[Deleted]

    Smokefur thought informing the last leader of their new position was a rough undertaking, now she was to do it with a cat she didn't know well at all. The clans terrible luck with leaders seemed to be a curse, their life expectancy was getting shorter and shorter it seemed and a part of Smokefur was illogically afraid Dimgaze would die as soon as he heard the news. She had sent word that he was to meet her in her den, partially because she was sure what they discussed would be private unless he revealed it to the clan himself, and in another part due to the weather. She loved having visitors warm her den for her, and toms tended to make quite nice space heaters. As she waited patiently her thoughts returned to the would be leader, who she had to admit she knew little about. He didn't seem the social butterfly and Smokefur prayed Starclan knew what they were doing.



Insidious

[Insidious]

Sleekshade had sought him out, as were the orders of the medicine cat, and informed him that he was to meet with Smokefur in her den immediately. He thanked her for her time with a polite, but curt, tip of his head, ghosting past the silver tabby without so much as a glance, so much as a word; if the medicine cat was calling for his audience, then it was undoubtedly a matter of importance, and he wouldn't waste his time. Sleekshade knew him as well as anybody else, meaning that she couldn't expect him to linger somewhere he wasn't needed. If she did expect that from him, she would only be setting herself up for disappointment, and he wouldn't be there to recover the pieces.

"Smokefur," he called dryly out of politeness, as it was improper to barge into her quarters without an announcement, "you wanted to see me." Dimgaze purposefully neglected to attach a question mark to his statement, for it wasn't a question so much as a finality, and Sleekshade wouldn't have told him to come here if Smokefur hadn't asked her to fetch him.

He considered within the confinement of his mind what the purpose of this meeting could be. He wasn't close with their medicine cat but, then again, he wasn't close with anyone. It occurred to him that, given their current leadership - or lack thereof - that Smokefur would be contacted by their ancestors at some point in time to deliver word of their next leader. If that was the case, and he was being summoned, then that could only mean one thing, but Dimgaze wasn't about to jump to conclusions.

The gray warrior seated himself, radiating composure, a calmness, a levelheadedness, that was befitting of someone of his nature. His white eyes were blank, eerily vacant, observing her expression with calculated precision, for he didn't intend to miss a thing. She would speak when she was ready, and he wouldn't rush her lest her silence prove extravagant.

@poptart

[Deleted]

    Although Smokefur didn't know a whole lot about Dimgaze she knew that he was punctual, it seemed to extend from what she could only interpret as an incredibly serious and professional nature. Although this appeared to be true, she had no idea the shallow depth he seemed to possess emotionally leading to what can only be described as a narcissistic lack of empathy. He quickly announced his presence and Smokefur figured he had set the tempo for their meeting, she wasted not time explaining the situation. "As you, and the rest of the clan know we have had issues with our leader retention as of late. It's been virtually non-existent." She paused for a few moments as she searched his eyes, she wondered if the direction this conversation was taking would licit any sort of reaction from the otherwise stoic tom. "Thus it falls on you to take up the mantle and hold it for a long, long time."

Insidious

[Insidious]

Just like that the tom was named leader, and he didn't so much as blink.

It had been a harsh leafbare, and its affects only seemed to be intensified by there being no clear authority. The position would be life-changing and, for anyone else, perhaps daunting, but Dimgaze felt nothing beyond an empty, but purposeful, willingness to rise to the challenge. He was a sensible choice, for he prioritized NightClan so intensely, so doubtlessly, and would intend to propel them towards a greater, more prosperous existence. While he had at no point in his life desired the position, for ambition was as foreign to him as happiness or sadness, he saw no reason to decline. His vision for NightClan had always been... critical and, as leader, he would finally have the power to see his views implemented.

"I see." Dimgaze kept his words concise, straightforward, tipping back his head in contemplation. "It will be an honour to serve NightClan as its leader. I accept the responsibility." The medicine cat seemed equal parts concerned with ensuring their conversation didn't venture astray from necessity. The two of them were here, together, for one reason alone, and that was to discuss the leadership of their clan. Dimgaze would have it no other way.

