Posts of the Week

indent "Thank you for being here. Now, what I wanted to go over-" Dustystar regarded the group of cats she had gathered - her council, of course, as well as skilled cats who weren't otherwise occupied. There was quite a few here - enough that Dustystar stood upon a small rock so that they all could see her, but not enough to warrant a meeting on the tallrock. "Now, I think we've done a fine job making this place into a home. Everyone is just about familiar with the areas around camp, and between here and the barn. However," Dustystar continues.
The prairie is far bigger than just camp, and we don't know enough about the landscape. I'd like to change that, today."

indentDustystar reaches a paw off of the stone, into the soil below, and draws a circle with an outstretched claw."I'm sending out five groups, led by the guard, Goldenroar, and myself, to get a lay of the land."

indent"Merrystalk will lead a group over to the thunderpath, and the Shadowclan border." she draws a line extending out of the circle, towards the east. "I'd like for Redveil, Hollowmumble, Eclipsepaw, and Burrpaw to go along with him. Remember, be civil. Shadowclan are our allies." She's not worried about Merrystalk's temper, but she's less sure of the others ability to stay on their best behavior.

indent"Next off, heading west," Dustystar draws another line. Goldenroar's already been to the gorge the separates us from Skyclan. I'd like him to go back and see if he can find a path to the bottom." This was a riskier expedition, with the risk of falling into the gorge as well as the threat of Skyclan crossing over the twoleg bridge to start a fight. Dustystar trusts Goldenroar, but she'll admit she's nervous. "Crowstep, Aurorabeam, Peafowlpaw, and Dandelionpaw, you go with him. And be careful. The point of this is to find a path to the bottom and back up incase we need to rescue someone, not to jump in and fall to your deaths for a laugh. Make good decisions."

indent"Honeyflower, I'd like you to follow the gorge to it's northernmost point." She draws a pointing to the northwest of camp. "Nobody's gone up there at all, I think. If the gorge is long enough that walking for a whole day wouldn't reach the end, don't bother going farther. It's not worth it at that point." She looks towards the cats that she's sending into unknown territory. "Tinytail, Molewhisker, Petalpaw and Coldpaw, you go with her." This journey could be frightening and difficult, but Dustystar is sure that Honeyflower's grounding presence will keep everyone in check.

indent"Next up," Dustystar says, drawing a line directly northward of camp "Is the spring, north of here." Dustystar had seen it, briefly, while traveling to the highstones. "Nutmegpurr, you lead the way. Mustardflight, Sparrowpaw, and Meadowpaw will come with you." It wasn't necessary to send five whole cats for this - they'd likely just be scouting it out and confirming that the water is clean, and safe to drink. Once it's no longer rainy, it'll likely be their main source of fresh water.

indent"Maremane, your group will be traveling alongside Nutmegpurr's until the last leg." Another line is drawn in the soil, branching out eastward from the one she had just drawn. "I want you to go to the highstones, just barely east of the spring. Harefoot, Gladebloom, Sunbeampaw, and Scorchpaw will accompany you. Stay on guard, it looks like the sort of place that'd be crawling with snakes." It's probably crawling with spirits, too, but she doesn't mention it. She knows many cats here are still skeptical of Starclan, and she'd prefer not to open herself up to needless scrutiny. They were just going to explore the area, they didn't need to know about the Moonstone's power.

indent"I'll lead the last group heading south." One final line is drawn, leading down from camp. "I've been lead to believe this area is a 'neutral ground' of sorts, between the clans. I'd like to be familiar with it myself." Ideally, she'd like to be familiar with the cats that may appear there, as well, but that's left up to luck. It's entirely possible that they find an empty clearing in the woods without another cat in sight. "I'll be taking Beetlepath, Sweetnose, Coyotepaw, and Warrenpaw with me. I hope you're up for a long walk."

indentWith that out of the way, Dustystar stretches and steps off of the rock she'd been using as a podium. "If you have anything else to do in camp, do it now. Eat something if you haven't already today. Then meet up with your group leaders and head out as soon as possible. I want everyone out by midday at the absolute latest. Don't dilly dally."

indent"All cats old enough to gather their own prey, please gather under the Tallrock. I want to go over some things."

