Sootstar
__________

"Actually," meowed the leader, stepping forward, "It's Sootstar, now. Lionstorm has stepped down from his position. You've been gone for nearly a moon, Koiripple, care to explain where you've been?"

Sootstar raised a brow, clearly eager to hear her explanation.

Sootstar
__________

Sootstar raised a brow, "So-... Just to make sure I have this right, for nearly a moon you found yourself... stunned? In a stupor? And only now you've broken out of it and found your way home. Do I have that right?"

It was more of a rhetorical question, as he quickly moved on, "How can you be sure this won't happen again?"

[ @UpperclassFailure ]

- - - - -

Sootstar was headed out of camp when he spotted Primrosepaw wandering, seemingly, in his direction. Before he knew it, she had stumbled into his side and he took a step back to put some distance between them.

"Primrosepaw? Where have you been?"

[ @Estelle ]

- - - - -

Catching an unfamiliar scent, Sootstar was quickly on the case. It wasn't long after slipping out of his den that he spotted the intruder. What did they even have camp guards for?

"What exactly do you think you're doing?" He meowed, placing himself firmly in front of the rogue tom.

[ @Dovey ]

Sootstar
__________

"I'm afraid being a mute won't get you out of this so easily. You're trespassing. You wander into my camp expecting... what? hospitality? Find a way to explain yourself before I have to chase you out of here."

[ @Dovey ]

- - - - -

Sootstar wrinkled his nose at the rotten prey. Gross. How had it been sitting around in camp for long enough to get maggots and who in their right mind would take it to the nursery? The stench alone was enough to send a grown warrior running.

"I'll be sure to have it disposed of. Do you know who may have brought it to the nursery?" If the warriors were stupid enough to chow down on rotten prey, they could very well go puke their guts out and get back to work - Sootstar didn't care. They would surely learn their lesson. But to try and feed it to the kits? That was punishable.

"And I'll be sure to speak to Foxpaw and the kits when I have the time. Is that all?"

[ @Rainquail ]

- - - - -

That was... a parade and a half of cats now marching through the camp entrance. All familiar faces, if a bit vague. Immediately Sootstar set to searching for Lionstorm - this reeked of the golden tom - and soon was face to face with the lanky man.

"Yes, I clearly have. That's quite a haul." He quickly glanced over the group and, with everyone shuffling about, it was hard to get an exact count but he guessed 10ish, give or take, "You've spoken with all of them then? All their stories check out?"

[ @BILL. ]

Sootstar
__________

"Of course - I'd expect nothing less from you." He gave another cursory glance over the small group. He'd expect most of them to settle in again quick enough but, to be sure, he'd make time for some individual chats in the near future, "Alright. Is that all?"

[ @BILL. ]

- - - - -

Sootstar didn't quite understand the message at first. I... heart... clanmates? That didn't make much sense. I like RiverClan? I want RiverClan? I want-

"Do you want to join the clan?"

[ @Dovey ]

- - - - -

"Very well then. Get to work." There was no reason to give Koiripple a hard time, so with his words he gave a simple nod towards the rest of the clearing. She would be welcomed back into the clan now but if something like this ever happened again, her chances of being allowed to return were slim.

[ @UpperclassFailure ]

- - - - -

Sootstar glanced up as two familiar forms approached, offering a smile to Dayheart and a questioning glance in the direction of Foxblaze. Before he could open his mouth to respond to Dayheart's report, he was berated with Foxblaze's outburst.

"Right. Should've expected that." he muttered, cringing inward slightly before straightening up again, "Where have you been, Foxblaze?"

[ @hope @Exis ]

Sootstar
__________

Somehow, Lionstorm still managed to take him off guard with that. In a quick reaction, Sootstar attempted a swipe at the golden tom but missed terribly as he dashed away. He would get him back for that.


