First && HIGHROCK && meeting }}

[[:; [h] e a r t ::♥]]

"Erm, alright. I guess I'd be going then..." Rosepaw's light southern accent tinted her voice as she spoke to her mentor. She waslked away to Inkpaw, Dreampaw, Virdianpaw, and Pebblepaw. "Hi guys," she said shyly, admiration for the older apprentices in her glittering indigo eyes.

Honeypaw looked up at Onespot, anticipation for the new deputy showing in her leaf-green eyes too. "Who do you think'll be the new deputy. I have a good guess for Icefoot," she mewed, hoping that onespot wasn't hurt by her not thinking the deputy would be her.

[>>BLACKiE! ]}]

Icefoot gave a polite nod to his apprentice. He did feel rather bad inside at the fact that he wasn't giving her a warm welcome to being his apprentice and being underneath his mentoring wing, yet this wasn't exactly the time. I'll make it up to her tomorrow somehow, maybe even today if Northstar speeds this process up of becoming deputy. he thought to himself as he looked at the SkyClan leader, awaiting her words.

--x

"Rosepaw," Dreampaw meowed warmly to the new apprentice, giving a nod in her direction, "welcome to being an apprentice underneath Icefoot's mentoring." With that, she looked around at the other three apprentices with her, wondering what they would say. "And if you don't know, I'm Dreampaw. This is Pebblepaw--" she pointed with her paw since her tail was entwined with Inkpaw's, "--this is Viridianpaw--" again, she pointed with her paw, "--and this little furball sitting next to me right now is Inkpaw." Amusement remained in her eyes as she said the words about Inkpaw, affection gleaming in them as well as the black pelted apprentice began making his own welcome.

"Hiya, Rosepaw!" Inkapw chirruped cheerfully. He thought of what else to say, but couldn't exactly think of much. "Hey, you said everything there was to say!" he exclaimed to Dreampaw, mock anger in his voice as he spoke to the she-cat apprentice. Inkpaw couldn't even stay fake angry at Dreampaw; the black tomcat apprentice let out a purr to Dreampaw.

"Yes, those are Inkpaw and Dreampaw -- the two lovebirds," Viridianpaw meowed to Rosepaw, laughter glinting in his bright green eyes as he spoke. "And of course, as said before, I'm Viridianpaw. I guess you can kind of tell from my eyes; they're green and that's what the word 'viridian' means." he explained in a kind tone of voice.

"And I'm Pebblepaw as you heard before from Dreampaw," Pebblepaw meowed lastly. "You might be wondering why pebble for my name and not something like sand. Well, pebbles are embedded within sand most of the time... and well, that's the logic behind it I guess."

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[[:; [h] e a r t ::♥]]

Rosepaw dipped her head to the apprentices, looking at Virdianpaw warmly. She felt a strange feeling in her stomach when she looked at him..."Thanks, guys. Congratulations to Dreampaw and Inkpaw for your new mentors," she mewed, still sending glances in Virdianpaw's direction. She looked up the sky, sparkling white flakes falling onto her soft creamy ginger fur. "Wow, the snow sure is beautiful," she mewed, wonder in her night-sky eyes.

[>>BLACKiE! ]}]

Viridianpaw pressed lightly against Pebblepaw, a purr arising in his throat as he did so. He was tempted to say the words of "yes, but it's not as beautiful as Pebblepaw" but decided against it; he was too shy. Viridianpaw was the type of cat that was better at expressing himself with actions instead of words. After all, what you did was usually far more important than what you said.

He pressed his nose lightly into Pebblepaw's orange and black colored pelt, feeling rather delighted when she didn't pull away from his touch. It was soothing to be seated next to the she-cat apprentice and awaiting the announcement from Northstar of whom the next deputy would be. He cocked his head to the side, his head by accident resting lightly on top of Pebblepaw's. Surprised, he pulled away a fraction of an inch, but otherwise remained in his current position. It was quite comfortable, really.

--x

Inkpaw looked at Viridianpaw and Pebblepaw for a brief moment, amusement glinting in his bright hazelnut colored eyes. "Lovebird?" he meowed. If Inkpaw had been human, a single eyebrow would've raised up and have formed an arch, a questioning manner as he looked at the two. His friend Viridianpaw wasn't exactly the most bold cat; no, Viridianpaw was a shy and timid cat, especially around the she-cat he liked...

