Picking up the pieces

[gingersnapsdacat]

HeronStar stepped up onto the high-ledge, and looked out over her clan. Beside her, she had asked Dustytuft to help her greet the clan, this time as their leader.
“Cats of IvyClan!” she called, knowing that she was not saying the proper words. “Gather beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting!”
She waited a few moments for everyone to gather.
“After last night’s vigil for RookStar, OwlStar revealed herself to Dustytuft and myself. And...well..I am your leader now. I went to the Moonstone, and StarClan has given me my nine lives.”
She did not know if the clan would believe her, or if they would even want her as their leader. But she had to keep going. She quickly beckoned Dustytuft to come to the front of the highrock, hoping to draw some strength from the older she-cat.
“She also said that Dustytuft is to be my deputy. She will be able to help me figure out this whole...thing.”
HeronStar looked down to where the other three of RookStar’s deputies were seated. She ought to speak to them…
“Foxfall, Firechaser, Mudjaw, I know that you may no longer be deputies, but I do hope that you will still accept my gratitude, and know that I still look to you, all of you, for guidance.”
Once again, she addressed the entire clan.
“Remember, before I was your leader, or even your deputy, I was your clanmate. I am still that. If ever you wish to tell me something, please do not hesitate to ask. No matter where we came from, nor where we are now, we are all still clanmates. And so, if there is someone who wishes to come into our clan, instead of being turned away, I ask that they are brought to me, so that I can know if they are meant to be IvyClan warriors.”
She spared a quick look over to her mate, remembering how OwlStar had agreed to meet him at the border, and question his loyalties. She only hoped that she could do it half as well. 
“And now, RookStar left me some unfinished business. Twigkit, please come forwards. OwlStar herself has named you, and now it is up to me to provide you with a mentor who can help you to shine. I believe that my sister, Ravenbright, will be able to teach you well.”

[M'Lady]

Owleyes, who usually sat in the front row of the ceremonies, instead hung around back with all of the little kits gathered around her. As Heronstar strode up to the High Ledge, she leaned down to hum in their ears as the announcements went on.
"See where our lovely Heronstar is sitting? I stood there for the very first time, to announce to the clan." She spoke cheerily, watching as the brand new leader spoke and sent waves of warmth and confidence her way. She would need all that she could get.

"Ivyclan is a wonderful clan, even outsiders that can prove themselves loyal belong here. We are a home where everyone looks out for each other, loyalty matters to an Ivyclanner more than anything else in the whole wide world." At least to her, anyways. And to this new leader as well. She'd chosen well, she thought. Heronstar was a mother, but with an experienced deputy beside her, hopefully it wouldn't drown her like it had Owleyes. The responsibility was large, but someone strong could bear it. Rookstar had tried his best, but it was time for someone else to take over the weight of the world.
Though, perhaps for Heronstar, it wouldn't feel so heavy.

Then, Twitchpaw was officially named and given a mentor before the clan, and her yellow gaze positively BEAMED with pride. She hummed to the kits to join her, and then shouted out the apprentice's new name to the world, even though her cry mostly fell on deaf ears.

"Twitchpaw! Twitchpaw!"

[bits]

Well, here goes hope that the future held something brighter. Swiftwing was exhausted, as were most who'd been involved during Rookstar's decline in wellbeing. She still didn't quite understand what had happened, but she was a warrior - not a deputy, not a medicine cat, not a leader. Faith wavered in her heart quite frequently, and her expertise was the world of the living and the practicality of hunting and fighting and clan loyalty. She knew that she felt relief in the wake of their return to a one-leader, one-deputy system. She knew that she wanted to hope for the recovery of the clan, the spirit that had suffered so recently. But the battle didn't feel like it was over. She was still as ragged as she had been during Rookstar's reign, she still found herself antsy in clan, and these days she couldn't lie to herself and say it was just because of the energy in clan. 

She hated the truth behind her nearly obsessive patrols, the truth that sat like a heavy stone in her gut every time she found herself idle. It was hard to tell from the outside though - Swiftwing had always been a severe molly, and a resting frown on her face was not strange to see. It wasn't new or odd or strange - but there were different weights that held onto her now. At least Ivyclan's leadership was in recovery instead of decline. The warrior could appreciate that much. With the smolders of determination that still kept her going, Swiftwing joined the clanners chanting for the new apprentice.

"Twitchpaw!"

[Broadwaykat]

The dust had settled; and for once in what felt like several moons, the clan felt just like it had always been - a clan. Dustytuft still found herself a little antsy, faced with a fact that she had only tangentially believed in before - that an afterlife existed for most of them, and that their ancestors, with a little power behind them, could become just as real and visible as they had been in life. Try as she might she had not seen another sign of a spirit, but there was a little jump to her step now despite that - as if every crackling twig, every touch of breeze, could mean something more. 

But besides that, their was work to be done; as she sat below their gathering spot to address the clan, she squared her shoulders and attempted to use all of her body to appear the largest, most opposing figure that she could - although truthfully it was her brains and wit, and not physical size, that was her forte. She allowed Heronstar to address the clan with her silent support, a beaming grin crossing her muzzle as Heronstar broached the fact that the border bans that had been placed by Rookstar were somewhat lifted, and that the apprentice who had so clearly been put out during a most pivotal moment in his life was given a mentor.

"Twitchpaw, congratulations!" She chirped once the announcement was finalized. "We'll have you out on a border patrol yet, once Ravenbright says your ready."