Leopardfang's Leader Ceremony

Leopardfang milled around ShadowClan camp, checking on last-minute preparations and making sure that everyone was going about their regular business. He was about to leave the camp alone for who knows how long, and didn't want to be leaving ShadowClan completely defenseless, though he knew that they would get on with their night just fine without him there. Perhaps he should check to make sure the camp guard was still at his post? After confirming that Mousefang was still watching the entrance, Leopardfang trotted back into camp and headed for the medicine cats' den. Most deputies brought their medicine cats with them to speak to StarClan. He had an added advantage, though; he also was going to bring Thrushstripe, former leader. Most deputies didn't get that privilege, and he was beyond grateful to still have Thrushstripe to guide him through the challenging times to come. Still, he was practically pacing a trench into the den floor. He was nervous despite it all. And in the back of his head, his mate's death hung over him like a dark cloud. Would he ever see her again? Would she still love him? Was StarClan really there? He grappled with these questions, as well as the coming responsibilities of leading a clan, while he waited for Honeydrop and Thrushstripe so the three could set out. He would leave Leopardfang, and if all went well, he would step back through that gorse tunnel as Leopardstar.

Honeydrop rushed together two piles of traveling herbs. Burnet for stamina, sorrel and ragweed for strength, chamomile for concentration. She went through the motions quickly and efficiently, mind somewhere else entirely. She knew Thrushstripe was an elder now. She knew Leopardfang was about to get his lives. And yet, it was all so unreal. Thrushstar had been leader for longer than anyone remembered- it was hard to think of him as Thrushstripe. It felt wrong somehow. But she knew this was what StarClan willed. And StarClan knew Leopardfang had waited for a very long time for this. She licked up one pile of the traveling herbs, not even wincing at the bitter taste, and pushed the other out to the waiting deputy. "H-here, Leopardfang. Herbs for strength."

It was time. He hadn't had much time since his ceremony to really get a feel for being an elder but already the former leader was beginning to relax. The lack of stress of leading was slowly becoming one of the best feelings he had ever experienced but it wasn't over just yet. He had promised that he would to go Highstones with Leopardfang and Honeydrop which was the easy part. The hard part was not doing all that he was used to as a leader. It had been so many moons since he didn't have to do all of this. It was strange to do anything else. Padding over to the upcoming leader and medicine cat, Thrushstripe cleared his throat and stood there rather awkwardly for a moment. "Greetings..." he meowed before glancing at Leopardfang. "Are you ready?"

The deputy practically recoiled at the sight of the herbs. He felt like he couldn't eat anything without promptly sending it back up, an ugly thing to happen on a long trip. His tail lashed side to side, and he glanced at Honeydrop uncertainly. "If you really think these will help... Make sure Thrushtripe gets some as well." He meowed before dipping his head and forcing himself to lick up the bundle. Disgusting. The tomcat's ears perked as he heard Thrushstripe's approach, and turned his head to look at him. It was odd, but he saw the elder in a different light. He wasn't the leader anymore, just an elder... a very respected and high-standing elder, but still not the leader. That would be Leopardfang's job. Starclan have mercy on me...

"Yes, as ready as ever. We should head out soon if we want to make it before moonhigh."

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The entire trek to Highstones was spent with the warrior fussing over Thrushstripe's condition and whether he needed to stop for a break. He didn't want to patronize the old tom, but he didn't want to push him too hard either. As the gaping hole of Mothermouth appeared, Leopardfang's eyes widened in awe. He'd never been here before. He'd never seen the mountains so close before nor an underground tunnel so expansive. It sent shivers up his spine, something he was rather embarrassed about. He glanced at his two companions, hoping they hadn't caught his change in mood. His stomach was still generally unsettled about the whole situation but he hadn't said a single word about it to anyone.

Honeydrop led the way to Highstones, smiling at the frequent exchanges between the previous and current leaders. It was nice to see how much Leopardfang cared about Thrushstripe. Hopefully the two's friendship would only grow as time went on. Eventually they reached Mothermouth. Memories flooded over the medicine cat as she stared into the gaping depths. She saw a flicker of wonder in the deputy's eyes and hid a smile. Flicking her golden dappled tail, she led the two toms through the deep, pitch-black caverns, having memorized the twisted paths long ago. A faint light ahead grew brighter as they neared the Moonstone. The group finally reached the towering crystal monolith, light from the glowing moon reflecting off the multifaceted stone. The shining white light gave Honeydrop's golden pelt a metallic shimmer as she lay down by it. "H-here we are, Leopardfang."

