Skyclan's Deputy of 2021

Bloodstar began speaking, and Smokefeather found herself smiling softly to herself. He'd remembered their conversation, then, and seemed to be making good on what he'd said. The clan would be better for it. They needed strong leadership now more than ever, but they also needed level-headed leadership that wouldn't make rash decisions.

Ashstorm was named deputy, and Smokefeather grinned, gaze turning towards her daughter as she limped forward. "I'm proud of you, Ashstorm... You'll make a fine deputy." And a far more deserving deputy than Dawnhawk could have ever been. Of that she was absolutely certain.

---

Beechface blinked in surprise at the words Bloodstar offered. Once again, she found herself agreeing with what was said, and she really wasn't sure how to feel about it given everything that had happened previously between them. He was... trying to do the right thing, seemingly. That meant she was-

No. No it didn't. He was still a foxheart. Just one that had decided he wanted to do the right thing for once.

And then he named Ashstorm as deputy. Not who Beechface would have expected him to pick... And maybe that was a good thing. Beechface and Ravenclaw were too similar, Juniperlight would have made a good choice, but he was gone. Dawnfeather too naïve and gullible. Ashstorm, though? Calm, level-headed... A lot of things many in the clan weren't.

"Congratulations, sister." Beechface approached after Smokefeather, lightly bumping Ashstorm's shoulder with her own.

Ashstorm looked towards her niece for a second when she mentioned what had happened to her that day. "I'm sorry to hear that, Dawnfeather," she exclaimed with sympathy in her voice. The new rules were strange to say the least and they would definitely take some getting used to, but she was pretty sure that the clan was up for that challenge.

Her head snapped back to the new leader when he started to speak. His speech confirmed what the meeting was about quickly, in case anyone didn't already know. The words Bloodstar used, what he said in general during that, made her a bit surprised. She was used to Skyclan cats just excepting the way things were and agree with anyone who acted and thought just as they did. So, when Bloodstar said that he was purposely choosing a deputy unlike him, she didn't expect that, but she agreed with what he said.

However, that wasn't even the most surprising part to her, the shock really came when her name was called to be the next deputy.  She stared, speechless.  At first, after he said it and paused, she thought that she might have misheard what he said.  Although she quickly realized that it was true when he continued and Dawnfeather congratulated her.  How do I, well, deputy?  She thought.

She swallowed, unsure of what to say.  She simply stood there awkwardly until her mind was finally caught up enough to respond.  "Um... thank you Bloodstr- I mean, Bloodstar.  I won't let you down, I swear."


The new deputy turned towards Dawnfeather, Smokefeather, and Beechface.  A big smile went across her face and she couldn't conceal her excitement.  "Thank you all so much!" She was a little nervous though... mostly because she wasn't exactly certain what had to be done to be a deputy and she didn't want to get it wrong.

"Being young doesn't mean anything, Driftpaw." He snorted, mildly indignant, but with a playful grin plastered across his maw, "I'm sure I could take down a Windclan warrior with one paw, and I ain't even had a day of training." Cricketpaw used a claw to flick up some of the dust as the rest of the clan gather. There were lots of cats slower than him, he noted silently, surely none of them would be the next deputy.

Bloodstar started speaking once everyone had gathered around. Like their previous clan meeting, the over-sized and battle-scarred tom started prattling on with useless information. All he wanted to know was who would be the next deputy. Cricketpaw let out a soft and agitated sigh, muttering lowly, "This tom sure likes to hear himself talk, huh..."

It seemed like an eternity until it was finally announced. His ears perked to listen to the name. Ashstorm? Cricketpaw had seen her before but he hardly said a word to the she-cat one account of being confined to the nursery until only recently. Whisking his tail to and fro, the tan and grey tabby stretched, "Well, I'll get it next time, I'm sure of it. Ashstorm, I can always help you with your deputy duties if you need!" Cricketpaw called out after she'd finished speaking. Cheers went up around the camp, calling her name, so he doubted that she heard him but he could always offer later.

Even though Primroselight hadn't always exactly gotten on with her younger sister, her and Ashstorm had settled their arguments a long time ago. She was a good warrior, and had certainly earned the deputyship. She also knew that the new deputy would be able to keep an eye on Bloodstar, just like she'd hoped when he became leader. Someone to stop him from following in the paw-steps of his father and grandfather. Maybe being a leader was isolating, but if everyone tried, they could stop their new leader closing himself off.

"Well done Ashstorm, I know you'll do great." Primroselight called, staying where she was but still congratulated her sister from a few fox-lengths away.

---

Muddythorn could guess that this meeting would be about the new deputy. The moon was starting to show itself, with moon-high fast approaching. Ashstorm being chosen didn't exactly come as a surprise, but then Skyclan did have a large paw-full of capable and leader-worthy warriors, it was just a matter of which ones would cope best with the job and, as Bloodstar had said, balance the clan's general leadership. He didn't know his aunt that well, but hoped to change that soon.