Riverclan's Deputy Election

Even though he tried to deny it... he couldn't avoid it. Jaystream had been thinking about it all day in his den, curling in his own nest in pain. Ivystar was gone... probably dead by now. He had to accept but how could he? She was his leader, his mother. They weren't close to each other since his kit-hood but he still felt a small connection between him and her. He respected her... he always admired for the strength and courage he never had, that confidence he always wished for, the one who allowed her to lead Riverclan to greatness.

Without she here... he was the one to take her place. Jaystream never expected this day to come. He didn't feel ready but, to be honest, would he ever feel prepared for such a responsibility? He highly doubted it. Ivystar left him and his clan forever, leaving him with no instructions and a legacy to protect. And no matter what, he had to be strong enough to accomplish that. He couldn't stay there in the den hiding like a frightened kit. Those days were long gone.

Jaystream took a deep breath to relax and when the night arrived, the deputy left the warrior's den. He slowly walked to the Willow Branch, the place where all Riverclan's leaders stepped over to be part of the clan's history. Now history had its eyes on him. He wasn't going to fall behind his fate when his clan needed him in difficult times like this. The tom knew he wasn't strong as Ivystar or Fishtar were but, just like them, he was willing to do what's needed to protect and save his clan. With that determination in mind to encourage him, the deputy pounced to the branch and he looked down at his clanmates. They had no idea of what was going to happen now. How would they react? Would they mourn? Would they see him as the leader? His anxious personality started to rise inside his mind but as soon as it appeared, he shoved it away. There was a reason he was here... There was a reason he was still alive when so many have died... Jaystream had a duty to do, that was his purpose. He couldn't be selfish and deny because he was scared. His family and clanmates needed him to be stronger than he ever was.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the willow branch for a clan meeting!" He yowled, preparing his announcement.

Dewshine padded towards the willow branch at the call. She settled down on the side, her eyes tracked each cat the arrived and she wearily shifted away from any cats that had been involved in the Flickerpaw argument except for Goldeneye. She refocused on Jaystream, her mind racing with various thoughts as to what this meeting could be about. The lack of Ivystar's presence was different, unusual. She half-expected to see her pad into camp, but she didn't. The camp's reeds stood silent as though waiting as well.

Ravenflight padded forward to join her fellow warriors, who were gathering beneath the willow branch. But instead of Ivystar, Jaystream was sitting at the top, a grave expression on his face. I wonder what's going on? she asked herself, cocking her head thoughtfully. She glanced around at her approaching Clanmates, scanning each face for a hint about what was going on.

Duckpuddle was used to hearing Jaystream call out the familiar words that would gather a Clan so that a new apprentice could be made. So, her mind did not give any room for curious or negative thoughts as she padded out of the warriors' den and settled down beside Ravenflight. The brown she-cat lifted her head and let her sharp green eyes scan the clearing as she wondered which lucky kit would have the opportunity to become an apprentice today. However, the back of her head seemed to wonder where Ivystar was. Perhaps it was just some sort of paranoia.

Resting within the soft, richly colored shadows thrown by the protective walls of the Nursery, Splashwillow's features were drawn in a hardly perceptible frown as she gazed at Jaystream. She knew that, without a doubt, her kin was just as worried over Ivystar's sudden and utterly bewildering disappearance. Ears folding flat against her skulll, the little calico became slightly restless as she watched her Clanmates. Whatever it was, hopefully it was good news.

---

Adderpaw, who was still struggling to fully recover from her wounds, only peered out from within the sheltered confines of the Medicine Cat's den. Although she wasn't entirely up to speed about the whole Ivystar ordeal, she had heard many furtive whispers whenever nobody thought she was listening. Rising up into an ungraceful half-seated position, the young apprentice's ears were pricked as she awaited the sound of more voices.

---

Sunpaw, who had been previously grooming herself, paused at Jaystream's summons. What could possibly be going on now? The seemingly endless possibilities gave the bi-colored tabby a slight headache that simmered at the edge of her consciousness. Straightening up into a more flattering seated position, the young she-cat's head lifted slightly as she gazed at the blue tabby atop the willow branch.

Lilytail walked out of the warrior's den. She sat down and looked up at Jaystream with curiosity and a bit of worry? Where was Ivystar? Was this bad news? Oh Starclan no! The white-furred warrior's life had consisted of negativity. She curled her tail harder around herself and continued to stare but now with a hardened gaze.

Heavy with kits, Snowblossom padded out from the nursery behind her mother, ears pinned back in worry. Ivystar's disappearance... What could it mean? Now what would happen to RiverClan? Was Jaystream really ready for the leadership? Perhaps, under his rule, there would be less war, less fighting. A safer world for her kits. The fluffy white she-cat looked down at her large belly, then back up at the willow branch, wondering how this would be handled.

Shellwater watched from the forgotten shade of the elder's den, not bothering to come out even for the supposedly interesting news. Otterleap's death had hit her hard, especially after his retirement and how they had been starting to grow close again... The small calico shook her head angrily, not willing to sink into that pit of despair agsin. She was going to watch leadership change paws, again... It hadn't even been that long since Fishstar, had it?

