Another Ceremony

[Hawkstar]

Hawkstar padded in through the camp entrance with the evening patrol, flicking her tail at them to indicate where she was headed. "Ceremony time," she meowed, "We're all back." She crossed the clearing quickly and leapt atop the rock, ready to get the ceremony over with. Hawkstar was tired of thinking about deputies...how many she'd had, and how they'd each gone a different way, to the elders' den, back to the warriors, or to Starclan.

It wasn't supposed to happen like that. Hawkstar sent up a quick prayer to Starclan, then called, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting!"

[anjelica13]

Lillypaw entered the camp with a mouth full of prey. Seeing Hawkstar call for a meeting her green eyes studied the leader, her leader seemed the have allot on her mind. Turning away she dropped her prey on the pile which was getting quite large after the flood. Looking around the camp Lillypaw found a soft spot in the camp in which she could rest her paws after a morning of hunting.

Flexing her shoulder as she stretched before sitting down to listen to her leader. Lillypaw felt a little worried Lightstrema hadn't been seen in a while and her mate Owlclaw was either training with her or hunting. Feeling tired and drained Lilypaw waited for the other cats to gather.

[Olan]

Fawnmoon had been in the medicine den, complaining about a thorn in her paw-pad, when she heard Hawkstar's call. Deputy! she thought excitedly. She had figured that since Lightstream hadn't been seen in some time, Hawkstar would choose a new deputy. She knew it wouldn't be her, for she had just become a warrior. She looked around anxiously for her dear friend, Forestwind. Maybe she'll be deputy! the young cat thought with a hint of jealousy.

Forestwind had been patrolling borders for a while. As she neared camp, she had heard Hawkstar's call. Looking as beautiful as ever, she found a place to sit next to Fawnmoon and listened intently to Hawkstar's next words. She wrapped her tawny tail around her paws and looked for her mate, Jetmoon. Turning to Fawnmoon, she spoke, "Why are you so excited?"

"Deputy Ceremony!" meowed Fawnmoon.

[anjelica13]

Seeing Fawnmoon,Lillypaw rose to her paws. Can I sit with you? She asked a little puzled. Ever since Fawnmoon was made a warrior Lillypaw hadn't got the chance to talk with her. The silver appertince looked at Fawnmoon hoping for a yes. Lillypaw hated to be alone she spet most of her lfe before the clan alone and hated every mintue of it. Flicking her silver tail in the air the appertince looked at Fawnmoon.

[Olan]

Fawnmoon heard Lillypaw's question and turned to the apprentice. "Of course!" she exclaimed, and moved over a bit so Lillypaw could sit next to her. How great it is, she thought, that you can have such good friends. She looked warmly at Forestwind, and then Lillypaw. Flicking her ears, she turned her wandering attention back to Hawkstar. She couldn't help feeling a bit jealous for whoever became deputy.

[Owl]

Owlclaw padded into camp, the senior Warrior saw Hawkstar at the Rock, he nodded to the sentry as he walked in. It was a Ceremony but Owlclaw wondered what it was. An ache erupted inside of him as he remembered Lightstream, his mate, the former ForestClan Deputy. Maybe this was what the ceremony would be about. He bounded over to the Rock and sat down near Lillypaw

[anjelica13]

Lillpaw sat near Fawnmon when she saw her mentor Owlclaw. Hello She mowed to her mentor. Looking at Hawkstar again she begun to worry. Was Hawkstar picking a new deputy? Pushing the thought out of her head Lillypaw looked at her paws.

[Olan]

Fawnmoon sensed her friends sudden sadness. "What's Wrong?" she asked Lillypaw, hoping for an answer. She looked down at her own paws, too, and began to get quieter. The, she tried to be more cheerful. "I wonder who the deputy will be. Who do you think it is?" she hoped to lift the somber mood. Just a little bit. She was sure that she wasn't convincing, though.

Forestwind took a deep breath. She was nervous. As nervous as a mouse when it is being stalked by a predator. So she was taking deep breaths, to calm her nerves. Ir wasn't really working, but it was worth a try. Her tail twitched a few times, and Forestwind knew that she must be looking like a complete mouse-brain in front of the others. "Fox dung." she muttered the curse to herself.

