seasons of your life [O]

Birdstar

As badly as she wanted to take to the branches, Birdstar stayed determinedly on the ground as the two she-cats walked through SkyClan’s territory. Silverwing would learn at least partial grace above ground, in time; but for her first formal visit to camp, she didn’t need to be left behind, chasing the leader’s disappearing pelt.

She stayed quiet, for the most part, unless Silverwing prompted anything of her. Most of the time, she tried to think of what she would say, when she arrived with an almost-stranger in camp and announced decisively she was of SkyClan now. Birdstar’s tail flickered with thought. She doubted anyone would be happy to hear she was fostering WindClan’s strays now. But unless any objections were reasonable, she cared little for them; Silverwing would fit in well, even among SkyClan’s mostly introverted ranks, and any loyal set of paws was good to her.

Before she knew it, an instantly familiar cluster of trees stood out against the stone and bark around them. Tail flicking to signal Silverwing listen, Birdstar nodded towards the guarded clearing. “This is our– now your –camp, if you don’t recognize it from your first venture. You’ll follow me carefully inside; SkyClan keeps security in place, and I don’t want to wrongfully cause panic. Once we’re through…” Birdstar’s paws drew to a halt, and she stared for a moment at the gap in the foliage that would lead them to camp proper. Eventually, “I’ll introduce you, I suppose.” And she was ducking through the tunnel.

The afternoon was spilling into evening, a good time for rest and socializing in the slow-dwindling warmth. Cats stretched out to soak up the faint sunlight, chatting lazily with their friends; others padded back and forth, recently returned from a patrol or preparing anxiously for dusk; others still turned to watch the pair as soon as they came into view, silent questions rippling through those that saw them first.

Glancing once at Silverwing, Birdstar jerked her head to signal the tabby follow and padded forward until she could sit in the shadow of the Tallbranch, ignoring the whispers that passed by them. She didn’t have it in her to take her proper place for meetings and make this more formal than it had to be. That was so… impersonal. Instead, she called out, “Cats of SkyClan, gather around me! I have important news,” and waited patiently as her Clanmates began to gather around her and the newcomer.

Birdstar

It didn’t take long at all for the Clan to gather. Those that were not already near caught up fast, ringing the pair with mixed ripples of curiosity and suspicion. Even familiarity– Birdstar caught sight of the young warrior gesturing silently to Silverwing, and it was impossible to miss Silverwing’s greeting, however dated. “Her name is Lightningbreeze now,” she corrected quietly, amusement in her voice. After another few moments for that interaction to clear and the Clan to fully settle, Birdstar cleared her throat and stood a little straighter.

Nothing eloquent had come to mind yet. At least leadership had made her good at shoving words together. “Everyone, this is Silverwing, a former warrior of WindClan. Some of you may recognize her from when foxes attacked our camp, or even from Gatherings. Either way,” she nodded politely to the spotted molly beside her, “I’ve spoken with her multiple times, and after the… recent actions of our neighbors, I have little reason to doubt the story she’s told me. Apparently, Shrikestar has thrown away a valuable warrior.”

Birdstar’s attention moved through the crowd, seeking Wolfblossom out in particular. “But where WindClan loses a warrior, SkyClan gains one. I’ve told her already I’m accepting her into SkyClan, and now it’s time to share that with you all. Silverwing has been nothing but enthusiastic in every conversation we’ve had, and I have faith that she will settle into SkyClan well– especially after a few moons of guidance and inspection from myself. You’re all to treat her as any other warrior of SkyClan, effective immediately.” Birdstar’s tail twitched once. Her tone left no room for questions or arguments, but she still added, “I’m sure this introduction may be… surprising. You’re welcome to voice your dissent, though as far as I’m concerned, she’s already your Clanmate. That’s all, then, unless anyone wants to speak.” Her head dipped to dismiss the crowd, but Birdstar remained in place, waiting to see any reactions.

