GRAVELPELT.
leader of thunderclan?
He'd been silent the whole trip to the Mooncave, which might have made for an awkward atmosphere if he weren't so absorbed in his own thoughts. He was surprised Peachblossom had offered to make this trip with him, but also relieved, even if she hadn't exactly been very receptive of the news he'd shared yesterday. It was likely a good idea to have someone along with him, especially someone else who could communicate with StarClan so easily and was well-respected within ThunderClan. That way, whatever news they received, when they returned to camp and he told everyone what StarClan said was going on, they'd have no choice but to believe him when Peachblossom backed him up.
It'd been a long trip, but one he wasn't already used to due to the fact the Clans held Gatherings above the Mooncave. In fact, he'd daresay they arrived long before he was ready to face whatever was waiting for him in their ancestors' realm. He'd been raised to be a staunch believer in StarClan, but he'd never had a personal experience with them yet. He also wasn't excited to know what news they had to share, because it likely wasn't anything he'd want to hear.
"It would seem we're here," he mumbled, breaking the silence at last. Standing before the Mooncave's gaping black entrance, he really couldn't muster the courage up to take the first step inside. It was probably made obvious by how he lingered outside, shifting his weight from paw to paw.
GRAVELPELT.
warrior of thunderclan?
While he had always believed in the ancestors and their power, he had never put blind faith into them. He doubted there was such thing as a truly benevolent god, and the cats of StarClan most certainly weren't. They gave, lives to leaders and visions to medicine cats, but they also took- loved ones, the very lives they gave to leaders, chances a cat had been looking forward to. They ruled with a soft but firm paw. One just had to believe they did what they did to keep the Clans alive and thriving, even if they didn't agree.
He drew comfort from Peachblossom's experienced presence, even if her smile wasn't very bolstering. Drawing in a shaky breath, he gave her a resolved nod before settling onto his belly, tucking his paws beneath his chest, and reaching forward to gently lap at the water. It was cold and crisp, and would have been refreshing, if it didn't feel like it had settled into his very bones themselves and lit his whole body on fire with chill. One second he was gritting his teeth, blinking his eyes, and the next he fell into darkness.
Light exploded all around him, swirling about in the form of stars starting to condense into more solidified objects; trees, rocks, flowing water, and there, a cat. It was disorienting, and it felt like he was walking on nothing. He didn't dare move a muscle, watching the StarClanner come closer.
"Gravelpelt, welcome. You have been expected," the voice spoke, soft and melodic. The she-cat painted a beautiful vision as she shimmered into better view, the stars making up her features seeming to constantly shift with a wind that the ThunderClanner couldn't feel himself.
"Uhm, hi. Sorry it took so long, I wasn't- wasn't really expecting this, ya know?" He chuckled nervously, ducking his head to avoid the other's starry, slightly unnerving gaze.
An amused but not mean purr emanated from the StarClanner. "Things moved faster than even we expected, young one. I am Fawnheart, past medicine cat of ThunderClan. We don't have much time, I'm afraid. Wildstar was indeed-" "W-Wait!" The mottled brown tom blurted, looking mortified after the words had slipped out so forcefully. He hadn't even really meant to spoke up, planning on simply listening to her, but something had been nagging at him. She was the only cat present, and from what he understood, leaders received their lives from multiple cats. So where was everyone else? "Sorry, sorry- uhm, but, it's on-only you?"
"It's okay, you're understandably confused and anxious, Gravelpelt. But, as I was saying- Wildstar was sent away, she was meant to leave ThunderClan in your capable paws. StarClan willed this. But," Fawnheart paused, looking away in an almost guilty manner. Or what Gravelpelt would assume was one, seeing as her expression was hard to gauge. "But you will not be receiving nine lives. Wildstar still has all of hers, and while StarClan might have power, we do not have the power to grant eighteen lives to two different cats of the same Clan."
Silence settled between the two as Gravelpelt soaked in this news, clearly not knowing what to say or how to respond.
