WindClan’s Deputy Ceremony January 2022

Goldenfang took a deep breath. The air stung her lungs as if it were fighting its way into her chest. That’s how it seemed, anyway; her breathing was heavier than normal and her heart was racing. It always seemed to race but this was harder than normal, the thump in her chest making the deputy fear even the youngest kits in the nursery could hear it.

She rested atop the Tallrock and looked over the camp. She’d been up there for a while, now. Almost half a day if she remembered correctly. The golden cat knew what she had to do, but she’d vainly hoped that waiting for her anxiety to die down would make it easier. Unfortunately the breath still caught in her throat every time she thought about shifting onto her hindquarters and summoning WindClan. This would never end, she realized, and so she closed her eyes softly to allow the muted scents of ice and moorland wash over her nose and remind her where she was. Steely blue eyes opened once more.

“WindClan! Let all cats old enough to run the moor gather under the Tallrock for a Clan meeting!”

At the sound of Goldenfang's voice calling the clan together, Swiftspirit lifted her head from where she lay next to Timbersun. Their hunting patrol earlier had met little success, and she was tired and cold. The meeting was probably just another apprentice ceremony, but Swiftspirit still shifted closer anyways.

The thought did cross her mind of it being something else entirely... And something about the way Goldenfang had been sitting up on the tallrock a while made her wonder. Daystar had been ill recently, and so was Berrypaw. It was leafbare, so it wasn't like illness was uncommon. She and Magpiepaw had been sick too. They'd be fine, surely.

The thought lingered in the back of her head, and Swiftspirit did her best to ignore it. Worrying wouldn't do anyone any good.

Shrikestorm was putting some freshkill on the pile when he heard the call to gather. He frowned slightly at the sight of Goldenfang sitting there. He knew that Daystar had been sick, but they should have been the one to call the meeting. He hoped that nothing was wrong, but something prickled down his spine. The best he could do was push it back down and sit there, hoping that it wasn't something bad. It seemed like bad news always followed the clans during the coldest, sickest season.

Ashfall emerged from the Medicine Cat's Den, tired. So tired. Daystar had been ill... it didn't look good either. Daystar was the best thing in her life if she died... stars she didn't know what she would do. Did Starclan curse her? Curse her for being the son of that thing that prowled their borders, put fear into the hearts of innocents. Curse her to lose everyone she had ever loved? Maybe. It was tough to know. When the deputy called, though, she answered it, taking a place near Swiftspirit.

Whatever Goldenfang had to say, it sounded too important for her to miss it.

Though he wasn't old enough to run through the moors, Fawnkit still sat down at the entrance of the nursery. Sure, he wasn't allowed to join the apprentice and warriors around the Tallrock but he was still interested in what the current second-in-command had to say. Since he wasn't born in Windclan, the tom kit was still trying to remember the clan members' names. He was almost sure her name started with Golden. Will it be our apprentice ceremony? He wondered.

Sickness had swept through Windclan, taking Magpiepaw and her mother down along with it. She had recovered now (thankfully, what would the clan do without her?) but clearly some others hadn't done as well. She joined her parents below tallrock, barely interested in the announcement but aware of it just in case it was relevant. For all she knew, it could be her warrior ceremony, even though that was highly unlikely. Either way, she could hope, couldn't she?

Woollykit didn't know how he felt about Daystar falling ill to sickness. Leaders were supposed to be powerful and immune to anything. He worried a bit, now learning that his assumption wasn't true. The tom felt a bit more insecure and unsafe, wondering what more of the snow could bring. It was all he knew, and he hoped no more cats would fall ill. He couldn't even imagine losing his brothers... or Daisypaw, or Mistypaw. He found a seat next to Swiftspirit - Daisypaw's mentor. "Do you think more cats will get sick?" He asked, looking up at the she-cat. "Do we need to eat certain herbs or..." Woollykit wish he understood more.

Batkit sat next to Fawnkit outside the nurserly looking up at the meeting. She was so curious about what this was all about. She was a quiet cat and never said much at all. She quietly groomed her pelt as she waited for the annoucnment

Wriggling her bushy tail from the effort of stretching, Daisypaw emerged from the apprentices' den, her nap interrupted by her mother's yowl. What announcement could she have? Making her way to Swiftspirit's side, she sat down and a warm smile spread across her maw. Woollykit was here too! It seemed like most of the clan was here already. "As long as you stay away from sick cats and make sure to keep clean, I'm sure we'll all be fine... " she meowed brightly, keeping her doubts to herself. There was no reason to scare the kit after all.