Was is possible? Maybe. Pebblepaw was a relatively pretty she-cat apprentice, although in Inkpaw's eyes, Dreampaw was far more beautiful then any other she-cat in the world. Turning back to the silver tabby apprentice, Inkpaw ran his tongue lightly over her ear again in a single, light stroke, tenderness for the she-cat lacing through his eyes.

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[[:; [h] e a r t ::♥]]

["After all, what you did was usually far more important than what you did". Erm, Blackie, I think it's supposed to be "What you did was usually far more important than what you said." Sorreh, I just wanted to point that out.]

[>>BLACKiE! ]}]

"Qui le pensez-vous est, Madmoiselle Rosepetal?" Twilightleaf meowed quietly to Rosepetal so as not to disturb the enrapture on the other cats' faces as they looked eagerly at their leader, wanting to know who the next deputy, and perhaps future leader, of SkyClan would be. "Who do you think it is, Madmoiselle Rosepetal?" he added as a translation for his French language to the she-cat warrior.

He himself wouldn't mind the position of deputy, although he would be fine without it. Deputy would just be another position to impress Rosepetal with; Twilightleaf could really care less whether he would be proclaimed deputy or not. Maybe even Rosepetal, seated next to him, would be the next deputy -- who knew? It was certainly an uncertain fact, this wonder of who would be deputy. Twilightleaf himself saw some cats looking around. Indeed, any of the cats could be seated next to the future deputy of SkyClan.

--x

"I don't know, Senor Twilightleaf," Rosepetal offered in response to the tomcat warrior. She wanted to listen to who Northstar would chose as deputy and wanted Twilightleaf to be quiet for a few more moments, but she didn't want to just tell him to 'shut up' as some other cats would say to the tomcat warrior of French heritage.

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[Agii♫]

She knew whom it was, and had taken a precarious amount of lengthy and deep thought into it, but finally, the decision had been made. It was an acquired taste, affable, and as her brilliant mossy eyes scanned over each of the clan members, she gave no hint as to whom it would be with the flicker of her eye. Airs of anticipation and overwhelming anxiousness had brought her to a point of being an aristocrat, for in truth, she was. Creamy paws shifted on the smooth rock, slowly being dusted with the feathery snow that the cooling air brought down on the cool soils of SkyClan camp.

But now, as Northstar took one last scan-over of the felines whom she had grown to love and respect with all of the rest of her torn heart--as much as she could handle--she parted her jaws to speak the words that they had been anticipating for so long.

"Aspenwind," she called, authority drowning her voice as it rang out the she-cat's name, pride making her head rise and creamy chest stick out, long, peach-marked tail becoming erect. The leader did not doubt her decision; this would be a deputy capable of taking her place in times of desperation. This was a wise choice indeed, and she had full confidence in it.

[>>BLACKiE! ]}]

Viridianpaw's head snapped up as he heard his mother's name being said by Northstar for the proper choice of a deputy. His... mother? Immediately, as he took in what Northstar had said, exhiliration and excitement rushed into him. "Aspenwind!" he cried out with enthusiasm that almost couldn't be matched as he sprang up. Before Aspenwind could start moving up towards Northstar, Viridianpaw was at her side, rubbing against his mother and purring.

"You're deputy, mom, you're deputy!" he whispered to her softly, pride gleaming in his bright green eyes as he looked at his mother, his tail twitching with excitement, although like all cats, he had the proper dignity to not say that he was "wagging" his tail like those... what were they called? Dogs. Yeah, like dogs; those uncivilized, crude creatures.

--x

Aspenwind looked down lovingly at her son, responding to his purrs with her own. She was truly surprised; she, out of all the other cats in the Clan? Dipping her head down low to lick her son's head, she touched her nose to his shoulder lightly before leaping up to the Highrock to receive whatever words Northstar had to say to her.

The scene and the sounds replayed in her mind as she journeyed up to the Highrock; the deputy was her? She was pleased, yes, but she knew that she had a long road of responsibility and hardship to come along with the great honor of becoming the deputy of SkyClan. "Northstar," she meowed to the she-cat once she had made it up on the Highrock, "I never expected to receive such an honor. Thank you for choosing me as deputy." Even though her words were simple and plain, pure gratitude and respect for her leader shone in her eyes.

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[[:; [h] e a r t ::♥]]

"Aspenwind!" Ravenfeather called to the she-cat. "Aspenwind!" Rosepaw mewed, as she heard her clanmates call the same thing.

