Those Left Behind [Open]

[TygerShore]

Maplestar glanced around, sadness echoing through her eyes.  The sickness had taken so many.  There were hardly any cats left in the Clans at all.  Clans couldn't function properly on that.  Though they had been through rough times in the past, Maplestar believed that they would have to work together whether they liked it or not.  

Letting out a sigh, she sat down at the base of the high ledge.  She hoped the others would be coming soon.  Maplestar tried to ignore the growling in her stomach.  She would be able to hunt later when everyone arrived and they talked about what they would do next.

Hard times were ahead, but they would get through it.  She was unsure of many things, but that, Maplestar was positive about.

[Jackal]

Nettlesong entered the field solemnly. The haunting memories of the many, many cats that she had failed to save followed her as she padded through the grass. Her pace was steady and she wasn't doing well to disguise the sadness in her eyes. But despite her grief, she carried herself with dignity. The dainty little black cat did feel sorrowful when she remembered the lives that had been stolen by the sickness, but she knew that she had to stay strong, for the sake of her Clan.

A lithe calico she-cat sat before her, at the base of the highledge. Nettlesong instantly recognised her as Maplestar, the CliffClan leader. She civilly dipped her head in greeting. She felt a pang of sympathy for the leader, for watching her own Clan fall apart because of the sickness must not have been enjoyable. But Nettlesong also respected her immensely. It took strength to be able to hold a Clan together during such tough times.

The WoodsClan medicine cat also held an important rank in her Clan, but it was really the leader at the heart of it all. She settled herself down near the highledge and wondered what would happen next. The dark furred she-cat knew that all Clans had lost many cats, and everyone was still composing themselves after the epidemic, but she still believed that they could pull through. I hope, she thought to herself, as she surveyed her surroundings once more. No, they had to make it out of this mess. After all, their warrior ancestors still guided them with starry, mysterious paws. Nettlesong had a stronger connection with StarClan as a medicine cat, and sent a silent prayer to them as she waited for the other cats to show up.

[Splash]

Flamestar slid through the forest, moving toward the clearing. She was the youngest of the leaders, and, was a bit surprised that she hadn't been last to arrive. She pushed her way into the clearing, her pelt showing brilliantly under the stars, it's night-black colors, unhidden by mud as they would usually be. The horrible deaths..... They'd taken such a toll on her clan. At least BogClan wasn't alone in it's suffering. The other clans would be just as bad at defending their borders, feeding their clan after all that had happened.

Her mind went about the possibly of suggesting a time of peace, of no fights, and of as close as the clans could get to friendship, until they had healed. The other leaders might agree, but, Flamestar herself knew that if her clan was the first whose wounds would die to scars, while the others were still weak, she would take territory to help feed her clan. Such were they ways of a warrior. How, could she expect others to uphold peace, when their clan was healed, and hungry, for a new piece of food-providing territory?

Of course, did they seal the temporary truce under StarClan, then there would be a greater chance of all sides waiting for one another to heal, before beginning battles again. She sighed. She might bring it up, but, she would not do more then that. She made her way across the grassy clearing, toward the other leader, who she recognized from past gatherings. She passed by her, and sat down slightly behind and to the left of the minutely older she-cat.

[TygerShore]

OC: Ginger and Rainstorm, feel free to jump in at any time

Maplestar looked up as Nettlesong approached from the forest.  A sadness seemed to flood from the black she-cat, but Maplestar guessed that would be the same for all of the cats.  She guessed that feeling powerless against a sickness as a medicine cat would be much like being blind, or losing ones sense of smell or hearing.  StarClan hadn't warned any of them and didn't seem to know how to help the cats left behind.  Though she hated herself for it, Maplestar was quickly losing faith in her ancestors.

She noticed another black figure approaching.  Flamestar.  "Hello Nettlesong, Flamestar," she said, dipping her head to each of them in turn.  "How is the prey running in your Clans?" The question was empty, she knew.  Leaf-bare was not helping the situation and this one seemed to be extra harsh. Prey was few and far between.

[Leonid]

Lionkit squealed with anxiety. This was the first Gathering he'd ever been to. Normally, kits weren't permitted at the event, but all the sickness and death at Camp left no one to watch over him. He was naive, oblivious to how weak the deaths made the Clans. In the young tom's eyes, he was going on the adventure of a lifetime.

Finding a place to sit amongst his Clanmates, he awaited Rowanstar to make his place alongside the other Clan leaders. He'd heard stories from the apprentices about Gatherings. They were, apparently, almost as exciting as first prey. Squirming, Lionkit was becoming restless. Quickly - and rashly - he decided to explore the clearing around him and inspect every cat as if he would need to memorize each of their scents, appearances, and personalities.

[Jackal]

Flamestar, leader of BogClan, made her way into sight. Her pelt was clean of mud, Nettlesong observed. Thank goodness. The very idea of coating one's pelt in mud was outrageous to the medicine cat. She had to prevent herself from wrinkling her nose at the very thought of it. But it was their Clan's way, and she had to respect that. She flicked her ears forward in acknowledgement of the dark furred she-cat's presence, and watched her move towards Maplestar, where she sat herself down.

