[Fawn]

LIONSTAR

leader of treeclan

Blinded by the light of a new sun

"Let all cats gather beneath the Ancient Stump for a Clan meeting!"

The stars glittered coldly above them, and the light of the half-moon flowed over Lionstar's golden coat as he stood on the stump outside TreeClan's camp. His voice echoed in every hollowed limb of the fallen tree, and he watched as cats stirred in their nests, kits squeaked as their mothers ushered them out of the nursery for what was clearly going to be an important announcement.

Lionstar identified Meadowleaf immediately, as she took a seat beside her mate; the moonlight revealed her smile and her gentle, bright gaze. She nodded to him respectfully, and he returned the gesture with the same kindness. His gaze swept past her, then, to see Skyfall, Shadowclaw, Sparrowdawn, Magpiewing and many more gather closely beneath the stump. At last, he found Gorsetail in the crowd; he was not difficult to find. The young tom thought himself ordinary, just part of the background, but from where Lionstar stood, the warrior was far from ordinary.

As if alluding to the destiny they had laid out before him, a beam of moonlight illuminated Gorsetail where he sat next to his apprentice, Nightpaw, with Sprucefur, Feathercloud and Appleshade sitting just behind him. This is the right warrior. With a regal raise of his head, Lionstar smiled to the gathered cats, and began, his voice strong and chasing away the leaf-fall chill. "We have a long leafbare ahead of us. Tomorrow, preparations to insulate the dens and start making prey caches will begin. I will need the help of every ablebodied cat to do their part; remember, TreeClan stays strong when every warrior--young and old, kit and elder--do what they can for their Clan."

He was greeted with mews of enthusiasm and agreement, and held up his tail for silence before continuing. "There are more changes in TreeClan than just the turning of the leaves. Tonight, Meadowleaf has decided to step down from deputy to raise a family with her mate." He purred to assuage any worries the Clan might have had over the sudden change in leadership. Meadowleaf's ears pricked forward, and there were several cats who leaned over to murmur 'congratulations' to the happy couple, though Lionstar did not know if she was expecting or not.

"Our medicine cat, Bluejay, has already traveled to the Moon Tree to find out who the new deputy of TreeClan should be." When the excited murmurs died down, Lionstar rested his gaze briefly on Gorsetail, pride filling the golden tom from whisker to tail-tip; it was a moment of extreme pride to announce a former apprentice as his deputy. To know that StarClan themselves believed in him. It was more than that, though; Gorsetail had the makings of a benevolent leader, and he was a good warrior. Truly good at heart. He felt glad to know that the tom was getting the recognition he deserved, even if he would've humbly denied ever needing it or wanting it in the first place.

Lionstar gestured for his former apprentice to step forward.

"Meadowleaf has served us well, but a new cat must take her place in leading this Clan. I say these words before StarClan, that the spirits of our warrior ancestors may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of TreeClan is Gorsetail."

Take it to the world, gonna sing it like an anthem

563 words | tagged Phoenix | notes

background image | So Alive | table by phoenix

Tagged: Clan Announcement!
Participation appreciated but not required. <3 No posting order.

@zen , @teeks , @dreamer , BlooRey DVD , @sky , @sparrowkeeper , Silver , @aureux , @savagewolf , Amber , @sparrow , Hellion Insidious @jem Justice @marshymutt

[Silver]

SPARROWDAWN

It is absurd to divide people into good or bad

So the new Deputy had finally been decided. It had certainly taken Lionstar long enough to make up his mind, but that was likely for the best as the clan didn't need a useless Deputy. Sparrowdawn walked the path to where the ceremony was to take place quietly as she considered everything. She didn't know much about Gorsetail directly, but by reputation he seemed a decent enough choice so she had no complaints. Also, it was too much work to worry about the why and how of things when she didn't actually care. So long as the clan was provided for, that was all she really cared about. If the new Deputy proved to be useless...well there were always ways to go about seeing him on his way.

Her nub of a tail wiggled around in what seemed like excitement but really she was neutral about the entire thing. So long as he wasn't completely incompetent, she didn't care about who the new Deputy was going to be. It had nothing to do with her directly, and it only effected the clan negatively if he didn't do his job so she was only going because she didn't feel like listening to the grouching she'd get later on if she was to refuse to go. Besides, she was bored and this entire fluttering escapade would provide her with some entertainment at least while it lasted. That meant the ceremony wouldn't be a complete waste of her time; even if it was very close to being one. Oh well.

