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Darkstorm wasn’t pacing. Her paws itched of sitting still, but she didn’t pace. A few others were pacing. Thornscar sat sentinel at the camp entrance, both on guard over the camp and waiting for Shadowchaser and his escort to return from the Moon Tree. Darkstorm didn’t pace because NightClan did not need more anxious, impatient energy on display. Her tail twitched instead, a more subtle display of her own, but one that would likely go unnoticed by most in the tense atmosphere of anticipation. Every cat was expecting an announcement of their new leader when her brother returned.

The dark tortoiseshell’s fiery gaze shifted around the camp, taking in her Clanmates. Snakestep fidgeted beside Crowflame, his gaze flicking toward the camp entrance now and then, and Darkstorm wondered how many were waiting to hear news of Briarthroat as well. Would Shadowchaser see him in StarClan? What if he didn’t? Would the message he brought back be one warning them to wait for the deputy’s return? Her tail lashed at the thought. They had waited long enough.

Briarthroat was NightClan, if he ever returned she would celebrate with the rest of the Clan, but NightClan needed leadership. The Clan needed to move on if it was going to survive. Who knew when Lionstar might retaliate for their claim on the deer path, and without a leader there would be arguments and indecision that would weaken the entire Clan. They had all been looking to Smokefur thus far as the most senior cat in a position of authority in the Clan, but how could a medicine cat command should more fighting break out with TreeClan? They were meant to stand apart from Clan rivalries.

Too restless to sit still any longer, Darkstorm rose and turned, heading for the medicine den. She paused outside just long enough to call a greeting to Smokefur before stepping inside, settling herself not far from the entrance, out of the way, but with a line of sight so she could see when Shadowchaser returned to camp. She was sure Thornscar would keep the Clan from overwhelming him when he did. Tail flicking impatiently once more, she glanced Smokefur’s way for a moment, “Do you have any idea who StarClan might choose?” Perhaps it would only be speculation on Smokefur’s part, but she had been dealing with StarClan far longer than perhaps any other cat in all the Clans. Would she have some insight, despite not going to visit them this time around?

Then again, there was nothing to obligate the older she-cat from sharing any such thoughts with her in the first place. Darkstorm’s ears flicked in irritation at the thought, but it wasn’t like she was particularly close to the medicine cat. Even her own personal opinion over who should lead them wasn’t really any of Darkstorm’s business. But if she sat waiting in silence much longer she thought she might go mad.

---

@poptart
Fawn
Taxx (Crowflame mention)

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Smokefur was obviously part of the cats waiting for Shadowchasers return, however she wasn't near as restless as the bulk of Nigthclan. If she was desperate to receive Starclans' message Smokefur would have gone herself. She was more than comfortable sending the younger medicine cat on the journey however, and in this instance she preferred to remain in the comfort of Nightclans' camp. To that end Smokefur found herself waiting in her den and she had been surprised at how few times her quiet contemplation had been interrupted by the anxious cats that surrounded her. That soon changed as Darkstorm announced herself before swiftly invading Smokefurs' den and pestering her with questions. "Do you have any idea who StarClan might choose?" It was a question she had received in many different variations as of late, and she had no good answer for the impatient and surprisingly pushy warrior. "I'm not sure it matters, they'll probably kill them too."

@zen

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The dark tortoiseshell’s amber gaze snapped to the medicine cat, narrowing at the casual accusation she levied upon StarClan. Had Smokefur lost her faith in their ancestors? She snorted to herself, considering. It wasn’t as though the medicine cat’s cynicism wasn’t well earned after the slew of leaders and deputies NightClan had gone through in the seasons since her birth. She had not yet seen three full cycles of the seasons and the Clan had had as many leaders in that time. It was not normal. She knew as much from the consistent presence of Lionstar, Hawkstar, Firestar, and Silverstar at each gathering she had attended. RainClan had another leader once, she vaguely remembered the old tom from one gathering, but his age had likely played the biggest part in Silverstar replacing him. None of NightClan’s leaders had ever reached an age to retire, and though Pinewhisker yet lived, she had stepped down when injury weakened her leadership, rather than allow the whole of NightClan to be weakened with her.

Unlike Foxstar.

Darkstorm’s tail lashed once at the thought of the recently deceased leader. If Foxstar had only done the same, perhaps the Clan wouldn’t be in such an uncertain state. Briarstar may still be alive. But both of them were dead and what might have been was a waste of time to be wondering about. If Briarthroat wasn’t dead, he would have returned to them by now, of that she was certain. She growled softly, “Foxstar was weak and selfish. Perhaps StarClan did us a favor.” She would never know what sort of leader Briarthroat would have been. She had been willing to give the tom a chance, despite reservations. Perhaps his death was to prevent another ineffective leader NightClan did not need.

