Set in Stone, We Stay Solid

He took a deep breath, looking up at the High Rock looming overhead. Despite the heaviness that lingered, still, at times, determination beat a quiet rhythm in the back of his mind. This was the right time, the right place, the right cat.

Stars let us not be wrong.

With one leap, he touched the surface of the familiar stone, its roughness cooler and damp after the drizzle from that morning. Shreds of cloud still hung in the sky as he turned and looked out over the camp, but for now the sunlight glimmered down through almost-bare branches, a few red leaves still clinging stubbornly despite the threat of the first snow looming on the horizon.

This is what we need.

Opening his maw, he called the summons, his voice ringing through the ravine. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the High Rock for a Clan meeting!"

OrangeHeart instantly walked over when he heard the call for a clan meeting. He felt like this meeting was actually important apprentice ceremony’s were just repetitive. And warriors ceremony’s not as much but still. He felt like this one of all the ones would be different.

Stoatfur appeared at the call of the leader. His pelt was stiff from the cold, although the prying rays of sunlight seemed to thaw him ever so slightly and make movement easier. Perhaps there would be another ceremony tonight, it seemed the right now. Even as the chill of leaf-bare had begun to creep in, clan life had continued relentlessly. Time moved forward, kits were named, and warriors were made all at the right point. It hadn't occurred to him until now to worry about how sparse prey was becoming, especially when their numbers were still growing. His ear twitched. Something to think over later, when there wasn't about to be an announcement made.

Another day, another meeting. Appledapple wandered in from her early morning border patrol just in time to hear the summons. She'd been planning to snag some fresh-kill, but instead she sighed inaudibly and changed her path to beneath the Highrock. Spotting Stoatfur in the crowd, she sat near him. The tom was interesting enough to sit by. However, she didn't start any conversations yet, just looking expectantly up at her mentor. He seemed nervous. Why?

Thrushnose quietly joined her Clanmates. The bony squirrel she’d been chewing on dangled from her mouth by its tail, swinging a little as she sat down. Though it wasn’t official yet, she could already feel herself breathing easier. ThunderClan would be in safe paws with or without her involvement, and she could be more like herself again—walking the borders without hiding her rank, guarding the camp on full-moon nights. She had as much confidence in her father’s decision as her own. All that remained was to see what the others thought.

Starlingflare let out a small grumble when Thunderclan was called for a meeting. What now? It seemed that they were being called for everything left and right these days.. He just wanted to rest in piece, it was bad enough that his eye socket was giving him pain issues right now. Though no matter what Dovefrost gave him, none of it seemed to work.. The gray tom pushed himself forward sitting towards the back of the crowd, his single yellow eye looking up at his leader.

Dovefrost pushed himself out of his den, taking a seat just right outside. He wasn't big on the crowd, content to sit just outside his den where he could hear everything just fine.

Wolfblaze picked her head up from where she was sunning herself. She had been lazing about on her back, happy to suck up the few rays of sun glittering through the shreds of clouds. She hated water, but she did like sunlight. It had been a nice day for her. A simple one. Though Minkstar's call to gather halted her lazing, and she picked herself up. Briefly shaking herself, she found a seat at the back, tall enough to see over most of her clanmates. She had to wonder who was becoming a warrior this time.

Without miss, this was another meeting Kestrelswoop managed to arrive to just in time. He seemed to have a strange yet useful special sense that warned him to go back to the clan at about the right moment. He rarely missed a meeting and when he did, he had a strong reason as to why. The warrior quickly dropped off his catches onto the prey pile and joined Wolfblaze's side. He bumped his head to her shoulder in greeting. A multitude of scenarios ran through his head as to what this meeting could be about. Even from here, he could see his father's slightly nervous demeanor. He was usually able to catch these things since he was rather good at reading others, especially those closest to him.

The tom's gaze swept across familiar faces and paused on Starlingflare's faint annoyed expression. The tabby could tell that many things were bothering his former apprentice. Perhaps the main thing was his eye. That injury still pained Kestrel. He felt like he should've been there more for Starling. Maybe he could've prevented it? There was no use in dwelling on the past. He had to focus his sights back on his father and whatever news he was to bring them.

"For the last few moons, Thrushnose has served as our deputy in Batbite's place," Minkstar began once they'd gathered. "Since Bat has... hasn't recovered, we've decided that for the good of ThunderClan it's time we had a permanent deputy."

How he wished it hadn't come to this... that Bat had recovered, that it hadn't been this serious. Stars, he would've thrown away the leadership and all this deputy nonsense just to have the old Bat back. But wishing wouldn't bring that, and neither would waiting. "I say these words before StarClan that they may hear and approve of my choice. Stoatfur, you will be the next deputy of ThunderClan."

As soon as the leader started speaking, Stoatfur knew where this was going. For moons, Minkstar had longed for his mate to recover and return to his side. It had been so long that cats had simply accepted Thrushnose as their deputy; by Starclan, she'd held the position almost all his life. He shot a glance towards his mother, one of mild confusion, but moreso a resigned acceptance. If she wanted to step down, that was up to her and Minkstar. Whoever the clan's deputy was hardly mattered to him, unlike when he'd been a more prideful young kit.

He shrugged, flicking an ear with little interest of the next words to come. But as Minkstar called his name, the warrior looked dutifully up at his kin. Blinking one, slowly, twice, then slowly turning his head to look at Appledapple next to him. Had he heard the leader right? She'd heard it too hadn't she? He maintained a neutral expression as his head began to churn, racing with thoughts. Stoatfur hadn't longed for any sort of leadership, even if he found himself enjoying heading patrols or instructing other cats - sharing his knowledge; he simply desired to return to a warm nest after a long day. He didn't want to shoulder the burden of lives across his shoulders.

Stoatfur tipped his head back up toward Minkstar. Do you know what you're doing? His teeth clenched slightly, almost invisibly to any cat except the she-cat nearest him. [i]I'm going to have to trust that you know what you're doing.[i] There was a flash of fear, followed by resignation as he tampered away the strong emotions. There would be no emotional speech or promise. He simply nodded towards the leader, dipping his head a litter lower than normal before straightening up.

The thought of simply accepting this fact while he still wrestled with it within his own mind seemed an impossible feat. But as it began to sink in, one thing was irrefutable...

Stoatfur was deputy of Thunderclan.

Appledapple's ears perked up as the leader began speaking. A deputy ceremony? Right, of course. Thrushnose had been deputy for her entire life, so it was strange to her that she hadn't been meant to be permanent. But it was probably time for a new deputy, she supposed. Of course it wouldn't be her or her siblings, they were too young. Starlingflare had just lost an eye, and his temper. What other warriors were there? She glanced to the tom next to her, about to ask him a question...

Stoatfur, you will be the next deputy of ThunderClan.

Her gray eyes widened in slight shock. Stoatfur? Really? Him? The cat she'd begun to go on patrols with more often? The solemn tom who hunted snakes? Deputy? Actually, the more she thought about it, the more it made sense. He was a level-headed cat who still had personality and strength. Also, the son of the former deputy. Honestly, it wasn't a bad choice. She had just been shocked.

With slight sympathy, she noticed a tightening of Stoatfur's jaw. He didn't seem like he had been expecting this, either. But, wordlessly, he accepted his leader's decision. That was very noble of him. Deputy was a high position not everybody wanted. But... he would do well. Appledapple smiled and was the first to raise her voice to the sky. "Stoatfur! Stoatfur!" she called, leading the voices of her Clanmates in celebration. As they continued to cheer, she nodded to him. He was capable. He could do this.