RiverClan's Deputy | September 2021

With Loonwhisper having gone missing, Ivystar was left with the heart-wrenching task of appointing a new deputy, not knowing what her former apprentice's fate was. Had he been attacked by dogs, killed by a loner? Or perhaps a monster had eaten him, or he'd been swallowed by the marshes. He did have a tendency to wander... But it had been far longer than she should've let the Clan go without a deputy.

With an unsteady mind, she leaped onto the Willow Branch and cleared her throat, whiskers twitching with no sign of rhythm, emerald eyes glazed over. "All cats old enough to catch their own fish, gather beneath the Willow Branch for a Clan meeting!" She called out, shaking out her thick coat of fur.

Scarletriver's eye went towards where her leader had called.  She did not know what the meeting was about.  Maybe a warrior's ceremony?  Maybe a new deputy?  She hated that Loonwhisper had not shown up for a while.  But it was not just that.  The whole mystery that surrounded the event was horrible.  Scarletriver enjoyed having the answers, but now there was none.  There could be none unless Loonwhisper walked back into the territory and told them why he had gone.  As a mostly pessimist and someone who liked to think about what might have happened, she feared the worst.

She walked up to where Ivystar had called them to meet and sat with her tail brushed to the front and curled tightly around her, waiting to see what the meeting was about.

Bearspirit heard Ivystar's call and approached in obedient silence. Nodding once at Scarletriver, he sat down and held his gaze up at the she-cat that rescued him from the wilderness and took him in. He had been disheartened when Loonwhisper had not returned to camp for several days... and even more so now that the new deputy was being chosen. Yes, Bearspirit was fairly sure that this was the announcement. There was a part of him that hoped he was wrong. He sighed quietly, knowing that no matter how much he'd liked the odd tom, clan life must go on. The forest did not stop to mourn the deaths of every mouse or squirrel caught, or the deaths of owls, foxes or even cats.

All Riverclan could do now was look to the future. That was exactly what Bearspirit intended to do as well, no matter the bitter ache in his chest for yet another lost family member.

Dewlight had scoured the territory with the other patrols, desperately searching for any sign of their deputy. As the days had passed, their hopes had sunk, no trace of the whimsical tom to be found. As Ivystar's voice echoed over camp, Dewlight looked up at the clearly troubled Ivystar, her ears turning back slightly at the unsettling image of her leader's glazed eyes. Getting to her paws, she forced her gaze away as she joined her clanmates around the base of the Willow Branch.

Once a majority of the Clan had gathered before her, Ivystar dipped her head and allowed herself a deep breath in before she began. “As all of you are aware, our Loonwhisper has not returned to camp for some time. As is written in the Code, I must choose a new deputy to take his place. Though she is young, the warrior I’ve chosen is one I believe to be fit for the role. I believe it is in this position that she will blossom into a warrior, and someday leader, unlike any before her. I say these words before our ancestors, and may they approve of my choice.” A slight bit if hesitation budded within her chest, heart thumping rapidly against the confines of it. Before she could second guess herself, she gave a slight flick of her ear and announced, ”The new deputy of RiverClan shall be Scarletriver.” Leaping off of the branch, Ivystar approached the she-cat and dipped her head in respect, before backing away and allowing the rest if her Clanmates to congratulate their new deputy, however bittersweet it might be.

ooc; hey guys! just to keep everyone informed, here is a little extra information concerning this deputy ceremony.

due to irl circumstances, Grizzly has stepped away from the site, including their role as deputy. because riverclan is so short on eligible warriors, Scarletriver is being implemented as TEMPORARY deputy. on November 15th, i will re-evaluate the allegiancss and potentially discuss further steps with staff, and update everyone accordingly. for now, however, please congratulate Little Ripped!!

Blinking slowly as Ivystar finished her announcement, Dewlight rose to her paws. Scarletriver, hmm? The she-cat searched the crowd until she found her new deputy, gazing at her for a moment before lowering her head respectfully. Scarletriver was certainly young, but... She trusted Ivystar's judgement. As she turned to return to her resting place, she sighed. Where had Loonwhisper gone? Surely he wouldn't have just disappeared without a trace...

Scarletriver listened to Ivystar intently.  Why?  Because she had it saved in the back of her mind how much she would love to be deputy.  However, she tried to not get her hopes up.  No one could tell by looking at her who eager she would be.  To have all that power.  The power could help her with both her plan and just to help Riverclan.  That would be her top priority.

However, when her name got called by the Riverclan leader, she actually did not expect it at all.  She thought she was too young.  She thought that her dreams really could not be real.  She stood completely still, her maw parted slightly.  She stared at Ivystar, speechless.  She had no idea what she could say.  It felt to her like her brain had a million thoughts and yet it was empty.  Well, this is a new development, was one of the few clear thoughts that came into her mind.

When Ivystar came down and dipped her head at her, Scarletriver ducked her head as well.  "Thank you, Ivystar," she exclaimed.  "I won't make you disappointed in your decision."  With that she looked up and turned towards everyone else.  She had went from apprentice to warrior and now deputy in only a handful of moons.  She wondered if they would regret that she was named deputy and think that Ivystar made the wrong choice.  Or maybe they already did, she wouldn't know.

Scarletriver was never one who was good at speaking to a large group of cats, but she thought she should try.  "I, um, I know I could never replace or even be as good of a deputy as Loonwhisper," she said to anyone in earshot.  "But I'm going to try my best to be the greatest deputy I can be."  She did not know what else she could stay, so she stood there sort of awkwardly.

Bearspirit blinked in surprise when the new deputy was named. For just a brief moment there was a flash of resentment in his eyes. Scarletriver was a newly named warrior, how could she be a deputy? There were far more qualified warriors for the position, himself included. But then his mind flashed to Swiftspirit and how he performed in the battle. The resentment died down to nearly nothing and he looked at his paws guiltily. Of course Ivystar wouldn't pick him after that. Deciding that he was foolish for even assuming he'd get to a higher spot in Riverclan's ranks, he pushed his feelings of resentment away and quietly accepted his punishment, if this if what this was.

He lifted his head and sighed, but he didn't want Scarletriver to think his issue was with her. At this point it wasn't even really with Ivystar... only himself.

"Scarletriver! Scarletriver!" He raised his voice in support of the new deputy. Who knows, maybe she would turn out to be an amazing deputy. He was willing to give her a chance and all of the respect and support that she needed.

Turtlefur, gathered within the crowd, felt his shoulders sag when Ivystar announced Loonwhisper’s official disappearance. He’d been gone for a bit, true, but… the warrior withheld a sigh. He’d been fond of his delightfully odd deputy. Scarletriver was not the cat he was expecting to take his place. However, he didn’t hold any negative feelings towards her. She was young and he hoped only the best for her. That would be difficult with those blasted dogs running amok. They could only keep trying, he supposed, and raised his voice alongside his Clanmates to greet the new deputy. “Scarletriver! Scarletriver!”