When Everything Changes [TC Deputy Ceremony]

The light that had once burned in Acornstem's eyes had all but snuffed out as she scampered up the Highrock, ears pinned to the back of her head as she turned her gaze skyward. It had been a sunrise or two since the war- since Mottlestar's death - but the deputy...Leader had not been able to do the one thing the Warrior Code asked of her. To name a deputy was... She didn't know. She didn't know - she hadn't thought this day would come, she hadn't put any thought into it and the weight of the expectations and loses tore away at her until she just...

Hollow.

"Let all cats safe from the bramble's thorn gather for a Clan meeting," she called out, her tone even - emotional-less. The turmoil that had eaten away at her in the wake of...Everything, of losing her mate and her leader...And Vipershade she guessed, had drained her to the point where she felt almost nothing. She allowed herself to sink onto the rock, tiredly blinking as she waited for her Clan to gather. She wished she didn't have to do this, that things would be different. She didn't know how to be leader but she couldn't even feel terrified of it now.

She just felt nothing.

Acornstem’s call had been expected, a looming finality that Mottlestar was really dead. As the deputy, now leader called out, Silverdusk was quick to approach taking their seat beneath the high rock. She wanted to feel hopeful for the future, that hopefully things were on the upturn, but there didn’t seem to be a silver lining. Mottlestar was dead and SkyClan’s threat loomed larger than ever. Images of the flame touched tom preaching at the end of the battle came forwards, even in the face of the death of their leader they were so… emotionless, so cold. Quick to move on to their next conquest. He hadn’t even cared that Silverdusk had risked their own life and her clanmates’ to save one of their warrior’s. His reaction, his lack of care, it further drove the point that SkyClan were heartless murderers.

The silver molly turned her attention back to Acornstem, empathy for the russet she-cat enveloping them. She had lost so much in such a short time, and to still stand, to rise up for the clan, the strength Acornstem held was most admirable. If given the time to heal, for ThunderClan to recuperate, Silverdusk felt certain that Mottlestar had picked right with Acornstem. It was a comforting sentiment at least, but it didn’t do much to dull the guilt and empty feeling that wracked the young warrior.

The harsh reality of the battle was finally sinking in for Sageroot. Three cats dead, two killed by SkyClan and one by stress. Her heart ached for Echosong, her friend must feel awful that he couldn’t save them. As for her… she tried not to think of Mottlestar. The leader who’d been endlessly patient with her and had honored her tenacity. Would life ever be the same again?

Sageroot would move forward regardless. It wasn’t like she had a choice. Acornstem and the whole clan needed her now. Acornstar. She tested the name in her head. It wasn’t a bad name, but it wasn’t the one she’d known for her whole life. How long would it take for her to reliably remember? Hopefully she wouldn’t offend her new leader if she called her Acornstem once in a while by mistake.

Auburnpaw stalked to the center of the clearing, muscles tense and unsheathed claws churning up the earth with each step. The rage, sparked by righteous fury and a deeply rooted sense of loss, had yet to subside. It was only the orders of clan leadership and the inability to pry himself away from his clanmates that stopped him from rushing toward Skyclan. He settled his haunches roughly before looking up at Acornstem. Instead of understanding the emptiness behind her gaze, the apprentice despised it. Why hadn't the rest of clan been sent to claw at the tails of their enemies? The ones who had done this? In the future, he would likely come to know what it meant to feel such pain and recognize it rather than bury it, but for now his tail lashed as he waited for the announcement to continue.

Grief was a new emotion for Ravenpaw. The apprentice thought she knew death... she had hunted countless prey animals, seen more fresh-kill than she could ever recall, but never had death felt quite so wrong as it did right now. Mottlestar and Vipershade had left with three other clanmates, to aid RiverClan in a battle that Ravenpaw hadn't seen a way to justify beforehand, and certainly couldn't now. It had cost ThunderClan two lives. A foolish pursuit of "justice" had cost them their leader, their friend. It had cost Ravenpaw her mentor.

And what had they gotten in return except a promise of more bloodshed?

Ravenpaw had sat vigil with Mottlestar that whole first night, curled up beside the stiff body of her former mentor as night turned into day. Part of her hoped that the others were wrong, that the stories of leaders resurrecting was true, and all Mottlestar needed was a little bit of time and she'd be good as new again. But Ravenpaw knew that even the stars had their limits... Momma had told her that. The ghastly wound at the little tortoiseshell's throat was well past that limit, it seemed.

She truly was gone, which left only Acornstem, and whichever deputy she chose. Ravenpaw felt sorry for the new leader... she looked so sad, so defeated, as she called the clan to gather. The apprentice couldn't imagine being in her position. But ThunderClan needed a new deputy, and it should have been done before now, if she were to believe the snippets of gossip she'd heard around camp.

She wondered who the new deputy would be, as she padded towards the throng of gathered cats and and sought out her mother or one of her siblings to sit beside.