"Good," he said before swallowing his own batch of herbs, his face twisting at the taste but he forced it down anyway. Following the two out of camp, he stayed quiet most of the way until they reached Highstones. It hadn't even been long since he had retired but somehow this journey felt near impossible. He pushed himself to keep going, arguing with Leopardfang about his health, but eventually they made it with the former leader huffing and puffing. At least, he stopped just as he saw Mother mouth, a new energy washing over him, filling his body with a supernatural warmth. Silently, he padded in after his deputy and medicine cat, not minding the narrow passageways too much.

When they finally reached the open cave, Thrushstripe stood off to the side. He knew that this was Leopardfang's time, so he did his best to stay out of the way. Glancing at the younger tom expectantly, he waited for the warrior to begin his own journey even if the elder ever-so-slightly regretted giving it up.

The tom's pelt bristled when he entered the dark tunnel. It was unnatural for a cat to be put into an enclosed space like this. Leopardfang was certain he could hear distant echoes of other creatures somewhere in the cave system, and he could only hope that they wouldn't bother the trio. He stuck close to Honeydrop's flank. The medicine cat quite clearly knew where she was going, so he followed without protest or questioning her sense of direction even though it almost began to feel like they were walking in circles. Noticing a dim light ahead of them, Leopardfang wordlessly urged the group to move just a little faster. He wanted to know what the strange light was all about.

The bright reflected light was a bit startling to Leopardfang. The moonlight above was perfectly aligned with the stone, washing out the colors of his companions' pelts, and he realized that now was the finally the night he would become leader. He had known it was coming, but at this moment, he could feel it in his chest. Responding almost automatically to Thrushstripe's glance, Leopardfang stepped forward and settled down in front of the gleaming Moonstone. He hoped he was doing it right. Touching the cold surface with his nose and letting his eyes close, the deputy was quickly enveloped in darkness.

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Hesitantly, Leopardfang's green eyes opened to take in the scene. He was no longer in the brightly lit cave, but was standing in a great clearing. The night sky above him was littered with glowing stars, dappling the midnight sky more vibrantly than any star he'd seen in the waking world. It was breathtaking. He knew Starclan existed, but he had never actually put any thought into what their hunting grounds might look like, and now he was here for himself. He glanced around. He was alone. Was he to have this ceremony by himself? Leopardfang had been under the impression that Honeydrop and Thrushstripe would still be beside him. Maybe they were delayed, or maybe they really weren't supposed to be there. Either way, he quickly dropped the though as a flash of moving light caught his attention.

The stars above had began to move, all together and in a mesmerizing swirling motion. He couldn't do anything but stare at the scene. He wondered what was happening to them when he suddenly realized that the stars were getting closer, until eventually the glowing forms touched the ground and began to become strange shapes. Squinting his eyes to keep out the harsh light, Leopardfang quickly began to realize that they weren't stars anymore, but brightly lit cats. His warrior ancestors, whom he once doubted the very existence of. Nervousness caused him to pick at the ground beneath his paws. The cats came closer to him, and when he could identify individual faces, he started scanning the large crowd for cats that he recognized. Who would be naming him as leader?

Among the group of cats stood a small yet fluffy she-cat, her fur a steady mixture of black and brown that blended into each other perfectly other then the black spot that surrounded her yellow eyes. Bearmask was the first to step up, dipping her head to the tom that stood before her. "Leopardfang." Her voice was soft and warm. "We welcome you for this joyous moment - not just the end of an era, but the start of a promising new one," She purred those words but for a second, her smile faded and was replaced with a flicker of pain, regret. She closed her eyes as she shook her head. "Before we start, I must remove your old life. You are no longer a warrior, you are a leader" she stated, her tone grave as she stepped forward with harden eyes. With a soft sigh, perhaps even a bit wistful that it wasn't her in his spot as she reached forward and touched noses. And in that single moment, she removed his life, his traces, of being a warrior.

