The Vision (Clan Meeting)

[Deleted]

[atrb=border,0,true][bg=black] No injuries. No battles. No border skirmishes. No wars. Stormheart purred in his sleep after restocking the last of his herbs. With nothing else to do, he'd volunteered for a hunting patrol for the following morning. Now was the time to rest. His heart beat furiously as his breaths came as slow waves. Ears flicked soundlessly, driving off invisible flies. In his head, Stormheart was on some distant battlefield on a territory he'd never seen before. But he knew this place. He'd seen it a hundred times before and he prayed to StarClan that he'd see it a hundred more times. The land was rocky and barren of life. In the clearing before him, the grass grass grew up to his elbow. If he crouched down, he was invisible. On the distant boulder, a faceless shadow of a cat stood and yowled a threat across the clearing. Stormheart blinked in response and found himself standing on the top of another boulder, facing his unknown enemy. He sat down quietly, a smirk on his lips. The other cat hissed and flicked his tail and an army of equally faceless warriors crept forward through the underbrush into the treeless area, their fur bristled and ears flat back as they snarled across at the medicine cat. But Stormheart was no longer a medicine cat. No, here he was a leader and there were no wounds to treat. Not yet. He flicked his ear in a silent signal. His own warriors charged forward, not waiting for introductions. Their claws shined in the light of the moon. A cold breeze washed over the cats as they met in battle. Stormheart blinked, confused. Here, it was greenleaf. Yet, there in the sky, the white ice fell anyway. He followed the wind blown droplets down into his clearing. As they fell, his battle faded and was replaced by the ThunderClan camp. He was sitting on top of the rock above his den. The moon was creeping up into the highest point in the sky and the camp was covered with snow. The medicine cat fluffed his fur up against the wind. He squinted as it blew across the camp and his eyes narrowed as he searched for the cats he called his clanmates. No one was around. 'Shocking,' he told himself as he rolled his eyes inwardly, annoyed with his own idiocy, 'It's leafbare, it's nearly moonhigh, and there's a blizzard. Of course no one's gunna be walking around out here!' The tom hopped off the rock, growling as he moved through the snow. Best keep his muscles going or risk freezing to death. Worried about the cold affecting his clan, he ran over to the elders' den. He poked his head inside the hollow log and was surprised to find that the air in here was warm and pleasant, smelling strangely of newleaf. He looked at the cats before him. Like his dream before, they were faceless shadows. Though obviously old, they seemed extremely healthy. Their breathing was deep and steady and Stormheart was sure that he could hear faint, gentle purring. Confused, the gray cat shook his head and pulled himself back into the frozen wasteland that was the ThunderClan camp. He stared hard at it for a moment, noting that it had all the ware on it that came with leafbare. More so, with this blizzard that was reigning down upon them. As the frozen air chilled his bones, his worries next floated toward the nursery, and that was where his paws carried him. He stuck his head into the gap in the bramble walls, ready to rush to his den for catmint, feverfew, lavender, or tansy, but it wasn't needed. The shadowed queens and kits slept comfortably in the warm air of the den. No scent of greencough, whitecough, or any illnesses stained the sweet aroma of milk in this den. Again, Stormheart's mind was reeling as he ventured out of the den, back into the frozen darkness of the camp, lit up only by the light of a waning crescent moon. He shook his head again, bewildered. Usually the kits and the elders were the worst affected by leafbare, yet they slept soundly in their dens as if it were early greenleaf and the forest was overflowing with prey! What was going on? Curious and almost begging to find something wrong with these cats, he bursted into the apprentices' fern patch. The annoying furballs were resting peacefully like the rest of the camp! With two more places to check, Stormheart raced to the warriors' den. His ears brushed the branches of the bush, but the noise didn't bother these sleeping cats. Like the rest of the clan, they were faceless and unidentified, but their breathing told him that, like the others, there was absolutely nothing wrong with them. Dismayed and, truth be told, really bored with himself and the fact that he had nothing to treat, the young tom stalked through the camp toward the leader's den. He doubted the faceless leader of these faceless cats had anything wrong with him either, but as a medicine cat, he had to know by his own sight. He turned his head upward, wanting to search for answers in the stars, but his eyes stopped short and rested on Highrock. He stopped in his tracks. This was a sign from StarClan. It had to be. Nothing like this had ever happened before. Although the snow was slowing in every direction, there was a perfect white stripe along the front of the boulder, facing the clan. Frozen and shaking, Stormheart gazed at the vertical mark. His blood turned to ice as he finally raised his head to silverpelt. His paws would no longer move, but his ears perked, shaking off the snow that had collected there when he heard a voice. "There is a leader among them," it called, the sounds wavering and faultering over the