hope for the future [shadowclan deputy ceremony]

After the Clan meeting had finally wrapped up, Leopardsun had curled up to sleep in her favored corner of camp; away from the warrior’s den, away from the leader’s den, neither one a place she deserved to set paw in any longer.

She slept restlessly, the greenleaf sun warming her fur outside the shade of their dens, and eventually simply rose to her paws and set to pacing outside camp as she thought. The sun hadn’t yet set, though it would start to soon, signaling the beginning of ShadowClan’s next day; and with it, the beginning of something new.

If she let herself hope, she would hope it was something better.

She didn’t have that kind of faith in herself.

She couldn’t afford to be indecisive, but couldn’t trust in her own decisions; it was the worst sort of dilemma she could have found herself in.

Slowly, as the sun dipped below the horizon and ShadowClan settled into their evening routine, Leopardsun took a deep breath and took her usual place at the base of the Jaggedrock.

Even now, she wouldn’t stand atop it. Let them think what they wanted about that.

She didn’t need to look down on them.

“All cats old enough to silently stalk in the shadows, please gather in the shadow of the Jaggedrock for a Clan meeting!”

From where Badgermask was hiding in the shade of the camp wall, her head turned slightly at the call from her mother. Ah, it was about time. She pushed herself to her paws, shuffling from the shadows to take a seat on the edge of the gathering crowd. There was no doubt about what this was about, not with Nightstalker's reveal to have lost his lives. A new deputy needed to be named...And she had no doubt that it would not fall upon her this time.

To this, it was a relief - she had not taken great joy in her duties. She had done them to earn her mother's praise and not let her down but...Well, she had lost her title as temporary deputy following.... Well, simply put she had not been in the mindset to perform her duties and as far as her mother was concerned, the same mindset still held her in her grasp. That did leave the question of who, but the warrior found that she did not care - she had no feelings on who it would be. There was no warriors, other than her father, that she found she trusted anymore.

Whoever it would be would have to earn her trust back through action - same as Leopardsun.

Just as she had for the first announcement, Harriertalon chose to remain near the medicine den. It was obvious what this one was about, and her form remained still and watchful. There was still hope that her mother had chosen a cat who could bare the weight of rebuilding what had been so blatantly and irresponsibly torn to pieces: trust in ShadowClan leadership.

Her eyes scanned the clearing, trying to pick at hints on who it could be... But so far? Nothing. Green eyes did find a certain short, black pelt weaving through the growing crowd, though. It felt like she didn't have to look for it anymore; she just knew where he would be. Not that that was weird... right?

Nightstalker couldn't bring himself to care about the political concerns and environment of Shadowclan. They had all shown themselves to be traitors, and that had only been more obvious as the small whispers of distrust in Leopardsun started up the moment she would be taking her leader's name. It made him scoff, that they would be so quick to distrust her, but he supposed that Shadowclan was just full of cats who wanted every cat in power to be perfect and good. His nose wrinkled a bit, as he casually observed from the dark corners of the camp, not joining the gathering group. They'd likely all just move away from him.

He scoffed, his claws digging into the muck under him. Nothing was good enough for them. Whoever Leopardsun chose, Shadowcclan would not have leniency for error, and would not tolerate any mistakes.

Sablestrike picked his way through his gathering clanmates, aiming to breach the crowd's outer edge before Leopardsun could start the announcements. It didn't take a genius to understand what this meeting was for, and it was no secret to the tom that Leopardsun disliked him. Despite Starclan's plans for him she would pass him up for the role of deputy this night, and the defeat of knowing such a thing before it even happened only served to irk the tom. He would have words for Leopardsun and her newly appointed deputy.

As the tom broke from his clanmates his gaze immediately fell upon the large medicine cat. Sablestrike flashed a smile at her, a rare sight for anyone else but commonplace whenever he saw her. Perhaps her presence could keep him from making an outburst... At least until he could speak with Leopardsun privately. The tom rushed to take a spot next to Harriertalon, brushing his pelt against hers in an affectionate greeting. There was nothing wrong with being friendly towards your medicine cat, it was just a friendly action. That's what he had tried to tell himself despite the instant burning sensation that lit his pelt.

"Who do you think it'll be?" There were few candidates that Sablestrike thought might fit the role, and even fewer that he himself would approve of. "I'd say Rookfire would be a good fit." The tom was long-lived, perhaps even the oldest in camp. The experiences and viewpoints he would bring to the role would be valuable indeed. Pineblossom was another cat he could see as deputy, but he would keep that to himself.

This was a turning point in ShadowClan's history.

Like the Asylum's invasion, Iniko's sacrifice, or ShadowClan fighting back. Like Dawnhawk's rogue attack, something that Rookfire had never been able to hear himself. Like the Dark Forest taking over (again, under Dawnhawk), and the sacrifices that StarClan needed to return to power. Most recently, the war between WindClan and ShadowClan, the deaths of Moondancer and Batswarm, the fight at the Gathering... and this announcement.

Most likely, it was a deputy ceremony. And this deputy ceremony would be the catalyst for what needed to happen for ShadowClan's future. Of all of ShadowClan's cats, he wasn't sure who was ready to be deputy. Just not Marshmallow. Honestly, she would probably be the worst choice in the clan, besides Nightstalker himself.

