WindClan's Deputy Ceremony

With the fitful sleep and the prophecy that Olivestar had received weighing on her, the leader had just wanted to go back to sleep, but following her talk with Softbreeze about it, she knew that she had to face the facts and address the matter. The Clan already knew about Wildflower's disappearance, and it pained her to so soon face the loss of one of her eldest daughters, and fill the now-vacant position Wildflower had left behind, but she knew that the Clan needed strong leadership, especially in a time such as this.

The fog that had rolled in a few days prior had been hardly dented by the ever-present wind that blew across the moor, and as Olivestar traced the familiar path up to the Tallrock's summit, she sadly reflected that this occasion was not a joyful one. She found herself in the lower fringes of the fog, the low-lying cloud somewhat obscuring the camp from her view, long tendrils of moisture reaching down into the dip between the hills. Taking a deep breath, the leader tested the name of her next deputy in her mouth quietly, murmuring it to herself as she prepared herself to call the Clan together.

Normally the leader would admire the beauty of her home, and smile down upon the cats that she called her family, but the fog, and her own heartbreak prevented that. Still, she stood tall, and yowled out the familiar words.
"May all cats old enough to run the moor gather beneath the Tallrock!"

Today's meeting was not one Lilacpaw took joy in attending. In fact, it took everything she had not to cry. Wildflower was not just a mentor to her. She was a friend. But she had not come home, and that was not an easy thing for her to swallow. Why would the deputy leave them all behind? There had to be a good reason, right?

But Lilacpaw knew she was not the only one grieving. Looking upon the tall rock, she saw the cat she prided in calling her mother, being as strong and brave as ever. She envied the leader's abilities greatly. Olivestar was purely amazing in her eyes. But even she had to be hurting. So Lilacpaw silently promised that she would be there for her mother, just as she had been for her.

Sitting down, she offered a slight smile, although it would have been better if it was not so forced. With a nod, she urged the leader on with the meeting, wanting it over as quickly as possible, for both of their sakes.

Molten amber gaze sharp with a weighted sense of curiosity and hesitancy, Yarrowkit couldn't help but peer forth from the shallow shelter of the carefully concealed Nursery; aware that something was off within the normal sense of balance within the Clan, yet unsure how to place the strange lingering cloud of dreariness. Uncertain if his presence was technically allowed during such formal proceedings, the unruly-furred little tom instead opted to hug the thorny outreach of the clearing walls, hoping that he lacked the misfortune of getting discovered by any of the attending Queens.

Hearing Olivestar's familiar summons, Maplewhisker padded out of the warrior's den.  The whole Clan was tense, most already knowing the news in which the Clan leader was about to share.  A fog of sadness hung limply over the WindClan camp, adding to that which was already present.  She herself had noticed the disappearance of their beloved deputy, which she was certain was the reason for the meeting.  The pain in Olivestar's voice made her sure of it.  Maplewhisker had known what it was like to lose kin.  It was a feeling she wouldn't wish on any other cat, a pain that cut deeper than any battle wound.

Maplewhisker sat down with the rest of the Clan, their sorrow seeping to the depths of every cat within its reach.  Yet, she could sense the smallest of hope bubbling beneath her fur.  Maybe there was a better reason they were being called together.  Maybe the WindClan deputy wasn't missing.  Deep down she knew the truth, though.  Wildflower was gone.

Spotlake padded out into the clearing. Wildflower was missing and the call was obviously to announce the new deputy.

A familiar voice broke through the fluff that crowded his ears, and his eyes snapped open in an instant, a brief pang of annoyance flushing through his body at the fact his light sleep had been broken. It was washed away almost immediately as curiosity took over, and he got to his paws, seeing he wasn't the only kit who had been enticed by the call. Cedarkit slotted in beside his denmate, Yarrowkit, whiskers twitching in excitement. "Do you know what's going on?" he whispered, trying to keep quiet to avoid the detection of the queens, blissfully unaware of the fate of the former deputy.

As her Clanmates gathered below her, Olivestar smiled just a little bit, the cat in question catching her eye in the crowd below. The fog still dampened the mood and the sound in the air, the noise of her Clanmates milling about below was muted by the pervading moisture in the air. The chill of the Tallrock underneath her paws was biting into her paws, and she lifted each paw momentarily before setting them back down, and when the crowd had grown to a good size, she continued speaking.
"As you all know, Wildflower has gone missing, and she hasn't returned. I have received a sign that I need to appoint a new deputy, and that is what I am here to do."

She paused, taking a deep breath, as she looked at her Clanmates below.
"Maplewhisker is WindClan's new deputy."

Maplewhisker stood rigid as Olivestar called her name.  She wasn't sure she had heard her right.  Realizing that the gazes of her fellow WindClan cats fell on her, she knew that it was true.  Shocked, she slowly padded toward the Tallrock, each step pushing her closer to her new responsibility in the Clan.  Sitting right below where Olivestar sat, she spoke to the Clan.
"I never expected to be chosen as deputy," she told them, "I could never replace Wildflower, but I'll try my best to be the deputy WindClan deserves," she looked up at her leader, "Thank you, Olivestar, for this opportunity,"

Spotlake watched as Maplewhisker became deputy. The moment she heard it she immeaditly ran up to her daughter, nuzzling her. "Congrats dearie." She said, her voice filled with undying motherly love and pride for her daughter.