it is now when we gather things_[open]

[DEVIANCE``]

clan meeting

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ashstar

The cream-coloured tom smiled and padded out of his den. Though yesterday was a solemn night, he knew that today would be better. Already the clouds were in overcast, about to rain. That must have been a good sign. Hopefully it would be raining by the time he announced his decision to the clan.

The feline he had in mind was certainly beautiful and clever. Hopefully that would make up for the fact that she wasn't clanborn. Of course, been it his decision, he probably wouldn't have let her into the clan, but she was a kit, and he had only been an apprentice himself. Well, as long as she wasn't from SunburstClan. She would have been thrown out the moment he became leader.

Lunarwind had been a good deputy, yes, but she should have known better then to be destroyed by fear. Ultimately it was her untimely death, and he wished he could have prevented it. Well, at least he tried. But what did it matter when she died anyway? He shook his head of the thoughts going through his mind and concentrated on the matter at hand.

He took a quick look over himself and made sure that he looked acceptable before jumping onto the highrock. "Cats old enough to catch their own prey gather below the highrock for a clan meeting!" Two meetings in two days. A few cats gazed up at him - concerned, but a few seemed bored. A few kits were looking up at him from the nursery, and a sort of longing went through him. Ignoring that, he waited for the clan to gather before him.

"AstralClan," he began. "As you know, Lunarwind was killed, and now..." Pause. "I, Ashstar, leader of AstralClan, now appoint a new deputy. Lunarwind, hear and approve my decision. Spiceshine, you are to be AstralClan's new deputy. I have chosen you to serve by my side. Serve well."

He jumped off the highrock and sat down in the center of the cats. He waited for Spiceshine to come forward and he touched his nose to her. He nodded at her and smiled.

((WELL. IF ANYONE HAS AN APPRENTICE [ya right. pfft.] SPEAK NOW OR FORVER HOLD YOUR PEACE.))

[lynx]

≈ Spring had sprung wholly and the she-cat could tell far before her consciousness had full come around, for she felt the pressure in the air that signalled none other than a full, spring downpour. She could feel it in her bones as all AstralClan cats had grown to do, even if she'd been known in whereabouts nearer to the wilderness than anything, spending her entire life with this camp as a home had lent the female more Astal-oriented abilities than the average rogue child.

With a loud yawn which could have easily been mistaken for a groan, the tortoiseshell and white warrior rolled over in her nest, exposing a thin frosty white stomach to the other cats in the den. However, as the last shards of sunshine before the rain washed the territory glittered directly into her eyelids, making sleep more than difficult. Another yawn cracked open her maw and showed a milky pink tongue briefly and the she-cat right-sided herself groggily. Dawn already? It seemed she'd gotten no more than a wink of rest, as if she'd been dreaming a beast all night but couldn't remember a thing of it. Softly shining olive-golden eyes fully open now, Spiceshine wriggled out of the den, careful not to step on the remaining resting warriors as she left.

Just as she began to hobble toward the tempting pile of fresh-kill, a yowl from behind startled her. Spiceshine glanced over her shoulder as soon as the words she had heard so many times rang out, to see the familiar frame of Ashstar seated atop the cliff. With one more pained glance at the fresh-kill pile, she turned and padded to the highrock wearily, with a weak attempt to shush her loudly complaining belly and a few quick swipes of her tongue along her chest fur.

More gathered around her, looking about as cheerful as she felt with some even going so far to verbally moan about it. Lazy bums, she thought with a gentle smile, but paid them no heed. When Ashstar suddenly began to speak, his words shocked her. The same flood of ice filled her veins, just as it had the first time she had heard the news of Lunarwind and a shiver wracked her delicate body. Of course. Of course, how could Spiceshine have forgotten? Poor Lunarwind. This must be a meeting to choose the new dep- as her conscience buzzed with activity, her name spoken aloud snapped Spiceshine back to the present. "I.. what?" She mumbled, the first words spoken as AstralClan's deputy. She laughed joyously and bounded forward to press her nose to the leader's, still in blatant disbelief. "Thank you Ashstar!" The new deputy heard herself repeating this over and over, until she thought to add, "I'll do my best for the clan!" What else could be said? Spiceshine couldn't wipe the overwhelmed grin from her visage. ≈

