|☾ ☼ ϟ ≈ ☁| Windclan: The Swift & Loyal |☾ ☼ ϟ ≈ ☁|

Palegaze snorted, flicking his tail dismissively. "I can't believe she made a scene like that! Completely tactless, and embarrassing," he said. He nudged Eclipsesky lightly, padding towards his nest near the camp wall. "I'm sure they'll be okay. I've met Frostyfoot a few times, he seems like a good cat." The albino tom frowned. "You know, aside from the code-breaking."

Eclipsesky's eyes flickered to Palegaze's wondering if he knew how many of the clanmates had parents from other clans. "The code is too harsh if you ask me." he murmured quietly. "You don't get to choose who you fall in love with. I understand why the code is in place, and that your loyalty should be to your clan, but... I don't know. This is why I was a medicine cat. I'm not cut out to fight the other clans."

Larkpaw scooted closer to Juniperpaw, placing her tail over her sister's shoulders. "I know, I don't want to fight the other clans either. I can't even imagine going up against Rustlepaw in battle, we're friends now! I guess just be glad that the clans right now are peaceful with each other. Swiftstar is a reasonable leader, he doesn't want to fight unless it's necessary."

“Let’s hope that peace lasts… with all that seems to be going on, I’m worried it’ll all fall apart.” Juniperpaw admitted shakily, feeling a flash of self-judgement at how weak she must have sounded. Her mother was deputy! Her father was a respected Warrior who always kept his cool! Why couldn’t she feel brave, like they did?

"We're all cats from the same stars, in the end," Palegaze mused, parting his jaws in a yawn. "That poor family. I think Spiritstar actually banished Frostyfoot out of mercy. So he could be with Opalmist."

Slushfur returned from the Gathering with many questions. She was thankful to have Blacktail at her side; she appreciated having someone to discuss the events with through the night. I'll do anything I can to keep my kits and Clan safe.

Gustpaw and Silverpaw returned together. Silverpaw looked exhausted from all the action and talking with the other apprentices. He mewed a goodnight to his brother before looking for a place to sleep.

Gustpaw, meanwhile, was on his paws thinking about the banishment and Arcticpaw. That was all so crazy. I'm glad Arcticpaw felt the same way. Even though we're in different Clans, I feel like we have a lot in common. He sighed lightly. The two exiled cats had broken the code by being together, but he was only friends with the RiverClan apprentice. I hope I'll see her again soon.

"Pfft," Palegaze huffed. "Spiritstar's got her paws full with that one. To stand up for what you believe in is one thing, but to air out private business in front of every Clan? On the night of the full moon truce?" he shook his head. "And by the looks of it, she didn't even run it by her leader. Some upstanding warrior, huh?"

“Oh, yeah! I think…” Juniperpaw recalled, knowing that Blacktail seemed to have a knack for remembering the past stories. She looked at the ground for a long while before she murmured. “Do you think the Clans will ever do that again? Just, be one big Clan? What if we can’t fight these prey-maulers by ourselves?”

“Hm… I guess so…” Juniperpaw nodded slowly in faint agreement, though the idea still lingered in her mind.

Clovekit poked her head quietly out of the nursery. Her sisters were with Ashsong and their cousins in the nest. She couldn’t sleep though. Lately, the little she-kit’s dreams had been funny. The moon would look odd, like a claw scratch of white against a black circle, before it would fade away, and leave her by herself. The dream had ended when the sun seemed to rise again, casting a long shadow across the meadow she had been wandering.

Her attention was now drawn to the returning cats, and especially over to where Eclipsesky was talking with Palegaze. Ashsong had told her that Eclipsesky wasn’t going to be medicine cat anymore? Why? She thought the medicine den was wonderful! She wanted to look in it all the time! She slowly crept out of the nursery, waddling slowly towards where Dawnshadow had slipped into her den.

"Goodnight, Larkpaw. Have good dreams!" Juniperpaw nodded, offering her optimistic wish for a good sleep for Larkpaw. Hopefully, their mentors would let them sleep in after such an eventful gathering.

"Who knows, a moon in camp, elder duty, medicine cat duty? The possibilities are endless." Eclipsesky said with a snort. The older tom sighed, placing his head on his paws. "I didn't realize how tired I was until now. That gathering was a lot. I saw you went and talked to Bluewhisker. How's that grump doing?"

Sagefoot sucked in a breath as she saw Clovekit scamper into the medicine cat den. She hurried after the small kit, ducking into the den behind her. "Clovekit, little one. What are you doing in here? Dawnshadow's herbs are special, we can't play with them."

"Grumpy," said Palegaze around a yawn. "Stoic as ever, that one. I got her to exhale through her nose though! That's practically rolling around laughing for her!"

The white tom gently groomed Eclipsesky's ears as he went on. "She's looking grey in the muzzle these days, but she's the same old Bluewhisker. Pebblesplash from RiverClan came over too," he yawned again. "It's weird to be old enough to know all these cats in other Clans now. And to be so worn out from one Gathering!"

“Oh… I’m sorry that he had to stop, then.” Clovekit mewed, her voice soft and genuine, before she perked up at the deputy’s question. She seemed thoughtful for a moment, before she suddenly gave a few quick nods. “I think so, yes!… Medicine cats get funny dreams, right? I have funny dreams sometimes too. I like the plants too, they’re very pretty.” She admitted with a delighted smile.

"StarClan will find a way," Palegaze murmured. "I don't believe they'd let a Clan go without a medicine cat. I think Northstar would come back to life herself to keep that from happening to ShadowClan."