Post by Broadwaykat on Feb 18, 2020 3:56:17 GMT
Shadow had never been an awkward sort, but the fact of the matter was he wasn't sure how, exactly, he was supposed to approach this situation. If anything these passing weeks had been filled with sadness and death; hardly any cat had wanted to do more than to venture forth for food and help. Others had gone missing, and others had died where they lay – young and old alike. Shadow had seen it all with a terrible sense of dread, that perhaps this was the end of their clan. That they had survived so much only to fade away in a terribly languid way, to die in their nests like sickly mice.
A few hours ago, he had added to their number.
And yet...here he stood, unsure of how to go on now but knowing that something had to be done; and that he was the cat to do it. He lept up onto the gathering stone, having ducked inside to find the den cold and filled with debris, as was so much of the camp. Already he felt his pelt burning, as some of his clanmates' eyes focused on him, undoubtedly wondering what their Medicine Cat was doing.
Frankly...he was wondering that himself.
“Cat's young and old...” He called out, his voice hoarse and rusty from misuse. “Those old enough and strong enough to gather for this ceremony.” The summoning call was met by curiosity, wariness, and...in some eyes, hope. It was these bright lights, amongst primarily the younger cats, that he focused on now.
“I have spoken with Starclan, and have been given my orders; which I hope to explain to you in due time. However, I think the most pressing matter at this moment is that there are warriors and apprentices both who are long overdue in getting what they so rightly deserve. While our clan has languished and fought against this harsh winter, we have forgotten what makes us strong; and it is the will of our ancestors that I rectify this immediately. Firstly, I ask that Goosepaw, Hummingpaw and Bouncepaw step forward.”
Looking over the young warriors, he realized how long they had been waiting. Some of these cats had been raised by Mistclan, for Starclan's sake. “Bouncepaw, your energy has always been infectious. You show us that no matter where you come from that eagerness should shine through. Long ago you should have been given the name your warrior companions can proudly call; Bouncestep.”
“Hummingpaw, you're spirit has always seemed an untamable one; if there is one thing you can be called upon, it is to represent your clan with an open kindness that should be enviable. It is for your giving spirit that I proudly name you Hummingheart; may you always go with your best paw forward and represent your clan with pride.”
“Lastly, Goosepaw has shown that a warrior need not be the strongest to be the best; they only need to put the needs of others before them. Were we still a tribe, he would make a fine prey-hunter; which would make his parents proud. For the skill he shows in the hunt, and the sweetness of his disposition, I name him Gooseberry."
“I wish at this moment that we would be having a ceremony for five kits, not for; and I make a promise now to you Smokenight that we will find the lost Fidgetkit; mark my words now. But for the time being, I call forth her siblings and nest-mates: Hiddenkit, Rumblekit, Shufflekit and Featherkit.”
“Featherkit, from this day forth until you are given your warrior name, you will be known as Featherpaw. Bolderblaze will be your mentor; may you both learn much from each other.”
“Shufflekit, from this day forth until you are given your warrior name, you will be known as Shufflepaw. Hawkspring has already shown that he can be a fine mentor, and therefore he will show you the ways of the warrior code.”
“Hiddenkit, from this day forth until you are given your warrior name, you will be known as Hiddenpaw. Your mentor will be Bouncestep – for while they are a new warrior themselves, they have long shown they have the exhuberance and determination ready to keep up with the task of training our future.”
“And lastly, I am proud to announce that Rumblekit has been selected by Starclan for a slightly different task. I now name them Rumblepaw, and before their clan and kin I will proudly proclaim that they will follow the pawsteps not of a warrior, but of a Medicine Cat. Starclan has seen that you will greatly serve your clan with a calm touch and a clear head. However, I must take this moment to make one more announcement. I am disappointed to say that I will not have the honor of being your mentor.”
At this, many cats broke out in confused muttering. Some wailed, others cried; those who were currently so sick they could barely leave their den let out the most pitiful of wails that struck as Shadow's heart that was painful to hear. He waited for the din to die down ever so slightly, gathering his nerve as he did so.
“I will not be mentoring you as Starclan has spoken to me about many things. They have seen our struggles over the past moon and heard our pleas for help. They have searched far and wide for Brittlebark, for Blackmoon...and they have remained hidden to them. For the first time in many moons, Rootclan was deemed leaderless and awash in the world.”
More cries of dismay, which Shadow paused once more to allow to simmer into silence once more. “We have hidden from the clans, once again floundered and tried to find out footing; at risk of falling away. The snow and rain and poor luck has threatened to take us away in ways that rats, that twolegs, had failed to do before. So many have fallen, sisters, brothers, mothers and fathers alike. Those who remain, I promise you now...we will be strong again.”
He straightened his shoulders ever so slightly. “Many moons ago, we gave up the ways of a tribe. No longer would our leader be a healer as well. We would follow the ideals of our former enemies, and become stronger. We would believe that Starclan would always light our paws; and their solution is this. From this day forward, until Rumblepaw is strong enough to stand as our Medicine Cat, we will once more have a healer who also stands as a leader. Starclan has spoken; and I...”
