Choices and Options

Fear. Anger. Betrayal. There was so many emotions that ran though Mapleclaw as she listened to the faint roar of the water that had flooded the RiverClan camp. As she sat perched on the fence that bordered the farm, she quietly weighed the emotions inside her, trying to figure out which one to act upon. While each emotion would lead to different actions, one goal was set in her mind. It was time for new leadership in RiverClan...Reedstar had to die.

Of course, she had reasons behind such a tragic choice. It was clear that StarClan was unhappy with RiverClan and thus had sent the great flood. Of course, a flood of that size had to mean that whoever StarClan was angry at had a position of power, didn't it? The only cats that had power in RiverClan was Lichencloud, RiverClan's new full Medicine Cat, and then herself and Reedstar. Lichencloud was out, and knowing that she had done nothing wrong, that left Reedstar as the sole reason that Mapleclaw could see for StarClan sending that storm.

The deputy sneered and flickered her tail as she thought about Reedstar. Whatever he had done, she had to fix it! And the only way she saw that possible was that she became the leader of RiverClan. With a huff, she turned and hopped down from the fence. She paused for a second, looking around before clearing her throat a bit as she took a small step forward. "Lichencloud?" she whispered in a hush tone, hoping that the Medicine Cat would indeed meet her out. She had requested to speak to the cat in private, as she wanted to know his option on the matter. Medicines cats were close to StarClan after all!



Occ: Hello! If you are reading this...Congrats, you can read. Anywho, this is the first part in my plot in Mapleclaw becoming leader of RiverClan. I've already run what I want to happen with Sleepy, and he is okay with it so yay~ Of course, I am willing to state a better reason on why Mapleclaw wants Reedstar dead (just to make it clear for those who aren't completely sure of her reasoning)

As a kit, Mapleclaw heard the stories of the Deos and how in all, StarClan defeated their so called 'gods.' For Mapleclaw, it only made sense that to beat gods, you had to be a god themself, right? And thus, Mapleclaw started to see StarClan as all powerful beings which in some sense, had power over everything. Everything that happened, in her mind, was due to StarClan's will and not fate. She also for some reason thought that she was perfect. She became a strong believer in StarClan, but also was prideful and knew that one day she would become leader as she was the perfect cat in StarClan's eyes. So when she become deputy, her ego and faith in StarClan only grew stronger...Until the flood. With the flood destroying the camp and took the life of RiverClan cats, Mapleclaw started to question to herself why StarClan would want such a thing...Until she relized that they were angry at someone. Not completely realizing that StarClan couldn't control the weather, she started to ask herself who StarClan would want to use such a strong force against, and her eyes fell onto Reedstar, and so she now figures he should be punished. Of course, some of the reason why she wants Reedstar dead so badly might not come completely from this reason, but from her own ego and believing that she should be Maplestar one day...And yea. That is really it for now.

Lichencloud stood from where he was sitting near the fence. His fur was sticking out slightly on his white chest so he leaned over and licked it clean. After it was all fixed, Lichencloud looked back up to the RiverClan deputy. His paws hurt, as he had been on his feet for the last couple of days. He was only slightly tired, and was about to lay down to sleep when Mapleclaw requested to speak with him. Worried that it was something very wrong, he agreed quickly. Now he stood there in the starlight, his light green eyes glittering. "I'm here, Mapleclaw." he spoke softly, sitting back down with his tail curled over his toes.

Mapleclaw's eyes gleamed when she saw the medicine cat, and quickly hurried over to him. Her gaze flickered around the farm, as if making sure that none of their Clanmates were lurking around. No else needed to hear her plot...She knew most wouldn't see how it was for the greater good...But maybe, just maybe Lichencloud would. She cleared her throat, sitting down across from him as she wrapped her tail around her paws. "Thank you for meeting me," she said in a hush tone, making it clear that she didn't want to be overheard. "I want to know your option on a plan I have."

Lichencloud tilted his head to the side, his green eyes becoming sparked with interest. "Oh?" he asked, just as softly, leaning closer to the she-cat. "I can listen." he twitched his ear, letting out a soft purr. "What is it?" Curiosity filled his entire stomach, and he waited with anticipation for her to reply.