"So- So I'm not actually leader, then? I'm just a stand-in deputy until Wildstar returns," he surmised, looking a bit relieved. Wildstar would be back eventually, and then everyone would be happy again. All he had to do was-
"No," Fawnheart stated. "You are meant to be Gravelstar. You will be Gravelstar as soon as you awaken from this meeting. You will just have to be wiser than any leader yet, as you won't have nine lives to go tossing around as you please. ThunderClan is under your care now, young one. StarClan is certain you will do great things for the Clan, once everyone accepts you." Her whiskers twitched in amusement, silently speaking of her knowing how everyone had reacted so far. "Now, our time is up. StarClan blesses your leadership of ThunderClan, Gravelstar." The starry cat gave a dip of her head before fading into the background before his very eyes. The stars around him lingered before suddenly shooting up, disappearing into inky darkness and leaving him falling into the depths below as the ground was ripped from beneath his paws.
He awoke beside the Moonpool with a gasp, shooting up into a sitting position but not daring to get to his paws because his stomach was queasy and his sight was spinning. The tom could hardly get his head to turn towards Peachblossom, wondering if she was done yet herself. How much time had passed during his chat with Fawnheart, why hadn't a past leader come to speak with him? Were they too embarrassed to meet him face to face?
No matter how many times she entered Mooncave, the same soothing feeling always washed over her. Peachblossom might not have the best relationship with the cats in Starclan, she did always feel more at home being at the point where their connection was strongest. The surge of Starclans might thundering in her ears, they were always the loudest in this cave, their voices bouncing off at echoing back to her with every step. They are especially loud tonight…The spirits are restless tonight.
Peachblossom pace quickened to be placed in front of Gravelpelt, her voice silent until they reached the further depths of the cave. There waiting in the middle for them was a glistening stone, one that Peachblossom had seen many times, but also one that Gravelpelt, like most warriors, had never seen before. Her whiskers twitched as she realized the voice speaking to her now wasn't the one of any stars, but the very much present Gravelpelt. Clearing her throat she simply led the warrior over to the pool of water that surrounded the stone. “It's not as simple as just ‘drinking water’ Gravelpelt.” The creamy molly lowered herself to the ground, the cool feeling of the cave floor sending a small shiver down the feline's spine. Beckoning Gravelpelt down to her level. Her paw dipped into the water, causing gentle ripples throughout the clear liquid. “Starclan is much like water. We need them to survive. They share their wisdom and guidance with us and in return we honor them and their ways.” But she knew better than anyone just how cruel Starclan can be when they don't get their way. Her paws touched the water again, this time with much more force, causing slightly larger waves to lap through the pool. “But also like water, they can be dangerous. They hide behind this facade that we need them to survive and just when we’ve exhausted all our energy too tired to swim back to the surface, they stick and drag you down with them. They sit on a throne of lies, Gravelpelt. Make sure you listen to the right ones. You’ll know which ones they are simply by listening to your own inner voice.” Peachblossom knew it was a lot to take in before going under and seeing Starclan for the first time, but he needed to know just how dangerous being a leader can be. Starclan gives them these lives and would happily take them away just as easily. The healer loved Starclan, and trusted their guidance, but she knew if they didn't get what they wanted they would threaten whoever to get it. Peachblossom wasnt given the choice, Starclan demanded her to be the next medicine cat, she just wanted to make sure that Gravelpelt wasn't forced into something he wasn't ready for.
“Like I said, it's not just ‘drinking water’. You still need to clear your mind, and open your thoughts to Starclan. It’ll be easier that way. Trust me, the more you fight it, the more painful it is.” She tried offering the tom cat a reassuring smile, but honestly she was pretty sure he could see right through her. Peachblossom didn't have much confidence in the warrior, but she was trying to put what little amount of confidence she could afford into him. Peachblossom slowly shuffled closer to Gravelpelt, “I’ll be right here until you’re in Starclan. I’ll follow in behind you, but unfortunately I won't be there for your ceremony. I have other matters to attend to. But I will be here when you wake” Her tail, hesitantly, was placed gently across his back as if she was comforting a sickly kit. “Now go Gravelpelt. And pray that Wildstar wasn't just pulling your tail.”
GRAVELPELT.
warrior of thunderclan?
