Dim Light (Stormwind)

Swiftstream nodded in agreement and rose to her paws.

After spending a little while longer among the clan, grieving Snowstar, Riverflight dipped his head to Swiftstream, mewing “We ought to try and get some sleep now.”

She rested her head on his shoulder.

Riverflight sat close to Swiftstream, his tail curling around hers.

Swiftstream nodded but still didn’t speak.

“We will be able to leave a bit early to ensure that we’re rested for the morning.” Riverflight continued. “We will have to take some traveling herbs after we wake up but after that, it’s just an easy walk.” Hopefully.

Swiftstream dipped her head in acknowledgment, pressing against his side.

Riverflight nuzzled his mate lovingly as she appeared at his side. “Thank you for agreeing to come with me.”

Swiftstream made her way through the crowd over to her mate.

Riverflight prepared himself for a long night, and then a hard journey right after that. The cream-furred tom sighed warily, but took a little comfort in the fact that Swiftstream would be with him the whole time. His eyes searched the vigil crowd for her.

The cats joined together to mourn their leader.

The clan didn’t get to disperse for long, as Snowstar’s body was brought into the clearing, the d tom looking small and weak comparative to when he had been alive. Riverflight sighed, murmuring some words to the tom as some of his clanmates joined him around the body.

Shadowleaf simply watched him leave before turning to look at the rest of the camp. She was quite mad at Glaciertail and Rainstorm for abandoning her the moment the kits were born, and likely wouldn’t forgive them for a long time, even if they apologized and made an effort from then on.

Glaciertail pinned his ears back as he looked at his new deputy. Lost for what else to say, the long-haired tuxedo tom then simply mewed “Riverflight made a good choice.” The tom then turned around, feeling Shadowleaf’s cold gaze freezing the back of his neck.

Shadowleaf’s expression cooled when she saw Glaciertail and gave him a simple nod, gaze cold.

Spottedpelt kept an eye on the kits, while Glaciertail padded nervously towards Shadowleaf. “Hey...” The mostly absentee father mewed to the mother of his kits. “Congratulations.”

Shadowleaf’s kits bounced off to play while Shadowleaf herself wandered off to find herself a quiet spot to recover from the shock she had gotten.

Riverflight bowed his head. “Then we will leave tomorrow at sunrise.” Flicking his tail, He mewed to the rest of the clan “I have nothing else to say.”

Beneath him the clan broke into an excited, nervous buzz.

It was that assurance that had Swiftstream taking a deep breath and steeling herself. “I’ll go with you.” I have to face this fear at some point.

Riverflight looked a little sad that his mate hadn’t given him an immediate yes, but he fixed his dark blue gaze on her, silently saying It’s OK to say no.

Swiftstream’s ears flattened at his question and the she-cat seemed simultaneously terrified and unwilling to let him go alone.

Riverflight dipped his head to his new deputy, before turning back to the clan. “Swiftstream,” He mewed firmly, “I know it may be hard for you in particular to return to our old territory. But there’s nobody else I’d rather have at my side.” The tom took a breath before asking “Will you accompany me?”

All the cats cheered for Shadowleaf, who looked stunned.

(*takes short break from homework*)

“I say these words before the spirits of our ancestors, so that they may hear and approve of my choice.” Riverflight’s voice boomed, The tom becoming more and more sure of himself the longer he stood before his clanmates. “The new deputy of Dimclan is Shadowleaf.”

“Cheer for your mom!” Spottedpelt quickly mewed to the kits quietly, before joining her clanmates in cheering the queen’s name.

(*blinks* I guess he has.. except for the fact that Shadowleaf’s kits are only a moon younger than him, so if he were eight moons, they’d be apprentices)

Shadowleaf jerked her head up from watching her kits to make sure they didn’t wander off, shock flashing across her face. She mouthed ‘me?’ in shock and it took her a moment before she managed to make her way over to Riverflight.