*~July- August Gathering~*

[Nightstar]

Nightstar nodded graciously, accepting Hawkstars appology, she listened respectfully as both Lunarstar and Hawkstar spoke then stepped forward to take her turn.
"The prey is running fine in our territory, we are doing well and have little to report other then the usual threat about coming on to our land and all that boring repetitive stuff."
She stepped back and sat back down, noting, as she often did how strangely she acted, how informal she was. It didn't bother her at all but her confusing ways had often led her to trouble. She shrugged internally, not really caring what others thought. She was as she was, utterly mad and paranoid as anything, but her Clan put up with it, so otherwise it didn't matter.


>That should make up for my last post! ;D<

[*Beechstar*]

OOC: It does

The tabby she-cat listened as Hawkstar and Lunarstar reported. She could still sense tension between the two of them.

When Hawkstar was done, she didn't nod to anyone to go, so Beechstar nodded at Nightstar, telling her she could go. She waited for her to go.

Lavapelt sighed relief as NightClan finally got there. He noticed that Whitefire was very close to having her kits.

He listened as the first three leaders reported and waited for Beechstar to go.

Ringtail wrapped his tail around Prariestep as the leaders reported. He waited for Beechstar to go.

Before Whitefire knew it, the leaders were half way through reporting. She could feel kicking from her kits and it was hurting her a little, but she managed to ignore most of it.

The tortoiseshell listened as NightClan, StreamClan, and her Clan reported. Spottedfire waited for Beechstar to go.

Cloudpool gazed off as the leaders reported. He waited for his leader, Beechstar, to go.

The SpiritClan leader stepped forward for her turn to report. "My Clan has undergone difficulties in the past moon. In the bad storm we had, lightning struck a tree and it started on fire. My warriors and I escaped to StreamClan territory as it spread through the forest. Lunarstar let us stay until the fire was out, and taught us how to fish so we could until our usual prey returned." She turned to Lunarstar and said, "For that, I thank you Lunar--"

As Beechstar reported, Whitefire noticed the kicking of her kits were getting worse and harder. She held yelps of pain back until she couldn't take it anymore.

"Owch!" she yowled. She turned to her mate who was sitting beside her and said, "I think the kits are coming. LAVAPELT!!"

The medicine cat had been contently listening to Beechstar's report when he heard some yowling from Whitefire. The thought, The kits must be coming, was interrupted by the she-cat yelling his name. He hobbled over to her and waved his tail at Silversnow, telling her to follow.

He felt Whitefire's belly and nodded. She was having the kits.

Turning to Silversnow, he said, "Go find birthing herbs, fast. Now!"

[Nightstar]

Nightstar listened as Beechstar reported, strangely enough this gathering was going without a surprise. She rolled her eyes slightly as there was a suddencomotion amongst the cats. Maybe not. It was Whitefire, her kits were coming. "Moon kits." She murmered under her breath, looking upwards at the full moon. She frowned, then shook the strange feeling away. That was Whitefire, and she had been good friends with the she-cat before she had been put under the stress of rebuilding her clan after Featherstar had died. Nightstar leaped lightly down from the rock, probably against some sort of code or rule or what not. She cared not, she used to be a loner and rules weren't really important to her. Nightstar padded softly over to Whitefire and stood a little way away, watching. "You have moon kits." She said, gesturing at the full moon with her muzzle." That strange feeling came over her again but she ignored it. She stayed at a respectful distance from Whitefire.

[{Lunarstar}]

As soon as Lavapelt told her what to do, Silversnow calmly jumped up and ran into the forest, her eyes darting from side to side, looking for the herbs she needed. She skidded to a halt when she saw a small patch of Irises. She plucked one stem, careful to keep the petals intact. With nose high, she continued on her search, heart pounding from the running. Silversnow stopped only a moment as she passed a poppy plant and picked it up. There were a few other herbs she could use if she saw, but she didn't have time to go on hunting, so with the fear finally sinking in, Silversnow turned and began to run back. She made a few other stops along the way, collecting: thyme, windflower shoots, and skullcap. She doubted the skullcap seeds would be needed, but she was getting everything she could think of.

"Here." Silversnow panted, dropping her herbs beside Lavapelt. She went to Whitefire's side, opposite of Lavapelt, and gently laid a paw on her stomach. Closing her eyes, Silversnow focused only on the bumps and kicks she could feel. Whitefire would have two kits. She glanced around and found Hawkstripe, staring at his mate, mouth hanging open uselessly. He would work. "Hawkstripe!" she called, managing to jar him out of his trance.

