In the Eye of the Storm [ ShadowClan Meeting ]

OOC: A few pointers, before I begin:

First, I do not believe it was ever determined what exactly became of Shortstar. For our purposes, Theivingstreak has proclaimed him dead for her own benefit, though even she is not sure of his whereabouts. I will change this on request if Wish would prefer that he were injured, missing, or had betrayed his Clan in some way, whichever would be the most appropriate reason for his stepping down.

Second, I'm not exactly sure what ShadowClan leaders den looks like at the lake home -- whether it is in a large pine trunk or beneath a pile of rocks is beyond me. I also do not know what ShadowClan uses as a meeting place -- it's been ages since I've read the books, and I've yet to start on The Power of Three. Again, for our purposes, the Clan will meet beneath the branches of a tall pine tree. Feel free to correct me, and I will make the necessary changes to my post.

Third, as I mentioned in my announcement, this meeting will be held in the rain. Cue grumbles, growls, and complaints from warriors and apprentices alike. But seeing as this Clan has seen so much worse, Thievingstreak will not tolerate any whining. (She wouldn't condone such behavior anyway, rain or not -- it's just the way she is, so live with it. =P)

Fourth... I would like to role play Thievingstreak's journey to the Moonpool at some point in time. ICly, she will be Thievingstar for the oncoming plot, but I do want to go back when I have the time and perform her Nine Lives ceremony properly. Rain, please contact me to discuss this, as Thievingstreak will need to take Crystalmoon with her for the trek.

That should be everything. Moving on.

Little child, be not afraid
The rain pounds harsh against the glass
Like an unwanted stranger
There is no danger
I am here tonight

Little child
Be not afraid
Though thunder explodes
And lightning flash
Illuminates your tear-stained face
I am here tonight

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The scent of Shortstar lingered ominously in the cramped space, and though the odor was stale, its enduring presence still conjured bizarre nightmares in the deputy's mind.

A lone figure perched on a low branch followed her every movement through the underbrush. Try as she may to pinpoint it, Thievingstreak could not put her paw on its exact location at any given time -- it danced from one tree limb to the next, resting only when she blinked from exhaustion. A living shadow, with no eyes, but capable of seeing and knowing all. How? How could it not be blind? The deputy sprinted after it as it darted from one pine to the next. Suddenly, she froze, for the moon had emerged from behind the saturated clouds, and revealed the shadow for what it truly was -- a gray cat with glaring black eyes...

A barrage of thunder reverberated off the walls of the den. The she-cat awoke with a squeal and bolted to her feet, her sides heaving and her fur fluffed. Another resounding rumble seemed to confirm her fears as she began to frantically lick her petrified pelt flat -- she was unwelcome here.

It was some time before her ebony coat had resumed its sleek appearance, but the deputy's eyes remained alert and open. The thunder and lightning seemed to abate as she waited, but the rain continued, streaming down from the sky in great torrents. Silverstar had chosen the location for this den well -- as the rocks were positioned on a slight incline, the water merely flowed down its slopes, allowing the inner chamber to remain (quite literally) high and dry.

After some time, Thievingstreak settled down again, unable to keep her eyes open any longer. For two moons, she had been plagued with such dreams and, in waking, she had been driven to the brink of insanity as whispers of unknown cats called to her from a distant realm not her own. Was it StarClan? Or warriors imprisoned in a world where Silverpelt never shone?

She did not sleep long before a third crack of lightning flashed at the mouth of her shelter, followed only a moment later by an ear-splitting thunderclap. Howling in rage, Thievingstreak scrambled upright and leaped to the entrance, shrieking at the storm, "I have every right to sleep in this den tonight, Shortstar!"

Silence followed. Shaking uncontrollably from the numbing cold and wet, the deputy shut her eyes, and allowed the rain to pepper her head with droplets. There was no use hiding anymore.

Tell them. Tell them the truth. Tell them everything...

Without another thought, Thievingstreak slipped out of the small cave and padded past the warriors' and apprentices' dens, yowling her announcement above the gale, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Tall Pine for a Clan meeting!"

And someday you'll know
That nature is so
This same rain that draws you near me
Falls on rivers and land
And forests and sand
Makes the beautiful world that you see
In the morning

"Lullaby for a Stormy Night"
Vienna Teng

/If you have time could you make Marshpaw a warrior?/

Marshpaw groaned as the leader called a meeting. He sat up in his nest and let out a yawn. He padded out of the den and into the clearing. Oh yay, rain. He was soaked to the bone almost instantly. e found a limb of a tree to keep him somewhat dryer.

/His warrior name will be Marshfoot./

OOC: Yes, I will. =3

If there are any other ShadowClan apprentices who wish to be made warriors, or kits who wish to be made apprentices, let me know, and I'll take care of all of them in this meeting. Don't forget about mentors -- I may need their names, too.

( Here are a few you might need to do: Nightkit needs an apprentice ceremony, his mentor is Adderfang. But I'm not sure for Skykit, because she also needs an apprentice ceremony, but no mentor has been mentioned yet. So if anyone wants to be a mentor for her please say so.

