[Hellion]

[googlefont=Satisfy][googlefont=Lato][googlefont=Nanum Myeongjo][googlefont=Montserrat]

Oh all the money that e'er I spent

I spent it in good company

He hadn't slept. His paws only recently returned to the camp, weary and drained of energy. He had spent the better part of the night watching over Smokestar's body as the elder's groomed her through the night. They buried her at first light. He was the last to return.

Bypassing the camp guards without a word, he noted their faces rightfully stoic. The clan remained silent despite the hinted sunny day to come. Already the foggy morning started to fade, a warm sunbeam found its way through the clouds and fog. Warming the stones underfoot. The sun offered so much promise and came when the clan needed it most.

Lumbering onto the stockpile, Valiantstride struggled with his stiff limbs but utter no complaint. Once settled, he did not call out to his clanmates just yet. Instead, he watched over them. The few who had ventured out at dawn to tend to the borders. Those returning with fresh-kill. Clan life carried on despite the void in their hearts created by the mudslide tragedy. Not only had Smokestar perished, but several of the clan's warriors. Lives swallowed up by the earth, pulled under to drown in such a horrendous way.

He could only hope they went quickly to their warrior ancestors. That they only suffered very little.

From the perch he never wanted, Valiantstride gathered the strength to call forth his clanmates. His voice powerful despite his age, carrying well to bring all his clanmates near.

He watched them gather, sitting on the smoothest of the rocks, tail tucked over his paws. Greying muzzle still and tight, eyes drained from lack of sleep. His head dipped as he spotted a few of the senior warriors, the ones there when the mudslide happened. He wanted to offer them comfort, but not now, his words would be just for them. No need to create a scene.

"I am gathering you all right now to speak of something very important," His voice caught, never in a million days had he expected to stand before StoneClan as their defacto leader. Awareness of the moons his body had lived kept him from thinking of such a day. Even now as it stood before him, Valiantstride remembered the conversation he had with Smokestar. The one that had bee replaying in his head since her body was buried in the earth once again. "Smokestar and I had spoken several moons ago about StoneClan and the leadership of it. I am not a young warrior. The moons of service to StoneClan have caught up to me and we both feared the lives given to me by StarClan would be taken up in payment to my age," It was not a pleasant topic to allude to his age. The ailing joints, the sometimes blurry vision, and the near-constant ringing in his ears. Not a prideful cat by nature, he was one by rank. A weak deputy hinted at a weak clan.

"It was discussed and decided that I would retire in leaf-fall, to live the rest of my moons in peace until I joined StarClan. Smokestar and I talked for many days about which warrior would take my place. Who would become the deputy to replace me," As he spoke the words, his heart threatened to burst out of his chest. Would the clan accept what he was about to do?

"Because I can not accept the lives from StarClan, I will name the new leader of StoneClan in my place. I ask you all to accept this cat as your new leader for it was Smokestar's choice as well as mine. I name Birdtalon to become the next leader of StoneClan," His gaze sought out the solid grey tom in the crowd. Once he did, the golden tabby headed down from the rock pile and in his direction. Pausing half a tail-length away.

"I will be honored to walk with you to Moon Tree if you accept,"

[smear:DAA520]VALIANT[/smear:f8eed3]STRIDE
DEPUTY OF STONECLAN

tags KARAZHAL Fawn Ghost the Undead Goddess:/ words: 670?

[KARAZHAL]

It had taken hours to dig. First to find them, then to bury them. Birdtalon had come home on the brink of hysteria. A large void opened up inside his mind, swallowing all rational thought. His friend Icefang guided him to a large puddle and washed his paws and face for him, turning the water dull and brown from caked-on mud. He didn't eat for hours. She made him lie down, and he didn't move, not until first light, when Icefang returned with muddy paws. Seeing her soaking wet roused the protective instinct in him. He struggled to his feet. His paws felt numb and asleep, and he staggered, falling against her with his dull green eyes blown wide.

"Is this real?" he whispered.

"Yes," she breathed against his neck.

Birdtalon loosed a low, short, mournful yowl. The pain caught up to him then. His shoulders, his legs, everything. It'd been Ebonyheart who had the unfortunate duty of checking Smokestar's tiny corpse. As much as he hated imposing, he hated the idea of her being functionally alone more, and he had the excuse of his strained tendons and lost comrades.

He limped out into camp, grateful for the soft, fine grains of sandy dirt cushioning his worn pads. As he trudged past the big pile, he wearily lifted his head up and saw a familiar golden tabby pelt. Valiantstride... where he should be. He trusted in the old deputy leading them. This time around was easier to accept. He remembered what a jolt it'd been to see Smokestar up there where Hawkstar once perched. This time around... the ritual comforted him. Birdtalon looked around at his clanmates, watching some drop off mice at the fresh-kill pile and others returning smelling strongly of the territory musk.