"Y-yes?" he stammered as he came over, his icy blue eyes not daring to leave his mate's body.

"Go get some wet moss, she'll need water." Silversnow told him. "Don't worry, she'll be fine. She's a strong cat." she added, reassuringly, watching him go.


Hawkstripe had been listening to Hawkfrost as he watched his mate begin to go into labor.

"Don't worry. She'll be fine. Now listen to me!" he had hissed, trying to capture his apprentice's attention. "You must mentor one of the kits. Even if Hawkstar doesn't chose you, mentor her privately. She'll be your successor."

Hawkstripe had been about to respond when he heard Silversnow call him. Now he was looking for a river or stream. He finally found a small puddle and some moss nearby. Scratching some off, he dipped it in the water, then rolled it into a ball. Adrenaline racing, heart pounding, thoughts racing, he returned to the Gathering and dropped the moss by Lavapelt.

"You'll be okay, Whitefire. So will our kits." he whispered, gently licking Whitefire's head, then backing up to give the medicine cat's room.

[.:*Hawkstar*:.]

Hawkstar was listening with her eyes closed, smiling softly at Nightstar's report. That cat had class.

The screams forced the tabby's eyes to snap open. Leaping out to the edge of the Great Rock, the tabby's pale green eyes looked frantically about to figure out what was happening. Kits. Being born. Oh, crap.

Don't get in the way, Hawk. They know what to do. They're medics. But her claws still tore at the edge of the stone as she watched her warrior have contractions, and enter the painful state of labor.

Smokescore could just feel that something was going to happen tonight. And it excited him. Swishing his tail in anticipation, his dull violet eyes watched the cats at work.

The tomcat stood up to his full -and rather toned- stature. He silently padded forward, but he kept his distance, only wanting to watch. The medical cats were like startled birds, dashing about to fetch those horrid plants. A soft smirk was absently playing with the tomcat's mouth, giving him a look that could frighten any cat. Oh, but he was a harmless thing for the moment. Lunarstar was keeping him on a short leash, after all.

Location: First Gathering. Time: Late moon-high. Scene: She-cat in labor, about to birth... This should be great.

OOC:: Gah, I love Smokescore...

[*Beechstar*]

The she-cat looked around the Clearing as cats gathered around her. Her vision was mostly blurred, but she could still make out the cats closest to her. Cats were talking to her and she tried to make out who it was.

"You have moon kits." That was Nightstar. She could tell by the old friends voice.

"You'll be okay, Whitefire. So will our kits." She knew who that was right away; it was her mate, Hawkstripe.

She turned her head towards her mate and meowed, "Hawkstripe." It came out as a whisper, but she was sure he heard it.

"Sweetie,"she whispered to him, "I know we’ll be-" A burst of pain shot through her, cutting of her words, causing her to yowl loudly. She looked at Lavapelt and Silversnow, sending them desperate looks to get this over so her pain would end.

Lavapelt muttered a small thanks to Hawkstripe as he brought him wet moss. The NightClan cat set it down by the medicine cat, who moved it next to Whitefire.

As the she-cat yowled again with pain, the tom grabbed two poppy seeds and set them in front of the pregnant cat.

He then looked at what else Silversnow had brought him. Irises, thyme, windflower shoots, and skullcap. Good. That’s what we need the most, he thought to himself.

Adding a wildflower shoot, two iris petals, one skullcap seed, and some thyme, he told her, "Eat these," and she obeyed quickly. He noticed she looked more relaxed after she had ate them.

He then put his hand on her belly and felt around. It was time.

The male medicine cat looked her in the eyes and said, "Ok, it’s time." He noticed her breathing started to go slightly faster and he said, "Calm down. When I say so, push as hard as you can.” Waiting for just the right moment, he said, "Now!"

The she-cat started to breathe slightly faster when Lavapelt told her it was time to go, but she listened to him and calmed down. Nodding as he spoke, she prepared herself. When he said now, she pushed hard. She could hear the tom medicine cat coaching her.

"That’s right. Harder. Almost out. Stop pushing." She was relieved when she heard the last part. She looked down and saw him holding a kit. Her kit. My kit, she thought.

He handed it to Silversnow and looked back at her. "Now, lets do the same thing."

They repeated the process, and Whitefire found herself out of breath when she was done. She turned her head and drank some of the water off of the moss her mate had given her.

