Ravenclaw
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Aspenwood
There has been an unbelievable amount of tension in Skyclan for the last couple of days.
Ravenclaw opened his eyes for a moment as his golden gaze went towards Lilyfall, his gaze softened for a moment when watching her speaking with the apprentices. While their relationship has been complicated for the most part, the silver tabby always held a special place in his heart since they were kits. It wasn’t until he heard some curse words and blows and quickly turned around to witness Bigfoot and Littlefoot, twins, fighting each other. A group of warriors had begun to surround them and pull them apart. Littlefoot had been a big supporter of Aspenwood while Bigfoot wasn’t afraid of showing his support for Ravenclaw.
“We all know Apsenwood is the rightful leader!” Littlefoot had been shouting while Bigfootwas trying to push others away from him to leap towards Littlefoot, he always had a bad temper towards those that weren’t family. It wasn’t until Ravenclaw saw Aspenwood going towards the high point “Don’t do it you idiot” Ravenclaw muttered to himself. Aspenwood and Ravenclaw had agreed not to go on the high point as part of their deal towards Waspsight. While both were attempting to keep the peace, it was getting impossible as tension from supporters were finally building up. “Enough!” Aspenwood called, his orange eyes narrowed when looking down at the fighting felines. The dark gray tabby was silent for a moment before shaking his head
“You should know better Littlefoot, we are not going to get anything resolved with fighting.” Aspenwood said, biting the inside of his cheek. His father and aunt wouldn’t want this, they wouldn’t want their clan mates fighting each other. The dark gray tabby was looking down at the clan with a moment, deep in thought. Starclan hadn’t shown signs of who's the next leader, not even Mercuryrose showed up in either of potential leaders or Waspsight’s dreams. It was currently a stalemate.
“We should have an election.” Aspenwood began, his eyes narrowed. Littlefoot’s eyes narrowed at his leader’s words. While the young tom was right, an election wasn’t going to do much. The black tom turned towards the felines behind him “Those in favor of Aspenwood, we will stay at the right side of camp.. Those who will favor Ravenclaw.. Will remain in the left side of camp, we will not be divided anymore!” Littlefoot’s voice boomed through the clearing. Ravenclaw looked at Littlefoot, baffled. The black tom was about to dismiss the idea until there were a couple of felines who actually started moving to Aspenwood’s side of the camp, while others were moving to Ravenclaw’s.
This was a mess.
Silvercreech had arrived, not more than a couple days after Mercuryrose death, arriving and bringing her new friend Briarfrost along with her, as she shared many hardships with the ex-windclan warrior. Silvercreech decision finally was made to rejoin her clan after Starclan's guidance running into her daughter Widowsting. Since her arrival back into Shadowclan, all she had witnessed was two deputies fight over who was going to be leading the clan. Her son Torrent sadly was unable to be found after being carried off by a hawk, yet neither deputy these past whole chaotic amount weeks seemed to show interest in the matter to figure out if her son was dead or elsewhere in the forest. Except for her son Ferretfuzz. It was heartbreaking and just made the warrior fume in silence at the two deputies.
"They act like two kits. They can't take a minute to stop bickering and just work with one another for once. They are ignoring the fact their clanmates need help with their issues, and instead they are being selfish for their own title as leader." The silver-white striped she-cat muttered as she walked out of the nursery, clearly annoyed. Her kit Zinnia followed behind her closely in curiosity. Silvercreech piercing yellow gaze glanced at Ratshadow as he seemed to snap at Aspenwood under his breath nearby. Thinking about it, despite not knowing Ratshadow well, she understood his seemingly bitter personality wasn't that different from her own. An emotionally wounded warrior hiding under a tough exterior. She herd about Aspenwoods attitude and putting down the scraggly looking black tom. Glancing at the two deputies, Silvercreech shook her head annoyingly. "I have been here for weeks, neither of my kits had gained their clan names…” she tried not to think much of her son Torrent. If she let the matter cloud her judgment, she wouldn't be able to think.
“However, from my observation in the past weeks, I believe Ravenclaw has more patience and a level head when thinking about leading the clan in the future. That is…if he can take a moment to quit arguing with Aspenwood over this matter. If my decision can help finally make a decision, then I know who's side I choose.” With that said, the once ex-shadowclan queen walked to the left side of the camp clearing.
