It is time. (ThunderClan has a new Deputy in town.)

He wasn’t ready for this.

Marshstorm exited the medicine den at a slow pace. His paws felt heavy, his heart even heavier. He knew, logically, that Leopardstar’s leadership wouldn’t be forever. The golden pelted leader would one day lose his lives, and then it would be his turn.

He just wasn’t ready for it to be now.

Amber eyes looked over the camp. Warm sunlight shone through the canopy, and the soft chuffs of laughter, the sight of kits tumbling around made his chest feel warm. The idyllic nature of the day didn’t suit the situation within the medicine den’s walls. Yet, he had no choice. He caught sight of Nettlepaw and Mistpaw, gaze finding Dustcloud as well. The clan had to move forward.

He looked up at High-rock. He had climbed it numerous times, but this time… it would be the last time he scaled it as Marshstorm. Biting back nerves, he leapt up the rock in a couple large bounds. Looking down at his clanmates below. The sun warm on his back, like a comforting tail. Everything would be fine.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath High-rock for a clan meeting!" The familiarity of those words helped to soothe his worry some more. Leopardstar wasn’t dead. The silver lining in all of this. The younger tom would still be able to live longer, and he wouldn’t have chosen him, if he didn’t believe in him.

Now, it was time for him to lay down his trust in another cat. One, who would be his deputy.

Regardless of the fact that the tabby tom was still saddled with unbearable grief and pain, the call of the deputy and leader was something that would always stir his loyal heart. Beartooth had and always would be driven by his sense of duty. It stirred his paws just enough to pad over to the high rock. Green eyes flickered up to look at Marshstorm. Last time the deputy had stood there, he had exiled Ridgelight. Memories from not long before surged through the tom's mind and he had to grip the earth to settle himself. It wasn't the tabby's fault, but that didn't make it any more of a pleasant memory. Beartooth waited for the gathering of the clan to begin, hoping that there would not be any more bitter news he could not handle. If that were the case, the tom would perhaps consider spitting it out and running. He never would, though; he would have to simply deal with it. Fixating his eyes up on his former mentor, the tom remained silent. All he longed for was this to be over soon.

Mistpaw looked up at his father on Highrock, confused. Nobody was old enough to be promoted..? He didn't care, of course, but his mind raced through the possibilities - looming war, predator threats, perhaps another murder.

Almost without thinking, Emberheart padded over to her Clanmates, looking up at the Highrock where Marshstorm stood - Clan meetings were a common enough occurence that she didn't really think about them when she heard one called, instead slowly making her way over to watch and listen. All she could hope for, she supposed, was that it wasn't awful news - Ridgelight's exile and the surrounding events hadn't quite left her mind; but there were also other, more benign things that called for Clan meetings. Despite her initial inclination, worrying too much wasn't going to help anyone. So, patiently listening for Marshstorm's next words, she waited.

Harefoot had settled back into clan life quite comfortably, although there was a dark cloud hanging over the camp that hadn't yet been explained to him. He opted to simply remain silent and let those around him inform him as they felt necessary. The tomcat buried the bones of his meal and made his way towards Highrock, spotting Beartooth and weaving his way through the gathering crowd to seat himself next to his oldest friend. Sensing Beartooth's usual troubled nature, Harefoot gently wrapped his tail around his friend and hoped they would have time to talk about what was weighing him down. For now, he simply looked up to Marshstorm and waited for his announcement.

Mosspaw and Pricklebush had worked hard, the calico apprentice running the errands for more herbs and doing the best she could under Pricklebush's guiding paws. Unfortunately, all they did wasn't enough, and she slowly padded out of the medicine den a couple heartbeats after Marshstorm. Taking a position just at the edge of the ferns, close enough to return to Leopardstar's side should he call, she looked up to the well-respected cat. She had an idea of what the meeting was about, but she was curious about what Marshstorm's decision would be. This decision was his, and his alone. She only hoped she could help guide whoever he chose along with him as their medicine cat apprentice well.

Graypaw looked at Marshstorm. She knew the deputy usually called meetings for apprentice ceremonies,but today she had no idea what the meeting was for. With Leopardstar still ill, Marshstorm could replace the leader and make a meeting over anything that was needed. But she couldn’t think of anything that was urgent enough to not be able to wait for poor Leopardstar, so the she cat just watched,confused.

