A New Deputy For A New Leader [ThunderClan]

Blizzardshine would be lying if she said she was feeling well. The infection was being defeated by the medicine cats’ efforts rather effectively, but she still felt quite weak and was having trouble to act like her normal self...especially after the news.

Not long after returning to their camp in the woods, or what was left of it, Darkstar had looked around for her to discuss something that took her completely off-guard. The medicine cat and the black leader had tried to convince her that she should stay in the half-destroyed den that was slowly being cleaned and restocked with whatever few herbs they still had, that she should rest, that they would handle everything for the time being. However she was having none of it.

Even if she was feeling weak and tired due to her illness, Darkstar’s decision had placed a huge responsibility on her shoulders. If before the clan depended on her as deputy, now that she was going to take over as leader everyone in it relied completely on her. Her clan needed her to be stronger than ever and she was not going to disappoint them, she was more than willing to push her own comfort and well-being aside if it meant giving her clan hope and help then through the huge change that was going to occur. However, she was well aware that in her current state she was going to need some help of her own and immediately, as she wasn’t sure if she was going to be able to make the trip to the Moonstone at the current time and if her fears proved true and she had to wait until she was fully healed she wasn’t going to leave the clan without someone to lead them because of it.

Taking a deep breath, she started to climb on top of the Highrock. The action that before was as easy for her as a simple leap now was a true struggle due to her weakness, and it was sincerely annoying her, having to use her claws to not slide off the hard surface. It took her several seconds to finally make it on top of the place she had occupied several times before when she had to make ceremonies because of Darkstar falling ill. However, knowing the news that she as going to deliver made her felt just as nervous as the first time she had to climb on top of it as a warrior.

“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!” She tried her best to sound strong and hide the effects of the illness as she called or the meeting.

Lionspark peered up from where she had been sitting, her tail curled around her paws as her gave an uncertain flicker of her ears. Her eyes flickered with a motherly worry even thought Blizzardshine was her senior by many moons, her heart sinking at how sick Blizzardshine look. She sighed softly as she pulled herself to her paws, wishing that Blizzardshine wouldn't bring herself to do ceremonies when she was clearly not well. She made her way over, her pawsteps slow as she stared up at the deputy, trying to read her as she sat down and waited for the rest of her Clanmates to gather.

Weedpaw, who'd been picking apart a scrawny mouse, looked up and moved to hear his adopted mother's words, heeding her call.

Honeypaw blinked and looked up quietly at the call. Stopping what she was doing the medicine cat apprentice padded over and looked to Blizzardshine

Smokecloud padded into the clearing and sat down. This was probably a Warrior or Deputy ceremony, so he set all his attention on the meeting. He curled his tail around his paws and waited for the meeting to continue.

Leafpaw made his way towards Highrock and sat down. He hadn't been doing much, just puttering around the broken camp. He sat down patiently to see what the deputy had to say.

Cedarpaw climbed out of the apprentice den, his first clan meeting as an apprentice! He wondered what was going to happen.

Hawkpaw padded into the clearing to sit closer towards the front, his jaw tight as he ignored the amount of debris stuck in his paws. He knew Blizzardshine was trusted in his family's eyes, he just hoped the clan didn't flock to her like kits for everything with all that had happened. She wasn't in good shape, not to deal with miniscule problems.

Falconpaw plodded up next to Hawkpaw, straightening his whiskers before the other could scold him for it. He looked up at Blizzardshine with as much of a reassuring look as the wary tom could. She didn't look too great, a little support could go a long way. He only knew that because of her help, it was perhaps his turn to finally start giving it back.

Cinderfrost padded from the warriors den and sat down quietly. The new warrior was eager to see what the ceremony or meeting was about. Quietly she curled her tail over her paws to listen

Lichenfang sat up from where she laid near the warriors den. She stood and made her way over and sat down silently.

