@Dolphin, 

YES!!! And Piper seemingly abandoning his family could be what made Fox's mother so mean and crabby all the time.  

-Roseclaw-

"Fuzzwhisker! Fuzzwhisker!" Roseclaw exclaimed, bounding over to where Fuzzwhisker was, "You're going to the gathering, right?"

"Of course I'm going to the gathering, why wouldn't I?" Fuzzwhisker asked coldly.

Roseclaw faltered. "Oh-oh I thought, I um, nevermind! I'll see you there!" she said.

She thought Fuzzwhisker was going to miss it to convene with those sketchy rogues that he had met at midnight a couple days ago. But maybe she had been wrong? No no no, she couldn't possibly be wrong . . . could she?

Roseclaw shook her head, and ran to catch up to Fuzzwhisker.

"So, um, I bet you're going to become deputy! Berrystar hasn't gotten one yet, and you're the best choice by far!" Roseclaw continued, looking up at Fuzzwhisker.

"Yep," Fuzzwhisker said, not really listening to Roseclaw, "Hold on, I'll see you later."

Roseclaw watched Fuzzwhisker pad away. He had been acting strange for the last couple of days. Was there something going on? Maybe there was. Maybe something was going on, and maybe Fuzzwhisker was right in the middle of it. Maybe-no no, it never did any good to assume things before the happened.

But still, maybe something weird was going on.

Whatever, I'll have to find out at the gathering! Roseclaw thought, picking up a mouse from the fresh kill pile.

—

The moon was high as Roseclaw followed the procession of Thunderclan cats to the four great oaks. Riverclan had already arrived. Roseclaw saw Hawkfang sitting beside Ashfall, and ran over to join them.

"Hey, have you noticed anything weird?" Roseclaw asked skittishly, twitching her tail, "I feel like Fuzzwhisker's been acting weird lately."

"I think you're just paranoid," Hawkfang shrugged, "but I don't know. I've never talked to Fuzzwhisker."

"U-um . . . maybe-" Ashfall began shyly, but Roseclaw cut them off.

"I never asked for your opinion," Roseclaw hissed.

"Come on, be nicer to Ashfall!" Hawkfang reprimanded.

Roseclaw glared at Ashfall, her fur standing up on end. "I don't see any reason to be nice to someone who's mother was a rogue," she mumbled, and bounded away to sit beside Fuzzwhisker, leaving Ashfall and Hawkfang perplexed.

I bet Ashfall has something to do with it. Her mother was a rogue, Roseclaw thought, forgetting her suspicions about Fuzzwhisker.

—

Kicking it off with a gathering! Also, I hope I'm not being too controlling 🙂 

Not at all!

~~~~

Tempestpaw:

"Can you believe it!" I cheer. "I'm here, at the gathering! Isn't it great, Dewpaw?" 

"I suppose so.." he mumbles.

"Come on! Let's go meet some cats!" I shout, charging into the fray, with Dewpaw following closely behind. 

I walk carefully through the warriors, trying to find a group of apprentices to chat with. This was my first gathering and it's so exciting! It was so exciting, that I wasn't looking where I was going and ended up running into a white and gray cat.

I skidded to a stop and looked over to see… Cloudstar. I ran into Cloudstar, the leader of Windclan.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" I meow. "I wasn't looking where I was going…" 

She looks at me and blinks, before saying. "I'm fine. I doubt a little thing like you could hurt me. Run along now, but watch where you're going for Starclan's sake!"

"Yes ma'am, sorry." I mumbled, before sneaking away.

I soon spot some Shadowclan apprentices, staying near the edge of the hollow. I walk over to them and introduce myself.

"I'm Tempestpaw! Who're you? And how are you? Isn't this exciting?!"

They look at me and I smile earnestly, hoping that they won't leave without sharing their names.

"I'm Rowanpaw," the orange tabby said. "And this is Breezepaw." 

I nod to the tortishell she-cat as Dewpaw walks up to introduce himself.

