Minkstar.
The shift in the seasons had made Minkstar feel better, as things turned from worrying over the news that Mellowpaw had given her upon her receiving her nine lives, and more towards making sure that the clan survived Leafbare. As she ran at the head of the group, the she-cat took deep breaths, filling her lungs with crisp, almost frosty — the seasons hadn’t changed quite yet, but it was close enough that it was difficult to discern whether it was still Leaffall, or if Leafbare had finally arrived. She supposed that within the next moon, it would probably make the change fully.

As she reached the bridge log, she noticed the scent of Orchidclan there already. With a twitch of her ear, Minkstar led the way across for her cats to stream into the Glade.

Upon entering, she wove her way through the gathered cats, making her way to where the leaders gathered. With moonlight bathing her short, but still thick coat, the tabby she-cat held herself in a confident manner. Her gaze met that of Morningstar, and as it did, Minkstar gave a slight incline of her head in greeting to the other leader.

This would be her first Gathering as the leader of Shoreclan.



Lavenderwhisker.
As Orchidclan arrived, Lavenderwhisker realized that they were the first clan there. She followed the other cats in, she swerved to the side to not be in the way as she paused to look around curiously. Lavenderwhisker noted that they were the first clan there.

Perfect!

It gave her the perfect opportunity to find the perfect spot to sit — and to try out a couple of different spaces around the area that Orchidclan claimed as theirs for the duration of the gathering. With a flick of her tail, she followed the largest group of Orchidclan cats, before settling down, wrapping her tail around her paws. The spot seemed perfect already!

Minkstar.
As she approached where the leaders met, Minkstar dipped her head in a respectful greeting to Morningstar. She felt, admittedly, intimidated by the situation at paw. Sure, she’d held Clan meetings, but a Gathering was inherently different. She was comfortable amongst her clanmates and would do what needed to be done for them. But, that comfortableness was not necessarily present among the other leaders. Her short ears twitched slightly at Morningstar’s words. Her gaze turned, momentarily distracted, as Basilstar arrived with his group, fashionably late, if that’s what it could be called.

“Morningstar, Basilstar,” Minkstar greeted both leaders respectively, trying to remember that this time, she was an equal amongst them, rather than in her customary place at the base of the tree, with the other deputies.

She was still adjusting to Jellyfishstar’s absence, but Minkstar had largely come to terms with the fact that the former leader of Shoreclan was not coming back to take her place at the helm of the clan. And, as much as that fact broke her heart, she had to be strong — strong in the eyes of outsiders, strong in the eyes of her clan — and could not afford to show too much emotion in the present moment, for the worry of being perceived as weak was something that she did not want to bring upon her clan. After all, the other cats gathered would think that a weak leader meant a weak clan — and neither was the case, Minkstar knew this at her core, but they would make their assumptions.



Lavenderwhisker.
Lavenderwhisker glanced over as a voice spoke to her, her eyes brightening slightly. She nodded rather enthusiastically, her demeanor instantly turning chipper when faced with a companion to sit with.

“Of course I don’t mind!” Lavenderwhisker mewed out, scooting a little to make more space beside her. “I’m excited to see what everyone has to say — what about you?” she asked Sheepcloud, looking at the other she-cat with wide, curious eyes.