let's hope the sun will show us the path (all rc!)

[chill]

tidestar
ever since the moment tidestar had received her lives from starclan, her new name, this was the moment she had been thinking of. it wasn’t that she was dreading it, or even necessarily looking forward to it, but some space in between. it was a thing she knew she was doing out of necessity for her clan, and in that fact alone, it was of the utmost importance to her (always for them). there was so much change within riverclan, so much loss and confusion that they continually had to endure, and she knew that the shifting of power was one that didn’t come delicately. amongst all this, however, the she-cat knew that this clan of hers was resilient. they would take these new changes in stride, and come out the other side stronger still. after all, they’d survived thus far, and she didn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. tidestar was proud to be the leader of riverclan, and even if she couldn’t say with certainty what was coming next, she was ready (would be ready) to be a pillar of strength for her clan.
as the she-cat paced about her den, knowing she would eventually have to call the clan together, she did her best to remember the last time a riverclan gathering had been genuinely peaceful, joyous, full of hope. of late, it was so easy to think of the frequent gatherings to update the clan on the two-leg activity, to keep every cat as safe as possible, to make sure work was getting done to protect the clan while at the same time keeping everyone as safe and hidden as possible. parts of normal clan life such as warrior ceremonies seemed dulled down, less celebrated, more obligation than anything. life had to go on, but life was so different in ways the clan was still learning how to navigate (how odd, how odd). even before the two-legs came, a time tidestar had to push herself to think about, there was so much drama around heatherstar’s death and sootstar’s appointment as leader and her naming as deputy. so much controversy (she wore it well) and work to straighten things out, there was hardly time to rest before riverclan was tossed into situation after situation. and, of course, there was sootstar’s disappearance. she didn’t like to think about that (much) despite now knowing the truth about what happened to the tom, or at least as much as she would probably ever have the privilege of knowing. in a way, it felt like there was too much now that she had the privilege (burden) of knowing.
but the moment had finally come full circle for the leader. where she once faced sootstar, awaiting to hear a name called out as the new deputy (tidebreak then, so much different), there would now be a different set of warriors facing her to learn who would fill her former position as deputy of riverclan. they had waited long enough for tidestar to take over as leader and receive her lives, everyone holding onto the slightest strands of hope that sootstar would somehow return (hope, finite). hoping they’d all return, of course, but the russet she-cat did not expect, was not ready to be thrust into her new position. this was what she’d trained for, what she’d always worked toward, of course. it was something she supposed that she’d been prepared for (loosely) in the back of her mind. of course it was the deputy’s place to take over if anything happened to a clan leader. there was just the fear that sootstar was dead and no one would ever know, the guilt that he wasn’t dead and she was stealing a position that wasn’t hers, the strange existence of not knowing which was true (neither? both?). starclan had cleared up what she needed to know, however, and tidestar felt like she was ready to follow the legacy sootstar had left behind, her paws filling the empty spaces where his once were (literally & figuratively & emotionally).
she had felt bad, taking a few days to herself, speaking only to cosmos-stream, before choosing to announce the new clan deputy. customarily, it should be done as soon as she became leader, but she had so much new information to process, some of which she felt inclined to share, some not, and some she still wasn’t quite positive about (keep it down to the wire). she could safely say there was still plenty she wasn’t positive about, but at the very least she was certain of who she wanted to be her deputy, and for the russet she-cat, that was enough. finally stepping out of her den, tidestar let the soft morning air wash over her, relishing in what would probably be the last moment of quiet. there was brief birdsong, and she nearly laughed (not one for laughter) in response. stepping to the head of the clearing, the she-cat sat straight up, eyes ahead, at attention in the way that was so familiar and befitting of her. she would stay focused, sharp, not miss a single word. this was already the most important thing she had to do as clan leader. “let all cats old enough to swim gather for a clan meeting!” her voice rang out even and sure (ha, sure), to be heard by all. while she made sure no one could see, that no one would know, she did fear what the clan would think of what she was about to do, about what she was going to say. but there was no more waiting. it was her choice to make, and she had made it. riverclan was to have its new deputy.

RIVERCLAN GATHERING!! @ EVERYONE!!
jackelyn ✦dreamy Christalclear + JAMIE [:ripples:] Minteh Freshness Scarlet DELAWARE ArcticRed
this is primarily for naming summermoon deputy and updating on the twoleg situation but if you want anything apprentice related (naming, pairing, etc) to be announced as well PLEASE PM ME asap so i can add it in later. ty!!

