hearts and clubs [closed; meeting]

The cause for a meeting with Leopardstar had very nearly slipped Wolfblossom's weary mind until Stoatclaw was asked for. She remembered that leaf-fall day where he'd taken her out into the forest to confess, and then their lives had erupted into chaos. This meeting, she reflected, would either further that chaos or be a bright spot in recent times. She padded alongside her clanmates, eyes finding Leopardstar's familiar face and a less familiar she-cat accompanying her. Wolfblossom thought she had a vague memory of her from a gathering, a face seen only in passing as her eyes scanned the crowd. Not someone she could put a name to, but Stoatclaw's requested presence and previous conversation meant the deputy would tentatively identify her as Lighttail. As the Skyclanners approached, Wolfblossom took note of Leopardstar - the scent of illness clinging to her like it did so many others. Still, the leader was standing, just as Wolfblossom was. She took note of the she-cat with her, as well as her own clanmates' demeanor as they approached. The she-cat seemed ill as well... Not that any one of them were faring better. These days Wolfblossom was more surprised to see a cat who was healthy.

"Leopardstar," Wolfblossom greeted the leader with her usual politeness, a nod and soft smile, "And you are... Lighttail?" Blue eyes shifted to the she-cat with the Shadowclan leader. She had taken note that Sablestrike was not with Leopardstar as she was with Birdstar, but his absence was unlikely to be the focus of this meeting, she knew. She had spoken with Stoatclaw at length when they'd still been on Skyclan territory, had spoken to Birdstar, and Wolfblossom's intention was the same.

Bringing an ill cat into the clan perhaps wasn't the best move, but Stoatclaw was a loyal warrior and a friend. If Leopardstar was willing to part with one of her warriors, if Lighttail was willing to make the leap, who was she, daughter of similar circumstances, to deny them? If Leopardstar wouldn't part with her warrior, if Lighttail refused to come, Stoatclaw had made it clear what the outcome would be. Wolfblossom would accept it, but she would not enjoy it.

Lighttail didn’t even notice the illness hanging on the SkyClanners. These days the stench of sickness had become the new normal. A hacking cough seemed to ripple through her whole body, but Lighttail tried to keep her head held high. “Wolfblossom, Birdstar, greetings,” she mewed, dipping her head respectfully. “I hope we find you no worse than we all are, I wish I could say ‘well.’” Her paws shuffled for just a moment but she quickly stopped, trying to make a good impression.

Crawling, it felt like something was crawling beneath his fur. Stoatclaw knew there was nothing to be concerned about, but that didn't stop him from feeling like this meeting would somehow take a turn. Even with his unfounded fears pressing down the tom couldn't help but brighten at the sight of Lighttail. If all went well he wouldn't have to spend another day apart from her. The thought of sharing a nest with her felt so surreal yet so close. "L-Leopardstar." Stoatclaw dipped his head respectfully to the leader.

“I trust Stoatclaw has already told you some of the story,” Lighttail began, anxiety pricking her pelt. “It is true that I have made the choice to join SkyClan, if you will have me. No cat has made this decision for me. My reason is simple, I want to live with my mate and to be somewhere where I am loved.” She let out a breath. “I don’t know what all you do or don’t want to hear about my past, but I accept all questions.” Here she was, at the crucial moment.

Wolfblossom nodded in acknowledgement of Leopardstar's words. Were she in the leader's paws, she would have said much the same. Her eyes turned to Lighttail, listening as she spoke up. She seemed earnest enough, and if Leopardstar had already warned her of the consequences, the she-cat must have considered them.

"As Birdstar says, you don't have to speak to convince us. Our father was Thunderclan and moved to Skyclan. A former leader was once Shadowclan, and moved to Skyclan to be with her own mate." As strange as Briarthorn and Bloodstrike were, they still counted.

"Stoatclaw told me, before we left the forest." Wolfblossom confirmed, "Things have been a little hectic, or perhaps this conversation could have happened sooner." She began, "Although, I am curious. Why Skyclan, and not Shadowclan? I know Stoatclaw has his own reasons - valid reasons. I assume you must have family, friends, that you would be leaving behind. So I would like to know your reasoning for doing so, rather than the other way around." Not that Stoatclaw had much in the way of family in Skyclan, but his history with Shadowclan was... Not a nice one. If Lighttail was genuine in her desire to switch clans, she must have known of that debacle with Redice. As for switching clans in itself, she would let Birdstar speak on the challenges she would face within Skyclan. They were not traditionally a clan accepting of outsiders, though at least Skyclan's leadership held less of a harsh view on it as in the past. Their warriors, on the other paw... Lighttail would earn their trust in time, perhaps. Just as she would have to earn Birdstar and Wolfblossom's beyond the basic courtesy and respect they offered anyone seeking to join their ranks.

Lighttail let her shoulders relax slightly. SkyClan’s leadership understood. That was one hurdle crossed. The most difficult decision of her life was finally falling smoothly into place.

“Thank you,” she mewed simply. “It’s good to know that we’re understood.” She nodded, relieved that Stoatclaw had already explained some things. Lighttail took a deep breath and continued. “I cannot ask Stoatclaw to join ShadowClan. Not after what happened. And I have no… immediate family to leave. My mother joined StarClan before we left the forest and my brother disowned me when I told him about Stoatclaw.” No need to say who her brother was. Their quarrel was a personal matter, not a political one. “Mostly it’s the Redice thing, though. I wouldn’t ask anyone to relive that. And there are cats in our clan who have some… rather strict opinions on half-clan relationships.” No need to elaborate, everyone knew Nightstalker’s history. “I understand that SkyClan has a different terrain and hunting style to ShadowClan and I am willing to learn.”

Wolfblossom listened as Lighttail spoke. Her words seemed genuine, her love for Stoatclaw clear. Wolfblossom couldn't imagine what it must be like, to have family disown you just for who you called mate (the situation with Trufflesnap briefly flickering to life in her mind, but that was wholly different) but she understood the she-cat's reasoning for wanting to leave. It was a choice her father had made, a choice others would make too. Cats having strict opinions on such things was to be expected, of course, and she would likely face similar scrutiny and suspicion with Skyclan. From her own family though, after already losing her mother no less... "My condolences." It seemed there was little to tie her to her soon to be former clan.

"I'm not one to repeat Leopardstar's words, as I think you've shown understanding of what switching clans will entail." Wolfblossom dipped her head to the Shadowclan leader, gaze turning back to the warrior who would did not seem like she would be leaving with the Shadowclan leader.

"I won't lie to you, some of your new clanmates will be... less than friendly at first. Old beliefs run deep, even as leadership changes." Silverwing came to mind, and Sunfire's hostility toward her at first. "You'll earn their respect as your learn our ways, I think."

"We won't make you undergo a formal apprenticeship from scratch, you already earned your warrior name for a reason. But it will take effort to learn how we hunt and fight in the trees. Stoatclaw will be helping teach you, as will I." She would not be the first cat to join their ranks, and would get the same training. Silverwing, the former Windclanner, had done well. And Wolfblossom might not have realized Briarthorn was anything but Skyclan were it not for the sometimes uncomfortable tension with her own mother. Briarthorn... Perhaps she would point Lighttail in the former Shadowclanner's direction. On first glance they didn't seem at all similar beyond their birth clan, but Briarthorn must have faced similar struggles as she adjusted to Skyclan's ways of hunting and fighting.

"If you accept that, then we welcome you to Skyclan, Lighttail."

((Lighttail is just in time for soup!))