She looked at her two beautiful kits and smiled. They were actually hers.

OOC: Sorry bout the cheesy ending

[{Lunarstar}]

Silversnow began to lick the kit, getting rid of the mess. Then she began to lick the kit's fur the wrong way, warming it. It began to stir and she set it down next to Whitefire's belly. Then she glanced at Whitefire, a small smile of envy curling her mouth. "Congratulations." she whispered, watching the two kits.

Hawkstripe stared in wonder at the two kits. They were his. And Whitefire's. He began to smile as the kits began to suckle. His gaze fell on one, both kits looked very similar, but this one had an almost red spot on her nose. He smiled at her, and a name came to him. "Rosekit..."he whispered, trying to rid himself of the smile, to no avail.

Lunarstar stayed where she was throughout the whole labor. Kits, she scoffed turning her head away. They brought nothing but trouble. And death.

OOC: Sorry, no muse!

[.:*Hawkstar*:.]

Hawkstar's claws had probably left deep scores in the boulder, but she dared not look down at her paws in fear she would miss something of the birth.

And as soon as that StreamClan medic stepped back to admire his work, the dark tabby rocketed from her perch and bolted over to her newly-made queen. "Congratulations, Whitefire," she meowed as she turned the kits over in her mind. "They're a work of art." And indeed they were. The NightClan leader had only seen cats with those patterns once. It was a friend of her's from her old home. She had held the 'torbie' coat.

Hawkstar nodded, placing a paw gently on the queen's head. "You have done well," she murmured ceremoniously. "And now you may be rewarded with a rest. No work for you for at least three suns. I send the ancestors to grant you a peaceful dreaming." The old words that had been spoken throughout her old home were always something along those lines, with sending the ancestors for peace at the end.

Withdrawing her paw, Hawkstar raced back up to the Great Rock. "I would like to change my announcement," she called, gathering the attention of the gawking cats. "We now have two new bundles of live before our eyes. Moon kits, as Nightstar mentioned. They will be taken great care of in our ranks. And we thank the medical cats for their much-needed assistance." The dark leader dipped her head at said cats, respect in her gaze. Then she stepped back, and sat next to Lunarstar, whispering to her, "Do you regret the life that Hawkstripe brought into the world, Lunarstar? They are beautiful kittens. You should be proud of your former warrior."

And she left the black cat's side, returning to her shadows. "Beechstar, you should finish your report."

Smokescore had never been so mesmerized. The gift of life sure was something to watch! The two tiny bundles of fur mewled and squirmed as they suckled from their mother's belly, and it was actually calming to watch.

Wonder when we can have those in StreamClan... Kittens sound like fun.

[Nightstar]

Nightstar had stayed seated, a little way away as she watched the birth. She watched as the kits nestled into their mothers fur with a strange expression on her usually emotionless face. A pang of remembered pain flashed through her and she shook her head with an irritated hiss.
Nightstar rose fluidly and stepped forward, she gently touched her nose to Whitefire's head. She said nothing else as she turned and re-took her place on top of the rock.

[*Beechstar*]

The tortoiseshell smiled as her kits were placed in front of her and starting feeding. She heard Hawkstripe say something about naming the one with the red spot on her nose Rosekit.

"We'll name the one with the red spot Rosekit, like you want, Hawkstripe, and the other girl Amberkit. Ok?"

Looking up at Hawkstar as she spoke, she said, "Thank you."

Whitefire then turned her head towards Beechstar, waiting for her to finish.

The she-cat leader stayed on the rock. She wanted to stay out of the way, and it wasn't really her business to get right up next to her.

When Hawkstar told her to finish, she nodded.

She started with,"Well, congrats Whitefire on your two beautiful kits," and smiled as Whitefire nodded with thanks. "Other than the fire going through out territory, nothing else has happened. And that basically ends this eventful Gathering."

Jumping down from the Great Rock, Beechstar nodded as she passed Whitefire, and said, "SpiritClan, we leave."

Exiting the Moon Cavern, she ran through the forest, back to her camp, her warriors behind her. When she reached the camp, she told them, "Get a good nights rest. We have a big day ahead of us," and jumped up into her den, laying down in her moss nest and falling asleep.

Cloudpool sat and watched at the NightClan cat gave birth. He was quite interested in it, but was glad it would never happen to him.

When the kits were born, Hawkstar said a few words, and then Beechstar finished the Gathering.

