and a good day to you too [gathering 2]

[→ONYXSTAR]

Her clan behind her, Onyxstar left the camp in the capable hands of those who had been chosen to stay behind. Several had been ordered to patrol. With StoneClan and PineClan seemingly low on prey thanks to the disease taking the rats and mice, she needed to ensure that they didn't think of trespassing, and they would be shown where to leave, not at all politely. RoseClan was not full of kittypets and Onyxstar would show them that.

Coming to the Lion Rock, Onyxstar looked around. Empty. A proud smile grew on her face. Oh how PineClan's leader Rushstar would be offended that the "kittypets" had arrived first. She allowed her clan to go forward, telling them to stand tall and proud. They weren't sick, not yet.

Onyxstar let out a brief sigh, smelling the air. The rot of the rodents was scented even here, in this neutral place. She prowled through the cats and to the place where the leaders sat. She jumped up to her spot, feeling the paws of her grandmother here before her.

It wouldn't be too long before PineClan and StoneClan arrived, especially if they wanted to show they weren't weak in time of crisis such as this.

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[~ .rushstar.]

Rushstar glared at her clan as she waited for them to get ready to leave. The dusk patrol, which had consisted of several of the cats chosen to go to the gathering had arrivied late, mumbling something about finding several dead rodents they had needed to bury. It was as good of an excuse as she could hope for, she guessed, but the leader was not pleased at being held up for the gathering. If those kittypets beat PineClan to the gathering, she was going to be mad. And if Falconstar beat them… it would not be good for any of them. After their recent meeting, she didn't know if she could handle his bragging.

Finally she managed to get everyone organized and ready to leave. Rushstar hated to admit it, but PineClan was growing weaker and weaker with the lack of food. The sickness had claimed Honeyrain's life along with Cypressheart's. The loss of her old friend had hit her hard, harder than Rushstar cared to admit. She had locked away the grief for her clan, had been going out of camp on walks more. Her clan couldn't know how much this was affecting their leader. They couldn't.

Rushstar bounded across PineClan territory, her cats following. Upon arrival Rushstar glared at the sight that greeted her eyes. RoseClan had beaten them there. The kittypets had beaten PineClan, the best clan in the forest. The tabby leader's fur bristled as she jumped up to join Onyxstar, keeping as far away as she could from the other leader. "Onyxstar," she greeted stiffly, not wanting to engage in a conversation. She really hoped - for once in her life - that StoneClan would hurry up and get there.

[►Falconstar]

Falconstar stared at a the dead pigeon on the floor of his den alongside a dead hawk. The disease was spreading to birds and stressing the StoneClan leader. Their main diet was birds and if those ended up deadly as well, the Clan would starve. Poor Tinpaw was already in Ironcall's den with the sickness. Thankfully no one else had fallen ill yet though.

Gazing at the sky, the mighty tom growled a curse to himself and left the dead birds to clamber down the rubble pile his den was built upon. It was time for the Gathering and StoneClan was late. This time, the tabby tom didn't give much of a care as to if he and his Clanmates were last to arrive, too much flooding his mind for foolish pride to anger him. His golden eyes scanned the cats of his Clan briefly before he opened his jaws to call for them.

"All cats specified to go to the Gathering, come now. We are late, so hurry yourselves."

Although most were already following, it was best to be safe and voice it for everyone to know. Setting a brisk stride, Falconstar was unusually quiet on the journey to Lion Rock. He wondered if Rushstar and Onyxstar knew of the birds yet, not that it affected the kittypets of RoseClan much. They were fat with fish and whatever else they found in their reached Twoleg dens.

It wasn't long before they reached the Gathering spot. Turning to his Clan before entering, he gave each cata stern glare.

"No speaking of how the birds' sickness has affected us, understood?"

Nodding to his Clan with a semi-fond smirk, the long-haired tom then bounded into the meeting place and leaped up next to Onyxstar and Rushstar with his usual confident grace.

"Good evening, ladies."

[→ONYXSTAR]

Rushstar came after her. She could feel the annoyance come off the other she-cat in waves at being beaten to the Gathering by a bunch of "soft-pawed kittypets". She simply offered the other she-cat a smile; she didn't hate Rushstar, their clans simply didn't get on, but there was no harm in a smile, and a sincere one at that.