[jackelyn]

summermoon;

Summermoon cheerfully headed towards the center of camp when he heard Tidestar's summoning. It took him a few minutes, he'd been outside the island on the riverbank just finishing his breakfast. Normally he ate whatever the patrols brought back but, there was something about fresh-caught fish that hit different, especially after a night watch like last night.

Even though he had to bury his fish bones, and cross the stepping stones he was one of the first, to arrive. He gave Tidestar a respectful wave of acknowledgement with his tail, to be honest, it wasn't something normal for him to do, but it was too awkward to just show up and sit down, not doing anything while they waited for everyone else to arrive. In fact normally Summermoon never arrived to a meeting alone, he was always with a friend or patrol group and, they came together, but it was the consequences of night watch again...

He sat down and, curled his tail over his paws. It was too awkward just to stare up at Tidestar, waiting so he looked around instead, but the sight of the camp was too familiar, his eyes kept drifting back to the leader. Her russet fur stood out against the blue sky and she wore her familiar stern expression. Summermoon wondered if she ever smiled, if so, he had never seen it. But, of course, she didn't have much to smile about. The humans had left again, it was confirmed across the Clans, but, they were only gone physically, in the hearts and minds of the Clan they were still very present. At the beginning Summermoon woke up right away when someone had a nightmare in the warrior's den about the situation, but now it was so common he just slept through it.

At least, this meeting had given them something to talk about. Summermoon had been chatting about it yesterday with his friends, everyone knew that Tidestar would be choosing a deputy soon, the real fun was trying to guess who it was going to be. Summermoon put his bets on Mossflower, she was likable and competent and, was always optimistic, something he thought the Clan could use more of. But, lots of his friends were sure it would be Whiplash, and, of course Ripplestream and Cindersmoke had their supporters too...

The truth was, RiverClan was spoiled for choice. Summermoon heard rumors that the other Clans were losing many senior warriors to the humans. Sure RiverClan had lost some, but the larger-than-life group that Summermoon had grown up idolizing, that core was still around. Who didn't know Whiplash? Who hadn't heard of Ripplestream's bravery, going all the way to the ocean? Who wasn't aware Cindersmoke was some kind of secret genius? Who didn't feel cheered up and safe, just from Mossflower's presence?

RiverClan, was definitely lucky.

Looking at Tidestar Summermoon wondered who she'd choose. Her expression gave away nothing, but, he was confident she'd make a good decision. The Clan had been through a lot... most of it, even before he was born. But, Summermoon had faith in them and in Tidestar to lead them. She'd make the right choice for the Clan.

Ok, it was starting to get weird now, he couldn't sit here staring at his leader, no matter how cool he found her. He looked around at the other cats who arrived and, thankfully spotted one of his friends. Getting up he headed over to sit next to them, issuing with an easy grin "Good morning! How'd you sleep?" With a gesture to Tidestar, "Looks like it's finally happening huh? I've gotta admit, I'm still thinking she'll choose Mossflower..."

NOTES // Anyone can be the friend Summermoon is talking to but, it's important they also consider him a good/comfortable friend :) Not close, but, no awkwardness please :)
TAGGED // Anyone in RiverClan! And, chill, Minteh Freshness, DELAWARE + JAMIE, @ripplestream for mentions.
WORDS // 613

[Christalclear]

  

Autumnleaf

The new warrior would never have described herself as anxious before, but the past several moons had changed all of that. Fear gripped her like a shadow that she couldn't shake. Sometimes it crept bigger and bigger while other times it waned to just a little highlight, but it was always there. When the first cat in Riverclan disappeared it wasn't exactly major news because... well... this sort of things happens from time to time, right? Cats get picked off by a predator or somehow show up in a new clan or later find them a few pounds heavier behind the glass of a twoleg nest. 

But then it happened again. 

And again.

The forest stench changed from pure wildlife to the pungent odor of twolegs. Warriors would come back from patrols to report some sort of traps that twolegs put down. It all felt like some sort of twisted nightmare. Autumnleaf knew they would never wake from the dream when Riverclan didn't go to the Gathering or maybe there just wasn't one altogether? They protected their borders not from Thunderclan anymore, but from the twolegs that had invaded in waves. Autumnleaf didn't celebrate when she became a warrior. It felt like it was more out of necessity than out of honor. She hadn't earned it, not really, unless survival was the only stipulation. Even then, she had this nagging feeling that she had somehow cheated death.