'Hello, Maplestar,' Nettlesong meowed in her naturally quiet voice. At the second question, she curled her tail tightly around her paws and began to look a bit uneasy. The honest truth was that they were not faring as well as they would usually be, because of the harsh season of leaf-bare. Of course this was true for all of the three Clans, but she didn't want to make WoodsClan look weak in any situation. 'We're managing,' was the medicine cat's brief answer, and she looked distracted as she spoke.

A little squeal was audible, and Nettlesong flung her head around to see a little ginger kit with white markings. He was also a WoodsClan cat. He was Lionkit, and as Nettlesong saw him express his excitement through his restless exploring, her heart lifted and she felt warm inside. Despite the brutal season and the awful epidemic that had just passed over the Clans, this little kit still remained happy. Oh, to have the blissful naivety of a kit once again. Nettlesong felt a little envious of how Lionkit could just see everything as one big adventure, of how oblivious to the brutality of the situation he was.

Oblivious, but happy. Although, the sight of this wandering kit did make Nettlesong feel a little better. Life would go on. More kits would be born, and the Clan would thrive once again. Plus, her confidence was something the Clan needed. If their medicine cat wasn't feeling hopeful about future moons, then more bad things could stem from the Clan's slump. She returned her attention to the two leaders that sat beneath highledge. Now we just needed to await Rowanstar's arrival. WoodsClan's leader. My leader, thought Nettlesong. Where is he?

[rainstorm]

Rowanstar kept himself calm, he was going to meet the other Clan Leaders at the Gathering who would be probably mourning over the lost cats who died of sickness, he lost almost his whole Clan, but a Kit and his Medicine Cat we're still alive and he was grateful for the remaining members or else he would have been lonely.

Rowanstar stalked off into the field, watching the others come into view he gave them a polite nod as he came close to them all ''Sorry I'm late, I had to make sure all the den's we're secure for the night to come'' he felt like a fool, he had been late for the first ever Gathering and he was the Leader! plus he was just over-reacting for leaving Lionkit alone in his den all night, He had to show more maturity and responsiablity in the future. Rowanstar gave one glance to his Medicine Cat and one small kit, he shook his head slowly. He wasn't spost to bring Lionkit but because of the absense of Half the Clan he had to let him come.

Once almost at the place for the Leaders to stand he looked over to his Medicine Cat Nettlesong, he gave a small grin and hoped into the place next to Flamestar. ''Well...Shall this Gathering start?'' he didn't want to show emotion as he said this, the pain of losing his Clan had made him weak and if broke apart now he wouldn't be able to face Nettlesong and Lionkit later.

[Splash]

Flamestar let the WoodsClan Medicine Cat answer so she could think about her answer. She decided on a partial truth. "Running well as prey ever does this time of year. We've been doing a rather good job catching it." She meowed, thinking, Enough so that we don't starve, that is. But, she wasn't about to answer that. You didn't tell other leaders when your clan was weak, and were she going to suggest her plan, she would have to make it seem like a kind, sympathetic, gesture, to help their clans recover, not hers.

This was not a very easy first gathering as leader. Already, Flamestar's complicated mind was whirling, when she heard the WoodsClan leaders question.

"We might as well." She answered gruffly, seeming as non-chalet as she could, "There's no reason not to." She knew it sounded heartless. All the deaths, that they hadn't talked about yet were still there, maybe growing stronger as she tried not to mention it. It made it more important what she said, and how she said it. To acknowledge the deaths, yet, not make BogClan seem weak.

She just hoped she could do it. Despite the fact that the BogClan leader had settled back, looking as relaxed and at home as she could, she naturally seemed to stand out. A cat like Flamestar was just born for authority, though at the moment, she wanted the other two leaders, who'd at least been a leader at a gathering before to hold all the attention. Of course, this was new for all of them, after the deaths. She just waited, and hoped a few more BogClan cats would arrive.

[TygerShore]

Maplestar took a glance up at the high ledge but decided against climbing it.  It was better this way, with all of the leaders at the same level with the other two WoodsClan cats present.  A tinge of jealousy crept through her fur as she thought of their luck.  More cats had survived in their Clan than any others.

The she-cat dipped her head to Rowanstar.  Clearing her voice, she started speaking.  "These times have been very hard on us all, there is no denying that.  I also believe there is no reason to lie to ourselves about our Clans.  Our Clans are empty, destroyed by the sickness Socrates brought to us."  At the mention of Socrates, she glanced at Flamestar.  It had been the BogClan cats who had invited him into their Clan in the first place.  "Though we are three different Clans, we are still under StarClan and so we have a bond.  I believe we should work together, live as one Clan until each of the Clans manages to get back on its feet."

Maplestar crouched down, curling her tail around her cold paws.  She took a wistful glance at Lionkit before focusing her attention back onto the three older cats.

[Leonid]

Lionkit nearly fell over in awe. He had noticed the leader look at him. She must be scared of me, Lionkit thought, naively. She knows I'll one day be up there by where she is standing and I'll be leader of WoodsClan one day. Her CliffClan won't stand a chance against me! I'll be the most powerful leader ever! Of course, this fantasy would probably never come to be for the young tom. Not many cats were made leader. Of course, with the shortage of Clanmates in WoodsClan, one could never know. Lionkit did have a larger chance of becoming leader than he would have a mere season ago - before the outbreak of sickness. Before Socrates.

