The Return {Open}

[Crosshatch♠]

Dawnstar limped into the ShadowClan camp, her eyes drooping with weariness that made every paw step seem like a rock falling onto her feet. Her tail dragged on the ground, making a trail in the dust. The moon was high in the sky as she entered her home. She had just gotten back from the Moonpool, where she had received her nine lives as a Clan leader. She was new to this, and was willing to do anything for her Clan. She let out a loud yawn, probably waking some of her clanmates. She looked around sheepishly, hoping she hadn't disturbed any cat.

Looks like a peaceful night for ShadowClan, she thought, dragging herself to the leaders den. She was still full of grief as she dragged herself up the branch from above her new nest.

"All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the tree branch for a Clan meeting!" she yowled, her voice barely loud enough for all of her Clan to hear.

She had to appoint a deputy for ShadowClan by moon high, and it was almost past moon high! She had to hurry, or StarClan would be angry. She waited for her Clan to assemble underneath the branch so she could announce the new deputy. She glanced over the cats, searching for one who would be a good choice to lead once she joined StarClan. There, she thought.

OOC: Sorry about the tree branch thing. It didn't say what it was called in the books, and I heard that it was a branch above the leader's den, so I choose that name. Again, sorry if you were confused.

[iiTiny!!]

Lynxear came triedly out of the warrior's den. She had been sleeply lightly. She had heard her leader call just as she had started to enter a deeper sleep. She took a spot beneath the tree branch.

[Crosshatch♠]

"Cats of ShadowClan, as you know, I must appoint a deputy before moon high." Dawnstar began. "I speak before StarClan so they may hear and approve of my choice." She glanced over her clanmates quickly before announcing the new deputy. "Lynxear, will be the new deputy of ShadowClan!" she yowled. She waited to see if any cat would disagree with her. When no one did, she gave a small nod to Lynxear.

[iiTiny!!]

Lynxear was shocked that Dawnstar would choose her to be the deputy. then lead the Clan. "Thankyou Dawnstar. I hope to serve my Clan well and with dignity." She yowled, loud enough so that all her clan mates could hear her.

[Crosshatch♠]

"Very well. Lynxear, would you please set up patrols." Dawnstar meowed. She was still tired, and she let out a sigh. "Might as well stay up." she grumbled, realizing that she couldn't just let her clanmates wander around. She knew ShadowClan would be in good paws with Lynxear as deputy. She jumped down from the branch, signaling that the meeting was over. She looked up at the sky. The moon was a small sliver, and it looked like a blade of grass that could be torn easily. She missed the old leader, Sagestar, who had been her mentor as well. Can I make ShadowClan as powerful as he had, she thought.

[iiTiny!!]

Lynxear nodded to her leader. "You look tired. You should get some sleep." She advised. Her leader would need some sleep. She couldn't be up all night long. "Ok, so for patrols." She said, getting lost in her thoughts.

[Crosshatch♠]

"Alright," Dawnstar agreed. "But I'll be up in a bit. It's almost sunrise" she added. She dragged herself to her den and curled up in her nest. The faint scent of Sagestar rose up from the bracken. She sighed and closed her eyes for the first time since she had become leader. Sleep didn't come quickly, or if it did, it came as a nightmare. Sagestar was beside her, his face transparent and ghostly looking. He was talking to her, yet even though his mouth moved, no words came out. All she could hear was... nothing. She wanted to cry, but she held her tears back. There wasn't any use being nostalgic. She had to be in the present, with her clanmates, the ones she had to take care of.

[Nala]

Redclaw's ears flattened in disappointment, then straightened up again. You're a warrior, not an apprentice, he scolded himself. It was Dawnstar's choice, not his, whether he was deputy or not. He swallowed his disappointment and padded up to Lynxear to congratulate her. "Congratulations, Lynxear. I bet you'll be a great deputy." Redclaw meant what he said, but he couldn't help but wonder if he would be a better deputy.

[Crosshatch♠]

It wasn't long until Dawnstar woke up again. Every time she closed her eyes, some ghostly thing would appear and scare her. She twisted and turned in her nest, but couldn't get comfortable. Giving up, she stood and shook out her ruffled pelt. I'll just go outside, she thought. She walked out of her den, and came early enough to see the disappointment Redclaw showed. She tilted her head. She knew Lynxear was a great cat, but did Redclaw think the same? She gave them both a small nod, and relief pulsed through her when she saw Redclaw congratulate the new ShadowClan deputy. That's good, she thought. She walked over to the two cats and started to talk. "Lynxear, Redclaw, would you like to go on a hunting patrol?" she asked. She was going to go with them of course; she needed the practice. Even if I am Clan leader, I need to do some work too. I can't sit on my tail and let others do the dirty work.

[Nala]

Redclaw saw movement out of the corner of his eye and saw Dawnstar coming towards them. Did she know that he had been disappointed? Or worse, did she think he would try to kill Lynxear just to be deputy? I would never do that, he thought indignantly. But they didn't know that. "Of course. I'd love to go on a patrol, Dawnstar." Redclaw turned and padded away, wondering if he'd ever truly gain the trust of his Clanmates.

[iiTiny!!]

Lynxear nodded at her leader. "I would love to Dawnstar." She said happily. She tried to push Redclaw out of her mind. She knew he was a good cat. Alot of cats hope to be deputy and leader soon, but only a few actually get that far. It was only natural to be disappointed when your leader didn't pick you to become deputy. Lynxear turned and followed RedClaw out of the camp.

[Crosshatch♠]

Dawnstar followed her Clanmates out into the pine forest. The brown tabby she-cat was wide awake now, and her amber eyes glowed with anticipation. She parted her mouth slightily, letting the scents of the forest surround her. Then, catching a familiar blur of fur, she dashed after it. Dawnstar knew she needed to act fast, so she gave a desperate leap, landing on the mouse. She trotted proudly back to her Clanmates, holding her head high.

[Nala]

"Nice catch!" Redclaw nodded toward his leader, then opened his mouth to try to scent prey. He could smell a thrush, and caught sight of an unusually big one, sitting on a tree branch a fox-length away. "My turn." Redclaw hissed quietly, not wanting to scare the prey. He crouched, bunching his muscles, and leaped. The thrush almost flew away, but Redclaw snagged it's wing feather with his claw and brought the bird down, barely making a sound as he hit the ground.

[Crosshatch♠]

"Nice." Dawnstar meowed. All of her earlier grief had faded away, until it was completely gone. She offered him a smile and started to look for more prey. She wandered over to a pine tree, where mouse scent was coming off in waves. Nothing, she thought, finding that the squirrel had been dead for awhile. She sighed and moved on. Everyone has their losses, she thought.

[iiTiny!!]

"Nice catches." Lynxear said happily. She scented the air. There was the faint scent of a squirrel in the air. She listened intently. She could just barely here it moving around on the forest floor. She stalked forward. Silently, she darted forward. The squirrel turned to run, but she had been to quick. She ended its life quickly with a bite to the neck. She made a small hole and burried it.