Here, his voice caught ever so slightly, unsure of how this was going to sound. He barely believed it in his own ears.
“I stand here no longer as Shadowfall, your Medicine Cat. But as Shadowstar...leader of Rootclan."
A few hours ago, he had added to their number.
And yet...here he stood, unsure of how to go on now but knowing that something had to be done; and that he was the cat to do it. He lept up onto the gathering stone, having ducked inside to find the den cold and filled with debris, as was so much of the camp. Already he felt his pelt burning, as some of his clanmates' eyes focused on him, undoubtedly wondering what their Medicine Cat was doing.
Frankly...he was wondering that himself.
“Cat's young and old...” He called out, his voice hoarse and rusty from misuse. “Those old enough and strong enough to gather for this ceremony.” The summoning call was met by curiosity, wariness, and...in some eyes, hope. It was these bright lights, amongst primarily the younger cats, that he focused on now.
“I have spoken with Starclan, and have been given my orders; which I hope to explain to you in due time. However, I think the most pressing matter at this moment is that there are warriors and apprentices both who are long overdue in getting what they so rightly deserve. While our clan has languished and fought against this harsh winter, we have forgotten what makes us strong; and it is the will of our ancestors that I rectify this immediately. Firstly, I ask that Goosepaw, Hummingpaw and Bouncepaw step forward.”
Looking over the young warriors, he realized how long they had been waiting. Some of these cats had been raised by Mistclan, for Starclan's sake. “Bouncepaw, your energy has always been infectious. You show us that no matter where you come from that eagerness should shine through. Long ago you should have been given the name your warrior companions can proudly call; Bouncestep.”
“Hummingpaw, you're spirit has always seemed an untamable one; if there is one thing you can be called upon, it is to represent your clan with an open kindness that should be enviable. It is for your giving spirit that I proudly name you Hummingheart; may you always go with your best paw forward and represent your clan with pride.”
“Lastly, Goosepaw has shown that a warrior need not be the strongest to be the best; they only need to put the needs of others before them. Were we still a tribe, he would make a fine prey-hunter; which would make his parents proud. For the skill he shows in the hunt, and the sweetness of his disposition, I name him Gooseberry."
“I wish at this moment that we would be having a ceremony for five kits, not for; and I make a promise now to you Smokenight that we will find the lost Fidgetkit; mark my words now. But for the time being, I call forth her siblings and nest-mates: Hiddenkit, Rumblekit, Shufflekit and Featherkit.”
“Featherkit, from this day forth until you are given your warrior name, you will be known as Featherpaw. Bolderblaze will be your mentor; may you both learn much from each other.”
“Shufflekit, from this day forth until you are given your warrior name, you will be known as Shufflepaw. Hawkspring has already shown that he can be a fine mentor, and therefore he will show you the ways of the warrior code.”
“Hiddenkit, from this day forth until you are given your warrior name, you will be known as Hiddenpaw. Your mentor will be Bouncestep – for while they are a new warrior themselves, they have long shown they have the exhuberance and determination ready to keep up with the task of training our future.”
“And lastly, I am proud to announce that Rumblekit has been selected by Starclan for a slightly different task. I now name them Rumblepaw, and before their clan and kin I will proudly proclaim that they will follow the pawsteps not of a warrior, but of a Medicine Cat. Starclan has seen that you will greatly serve your clan with a calm touch and a clear head. However, I must take this moment to make one more announcement. I am disappointed to say that I will not have the honor of being your mentor.”
At this, many cats broke out in confused muttering. Some wailed, others cried; those who were currently so sick they could barely leave their den let out the most pitiful of wails that struck as Shadow's heart that was painful to hear. He waited for the din to die down ever so slightly, gathering his nerve as he did so.
“I will not be mentoring you as Starclan has spoken to me about many things. They have seen our struggles over the past moon and heard our pleas for help. They have searched far and wide for Brittlebark, for Blackmoon...and they have remained hidden to them. For the first time in many moons, Rootclan was deemed leaderless and awash in the world.”
More cries of dismay, which Shadow paused once more to allow to simmer into silence once more. “We have hidden from the clans, once again floundered and tried to find out footing; at risk of falling away. The snow and rain and poor luck has threatened to take us away in ways that rats, that twolegs, had failed to do before. So many have fallen, sisters, brothers, mothers and fathers alike. Those who remain, I promise you now...we will be strong again.”
He straightened his shoulders ever so slightly. “Many moons ago, we gave up the ways of a tribe. No longer would our leader be a healer as well. We would follow the ideals of our former enemies, and become stronger. We would believe that Starclan would always light our paws; and their solution is this. From this day forward, until Rumblepaw is strong enough to stand as our Medicine Cat, we will once more have a healer who also stands as a leader. Starclan has spoken; and I...”
Here, his voice caught ever so slightly, unsure of how this was going to sound. He barely believed it in his own ears.
“I stand here no longer as Shadowfall, your Medicine Cat. But as Shadowstar...leader of Rootclan."
