Taking my Place (TALONCLAN)

[Midnight]

The sun was sinking below the horizon by the time Briarstar had returned from her journey to the Skyfield. She would never forget that ceremony, and although she wanted to find Maplebreeze and tell him all about it, that was strictly against the code. Casting a glance at the nursery, then the medicine den, Briarstar had two fresh goals in mind: visit Pebblestar's kits to name them and find an official queen to foster them (that was going to be emotionally draining for sure) and talk to Duskflame about all that had happened and all that was going to happen.

but, for now, Briarstar's Clan needed her.

"Cats of TalonClan, I ask you to gather in the main cave to hear my words." Briarstar called out, her voice weaker than she expected. Suddenly self-conscious, the tortoiseshell began washing her chest fur as cats seeped in from various tunnels. A patrol or two padded solemnly in, carrying prey.

"As you know, last night was a... life-changing experience for TalonClan. We lost the life of our first leader, the cat who brought us together. Pebblestar was a wonderful leader who left for StarClan all too soon." Briarstar dipped her head in respect for her leader, her friend. "I would have liked to have had this discussion with you all last night, but I was exhausted, confused, and shocked. I apologize for my weakness." Briarstar paused for a moment, fur rising in embarrassment. How could she be a good leader if she raced to her nest when she should have been making a speech? Her Clanmates were just as bad off as she was, but the difference was that she had to be strong. "We will be holding Pebblestar's vigil today. Anyone who does not feel that they are up for patrolling may take the day to rest. It is greenleaf, and we are well-fed." Another moment of silence for Pebblestar.

Briarstar took a deep breath and sat straighter, forcing her fur to lie down. She looked at every cat in the crowd, recognizing them by their eyes, their pelts, their skills, personalities, names... everything. These were the cats of her Clan. These were her peers, her warriors, her mentors, apprentices, kits, friends.

"As unfortunate as this whole situation was, we need to move on. We need to show that we are strong. I am proud to announce myself Briarstar, your leader. I will do my best to serve you, to protect you, to guide you so that we may be respected among all cats as a true Clan. We are TalonClan, and we represent the strength of birds, the resilience of our mountainous terrain, and the loyalty that keeps us all together as one. We will never forget Pebblestar, but we cannot always look back at the past as a bad thing - we must look at it as something that will make us better as a Clan."
Briarstar cast a quick glance at the fresh-kill pile, and, noting how large it was, spoke again. "Let us feast in honor of our past and future of a Clan. There are many trials ahead of us. I will be selecting a new deputy after discussion with the elders and senior warriors, but for now, I want you all to relax. You deserve it." Briarstar dipped her head to her Clan before padding toward Pebblestar's body, which was in the center of the cave clearing, surrounded by wild mountain flowers. The new leader settled down, resting her chin on Pebblestar's flank.

[Lionhearted]

Briarstar? Oh, please.

Littlerye sat at the back of the group, and rolled his eyes. For StarClan's sake. Relax? How was he supposed to relax with Briarstar flitting around now? Not that she hadn't been before, but now as leader? He would've gladly given his life to Pebblestar as her tenth.

"Yay, congrats and whoo hoo and whatever else," he said in a dull, monotonous voice. He was only in if the rest of the Clan was still willing to support his own, personal needs: he was selfish this manner. He did work when he was needed, and as far as he knew, Pebblestar never really cared. but now, Brairstar...

[Deku]

Brackenlight watched and listened sadly as Briarstar made the announcement. She wasn't as close to Pebblestar as some other cats, but that didn't mean she wouldn't miss her. Her family was safe, with her and Mudbranch both staying at camp during the battle. The ginger she-cat sighed and padded towards Briarstar and Pebblestar's limp body. She gingerly toughed her nose to the cold fur of their former leader. After a couple of moments she looked back over to Briarstar. "You'll be a great leader Briarstar. Things will start looking up soon. Pebblestar will guide you from StarClan." She mewed softly. She turned, slowly walking back to the nursery to watch her kits.

Tags: Midnight, just for speaking to Briarstar briefly.

[Midnight]

Mousepaw was numb. His mother had died in the battle the previous night, while he was busy snoozing. The young tom let out a shrill screech after Briarstar was done, surprising himself with his ability to hold it in for that long. Mousepaw barreled toward his mother's lifeless body, flopping down at her side and burying his face in her flank. "Mom! Mom, no... Mom, come back." Mousepaw whimpered as he trembled, ears flat and eyes wide in misery. "How could you have left me? Th-they were supposed to bring you back alive. Why? Why?!"

---

"Thank you, Brackenlight." Briarstar mumbled, standing and flicking her tail-tip on the she-cat's shoulder. Seeing Mousepaw's state, Briarstar decided to come back at a later time, overwhelmed with guilt that she'd been unable to save the sweet, young tom's mother from death.

[Skiv]

Ivyheart just padded into camp, a bird clasped in her jaws. The tabby warrior then heard the voice of Brairclaw, well probably Brairstar now. but It still was a shock. The leader dead, now with Starclan. After being gone for so many moons, Ivyheart was loosing doubt in the old leader Pebblestar. Knowing that the leader never seemed like she wanted to be with her clan. but Ivyheart remembered the one day with Mudbranch, Tigerfang, and Pebblestar. It was fun and the leader seemed to be enjoying herself. The warrior had not seen Pebblestar's body yet, or the new leader. The warrior wasn't selected for the battle and she was almost happy. She wasn't very good at fighting anyways. but when she saw the limp, lifeless body of Pebblestar her mouth just dropped. The bird making a thud on the ground and she just stood there her green eyes in shock. but then Brairstar started speaking and it brought the tabby back to life. She just moved to the edge of the gathering cats placing the prey at her paws and she just listened. The warrior just watched the leader with her green gaze and sighed. It was a sad day in Talonclan, but she knew that slumping around wasn't going to help anybody. She just waited until Brairstar was done before padding up to the new leader and the old. Ivyheart just leaned down and touched her nose to the leaders cold fur. She just though May Starclan welcome your strength Pebblestar. Then she stood up and touch her tail to Brairstar's shoulder and dipped her head before heading off into the crowd of cats.

