ϟ ThunderClan ϟ The Fierce and Caring ϟ |☾ ☼ ϟ ≈ ☁| ϟ

poor deerpaw xD it'll only be a minute)

The Thunderclan leader waited for those to gather below before speaking. The air seemed to crackle with tension around him, like lightning before it struck. "Shadowclan has claimed Fourtrees as their own." Lightningstar announced with annoyance. "They claim they need the territory to feed their clan and we are only allowed there at the gathering. I, along with Swiftstar, protested this claim." He continued. "They claim it is only temporary but I doubt this. I said if they are still there come new leaf Thunderclan will force them out. I could not make that claim now as we are still weak from the fire."

Bristlescar frowned as Lightningstar spoke. “But Fourtrees is supposed to belong to all the clans. Why didn’t Earthstar and Spiritstar protest as well?” His said, tail lashing in annoyance. ThunderClan needed prey too, why did ShadowClan get to have the extra territory?

Squirreltail’s ears flattened against her head at the announcement and curled her tail around her swollen belly protectively, “All the clans suffered from the fire!” She called out, “Not just ShadowClan! Where else are we supposed to find prey besides Sunningrocks?”

Deerpaw kept to herself, listening intently to the older cats speak. There were several moments she wanted to offer up her ideas, her mouth opening with an excited gasp before her jaws quickly clamped shut. She knew that it wasn't her place to speak up, but she knew her clan was in the right--everyone had suffered and it wasn't fair for Shadow Clan to try to, in her mind, bully everyone away from Fourtrees even if they needed the grounds for food.

She thought about what Midnightstream had said, that one day she too might find others looking to her for guidance in some capacity. Even though fatigue nibbled away at her, the white-and-brown cat kept herself wide awake and alert, glancing about as each voice spoke up to voice their opinion.

StarClan's watching right now, I have to show them I'm more than ready to be a Warrior someday. I'll make them proud.

Seafoam glanced at Badgernight with a small smile, before pushing herself to her paws again. "Duty calls." she mewed lightly, padding after the leader.

Peachdapple stood to her paws, casting Aspenfall a faint glance of muted curiosity. She had an idea of what the leader wanted to discuss, but she was not entirely sure how it would all play out. She padded towards Lightningstar, mewing to her apprentice. "We'll have to speak to him as well about trading herbs with Skyclan too. They have what we need, and we have what they need."

Seafoam nodded with a sigh, pressing against Badgernight as they walked forward. "Perhaps we should talk to Lightningstar after this meeting."

Ghostscreech sat beside Lightningstar quietly, his tail flicking back and forth as the senior warriors joined them at the leader’s den.

Sunthroat stood from where he was sitting besides Laceheart and joined the other senior warriors.

Seafoam settled next to the other senior warriors with a sigh. "I don't like that they're in neutral territory." she mewed honestly. "Why do they get to claim it when all of our territories were ruined by the fire." The she-cat glanced over to where Blizzardstorm was still fussing over Squirreltail before gazing over at Mistlight with her kits. She couldn't bear to see her grandkids starve this leafbare.

Deerpaw tried not to seem enthused when Lightningstar had dismissed a majority of the clan. The apprentice padded her way to her nest in the apprentices' den and slid into it ungracefully, stretching out her legs and flexing out claws as she rolled over on her back. Eventually she made her way to her chest and pulled her paws close to herself with a little hum, tail curling slightly as she drifted off to sleep.

Sootclaw listened to everyone else before shaking his head. "I wasn't at the gathering, but it seems preposterous that ShadowClan would have the gall to take Fourtrees. I didn't think Cedarstar would have the guts to do so."

"Cedarstar and his Clan looked pretty banged up." Thrushwing frowned lightly, glancing at his brother. "It goes unsaid that they suffered far greater than we have. I don't agree with them taking Fourtrees outright, but perhaps they do need it?" He looked back at Lightningstar. "It goes unsaid that ShadowClan has always struggled the hardest through Leaf-bare. I remember many gatherings when Northstar spoke of losses over many leaf-bares. We don't know what their territory is like. So, perhaps they need really need Fourtrees? We never use it and it's a small piece of land. I say as long as ShadowClan gives it back come newleaf, then let them hang onto Fourtrees for now. I just wish Cedarstar would've asked the Clans instead of claiming them as his own." Sootclaw frowned at him in disagreement.

Seafoam nodded, "We can't afford to lose anyone else. We have many elders and young cats to feed, we need all our available paws to help with the hunting."

“Not to mention we don’t have enough herbs to sustain a heavy battle.” Peachdapple reminded. “Which brings me to a point I want to bring up. The medicine cats of Skyclan told me that they had extra Milkweed to spare. It’s one of the best treatments for burns. We have run out of our short supply. We have plenty of Celadine, that they want. I want to request permission to do a trade.” The medicine cat asked.