[Taxx]

Leaf-fall Day Twenty-five: The air is cold. In the distance grey clouds drift across the sky and the wind brings chills on the breeze.

where there's smoke, there's fire

Smokestar, after her announcement, didn't immediately jump down to join the Clan- her Clan, now. Instead she watched as they circled Valiantstride, congratulated him: Skunkspots and their kits, with others calling the tom's name in accolade. It would be a comfort to most, having a firmly established warrior as her second, and while Valiantstride was older, he still had some moons before he'd reach an age where he would retire as a warrior.

A flash of silver in the corner of her eye drew her attention to Mistcloud and Duskflower, standing close to the nursery. She remembered what she'd said to her mother and sister, and as the Clan broke up to begin their day, she jumped down and turned toward them, eager to tell them in full what she had seen. But when her gaze focused, it was to see a new cat standing in front of her: Brightmane. A spark of annoyance sent her tail flicking, but she forced herself to calm and lifted her chin to gaze back at the ginger warrior. "Something you need to tell me?" she asked, green gaze flicking past at her kin, still waiting patiently.

Smokestar of StoneClan

Made by Fawn || @zen

[Deleted]

Brightmane had gathered with the rest of the Clan at Smokestorm-Smokestar’s call. Hawkstar was dead and the she-cat he had chosen as deputy had already gone to the Moon Tree and received her nine lives. His chance to replace her was gone, but perhaps he could at last ascend to deputyship. He watched her with an intense hunger in his eyes.

"The new deputy of StoneClan will be Valiantstride."

He immediately bristled. What? His head whipped around to find the tom in question as the Clan took up his name in congratulatory calls. Brightmane’s voice did not join them. Why would she choose a warrior with one paw in the elder’s den to serve as her deputy? It wasn’t that he didn’t like Valiantstride, or that he lacked respect for the older tom, but it seemed a waste when he probably wouldn’t serve very long. Meanwhile, he was in his prime, experienced, with moons of service ahead of him.

When Smokestar finally descended from the rock pile, he stalked over to meet her. A flash of annoyance passed over her features as she looked up at him and his ears flattened to his head, “Why would you choose Valiantstride over me? I’ve been working for it my entire life, and you just pass me over! Do you doubt my loyalty to StoneClan?” His tail lashed behind him at the imagined insult. Loyalty to his Clan meant everything to him, more than anything else, more than family. He wanted to be in a position to make decisions for StoneClan’s benefit, and once again it had slipped through his claws.

Taxx

[Taxx]

where there's smoke, there's fire

As much as she didn't want to sit here and chat when she could be telling her mother and sister all about her ceremony and the news she had about Ashpaw... and now Brightmane was standing in her way, literally, ears back and eyes burning with anger. Smokestar's tail flicked back and forth, staring back at the ginger-and-white tom in annoyance. She stiffened, though, at his demand; for a moment she was speechless at his sheer audacity.

She couldn't help a laugh when the surprise wore off. "Are you serious?" she asked, a mocking sort of amusement gleaming in her eyes. "You, as deputy? When have you ever given me reason to think that you could be loyal to me? Oh, sure," she continued. "You've always been for StoneClan; that I can't deny. But me? You challenge me, Brightmane. You question me and challenge me... and now you have the nerve to act surprised and angry that I didn't choose you to be my deputy? Loyalty to StoneClan means loyalty to me, Brightmane. I suggest you get that through your head. Then we'll see."

Smokestar of StoneClan

Made by Fawn || @zen