[Agii♫]

The view of Viridianpaw and his mother exchange purrs of affection gave her a slight prick in the side, nudging her so that her paws shifted, her entire body moving slightly as the pressure hit her. It was impeccable, impossible, that she felt like this. A strong, trusted leader, disgruntled by simply a mother and child sharing affectionate words and gestures?

Was she breaking down?

The lean-limbed cream and peach leader regained herself as Aspenwind's words caught her ears, reeling her back from the ocean of confusion and wonder. Instantaneously Northstar's lips expanded in a broad grin, dirty-green eyes glinting with satisfaction and pride for the skilled and wise deputy. "How could I not?" she replied warmly, turning and licking Aspendwind's strong shoulder swiftly before stepping backwards to speak to her again. "You may take your position next to me as deputy now, Aspendwind."

[>>BLACKiE! ]}]

Aspenwind gave a deep dip of her head to her leader, even more gratitude rushing into her gaze. "I couldn't thank you enough, Northstar," she murmured softly, padding past her leader and seating herself a few paces behind Northstar, as was respectful.

As she surveyed the SkyClan members cheering for her, more pride flowed into her. This was the SkyClan she knew and loved and now, she was deputy to one of the greatest leaders -- Northstar. Being older then ten moons by considerably many moons, Aspenwind knew about Northstar's loss and how difficult it was to cope with a lost love. Her own mate, Viridianpaw's father, had gone to join StarClan a while back, but Aspenwind knew that it was possible for it to be even more difficult to deal with losing the love of your life instead of your mate, although the two could intertwin closely together as her emotions had been with her mate.

--x

Pebblepaw's head jerked up as well when she felt a rush of cold air burst at her side. She had a rather confused look on her face when Viridianpaw jumped up and ran over to Aspenwind... Of course! How could she be so slow? Aspenwind was Viridianpaw's mother! Immediately, Pebblepaw began cheering as loudly as she could. "Aspenwind!" she called out to Viridianpaw's mother, delight running through her as a look of pride glimmered in her face. If Aspenwind was Viridianpaw's mother, then that fact alone made Aspenwind a worthwhile deputy. Still, despite the fact that Aspenwind was the mother of Viridianpaw, Pebblepaw also knew that Aspenwind was normally a kind and patient soul -- when not frustrated, that was.

All around her, cheers erupted from Aspenwind. Inkpaw, of course, was cheering in a loud tone of voice while Dreampaw beside him was cheering as well, although in a quieter tone. There was Viridianpaw, of course, standing up and cheering for his mother as loud as he could. From her point of being able to see, Pebblepaw saw that many cats were crying out for Aspenwind -- Icefoot, Rosepetal, Twilightleaf, Oceanwing, Azalealeaf, Cloudpuff, Aquasky, Lovepaw, and even Mai, the newcomer to the Clan, seated beside Cloudpuff.

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[>>BLACKiE! ]}]

Coalspark had padded into Camp at the exact moment of when Northstar had announced the new deputy. He looked around, wondering who the new deputy of SkyClan would be. Looking up at the Highrock, he saw who was seated behind Northstar a few paces. Aspenwind. Pleased at Northstar's choice, Coalspark slid in to sit next to Oceanwing, his mate.

"Hello, Oceanwing," he purred softly to the calico colored she-cat, his pelt brushing against hers as he felt her shift so that she was pressed against his side. Wrapping his tail around, he entwined his ebony colored tail with hers. "And how are Ravenfeather and Inkpaw doing?" he asked, although it wasn't much of a question -- he himself knew.

Still, it was a surprise to see Ravenfeather seated with Azalealeaf not so far away and it was an even larger surprise to see that Inkpaw was cooing to Dreampaw and Dreampaw was murmuring soft words back. "Love, hmmmm?" Coalspark purred softly, his silvery blue eyes glinting slightly with amusement as he watched his sons for a few moments before looking back down at Oceanwing.

Coalspark gave another purr when Oceanwing nodded. The black pelted tomcat looked back up at Northstar, wondering when she would be done with the Clan meeting. Observing his Clanmates, he saw an unfamiliar she-cat seated next to Cloudpuff. Who was that? What had he missed? "Who /is/ that?" he asked quietly to Oceanwing, cocking his head to the side in wonder.

