ShadowClan's Deputy

"Let all cats old enough to capture their own prey join here beneath the Jaggedrock for a clan meeting!"

His breath was ragged as he leapt onto the Jaggedrock. There was little to no enthusiasm as he took his spot. As the clan gathered below him, his eyes drifted towards the elder's den.

Throughout this whole anxiety-ridden debacle, Thrushstripe had provided a sense of calm and clarity. The old leader had performed the ceremony himself many times over his long life. Some would say he was an expert. It was the only decision Magpiewing could make that made any sense to him.

He was becoming leader. Before that could happen, he needed a deputy. The tom never imagined he would live to this point. He always imagined a life where he passed before taking up the task. While his thoughts weren't on something so depressing, he assumed Leopardstar would be there to guide him through the process. Much like his grandfather did for the bengal.

It seemed Thrushstripe already knew what was on the black tom's mind as soon as he first approached him. There was an unspoken understanding between the two as they sat quietly, the only words escaping their maws were the names of various clanmates. He felt confused and conflicted with each passing name. How could he choose someone to support him when the only cat he wanted to help him was gone?

After what felt like a moon of discussion, they finally narrowed his choices down. Yet the ultimate decision was still to be made. As Magpiewing fiddled with his paws waiting for the clearing to fill his mind repeated those few names over and over again in his head.

Larksong was already sitting in the clearing as her father's voice rang out. Her ears were flat on her head, still struggling to understand what had truly transpired that lead to the death Leopardstar but there was little use dwelling on it...Besides, one of the biggest moments of her father's live was about to happen. He was going to be the leader of ShadowClan. She got to her paws, quietly moving to her normal spot before she sat down and peered up worrying at Magpiewing. It couldn't be easy for him - she knew how terrified he was about the whole thing. He had been scared just to be deputy! But now...Now she couldn't even start to understand what he had to be feeling.


Smokestripe followed after Larksong, having been chatting idly with her with the knowledge that this ceremony would be happening soon. He followed many of the same fears of Larksong, worrying over the soon to-be leader. While he certainly didn't know Magpiewing like Larksong did, he felt terrible for what the poor tom had to be going through. He had promised to Larksong already to help her be there for her father but he knew it would be the tortoiseshell that would be doing most of the caring. But it did leave the question of who would be deputy. He peered around at the gathering cats, his eyes drifting from warrior to warrior as he wondered who the mostly black tom would pick as his deputy. There was so many good choices!

Littlebrook padded out of the warrior's den, blue gaze still clouded with grief as she joined her clanmates below Jaggedrock. She knew what this was about. Obviously Magpiewing had to choose a deputy, though she didn't envy him one bit. He was barely deputy for a few moons before this whole situation, and now he was leader. He didn't have much time to prepare for leadership, and she couldn't imagine the panic coursing through him at that very moment. All she could do was trust in him now, and pray to StarClan to give him the strength he'd need to get through it.

Silentstorm glanced up from grooming his ruffled fluffy, black pelt when Magpiewing called the meeting. He saw his mother emerge from the warrior's den and padded up to sit next to her, their pelts brushing. He leaned into her comfortingly and they shared a tired glance as they waited for the new deputy to be called out.

Olivelily barely even heard Magpiewing's call for a meeting, but when she noticed others beginning to gather, she had the sense to realize. In an almost zombie-like state, she made her way to sit on the far edges of her gathered clanmates and she settled down to stare blankly at Magpiewing.

Knowing the reason behind this clan gathering, Mudfoot sat down next to Littlebrook and looked up to his father. He couldn't even imagine what the older tom had been through, but he made a promise to support him in any way possible. Besides, as one of the older members of the clan, that we his duty and he planned to uphold it.

Scanning his gaze around the clearing, he had a few ideas of who Magpiewing might choose and just like every cat, wondered who would be chosen to take the new deputy position. 'Well, who ever it is, I'll support father's choice,' he thought to himself silently and waited for the meeting to begin.

Copperfang, grief stricken over her dead leader padded up to the growing group of cats.

OOC: short post is short

Lilacpaw made her way to the gathering warriors, watching Magpiewing in silence. She didn't know what this meeting was for, but she supposed she could guess well enough after the news of Leopardstar's death. She waited patiently for the announcement they would receive - it was too much to hope for a kit to be made an apprentice, or an apprentice a warrior, she supposed. But she could still hope, even in naivete.

Lizardtail slumped his way over to where everyone was gathering, not really enthusiastic about the whole thing.

OOC: Might edit for some more pizzazz later.

Crowfur made it and sat with his head hung a bit low. He missed Leopardstar but he knew that Magpiewing would be an excellent leader. He was curious to what this was about but he didn't ask and chose to find out. The atmosphere was gloomy but that was to be expected as the now former leader of Shadowclan passed to be with the ranks of Starclan.

