Brackenwing's Elder Ceremony

Well, this was a first. Shrikestar could barely believe it when he learned that Brackenwing was going to retire. The injuries to her leg must've been harder on her than she had let on. The two cats had their differences, but Shrikestar still considered her one of the strongest warriors in the clan. To lose her would be a big blow, but he respected the decision that was made. "All cats old enough to run the moors gather beneath the Tallrock for a clan meeting!"

After the monster had run off the thunderpath, things had gone by so quickly. Batsong, to put it mildly, had been furious, and seemingly more protective than ever. Her injuries healed, the broken ribs, the leg, her back... There was less scarring than she thought there would be. She was careful to follow every order from Batsong and Birchpaw, mindful of how long it had taken her leg to heal the first time it had been broken. It was easier, in a way, being in Windclan's own camp, not having Shadowclan just foxlengths away. She didn't like being cooped up, of course, but Brackenwing had found a grim resolve to follow the medicine cats' orders anyways.

But try as she might, something was Wrong. Her leg would hold weight for short periods, she could even walk short distances. Until it buckled beneath her, seeming to rebel at the idea of working properly or supporting her weight. And the pain in her lower back, intermittently shooting down her legs and tail... She could hardly make it through a border patrol, let alone hunt. Some days she could make it across camp, even. There was nothing outwardly wrong with her body to show why, either. The scars had healed, leaving only a few marks across her pelt as evidence that a monster had run her down.

The medicine cats were not the only ones frustrated by it. Batsong's suggestion of retirement had been met with resistance for a little while. Surely she just needed to regain strength in her leg, get herself back into fighting shape, and she would be back to normal. Until her leg buckled beneath her on a walk. Until too much exercise left her curled in her nest, unable to ignore the agony. Whisperear had been with her every step of the way. Batsong too. That didn't make the suggestion any easier. There were several cats in the clan that were older than she was, why didn't they have to retire?

They hadn't been hit by a monster that had run off of the thunderpath, of course. And Nightstar - selfish, reactive, infuriating Nightstar had turned certain death into only severe injuries. He had died, she knew. Starclan's grace allowing the leader to soldier on in a new life.

Shrikestar's voice called for the clan to gather, and Brackenwing sighed quietly to herself. She sat outside the medicine den, staring down at her paws. After ripping into him and Coyotegrin when she and Whisperear had returned to Windclan, the absolute last thing she had wanted to do was have to go crawling to the leader for anything. The last thing she wanted to be was retired, dependent. Not when it was leafbare, and tensions with Shadowclan were high, not ever. Asking to retire, she'd felt like claws had been ripping into her belly. But that was the choice she had.

Green eyes watched the leader in silence, hating what was to come.

Once the clan had gathered around the Tallrock, Shrikestar made his difficult announcement. As if he hadn't made a bunch of difficult announcements since the twolegs had invaded their lands. "It is never easy to announce a retirement, but today is one of those days. Brackenwing..." He turned his head to look at Brackenwing, over at the medicine cat's den. "You have served this clan dutifully, and I hope you are able to go into retirement with no regrets over how you have contributed to WindClan. Both WindClan and StarClan honor you with the rest that you undoubtedly deserve."

It wasn't long before cats gathered and Shrikestar began to speak. The words were strange, not ones she had ever heard spoken before. The only elders Brackenwing had ever known had retired long before her birth. That den had sat empty for moons now, but not for much longer. For the best, she told herself, Batsong wasn't wrong, much as Brackenwing did not like to admit it. Her gaze remained level on Shrikestar as he spoke, though the bitterness had left her expression. Her days as a warrior were over, and Brackenwing reflected, had always been numbered. She'd always been injury prone, it seemed.

Batsong sat next to Brackenwing for the ceremony. She was so sorry that she hadnt been able to fix bracken better... but as it was, it was a miricle at all that Bracken was still among them. Batsong had been so scared and angry when she had found her hit and bleeding next to the thunderpath.

The med cats had spent lots of time to heal her up and now she was as well as she would be... despite their best efforts the strength would not return. It then took a lot of convincing for her sister to even consider retirment.

Batsong was grateful that she had finally agreed. The life of a warrior was demanding and in her current state Bracken would not be able to defend herself against even a small predator yet alone if one of those mud crawling creatures came back ... (also known as shadowclan)


Bracken had tried to tell her that nightstar had saved her and "pushed her out of the way of the monster that was off the path"

Batsong loved her sister alot but come on now... clearly Brackenwing was very traumatized by this event and to be fair who wouldnt be.

But Nigthstar was a monster and evil. There was no way that he would give away a life to save Bracken. No, this was much more sinister on the shadowclans leaders part.

Batsong believed that Bracken had been tricked near the thunderpath by the shadowclan leader.

Bracken was a good cat and probably just couldnt belive that someone like Nightstar could be so evil.

Batsong understood this, she didnt try and press any matter of it. But she belived that Nightstar was the cause of all this pain and suffering. She was glad to see that it ended poorly for him. His stupid plan of killing cats on the road had ended with him losing a life, maybe that would show him not to be so careless and manipulating.

But all this aside for now, today was about taking care of her family. Brackenwing would be moved to the elders den now and Batsong of course would keep an extra close eye on her from now on.

"Ive s-set up a new nest for you there. And of c-course ill always be around f-for company" she whispered after the words from Shrike were spoken.


Batsong was a pacifist when she could afford to be. But mess with her family and she felt trapped and like she didnt have a choice.

She missed smallbean and wished so much that he was here. She thought about what she had said to him... she wondered what he would have said if he hadnt left. She would never get to find out now however, gone stolen by twolegs without a trace.

IF he had said yes she was serious about her offer she would return to live a warriors life... but now that seemed like the distant past and with more and more injuries that future she wanted was no longer a possibility it felt like.

Still, becoming a warrior would free her of alot of the rules that kept her locked to being so neutral. Let that maggot ridden, flea nest try and do something stupid again. She would show him back to starclan gladly if he ever hurt anyone again. It was hard being med cat, having to try and be all neutral and professional.