Duskkit will also be needing an apprentice ceremony, but again I'm not sure because it looks as if no one plays her now. But I do know her mentor is Hawkstreak. I think I'm going to have to make an adopting board for that...Or talk to Wish about it >_< )

<sup>Hawkstreak groaned as he dragged himself out into the clearing. Rain was pelting down on his fur, making Hawkstreak feel even more uncomfortable. Once again, he had been awakened from his long awaited nap, and he was still tired out of his mind.

Stumbling toward the crowd of gathering cats, he stopped himself from tipping over a few times. And when he finally made it, he plopped himself down on the damp grould, this time falling over.

Now more awake after the incident, he quickly pulled himself up, nervously licking the dirt off his already wet pelt. Crystalmoon sighed, seeing the whole thing. Sitting beside him she meowed, "What's wrong? Do you need any herbs?"

Hawkstreak grunted, "I'm only tired, Crystalmoon..."
"Then after this meeting go straight to the warriors den and get some rest. Its bad for you to be this tired out." Crystalmoon commanded, almost inturrupting Hawkstreak in his reply. Hawkstreak nodded, too tired to speak, nevertheless argue.

That's what I've been trying to do all along, mouse-brained...</sup>

ooc:I believe Shadowclan's Meeting place is a high branch within a tree. I forgot what it's called though, all I can remember from Secrets of The Clans is a vague picture

Blazingpaw seemed to explode from the apprentice's den, his fur bristled in alarm, perhaps Thievingstreak wanted revenge on his soul for being a bad apprentice. So concluding this thought she would then tell the whole clan about his horrid doings. Great now everyone will hate me even more.

Narrowing his amber gaze at the she-cat as she sat perched under the lengthy pine, scanning the area he wondered if Shortstar allowed his mentor, his deputy, his enemy to do this. But instead he calmed him nerves and sat down with an angry snort, he would have to wait and see what thise she-cat was up to.

ooc:I'll bring my others in later. Also Mothpaw needs a warrior ceremony. She was from the first batch of kits born on BTH xD And there's some cats who were born after her, who have been warriors for awhile x3 Her name shall be Mothstorm. <3

<sup>A dark figure padded out of the warriors den into the already damp clearing. The black tom sighed heavily as the rain poured down onto his sleek black pelt that camouflaged him in the almost pitch black clearing. His pale yellow-green eyes glowed in the darkness as he looked up at the Shadowclan’s deputy Theivingstreak. Her black pelt also hid her quiet well on top of the branch that let her see the whole clearing.

The tom stayed close to the warriors den in the clearing. His eyes half closed at he sat still waiting for the deputy to begin her meeting.</sup>

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Mossfrost slumped out of her nest, yawning. Exiting the warriors den she slipped through the crowd, her slender body weaving her way in between cats. Sitting down in the front where she was slightly sheltered from the falling rain by the branched above, she looked up at the Shadowclan deputy, waiting for her to speak.

OOC: I have my work set out for me, in that case. xD

Apprentices --> Warriors
Marshpaw: Marshfoot (Mentor - Silverwing)
Mothpaw: Mothstorm (Mentor - Cougarface)

Kits --> Apprentices
Nightkit: Nightpaw (Mentor - Adderfang)
Skykit: Skypaw (Mentor - Mossfrost)
Duskkit: Duskpaw (Mentor - Hawkstreak)

If I missed anyone, let me know. We'll need to have these mentors sorted out soon.

I'll be tackling apprentices and warriors in my next post. Gotta get this leader/deputy matter out of the way first. I don't believe there are any special gestures exchanged for a deputy's ceremony (as far as I know -- I checked Lionheart's initiation and didn't find anything useful), but again, feel free to correct me. =P

I will praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

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Such loyalty, Thievingstreak thought with relief as her Clanmates heeded her call. Doubt had been gnawing at her insides for moons since Shortstar's disappearance, as though the beaks and fangs of every bird and rodent she'd consumed had come alive in her churning belly. There was a different feeling within her now -- not the twisting, wrenching pains of guilt, but a fluttering, queasy tension. Now was not the time for butterflies.

Sweeping her insecurities aside, the deputy confidently balanced herself on the tree limb and threw back her shoulders as the rain cascaded in streaming rivulets down her glossy coat. "Warriors and apprentices of ShadowClan," she announced, holding her head high despite of the rain, "I come before you now with grave news.

"For two moons, I have waited for our beloved leader's return. For two moons, I have patiently guarded his post, as a deputy should. And for two moons, I have been troubled by horrendous dreams that have foretold what StarClan has confirmed to me tonight -- Shortstar is dead.

Here she paused to lower her head in mournful respect, and as she did so, the rain seemed to intensify around her, while the merciless wind whipped the branches of the pine into a tumultuous frenzy. In the chaos, the she-cat nearly lost her footing, but was saved by her dagger-sharp claws as they clung needle-like to the bark.