That's right. Life goes on.

Birdtalon continued onward toward Sandblaze's den when a great voice yowled from atop the Rock Pile. He paused and turned back once more to Valiantstride's visage, for the deputy had called StoneClan to him to make the great announcement. Birdtalon sat down with a wince amidst his clanmates.

"I am gathering you all right now to speak of something very important."

He bit the fatty tissue in his lip. Although his chest tightened, there were no more tears to be had. They'd flooded away with the rain. Valiantstride spoke frankly to them all. Birdtalon looked up with respect for the senior warrior, one of the oldest amongst them. He deserved to live out his moons in peace. As the old golden tabby continued, alluding to talk of a replacement, Birdtalon's nerves began to vibrate. Excitement built to a high tension within him. Who was it? Who would it be? He looked around at his clanmates, and saw them looking too. Then Valiantstride kept speaking, and all their heads craned up.

Somewhere amidst it, he heard his name, and Birdtalon cocked his head. What? His eyes bugged out. His jaw dropped. "Muhhh?" He cleared his throat, swallowing the lump that decided to hibernate in his throat. "Me. Me?" He ran one pawpad against the top of his other leg. "Okay." He nodded slowly at first and then more firmly as he registered that yes Valiantstride had said this name, and no, this was neither a joke nor a drill. "O-kay, yes, this is totally happening," he whispered to himself as Valiantstride stepped off the pile and was really, truly, actually walking in his direction.

Most cats were deputies for a moon or more at least before they became leader. If he skipped that step, would there be cats who resented him? But he had no time to wonder about his shortcomings. Valiantstride stopped and spoke directly to him.

Birdtalon's voice was as harsh and squeaky as a newly-hatched neonate in a nest. "I understand the reasoning behind your choice. It honors me that you and Smokestar thought highly of my performance." He bowed his head to the venerable deputy. "Sir! Please continue your honorable service by remaining deputy of StoneClan, and counsel my young inexperience from now on."

He lifted up his head to meet Valiantstride's eyes. "I accept. It is StarClan's will, and I will defer," he announced, declaring his piety to all.

tags Ghost the Undead Goddess Hellion
notes the boy is SHOOK

( this table coding is copyright of my friend hata )

[Ghost the Undead Goddess]

Ebonyheart,

Livin' in ruins of a palace within my dreams

Her paws were clean, in a technical sense of the term, as the large she-cat applied chewed herbs to the cuts within the pads of one of her warriors. Exhaustion dragged at Dustclaw's green eyes from his time helping shift earth as several Stoneclanners worked to free their buried clanmates. She had already cared for Rabbitfur and Cobrashadow's paws upon their return into camp, tails dragging in defeat behind them. 

It seemed Stoneclan was not yet for peace. 

Was it not that long ago that she stood there and watched as her clanmates mourned the loss of the once long reining figurehead, Hawkstar and his mate. Now those around her had to feel the cracks within their stone hard shells once more, as several lives fell to the crashing boulders of the cliffs. 

Not even Starclan could spare Smokestar and her freshly appointed nine lives. 

The black molly had stood there, waiting to aid any that had been pulled alive from the rubble. Yet, it was not to be and her only purpose at that point was to confirm that those found, had indeed been lost. May they walk with ease and comfort in Starclan, Hawkstar surely there to welcome them home. 

"Take it easy, no hunting patrols and restricted activity until that deep cut heals." Her tone was sharp and proper as always, diverting any possibility that one could attempt at guessing the mood or emotions swirling beneath that long, dark coat of the young medicine cat. Her mind was on a mixture, a multitude of things that mainly involved the wellbeing of Stoneclan and it's currently, rocky future.

Ebonyheart could scent Birdtalon approaching as Dustclaw limped away from her den, though a faint whimper brought the black molly's attention towards the young apprentice curled up within a nest nearby. "Gentle movements Frostpaw, you don't want to re-open that wound."

"I'm tired of lying here." The young niece of the now deceased Smokestar said in a shaky voice, as though she were trying to keep from crying. Frostpaw had wanted to go with the elders when the former leader had been laid to rest for the final time, but Ebonyheart forbade her from leaving camp due to her healing condition. Had she not been in a border skirmish only days earlier, perhaps things would have been different for the youngster. 

"Perhaps that will keep you from jumping cats at the border then." Though she knew the outbreak had started on Lightningclan's side, it didn't stop the irritation of the incident from rising under the long coat of the black molly. At that haunty comment, Frostpaw kept her mouth shut though her watery eyes still flickered with indignation. 

