Tragic News and Other Things {Clan Meeting}

Milkfur knew she could not keep silent anymore.

"I know you are all wondering why you were called here and I have some news from the Gathering. While there Silverfur called Lynxstar out for being a fraud."

She held up her tail, "Before you say anything I want you to listen. Soon after, a rain of fire came down from silverpelt and killed Lynxstar where he stood, showing that Silverfur had been correct."

The she-cat saw cats muttering with confusion and fright. What was going to happen to their Clan now? Obviously Frostclaw had died too, or else left to get away from the memories. Who would lead them now?

"I know you are all wondering who will be the new leader. Something that Silverfur said surprised even me."

Milkfur's breath was shaky as she said the next bit. "Silverfur has chosen me to be your new leader."

Green eyes met green eyes as Milkfur watched her brother's eyes widen in shock. There she had said it. She let these words sink in. Would RiverClan even accept her? She had never been deputy, but then again, neither had Lynxchaser. Would StarClan honor this? She had mentored apprentices in the past and her eyes landed on her current apprentice, Nettelpaw. The she-cat's only problem was that the Clan might not accept this and fight amongst themselves. This was not something that Milkfur could accept.

The she-cat waited to see the reactions of her Clanmates. She already knew her brother's reaction as well as her kits and former mate and apprentices. Shock and pride had been in all of their faces. But what about the rest of the Clan that had not been at the Gathering?

Cloudmask

A strong, white furred tom was seated near the edge of the cluster of RiverClanners who had gathered for the announcement. Shock, startlement, and worry showed across most faces, mixed with pride in some and doubt in others. Cloudmask himself feigned composure, even as his claws dug into the ground. Even though RiverClan was not the place of  his birth, the warrior had come to love the clan as much as he had loved his family.

In quiet, Cloudmask doubted his belief in StarClan. He believed in the Warrior Code, and he served his clan to the best of his ability, but the intelligent tom couldn't for the life of him determine what he believed about cats who had lost their life on the ground. Did they travel up into the stars, or did they really just lose the spirit inside which brought them to life? Still, Cloudmask had nothing against the religion, nor did he plan to pour out all of his theories to cats who didn't need to, and wouldn't appreciate, hearing.

So as the cats around him worried about what this meant for the clan, so did he, but without nearly so much concern over the meaning of lynxstar's strange, alarming death. His steady, green gaze searched the faces of his clanmates again, wondering if there was a way he could help beyond simply resuming his warrior duties. Though he had only been in RiverClan for a relatively brief time, since shortly before becoming a warrior, it seemed that the clan had had several issues with leadership.

As Wolfpaw posed his question, Cloudmask couldn't help but wonder the same. It was strange for the deputy to have failed to come home and assume leadership. Another thought crossed the warrior's mind; would cats be suspicious that Milkstar was another falsely appointed cat? He was unhappily undecided about his opinions; first, he would wait to see how things played out. Besides, as much as he cared for the clan, it wasn't necessarily his duty to deduct the truth in a leader's appointment.

The black and white she-cat had been sleeping rather peacefully, up until the cats who went to the gathering returned. Which was when the meeting was called, shortly after. It caused her roll over and groan before she took to stretch her limbs with an irritated huff, because why in Starclan's name would Lynxstar be calling a meeting this early? Yet to the she-cat's surprise, it was Milkfur up on the meeting rock which she didn't quite understand but say down to listen anyways. Maybe she'd learn something from this.



Taking to grooming her pelt, Magpiewing listened to the white furred she-cat as well as some other talk with the cats around but tried not to really focus on them much. Considering they were not up on that rock and most likely had nothing important to say compared to those cats.



But what shocked her was Lynxstar's death, which came at her with the feeling of surprise than to bristling anger. Lynxstar defied Starclan somehow? Somehow Starclan did not approve? Then it ought to serve him right! Growling in discontent, she swiped a paw over her ear and proceeded along with her grooming session. Maybe she could try hunting later to relieve herself of this anger she had towards the now former leader.

Milkfur nodded as Ravenpaw spoke. "It is as Ravenpaw has said. I do not know where Frostclaw is or if she is even still alive. If she is alive she is an enemy of the Clan and will be treated as such."

Milkfur pondered what to think next when suddenly Ravenpaw went into attack mode. She saw Treestorm jump out of the way in confusion. Then Milkfur's green eyes landed on what Ravenpaw had attacked so fiercely and her eyes burned. Jumping down from the rock she joined Ravenpaw and pushed here off of Ruslan.

"Ravenpaw is this how you treat a guest?"

Turning to the Clan, "I know some of you have probably wondered why there is a strange cat sitting amongst us. This is Ruslan, a cat who will be staying the night with us."

She held up her tail, "I know some of you might think this is not the RiverClan way, but I am going to start off my leadership differently. I don't want RiverClan to be known as cold. Strict, yes, but never cold. We are not ShadowClan cats after all."

Raising her voice so it was strong and clear, "From this moment on any cat who is in need of a place to stay or in need of medical attention will be taken in. Any cats deemed worthy of being a warrior will be offered the chance to train with the rest of our apprentices. I do not want to hear anything bad about this. This is my choice and I want RiverClan to be looked upon in good light for any cats who need help."

She looked around at her warriors. "This includes sick cats, hopefully nothing serious, who wander on our lands. And nursing or expecting Queens will ALWAYS be accepted. I do NOT want to see an injured, sick, or expecting/nursing cat harmed."

She watched as her brother stepped forward and side with her. She shook her head.

"Do not side with me because you are my brother. Side with me as a warrior to his leader. I play no favorites here. You all have equal importance to this Clan."

She let her gaze fall on Ravenpaw, "ALL of you."

Turning to Ruslan she asked him if he was alright, flicking her tail to Ravenpaw to join them. Muttering she said, "Ravenpaw I want you to show Ruslan where he can stay and where dirtplace is. In the morning I will put him on one patrol to show him what it's like to be a part of a Clan and get a feel for it."

Something about the tom just seemed... right. He was strong no doubt. He might even like the idea of staying, but Milkfur wanted to show him what Clan life was like before he left or decided to stay. The Clan might not like it that she had let him in, but it had been her choice and she didn't want the Clan to fight right now. Turning to the rest of the Clan she asked them, "Does any cat have any questions? I want to try and be as good a leader as possible."

Then she turned to Wolfpaw. "If it turns out I am NOT the leader that StarClan wants them to be, then I will stay as leader until the right cat is chosen. This Clan deserves a leader, even if I am not that one."

She walked over to the apprentice and laid a gentle paw on him. "You are right to question. Everything has been so confusing lately, that not even I know what is truth anymore, but I promise you this. If I am not the right leader and the right one is chosen, I will step down without fuss. Does this suit you young Wolfpaw?"