SILVER LININGS * Deputy Announcement/Apprentice Ceremony
Jun 29, 2021 23:22:27 GMT -5
Abyss likes this
Post by Katara on Jun 29, 2021 23:22:27 GMT -5
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if i was born as a blackthorn tree
i'd wanna be held by you, felled by you
fuel the
It seemed that Cloverstar hadn't given Darkstar enough credit - choosing a deputy was difficult. She'd never really thought about naming a second-in-command when, truthfully, she'd been more concerned about what she'd do when she led the Clan. She'd been handling patrols and the little things in NightClan's daily life for so long now that part of her had forgotten she'd have to pass on those duties to someone else. And she didn't want to choose a deputy. She knew it was tradition, that a Clan needed a leader and a deputy, not just a leader. But she knew she could take care of NightClan by herself, and she didn't think anyone else would be quite as capable. And there was the matter of the fact that this cat may succeed her as leader one day, just as she had replaced Darkstar.
Your job is to choose a partner, not a successor. It was Darkstar's voice that brought these words, not her own. She frowned - had Darkstar really said that to her before? The thought could be nothing but her own, she reasoned, and it did sound like something the former leader would say.
No matter. It was a good point, and certainly something she hadn't realized. She and Darkstar had been a good match as leader and deputy, even when the tortoiseshell had gotten on her nerves. In areas where Darkstar had failed, it had been Cloverstar that held strengths. She needed to know her own weaknesses, and think of someone who could make up for them. She briefly wondered if StarClan had granted her lives for empathy and compassion so that she would know that they thought these traits were her pitfalls.
Even if they hadn't, now she knew what kind of deputy she ought to choose - someone very different from herself, but still respected by the entire Clan. Her knee-jerk instinct was to appoint Bluecloud, since she trusted him, and already used him as a sort of moral guide to get her this far. But he was old now, and it wouldn't be long before he retired to the elders' den. On the off chance she died before he did, she didn't want to curse NightClan with both an old and weak-willed leader. No, Bluecloud would make a good partner, but he would not make a good leader.
So who would? She quickly ruled out all of Darkstar's kin, even though Thornscar in particular held extraordinary potential for leadership. It was time they were out of the limelight. She briefly considered Buckfur - he was level-headed and honorable, even if his brother acted like a foxheart. But, no - selfishly, she wanted his full focus on something else. And she wanted someone fairly young, someone who was friendly with everyone and could let her know about the social goings-ons of the Clan as well as a report on patrols and other duties. Who else?
It wouldn't be long now before they arrived at NightClan's makeshift camp, and she wanted to make the announcement right away. A Clan with a recent history of being without both a leader and deputy at the same time was a Clan that would need a deputy as soon as she was able to appoint one. She did not intend to make them wait.
Finally, as they arrived, she had come to a decision. NightClan parted around her, and she heard murmurs of her new name passed among them. Pride tingled through her for a moment, her tail high with it. She was their leader. They looked to her now. There was no Boulder Ledge to leap on, but when she turned to address her Clanmates she found they had all gathered in front of her expectantly.
"I return to you, NightClan, after StarClan has granted me nine lives and my new name," she began, her voice clear and strong, "and now it is time to appoint a deputy. I say these words before StarClan, so that the spirits of our warrior ancestors may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of NightClan is Dapplefire!"
Murmurs of praise and congratulations rippled through the cats, and after a few moments, Dapplefire padded forward, surprise written all over her face. She was relatively young, but not too young, and one of the most social cats in the Clan. She wasn't an obvious choice for deputy, but she was a popular cat, and Cloverstar knew she wouldn't find any issues with handling the position once she became used to the responsibilities.
"I... definitely never expected to be chosen for this," Dapplefire admitted. "But if you believe I'm the best cat for the position, then it would be my honor to serve NightClan as its deputy."
Cheers of Dapplefire's name were carried by the Clan, and she dipped her head to them, still looking shocked.
