WindClan's Deputy Ceremony

Nearly three quarters of a moon had passed since they’d buried Finchstar, yet Raventail saw him everywhere. Ginger-and-white spirits lounged in the grass, pulled rabbits from the fresh-kill pile. When Raventail poked his head into the leaders’ den, telling himself today would be the day he moved his nest into the now-empty space, he caught himself waiting for a welcome he’d never hear. There was nothing in camp that Finchstar hadn’t touched. The Tallrock, too, had its ghosts. Raventail stood in the sand beneath it, over a trail of his own smudged prints left by what felt like half a season’s pacing. A meeting was a meeting whether he looked down on his Clanmates or stood among them.

Traveling to the Moonstone would have been as pointless as it was dangerous, considering the Righteous Few could cut him down whether he had one life or nine. His name hadn’t changed. His nest still sat amongst those of his fellow warriors. But he’d never believed StarClan’s blessings made cats stronger or better in any way that mattered; their absence wasn’t an excuse to falter. Just as the beasts hadn’t given them room to grieve, neither would the Righteous Few. Finchstar had fallen. Right now, WindClan needed a leader…and a leader needed a deputy. Though it felt (and, knowing him, would always feel) too soon, this was long overdue. ”WindClan!” His voice rose over the camp. It wasn’t strong, but it was at least steady; he’d gladly settle for that. “Gather at the Tallrock for a Clan meeting!”

Everything had felt so strange since Finchstar had...Died. That was the word that the older cats kept using - trying to instill its meaning to Haykit. He was asleep and he wouldn't wake up. His spirit was with StarClan now - for what it was worth when apparently they had been the ones to kill him. She felt confused and helpless, more terrified than ever as she watched the cats around her struggle to this new life. Even they, who had grown up in this lifestyle seemed...Lost. And it made her question her place even more. She was not a WindClan cat, she was not a Clan cat. She was a...Oh, what was the word? A kittypet. It had taken her ages to even get used to the thought of eating prey, she missed the roof over her head and the steady warmth the strange large den had given her. This new life was of so much uncertainties, she wasn't sure how to deal with it.

But yet she had to adapt...Because where else had she to go? She sat curled near the entrance of the nursery, head resting on her paws as she huffed in boredom. But for as bored as she was, the idea of leaving the camp was terrifying. From what she had been told, StarClan was...Something. Something more powerful then she could imagine and dangerous and now they prowled the moors. They had killed Finchstar and now Raventail was leader and... Her ear twitched at the sound of Raventail's voice, raising her head as she listened to him call for the Clan to gather. She hesitated, wondering if she was truly a part of the Clan...Before she pushed herself to her feet and padded forward, sticking to the outskirts as she waited to see what Raventail had to say.

Since the vigil had been held for Finchstar, Olivestone could still feel his presence around camp, and she was sure that her Clanmates felt the same way. Sometimes she still expected to see the former leader in camp or on patrol, and it still felt like a kick to the belly every time she remembered that Finchstar was truly gone. Still, life went on, however, and the gray she-cat had duties to perform, and an apprentice to train.

The day's work done and prey caught for her Clan, Olivestone had been taking a moment's respite in the steadily warming rays of the sun. She ran her paw over her ears, pausing mid-lick as she noticed Raventail hop up to the Tallrock, clearly intending on calling a meeting. As the words left the black and white leader's mouth, she wondered if Raventail was going to travel to the Moonstone, and when. Surely he wouldn't delay his journey for much longer, right?

As she gathered below the Tallrock with her Clanmates, she briefly wondered if Raventail was going to finally choose a deputy for the Clan.
Clovertwist would be a good deputy, or perhaps Goldengale... or Dappleshine! This might be an apprentice ceremony, or a warrior ceremony though. Either way, we're all about to find out.

Just as she had so many times before- for her own apprentice ceremony, for those of her littermates, for every clan meeting and speech that she had memorised to the letter- Morningpaw left the apprentice's den, gathering in the clearing as ordered. And just as she had so many times before, she gazed up at the top of the Tallrock, hoping to catch just a glimpse of--
--flash of orange and white--
--just a trick of the light, the sun's cruel rays shining down in just the wrong way. Finchstar wasn't coming back, and as admirably as Raventail had stepped up to the position, WindClan was still without one of its two senior figures. Truthfully, Morningpaw hadn't given much thought to who Raventail might choose as a deputy; every warrior in WindClan was noble, honorable, strong, and loyal, but in her experience, leadership positions did seem to have an abnormally high mortality rate. Though what other reason could the leader (deputy?) have had for calling a meeting? Finchstar had been buried; the apprentices had been apprenticed; and she wasn't naive enough to think it was time for her own warrior ceremony. (Besides, Olivestone was a wonderful mentor, and Morningpaw wasn't quite ready to let that bond go just yet.)