Then came Falconstar, in his typical fashion. Onyxstar offered him a smile too. Now was the time for the Gathering to begin. The cats of all three clans had settled and were chatting, so Onyxstar allowed them some time before turning to the other two leaders. "How are your clans faring? Some of my warriors have informed me of dead mice and rats they've found around the old twoleg nests, which is worrying, but we have the fish." she nodded slightly, thankful her grandmother taught her clan to fish. It was a good thing they had the koi, else they may be as thin as the Pine and StoneClan warriors.

Then it was time to begin, Onyxstar turning to the clans and clearing her throat. "RoseClan has some good news!" she grinned widely. "After my last deputy stepped down, we have a new one; Hollyhock, who has so far proved to be a wonderful choice." she paused again, looking amongst the clans. "We also have been blessed with a litter of kits, two boys and two girls. All four are healthy, despite news of sickness." she nodded over to Rushstar, letting the other leader forward to speak.

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[~ .rushstar.]

The PineClan leader simply ignored Onyxstar's smile. She wasn't about to get friendly with the kittypet leader, not now. Thankfully, StoneClan arrived shortly after, Falconstar leaping up gracefully. "Falconstar," she said with a nod. The large tom was okay, although she would be dead to admit that to any cat. It was much the same as how PineClan was faring with the rodent plague. Despite her clan's ribs showing, she was going to claim that they were absolutely fine.

And then Onyxstar asked about the plague. Rushstar glanced around, as if she hadn't heard the question. "Oh! PineClan is fine. We've had the dead rodents, but we're fine." She kept her answer short and cryptic. There was no sense in giving away more than she had to to an enemy.

Rushstar sat and listened as Onyxstar spoke to the gathered cats. A new deputy. A litter of kits. No mention of the rodents. Her ears twitched in annoyance. She could hardly stand keeping her mouth shut and not asking about the rodents. Finally the RoseClan leader finished and Rushstar stepped forward, standing tall and proud, despite her ribs showing and her pelt not quite as brilliant as usual.

"PineClan has fared well this past moon. Foxclaw and Littlepoppy have gifted us with a healthy litter of four kits; three toms and a she-cat." She began with the good news, hoping to distract from the bad news. "We have seen several dead rodents. Sadly, Honeyrain lost her battle with the sickness and past away. We mourn the loss of such a strong warrior." She bowed her head for a moment in silence, then looked up and added, "Slatefang is also ill and we wish him the best in his recovery."

Finished, Rushstar stepped back. "Falconstar? Do you have any news you wish to share?"

[►storm]

Falconstar nodded to both females. He waited to answer Onyxstar's question until he could say it for all to hear. As he listened to the she-cats finished their reports, the large tom's expression grew even more serious, no hint of playfulness twinkling in his golden eyes like usual. He stood and padded to take the position of speaker from Rushstar silently. Looking briefly over the cats Gathered, there was an eerie soberness to him which only grew as he spoke.

"Cats of all Clans....StoneClan is still strong, make no mistake of taking us for weak. But, a grim thing has been discovered that none of you seem to know yet."

Pausing, the rich brown tabby tom glanced at Rushstar and Onyxstar before continuing. This was getting quite unsettling for Falconstar. He just hoped that their ancestors really did care for them enough to protect StoneClan.

"The sickness has only gotten to one so far in StoneClan, and for that I am most thankful. Tinpaw is really hanging in strongly for us. Sadly, this....disease has spread. It's no longer just rodents, but birds as well. I have just recently found a few pigeons and even hawks dropping dead from this."

Brow creasing, Falconstar clenched his jaw. He hated how hopeless this made him feel. Where in the hell were StarClan and why weren't they helping fix this?! No matter whether the dead cats from the past abandoned them or not, Falconstar had to be strong and support his Clan though. He wouldn't buckle under this pressure, but only find a way to make his Clan stronger. After all, only one was sick so far, right? That's not too bad.

"On the bright side, we too have been blessed with kittens. Sootfang and Icecloud have given us one beautiful she-cat and a strong tom."

Eyes sparkling at last, a confident grin grew once more on his maw. That's right, maybe those kits were a sign that things would get better only after things got worse! Glancing at the cats below once more, Falconstar turned and winked at the other leaders.

"Surprised I knew something you didn't for once, Rushfur?"