxlengths they’d been over the boundaries let alone notice. Too bad there was no opportunity to step on ShadowClan lands, too. They’d made it as far as the lone unclaimed trees before turning back, though.

What Savagefox arrived to was a scene that made them want to hiss and spit blood. ”Those are outsiders. A test, not a gift. They need to be dealt with.” There was a slight growl in their voice and the hackles along their spine started to rise while their tail puffed. Interlopers that StarClan would be proud to see handled appropriately!

Out with the old - In with the bold

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Boldstar knew they were late, but it couldn’t be helped. A two-leg had occupied the bridge while they banged away with some sort of stick to bind the flat sections of tree to the surface in the way of two-legs. At least the creature hadn’t stayed long, only long enough to lay a new section of tree over what had been a rotting spot. After that RiverClan was free to make their way in peace. Had be been much long he would have been forced to try chancing a trip south along the river to the line of stepping stones. In this weather swimming it wasn’t an option.

Arriving late meant they had only just made it in time to hear a dripping ThunderClanner rumble something about Outsiders. Boldstar lived up to his name, moving through the gathered cats with confidence (any who got in his way he fully intended to simply walk directly through, size had advantages). Boldstar came onto the scene of Fawnbriar fussing over kits. 

”Why did WindClan bring kits?” Confusion was the primary emotion held in his voice.

rise from the smoldering pyre of wormwood and weeds
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Nettlepaw flanked his mentor, yet probably didn't need to be so close. Must have been a habit of helping her see where she needed to go, but with this many cats - it wasn't necessary. Still, he felt a sort of obligation to make the journey as smooth as possible, and with waiting for that troubling two leg on the bridge, it seemed that riverclan arrived last, and to a throng of gathered cats. He could feel the confusion tense his paw falls, but nevertheless, he casually followed Boldstar as he made his way to the front of the crowd gathered - around a gaggle of sopping kits? Immediately his leader's voice seemed to dull in his ears as his eyes searched for the other medicine cats, when he barely heard the tail end of Rowanglade's statement. What had been done before?

Nettlepaw's head suddenly turned slow to regard the hostile looking ginger tom who stank of thunderclan. Half a tooth could be seen from his soundless snarl, a look of utter contempt. "I suggest you calm down. Dealt with? How do you suppose you'd 'deal with' kits, thunderclanner? At a Gathering of all places - Starclan would not approve of any violent measures towards them, especially." Use your head! He wanted to scream, unapologetically. He wondered if Willowfrost had any interjection, but at this point, couldn't help but stare at the kits. Other than the old stories of Hopekit, he could only bring back one other remnant of information - about the four kits who were found and divided among the clans. Four for the future.

The aim of an argument is not victory, but progress
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Sootpaw brightened at the arrival of the newest apprentice, and raised his tail in greeting as Riverclan arrived. He had questions for them about swimming!

Getting up from his relaxed position, he very carefully positioned himself so he was in between Savagefox and the kits - acting as if it was on a whim rather than intentional.Thunderclan was such a weird bunch of cats. Maybe they needed more sleep? Or maybe the blandness of forest prey was getting to them. " Why don't you pick on someone your own size. Threatening helpless kits - what's wrong with you?" He chastised the Thunderclan Warrior.

"Well, what are we going to do with 'em?" He doubted Starclan's involvement but it wasn't right to just leave them here! "You're not thinking of seperating them, are you? They just lost their dame and sire. We can't just... divide them up!" He looked at Palestar - somewhat distraught.