Be Prepared! (WC Gathering Meeting)

[Heathclaw]

The orange-furred tom stepped gingerly out of his den, crossed the short expanse to the Highrock, bunched up his muscles and sprang to the top of the highrock, nearly slipping on the wet stone as he reached the top. Panting slightly, he shut his eyes and tried to center himself.

It had only been a few days since he'd returned from his journey across the lake, and his muscles were still shaky and sore. Not the wisest idea I've had... Rustlestar thought to himself. But it had to be done. There will be a gathering this moon. That was what this would be about- the cats who would be heading off to the gathering.

His eyes opened, twin flashes of fire rekindled, and he gave the age-old cry: "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather below the Highrock for a Clan Meeting!"

He waited atop the Highrock as the clan assembled before him, proud warriors who heeded his call despite the irksome rain. Rustlestar's heart swelled, and he knew that he would do all that was in his power to become a great leader for this clan that he loved.

"As you may already know, there will be a gathering this moon, the first in a very long time. The cats I have chosen to accompany me are Duskfeather, Rowanwing, Dawnfrost, Featherpaw, Cinderpaw, and Heathpaw."

He looked to each cat as their names were called, lingering on the last cat, his son, whose eyes were unreadable.

"I know that each and every one of you wanted to go to this gathering, but I cannot send the whole clan. As I've said, this is the first gathering, though I expect no treachery from our neighbors, we must be cautious. I am entrusting the safety of the camp to those of you who remain here."

His eyes picked out a single cat in the crowd. "Swallowleaf, as a senior warrior, you will be in charge of the camp's defense on that night. I know you will do your job well."

With that, Rustlestar descended from the Highrock, signifying that the meeting officially over. He did stay near the highrock, encouraging his cats to talk amongst themselves and voice their opinions.

[Fox]

{Is it okay if I join in? I was in another thread, but it's been inactive so long now, and I think the other person was deleted as a member.}

Foxheart trotted back to camp with the thin rabbit she'd caught earlier lying limp in her jaws. She padded to the fresh-kill pile and laid it down, eyes glowing in pride. Sure, it was fairly scrawny, but it would manage to feed at least two cats. This was definitely the best catch of she'd made during a leaf-bare. But then again, she was only 4 moons old at her last leaf-bare.

She moved a ways from the fresh-kill pile and sat down, beginning to groom herself. Her ears perked up when she heard Rustlestar call the clan to gather around the Highrock. This should be interesting. She thought, and stopped licking herself. Her tail curled up around her paws as she waited attentively, if somewhat impatiently.

"As you may already know, there will be a gathering this moon, the first in a very long time." He began. "The cats I have chosen to accompany me are Duskfeather, Rowanwing, Dawnfrost, Featherpaw, Cinderpaw, and Heathpaw." Foxheart's face fell. She'd been hoping to go to the Gathering, and was now disappointed. Eh. She thought, I'll just work out some new pranks.

Rustlestar continued. "I know that each and every one of you wanted to go to this gathering," Foxheart muttered, "Got that right.", then went back to paying attention. "but I cannot send the whole clan. As I've said, this is the first gathering, though I expect no treachery from our neighbors, we must be cautious. I am entrusting the safety of the camp to those of you who remain here." Foxheart smirked. "First time anyone's entrusted me to anythin'."

"Swallowleaf, as a senior warrior, you will be in charge of the camp's defense on that night. I know you will do your job well."
Rustlestar concluded his speech and leapt down from the Highrock. Foxheart yawned in ennui, then padded to the fresh-kill pile and grabbed a mouse. It was a little stringy, but she didn't pay it much mind.

Her tail swished back and forth in the dirt. Sure, she wouldn't be going to the Gathering, but she'd be sure to pester some unlucky cat for every detail once they got back. She looked up at the moon. "Not time yet, but it will be soon enough. Wonder what's gonna happen then." Foxheart murmured to herself, then continued crunching on her mouse, in one of her rare moments of silence.