[Fate Admin]

It took her longer to recover than she had originally anticipated, considering the shortage of prey and the cold. It was several days before she felt strong enough to do much more than pad to the freshkill pile and back to her den, and was finally able to keep her word to herself and name a new deputy. NightClan had been almost a full moon without one and she definitely wanted to be a sure a new one was named before they appeared at another Gathering, deputyless and with a recovering-from-greencough leader, looking weak and vulnerable. She had eaten a sparrow and rested in the sparse sunlight for some time before finally mounting the Boulder Ledge. She sat, curling her thick tail around her paws and staring up at the sky for a long moment. This would be the final act of letting go, of moving on from having Boneshadow ever present in her life.

Her pelt rippled with uncertainty, but she shook it off. She had to show the Clan she was regaining her strength… and her sanity. She was certain some of them had probably lost some faith in her after Boneshadow’s death and they delay in naming a deputy on time, and then her descent into illness, which was not all a random act of nature but somewhat self-induced. She’d lost a life… there had not been any official announcement from her or Smokefur about it yet, but Ravenstar would tell them. She would not always tell them when she lost a life, but her first… she had eight left, she was not vulnerable and sharing the news of losing her first life, even if the news got out of the Clan, would not do too much harm. She felt her Clan deserved to know, this time.

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She had her closure with the past, it was time to move forward. She remained sitting, calm and collected, and called to her Clan, “Let all those who can walk on their own paws gather beneath the Boulder Ledge for a Clan meeting!” She watched her Clan gather, tried to read their emotions. Some were expectant and excited, others seemed unsure and doubtful. She would show them she was her normal self again. When most of the Clan had gathered, she spoke, “As you all know… I recently became ill with greencough. I am recovered now… but I lost my first life in the process.” She paused to let that sink in for them all. She was certain there were already rumors flying around about her losing a life, but now it was for certain.

“I met Boneshadow in StarClan,” she met the gazes of many of her Clanmates. She was not going to share the details of that meeting, but she did want to reassure her Clanmates that of course, he was there, watching over them, “I am ready to choose a new deputy.” She stood then, tail raised as she gazed out over the gathered cats. Her sight came to rest on Blackwolf first, “Blackwolf, I thank you for all the work you’ve done, taking over many deputy duties after Boneshadow’s death and during my illness. You have worked hard and done well.” She gave him a brief nod before turning her gaze to the cat she had decided upon, “However, I feel that for now, NightClan needs a more experienced warrior for a deputy.” Her pale amber gaze met that of her choice, “I say these words before the spirits of StarClan, that they may hear and approve my choice. Roughthroat will be the next deputy of NightClan.”