Ebonyheart was not a healer to cross with her well-known crabby temperament.

The sound of the deputy's voice echoing through the camp pulled Ebonyheart away from her young patient, curiosity rising briefly within those pale green eyes before they flickered back into an unreadable mossy hue. "Stay here, and try not to fidget too much." The medicine cat gave her final order as those large, wide paws of hers led her out and into the clearing of Stoneclan's rather open camp.

The familiar gray form of Birdtalon was right there, apparently he had been on his way to her herb scented den when Valiantstride had called out for the rest of the clan. The heavy cloud of misery was almost suffocating as cats began to slink from the shadows of dens and over-hanging boulders. Their eyes all echoed the loss within their chests that they felt so very much.    

She didn't miss the slight rise of relief that flooded through her body at the fact that Birdtalon had not been apart of the party of lost cats. However, as quickly as it appeared, Ebonyheart quickly shoved the feeling down and away. It caused a slight flicker of irritation to her nub tail, unsure of what would cause such unneeded feelings. Perhaps it was just because he was a valuable warrior for the clan, a cat that somehow managed to keep the young healer proper company. 

She was intrigued by Valiantstride's proposal as it fell from the elder aged tomcat. It was true as he said, gray crawling along his legs and muzzle, his moons were up there compared to the more  younger and healthy cats that could take up the mantle of leader when it came to Stoneclan. Ebonyheart had been aware that Valiantstride would eventually help Smokestar name a new deputy due to his growing age.

Never had she guessed that Valiantstride would have to name a new leader instead. 

Flickering her ears in interest, Ebonyheart padded near silently forwards to stand next to the gray form of Birdtalon. Amusement caused a faint wriggle in her whiskers at the shocked sight within his green gaze, though in all honesty, the young healer agreed with Valiantstride's choice for the next leader. Birdtalon was young but experienced and he had a proper attitude and a well placed heart. 

He could easily lead Stoneclan into a more prosperous future...Though he'd need to close his mouth first. 

"Are you going to go up there, or stand here catching flies?" Ebonyheart's sharp tone rumbled softly as she spoke to just the tom she had grown close to over the last few moons. Shifting, the large black feline lifted a wide paw to close her clanmate's gaping jaw, the shock ever present within his whole frozen stature. 

It didn't take long for someone else to chim in, a familiar proper tone as the black and white form of Rabbitfur stepped forwards. She looked weary and suddenly her elder age was apparent upon her tired body, but she proudly lifted her head as she spoke, "I'm intrigued to see how the future treats Stoneclan, Valiantstride has placed us in good paws." 

It was rare for the aging warrioress to compliment anything, but it seemed that like her daughter, Ebonyheart, Birdtalon had found himself wedged in a soft spot within their proper hearts. 

21 Moons StoneClan Medicine Cat Apprentice

Hellion KARAZHAL || Made by Fawn || 1026 Words 

[Fawn]

Skunkspots

72 Moons, Warrior-Queen, StoneClan

Skunkspots could not help herself. When Birdtalon was announced as Smokestar's successor, the black and white she-cat felt her heart unclench with the strength of her relief. Valiantstride was a good warrior. A good deputy. He was her better half, in the truest sense. But that did not stop her from wanting him out of harms way. From wishing, deep down, that he would be soon safe in the elders' den with her right beside him. To follow in the wake of Smokestar's untimely death felt like courting chaos.

Despite these conflicting fears converging on the older StoneClan queen, when Valiantstride stepped down from the rock pile, conceding to Birdtalon, Skunkspots was the first to greet him. "I'm so proud of you," she murmured, brushing her cheek against his in the briefest of nuzzles. Though the seasons of familiarity and patience had turned her affectionate with her family, she still wasn't one for public displays. That would be later, when they were all together - her, him, and their two grown children.

Cicadasong and Beetlejaw were only a whiskerlength away. Their daughter gazed at Valiantstride with obvious warmth, though glimmers of lingering fear were apparent in her eyes. "What happens now, Dad?" Cicadasong whispered.

"We carry on," grunted Beetlejaw, who gazed forelornly in the direction of where Smokestar's burial procession had so recently returned.

Smokefur was not the only StoneClanner buried. Skunkspots' gaze fell to the hunched forms of Honeynose and Cloverspring, the she-cats grieving the loss of their brother especially hard. Honeynose looked the picture of utter defeat, and Skunkspots shivered. If Ospreywing had gone on that patrol in place of Sedgefrost, she'd be the one mourning right now - not the two sisters.

