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Sootfur (he/him)
Thunderclan ❍ 21 moons
Light grey tabby with silvery-blue eyes
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The muscular gray tabby straightened himself and welcomed the kits with a strong purr:
"Hello, hello everyone! We'll have a lot to talk about, so let's start as soon as possible, shall we?" He made sure that everyone was listening, then remembered something else.
"Right. I kindly ask all of you to keep quiet as long as I'm explaining things, and only speak when I ask if you have any questions. In turn, of course.
"Etiquette" means "good behavior", so this is already a way to show me how well you can behave yourself during important moments.
He sat down comfortably and relaxed, clearing up his throat before speaking.
"...Gatherings. An opportunity offered by Starclan to us, where a peaceful meeting is held between the four clans at the Seastones every full moon. My goal is to teach you the best behavior in opportunities such as this one."
"Remember, kits. When you're participating in a Gathering, each one of you is individually representing Thunderclan. Your actions, your words, your choices. It's not only essential to be respectful in those situations, but to stay clever as well and protect your clan's best interest." This might be a bit complicated to understand for the younger kits, but he was sure the mentors would do a good job with it anyway.
"Gatherings are an opportunity to share news and meet new cats from other clans - I said news, not secrets." This was particularly important, so he glanced at each one of them before continuing.
"First. Cats don't talk while leaders and high ranks are speaking. They listen.
Secondly. You must treat every other clan cat with the same respect as you treat your own. Be careful, because not all cats from the other clans always follow this rule... but again, not all of them have good etiquette. This means they also put their clan in a bad light.
...Thirdly." And again, but he wanted to repeat it as much as needed to make sure nothing would be spilled by mistake. Especially now, with so much tension with Shadowclan.
"No clan cats may share or reveal secrets or whatever piece of information with others that might put Thunderclan in danger. This might mean our camp's position, our special battle moves, our clan's hunger state, or even our health. How many prey and herbs Thunderclan has is Thunderclan's only business."
This was the most essential, he decided with satisfaction. However, thinking back at some memories brought other suggestions for the young kits to hear. Yes, that might be useful as well.
"Mh. Fourth. You always follow your leader and their orders. You can't join the Gathering if you're not led there by a high rank, got it?" Stars, it sounds so stupid but still, cats do that every now and then. "Always follow your clan and stay in line. Don't wander. Don't play during the travel. Don't get lost."
"But the most important rule of all is... that no matter what, the truce shall be held under the full moon at the Seastones. Never, and I say never, provoke Starclan by going against this law." But then, had it even some meaning anymore? What would these kits think when they'll get to know Dawnstar and her ways? Sootfur felt utterly alone when mentioning Starclan, as if no one in Silverpelt was actually watching over him, nodding in approval.
"I think that's it for now. I'd suggest all of you, when you first become apprentices, follow your mentors and not get split up by your clan during your first time. Listen to your older clanmates, and never forget that you're behaving for the whole of Thunderclan. Never for yourself alone."
And unfortunately, that was a thing Sootfur had had to learn by himself during Sparrowstar's leadership.
The gray warrior took the chance to get to his paws and stretch his body with a loud yawn.
"Any questions?" He asked then.
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