[Deleted]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][style= height: 450px; width: 20px; background-image: url(http://www.colourbox.com/preview/3815938-89128-blue-and-green-leaves-seamless-pattern.jpg); float: left; margin-left: -15px;][/style][style= height: 450px; width: 20px; background-image: url(http://www.colourbox.com/preview/3815938-89128-blue-and-green-leaves-seamless-pattern.jpg); float: right;][/style][style= height: 430px; width: 350px; background-color: 666666; padding: 10px][style= border: 1px solid #BBBBBB; height: 100; width: 100px; margin-left: 5px][/style][style= font-family: georgia; text-align: right; font-size: 22px; line-height: 70%; text-shadow: #000000 -1px -1px 2px; margin-top: -100px; margin-right: 20px; color: 002200]deputy of nightclan[/style][style= font-family: georgia; text-align: right; font-size: 35px; text-shadow: #000000 -1px -1px 2px; line-height: 70%; margin-right: 20px; color: 224322]roughthroat[/style] [style= margin-top: 5px; font-size: 10px; text-align: right; font-family: tahoma; width: 200px; float: right; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-right: 10px]TAGS NightClanners COUNT 741 NOTESHurray! [/style] [style=background-color: BBBBBB; height: 295px; width: 320px; padding: 10px; text-align: justify; font-size: 10px; font-family: georgia; color: 444444; overflow: auto; margin-bottom: -50px]Bright blue gaze traced the sunlit skyline as the NightClan tom sat, tail wrapped tight against his paws and body still. The fluffy gray tom had been in and out of camp all morning and was glad to have been both productive and unproductive at the current moment. The tom had been out hunting and had put fresh scent markings on the NightClan border as well. Roughthroat's success in the early hours of the day were the only reason the tom had that allowed him to recline and feel sun beating against his matted coat. The NightClanner did not recall the last time the sun had burned this bright and had been so diligent in warming the earth. Though it had made for a somewhat wet world, Roughthroat was thankful for its return. Under the snow and ice buffeting his gray coat in moons past, Roughthroat had wondered if the sun would ever return. Blue eyes opened to the sound of Ravenstar's voice and some relief shuffled its way through his long limbs. Ravenstar had fallen ill and had been pent up away from NightClan contact for quite a time. Roughthroat had worried about her illness, particularly because of Boneshadow's tragic death. Her voice was a relief to him. Though it was, the dark gray tabby rose to his paws and stepped somewhat briskly towards their meeting place. NightClan has had enough tragedy for once, Roughthroat thought to himself, blue eyes cast to the ground for a moment to pay respects to the passed deputy. Roughthroat had looked up to the tom for his honest, hard-working nature and had grieved his death more than most unrelated NightClanners. The tom had left a great positive mark on NightClan and had been a guiding light for the clan as whole. Spotting the meeting place and a ragged, yet definitively alive black and white leader present, the tom settled to his haunches. Starling vibrant gaze watched the leader speak and did not stray. 'As you all know… I recently became ill with greencough. I am recovered now… but I lost my first life in the process. I met Boneshadow in StarClan, Ravenstar meowed and to the news, Roughthroat's heart sunk. While he was happy that his leader had closure with the disappeared tom and confirmed his death at all, the leader's announcement confirming her loss of a life was like a stab to his heart. Roughthroat was not sure what success might follow NightClan without the unshakable strength of their leader ... 'I am ready to choose a new deputy. Blackwolf, I thank you for all the work you’ve done, taking over many deputy duties after Boneshadow’s death and during my illness. You have worked hard and done well, Ravenstar meowed, to which the warrior's ears perked up and his fluffy head turned to regard the strange eyed warrior. NightClan had moved along like clockwork thanks to the hard work of the dark hued tom. Roughthroat had only gratitude for the younger warrior and felt that, of course, Blackwolf was the obvious choice for deputy. He had proved himself, hadn't he? 'However, I feel that for now, NightClan needs a more experienced warrior for a deputy. I say these words before the spirits of StarClan, that they may hear and approve my choice. Roughthroat will be the next deputy of NightClan, Ravenstar meowed and the gray tom's breath was momentarily knocked out of him in surprise. The tom's ears, once pricked forward to hear Blackwolf's official deputy ceremony, pinned back so quickly that he felt brief pain around his ears. Me? Deputy? Roughthroat thought to himself for a moment and took a moment to question Ravenstar's judgment. Was he ready for the position of deputy? With the irresponsibility of his relationship with Gracklefire still weighing heavy on his shoulders? The dark gray tom blinked, blue eyes being steadier with passing seconds. Mistakes are behind me. I have a duty to my clan, Roughthroat concluded. "I swear to always put my clan's well being first. I accept the position of deputy," Roughthroat meowed, glaze locking on Ravenstar's eyes and unmoving as voices of his clanmates rose up around him. The senior warrior could hardly believe his own words, but did not regret them. [/style]

[style= font-family: tahoma; font-size: 7px; letter-spacing: 2px; text-align: center]coded by JIN of PRE & BTN[/style]

[Fawn]

“I met Boneshadow in StarClan,”[...]“I am ready to choose a new deputy.”

