ShadowClan's Deputy

Littlebrook leaped up onto Jaggedrock with a heavy heart. Magpiestar had told her he was stepping down, and even though she agreed it'd be best for his mental health, she was still upset that it had come to that. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath Jaggedrock for a clan meeting!" She yowled loudly across the camp. Her heart was heavy for other reasons, as well. She had just exiled her son, and the emotions were still quite fresh. She had wanted to recuperate before having to choose a deputy, but duty called. She had to have a deputy to put in charge before traveling to the moonstone to get her lives.

Bonestrike stood up and pulled himself out of the warrior's den. Why was Littlebrook on the rock and not Magpiestar? The white warrior looked at the deputy with curious eyes as he padded over and sat down. What was she wanting to tell them? Maybe some others knew.

Larksong peered up from the fresh-kill pile, swallowing the piece of frog she had been chewing as she carefully stepped away and toward the Jaggedrock. She was well aware of what this was for - she was heartbroken to know that her father was stepping down when she had been so eager to see him be the leader he was suppose to be but...Well, she couldn't blame him. She knew what all the stress was doing to him and it was for the better - he was just going back to being a warrior like her...She was going to miss calling him Magpiestar thought. She shook her head as she sat down, curling her tail around her paws as she looked up at Littlebrook. She had faith in the deputy - soon to be leader. She didn't know her well but...Well, Smokestripe always spoke highly of his old mentor and Larksong trusted his judgement.


Smokestripe stepped from the warrior's den with a blink, staring up at Littlebrook as the she-cat called the Clan together. His eyes widen as he scampered across the clearing like an excited kit, sliding to a stop next to Larksong as he settled down next to his friend. "What do you think this is for?" he asked, only to blink back at the blank look at Larksong gave him. He shifted on his paws as he sat down, confused for a few seconds by the look before it hit him. "Ohhhhh, right," he said as he ducked his head, his tail curling around his paws. He was faintly aware of what was going on between Magpiestar stepping down and Littlebrook becoming the new leader - being friends with Larksong came with that perks and he had to admit he was pretty curious of who was going to be the new deputy. There were so many good cats for it despite everything that had been going on!

Silentpaw left the apprentice's den, looking up at the deputy wearily. What now? Hopefully it was something good. She had enough to cope with right now, another bout of bad news would likely be the death of her. Due to how distracted she had been lately, the apprentice hadn't heard word of Magpiestar's stepping down yet.

---

Thornpaw kept her seat near the fresh-kill pile, but turned her fern gaze steadily towards Littlebrook. She wanted nothing to do with anyone at the moment, however respect for her deputy and clan demanded she pay attention to the tiny she-cat. What now? She honestly didn't care, whatever it was.

Blazeflight walked into the clearing slowly from the warriors' den, glad to finally be free from Nettlesting's den. Her lack of a back leg was definitely gonna take some getting used to, but with time she was sure that she could return to her normal duties. He mother stood on the tall-rock, a sadness in her eyes that Blazeflight could not explain.

Newtface glanced up from the fresh-kill pile after he heard Littlebrook's call. He was still shaken from Rosepaw's death, but he still felt concerned about the fact that the deputy was up there, not Magpiestar. Raising a nonexistent eyebrow, the speckled tom padded up to join his Clanmates beneath the Jaggedrock.

Scorchfang heard the deputy -- well, soon to be leader now -- calling for a Clan meeting from outside, and he slipped out of the warriors' den. Thankfully, as newleaf was beginning to approach, the Clan had caught enough prey for the entire Clan to eat a healthy meal -- himself included. He couldn't remember the last time he had had a decent meal. His ribs were still showing a little through his bushy coat, but at least he was able to walk without feeling as if he were going to collapse at any moment.

He knew what this meeting was about. Littlebrook was to officially announce the retirement of Magpiestar, her own upcoming leader ceremony with StarClan, and the cat who would be ShadowClan's new deputy. He couldn't help but feel a little envious of whoever she was going to pick. He had always dreamed of being deputy himself, but he knew that with his past he probably wouldn't be chosen no matter how hard he tried to prove his undying loyalty to the Clan he loved and cherished dearly. Well, even though he more than likely wasn't going to be picked, he knew he would still continue doing his very best to help the Clan survive the remainder of leaf-bare, and the countless moons and seasons beyond.

Minnowpaw walked out from the apprentice den as she heard Littlebrook call for a clan meeting, she walked over to Scorchfang and sat down, she smiled quickly at him before she turned towards Littlebrook.


Wildpaw quickly walked out of the den as he heard Littlebrook call them all. He saw a stupid she-cat by his brothers side but walked up to him anyways and sat down on the other side of his brother.

Crowfur quicly took a seat and looked up at Littlebrook. Where was Magpiestar? The warrior shook his head and looked up with a quizzing expression.

Tansyheart followed the stream of warriors into the camp clearing. She settled among her Clanmates, gazing intently at Littlebrook and wondering what she had to say. After her father's exile, she wasn't entirely sure what to think about the Deputy, but at this point there was nothing she could do but continue treating Littlebrook with the same respect she had before.

