There was no last call for the harvest. Not even a glimmer of final glory before the fall of leaf-bare. The pocosin had turned on them in the moments Sablestar needed it plentiful the most. Right before the frogs would hide from the frosty waters and birds grew thin and scarce, his Clan deserved to enjoy nights of full bellies before that dwindled away. They could not stretch any more time to prepare before they returned to the days of early sunsets and chilling breezes, Sablestar could find no room for any mistake now.
His Clan would not starve. They did not lay down their lives in hope of a more sensible, safer world in his name just for it all to crumble beneath them as those unfortunate moons returned to relive in his dreams. "ShadowClan, here now." The tom demanded curtly, pacing the length of the buttonbush, it's weakening branches shuttering as his tail whipped into it in rhythm. "Crow, Moonflowerpaw." His words are short, his voice is harsh, and he hardly waited for the pair to part from the crowd of their Clanmates before continuing.
"Crow, as you have learned after finding our patrol, this side of the forest is driven by urgency, instinct. If you are to stay here, continue to grow up in our world and learn so that you may thrive, you will live among your rank with the apprentices. Crow, from this day on you will be known as Crowpaw. I would have had you mentored by Coalstrike, if he were still here..." The creases within Sablestar's expression deepened as his lips tugged into a scowl. Anger, disappointment, disbelief. It was still hard to accept the truth. Still, the words that came from the tuxedo were spoken with passion, conviction. A small rally to settle on apprentice's shoulders. "But there is another deserving of the opportunity. Belladonnadance, I trust you to do whatever it takes to teach this young cat and guide him into greatness as a warrior."
"Now, Moonflowerpaw. While Beaverspot recovers from his injuries, he will not be able to return to mentoring you in that time. I ask Mirepurr take on the responsibility to finish your training until warriorhood, they've already shown great promise in Tickfrost." Ceremonies complete, apprentices given what he could only hope to be the best future for them to succeed, Sablestar had other matters to address.
"ShadowClan... Coalstrike is dead, and with his spirit the prey in our swamp have nearly vanished. Are you prepared to look forward to hungry nights in your nest? Do you think yourself strong enough to live through the hunger pains so much, that they become dull?" He forced his fangs to stay behind his lips, but he could feel the heat of his fury rise. "I look at you all in front of me, I meet your gaze and I say no. I do not have a Clan that let's itself wither into starvation, I do not have warriors who cannot hunt when it is needed. I do not have weakness in my ranks, do I?"
The buttonbush rattled behind him again. "Because of our predicament, I need cooperation now more than ever. I do not need disobedience in my Clan, your backtalk will not feed you. It especially won't inspire me to keep you as a mouth to feed and I will make that clear if forced. Cherryblaze has already discovered this, and now she is no longer your Night Guard." Burning amethyst shades lock onto Wolfpack for a moment, then Jadethorn. "You will be sent to every corner possible to find prey to hunt. The council and myself will be in the forest right alongside you, this will be much different than how we endured in the Colony."
Sablestar loosened the tension in his jaw, pausing in his pace. "This meeting is dismissed. Expect your patrols to double this moon, Wolfpack and Jadethorn will be assigning them."
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