SkyClan's New Deputy

"Let all cats old enough to climb a tree gather before me for a clan meeting!"

Wolfcall's voice rang out over the camp, echoing off the light blanketing of snow that had covered everything in the night. SkyClan had gone without an "official" leader for a long time, and it was long past due for him to take a trip to the Moonstone. But if he was to become leader tonight, SkyClan needed a new deputy... something he had hoped he'd not have to do in a long time, but was now a drastic necessity.

Sitting near the back of the growing crowd with his head hung low and body violently shivering from the chilly weather, Sunflower watched as Wolfcall stood upon a lump of what had probably once been Tall Branch. This was most certainly the deputy ceremony, seeing as though he needed to become leader soon and SkyClan needed someone in his place, but Sunflower didn't find himself particularly intrigued by the clan gathering. With everything that had happened recently, how could any-cat want anything more than to mourn what they'd lost and fear for their future?

Gathering in their own clearing felt strangely foreign. The glow of the moonlight reflected off the drifting flakes of snow. Wrenspring didn't mind how it clung to his messy pelt, despite the carnal urge to shake it away. Thankfully, it was this same pelt that gave him protection against the cold. He settled back on his haunches and looked up at Wolfcall. The way the tom's voice rang through the clearing, there was no doubt he had been fit to take the role of their leader. So many cats of their clan had mixed feelings about Spottedstar but Wrenspring couldn't help but feel his fur itch at the idea of someone replacing the pale-pelted leader. Part of it was the fact that Spottedstar had simply been leader for so long, and Wolfcall his deputy. Crooked tail flicked back and forth as he waited for the clan gathering to begin, stirring up the falling flakes of snow. For a moment, he wondered if anything would ever return to some semblance of normal again. Or had normalcy left Skyclan when it burneed down? Perhaps it abandoned him under the relentless slash of Redfall's claws? He couldn't tell.

Bloodstrike had just returned with a sparrow and dropped it onto their new fresh-kill pile when Wolfcall called for the meeting. Bloodstrike's ears perked up and he stared at where Wolfcall was, not too far away, but not on a tree as before. That made sense. It would be awhile before any of the trees came back. He padded over to the others and sat down, attentive to Wolfcall's words. It was about time that he actually felt good about a meeting. For starters, he wasn't looking at Spottedstar. A small smile crossed his features, but he remained silent as he waited for the meeting to begin.


Dawnhawk appeared only a moment later, dragging a small rabbit to the fresh-kill pile. He dropped it, although grudgingly, as he hadn't wanted to share a kill so hard won with anyone else. He noted the gathering around Wolfcall and sighed silently to himself. Nothing like meetings to slow down production. He silently trotted over to the cluster of cats around Wolfcall anyway and sat, his fluffy gold and white tail curling around himself like a shield. It was even poofier than normal, as the cold winds and shorter days had had him shed his summer coat and bulk up this new winter one.

Smokefeather padded into camp not long after her mate and son did, a bird dangling from her mouth. Dropping it onto the fresh-kill pile, she trotted over to the assembled cats. It looked like she hadn't missed anything important yet, which was good. She still felt a bit guilty about almost missing Dawnhawk's warrior ceremony completely.

The warrior quietly sat next to her mate, fluffy tail curled over her paws. Her fur had grown even fluffier in the colder weather, both the undercoat and longer guard hairs giving Smokefeather's fur a slightly uneven appearance, but if one looked closely they might notice the subtle way she shifted where she sat, almost protective over a slightly swollen belly. The vanishing kits had had her worried for multiple reasons, leaving the she-cat on-edge more than usual despite a slowly-returning cheerfulness induced by the colder weather and being back in their own camp.

---

Beechpaw had been sorting herbs, and at Wolfcall's voice made her way out of her den to sit near the edge of the crowd. Her eyes were dull, but her pelt was at least clean and not as ruffled as it had been over the past few days. Still, her eyes were steady as she gazed at Wolfcall from where she sat.

"As I'm sure you all know, Spottedstar is gone," Wolfcall said, sadness coloring his tone. "Though my hope remains that he returns to us safe and unharmed, I do not believe that will be the case, and as such, SkyClan must move on. Tonight, I will be traveling to the Moonstone to speak to StarClan and become leader officially. But that leaves the matter of deputy."

His eyes swept the crowd, landing on each of them in turn. His clan. His family. "I say these words before StarClan, so the spirits of our warrior ancestors may hear and approve of my choice... the new deputy of SkyClan will be... Bloodstrike."

