The Gathering Shard

The Gathering Shard is a place where meetings of the individual herds in a clan, all clans, or any other specific groups of animals meet to discuss things. The land is flat with soft, dry, dust-like dirt and no vegetation in the main area. There a few trees spread out to provide shade, but not many so that even the biggest of animals may have plenty of room to move. A wide, deep, but quiet river runs at the edge of the area into the ocean which is also close by. Because of this, animals who live on land, in the freshwater, or in the saltwater all have access to this place. A large shard, taller than all of the trees stands straight up in the ground beside the river at the very edge of the area, serving as a land mark one can see from a distance. On the other side of the river, in the main part of the area, is a large, round, flat black stone that the speakers stand on to direct attention to them, though the rock is low to the ground. The rock is huge and in smaller meetings can often fit every animal present on it which is good if the ground is wet from a recent rain.