He followed behind his leader, and went into his den when they got to the camp, after listening to Beechstar. He curled up in his den and went to sleep.

The tabby watched as Whitefire gave birth to two beautiful she-kits. He leaned over to his mate, Prariestep, and said, "I hope it doesn't hurt you that much when you have kits."

After Beechstar finished reporting and left, he waited for Lunarstar to call for them to leave.

The medicine cat sat back, sighed, and smiled when Beechstar started reporting. Whitefire had two healthy she-kits.

Beechstar finished reporting and closed the Gathering, and Lavapelt waited for his leader to call to leave.

Spottedfire watched carefully as the NightClan cat, Whitefire, gave birth to two she-kits. They were very cute, and looked healthy.

She listened as Beechstar finished her report and closed the Gathering. She waited for Nightstar so they could leave.

[{Lunarstar}]

Lunarstar glared at Hawkstripe and jumped off the rock, landing lightly on her paws. She called out to her Clan, "Come!" and began the treck through the forest. She didn't bother to wait, the cats would catch up soon enough. When she reached the Camp, she crawled into her den and fell asleep.

Hawkstripe grinned proudly at his mate, then at the kits. He smiled as Amberkit looked at him, then blinked and did a double-take. His kit's amber eyes were different, almost...evil. Hawkstripe narrowed his eyes, then the look disappeared, and Hawkstripe looked to his side to see Hawkfrost. Who was laughing. He gave the dead tom a glare, but Hawkfrost had already faded away, leaving a ghastly chuckle that only Hawkfrost could hear.

"Amberkit and Rosekit. They're beautiful." he purred, ignoring Hawkfrost's little game. His mentor was always trying to scare him.

[*Beechstar*]

The tom medicine cat was ready for his leaders call and followed her out of the Moon Cavern. He stayed close to her, but fell a little behind because of his limp. When Lavapelt reached the camp, he went to his den and went to sleep.

The tabby sat up and started to walk out of the Cavern at Lunarstars call, waving at Prariestep with his tail, telling her to walk with him.

They ran through the forest, behind Lavapelt and Lunarstar. When they reached the camp, Ringtail went into the warriors den, curled up with Prariestep, and fell asleep.

Whitefire looked up at her mate and smiled.

"Yes, they are beautiful. And their all ours."

She turned to Hawkstar. "Can we go now? I need to rest."

OOC: Whitefire isn't supposed to sound snobby on the last part.

[.:*Hawkstar*:.]

Hawkstar nodded to her queen. "Yes, NightClan, we depart now." Leaping down from the rock, the dark tabby padded over to the nursing kits and their mother. "I'll take one, Hawkstripe, you take the other. Whitefire is going to be too weak to carry them and she isn't supposed to be working." Winking at Whitefire, the dark tabby she-cat knelt down, gently grasping the scruff of Rosekit and lifting her small body from the ground. It let out a wail, but Hawkstar tipped her chin to push the small body to her chest, and it silenced. She had learned how to carry kittens back in her old home and keep them comfortable and quiet.

Turning, she padded away, out of the cavern, on the safe trip back to her home.

Smokescore heard his leader's call and rose to his paws. Slowly, he padded over to the new mother and father. "Congratulations, they're a beautiful couple," he murmured quielty, and raced away to catch up with Lunarstar, stopping at her side and walking next to her with a blank expression, and his head lowered instinctively.

[{Lunarstar}]

Hawkstripe gently grasped the scruff of Amberkit in his teeth and followed Hawkstar, mimicking her chest tuck. He began to think of all the possibilities having kits could bring. He could finally have a successor like Tigerstar and Hawkfrost kept pestering him to do. He almost chuckled at that. A female in the great line of evil male cats ruling the forest. How well could a female do? Yes, some she-cats had maniacal minds, take Lunarstar for example. But she was insane, not evil or ruthless or villianous. Just messed up in the head. Maybe one day Amberkit could become his successor...

[Nightstar]

Nightstar leaped back off the rock, her landing as silent as if her paws were made of air. She padded softly across the cavern and touched her nose to Silversnows side. "Good work" She murmured. She nodded over towards Spottedfire and gestured with her head for them to go. Then she led the way back to the camp. Once she reached her destination she paused for a moment and frowned up at the stars. "What are you up to?" She murmured to no one in particular. Then she turned and padded into her den. She curled up in her soft pile of moss but she didn't sleep. Her eyes were fixed on the small patch of sky she could see from her den.