{{family of strangers

[paranoia]

Ah, Gatherings. The one night each moon where the four Clans come united as one under the on-looking stares of StarClan. Structured, calm, and modest were these peaceful meetings as information was shared and swapped. Everyone was so graceful, so elegant, so--

Skyfrost had to dodge another apprentice, possibly the fifth one tonight. She scented WindClan on him as he bounded past, laughing, while a RiverClan apprentice followed in close pursuit. Honestly, Gatherings had to be the most insane sort of party the ThunderClan medicine cat could imagine. All around her the Clans mingled and melted into one mass of cats, their voices rising into the chilly night air. Excitement made their tones even louder, and Skyfrost could swear that nearby two mischievous young warriors were competing to see who could be noisier. Not that she completely disliked Gatherings; in fact, they had to be the best time during each moon. Here there were no herbs to puzzle over or whining, wounded cats to be treated. Everyone might know she was a medicine cat at Gatherings, but for one night of the moon she didn't have to do the part of one. It was the closest, perhaps, that she get to feeling like an ordinary apprentice again. Personally, she missed being a warrior's 'paw, but she asked for nobody's sympathy. At least, not directly. She still deserved to be felt sorry for. Skyfrost thought so, anyway.

Pale yellow eyes scanning the crowd, she looked for someone to humor her sarcastic remarks and the superiority that only Skyfrost was convinced she had. Before she could make her way to a ShadowClan apprentice she had caught the eye of, a scrawny WindClan warrior bumped into her with his shoulder. He chuckled an apology, but all amusement was savagely slaughtered by the fiery glare he received from the ThunderClan cat. The two stared at each other in uncomfortable silence, Skyfrost suddenly striking intimidation into the tom who was only a few moons older than she. He attempted to mumble another apology, but his voice slowly died in his throat as she glared at him without saying a word. After awhile he slowly backed away, dipping his head respectfully before bolting away to the safety of his friends, who were falling apart in laughter.

Most cats knew that Skyfrost was no ordinary medicine cat. She had begun training to become a warrior, but was forced into an apprenticeship under the medicine cat. Although the news hadn't been shared at the Gathering yet of Tigerpelt's death, rumors spread like wildfire. Skyfrost was possibly the youngest medicine cat in history, being at the grand total of nine moons. As if having the sharp-tongued, spunky she-cat being medicine cat apprentice wasn't bad enough, she was now a full medicine cat at an age before even normal apprentices become warriors. Turning her frosty stare away from the WindClan warrior and redirecting her attention to Shadestar, she bitterly waited as the noise immediately hushed to nothing but breathing. Great, I didn't even get to talk to anyone yet. As the leader gave a brief update on RiverClan affairs, Skyfrost sensed the heavy shift of the mood around Fourtrees. He had named off the cats that had died in RiverClan during leaf-bare, and everything became far more solemn and sad. Skyfrost was skilled at not becoming emotional so easily, often by the act of distancing herself from the influencing situation. The medicine cat, of course, assumed that RiverClan had only lost the cats which Shadestar had named.

Suddenly, her lungs began to ache. Realizing she had been holding her breath, she exhaled in a loud sigh. Down to the very tips of her whiskers, Skyfrost felt a growing sense of embarrassment. It had been so quiet in the clearing that her sigh had seemed exaggeratedly loud. Definitely not the best thing to do during such critically sorrowful times. Her pride, however, got the best of her and she met any stares equally with harsh glances. I didn't mean to, you mouse-brains. Stop staring before I come over there and poke my paw in your eye. Skyfrost thought bitterly, tail twitching irritably. What a bunch of morons. Not even I can be THAT indifferent! Lifting her chin confidently, she shrugged off her passing annoyance and waited for the other leaders to make their announcements.

[hannah]

ivyclaw ;[/font]

Ivyclaw's paws pounded heavily against the sloping hill as she descended into the clearing behind Smokestar. Her tail streamed behind her, and she wove her way through the mass of cats, nodding politely at those she recognized.

Just as she was padding towards the deputies from the other Clans, Shadestar spoke. She looked up at him angrily. Thank you for letting us socialize, Shadestar. It was much appreciated, she glowered at the dark-colored tomcat as she sat with the deputies, dipping her head in respect.

The cats around her had been deputies longer than she had, but she - she thought, anyway - had created the most improvement in the shortest amount of time. ThunderClan had once been a Clan ruled by a reckless leader who flew through the first six of his nine lives. But, when he took Ivyclaw as his deputy, he was subdued almost instantly. His recklessness had died down. He began to carefully consider his options before he launched his Clan into needless battles. He became conservative with his three remaining lives.

She respected her leader greatly after this; before, she refused to take orders from the tom. She only went to the deputies. But now, she found herself admiring his decisions and respecting his opinions. Now, seated below Great Rock, she looked up at her leader. He continued immediately after Shadestar, and she listened attentively. As he spoke of Skyfrost, she fixed her gaze on the medicine cat.

It was true; Skyfrost had been forced into medicine cat apprenticeship. Many of her Clanmates already had their doubts about Skyfrost. Just that morning, she had mistakenly given Badgerclaw celandine. News had spread like wildfire. Smokestar was right to be concerned. Staring at her medicine cat, she nodded once to show her support. The medicine cat deserved respect just as any other cat did, and Ivyclaw would not be the one to go against the warrior code in this respect.

Calmly, she curled her tail over her paws, gaze flitting across the clearing. She tossed silent greetings to those who caught her eye. In the darkness of the night, Ivyclaw looked simply like a pair of glowing green eyes. Her dark tabby pelt was consumed in the darkness, and she knew she looked intimidating. She didn't mind.

When Smokestar finished speaking, she watched him curiously as he tossed his head towards the sky. She followed his gaze, but the clouds were still. No signs covering the moon. She looked back to her leader, who still stared up in confusion. He looked small and frightened as he spun around. Her ear flicked worriedly. The tom smoothed the fur on his pelt. Ivyclaw hadn't realized her muscles had tensed in preparation to bolt to her leader's side, and she relaxed them now. Her claws sheathed and she let out the breath she had been holding.

He's just being paranoid again, she told herself.

She dismissed his actions without a second thought, allowing her gaze to return to the cats surrounding Great Rock.