Rowantalon stepped forward tentatively.
He already knew what this gathering was for; Shadowclan needed a Deputy.
The death of Leopardstar still shook him. The sight of Magpiewing standing on Jaggedrock still felt strange to him.

He sighed heavily and settled down, wrapping his tail neatly around his paws and turning to delicately lick one shoulder.

Who could the deputy be?
Littlebrook, perhaps? She was admirable, but old. Mudfoot? He didn't know the tom well, but he was an honorable warrior. Perhaps Smokestripe, or Larksong. But they were older than Flamestrike, who was an elder now.
Silentstorm?
Rowantalon respected his former mentor greatly. Yes, he'd make a good deputy.

The young warrior with the orange fur padded into the clearing where the Jaggedrock was, sitting close to the rest of his clan. He already knew what was all this about. After Leopardstar's death, it was time to choose a new deputy now that Magpiewing was going to be the next leader of Shadowclan. He had a poor experience at leadership since he wasn't able to learn too much being a deputy but, despite his lack of experience, Firestone trusted him and knew he was sure that the tom was going to be a great successor. His green stared at him, seriously. He already mourned the death of the leader... he knew it was time to move on because that what Leopardstar would want for his clan.

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Cedarstorm sat down close to her clanmates, a bit shaken about what happened to her leader. She wanted to tell him so many things but... all the words wouldn't have listened now that he was gone forever, living his new life in Starclan. She looked at the deputy and future leader, ready to hear his announcement, which was going to be probably the choosing of a new deputy for Shadowclan. Who can be? she thought, wrapping her tail around her paws.

Flamestrike limped slowly out to join the clan. His retirement would not keep him stuck in the den all the time. Although, that prospect was tempting. He still felt the sting of shame about being such a young cat sleeping with the elder's. But he was virtually useless now. Per usual, he settled near the edge of the clearing. His fur was unkempt and eyes dull. The combination of his debilitating injury and the loss of the leader he had learned to love was weighing down on him. Neither was a pleasant situation. Together, it felt like the end of his life, and in a sense, it was becoming that. As he sat down, the former warrior leaned all of his weight onto his normal forepaw. The other continued to ache and groan with protest at the fact he was moving.

Honeydrop would have most likely told him to stay still as rest. But, this injury would not prevent him from being around for a deputy ceremony. Some cat would step into a whole new role today, along with Magpiewing who had unfortunately been thrown in too soon. His eyes fixed on the new leader, wondering who he would appoint to assist him. Unlike most cats, he had never dreamed about standing in the leader's place one day. He had only longed to fit in and do all he could to serve the clan. That had fallen through, but now he had his kin and that was the only thing helping him through this unfortunate situation. His eyes settled on Littlebrook and Mudfoot, who had taken up the place by his side. The older tom caused his fur to prickle as he remembered the whole instance with Wolffang. However, there was a soft smile on his face as he looked at Littlebrook. She had been a dear friend and loving mother to his kits. He was glad that she had found some good companionship in another, even if it was Mudfoot.

Waspstep and Bonestrike padded out of the warriors den for the new deputy announcement.

Boulderfoot padded out of warrior's den with look of interest palying on his face. This was very important decision for ShadowClan future and Boulderfoot did not knew Magpiewing so well. He thought about possible candidates. Larksong and Smokestripe were both quite good decision, but Littlebrook was Boulderfoot's kin and he wanted her to be next deputy. After all she made him for a warrior.

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Starlingpaw came closer with excitement randomly looking around and paying attention to Magpiewing. Soon life of ShadowClan cats would change a bit. This Mist brought Leopardstar to death and Magpiewing into to early leadership. Was that the end?

Violetpaw shivered as she looked up at the Jaggedrock, only a few pawbeats ago that was Leopardstar's place but now... Grief stunk the air of the clan camp, no one looked particularly happy or cheery. The tribe had taken much from them already, but to take their leader? It was all too much for her to comprehend. All she knew was that she was scared and angry, both terrible combinations.

Redstorm padded out in silence. The voice coming from the top of the rock was strange and almost unfamiliar. Grief clearly struck his face as he took his spot and sat down with his tail wrapped around his paws. He couldn't believe that Leopardstar was gone. The leader had taught him everything that he knew and now the new warrior would never see him again. However, the young tom was hopeful to see how Magpiewing would lead. The former deputy had always been kind. Surely his reign would be no different.

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It took Thrushstripe a while to get up and out of his nest. His joints were killing him and he had hardly slept a wink after the news at the gathering. It had taken a huge toll on him to find out that Leopardstar was not returning, but after what went down, his face was hardened again, giving way to pain in winces as he padded out slowly and carefully to his place under the rock. Looking up to see Magpiewing standing in the place where both he and his successor stood was strange, and a sense of despair struck his heart. However, he stayed strong, acting as encouragement for the new leader as he proceeded to speak at his first ceremony in the new position.