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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2019 3:02:52 GMT -5
The entire journey back from the Moon Tree had been spent thinking about which cat to choose for her deputy, and also what names to give Sootfeather’s kits. Darkstar was determined that her return would be a triumphant new beginning for NightClan, and that would begin with a new deputy to round out their leadership properly once more, and three long overdue warrior ceremonies to show the Clan that they were strong and growing stronger every day. They had made it through without a leader, they had not fallen apart. They had survived and now they were going to thrive.
Exhaustion dragged at her paws as they finally crossed over the scentline and back into NightClan territory, but being back home lent her renewed energy. She could rest after she gave NightClan their peace of mind back. Charging ahead, she slipped back into camp and padded forward to stand in the center of the main cavern. Cats welcomed her back, they called her new name, at first questioningly, but when she nodded, others began to greet her with more confidence.
By the time the rest of her patrol returned to camp, a buzz of conversation had been taken up and the Clan was well aware of their return. In the milling cats, she sought out one face in particular, and as soon as she’d found it she made her way to the boulder ledge. She did not call for the Clan to gather, for they already were, crowding around eagerly. She raised her tail for silence and waited until the chatter fell quiet, “StarClan has granted me nine lives and my new name. NightClan is without a leader no longer!” There were some cheers, some murmurs of reservation. There had been other cats others had wanted to see take up leadership. She had not been every cat’s first choice, but she would prove to them all she was the right choice.
She lifted her voice, finding her choice in the crowd, “I say these words before StarClan, that the spirits of our warrior ancestors may hear and approve my choice. The new deputy of NightClan is Rainfur!” The silver tabby looked shocked, murmurs rippled through the crowd, and then congratulations and calls of the new deputy’s name were taken up. Rainfur was a good cat, level headed, decently popular in the Clan, though she had never seemed particularly ambitious to Darkstar. Perhaps that was for the best. As Foxstar had said, she did not need a successor, simply a partner.
Rainfur dipped her head as soon as the rest of the Clan fell silent again, “Thank you, Darkstar. It is an honor to be chosen. I will serve NightClan to the best of my ability, as always.”
Darkstar nodded, but did not leap down to bring the meeting to an end. Another soft murmuring went through the Clan but fell away again as she once more raised her voice, “NightClan has survived this trial of uncertainty and we are stronger for it! A new leader, a new deputy, and now we have three new warriors to add to our ranks. Gracklepaw, Cinderpaw, Privetpaw, step forward.” When the three of them had, she continued, “All three of you have waited long enough for this moment and have long since proven yourselves as capable warriors of NightClan. I, Darkstar, leader of NightClan, call upon our warrior ancestors to look down upon these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn. Gracklepaw, Cinderpaw, Privetpaw… do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend NightClan, even at the cost of your lives?”
She paused to hear their affirmative answers, and when they had been given, continued, “Then by the powers of StarClan, I grant you your warrior names. Gracklepaw, from this moment, you will be known as Gracklestrike. StarClan honors your strength and your loyalty.” Darkstar fell quiet for a few heartbeats to give the newly named warrior her moment to shine, several calls of her name rose from those gathered before the Clan fell silent, waiting for the next name.
Her fiery gaze shifted to Cinderpaw, “Cinderpaw, from this moment, you will be known as Cinderfur. StarClan honors your intelligence and your dependability.” Again she paused to allow Cinderfur his own moment, and finally ended with Privetpaw. “We welcome you as full warriors of NightClan!” All three young warriors’ names were taken up in a chant then and Darkstar leaped down from her perch, padding toward the three of them, “Remember, you will keep silent vigil as you guard the Clan while we sleep today. I'm sure your kin will have nests ready for you in the warriors’ den once your vigil is over.” She glanced toward her new den, but did not retreat to it just yet, “Your mother asked me let you all know how proud of you she is. She sacrificed her life for yours, you honor her today with your accomplishments.”
Newleaf 22 - Migratory birds pass on as they head back to their homes, the flocks providing a spike in uncommon prey. NPC Deputy for now! Taxx Hellion
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Post by Taxx on May 7, 2019 19:01:13 GMT -5
CINDERFUR NIGHTCLAN rather be the hunter than the prey
Cinderpaw was as awake as any of NightClan's cats. He had missed Darkstorm's leaving, he learned when he'd been woken to hunt. With the medicine cats leading and a group of she-cats behind her- Hollystorm, Crowflame, Graywolf, and his sister Gracklepaw- she'd set off to the Moon Tree to get her lives. She was probably there by now, the tom guessed, since the sun was down and the first faint stars were beginning to appear.