She took a faint step back once it was over, raising her head with courage she had lacked when she was still living. "And now, I give you your first life. When I was named deputy of ShadowClan by Thrushsta...Stripe, I was scared. I never had though highly of myself -  I always feared I was not the best and every choice I made was wrong but my time in StarClan has shown me how wrong I was. And so I with this life I give you the one thing I needed desperately when I was alive; Courage. Do not be afraid to do what is right or what is needed. You will face hard choices in your time as leader but take courage in your choices and led ShadowClan well." With the words said, she stepped forward to touch noses with the tom, a small purr rising in her throat. Once the life was given, she took a step away and bowed her head to Leopardfang. "Thank you so much for everything you have done for my father, Leopardfang," she purred but there was a tint of sadness in her words. "You have done more for him then I ever had the chance to do...That I could ever do. You will be a fine leader for ShadowClan." With those final words said, she stepped back to her place among the stars and allow the next cat to step forward.

He recognized Bearmask when she stepped forward. A slight hint of guilt pricked at his pelt. She would have been standing in his place, being given the same ceremony, had she not died so many seasons ago. But it wasn't his fault and that was the way of the world, so he brushed off the feeling and greeted her with a dip of his head. If anything, her presence was a comfort. It meant that Starclan had not forgotten his clanmates and friends. He was prepared to begin the ceremony, but he did not expect to lose a life in the process. It was probably a normal part of the ceremony, but it left him feeling more exhausted and lethargic than he could ever recall feeling before.

Leopardfang wordlessly listened to Bearmask speak, feeling a little bit encouraged. His attention was immediately gripped by the sudden and unexpected pain that the life brought him, rippling from his nose to the very tip of his tail. A look of shock appeared momentarily on his features, but it was quickly replaced by pain and then the determined look of a warrior fighting through his injuries in the thick of a battle. If this is what the other lives would be like, he would endure them for Shadowclan. Though he was breathing a little heavier, Leopardfang was unharmed and met Bearmask's gaze when she spoke again. He found that he couldn't speak, but nodded to her to acknowledge her praise.

As Leopardfang regained his composure and Bearmask returned to the crowd of stars, another glowing figure emerged, ready to present the tom with his next life.

A solid black tom with white toes smiled at the deputy. "I'm sure my appearance comes as a surprise to you," the tom purred, glancing down as his own pelt. As a kit, his pelt was silky and clean as it was now. When the warrior was still alive and well, his pelt took on a strange, mottled appearance. Yet, despite the severe changes to his fur colour, his eyes stayed the same muddy amber. "This is one of the perks of being in StarClan. I've always been ashamed of my appearance. I know there was nothing I could do to to change it, but I always always afraid of speaking my mind as a result of it. It was irrational and stupid to think my appearance would affect how others would treat me." Finchpelt paused, taking a breath and looking down at his paws. "My biggest regret was never acting upon my thoughts. I had so many ideas, so many plans, so many things I wanted to do that were meticulously plotted in my head. It was a blessing and a curse. I was never rash, but I lacked the strength to follow my mind."

"With the courage you've received from Bearmask, and the strength you already carry, your thoughts won't become useless like mine. With that, I give you the one thing I could never use; Consideration. Never be brash or rushed in your decisions. There are many things in you life as leader that will require harsh deliberation. Take the time to reflect on your words and choices and lead ShadowClan with conviction." The warrior stepped forward, pressing his nose against the tom's. With a gentle smile, Finchpelt backed away, turning to return to his spot amongst the cluster of stars. Before the next cat could take his place, the black tom glanced at Leopadfang.

"Please tell Swiftclaw and Ravenclaw... I'm sorry. I couldn't be there for them when they needed me. I hope you can care for them in my stead and lead them on the right path," he meowed and disappeared into the crowd once more.

It took him more than a few seconds to recognize Finchpelt, and he felt a hint of shame when he finally recognized him. Leopardfang listened quietly. He had not realized what the other tom had struggled through in his lifetime; the deputy hardly knew him, although he should have cared more for the individual cats. The spotted tom felt somewhat sympathetic for Finchpelt, like he understood, if only a little bit. His own spotted pelt made it easy to pick him out in a crowd, but he had never been ashamed of it. It had simply never occurred to him to be worth worrying over. This new warrior of Starclan before him seemed like a much happier, more comfortable tom than he had only slightly known during his lifetime, and he was glad that his fallen clanmates would be at peace after death.