indentDustystar sits atop the upright stone, it's sunbaked surface warming her paws as she addresses the cats below her. It feels like such a short amount of time, but her confidence as leader has already grown so much, in no small part due to those who have rallied behind her showing their support. "It's been awfully eventful around here. We've been faced with the fact that we are far from the only 'clan' around these parts. There's four other - Shadowclan to the east of us, past the thunderpath, Skyclan to the west, across the gorge, and Riverclan and Thunderclan, who's borders don't come up against our own." The revelation had come as quite a shock to Dustystar. She wasn't so egotistical to assume she was the only cat contacted by Starclan, of course, but the fact that they had slipped under her radar for so long was startling.

indent"We have yet to have any real conflict with these cats, but we should be wary of their presence anyhow. We're still recovering from the fire, and we can't take on an unexpected conflict right now." Although most of the injuries had healed, the cats here are still settling into their new way of life. Another major disruption could easily send them toppling over the edge and into ruin. "If you see strange cats on the border, don't treat them with hostility, but don't assume good intentions either. Stay on guard."

indentThere was, of course, a small exception. "Shadowclan, though, I want you to treat as allies. Their leader, Sablestar, is Alder's son." 'And, through Peepaw, he's my kin to.' Dustystar leaves her thoughts unsaid - she doesn't want cats to think she's centering her own family relations. "Don't let them come waltzing onto the prairie as they please, of course, but be willing to talk. We may need their help, sometime. Or they may need ours. Let's not push eachother away."

indentDustystar clears her throat. "With all this going around, it's become clear that I can't lead alone. I have learned that it is... erm, traditional for a Leader to choose a cat they trust to take on the role of Deputy, who will act as their second-paw, and their successor, should the worst come to pass." Dustystar would be loathe to admit, but she's still a bit anxious about suggesting they take on 'traditional' ideas. She doesn't want them to think she's doing it just because some old, dead cat told her too, after all. "I believe there's one clear cat for the job. One who's already basically been doing it already, since the start." She turns her gaze to the golden, thick furred tom. "Goldenroar. We met for the first time just after the fire, and I'll admit I wasn't the kindest to you. Despite that, you've shown your support for me every step of the way." In a very literal way, at times. She doubts she'd be able to make it to the Moonstone without leaning on him half the time. "You're a good talker, in a way that I'm not. You're someone other cats naturally want to look up to. I wouldn't want anyone else by my side in this way." Dustystar's ears flush ever-so-slightly pink. She's not usually so... upfront with her emotions, like this. It feels a little strange.

indentShe pauses, giving time for Goldenroar to accept his new position, before continuing. 'I'd like to appoint some other cats to help as well. You'll become the 'Gale Guard', and act as figures of authority when I can't be present." She scans the crowd, looking for the cats she had selected, before her eyes settle on a gentle-eyed calico.
"Honeyflower, you've always had a level head, for as long as I've known you. I'd be honored to have you as part of my council." With tensions as they are, It'll be good to have someone calm and compassionate like Honeyflower to keep the peace. Her pacifistic streak may be just what it takes to keep a fight from breaking out with the other clans - or among their own cats.
"Merrystalk, you're a passionate and dedicated cat. The clan would be lucky to have you as Gale Guard." Although he had shown signs of a temper, Merry was still a good cat at heart. Likewise, he was a wonderful hunter - a trait Dustystar hoped he could pass off onto the rest of the clan.
"Nutmegpurr, I know you have plenty of your own to worry about right now." Although Dustystar wasn't privy to the specifics of what had happened with Meadowpaw and her mother, she knew seeing your family under strain puts undue pressure on one's heart. "Despite that, I'd appreciate if you'd extend a paw to help Windclan grow and prosper. We can always use more cats like you."
Dustystar is a bit nervous about her last choice, but she pushes through it as her eyes find the bay-colored molly in the crowd. "Maremane. I think you've got a strong spirit." Dustystar isn't the most observant cat, but she's fairly sure Maremane isn't all that fond of her. Despite that, Dustystar hopes she recognizes this not as appeasement, but as recognition of her virtues. "I've seen you take charge when it needed to be done. I trust in you to put that to good use."

indentShe lets out a breath she wasn't aware she had been holding. "That'll be it, then. Unless anyone has something to say about it?"

The wild crest of Lucille's neck and shoulders prickled coldly as she rounded the perimeter of cats, the smell of herb packs for the worst of their injuries becoming concentrated. Last meeting had not gone so well, but she wasn't sure if that was for her or for Dusty. She felt petulant, like a kit, at the notion of such abrupt changes, none of them she really thought of before or desired. The change she was chasing led her away from all of this: away from structure, from duty, from permanence.

