Flintshard's Elder Ceremony

ShadowClan's new deputy had been named, but Murkystar hadn't yet climbed down from Jaggedrock. There was one more ceremony to do tonight, one she had been dreading since they had discussed it. While the clan was still gathered beneath her, the excitement from Frostgaze's naming dying down, she called out to them again. "There is one more ceremony to complete tonight. Flintshard, your step away from leadership has been recognized by our ancestors in StarClan, and now it is time for it to be recognized here. Your name is no longer Flintstar, but Flintshard, as it was before you took the helm of leadership of ShadowClan, a duty that you carried with great care. Your sacrifices for our clan will never be forgotten, carried on through stories by our clanmates for lifetimes to come." Now that she thought about it, she had never experienced an elder ceremony, having been out of camp when Shira was made an elder. She lashed her tail once as she chose her next words carefully before continuing. "Flintshard, your injury is a grievous one, but I want to be sure - is it your wish to join the elders?"

Flintshard's ears twitched from where he had been sitting at the edge of the leader's den, a stone carefully being held in his jaw. He had ducked inside of his - no, Murkystar's den - as she had gathered the Clan. He couldn't very well leave his mother's stone in there - it was his to care for, to watch over. He wasn't ready to cease that just yet. He had said nothing as the deputy was called, although there was a rumble of pride for the young Frostgaze before he pushed himself awkwardly to his paws and padded forward - knowing what was to come. He weaved his way to the center of the clearing, carefully dropping the two-toned rock as he looked up at the newly named leader as she spoke.

"It is," he rasped as the question was asked - already content with how things had shaken out. He had assumed he would keep the mantle of leader til his death - following the footsteps of his mother and grandfather. Retirement...It had never seemed an option to him, and while it had been a rude awakening upon realizing that he couldn't keep up with his duties - he couldn't jump, he couldn't hunt, he couldn't fight...

There was a calm acceptance to it. The world was cruel...Yet he had been lucky, offered a chance rarely given to the cats of the Clans - retirement. Rest. To see his Clan grow with living breaths - not from the stars above.

He was ready... He was okay with this.

Murkystar nodded, eyes glittering with emotion as she struggled to keep her voice steady. Flintstar had been a given, a seemingly invulnerable source of protection and leadership. And here she was, sending him to the elders den. It was an honor, but one that weighed heavily on her heart. "Then it is my honor to acknowledge your request. ShadowClan honors your strength and courage, and your calm and steady paws of leadership through the moons. May you have many more of peace and rest." She concluded, drawing the meeting to a close as she made her way down Jaggedrock to stand before Flintshard. "I promise to lead our clan with the same devotion and care that you did." She mewed, lowering her head respectfully before turning to find Mistyfalcon. She was exhausted, her paws ached, echoing the pain in her heart and mind, and she longed to settle into her nest. Instinct turned her paws to the warriors den, but she paused after a couple steps, sudden realization washing over her. The warriors den was no longer where she would rest - instead it would be the leader's den. She slowly turned to face it, blinking slowly as she stared at the entrance for a moment before turning away. One more night in the comfort of her shared nest with Mistyfalcon wouldn't hurt anything. She could worry about getting a nest in the leader's den the next day, after a good night's rest.

Basilpaw watched her mother give Flintshard his new title of elder, and a bittersweet feeling washed over her heart.  She knew the tom was ready to live the rest of his life in peace, being cared for by the clan he had spent many moons serving, but she would still miss calling him Flintstar and seeing him standing on the Jaggedrock.  Everything changed eventually, she knew that well, and it was with a smile and a purr that she chanted his warrior name along with the rest of the clan.  As the crowd began to disperse however, she dashed into her den and emerged with ragwort and raspberry leaves clutched in her jaws.  Approaching Flintshard, she placed the herbs in front of him with a kind smile.  "Here, these will ease soreness and pain, I'm sure your leg is aching from the journey.  Sleep well Flintshard."  With that, she finally retreated to her den and collapsed in her nest, closing her eyes with a shaky sigh.  Her heart had been beating fast and irregular ever since they returned to camp, but she had hid it to attend the ceremonies.  Now though, she would relax and rest.