Post by KARAZHAL on Sept 21, 2020 18:45:38 GMT -5
Birdstar waited until most of the Clan was in for the evening before he approached the Rock Pile. He gave himself a few licks to freshen up after having eaten. After a quick washing of his face, he cleared his throat and mounted the shelf of rock that had served as StoneClan's announcing place for generations. Just as he had with the elder ceremony of Sandblaze, he felt the warmth of StarClan settle around his shoulders, their grace descending upon him from above. A season had since passed. It was almost Leaf-fall, and now he and Valiantstride understood that it was time.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather around the pile for a clan meeting!" he yowled to his clan.
He waited for all of them to mill before him, but his eyes were on Skunkspots and Valiantstride, loving mates and both of them deserving joined rest within the Elder's Den after moons and moons of service. As the golden tabby and pied she-cat took their places, Birdstar finally called to them, giving them a deep bow of his head.
"Is it your wish to give up the ranks of warriors and join the elders side by side?" he asked. They did not even have to look to each other for reassurance. Birdstar saw their tails lay across each other's and entwine as they craned their heads to him and answered, "It is."
"Your Clan honors you and all the service you have given to us. I call upon StarClan to give you many moons of rest." Birdstar smiled down at them as they turned together. The Clanmates behind them split apart to form an aisle, and the two lovers strode toward the Elder's Den to the chants of their younger compatriots. In another life, Valiantstride would have been the one announcing such a thing to his own mate, but it seemed right this way, that way they would never be apart.
And now, he had another announcement to make. The chants died down, and the Clan turned expectantly to the gray tom still standing upon the Rock Pile. "I say these words before StarClan, so that the spirits of our warrior ancestors may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of StoneClan... is Sorrelclaw." He had paused to briefly seek her out in the crowd. The fiery she-cat's eyes widened. She glanced side to side at her fellow warriors for a moment before trotting ahead to accept the position.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather around the pile for a clan meeting!" he yowled to his clan.
He waited for all of them to mill before him, but his eyes were on Skunkspots and Valiantstride, loving mates and both of them deserving joined rest within the Elder's Den after moons and moons of service. As the golden tabby and pied she-cat took their places, Birdstar finally called to them, giving them a deep bow of his head.
"Is it your wish to give up the ranks of warriors and join the elders side by side?" he asked. They did not even have to look to each other for reassurance. Birdstar saw their tails lay across each other's and entwine as they craned their heads to him and answered, "It is."
"Your Clan honors you and all the service you have given to us. I call upon StarClan to give you many moons of rest." Birdstar smiled down at them as they turned together. The Clanmates behind them split apart to form an aisle, and the two lovers strode toward the Elder's Den to the chants of their younger compatriots. In another life, Valiantstride would have been the one announcing such a thing to his own mate, but it seemed right this way, that way they would never be apart.
And now, he had another announcement to make. The chants died down, and the Clan turned expectantly to the gray tom still standing upon the Rock Pile. "I say these words before StarClan, so that the spirits of our warrior ancestors may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of StoneClan... is Sorrelclaw." He had paused to briefly seek her out in the crowd. The fiery she-cat's eyes widened. She glanced side to side at her fellow warriors for a moment before trotting ahead to accept the position.