@poptart

[Deleted]

    Smokefur listened to the reply she had elicited from the vastly younger she-cat, and it would be false to say she was at all surprised. Darkstorm was about as soft as a porcupine with its greater sensibilities offended, and there was clear evidence of the shaping of her young mind during her formative moons as an apprentice. Smokefur knew what to expect from the combination of all these factors, however even still Darkstorms' words gave the medicine cat pause. "Don't speak like that." The smokey furred she cat chided after having removed any hint of humor in her tone. "It doesn't do any good, and if your sharp tongued comments had been uttered to anyone else you would likely be helping erode our clans' already faltering confidence." Smokefur continued before dispensing her last tidbit of wisdom on the subject. "There is clearly an interest Nightclans' prosperity that runs deep in your veins, use that enthusiasm to build us up. You are much to smart to speak as if you have anything but a gentle breeze rolling between your ears."

@zen

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Darkstorm turned her fiery gaze back to the medicine cat in some surprise at the chastisement she was given for her own dark speculation. Her ears twitched in mild irritation. Though she of course agreed with Smokefur in that saying such a thing to most any other Clanmate would have been a bad idea currently, it wasn’t as though what Smokefur had said would have inspired any more confidence. “A bit hypocritical, don’t you think? Telling a Clanmate any leader chosen will soon be killed so it doesn’t matter and then scolding me? Your words would erode far more confidence than my own. I’m only a warrior. Perhaps you should heed your own advice, as the Clan continues to look to you for guidance.”

Her tail flicked dismissively at the conversation as she glanced once more out toward the camp entrance to check for her brother’s return, “I like to think I have more than a gentle breeze rolling between my ears, enough that I know better than to say such things in front of cats who could not handle it.” Her gaze flicked back to Smokefur, “I did not count you as one of them.” The Clan was in a fragile place, and that NightClan could ever be described as fragile was altogether maddening and sickening in one breath. Even Darkstorm, who was not known for her forethought, knew the importance of staying her impulsive tongue in these times. “Surely we can both speak our minds here, while everyone is distracted out there.”

@poptart

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Smokefur listened, allowing the young warrior to make her case, however she wasn't convinced by the narrative Darkstorm was attempting to sell. "The key difference between our comments is that I failed to specify any cat by name as responsible for our clan's predicament. She gave this clan everything she had, including her life." The medicine cat did her best to deliver the line in a way that didn't give the impression that she was getting riled up, Smokefur wanted to make a point not a scene. "You are right about one thing however, we are both capable of sharing our thoughts in this den no matter what they may be." With her rebuke finished Smokefur extended an invite to more civil conversation. "Put those strong opinions of yours to work, tell me who you think would make an effective leader." Smokefur ordered hoping Darkstorm's opinions would impress her at best, and amuse her at worst.

@zen

[Deleted]

That Foxstar had given her life to NightClan, she supposed, was true at its core, though ultimately debatable in Darkstorm’s mind. But the dark tortoiseshell preferred not to dwell on Foxstar any longer. The she-cat was dead and gone. What mattered were the living. So when Smokefur agreed that they could indeed speak their minds, she was relieved to hear it. Holding her tongue was growing more exhausting by the day.

Who did she think would be the best choice to lead them? She considered that in silence for a moment. She wanted it. She had wanted to become NightClan’s leader since she was a kit. That desire had not left her over the moons. She wanted to sink her claws into NightClan’s fate and bring it under her mercy, especially now, so that they would never be in such a weakened position while she lived. So she said as much to the medicine cat, “I would. I will always serve NightClan above all else.” Even if that meant relinquishing her power if she was too weak to continue wielding it.

“However, there are certainly others,” her tail flicked with some annoyance, “More experienced warriors. Not that having more moons behind them seems to have helped any of our recent leaders.” Still, it was likely what the Clan would prefer. She had half expected the Clan to demand Pinewhisker take up the role again. “Starlingcry is well respected.” She had been Dimstar’s mate, given three kits to the Clan who had all become strong warriors. She thought briefly of Sootfeather, of Gracklepaw. Starlingcry’s lineage was strong, fierce, brave. Not to mention the older she-cat had been trained by Blackwolf as well.

“I think Thistleheart would make a decent leader as well.” Thornscar spoke highly of the tom and her sister had been spending more and more time with him lately. He was a capable warrior and from her interactions with him, deeply devoted to the Clan. Not that she expected anything less from a NightClan warrior, but some cats were more vocal than others about it.

@poptart

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Smokefur listened politely as Darkstorm began the rattle off the names of clanmates she thought were fit to lead Nigthclan out of the dire situation they had found themselves in. It came as little surprise to the seasoned medicine cat that Darkstorm herself was present on the list, and had received the highest spot on it. After the shameless self endorsement Darkstorm continued listing cats with more experience than herself, and it wasn't long before Smokefur began to find a common theme in those the younger she-cat thought worthy. "You seem to gravitate to cats that are well respected, and you value strength and perceived selfless service to the clan very highly, but have you stopped to think about the rest of their values Darkstorm? What do they want to see accomplished and how far are they willing to go to make sure it gets done? Better yet what do you want for Nigthclan?"

@zen