Rushing Torrent, Burning Flames [OPEN]

When Torrentstar finally stepped through the camp entrance, Mistlepaw in tow, the sun was just beginning to rise on a new day. Slowly, perhaps uncertainly, the weak and watery rays were making their way over the wetlands. The camp was mostly empty, save for one or two very early risers who were far too diligent for their own good. Usually, he would be one of them, but circumstances had seen to it that he had just returned from the Moonstone. Now that he had all nine of his lives, he was truly a leader. To think, the future of his clan was resting on his and Ivybrook's shoulders. His paws were practically numb with exhaustion, but before he could retire to his nest, he knew there was something else he had to do. Scorchclaw shuffled over to the willow tree, dug his claws into the bark, and begun to haul himself up. At this early hour, the quiet that claimed the island had a sort of peacefulness to it. There was no chatter to be heard in the breeze, no laughter, no squabbles. The distant burbling of the stream, interrupted only by the chirping of birds far overhead, calmed him as it always did. Closing his eyes, he allowed the morning breeze to stir his whiskers. For what must have been quite a long passage of time, he simply perched there in such a state. When, at last, he opened his eyes, the rising sun had grown visible against the horizon. The brilliance it now threw over the camp was dazzling when it struck a cat in the face. Torrentstar squinted, scrunching up his muzzle.

It was time. The clan was waking, and the first tinkle of voices rang out in the morning air.

As he slowly got to his paws, Torrentstar took in the sight of his home burning in the golden rays of another day's beginning. Yes. He thought to himself. There is nowhere to go but forward. In that moment, he knew. This sight was the one he wanted to protect.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Willow Branch for a clan meeting!"

Dappleshine had sat up all night, falling asleep only as the first fingers of sunlight stretched across the dark night sky. All night her ears had been perked, listening desperately for any noise of little stumbling paws heralding the return of Dacepaw. However, none had come. In the middle of the night, she had slipped out, her heart in her throat in fear and worry. The scent trails of Dacepaw and Sparkfrost led to the river, Sunningrocks standing dark and barren on the far side. She swam across swiftly, scenting where the scents mingled with a sigh of relief. At least they had met. She padded forward, continuing to follow the scent as it mingled with that of ThunderClan. Her paws never took her over the border, but she longed to as she stared into the tall, dense trees of ThunderClan's forest. Her daughter was gone, following the steps of her father while leaving her mother behind. Heartbroken, she had returned to camp, remaining awake while still keeping an ear out.... Just in case Dacepaw ever changed her mind.

Sounds of movement at the entrance woke her from her brief slumber, Scorchclaw and Mistlepaw stepping through. Her ears flattened against her head as Dacepaw wasn't with them, and she hauled herself to her weary paws as Scorchclaw - no, Scorchstar called for the clan. She positioned herself on the outer edge, her shoulders bowed with sorrow and grief as she looked up at her father, and their new leader. Maybe he would have a better idea of what to do...

Honeypaw slept curled up in the apprentice den, her nose gently tucked beneath her twitching tail. The sound of her father's voice pulled her from her slumber, raising her head with a moment of confusion. Wha...? She pushed herself up, stumbling half-asleep out of the den until the sight of her father on the Willow Branch reminded her - her father was leader now. Scorchstar... She was so proud of her father, but she couldn't help but be worried of how the burden of leadership would be heavy on him... She padded over to the gathering cats, curling her tail around her paws as she perked her ears and waited for him to speak.

With a new sunrise, a new leader. But it was not any cat but her father. Redpaw, with her paws trembling with anxiety, forced her paws move out from the apprentice den when the voice of her father was clear in the air of the camp. Scorchclaw was back... but maybe now he wasn't even named like that. The red-tailed she-cat made herself closer to the willow branch and settled down next to her sister, Honeypaw. The small she-cat was both nervous for her and her father. First, the tom had to deal with the burden of losing his mentor, taking his place of the leader in the clan. She, on the other paw, was not only his daughter but his apprentice. She was training under the wing of a leader and that only made her think that she had to live under said expectations. But now was no time to think about that. Most of all, Redpaw was curious about what the tom was going to say.

Stormpaw followed Honeypaw out of the apprentices' den. The gray hadn't slept much at all so she was already awake when the leader called for a meeting. As soon as she stepped out of the den and into the sun Stormpaw gave a stretch before padding over to join the gathering cats. Carefully she sat down next to Honeypaw, her fur barely brushing the other she-cat. Amber eyes looked up at the new leader on the rock. A certain pride in her chest for the strong leader despite the hard times that occurred recently. With perked ears, Stormpaw waited for the leader to speak.

