Shadowclan's Deputy 2022

As night descended once more upon the clan, Frostgaze had taken time to deliberate who would fill his position as he moved to fill Murkystar's. It was a possibility he had thought of before, as Murkystar had lain dead and unmoving for all that time as the Dark Forest continued their reign. He was to name a deputy before moonhigh, and name one he would do. As the clan awoke the night after the battle, Frostgaze climbed the Jaggedrock, the familiar motion allowing him to do so swiftly. For a moment he prayed to the stars that his choice would be appreciated by Murkystar, that he would not make a mistake that could have repercussions for moons to come. "All cats old enough to silently stalk in the shadows, gather in the shadow of Jaggedrock for a clan meeting!"

Frostedpaw was aware that Murkystar had passed on, but she didn't really care. It was a conscious choice to not participate in the battle. She hid in the marsh until it was over, just outside camp. It seems as if nobody noticed. The battle had put her in a strategically ill position- she wanted the Dark Forest to stay so she didn't want to battle them. But if she battled for them, she would be killed or kicked out. Frostedpaw wasn't ready for rogue life quite yet. She was smart enough to know that she had much to learn still before she trudged off. So, fluffy tail over her paws, she sat at the back of the crowd. Her multi-colored eyes watched carefully to see if anyone would approach.

Ooc: mobile

Marshmallow took her place in the crowd. Her tail tipped twitched a little as she stared up at Frostgaze. Her eyes as round as the full moon yesterday, her thoughts as silent as the group of cats that sat and watched their leader on the rock. Her head tilted slightly as she looked up at the tom. This is a deputy ceremony, right? Before Frostgaze gets his lives? She thought, but it was at the back of the she-cat's mind. Hmm. Who are you going to pick, Frostgaze? Whoever it was, Marshmallow was sure she could get them on her side.

Things felt slow and silent as Duskflight woke up among the others. He already had an idea of what this would've been — a Deputy ceremony. Since Murkystar was gone... She was truly gone, Frostgaze was soon to pick a new one. He already had an idea of who, yet, still, he was curious about what the official choice would be. Slipping out of the warriors' den, the dark-furred tom went to take a place in the crowd, his head hung low as he remembered Murkystar's death.. and Deerleap's. I trust you'll make a good decision, Frostgaze...

Nightstalker padded out from the warrior's den, his wound still tender to him as he settled himself amongst the crowd. He didn't know if he'd liked the thought of someone, anyone becoming deputy, or even Frostgaze becoming a leader. It was a large mantle to take up, one with a lot of expectations to be held, to be held accountable and so many other things. Nightstalker's eyes flicked over to Duskflight and searched for Rookfire, both strong dependable toms with level heads. He was sure that either one of them would be chosen for the position, as they seemed to be perfect for it. Nightstalker looked for Swiftheart, he was sure she wouldn't miss this for the world.

Swiftheart heard the call for the clan meeting and sat in the warriors den for a little bit before heading out. For once, her fur was neatly groomed and there was no rough patches sticking out like there usually were. She usually never really cared how it looked, however she would look presentable and even nice for the ceromony. It took forever it felt like to get her unruly fur to co-operate but finally it did and her pelt looked as sleek as her brothers for once.

Today was important the new deputy being named marked the end of her mothers rule on the clan. Murkystar was really gone...She closed her eyes for a long time not wanting tears to show at all. Once she had a somewhat grip (as much as she can being a very emotional cat) she padded out greeting everyone with a soft smile and kind words.


She saw her brother and went to him, the two were always close and nothing would change that no matter what the dark forest could conjure up. She sat next to him and glanced at her clanmates. "hmm what do you think of Duskflight?" she asked him in a low whisper.

The tom was a good pick for deputy and she thought he would be a good pick. She also thought Nightstalker would be a good pick but she honestly had no idea who was going to get this.
"I really like him" she said quietly as well glancing at the green eyed warrior from a distance.

Looking back to her brother she breifly rested her head on his shoulder for a second only, knowing he didnt like that aton ... certainly not the way she did. "I still cant belive shes gone" she said in a quiet voice.

Picking herself up, she sat up straight and looked up at Frostgaze soon to be Froststar and their new leader. She always looked up to him... he was much more logical than she was, making his decisions on that rather than emotions like she usually did. Hmm logical options for deputy?? Rookfire? he also seemed like an experienced candidate. If dad was not an elder he probably could have been an option.

who are you gonna pick Frosty?
she thought and wondered to herself using his nickname she had given him so long ago when she was still an apprentce.

Thalia sat with her Clanmates, watching and waiting for the announcement. Murkystar's death- her... Fading? It was still painful to think about, but the Clan would have to move on. And to move on, Frostgaze needed to become leader; to become leader, someone else needed to become deputy. She wondered who he'd pick, looking over the crowd. Whoever it was, she was sure they'd be the right cat for the job.

---

It should have been a proud moment, to watch her mentor stand upon the Jaggedrock. Instead it was tinged with the same bitterness and loss that covered the Clan like a heavy fog; or maybe it was just her, that was still caught up in everything they'd lost. It was hard to tell, some days, but Leopardsun didn't think anyone could move on that quickly. She'd been too lost in grief to hear Murkystar's last words until it was too late- did that make her a bad warrior?

She shook her head to clear it. Her self-doubt would reflect badly on her mentor, even if he couldn't hear her thoughts, and her perceived failures weren't Frostgaze's fault.

She wondered, idly, who he'd choose. In another world, maybe he'd call her own name from up there; but she wasn't delusional. Looking around the older warriors, she tried to guess. Nightstalker, maybe? Her main takeaway from that line of that was that she needed to spend more time with the rest of her Clanmates.