Watching In shock, Silvercreech noticed her friend Briarfrost get up and go over to the right side of the clearing, clearly showing her decision to back up Aspenwood. “Briarfrost! Why!? You're my best friend! I thought you would be on my wavelength when it came to a future leader!”
Zinnia's tufted ears lowered as her mom mentioned her missing brother Torrent. “I hope you're alive somewhere brother…” she thought quietly to herself. Had she been an apprentice right now, she would have chosen a side. Yet. Her ceremony was not for another moon. Zinnia had the urge to follow Briarfrost however, as she cared about the friend her mom made. She looked sad, knowing if Briarfrost chose Aspenwoods side, that Briarfrost and Silverscreech would most likely be bickering later on. She got up and ran over to Briar, her small paws stretched out on top of Briarfrost left shoulder. “Please don't leave me Aunty Briar!” Her yellow-green eyes began filling with tears. “Me and mama need you.” She squeaked sadly.
redmask
Redmask watched from a distance, near the back centre of the clearing, fur bristling, as the littermates broke out into a fight. Unable to hide his dismay, the tom parted his jaws to lecture his clanmates - only to abruptly close them shut when Aspenwood approached the high point. The russet and cream warrior narrowed his eyes, observing the scene after Aspenwood suggested an election. Few, such as Ryepaw, were amongst the first to make a decision - as if it were an easy choice. Redmask was not one to make decisions quickly, he carefully thought about what his own values were, what the warrior code dictated, and what would be the best for his clan.
As more and more of his clanmates made their choice, Redmask finally pushed himself off his paws and padded closer as he ultimately made his choice. Redmask was only a few moons older than Ravenclaw and Aspenwood, and although he wasn't close with either of them, he grew up alongside them. He knew that, although they both had very strong leadership qualities and were both assets to the clan, he found Ravenclaw to be a far more reasonable, level-headed decision - someone, like him, that would think carefully before making a decision. Dipping his head respectfully at Aspenwood, he moved towards the left side, showing his support for Ravenclaw.
ravenfrost
Ravenfrost only took a few moments before making her decision. The small black and white feline had been sitting near the nursery - a den in which she spent much of her time aiding younger queens and the kits while continuing to help with warrior duties when she had time or an urge for some activity. She had seen the clans in some of the strongest moments, and some of their weakest. She had gone through loss, like many of her clanmates, that had felt unbearable at the time - and now, they seem to have come around again. Because of these ongoing crises, Ravenfrost strongly believed that what her clan needed now was a strong leader who would not hesitate to act, someone with fire and ferocity to defend their clanmates. As she walked towards the right side of the clearing, she glanced at Aspenwood through narrowed eyes, "You remind me of your father, sometimes. I believe you will make a great leader." The queen murmured, dipping her head as she settled down beside her clanmates.
Moonlight
Mysterious stranger
Thus far, Moonlight had taken few pains to acquaint himself with the two cats attempting to take over leadership of the Clan. Though he listened in to some of the arguments - this one having been trained by the late leader; that one being closer kin - but he'd heard little that made him favor either one. If anything, he wouldn't mind if the Clan kept fighting over it. The instability had, surprisingly, given him an easier time settling in, as the cats were more focused on which leader to choose than on the stranger in their midst.
But now, it seemed, there would be no neutrality. He had to pick one side or the other in a fight that wasn't his. He scanned the two sides of camp, trying to remember which seemed to be getting more crowded. He wanted to back the winner, but it was a close contest.
He saw a familiar cream coat moving to the left side of the clearing. Petalchaser, one of the few cats who had paid attention to him. After he'd comforted her in the starlit cave, she seemed eager to get to know him. If he couldn't decide for himself who to support, then he ought to stick with his allies.
And he didn't want to lose her good opinion.
He padded to the left side of the clearing, and sat beside Petalchaser. "Let's hope this puts an end to things," he murmured to her.