"When are they going to start talking about fighting?" he asked himself in a whispered voice, not loud enough for anyone to hear. "I could take on half of CliffClan and BogClan would just run at the sight of me!" The kit was wise enough not to ay this loudly at a Gathering with cats of all Clans around to hear. He kept quiet, only speaking in a whisper.

[Jackal]

Nettlesong tilted her head to the side thoughtfully while Maplestar proposed her idea. Working together… united… as one? As a medicine cat, the fierce Clan rivalries did not move her as much as they moved warriors, so this idea did not seem that alien to her. But she was considering the opinions of those who were less tolerant of other Clans. The cats that were too wrapped up in their own pride to consider working together. Nettlesong hoped that, in this time of desperation, there would not be too much trouble from such cats. They needed to think about what they should do in order to survive.

The black medicine cat's focus did not falter from the cats standing atop the highledge, she looked up with her faded blue eyes glittering with interest. She sat up attentively and listened to what the leaders had to say. She thought the idea was good, and hoped Rowanstar would see the logic in it as well. She respected her leader very much and knew that he wouldn't make a hasty decision. Whatever he decided to do, Nettlesong had no doubts that he hadn't thought it over thoroughly beforehand.

[rainstorm]

Rowanstar didn't really like the idea of having two other Clans live as one, soon other cats would come to there Clan and everyone could go back to the way it use to be, but he didn't want to show that he was Arrogant but he didn't want to go ahead and do it yet, if he DID live in one Clan with the Leaders, Lionkit would be almost surrounded by older cats and that might make him a bit scared, Rowanstar was upset about having Lionkit live in the Nursery all by himself and none to play with it was just a matter of time before he became an Apprentice and than a Warrior then he wouldn't have to feel so bad about leaving him alone then.

Rowanstar pushed his paws up and down on the smooth surface that he was standing on, he looked down to his Clan mates before making a small purr ''I would like to help out, but I would want my remaining Clan mates input'' his eyes glancing upon Maplestar ''I shall give you the answer at the next Gathering, if you would like that'' he didn't want to go ahead right away, plus the dens needed to be checked once more and they needed to start getting fresh kill. It was going to be hard but he knew he was up for it.

Rowanstar coughed a bit and then looked upon the two cats at the bottom, he was going to give his report ''WoodsClan is doing good, the remaining two cats are just settling in to the Camp, and I have yet to set up the patrols along with the Hunting Patrol because of the cat's who died.'' Rowanstar's tail swished through the air slowly, he waited for Flamestar to begin his report.

[Splash]

Flamestar made her derision as soon as she heard Maplestar's suggestion. The name Socrates. She could tell the reason for the glance in her direction. BogClan had welcomed Socrates into clan life, and this was how he had repayed them. Of course, there were a million excuses. Flamestar hadn't been leader then. But, she knew that if she was, she would not have turned down Socrates either. She listened to Rowanstar's answer, but, it didn't affect her decision anyway.

"BogClan would be glad to form an alliance with CliffClan so that our clans may recover." She meowed, her face cold as stone, revealing nothing. She personally was quite glad and thankful for Maplestar's suggestion. WoodsClan was most recovered from the plague, and would have an advantage over BogClan or CliffClan alone, but only a fool would challenge the two together.

[TygerShore]

OC: If you don't quite understand this post, go here - threeclans.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=plotting&thread=94

Maplestar gave a hiss of annoyance at Rowanstar's reply but didn't say anything.  It was his decision and she hadn't expected him to agree with her idea anyways.  Still, it did hurt the she-cat as she had hoped for the opposite response.

Maplestar dipped her head to Flamestar.  At least BogClan had agreed.  She shuffled up to her feet when a wave of pain shot through her side.  She took a shallow gasp of air.  Through gritted teeth she said "I should be going now.  Flamestar, I will meet with you soon."

Wincing from another wave of pain, Maplestar turned and started to slowly make her way towards CliffClan territory.

[rainstorm]

Maybe Rowanstar made a bad choice? Maybe he should have agreed? in this time, it was hard to trust anyone, and if others felt the same well it was what Rowanstar felt, he was being fair and if Nettlesong and Lionkit wanted them to come then Rowanstar would be more than Happy to help out.

Rowanstar looked at Maplestar he almost moved from his spot to try and help the she cat, he always had respect for her but he couldn't help feeling guilty so he moved back into his spot and rested his eyes on Maplestar she had another wince of pain and moved off saying that she would see Flamestar later, he felt kinda bad but he knew the Clan's input was important to him. ''I guess this Gathering is done, WoodsClan it is time to go back to our Camp'' he gave them a nod and jumped from where he was standing.

He landed on the field and nodded to Nettlesong and Lionkit, he padded out of the field and back to the Camp, hopefully he wouldn't get any negative talk from Nettlesong about his desion. He just tried to play fair and if none wanted a fair Leader what was the point of being a Leader anyways?