Shadefang stalked out of the warriors’ den at the call of their deputy. Well, soon-to-be leader at this point. Ivystar’s sudden disappearance really spooked the entire Clan, and it was so unlike her to just vanish into thin air. This meeting would probably be to choose RiverClan’s next deputy.

”I hope he will choose me,” he meowed softly to himself, focusing his unblinking gaze up at Jaystream. ”It has to be me. I can make this Clan even greater than it ever was, and all the Clans would be forced to respect us. We will truly become a force to be reckoned with, if he would just choose me.” And then his very first duty as RiverClan’s new deputy would be to apply truth to Ivystar’s words about Sweet; how she was killed and never found afterwards. That would give him massive bragging rights over his foul mother right before he and Silverfang cut her down.

Goldeneye knew how hard this was hitting Jaystream yet she was powerless to do anything about it. Goldeneye hummed lowly as she thought, her best friends summons barely reached her. Then it was decided then, Ivystar was gone and with Jaystream to take her place, a deputy was to be appointed. Striding into the crowd the medicine cat looked up at Jaystream, the day they spent on sunningrocks unforgettable, still making her fur heat at the thought. But this was a day of celebration, Jaystream coming to power meant that Ivystar and Fishstar's reign of terror had come to an end.

Heronflight saw his former mentor jump up on the Willow Branch, watching Jaystream on the branch majestically.  Wrenpaw rested next to Heronflight, watching Jaystream closely.

Flamepaw, Spotfur, and Cinderfall all sat with the clan. Flamepaw sat rather close to Dewshine, Spotfur by Smokewish and Nutfur. Cinderfall was by no one in particular.

When you had seen leaders die and their torched passed on before, you knew when it was in the air. The somber, electrified feeling that danced between every cat. Everyone was scared, but also restless, perhaps a little eager, to see how life would change to adapt. Just like with Fishstar, the Clan was gathered with not much to go on, but Snailbelly could tell based on their traditions that Jaystream was obligated to pick a deputy to help him serve as he became leader. There were certainly plenty of options, he thought, as he scanned the clearing. Plenty who had been warriors and plenty who had mentored. The question would be if the choice was difficult or not. Then Shadefang's words found their way into the ear fluff of the senior warrior.

Just like Swanpaw, back before she disappeared.

Yet this young'un carried the black fire of hatred in his heart. It was the kind that Ivystar had, the kind that lead to the battle for the Sunningrocks at which a cat had been killed and others taken hostage. A frown passed onto his whiskers. Such a dark passion could hurt RiverClan. He knew, for one, he would not stay quiet under such a leadership as he had with their former leader. Losing Swanpaw before changed that.

Turning to face Shadefang, he said, "Careful, Shadefang. Ambition is good, just..." What should he finish that with? "If you are chosen, relish peace when you can."

Viperstorm padded over to Snailbelly sitting close to her mate. "Is it bad that I would like to be deputy myself?" The she-cat pondered. She wasn't that ambitious. She knew that she could serve Riverclan to the best of her abilities even from her warrior's position, but she couldn't help that little spark in her chest that wanted it.

She guessed it only had to do with the fact that she wanted to make Ivystar proud. The blue gray warrior was depressed about Ivystar's disappearance it effected her deeply, but she wanted to uphold the leader's legacy. She wanted to make the former leader proud. Deputy position or no.

Darkpaw's head lowered as she padded out to be among her clanmates. The whispers and mutters confirmed her fears. Ivystar was gone. No cat had directly told her, but the apprentice had noticed. Their leader had been her role model for as long as she could remember. Since her kithood, Ivystar had stood at the head of the clan and despite her flaws, had been ever kind towards the younger she-cat. It felt like sometging was missing from her life, a piece that would not be made whole until, if, the former leader ever came back.

The calico spotted her mother and wandered over to settle down at Silverfang's side. Her gaze looked up to Jaystream. He was the leader now. There was no doubt in her mind he would be great; she trusted him. But could he fill the space left by Ivystar? Darkpaw shook her long coat slightly to dispel the though and fixed her eyes on the silver tom as she waited.

Smokewish had left the warriors den at the call. Her one eye that worked was dull and tears sparkles in the corner of it. She felt now more than ever that RiverClan was being punished by their starry ancestors. Three life-changing events that would only split the grey warrior’s life into Before and After. The loss of her left eye, the loss of Nightshade and Mudpaw, and now the loss of Ivystar. Ivystar had been leader all of Smokewish’s life, and now she was gone. Just like that. While she was certain Jaystream would be fantastic, she thought no cat would be able to be such a fierce and ruthless leader. How much weight must rest on the tom’s shoulders? Now he was to lead the entire Clan, which must be such a difficult feat. Overwhelming sorrow filled her heart until she was sure there was no room for anything else. That was a lie, actually. The few loved ones she had left still held a special place. Mistpaw, Chillpaw and Spotfur. Those were all. With heavy steps, she went to sit by her mate, the love of her life. If StarClan really were punishing them, she couldn’t bear it if she lost him or any of her precious kits. She gently touched Spotfur’s shoulder with the tip of her tail, trying her best to be comforting and to stand strong when her world had crumbled around her.