- May 2, 2023
- 558
- 151
- 43
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"Cats of all clans," already their voice grows hoarse to have to carry such volume across such a space... fear seizes an ice-encrusted part of their chest to come face to face with the responsibility now rested at their shoulders. "Let the Gathering.... commence!" There are an impossible amount of eyes gouging into her back.. her chest... her neck.. it almost feels like she could be drowned by their staring.
The tense clenching and unclenching of her jaw, chewing at the inside of her cheeks, she waits for the chatter to die down, glancing around with hardly met gazes of four other leaders. Would they assume her a stand-in... like she had been a few moons before? A not-quite-official deputy to serve RiverClan, softly floated across the eyes of the territories to make sure she would be welcomed, to be sure she fit alongside them. It feels too fast... to be standing aside Orangestar who spent so long defending the lives of her predecessor- it feels too soon to stand next to Sunstar, who fought insanity from the inside for more than just a pawful of seasons. They had so much time...
Envy paints her guts a disgusting shade of green.
"Among the crowd tonight... RiverClan welcomes two... new warriors; Bubbleburst and Asphodelrain. They have sat vigil... and join us tonight... as representatives of RiverClan's... unwavering strength." They are strong... Always strong despite the way the strings wrap around their throats, tug maliciously at their ankles, yank at their tails. Always strong... and silent in their misery. She hopes her clan have the tact not to overshare... that they have kept it quiet what the truth of her presence on this stone means.
"I bring with me... a new apprentice... who joins her brothers... at long last... after recovering from sickness. Shellpaw- who was healed... thanks to the... generosity of WindClan's medicine cats." Her gaze catches Sunstar's then, a slow blink of thanks, even if he might not have played a part in it himself. It is his clan that was willing to foster that trade... it means in some small way he is true to his word that WindClan will change. Hopefully it remains to be for the better.
"Our nursery is bountiful... our queens healthy... seven new kits... we've been blessed with. Swiftfire is now... loving mother to.. Dreamkit, Roekit and Amberkit. And Robinheart now cares for... Rivuletkit, Redkit and Algaekit. We have also... taken in an abandoned kit... his mother... was nowhere to be seen; RiverClan will care for... Foxkit.... as if he were of... our own flesh and blood." They would be so loved.. raised with such tender hearts and paws, RiverClan would wash over them for moons to come in their affections. These kits would know as little suffering as ever and with so many friends to be raised beside- she is certain of it. Even if it means coming home every night with her own paws dripping crimson.
Briefly, the thought wanders across her mind that there are SkyClanners here that might recognize that tortoiseshell's name... might rejoice to hear of her new children, of the lineage they stand to extend. If only that legacy were not started with half a family tree.... Her lips draw tight as if in preparation for the staggering losses she must admit to. It is an injustice... the lives they have lost and to such fickle ends. Sickness that refuses to unlatch itself from a young, healthy body... A warrior not even seasoned enough to have had her first apprentice... but old enough to have widowed her mate. "We mourn the loss.... of Brookstorm. Despite... her best efforts... our medicine cat could not... shake the sickness that... ultimately took her."
It drags like razors across her tongue to admit it... to know there are cats here who recognize that blue-furred girl to have been her apprentice... to have been paraded here not but a mere moon ago. A part of her longs not to confess to the real reason she addresses the clans herself today... wants to hide behind the lie that Smokestar is still simply missing. That he may be recovered... that they will see him hale and hearty here under the next full moon but-
"Tonight.... a bright star watches...."
Pale eyes stay fixated to the throng of shadowy faces below, unwilling to glance towards Silverpelt and acknowledge the glimmering ember that still mourns his own passing. "I have... spoken with StarClan," and she is sure there is bitter murmur from WindClan to come for having allowed her to make her journey through their territory to the Moonstone at all. "Smokestar stands amongst them...."
"And I have... taken his place.... as RiverClan's leader.... under the name Lichenstar." She struggles to deliver this news in flat tone, to blink back the stubborn grip of remorse that burns behind her eyes. This isn't right... she shouldn't be standing here.... And it is all so loud in the silence that follows. "That is all.... from RiverClan."
Her eyes dart nervously between the four that loom like giants at her side... prepared to hear outcry of her position as imposter. To hear criticism of her lack of worthiness. She is the same Lichentail that Cicadastar had punished... the same Lichentail that had kits in the dead of leaf-bare out of impatience rather than thoughtfulness. The addition of 'star' does nothing to change that... and does nothing to soothe her nerves as she sits back and waits for the Gathering to continue. -
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