Birdstar

Bloodstrike was the first to speak. Birdstar looked towards him, blinking slowly at his question. There was no hostility in his words. Still… Birdstar flicked an ear. She wasn’t naïve enough to think the Clan would disperse without question, and she supposed she had left out… pertinent information. Something in her still bristled on principle over being questioned, but she only tipped her head and thought over a good response.

Then Sunfire came growling through the crowd to stand in front of her. Birdstar’s tipped head angled to watch as he drew close, eyes narrowing. She held his gaze until Wolfblossom appeared at his side, where she straightened and looked towards her sister as other voices rose through the crowd. Her ear twitched again, and Birdstar briefly looked again toward Sunfire, but she just quietly nodded– especially when Silverwing started to speak beside her.

She listened through the story, expression neutral while the ex-WindClanner told the Clan everything she’d told her. Once, her lip curled as Silverwing spoke of Highstones, but her features relaxed again quickly. Not for the first time, she realized it wasn’t a flattering story. But when her eyes moved across the faces of her Clanmates, resting for a moment on Bloodstrike, she knew theirs weren’t much better.

Surprise tensed her muscles when Silverwing pushed against her, but the leader remained in place. Birdstar looked down at the spotted tabby, nodding along slowly while she finished speaking. When she had, Birdstar redirected her attention again to her Clanmates. Sighing, she started, “I doubt leaders exile every warrior that has a… lapse in judgment in defense of a Clanmate, and I doubt all of you are innocent of trespassing or sneaking around.” A few faces caught her eye– Sunfire directly before her, Falconmoon in the distant crowd, Lightningbreeze –but she didn’t linger on any of them long. Another sigh.

“No, SkyClan isn’t just a refuge for exiled Clan cats. Yes, Sunfire, most exiles aren’t without just cause.” Her head tilted to the side, eying her nephew carefully. SkyClan’s recent history with exile (lacking or self-imposed) was complicated. There were similarities to be drawn between Silverwing’s story and that surrounding Bloodstrike and her mother. But at the same time… they were nigh incomparable. Defending a former apprentice was nothing to protecting your daughter, especially considering the dark histories they visibly shared. Birdstar was still grateful she hadn’t been there to watch, even if she could imagine it well enough.

Eventually, she lowered her voice for only Sunfire and those others immediately beside her to add, “Nothing is as simple as you think it is. I’m sure there have been plenty of others exiled without reason, and vice versa. Should I exile every perceived threat and code-breaker, no matter the circumstance? Should exile be my first resort?” Birdstar’s tone was level while she spoke, gaze steady while meeting his eyes. She was quiet, but not long for him to respond: her head was quickly lifting to address the larger crowd again.

“I can’t say every decision I make will be without flaw. I know better than that.” It’d been a while since her throat tightened while thinking about leadership. Birdstar barreled past it quickly. “But I'm confident that this will not be a mistake. I would also like to think each of you knows me well enough to know that SkyClan’s safety is, and always has been, my first priority as leader. Silverwing would not be standing beside me if I thought she was a risk to us.” Birdstar seemed to become aware again of the weight against her side, shoulders tensing again when she re-registered it. “Acceptance is far from agreement. It was thoughtless at best, to attack another Clan’s warrior in eyesight of leadership and the mauled bodies they returned to you. As mouse-brained as past actions might’ve been, it’s at least bold. And, I know many of you would use claws against anyone that threatened a loved one.

Yes, Silverwing is an unfamiliar face, from a Clan on the other side of the forest. She comes with the weight of what Shrikestar deems exile-worthy crimes, with connections to cats elsewhere. As I said, you’re all to treat her as any other warrior of SkyClan: she is, again, your Clanmate now. Basic trust is a necessity; a Clan cannot function without it. Fine and understandable, if that trust won’t be extended to her today.” Birdstar’s tail whisked behind her. “If that’s so, then I’ll ask you at least trust me. I’ve lead SkyClan to the best of my ability until now, and I’m going to continue doing so, whoever the warriors I lead may be.”