the morning always follows the night [OPEN]

Dawnfeather purred with a faux-smug look on her face. “Alright, alright. Choosing the rock is very important guys. You need to put some thought into this.” The golden molly carefully inspected the rocks until she found a somewhat flat one with an interesting glimmer to it. “See! This one has character- not that the rest of you don’t, sorry rocks.”

She bent down next to the pebble. “Alright, rock. Wait- that isn’t polite. I wouldn’t like it if someone called me cat. Hmm… I hereby dub you Sir Pebbleshine! Come on, Sir Pebbleshine, if you help me win this I’ll go and wash you off in the creek and see how shiny you can get. We’ve got this!”

Dawnfeather carefully scooped up her pebble, plonking it directly on her head and leaning bark and forth in order to keep it centered, sticking her tongue out to the side as she concentrated. She was doing remarkably well before she suddenly froze and the rock landed squarely on the ground.

Turning to Wolfblossom with a suddenly concerned face, the golden molly carefully coiled her tail around the rock, almost as if she was attempting to keep it from hearing. “Wolfblossom,” she whispered, cut ear flicking, “Did I just bribe Sir Pebbleshine? I don’t think- that’s cheating! That’s cheating! Oh gosh, don’t worry little one, I’ll wash you off in the creek regardless, okay?”

"Yes, Wolfblossom", Firepool said, in a pseudo-disappointed voice as he went to grab a rock. He paused though, as he watched Dawnfeather put much more thought into her choice than he was about to. Choosing one with enough... character... Firepool placed it to the side as he watched the warrior place 'Sir Pebbleshine' onto her head, doing well. Suddenly, she stopped, causing it to drop, and panicked about bribing the rock. Wait, bribing the rock? Had he heard that correctly? He was sure he had, he could hear prey from fox-lengths away. "I- er, think the ro- Sir Pebbleshine won't mind too much. I'll call mine... Misty." That was because it was the word closest to smoke he could find, without actually calling it smoke.

Taking the rock and miraculously getting it to the top of his head, Firepool balanced it for a few moments, doing well, before slipping on one of the rocks beneath him. Misty flew off his head, skittering on the ground, and all he could do was watch, defeated. "Wolfblossom... you might have to take my name away for that one."

Dawnfeather was the first to take a rock, and Wolfblossom had to stifle her laugh. Sir Pebbleshine? Well, she supposed she wouldn't like being called 'cat' either.

Dawnfeather was able to balance it until she stopped moving, sending the rock tumbling to the ground. "I think Sir Pebbleshine will be fine, Dawnfeather. Though perhaps you should apologize, just to smooth things over."

Firepool did well until Misty was also sent careening to the ground. Wolfblossom shook her head in mock disapproval. "Disgraceful, truly. Back to the apprentice den with you, Firepool." Wolfblossom snickered. "I suppose if I can't do better than either of you I'll have to relinquish my position as deputy... But who would keep our clanmates in line then?" She mewed, choosing a smooth, rounded pebble that shared the same gray color as much of Skyclan's rocky forest did in leafbare. "What about... I don't know. Stony McStoneface? Yes, I think that'll do." With the rock placed carefully between her ears, Wolfblossom slowly stood up. A careful step forward and-

Stony McStoneface fell, even faster than Firepool or Dawnfeather's had. "...Oops." Wolfblossom blinked down at the rock, her jovial expression turning to one of complete, immesurable disappointment. "Ravenclaw did always say I needed to work on my balance, I suppose. I've failed her, how will I cope?"

Completely unable to keep her expression, Wolfblossom laughed, glancing between the two warriors with a grin. "I'll never live this down, oh stars..."

“Oh!” Dawnfeather purred with a relieved sigh, bending down to where Sir Pebbleshine lay prone and unmoving. “I’m so sorry, little one! I promise I’ll wash you off in the creek anyways, okay? Ooh, Misty is a good name, Flamepool!”

Flamepelt balanced his rock on his head, stepping from side to side before it careened to the ground with a clatter that made Dawnfeather wince. “What? Can you even do that, Wolfy? It’s rude! And don’t wager your position! That’s dangerous! We can’t make a rock deputy- sorry Sir Pebbleshine, but that’s against the Code, I think.”

“It’s alright!” Dawnfeather purred, flicking her cousin’s shoulder with her long tail. “Why would you even want to? We’re making memories! And friends! And things! Are we going to make Stony McStoneface deputy now? Can we make Sir Pebbleshine deputy instead? His name is better- ooooh, how are we going to explain to Wolfstar- Birdstar that her deputy’s now a rock? Not it-“

Firepool laughed as Wolfblossom's rock fell far faster than either of theirs, flicking his tail contently. It was nice to not feel out of place, strange, or anxious to just be around others. "I- I don't think I'm qualified to explain a rock becoming deputy. Maybe Wolfblossom should do it." Picking up Misty gently, he placed the rock down in front of himself once more. "All the rocks are at least honorary warriors for beating us... Or wait, did they lose? They fell off. I guess we don't really know what the goal of a rock is..."

"Stony McStoneface is a perfectly fine name." Wolfblossom scoffed, "Though Misty is quite pretty. Regal, almost. And Sir Pebbleshine... Pebbles don't really shine, do they?" She couldn't help but tease a little.

Wolfstar... Stars, that was a terrifying prospect. She laughed at Dawnfeather's words, "I don't think the rocks are the one who lost... I mean, their place is on the ground, right? And we were the ones balancing them. Or... Trying to, I suppose." She chuckled, "And hey, I'd never ask you to explain my losses. I can own them... However embarrassing they might be. Just... Help me deflect my dear sister's teasing, alright?"