Sablestrike's words caught Rookfire off guard. Honestly, as he thought about it, he could theoretically be the next deputy. He was one of ShadowClan's most experienced warriors (and ShadowClan's oldest warrior, period, since Thalia left a moon or so ago). If he were to take on the deputy role, however, he would need to be more outspoken, not leave anything unsaid.

Well, he needed to do that anyways. Perhaps it was a lesson from StarClan, to show everyone why they couldn't go to war for no reason, a reminder that what Rookfire was fighting for was not traitorous, but for the good of ShadowClan itself. What a rough lesson to learn.

~~

Poppypaw found himself trusting what his leaders said.

They were older than him, and they deserved to have that respect. But as more cats spoke out, Poppypaw trusted them less. Perhaps he trusted those speaking out more - especially his father, who was especially critical. Something here.

Nightstalker and Leopardsun gave good reasons for war, so he was on board. But with Moondancer and Batswarm dying, everyone turned against them. Unlike Leopardsun, who admitted her mistakes, Nightstalker doubled down, even threatening to take WindClan's herbs away in rage. At least, that's what Poppypaw heard from the cats coming back. (He pretended to have a stomach ache back then, so he could miss the journey to the clearing.)

Perhaps his dad would be deputy, or his mom. Both seemed like good candidates to him. Maybe Echomist would be deputy. He seemed reasonable enough. Swiftheart and Pineblossom also seemed like good options. Sablestrike, too, seemed pretty good. Maybe even Sunflare or Tawnyshadow would earn the deputy spot.

The intrigue brought a kit-like curiosity out of him, as he wondered who would be called up.

Sunflare sidled up alongside Rookfire, for once agreeing with Sunflare. “You’d be an excellent choice, Father,” he whispered. Sunflare was no fool, he knew it wouldn’t be himself. He still hoped for someday, though.

"As I take up the position of ShadowClan's leader, we are left once more without a deputy. Tradition demands that a new one be appointed before moonhigh-- and that is why we are gathered here tonight."

Leopardsun spoke calmly and clearly, with a confidence she wasn't sure she'd ever feel again. There was no time for doubts and indecision, only actions and their consequences; she had taken what little time she could to think things over already.

"I say these words before all of you, the cats of ShadowClan, that you may hear and approve of my choice," she began (for StarClan had no place meddling in the matters of the living, as far as she was concerned; and it was ShadowClan's trust in her that needed to be rebuilt). "Should you accept him, ShadowClan's next deputy will be Sablestrike. He has proven himself a capable warrior who is always willing to speak his mind, and I trust that he will not hesitate to tell me when he believes I am making a mistake. I trust, also, that he will keep ShadowClan's best interests at heart-- even if I should fail to."

She knew that this was something he had wanted, and it was part of why she had hesitated to choose him. But Leopardsun had never wished for power in her life, and where had it gotten her? Trapped as the leader of a Clan that couldn't trust her judgment, unable to take even a second to herself. Walking on eggshells for the rest of her life.

At least Sablestrike had asked for it, time and again.

She could trust that he was prepared for it.

She just hoped that she was prepared for whatever would come of this decision.

Before Harriertalon could reply to Sablestrike's question, Leopardsun began the announcement. Her jaw dropped. Sablestrike was a controversial pick, but no one could deny that he was up for the task. If anything, he was loyal to ShadowClan. "I guess that andwrs your question! Congratulations, Deputy!" She burst out, unable to control her excitement for him. Her shoulder bumped his, a purr rumbling in her chest.

A moment passed with silence at the entrance of the elders’ den, then an ear-piercing whoop broke the air. “SABLESTRIKE!” Snowfoot cried out. “My boy, he’s done it! My son is deputy!” she all but squealed to anyone who’d hear.

Sunflare hadn’t thought it would be his mentor of all cats. Sablestrike was too forward, too rash and impatient. He was many of the same things that had led Nightstalker to disaster. Still, Sunflare had to admit the new deputy hadn’t done anything quite as stupid as having a fling with an enemy leader.

From the medicine den, Lighttail could hear the announcement being given. She lay still in her nest, but a smile crept across her face. Her baby brother was deputy.

Nightstalker gave an audible chuff, as some of the cheering died down. "I leave leadership, but you put my very carbon copy, a cat that I've trained, into a position of power. A cat that has been shown to have less social grace than even me. It's like you want Shadowclan to toss you out too." Nightstalker jeered, his white teeth flashing maliciously. Stiffly, the older tom got to his paws and strode to the new deputy. "Watch your back, watch every word you say, every action you say. Because it won't be long before those you love and trust come hunting for you." He growled, quick to whisk away and disappear through the camp entrance.

Nightstalker wasted no time in saying his piece and leaving camp entirely, and Leopardsun allowed herself a muffled and somewhat strangled sound of annoyance. She'd had her own reservations, but hearing the cat who had left leadership to her questioning her judgment made her want to double down. Instead, she took a deep breath, and looked out at her Clanmates, then back to her newly appointed deputy.

"Sablestrike," she called his name again, quieter as she made her approach. This wasn't an announcement for ShadowClan. "My opinion doesn't matter, does it? Except that I'm the one making decisions, now."

It still felt strange.

"And the choice I've made is to put my trust in you."

Whether she would come to regret it, she couldn't say.

"Whatever he might have to say about it, you're not Nightstalker. I wouldn't have asked this of you, if I thought that."