Post by skyy and her socks on Apr 30, 2016 1:32:32 GMT
A CHANGE OF HEART
Thunder. It rumbled and roared, shaking the ground in the highest form of upset. It grasped the earth and sky and shook with all it’s might, like a cat with a snake for the first time, unsure how to escape the grip of fangs. Fangs seemed appropriate as forks of lightning ripped through the clouds above, not yet daring to taste the ground. Mousestar hoped they wouldn’t, not now that RiverClan gathered below, summoned by Magpiestar’s call. He supposed it was only fitting for the clan of water, his original clan, to gather in such weather.
The tabby tom’s tail twitched awkwardly to the side, the stars in his pelt glowing and wrapping around every fur. A hint of faintness touched the tip of his tail, a hint of the future to come. Yet, despite the weather, despite the sadness of what was to come that rumbled and rippled at the edges of the pool, the tom sat and he waited. Waiting for the announcement of what would decide RiverClan’s future. Even if he was no longer part of it, well, Mousestar had never been anything less than an optimistic cat. No, regardless of the worries, his heart bounced in his chest as he leaned over a little more, trying to see Magpiestar just a little better.
From beside him, Lionbite’s low, rumbling chuckle matched the thunder, and Mousestar’s tail twitched again. He paid the medicine cat no mind. Yet, Lionbite knew what was going on in the leader's mind. “It’ll come, give Magpiestar time to gather his thoughts. This is no simple decision.” Mousestar flicked his tail against his ginger companion's shoulder, lifting his head only long enough to frown. “I’m being patient!” Mousestar meowed indignantly, before his attention was once more at the pool. Another skitter of lightning darted underpaw. “Hm, about a patient as a cat with a bee sting, yes.” Lionbite’s low rumble came, and Mousestar paused to tilt his head toward the medicine cat. For a moment, he just stared, large amber eyes focused, expression blank.
“I shouldn’t - ”
“Yeah, you should be quiet.”
“ - Quiet, yeah.”
Lionbite turned back to the pool, and Mousestar straightened, lifting himself up for a moment, before plopping back down. His claws unsheathed and tugged at the small grass clumps that reached up through the clear waters. Another roll of thunder went through, as below the leader’s summoning call rung out below.
Mousestar had to give it to Magpiestar, though. He had dealt with more than enough during his time, and for such a proud cat, the decision that was coming was not an easy one. Especially with Ashenfang’s decision to step down. Now, he was choosing the next leader, and it would lead to disarray across the clan for the time being. However, he had faith, faith that the new deputy, no, leader, would, take their clan to the future, to be stronger than ever before. That was what was important.
A ripple of surprise stretched through the cats below, obvious even to the stars, and Mousestar straightened further, ears lowering. Ashenfang was a good deputy, and may even still be for the future. But, this was not his time. No, in the mud and rain, another shake rippling across the pool Mousestar crouched over, this was the time for another cat.
“I say these words before StarClan, so that the spirits of our warrior ancestors may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of RiverClan is Duckstep.”
The words reached even there, and immediately plenty of vocalisation broke below. Primarily it was Duckstep's name that hung in the cheers, but plenty of questions as well. Those lingered in the air before Mousestar, as loud as the rain and the leader’s words. What about her limp? What about how she was only training her first apprentice now? However, they were only ones he knew to grow louder. As Magpiestar added his final point, standing tall. The words of retirement from the rank.
It was that announcement that had the clan in uproar. Those cats who has spoken of his age, of his frailness after his mate died, after everything that had happened, had proved true. But in his place, he was leaving a young warrior, something so out of character to him. The questions hung in the air, and Mousestar leaned further over, twitch twitching again. “Lean any further and you’ll fall in,” Lionbite warned beside his, and he whacked his shoulder with his tail in response.
There was no backing down now. Magpiestar called for silence, announcing that he’d make the journey to the moonstone with Duckstep to finish the ceremony, before calling for an end, leaping from the rock and into the crowd. RiverClan continued in their chatter, supporters loud, while those against just as clear. Questions, questions filling their air like raindrops. Yet, at the same time… hope. That was what it was. Mousestar gave a little nod, and got to his paws, suddenly and sharply, jolting Lionbite back into life.
“Well, we’d better go meet with them, hadn’t we?” He chirped, immediately bounding away from the pool. Lionbite let out a long sigh behind him, but he ignored him. The old medicine cat could ponder on what he wanted. Mousestar had a bright new leader to meet, and his old deputy to embrace.
crescendo 's character Duckstep will be RiverClan's new leader. It can be assumed the meeting that this event happened in has taken place just before everyone ages to the next moon, and just after this moon's un-roleplayed gathering, so no clans will know of the change yet. There will be a thread for Duckstep's lives, to be discussed so far. However, no doubt many RiverClan cats will doubt the rank change. Duckstep has a limp, is only 31 moons, and is currently training her first apprentice. We will be continuing with the rebellion plot, and SkyClan's part in it, however this will be addressed in a separate thread in the next few days. We will be auditioning for RiverClan Deputy, however this has yet to be discussed and arranged, so the position is currently closed.
