WindClan's Deputy Ceremony

Lilacstar. That was a name she would have to get used to, as well as her new position. But right now she needed a deputy. The cat that would remain by her side through these perilous times. And she had a pretty good idea of who she wanted that cat to be. So she kept that cat in mind as she climbed the tall rock, preparing for her first act as leader since she had gotten her lives.

Lilacstar had been up here once before, when Gingertalon had been slain, but it was not until now that she truly took the moment in. The rock was worn smooth beneath her paws from generations of leaders come before her. She was able to see every Clan member in the camp, and non-Clan member, as she towered above them. But that is not how she wanted to run her Clan. Lilacstar may have nine lives, she may have been a leader, but she was equal to her Clanmates. She would hold this meeting from the ground.

Stepping down, she took a large breath before calling out. "Let all cats old enough to run the moors gather around the tall rock for a Clan meeting!"

Shrikestorm padded out into the clearing, looking towards the Tallrock. Things had been crazy for WindClan, between the Asylum cats taking over their camp and a new leader and deputy. It was enough to make his head spin, but he remained as calm as he could. The clan needed to continue, regardless of who was in charge. Still, he stared quizzically at Lilacstar standing on the ground before them. Why wasn't she on the Tallrock? Oh well: questions for another time.

The words of a Clan leader held power - not in a physical sense, but in the culture of the Clans - and so it was that Zinnia gathered with her clanmates at the call. Her adopted daughter stood not on the Tallrock, as she would have expected, but eye-to-eye with them: an interesting choice, and a sign that she was not any of the cats that had preceded her. That she was a leader, yes, but her own leader.

A surge of pride rushed through her as she watched her adopted daughter, waiting to hear the words each cat was no doubt eagerly awaiting. To learn who she would choose to serve as her second in command, who she would place that trust in.

You're already doing amazing, Lilacstar.

Downtuft nodded with agreement to Lilacstar. She was on the ground as if she was one of them; because she was. They were united as one, as WindClan and WindClan alone. He sat beside Shyfawn by the medicine den, keeping a close eye on both the elderly queen and his sister. You're doing good, kid.

Shyfawn smiled beside Downtuft. The ginger tom took his position as her guard very seriously. "She'll be a great leader," Shyfawn mused, blinking fondly at the young she-cat. She had a large burden to bear, and yet she seemed to do so very well. "You're right. I wonder who her deputy will be? Clearstone, Foxspirit? They're both good warriors. Either way, I'm sure she'll make a good choice." He mused, thoughts aloud.

The past few sunrises had practically flashed before Dayspring’s eyes. The switch in power from Olivestar to Lilacstar had been swift and smooth, or at least that was what the she-cat was able to see on a surface level, and she could feel her heart welling with pride as she lifted her head from where it had been gingerly resting on her paws and glanced over at WindClan’s newest leader. Pride was a feeling that she hadn’t felt in over a moon, but today there seemed to be fresh air circulating through the camp that she called home. Olivestar would be missed, but Dayspring was sure that Lilacstar would carry the Clan well.

The warrior silently padded forwards to join her Clanmates as they gathered around the new leader who had chosen to hold the meeting from an untraditional spot: the ground. As she settled down near the edge of the crowd, she could feel the tiniest of smiles appear on her typically fearful face, but it vanished almost as quickly as it arrived.

Spotlake padded out of the nursery, at the sound of Lilacstar's call. She sat down next to Mintflower, her eyes glancing towards the elderly she-cat, before towards the Tall rock. But she didn't see Lilacstar on it. Her eye shifted down and saw that Lilacstar was on the ground, sitting with Windclan. An intersting choice, but I agree with it. She thought. Her eyes glanced around camp for a moment, glad to see that there were no visible Asylum cats. A moment of peace, for Windclan.

Once Lilacstar was happy with the amount of cats that were present she continued. There was a visible relaxation in her shoulders as none of the cats opposed her odd decision, and even saw glances of approval. "As you all know, it is time I choose a deputy to stand beside me as I work to lead you all, not above the Clan, but among it. And I come to you all with the decision I have made." She really hoped she was doing this right, as she had only seen one deputy appointed in her lifetime.