Her tail curled and uncurled as her Clanmates gathered beneath her. They’d been beaten down by the unforgiving cold and hunger, and the sickness was the down on top of the nest. Hopefully there would be reprieve soon, though with the news she had to share…

“As you all know, Daystar and Berrypaw are both seriously ill. Daystar has died… several times. It seems StarClan cannot—or will not—heal her.” Goldenfang swallowed. It was devastating to watch the despair growing in the eyes of her family and friends. Dovefrost had warned about the possibility that she might have to make the decision to step up even if she wasn’t ready. He spoke the ancient ritual words to her in the silence of the night by Daystar’s deathbed. Stars knew she wouldn’t be able to remember them from her own deputy ceremony just moons before.

“Our best course of action is for me to take on the role of leadership and appoint a new deputy. If Daystar recovers, she can continue to serve as Dayspring, honored warrior of WindClan, but the odds are…” The line between transparency and gentle compassion was blurring. WindClan loved Daystar, how could Goldenfang look at them and tell them she was as good as dead? She let the sentence die on her tongue. For a few moments the only sounds were the winds beating against the gorse wall and the golden deputy’s slight frame atop the Tallrock.

“I say these words before my Clanmates and the spirits of our ancestors so that they may approve of my choice. The new deputy of WindClan is Shrikestorm. I will prepare to make the trip to Highstones sometime soon. This meeting is concluded.”

Shrikestorm listened to Goldenfang's words, his frown deepening. So Daystar really was ill. Things were getting worse through this harsh weather. So Goldenfang was going to take on the leadership role. Daystar had been a more cautious leader than their predecessors. Hopefully Goldenfang would be the same.

Then he heard the final piece of news: the newest deputy. He let it roll over his brain, not understanding for a moment. Then his eyes widened as he realized his own name had been called. Him? Deputy? He had assumed his time to become deputy was at an end, as the previous leaders had not seemed to trust him and his wariness towards the other clans. He hurried over towards Goldenfang as he heard a smattering of cheers, though obviously muted due to the bad news about Daystar.

"Thank you, Goldenfang," he mewed, nodding his head towards her. "I won't let you down."

Magpiepaw came to sit beside her, and Swiftspirit gave her daughter a quick lick between the ears. They'd both been sick recently, but Swiftspirit was thankful that Magpiepaw had recovered. As for Daystar and Berrypaw... She had to wonder if she had spread that sickness to them. Guilt prickled at her pelt, and she struggled to ignore the encroaching anxiety. Goldenfang's expression said that this wasn't an apprentice ceremony.

Soon Woollykit and Daisypaw had joined the pair, and Swiftspirit nodded at Daisypaw's answer to the kit's question. "Staying out of their way and keeping yourself warm is about it." She mewed softly, "I'm sure they'll make a full recovery." There was no need to scare the kit with her own anxiety... And maybe if she said it enough it would hold true.

Goldenfang spoke up then, and Swiftspirit sighed quietly. She really would have preferred this was just an apprentice ceremony, something normal. Daystar had been ill, and stars, Ashfall looked terrible, but to hear it confirmed...

Shrikestorm, as the new deputy? He was a cautious cat, and not particularly fond of outsiders, though Swiftspirit was no longer an outsider. Swiftspirit had found that she appreciated his honesty, at least, and as far as she could tell he'd always had good intentions toward his clan and would put them above the rest. He truly wasn't a bad choice for deputy, though she could almost see Lilacstar fuming in the back of her mind at the idea. The thought made her lips twitch in grim amusement. She'd respected the old leader, of course, but times had changed. Windclan needed leadership that would solely be focused on their clan and not others. Daystar had been that. Goldenfang and Shrikestorm would be, too.

"Congratulations, Shrikestorm." She mewed, giving Windclan's new deputy a nod.

Fawnkit let out a sigh of disappointment. He really wanted this to be his apprentice ceremony and he didn't care much about Daystar and this Golden she-cat. However, he did feel somewhat happy for Shrikestorm. Though he didn't personally know the warrior, the small kit considered the deputy position an honour: if you get chosen if because you have the potential to be leader, to command and protect the clan. Fawnkit respect that. Gathering a lot of air, he let out a strong meow: "Congratulations!"