If she were to be honest, Nightthorn wasn't all too keen on Gatherings.  She wasn't much one to be social around other cats, and while it was part of her duty, to be here?  The only reason she'd really come was to observe.  It was in Shadowclan's best interest that she was always ready and watching.  Even now, she moved through the grass towards the Gathering place silent as a shade.  Dark fur was smooth and sleek, well tended despite her scars that lay thick on her skin.  This Deputy had proved herself time and again, in Starclan's eyes, and that of her clan, at least to her mind.  Sighing, she shook out her pelt as she took a halt, looking around at the other cats of her Clan, then up to the leader of Darkclan.  They, above all, she respected.  Their power, how they'd risen....admirable.  For now, she would sit back.  Let them come.  Let them swarm.  She would talk only when it was needed.

-------------------------------------

Oh, Starclan help her.  Mistypelt was nervous, if she were to be honest.  Going to Gatherings without her mentor made her nervous.  Starclan themselves oft told her that she was ready, and in her dreams, she would sometimes see her old mentor, but it did not mean that the young cat was prepared for a big event like this.  What if she was wrong?  What if she WASN'T ready?  Breathe.  Windclan was around her, she wasn't alone.  She had others to help her through, to stand with her in this moment.  There was no reason to be afraid.  Her short silvery pelt gleamed in the moonlight as she came upon the Gathering, looking at the already assembled cat, shaking a bit.  Ancestors guide her, she wanted nothing more than for someone to press flank to her own, a moment's comfort...

Spiderface didn't really mind Gatherings all that much.

Sure, it was somewhat crowded and sure, most of the cats there hated his guts for something he had absolutely no control over, but what was he supposed to do? As the Darkclan Medicine Cat, he was pretty much required to go to Gatherings until he decided to retire or joined Starclan; neither of which he planned on doing anytime soon. As he crossed the crowd of cats, already starting to mix and mingle, over to where the Medicine cats usually conversed, he noticed Ravenstar and the new Representative of Riverclan sharing words.

He twitched his whiskers and looked away.

It wasn't like he hated Riverclan, he was quite neutral towards his birthclan actually. But after four seasons of verbal onslaught from past Representatives, he had learned to just tune out cats spouting nonsense about how Darkclan didn't deserve to exist. Spiderface had seen many cats lost to elemental consumption, namely apprentices who'd been scared to leave behind their families and had suffered the consequences of doing so. The other elemental cats had it easy, it was rare to lose a cat to Fire consumption or Air consumption. Even the Ice and Storm elementals had it better off than Dark elementals did.

Oh, well.

It was no use fuming over something he had no control over, he supposed one day. It had been exactly what the other clans were doing, he couldn't add fuel to the fire. Besides, he was supposed to stay out of Clan rivalry, why get angry and not do something about it? So, he had resolved to simply watch from afar.

"I have no desire for bloodshed, and I aim to show that the best I can." the Representative had said. Hmm. A wise decision for such a young cat.

His train of thought halted once his light green eyes swept over the gathering once more and connected to the form of the Windclan Medicine Cat. Her shaking form made him feel a pang of sympathy for the young she-cat. He had known her mentor well, Starclan bless, and knew how the she-cat could get. He couldn't move from his spot now, but he sent an assuring nod to her, hoping that she at least saw.

Thyra

His fur ruffled in the breeze, where he crouched in a cluster of bushes beside the river's outer perimeter. Amber eyes flashed in the moon. The other clans were already here; he could scent them.

Duskstar raised his head just slightly, peering through the bracken at the island, surveying the figures that had already gathered there. He never particularly looked forward to Gatherings; they were never as social as they seemed at apprenticeship, and now that he was leader, they were, most of the time, purely formal affairs.
He flicked his tail to his clan to cross the pathway to the island - the stepping stones were raised prior to the Gathering, as per Ravenstar's request to aid her clan in crossing should they arrive before Shadowclan (which they did), though they were rather crude and rushed. Nonetheless, they were stable. He strode across them with the same calm confidence that he would have done if the waters had been gloriously parted.