"I say these words among my Clanmates so that you may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of WindClan will be Dayspring. You have a kind heart and bright spirit Dayspring, and Downtuft had done a wonderful job as your mentor. If you would be willing, I would love you by my side to help guide WindClan out of the darkness and back into the light." Her eyes shone as she gave the Clan time to congratulate Dayspring, hopeful they agree with what she had chosen.

Downtuft pricked his ears as Lilacstar began speaking. He inhaled sharply and sputtered, coughing and wheezing on air. Shyfawn padded his back with a paw lightly and as Downtuft looked up his eyes were shiny with tears and a wide grin laced his maw. A purr rumbled in his throat and he bounded towards Dayspring like a hare. "Kittenfluff -- you- you're deputy!" Downtuft laughed like a newborn kit as he affectionately bumped Dayspring's shoulder.

So this was a mentor's pride. He'd thought he'd been proud when Dayspring received her warrior name, but that didn't hold a candle to the flame of pride in his chest. Then he remembered the Asylum. He paused mid laugh and looked around. Would being deputy put Dayspring in even more danger? Would she be punished if anyone retaliated? No. He couldn't think negatively.

His purr resuming he stepped back and looked at Dayspring with immeasurable love. "You'll do great, Day. Make WindClan proud." Tears shining in his eyes, he began the chant, voice loud and piercing with abundant joy. "Dayspring! Dayspring!"

Shyfawn looked with alarm as Downtuft started heaving, but a moment later after gentle padding he was up, abd he was grinning from ear to ear. His grin shocked Shyfawn, and she stifled a laugh. When was the laugh time she'd seen him that happy? With a youthful innocent he bounded up to his former apprentice and congratulated her. Shyfawn hadn't seen his this lively in moons. If only Softbreeze could see this.

"Dayspring! Dayspring!"

Amberfluff watched from within the crowd, a small, fond grin on her face. She was barely aware of her expression. Lilacsong...She was doing so well for someone who had just stepped into a leadership position for the very first time. And to think of how long ago it was when she was just an Apprentice...

However, at the same time, Amberfluff felt this weird feeling rising in her chest directed to Dayspring. It tasted like crow-food, rising in her chest thickly, stinging her as it went up. Everywhere it went, a burning sting followed. Amberfluff felt her fur rising and quickly pushed it down. No, she can’t show this outwardly.

This feeling...What was it? Amberfluff thought quickly. She needed to know what the feeling was to stop it. And with that thought, a single word rose to her mind.

Jealousy.

But why was she jealous? What was she jealous for? It couldn’t be the deputy position, right? But how? Why?

Amberfluff forced back her racing thoughts, pushed her face back into a neutral expression, and forced her gaze back onto Lilacstar.

((OOC: She’s actually jealous about Dayspring stealing Lilacsong’s attention in case you’re wondering))

The sharpest jolt of cold ice seemed to shoot through Dayspring's veins the moment that Lilacstar spoke her name. Time seemed to stand still for a few heartbeats as the she-cat instantly spaced out. In the grand scheme of things, she wasn't even that old of a warrior. Certainly there were other senior warriors within the Clan that possessed the experience to properly hold the deputy position. What had Dayspring done for WindClan besides jump with fright at any sound and overthink everything? With the Asylum amongst them and Leaf-bare still serving as an enemy against the forest, the last thing that WindClan needed right now was cats in power that were incompetent, and that was exactly what she was. When the newly-appointed deputy came back to her senses, she realized that she had been staring straight into the middle of nowhere. She was used to putting on different facades for different cats that she came across, but Dayspring suddenly came to the harsh conclusion that now, as WindClan's deputy, she would have to act brave at every moment of the day for their sake. She felt her heart begin to sink as another smile returned to light up her features.

Downtuft's sudden enthusiasm took her by surprise. Dayspring was unsure if she had ever seen her mentor this happy before. At least he was there for her... perhaps she would go to him if she ever needed advice.
"Thank you, Downtuft," She purred, nodding quickly, "I'll do my best."
With that, her name began to echo through the camp clearing as her Clanmates chanted with delight. The sound made her sick to her stomach. How was she supposed to blend in with everyone else if she was now in charge of helping Lilacstar lead the exact same cats that she was trying to blend in with? Attention... oh, how she absolutely loathed attention... and now it would be on her almost all the time. Dayspring met the congratulations of her Clanmates with a gleeful smile and repetitive words of thanks, but she couldn't help but feel weak.