Nettlepaw looked over at her father curiously when he called the clan meeting. She wasn't sure what exactly this was about-- which she assumed meant it was news, possibly very important news at that. She gave the announcement her full, undivided attention, not wanting to miss anything of importance.

Ferretnose, weary as the rest of the clan, approached Highrock with her head high. She wanted to be a pillar in the trying times her clan was facing, but every day it got a little harder. She hoped for good news... StarClan only knew how much they needed a sign of clear horizons ahead.

Disappointment and sadness glinting in his golden eyes, Copperheart glanced up at Marshstorm from the camp floor as the brown tabby's deep voice rang throughout camp. Neither emotions sprouted from Marshstorm specifically, no, not at all, it was just the fact that Copperheart hadn't heard his father's voice ring from that rock in so long. Of course, Marshstorm had been the one making the announcements for a while, but the orange tom had grown adjusted to them then - he had known Leopardstar would soon be back on the High-rock, healthy as ever. But now that the sickness had destroyed him until he was on his last life, Copperheart was scared. Scared that the only parental figure that had ever come into his and his siblings' life would be gone, just like that. The warrior wasn't sure at all what'd he do if that happened. 

He sat down. His eyes were weary, but he managed to find the strength to at least look at Marshstorm. Perhaps good news was coming.

Marshstorm watched as the clan gathered below High-rock to his summons. He chest clenching at the words that would soon have to leave his jaws. They half parted a couple of times, but finally, he managed to force the words through. His gaze caught on Mistpaw and Nettlepaw. Their curious faces eased his concerns. He was doing it for the clan.

"As most of you are aware. Leopardstar has been in the medicine den for quite some time now" He began. Unwilling to hide anything from the clanmates that had supported him, welcomed him, and now looked up to him. "Unfortunately, his injuries became badly infected. Pricklebush and Mosspaw have been working diligently to help him recover… but it came at a cost.". He looked down at Mosspaw, and to the entrance of the medicine den with Pricklebush. Amber eyes pinched in sorrow.

"Leopardstar has lost all of his gifted lives, and is now on his last." He turned back to the clan. "Leopardstar is unable to lead the clan. The infection, Starclan be thanked, seems to be lifting, but he is still too weak. It is with a heavy heart, that I am to take up the leader of ThunderClan." He paused, letting his words settle for a long moment.

"Before I declare my deputy, I want to thank everyone of you. Including Leopardstar, and those who weren’t born yet. I have been honoured to serve as your deputy, and will do my best to lead you into a time of peace and ensure our strength." His expression eased, a gentle, familiar smile on his muzzle as he made the final declaration.
"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 will be Beartooth."

He looked down at his former apprentice. The smile was soft, sad but honest. "Beartooth, you have shown remarkable courage, and have a strong drive to do what is best. Even when the odds have been stacked against you, when it must have felt lonely, you have kept going for the sake of the clan. I need a cat, as dependable as you, at my side." He added, his gaze turned to Pricklebush briefly. He knew the sharp tongued medicine cat may have an argument against this… but what he had said was the truth. With a firm nod, be began the chant to raise Beartooth’s status.

Hating, that in a few short hours, he’d be walking to the moonstone. To accept the lives he hoped he deserved.

Most meetings as of late had been too grim for Galepaw’s liking; this was shaping up to be more of the same. He longed for a return to the days where the only reason anyone took the Highrock was to give someone a new name. Still, skipping out on meetings he had no reason not to attend was probably the kind of thing that would earn a scolding, so he padded over and sat beside Emberheart as Marshstorm continued to speak.

He hadn’t spent much time thinking about Leopardstar’s absence, but it was surprising to hear he was still sick—sick enough to lose most of his lives. Galepaw had always imagined leaders dying in battle or else from hurling themselves into danger for their Clan’s sake, not wasting away in a medicine den. Of course, his only experience with leadership was playing Galestar in the nursery, so he took in this new information without comment. In light of that, it made sense that Marshstorm had to step up. He'd already been through a Gathering and a ceremony with Marshstorm at its head; it wouldn't be that big a change. The real change was their new deputy.

