Gathering

A Gathering is a meeting of the four Clans, held at the night the full moon (thus, once each moon).

Purpose
On Gatherings, Clan leaders announce current affairs and significant events in their Clan (like appointing new apprentices and warriors). 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.

Warriors use this chance to meet their friends from other Clans and exchange information. Many cats will use a Gathering to try to determine the strength of another Clan.

Procedure
The Gathering is held on the night of the full moon, because it is the only time that the moon is reliably bright enough to see well. The leader, the deputy, several warriors, apprentices And [Elders]] participate from each Clan. If a leader cannot attend, the deputy will speak on behalf of that Clan.

Once arrived at the Gathering territory, the leaders sit on a high spot (like a rock or a tree branch) where they can be seen and heard well while talking to the warriors and to each other. Deputies sit close by. It is considered disrespectful if any other cat speaks from atop the leader's spot, unless specifically asked.

As decreed by StarClan, the nights of the Gatherings are a time of peace, and if there is any violence, StarClan sends a cloud to cover the moon signifying their displeasure; usually the Gathering ends if this happens.

In The Sight, the Clans organize a special daylight Gathering, with competitions between the apprentices of different Clans.

Location
The Gatherings are held at a neutral territory, unclaimed by any Clan.

Old Forest

 * The Gathering was held at Fourtrees, where the territories of all four Clans meet. There were four great oaks there, older than the Clans.

Lake

 * In Twilight The Gathering was held near Horseplace before the tree fell down making the bridge to the island.
 * The Gathering was held at the Island, a place near the middle of the lake. Mudclaw was killed by a falling tree on the Island, making a tree-bridge, since RiverClan was the only Clan who was used to swimming. 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.
 * In Dark River, RiverClan used the Gathering Island temporarily as a camp, when Twoleg kits were throwing stones at the cats in their camp.

Other Places

 * In the The New Prophecy series, it was once held at a marshy place near Horseplace.
 * In the Power of Three series, it was once held in daylight in ThunderClan territory.