^{music: no one sleeps when I'm awake - the sounds, remember you're a girl - kaiser cheifs, the yeah yeah yeah song - the flaming lips
other: hi. I've never played her before so uh, bear with me? I think she'll be fun though.}

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[MiNTY]

Mintwhisker knew of the burden that hung over her leader. Lunarwind had passed on and he was obliged to chose another cat to fill the role of clan deputy in her place. The sad part was there had been no chance for her skilled paws to save Lunarwind. Not even room for an attempt. Those who are merciless in battle have a disadvantage, at one point in their lives they will come to wish that another would show mercy upon them, but that day will never come. If you like it or not Karma will always come back and haunt you when you least expect it, and so one day those two Sunburstclan warriors will be hit with a dose of fate that they least expect. As a medicine cat she would not wish death upon any cat, yet she knew that fate consumed everyone at some point or another.

These were the sincerities she had spent her night going over and over. They even walked her dreams now, though she could only imagine what had happened to Lunarwind, and what she had done in the past to bring a destiny like that upon herself, or maybe it was for good?

Eyes with the freshness of mint blinked open sleepily to be greeted by the sun shining into her den. Her lonely, empty den. In her first waking breath she tasted moisture on her tongue that was stronger than what she could taste every morning from the stream. Waking to such a nice scene outside her den left it hard for her to be grumpy in the mornings. Stirring from her stupor she slipped out of her nest and along a short tunnel into the main area of her den. Pushing her front paws out she felt the flexing of her muscles just long enough to satisfy and walked her back legs in again. Shaking off the stretch she padded to the entrance of her den and stood with her hind end still inside.

After taking a few deep breaths she took a swift drink from the stream after she heard her leader call the clan forward. This was it. Now the new deputy of Astralclan would be named. You could even say it was an almost historic moment in the lives of the clan cats, one day the new deputy could grow to become a great leader. As a kit she remembered being told stories of past leaders, their memories living on. That would be an honor to any cat. After joining her clan she listened respectfully to her leaders words as always. However this time she could feel a cold chill starting inside and spreading throughout her body. She knew Ashstar would make a wise choice, he was of course a good leader to the clan.

Letting out a breath of relief she finally let herself smile and a calmness seemed to spread through her. Spiceshine! A cat she knew well and she could safely say that she was delighted for her friend receiving her new position of authority. She truly deserved it. Stealthily she slipped through the other cats eager to be the next in line to touch noses with her friend. Facing the tortishell she-cat, olive eyes met mint eyes and she leaned forward to touch noses with the she-cat. "Well done my friend, you deserve this."

[DEVIANCE``]

ASHSTAR
<sub>((:s. didn't know what to write. sorry. cameo from cedar.))

The large cream-coloured tom smiled when he saw the calico she-cat run over to him and touch noses. Once she stepped back, he nodded at her. His eyes were sad, but hopeful. Maybe Spiceshine would be an ever better deputy than Lunarwind was. Hopefully she would be. Ashstar didn't want to think about this, so he ignored it. "I hope you do do your best." He meowed, looking around. Almost immediately afterward the clan medicine cat bounded up to Spiceshine and congratulated her. Suddenly a large tom, larger than Ashstar, padded over to the new deputy. The brown tabby smiled and nodded at Spiceshine. "I know you'll be a good deputy, Spiceshine." He meowed, pressing his nose to hers. Without waiting for a reply, he walked away and back to the end of the group. Ashstar tilted his head with amusement before padding over to his den. He turned back and smiled. 'Do we have any... no, not yet. Soon, though.' With a new hope flaring in his eyes he turned swiftly and walked into his den.</sub>

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