--

Words | 258
Tag | Tree Clan

People are either charming or tedious

background image | oscar wilde | table by phoenix

[Phoenix]

Gorsetail

Deputy of TreeClan

i wish everyone was loved tonight
and somehow stop this endless fight

Many hours had passed since the sun abandoned the world to the cold light of the moon, but there was still business to be done. Only three cats knew enough to expect the ceremony that night – a pair of brothers and a third, who might as well be a part of their family – but rumors had begun to travel around the camp. Settled comfortably in his nest toward the back corner of the warrior’s den, the tabby warrior listened to the quiet murmuring that filled the den. He was calm, heart beating steadily as he tried to quell the anticipation thrumming through his veins. This had been his last day among them as a warrior, as a normal cat who had not been placed on a pedestal slightly above his den mates. He was one of them. Soon Lionstar would make an announcement that would change all that.

His green eyes found Meadowleaf, and as though she could feel the weight of his thoughts, she looked away from her companion, Finchfeather, to meet his look. Did she know who would be her replacement? For a moment, he held her gaze before looking away. She would be happier with kits in her belly and the other tom by her side than she ever could be with the weight of the clan on her shoulders. He was glad for her. Even now, there was a spring in her step that had slipped away many moons ago, and as if she couldn’t wait to officially be rid of her position, she could not quite keep still. A small smile touched the corner of her mouth (though perhaps that was simply because Finchfeather was right there) and her tail flicked, betraying the nerves he had thought he, too, would feel.

Indeed, much to his pleasant surprise, his nervousness had faded away with the daylight, leaving only a quiet peace inside of him. He credited much of it to his conversation with Sprucefur, but the peace hadn’t truly come until he’d shared his decision with his former mentor. Once he had uttered the words, there was no turning back, and in a way, that was comforting. No longer would he have the option to worry about whether he could be the deputy that TreeClan deserved; now, he knew he had to be. The decision was gone, and with it (at least for now), much of his concerns. Sprucefur had found the perfect words with which to soothe his heart. “We don’t need you to be Lionstar, we just need you to be you.”

As if he could read the tabby cat’s mind, Lionstar’s voice rang through the camp, silencing the soft whispers and breaking through the peaceful calm that had descended over him. Summoned by their leader, TreeClan’s members began to emerge from their dens. He followed the steady stream out to the clearing and after locating some of those he held closest to his heart, Sprucefur and Feathercloud and Nightpaw, he made his way over on shaking legs to sit beside them. Silently, he offered a smile to each of them, not entirely trusting himself to speak, his gaze lingering on Sprucefur just a moment longer than the rest as he reminded himself – again – of what the senior warrior had told him. You can do this. Swallowing, the warrior finally turned his gaze toward Lionstar. Though he was illuminated only by the pale moonlight, he still looked regal and strong as he spoke of insulating the dens, and the younger tom couldn’t quite stop himself from searching for any trace of doubt in his face. But he found none (hardly surprising), the golden leader evidently remaining steadfast and unquestioning in his belief that the tabby warrior would be able to do everything required of him. He tried to let that confidence wash over him, to stop his racing heart from beating out of his chest. Then the announcement shifted to the identity of the new deputy, and he found himself holding his breath…

There it was.

Feeling heat gather under his fur as the eyes of the entire clan turned to look at him – some in surprise, he imagined, others out of jealousy, and perhaps even a few with approval – Gorsetail took a moment to compose himself before he looked around. Chin raising ever so slightly, he tried to emulate his former leader, rising to his paws and standing up a little straighter, hiding the pulse racing beneath his skin. He was deputy, now; he ought to look the role to the best of his ability. His gaze traveled from cat to cat, moving to meet Sprucefur’s gaze, Bluejay’s, Feathercloud’s, as he briefly locked eyes with those dearest to him, before finally landing on Lionstar. There was still no trace of any regrets. I can do this.

