the future still is ours [clan meeting]

After a period of little sleep and a lot of stress (spent mostly turning thoughts and ideas over both in her head and out loud), Leopardsun sat at the base of the Jaggedrock. It was strange to be doing anything with the authority she had been granted, but- assigning patrols was a deputy's duty to fulfil, and there were other things that needed doing that Nightstalker would be too busy to handle alone. "ShadowClan! Please gather in the shadow of the Jaggedrock for a clan meeting."

She sat primly and spoke with feigned confidence, wanting to make a good impression despite having known the cats around her all their lives. There was so much still left to do in order to build a brighter future for everyone here, to make the ruins of ShadowClan's camp not a bitter reminder of what they'd lost but rather a testament to their strength and will to survive.

Part of her doubted that it was possible. ShadowClan's camp had survived countless seasons, had survived the reign of the Dark Forest cats and whatever had come before. To replace the home she had known all her life...

It was certainly a tall order, but fulfilling it was her responsibility.

Snowfoot and Lightpaw entered the growing group from opposite sides of camp, but sat down together. Mother and daughter were finally reunited, and Snowfoot for one never wanted to let go of Lightpaw again.

Watching her clanmates gather around filled Leopardsun with a renewed sense of pride in ShadowClan. Every cat gathered before her now was a survivor, one who had proven themselves in a time of crisis. But it was bittersweet, recalling that despite every cat who had survived and stood now before her, several still were dead or lost to them. Her leader and mentor, dead. Her sister, still missing.

But this was not a time for grief; not when there was work to do. "Thank you," she began, addressing the cats before her. "I'm sure most of you have already guessed the purpose of this meeting. This is our home, where we have rightfully returned- and yet, it stands in ruin. If we wish to build a life and a future here, it must be rebuilt. I plan to assign the rebuilding tasks in addition to regular patrols- if any cat has a request, I am willing to listen."

After a moment, she made her way down from the Jaggedrock- it felt strange, standing so high above everyone. She wasn't sure she liked it. Sitting now closer to eye level with her clanmates, she continued: "That's why I called this meeting. As these are decisions that will affect all of ShadowClan as well as our future, I thought it only fair that every cat should have their say before we proceed."

Rookfire walked towards the gathering cats, taking a seat close to the Jaggedrock. Gazing at ShadowClan's new deputy, he began listening to what she had to say. As she spoke, the black tuxedo gazed at her. After she finished speaking, the black tuxedo stepped forward. "I do have a request," he said. "Though I am a warrior now, I used to be ShadowClan's medicine cat for many moons, and still know my herbs like the back of my paw. I think I'd be very helpful in replenishing our herb stocks." Stepping back, he waited for anyone else to give their own requests.