Who's to go? Shadow Meeting.

[c e d a r *]

A few collected breaths calmed the leader as she padded quietly and swiftly out of her den. The ground was wet and water was gathering on her paws, but she didn't take much notice, her eyes were focused on the High Branch. She would need to hop up onto the Branch and give an announcement of who was going to the gathering. That wasn't the problem, she was more worried about who to bring in the matter of what was to happen at the gathering.

Of course she would bring Miragesoul, for she would need to be known to the rest of the Clan's as the new deputy. She would bring Lightheart, because he was always a good traveling companion, and his normally always bright attitude seemed to help calm her nerves. Another cat that would be going was Blackstar. She was less sure about this option, unable to know what the other Clan's would think of her bringing their ex-leader. The last to go was Leopardpaw, the older of the apprentices, and his mentor would be coming along as well, so there would probably be no complications. If something would to happen, she would probably send Lightheart to go back to the camp, so things were set. She knew who was going, and it was now time for her to announce the cats.

Unaware that she had just spent minutes standing by the High Branch, as still as stone, she picked up her head and leaped as far as she would, her back paws scrabbling against the wet wood. An impatient huff escaped from her nostrils, and she shuddered, seeing the warm air turn into something you could actually see, alerting her that cold weather was soon on its way. It was beginning to get dark now, and she watched for the moon to rise, but the heavy cloud cover gave no break, so she was unable to see how large the moon actually was. She was sure it was getting larger, but she had no idea when the gathering was. Maybe she'd go and talk to Darksoul later. Taking a deep breath, Smallstar opened her mouth and called out, "All cats old enough to catch their own prey, come below the High Branch for a Clan Meeting!" Her paws kneaded the branch gently, and her sharp eyes scanned the clearing, watching the cats arrive at being called.

[Heathclaw]

Lightheart wove his way sinously from tree to tree, a white specter of a cat, flitting around like a wisp of air through the dark ShadowClan forest. He'd amused himself a bit by needling at the WindClan warrior that had passed through the territory, but it really wasn't worth the trip out into the freezing rain. He slipped into the camp, hoping to snap up a piece of prey and curl up in his den for the night. No such luck.

"All cats old enough to catch their own prey, come below the High Branch for a Clan Meeting!"

"Ugh. Looks like Miragesoul and Smallstar don't waste any time," Lightheart groaned, ears flipping down in comic dismay. Nonetheless, he gave his fur a quick shake and brush over, and then skipped right over to the High Branch, giving Smallstar a cheery tail wave and a hello.

This meeting absolutely had to be about the upcoming Gathering; all thanks to that dratted Rustlepelt character. It seemed like Clan life was sliding back into order and structure. How dull. Of course, on the flip side, it would be nice to see the other clans again. There were so many other cats that were fun to annoy- Hawkice, and Maplefeather, and especially Foxheart. Maybe this meeting wouldn't be such a waste of time after all.