Bloodstrike had to clamp his mouth firmly closed to avoid any unnecessary cheering at the words "Spottedstar is gone". He had known, heard enough of the words being flung around the camp, but he had remained silent as stone on the matter. Perhaps the old tom had taken his own lives at the gorge, but regardless, he had abandoned his clan physically instead of just in spirit as he had before. Bloodstrike couldn't believe it had taken him this long to up and leave, but he had a feeling it would have happened eventually. Bloodstrike wondered if it was his words that he had hissed into Spottedstar's ear the day he had returned that was the final push that convinced Spot that he at least needed to step down. Entirely vanishing was even better. The only thing that could have made it sweeter would be if Bloodstrike had chased the cowardly, moping old cat out of their territory himself.

Bloodstrike felt an entire mountain life from his shoulders when Wolfcall announced that he would be taking the moonstone journey and become the new leader of Skyclan. Finally Skyclan would be coming out of the dark ages. The opinion of the other clans might actually start to change now with proper leadership in place. His tail twitched and he smirked, feeling a relief and joy that he had forgotten he was capable of feeling since the fire took Mistrain's life.

He had been in fact.... so relieved that he had barely paid attention to Wolfcall's next words. He had to snap out of his excited thoughts and come back to the gathering in front of him. Wolfcall had just said his name. Bloodstrike stared, his brain scrambling to find clues as to what Wolfcall had asked him. He had been about to announce a deputy probably.... uhhhhhh.... Bloodstrike's eyes flicked briefly to Wrenspring before it finally hit him.

"Wait... Wha-..?? Me?" His eyes flicked from Wolfcall to Wrenspring a few more times. "You want me to be Deputy?" Bloodstrike even snapped his eyes to Dawnhawk that was beside him.... who had been paying attention.

Great Stars dad... Dawnhawk thought to himself, also giving Bloodstrike a "seriously??" look. At this point, Dawnhawk decided to save him. His expression brightened up, his chin tilted back and he gave his father a proud, beaming smile.

"Congratulations dad!" He said, confirming it a second time for Bloodstrike so Wolfcall didn't have to.

No way! This awesome! ... Oh Stars... how do I... Deputy??? Bloodstrike's expression, usually stone cold and unreadable, was now an open book. A mix of excitement and a bit of Oh foxdung.... flashed across his face several times. Once he got that under control with a deep breath, he looked at Wolfcall.

"Thank you... Wolfcall. I will not make you regret your decision! I am honored." Was that good? Was that deputy-like enough for everyone???

"Congratulations dad!" Primroselight called to Bloodstrike whenhis name was said.

She wasn't that surprised at Wolfcall's decision, but proud of her father all the same. Primroselight knew that the tom was a good choice, and already had quite good leadership skills. It was what he had wanted for a long time. Maybe Spottedstar leaving was good for the clan. No I mustn't think like that, she chastised herself, he just needed a second chance. But she had given him countless chances. He had never even made the effort to talk to her, and they were kin. Even her warrior ceremony had been done by Wolfcall. "Good luck Bloodstrike!" she said, brushing his side as she tried to forget her past doubts of their previous leader.

A purr caught in Smokefeather's throat, and she grinned, trying not to laugh at Bloodstrike's reaction. He had wanted this, but he hadn't expected it, not after everything. As far as Smokefeather was concerned there had only really been two viable options for Wolfcall to choose. Bloodstrike worked his tail off for the clan, and he deserved it.

"Yes, you. Mousebrain." She mewed, affectionately pressing her shoulder against his.

---

"Congratulations, dad!" Beechpaw joined in as the rest of her clanmates offered congratulations. The announcement had won a smile from the fluffy medicine cat, after all, and she lingered for a moment before retreating to her den. Wolfcall would need to go to the moonstone, and she needed to prepare travelling herbs.

---

Nighthawk's eyes narrowed slightly at the announcement, but as much as she disliked Bloodstrike (and his brood of bratty kits, excepting Primroselight) she did believe that he had the clan's interests in mind, and that was something that Skyclan needed now more than ever.

"Congratulations, Bloodstrike." The aloof elder inclined her head briefly, acknowledging the new position the warrior had been promoted to, before slipping away to watch from a distance. Loud celebrations, while they were certainly in order for the newly-named deputy, weren't her thing.

The gray and white warrior had hardly given a thought to the fact that a cat would have to fill the deputy role. There were many fine cats of Skyclan who had proven themselves devoted. When Wolfcall declared their next deputy to be Bloodstike, he blinked. A mixture of several feelings drifted through his mind. It was true that the younger tom had proven himself himself to be dedicated. But he couldn't help but think of him challenging Spottedstar and the way he relished at tearing away at his target. Both were things he failed to understand. Wrenspring shook his head slightly to dismiss the ideas. No, this was their new deputy and he was certain Bloodstrike would do a fine job. Smokefeather trusted the dark tabby, the clan knew of all the work that he put in. Every thing would be fine. Skyclan would grow and heal. This flicker of determination crossed his maw as he stood to cheer on his clanmate, "Bloodstrike! Bloodstrike!"