That, however, was not his concern, and so he'd put it out of his mind and made the most of the good hunting of newleaf. Chores had followed his return- the elders fed, the dens cleared of old, stale moss, and then he'd claimed a moment for himself with Privetpaw, watching as some young kits rolled themselves and their littermates in the dust.
The faint line of dawn on the horizon was visible when the camp guard stiffened and then relaxed, mewing a welcome to the returning patrol, and Darkstorm padded back into the camp with the rest. No- Darkstar. The question was asked and answered, and there was a sense of relief that finally they had a leader again. As worn as they all looked, NightClan's new leader wasted no time in calling a meeting. He saw Crowflame, whose paws had been dragging, settle at the back with lowered head and drooping eyes. She'd be asleep the moment she got to her nest, Cinderpaw mused, as he turned his attention again to Darkstar and listened.
He called Rainfur's name with the rest, and then his focus sharpened as the black she-cat called him, Gracklepaw and Privetpaw forward. Cats glanced back at him and then shifted to let him by, eyes gleaming with understanding; at the front, the young tom stood next to his brother and sister and waited, tail lifted and anticipation curling in his belly.
Gracklestrike. Now if that wasn't fitting for the fiery she-cat, he didn't know what was. The Clan cheered, Cinderpaw and Privetpaw with them. And then it was his turn, head lifted as Darkstar addressed him. She asked the question asked of every apprentice before they were named warriors, and though his answer was the same as countless before, this was still different because it was his moment, his vow.
"I do." The sense of accomplishment at his name flowed through him as he lifted his chin and listened to the Clan calling his warrior name to the stars. Privetshade was last, and vaguely Cinderfur wondered if she'd gone in the order of birth on purpose. Well, it didn't matter, he supposed. They all had their names, and their new lives as full warriors started now.
Darkstar leapt down to face the three, and Cinderfur blinked at her message, his gaze lifting toward the sky and then widening at the slow flash of light that came as it trailed across the sky- was that Sootfeather, giving him a sign that she truly was watching them? "Thank you, Darkstar. Did she give you a life, then?" That was a nice thought- more than the three of them, the idea that part of their mother's spirit lay in one of the lives Darkstar possessed to aid in her leading of NightClan.
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Post by Fawn on May 20, 2019 12:40:42 GMT -5
curiosity is not a sin... ...but we should exercise caution with our curiosity Shadowchaser Are you watching, Hollowcry? You must be so proud of her. The journey to this point had been long, taking both a physical toll and an emotional toll on all cats involved. Darkstar stood triumphant upon the boulder ledge, and Shadowchaser again embraced that numbing, tingling sense of relief at the stability. At first, he'd been doubtful... The near-disaster at the TreeClan border hadn't instilled much confidence in Darkstar's choices, but his sister, ever the ambitious, ever the devoted, had proved she was willing to rise to the challenge of leadership.
And it's my job to counsel her and be StarClan's envoy. Shadowchaser had always been keenly aware of the weight of being a medicine cat, but now there was a change in status quo; the Clan leader was his sister, his littermate, and just as Smokefur had challenged and stood up to Ravenstar, Shadowchaser knew he would have to show just as much mettle if he was to be any use to the Clan.
NightClan had suffered long enough without a proper leader; the loss of Briarthroat still pained select members of the Clan, but Shadowchaser, his eyes full of the vision of Darkstar proclaiming three new warriors into their ranks, ardently hoped she would win them over in the end.
"Cinderfur! Privetshade! Gracklestrike!" Shadowchaser's voice cracked a little from tiredness, but he cheered as heartily as the others. Winding his slender chestnut form through the gathering crowd, Shadowchaser touched Cinderfur's shoulder with his tail. "Congratulations, Cinderfur. I'm proud of what you've accomplished."
And I know your mother is too. Darkstar thought this too, for she shared a private message with Sootfeather's three kits. Shadowchaser politely excused himself, wanting their private moment to stay private. He was a medicine cat, but he was not privy to everyone's business at all times. Stars, I could sleep for a half-moon. The stress of waiting at Darkstorm's side, the competing thoughts rattling between his ears at StarClan's reception of her had worn him out.
But, for the time being, he could genuinely smile and sleep knowing that the Clan had some solid ground under their paws once more. NightClan had been reborn. medicine cat of nightclan @zen Taxx Hellion | jk rowling | background image | table by phoenix
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