--x

"That's Mai. She's a former kittypet, but Foxflower brought her in. Cloudpuff's quite taken with her, you could say," Oceanwing meowed in response to Coalspark. A teasing light came into her eyes. "Where were /you/? Off daydreaming somewhere?" she asked, running her tongue lightly over her mate's ear.

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[frosty ♥]

Bravepaw watched as Aspenwind sat on the Highrock next to Northstar, his whiskers twitched in annoyance, another she-cat for deputy? He thought Lionclaw was going to get it, he glanced swiftly at the tomcat, trying to see what his reaction was. Lionclaw was not paying any attention to the meeting but was glancing at Aquasky with a teasing gleam in his eye. Okay...maybe not Lionclaw, the grey tomcat thought after a moment. The golden warrior was too, what was the word, OBSESSED with himself and she-cats. There we go, wasn't exactly a word but more of a phrase. Beside him, his radiant love was chanting the new deputy's name like everyone else was. How sweet her voice was to his ears, so soft and honey-rich.

As he gazed at her, his irritation turned to affection, just then his love's beautiful icy-blue eyes fell upon his own. She must have seen the spark of annoyance in his deep, dark eyes since it didn't totally disappear. "What's wrong? Aren't you happy for Aspenwind?" she inquired, tipping her head to the side in confusion. "You haven't even called out her name. I thought you liked her," the look in concerned look Silverpaw's eyes made his tail flick, he couldn't lie to her now could he? Silverpaw rasped her tongue over his ear.

"Well, its just that I thought a tomcat would get picked this time instead of another she-cat" he admited quietly, so that no other cat could hear. He waited anxiously for a reaction, hopefully she'd understand.

Silverpaw's ears pricked and her eyes narrowed slightly, "what's wrong with a she-cat for deputy? Northstar is a she-cat" she challenged him, a bit of defense entering her eyes, "There is nothing wrong with the gender of a cat, Bravepaw, and I thought you would understand that concept by now." Great, he'd done it, before he told her he loved her this is how he knew she was angry. Silverpaw would say his name in a sentence just like this. Even though her voice was quiet and soft as it always was there was a sharp note in its depth. Bravepaw dipped his head to her.

[>>BLACKiE! ]}]

Aquasky completed her cheering, deciding not to waste all of her voice on yelling out the new deputy's name. In truth, she was extremely pleased that Aspenwind was deputy. Now that the deputy had been chosen, everything would be all right in SkyClan and life would go on as it always had, day after day. It would be normal and good.

Except for Lionclaw. Why, for StarClan's sake, had the golden colored tomcat been born into this world? The she-cat turned to glare at the tomcat, finding a rather smug look written across his face. Pure dislike for the tomcat shone in her blue colored eyes. "Stupid little..." she muttered underneath her breath glaring at him, her ears tilting back slightly with frustration.

Stupid, stupid Lionclaw. Yeah, that was right. Stupid Lionclaw.

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[Agii♫]

Do it with a heart wide open, do it with a heart wide open.
Say what you need to say, say what you need to say.
Even if your eyes are closing.

The Hell with it.

Scanning her slowly dimming mossy eyes over her beloved Clan, Northstar curled her long tail high, lifting her skull and tipping her shoulder blades backwards, thrusting her thick chest out. "This meeting is officially concluded!" she said over them, her eyes glistening with the urge to fight the shadows in her fur.

Oh, why did this hurt so much? What had she done? A wrong to StarClan?

Swallowing, she turned to the new deputy, eyes piercing with a slight prick of vexation; although at herself, and not the strong she-cat. "Send a patrol near the border of our territory by the lake," the cream and peach feline ordered, not taking a chance in waiting and turning abruptly to leap off Highrock in one, lithe bound, landing with adeptness as she sprinted off from the crowd and onto a far corner of the heart of camp. A brisk thought caught her, causing her to gasp. It was all too sudden that she heard his voice calling her name, making her body freeze on contact.

--x

A new deputy, and such a strong choice! Aspenwind, the one and only, who else could fit the position better? No one he thought of on the spot.

Bringing himself to his love again, the deceased invisible blinked slowly, pain suddenly shooting through him and making him wince. When Northstar had turned to speak to Aspenwind, he had caught a glimpse of her eyes, and all too suddenly his eyes began to burn. Quickly, oh so quickly, she leaped off Highrock, dolphining through the Clan until she reached a patch of frosted ferns.

"Northstar!"