So it was with a mixture of curiosity and anticipation that she sat down beside Olivestone, whispering a greeting and looking up at Raventail with focused green eyes. Perhaps the era of Finchstar was over- but the era of Ravenstar was yet to come, and the apprentice was sure that whoever the new leader selected as his second, the two of them would keep WindClan safe, keep the forest safe. No matter how hard it might be.

Clovertwist, for the briefest moment, heard Finchstar's voice call over the clearing rather than Raventail's. It was a sweeping series of emotions - shock and joy to understanding, embarrassment, and sorrow - as he realized the trick his ears had played on him. The rest of the call had certainly sounded like the black WindClan tom. There was no way for it to have been Finchstar, anyways. Clovertwist rose to his paws and made his way soundlessly to the Tallrock to gather with the rest of his Clanmates, glancing around to see how everyone else was faring on this day. It had been three-quarters of a moon since Finchstar's death, yet it seemed that in some ways time had frozen for WindClan. It occurred to Clovertwist that the coming gathering might be for a new deputy, but entertaining the thought of anyone but Raventail as deputy, anyone but Finchstar as leader, was... impossible. Maybe soon he'd have no choice but to adapt.

Smallbean sat in the corner of camp by himself, silently wondering what would happen next. Everything had been so confusing. Not even a moon could go by without something terribly awful happening. It scared him, but he didn't exactly know what to think about it all. Of course, forbidden romances are against the warrior code, and the "Righteous few" are only enforcing it. On the other hand, cats can't control who their parents are and who they come from, and the "Righteous few" have definitely taken it way too far. Killing innocent cats was awful and uncalled for, but Smallbean knew he would always keep his nose out of it. Even though this effected his clanmates and and almost every cat he knew, if he could keep himself out of trouble, he probably would.

Finchstar's death was something every Windclan cat mourned. He was such a good leader, and though Smallbean had almost never really spoken to him, he found himself in a bad mood ever since his death. Finchstar wasn't just a leader. He was a friend, a mate, a father, a role model. Many cats strive to be just like him. He shook his head. He couldn't even imagine the grief Finchstar's family and friends were probably going through, losing a loved one so suddenly, especially one with multiple lives. He looked at the ground, pawing at pebbles, when he heard his old mentor call across the camp. 'Must be a clan meeting, likely a deputy ceremony'. Smallbean shrugged, pulling himself up. His mind pulling him back to the thought of Finchstar's death, he thought about how Raventail felt. He'd probably not only be grieving his leader and father, but he'd probably be a bit overwhelmed at the thought of also taking his place in leadership. Now he was to pick a deputy because there's nobody right now to take his place.

Letting out a sigh, he sat down in the mass of cats, looking at the ground once more. Maybe this meeting would shine a small ray of light in the ever growing darkness Windclan, and the rest of the clans, were sinking into.

For as long as she had been alive, Finchstar had been leader. And for almost that entire time, with the exception of Raventail's disappearance only to return, he had been the deputy. Her mentor. Goldengale looked up to Raventail where he stood, and even though the mostly black pelt was so different from Finchstar, she couldn't help but try to find the late leader in Raventail. She could almost see him, in the glint of Raventail's eyes, but they flickered with something akin to uncertainty. She frowned slightly, tail tip twitching as she gazed up at him. What would happen if he tried to run again? They couldn't lose both Finchstar and Raventail so soon after each other. As much as she had hated her mentor for running, she could almost understand now why he had. She blinked, eyes turning down at her realization. Even after everything, she still cared about Raventail, and had hoped for his success.... She had just never expected things to change so soon, and in such a manner.

---

Dappleshine had witnessed a leader's death before, and the aftermath. She had sat up many nights wondering how long it would take for Raventail to make the difficult choice, but she had said nothing to him about it. The time she spent with him was filled mostly with silence, both of them still reeling from the death that seemed to surround them. Finchstar had been like a father to Raventail, much in the same way Thornstar and Torrentstar had been mother and father to her. She didn't think there were any apprentice or warrior ceremonies to have, so could this be the deputy ceremony? She found herself near Raventail's old apprentice, Goldengale, who was looking towards the ground with an odd expression on her face. This was probably the first time most of WindClan had gone through such an ordeal, Finchstar had been leader for quite some time now. She wondered briefly what things would be like if Barleytuft was still around, if the Righteous Few hadn't come in. Looking to Raventail, she gave him a small, reassuring smile before she was lost in her thoughts again. Would she be sent away, or taken away?