She was terrified of what this new world meant to Riverclan. She had just gotten used to Sootstar when they got a new leader. Riverclan had gone through three leaders in her short life. It made her worry about what it meant for the clan. How was there supposed to be stability? How were they supposed to move on and prosper? 

“Let all cats old enough to swim gather for a clan meeting!” The leader's voice echoed in the warrior's den. Autumnleaf had almost fallen asleep. She had tried to take a nap. Sleep seemed to escape her most days anymore. When she did sleep, she had nightmares of being caught in one of those steel contraptions the twolegs had put out around the forest. Or worse, she would dream of Sealsplash or Stumblefoot being whisked away never to be seen or heard from again. Every time she opened her eyes in the morning her heart would skip a beat as she feared she wouldn't see them in their nests still asleep. Stumblefoot was an early riser, however, and would sometimes already be gone. 

She arched her back and curled her long tail up in a stretch to try to wake herself up more. Tidestar was probably naming a new deputy, but hopefully she would announce news about the twolegs and possibly the other clans. Although the tabby would never bring it up to her brother, she knew that he often had the undertone scent of Thunderclan on him. She didn't know what he was up to, and honestly didn't want to know because it would put them more at risk, but she had a feeling he would care about news from the neighboring clan. 

Autumnleaf craned her neck trying to find a familiar face among the crowd of Riverclanners that had already joined for the ceremony. Where was Sealsplash? 

---

chill [:ripples:]

[Scarlet]

Ottersnarl || Warrior || RiverClan
Calico tom with green eyes
IMAGE & BIO

---

Blank.

Empty.

Not even frozen just... gone.

Completely lost in his head, he jumped nearly two tail-lengths high when Summermoon spoke to him. They weren't exactly friends, even with Summermoon being only 4 moons older they hadn't ever connected, but the two toms were friendly enough in the way Clanmates should be.

"Stars above Summer... try not to sneak up on a fellow like that!" He forced a laugh out, made himself sound as normal as possible. Nobody knew the thoughts in his head, not even Cosmos... "Ah Mossflower? Maybe maybe.. Or it could be you!" he lightly flicked a the tip of his tail against the other tom's shoulder. Honestly he wasn't sure who would be picked. Also wasn't sure he cared. It had been hard to care much ever since Heatherstar had died and the disappearances started...

The blankness settled back onto him. It had become harder to force it away so instead he welcomed it like the friend it had become. There was comfort in not caring. There was peace in just letting go. Perform the daily duties and let it all be as it would be. The only cat who ever got something true from him anymore was Cosmos, but even that was fleeting and much of it forced. There were so many instances where time just vanished too, where he would become so lost and the day was just gone. Auto-pilot mode engaged or something like that. His duties were still performed but it was as if there had been no conscious thought behind it.

Depressed?

Yeah, definitely.

Potentially something more?

tags: jackelyn
notes: feel free to move on if Summer is like put off haha, Otter probably won't even notice

---

Always one for a good time, always one for extremes
Until the fabric of life starts tearing at the seams

[Christalclear]

Stumblefoot

Stumblefoot tensed when he heard the sharp cry of Tidestar. He wasn't used to it. He missed Sootstar, honestly. He missed everything, honestly. It was harder and harder to do anything without someone lurking over his shoulder. Not out of maliciousness, but out of preservation. So many cats had disappeared since the twolegs came into their territory that it was protocol for cats to go out in groups. It was made more difficult to slink out alone when most of the clan stayed in the camp as often as possible. A missing body in the den was like a beacon calling out to everyone that someone may have disappeared for good. 

Before, Stumblefoot could be out for a few hours with a weak excuse. Everyone was too busy with the impending doom of a battle against Thunderclan to notice someone an apprentice going into Thunderclan. It also helped that the clan had been going through a leader change. Sootstar became leader during a tumultuous time in Riverclan and it benefitted the tabby tom. 

There were benefits to this new Riverclan, no doubt. He had a feeling Tidestar would be a more effective leader than Sootstar. It would probably complicate things with his relationship to Nettlebite, no doubt. But it would hopefully make Riverlcan stronger. Although he felt trapped in Riverclan a lot anymore, the camp had created the perfect atmosphere for Autumnleaf and him to make amends - more or less. They still had their sibling ups and downs but it was less frequently and with less ferocity. 