”I am incredibly humbled by this decision,” He spoke up, and surprisingly his voice, normally so quiet, seemed to carry over the crowd. Where these words were coming from, he had no idea, but they flowed easily off his tongue. ”Others scorn us for being soft, for giving shelter to those in need, but I think they underestimate us. These bonds, these ties are our strength, because TreeClan is more than simply a clan; our friends and our family make TreeClan our home, and as warriors, as fathers and mothers and siblings, we will always defend what is ours. It is an honor to be able to count myself among your number, and I will do my best to be the deputy that all of you deserve.”

930 | Fawn | ---

better days | background image

[BlooRey DVD]

Lionstar's voice pulled her attention away from the circle of friends in front of her. Before the interruption, she'd been busy chatting with Appleshade, Silentsong and Sprucefur (she and Appleshade did most of the talk, unsurprisingly), her feathery tail waving in the background. She'd have forced Gorsetail to participate in their little gathering, but the tabby tom had managed to escape her somehow. And so she'd resigned to allowing him to escape, vowing to seek her revenge on him at a later date. Her vengeance wouldn't be too great. He had earned some leeway after the acorn fiasco on Lionstar the other day. He'd played his part perfectly. But the story would be sooooo much better with him to tell it alongside me. Mid-way through a sentence, Feathercloud's words died, her silver face turning to the Ancient Stump where Lionstar stood. Glancing briefly toward the moon, where it hung proudly in the sky, the silver warrioress waved her tail thoughtfully before sighing rather dramatically. "I guess I'll have to finish that story later, guys. And maybe I can get Gorsetail to lend me a paw next time." She grinned widely, rising to her paws. She waited a moment for the pale golden tom at her side to rise, before flicking him with her tail in a gesture that was both playful and tender. Quickly finding a place to sit, she made room for Sprucefur at her side. A familiar tabby form caught her attention, the silver she-cat waving Gorsetail over, pleased when her friend took a seat alongside she and Sprucefur. Though she wanted desperately to berate Gorsetail for having disappeared on her, she decided to let it go, centering her attention on Lionstar as she leaned a shoulder softly against Sprucefur's. For the time being, she was perfectly content to wait silently; what a rare occasion! Of course, it didn't take long to dissolve her resolve to remain silent. As Lionstar notified the Clan of Meadowleaf's retirement from the position of deputy, Feathercloud found herself sitting bolt upright. The reaction was a combination of alarm and intrigue, the silver feline leaning forward just so. Despite any kit-hood dreams she might have had, Feathercloud didn't think for a moment she'd be named deputy; she was aware of her temperament, and her tendency to be a little... Loud. Although that might have suited some leaders, Lionstar was not one of those cats. Not that she held it against him at all; she held nothing but respect for her former mentor. And then Lionstar dropped the name of TreeClan's new deputy. Resisting the urge to leap to her paws that instant, Feathercloud's sharp blue gaze darted to the tabby tom as he stepped forward to make a speech. All but vibrating by the time Gorsetail finished, Feathercloud simply could not find it in her to hold back her outburst any longer. Bouncing up on her hind legs slightly, her tabby-striped tail waving behind her like a banner, Feathercloud's voice broke through the quiet night; and she did not care how loud she was. She was going to start this chant. "GORSETAIL!" She all but shrieked, completely unaware and frankly uncaring of any stares she drew. "Gorsetail! Gorsetail! Gorsetail!" The rest of the Clan joined her once their initial shock wore off, and Feathercloud shot the tom a bright grin, her blue eyes alight with an excitement that read That's my friend. You deserve it, Gorsetail. She thought to herself. You'll kill it as deputy. And if you don't? A playful glint flickered through her eyes as she met his gaze. I'll kill you.

[Deleted]

Now tell me all about your pain, down to the detail...

---

As the familiar call of Lionstar echoed through the camp, Magpiewing's eyes opened to yellow slits in the darkness as he peered over the edge of his nest at his stirring Clanmates. Ears twitching in annoyance at the obnoxious time Lionstar had chosen to call a meeting, the tuxedo tom pushed to his paws and arched his back in a luxurious stretch before padding from the den with a mask of expectant curiosity plastered convincingly over his features.

For once he didn't know what was happening, but that didn't mean he was any more interested in it. The late hour of the meeting meant something rather more important than the normal was occurring, but Magpiewing made a brief game of trying to decipher just what it was before Lionstar continued speaking. He looked around at the gathered cats, his yellow gaze traveling over each cat's face, noting their posture and expressions and body language with practiced ease.