Snowfoot answered the call, paws heavy as she put one in front of the other. She sat down near the edge of the group and looked up at Frostgaze on the Jaggedrock. Deerleap should’ve been sitting beside her. Snowfoot could only trust that she was watching from StarClan.

Harepaw was more than a little curious as Frostgaze called the meeting together. With Murkystar gone, she supposed that meant he would now be Shadowclan's leader... The first leader they would have had in a while, not just a near-mythical figure that had been dead for as long as Harepaw was alive. She grieved that she would never know her mother, but it was nothing like that of the grief her older siblings or fathers must have felt. Shaking her head to clear it, the apprentice trotted over to sit beside her mentor and older sister. A deputy had to be chosen, of course, and Harepaw liked to think Swiftheart or Nightstalker had a good chance at becoming deputy. They were capable warriors, what more could Shadowclan want? And maybe it would be her one day...

---

Mistyfalcon stirred silently at Frostgaze's call, reluctantly pulling himself from his nest to sit at the entrance to the elder's den. He'd seen deputy ceremonies and changes in leadership before, though he held little real interest in this meeting. His mind was elsewhere.

Rosepaw had never really attended meetings outside of her own ceremony, granted that she was still a kit in technicality. So when Frostgaze called the cats to gather, her interests was piqued. She had heard that the mysterious ghost cat from the battle was her mother, and her leader. And since she was dead, that meant Frostgaze was going to be leader, right? Who would be deputy? She really hoped it was Swiftheart. She was the bestest sister ever!

Whereas most cats grieved Murkystar, Rosepaw did not. Sure, she had held on to hopes of meeting her mother, just like the rest of her litter mates. But in the end, she herself had never really believed she would. Her expectations were low, so it was hard for her to be disappointed. In the end, nothing actually changed. And she was okay with that.

As the clan gathered, Frostgaze began his announcement. "Shadowclan, we have been through much and more these past few moons. I have no doubt that you all are tired, especially those who fought back the Dark Forest, and those that saw loved ones taken from us. One of those loved ones was, as you have no doubt heard, Murkystar. She gave up her lives, and her afterlife in Starclan, for us, so that we could live on. Soon, I will be heading off to receive my lives, and name, so that I can better lead you all. However, before that, I must name a deputy, in accordance with the laws we live by."

Frostgaze paused for a moment, breathing deeply. All he could do was pray that Starclan would approve... that Murkystar would approve. "I am confident in my choice of deputy. I say these words before you all and our ancestors, that you may hear and approve of my choice. Nightstalker will be ShadowClan's new deputy. I expect that you will all respect his authority, as you have respected mine these moons. This announcement is concluded." Frostgaze did not leap down from the Jaggedrock immediately, rather laying down on it for a moment. He wanted to look upon the clan, his clan. Those he would have to lead. He prayed he was ready, and that Nightstalker would be ready as well.

" I say these words before you all and our ancestors, that you may hear and approve of my choice. Nightstalker will be ShadowClan's new deputy." ...Him? Deputy? Nightstalker was frozen in shock, his mouth dropping open, agape as he looked up at Frostgaze with wide eyes. He was to succeed Frostgaze, and his mother in turn after he passes on to the stars? Nightstalker couldn't speak, not that he was thankfully expected to. His ears roared and everything seemed to become loud and bustling, as the clan broke out into cheers. Maybe, under different circumstances he would be more than glad, he'd be absolutely chuffed with pride, but with the way Starclan had taken the lives of his clanmates, only to use them as vessels before they themselves disappeared - his mother disappeared - never to be seen again, even after death... not only that but it was his mother's mantle that he was now being given to take on himself. He got to his paws and trembled, and did his best to steel his emotions and his face.

He was now a cat that Shadowclan as a whole will be looking up to, how to act and behave, he, along with Frostgaze would be Shadowclans guiding light, and... that was a lot. But had he not been exactly that on a smaller scale? To Iceheart? Swiftheart? Ratrunner? Maybe even Cicadiashriek? How he acted, and the decisions he made, would not only have a direct impact on those closest to him, but Frostgaze. He needed to be strong, and not falter in his step, ever, any mistake or any hesitance now had the higher stakes of costing Shadowclan so much... like with the rogue group that skinned Burningwing and Amberdawn. That couldn't happen. Not again.

Despite all the sorrow they had experienced, Basilbloom still managed to find her smile as Frostgaze made his choice; her own little brother!  Purring, the medicine cat called Nightstalker's name enthusiastically, finding him in the crowd and giving the dark-furred warrior a nuzzle.  "You'll do amazing Night, I know you will!  You'll make Mama proud."  Those last words brought a tear to her eye, but she forced it back.  This was going to be a new, bright age for ShadowClan, and she couldn't wait to work alongside her brother, her friend, and her apprentice to make their dreams a reality.

Swiftheart's heart pounded as Froststar began the announcment... She closed her eyes tightly shut.


Please dont pick me please noo... on starclan please pick someone else... I dont want it... I never have wanted it. Pick someone who has better leadership skills... like my brother or Duskflight or Rookfire... anyone but me... I dont want it she said to herself. And it was true, ever since she was a kit she didnt want deputy or leader, she was content being a warrior and never felt she had the leadership to command such a position.


When Froststar called Nightstalker she felt a wave of relief and she smiled so happily .

Yes! He will make an excellent deputy!!! She had always looked up to her older littermate and she cheered excitedly

"Yes Nightstalker!!!" she purred and cheered for him. This was a good decision and she could not have been happier with it.

She caught his gaze and gave him a big happy smile and nod of encouragement and congratulations.