Event [#event]

Where was the point when it had all gone wrong? Was it Fogmuzzle's death, or something before that?

That had been the question burning in his mind for some time now. The more he thought about it all, the more guilty he felt. It was like discovering the new camp and going to the Gathering had been a switch for him; something that had jerked him out of the weird, foggy, darkened state of mind he'd been in ever since becoming leader.

"Start by actually havin' faith in them."

Dusklion's words rang in his mind as he went to sit in the middle of the clearing. Once, a long time ago, protecting cats had meant something different. It had meant holding those around him accountable, but it hadn't meant acting callous. Once, he'd dreamed of creating a RiverClan where the rhetoric was stable, loyal, and community-focused.

That wasn't where things were. Maybe they could get there; hopefully this could be the start.

"RiverClan!" he called. His tone lacked its usual punchy confidence, only instead ringing of regret and exhaustion. "There have been some... conversations happening behind the scenes that have made me wake up to the fact that the rhetoric around here has gotten, to be blunt, absurd and extreme. I've allowed myself to stay caught in a cycle of fostering misery and infighting instead of prosperity and glory.

"It's become clear to me that many things need to change. What I'm focusing on, how I'm handling authority and discipline, it needs to shift. I've spent so much time focusing on the bad that I've allowed myself to lose faith in cats who don't deserve to be cast aside and disregarded. I've spent so much time insisting on going my own way that others' opinions have fallen too much to the wayside."

This was probably one of the hardest speeches he'd ever had to give, but it had to be done. "I know some of you don't believe that I'm genuine in what I'm saying, but I will prove to you that I mean what I say. That's why I'm taking these first steps.

"For starters, there will be no more restrictions on warriors going to the Clan borders alone. This Clan has more than earned that right back, and I appreciate everyone refraining from getting themselves into trouble with the other Clans. I still want apprentices staying in camp unless they're with a warrior, for their own safety. Second, there will be no further threats of execution for revealing information about our new camp or about Mistyshard. Threatening execution for that was... a severe error on my part. Instead of trying to keep cats down with threats, I should be leading efforts to be ready for if information ends up getting leaked. If someone does end up leaking sensitive information, I will work with Dusklion and the Lionhearts to determine an appropriate course of action."

Curling his tail around his paws, he finished, "Now I want to hear from the cats in this Clan. What other aspects of RiverClan, of my leadership, do you want to see change? I want to have a constructive conversation here, so please, any and all points of criticism are welcome. I know some of you don't trust that I won't get angry, or that I won't threaten to throw you out, but please, if you feel that way, stick around and at least see how this goes."

[ Any and all RiverClan cats are free to offer their two cents! No punishments will be given; this is an open forum, so cats are encouraged and welcome to speak their mind. I'll allow for a few days for people to post before posting again :heartbounce: ]