Shadowclan's Deputy September 2022

Nightstalker couldn't bare to leave his clan without any cat of authority in place. He was in a constant state of worry and was certain that even if he was gone for a few days and nights to get his lives with Fuzzybelly, something would happen and there would be great confusion amongst his clanmates, and maybe it'd result in injury or death. Nightstalker couldn't take any chances, and it was with this in mind that he had made his way up the jagged rock with a slight determination. He had some confidence in his choice, but he didn't particularly know this cat well enough to know if he was making the best choice, only time would tell. "All cats old enough to silently stalk in the shadows, gather in the shadow of Jaggedrock for a clan meeting!" Nightstalker called, waiting patiently for his clan to gather.

Roseburn almost didn't attend the meeting her brother had called. She wanted to just ignore him out right. After all, family had proven to be something he didn't care about, so why should she care about anything he had to say?

Still, there was a burning curiosity to know what Nightstalker had to say. So with a groan, she took a seat towards the back of the crowd. But she was still very mad at him. And she would be glaring at him the entire time.

Nightstalker's voice called out over ShadowClan, and while it felt strange and somehow wrong not hearing Froststar, Leopardsun rose to her paws from where she was resting and joined the rest of her clanmates. She wondered vaguely what this meeting could be about- there was plenty left to do. Rebuilding the camp not quite from the start, but from the ruins of what was left. Keeping the fresh-kill pile full, which would be difficult until they were more recovered.

Whatever it was, she would wait to hear it. In the meantime, she whispered to Roseburn: "Do you have any idea what this might be about?"

---

Thalia joined the crowd of gathered cats, watching Nightstalker atop the Jaggedrock. Countless leaders had stood in his place, and she had counted four in just her time as a ShadowClan cat. Sometimes she wondered just how many more would follow.

Swiftheart heard her brothers call and stood walking over to the base of the rock to join her clanmates who had gathered around. Seeing him up there was odd... Froststar was supposed to be here. She couldn't imagine the stress that would come with leading the clan so unexpectedly. She hoped he knew how much she supported what he was doing, how much she looked up to him and his ability to take charge in the darkest of times.

She would never want that position, she never had and growing up she had always made that clear. She was a warrior, not a leader and not a deputy. Whenever they played make belive as kits, she was the loyal and strong warrior never the leader or deputy. Having to lead the whole clan like her brother was doing now was not a task she envied. She gave him a small reassuring nod as she sat with her clanmates who had already gathered.

Her sister Roseburn looked... less than thrilled to be here. Whatever had happened in the thunderclan camp had certainly soured several relationships. She hoped they would soon get along again, the clan would need it now more than ever.

She sat next to Leopardsun, she had done her best to comfort the she cat in skyclan when news of Froststar's death came. She still wanted to reamin close to her friend now and be there for her

---

Snowfoot was on the mend. Finally being home had her at least somewhat resembling a functional adult, although she still ached at the thought of Froststar.

Now, though, another thought pressed on her mind. Who would Nightstalker choose as deputy? That was, after all, an urgent matter and probably the reason for this meeting. She didn’t know him very well and frankly had no idea what kind of cat he’d choose. Iceheart, perhaps? What about Duskflight? Surely he knew Swiftheart didn’t want the role! Leopardsun? Hmm… maybe. Snowfoot realized with a bit of surprise that she herself was an experienced warrior and actually a possible candidate. Nah, after what happened the last couple of gatherings she wasn’t anybody’s favorite cat, of that she was pretty sure. She watched Nightstalker’s expression with bated breath.

Echomist perked when he heard Nightstalker call for a meeting.. Green eyes landed on his older brother, curious as to what the meeting was about until he remembered. Right.. Froststar.. Things had happened so quickly, and he had been so busy that he just.. He hadn't processed it yet. He didn't have time to. It was time for a deputy. Someone to assist Nightstalker in rebuilding their clan.. A small part of him wanted to be picked, to assist his brother in this difficult time, but another part of him told him it wasn't for the best. For now the tom moved closer, sitting by himself, noting that Leopardsun had others next to her already.