Life is cruel. Does it ever stop being this way? Over sixty moons and somehow she was still asking herself this question. "Look after them, Fallenleaf. Please." Skunkspots murmured a soft prayer to the she-cat who had taught her and loved her so much more than she could ever have loved herself. Exhaling gently, the black and white feline took a few short steps away from Valiantstride, intercepting Birdtalon before he could reach the golden tom.

"I hope you last longer than Smokestar," Skunkspots almost missed her son's flinch, as if her words had hit him somehow. Her ears flattened in brief worry, but she pushed on, trying to find the words for StoneClan's newest leader. "I mean it. It's not good for the Clan to be shaken up like this. There aren't many cats left, from Hawkstar's time... but those of us that remember him, we remember being comfortable. Safe. I hope you can bring that feeling back to StoneClan. Travel safely, and return quickly." You are needed, Birdtalon.

With an embarrassed shrug, Skunkspots retreated into herself emotionally and physically, stepping back to join Valiantstride's side. There was an air of unease about him making the trip to the Moon Tree, and so many unspoken fears seemed to hang around the she-cat like mist. She was getting better at not letting her anxieties eat her alive; but she couldn't kill her demons completely.

No one could.

When I'm all alone, they show up on their own
Inner demons don't play by the rules

Original code by Phoenix | KARAZHAL Phoenix Hellion | 520 Words | Notes: Skunkspots' last post!

[Abyss]

I'm a sinner, I'm a saint. I do not feel ashamed.

As depressing as it sounded, it almost seemed normal for Stoneclan to be down in spirits. Nearly everyone carried solemn expressions on their faces as they walked through camp. Some of these cats had lost family members, some of them had lost best friends. But all of them had lost something together: a Leader.

Smokestar hadn’t been Leader very long. Not long at all. But in the time that she had been, it seemed as though tensions began to grow within the clan, and outside of it. Of course, Smokestar wasn’t completely to blame for Lightningclan’s shows of aggression and pestering. But it was likely that she had not done a service towards it.

Regardless of the thoughts the clan carried about their fallen Leader, they still came together to share the burden, for the most part. Some clung to one another in sadness while others kept to themselves, watching from a distance.

Maplethorn found herself to be one of these cats, watching her clanmates from the sidelines while they all moped around camp. Yes, the event had been quite troublesome for the whole clan. They had lost multiple Warriors and their Leader, neither of which were good. But the towering calico found no reason to lower her head or wallow in sadness over such losses. She hadn’t really known any of the cats who had been lost to the mudslide, including Smokestar. She hadn’t cared to speak to the dilute calico during her time as Leader, nor did the Leader speak to her. Unlike many of her clanmates, she didn’t view the loss of Smokestar as a loss of a friend. It was a loss of the clan’s Leader, and nothing more. Not too long previous they had lost Hawkstar as well, though many cats of the clan had been closer to the tabby tom than they had been to the calico. Hawkstar had been leading Stoneclan for much of Maplethorn’s life. He had also been there when she and her previous mate had gotten into their skirmish in the middle of camp. This already brought her closer to him than she was to Smokestar.

Thankfully, it seemed as though the clan would not be Leaderless for long. She watched from the darkness of camp as the golden and black tabby form of Valiantstride jumped upon the Rock Pile, calling out to the clan. While most of the clan gathered right beneath the tom, the large calico only walked close enough that she could hear more clearly. She was able to see over many of the cats before her, so she felt no need to join the crowd.

As the tom spoke, the large she-cat flicked her tail. She found herself wondering, and somewhat believing, that the tom atop the stone would take over the rank of Leader, as a Deputy normally did. But this was shot down pretty quickly as he stated that he would be retiring soon and that the given lives would be wasted on a cat as old as he. He wasn’t wrong, truthfully, but at the same time, if the tom who had served as Deputy wasn’t going to claim Leadership, who would?

Rather than jump to conclusions, she waited to see what would happen. As Valiantstride continued his speech, and it came to the end, dark eyes narrowed.

“Choosing a cat who has absolutely no experience with being a Deputy, much less a Leader, to lead this clan.” The statement was said more to herself than anyone else, and was maybe only loud enough for a few cats to hear. Luckily, the chances of the Deputy or the new chosen Leader catching her words was slim to none.

Maplethorn watched as the two toms spoke to one another, the surprise and dumbfoundedness on Birdtalon’s face visible even from afar. She heard his acceptance of the role and his request for the other to remain his Deputy for a while, causing one ear to flick.

“Keep your wits about you and lead this clan as it should be led.” Once more, words spoken aloud but not necessarily to those they were based around. It would be interesting to watch the gray tom’s progress. She could only hope that he wouldn’t end up throwing Stoneclan into a heap of trouble due to his inexperience.

Maplethorn

Stoneclan Warrioress

719 | Tags | Notes