Unlike Tansyheart, the tom wasn't a cat that simply could continue living forgetting about the whole misery that Littlebrook brought him and his family. For Firestone, she was the she-cat that lied to him and the she-cat that exiled his brother. Littlebrrok was the warrior that was left unpunished for her lies under Magpiestar's leadership. He disliked seeing her in such a high position but his loyalty to Shadowclan and the Warrior Code made him come to this place anyways, despite his conflicted thoughts towards his former adoptive mother.

Violetshine was conflicted, though Littlebrook and Magpiestar were the cause of misery to her beloved, they were her family. Littlebrook was her grandmother, the cat that warmly welcomed her to ShadowClan as others would spurn her for being borne by an outsider. Similar to Firestone, her emotions were conflicted, but mostly, she felt pride at the idea that some cat from her family made it this far up in ShadowClan.

The small-bodied cat brushed up against her mate, settling next to him so that one couldn't tell where one started and the other ended.

"Littlebrook has been running much in ShadowClan through Magpiestar's illness." She commented to Firestone quietly.

Wolfheart remained crouched in the shadows, unwilling to join the rapidly growing circle formed by his Clanmates. Gazing up at Littlebrook, the rosetted tom felt a sharp pain in his belly as he tried to swallow down the bitterness that resided in his throat. While he held no dislike for Littlebrook in his heart, Magpiestar had been both his mentor and the closest thing he ever had to a family, so to see his beloved father-figure be cast away like this... Swallowing sharply, Wolfheart awkwardly shuffled his paws and threw his gaze to the side, unsure of how to react to the situation.

As soon as most of the clan was gathered, Littlebrook took a deep, steadying breath before letting her gentle, but strong voice ring out across her clanmates. "ShadowClan, Magipiestar and I have been speaking and I regret to announce that he will be stepping down as leader of ShadowClan. He will take back his old warrior name, Magpiewing." She meowed, voice shaking slightly. Her nerves were getting the best of her and she was surprised that she wasn't shaking like a leaf atop Jaggedrock. Magpiestar had told her that the stress of being leader was getting the best of him and that he couldn't rightfully lead ShadowClan with his mind the way that it was. Of course, she understood, but it still grieved her to know that it had come to it. "He has led us well these past several moons, and he will serve ShadowClan just as well among the ranks of a warrior." She meowed, her deep sorrowful blue gaze genuine. "Because of this, I will take over, and I will need a deputy to stand by me. There are many qualified warriors in our ranks tonight, but StarClan has guided my paw and helped me to make the right choice." She said clearly, her gaze landing on each upturned face below her. “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 ShadowClan is Scorchfang." She announced with conviction, a soft smile playing on her lips. He was young, but she saw great potential in the black-furred tom below her. He had grown so much from his apprentice days, and that was an almost sure sign of a competent deputy. She needed someone that she knew she could count on, and Scorchfang had proven that to her.

"The new deputy of ShadowClan is Scorchfang."

Scorchfang's eyes widened into two bright orange moons, staring up at the former ShadowClan deputy in pure shock. Did... Did he just hear correctly? He was going to be ShadowClan's new deputy? This had to be a dream, it had to, this was unreal!

But it wasn't a dream. He had finally proven himself worthy of ShadowClan. He had finally shown his Clanmates that he was no longer the rude, disrespectful apprentice he used to be, but the brave and loyal cat he had always striven to become. Now he would be able to work alongside Littlebrook -- well, soon to be Littlestar -- in providing for the Clan. He could help his beloved Clan grow stronger and remain content, healthy, and safe.

Tears began to blur his vision. This was by far the happiest day of his entire life. He dipped his head to Littlebrook respectfully. "I-I don't know what to say... Except... Thank you." He turned to face the rest of his Clan, an overjoyed smile on his face. "I had started off as an ignorant little kit who didn't know the true meaning of what it means to be a Clan cat. But now I know, and I have worked long and hard to become the cat I have always wanted to be -- the cat that you all deserve to call a friend and a Clanmate. I promise, I will do everything in my power to keep ShadowClan safe and happy. This has been my dream ever since I was a kit, to help serve my Clan. It just took me some time to realize that the way I behaved as an apprentice wasn't getting me anywhere. Take it from me, my brother -- you know who you are out there -- that being kind and compassionate is just as important as being brave and loyal. I promise to make ShadowClan proud."

He bowed his head respectfully to his Clanmates. He truly would never have made it to this point without his most precious friends. Rowantalon, Crowfur, Wildpaw, and Silentpaw, who gave him the love and support every cat deserved; Violetshine, who helped train him to become the respectable warrior he was now; Minnowpaw, who taught him that compassion was better than brute strength; Brownpaw, his very first apprentice who taught him to be kind to kits and she-cats alike, whom he knew was watching over him from StarClan; Littlebrook, for putting so much faith into him to help her lead this precious Clan; and... even Sweetheart of RiverClan, who taught him to love, and to not take what he has for granted.