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Gathering
A Gathering is a peaceful meeting of the Clans on the night of a full moon.[1] As said in the warrior code, there is a truce, which forbids fighting during the Gathering.[2] It is considered a great honor to be chosen by a Clan leader to go to a Gathering.[3]At the lake, this place has been moved to the island.[5]
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Purpose
- On Gatherings, Clan leaders announce current affairs and significant events within their respective Clans, such as the appointment of new apprentices,[7] warriors,[8] and deputies,[9] the deaths[10] and births[11] of cats, and the retirement of cats.[9] They also use this time, if necessary, to ask for help from others, such as when WindClan asked RiverClan for drinking rights in their territory, when a drought shortened their water supply.[12]
- Warriors use this chance to meet their friends from other Clans and exchange information and stories.[13] Many cats will use a Gathering to try to determine the strength and weakness of another Clan.[14][15]
- Clan leaders hold Gatherings to share news with the other Clans,[4] or to discuss changes to Clan life, such as additions to the warrior code[16] or new customs,[17] or threats that affect all the Clans.[18]
- Gatherings are meant for meeting new cats, but not to share Clan weaknesses and strengths.[19]
- When the moon is full, the Gathering begins.[20] The start of the Gathering marks a time of truce between the four Clans.[4] If the truce is broken, StarClan will send clouds to cover the moon, signaling their displeasure.[21] Should this happen, the Gathering ends and each Clan returns to their respecting territories.[22]
- It is possible for leaders to call Gatherings, known as emergency Gatherings, to share news that is very important with the Clans.[23]
The early settlers met at four trees since it was neutral territory to discuss potential peace between their groups.
- The earliest Gatherings began in the time of the founders. Gray Wing, leader of the moor cats, asked to speak with his brother Clear Sky, the leader of the forest cats, at four trees during the full moon about tensions between their groups. Four trees was neutral land, and Gray Wing wanted a peaceful meeting with his brother.[24] However, the meeting results in the first battle with high casualties. The spirits of their ancestors, the original StarClan, arrived and demanded the cats to unite or die, as well as instructions to meet at the next full moon under a truce.[25] The leaders continued to meet at four trees during the day to discuss the spirit cats' message and the threats from One Eye and Slash.[26][27][28] The early settlers met under the full moon to welcome new members into their groups, and peaceful meetings at four trees continued for generations to come.[29] At some point, these meetings were referred to as Gatherings.[30]
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Procedure
- The Gathering is held on the night of the full moon because it is the only time that the moon is bright enough to see everything and everyone.[31] If clouds cover the moon for days leading up to the Gathering, that moon's Gathering will be skipped.[32] The leader,[33] the deputy,[34] the medicine cat[33] and their apprentice,[35] if they have one, several warriors, apprentices, queens, and elders[36] participate from each Clan. If a leader cannot attend, the deputy will speak on behalf of their Clan.[37][38]
- Once arrived at the Gathering territory, the leaders sit on a designated high spot (i.e: the Great Rock or Great Oak) along with the other leaders where they can be seen and heard well while talking to the warriors and to each other.[39] Deputies sit close by.[39] A yowl by a Clan leader is the signal to start the meeting.[40] It is considered to be disrespectful if any other cat speaks from atop the leader's spot, unless specifically asked.[41] As decreed by StarClan, the nights of the Gatherings are a time of peace. If there is any violence, StarClan sends a cloud to cover the moon signifying their displeasure; usually the Gathering ends if this happens.[42] After the leaders finish sharing their news, the Clans often mingle or share-tongues before leaving.[43]
- In The Sight, the Clans organize a special daylight Gathering, with friendly competitions between apprentices of different Clans.[44] Suggested by Squirrelflight of ThunderClan, it was to celebrate the Clans' second newleaf by the lake, and to ease the ongoing tensions between the four Clans.[45]
Location
Before the tree-bridge to the lake, Gatherings were originally held near the horseplace in the lake territories.
- Gatherings are held on territory that is neutral to all Clans, and it cannot be claimed by one Clan alone. . Once the Clans moved to the lake, however, their Gathering place has changed to an island, with a tree being used as a bridge that branches across the water.[46] An example of a Gathering location not being neutral territory is when RiverClan temporarily lived on the island during Dark River, due to Twolegs damaging their camp.[47]
The lake territories
Gatherings were held on the island and leaders sat upon the Great Oak.
- In Starlight, the Gathering was held near the horseplace on a tree stump where the Clans originally settled by the lake.[53]
- The Gathering is currently held at the island, a place near the side of the lake by RiverClan territory.[54] Mudclaw was killed by a falling tree on the island,[46] making a tree-bridge, since RiverClan was the only Clan who was used to swimming.[55] Because the tree-bridge was only on RiverClan territory, the cats made it a rule that scent-marks end three tail-lengths from the shore of the lake, and that three-tail-length area was neutral territory.[56] Clan leaders sit upon the Great Oak in the middle of the island.
- In Dark River, RiverClan used the island as a camp, due to their permanent camp having been taken over by Twoleg kits who wished to play around it. Although it was only temporary, the decision caused a rift with all four Clans, and upset many of the cats from other Clans.[47]
Areas
- Leaders in the branches of the Great Oak.
- Deputies at the roots of the tree.
- Medicine cats at the roots of the tree.
- Everyone else in the clearing.