Nightstalker's call had roused her from her rest, and a thousand thoughts ran through Harechaser's mind. Was something wrong? An apprentice ceremony? What of the repairs that needed to be done? Shadowclan's camp had... been in a state, that was for sure, and there were so many things to address that it was hard to know where to begin. And then there was Froststar, gone. The meeting, regardless of why it had been called, would be important, Harechaser knew that much.

Harechaser padded towards the slowly gathering crowd, finding a spot to sit next to her brother, Echomist.

Once enough cats had gathered, Nightstalker spoke, "I say these words before StarClan, so that the spirits of our warrior ancestors may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of Shadowclan is Leopardsun." The young tom looked down at the mentioned she-cat. "Leopardsun has proven herself logical, able to think critically in times of crisis, and I find great value in these traits of hers." Nightstalker meowed with confidence, a confidence he didn't necessarily feel. "I hope that you will all respect her authority, as you have mine all these moons."

Thalia watched and listened as another deputy of ShadowClan was named. It wasn't the first time, but she wondered every time a change like this occurred whether it would be the last. It wasn't that she had any complaints- rather, the passing of authority and the fact that she'd sat through more than enough in her time left her feeling oddly nostalgic for the past.

---

As Nightstalker began his announcement, it quickly became clear what the purpose of this meeting was. It was obvious in hindsight, Leopardsun realized- Froststar's death and his own ascension left the position of deputy empty. She wondered in turn who would be named as his successor- Swiftheart was clearly uninterested, Snowfoot and Roseburn would likely be somewhat controversial... Echomist, maybe? She could see him in the position easily, though she wondered if he thought the same of himself.

Nightstalker's actual choice caught her off guard. She froze in place, unsure if she had heard correctly- her? Deputy of ShadowClan?

"...I..."

She wouldn't lie and say she had never daydreamed about it, in the days before the flood had ravaged their home. Mostly when she was an apprentice under Froststar, when he was still Frostgaze. She had wished that someday he would stand atop the Jaggedrock and call on her to serve ShadowClan at his side. It was the sort of silly daydream she thought most cats had, not something that was ever going to be reality.

And in a sense, it wasn't. Froststar lay dead, Nightstalker- a cat she respected greatly- stood atop the Jaggedrock. She had never thought of it seriously enough to really want the position, but to refuse would be to disappoint her clanmates, and more than that... She didn't want to. She hadn't thought this would ever be a chance she was given, but she certainly wasn't about to turn it down.

She had dedicated her life to ShadowClan, after all. Any way she could continue to be of service to the clan she loved, she would gladly give herself to.

"...Thank you, Nightstalker. To ensure a bright future for ShadowClan, I'm happy to be of service."

Snowfoot was the first to call out. “Congratulations, Leopardsun!” she cheered. Padding closer, she mewed quietly, “I know your parents are proud of you.” Perhaps she was out of line, but she felt Deerleap and Sootwhisker would want the message conveyed even if they couldn’t say it themselves.

Fuzzybelly sat as Nightstalker announced his choice.

He hated that it had to happen; Froststar was completely ravaged by that terrible bout of whitecough. Silverpelt had him now, and he could only hope that the tom could breathe easy once again.

A smile on his face, he called out, “Leopardsun! Leopardsun!”

Fuzzybelly approved of the choice; she was a deliberate cat, one that was very thorough and had the just and fair disposition needed to be leader one day.

“Congratulations!”

Swiftheart grinned as Duskflight approached and sat next to her, she gave him an affectionate nuzzle back and a quiet purr. Having him here made things so much better, even when everything else was in a state of disarray and ruin, with the camp all messed up and Froststar dead. She was so happy they were together now.

Sitting next to him she listened to the meeting begin. Her brother was announcing the next deputy, she held her breath wondering who it would be. She gave him a side glance and shook her head a little...

No... not me I dont want it, you know that... dont even think of giving me that she said in her head.


She breathed a sigh of relief when the name was picked.
Swiftheart purred happy at the choice that her brother had chosen for the next deputy of shadowclan. Turning to her friend seated next to her she smiled wide and excited "Oh congratulations! You are such a good pick for deputy, I know you are gonna do so great! she meowed very enthused.

"Im willing to go on patrols, or help around camp or anything else you need! Just let me know" she volunteered eagerly.