With Every Season Comes Changes

[Ava]

Screech stumbled into the clearing, still totally bewildered by even the thought that he was now leader of the tribe... or rather, the clan. The image of Snow giving all the information of their switching cultures popped in the back of his mind, and he smiled faintly at the thought. He could do this. His bout of anxiety and hesitation from before when he had first been notified had completely disappeared, leaving behind it confidence and pride for being the first leader of the newest clan, RootClan.

He cleared his throat, a thought that he might've had when he was younger but never went through with suddenly came to him. I am a leader. He was, after all. Screechstar. The name somehow had a nice ring to it, and he realized that never would he be called Screech officially ever again. Perhaps by his friends or the older members of the tribe, but never when being spoken to as a figure of authority. Letting out a heavy breath he hadn't even noticed that he'd been holding, he called words out that he had never expected to say aloud.

"Cats of young and old, I have a very important announcement to make. Please, gather around, for all must hear what news I have to share with everyone," he yowled, his voice only faltering once before gradually gaining confidence again. The silence before he continued seemed to drag on for hours before he finally continued. "I am afraid that this is officially the last telling. Our ancestors have given me the knowledge that no longer will we be a tribe, but a clan. Do not make this switch any more difficult than it needs to be- it is unbelievably hard on me as well to leave behind my customs and ways. However, I do believe that this is the right decision." He stopped speaking again for a few moments, now pacing around the cave.

"Many of our customs will have to change to become a clan. I will become Screechstar and all of you, from kits to elders, will change your names to fit the clan systems. You will no longer be separated into prey-hunters and home-guards, but rather be united as one rank, warriors. Kits will begin their training at 6 moons, and apprentices- not to-bes- will graduate to full warriors at 12 moons. And finally, our ranks. Our medicine cat will be Shadow, of course, for he is excelled in medicine.

"However... I am afraid to say that some clan cats from the other three clans may be joining our ranks. For example," he paused as he wracked his brain to remember the names of the cats, "In MothClan, two cats will be joining our highest ranks. Feathercrest will be my deputy, my second in command, the one to take over my position should I die nine times. Meanwhile, Snakeleap, son of another clan's founder, will become Shadow's apprentice. StarClan along with our ancestors will be guiding us the entire time, so please never feel alone in this. Ask me all the questions you'd like.

"With this, I believe that our final telling has officially come to an end, and I would like to thank you all for listening," he dipped his head as he finished speaking, sitting down and wrapping his tail around his paws as he awaited questions to file in. Such a change had never happened before in the history of the tribe, and now he hoped he could assist everyone in their unanticipated switch.

[Mama]

It had been a few days since Halfpaw had merged into the group, under the watchful eye of a few. However, the tom worked hard to help feed them, always bringing back a good catch or two, and was naturally skilled. He could catch even birds in flight, if they flew low enough, or chase down jackrabbits. A few were greatful, like the kits and some of the mothers, but some naturally didn't trust him. He wouldn't blame them, but if he could prove to these cats that he was worthy... maybe they'd eventually accept him in their ranks.

The tom padded back into the constantly moving group, which had finally halted, with a bird in his jaws. A dove, to be exact. He caught it midflight, probably heading back to her nest. It was unfortunate, but they had to be fed too. Halfpaw could only thank Starclan for the catch, and drop it off for someone to snatch up and eat. He took his place in the back, towering over others (besides Wisp, the two were pretty close in height), and curled his tail around his flank. He wondered if anyone would be willing to sit near him, but no matter, it seemed their meeting had started.

Wait a moment... they were becoming a clan? Rootclan? So, Starclan must have led him here to help! His eyes brightened as caramel eyes widened in both shock and joy. He knew the life of the clans so well, perhaps he could help them learn! Screech, no, Screechstar, as he seemed to be the leader now, wrapped up the meeting with some final words, mentioning the switch. So, Mothclan cats would join them? Halfpaw didn't mind the other clans too much, so that was fine with him. But how would they react to another clan cat here? All he could hope is that they were friendly.

---

(gonna reply with others soon!)

[mewmehh]

The worried words of Screech worked to move the rest of the tribe into a collective discomfort, some uneasy mumbles from one individual to other as the full weight of the announcement seemed to sink in. Among them, Seed of Fallen Fruit sat with his head cocked to one side in confusion and beside him Wisp of Icy Star's Tail and Pink Petals of the Paw exchanged looks. In the end, the young Home-Guard gave a hoot of support to the supposed new 'Screechstar' and bleated with a warm voice,"Okay then! But what's a clan?"

Petal winced at the younger cat's words and dropped her round face with a defeated grin. How ironic that the fate of her new home was to make a journey and become a clan; it was almost as if the universe where undoing her own journey from moons ago. But then, she could be an asset to the new clan by sharing all her information of Mistclan and its cultural ways. But would that mean she would be betraying her birth clan by sharing its secrets? No, THEY are my clan now. My clan, my tribe.

