Tension rippled beneath the tom's fur like static rubbed between every fiber and hair on his pelt. His tail lashed like the missing lightning crackle within the thundering overhead. The rain pattered over the pocosin's camp in rolling waves that formed wide but shallow puddles in the mud. The clouds choked any of the light from the waxing moon and the outline of the tom's pelt looked more misty than real, as if a ghost stood in his place. With Cicadabuzz still hardly responsive in Magpiepaw's care, and the strength in his council growing slim, Sablestare felt too shaky on these grounds.
Wolfpack had not been seen since the night before and Sablestar had not cared to answer any question nor concern regarding him, practically flippant. Off making a mockery of me. Of my kindness. The thought came tasting bitter. Leave it to Wolfpack to let his children starve, Sablestar would not see it come true. They would grow, quickly, under his care and sprout from little weedlings and into a force born and bled by the pocosin. They would not starve when they can hunt, just as he and Gray had to survive.
"ShadowClan, I come to you bearing unfortunate news." He spoke hoarsely as if there were no air in his lungs. "Cicadabuzz's talents as a medicine cat are... unavailable to us. While bug rests in their den, Magpiepaw is working tirelessly to bring them back to full strength. It is..." Sablestar swallowed dryly, his lips twisting into a grimace. "There is only hope that Cicadabuzz comes back to us, as they were before." If at all, but those words do not dare utter from him, not in his voice.
But suddenly the tuxedo's head snaps upward, and the ferocity in his eyes are ablaze again. "And as for our deputy- he is hardly to be considered as such. For Wolfpack's glaring failures to feed our Clan, to keep your bellies fed, his rank has been stripped away. He's left us! Abandoned our home in his shame, like a coward." A pitched shrill echoed in his accusation while he spat to defame Wolfpack. It may have not been like the hulking tom in recent days to cast his shadow over ShadowClan, not after all the blood spilled for it. But Sablestar's words were cut with a silver tongue, he would favor no other truth than what he spoke.
"I will not see that we starve, however. We will do whatever it takes... Our new apprentices will be painted in their efforts to earn their keep. They are weaned, chewing more than simple morsels, a few moons short should not matter. Step forward, please." His gaze snapped to the attention of the nursery, where Jadethorn had primed her gems in preparation. It was on her blessing, after all.
"Amberkit will not stand beside you while in the medicine den. Train even harder for her sake and hope that while she recovers with a full belly it will bring her closer to joining you." Another endless task for his son to manage without Cicadabuzz... but they must have faith. "Cougarkit, your training will be entrusted to Stoatstream. She has trained at my side near every waking moment, has seen the lands of our home through my eyes and I gladly extend the same opportunity to you." Her night-time activities had not halted past their training, either, and the more he found Cougarkit wandering camp at night, the more he felt right in his decision.
"Silentkit, you will be in the paws of Fleafire. Trained by your mother, she has faced the same path as you do now. Confronting the forest in your smaller moons, I trust she will learn from her journey in apprenticeship to give you only the best." Sablestar regarded Fleafire sharply, his trust in her not to tug the leash only giving way slightly. He had been wrong with her before, he would hope his instinct was wrong again.
"Ghostkit, Bluegale will be in charge of your training. He has been part of this Clan since it was merely an idea, a wish. May the skills he gave to Websight also pass on to you." It had been some time since Bluegale had another apprentice. Hollowmist had doubled up, Halfshade took on Dreampaw's training, it was his time to shine with another sparkling gem of opportunity. Just two left of the litter to pair with a warrior, Sablestar felt like his voice had stretched on for far too long.
"Obsidiankit, your mentor will be Tigerswoop, she is wise as she is talented. I trust her skills from beyond our forest serve you well." A boy who pattered much in his father's shadow, a shame neither were here to grant him mentorship too... Sablestar's ear twitched as he thought of Wolfpack again. Brooding somewhere in his loneliness and Coalstrike...
"Silverkit, for your training I would like to see Flamerunner oversee it." For all the tension and discipline between him and the former deputy, Sablestar would like to see it for himself what Flamerunner could do under pressure. He could roll and expose his belly as Possumgrin had, or soar into success with Jadethorn. "I will be watching you two closely."
There is one more in the nursery, one sturdier than these kits. One with muscle replacing the kitten fat as his sixth moon crawled forward. Sablestar had decided his mentor the moment it was decided the younger of his denmates would be graduating with him. "Amethystkit, it is your day, too." A sudden softness crept in as he motioned the kit forward. "I have thought long for what mentor you need, you are the oldest of your denmates after all. You deserve a stronger paw to fit your capabilities, which is why I've given Jadethorn the pleasure of training you." The raspy crackle of his usual tone returned as the guards name uttered from his mouth. He took a step away from the kittens, done with their ceremonies and ready to move on. Enough time was given in his pause for them to follow in their mentors steps if they wished.
"In light of our ranks unfortunate fall there are needs to be met. This Clan must stand on sturdy ground, and so I ask that Mirepurr and Bluegale join me as my Night Guards. They have served this Clan since it's dawn, and have been at my side even in the times before. I trust they will not disappoint you." It does not seem like an invitation but more as a demand the more he spoke. They had no choice in his eyes, he needed them. They must server their Clan as he saw fit.
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