He had been thinking about finding if Nettlebite was available when he heard the cry of the clan meeting. Would anyone notice if he just didn't go? He might still have time to escape before it was too late. There were only a few cats who had gathered. 

He knew he would have to stay when he spotted someone looking at him. Stumblefoot internally sighed and slumped over to greet the cat. "Hello," he replied with as much enthusiasm as he could muster, which was little. He'd rather be other places after all.

---

Anyone can reply to Stumblefoot. For the record, though, no one currently knows that he is in a relationship with someone from another clan. Although his sister has a hunch about it. 

[Minteh Freshness]

Mossflower

Mossflower was in the Nursery, patching and repairing the den walls(again) when Tidestar’s voice rang out, calling everyone for a clan meeting. Excitement shivered through her and her silvery beigey yellow eyes lit up. ”Oooh, a meeting! Come on everyone, let’s go!” She squealed, and was impatiently patient as she made her way over the kits, making sure not to step on anyone, before she slipped out of the den and into the clearing. Already, other cats were on their ways out as well, or had already been meandering out and about when the summons had sounded.

She threw a bright grin Tidestar’s way as she pranced around the clearing, poking her head into dens and calling everyone to come out, making sure everyone had heard and would be present. Today was sure to be a great day. Just like every day! But even more so because surely Tidestar was choosing a deputy today. Or maybe she would announce how good the fishing had been. Giggling to herself, she looked around at the cats already gathered, trying to figure out who to go say hi to first before the meeting started. She didn’t see Ripplestream yet, or Whiplash. Cindersmoke wasn’t visible yet either. That was most of her age group, but she didn’t mind the youngsters either! She’d watched them all grow up and though of them all as being like her own kits, and of course all of them were her friends!

Ah there was Summermoon and Ottersnarl across the camp clearing. She thought about going over to talk to the two toms, and was even on her way when she spotted Autumnleaf. The young she-cat was closer and alone, so she obviously needed a friend to keep her company until others started to come out! She thought she heard her name being spoken by the two toms, and it piqued her curiosity, but she tamped it down for now, waving her tabby tail toward them in greeting, and then stopped next to the younger she-cat. They had similar pelts, but Autumn had longer fur and thicker stripes than Mossflower.

The older warrior queen bumped her shoulder in a friendly greeting. ”Hi Autumnleaf! Are you excited for the news Tidestar is going to announce? Ooooh, I just cant wait to find out what she’s going to say! Will she say her choice for deputy? Maybe something about the two-legs? Or the other clans? We haven’t had too many predators lately thanks to the two-legs, so it probably isn’t that. Who do you think she’ll choose as deputy? I think Ripplesstream would do wonderful! Or even Whiplash or Cindersmoke! I think anyone would do just a great job! What do you think?” She grinned brightly down at the younger she-cat.

Words || 457
Ooc || So energetic xD Sorry Christa, for the attack of Moss lol
Tagged || chill || jackelyn || Christalclear || Scarlet || @others

[Christalclear]

Lotuspaw

It had been an eventful morning so far for the Riverclan apprentice. She woke up, ate this really delicious vole, and then started to train on defensive maneuvers. These were especially important now that the Riverclan camp had been sprinkled with all sorts of traps the twolegs set. Of course, she hadn't actually left the camp since the twolegs had shown up so she'd never actually seen one of the traps... But it was important to be prepared! So she found a clearing in the camp to practice ducking, rolling, jumping out of the way. Lotuspaw had done that until she was positively exhausted and then the new leader, Tidestar, had cried out for a clan meeting!

Chills went down her spine and all the energy that left her seemed to get sucked back in all at once. She was positively radiating with enthusiasm. This was her first clan meeting EVER! Well not ever, but the first one she could remember as a true apprentice. 

It was beyond exciting. 

What would be announced? What did Tidestar have to say? The potential killed her! She bounced to the camp where, unfortunately, there were not many cats around. Why weren't they all here yet!? The best most exciting thing of her whole life was happening and everyone seemed to be dragging their feet to the call! She didn't understand warriors sometimes. 

