i thought i'd seen it all.|| gatherin troops || &&

[Agii♫]

"You both know why I couldn't choose either of you."

"Yes, of course, sweetie. We both know that we'd do better off without'cha, anyway. So go an' get 'em, tiger."

Pressing her velvety cream-hued head gently into her companion's shoulder, the leader blinked great-fully. Turning, she did the same for her other long-time friend, whom had now seemed to have lightened spirits about the situation she had expressed not a few days ago. Long, thin tail curling upwards, she let a glint of shared emotions pass through the trio of them, her brilliant hazel-emerald eyes seeming to glisten with burning tears.
However, Northstar remembered that she was strong and blinked them away. Oh why, oh why couldn't he be here now? But although her wishes were true and sincere, they indeed, had come true. For he stood just beside her, licking her ear over and over again with wetness dripping down his ebony cheeks.

Smiling warm-heartedly, Foxflower nuzzled her back encouragingly before pressing herself next to Smokesoul, wrapping her thick, fox-like tail around both of their bodies for self-assuring comfort. The diva, for just this moment, was a broken diva. But in a mere matter of moments, the diva returned, a fire igniting in her bright green eyes, a smile and a wink reassuring her position once more. To her leader, she was more than just a family-close-clanmate.

Over the past days while Northstar and Foxflower had been recuperating, so had he. The smoky-gray tomcat found time to mend some of the broken stitches with his own fangs, holding his skull higher and lifting his chest with pride. He was thankful, oh so thankful, that he had such a close bond between the two she-cats. Without them he'd be gone by now, by his own terms.

Time was on her side.
Northstar turned, stepping away from her beloved companions, padding a few foxlengths over to the lapping shore of the lakeside. Tonight was a night she would have to confront Maplestar about a rather disturbing rumor she had come across. What was this, about Silverpaw and this foreign warrior from EarthClan?
Jaw clenching slightly, the leopard-coated feline stepped lightly into the cool water, brimming with moonlight streams making the entire lake beautifully see-through. Releasing a slow breath, she turned to the rest of the gathering clan.
Tearing her lean skull to the cloud-dotted skies, the leader released an incredibly loud yowl into the breeze, a powerful representation for her relatively small-sized body. Without waiting for answering calls or yowls, Northstar leaped into the waters, plunging herself towards the second Gathering of her leadership.

[Battie]

Flamefoot watched Northstar plunge into the water and hesitated for a moment, before charging in after her. She thrust out with her paws and lifted her chin over the water.

Onespot wasn't here, and neither was Mistheart. Flamefoot hadn't gone to a Gathering where one or the other wasn't here, and the idea was rather daunting to her. And the fact that Icefoot hadn't been chosen to go rather upset her. She hoped someone from EarthClan like Battooth would be there.

[>>BLACKiE! ]}]

Aspenwind padded behind Northstar, still overcoming the shock of becoming deputy. Even though the event had come to pass a few days ago, she was still amazed at the fact that she was now deputy of SkyClan. It was just so... cool. Her ears twitched as she took in the sounds of the SkyClan cats, and she felt a certain pride welling up in her. She was part of SkyClan. She was the deputy of SkyClan. Eventually, although Aspenwind didn't like to think about it, she might become the leader of SkyClan. Still, Aspenwind knew that Northstar had many moons left in her -- that was a good thing and that comforted Aspenwind in her state of distress sometimes when she wasn't sure if she wanted the position of deputy or not.

It was surely a big responsibility and Aspenwind hadn't been all too sure if she had been ready to accept. Still, the look on her Clanmates faces when they were cheering her on -- that was too much to give up and Aspenwind had known to accept the position. If it wasn't for her at the most, it was for all the SkyClan cats -- especially Viridianpaw, her son.

Even though Viridianpaw wasn't here, Aspenwind knew that he was happy back at the SkyClan Camp just because he had some company there -- other apprentices, including Pebblepaw. A slight purr of amusement lingered slightly in Aspenwind's vocal chords before she thought of other matters. Behind her, she knew by the sound of the voices that Coalspark and Oceanwing were located nearby; just a couple of pawsteps.

Following Northstar's example, Aspenwind slid in to the waters, followed closely by Coalspark and Oceanwing. Inkpaw and Dreampaw were also in pursuit, still somehow managing to coo precious words to each other. Cloudpuff was behind them, a good-natured expression on his face. A couple of moons ago, he would've been glaring furiously at Inkpaw, but now that his heart had fallen on another she-cat by the name of Mai, he considered the two as equal friends and Clanmates.

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