wind, but never losing strength, "Find him and send him to us." He stood for a moment longer, the cold numbing his legs until they could no longer support himself on them. He collapsed and shut his eyes, knowing that the chill would take his life and he would not lift his eyelids again. As he imagined himself walking along the path to Silverpelt, his muscles began to grow feeling again. His fur was warming, though cool in the morning air. His eyes fluttered open and the medicine cat jumped up, fur bristling. It was morning. The young cat shot into the camp, pausing briefly to stretch in the newleaf mist. Although his paws itched to race along the territory in search of the cat on his mind, he forced himself to sit and watch. A lesser cat might have been confused by the dream, but to Stormheart it was as clear as day. He would almost boast that StarClan had been too obvious, but he had to admit that without the voice and the snow on the boulder, he would have had no idea what was going on. His best guess would have been that it was an omen of a horrible leafbare coming, but there was really nothing to worry about illness-wise, but that was laughable. No, Stormheart knew what the vision was telling him. The only trouble was that he had no idea where the cat was. Since the disappearance of Elkstar and the fact that ThunderClan's deputy was busy leading a different clan, Stormheart had called a clan meeting and advised the cats that until StarClan sent him a message or until a visit to the Moonstone could clear things up, it was best if they would simply listen to their senior warriors. Until then, if any clan asked a patrol, they were ordered to say that they would find out who the new deputy was at the next gathering. The method worked. Not as well as a leader and deputy pair, but it sufficed and, as far as he knew, none of the other clans knew about their weakness and there had been relative peace since WindClan arrived. Even ShadowClan seemed less interested in Snakerocks, which was a blessing to him and the tom didn't care what the apprentices said against that scrap of land. Stormheart twitched his shoulder fur in annoyance. That tom was out there somewhere and there were too many cats to ask about where they might have sent him. Finally, the night patrol wandered in. The medicine cat gazed at the bramble tunnel as the cats filed in. The patrol was too colorful. Not a black pelt among them! The tom growled in annoyance and shot off toward the warriors' den, then stopped. No, this cat wouldn't be sleeping. He liked hunting with his father and old apprentice in the morning. He'd be on his way out from... Stormheart turned his head and stopped when his eyes connected with the dark pelt of the tall warrior as he headed off toward the bramble tunnel. He was on his own, which was odd. Maybe Blacktail was snoozing. He wouldn't put it passed that lazy lump. "Coldstripe!" The black warrior halted in his tracks, surprised by the sudden call. Had it been from a senior warrior, he might not have fluffed up his tail, but the voice of the medicine cat startled him and, as far as he knew, he didn't need to be treated for anything. His head was up and his ears perked, eyes locking on to the gray tom. Smoothing out his tail, he approached by the younger tom's signal. "What is it, Stormheart? I was just about to go hun-" "Never mind that. Listen..." As the medicine cat began explaining, the warror's eyes widened in shock. He knew at once that what he was telling him were the details of a dream sent from StarClan, but what he couldn't figure out was why the gray cat was telling him all this. It wasn't until Stormheart practically spelled it out that Coldstripe finally grasped what he was talking about. "ME?!" the warrior asked, far too loudly. "Well, if you know another Cold. Stripe. Please point him out." "W-wh-what about a deputy?" he inquired, attempting to get his mind around the concept of leading a clan. He was sure his brain was going to fall out in agony if he thought about it any longer. "Didn't say anything. It was almost moonhigh if that helps at all. Really, I was fine with the fact that I couldn't feel my tail and there was a giant white mark on Highrock, so I didn't get what they were playing at by making it night. I know your pelt color." "Yeah, might mean something... Look, I'm deeply honored, not to mention surprised, scared, and nervous, but they're not going to believe me if I tell them. Maybe if I was a senior warrior..." "Hello? Am I a kit? I'll tell them. You focus on finding your deputy." Coldstripe folded his ears as the younger tom passed him on his way to the Highrock. He looked out toward the mingling cats as they received orders from their senior warriors and gathered for their patrols. He focused on his fellow black pelted companions, the color of night in their fur. His gaze fell upon Crowtail, but he shook his head. The small tom was on his way to the elders' den at his age. And Shadehawk had brown in his fur, however much they blended in. That left Singedpelt. Although he avoided her in the morning, he had to admit that she was one of the most levelheaded cats he knew. The sound of claws scrambling on rock surface made the warrior turn his head. He could see Stormheart's gray pelt against the gray of the Highrock, however much he tried to hide. He twitched his whiskers in amusement and started pacing towards the boulder as the young tom yowled. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!" Word Count: 2013 Audience: ThunderClan Comments: Sorry for the length. ^^;