[anjelica13]

Lillypaw looked at Fawnmoon with large eyes. It's just that Lightstream brought me into ForestClan but she is gone. Lillypaw said fighitng back the tear that welled in her eyes. Flicking then away her green eyes looked at Fawnmoon. I just hope the new deputy is nice and helpful like Lightstrema was. She mowed thinking about Lightstream.

[| .s. u. s .hi. s .hi. r. o. |]

Batkin yawned, showing his teeth. He blinked his amber eyes, taking in the sunlight. Just then, he heard Hawkstar calling the clan. Getting up lazily, he padded over to where Lillypaw. Forestwind, and Fawnmoon sat. He saw sadness in Lillypaw's eyes, and flicked his tail gently over her ear.

He didn't want to say anything, lest the wrong words popped out of his mouth. Instead, he turned his attention to Hawkstar. I wonder who the new deputy will be? Batkin wondered. Since Lightstream was gone, a new deputy had to be chosen. It can't possible be me, He thought jokingly. I'm only a new warrior!

His wide eyes gazed out over all the cats assembled, wondering which of Forestclan's warriors will be the one.

[anjelica13]

Lillypaw looked up at Batkin tunring away for a moment to look at Hawkstar. I think this might also be my warrior cermony She half mowed to herself. Flicking her tail around her body she looked at Hawkstar. I hope it is my warrior cermony She said to herself.

[♫ [.nighty.]]

A cream pelt slipped into camp, and Dreampaw nervously, and silently, dropped two mice into the fresh kill pile. Her gaze was low, since her clan was without a deputy... stopping, Dreampaw noticed Hawkstar had just called the Clan! Her eyes brightened. Who will it be? Jetmoon? Forestwind? Bloodtail? Robinfeather? ... Batkin? Dreampaw's eyes danced happily. Her creamy pelt shone brightly as the first stars washed over it.
"About time." Dreampaw murmured, half to herself. Her feathery fur began shaking slightly. The young Apprentice knoew wit wasn't her, to begin with.

[Skye *Sukai-chan*]

Feathermoon had been in her den, about to fall alseep after tending to a warrior with a torn in her paw. She was ready to drop when she heard the summons for a Clan meeting. After a moment while she wondered how her luck could possibly be this bad, Feathermoon sighed and staggered to her feet. She washed her face, trying to wake herself up a bit before going out. Thinking that she might as well get this over with as soon as posible, she padded out of her den and into the crowd that was assembling for the ceremony.

[Olan]

Fawnmoon tried to comfort her friend. "It was... Lightstreams time. Starclan had chosen her to join them." She hoped her words were encouraging. She wasn't to good at cheering others up, unless she did something really embarrassing. Which she preferred not to most of the time. Sighing, she looked behind her to see if any other warriors and apprentices were going to join the group.

Forestwind flicked her tail impatiently. She knew that is was not polite to do this, but she couldn't help it. She was just too excited and too nervous. She looked at Fawnmoon and put her tail on her friends back. She could tell that Fawnmoon was feeling quite awkward. She licked her own paws and tried to get all the dirt off her severely cracked paws. Maybe, after the ceremony, I will get herbs from Feathermoon for my paws. Yes, that is what I'll do, she thought.

[Hawkstar]

Hawkstar straightened and waited for the cats to notice that she was ready to speak. It didn't take long...it seemed that for the most part they were all very interested in the purpose of the ceremony. "As many of you may have already guessed, this ceremony is to appoint our new deputy. Lightstream's whereabouts are unknown, and though we have searched for her hard and long over the past several moons, there has been no sign."

Hawkstar lowered her head for a moment, then slowly raised it again. "Although we all hope for her safety and swift return to us, the clan has been without a deputy for too long, and we must continue to protect and provide for our friends and family, and especially for the newest members of Forestclan, the youngest members who are even now soon to join us." Hawkstar turned her gaze toward the nursery for a moment, trying to steer herself and the rest of the clan toward more positive thoughts.

"And so," she meowed, "Though we do not know if Lightstream is still within the forest or has gone to join our ancestors, I call upon them to look down upon this camp. I say these words below Silverpelt, so that our warrior ancestors may hear and approve of my choice. It is my sincere hope that Lightstream, wherever she may be, will do the same. Forestwind will be the new deputy of Forestclan."