After finding nothing to give him any clue in the first few cats he looked over, he saw Meadowleaf sit beside a tom she had been spending more and more time with lately. She had a pleasant smile on her muzzle as she looked up at Lionstar with a knowing gaze. Magpiewing's ears perked slightly with interest. She-cats didn't remain deputies when they wanted to have kits. From the way the tom beside her was looking, kits appeared to be in their future, whether Meadowleaf was currently pregnant or not.

His ears twitched as Lionstar began speaking, now that the Clan had suitably gathered, and Magpiewing glanced around once more to find Mockingbird before settling himself beside her. If Meadowleaf was stepping down, then who was going to replace her? He listened half-heartedly to Lionstar's little speech about leaf-bare approaching and the preparations that needed to happen, instead casting his gaze around again, trying to pinpoint the cat that Lionstar would soon call upon to take up the mantle of deputy.

No cat seemed especially eager... perhaps the cat that would be called did not even know about it yet. That was likely, considering he hadn't heard anything about any prospective new deputies floating around camp the last couple days. Lionstar had done well to keep this quiet. Either that or Magpiewing's observational skills were growing dull indeed, to have missed something like this. He turned his attention back to Lionstar as he finally got to the real point of the meeting.

For an instant before Lionstar made the announcement, he felt intensely relieved that he had yet to mentor an apprentice and was therefore completely disqualified from the position of deputy. He did not have to worry about hearing his own name called. Magpiewing had no desire to be in such a position of responsibility, having to worry about about what ever cat was doing every day and planning tedious patrols when he could be doing... just about anything else. At long last Lionstar finally announced who the new deputy would be.

Yellow eyes blinked in surprise and immediately sought out the cat in question. Magpiewing had paid Gorsetail very little attention at all until he had taken over Nightpaw's training. The tom made himself easy to ignore, and after only a few short observations Magpiewing had decided he did not do it on purpose for some mysterious reason that might have been fun to decipher. Gorsetail was simply unassuming, and frankly, downright boring. He let out a soft snort of derision that only Mockingbird would be able to hear.

The little speech Gorsetail gave had him fighting to keep from rolling his eyes. And then the she-cat that had been sitting beside the new deputy all but screeched his name, causing Magpiewing's ears to flick back to block out the noise briefly. He mustered his own congratulatory call of “Gorsetail!” to add to the clamor of his Clanmates' voices. He stood, flicking Mockingbird's shoulder with his tail and casting her a quick glance before he made his way toward Gorsetail to give him a proper greeting.

Nightpaw had been sitting outside in the shadow of the hollow tree TreeClan called home, already watching the stars, when Lionstar strode from his den and leaped up to the Ancient Stump. The movement had caught his eye, and he had turned with interest to see what the leader had to say. When he spotted Gorsetail coming from the warriors' den and settling himself into place, he moved over to join his mentor, sitting beside him without a word, more interested in what Lionstar would have to say as soon as the Clan had gathered than in having any short conversation while he waited.

His ears perked with interest as Lionstar announced Meadowleaf stepping down as deputy, which meant some other cat would need to take her place. His bright green gaze shot back to Gorsetail as his mentor was announced as the new deputy. Feathercloud called his name, loudly, surprising the young tom enough that his fur fluffed up. Then he purred softly and added his own voice to the calls beginning to echo through the forest, “Gorsetail! Gorsetail!” His eyes shone, happy to know a cat he had come to like and trust was going to be deputy.

Magpiewing wove through the cats between himself and Gorsetail until he was beside the other tom, offering a soft purr, “Congratulations, Gorsetail. I'm sure you'll be just what TreeClan needs.” His tone was light, friendly, disguising the fact that his words were completely sarcastic. His yellow gaze flickered over Nightpaw, just behind Gorsetail and looking somewhat enthusiastic about the news that his mentor was now deputy. It was a look he really hadn't seen on his son before, the young tom so typically stoic. With a respectful dip of his head, he turned and made his way back to Mockingbird, his tail flicking behind him. He had to make room for the rest of the Clan to greet their new deputy, after all.

---

Don't say it's love, your fragile heart feeds my contempt.