[tenacious]

The summoning did not come from Elkstar; he may have been in the warriors den, facing the wall, but Crowtail knew Elkstar’s voice. And he knew the young medicine cat’s. So why, why, was Stormheart calling a Clan meeting? The small black warrior slowly got to his paws, arching his back in a stretch and giving his chest fur a few quick licks, before padding out of the warm den. Perhaps Elkstar was ill…though Crowtail hadn’t seen her since the Gathering; he had been meaning to ask her what had happened. The senior warrior had come down with a bad cough the day before. He hadn’t told Stormheart (Crowtail didn’t need some young know it all fussing over him) but he had still decided to rest.

Crowtail sat near the warrior’s den, wrapping his tail around his paws. If Stormheart had been a warrior, the tom would’ve challenged this meeting, but Stormheart was medicine cat- he held a great position in the Clan. He had some sort of authority, control, and Crowtail wasn’t foolish enough to attempt and challenge that. As he waited for more cats to gather, the senior warrior licked one paw and drew it over his face. ThunderClan had suffered quite a bit recently; the loss of their medicine cat and some of their territory (no good ShadowClan!). Perhaps this would prove to be a moral booster for the Clan? More bad news was the last thing they needed.

[{Otter}]

Foolish cats. Foolish times. Blacktail lay silently in the center of the warriors' den, moving about restlessly as he attempted to relax and sleep. He was too distracted to hunt or patrol--in this frame of mind, he'd likely attack a shadow and call it a RiverClanner if he let himself get out of camp. And so he had turned down Coldstripe's offer to go hunting (not that he liked hunting anyway, but he didn't often reject time to spend with his son), and was being a lazy lump in the warrior's den.

But how could one not be restless in these days? Scrawny little Vixenfang had just up and deserted their Clan. And for what reason? To rebuild a scrawny little Clan that hadn't been strong enough to stay in the first place. Why mess with the way things were? It was foolishness, and Blacktail figured things would soon go back to the way they were. Change never lasted long, and WindClan would surely fail and fall. But would Vixenfang come back to ThunderClan? If she tries, I'll make sure she knows she isn't welcome, he thought, flexing his shoulder muscles as he dug his claws into the mossy bedding. Not that he knew who would win in a fight between him and Vixenfang, though. They were complete opposites--one dependent on brute force, the other dependent on speed. Who would win? Neither, he figured. Many moons of experience told him that.

Even so, he'd try if she ever came back. Foolish cat. But, on top of that, now Elkstar had disappeared. Elkstar, their loyal leader for many moons! She was gone, Vixenfang was gone, and he and the other senior warriors were practically leading the Clan. Blacktail was not interested in becoming leader, and having to deal with all the young mousebrains in the camp was not his dream job. Organize patrols? No! He wanted to be in patrols!

It was in this state of mind, lying restlessly in the warrior's den, that he was when he heard Stormheart's call. It was not surprising to hear the young medicine cat speaking--Stormheart, after all, was the only official leader in the Clan for now, and the medicine cat had done a pretty good job at keeping the Clan together. He wouldn't have made a half-bad leader, the old warrior mused as he drew himself stiffly to his paws. After stretching briefly, the white-and-black tomcat slipped into the cold air.

To where did his eyes travel first? To the black-pelted form of his son, of course. Coldstripe. A soft purr rumbled from Blacktail's throat as he spotted his son, but it cut off abruptly at the stunned, shocked expression on his face. Wary of what might be happening, the old warrior trotted over to his son, pressing his shoulder into his side as if to lend him strength. "You look like you've eaten crowfood. What's wrong?" he mewed warily, tilting his head to one side as he looked his son up and down. Seasons had passed, but the fatherly worry never quite died down.