"We have work to do!" Cloverstar declared, as everyone fell quiet again. "The rain has stopped, but we need to have a functional camp, and we need food." She could see a few pieces of fresh-kill around the clearing that some cats had been sharing before she'd arrived, which meant someone had been hunting. "We will also need all the paws we can get. This may not be an ideal time to begin training new apprentices, but I'd rather see those paws busy than causing mischief." She allowed amusement to layer her tone, as she directed her gaze at her three daughters, who had all straightened up with interest. "Berrykit, Dogkit, and Azaleakit - please come forward."
Now they were all excited, and made a beeline for the front of the crowd where Cloverstar looked down on them, waiting to feel something warm and motherly - but it never seemed to come. She just felt proud - was that enough? "All three of you have reached your sixth moon, and it is time for you to begin your training. From this day on, until you receive your warrior names, you will be known as Berrypaw, Dogpaw, and Azaleapaw." She raised her head, peering at the warriors of NightClan. "Crowstalker," she called, summoning the dark warrior, "you are ready for an apprentice. I hope that you will pass on all that I taught you, and more, to young Berrypaw. You are loyal and intelligent, and I trust you will train her well."
She waited until her former apprentice and her daughter touched noses, before turning her attention to Dogpaw. "Buckfur, you have shown yourself to be patient and honorable. I know you will be a good mentor to Dogpaw, and that you will pass on all you know to her." The massive warrior utterly dwarfed Dogpaw, but Cloverstar knew she wouldn't have to worry about Buckfur with the young she-cat. He had always shown an interest in kits in the nursery - she'd only noticed before because she'd pretended to show interest when Darkstar had her kits.
"Ghostshadow," she continued, spotting the white tom among the warriors. "You will be mentor to Azaleapaw. You are a diligent and passionate warrior, and I hope you will pass on these traits and more to this apprentice." She watched the pair of them touch noses; with Blackwolf's blood running through Ghostshadow's veins, she had no doubt in her mind that he would make a suitable mentor as well.
"Berrypaw! Dogpaw! Azaleapaw!" The new apprentices' names were cheered by the Clan, though she noticed a few that didn't seem as enthusiastic, or who didn't call out their names at all. It would be a pity if she sent them on a deadly patrol at some point, wouldn't it?
Really? A sigh echoed through her mind, a familiar voice, but once again not her own.
She ignored it. "The beginning of your training, unfortunately, may not be traditional. Your mentors will tell you how to help, so please listen to them. Your normal training will resume when we have a functional camp again." She looked seriously at each of them, making sure they understood she wasn't just asking them this as Clan leader - she was asking this of them as their mother as well.
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if i was born as a blackthorn tree
i'd wanna be held by you, felled by you
fuel the
PYRE OF YOUR
enemies
enemies
clover
cloverstar.
NIGHTCLAN LEADER // 60 MOONS
I
Your job is to choose a partner, not a successor. It was Darkstar's voice that brought these words, not her own. She frowned - had Darkstar really said that to her before? The thought could be nothing but her own, she reasoned, and it did sound like something the former leader would say.
No matter. It was a good point, and certainly something she hadn't realized. She and Darkstar had been a good match as leader and deputy, even when the tortoiseshell had gotten on her nerves. In areas where Darkstar had failed, it had been Cloverstar that held strengths. She needed to know her own weaknesses, and think of someone who could make up for them. She briefly wondered if StarClan had granted her lives for empathy and compassion so that she would know that they thought these traits were her pitfalls.
Even if they hadn't, now she knew what kind of deputy she ought to choose - someone very different from herself, but still respected by the entire Clan. Her knee-jerk instinct was to appoint Bluecloud, since she trusted him, and already used him as a sort of moral guide to get her this far. But he was old now, and it wouldn't be long before he retired to the elders' den. On the off chance she died before he did, she didn't want to curse NightClan with both an old and weak-willed leader. No, Bluecloud would make a good partner, but he would not make a good leader.
So who would? She quickly ruled out all of Darkstar's kin, even though Thornscar in particular held extraordinary potential for leadership. It was time they were out of the limelight. She briefly considered Buckfur - he was level-headed and honorable, even if his brother acted like a foxheart. But, no - selfishly, she wanted his full focus on something else. And she wanted someone fairly young, someone who was friendly with everyone and could let her know about the social goings-ons of the Clan as well as a report on patrols and other duties. Who else?
