I Understand Your Stressed (Tagged)

[Falcon]

Adderstep hesitatingly stepped into the leaders den "Thrushstar?" he flinched a little as he lisped but continued "are you in here?" he had felt that Thushstar's sudden promotion to leader hood was probably weighing on the cat, that and combined with Fangstar's disappearance, he wasn't much of a warrior, only standing out due to his twisted face, but he felt a compulsion to visit his new leader and try to...well he wasn't sure what he wanted to do but it was to late to back out now Lionhearted

[Lionhearted]

The ginger-and-white leader emerged from the shadows after hearing Adderstep's familiar voice. "Hello," he greeted politely, dipping his head. "How are you, Adderstep, and how may I be of service today?" He smiled at the other tom, but it felt rather forced onto his face.

It had only just hit him he was literally running the Clan all on his own. I'll need a deputy soon, and hopefully we can find a medicine cat. Flicking his tail, he gestured for the warrior to move in. "Come, let's talk in my den," he said. "If there's anything you wish to share, please do so. I'm your leader and Clanmate, and I'm more than willing to listen."

He knew that there were a couple cats in the Clan he was concerned about. If Adderstep was one of them, he was glad he was coming up to him on his own will, instead of Thrushstar coming up to him. Thrushstar sat down on his nest, and waited for Adderstep's words.

[Falcon]

Adderstep shook his head he didn't think there was anything that was worrying him that Thrushstar could control just the usual leafbare gripes "I just...I know things have been hard with Fangstar's disappearance and being without a deputy and medicine cat...I just thought...uh that you might like having someone to talk to and uh just to listen to what's stressing you, I know that our clan is struggling, but I know that you would be struggling most out of all of us because everyone is depending on you" he shuffled his paws self consciously hoping the new leader didn't think he was being some sort of mousebrain

[Lionhearted]

Thrushstar's stern gaze softened at Adderstep's words. "Thank you," he said, sincerely touched at Adderstep's offer. "I could use a walk; why don't we go on one now?" 

Stepping towards the entrance, he turned his head briefly to the other tom. "If cats are depending so much on me, then I'm doing something wrong. I don't want anyone to feel like they have to rely on anyone else a lot. Everyone should be themselves, and so should you, Adderstep. I may be your leader, but I am also you Clanmate. We warriors should make our own independent decisions. I'm only here to overrule irrational ones. but whatever you do with your life, make sure that it's you who decided what to do with it.

"I hope you understand this. I'm not saying don't be loyal to the Clan. If it's important to you, then of course be loyal. If it's not... then find something else to be loyal to. No one should be here because of obligation. That's just wrong, don't you think?"

[Falcon]

Adderstep nodded "Yes, I am loyal to the clan and loyal to the code, but I am also loyal reason and understanding, I know sometimes that the other clans may need our assistance in ways that the code might not understand, but sometimes to keep peace and the clans in our homes it requires working with the other clans, like sharing herbs" Adderstep followed his new leader toward the entrance to the den "I've spent most of my life hiding because of my face, but it was my choice and now it's my choice to step out into the light, there is nothing I can do about it so I can only embrace it, do I wish I could change it...no I don't think so, it's a part of me and part of how I became the way I am, if my face had been normal I might be a different tom and I like me the way I am, imperfect but perfect to those who care"

[Lionhearted]

Thrushstar nodded. "Nicely put," he said. "There's always going to be cats who care about you," he said lightly, touching his tail to Adderstep's shoulder. His thoughts turned briefly to his mate Cinderstep and his best friend, Sunfeather. Those two, and his family, were the things he cared most about in the world. And he knew they cared about him. And so did most of his Clanmates. "You're a noble warrior, Adderstep, and I appreciate that. Don't change, okay? You're one of the hardest working warriors I know, and don't let anything get in your way."

OOC: Should we end this thread?