After the Paradigm Shift (Closed)

They hadn't talked since the debriefing of her duties as deputy. Maybe they'd conversed once or twice about ceremonies. That was it. Still, Thornstar really hadn't made much of an effort to talk with her... though she supposed that leaders were probably busy. And stressed, very stressed. But to be fair, weren't they all? Anyway, that wasn't why Redwing felt uncomfortable as she padded slowly to the leader's den, though that may have been part of it. She had just been uncomfortable since the ceremony. Since being named as deputy. Hadn't necessarily felt good before that, either, but this position of power was itching at her, tugging her mental focus till she felt like it would tear her in half. Why? Why had Thornstar picked her? Of all cats? The fluffy russet she-cat hesitated a mouse-length or so from the den's entrance, feeling her ears pin back involuntarily. She'd seen the leader get angry before, seen her wrath both justified and unjustified. She didn't want to be on the receiving end of it.

But even as those thoughts reached the deputy, her forest-green eyes narrowed. If she was going to stand at the leader's side, why should she be afraid of how gruff she could sometimes be? She'd fought cats and foxes and watched her father vanquish Sharptooth. Honestly, she was even few moons older than the other she-cat. She'd faced worse. Then why did she feel like there was a lizard trying to escape from her stomach? Annoyed at herself, she shook out her pelt, then cleared her throat as she entered the leader's den to announce her presence. Moons of ShadowClan training since her birth had made her naturally stealthy and she didn't want to sneak up on the grizzled she-cat. "Thornstar..." she asked hesitantly. "Can we talk?"