*

The part of the camp where Mottlestar and Vipershade had been laid out upon their return still smelled of blood. It had been cleaned up, of course... both cats had been properly buried more than a day ago, now. But that coppery tang was still present every time a breeze swept through the grass - it smelled of blood and death and pain. Pain that was mirrored in the face of practically every ThunderClanner that had begun to gather at Acornstem's call. For some, the hurt was disguised as anger; anger at SkyClan, who had taken their clanmates' lives; at RiverClan, who had dragged ThunderClan into their quest for vengeance in the first place; some, even, at Mottlestar herself for falling for Perchstar's honeyed lies.

They had marched with RiverClan, they had fought for RiverClan, but it was ThunderClan who had paid the price in blood while Perchstar got her revenge. Would that be enough to sate their appetite, he wondered? Or was it simply the beginnings of a conflict that could only end in more loss?

Lichenwing didn't want to fight SkyClan. He didn't want to lose anymore warriors, he didn't want to lose another leader. He didn't want to face one of Juniperheart's kits on the battlefield. Had any of them been there? Had any of them spilled ThunderClan blood? He almost didn't want to know, didn't want to believe that they could have.

How much more could SkyClan take from them? How much longer could they stand fast when allies and enemies harmed them in equal measure? When would someone say that enough was enough, and refuse to lift a paw in revenge?

Abandoning the fresh-kill pile that he'd been staring at for the better part of the morning, the charcoal tom moved to sit with the rest of the clan that had gathered beneath the rock, praying that Acornstem would make the right choice.

Ivypaw stepped out of the den he was so used to. He came out as Acornstem called for the clan to gather round. Why was she so worried and grief-struck? Was it that war thing?

He kept a blank face. Ivypaw spotted his sister amongst the crowd. He should have really talked to her more. He walked closer to her and licked his paw, meowing to her, "Hey, is everything okay, Ravenpaw?"

He felt a pang of worry for his sister. After all, they were related by blood. He also cared for his mother, Comfreyheart. Sympathy Had hit him as he stared at his sister he followed her gaze she was staring straight at Acornstem.

Acornstem's heart sank even deeper as she stared out at her Clanmates, recognizing the mixture of despair and anger that crossed their faces. What could she say to ease their fears, their pain? She was already so tired and her leadership had barely begun - she couldn't ask her Clan to risk their lives for...What? Revenge? Revenge that, in the first place, had led to the war that had taken Mottlestar's remaining lives? Demanding blood for blood was what had gotten them into this mess and...

She had earned her punishment for refusing to reign in Mottlestar's drive for war - she was now leader and so unprepared... But she would not lead alone. She lifted her head, a heavy sigh escaping her before she found the words to speak. "I've called you all here...Because our lives had been shaken. So soon after our return to the forest, we've lost Mottlestar, Firefly and even Vipershade, for as little as he was among our numbers. In the wake of the bloodshed, I am now leader..." she drifted off, eyes falling to her paws for a few long heartbeats before she spoke once more. "When I'll receive my...My new name, I...I don't know," she admitted - fear clawing at her heart. She didn't want to lose her name - Mottlestar had put so much thought into it, it was a symbol of how she was to be ThunderClan's light and she...

She couldn't lose the last thing she truly had from her leader.

"...But I need to name a deputy. Its...Its already past due - I never expected... I didn't think it would happen so..." She closed her eyes, taking in a shaky breath. "...I say this before you all and StarClan, so all may judge and approve my choice. The new deputy of ThunderClan...Is Sageroot."

Sageroot’s heart pounded when her name was called. What? But… me? Really? What about Lichenwing, Nightdancer, Thrushnose??? She had been prepared to congratulate any one of them. But she had no idea how to respond to this. On shaky legs, she stood up.

“I accept, Acornstem. I can’t promise I’ll always do or say the right thing, but I can’t promise to try my best.”

Silverdusk's eyes lit up as Acornstem named their new deputy. An excellent choice, while having never interacted the she-cat, they knew how much the warrior meant to Wiggleworm. She'd made the tom, who he was today, and if that was any indication of what Sageroot would bring to ThunderClan then the tall molly was more than content with Acornstem's choice. A path towards peace, and hopefully justice too.

ooc;; congrats nerd!!! cant wait to see sage as deputy :D hppefully auburn doesnt give her too many grey hairs

Auburnpaw's eyes shot to the newly named deputy. Sageroot? Internally, he groaned at the idea. She was a great warrior, that much was apparent, but he'd felt how much she wanted to hold his paw despite the fact he was almost a warrior. The code was something he'd devoted himself to, sure, but it wasn't always the easiest to follow. Besides, sometimes there was little harm in things like hunting at the Stony Hallow. His tail flickered but he said nothing. As long as she didn't treat him like a kit, Auburnpaw was sure she'd be decent enough.