~~~~~~~~

Fuzzwhisker:

Me as deputy? Now wouldn't that be something. But Berrystar won't choose me, I know it. I haven't even gotten an apprentice yet! Lionfeather will be deputy, he's had an apprentice before…

But my thoughts were interupted when Roseclaw came and sat by me. I look over at her through the corner of my eyes… did she see me talking to those rogues? I was careful, no one saw me leave, but it's possible that she could of been on patrol and seen it.

Whatever… it's not like I can be banished for talking to cats. If anyone asks about it, I'll just say I saw them stalking at the edge of our territory. And saw no need to report it? Yea right, no one will believe you. I'll just say I forgot and face the punishment…  

I start grooming my fur, when will the gathering start?  

Ashfall

Roseclaw was rude to me, but I’m used to it by now. Everyone suspects me of whatever has gone wrong, and when a fire killed several elders and kits a Season-Run ago they all blamed me, because of my name. Well, not all of them. I look up at Hawkfang, who’s staring after Roseclaw like he wants to hurt her. I bat at him, saying, “Don’t worry about it! I would understand why she’s suspicious of me.” He looks at me and shakes his head. 

Hawkfang

“How can you stand it?” I ask. “If cats were rude to me all the time I’d hate everybody!” “Don’t,” she says. “Hate won’t get you anywhere.” “Don’t go all mysterious on me!” She shushes me. Piper, the loner who helps the clans, has arrived. He comes to every gathering, and reports on things that we might miss. We trot over to him, and ask him how he’s been. 

Piper

Gah. Cats asking how I’ve been. I hate that. I make a noise that could mean that I’m fine, and could mean nothing at all. Luckily the Gathering starts, so I don’t have to say anything else. 

________________________________________________________________________________

Idea! Ashfall’s mother is a rouge, right? What is she and Fox are siblings? Even Piper as her father would make sense in the colorings! That adds an extra layer of mystery, but if anyone doesn’t like it then we don’t have to do it.

-Frostfoot-

"Wonder if Berrystar's going to finally appoint a deputy," Frostfoot said sourly to Cloudstar, "it's been long enough."

Cloudstar gave a noncomittal meow. "I'm not sure. Berrystar dropped some hints that it might be Lionfeather, but I'm not sure," she said.

"Ooh, Lionfeather! I like Lionfeather, I hope it's him, and not someone else, like Fuzzwhisker. I don't like Fuzzwhisker, he called us rabbits," Rainpelt said, making a face much like an angry rabbit.

"Nobody in their right mind would choose Fuzzwhisker. Nobody knows what he believes, and besides, he's much too young. Hasn't even had a deputy yet," Frostfoot growled.

"Quiet, he's right there," Foxsong hissed, twitching his tail over in the direction, where Roseclaw was sitting next to Fuzzwhisker.

Frostfoot curled up in a lazy heap, and propped her head on her paws to observe everyone else. A gray apprentice darted past her, followed by a dark orange tabby who jumped over Frostfoot in his pursuit of her.

"Watch it!" Frostfoot snarled.

"Rowanpaw! Tempestpaw! Come back here, you have to sit still when the leaders make announcements!" Starlingpaw meowed, running after the two apprentices.

"The new generation sure is lively, huh," Morningheart said warmly, padding over to the group, "Hey, Foxsong."

Foxsong nodded a greeting.

"Too lively," Frostfoot grumbled, "I have kits coming."

"You were the liveliest back when you were an apprentice!" Cloudstar laughed.

"Yeah, I remember the time you beat everyone in a race across the moor!" Foxsong said.

"That was back when I didn't have kits coming," Frostfoot said.

"Well, I've got to go, see you guys on the way back," Cloudstar said, standing up and walking away to talk to all the clans. 