Jaysong was just padding into camp with a mouse and a finch hanging from her jaws. Hearing the call she blinked and set the peices of prey down before she took a spot among the gathering cats

Reedpaw walked to the side of her twin sister and sat down there. Since they got back to the camp, all the daily life had been pretty confusing and chaotic but this was still a surprise for the young apprentice. He glanced a few seconds his mother, trying to know if she knew anything more and he turned his sight to the white and gray pelt of the deputy. What was going on? A ceremony? He doubted that. This seemed too much serious than a warrior or apprentice ceremony.

Leopardclaw has just left the camp, about to go out alone for a solo bit of hunting, when he heard Blizzardshine's call.  Surprised, the spotted golden tom dashed back into the camp and looked up at the deputy, pity shining in his eyes when he noticed her infected wounds.  She should have taken treatment earlier, even high ranks need proper care.  Catching sight of his mate Lichenfang, he padded over and sat down beside the calico she-cat, giving her a quick lick on the cheek.  "Any idea what this is about?"

Blizzardshine waited until most of the clan had gathered underneath the Highrock, trying her best to look as strong and confident as always even if she was weak and also her nerves were going crazy knowing the next words that were going to leave her muzzle. Taking a deep breath, she finally started to speak again “Darkstar and I had been talking…our leader came to a definitive decision and even if it brings me a deep sadness it is time to let you all know about it. Darkstar will step down from her position as leader” Her voice cracked lightly as she dropped the bomb to the rest of the clan, nervous for their reaction. Most of the clan, if not every cat in it loved their kind leader, so it wouldn’t be surprising if the news hit them as hard as they hit her when Darkstar had decided to talk to her about this while she was resting in the medicine cats’ den.

She allowed several seconds to pass so the cats below her could process what she had just said and maybe exchange some words between them before continuing “As such, is my responsibility to take over and I’ll make the trip to the Moonstone as soon as possible to get my nine lives from StarClan. However, I’m sure most of you are aware that my condition is far from optimal, so if the medicine cats allow me to make this trip it will take me way longer to do it than if I was completely healthy...and since the illness that afflicts me is non-lethal thanks to their efforts I highly doubt StarClan will heal me, so I won’t be able to lead properly for some sunrises. Taking this in consideration I can’t wait any longer, and I hope you understand my decision to pick a deputy right now”.

Blizzardshine was well aware that picking a deputy before getting her nine lives could be frowned upon by most warriors, but if she decided to wait until she was back from her trip to the Moonstone she risked to leave her clan without a proper leader, especially since she didn’t know if her poor health would allow her to appoint a deputy right after she returned, and that was something she simply wasn’t willing to do.

“It was a really hard choice with so many great warriors within our ranks, I won’t deny that, but I think I made the right choice. After all, this warrior has proven many times that your origins don’t dictate who you are by showing honor and loyalty far beyond what many pure clan born warriors can ever dream to achieve, and own a bravery even I wish I had” She spoke with new confidence and a smile quickly formed on her tired muzzle, giving her the healthiest appearance she could have in her current state “I say these words before StarClan, so that the spirits of our warrior ancestors may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of ThunderClan is Leopardclaw”.

Lionspark felt her heart drop at the first few words that left Blizzardshine's mouth, her ears falling flat on her head as her jaw hung limply. D-Darkstar was stepping down? She swallowed the bitter feeling that rose in her throat at that, finding herself confused on how to feel or...What even to say. Darkstar had been leader since Lionspark had just been a kit and now...And now she was simply not going to be leader anymore? The warrior spared a glance at the cats around her, trying to read their expressions before her gaze locked back onto Blizzardshine as the deputy - or...Well, soon to be leader - continued to speak.

She listened to as the she-cat explained her reasoning of picking a deputy before she got her lives and it simply made sense to the warrior. It could be a dangerous path there in the condition that Blizzardshine was in and the Warrior Code made it clear that a deputy had to be appointed by moonrise. She saw no shame in what Blizzardshine was doing but that only sparked a curiously.