Briarthorn was returning from a hunting patrol, and quickly placed his pray onto the fresh kill pile at Raventail's call. So It was finally time. Time for the next deputy to be chosen. The shock from Finchstar's death was starting to wear off, but the event was still fresh in everyone's memories. There were many strong cats that could be chosen as deputy, and Briarthorn hoped that he would be chosen. After all, he had trained his apprentice into warrior hood, and had served WindClan for many a moon, but so had many other warriors. All he could do was hope.

Foxspirit padded out of the warriors den to the gathering group of cats, sitting down near Smallbean and Morningpaw, her grandchildren. She wondered what they were gathered here to do. There weren't any kits that needed to be apprenticed, and she didn't think there were any apprentices ready to become warriors. It must be the deputy ceremony then, Foxspirit thought, looking up towards Raventail. Soon he would be Ravenstar, once he made his trip to the Moonstone. She new that it wouldn't be her, she didn't want to be the deputy anyway! But she couldn't help wondering. Would the new deputy be Goldengale? Clovertwist? Olivestone? Who would Raventail choose?

Ploverpuddle had seen it occur before. A change of leadership. The unfortunate death of a leader only to be replaced by the other. He had seen it in Skyclan. Rippedstar to Poplarstar.. Poplarstar to Tinystar. He might not have been in Skyclan when Tinystar started his leadership but he still witnessed it. He could feel the emotions, knowing a leader he was once under was dead. It was numbing to say the least.. No one lasted forever..

The gray warrior moved away from the prey pile as soon as Raventail called the clan together. He could only assume that it was a matter of time before another deputy was named. Even if the black tom hadn't gone to get his nine lives and claim his leadership, there was only so much he could do on his own. He needed someone to help him.

From here, Raventail could see his Clanmates’ faces as they gathered. Cats he’d grown up with and cats he barely knew sat side by side, each one looking to him. Searching for hope he wasn’t ready to give them. He braced himself against the sand. ”First, I want to thank you. For speaking up at the Gathering, if you did, and for being here now. I might not be the leader Finchstar was, but I promise you, I’ll do everything I can. I’m not giving up on the things he died for.” His ears gave a single twitch. Even now, with the words on the tip of his tongue, it seemed unthinkable, impossible. This wasn’t right. ”But this meeting isn’t about me. Today…today, we name a new deputy in my place.”

Not for the first time, he wondered how Finchstar, when confronted with a crowd of noble, trustworthy warriors just like these, had chosen him. Then he pushed that thought aside before it could trip him. Though he didn’t understand what made a great deputy any more than he knew how to be a great leader, he understood his own reasons. His choice had been made the night before. She was young; he’d been younger. She had energy, optimism, a different perspective. He couldn’t call her a friend yet, but they’d been denmates for a while and Clanmates for longer. By now, he knew she was Ferretdance’s sister and Morningpaw’s mentor and born somewhere beyond WindClan’s borders, and he knew he could trust her. The rest would come with time.

There she was, sitting beside her apprentice. Raventail met the gray warrior's eyes for a moment, then stepped forward. ”I say these words before my Clanmates, so that they may hear and approve of my choice. Olivestone will be the deputy of WindClan.”

Olivestone nodded along as Raventail spoke, accepting his thanks for being there for him and for the Clan. For her it was no question, WindClan had brought her in and raised her, given her a home when she had none. She would do everything in her power to serve WindClan until her last dying breath. When Raventail confirmed her suspicion that he was indeed naming his successor, she nodded again, flicking her tail as she, again, wondered who of her Clanmates would take the role.

Her mouth dropped open when her name left the black and white tom's mouth, and she stood, looking around at her Clanmates, before bringing her gaze to Raventail. The look in his eyes told her that he was serious, and she stepped forward to approach the front of the crowd. She turned to look at her Clanmates, no, her family, gathered here to support her, support Raventail, to support WindClan as a whole, and she felt joy swell in her heart as she looked at every last one of them sitting there.

"Raventail, WindClan, I will do my best to serve you and be the deputy that we all need in these trying times."

Being named deputy was the last thing that Olivestone would have expected, and yet, here she was.

