[ti]Open[/ti]Call to Duty

[M'Lady]

Everyone had been struck by grief at the loss of their deputy. Owlstar had lost yet another cat that served by her side, and it had taken her awhile to come to terms with it. But now the clan was settled, leaf bare was approaching, they were filled with hope and determination to survive once more. Owlstar was no different, she had more to protect and defend than anyone else. She had her own family now too, but Ivyclan had always been her first priority. 

The she-cat was still exhausted from the events of the most recent days, but still she pulled herself from the nursery, leaving her kits in care of the queens and Rainfur, and strode through the enclosed clearing to the slating rockface. With one mighty leap from her hind legs, she reached a ledge, and then gracefully jumped to the next one up. Now that she was sure she was high enough above the clearing that all could see and hear her, the leader rose her voice to let out a familiar call to the clan. 

"May all cats old enough to climb the rock face gather here under the Highledge for a clan meeting!" Her voice broke through the normal soft hustle bustle of the camp's noise, clear and loud enough to catch the attention of all. She waited for them to gather, her tail curled over her paws and head held high as yellow eyes watched over her clanmates. Curious gazes looked up at her, and she paused her words until the last stragglers had scrambled into place. She glanced over at the nursery, witnessing queens and kits alike peeking out of the den. 

Finally, she spoke. 

"We have been blessed by Starclan, this past moon," She mused, flicking her tail slightly. "We have found and settled in our new home, clanmates we thought lost had returned to us, the nursery is full with kits," Her voice was warm at this, and she was so expressive that the entire clearing was enveloped in her own emotions. "But we cannot rest now," She then asserted, eyes growing a bit harder at that. "Leaf bare is quickly approaching, and we must be ready for any outcome. We have three clans instead of two, so we must defend our borders as tough as ever! We are Ivyclan cats, followers of the code, followers of the heart, we have fought and survived for generations due to our everlasting spirit! Don't let our clan fail now!" Her voice had grown louder with her passionate words, a grin coming to her face as she herself felt emboldened, especially by her cats hanging on to her words. 

"As such, it is time to appoint a new deputy! I've been watching you all carefully. We are in an unfamiliar place, we need a warrior that isn't afraid or hesitant to defend their clan at a moment's notice! We need a warrior that thinks with their heart and is Ivyclan through and through! I say these words before Starclan, so that they and Lionbelly may hear of and approve of my choice! The new deputy of Ivyclan shall be Wolfclaw!"

[Mama]

Briarfrost wasn't too surprised towards this announcement, the colossal tom was quite fitting to be the deputy. And by the sounds of it, Owlstar seemed to approve also. She was sitting a bit of a distance away from the rock, enough to see but not too far to where she was uninclined. It wasn't too cramped where she was, and rather a perfect spot in her opinion.

The thin she-cat turned her gaze to the rather handsome  deputy, her eyes slightly proud and even flickering with the occasional bit of trust. Wolfclaw was a good tom, and an even better warrior. He was intelligent and rather strong, and she gave a light purr to herself towards the thoughts before shaking them away quickly. Her cheeks went a bit red in embarrassment, but it quickly faded as she hid it with pride. 

[silverfang218]

Shadowpaw and Barkfur both respond to the call for a clan meeting; they sit right next to each other near the front of the gathered cats, Bark curling his tail around Shadow as they sit. Their eyes are both trained on their leader, and they both smile as she mentions the full nursery, while Shadowpaw leans closer as the leader’s voice fills with passion.

As the deputy is finally named, Barkfur nods to himself in agreement. Neither one of them know Wolfclaw personally, but they both know that he’s a strong and loyal fighter. Shadowpaw beams up at his mentor, showing his approval too. Not that their approval means anything, but they both like this choice nonetheless.

Even Starlingkit responds to the call for a meeting, her small grey head poking out from the nursery as she darts under Rain’s legs to watch her mother leave. The small kit’s chest puffs out; she doesn’t really know what is happening, but she thinks her mother looks majestic up there.