"Oh, so now you don't want to fight, you were all for it when Mercuryrose died, though. Trying to save face, are we?" Ratshadow muttered under his breath over Aspenwood's declaration, too low for the tom to hear, but enough for Briarfrost who was standing next to him to hear. The Windclan-turned rogue-turned Shadowclanner scoffed at him, but he ignored it. Without skipping a beat, Ratshadow slinked off towards the left side of camp, showing his support for Ravenclaw. Which he wholeheartedly believes is the more level-headed of the two candidates. Ratshadow couldn't believe the audacity of Aspenwood claiming that he didn't want fighting, when there had been nothing BUT that the last time the duo collided with one another. All Aspenwood had wanted to do was fight then, and the only one who seemed to have sense enough to put a stop to it was Ravenclaw- though he understood Ravenclaw was sour about his bluntness, at the very least he didn't verbally try and bite his head off like Aspenwood. To Ratshadow it was clear who was the more deserving of the toms for the title, Ravenclaw.
Petalchaser was tired of the suspense and the division of Shadowclan as a whole. Ever since Mercuryrose passed on, the entire clan had been suffocating under a thick layer of tension. The dilute ginger she-cat just wanted all of this to be over and done with. Between the two toms, she thought that Ravenclaw was probably the calmer out of the two, Aspenwood seemed to burn rather too brightly when enraged. She couldn't imagine Shadowclan recovering under such a fiery leadership. Without a word, she slowly slipped over to the left, and settled down at the far end of camp, not wanting to draw any attention to herself. Least she draws the ire of Aspenwood, the last thing she needed right now was to be a target of anyone.
Briarfrost had no stakes in this battle of Leadership, she had only just arrived here with Silverscreech. She had formally yet to ask to remain in the clan, seeing as Mercuryrose had perished before she could make her claim to leadership, and Aspenwood and Ravenclaw had been too busy being at one another's throats for several weeks. She didn't care either way, though she wouldn't lie to herself, she was being swayed by Aspenwood's ambition and conviction. He was a tom the clearly understood what he wanted, and he was determined enough to go for it, even though others might disagree. He seemed a strong and capable tom, someone that wouldn't allow Shadowclan to be beaten down by anyone.
Her mind was made up. The former ex-windclanner and rogue, hopefully and officially future Shadowclanner, rose to her paws and went to the right, showing her support for Aspenwood.
HOLLYSTORM
Stoic Warrior of Shadowclan
The unrest in Shadowclan had been getting to Hollystorm. The normally stony-faced, fairly-silent she-cat had just returned from hunting when the fight had broken out. Two frogs swung from her jaws as she saw the two toms fighting over who of the potential leaders they supported more.
She... tried to think of what her mentor, Grimrose, would do. And yet... her mind was pulling blanks. Dropping her fresh-kill on the pile, the young black molly rolled her eyes- since when were clanmates supposed to fight like kits...? Although... the more she thought about it, the more it motivated her... Hollystorm moved to Ravenclaw's side.
ORCHIDFIRE
Little Spitfire of Shadowclan
"UGHHHH-- STOP FIGHTING!" One of the cats who had pushed to pull the two toms off of each other, Orchidfire's multi-coloured eyes narrowed as she sassed them alongside some of her clanmates. She had pulled Bigfoot back by the scruff- despite her smaller stature, Orchidfire made up for it with her sassy personality.
"Nothing's gonna get decided with you two squabbling!" As much as she wished Starclan would just give them the answer already, she had to admit... it wasn't looking likely at this point. Once contended that the two toms weren't going to tear each other's throats out, she sat back.
"No offense, everyone. But surely picking sides like this is just going to cause issues in the long run?" Regardless, Orchidfire gets up and moves to Aspenwood's side. "Just saying."
In typical Ryepaw fashion, the warrior-aged apprentice had been peacefully lounging in camp, grooming out those long wavy calico tabby locks of fur. While many apprentices of her age might have grown fussy with the notion of waiting to receive their name, Ryepaw was busy enjoying the calm before the storm. Apprentice duties were nothing to her anymore, and when she became a warrior her list of things to do to help the clan would grow exponentially.
Until then, she was happy with the occasional patrol, the cleaning of the occasional den, and the caring for the elders. However, quickly commotion stirred in the camp, and the she-cat stirred to a sitting position, paperthin ears angling towards the cats speaking, taking in everything. She knew neither of the cats in question on a personal level… only having been on an patrol here or there with them both. She also didn’t know where her mentor stood to side with him, however…
As they called for a vote, to move to one side or the other, the apprentice moved to a standing position. She hesitated for only a moment, like many of her clanmates who weighed their options. Ryepaw was however, amongst the first to move, to the right.