Frogpaw's pleasant expression faltered. A new deputy? So soon? It still felt as though every day was the day after Boneshadow's death at the jaws of Demon, every day brought a fresh wave of grief and uncertainty for what the future held. Surely she hadn't been the only one feeling this? It's too soon! Thought the she-cat with rising panic. It was too soon! Even if Ravenstar HAD met Boneshadow in StarClan, it still felt as though the Clan had not properly and fully mourned him, mourned her uncle and mentor and role model. Feeling suddenly sick to her stomach, Frogpaw gently bit her tongue to keep herself from speaking, knowing it was wrong to openly challenge Ravenstar by doubting the she-cat's decision to appoint a new deputy. She sat in silence, forcing herself to listen as Ravenstar announced Boneshadow's successor.

“Blackwolf, I thank you for all the work you’ve done, taking over many deputy duties after Boneshadow’s death and during my illness. You have worked hard and done well.”

Frogpaw once again, felt another thrill of horror. Blackwolf?!

The ebony tom in question sat up a little straighter, the arrogant gleam of his mismatched eyes fading as seriousness took center stage, both cats seeming to hold their breath for Ravenstar's next words. And was it just her, or was that a flicker of reluctance passing through Blackwolf's eyes just then?
No...must've been a trick of the light.

The relief he showed, when Roughthroat was called instead of him, however, was very much apparent, and Frogpaw, feeling numb, found herself watching the progression of the ceremony with blank-staring amber eyes, trying to come to grips with the Clan moving on. What was she supposed to feel? A part of her that wasn't shell-shocked was grateful that NightClan now had a deputy they could be proud of - she hoped - but the rest of her was still having trouble coping.

Blackwolf, on the other paw, seemed perfectly content with the decision, and he gave Roughthroat's shoulder a nudge with his own. "Congratulations," mewed the black tom, "Better you than me!"

[Deleted]

Ghostlight sat near some of the other younger warriors of Nightclan, her ears pricked and her pale blue eyes watched the comminucations of Ravenstar to her clan below the Boulder Ledge. The young she-cat hadn't known the former deputy, Boneshadow, very well, only spoke to him a couple of times and was sent on partol with or without him. She had known he was a great asset to the clan, however, and that his death was extreamly tragic. The black she-cat had tried her best to work for the clan when Ravenstar had her lapse after the death of Boneshadow, she worked hard and helped where more paws were needed.


The black she-cat flicked her ears as she heard her brother, Spiriteye, whisper something to their uncle, Skycloud, about the new deputy that Ravenstar would appoint. Many cats thought Blackwolf was deserving of the title since he had taken over such a role with Boneshadow gone and Ravenstar out of action for the time. Ghostlight, personally, thought that Blackwolf didn't have enough experience, but of course she would not speak out against Ravenstar's choice. That was between the leader and Starclan.


A small twinge shot through Ghostlight's heart when she listened to her leader continue on with her speak, it was hard to learn that the strong and proud leader of Nightclan had lost a life due to greencough. Something like that was hard to get over, or so she assumed, but as Ravenstar had said, it was her first life, so she would bounce back, hopefully. Ghostlight had to admit though, Ravenstar did look like she was recovering from grief and being sick, but she still looked extreamly and proudly strong sitting up on the Boulder Ledge addressing her team.


The young she-cat's pale blue eyes blinked when Ravenstar started to menton Blackwolf before turning towards a different cat and annoucing him as the new deputy of Nightclan. Roughthroat. Ghostlight didn't know him that well either, he was older than her. The black she-cat nodded her head, he was a senior warrior and from what she had gathered, he was a good, solid warrior that was well respected. He had gained Ravenstar's respect and most of the clan seemed to agree with the news of Roughthroat being the new deputy. Ghostlight's ears flicked as she watched Blackwolf congragulate Roughthroat as the new deputy, that was a good sign. She hoped the clan she loved would return back to normal after all they had gone through.


Standing, the large she-cat flicked her tail, trying to quiet the mews of her brother and uncle next to her. Her voice blended in with the other calls of Nightclan cats as the chanted and accepted Roughthroat to his new position as Nightclan deputy.