— 

Morningheart–

"Rowanpaw! Tempestpaw! Come back here! You have to sit still while the leaders make announcements!" Out of the corner of her eye, Morningheart saw her sister chasing after her apprentice, Tempestpaw, and another one who smelled like ShadowClan. She turned away with a pang. Not for the first time, she wondered how to repair her relationship with her sister, then wondered if it could be repaired at this point. She sighed and made her way over to where Foxsong was sitting.

"The new generation sure is lively, huh?" Morningheart meowed, trying to distract herself. She greeted Foxsong and his companions, Cloudstar and a queen she didn't recognize.

"Too lively. I have kits coming," the queen grumbled. Cloudstar tossed a joking retort that Morningheart didn't catch, and Foxsong chimed in. Finally, the leader of WindClan stood up.

"I've got to go," she meowed. "See you guys on the way back." With that, she turned and darted toward the great oak, tail waving.

A yowl sounded through the clearing. "Let the Gathering begin!"

Starlingfur–

"What are you doing? You shouldn't be racing around like this, disrespecting the Gathering. And with a ShadowClan apprentice, no less! Do you have anything to say for yourself?" Starlingfur lashed her tail and glared down at her apprentice.

Tempestpaw squirmed. "Sorry, Starlingfur. I was just having fun!"

"Next time, you'd better learn to be more respectful, or–" A yowl interrupted her thoughts.

"Let the Gathering begin!" Starlingfur hissed.

"We'll discuss this after. Behave yourself." Tempestpaw faced the leaders and made an effort to look like she was paying attention.

"Who would like to go first?" asked Berrystar. His gaze landed on Needlestar, the leader of ShadowClan. "Needlestar, would you like to report?"

"Certainly." The grey tom stepped forward. "Newleaf has brought plenty of prey to our territory. One of our elders was lost to whitecough this leaf-bare, but we're getting back on our feet. In addition, I'd like to congratulate two of our newest apprentices: Rowanpaw and Breezepaw."

"Rowanpaw! Breezepaw!" The cats chanted their names as the two apprentices looked at their paws, embarrassed but clearly pleased. Needlestar twitched his tail to indicate he was done, and Cloudstar stepped forward. 

Cloudstar~

I nod to Needlestar and step forewards, 

"Windclan also has plenty of prey, thanks to Newleaf. Two of our apprentices became warriors. I'd like to welcome Krestleflight and Gorsefur!" 

I pause as the other clans welcom our newest warriors, they duck their heads in embarrassment and I smile softly. Announcing new warriors always reminded me of that faithful day when Birdstar welcomed me as a full warrior, in front of the Gathering.

"There was a fox on our territory, but thanks to Krestleflight, Gorsefur, Badgerclaw, and Rainpelt it was safely chased off."

More cheerful yowls echoed through the territory. 

"Careful, Littlestar," I say to Riverclan's leader. "It went off towards your territory." 

He nods and I step back, done sharing the news. Littlestar steps forwards to give his report… 

~~~~~~

Tempestpaw~

I try hard to listen to the leaders give their reports, but it's hard. I just can't wait for Littlestar to anounce that I'd started my apprenticship! I try hard anyways, I really don't want to disapoint Starlingfur. She was the best mentor EVER! 

~~~~~~ 

Fox~

I creep through the dark alleyways, trying not to catch the attention of the wild dogs that slept there during the night. A rat was dangling in my jaws as I leapt over a sleeping monster, heading back to camp. Crusher had told us that he was planning something, something big. Something that would get us out of this horrible place for good. 

He promised us that we would live in a sunny, grassy, and free new home. Where we wouldn't have to look out for Nofurs stealing our friends or dodge their great, gleaming monsters. I couldn't wait. And I needed to get in on the planning. This nice juicy rat ought to earn some points with him… maybe just enough so that I can tag along with the next group of cats that leave the allies.