"Lakepaw! Laaaaakepaw!" She shouted for her brother, not understanding or noticing if anyone cared. "Lakepaw there's a clan meeting!" She shouted towards the apprentices' den, not even sure if her brother was in there. But surely it would at least get whatever apprentices in there to get their butts into gear and come out to the meeting. Lotuspaw was simply doing a service. 

Lotuspaw waited for her brother to come out from wherever he was hiding. She waited, like, a really long time. Maybe a couple of minutes, which was an eternity. The white she-cat would not stand for this, so she looked around at her options. Autumnleaf was talking to Mossflower. Surely Mossflower would help her because Mossflower usually helped the younger cats in the clan, but Autumnleaf had been mean to her the few times they interacted. That left two warriors who were talking to each other about something probably unimportant, so she walked towards them. "Hello!" She squealed with part nervousness and part excitement. "Have either of you seen a white cat about my height and size? He's my brother. He has a little ginger spot on his ear, but don't tell him I told you about it because he gets a little moody whenever you mention it. But it is an identifiable mark so I feel like it was important for me to tell you. Anyway, have you seen him? I don't want him to miss out on the clan meeting." 

---

andromeda  jackelyn  Scarlet sorry not sorry for this mess of an apprentice.

[andromeda]

LAKEPAW

clap your hands if you feel like a room without a roof
clap your hands if you feel like happiness is the truth

Lakepaw could get used to sleeping in.

Barely a movement stirred the air in the womb of the apprentices’ den except wayward moss that quivered under Lakepaw’s lumbering breaths. With his mentor captured—the full weight of the situation not having taken root—Lakepaw had felt free to be the lazy ball of mush he was—as he felt—destined to be. The Clan, already on edge from ThunderClan’s assaults, was pulled taut by the threat of the Twoleg traps. And while training apprentices remained essential as ever so that the Clan might be strong enough to weather these storms, the attention simply could not be spared. So Lakepaw and siblings hung in the limbo of their almost total quarantine, leaving camp being too dangerous an undertaking for apprentices and even young warriors until the threat could feel known enough to bear.

Though it wasn’t all jokes and snuggling up to mom. Prey ran scarce, and for the first time, Lakepaw felt hunger cling to his ribs. It could be worse—it was worse for the other Clans who did not have access to fishing right in camp. But everyone had felt the squeeze, no matter how hard the Clan worked to shield the old, the young, and the weak. In these conditions it was easy for sleeping to become a profession. Dreaming, Lakepaw whittled away his days. He slept often fitfully, sometimes stertorously, but always ravenously. Curling up in his nest next to Lotuspaw felt like the only meaningful reward for his long, laborious days of eating fish, sharing tongues, and the occasional camp repair project. Suffice it to say that one had to earn his wakefulness, something that even mid-day sunlight fails at on mornings like this.

If anything, Lotuspaw's indiscreet squawks have been the most reliable and un-snoozeable alarm to stir Lakepaw from his ever deepening slumber. Sometimes it might be accompanied by a nudge on the shoulder or a lick to the ear, but today the disembodied voice came from all the way on the opposite end of camp. Tidestar's original call had evidently not reached deeply enough into his dreaming subconsciousness, but his ears flicked at the prospect of a Clan meeting. They were never much entertainment for him, proving to drag on by the crooning of cats who sat up straight and were no fun at all. But he very much wanted to make an effort to attend, especially to hear what the new leader had to say. Though the experience of time was beyond his comprehension, he did sense within him a desperate hope that Tidestar was going to remain leader for very, very long.

Truth was, he was scared. He senses the alarm, though he struggles to identify with it. He could tell these were no ordinary times, and that there was a vague probation on his life to be revoked at a moment's notice. It was the strangest of feelings, his sense of entitlement to life, liberty, and happiness suspended by a breath, an anxiety humming barely above the register of his consciousness. He wonders if Lotuspaw feels the same.

Sighing, rubbing the sleep away from his eyes, Lakepaw raised himself standing. He was the only one left in the apprentices' den. Long, draggy steps brought him out into the muggy sunlight of late-Greenleaf. He squinted across the camp and saw his sister, ambling up in time to hear her airing out the feature he was most embarrassed by. Stomping, he nudged Lotuspaw in the shoulder, "Stumblefoot knows who I am, dummy." The last few words were muffled by an urgent yawn. "Someone's excited for the Clan meeting." Now his eyes glinted with mischief. "You don't expect to be picked as deputy, do you?"

TAGS Christalclear

OOC