Gravelpelt had been tired before. Heck, his whole life he'd felt tired- a bone deep weariness no amount of sleep ever seemed to be able to shake. But now, as he stood before the looming entrance to the Mooncave and listened to Peachblossom speak, as he thought back on how the meeting that morning had gone, he realized he would never have the chance to feel well-rested in his life ever again. Whatever happened tonight, whether he was bestowed leadership or StarClan told him someone else was actually supposed to step up to the plate, he knew the Clan would never give him an easy time again. He'd no longer be able to be a mediocre, background character warrior. Everyone would know him as Gravelstar, or they'd know him as the warrior who cried wolf in a pathetic try to get himself power and attention after a lifetime of floundering in the mud.
"Peachblossom," the mottled brown tom sighed, clearly searching for the resolve to speak words. "I'm only honoring what Wildstar instructed me to do the night she left. She claimed she had received those visions, ones telling her to leave and others saying she should leave me in charge. I find it hard to believe myself, which is why I'm here tonight. We all need answers. If those answers are that I should lead now, so be it. I've done more uncomfortable things in my life, and I've only ever wanted to see my Clan thrive. And if the answer is I shouldn't lead, and someone else should? Then I'll step aside. I respect StarClan, unlike most warriors these days."
Leaving it at that, just wanting to know what his fate should be from that moment forward, he finally stepped into the Mooncave without any preamble.
It wasn't a full moon, nor a new moon, but the amount of light managing to filter into the cave from the opening above left Gravelpelt momentarily breathless by the beauty of the scene set before him. He'd never been before, as evidenced by hesitation to enter, but he'd heard tales of what the Mooncave looked like. None of them had been able to do their ancestors' communication center justice.
Slowly he moved forward, giving Peachblossom room to walk alongside him. "So I just approach the pool and drink some water, lie down and shut my eyes, and then I'll be in StarClan?" It sounded so mundane when he said it like that.
I’ll show you, you aren't meant to be the leader of my Thunderclan. Peachblossom trailed silently behind the warrior, her belly gently grazing the ground with her steps. I really should have set this one out. Even if she wanted to, that wasn't an option, she needed to witness it for herself, the stars accepting Gravelpelt as leader. Fuck you Wildstar, even when you arent here you are still causing me such a big headache. The medicine cat wished the dilute calico molly would have stayed in Thunderclan, she still couldn't comprehend why she would leave, and why she wouldn't tell her.
The nerves radiating off Gravelpelt reminded Peachblossom of her first time meeting the stars. It could definitely be an intimidating process, especially when the threat of a civil war hung over his head if the stars rejected him, making him out to be a liar. But for Peachblossom being closer to Mooncave she felt more alive than ever, her relations with Starclan are always a bit strain, feeling so close to them sent a warm sensation swirling around her paws.
Peachblossom wanted this all to be over, she wanted answers, she wanted peace. The Medicine Cat, somewhere during their journey, had decided to put what little faith she had in Gravelpelt. Obviously Heavyroar would have been the better decision as he was already deputy and had already proven himself worthy in her eyes, but if Gravelpelt was being honest he was going to need her support. Some would follow blindly just because he bore the name 'Star' but others, like Hazelpaw, would need more reassurance and encouragement. Even if she refused to voice it out loud she silently prayed to Starclan that Gravelpelt was telling the truth, because if he wasnt Thunderclan would once again be thrown into a state of disaster, this time without a wild fire to save them.
Seeing his paws twitch nervously, Peachblossom held back a small giggle, it was funny how quickly normal level headed warriors turn into nervous kits around such strong forces. “Alright so called ‘leader’ this is your moment. Not to add too much pressure but if they don't accept you, you know war will erupt in Thunderclan.” Rolling her eyes, she gave him an encouraging bump when she noticed him hesitating to take a step into the cave, “I don't want my clan to be hurt again, so you better not be lying Gravelpelt.” This was for him to do, it was his decision to make if he wanted to go inside or not. She wouldn't go in before him, he had to take that leap. Peachblossom would be right there with him, if he made the decision to go in. If he didnt, well then he might as well turn tail and run as far away from Thunderclan as he could.