One. He was leading the pack back. There's a void at his flank, where softer gray would be. She would be leading them, yellow eyes peering ahead even if one of them didn't work so good. She was worried about that, he remembered. Not being able to perform as well as some of the warriors given the lack of vision on that side. He had scoffed at the time. Told her that he would help train her back up, he thinks. Did you ever do that? Could extra training have saved her? A harrowing thought, for sure.
Two. The clan was right. Everyone, except a minor few, had a heavy doubt for this patrol. Some were outright maddened, howling at Dustystar their opinions. Goldenroar swallows. He himself had doubts, and found rage in the bloodlust, but he isn't so sure he agrees with that anymore.
Your fault, isn't it? You reaped this, sewing that chaos. This is the result. The consequences.
By the time Windclan arrives to camp, he's depositing anyone he had helped walk by Dimmingsun's den. They are mostly empty pawed, almost all of them bearing wounds or bruises- but every soul carried a haunting look like him, he thinks. He looks for the medicine cat's eyes briefly, trying to find stability there. He doesn't find it. Goldenroar turns, heading for the perch at the head of the camp. The rock that she settled on. That she lead from. Where Dustystar's mantle remained. The crown that he carries in his mind is still there in his jaws. Not his head. Not yet.
"Windclan!" He calls, voice carrying. They're sure to be here by now, looking for her. The gaps that remain. The glue that disappeared. "There's no sense in dancing around the subject. Dustystar is gone." Goldenroar says. The bear trap tightens. He swallows to get past it, the crack in his voice that leapt when he admitted to her death. He couldn't say that out loud. "Please- I know... I know what this means." That you all were right. That is was foolish. A price too great to pay for prey, of all things. Don't tell me. Don't tell me! He keeps the internal panic away, tries to focus on the things he needs to.
"Those of your with injuries." He clears his throat, swallows. He gets past the lump, shifts his eyes away from any of Dustystar's remaining family, closest friends. Wasn't that you? "See Dimmingsun and Meadowpaw. I need a pawful of warriors to keep an eye on the direction of Skyclan's border. They won't be following us, but there's no sense in being too careful." He inhales sharply, fights the hiccup, the sob, he wants to let out. "I... will be leader now, given... the situation. Any of you with questions, you're welcome to see me." He rattles out the announcement, but expects the questions shouted at him anyways. He doesn't move, like a statue. The crown lingers in his mind.
-
"speech"
// hello windclan :] This is, of course, the announcement that Dustystar is presumed dead and leadership is being handed off to Goldenroar!!
// I want to extend my deepest thanks to Stormy, and to Dustystar, for leading us through this first leadership of Windclan!! They did an absolutely lovely job forming Windclan and the culture that extends around them ICly. I am going to miss you around as leader Stormy, so you know where to find me if you ever wanted to plot. Windclan, please visit Stormy's channel and annoy them to death about how much you're going to miss them (and I'll see you there because I will be too!!)
// As for the ceremony meeting, I will be penning that up shortly, thank you all for your patience!! mwah mwah kisses to you all
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GOLDENROAR he/him, windclan deputy, fourty four moons.
☆ a lh golden red marbled tabby with low white and glimmering aqua eyes. often seen with a smirk, confidence oozing from him in heaps, but always the ever-helpful guy.
☆ mentored by no one / mentoring dandelionpaw
☆ older brother to merrystalk and sunnyspring
☆ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
☆ penned by laevatein ↛ laevatein_arx8 on discord, feel free to dm for plots.
☆ mini by tasmagoric, ref image by laevatein (yours truly!)