I wanted nothing more than to get away from the dark allies that we called home and go to live in a place where I could feel grass under my paws. 

~~~~~~~~~ 

-Roseclaw-

Roseclaw was tired from the gathering continuing later than usual. There had been a lot of apprentices and warriors to announce – Rowanpaw, Tempestpaw, Krestleflight, and Gorsefur. She was ready to go to sleep.

Her ears twitched, picking up on a faint sound. Well, she was surrounded by other warriors, but there was a faint scent in the distance, carried over the wind. Roseclaw paused for a bit, pricking up her ears to try and detect what it was.

Something was wrong. Roseclaw's fur stood up when she couldn't identify the scent.

"I feel like something's wrong," Roseclaw hissed to Fuzzwhisker, turning round and round to find where the scent had come from.

"You're paranoid-" Fuzzwhisker began, but was interrupted by a chilling screech.

Roseclaw jumped. 

"It came from Riverclan!" Berrystar yowled, breaking into a run toward the Riverclan territory.

Fuzzwhisker and Roseclaw dashed after her, followed by the rest of the clan.

Roseclaw's eyes darted around, straining to see what was going on in the distance. Flashes of fur and what sounded to be cats fighting.

Spying a tree, Roseclaw clawed her way up it, ignoring Fuzzwhisker's hiss of "What are you doing?"

She leapt lightly from a tree over to another, shadowing the clan but keeping to the camoflauged safety of the leaves.

At Riverclan camp, a full-on battle was going on. Riverclan cats that she knew were fighting desperately against rogues.

A creeping shadow appeared behind Ashfall, who was holding her own against a much larger orange tomcat with the battle scars of a rogue.

With a yowl, Roseclaw leapt into the battle, clawing at the black cat who had been sneaking up on Ashfall.

"I thought you didn't like me!" Ashfall yelped, dodging the cat she was fighting against.

"We fight side by side to protect Riverclan!" Roseclaw shrieked, clawing at the black cat.

A cry came up from the cats.

"For Riverclan!"

— 

Moving the plot on a little 😀 

I’m just letting everyone know that I have a lot of stuff going on, so I apologize in advance for not posting very much. I’m super sorry!

@Dolphin, that's totally fine! As you can probably see, I'm not posting on here very much either.

Starlingfur–

The rogues had them outflanked, surrounded on all sides by cats. But RiverClan wasn't going down without a fight.

Starlingfur leapt into the battle, slashing at a grey she-cat, who bared her teeth in hatred. She responded by diving toward Starlingfur's throat, but Starlingfur ducked away just in time.

Filthy rogues! All around her, cats were being hit hard and fast by enemies who melted into the shadows as soon as they had come. She fought as hard as she dared, but couldn't help but notice the wounds gathering on her pelt.

Just then, a cry echoed from the opposite side of the clearing. "For RiverClan!" Out of the corner of her eye, Starlingfur saw a knot of ThunderClan warriors charging into camp, driving back the rogues. Then the enemies recouped and swarmed forward. Starlingfur curled her lip. Her Clan didn't need help from any softhearted ThunderClan cats! Nevertheless, she grudgingly stepped back to rest a moment.

Her heart froze as Morningheart padded up to her.

Morningheart–

Cats were fighting, all around, and Morningheart had to help them. Herbs clutched in her jaw, she stood beside her den as wounded cats approached and treated their injuries, hoping they'd survive the battle.

Then, as ThunderClan arrived, she saw her sister back away. Starlingfur had her teeth bared, but her coat was slashed in as many as a dozen places. Morningheart had to help.

She rushed across the clearing, dodging attacks from snarling rogues. Clan cats would never attack a medicine cat, but she figured attacking was a way of life for these enemies, never mind who was on the other end. Finally, she ducked through the crowd and reached her sister's side.

"You're hurt," she meowed, trying to act nonchalant. Starlingfur, predictably, glared.

"I'm fine, thank you. Go somewhere else."

"No, I won't. I'm staying." Starlingfur grumbled, but allowed her sister to clean her pelt and lay cobweb along the more serious wounds. Morningheart finished and offered a smile.

"You're fine." Her sister snorted.

"I was fine before. Now you really have to get going."