Who? Who would be the next deputy of ThunderClan? Her ears perked as she leaned forward, almost hungrily taking in every word that left as she waited on bated breath for the answer. And then it came. Leopardclaw. Lionspark blinked as she leaned back, her ears twitching at that name. She sadly didn't know the tom well but she trusted herself in Blizzardshine's choice and so she allowed her gaze to once again shift across the clearing, finding the spotted tom as her eyes glimmered.

"Leopardclaw! Leopardclaw!"

Lichenfang blinked about to respond when the ceremony started. She looked to her mate,Leopardclaw,and smiled before she changed his name with the others a purr rumbling in her throat as she did so.

After having greeted his mate, Leopardclaw turned his attention fully towards Blizzardshine, listening to her announcement with curious ears.  He couldn't help but wonder why the deputy was making this announcement instead of the leader Darkstar herself; the whole time at sunningrocks she hadn't show signs of any sickness or fatigue, so it was a mystery to him why the white spotted she-cat was up on Highrock.  A mystery that was soon solved in fact.

The tom's eyes widened as a shocked gasp escaped his mouth; he couldn't believe his ears!  Darkstar's....stepping down?  Why?!  She's been leader even since I was brought here all those moons ago.....everything that's been going on lately must've really gotten to her.  I can't imagine how hard it must be seeing a cat you love fall into insanity like that....I guess I can understand though.  Bowing his head for a moment in a mourning fashion, Leopardclaw took a moment to process the sudden change before gazing back up at Blizzardshine - soon to be Blizzardstar.  Darkstar chose well, she will make a fantastic leader for ThunderClan.

And now, to see who she would pick as her deputy.  The faint wonder if he himself would be picked ran through his mind, but the humble warrior brushed the thought away.  There are so many cats more worthy of the position than I am....Lionspark would do wonderfully.  Jaysong or Maplecloud would be great as well....  In the midst of gazing around the clearing at the eligible warriors, Leopardclaw almost missed the true announcement, and jolted back to attention just in time to hear that the new deputy of ThunderClan would be......Leopardclaw?

For a moment he felt as if his heart had stopped.  Had...had he heard correctly?  He was to be deputy?!  Sitting with wide, stunned eyes, Leopardclaw suddenly couldn't move.  All at once a tidal wave of fear, anxiety, and self doubt crashed over him, and he found himself once again back in the dark part of his mind, where he had dwelled for so long in his youth.  I can't do this!  How can I protect these cats, will they trust me?  I don't share blood with them, I'm an outsider here!  Abandoned in the snow, unwanted.....how could Blizzardshine possibly deem me worthy to take her place?!

Suddenly, a pure, peaceful light seemed to break through to him, and the warrior's paws felt light as feathers as he stood up.  No....I am one of them!  Because a clan's bond does not come from far-back family connections and having the right skills or build.....it comes from being together as one!  What makes you ThunderClan is that you believe that you are ThuderClan!  We are all connected by the same threads of destiny and loyalty, put in place and guided by StarClan.  We are all family, friends, and comrades.....right Grasswhisker?  With a smile, Leopardclaw raised his face to glance at the bright blue new-leaf sky, where he could almost swear he felt a familiar bright green gaze looking down at him proudly.  Closing his eyes for a moment and sighing, when Leopardclaw's hazel eyes flashed open again they were filled with a new resolve and confidence he had never felt before.  Padding forward to the front of the crowd, he bowed his spotted head deeply to Blizzardshine, hoping she could see the deep-set emotion shining in his eyes.  Turning to the crowd of cats gathered in the ashy clearing, he stood tall and meowed confidently, hope and devotion apparent in his calm voice.  

"Thank you, Blizzardshine.....and all of you.  I promise that I will do my very best to protect this clan and uphold my oath to ThunderClan until my dying breath."