It wouldn't be long now before they arrived at NightClan's makeshift camp, and she wanted to make the announcement right away. A Clan with a recent history of being without both a leader and deputy at the same time was a Clan that would need a deputy as soon as she was able to appoint one. She did not intend to make them wait.
Finally, as they arrived, she had come to a decision. NightClan parted around her, and she heard murmurs of her new name passed among them. Pride tingled through her for a moment, her tail high with it. She was their leader. They looked to her now. There was no Boulder Ledge to leap on, but when she turned to address her Clanmates she found they had all gathered in front of her expectantly.
"I return to you, NightClan, after StarClan has granted me nine lives and my new name," she began, her voice clear and strong, "and now it is time to appoint a deputy. I say these words before StarClan, so that the spirits of our warrior ancestors may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of NightClan is Dapplefire!"
Murmurs of praise and congratulations rippled through the cats, and after a few moments, Dapplefire padded forward, surprise written all over her face. She was relatively young, but not too young, and one of the most social cats in the Clan. She wasn't an obvious choice for deputy, but she was a popular cat, and Cloverstar knew she wouldn't find any issues with handling the position once she became used to the responsibilities.
"I... definitely never expected to be chosen for this," Dapplefire admitted. "But if you believe I'm the best cat for the position, then it would be my honor to serve NightClan as its deputy."
Cheers of Dapplefire's name were carried by the Clan, and she dipped her head to them, still looking shocked.
"We have work to do!" Cloverstar declared, as everyone fell quiet again. "The rain has stopped, but we need to have a functional camp, and we need food." She could see a few pieces of fresh-kill around the clearing that some cats had been sharing before she'd arrived, which meant someone had been hunting. "We will also need all the paws we can get. This may not be an ideal time to begin training new apprentices, but I'd rather see those paws busy than causing mischief." She allowed amusement to layer her tone, as she directed her gaze at her three daughters, who had all straightened up with interest. "Berrykit, Dogkit, and Azaleakit - please come forward."
Now they were all excited, and made a beeline for the front of the crowd where Cloverstar looked down on them, waiting to feel something warm and motherly - but it never seemed to come. She just felt proud - was that enough? "All three of you have reached your sixth moon, and it is time for you to begin your training. From this day on, until you receive your warrior names, you will be known as Berrypaw, Dogpaw, and Azaleapaw." She raised her head, peering at the warriors of NightClan. "Crowstalker," she called, summoning the dark warrior, "you are ready for an apprentice. I hope that you will pass on all that I taught you, and more, to young Berrypaw. You are loyal and intelligent, and I trust you will train her well."
She waited until her former apprentice and her daughter touched noses, before turning her attention to Dogpaw. "Buckfur, you have shown yourself to be patient and honorable. I know you will be a good mentor to Dogpaw, and that you will pass on all you know to her." The massive warrior utterly dwarfed Dogpaw, but Cloverstar knew she wouldn't have to worry about Buckfur with the young she-cat. He had always shown an interest in kits in the nursery - she'd only noticed before because she'd pretended to show interest when Darkstar had her kits.
"Ghostshadow," she continued, spotting the white tom among the warriors. "You will be mentor to Azaleapaw. You are a diligent and passionate warrior, and I hope you will pass on these traits and more to this apprentice." She watched the pair of them touch noses; with Blackwolf's blood running through Ghostshadow's veins, she had no doubt in her mind that he would make a suitable mentor as well.
"Berrypaw! Dogpaw! Azaleapaw!" The new apprentices' names were cheered by the Clan, though she noticed a few that didn't seem as enthusiastic, or who didn't call out their names at all. It would be a pity if she sent them on a deadly patrol at some point, wouldn't it?
Really? A sigh echoed through her mind, a familiar voice, but once again not her own.
She ignored it. "The beginning of your training, unfortunately, may not be traditional. Your mentors will tell you how to help, so please listen to them. Your normal training will resume when we have a functional camp again." She looked seriously at each of them, making sure they understood she wasn't just asking them this as Clan leader - she was asking this of them as their mother as well.
[attr="class","cltag"]tagged Fawn, Abyss, @jen, Ghost the Undead Goddess, Amber | [attr="class","clnotes"]notes <3 |
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