He rose from his seat out of the presumption that there was nothing else to be discussed, though still he lingered, curious if there was anything else she sought to get off her chest. There was something about the way she looked at him: It wasn't distrust so much as suspicion, like she hadn't the slightest clue what to think of him, nor of what this rise to power meant for her clan. He had no intention of easing her worries, for as far as he was concerned, there was no cause for stress. The least he could do, however, was assure her that they were on the same side when it came to upholding the importance of their clan above all else.

"Rest assured, Smokefur -" the silvery warrior stood in the doorway, a paw midair, turning his face to the side to meet her eyes. "- I will take care of our clan."

[Deleted]

    Smokefur was surprised as the lack of hesitation Dimstar showed, it wasn't how quickly he had accepted the responsibility but rather how after such a huge revelation he was preparing to leave only moments later. Rising and making his way to leave her jaw dropped slightly as he stopped nearly out of her den to speak what she could only assume was his best attempt at encouraging words. She struggled to put her feelings into words as fast as she possibly could, she knew if she didn't speak her mind quickly he would depart with great haste to most likely address the clan. "I..." She started just trying to get noises out to convince him to stay. "Taking care of the clan seems to be my job, the leaders job has always been to put it in unnecessary danger." She commented half joking, it was a clear jab at her late sister and very efficiently summed up all her fears in regards to Dimstar's new found authority.

Insidious

[Insidious]

She struggled to find the words, and while he didn't verbally rush her, his eyes, never once leaving her face, never once seeming to fall shut, called for haste. She was right in assuming that he sought to address the clan. They were finally breaking away from a lack of authority and, it seemed, right in the nick of time. It wouldn't be much longer before cats began to take decision-making into their own paws, and then catastrophe would be around the next corner.

She did not need to fear unnecessary danger, not with him, for his objective was quite the opposite. While he was intent on making his exit, he wouldn't do so knowing that he left the medicine cat behind with her building worries. He placed his raised paw on the ground, a telltale sign that he would remain for a few more minutes to speak with her. "That is not the leader's job." There was more to say but, for a moment, he left it at that. If Smokefur had been joking, he didn't catch it; he was a serious, professional cat, and didn't make time for playful words. For all he knew that was actually what she thought the leader's job was and, if that was so, he needed to alter her perspective. "I will do what is best for our clan. While I will not put it in danger unnecessarily, sometimes danger is necessary to in turn keep it safe."

Perhaps he would only worsen her suspicions, but, either way, he had offered his take, and he believed that his words rang true. Danger was not his goal, and he would avoid it whenever possible but, at the same time, he did not fear danger as she did. He would need to make difficult decisions for the betterment of the clan as a whole, and not for the individuals within it. He wanted Smokefur to feel safe with him in charge but, given her experience with former leaders - her sibling, especially, for it was clear from the way she spoke that the two didn't always see eye-to-eye - it was something that would take time. Once she saw him in the position, and saw the way he intended to interact with his clanmates, and with the other clans, too, it would maybe get easier for her to trust that StarClan had made a wise, sensible decision.

"Is there anything else that you wish to bring to my attention?" This time, unlike the last, he would ask before he left. It seemed to be out of politeness but, frankly, he didn't want to be interrupted once more while intending to address the clan.

[Deleted]

    The medicine cat was relieved when her newly appointed leader actually took time to stop and address her comments, even though he was clearly itching to depart. He had clearly missed the sarcastic nature of her jab at the previous Nightclan leadership but she was impressed at how expertly he had addressed her concerns. Whether or not he was speaking the truth would be determined over the coming moons. At the moment Smokefur had no reasons to doubt his word, he didn't appear to be a liar rather he just seemed a little off. When he asked if she had anything else she replied curtly, "No Dimstar." It seemed too early to get familiar with him, if it was even possible with such a serious cat. Luckily it wasn't near as awkward as she feared it would be calling him by his new name, most likely setting a precedence for their working relationship.

Insidious