Deputy appointment - {ALL CATS}

[Lightstep]

Silkstar padded to the Great Rock that jut out from the stone cave floor as the water guarding the camp roared outside. The sound pounded in her ears as Silkstar leapt onto the High Rock and her eyes were still glazed over with sadness from the recent deaths. How could a measly sickness have taken all of Goldenstar's nine lives? This was really something to fear in the clan.

Four cats had been claimed already by it. Goldenstar, Hazelpaw, Brackenfur and Mothpaw all roamed with Star Clan now looking down on the clan from SilverPelt. This was horrible - the clan was already in need of warriors and losing two of the few it had and two that had great potential to become a powerful members, had seriously impacted life in the cave. Only eight cats remained in the entire clan. Luckily, before Brackenfur died, he and Petalnose had been mates and - if StarClan favored them - she might bear his kits. Making a mental note to ask Fernpool about Petalnose, Silkstar dipped her head sadly.

But now was not the time for that. All three found cats had been buried and vigils had been done but now, it was nearly sunrise and there was a deputy to appoint. It was finally time to announce the new deputy of Cascade Clan. With a loud, summoning yowl, Silkstar called for attention.

"All cats old enough to catch their own prey are called to gather at the base of High Rock!" she called. Sitting with her tail laying around, Silkstar waited until the cats had gathered before her to continue.

[Head{admin}]

((Can we have a night vigil for the dead cats? Mothpaw wants to say good bye to Bracken and Hazel))

The dusky gray apprentice padded slowly from the medicine cat den. Her tail was down, eyes dull, heart weeping within her. The greencough that had harmed her kind mentor, Brackenfur, had killed him. Hazelpaw, her very best friend and the only other apprentice she could really talk to, was gone as well. There was no point left in life. No more reason to live. Why should she? Why should she try to go through with this?

The beloved, lifeless bodies of three cats lay in the center of the camp. Goldenstar, Brackenfur, Hazelpaw. Perhaps some greencough still clung to their bodies, but Mothpaw didn't care. She rushed forward, plopping herself down between the bodies of the small apprentice and the once-powerful warrior. Stretching her paws out before her, she rested her chin on her forepaws and closed her eyes, ears flattened, tail flicking in mixed anger and overwhelming sorrow. Shy little Mothpaw refused to move. No one would make her move. Not Silkstar. Not a single cat. StarClan...you jerks, she hissed in her mind, her gentle spirit growing bitter and furious as she thought harder about what had happened. StarClan had allowed this. Stupid StarClan. They had taken away her mentor and best friend. Stupid, stupid StarClan.

[Fernpool]

Petalnose’s tail was dragging along the ground as she stood and walked slowly away from Mothpaw’s side. The dead bodies of the three beloved cats were lying in the middle clearing of the camp where the young she-cat had been grieving. Her usually bright green eyes were now glazed over with sadness as she unfeelingly walked to sit under the high rock at her leader’s summon. Sitting down with a heavy thump, she stared at her paws and grieved without caring what went on around them.

It was horrible that, despite Brackenfur's death, his body had never even been found. The scent trail filled with sickness had led out of Cascade Clan territory and Silkstar had forbidden that it be followed any further.

---

Fernpool poked her nose out of her den and padded slowly over to the base of the High Rock to sit in her usual place. She paused a moment to lick each dead cat’s pelt one last time before continuing in a daze. The whole clan seemed to have been struck harshly by this loss.

{{Note to Light and reminder for the future: Announce Petal's furture kitting and mentorship of Robinpaw}}

[Lightstep]

Lightstep lifted her head gently with a grief so heavy, she could barley stand. How could her apprentice have just…died without her permission. He was such a strong, reckless kit with so much left to learn. It weighed down on her heart heavily as Lightstep stood and padded, head down and tail drooping to sit beside her sister.

Nosing the familiar pelt, she began to feel as if the whole world were tumbling down. The little ball of life that was so eager to get into trouble was gone and she had no way of bringing him back. The little ball of fluff that caused her so much pain and pride was gone and he would never see himself a warrior.

[Dawnpaw]

Dawnpaw walked toward the great rock, her tail drooping. One of her best friends, Hazelpaw, was gone. G-o-n-e Gone. She sat down, her head hanging low. She snapped her head back up to see the Three, unmoving, lifeless, bodies of Brackenfur, Hazelpaw, and their ex-leader, Goldenstar.
"I will miss you, Brackenfur, Goldenstar. But most of all, Hazelpaw." she mumbled softly. She padded forward to listen to the announcement.

[Fernpool]

Amberheart poked his nose out of the warriors den and padded silently over to the small gathering of clan cats beneath the high rock. It was sad that they had lost four cats due to an illness. An illness so powerful it stayed primarily undetected and killed the leader with all her lives.

Sitting silently with his head high but ears flat, Amberheart looked up towards Silkstar. Who was to be their deputy now and for how long?

{{Deputy -- which we now have none -- needs to post and then Silkstar can reply. So... for now MAKE SURE you have replied and Silkstar will chose who she thinks is best suited for the position.}}