Silence came from Mapleclaw, trying to think how to word it...Before lowering her head a bit. Never had she felt so worried about something. In all of the moments she spent plotting and planning, she had felt good with the goal but now explaining it...It ate at her for some reason, but finally she cleared her throat and stood up, staring at Lichencloud with a faint sad look in her gaze. "I think StarClan is angry at Reedstar, and that he shouldn't be leader any more." It felt so weird to say in the open, but yet it felt so right. "The flood, I think it was an omen that StarClan isn't happy with his leadership. After all, this is the first time something like this had happen in...Moons! I didn't hear about any floods as worst as this one, even in all of the time that Froststar was leader." Another moment of silence, before she sighed softly. "StarClan being unhappy with Reedstar's leadership is the only reason I can see for them to send such a horrible flood. I have no true power in the Clan, and there is no way you have done anything wrong." Behind the faint sadness in Mapleclaw's eyes, there sparked something else...Greed, perhaps? Some part of her that truly just wanted the spot of leader for herself, no matter what StarClan thought? Whatever it was, it disappeared quickly as she shook her head and waited for Lichencloud to speak.

Lichencloud didn't say anything for a while. His head was whirling with thoughts. His gaze turned to the ground and he kneaded hid paws from side to side. A habit formed when he was a young apprentice. He swept his eyes to the stars for a few heartbeat before looking Mapleclaw in the eyes. Lichencloud looked at her instantly, her words slowly making sense. Slowly, he nodded. "It's true, really. Besides the Deos thing a long while ago, nothing has happened to RiverClan this drastic. And besides, that was to all four clans." Lichencloud quieted down once more before asking what was burning in his mind. "How are you planning on... removing his leadership? As far as I know, there is no ceremony for that."

Mapleclaw's gaze grew hard as she turned her gaze toward the faint sound of the raging river, a small hiss coming from under her breath. "I have also thought about that, and I only see one true way to do it. The only solution I see is killing Reedstar. It isn't a solution that I like, but there is no way that Reedstar will just step down. He will claim that he isn't the source of the problem, but there is no other way it could be anybody else!" Her claws dug into the ground as she shook her head with a small sigh. "Perhaps in death he will see the error that he had caused, and why everything had to end the way it was, but I do believe that I will have to become leader soon other wise more cats might die as StarClan attempts to show their omens against Reedstar."

Lichencloud froze. Kill Reedstar? At first he didn't like the idea until slowly, it began to sink in that it was the only way. Still, he took a few heartbeats to decide what to say. Slowly, he nodded. "I... agree." he said deliberately, almost as if he was testing out the words before he spoke them. "When do you plan on doing this?"

Another moment of silence came from Mapleclaw as she shifted from paw to paw. She started to wonder if telling the medicine cat was the best option...What if he betrayed her and told Reedstar her plot...No, he wouldn't do that. "In a few sunrises," she muttered darkly, but a small smile started to appear on her lips. It was the idea of being Maplestar finally that caused the smile, and she thought how wonderful that day would be when she got her nine lives from StarClan. Oh how she would make them so proud! RiverClan would blossom under her leadership, and Reedstar would see that everything had been for the greater good! And when she went to StarClan, they would welcome her with open paws! A small purr ran down her body at the thought. Yes, she would be the best leader StarClan would ever see.

Lichencloud nodded, clearing his throat. "Alright." he said, more confidently this time. "What do you want me to do?"

Mapleclaw paused, looking at the medicine cat. She had really only came to him for his option, but she started to run though ideas that could involve Lichencloud. Finally, she grinned. "I want you to keep a close eye on Reedstar. If I started to watch him, he would know something is up but you...You can just say that you are worried for his well-being. I don't want him knowing my plans, so he is unable to act upon it until it is to late. He must pay for his crimes..." Whatever they are. She added silently. Perhapes she should of been asking herself what Reedstar had done wrong, but she didn't truthfully care. StarClan was mad, and that was all that she cared about. "If he starts to think something is up, I want you to warn me. Alright?"

Lichencloud nodded and stodd. "Sure, Mapleclaw. I can do that." He gave a small purr. "I have to go now, but I'll do as you wish."

Another grin appeared on Mapleclaw's face as she nodded toward the medicine cat, also getting to her paws. "I should head back to the barn also. Don't want Reedstar to think something is up." She started to walk off, but she paused after a few steps and looked back at the tom. "Thank you, Lichencloud..." she said in a hush tone, giving him a soft smile. "It is good to know that somebody thinks that what I am doing is right."