[taillow]

Cindersky
Things had settled in a more comfortable state as all three kits stepped forward. Pride glimmered in the depths of her blue gaze as it swept over the backs of the kits. Pondkit, Swiftkit, Sagekit. They would all make excellent additions to the Clan - she would be sure to offer to take them hunting if needed. Not that she was not confidant in her fighting abilities (recalling the various scars and marks she had left on her enemy in the name of defending her home came to mind) but that was not what these kits needed to learn first. A break from the violence, from the thought of bloodshed entering their minds. They deserved serenity to envelope them in their first few days of their apprenticeship.

Conversations continued on in hushed tones, though one in particular stood out to her. A pair of Clanmates - Cindersky recognized them as Birchheart and Clearpelt - seemed to have no regard for the current meeting. She turned her head and shot them both a sharp glare, followed by a shake of her spotted head. She offered no words and hoped that by looks alone the two would recognize hos disrespectful it was to blabber on as if there was not a ceremony occuring right now.

...Or, not occuring, as it would seem. Dogbark speaking returned her attention to the Thunderwillow and Cindersky felt her heart sink like a rock in her chest. Tightening and constricting, the senior warrior felt her throat go dry as muscles tensed and readied themselves. Between Spiderthroat and Dogbark and Maplewhisker, she was certain the young kits wanted to be anywhere but here - preferably with their names. It struck deep pain into her soul to know that most likely that would not be happening today.

Blue hues shifting to Spiderthroat, Cindersky felt her narrowed gaze land upon him. But it was void of any animosity, and instead pooling with the hurtful realization that what he spoke was true. ThunderClan... was crumbling. Her home, her beloved home was sinking further from her grasp and as much as she tried to scramble to save it, she was just one cat and could only do so much. While Dogbark was right - that Spiderthroat had not been in camp for quite some time - the words he spoke were exactly what ThunderClan and thier leadership needed to hear. And that is what perhaps stung most of all; it had come from one of their own warriors instead of the crown.

But having no system? No leader? No deputy? The thought of what sort of unknown that would bring sent a trill of fear down her paws. Cindersky was much more for tradition; the succession of the leader by the deputy, a new deputy picked to fill the now vacant space. But she could not help but recall how during the past moon, it had been warriors who had held the Clan together. Nectarflame, Shiningskies, herself, Sparrowflight. Cats like these who were working tirelessly on cracked and bleeding paw pads to provide for their Clan, to keep it from sinking further into the dark abyss it seemed destined to fall into.

Rising to her paws, Cindersky stepped forward, though kept one hind legs back so as to make sure Softpaw knew she had not forgotten about her. "What you speak of, Spiderthroat.... It has already been happening. Warriors have been the ones who have carried this Clan through. And... I fear that it will be warriors who continue to do so, not our crown..." Swallowing hard, Cindersky directed her gaze at Dogbark who was now speaking to the young kits. She still had admiration for him - at least he was putting his paws to the ground and getting active around camp, and it had to count for something. "If needed, Dogbark, I can assist with any hunting training the three need. Even if they... do not receive their names, we should welcome them as ThunderClan apprentices, as they have waited quite some time." A gentle smile rested on her features as she swept her gaze over the three kits, nodding to each of them.

Then, Leafecho spoke up, and Cindersky turned her head once more. She regarded the warrior with thoughtfulness, listening to how she viewed the current situation. There were things to take away from it, and things to let lie. "Yes, but Leafecho... ThunderClan is falling. Our home... it is being carried on the shoulders of warriors, not the shoulders of our leadership. It is... difficult to accept, but what Dogbark and Spiderthroat speak are the truth." Her voice remained even and calm, eyes light instead of dark with rage as she watched her Clanmate. She felt sympathy for her, for she had once this very same meeting had faith in Aspenstar. Now... Cindersky was not sure.

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