Beartooth? Galepaw’s eyes swept the crowd until they found Beartooth (which wasn't difficult, given the tabby's distinct appearance). Who better to be ThunderClan's deputy than one of the biggest cats in the forest?

The brutish warrior felt a tail wrap around him and he glanced down to see Harefoot. A certain comfort seemed to soothe his soul, if just for a moment, from the touch of his friend. For so long the other tom had been lost and assumed dead. But now he was here. It seemed as if cats left and came from his life so quickly, some easing the pain and others worsening it. Thankfully Harefoot had been a constant companion. He found himself hoping that they were not separated again. Beartooth would make sure of it. He subconsciously pressed slightly closer to the other tom before returning his gaze to Marshstorm who had begun speaking.

Leopardstar had lost all his lives to sickness.

His usually simple mind whirled from the idea. Was that possible? Could a leader lose so many at once? He swallowed back a lump that seemed to form in his throat. Leopardstar had been the clan leader his entire life. It appeared that was about to end. The thought that a new deputy even had to be picked was something he couldn't quite process. Marshstorm had been the deputy longer than Beartooth had been alive as well. Thunderclan's leadership had been as strong and dependable as the oaks of Fourtrees. Unchanging. And yet, here it was, changing faster than leaffall into leafbare. He blinked, exchanging a brief glance with Harefoot before returning his gaze to the high rock.

What was said next shocked him even further. And for several moment, he made no motion to speak or move. He was to be deputy? Beartooth had never considered needing to lead anything in his life. He was the tom who followed orders and carried out tasks simply for the sake of the clan. And his former leader thought he would be good as the next deputy? The warrior kneaded the earth with his many claws, searching for the right response, or even the right emotion. Finally, a soft sigh left his maw. He had trained underneath Marshstorm once before and he was more than ready to serve him once again. The title might just take some time getting used to. Settling for the usual lack of words, he locked eyes with the new leader and managed and stiff nod. If this were to be his new task, he would be ready to take it on.

Harefoot's head lowered in sadness and respect at the news of Leopardstar's illness. He hadn't had another leader or deputy in all his life, and the change in leadership was so sudden that it was hard to believe it to be true. But he supposed most of his clanmates felt the same, and while he respected Leopardstar deeply, he knew that Marshstorm was just trying to keep ThunderClan strong and do what was best for them. Besides, Leopardstar wasn't dead. It was like Blizzardshine; the former leader would still be around to give advice, StarClan willing. He met Beartooth's brief gaze and gave a slight shrug before looking back at Marshstorm.

When the former deputy announced his successor, Harefoot's eyes lit up and his jaw dropped in excited surprise. It seemed that he had reacted much more than Beartooth had, as he looked back at his friend to see his reaction only to be met with stillness. Well, he supposed that was usual for the stoic warrior, but still, Harefoot would have liked to see Beartooth smile at least a little bit. The dusty warrior purred loudly, more than pleased for his achievement, and rubbed his cheek on the new deputy's shoulder. "Oh, Beartooth, I'm so proud of you!" He meowed, smiling so hard his face was starting to hurt. He joined the chant, hoping his friend wouldn't suddenly become to busy to spend time together. "Beartooth! Beartooth! Beartooth!"

Ferretnose went through a few different emotions while Marshstorm spoke. First, her good eye shot towards Leopardstar's children, gauging their reactions. They must have been relieved to hear their father had survived. They would watch him grow old without the pressures of leadership. On the other hand, perhaps they were disappointed that he was no longer of such status. It was hard to tell. Then, she looked to Dustcloud and the many children she had with their new leader. They looked very proud. Good.

When she saw Beartooth, she was overwhelmed with happiness for him, even though he seemed conflicted. She didn't blame him, of course. It was a grandiose position in such a pivotal time for ThunderClan. So much was changing within the walls of camp. Still, she joined in the chanting of his name. After Harefoot finished his friendly assault of his friend, the short she-cat approached him with her familiar smile. "So, Mighty Patrol Leader is Might Patrol Organizer now, huh?" she hummed, touching his flank with her tail. "Congratulations! You'll do amazing, I'm positive."