There was a somber attitude as the rest of the Clan gathered but Raventail didn't leave them to sit in the growing, unsettled silence for long. His voice called out, and even though the first words spoken were merely gratitude for the strength and courage of his Clanmates, Clovertwist knew immediately that this meeting was, indeed, a deputy ceremony. His kinked tail tucked slightly closer to his body as he took in a deep breath, hardening his resolve. It wasn't time to be kittish; there was nothing to do about Finchstar, and Raventail couldn't hold both jobs. He was only one cat. A new deputy had to be named. Clovertwist didn't meet Raventail's eyes as the tom swore he wouldn't give up on the dreams Finchstar had shared for WindClan. He trusted Raventail to do it, but... new terrors loomed regardless of the courage he held.

A new cat would step up to support Raventail when the responsibility became overwhelming, and Clovertwist was surprised to hear Olivestone's name spoken. For a moment, the storm clouds over his head pleasantly parted, and he felt a flicker of warmth in his belly on his friend's behalf. She looked shocked to have been given such a title, and that on its own was enough for him to chuckle, knowing she would do alright in time. She'd always been fairly respected given how she excelled despite her rocky start in life. Clovertwist smiled while she spoke a promise to protect and serve WindClan. Yeah, she'd be fine. Raventail had made a good choice.

The pairing of Olivestone and Raventail - Ravenstar, if he ever desired to face the looming wrath of StarClan for a chance at his nine lives - would be drastically different from Raventail and Finchstar. It wouldn't be the same, but it would be WindClan, and that was all Clovertwist could hope for. Finchstar would have wanted him to be proud, to live in joy, and it would take time, but for this moment Clovertwist thought he could manage. He yowled his new deputy's name with approval. "Olivestone! Olivestone! Olivestone!"

Maybe that would make up for sounding so weak at her warrior ceremony.

Olivestone! Olivestone! Morningpaw turned to stare at her mentor with awed pride, giving a brilliant grin as she whispered, "It's you!"- not that Olivestone didn't know already, of course, but saying it just made it so much more real! She'd always looked up to Olivestone- the kind, strong, wise, loving, measured warrior who had taught her everything she knew about the life of an apprentice, who had saved her life and taught her to stand up strong even if she didn't always approve of the method and- honestly? WindClan couldn't have asked for a better deputy, Morningpaw thought. Now more than ever, the Clan needed someone to keep them safe and be a gentle touch to contrast the claws of the Righteous Few- and Olivestone was perfect. (For the task, but also in general- her mentor was flawless and she'd hiss at anyone who implied otherwise.) So when Olivestone accepted the rank, it was her own apprentice who, with a beaming smile and forest-green eyes that conveyed only approval and pride, bowed her head in respect and joined in the chant- not the first (for this was, after all, her first deputy ceremony), but most certainly the most enthusiastic; "Olivestone! Olivestone! Olivestone!"

Haykit watched as the rest of the Clan gathered, crouching as her tail snaked behind her in silent curiousity on what this gathering would be about. Finally, Raventail broke the silence and started to speak - thanking the Clan for...Things and whatnot before he explained that it was time to name a deputy. A...Deputy? Oh, right. They had explained how things worked in the Clans - how there was always a leader and a deputy. And now that Finchstar was gone, she guessed that meant that Raventail was now leader. Right, right.

She didn't...Quite grasp the entire thing but she think she understood it well enough, listening as Ravenntail went on and named Olivestone deputy. Haykit perked up, standing on her back paws to try to get a look at the new deputy. Olivestone shared a few words and then the Clan started up a chant. Haykit blinked in surprise, falling back to all fours as the cats around her started to chant Olivestone's name for...Some reason. "Olive...Stone? Olivestone?" she chirped in uncertainty, feeling even more self-conscious as she didn't quite understand why this was happening but didn't want to be left out. She...Guessed it was in support but it didn't make it any less weird.

Briarthorn listened as Raventail began to speak, confident in himself. The first emotion he felt when the new deputy was announced was surprise. He involuntarily stood up. Olivestone?! My apprentice?! The next things that Briarthorn felt was pride, followed by disappointment, jealousy, anger, happiness, topped off with some confusion, all at the same time. Why my apprentice? Am I not good enough?! What can I do to be better? He masked his disappointment and sudden movement with an excited expression as he cheered WindClan's new deputy's name. "Olivestone! Olivestone! Olivestone!"

Foxspirit was filled with joy at the anouncement of the new deputy. "Olivestone! Olivestone! Olivestone!" She walked towards the young warrior. "Congradulations, Olivestone! You will make a great deputy!"