Shadowclan's Deputy // October 2019

Cardinalpaw blinked as the powerful voice of Thornstar rang through camp. They were going to kill Sandblaze, weren't they? Tinystar would hand him over, if not kill him himself. This was certainly turning out to be a terrible day.

Flintpaw watched from the shadows, sitting close to the apprentice den. He listened intently at his mother's words, in full agreement. At first, upon seeing Redwing's body he had simply accepted things as it was. But the moment the truth came out, what SkyClan had done...SkyClan had to pay. Justice was to be done. He was almost surprised at the ice cold rage that had gripped his heart, but the more he thought about it, what he could understand his feelings on the matter to be...The more he was okay with this feeling. The rules were clear - to only kill in self-defense and even if ShadowClan was to be feared like the darkness of nights...They were not monsters. No, they were not monsters until the Clans brought down their wrath upon them. But this action, the death of Redwing...The scales were uneven, there was no balance - he doubt that Redwing had done a single thing to deserve such a unceremonious death at SkyClan's claws. So if SkyClan was going to act out of turn...It would be up to them to even the tides, to bring punishment for an cruelty unnecessary action...

But it was not his claws that would do it. He was just an apprentice and he had silent doubts that he would be put on the patrol to venture to the SkyClan camp. Which...That was fine, he didn't care for that. As long as Redwing got justice, he would be content. And so, he pulled himself from his thoughts to focus on the final few words of his mother's speech. A deputy. Redwing's death left a void in the Clan that had to be filled...He couldn't help but wonder who would gain the title, his gaze flickering past the gathering cats as he didn't move from his spot in the shadows. it wasn't his choice to make, so he didn't have any grand feeling on it. Anybody would be suited, he imagined.

Marshcloud turned and approached as he heard Thornstar's voice, and as he listened to her words he felt himself growing increasingly distressed. The anger of the tone and....blood having been spilled...and bringing SkyClan to justice? The idea of violence against other cats was something inherently discomforting for Marshcloud. He just...all he wanted was for everyone to be at peace, to be happy, to just talk to each other. He truly believed, perhaps foolishly, that that was possible. Responding to death with more death wouldn't help anyone, and if it were up to him, no one would ever fight ever again.

But of course, whether he wanted to acknowledge it or not, it was not up to him.

He tried not to think about it, and instead turn his attention and his curiosity to who might be named as the new deputy.

Ravenmist sat in the crowd, still in stunned silence. As Thornstar spoke, however, for the first time she felt a strange emotion bubbling in her chest. SkyClan had hurt a Clanmate and gone unpunished. They had killed her half-sister in law. And justice was needed. Was this what Scorchstar felt when “StagClan” had invaded camp?

ShadowClan had gone too long without fighting back. She had gone her whole life without fighting back. But tonight would be time for justice. Tonight, they would pay. She realized, she wanted to join that patrol.

Ravenmist wanted revenge.

Poppyheart slipped out of the warriors’ den at the powerful call of his leader. His gaze darkened in satisfaction at her words, and a low snarl rumbled in his throat. Yes, they were going to get revenge on those cowardly rogues that dare call themselves one of the five Clans of the forest. No matter what it took, he would make sure he was one of the five cats on that patrol. He wanted to find that disgusting SkyClanner who had killed ShadowClan’s deputy. Who had killed his beloved, his best friend aside from his brother. He would make sure justice would be served.

---

Padding out of the warriors’ den behind the furious russet-furred tom were Sans and his daughter Sparkfire. While Sans had been concerned for his littermate’s well-being — he knew what it was like to live life constantly sad and angry — he soon found himself feeling empathetic for him. Redwing had been one of his closest friends, too, once upon a time, and even though they hadn’t been really close ever since the death of Sparkfeather, he still considered her a good friend. He had felt the same way towards Coldgaze when she had caused Poppyheart’s disappearance as his brother now felt towards SkyClan. He would fight SkyClan with everything he had. If not for himself, then for Poppyheart, and for Redwing.

(OOC: Will edit in Sparkfire later.)

Despite everything that had happened... Lynxscar lifted his chin up and high to the dark-furred she-cat. His green eyes fixed on her shape as she spoke and analyzing every expression, every change of voice. It was undeniable that the leader had developed fiery hate and anger since Redwing's death... She wanted blood, she wanted revenge... but most importantly, justice. Shadowclan could not stand being seen as the weak clan and he was glad Thornstar could now she that too. No matter what would happen, he knew this was the path to follow. The path to giving Shadowclan the strength they needed to become the greatest and most fearest clan and all the forest. No other Shadowclan cat would be maimed like him... no other Shadowclan cat would be murdered like Redwing. If Thornstar was the one to guide them into that path... Lynxscar was going to follow her everywhere.

Lynxscar...Huh. Flintpaw straighten up a little at the new deputy's announcement, somewhat surprised. Lynxscar hadn't been a warrior for very long - he had been newly named when Flintpaw had been appointed his apprentice. But from what he had seen, Lynxscar had proven himself to be a great warrior in that time and he trusted his mother's decision. "Lynxscar. Lynxscar." He cheered with the rest of the Clan...If it could really be called that seeing how there was no inflation to his words. He was certain that Lynxscar would prove a fine deputy, that Thornstar had made the right choice and he was proud of his mentor.