[Deleted]

Longpaw slithered out of the apprentices den. His face showed no emotion. He would not let anyone see it. but inside, inside, Longpaw was burning with anger. Anger at those stupid MidnightClan cats! They would pay alright. Pay for every single thing they did to TalonClan. Every single cat who doubted TalonClan and Pebblestar would be punished. He padded into the clearing. The light hit his black and white pelt as the vengeful apprentice walked closer towards the group of cats. He looked expectantly up at Briarstar. What a pitiful load of baloney. Briarstar, leader? Pah! That cat was of LeafClan at one point. She would never do. However, the apprentice held his tongue. He would do something about her yet. but for now, Longpaw had better things to concentrate on.

Blackkit scampered out of the nursery excitedly. Perhaps now she would become an apprentice. Her pace stopped as their deputy announced something. "Deputy... I guess leader now. I mean, if Pebblestar is dead, that would make Briarclaw Briarstar. Right?" She mused. The brown kit turned her attention to more... Well... To finding her mother, Brackenlight (Deku) and her father, Mudbranch (Falcon). The she-kit trotted around. Where were they?

Cinderkit woke up to the sound of Briarclaw. She perked up, her ears in the air instantly. Cinderkit stood up and padded placidly out the nursery. She spotted Blackkit zooming around, which caused Cinderkit to let out a mrrow of laughter. Cinderkit noticed a body. She hesitantly moved closer to it. Her eyes opened when she realized which body it was. Her legs were shaking due to her fear. Pebblestar. Cinderkit looked upward, at Briarstar. That was the new leader now. Pebblestar was dead.

[Deku]

Brackenlight continued towards the nursery when she saw a little kit. "Blackkit! Are you going somewhere?" She looked towards her daughter and quietly changed course. "You should probably come back to the nursery soon." As soon as she reached the she-kit she sat and began cleaning Blackkit's fur. Basically being a typical mother.

[Deleted]

Blackkit whimpered unhappily. Great. She didn't expect to get groomed when she was looking for her parents! Gosh, life hated her soooo much. Then again, she kinda hated life. Mainly cause it stunk being a kit. There was never anything to dooo! "M-o-o-om!" Blackkit whined.

[Deleted]

Moonpaw just sat there. Her eyes flitting between her paws and the… the body laying there. Moonpaw had barely had time to get to know her, and now she was… dead? It wasn't fair!

Casting a glance over to her mentor, she noted with narrowed eyes he didn't seem that pleased with Briarstar's rise. Moonpaw was. Though she would miss Pebblestar terribly, Briarstar had been a wonderful deputy, and she was sure that she would be a wonderful leader too.

Moonpaw stood up stiffly, approaching the apprentice crying into Pebblestar's fur. She kept her distance, but she smiled sympathetically at him.

"She's safe in StarClan now," She whispered.

[Falcon]

Mudbranch limped heavily toward Pebblestar's body his entire body shaking from the effort but despite his panting he continued forward, he was determined to make it to his mentor it was the least he could do for her at this point, he finally reached her and slumped down to the ground with a sigh of relief as the pressure eased on his leg he glanced at Mousepaw, understanding his pain a little though he'd not lost a parent in that battle he had lost a mentor it wasn't the same of course, it would never be the same but he just hoped Mousepaw had someone to support him right now he looked back at his former mentor and pressed his nose into her still form sending a quiet prayer hoping she might hear him in Starclan, then he stood again ready to make the slow journey back to the medicine den

[Deku]

Brackenlight pulled away slowly from her daughter. "I'm sorry Blackkit. Did you need something? If not, let's go back to the nursery with your siblings. Today is a day of mourning for we have lost a leader." She mewed gently while standing. She softly tried to nuge the she-kit to her feet.

[*Moony Shenanigans*]

Nightsong was speechless. How could Pebblestar be dead? They were supposed to bring her back alive, like Mousepaw said! The usually active she-cat sat still as the stone she was on. Pebblestar had brought them together. She couldn't be gone. The black warrior padded toward her old leader's body and bowed her head.

"You'll be a wonderful leader, Briarstar," she whispered hoarsely. Nightsong lifted her head and looked at the new leader of TalonClan, her green eyes dull with grief. "I just know you won't let us down."

Taggles: Midnight
Like Deku's tag, just for speaking to Briarstar.

[Specklebird]

addertail was still in slight shock from the death of the leader, yet he couldn't suppress a tingle of excitement at the thought of the new deputy.... what if it was him! his whiskers twitched at the thought. he shook out his fur and thought 'I shouldn't be happy... not at a time like this' he scolded himself. besides the possibility of him actually becoming deputy were not that great... he wasn't the most senior, of the senior warriors, he hadn't even finished training his first apprentice. he closed his eyes clearing his mind of these selfish thoughts. he padded slowly forward to pay his last respects to Pebblestar...