Blurbs again! Under the cut this time lol
“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather round the thorn tree for a clan meeting!”
Bloomwish shuddered as Acornstar’s yowl rang throughout Skyclan camp.
Acornstar’s leader ceremony had just been the night before, and like the two leaders before him, she didn’t doubt he had a thing or two to sneer about his medicine cats.
Bloomwish got to her paws and brushed through the entrance of the medicine cat den, blinking the late day sunlight out of her eyes.
Immediately she spotted Tawnyears across the clearing, sharing a squirrel with Badgerwing. When the molly caught her eye, she flicked her tail beckoning her over.
Other Skyclan cats were already gathering around the Thorn Tree and Bloomwish was in no hurry to sit at the front where she could feel the stares of her clanmates. No, they would be sitting at the back of the crowd, where it would be easier to avoid the pitying and smug glances of the other warriors.
Tawnyears sat next to her and together they watched her brother.
Acornstar kept her eyes on him. Sat atop the Thorn tree, where her ancestors had sat and led the clan, along with the late day sun dappling his coat, Acornstar looked as if he always belonged there.
“What do you think he’ll say?” Tawnyears murmured.
Bloomwish sighed. “Hopefully nothing too bad,” She said. “It...It couldn’t be worse than Adderstar”
Her fur still prickled with unease, still all these seasons later, thinking of Honesyspots and what had come of her kits.
Tawnyears shifted uneasily on her paws. “Can’t he though?” She whispered, frantic. “Papa - Acornstar - he's the leader now, he can do almost anything he wants.”
Bloomwish curled her tail over the molly’s back. “He’s your father Tawny. He...he wouldn’t. Ravensight wouldn’t allow it.”
Tawnyears opened her mouth to reply, but the idle chatter around them died down as Acornstar began to talk.
“Cats of Skyclan,” He began. “I went to Mothermouth last night, your deputy, and today i stand before you, your leader. For those old enough to remember, I wasn’t always the best warrior or deputy, but now as leader, I want to be a cat all of you can rely on and trust in. And that starts with righting the wrongs of the past. Bloomwish, please join me up here.”
Bloomwish blinked in surprise, slow to take in all of Acornstar’s words. It wasn’t until Tawnyears nudged her that she stumbled to her paws and made her way through her clanmates to join her brother atop the Thorn Tree.
It was only when she was settled next to him, did the tom begin to speak again.
“Moons and seasons ago, tragedy struck Skyclan when a fierce and compassionate cat died and her two kits were gravely injured. Adderstar, in his grief, blamed his son and blamed the medicine cats involved. Not only did he betray his kits, but also his medicine cats by renouncing them, and taking away their support from the rest of the clan. Talonstar followed in his father’s pawsteps, but today, right now, I put an end to that.”
Bloomwish stared at Acornstar in shock. Of all the things she expected...it wasn’t this - whatever this was turning out to be.
Acornstar continued. “Medicine cats, as is expected in all the other clans, will be respected and held in the utmost regards as they heal us and provide guidance to us all. No longer are the days where they must rely on the kindness of their clanmates to have a meal - or worse, subject themselves to hunting when there are perfectly good warriors to do so.”
Bloomwish still watched Acornstar and saw his icy blue eyes narrow into a glare and his lips curl in a snarl as a few murmurs of dissent rose up from the gathered cats.
“This is not up for debate!” He yowled, silencing everyone. “This is final. If any cat is found disrespecting either Bloomwish or Tawnyears, like an unruly kit, then you’ll be treated as such.” Acornstar lifted his muzzle daring any cat to question him once more. When he was satisfied, Bloomwish watched as he took a breath and spoke up again.
“I’m glad that’s settled. Now on for my second reason for gathering you all today - as leader of Skyclan now, I must assign a deputy.”
Bloomwish watched as her clanmates perked up, and she briefly wondered if Acornstar had planned this, but shook off the thought as the tom continued.
“The cat I have chosen has always shown remarkable skill, level headedness, and most of all: promise. They are a cat that I have no doubt all of you have thought of time and time again to lead just like their kin Adderstar and Talonstar before me and besides being fiercely loyal, is a cat with passion and humility that will serve us for moons to come.”
Bloomwish searched the clearing and spotted the cat that she thought Acornstar was talking about.
Foxspots was hunched over, her sister Elmclaw grooming her fur in between words of encouragement, no doubt already congratulating her on becoming deputy as such a young cat. Foxspots was always going to be leader Bloomwish supposed, even if she rarely shined as center of attention.
“That is why I’ve chosen Elmclaw to be my deputy.”
Surprise and confusion rippled outward, beginning with both Foxspots and Elmclaw and ending with Bloomwish, who for the second time that evening was left gaping at her brother.
Acornstar caught her eye and allowed his lips to quirk up in a small smile, giving her a wink as cats began to hesitantly, and then, with more enthusiasm, give their congratulations to Elmclaw, eyes shining with gratitude and happiness.