[christicat15]

When all hope begins to shatter
Know that I won't be afraid

Mama

Wolfclaw

Ears perked as the familiar sound of Owlstar's voice echoed across the clearing, calling all to gather for a Clan meeting with the usual words. The massive warrior pushed himself to his feet before padding towards the highledge, leaving behind the bones of a mouse completely devoured.

Pride and determination swelled in the large tom's heart as he listened to the stirring speech of his cousin. His terrifying yellow gaze swept across the camp and observed the others, all enveloped by their leader's inspiring words. Owlstar had just recently given birth to kits, sweet little things that he swore to protect with his life, giving her yet another reason to be happy and positive. Yet, he knew that his cousin wouldn't hesitate to protect her Clan, neither would he. And it was true; if the Clan had lasted this long, he saw no reason for them to fail now.

Then, she announced it was time to appoint a new deputy, after the unfortunate death of Lionbelly, and all grew quiet once more. Some cats murmured between one another, wondering who the new deputy would be.

"The new deputy of IvyClan shall be Wolfclaw!"

The words reached the ears of the Clan and the massive warrior's ears perked and eyes widened slightly in surprise. Him? He figured it would be someone like Owlstar, diplomatic, or something like that. Not someone like him. Still, he felt his chest swell with pride and his bright yellow eyes met those of Owlstar's.

"It would be my honor to serve my Clan as deputy." his deep and masculine voice echoed through the camp, like thunder, all silent as he spoke. Then, his fellow Clan members began chanting his name, as was the common ritual, and he stood tall, muscles flexing beneath his long, dark coat, and paws standing firmly on the ground. His gaze managed to linger to the lovely Briarfrost, though quickly averted and directed back to their leader. As deputy, he had a further duty to protect his Clan and keep them from being destroyed by the fellow Clans, or winter.

As long as he had strength in his body and breath in his lungs, the Clan would survive.

Extra notes; none

[Dofferz!]

Greyears, on the contrary, was a little less keen to join in on the meeting called by the leader. Brown eyes flashed up at the rock, and he could guess what she was planning on speaking. Starclan, the elder would probably claw his eyes out of he had to listen to one more deputy ceremony after this one; whoever Owlstar picked needed to stay. It had simply started off with the leader while Rushstar had still been deputy, and than slam leadership on the femme and assign Spidersinner. Spiderstar and Owleyes, Owlstar and Lionbelly. Owlstar and... At the rate, sooner or later he himself would end up as deputy of this disintegrating clan!

The elder was not at all amused as she spread false hope along to the clan. By appointing a new deputy, surely she was merely choosing the cat in which she wanted to be killed next. That, or Owlstar herself would be next to go. Huffing, he drew his tail close. "I bet a moon's worth if mouse tails on it.." he muffled, laying his chin down on white paws, watching an ant scurry across his rock with a crumb before promptly squishing it underneath an extended claw.

The next choice of deputy fell on deft ears. Greyears rolled over onto his side and drifted off into sleep.

--
She pricked an ear, humming lightly under her breath as the tortoiseshell bundled up a few plants in which she had been practicing with, trotting out into the quarry clearing to hear. It had been a rather long and difficult time with Owlstar as an only leader, especially now that she was busy with a bundle of kits. Perhaps now was the right time for the leader to choose her trusted second in command.

Larkbeat chose her spot, a little ways away from the majority of the crowd for her own convenience. And from there, she listened. The tortoiseshell couldn't help but purr at the mention of a full nursery and frown at the prospect of facing another leaf-bare.

But that could be worried about later. For now, she was leaning forwards awaiting the announcement of who would be named. Which warrior was lucky. Who would take the place of- Wolfclaw. She pricked an ear, turning to face the huge warrior. She did not know him all too well, but was a good warrior. A huge giant to walk alongside his small leader and medic. 'A good choice.'

She would have to remember to congratulate him later.