Consideration. Deliberation. Conviction. All good and necessary things for leadership, and qualities Leopardfang would henceforth try to learn. Or perhaps he already had them, he just had to hone them. Leopardfang, although still wary of the imminent pain that receiving lives brought, leaned forward to meet Finchpelt's nose with his own. He was eager prove to Starclan that he was both worthy and devoted to his clan enough to tolerate any amount of pain. It was sharp and unrelenting, but he withstood it. The deputy dipped his head to Finchpelt as he retreated; a promise. He would always look out for them, and the rest as well.

The next cat to approach was an apprentice sized pale she-cat. The small apprentice approached the deputy, and dipped her head. "Greetings. I am Sleetpaw. I was a medicine cat apprentice under Ebonyleaf. Sadly because of my sickness I wasn't strong enough to live through a rat attack." The apprentice said, a sad look sitting in her eyes for a small moment. "But! I learned a lot in my time of living, Thrushstripe and Ebonyleaf taught me so much." Sleetpaw wished she could keep dreaming of old times that were no longer there, but she only had a limited time.

"With this life I give you indefinite wisdom, to be able to make the right choice. Even when others want to go one way, you will have the knowledge and wisdom to know the right choice, and what to do." The small pale apprentice padded up to the deputy. She pushed herself up slightly and touched the deputies nose. She put all four paws back on the ground, and smiled up at the deputy.

"Tell Thrushstripe hello for me. I won't get to talk to him for another long while." The pale apprentice, took a step back before turning and rejoining the other starclan cats.

Leopardfang did not recognize the apprentice who stepped up to him, but it was evident that she knew Thrushstripe. He had also vaguely remembered the medicine cat, Ebonyleaf, when he was much younger. This must have been the apprentice that he and Shimmerheart had spoken about when they were just kits; that Ebonyleaf had lost an apprentice but still refused to take on another. He wondered how different things would have been if she'd relented and taken on Shimmerheart. Turning his attention back to Sleetpaw, he dipped his head slightly to aid her reach. The fiery bolt of pain that twisted through his nose to the very tip of his tail set him twitching for a few heartbeats, but he was able to collect himself enough to nod in response to Sleetpaw's request. He had a lot of messages to deliver when he returned home.

Following the apprentice, a ginger and white she-cat stepped up, giving the tom a soft smile as she approached. The stars in her pelt gleamed gracefully as she padded to him, stopping just short of him. "It's good to see you again, Leopardfang," She mewed. "I hope you remember me right? Fennelcloud?" A small giggle escaped the she-cat as she looked at him. "No time for funny business. This is your ceremony!" After a moment, Fennelcloud cleared her throat. "If there was ever one thing that I learned during my time in Shadowclan, it was to stick to those around you. Learn with clan-mates, trust them, and defend them no matter what your duty. With this life, Leopardfang, I give you loyalty that you may continue to serve, protect, and trust in your clan through thick and thin."

Gently, as she finished speaking, Fennelcloud stepped forward and touched noses with the upcoming leader, transferring her life to him. Once this was done, she stepped back, joining the rest of the Starclan cats gathered around him.

He only barely managed to suppress the smile that threatened to surface. Leopardfang certainly remembered Fennelcloud, and he had fond memories of her. One of his youngest memories was stalking and pouncing on her tail as a little kit, and she encouraged him to grow his skills. Fennelcloud was perhaps the closest thing to a mother figure that he'd had after his own mother died in battle when he was still very young. Too young to remember her well. This time he did allow a small smile to twist his mouth. He listened closely to what she had to say and nodded with determination. Loyalty... Yes! I have always fought for my clan. I always will, with every breath within me, StarClan as my witness... He leaned in as well, gladly accepting the life. The pain meant nothing to him; it was there to make him stronger and help him understand the gravity of his role. Although he was quickly growing tired, and the pain of the lives was starting to build up within him, Leopardfang silently promised himself that he wasn't going to give up.