- - - - -

"Very well." He had to think for a second. Finding someone who would be able to easily communicate with the tom was going to be difficult, but he would figure something out. "You'll have to complete an assessment - just a test to see how well you hunt, fight, so on, and that will determine where you start in the clan."

"Ah... I suppose you'll need a new name, given you can't really communicate your current one. Probably something like 'Silent', knowing how those loners tend to name themselves."

[ @Dovey the Present ]

- - - - -

Sootstar raised a brow. Chasing after a ShadowClanner? Probably chasing after answers to some ridiculous question more like, he thought, recalling her adventure into the territory as a kit. He let out a sigh, "Fine. Just know that if something like this happens again I won't be so lenient with you. Next time, chase them out of the territory and return home. No more gallivanting." His tone was harsh but softened as he continued, "Go on then. I think you and Snakepaw have some catching up to do."

"Oh, and thank you Dayheart, for bringing her home." He offered a nod and a smile.

[ @Exis @hope ]

- - - - -

Sootstar listened carefully and patiently as Primrosepaw attempted to communicate her story, working to piece together her broken words. Sounded like they encountered a badger in the tunnels and got separated? Or at least, that's what he could guess given Primrosepaw didn't seem to know where her old mentor was. He let out a sigh, "I'm afraid I haven't seen Silversong in a while either, Primrosepaw. I'm not sure where she ended up."

[ @Estelle ]

Sootstar
__________

Well, it seemed that was settled, then.

"Lotusheart!" he called out, turning to the clearing and hoping the warrior was nearby to hear, "I have a task for you."

[ @Reindeer Nightmares @Shadeleaf ]

- - - - -

It was as if Sootstar sensed the bright tom before he even spoke a word, growing accustomed to his tendency to flounce through the camp entrance with something to share, "Yes, Dayheart?" he meowed as he turned. Kits, hm?

"And what might your names be, then?"

[ @hope @Roseleader @Phoenix Fire ]

- - - - -

'More new cats?' he thought. There seemed to be an abundance of them lately. He dipped his head to the warrior, "Thank you Rainydawn."

"Right, then, what are your names and why do you want to join RiverClan?"

[ @Beau @feather lily @Warriorfan09 ]

Sootstar
__________

The leader raised a brow, "Sootstar, Hickoryblaze. Lionstorm may go around calling me whatever fanciful nickname he feels like that day but he's just about a lost cause - I expect some modicum of respect from the rest of my warriors."

"But as far as I'm aware," he continued, "Neither of you have been one of my warriors for some time. You really spent a moon out a search for this one? And what? You just gave up and decided to come home? Or you two just happened to bump into each other in the territory, hm?"

[ @Xmas Bliss @Moon Lily Just to be clear, I was asked by Bliss to remove Ashpool as they're apparently no longer in use. I'm willing to treat this as a rejoining for them, as well, if that has changed. ]

- - - - -

"Are you both alone, then?" he questioned. It was odd for two kits to show up out of nowhere, with apparently no relation to each other - at least at a glance, "No parents, sibl-?"

He paused, blinking in confusion at the question, "I- what?" Sootstar shook his head, "No. No, I'm not going to eat you. Where in StarClan would you get such an idea?"

[ @hope @Roseleader @Phoenix Fire ]

- - - - -

"This one needs an assessment." Sootstar motioned to the small form of Silent, "Just like the assessment any apprentice goes through - to see what he knows. It seems he's not too keen on the whole 'speaking' thing, so communicating may be a bit difficult. Think you can handle it?"

[ @Reindeer Nightmares @Shadeleaf ]

- - - - -

The grey and white tom listened quietly as they both spoke up in turn. Rainydawn didn't seem to have anything else to add and so he turned to this 'Smallwater', "Where you lived before? And where would that happen to be?" He wasn't particularly concerned with Feather at the moment. She was a kit - unless she decided to give him a reason to deny her, she would be fine.

[ @Beau @feather lily @Warriorfan09 ]