Raising her head once more, Petal dipped her head respectfully for Screechstar and shot her a sparkly green look of confidence. "Let me help out too, Screechstar! You all surely remember that I hailed from our new neighbors, Mistclan, so I can help to teach the culture of the clans between the hunting and patrolling activities!" She then glanced to Halfpaw and beamed even brighter. "And he can help with Snakeleap and Feathercrest too- from his name, he was training as an apprentice!" This earned Petal a few odd looks, as if she were speaking some other language to the cats. Lighting up, she turned away from Screechstar to look at Seed and the others looking in confusion at her. "Oh, clan ranks are dictated by the name you have. When I arrived here with you all, I was called Petalpaw. But like how it got changed to fit the rest of your names, in the clans, apprentices received their full 'warrior' names when they prove themselves and finish their training. So now, I would probably be....probably...be....Pinkpetal! Yeah!! My warrior name would be Pinkpetal, though normally the clan leader would be in charge of coming up with the names based on their attributes or skill." She looked back to Screechstar with a warm, softer look. "But considering all the work Screechstar has to deal with right now and how many of us there is to rename, I think Starclan will be fine if we all chose our own names this time around. Here, if anyone needs some help, come talk to me!~"

[noctemq]

Black grimaced, his tail lashing out behind him. He was doing his best to keep his composure in this moment. The tribe was going to become a clan? A clan?! How could they even associate with the group of cats that once mauled their brothers and sisters to death? And now look, now those savages were welcomed into their ranks like nothing ever happened. Black's claws dug into the soft earth beneath him. There was no way he was going to accept clan life, he was a tribe cat through and through. Resentment mixed with betrayal bubbled all the way up into his throat and stayed their like a rock. He did not forgive, he did not forget.

Despite all of the strong emotions he felt, he still respected Screech. The tom had proven himself to be a good leader so far, but Black could not bring himself to just throw away everything that had to do with the tribe. Maybe what upset him the most was the fact that he appointed an outside cat to the position of deputy. Black had dedicated his heart and soul to looking out for the tribe and this is where it got him; he couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy.

Black turned his wide frame around and stormed off from the group of cats gathered by Screech. He held his head low with amber eyes narrowed, leaving claw marks in the dirt as he walked away.

[Broadwaykat]

Although he knew what needed to happen, had known for a while, it wasn’t any less hard to sit by and listen to Screech’s words knowing what this was; their last hurrah as a true Tribe. He didn’t give up on his heritage lightly – and truth be told deep down he never would. At the same time, even under a new name, a new life, he would always be who he was deep beneath his fur, who he was born to be. If it weren’t for the things he had seen, the visions of a new existence that he had only previously gotten second-hand from his Speaker. But as hard as it was to believe that the way of life he had lead was coming to and end, if it meant the survival of his family, he would do it.

So he sat back and prepared to deal with the fallout of angry Tribemates – but other than a few protests, others seemed eager to jump in and help. Such as Pink Petals of the Paw – or rather, Pinkpetal. She had of course been born into the clans, and had gone from a prisoner of their feuds to a true member of their tribe – only, it seemed, destined to come full circle and help them.

He still wasn’t sure about these strangers from another clan taking such prominent roles in their heirarchy…but at the same time, there seemed little one could do to argue with the heavens and their ancestors.

---

Hawk shivered despite himself at Screech’s words. Everything seemed to be changing – and the young tom was not sure whether to be excited or scared. So he was in the odd position of being both – happy and excited to see a new way of life, a future that seemed so bleak for their tribe, but now was also leaving everything familiar behind.

“But…I like my name!” He cried out. It was how his brothers and sisters knew him. If he died and went to the afterlife, how were they supposed to find him if he had and new name and everything. It was one that his mother had given him, and it felt like himself. “Without it…will I even be me anymore?”

----

“Hush, dear.” Swan did her best to comfort her nearly grown son, wrapping her tail around her son and only just resisting the urge to pull him to her side and affectionately try to ease his worries. A true feat, seeing as her own heart seemed to be beating fast enough the threaten breaking through the cage of her ribs. While they were slowly getting better with more food and comfort, there was still the fact that her ribs still showed through her wispy fur, faintly pulsing like a trapped hummingbird.

“How do we even know if they will accept us? The living clans.” She voiced. “Not that I have faced them in battle, but I remember the last time we met on the fields – they may as well have been bloody heathens who’d scalp us as soon as look at us!” Of course, her eyes slid somewhat apologetically towards Pink Petals of the Paw – or rather, Pinkpetals and Halfpaw. “No offense, dears…”

mewmehh Mama