Thunderclan was not yet here - he thanked the stars for that, the sight of them made the back of his scarred neck sting. But Heatherstar had arrived, along with Ravenstar and a cat he assumed to be the new Riverclan representative, though he couldn't be sure; he could never keep up with their elections. His gaze lingered upon his former clanmate. He remembered her from the time before. A fellow Dark-gifted, though she had clearly been dissatisfied with her life in Shadowclan and carved her own clan from the dust.
He had to admit, whilst he didn't understand it, he admired it. She could have been in his place. He could have been in hers. They were worlds apart now, but so much more similar than he would have thought before. A smile tugged at his maw, but only briefly.
The huge tom climbed atop his rock, between Thunderclan's and Ravenstar's, and watched as she was swarmed. Another token of her newfound reputation with tearing herself away from convention - every cat seemed to want to know her.

He gave her a brisk nod once he could catch eyes with her as means of greeting. She was clearly likely more busy with conversing with the citizens to speak to him properly, shadow to shadow, dark to dark. He could hope. He hoped.

Thorne

Pigeonflight felt almost hopelessly stranded as he gazed about all the cats in the clearing. All of them were there for a purpose; just like him though everyone seemed to have someone to talk with in the mean time. He was never good with that- talking with strangers. Especially when three fourths of the ton of cats here were complete strangers to him. At least with the wind clan cats he could say he recognized the faces and names. Well, most of the names at least. He simply sat there, his tail curled around his paws and his fur looking slightly more bristled than usual. Though that was simply due to the circumstance. His eyes darted about wearily hoping to avoid the eyes of others. Perhaps, however, meeting someone's eyes would be a virtue. They may approach him and while he'll initially feel awkward- perhaps that someone could save him from the dreadful boringness of gatherings without a companion. Granted gatherings weren't intended to be fun. The purpose of them was to bring peace between the clans. Peace that would eventually be ruined by strife, like it always is.

Heatherstar flicked an ear briefly at the returned words of the Riverclanner, noting the subtle expression on their features. Yes, it was always a wonder how Heatherstar remembered names and faces so particularly well. However, her clan prided itself on knowledge, and in such they were wonderfully abundant. Heatherstar, as leader of her knowledgeable clan, could not indeed be as reputable if she was any less adept in such fields. In this term, Heatherstar’s excuse? She did not track well the frequent leadership changes of Riverclan, even if she did so better than most, but she did keep an eye on the popular ones, noting who may become next elected leader and thereby calculating their abilities and worth. Or perhaps, the surprise was due in part to her cordial nature, after all, Riverclan and Windclan were hardly on the best of terms with thievery rumoured on both sides and recently defended land on her part still frazzling the nerves of both parties. Still, the Riverclanner would learn in time that Heatherstar did not attribute the qualities of a past leader to their successor, therefore she would show respect until given a reason otherwise. Still, she would make herself clear, as it was.

A soft hum of agreement was offered, before pleasant words colored with formality and paired to an expression that gave nothing away but a serious and watchful calm. “Indeed, and I do hope it will remain that way. You appear to have a level head on your shoulders, let us see how well it serves you.” Pleasant, calm, but with the slightest, vaguest hint of a warning. Perhaps imagined? All was up to assumption, she supposed, and she would leave it at that.

Shadowclan was next to arrive, perhaps an air of relief about their leader as he ascended upon his stone with a slight nod to Ravenstar and no one else. Not that such surprised Heatherstar too much, for they were the closest of the leaders. Without a border with either one of the dark leaders, Heatherstar did not get much opportunity to extend her knowledge and quench her curiosities as she would a pleasant discussion across an invisible line of scent. Still, part of Heatherstar still deigned to respect Duskstar, for he certainly seemed a worthwhile, level-headed leader. As such, the dame would catch his eye and offer a respectful dip of her head in greeting, before turning her attention to the young deputy of Thunderclan nervously ascending the center stone with an excuse quick to form on her lips. Another dip of her head, this time in condolence. The leader may recover soon, but it was still a difficult task to take on a gathering in their place, and the responsibility of the entire clan, especially so new to her own role.

“I wish them a fast recovery, then. Though it will be interesting to see how their deputy should fair in what may well be your future position.” Perhaps a hint of mild curiosity, a glimmer of intrigue. One could not be knowledgeable, after all, without the drive and curiosity to learn. As it seemed, all clans had arrived, though below cats still conversed and the newer arrivals had yet to settle. Still, Heatherstar noted with satisfaction, more dutiful eyes turned respectfully toward the leaders, Winderclanner’s admittedly lit with a quiet intrigue. Always an opportunity to gain knowledge, even in such carefully toned formalities.