[l y r i c !]

A clan meeting? Singedpelt raised her head, ears twitching from where she lay in the side near the gorse tunnel. She had been waiting here for a cat to come with her on patrol but she must have dozed off, and now she was being awoken by a cat summoning them for a meeting. Elkstar's back? She thought, joyfully, then realized that the cat calling was not female. She lay on her side, blinking dully up at the high rock as she tried to pull herself out of her sleepy daze. She finally recognized Stormheart, the clan deputy. Was someone finally going to figure out what was going to happen next? She might have done so herself, but it didn't feel like with both Elkstar and Vixenfang, no, Vixenstar, gone. She didn't envy Vixenstar, having to betray her clan. But if it was the will of StarClan, and as Brackenheart and a few others had said, part of the warrior code, then she would not blame the she-cat for doing that.

But still, it was hard for them now to pull together. It would have been okay if Elkstar had not disappeared, but now they were without a leader and a deputy. Someone had to do something otherwise the clan would be in more turmoil than it already was. As worried as she was, she was almost certain that everything would turn out to be fine. She was also more than sure that her clan leader, Elkstar, was still alive. But the whereabouts of her respectable leader were unknown, and the clan couldn't wait forever for her to return. She doubted that she would. After losing her deputy and practically half the clan, Elkstar must feel like she had failed entirely at her job. Why would the she-cat stay if she felt as though everything she had worked for, every thing that she had committed her life to, had just fallen apart?

She could tell by the disgruntled murmurings of her clan mates, and the looks on their faces, that not all the other cats agreed with her. Unfortunately, there was nothing she could do to try and convince them otherwise. They probably had good enough opinions of their own to worry about without bothering with her own. Singedpelt finally got to her paws, stretching her spine and curling her tail high above her head. Once finished with the quick stretch, she padded over to the high rock, tail straight out behind her and blue eyes curious. She noticed Crowtail, standing in his usual spot next to the warrior's den. Whenever there was a clan meeting, the tom always seemed to hang out by that den. She didn't really know him too well, so she never asked.

She noticed Blacktail heading over to Coldstripe, who had a troubled look in his eyes. She reminded herself that Blacktail was Coldstripe's father, so it would be quite obvious why the tom would tail to his son. Now she looked up at the high rock, wondering why the young medicine cat was calling a clan meeting. Perhaps he had received a sign from StarClan about what to do next. She pricked her ears anxiously to hear what he had to say next.

[Deleted]

[atrb=border,0,true][bg=black] Stormheart growled as he waited for the cats to slowly get off their rumps and join the scraggly group forming at the base of the rock. Why was it taking so long for them to move? He looked critically at the form of Crowtail slinking out of the warriors' den only to sit in its shadow. He narrowed his eyes at the tom, noting the tired look in his eyes and the fact that he had skipped a few patrols to rest. He would be seeing that cat after this meeting. Turning his eyes away, he yowled out at the gathering group to pick up the pace. After all, this was an important matter. "You look like you've eaten crowfood. What's wrong?" "You'll see in a moment..." Coldstripe answered, a shiver running down his spine. He surpressed a whimper of worry and looked up at Stormheart as he stood on the Highrock. He stood up at the sound of his yowl and started to walk toward the base of Highrock. "Come on. You know how annoyed he can get." After the warrior and his father made it to the group, Stormheart decided it was best to get on with the show. They couldn't wait too long. Borders needed patrolling and the medicine cat could do with a bit of fresh-kill. "Cats of ThunderClan," he began, "You are all aware that Elkstar has not been seen since the last Gathering. We can no longer wait for her return. No deputy was chosen before she left, but StarClan has sent me a vision." He paused and locked eyes with every cat in the crowd, daring them to challenge what he said. He knew very well that he was the youngest medicine cat of all the clans. This fact, he knew, made it difficult for most cats to accept his title and what it meant. But he would not tollerate questions. He knew what he was doing. With confidence, he raised his head and announced what he had interpreted. "Coldstripe," he declared, "Will be the new leader of ThunderClan!" The black tom sitting beside Blacktail jumped at the announcement. It wasn't what the medicine cat had said, it was the tone of his voice. Stormheart's words leaked confidence, not to mention an open challenge to those who sat below the Highrock. He could feel the determination flowing from the gray tom as if it was a gale force wind. Yet another testament of his name. Through the mutterings and voices of the cats in the crowd, Coldstripe jumped onto the Highrock beside Stormheart and faced the group below. He waited patiently for a break in the conversations and raised his head, trying not to show his nervousness. "Cats of ThunderClan," he started, echoing Stormheart's opening words, "I am deeply humbled to be chosen by StarClan. I will serve you well and do my best to prove myself worthy of such an honor." Word Count: 489 Audience: ThunderClan Comments: None