Dustystar called upon two recognizable toms, the very ones she'd seen as the grey leader's company to the Highstones. The new names were callbacks of their old ones, close enough to even remain as nicknames. She never noted when she began to do as she did often, eyes never leaving Dustystar, staring absently as her mind took lead and went as far as the wind carrying through camp.

She assumed her position at the edge of the crowd disguised her from consideration. The calling of her name connected her thoughts together by a cord, sparks as her back twitched uncomfortably. Was it only a coincedence Dustystar acknowledged her after the toms she had brought with her to Highstones? Had she seen her, and this was how she was made aware?...

The alarm dissolved, tail unwinding from its soothing clutch around her as it began to swipe across the short grass. Lucille stood on the perception Dustystar had formed of her – strong will and spirit. Something about it made her ears burn. It was not the Lucille she saw when she looked into the puddles that had toured their territory. She had lied to her superior. Passed off her spite and bitterness as power, as confidence.

Goldenroar's thank you was not enough to mask the obvious confliction going on in her eyes. Just as quickly as she had changed Lucille, gave her something new in her collection of old ragged luggage, she was onto the next cat, extending this offer. The announcement of Raven's name overpowered the sound that came out of her mouth, something between a splutter and a grunt, quiet and unapproving.

Maremane. It was nothing like 'Lucille'. All of it was a cordial mention to the natural world, perhaps to soothe the supernatural nature of their Clan-shaping tragedy. She had been given a mask, hiding the dictionary definition that had formed around her birth name like a cyst. A name nobody wanted to hear on group hunts, a name delivered with flatness at best and negativity at most.

But it had been hers in a world where she felt like nothing else was.

indentDustystar climbs atop the tallrock for the first time since she had announced her communion with the stars. It's been two days since then. She's given it a bit of time to settle, for cats to make up their mind and come to terms with her first announcement. She had received far from resounding support, but she refused to let it bog down her mind. Instead, she willed herself to focus on all who had offered her support, despite her inexperience and wild claims of cats from beyond the stars.

indent"Everyone old enough to hunt their own prey, gather under the tallrock. I've got some more things to say."

indentShe waits a few moments before continuing, to let cats make their way over. Once she's satisfied everyone who's going to come has, she speaks again. "I'd like to thank you all for comin' here, listening to me. Your support means a great deal to me. I do hope you know this." She bows her head, grateful.
"I know I said we could take our time, what with the names and all, but there's a few I'd like to get out of the way, now. If ya don't mind."

indentFirst her eye drifts towards the two cats that had accompanied her to the Moonstone in her first action as leader. "Goldie, Sweet. You've both been very good to me. I think you deserve some recognition." The two tomcats had been among the first to place their faith in her. Although they weren't close before the fire, Dustystar is sure she'll end up leaning on their support for many moons to come. "Goldy. We may have gotten off on the wrong foot, but you've proven yourself to be loyals and trustworthy, willing to stand up and take action when others hesitate. For this, I grant you the name 'Goldenroar'." The name also suits his long mane and charisma, she thinks. She hopes it serves him well. "Sweet, you're one of the most perceptive cats I know. Without your help, I'd for sure have been carried off my some hawk on the way to the Moonstone. I give you the name 'Sweetnose', in honor of your keen nose and tracking skill."

indentWith the most pertinent names being done with, Dustystar moves on to some of the others. "Lucille." Dustystar didn't know the molly well, but she had made an impression, rushing out during the first meeting. Was it anger or frustration that had sent her away? "You have a powerful will and a strong spirit, like a leading mare. The name 'Maremane' will suit you well, if you choose to take it." Dustystar isn't sure that she'll accept, but she decides to extend the olive branch anyways. "Raven. You've got a good head on your shoulders. Like your namesake, you let reason and intellect guide you." Dustystar has often admired that about him, how he doesn't let emotions sway his decisions. "I offer you the name 'Ravencall'. I hope it serves you well."

indentDustystar takes a deep breath before she continues. "Whorl. You've had a storied life with plenty of experience. I hope that you can stand alongside us as 'Whorltail', and guide us with that you've learned." Only one more to go. "Hibiscus. You're a reasonable cat. I grant you the name 'Hibiscusbelly'. Please continue to stand alongside and support us." Dustystar bows her head once more, regarding the newly names warriors before her.
"If you don't want these names, I suppose i can't force you to use them. But please know they're a piece of history and culture, connecting us to our past. I hope you grow to appreciate them."