The gathered cats had their eyes on him, waiting for him to speak. They were looking to him now, as their new leader. He could not let them down.

Torrentstar drew himself up to his full height, mustering the last dregs of his energy. If he only endured a little longer, he would be able to retire to his nest... His nest? Jaystar's nest―the realization came suddenly, driving in reality with a force. From this day onward, the little den within the willow tree's roots would be his. He would no longer be sleeping in the Warrior Den, for that would no longer be his place. He swallowed heavily. Surely the deceased leader's scent still lingered within those willow walls... Quickly determining not to let these thoughts distract him, he tried to push them away. "RiverClan," He began slowly, emotionless green gaze sweeping the crowd, "Jaystar has led us for many moons. There are some among us today who have never known another leader's reign from the day of their birth. I will say this now: I cannot replace him. If, in the future, you expect me to make the exact decisions he would have made, you will be disappointed. I am a different cat, and a different leader." The fear of becoming an inferior replacement to Jaystar had not stopped haunting him; he would not let that weakness show. Instead, he would try to make certain that they did not compare him to the deceased leader.

"If there is one fact you can trust in, however, it is that I love RiverClan with all of my heart." That much was true. It had always been true, and it always would be. "I will not tear down what good Jaystar has built up. Following the journey to the Moonstone, StarClan has granted me nine lives along with a new name―Torrentstar. Lend me your strength in protecting this clan, and every one of these nine lives will be dedicated to you all." The large tabby paused, momentarily lost for words, before he somewhat awkwardly lowered his head. "That is all." With those words, his brief speech was concluded.

Honeypaw's ears perked as she felt the brush of pelts on both sides of her, glancing around to see that both her sister Redpaw and her friend Stormpaw had sat down on either side of her. She gave them a soft purr in greeting, opening her mouth to say something but the words died in her throat as her father suddenly spoke open. Her mouth closed quickly as she raised her head, staring up at her father as she took in his words.

She was...Proud of him. She was sure this was all so very hard for him...He would never replace Jaystar but she had such faith in him doing well as leader. There was a moment of excitement as he confirmed that he had gotten his nine lives, that he was truly leader...But it came crashing down in a sudden wave of confusion when he revealed his name had been changed. What? Torrentstar? That...Her ears slicked back, suddenly feeling a little unsure.

She knew name changes happened, and if StarClan themselves had chosen it then she supposed it was fine but...She had always known her father as Scorchclaw, she had expected to know him as Scorchstar! They usually had their name changed when something tragic had happened to them, something that shook them to the point that their old name so longer fit them. She...She supposed becoming leader could be one such event but...

Did this mean that her father was no longer who she known him as? That in becoming leader, he was no longer the same cat she loved? She had heard that leadership would change cats...But now she was finding herself questioning and worrying over how quickly that change could take effect. He had always been distance as a father, doing his best to awkwardly fill the role, she wouldn't deny that...But would this mean he would no longer have time for her and her siblings? Her heart pained with a new-found fear that perhaps she had lost her father with his new found power and responsibility.

Her gaze dropped to her paws, unsure of what to say. She wanted to happy for him, she was happy for him. She...She just didn't want to be forgotten. She prayed that he was still the same, that she could go to him when needed...But would she be expected to see him as only a leader now instead of a father? Did it trump their previous relationship? She sighed, leaning to the side and pressing herself against her sister's shoulder, doing her best to mask her worries with a happy purr. This...This was going to be fine, she told herself. This was going to be fine.

Heronflight padded out of the warrior den, listening to the new leader’s words.  The RiverClan leader was more than ready to lead a clan, and after his speech, Heronflight felt the clan would be in good paws with Sco- Wait a second.  StarClan gave him a new name, but in an extremely unconventional way.  Instead of Scorchstar, he became Torrentstar.  Although Heronflight was confused at first, he then realized, Since there is a Scorchstar leading ShadowClan, perhaps StarClan thought that two Scorchstars would cause too much confusion. That explanation calmed him down, and he knew that the brown tom would be a great leader for moons to come.

Her blue eyes turned up to Scorchclaw as he began speaking. Torrentstar... Well that would take some getting used to. She mused the new name over halfheartedly as her gaze lowered back to her paws. Stars, she just wanted to sleep... Sleep and forget and wake up to things being okay again. As the sun rose, shining on the new era of leadership in ThunderClan, it closed the habits and expectations of the old, and deep in her heart she knew that things would never be the same, and that wasn't necessarily a bad thing.... In some ways, at least. He ended his speech, and the grief-struck queen raised her head to meet her adopted father's gaze once more, trying to convey just how proud she was of him through her own pain. He would be a brilliant leader, of that she was sure.