[tenacious]

The black ThunderClan warrior noticed Stormheart eyeing him and he narrowed his eyes slightly; pesky little medicine cat…of course, he was glad to have a competent medicine cat. He didn’t enjoy the bubbly ones that ran around, freaking out whenever a big wound came in. Crowtail flicked an ear at Stormheart’s yowl; impatience. Of course, most cats were impatient lately.

The tom began to pay strict attention as soon as the medicine cat began to speak, frowning lightly. He had chosen to ignore Elkstar’s disappearance. It was better then thinking that she had left and he’d be a mouse before he would admit that Elkstar had abandoned her Clan. No leader would do such a thing, right? Crowtail closed his eyes briefly, but they snapped open as soon as Stormheart mentioned a vision. He knew he was an unlikely choice for deputy- he was an older cat, after all, and too crotchety most of the time. But he was interested in knowing the new deputy…wait, no, leader. Oh, Stormheart better have interpreted this right!

“Coldstripe will be the new leader of ThunderClan!”

The confidence in Stormheart’s voice challenged any cat to contradict his words, to find fault in them. Determination. Crowtail frowned lightly, but he remained silent. Coldstripe was a good enough choice; he looked over at Blacktail, the tom’s father, before looking back at Coldstripe as he began to speak.

Well, it would take some getting used to, having a new leader and a new deputy at once. But Coldstripe wasn’t a dumb cat- he would pick a good deputy, Crowtail was certain of that.

[{Otter}]

Perhaps by fatherly intuition, Blacktail knew it was coming before Stormheart spoke it. Coldstripe's nervousness, combined with the excited, unexplainable eagerness fluttering about in Blacktail's own chest, gave it all away. His son...his son would take Elkstar's place!

When Stormheart spoke it, Blacktail's tail lashed happily. He sprang to his paws and pressed his forehead against his son's shoulder, purring loudly enough for the entire Clan to hear. His son, leader! No cat deserved it more. No cat in ThunderClan deserved the position of leader more than Coldstripe. Coldstar. Great StarClan, good would come of Elkstar's desertion yet!

Coldstripe hopped up onto the highrock, and Blacktail's eyes glowed with pride as his son spoke. Serious, confident, proud. Yes, yes, Coldstripe had been made for this.

Even so, it would take some getting used to, having to look up at his son instead of stand beside him at Clan meetings. But Blacktail was happy to give up the pleasure of sitting next to his son, in order to gain the pleasure of gazing up at the black-pelted tomcat who had become the main center of Blacktail's life.

"What you think about that, Crowtail?" the old warrior asked amiably when he caught sight of Crowtail standing not far away. The warrior looked neither excited nor angered, which was not surprising. It wasn't like Crowtail to show full approval of any cat until that cat had proven himself. But Coldstripe would prove himself soon. Blacktail was sure of it.

((Succkssss))

[tenacious]

“What do you think about that, Crowtail?”

One would be dumber then a mouse not to notice how joyful Blacktail was and Crowtail grinned lightly, “A good choice for the next leader of ThunderClan,” the black warrior responded. He could not help but wonder, though, what cat Coldstripe would appoint as deputy now; the main point of concern, actually, would be getting Coldstripe his nine lives. ThunderClan had gone without a proper leader for long enough- they needed a cat with StarClan’s direct approval. (No point in having warriors from the other Clans questioning whether or not Stormheart had misinterpreted the sign or, worse, made it up.)