"I do not know the manner of his passing, nor the location of his body, but I do know that his soul will not rest until the fate of his Clan is known to him. I can feel him standing among us now as he awaits my decision. Therefore, I say these words in the presence of Shortstar, so that his spirit may hear and approve my choice. Nightsky will be the new deputy of ShadowClan."

But as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

"Praise You In This Storm"
Casting Crowns

<sup>Nightsky dipped his jet black head and closed his eyes as the news of there former leader Shortstar had passed on. His claws sheathed and unsheathed into the soggy dirt trying to keep his anger from showing. As the deputy continued kept his body stiff and still, until he heard his name being called for becoming the new deputy. Nightsky eyes ripped open and he slowly lifted his head to look up at the deputy, no the leader.

To show that he had accepted the new position he stood up on all four and dipped his head to his new leader.
"I will do my best as the deputy to Shadowclan." He meowed keeping his chin high to show his appreciation. He quickly sat back down as he knew Theivingstreak would want to continue on with the meeting so they could get out of this pouring rain.</sup>

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ooc: Silverwing is Marshpaw's mentor. And Mothpaw's mentor is Cougarface :3
Storm, would Mossfrost be up to mentoring Skykit?

Silverwing found herself slinking out of her den, with an angered hiss she found herself resenting the idea of going out in the pouring rain just to listen to her deputy. But she did it anyway, for she wasn't too keen on the idea of being called a lazy queen for not going out into the rain.

So with a heavy sigh she trudged through the glop of mud, the feathery weeds, and the many bodies of her fellow clanmates until she was nose to nose with Hawkstreak, her mate.

"Still tired, darling?" she meowed sarcastically, what was with him? Why was he being so--lame? Rolling her eyes she decided to sit beside him anyways. What she heard next was what surprised her the most.

"Shor-Shortstar's dead?" she whispered in shock. First it had been Fernstar, who was soon followed by Silverstar, then now Shortstar? Shadowclan wasn't having the best luck these days.

But as she gazed at her new leader she couldn't help but smile, maybe all Shadowclan needed was a strong-willed she-cat in charge. When Nightsky was named deputy she couldn't agree more, for the tom had been a loyal warrior.

Blazingpaw snorted, great. Now his mentor was leader, this was fantastic. Of course at first he had felt pity for the she-cat for being skipped over, but alas after their first training assessment he wasn't sure if he was a big fan of his mentor any more.

But he couldn't disagree that it was known fact that the she-cat would make Shadowclan strong, for she herself was strong. Very strong, and he out all cats should know. He still carried the three scratches from their first training session, and he knew they'd be there for a long time.

Narrowing his gaze he wasn't sure if he agreed to having Nightsky as deputy for he wasn't the nicest tom around either, but he went with this too. Grunting he wondered if this meeting was over with, for the rain was making him much grumpier then usual. And nobody wanted that.

OOC: Sheesh, you guys are fast. =P Spring Break, too, hmm?

I'll wait for Rain, Faith, and Storm to post before we move on. Are there any other matters that need to be taken care of? Border disputes, etc.? What about the plot? Is there anything I'm forgetting?

[ Yeah Mossfrost can mentor Skykit. Who plays Skykit? ]

Mossfrost sighed in worry. She looked up at the sky, hoping Shadowclan's leader would be as good as the rest. It looked that way, she did take care of the clan while deputy. And the clan seemed happy for Thievingstreak to be leader.

ooc: So far it's all good, actually if you want Bandit you & Rain could go off after this meeting to highstones, it shouldn't interrupt anything owo
And yep Spring Break ^^ Well kind of, our school starts later then others so we only get Friday & Monday off for spring break =/

Mothpaw shall be late to her Warrior Thing for she's dreaming x3

Rainy plays Skykit :3

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( I do~ Welcome to BTH Storm )

<sub>Crystalmoon nodded in approval, but grief seeped through her chest. She thought that Shortstar would live a full life; being a famous Clan leader, being acknowledged by all Clan cats, but it looked like she was wrong.

But at least ShadowClan has a great leader. Thievingstreak was loyal, hard-working, determind, and doesn't put up with any nonsense. It was the kind of leader ShadowClan hoped for all along. And Nightsky was the perfect choice for second command.

It was perfect. Crystalmoon just hoped it would stay that way. It might cost them.</sub>

EDIT: Lare >.< I already had Spring Break XD A week off too

Adderfang nodded his head in approval, he had believed Nightsky had been the right choice. Whisking his bony features away from his new leader he scanned the area in search of something, he was looking for Nightkit. He had been watching the tom lately, and quite closely.

He was studying him in the sense that one day this tom might be his apprentice. It was quite obvious that he was one of the warriors without an apprentice and that there were three kits who needed mentors.

His interest had been held upon Nightkit, blinking his gaze he couldn't spot the tom but he had a dark pelt so perhaps he couldn't spot him in the dark lighting. The rain splattered across his corpse. With a shake he brought his attention back to Thievingstreak, waiting for the next announcements to come.

ooc:Sorry for being late :/ Very busy D: