light from the dark -- all of GaleClan --

[Winterfrost]

//OOC: Alright, I don't know if the cats of GaleClan know this already so I'll let you know here so no one thinks I'm just making this thread up on the spot: this is going to be the thread where StarClan gives the cats of GaleClan a sign of who their new leader will be. And that leader is Winterfrost. I've already discussed with Caznikk and she allowed me to have the position. c: So this is the thread where they find that out. ^^ All the cats of GaleClan are welcome, and encouraged, to join. Thank you. <3

Winterfrost...

She still couldn't grasp the fact that Flametail was dead. It was like a nightmare that had somehow became a reality. Like a thorn in her side that was impossible to remove. Or like an infection from a bite of a fox; it was something that she wished hadn't happened, but also that she knew was inevitable and unable to change. She knew her leader was dead, but... with all her heart, she wished that it was not true. She still couldn't comprehend that StarClan had taken the life of another GaleClan leader. Was it fair for them to punish GaleClan this way? Flametail hadn't even received her nines lives and she was already with StarClan now. What would happen to the next leader? Winterfrost wondered again who that new leader would be and whether or not StarClan was going to send her Clan a sign soon. What if StarClan didn't? What would become of GaleClan then, if there was no one to leader it? Would the leader even want to step up if a sign was given? Or would the next leader be too weary to take the position? Was GaleClan's leader position cursed with death? First Sacrificestar and now Flametail. Winterfrost flexed her claws, knowing that if she were offered the position, she would not turn it down. She would do what was best for her Clan, even if it meant dying. It could have been worse though... the white she-cat reasoned with herself, blue-white eyes gazed. We could have lost more cats in the fight. Or worse, we could have been whipped out like BreezeClan. Winterfrost shuddered, feeling like her head was full of buzzing bees, each thought delivered by a bee's stinger, and her paws prickled, claws kneading the ground, inching to slash themselves across Ratbite's pelt. Stupid MireClan. They'd know that GaleClan was weak and now her Clan was minus some territory. Winterfrost's fur bristled at the thought, though she knew there was nothing she could do about it now. It was as inevitable as Flametail's death had been. The GaleClan warrior had not known the would-be leader that well, but she’d known enough to realize that Flametail would have made an excellent one. Although Flametail hadn't been one to talk much, the intent necessity of wanting to keep her Clan safe had always been in her words.

Winterfrost signed once more and squeezed her blue-white coloured orbs shut briefly before opening them again. The GaleClan camp was quiet, most cats mourning Flametail’s death. Now that Flametail was dead, the camp seemed to be in a frozen like state. The cats were unusually quiet, Winterfrost noticed through motionless eyes. She guessed that they were wondering the same things as her too, about who would be the next in line to be leader and what would become of GaleClan until then. She hoped that StarClan would send some sort of sign soon, so the cat could go to the lightning-struck sands and received nine lives. That was GaleClan might be able to prosper, with a new leader with all their lives. And her Clan would get their territory back from MireClan. The territory would not be MireClan’s for much longer. Soon it would be GaleClan’s once more, when the Clan had a new leader and was strong from it. Paws tingling from anticipation, Winterfrost stayed were she was sitting by the camp entrance, turning her gaze back to its open mouth. She was glad fight was over, even if she hadn’t had to fight that much. Although Flametail’s death was a powerful blow, Winterfrost knew it could have been worse and she was trying to concentrate on that fact. Her sister, Summerfeather, could have died. Quickly, she flashed her gaze to her sister’s direction. Her small, orange and white pelt made her easy to spot amongst the other cats. Yes, her sister could have died. But was it better or worse to have Flametail die instead? Winterfrost’s shoulders slumped. For her Clan, she knew it was worse, but part of her thought it was better. Was it wrong for her to think that? No, she’s my sister after all. she thought, shame in her gaze. And Flametail wasn’t my littermate. But Flametail… dead? “Oh StarClan,” she murmured, staring down at her paws now. What would her Clan do without a leader? “Please show us what to do. Please guide us through this darkest hour. And please StarClan, please decide who the new GaleClan leader will be. For the sake of my Clan, please give us a sign!”

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[Timberpaw]

Could we take it all back?

Expressionless amber eyes stared down at the camp floor, paws still like unmovable boulders. Her heart felt cold from fear and from many questions that swarmed in her mind, like ants crawling in her orange tabby fur. Who would be the GaleClan leader now? Why did StarClan take every cat that was strong? Flametail and Sacrificestar did nothing to the stary cats. Looking up at the black sky, she saw that many warriors covered Silverpelt, dappling it like dew on morning grass. Her lips almost curled in anger, but she held herself, fuming with many emotions that she couldn't understand. She was mad at them, sad for all of her dead Clanmates, and longed for something, she felt loved... and eyes burning into her pelt. Wiping around swiftly, she saw her sister, Winterfrost, with her shoulders slumped. She looked like an elder the way she held her body, making herself look frail and old, older than any of the StarClan warriors. Sympathy clawed her heart as she stared across the clearing, and she felt the pain that Winterfrost was feeling. It slashed through her body, raking the last drop of strength from her, blackness washing over her eyes, she heard herself cry in agony by her sister's unknown sadness. It lapped away from her body, and she saw her white sister once more. What was she worrying about? Come back to us, Flametail! she yowled in her mind, praying to StarClan, but she knew that it was impossible. It seemed as if the whole forest froze, as if leafbare had already closed in, and she slowly fell in beside her dead leader, licking her black body. It's the last time to share tongues with you, my dear Flametail. I hope you rest in peace in StarClan. Watch over my Clan all of the time and help guide us from the worst... And please send us a sign. We need a leader... she licked her brown tipped ear, then her still shoulder. Why couldn't I have died instead of you? I'm worthless. I'm a runt. GaleClan doesn't need me. What good am I when I'm the size of an apprentice? Even a kit can pin me. Ashamed, she rested her head on Flametail's flank, breathing in. Winterfrost looked so alone... She pictured the slouched body, hanging over, and again she wondered if she was to be leader. She was strong, wise, and soft-spoken. She choked her next thoughts to come out, Will Aquafrost be her deputy? It's not like I'm worth one mouse-tail. A 'paw can kill me. Why should I be deputy? She shivered, then closed her eyes, drinking in the familiar scent that she knew ever since she was an apprentice. It felt like nine lives were getting lost from her, ripping claws cutting into her blood, the ground slippery with blood as she gasped for her breath, but she was already gone, seeing Flametail pad over to her. Stars covered her silhouette, and she knew that she was dead. At least now she could watch over her Clan without knowing she was a burden to the name warrior... She snapped up, then licked her smooth, golden pelt. Only a few scratched were there, but it was nothing serious, unlike Flametail's deadly bite. She rested her head on Flametail's and thought once more, only much more vividly.

I am running in the camp. I see myself yell something to someone, a black shadow casting over me as I saw a white, tall she-cat. Shrinking, I looked up to see Winterfrost staring down at me with icy, piercing eyes that made me shiver, pelt crawling. What did my sister want? Straightening up, I heard myself mew, "Yes, Winter-" Summerfeather thought, but was cut off when she heard a faint voice. She was too far away to hear it properly, but she could tell that it was coming from Winterfrost. Opening her amber eyes, she stood up on wobbling feet, feeling dizzy, but limped over to her white sister anyway. She sat down next to her and whispered quietly, "Have you had any sign from StarClan?" That was the second time that she had asked her that question that night, but this time she wanted to know. They all deserved to be a leader, even Summerfeather when she thought about it hard, but she knew that her sister would be best at it.

[me]

Aquafrost stood at a short distance from the two sisters. He was upset and saddened by Flametail's death, but nowhere near as upset as the two clan cats. Still, the death of a leader -- especially when there was no deputy -- was a serious thing, and he understood that.

But the blue tomcat was just a loner that had recently joined GaleClan! What right did he have to even be here? He couldn't share in the clan's type of grief, and they probably wouldn't trust him as leader, or deputy, for that matter. No, some other cat would have to fill those places. Maybe Winterfrost or Rainfall would be the leader, or something.

GaleClan was just so short on warriors these days. There was only FOUR of them! Counting Aquafrost! Good thing they had a whole bunch of apprentices. This stupid war -- it had taken so many cats from them, and there was barely enough to be called a clan, even, or at least, that's what Aquafrost thought.

Hopefully StarClan would give them a sign or something. Help stop the war -- that didn't sound like too much to ask of them.

Maybe they already had a plan, and were in the process of implementing it? That would be... just excellent. For some reason, Aquafrost felt confident that that was the case. There was no reason to feel confident about anything as far as he could see, but still, he had a good feeling about it. He hoped that feeling was correct, and that the war would stop before any more cats died.

[Owlgaze]

Rainfall stared down at the limp body of his former leader, lost in thought, he was unusually quiet. Flametail's body seemed so frail now, he could barely believe it was the same cat. Without the spark that used to inhabit the corpse, it just seemed a shell, dull and boring, nothing like Flametail had been when she was alive.

He gazed around at the other cats, they were all murmuring under their breaths looking shaken. He knew they were all blaming StarClan for taking two leaders. Don't blame StarClan, blame yourselves, he thought angrily. StarClan were just dead cats. Sure they were there, Rainfall didn't doubt that. He had seen Sacrificestar lose a life in battle once, there was no doubt the warrior ancestors were present, but how much could they really do? They had no power except at the lightning-struck sands and in the realm of cat's dreams. It was Ratbite who killed her, not StarClan. It was GaleClan that wasn't good enough, He thought in anguish. Why did they have so few warriors? Why were there no kits being born to the nursery? But he knew not to blame it on StarClan. If we want more warriors, we either need to find them, or..." He trailed off, feeling awkward. The last part would just make him miss Flametail more. But what do I mean by that? Did I really... He questioned himself. What did he mean by that? Of course I know what I mean, he thought angrily. The only she-cats left are Winterfrost and Summerfeather. Who are sisters. Oh, and Willowpaw. What will that mean for the next generation? with a haunting realization, he added What will it mean for me?

Feeling awkward again on the last thought, he turned his attention back to reality. All the other cats seemed so hopeless as they stared towards the ground. Seeing the other cats looking so lost angered him again. But we can't just wait for StarClan's intervention. After we have our new leader, we have to take matters into our own paws!

[Winterfrost]

Winterfrost...

Even as another light shutter raced down Winterfrost's spine, the white GaleClan she-cat knew that there wasn't anything she could do. Flametail was dead and there just was not anything she could do to change that, whether she wanted to or not. StarClan was going to send down a sign to GaleClan, saying who would be the next leader of her Clan. She could not hurry the motion, though she wanted to with all her being. And then, with a newly appointed leader and one with nine lives this time, GaleClan would rise to be a stronger Clan like they had been before and gain back the territory they had lost to MireClan. Now that was the piece of the bigger picture, the piece that she wanted to be followed through the most. Looking on the positive, Winterfrost was at least glad that her sister still lived, and also glad that GaleClan still had some remaining warriors. Four was better than nothing, after all. The war could have killed them all off, like the sickness that had destroyed BreezeClan. Winterfrost knew that was a positive thought and she willed her mind to concentrate on examples such as those. Sadness pieced her heart though, and an emotion was just something that could not be taken away. Shoulders still slumped, eyes low and closed, Winterfrost signed and again she prayed to StarClan to send a sign down as soon as possible. Once GaleClan was under the support of a new leader, she knew that her Clan would be strong again, thinking of the positive instead of the negative like her mind wanted to wander to now. Blue, almost white coloured eyes opened slowly, blinded once, before gazing once more back up at the Silverpelt that painted the night sky. The stars looked like holes in a blue fabric, letting the shiny, white background bleed out from between them, forming the spots that shone with the light of the moon. Our warrior ancestors. Was Flametail among them? Had she already followed the starry path and found StarClan? May you run in the heavens of StarClan, Flametail, and hunt as the starry cats hunt, she thought, dipped her head again, letting the silent mournfulness that stung her ring out in waves of feeling.

The alarming sound of her sister’s quiet mew made Winterfrost jump with surprise. The fur on the back on her neck bristled, but she willed it to lie flat; it was only her sister after all. No more MireClan warriors. “Why would I get a sign from StarClan?” she asked, saying a rather rude question instead of answering Summerfeather’s. “I’m nothing but an ordinary warrior Summerfeather, like you are. And ordinary warriors don’t get signs from StarClan, we both know that.” Winterfrost didn’t tell her sister about the dream she had had before they had gone out to the border to fight MireClan, before Flametail’s death, but now still didn’t feel like the right time to change that status. “I wish I had gotten a sign though… or at least that one of us did. That way we’d know what to do.” She sighed again, still not looking at her sister’s orange-white fur. Winterfrost knew that the other two warriors of GaleClan, Rainfall and Aquafrost, were probably wondering who would be leader next and who would follow as deputy. Winterfrost wondered too and so did Summerfeather. But what more could they do but wait? Wait and mourn Flametail’s death. Shouldn’t they do something constructive, like hunting, or pass the time? But how would StarClan reveal the message to all of the Clan then, if the Clan members were scattered all over the territory, hunting? Hunting was out. Besides, from the looks on the other cat’s faces, Winterfrost could guess that they weren’t in the mood for hunting anyway. Nor was Winterfrost. Nonetheless, the she-cat rose to her paws, though they felt a little shaky, and padded away from the entrance of the camp, away from Summerfeather. Her sister’s presence brought her comfort but Winterfrost did not want to listen to any of Summerfeather’s badgering questions. The bitter wind had picked up now, each gust was like claws and teeth, biting and scratching their ways through her fur. It was a horrendous feeling and made her feel even more alone and cold than she already felt. She felt a bit awkward just standing in the middle of the camp, rocky steeps all around her. But wasn’t everyone else feeling lost there they sat? The death of a Clanmate was enough to make any normal cat feel lost, even in a camp that was familiar and known by heart. Talking to no one in particular, she murmured loud enough for ever cat to hear, her words even more at a loss than her body, “Flametail was a good warrior and would have made a wonderful leader. It’s a shame that her life had to end before she was even grated nine lives from StarClan. And who will follow after Flametail? The new leader will have the hardest position yet, not having the position of deputy before to feel confidence in the actions before become the one to decide everything. The death of a leader and a deputy right next to each other.... Now leaving StarClan to be the only one to make the decision of who will lead GaleClan into a better light. But who? Which cat?” She was voicing her thoughts more than anything but it felt nice to be able to say them out loud, even if it was a bit rambling.

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//OOC: Well I didn’t think they should get the sign this early in the thread so this post is a bit… boring and slow. xD Hopefully it was enough for you guys to get something for your posts. ^^ //

[me]

Aquafrost, lost in his thoughts, was distracted by the two sisters' conversation and immediately concentrated on that. He wasn't usually one to eavesdrop, but hey, it was better than dwelling on Flametail's death, and he doubted that the two she-cats would mind. When Winterfrost seemed to have finished speaking, he took several steps bringing him closer to her, and sat down near them.

"Whoever the next leader is, I doubt it'll be me," he meowed, twitching his tail awkwardly. He still felt slightly uneasy among groups of cats, but this was a time, he felt, that there were more important issues at paw. "I've just joined GaleClan a few moons ago."

He leaned in slightly closer and added, "It looks like the choice for the next leader and deputy are between you two and Rainfall." He fell silent for a few moments, considering something, then spoke. "What happens now? Will you three go to the Lightning-Struck Sands and try to get a dream from StarClan, or what?"

[Timberpaw]

I was blown away, what can I say?

I bet that we all sharing the same thoughts. Why did Flametail have to die? Who is going to be leader? Who's now deputy? she wondered, then shivered. She hoped once more to be deputy, to be proud and tall, standing in front of the Clan and reassuring her Clanmates when the leader was sick, but who would want her for a deputy? After all, they were customed to be leaders once they died, and she was pitifully small. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts about being in power, she focused her amber gaze on her white sister. Winterfrost seemed lost in thought, her gaze was expressionless like the other's. Feeling lost, she heard her sister meow, and immediately felt hurt by her snap. Scooting to her right a tail length, she never felt so far away from Winterfrost in her life. It's like I'm in StarClan and she's leader! she thought bitterly, lips curling. Fine. Let her act that way. It was her own problem. Narrowing her eyes, she looked down at her paws. Since when did I not know that warriors didn't get signs from StarClan? Maybe she got a sign that told her who the leader would be? We all all warriors here, and one cat will be chosen to be the leader! Sighing, she looked up to see Aquafrost. Her secret crush over the strong tom cat returned, and she wondered once more if he was to be deputy of GaleClan, or even leader. But what she heard astonished her. Ears ringing, she stared at him. She stayed apart from her now hot-headed sister, not wanting to be growled at once more. Didn't Summerfeather have enough pain from Flametail being dead? Fuming, she saw Winterfrost walk away, leaving Summerfeather without anything to say, and listened to what she had to say. We already know this, mouse-brain! Don't tell us advice and information! We aren't kits anymore, or hurt elders! We are warriors, proud and strong! Did StarClan send her a sign that she was to be leader? Of course not! She would tell us, of course! she thought, cross. Shoving herself behind Aquafrost, she pushed away from Winterfrost.

Stubborn furball. She stood in front of the entrance to the camp, wondering if she should just go for a walk. How simple would that be? She could forget about all of the things that swarmed around her like mosquitoes, run away from being a warrior for one night, forget that Flametail was dead. Still thinking that her Clanmate was gone made her head throb. She couldn't believe it. Stay... she heard a voice calling to her, and recognized the mew at once. Flametail! Quivering with excitement, she wondered what the dead warrior could want her to stay for. She was only going for a walk... Would MireClan attack their camp for a slice of more territory? Gulping in more air, she lumbered forward on stone-paws, but stood away from all of GaleClan. "We know that..." she repeated her thoughts, only under her breath so that no cat could hear. No warrior would question Winterfrost, or so she thought. Her sister had a quality of a leader. But so does Aquafrost! He himself told Winterfrost and Summerfeather that he shouldn't be leader or a deputy because he had just joined GaleClan. So what? She thought that he would make a better leader than Winterfrost. Am I jealous for Winterfrost?

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[Owlgaze]

Rainfall was interested by Aquafrost's words. Would he want to be leader, or deputy? He had never given it much thought before, but he rather liked the idea. Well, not leader maybe. There would be too much responsibility in being leader. I couldn't handle that right now, but maybe someday...Whoever becomes the leader takes the clan's life in their paws. The clan's life. With that, another though crossed his mind. No matter what happens to the clan, I'm still the same cat. Everyone will still be the same cat, 9 lives or one. Finally, he spoke up. "Whoever is going to be leader will depend on more than just who is the best fighter. A leader needs to be able to make good decisions" pausing, he added quietly "Flametail was both." GaleClan was going to need a strong leader to help them recover after the horror they'd seen in the past few moons.

[me]

Aquafrost stared after Summerfeather as the orange-and-white she-cat stalked away, losing track of the conversation, only vaguely hearing Rainfall's sad tone of voice. He flicked his blue-striped tail at the gray cat, wanting to cheer him up, before standing up himself and following Summerfeather to the edge of the camp.

She had seemed so upset, more upset than even the rest of them were over Flametail's death, besides, perhaps, Rainfall, although Rainfall had a quieter way of expressing himself. The albino tomcat didn't know what he could do to help her, but maybe, just having another cat there to talk to would help. He sat down a short distance away and pricked his ears forward when he heard her mutter something. "I didn't quite catch that," he meowed.

[Winterfrost]

Winterfrost...

I know you already know this, Winterfrost thought, recognizing the look of anger and frustration in Summerfeather's eyes. But why can't you just see that it needs to be said, to be voiced out loud, to make it more real? The cats around her... looked like they'd hadn't quite grasped what had happened and if they had, then they were hiding their feelings all too well for Winterfrost's liking. Winterfrost did not say those thoughts directed to her sister out loud, and she knew if she did it would probably only make her sister hate her more than she did right now. But what more could she do? What more could she say to right her wrongs? She was saddened by Flametail's death and even more confused and worried about who would be leader. Why couldn't Summerfeather just understand that her words hadn't meant to be rude? They were only meant inform and perhaps sooth some of the others burning worries and curiosity. She sighed, now feeling confused about her sister's actions. She had not meant to hurt Summerfeather.... She was just so... her mind failed for the right word to describe the way she felt. Her ears heard Aquafrost's voice but the words just passed through her brain like some slippery liquid, leaving no trace whatsoever behind. Because she hadn't make attention to what the tom warrior said, she didn't say anything back to him, instead just staring off into space. Her blue-white orbs shone with deep emotion that was clear visible on her face. Could Summerfeather see it now? See her sadness, and worry, and concern... and fear? Yes, she felt fear, but the fear was for her Clanmates and not herself. Would MireClan take advantage of the situation again and take even more land from GaleClan? Or would ThornClan? Winterfrost's claws flexed, digging into the dirt and rock of the camp clearing. If they wanted more land, they would have to go through her! And Summerfeather, Rainfall, Aquafrost, Twistedpaw, and Willowpaw. She knew they would all fight to the death, even Aquafrost who'd just joined. He was still loyal and Winterfrost trusted him.

It was Rainfall who spoke next, and her feelings willed her to speak this time. "I think Rainfall is right. The new leader needs to be a good fighter and a good thinker." She nodded, agreeing with the warrior's afterthought as well. "Yes... like Flametail would have been." Falling silent, her gaze trailed back to her sister's orange-red splotched pelt, who had moved over to the camp entrance with Aquafrost. His blue fur looked shockingly different in contrast to Summerfeather's. Winterfrost was sure that their ears had caught her words, though they were a few tail lengths away. With a sigh, she realized that her mind must to have remembered Aquafrost's words because they came rushing back to her now. "I think we should just wait here," she said, her response a little late but spoken nonetheless. "I think we should wait till StarClan sends a sign." She paused and took a deep breath to calm herself down. "So that every cat can witness the coming of the new leader." As soon as she muttered the last word, Winterfrost felt cold seeping into her bones. She wondered if the other cats could feel it too. It seemed unnatural with the current weather. She didn't say anything to them about it and waited to see whether the feeling would go away. When after a new moment it didn't, she was started to feel a little concerned. Winds whooshed through the trees, whistling over the rocks, and combing though all the cats' furs. She was sure they could feel that. But was it just her or were the winds incredibly fierce, like winter winds? A strong gust soared, carried the noise of moving air with it, and plummeted Winterfrost head-on. Gasping with shock, she stumbled backward, the power of the wind nearly knocking her off her paws. The ends stopped then, as abruptly as they had started. Her pelt felt like it had been tugged at by a Twoleg kit. She shook her head and stood up straighter, wondering if the others had felt the sudden surge of power in the winds. Before she could even open her mouth to say anything, she noticed a single leaf drifting down ever so slowly from the night sky. It was orange and crispy, like the ones from fall, and it was covered in frost. The thin layer of ice coated over it like a blanket, the moon's light caressing the clear colour and making it shine with more intensity.

It make no sense. Winter winds buffeting only her and a leaf covered in frost falling from the sky and landing right at her paws. Was it a coincedence... or was it a sign?

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// OOC: Sorry for the wait guys, school caught me in it's clutches. This post is a bit sketchy but I hope it's okay to y'all. //

[Timberpaw]

Summerfeather's tail flicked, annoyed with Winterfrost and Rainfall. They all knew that Flametail was both wise and a great fighter, so why did he kept opening his jaws for? Leaders were all thoughtful and strong, so any one of them could be it. Not that dopey kit! She glared angrily at Rainfall as she thought her words, not taking her eyes off of the silver colored tom. His dark blue eyes seemed lost, but she ignored the feelings that wafted over her nose like a fresh mouse. So what? She didn't think that he noticed her icy glare, and she half hoped with her heart that he did see her. What harm would that do to Summerfeather? It wasn't breaking the warrior code by hating a Clanmate- as long as she didn't kill him. Why would I do that? she pondered. Just because she hated him...! She longed to sink her teeth into his teeth, but she just flexed her claws into the soggy mud instead. Suddenly, a new voice entered her mind, and she saw Aquafrost. Her amber eyes softened, and cheerfully- as if she was trying to clear her brain and the world around her- meowed, "Nothing important, Aquafrost." She blinked to him in a delicate sort of way. Aquafrost! The name rolled on her tongue, and it tasted like she was meowing her life out to StarClan, running with a burst of speed, and becoming a leader: Summerstar. Summerfeather tried to shake away the ambition that clawed up her body, but it wouldn't die down. She pictured herself being leader, leading her Clan through the worst, making decisions, fighting, losing, hunting, winning, and dieing. Now she was melancholy, seeing herself in her mind blooded and fur crusted with dried blood. Shivering the image away, she stared past Aquafrost and at her sister, Winterfrost, who was now replying to Rainfall. She decided to calm herself. If StarClan sent her the sign, she already knew who she would choose as deputy. Much as she loved Aquafrost with his wonderful eyes, she would have to pick her sister. Winterfrost had the quality of a leader. But what if she is made leader? Would Winterfrost let me be deputy?

Sighing, she was just about to hurl a reply to the mouse-brained idiot, Rainfall, when a large gust of wind baffled her, blinding her for a heartbeat, wafting her over with cold. It bit down at her skin like leeches ripping her flesh, and her fur madly flew in all directions. She looked over at Winterfrost and saw that she had the gust of wind like herself blowing at her, almost knocking her over, and it looked much worse than the wind that ate Summerfeather. It blew really hard on her sister, like she was special or something. It stopped, as sudden as it had came, and a leaf covering in frost landed on Winterfrost's paws. Her ears perked, seeing the golden leave with white crusted around it, shielding it away from the harsh world. Hey- that color of the leaf looks exactly like my spotted-orange fur! she thought, almost laughing inside, but caught herself. It was the most perfect shade of gold, it was frightening that the color looked like Summerfeather. Shuddering from the cold, a bolt of lightning raced up her body as she remembered the cold wind that blew on her warriors, and the frost-covered leaf that landed on Winterfrost. Her amber colored eyes widened. She knew that the sign from StarClan had just come, and that the new leader of GaleClan had just come up. My sister! She was so excited and happy for Winterfrost, but all the same, hurt and jealous. Since she was a kit she thought of being in the rule one day. Maybe I will. I only have to compete against Rainfall. And that should be really easy. Gasping with amazement, Summerfeather yowled, hoping that they all would listen, "StarClan have sent the sign! The cold winds blew hard on Winterfrost, and then a leaf covered in frost fell into her paws. It must be the sign! It is clear. Winter winds blew at us, but really hard on my sister. A leaf coated in frost landed in her paws! Winterfrost is the new leader for GaleClan!"

[me]

Aquafrost tilted his head in curiosity at Summerfeather's response, but didn't push it. "All right," he meowed. "When do you think --" he broke off in the middle of the sentence and shivered at the cold breeze that blew over them. And it brought a smell of... winter? How could it be winter, so early in autumn? Yet, the smell was unmistakable, that particular combination of snow, fog, fallen leaves, frozen water, and a strange something that could only be the absence of bugs. But that just didn't make sense. There was no snow and no fog, the leaves were just starting to turn color, the water was still flowing, and he could hear the buzzing of mosquitoes and flies as clear as he could hear the other cats talk.

He was just turning towards Winterfrost and Rainfall when he saw something that made him freeze in astonishment. Winterfrost seemed to be caught in a miniature tornado; her fur swirled about her, jerking so violently that he thought he saw a few loose strands fly away in the wind. As he watched, suddenly the wind stopped, leaving the she-cat staggering but barely affecting Aquafrost. A single orange leaf that must have broken off from a branch above them somewhere hit the ground directly in front of the she-cat, and Aquafrost saw the edges fuzzy with frost, the rest gleaming as if made of solid ice.

Aquafrost felt awed; he had just witnessed a sign from StarClan, if he wasn't mistaken. How many cats got to see something like that? This, then, was absolute proof of StarClan's existence, if anyone had doubted. And now they knew which cat to choose as leader. Winterfrost was to become Winterstar. A feeling of relief swept over him. She was certainly competent, and would be an excellent leader. He purred for a few seconds, deep in his throat, then called, "Congratulations, Winterstar!"

[Owlgaze]

((Wow, sudden grudge much XD))

Rainfall was still looking down when the chill came over him. At first he thought is his imagination, that he had gone crazy from the tumultuous events that had just occurred. But as the chill set in more, he heard gusts of wind, he felt them ruffle his grey fur. He stretched up in wonder, the ice that seemed to chill him to his bones numbed reality as his long limbs stretched out. He looked around, and other cats seemed to be affected as well. I'm not going crazy! he thought gleefully as he noticed that the winds seemed to be strongest around Winterfrost. His eyes widened. this was the sign. All the cats around him seemed to be making the same realization as a shape floated down from above. A leaf. It floated delicately, despite being blown by the harsh winds around Winterfrost. As it came to a rest on the ground, Rainfall took a step closer. It was frozen. Any doubt in his mind left at that moment, as the cold lifted and warmth flooded back into his pelt. "Yes, Winterfrost" he said, adding extra inflection on the frost. She had not been giving her warrior name yet, and the blue tom had forgotten that. Another day it might have annoyed him, but today he remembered that Aquafrost was new to the warrior code. "Congratulations!"

For a moment, all of his other thoughts were forgotten. It seemed as if they had lifted with the cold. All thoughts of becoming leader were pushed to the back of his mind as the new possibilities raced. The clan had a leader. They could take action. They could take back what was lost, grow stronger once more, and take revenge. Strength flooded into his bones as he stood there with his clanmates. GaleClan would go on, they would not fade away like MireClan wanted. Winterfrost would lead them to victory, of that he was certain. And, he thought, mentally unsheathing his claws When the time comes to face MireClan again, I'll be ready. He thought of the lives that had been lost in this pointless war, especially one in particular. I'll be ready.

[Winterfrost]

Winterfrost...

What? Leader? Me? Winterfrost thought, taking step back and shaking her head sharply to try and clean the impossible thoughts from out of her mind. Something must have been wrong here. StarClan must have been wrong, for the Clans' sakes! Herself being leader? How could she be leader? She didn't even have the experience of a deputy yet! So how could she be leader, if she was so unsure of herself? Weren't leaders supposed to be certain and warm and the kind of cat that everyone could trust? Sure, Winterfrost may have been all of those but... being leader? She would have been lying to herself if she thought that she didn't want the position. She did but she didn't want it this way. Not right after the death of Flametail and Sacrificestar. And what would her Clanmates think, because she hadn't had the time to be a deputy first? But of course Winterfrost had known that GaleClan's new leader would not have that experience because of Sacrificestar's death, followed almost immediately by Flametail's. And the rest of her Clan had to know that as well. But her, being leader? That was something she had only dreamed of! And now it seemed as if her dreams were coming true, only way too fast for her liking. Winterfrost had to suppress her shiver. Was this really want she wanted? To lead her Clan into the darkness of the times ahead? Yes... and no. I want my Clan to be strong. I want us to thrive and be whole again. But can I really do that? Does StarClan really believe in me? Because, honestly, I'm not too sure I believe in myself. Winterfrost shifted her paws, feeling like fleas or ants were crawling all over her fur. It must have been the eyes of the others that she was feeling though. Lifting her gaze, she flicked her attention between each cat. Aquafrost, his light blue fur clearly visible from where Winterfrost stood. He would have made a good leader... even if he had only just joined. Didn't joining GaleClan and fighting with the Clan today prove his loyalty? Winterfrost thought so, and she hoped StarClan did too.

Next her white-blue eyes locked with Summerfeather's. What was her sister feeling now? Was she jealous of Winterfrost or was she rejoicing like a true sister would? Her sister, too, would have make, if not a good leader, at least a good deputy. Summerfeather had that ability where whenever a cat was around her, they instantly felt welcome, which was probably due to her personality. Last, Winterfrost turned her eyes to Rainfall. His smoky-grey coloured fur was darker in the night but his deep blue eyes, which looked much like the colour of the sky above their heads, shone with a certain intensity that Winterfrost had to look away. Now he was a faithful warrior through and through, and Winterfrost wondered whether or not he'd make a good deputy. Probably. But then again, they all did. GaleClan had wonderful warriors, like Flametail had been. Sorrow pierced her heart once more. Ever cat would miss Flametail, there was no doubt about it. She'd just been a wonderful cat and an excellent warrior and mentor. Winterfrost dropped her gaze to her paws. Finally feeling like she was able to speak, Winterfrost murmured, "But me, leader? I-I don't know what to say." Her tail twitched as she tilted her head to the side slightly. "I-I guess thank you." Yes, she'd wanted this because she wanted to serve her Clan in the best possible way she could and if that meant following the path of being leader than she was ready. "I promise to be a leader that you can look up to, a leader that is strong and able to lift GaleClan through our hard times. I promise to a leader to be remembered. I promise you all that we will get that territory from MireClan back and once again GaleClan will thrive." She would make her Clan proud.

[/color]

//OOC: Should we end the thread here or keep going with it? I was under the impression that Owlgaze need Rainfall free (or am I wrong)? Anyway, just let me know via the cbox or something when I'm on whether or not we should keep going on this thread or not. Also who all wants to come with Winterfrost in the thread to get her nine lives? //

[wolflover1458]

((Medicine cat is supposed to go with her. Shrewpaw (and me) severely wish GaleClan had one.))