Crowtail eyed the other warriors sitting around them, thinking about the new deputy once more; at least no more cats here would betray ThunderClan. To go and join some random Clan a cat just felt like rebuilding! WindClan…bah! Oh, how he would’ve loved to have been approached by some mouse-brained cat, thinking because he was small, too, that he’d like to join. He would’ve ratted them out right then and there- never mind looking a bit like a kit. The Warrior Code was not made to be broken.

The warrior blinked as soon as he realized he was getting side tracked; honestly, it was not hard to go on a mental rant these days.

[Sparrow]

[atrb=border,0,true][bg=black] "Cats of ThunderClan you are all aware that Elkstar has not been seen since the last Gathering. We can no longer wait for her return. No deputy was chosen before she left, but StarClan has sent me a vision. Coldstripe will be the new leader of ThunderClan!" The red tom looked up, quite unsurprised at this turn of events, and smiled innocently up at the young medicine cat. Silly creature not to have seen this coming -a fool could have predicted it. Oh well, not everyone was intelligent enough to see the obvious, and the world took all kinds, la-di-da-di-da. He could not, however, supress his laughter as Stormheart glared about, challenging those below to speak against his words. Foolish cat, no one was going to challenge the medicine cat, even if he was young, and especially not if the past leader had just ran off with her tail between her cowardly little legs. And when the new leader was to be among one of the best-loved cats in the Clan? Silly Stormheart, yes indeed. Turning to the cat sitting closest to him, a small tortoiseshell she-cat, the red tom purred, his voice intentionally quite loud, and though he spoke to the apprentice, it was quite clear that he was addressing the entire Clan. "'e seems to think that ThunderClan's a bunch of mousebrained fools. Who wouldn't support Coldstripe as leader? A good cat and a good warrior both in one seems to be far too good an opportunity to pass by. Any cat who says otherwise... well, I suppose we can't all be destined to be amongst the best an' the brightest." The little she-cat, Halfpaw, looked at him with stark astonishment, her amber eyes wide as she looked first at him, then up at the medicine cat, then back at him. Licking her lips nervously, she managed to barely tremor out her response in a horrified squeak. "I... I suppose so... If you say so, Redbird..." word count: 328 audience: ThunderClan comments: Redbird is totally addressing Stormheart in particular. Just an FYI

[Deleted]

[atrb=border,0,true][bg=black] Stormheart was nearly amazed that there were no yowls of criticism rising from the crowd. All he could hear was an agreeable murmuring in the assembled group. “A good choice for the next leader of ThunderClan," he could hear Crowtail saying. It was a good response. He could tell that Coldstripe was a popular choice. Or perhaps his yowling had frozen all negative comments in the throats of the cats who were about to oppose. "'e seems to think that ThunderClan's a bunch of mousebrained fools. Who wouldn't support Coldstripe as leader? A good cat and a good warrior both in one seems to be far too good an opportunity to pass by. Any cat who says otherwise... well, I suppose we can't all be destined to be amongst the best an' the brightest." The Medicine cat twisted his head in the direction of the cat who dared speak the truth about what he thought about the cats he was destined to serve. Yes. He did think ThunderClan had a bunch of fools in it. Starting with Redbird! "Silence that tongue, Redbird!" he growled loudly, "Or the next time I slip you a few poppy seeds, you'll wake to find it missing." Coldstripe winced at the threat. Redbird had been his apprentice. Most of ThunderClan was his play toy. It was obvious to the new leader that he should have curbed the red tom's tongue back when he was kit. He flattened his ears when Stormheart rounded on him, staring him in the face with a cold glare. He narrowed his eyes and forced himself not to back away, thinking he might be reprimanded for the young warrior's words. "Have you chosen?" the Medicine cat whispered, "A leader isn't the only thing we've waited for." To the crowd, Stormheart yowled, "We need a deputy to be in charge while Coldstripe and I make for the moonstone. Today." "So soon?" Coldstripe asked quietly, bewildered. "Yes!" the younger tom hissed back in a low tone, "I told you, we can't wait!" Coldstripe straightened up and took a step forward, scanning the crowd to make sure the cat he had chosen was present. He spotted her quickly and addressed the gathered cats. "I say these words before StarClan, that the spirits of our ancestors may hear and approve of my choice. ThunderClan's new deputy will be Singedpelt." Stormheart bowed his head respectfully and purred in agreement as he looked down at the dark she-cat. "Good choice," he rumbled quietly. Word Count: 416 Audience: ThunderClan Comments: None